- Awards
- 4
Though hang on, are you referring to Sharon and Steve, or to Allison and Norman?
...I do not.
Care to explain?
Peyton Place How I'd do a "Peyton Place" reboot/remake
Though hang on, are you referring to Sharon and Steve, or to Allison and Norman?
...I do not.
Care to explain?
- Awards
- 4
Well. Thanks to you, I'm going to have there be *several* scenes of Allison making coffee. Just to show that she *CAN*.
- Awards
- 4
Episode 7: "Return To Peyton Place"
April - May 1964
Side note: the past couple of episodes all take place within a few days to maybe a couple of weeks, but this episode covers a month.
Allison MacKenzie returns to Peyton Place (yes, yes, referring to the episode's title, which serves as a double reference to the sequels to the book and the movie), and not only that, but she does so in the same manner how Megan MacKenzie did in "Peyton Place - the Next Generation."
It starts off with Allison getting off at the train station, and making her way towards Town Square on foot. The camera is careful to only film her from the back. The first people to see her are Rodney Harrington and Betty Anderson, both of them in Rodney's car. Betty, who's been trying to rekindle things with Rodney, hurriedly pulls him in for a kiss, but he gently pulls away to gawk at Allison, who doesn't even notice the pair.
We then cut to the office of Dr. Michael Rossi in the professional building of Town Square. Inside are the doctor himself, Selena MacKenzie and Steven Cord; after Charles Partridge resigned as Selena's attorney, Steven Cord took over for him. He's asking Selena for every important detail that can be used in her defense, even encouraging her to lie a little for the sake of surviving... but as Selena gets up and wanders towards the window, she gives a little gasp as she looks down and spies her childhood friend, Allison.
Allison walks by The Clarion Newspaper, gazing in through the window, but notices that Uncle Matt isn't inside, so she doesn't bother going in... not realizing that Matt Swain is standing across the road, holding his dog by the leash, staring after her.
At that moment, Norman Harrington exits the library and happens to look up, and also notices Allison from across the way.
We then get a shot of Connie MacKenzie inside her book store, and she's staring wide-eyed out the store's front window at Allison's back as the latter walks across the road on the green area, heading towards the white bandstand.
Selena, Mike and Steven come hurrying down out from the professional building, and join Connie, Matt, Norman, Rodney and Betty as they all close in around Allison, who still has her back to them as she gazes at the bandstand.
Connie, standing at the front of the group, hesitantly speaks up, "...Allison?"
Allison finally turns around to reveal her face to the camera. While this does serve as a reference to "The Next Generation," it's also meant to serve a stronger emphasis to the fact that Allison is now back home.
Of course, Connie does NOT faint... although she does look a little helpless, as she's not sure what the appropriate reaction from her should be: does she hug her daughter? Does she give her her space? Does she ask why she didn't telephone first so they could have things ready for her? Why didn't she telephone at all? Does she even know about the upcoming trial? What has she been up to these past two years?
Pretty much everyone else is thinking almost the exact same questions, with some variety here and there.
Allison is also staring back, a little overwhelmed by the strange, silent welcome by so many important people from her past. She decides to be the first one to break the ice and, with a shrug and a smile, says, "Hello."
Fun fact: in the book, that actually is all Allison said when she returned home from New York.
"'Hello'?!" echoes Connie, suddenly finding her voice. "You disappear for two years and never call or write, and that's all you have to say?! 'Hello'?!"
Mike puts a steadying hand on Connie's shoulder, calming her - somewhat.
"I wrote to Uncle Matt," Allison says with another shrug.
"Allison," says Matt, "did you get either of our messages?"
"No, that must have been after I got on the train."
"It couldn't be. Your mother and I called you much earlier than that."
"Oh? Well, we must have been out."
"No," says Connie, "I got one of your roommates. Sharon, I think it was."
Allison blanches at the sound of Sharon's name, something that Mike notices.
"She... she must have forgotten," Allison says quietly.
"She hung up on me, rather rudely, I might add, and it was only later that I realized she sounded drunk! I suppose that's how she 'forgot.' Honestly, Allison, do you even have any idea what's been going on around here?! Do you have any idea what's been happening to Selena, or..."
Connie gets no further, because Allison ends up fainting. Rodney, Mike and Norman all jump forward to catch her, and Connie goes from annoyed and frustrated to deeply concerned and borderline terrified. Rodney manages to win the fight over who gets to carry Allison, and the group brings her into the Clarion Newspaper. Mike asks Betty to go up and grab his medicine bag, and she does so, albeit reluctantly while casting a glare at Rodney, who kneels over Allison.
Connie shoos Rodney away, and does the same to Norman and Steven, telling them to give Allison some air and instructing them to simply leave, as there's too many people in the room. Rodney, Norman and Steven all leave with varying reluctance; Steven manages to make an aside comment to Selena that the two of them can talk later on.
Somebody gets some water, and Allison slowly begins to come to, waking up to find herself surrounded by Connie, Mike, Matt and Selena. Betty comes down later with Mike's medicine bag, and takes her own leave.
Mike checks Allison's vital signs, with Connie anxiously going on about how white and exhausted she looks. Allison, however, insists that she's alright, just tired from a long, hot train ride home. Mike doesn't find anything seriously wrong, and ends up suggesting it was merely exhaustion (and being overwhelmed) that caused Allison to collapse.
Connie asks if something is wrong, only for Allison to impatiently repeat that she's just tired, bursting into tears and adding that she's sick of New York, and that she wants to be left the hell alone. "Is that too much to ask?!"
Selena, who's been quiet this whole time, slaps Allison.
"Go ahead. Be alone. That's all you've ever been good for, isn't it?!" she shouts before storming outside.
Connie starts to go after Selena, but hesitates at the door. Mike and Matt encourage her to leave, that they'll speak to Allison. Casting one last look at her biological daughter, Connie turns and hurries after her adoptive one.
Holding her cheek, Allison gapes in shock, but before she can say or do anything, Matt turns to her and bluntly says, "Selena's going on trial for murder."
"...What?"
"Last winter, Lucas Cross came back to town. He broke into your mother's house, and tried to beat Selena and Joey, only Selena managed to kill him... but because she and Joey were alone in the house, and because there was a big snowstorm going on, they panicked and buried Lucas in the basement, and tried to forget about it. Only Selena couldn't take the guilt and wound up confessing to your mother... and Marion Partridge overheard them, and reported it to the police. Now Selena's on trial for murder, even though it was self-defense... and she could be sentenced to death."
Allison stares, dumbfounded.
"So please try to forgive your sister for slapping you just now. She's dealing with a lot, just as I'm sure you are now, too."
Allison breaks down into a fresh set of new tears, this time guilt-ridden over being so ignorant to her friends' problems. Matt hugs Allison while Mike pats her on the back and holds her hand.
Meanwhile, Selena marches all the way back to the MacKenzie household, with Connie a few steps behind her. They both come to a halt when the discover that Ted Carter is waiting on the front porch. He stands at the sight of Selena, who remains frozen until Connie puts a hand on her shoulder and whispers, "Go to him."
Selena walks up to Ted, who holds out his hands. She accepts them, and the two go into the house. Connie decides to give them their privacy, and heads back to Town Square.
"I did it," Selena tells Ted once they've settled in the living room. "I'm not going to lie to you, Ted. I killed Lucas. There's really nothing more to say."
Ted explains that his mother called him at Harvard and told him the news. He didn't want to believe it at first, and came back to town as soon as he possibly could so he could hear everything from Selena in person. She's touched by that gesture, although she says there really wasn't much difference between what she could say on the phone and what she could say in person.
"You could tell me why you did it."
"I killed him. That's the end of it."
"But you didn't mean to do it, did you? Perhaps you intended to frighten him and struck him harder than you meant to do. Isn't that the way it was?"
Selena pauses, before saying, "When I swung at him, I swung with everything I had. I'm not sorry he's dead."
Ted begins to look uneasy. "Listen, you better get smart in a hurry and change your tune if you expect to get out of this. Without a good reason you will be tried for murder in the first degree. Now smarten up and tell me why you did it. Did Lucas threaten to beat you? To kidnap you and Joey from Connie's care?"
Selena pauses again. She recalls how Steven Cord had encouraged her to lie (a least a little) in order to get out of this... and Mike didn't seem to object to such a notion. Now Ted seemed to be endorsing the same thing. She gets up from the couch and looks at the mantel, which now holds a photo of herself with Connie and Joey. Selena knows that her adoptive mother would take very good care of her little brother, and that Dr. Michael Rossi would make an excellent father for Joey. Selena was satisfied that her little brother would be taken care of if anything happened to her... but then she recalls Joey's tears from that night when she killed Lucas, how he wept at the thought of his big sister, who had protected him all his life, would be hung like their mother, Nellie, had done to herself.
Selena realizes she has too much to lose... and what's more, why should Lucas Cross ruin the beautiful life she has to gain, especially from beyond the grave? Lucas spent her entire life making her miserable, why should he get away with the same thing in death?
And so, Selena MacKenzie turns back to Ted and gives her affirmative: Lucas not only threatened to beat her, but also Joey... and he also threatened to do the same to Connie... and he also threatened to kill Dr. Rossi. Yes, that's it. Lucas announced he was going to kill Dr. Rossi and Connie, and kidnap Selena and Joey to go to live with him somewhere.
Ted embraces Selena and gratefully says, "I knew it had to be something like that!"
Selena hugs back with newfound determination. Although she does ask him what he'll tell his mother, Roberta Carter. Ted reassures Selena that he'll take care of his mother, as well as her gossipy, slanderous friends.
Meanwhile, Catherine Harrington walks into the office of her husband, Leslie Harrington, and informs him that he must fire Elsie Thorton as the principal of Peyton Place High School. Leslie scoffs and says that Elsie is the best principal they've had in years; of course they're not going to fire her! Catherine, however, insists that Elsie is "unfit to be educating our youth" and even snidely remarks that "your sister and her lover" agree with her. Leslie looks up sharply, while Catherine smirks. They have a stare-down before Leslie scowls and relents, although he demands to know where they can find a new principal. Catherine doesn't care, so long as Elsie Thorton never finds work in this town again.
Catherine also tells Leslie that they must kick Alma Miles off of the schoolboard, and that Harry Miles must also be fired from the hospital. Leslie is willing to go along with kicking Alma off the board, but he puts his foot down where Harry is concerned. "Harry Miles is a brilliant surgeon and a good man! We can't afford to lose someone like him! Make all the threats you want, Catherine, Dr. Miles is staying, and that's THAT!"
Catherine again tries threatening Laura and Claire, but Leslie only sneers and points out that Catherine will have nothing left to blackmail him with... but HE will have something to blackmail HER about. Snarling, Catherine leaves his office.
Later, Allison arrives back at her old house along with Matt, Mike and Connie. Allison takes a moment to look at the place before heading inside, where she finds Selena with Ted and Joey. Allison and Selena hold gazes for a second before Mike suggests/orders them to go out onto the side porch and talk. The two girls do so, where Allison is the first to say that she's sorry, that she really did have no idea what was happening here in Peyton Place this whole time. Selena also apologizes for slapping Allison, although the latter insists that she deserved it.
The two friends slowly reconnect with one another, Selena admitting that she feels like she's already gone over her own situation a million times already, and that she's more curious about whatever could be ailing Allison, who at first insists that Selena's problem is far more important, but Selena merely points out that nothing can be said or done until her trial in June, and in the meantime, she'd rather not think about it. So Allison relents and starts recounting some of the things that happened to her in New York... such as Sharon's death.
Selena is horrified and sympathetic, and the two friends/adoptive sisters share a hug. Allison laments that no matter where she turns, somebody close to her keeps on dying... Sharon... Nellie... heck, even Joe Chernak, and of course there's her father - who has seemingly died multiple times. Selena doesn't understand until Allison explains that she found Angus MacKenzie in New York, only to find out that he was never her father to begin with. So she lost the first image she had of her father, only for it to be broken down piece by piece over the years, until there's nothing left.
"I'm beginning to wonder what's wrong with me," says Allison. "Why does everyone keep dying around me?"
Selena then reminds her that her own biological father also died, just as her biological mother died, and just as Ted's father died, and just how so many other people have died. "It's like what Reverend Bedford pointed out in one of his sermons. Death comes to us all. So we need to make the most of the time we have left. After all, Allison, there are still a great many people around you who are still alive."
Allison admits to that, and after sharing some more stories, she finds that it feels good to let things out. Eventually, Mike brings out a pair of Tom Collins for his future stepdaughters to drink, before going back into the living room where Ted is sitting with Steven Cord. Connie, Matt and Joey are in the kitchen fixing up dinner.
Ted and Steven are discussing all the possible routes to defend Selena, especially since, thanks to what she told Ted, they can now plead justifiable homicide. After all, Lucas threatened multiple people at once: Connie and Mike with death, and Selena and Joey with beatings and kidnapping; they could make a strong case that Selena had been scared enough to resort to killing her stepfather.
However, Ted Carter begins to voice some doubts - not that they'll be able to prove Selena is innocent, but that there will always be people in Peyton Place who will wonder. There will be those who might speculate that Selena experienced temporary insanity, and how insanity is looked down upon with disfavor and shame by Peyton Place.
Worse still, there would be those who will point out that Lucas Cross might have been a drunkard, a wife and child beater, the most irresponsible of fathers, but he had paid his bills and minded his own business ("As if that were enough to justify those first few actions!" Mike scoffs, although he too has come to know what Peyton Place can be like).
And, Ted goes on, the fact that Lucas had not been Selena's own father would hurt her in the eyes of the town; had she been of Lucas' flesh and blood, she would fare better. As it is, Ted knows what everyone will say: "She wasn't even his own. He married Nellie when Selena was just a newborn baby, but he provided for the child just as if she was his own." They would call Selena an ingrate. They would say, "There goes the Cross girl. She did in her father. Well, he wasn't really her father. He was more than that. He provided for her all her life, and he didn't have to do it. She wasn't his own."
Mike finally interrupts and subtly accuses Ted of having doubts of his own, though the younger man hurriedly backpedals, insisting that he's just not looking forward to what's going to happen, no matter the outcome. Steven agrees with Ted's assessment, but he's still going to do his job and help Selena.
That's when Roberta Carter comes knocking at the door, demanding that Ted come home with her. Claiming that he doesn't want to create a scene, he tells the others to give Selena his love, and takes his mother home. Mike and Steven watch the two leave from the window.
On the way back, Roberta commands her son to cut all ties with Selena, but Ted continues to refuse, even telling his mother that she's held him back all his life, but he won't allow her to do so anymore. He ignores her when she breaks down in tears, and heads up to his room, claiming not to be hungry. Roberta then goes over to Marion Partridge's house to whine about how "that Cross girl" has turned her little boy against her.
Catherine Harrington is called over, and the three witches all agree that Selena MUST be found guilty, no matter the cost.
So, Catherine Harrington arranges a meeting the district attorney, John Fowler (who is supposed to make an appearance in Season 2 during the Joe Chernak trial), and proceeds to manipulate him into coming down REALLY hard on Selena, using every dirty trick at her disposal, such as pointing out how Selena has a propensity for violence - something that she must have learned from her adoptive mother, Connie MacKenzie ("She attacked me two summers ago, and only a week or two earlier, she attacked my good friend, Marion Partridge!"). Catherine also not-so-subtly hints that people in Peyton Place have been laughing at John Fowler since the Chernak incident, which really does get his goat.
Once satisfied that she's done enough damage where the prosecutor is concerned, Catherine decides to focus some energy on making Alma Miles suffer. She goes to the office of Dr. Mike Rossi, knowing that he would be out to have lunch, and by luck finds Vickie Fletcher alone at her desk, eating her own modest lunch.
Vickie informs Mrs. Harrington that Dr. Rossi out to lunch with his fiancée, but Catherine reveals that she's here to speak with Vickie, who is instantly on alert. Why should the town's most powerful woman want to talk with her, a lowly (and black) secretary?
Catherine settles down into a chair and says, "Sooo... you're not Alma Miles' niece at all, nor are you married."
"Who told you?!" Vickie asks in a panic.
"You did. Just now."
Vickie mentally kicks herself for falling for the oldest trick in the book. "So what's it to you?"
"I'm just curious as to why the Mileses would bring in a young, pregnant woman off the streets, especially one who's in no way related to them."
"Maybe they're just good people."
"Maybe you managed to get some dirt on them."
Vickie doesn't answer.
Catherine smirks. "So it's true. You did find something on the Mileses. I'd like to know what it was."
"Sorry. I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about."
Catherine brings out a wade of cash and places it on the desk between them. Vickie stares at it, half-longingly... before scooting it away.
However, Catherine continues to smile. "Do you enjoy working as a secretary?"
"It's all right."
"Does it pay well?"
"Well enough."
"Enough to support you and your bastard baby?"
"Don't talk about my son like that."
"But is it? Do you make enough so that you don't have to rely on a husband to take care of you and your little one?"
"I don't have to worry about that. The Mileses help me out just fine."
"How so?"
"They barely charge me any rent. It's a steal to live in a house like theirs'. Plus, Mrs. Miles looks after James while I'm at work."
"Ahh, yes. Mrs. Miles really does dote on that baby, doesn't she? It's no wonder she's planning on adopting him."
"...Excuse you?"
"Well, rumor has it that Alma has become so fond of little... James, was it? that she's planning on taking him on as her own."
"Well, that sounds like a nasty rumor that I ought to ignore."
"Maybe so. But it could very easily come true. After all, Dr. Miles makes far more money than you do, and he just adores his wife. Her happiness is his happiness, and right now... her happiness seems to be little James. And here you are, a wayward girl who's barely scraping by, even in circumstances as well as your own. It really would be the easiest thing in the world for Harry and Alma to take your son away from you, Miss Fletcher. It really would be. Not unless... you suddenly gained enough money to buy your own house, and hire your own nanny."
And with that, Catherine produces a check for a certain amount of money that causes Vickie's eyes to widen: $50,000! It's the biggest amount of money she's ever seen in one place, far bigger than the check that Harry initially tried to bribe her with. However, the check remains unsigned.
"All you have to do to get me sign that," says Catherine, "is a little... cooperation."
Vickie suffers an internal conflict... before she asks, "What would you like to know?"
"How did you get the Mileses to take you in?"
"...They're good people."
Vickie rips up the check.
We then get scenes of Allison reconnecting with important people in her life: Uncle Matt, Kim Schuster, Betty Anderson, and of course, the Harrington brothers.
Allison meets Norman in their old secret meeting spot... and they end up confessing that they've both dabbled in some "homosexual affairs." Of course, neither of them has engaged in "that kind" of sex yet, and they both admit to being curious and confused as to how it all works, exactly. They also ask one another if they're "done" with the opposite sex; Allison declares that she still enjoys the thought of being with a man, in spite of her bad experience with them. Norman says he's not entirely certain, as he's had even less experience than Allison has had.
He ends up confessing to her that he almost had an affair with Doris Schuster and wound up witnessing the death of Hester Goodale, and started having nightmares about the whole thing, but it was thanks to Paul Hanley that the nightmares began to subside. Allison proves what a great friend she is by not laughing or judging; instead she expresses empathy and hugs him.
Allison and Norman reaffirm their friendship and wish each other luck in their respective lives, and agree to offer whatever support they can for Selena, although they both admit that Norman will have a more difficult time with that, what with his mother being gung-ho on Selena receiving the death penalty.
We finally get a reunion between Allison and Rodney, although it's not exactly a sweet one. They greet one another fondly, although at some point during their conversation, Rodney tells Allison that he wants the two of them to get back together. Allison, however, refuses, pointing out that she's been over their relationship for years now, but Rodney refuses to take no for answer, much to her annoyance. He tells her that he's willing to wait for her, to which she snipes he'll be wasting his whole life if he does that.
Betty Anderson had been eavesdropping on their conversation the whole time, and gives a silent breath of relief when she hears Allison express nothing but disinterest in getting back with Rodney. After Allison leaves the scene, Betty wastes no time in offering "comfort" to Rodney... who doesn't need much encouragement in *that* department.
We then have Catherine Harrington being more of a $h*t-stirrer: after doing some serious calculating, she decides to ruin Connie's engagement to Mike by spreading a rumor that he's sleeping with... his secretary, Vickie Fletcher.
Catherine goes to Doris Schuster (another target for revenge) and reminds her of David's "fascination" with Allison MacKenzie, saying how the whole town knew about it, and how they've all been laughing at Doris behind her back. Doris manages to keep her composure and takes her leave of Catherine, although she does go to Mike's office when he's not there, pretending to be ill and asking Vickie for some water.
She then begins asking Vickie questions/making comments about Mike, about how kind he is, what a good doctor he is... and how handsome he is. Vickie agrees with all of these, commenting that Connie and Mike remind her of Barbie and Ken, only Mike is handsomer than Ken. Doris asks how much handsomer... and Vickie begins to realize what she means. They stare at one another before Doris pointedly says how Connie has become a dear friend of hers, and that she wouldn't want anyone interfering with her future marriage. Vickie agrees, well aware of what Doris is implying. Doris thanks her for the water and leaves.
Vickie, meanwhile, is shaken by this experience... and ends up making a call to the Harrington house, telling Catherine that "Dr. Rossi" has the "results" she wanted. Catherine comes back to the office (again, when Mike is not around), and Vickie says she'll only say anything if Catherine produces another check - which the latter does... except the amount is now for $40,000.
"You should have taken the first check when you had the chance. Feel free to pass up on this one too; the next one will be worth 30."
Glaring, Vickie discloses that she, Lew Miles, and Vickie's boyfriend, Larry, were involved in a hit-and-run accident in New York back in the summer of 1962, that resulted in the (white) victim being put in a coma, although Vickie doesn't know whatever happened to the person. Vickie does clarify that it was Larry who was driving, that Vickie only threatened to say that it was Lew who was driving, not unless he and his family helped her out with her baby, since she saw no future with Larry.
Catherine asks for Larry's full name and where Vickie saw him last... before pulling out another check, one for $30,000, and signs that, before ripping up the check for 40. Vickie is outraged, but Catherine points out, "I did tell you to pass up on that one, and that the next check was going to be 30."
Catherine then leaves, ready to make some important phone calls...
We then cut to Allison MacKenzie and Dr. Mike Rossi out on a walk around town together, having a serious conversation about all the relevant topics. At some point, they stop in at Whitehall Inn for drinks. As they sip, Allison suddenly announces that she would like to make peace with her mother. Mike thinks that's a very good idea, but he also encourages her not to do it on the spur of the moment. "Don't do it if you don't mean it, because that would only hurt her more, and I would not stand for that."
"I mean it," says Allison. "I understand how it could happen. Mother was just unluckier than most, that's all."
"I wouldn't say that. She got you, didn't she? Maybe she was luckier than most."
"No. She was unluckier than most. Let's not kid ourselves, Doc."
Mike doesn't know what to say to that. The two talk some more, making poignant remark after another, until finally Mike excuses himself and telephones Connie to come down to Whitehall. Once Connie arrives, Mike makes himself scarce so Mother and Daughter can finally have their long-awaited talk.
For this scene, I picked outfits for them based on how similar they were to the ones worn by the actresses in the movie:
Connie's outfit was easy, since I really just needed a yellow dress, although Allison's was trickier. Eventually I settled on an outfit that had as similar a color scheme as the movie's:
"Hello, Allison."
"Hello, Mother."
"You're looking well."
"With a drink in my hand?"
"...I know you've been telling everyone else what you've been up to in New York, but I asked them all not to tell me, because... well, I wanted to hear it all from you."
"...You might not like it."
"Try me."
"All right. I've learned to smoke and drink. And go to bed when I want to. And kiss boys whenever the impulse sweeps over me."
Allison makes a little toast before taking another sip.
Interestingly, Connie seems amused.
"That doesn't sound so different from what I've gotten up to in the past two years."
"What?"
"Didn't anyone tell you? Right after you left town, I gatecrashed a party at the Harringtons. I wore red, and drank and smoked and danced... and flirted with just about every man in the room, regardless of whether they were already married or not. And that included Charles Partridge, Harmon Carter and Leslie Harrington. I did it all to get back at Marion, Roberta and Catherine for what they said about you."
Allison is shocked... and a little awed. She adds onto the last part, "That I'm a bastard?"
Connie looks downcast. "...Yes. Though please don't call yourself that."
"Why not? It's what I am."
"But it's not your fault! It's mine. And anyway... Allison... I think I should... yes, I should. I should tell you the truth."
"You mean about how Angus MacKenzie isn't my father?"
"I know you already know that, Matt told me. I was talking about... about who your father really is."
"Save it. I don't want to know."
"But-"
"Don't. I spent my whole life worshipping this perfect image of who I thought my father was, only for it to be broken apart piece by piece, until there's nothing left anymore. Frankly, I'm tired of the whole subject. I don't want to know who my father is, it doesn't matter to me anymore."
"...Are... are you sure?"
"Positive. I don't have a father, and I'd rather it stay that way."
"Well... you'll be having a stepfather soon, in any event. Mike and I are getting married as soon as Selena's trial is over."
"Oh? Why so soon?"
"Because I love him, and I've waited long enough."
"...Sounds fair enough."
Allison raises her glass again, and this time, Connie raises her own, and they share a small toast. Mike watches them from around the corner with a smile.
We then get to meet the character Larry, the biological father of 2-year-old James, and the ex-boyfriend of Vickie, who's shocked and terrified when he turns up in Peyton Place, thanks to the P.I. who tracked him down, courtesy of Catherine Harrington.
Larry come to the Miles household, where he threatens to reveal to the authorities that Lew was responsible for the hit and run, trying to blackmail the family for the right amount of money. Harry makes it clear he won't do business with a blackmailer and tries to order Larry out, but the younger black man threatens to have Vickie help him sell out Lew, as it would be two witnesses against one.
Vickie, however, betrays Larry and says that she'll testify against him. Larry is furious and says that she'll pay...
...which leads into the following scene where Vickie is out by herself, where she gets cornered by Larry - except Vickie was smart enough to have Sergeant Walker keep a lookout. Larry grabs at the cop's gun, forcing the two of them to wrestle over it...
...resulting in Larry getting shot and dying.
We end this episode with Allison going back up into her old room for the first time in three years "to say hello to an old friend."
She stands before her open closet and says, "Hello, Nellie."
April - May 1964
Side note: the past couple of episodes all take place within a few days to maybe a couple of weeks, but this episode covers a month.
Allison MacKenzie returns to Peyton Place (yes, yes, referring to the episode's title, which serves as a double reference to the sequels to the book and the movie), and not only that, but she does so in the same manner how Megan MacKenzie did in "Peyton Place - the Next Generation."
It starts off with Allison getting off at the train station, and making her way towards Town Square on foot. The camera is careful to only film her from the back. The first people to see her are Rodney Harrington and Betty Anderson, both of them in Rodney's car. Betty, who's been trying to rekindle things with Rodney, hurriedly pulls him in for a kiss, but he gently pulls away to gawk at Allison, who doesn't even notice the pair.
We then cut to the office of Dr. Michael Rossi in the professional building of Town Square. Inside are the doctor himself, Selena MacKenzie and Steven Cord; after Charles Partridge resigned as Selena's attorney, Steven Cord took over for him. He's asking Selena for every important detail that can be used in her defense, even encouraging her to lie a little for the sake of surviving... but as Selena gets up and wanders towards the window, she gives a little gasp as she looks down and spies her childhood friend, Allison.
Allison walks by The Clarion Newspaper, gazing in through the window, but notices that Uncle Matt isn't inside, so she doesn't bother going in... not realizing that Matt Swain is standing across the road, holding his dog by the leash, staring after her.
At that moment, Norman Harrington exits the library and happens to look up, and also notices Allison from across the way.
We then get a shot of Connie MacKenzie inside her book store, and she's staring wide-eyed out the store's front window at Allison's back as the latter walks across the road on the green area, heading towards the white bandstand.
Selena, Mike and Steven come hurrying down out from the professional building, and join Connie, Matt, Norman, Rodney and Betty as they all close in around Allison, who still has her back to them as she gazes at the bandstand.
Connie, standing at the front of the group, hesitantly speaks up, "...Allison?"
Allison finally turns around to reveal her face to the camera. While this does serve as a reference to "The Next Generation," it's also meant to serve a stronger emphasis to the fact that Allison is now back home.
Of course, Connie does NOT faint... although she does look a little helpless, as she's not sure what the appropriate reaction from her should be: does she hug her daughter? Does she give her her space? Does she ask why she didn't telephone first so they could have things ready for her? Why didn't she telephone at all? Does she even know about the upcoming trial? What has she been up to these past two years?
Pretty much everyone else is thinking almost the exact same questions, with some variety here and there.
Allison is also staring back, a little overwhelmed by the strange, silent welcome by so many important people from her past. She decides to be the first one to break the ice and, with a shrug and a smile, says, "Hello."
Fun fact: in the book, that actually is all Allison said when she returned home from New York.
"'Hello'?!" echoes Connie, suddenly finding her voice. "You disappear for two years and never call or write, and that's all you have to say?! 'Hello'?!"
Mike puts a steadying hand on Connie's shoulder, calming her - somewhat.
"I wrote to Uncle Matt," Allison says with another shrug.
"Allison," says Matt, "did you get either of our messages?"
"No, that must have been after I got on the train."
"It couldn't be. Your mother and I called you much earlier than that."
"Oh? Well, we must have been out."
"No," says Connie, "I got one of your roommates. Sharon, I think it was."
Allison blanches at the sound of Sharon's name, something that Mike notices.
"She... she must have forgotten," Allison says quietly.
"She hung up on me, rather rudely, I might add, and it was only later that I realized she sounded drunk! I suppose that's how she 'forgot.' Honestly, Allison, do you even have any idea what's been going on around here?! Do you have any idea what's been happening to Selena, or..."
Connie gets no further, because Allison ends up fainting. Rodney, Mike and Norman all jump forward to catch her, and Connie goes from annoyed and frustrated to deeply concerned and borderline terrified. Rodney manages to win the fight over who gets to carry Allison, and the group brings her into the Clarion Newspaper. Mike asks Betty to go up and grab his medicine bag, and she does so, albeit reluctantly while casting a glare at Rodney, who kneels over Allison.
Connie shoos Rodney away, and does the same to Norman and Steven, telling them to give Allison some air and instructing them to simply leave, as there's too many people in the room. Rodney, Norman and Steven all leave with varying reluctance; Steven manages to make an aside comment to Selena that the two of them can talk later on.
Somebody gets some water, and Allison slowly begins to come to, waking up to find herself surrounded by Connie, Mike, Matt and Selena. Betty comes down later with Mike's medicine bag, and takes her own leave.
Mike checks Allison's vital signs, with Connie anxiously going on about how white and exhausted she looks. Allison, however, insists that she's alright, just tired from a long, hot train ride home. Mike doesn't find anything seriously wrong, and ends up suggesting it was merely exhaustion (and being overwhelmed) that caused Allison to collapse.
Connie asks if something is wrong, only for Allison to impatiently repeat that she's just tired, bursting into tears and adding that she's sick of New York, and that she wants to be left the hell alone. "Is that too much to ask?!"
Selena, who's been quiet this whole time, slaps Allison.
"Go ahead. Be alone. That's all you've ever been good for, isn't it?!" she shouts before storming outside.
Connie starts to go after Selena, but hesitates at the door. Mike and Matt encourage her to leave, that they'll speak to Allison. Casting one last look at her biological daughter, Connie turns and hurries after her adoptive one.
Holding her cheek, Allison gapes in shock, but before she can say or do anything, Matt turns to her and bluntly says, "Selena's going on trial for murder."
"...What?"
"Last winter, Lucas Cross came back to town. He broke into your mother's house, and tried to beat Selena and Joey, only Selena managed to kill him... but because she and Joey were alone in the house, and because there was a big snowstorm going on, they panicked and buried Lucas in the basement, and tried to forget about it. Only Selena couldn't take the guilt and wound up confessing to your mother... and Marion Partridge overheard them, and reported it to the police. Now Selena's on trial for murder, even though it was self-defense... and she could be sentenced to death."
Allison stares, dumbfounded.
"So please try to forgive your sister for slapping you just now. She's dealing with a lot, just as I'm sure you are now, too."
Allison breaks down into a fresh set of new tears, this time guilt-ridden over being so ignorant to her friends' problems. Matt hugs Allison while Mike pats her on the back and holds her hand.
Meanwhile, Selena marches all the way back to the MacKenzie household, with Connie a few steps behind her. They both come to a halt when the discover that Ted Carter is waiting on the front porch. He stands at the sight of Selena, who remains frozen until Connie puts a hand on her shoulder and whispers, "Go to him."
Selena walks up to Ted, who holds out his hands. She accepts them, and the two go into the house. Connie decides to give them their privacy, and heads back to Town Square.
"I did it," Selena tells Ted once they've settled in the living room. "I'm not going to lie to you, Ted. I killed Lucas. There's really nothing more to say."
Ted explains that his mother called him at Harvard and told him the news. He didn't want to believe it at first, and came back to town as soon as he possibly could so he could hear everything from Selena in person. She's touched by that gesture, although she says there really wasn't much difference between what she could say on the phone and what she could say in person.
"You could tell me why you did it."
"I killed him. That's the end of it."
"But you didn't mean to do it, did you? Perhaps you intended to frighten him and struck him harder than you meant to do. Isn't that the way it was?"
Selena pauses, before saying, "When I swung at him, I swung with everything I had. I'm not sorry he's dead."
Ted begins to look uneasy. "Listen, you better get smart in a hurry and change your tune if you expect to get out of this. Without a good reason you will be tried for murder in the first degree. Now smarten up and tell me why you did it. Did Lucas threaten to beat you? To kidnap you and Joey from Connie's care?"
Selena pauses again. She recalls how Steven Cord had encouraged her to lie (a least a little) in order to get out of this... and Mike didn't seem to object to such a notion. Now Ted seemed to be endorsing the same thing. She gets up from the couch and looks at the mantel, which now holds a photo of herself with Connie and Joey. Selena knows that her adoptive mother would take very good care of her little brother, and that Dr. Michael Rossi would make an excellent father for Joey. Selena was satisfied that her little brother would be taken care of if anything happened to her... but then she recalls Joey's tears from that night when she killed Lucas, how he wept at the thought of his big sister, who had protected him all his life, would be hung like their mother, Nellie, had done to herself.
Selena realizes she has too much to lose... and what's more, why should Lucas Cross ruin the beautiful life she has to gain, especially from beyond the grave? Lucas spent her entire life making her miserable, why should he get away with the same thing in death?
And so, Selena MacKenzie turns back to Ted and gives her affirmative: Lucas not only threatened to beat her, but also Joey... and he also threatened to do the same to Connie... and he also threatened to kill Dr. Rossi. Yes, that's it. Lucas announced he was going to kill Dr. Rossi and Connie, and kidnap Selena and Joey to go to live with him somewhere.
Ted embraces Selena and gratefully says, "I knew it had to be something like that!"
Selena hugs back with newfound determination. Although she does ask him what he'll tell his mother, Roberta Carter. Ted reassures Selena that he'll take care of his mother, as well as her gossipy, slanderous friends.
Meanwhile, Catherine Harrington walks into the office of her husband, Leslie Harrington, and informs him that he must fire Elsie Thorton as the principal of Peyton Place High School. Leslie scoffs and says that Elsie is the best principal they've had in years; of course they're not going to fire her! Catherine, however, insists that Elsie is "unfit to be educating our youth" and even snidely remarks that "your sister and her lover" agree with her. Leslie looks up sharply, while Catherine smirks. They have a stare-down before Leslie scowls and relents, although he demands to know where they can find a new principal. Catherine doesn't care, so long as Elsie Thorton never finds work in this town again.
Catherine also tells Leslie that they must kick Alma Miles off of the schoolboard, and that Harry Miles must also be fired from the hospital. Leslie is willing to go along with kicking Alma off the board, but he puts his foot down where Harry is concerned. "Harry Miles is a brilliant surgeon and a good man! We can't afford to lose someone like him! Make all the threats you want, Catherine, Dr. Miles is staying, and that's THAT!"
Catherine again tries threatening Laura and Claire, but Leslie only sneers and points out that Catherine will have nothing left to blackmail him with... but HE will have something to blackmail HER about. Snarling, Catherine leaves his office.
Later, Allison arrives back at her old house along with Matt, Mike and Connie. Allison takes a moment to look at the place before heading inside, where she finds Selena with Ted and Joey. Allison and Selena hold gazes for a second before Mike suggests/orders them to go out onto the side porch and talk. The two girls do so, where Allison is the first to say that she's sorry, that she really did have no idea what was happening here in Peyton Place this whole time. Selena also apologizes for slapping Allison, although the latter insists that she deserved it.
The two friends slowly reconnect with one another, Selena admitting that she feels like she's already gone over her own situation a million times already, and that she's more curious about whatever could be ailing Allison, who at first insists that Selena's problem is far more important, but Selena merely points out that nothing can be said or done until her trial in June, and in the meantime, she'd rather not think about it. So Allison relents and starts recounting some of the things that happened to her in New York... such as Sharon's death.
Selena is horrified and sympathetic, and the two friends/adoptive sisters share a hug. Allison laments that no matter where she turns, somebody close to her keeps on dying... Sharon... Nellie... heck, even Joe Chernak, and of course there's her father - who has seemingly died multiple times. Selena doesn't understand until Allison explains that she found Angus MacKenzie in New York, only to find out that he was never her father to begin with. So she lost the first image she had of her father, only for it to be broken down piece by piece over the years, until there's nothing left.
"I'm beginning to wonder what's wrong with me," says Allison. "Why does everyone keep dying around me?"
Selena then reminds her that her own biological father also died, just as her biological mother died, and just as Ted's father died, and just how so many other people have died. "It's like what Reverend Bedford pointed out in one of his sermons. Death comes to us all. So we need to make the most of the time we have left. After all, Allison, there are still a great many people around you who are still alive."
Allison admits to that, and after sharing some more stories, she finds that it feels good to let things out. Eventually, Mike brings out a pair of Tom Collins for his future stepdaughters to drink, before going back into the living room where Ted is sitting with Steven Cord. Connie, Matt and Joey are in the kitchen fixing up dinner.
Ted and Steven are discussing all the possible routes to defend Selena, especially since, thanks to what she told Ted, they can now plead justifiable homicide. After all, Lucas threatened multiple people at once: Connie and Mike with death, and Selena and Joey with beatings and kidnapping; they could make a strong case that Selena had been scared enough to resort to killing her stepfather.
However, Ted Carter begins to voice some doubts - not that they'll be able to prove Selena is innocent, but that there will always be people in Peyton Place who will wonder. There will be those who might speculate that Selena experienced temporary insanity, and how insanity is looked down upon with disfavor and shame by Peyton Place.
Worse still, there would be those who will point out that Lucas Cross might have been a drunkard, a wife and child beater, the most irresponsible of fathers, but he had paid his bills and minded his own business ("As if that were enough to justify those first few actions!" Mike scoffs, although he too has come to know what Peyton Place can be like).
And, Ted goes on, the fact that Lucas had not been Selena's own father would hurt her in the eyes of the town; had she been of Lucas' flesh and blood, she would fare better. As it is, Ted knows what everyone will say: "She wasn't even his own. He married Nellie when Selena was just a newborn baby, but he provided for the child just as if she was his own." They would call Selena an ingrate. They would say, "There goes the Cross girl. She did in her father. Well, he wasn't really her father. He was more than that. He provided for her all her life, and he didn't have to do it. She wasn't his own."
Mike finally interrupts and subtly accuses Ted of having doubts of his own, though the younger man hurriedly backpedals, insisting that he's just not looking forward to what's going to happen, no matter the outcome. Steven agrees with Ted's assessment, but he's still going to do his job and help Selena.
That's when Roberta Carter comes knocking at the door, demanding that Ted come home with her. Claiming that he doesn't want to create a scene, he tells the others to give Selena his love, and takes his mother home. Mike and Steven watch the two leave from the window.
On the way back, Roberta commands her son to cut all ties with Selena, but Ted continues to refuse, even telling his mother that she's held him back all his life, but he won't allow her to do so anymore. He ignores her when she breaks down in tears, and heads up to his room, claiming not to be hungry. Roberta then goes over to Marion Partridge's house to whine about how "that Cross girl" has turned her little boy against her.
Catherine Harrington is called over, and the three witches all agree that Selena MUST be found guilty, no matter the cost.
So, Catherine Harrington arranges a meeting the district attorney, John Fowler (who is supposed to make an appearance in Season 2 during the Joe Chernak trial), and proceeds to manipulate him into coming down REALLY hard on Selena, using every dirty trick at her disposal, such as pointing out how Selena has a propensity for violence - something that she must have learned from her adoptive mother, Connie MacKenzie ("She attacked me two summers ago, and only a week or two earlier, she attacked my good friend, Marion Partridge!"). Catherine also not-so-subtly hints that people in Peyton Place have been laughing at John Fowler since the Chernak incident, which really does get his goat.
Once satisfied that she's done enough damage where the prosecutor is concerned, Catherine decides to focus some energy on making Alma Miles suffer. She goes to the office of Dr. Mike Rossi, knowing that he would be out to have lunch, and by luck finds Vickie Fletcher alone at her desk, eating her own modest lunch.
Vickie informs Mrs. Harrington that Dr. Rossi out to lunch with his fiancée, but Catherine reveals that she's here to speak with Vickie, who is instantly on alert. Why should the town's most powerful woman want to talk with her, a lowly (and black) secretary?
Catherine settles down into a chair and says, "Sooo... you're not Alma Miles' niece at all, nor are you married."
"Who told you?!" Vickie asks in a panic.
"You did. Just now."
Vickie mentally kicks herself for falling for the oldest trick in the book. "So what's it to you?"
"I'm just curious as to why the Mileses would bring in a young, pregnant woman off the streets, especially one who's in no way related to them."
"Maybe they're just good people."
"Maybe you managed to get some dirt on them."
Vickie doesn't answer.
Catherine smirks. "So it's true. You did find something on the Mileses. I'd like to know what it was."
"Sorry. I haven't the foggiest idea what you're talking about."
Catherine brings out a wade of cash and places it on the desk between them. Vickie stares at it, half-longingly... before scooting it away.
However, Catherine continues to smile. "Do you enjoy working as a secretary?"
"It's all right."
"Does it pay well?"
"Well enough."
"Enough to support you and your bastard baby?"
"Don't talk about my son like that."
"But is it? Do you make enough so that you don't have to rely on a husband to take care of you and your little one?"
"I don't have to worry about that. The Mileses help me out just fine."
"How so?"
"They barely charge me any rent. It's a steal to live in a house like theirs'. Plus, Mrs. Miles looks after James while I'm at work."
"Ahh, yes. Mrs. Miles really does dote on that baby, doesn't she? It's no wonder she's planning on adopting him."
"...Excuse you?"
"Well, rumor has it that Alma has become so fond of little... James, was it? that she's planning on taking him on as her own."
"Well, that sounds like a nasty rumor that I ought to ignore."
"Maybe so. But it could very easily come true. After all, Dr. Miles makes far more money than you do, and he just adores his wife. Her happiness is his happiness, and right now... her happiness seems to be little James. And here you are, a wayward girl who's barely scraping by, even in circumstances as well as your own. It really would be the easiest thing in the world for Harry and Alma to take your son away from you, Miss Fletcher. It really would be. Not unless... you suddenly gained enough money to buy your own house, and hire your own nanny."
And with that, Catherine produces a check for a certain amount of money that causes Vickie's eyes to widen: $50,000! It's the biggest amount of money she's ever seen in one place, far bigger than the check that Harry initially tried to bribe her with. However, the check remains unsigned.
"All you have to do to get me sign that," says Catherine, "is a little... cooperation."
Vickie suffers an internal conflict... before she asks, "What would you like to know?"
"How did you get the Mileses to take you in?"
"...They're good people."
Vickie rips up the check.
We then get scenes of Allison reconnecting with important people in her life: Uncle Matt, Kim Schuster, Betty Anderson, and of course, the Harrington brothers.
Allison meets Norman in their old secret meeting spot... and they end up confessing that they've both dabbled in some "homosexual affairs."
Of course, neither of them has engaged in "that kind" of sex yet, and they both admit to being curious and confused as to how it all works, exactly. They also ask one another if they're "done" with the opposite sex; Allison declares that she still enjoys the thought of being with a man, in spite of her bad experience with them. Norman says he's not entirely certain, as he's had even less experience than Allison has had. He ends up confessing to her that he almost had an affair with Doris Schuster and wound up witnessing the death of Hester Goodale, and started having nightmares about the whole thing, but it was thanks to Paul Hanley that the nightmares began to subside. Allison proves what a great friend she is by not laughing or judging; instead she expresses empathy and hugs him.
Allison and Norman reaffirm their friendship and wish each other luck in their respective lives, and agree to offer whatever support they can for Selena, although they both admit that Norman will have a more difficult time with that, what with his mother being gung-ho on Selena receiving the death penalty.
We finally get a reunion between Allison and Rodney, although it's not exactly a sweet one. They greet one another fondly, although at some point during their conversation, Rodney tells Allison that he wants the two of them to get back together. Allison, however, refuses, pointing out that she's been over their relationship for years now, but Rodney refuses to take no for answer, much to her annoyance. He tells her that he's willing to wait for her, to which she snipes he'll be wasting his whole life if he does that.
Betty Anderson had been eavesdropping on their conversation the whole time, and gives a silent breath of relief when she hears Allison express nothing but disinterest in getting back with Rodney. After Allison leaves the scene, Betty wastes no time in offering "comfort" to Rodney... who doesn't need much encouragement in *that* department.
We then have Catherine Harrington being more of a $h*t-stirrer: after doing some serious calculating, she decides to ruin Connie's engagement to Mike by spreading a rumor that he's sleeping with... his secretary, Vickie Fletcher.
Catherine goes to Doris Schuster (another target for revenge) and reminds her of David's "fascination" with Allison MacKenzie, saying how the whole town knew about it, and how they've all been laughing at Doris behind her back. Doris manages to keep her composure and takes her leave of Catherine, although she does go to Mike's office when he's not there, pretending to be ill and asking Vickie for some water.
She then begins asking Vickie questions/making comments about Mike, about how kind he is, what a good doctor he is... and how handsome he is. Vickie agrees with all of these, commenting that Connie and Mike remind her of Barbie and Ken, only Mike is handsomer than Ken. Doris asks how much handsomer... and Vickie begins to realize what she means. They stare at one another before Doris pointedly says how Connie has become a dear friend of hers, and that she wouldn't want anyone interfering with her future marriage. Vickie agrees, well aware of what Doris is implying. Doris thanks her for the water and leaves.
Vickie, meanwhile, is shaken by this experience... and ends up making a call to the Harrington house, telling Catherine that "Dr. Rossi" has the "results" she wanted. Catherine comes back to the office (again, when Mike is not around), and Vickie says she'll only say anything if Catherine produces another check - which the latter does... except the amount is now for $40,000.
"You should have taken the first check when you had the chance. Feel free to pass up on this one too; the next one will be worth 30."
Glaring, Vickie discloses that she, Lew Miles, and Vickie's boyfriend, Larry, were involved in a hit-and-run accident in New York back in the summer of 1962, that resulted in the (white) victim being put in a coma, although Vickie doesn't know whatever happened to the person. Vickie does clarify that it was Larry who was driving, that Vickie only threatened to say that it was Lew who was driving, not unless he and his family helped her out with her baby, since she saw no future with Larry.
Catherine asks for Larry's full name and where Vickie saw him last... before pulling out another check, one for $30,000, and signs that, before ripping up the check for 40. Vickie is outraged, but Catherine points out, "I did tell you to pass up on that one, and that the next check was going to be 30."
Catherine then leaves, ready to make some important phone calls...
We then cut to Allison MacKenzie and Dr. Mike Rossi out on a walk around town together, having a serious conversation about all the relevant topics. At some point, they stop in at Whitehall Inn for drinks. As they sip, Allison suddenly announces that she would like to make peace with her mother. Mike thinks that's a very good idea, but he also encourages her not to do it on the spur of the moment. "Don't do it if you don't mean it, because that would only hurt her more, and I would not stand for that."
"I mean it," says Allison. "I understand how it could happen. Mother was just unluckier than most, that's all."
"I wouldn't say that. She got you, didn't she? Maybe she was luckier than most."
"No. She was unluckier than most. Let's not kid ourselves, Doc."
Mike doesn't know what to say to that. The two talk some more, making poignant remark after another, until finally Mike excuses himself and telephones Connie to come down to Whitehall. Once Connie arrives, Mike makes himself scarce so Mother and Daughter can finally have their long-awaited talk.
For this scene, I picked outfits for them based on how similar they were to the ones worn by the actresses in the movie:
Connie's outfit was easy, since I really just needed a yellow dress, although Allison's was trickier. Eventually I settled on an outfit that had as similar a color scheme as the movie's:
"Hello, Allison."
"Hello, Mother."
"You're looking well."
"With a drink in my hand?"
"...I know you've been telling everyone else what you've been up to in New York, but I asked them all not to tell me, because... well, I wanted to hear it all from you."
"...You might not like it."
"Try me."
"All right. I've learned to smoke and drink. And go to bed when I want to. And kiss boys whenever the impulse sweeps over me."
Allison makes a little toast before taking another sip.
Interestingly, Connie seems amused.
"That doesn't sound so different from what I've gotten up to in the past two years."
"What?"
"Didn't anyone tell you? Right after you left town, I gatecrashed a party at the Harringtons. I wore red, and drank and smoked and danced... and flirted with just about every man in the room, regardless of whether they were already married or not. And that included Charles Partridge, Harmon Carter and Leslie Harrington. I did it all to get back at Marion, Roberta and Catherine for what they said about you."
Allison is shocked... and a little awed. She adds onto the last part, "That I'm a bastard?"
Connie looks downcast. "...Yes. Though please don't call yourself that."
"Why not? It's what I am."
"But it's not your fault! It's mine. And anyway... Allison... I think I should... yes, I should. I should tell you the truth."
"You mean about how Angus MacKenzie isn't my father?"
"I know you already know that, Matt told me. I was talking about... about who your father really is."
"Save it. I don't want to know."
"But-"
"Don't. I spent my whole life worshipping this perfect image of who I thought my father was, only for it to be broken apart piece by piece, until there's nothing left anymore. Frankly, I'm tired of the whole subject. I don't want to know who my father is, it doesn't matter to me anymore."
"...Are... are you sure?"
"Positive. I don't have a father, and I'd rather it stay that way."
"Well... you'll be having a stepfather soon, in any event. Mike and I are getting married as soon as Selena's trial is over."
"Oh? Why so soon?"
"Because I love him, and I've waited long enough."
"...Sounds fair enough."
Allison raises her glass again, and this time, Connie raises her own, and they share a small toast. Mike watches them from around the corner with a smile.
We then get to meet the character Larry, the biological father of 2-year-old James, and the ex-boyfriend of Vickie, who's shocked and terrified when he turns up in Peyton Place, thanks to the P.I. who tracked him down, courtesy of Catherine Harrington.
Larry come to the Miles household, where he threatens to reveal to the authorities that Lew was responsible for the hit and run, trying to blackmail the family for the right amount of money. Harry makes it clear he won't do business with a blackmailer and tries to order Larry out, but the younger black man threatens to have Vickie help him sell out Lew, as it would be two witnesses against one.
Vickie, however, betrays Larry and says that she'll testify against him. Larry is furious and says that she'll pay...
...which leads into the following scene where Vickie is out by herself, where she gets cornered by Larry - except Vickie was smart enough to have Sergeant Walker keep a lookout. Larry grabs at the cop's gun, forcing the two of them to wrestle over it...
...resulting in Larry getting shot and dying.
We end this episode with Allison going back up into her old room for the first time in three years "to say hello to an old friend."
She stands before her open closet and says, "Hello, Nellie."
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Not sure what you mean by this, but thank you nonetheless!
I don't blame you; she is the one on trial for murder, after all.
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Ah, yes. That was Allison's way of making peace with her past; ever since she saw Nellie's corpse way back in the Season 1 cliffhanger, she has refused to go back into her room. And now, after everything's that's happened to her, along with what's going on now and what will happen in the future, Allison finally has the fortitude to face what chased her out of her home.
This wasn't supposed to be mocking Nellie's suicide, but again, making peace with it. And it's also meant to show that Allison will never forget her. So yeah.
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Haha, fair enough. Maybe it would come across differently if you saw the scene play out.
Well, no, because none of Nellie's clothes are still around. They were all so old and worn out that they were thrown out.
Besides, I plan on Allison getting into Mod fashion.
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IT'S THE SEASON 3 FINALE, BITCHES!!! LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
First of all, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to get to this episode. Real life events sucked the energy out of me, but we're here now! Thank you to all those who've stuck with this series, and I hope you enjoy what I have in store!
Episode 8: "Selena's Trial" (yes, not a very creative title, but the whole episode is meant to center around it; plus it's such an iconic moment in the Peyton Place-verse overall)
Important side note: Originally, I was going to have John Fowler be in this episode, prosecuting Selena. all thanks to Charles Partridge refusing to do so himself... but with the way I have future events planned, I'm seriously considering changing that, and having Fowler not appear in this episode after all. I'm now thinking that Charles Partridge does prosecute Selena after all, and it's all thanks to the vicious naggings, whining, shrieking and threatening of not just his wife, Marion, but also of Roberta Carter and Catherine Harrington. In the book, Charles Partridge was a pacifist by nature, and rarely stood up to his wife. It seems more likely he'd bow to the pressure of three such formidable shrews and be prodded by them to throw the book at Selena. Plus, this gives the catfight between Connie MacKenzie and Marion Partridge a lot more serious consequences, as it's what gets Charles to quit being Selena's defender and become her accuser.
With that out of the way, let us begin!
June 1964
There's been a whole media circus surrounding Selena's trial, with reporters and other such spectators coming from all over to witness the event. Catherine Harrington herself made certain that as many news stations would know about the event as possible, all just to worsen the situation for the MacKenzies. She even brags about how many people have booked rooms at Whitehall Inn (which she owns) for the occasion.
We get a scene at the MacKenzie house (which probably has dozens of reporters prowling around outside) where Connie, Mike, Allison, Joey, Matt and Steven are all awaiting Selena, who comes up from the rumpus room with the look of somebody about to face the gallows with all the dignity they can muster. The family shares one final moment of reassurances and a group hug, before making their way to the Court House.
At said Court House, the crowded courtroom is basically divided into two halves: those who support Selena, and the ones who don't. That's actually supposed to have been an issue over the past couple episodes: the whole town became ripped down the middle thanks to this whole fiasco. You were either Selena's supporter, or her enemy. There was no middle ground. Not even Reverend Jerry was spared, though thankfully he, when forced to choose, believes that Selena is innocent (Catherine, Marion and Roberta were NOT happy about that, and even tried to have him removed as reverend, but with everything going on, nothing was ever done).
Here are all the outfits I imagine most of the female characters to be wearing:
From left to right: Allison, Connie, Selena, Catherine, Alma, Betty, Hannah, Marion, Roberta and Elsie Thorton.
Side note: in the book, Leslie Harrington was on the jury for this trial, and I'd like that to happen here too. Vickie Fletcher is also going to be a jury member as well. In fact, I'd like every member of the jury to be a character with a specific identity, just to play into the stereotype of small towns being where everyone knows everyone. I think Eli Carson will also be a jury member as well. And possibly one of the Hanleys, either Calvin or Paul.
As everyone settles down into their seats (shooting the opposite side dirty looks), Judge Anthony Aldridge finally makes his appearance, and all rise, before being permitted to be seated. The official statements and whatnot are made, and the trial commences.
Marion Partridge is called the witness stand, where she dramatically gives a retelling of how she, the tragic heroine, overheard Selena's confession to murder in the dress shop, and how her "stepmother" (she intentionally says this to miff Connie) planned on helping her cover it up. Marion even mentions how violent Constance MacKenzie is, saying how she brutally attacked in the same shop days later.
Steven Cord, Selena's lawyer, manages to poke a few holes (if not several) in Marion's testimony; she proves far too mediocre to match Steven, resulting in her blustering and starting to shriek, until Judge Aldridge orders her to be silent and to step down.
Next up is Joey MacKenzie, who recounts what happened the night Lucas died. Joey admits he didn't quite hear what all his father and sister were saying, but could tell Lucas was about to attack Selena, and so jumped onto his father's back and started biting him. When Lucas threw him off, Joey admits that things went fuzzy, and the only clear memory that comes next is him stopping Selena from hitting Lucas' body anymore.
Charles Partridge manages to poke holes in Joey's testimony as well, pointing out rather damning details such as: Joey and Selena were the ones to physically attack Lucas first. Charles also brings up the fantastical element that "a nineteen-year-old girl didn't know what to do with the body... until a twelve-year-old boy told her."
Next up is Selena herself. She's able to give a more detailed account of what happened, saying that Lucas threatened to kill both Connie and Mike once he heard that they were adopting Selena and Joey. Unfortunately, since Joey already admitted he couldn't hear what the other two were saying, he cannot confirm that (either Steven didn't think to bring Joey in on things, or Joey, being only 13, was intimidated/tricked into admitting this by Charles). Selena insists that it's true, and that Lucas tried to kill Joey in a drunken rage, but Charles, thanks to the goading of the three witches, begins harassing Selena, egging her for details and motives and whatnot, resulting in her shrieking as well.
Steven puts a stop to this by calling an objection, and Judge Aldridge sustains. Charles, looking a bit shaken and regretful at his own actions, says he has no further questions. Steven asks Selena if she was afraid of bodily harm, both for herself and her brother. Selena gives an affirmative, and is released from the witness chair.
Next up is Allison MacKenzie, who squeezes Selena's hand as they pass by each other.
Allison takes the stand, and regales the court with the story of how, back in the summer of 1961, she witnessed Lucas Cross' drunken, abusive behavior when he beat Selena and Joey, and then chased her through the forest, resulting in her, Allison, throwing up in church. Connie MacKenzie reacts rather powerfully to this story, as it's the first time she's ever heard of it.
Charles Partridge, however, brings up Allison's reputation as a storyteller, basically calling her a liar. Allison is outraged, and insists that it's true, but Charles asks such things as, "Why didn't you tell anyone? Surely you would have realized that keeping such a secret would be dangerous to your friends? Were there any other witnesses to confirm this?"
To this last one, Allison points out that Selena and Joey were certainly witnesses, but Charles points out that their testimony won't amount to much. Allison argues that it should, and Charles proceeds to drill more holes in her testimony and pointing out that in a court of law, they need REAL evidence, and asks whether or not she should expect the jury to believe her simply because she says so.
Allison's response: "That's right, you backstabbing piece of $h*t fairy-****er!"
And if that sounds familiar, it's because I totally ripped it off of "Fried Green Tomatoes":
I have no regrets.
Naturally, the courtroom erupts in a gale of shocked gasps as such language, and Charles Partridge stares at Allison with wide eyes and an open mouth, completely caught off guard at being called out like that (the backstabbing part, that is; he did betray Selena, after all). Judge Aldridge warns Allison about being held in contempt, and Allison politely (but no trace of regret) says, "Yes, your honor."
Allison is released from the stand, and next up is Constance MacKenzie, who gives her daughter a concerned gesture before going up to the chair.
Charles grills Connie about the testimony of her three children, even touching upon the alleged assault of Marion (I realize here that for this reason, Charles might not be eligible to prosecute, but then again, what with the whole "small town" thing, and since rules/laws might have been different in the 1960s, we might be able to justify that). He even asks her if Selena killing Lucas should be seen as a reflection of Connie's "violent" influence. Poor Connie is overwhelmed by everything and ends up breaking down in tears.
Marion Partridge, Catherine Harrington and Roberta Carter all smirk evilly at the sight, but Selena gets a look of quiet outrage on her face.
Judge Aldridge calls for a recess, and Connie is taken into a back room where she's tended to by Mike, Allison and Matt. Connie tearfully asks her daughter why she never told her about Lucas attacking her, and Allison, rather teary-eyed herself, apologizes and insists that she thought it was the right thing not to tell. Connie understands that all too well.
Meanwhile, Mike takes Matt aside and vents his frustration at not being able to protect his future wife and future children from all this abuse and spectacle... and possibly a murder conviction. If only they could tell the full story about Lucas, Selena would be let off... but Matt points out that Selena doesn't want to anyone to know...
...only for Steven Cord to enter with Selena. She asks to have a moment with Mike.
When they're alone out in the hall, Selena says only one thing to her future stepfather: "That man made my mother cry."
Meanwhile, Norman Harrington, who's been seated beside his mother this whole time, has his gaze caught by Betty Anderson, who signals to him to meet her privately. He tells Catherine that he needs to use the bathroom and follows Betty into the hall, where she has a big announcement for him:
"I'm pregnant."
In hushed tones, they agree to head over to White River to elope, although Norman insists that they wait until after the trial is over. Betty agrees, although she warns him not to double-cross her and try to get out of this, but Norman reassures her that he has every intention of marrying her. "I have too much to gain!"
Some time later, when court is back in session, Steven Cord calls Dr. Michael Rossi to the stand. Selena watches him go up to the chair with a look of grim determination and resignation. She knows what he's about to reveal, and it was she who told him to do so.
Mike reveals that in the summer of 1961, just before Lucas Cross left town, that he, Mike, gave Selena an abortion (a lie, since it was Dr. Claire Morton and Laura Brooks who did that, but Mike is willing to take the fall for them). He reveals that the reason he did so was because Selena had been impregnated by her own stepfather, Lucas Cross herself.
The courtroom erupts into another tidal wave of gasps and rumblings. Judge Aldridge pounds his gavel for order.
Mike further testifies that it was he who ran Lucas out of town, promising the other man that he'd kill Lucas himself if he ever came back. "But I should have killed him then. Lucas was crazy in the worst way possible. He needed to be killed. And I've never said that about another living soul in my life."
Charles Partridge objects, pointing out the lack of proof...
...until Mike produces the letter of confession, signed by Lucas Cross himself.
A handwriting expert is able to confirm that it is indeed Lucas' signature, and Judge Aldridge calls Charles Partridge and Steven Cord to the bench. After a whispered conference, Mike's testimony and evidence is taken into account. Charles Partridge, in an attempt at redemption, requests that all charges be dropped; the man looks horrified and sickened with himself. Judge Aldridge decides that the jury should have a final say, and has them retreat into a private room.
10 minutes later, they come out, and Leslie Harrington, speaking on behalf of the jury, declares, "NOT GUILTY."
There's some sighs of relief, although pretty much everybody is reeling from the revelation about Selena, as well what Dr. Rossi has confessed to. Marion Partridge is FUMING with rage, calling Mike a murderer, and Catherine, also furious but able to keep a cooler head, declares that she's going to make absolute certain that Dr. Rossi loses his medical license. As for Roberta Carter... she only has eyes for her son, Ted, who looks at Selena while she's being hugged by her family and friends as the reporters get more photos in.
Selena finally turns, her eyes meeting her fiancé's. They hold gazes for a while...
...before Ted turns away and leaves the courthouse with his mother, who spares Selena the smuggest "I win" look as she possessively grips her son's arm.
The MacKenzies are shocked, appalled and outraged at Ted turning his back on Selena, but Selena herself has a resigned look on her face. She knew Ted would leave her if he knew the truth.
Charles Partridge sheepishly approaches Selena and sincerely, humbly apologizes. She gives him a sober nod, and he retreats, knowing that's the best he's going to get.
Finally, Steven Cord tells the MacKenzie family that he can let them out a back door so they can avoid the mob of reporters. Connie, Mike, Selena, Allison and Joey all follow him out, although Matt Swain stays behind to act as a buffer to the crowds.
Meanwhile, Norman Harrington manages to make his excuses to his mother and slips away, jumping into a car driven by Betty, and the two head to White River.
Connie, Mike, Allison, Selena and Joey all walk home, relieved that Selena was proven not guilty after all, although there's also the issue that Mike my lose his medical license. Mike shrugs and says, "Let them try and take it away. If they succeed, I'll find another job. It was worth it, to help out my kids." Selena and Joey hug him for that, while Allison simply smiles.
At some point, Allison and Selena begin to lag behind, and encourage the other three to go on without them. Selena doesn't want to go back into the house just yet, especially after being cooped up for so long. She and Allison begin to walk around the neighborhood, soaking in the lovely June weather and reveling in their freedom. They begin to talk and recap what they just went through, and Allison even goes so far to say "What a gentlemen!" about Mike. She's suddenly quite pleased that her mother is marrying such a man.
Allison also expresses outrage at Ted, but Selena shrugs and says that he had his reasons for turning away. A girl with Selena's problems wouldn't be able to fit into his life plan, which Allison can only scoff at.
Selena asks Allison if she plans on returning to New York, and Allison says that she might go back someday, but for now, she'd like to stick around here. "I feel like I haven't been able to get to know my own mother yet."
The two girls finally decide to head home.
At the MacKenzie house, Connie, Mike and Joey decide to whip up a celebratory feast: frying up burgers and French fries, and getting out some cold Coca colas. They wait for Allison and Selena, but after a while, decide to eat the food while it's still warm. Connie expresses worry at her daughters staying out late, but Mike reassures her that they should be fine...
...but sadly, it is not meant to be.
They suddenly hear the roaring of a car engine, the screeching of tires, a thud...
...followed by Selena's screams.
Connie, Mike and Joey all run outside...
...and behold Selena, frozen in shock as she lies near the sidewalk as she stares...
...at Allison lying out in the middle of the street.
Connie screams herself, before crying out, "ALLISON! ALLISON! ALLISON! ALLISON! ALLLLLISSSSOOOONNNNNN!!!"
And thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's it for Season 3, folks!
First of all, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to get to this episode. Real life events sucked the energy out of me, but we're here now! Thank you to all those who've stuck with this series, and I hope you enjoy what I have in store!
Episode 8: "Selena's Trial" (yes, not a very creative title, but the whole episode is meant to center around it; plus it's such an iconic moment in the Peyton Place-verse overall)
Important side note: Originally, I was going to have John Fowler be in this episode, prosecuting Selena. all thanks to Charles Partridge refusing to do so himself... but with the way I have future events planned, I'm seriously considering changing that, and having Fowler not appear in this episode after all. I'm now thinking that Charles Partridge does prosecute Selena after all, and it's all thanks to the vicious naggings, whining, shrieking and threatening of not just his wife, Marion, but also of Roberta Carter and Catherine Harrington. In the book, Charles Partridge was a pacifist by nature, and rarely stood up to his wife. It seems more likely he'd bow to the pressure of three such formidable shrews and be prodded by them to throw the book at Selena. Plus, this gives the catfight between Connie MacKenzie and Marion Partridge a lot more serious consequences, as it's what gets Charles to quit being Selena's defender and become her accuser.
With that out of the way, let us begin!
June 1964
There's been a whole media circus surrounding Selena's trial, with reporters and other such spectators coming from all over to witness the event. Catherine Harrington herself made certain that as many news stations would know about the event as possible, all just to worsen the situation for the MacKenzies. She even brags about how many people have booked rooms at Whitehall Inn (which she owns) for the occasion.
We get a scene at the MacKenzie house (which probably has dozens of reporters prowling around outside) where Connie, Mike, Allison, Joey, Matt and Steven are all awaiting Selena, who comes up from the rumpus room with the look of somebody about to face the gallows with all the dignity they can muster. The family shares one final moment of reassurances and a group hug, before making their way to the Court House.
At said Court House, the crowded courtroom is basically divided into two halves: those who support Selena, and the ones who don't. That's actually supposed to have been an issue over the past couple episodes: the whole town became ripped down the middle thanks to this whole fiasco. You were either Selena's supporter, or her enemy. There was no middle ground. Not even Reverend Jerry was spared, though thankfully he, when forced to choose, believes that Selena is innocent (Catherine, Marion and Roberta were NOT happy about that, and even tried to have him removed as reverend, but with everything going on, nothing was ever done).
Here are all the outfits I imagine most of the female characters to be wearing:
From left to right: Allison, Connie, Selena, Catherine, Alma, Betty, Hannah, Marion, Roberta and Elsie Thorton.
Side note: in the book, Leslie Harrington was on the jury for this trial, and I'd like that to happen here too. Vickie Fletcher is also going to be a jury member as well. In fact, I'd like every member of the jury to be a character with a specific identity, just to play into the stereotype of small towns being where everyone knows everyone. I think Eli Carson will also be a jury member as well. And possibly one of the Hanleys, either Calvin or Paul.
As everyone settles down into their seats (shooting the opposite side dirty looks), Judge Anthony Aldridge finally makes his appearance, and all rise, before being permitted to be seated. The official statements and whatnot are made, and the trial commences.
Marion Partridge is called the witness stand, where she dramatically gives a retelling of how she, the tragic heroine, overheard Selena's confession to murder in the dress shop, and how her "stepmother" (she intentionally says this to miff Connie) planned on helping her cover it up. Marion even mentions how violent Constance MacKenzie is, saying how she brutally attacked in the same shop days later.
Steven Cord, Selena's lawyer, manages to poke a few holes (if not several) in Marion's testimony; she proves far too mediocre to match Steven, resulting in her blustering and starting to shriek, until Judge Aldridge orders her to be silent and to step down.
Next up is Joey MacKenzie, who recounts what happened the night Lucas died. Joey admits he didn't quite hear what all his father and sister were saying, but could tell Lucas was about to attack Selena, and so jumped onto his father's back and started biting him. When Lucas threw him off, Joey admits that things went fuzzy, and the only clear memory that comes next is him stopping Selena from hitting Lucas' body anymore.
Charles Partridge manages to poke holes in Joey's testimony as well, pointing out rather damning details such as: Joey and Selena were the ones to physically attack Lucas first. Charles also brings up the fantastical element that "a nineteen-year-old girl didn't know what to do with the body... until a twelve-year-old boy told her."
Next up is Selena herself. She's able to give a more detailed account of what happened, saying that Lucas threatened to kill both Connie and Mike once he heard that they were adopting Selena and Joey. Unfortunately, since Joey already admitted he couldn't hear what the other two were saying, he cannot confirm that (either Steven didn't think to bring Joey in on things, or Joey, being only 13, was intimidated/tricked into admitting this by Charles). Selena insists that it's true, and that Lucas tried to kill Joey in a drunken rage, but Charles, thanks to the goading of the three witches, begins harassing Selena, egging her for details and motives and whatnot, resulting in her shrieking as well.
Steven puts a stop to this by calling an objection, and Judge Aldridge sustains. Charles, looking a bit shaken and regretful at his own actions, says he has no further questions. Steven asks Selena if she was afraid of bodily harm, both for herself and her brother. Selena gives an affirmative, and is released from the witness chair.
Next up is Allison MacKenzie, who squeezes Selena's hand as they pass by each other.
Allison takes the stand, and regales the court with the story of how, back in the summer of 1961, she witnessed Lucas Cross' drunken, abusive behavior when he beat Selena and Joey, and then chased her through the forest, resulting in her, Allison, throwing up in church. Connie MacKenzie reacts rather powerfully to this story, as it's the first time she's ever heard of it.
Charles Partridge, however, brings up Allison's reputation as a storyteller, basically calling her a liar. Allison is outraged, and insists that it's true, but Charles asks such things as, "Why didn't you tell anyone? Surely you would have realized that keeping such a secret would be dangerous to your friends? Were there any other witnesses to confirm this?"
To this last one, Allison points out that Selena and Joey were certainly witnesses, but Charles points out that their testimony won't amount to much. Allison argues that it should, and Charles proceeds to drill more holes in her testimony and pointing out that in a court of law, they need REAL evidence, and asks whether or not she should expect the jury to believe her simply because she says so.
Allison's response: "That's right, you backstabbing piece of $h*t fairy-****er!"
And if that sounds familiar, it's because I totally ripped it off of "Fried Green Tomatoes":
Naturally, the courtroom erupts in a gale of shocked gasps as such language, and Charles Partridge stares at Allison with wide eyes and an open mouth, completely caught off guard at being called out like that (the backstabbing part, that is; he did betray Selena, after all). Judge Aldridge warns Allison about being held in contempt, and Allison politely (but no trace of regret) says, "Yes, your honor."
Allison is released from the stand, and next up is Constance MacKenzie, who gives her daughter a concerned gesture before going up to the chair.
Charles grills Connie about the testimony of her three children, even touching upon the alleged assault of Marion (I realize here that for this reason, Charles might not be eligible to prosecute, but then again, what with the whole "small town" thing, and since rules/laws might have been different in the 1960s, we might be able to justify that). He even asks her if Selena killing Lucas should be seen as a reflection of Connie's "violent" influence. Poor Connie is overwhelmed by everything and ends up breaking down in tears.
Marion Partridge, Catherine Harrington and Roberta Carter all smirk evilly at the sight, but Selena gets a look of quiet outrage on her face.
Judge Aldridge calls for a recess, and Connie is taken into a back room where she's tended to by Mike, Allison and Matt. Connie tearfully asks her daughter why she never told her about Lucas attacking her, and Allison, rather teary-eyed herself, apologizes and insists that she thought it was the right thing not to tell. Connie understands that all too well.
Meanwhile, Mike takes Matt aside and vents his frustration at not being able to protect his future wife and future children from all this abuse and spectacle... and possibly a murder conviction. If only they could tell the full story about Lucas, Selena would be let off... but Matt points out that Selena doesn't want to anyone to know...
...only for Steven Cord to enter with Selena. She asks to have a moment with Mike.
When they're alone out in the hall, Selena says only one thing to her future stepfather: "That man made my mother cry."
Meanwhile, Norman Harrington, who's been seated beside his mother this whole time, has his gaze caught by Betty Anderson, who signals to him to meet her privately. He tells Catherine that he needs to use the bathroom and follows Betty into the hall, where she has a big announcement for him:
"I'm pregnant."
In hushed tones, they agree to head over to White River to elope, although Norman insists that they wait until after the trial is over. Betty agrees, although she warns him not to double-cross her and try to get out of this, but Norman reassures her that he has every intention of marrying her. "I have too much to gain!"
Some time later, when court is back in session, Steven Cord calls Dr. Michael Rossi to the stand. Selena watches him go up to the chair with a look of grim determination and resignation. She knows what he's about to reveal, and it was she who told him to do so.
Mike reveals that in the summer of 1961, just before Lucas Cross left town, that he, Mike, gave Selena an abortion (a lie, since it was Dr. Claire Morton and Laura Brooks who did that, but Mike is willing to take the fall for them). He reveals that the reason he did so was because Selena had been impregnated by her own stepfather, Lucas Cross herself.
The courtroom erupts into another tidal wave of gasps and rumblings. Judge Aldridge pounds his gavel for order.
Mike further testifies that it was he who ran Lucas out of town, promising the other man that he'd kill Lucas himself if he ever came back. "But I should have killed him then. Lucas was crazy in the worst way possible. He needed to be killed. And I've never said that about another living soul in my life."
Charles Partridge objects, pointing out the lack of proof...
...until Mike produces the letter of confession, signed by Lucas Cross himself.
A handwriting expert is able to confirm that it is indeed Lucas' signature, and Judge Aldridge calls Charles Partridge and Steven Cord to the bench. After a whispered conference, Mike's testimony and evidence is taken into account. Charles Partridge, in an attempt at redemption, requests that all charges be dropped; the man looks horrified and sickened with himself. Judge Aldridge decides that the jury should have a final say, and has them retreat into a private room.
10 minutes later, they come out, and Leslie Harrington, speaking on behalf of the jury, declares, "NOT GUILTY."
There's some sighs of relief, although pretty much everybody is reeling from the revelation about Selena, as well what Dr. Rossi has confessed to. Marion Partridge is FUMING with rage, calling Mike a murderer, and Catherine, also furious but able to keep a cooler head, declares that she's going to make absolute certain that Dr. Rossi loses his medical license. As for Roberta Carter... she only has eyes for her son, Ted, who looks at Selena while she's being hugged by her family and friends as the reporters get more photos in.
Selena finally turns, her eyes meeting her fiancé's. They hold gazes for a while...
...before Ted turns away and leaves the courthouse with his mother, who spares Selena the smuggest "I win" look as she possessively grips her son's arm.
The MacKenzies are shocked, appalled and outraged at Ted turning his back on Selena, but Selena herself has a resigned look on her face. She knew Ted would leave her if he knew the truth.
Charles Partridge sheepishly approaches Selena and sincerely, humbly apologizes. She gives him a sober nod, and he retreats, knowing that's the best he's going to get.
Finally, Steven Cord tells the MacKenzie family that he can let them out a back door so they can avoid the mob of reporters. Connie, Mike, Selena, Allison and Joey all follow him out, although Matt Swain stays behind to act as a buffer to the crowds.
Meanwhile, Norman Harrington manages to make his excuses to his mother and slips away, jumping into a car driven by Betty, and the two head to White River.
Connie, Mike, Allison, Selena and Joey all walk home, relieved that Selena was proven not guilty after all, although there's also the issue that Mike my lose his medical license. Mike shrugs and says, "Let them try and take it away. If they succeed, I'll find another job. It was worth it, to help out my kids." Selena and Joey hug him for that, while Allison simply smiles.
At some point, Allison and Selena begin to lag behind, and encourage the other three to go on without them. Selena doesn't want to go back into the house just yet, especially after being cooped up for so long. She and Allison begin to walk around the neighborhood, soaking in the lovely June weather and reveling in their freedom. They begin to talk and recap what they just went through, and Allison even goes so far to say "What a gentlemen!" about Mike. She's suddenly quite pleased that her mother is marrying such a man.
Allison also expresses outrage at Ted, but Selena shrugs and says that he had his reasons for turning away. A girl with Selena's problems wouldn't be able to fit into his life plan, which Allison can only scoff at.
Selena asks Allison if she plans on returning to New York, and Allison says that she might go back someday, but for now, she'd like to stick around here. "I feel like I haven't been able to get to know my own mother yet."
The two girls finally decide to head home.
At the MacKenzie house, Connie, Mike and Joey decide to whip up a celebratory feast: frying up burgers and French fries, and getting out some cold Coca colas. They wait for Allison and Selena, but after a while, decide to eat the food while it's still warm. Connie expresses worry at her daughters staying out late, but Mike reassures her that they should be fine...
...but sadly, it is not meant to be.
They suddenly hear the roaring of a car engine, the screeching of tires, a thud...
...followed by Selena's screams.
Connie, Mike and Joey all run outside...
...and behold Selena, frozen in shock as she lies near the sidewalk as she stares...
...at Allison lying out in the middle of the street.
Connie screams herself, before crying out, "ALLISON! ALLISON! ALLISON! ALLISON! ALLLLLISSSSOOOONNNNNN!!!"
And thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's it for Season 3, folks!
- Awards
- 44
Wonderful stuff, @Ked. I love that we're still getting updated sequences from the book even after three seasons. This was well worth the wait!! 
That cliffhanger, though. I had to just go back to post #1 to reassure myself that this isn't the end of the story and we will be put out of our suspense... at some point.
That cliffhanger, though. I had to just go back to post #1 to reassure myself that this isn't the end of the story and we will be put out of our suspense... at some point.
- Awards
- 4
Wonderful stuff, @Ked. I love that we're still getting updated sequences from the book even after three seasons. This was well worth the wait!!
D'awwwwwwwwwwww, thank you so much!!! I'm so happy you think so!
Rest assured, this is only the end of the season, not the series. And I'll give you a spoiler: no, Allison does *not* die. In fact, this particular episode is meant to stand out: it's the only episode where nobody dies. I decided on that because I figured somebody would make the joke about this series, "They can't go one episode without somebody dying!" I decided to show that yes, this series CAN go one episode with nobody dying.
- Awards
- 4
Also, here's more "costume pages" for the characters! This season was fun, because it spans 2 years, so therefore we get a slightly wider range in fashion.
Allison MacKenzie
I love Allison's wardrobe this year, because of how "artsy" it looks; perfect for an aspiring writer living with two fashion models in New York! One thing you may notice is that it doesn't include the polka dot dress I had in an earlier post; the reason it's not included here was because I decided I didn't want it after all.
Connie MacKenzie
Connie's wardrobe maintains the theme of last season: mostly pinks, blues and florals; but this season she branches out a little more and wears other colors like red, yellow and black (for Harmon Carter's funeral, and for the scene where Selena confesses to Lucas' murder).
Selena MacKenzie
Selena's clothes are noticeably a lot brighter and more colorful in the first half of the season (except for the black dress she wears to Harmon Carter's funeral), but after she kills Lucas, her wardrobe becomes a lot more dull and subdued, reflecting her situation.
Betty Anderson
Betty FINALLY has an expanded wardrobe, thanks to the salary Martin Peyton is giving her. As per usual, she wears lots of red, and her overall style is is becoming more sophisticated and classy... but no less sexy.
Alma Miles
Nothing much to say here, other than that Alma is still little Miss Fashionista.
Catherine Harrington
Catherine's wardrobe is starting to take on a vague "Alexis Colby" vibe, and I personally love it. She's the richest lady in town, and won't let anyone forget that.
Principal Elsie Thorton
Not much to say here, other than this is all meant to reflect Elsie's practical nature, but now that she's principal and making more money, she can afford to look a little more sophisticated.
Hannah Cord
The first image on the left is how I imagine Hannah looking in general. Isn't she gorgeous? Not to mention regal, classy and sophisticated. Even though she starts off as merely a "housekeeper" to Martin Peyton, I plan on Hannah becoming the "Sable" of this series later on!
Stephanie "Steve" Wallace & Sharon Purcell
These two New York beauties needed clothing to reflect their lavish lifestyles, so I specifically googled fashion models from those years. It was fun finding actual black models from the early 1960s!
I really wanted to find suitable clothes for Vickie Fletcher (another New York black girl), but it was hard to find what I had in mind; the type of clothing I imagine Vickie wearing doesn't come along until later in the decade. Shoot.
Allison MacKenzie
I love Allison's wardrobe this year, because of how "artsy" it looks; perfect for an aspiring writer living with two fashion models in New York! One thing you may notice is that it doesn't include the polka dot dress I had in an earlier post; the reason it's not included here was because I decided I didn't want it after all.
Connie MacKenzie
Connie's wardrobe maintains the theme of last season: mostly pinks, blues and florals; but this season she branches out a little more and wears other colors like red, yellow and black (for Harmon Carter's funeral, and for the scene where Selena confesses to Lucas' murder).
Selena MacKenzie
Selena's clothes are noticeably a lot brighter and more colorful in the first half of the season (except for the black dress she wears to Harmon Carter's funeral), but after she kills Lucas, her wardrobe becomes a lot more dull and subdued, reflecting her situation.
Betty Anderson
Betty FINALLY has an expanded wardrobe, thanks to the salary Martin Peyton is giving her. As per usual, she wears lots of red, and her overall style is is becoming more sophisticated and classy... but no less sexy.
Alma Miles
Nothing much to say here, other than that Alma is still little Miss Fashionista.
Catherine Harrington
Catherine's wardrobe is starting to take on a vague "Alexis Colby" vibe, and I personally love it.
She's the richest lady in town, and won't let anyone forget that. Principal Elsie Thorton
Not much to say here, other than this is all meant to reflect Elsie's practical nature, but now that she's principal and making more money, she can afford to look a little more sophisticated.
Hannah Cord
The first image on the left is how I imagine Hannah looking in general. Isn't she gorgeous? Not to mention regal, classy and sophisticated. Even though she starts off as merely a "housekeeper" to Martin Peyton, I plan on Hannah becoming the "Sable" of this series later on!
Stephanie "Steve" Wallace & Sharon Purcell
These two New York beauties needed clothing to reflect their lavish lifestyles, so I specifically googled fashion models from those years. It was fun finding actual black models from the early 1960s!
I really wanted to find suitable clothes for Vickie Fletcher (another New York black girl), but it was hard to find what I had in mind; the type of clothing I imagine Vickie wearing doesn't come along until later in the decade. Shoot.
- Awards
- 4
Okay! A few announcements:
-An important detail about Seasons 4 and 5, is that they're going to be treated as a two-act play. This is thanks to the fact that... in Season 4... both Elliot Carson and Ann Howard arrive in town. And their initial impact on the town will need more than just a single season!
-Next, the following seasons are going to be told differently, because... I'm kinda stuck. Meaning I won't be able to go over them episode by episode as much because there are some important details that are not yet fully developed yet, so it would be unwise to "count my eggs before they hatch," so to speak. HOWEVER, I *do* know what I want to have happen in general, so I'm probably going to do full(ish) season summaries for the next four seasons.
-Finally, because of the above issue, I'm also going to be open to ideas/suggestions on how to get everything organized. PLEASE feel free to voice anything you can come up with; I could really use the help.
-An important detail about Seasons 4 and 5, is that they're going to be treated as a two-act play. This is thanks to the fact that... in Season 4... both Elliot Carson and Ann Howard arrive in town. And their initial impact on the town will need more than just a single season!
-Next, the following seasons are going to be told differently, because... I'm kinda stuck. Meaning I won't be able to go over them episode by episode as much because there are some important details that are not yet fully developed yet, so it would be unwise to "count my eggs before they hatch," so to speak. HOWEVER, I *do* know what I want to have happen in general, so I'm probably going to do full(ish) season summaries for the next four seasons.
-Finally, because of the above issue, I'm also going to be open to ideas/suggestions on how to get everything organized. PLEASE feel free to voice anything you can come up with; I could really use the help.
Last edited:
- Awards
- 4
Season 4
Episode 1:
June 1964
The 4th season starts off like this:
Notable differences would be:
-Connie MacKenzie runs into Laura Brooks instead of Betty Anderson;
-even though Mike Rossi arrives on the scene to help settle his fiancée, Dr. Claire Morton is there too. Because Mike is Allison's future stepfather, it would be unethical for him to operate on her, so Claire is going to take over for that, not to mention Mike is currently in danger of losing his medical license;
-when Connie insists on seeing Allison, she says, "The image of my daughter lying out there in the middle of the road keeps flashing before my eyes! If I see her... see her now... maybe that image will go away!"
-when she's finally allowed to see her daughter, we actually get to see Allison... lying there unconscious with tubes and hoses in her... thus making it a cruel mercy that they let Connie see her. Now the image of seeing her daughter in this state has replaced the image of her in the street.
Naturally, the whole family is shook: just when they thought things had finally settled down with the end of Selena's trial, Allison becomes the victim of a hit-and-run. Heck, the whole town is shook, and since the accident happened only hours after the trial ended, there were still many reporters in town (and since most, if not all of them, were at Whitehall Inn, it's possible it was Catherine Harrington, who again is on the hospital board, made certain that they all knew about it). Thus, the media fiasco has extended, with nosy reporters hounding the MacKenzies for details, though thankfully the police manage to stave them off.
As for Allison, she's in a coma like in the original series, in critical condition. Dr. Claire Morton and Dr. Harry Miles do their best to help her while the MacKenzie family (plus Mike and Matt Swain) waits anxiously.
The police interview Selena, who recaps what happened in the last episode, while also revealing new information: when the two girls decided to head back home after their walk (side note: they had gone to Allison's secret place in the woods), Allison playfully said, "I'll race ya," prompting in a friendly run. Just as they neared the block where the MacKenzie house sat, Selena lost a shoe and went back into the road to get it... when suddenly, she heard the revving of a car engine, followed by something pushing her out of the way.
At first Selena thought she herself had been struck by the car, only to realize that no, Allison had come running and pushed her out of the way... only to take the blow herself. Selena was so fixated on Allison that she didn't even bother trying to remember anything about the car: not the color, not the model, not the license, who the driver was... all she could see in that moment was Allison, her childhood best friend and adoptive sister who testified on her behalf at the trial and just now saved her life...
The MacKenzies can only huddle and pray that Allison somehow makes it.
Meanwhile, Catherine Harrington is distraught herself: her precious baby Norman is nowhere to be found! He disappeared after the trial, and he hasn't been seen or heard from since yesterday! This has never happened before, Norman disappearing overnight. Catherine becomes convinced that he's been kidnapped, and even thinks the MacKenzies are somehow involved. At first, Leslie Harrington isn't too concerned, as Rodney has stayed out nights before, until Catherine points out that this is Norman they're talking about. Leslie realizes his wife has a point, and calls the police.
However, Norman returns later in the morning, much to the frantic relief of his mother, and the more sobered relief of his father... except both Harrington parents grimace as soon as they realize that Betty Anderson is once again darkening their doorstep... only to react in absolute shock when Norman announces:
"Betty and I are married."
Betty smiles with serene smugness and coolly announces, "And we're expecting," patting her stomach.
Silence.
Followed by a long, slow wail that erupts from the mouth of Catherine Harrington. How could her little boy DO this to her?! After all she had done for him?! Did Norman really hate her so?! Had he been bewitched?! Yes, that's it! Her baby had been bewitched! She knew that Anderson tramp was no good, she knew it all along! How DARE that common whore seduce her beloved son?!
Catherine tries to throw herself at Betty, but Leslie, Rodney and Norman manage to hold her back. Betty simply stands there, serene as Mary and smug as Satan.
Leslie tells Norman to take Betty and leave the house while he calms his mother down. Figuring that that's the only wise thing to do right now, Norman obeys and herds his new wife out. The first place they go is Matthew Swain's house, as it's right next to the Harrington house. Because it's later in the day, they realize Matt will probably be at work, but figure he won't mind if they sit in his living room for a while. However, as they walk up, Alma Miles, who lives on the other side of Matt's house, calls from her porch and tells Norman and Betty about Allison's accident. She gives them a ride to the hospital.
In the meantime, Leslie manages to pin Catherine down while Rodney fetches a tranquilizer. Once Catherine is subdued, Leslie carries her back to bed, and he and Rodney discuss this new development: Rodney's ex-girlfriend now married to Rodney's younger brother. And so suddenly, too! There had been rumors, but nothing concrete about anything going on between Norman and Betty! Heck, Betty had even hooked up with Rodney a few times over the past several months, although Rodney admits that Betty never said she wanted to get serious with him again; she was just looking to have fun.
Rodney further admits to how confused he feels: he supposes he does feel betrayed by his brother and ex-girlfriend, but at the same time... what would he, Rodney, want with Betty anyway? Things were so complicated where she was concerned. And then there's Allison; Rodney still hasn't gone to see her, mostly because he isn't sure about whether he should or not. He had asked her if she wanted to get back together, but she said no. She seemed really put off by the idea... did that mean she didn't want him around ever?
Leslie expresses deep sympathy for his son, and promises he'll get things settled for his sake. Rodney, as always, decides to leave things to Daddy dearest.
Back at the hospital, the MacKenzies are visited by Norman, Betty, Alma, Steven Cord and Reverend Jerry Bedford. The news on Allison is that she's stabilized but comatose, and Matt Swain is working at the Clarion, getting all this down as he can't just sit and helplessly wait for more news - especially since he's the one in town who makes the news. He's just hopeful that he doesn't have to type out an obituary next.
Selena ends up quoting one of Allison's old poems:
"Indian summer filters in
with promise of an endless song.
But twilight comes with new demand,
and now my soul be strong."
At some point, Dr. Claire Morton takes Mike aside and says that he doesn't have to worry about losing his medical license; she'll confess that she was the doctor who gave Selena her abortion. Mike, however, forbids it. "I was the one who convinced you to do it, it was my idea, my plan, so therefore, I'm the one who should be reaping the consequences. Besides, I've already made the public confession; even if everyone in town is told that I lied, they'll still remember my confession. I'm ruined anyway. Don't let the same thing happen to you."
After some more arguing, Claire hangs her head and agrees; she won't tell anyone the truth.
Eventually, everyone must leave the hospital and go their separate ways, as there's really nothing any of them can do. Connie has to be coaxed home, being reminded she has to be there for Selena and Joey as well. This, however, makes things worse for Connie, because after all, whoever hit Allison is not only still out there... but there's a chance they were after Selena. And given all the people who were against Selena...
Mike tells her she shouldn't start making accusations, and also points out what the police have already discussed: they're going to keep an eye on every local garage for any car that has the right kind of markings for a hit-and-run. Although it's possible that whoever's responsible will just go to Boston or some other faraway city...
...except the person responsible didn't go to a faraway city.
They remained here in Peyton Place, their car parked inside their garage.
And who is the culprit, you might ask?
Why, none other than Marion Partridge herself!
Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!
And that's another reason for why I decided to have Charles Partridge be the prosecutor last season: originally it was going to be John Fowler, and I was going to keep in his wife, Marian, being the one who hits Allison... except I ended up realizing just how much more dramatic, dynamic and deliciously ironic it would be if I replaced the Fowlers with the Partridges. Especially since the wives are "Marian" and "Marion."
Plus, this is also meant to tie into something that happened in the book: at Selena's trial, Marion Partridge became convinced that her husband was having an affair with Selena, and decided, "I'll kill her myself." Sadly, such a development never saw the light of day, not even in the book's sequel. Which was really sad, considering all the drama that could have come from that. So I decided to put that to good use for this version.
In the meantime, Betty Anderson - or should I say, Betty Harrington - goes to Peyton Castle to announce to Martin Peyton that she had eloped with Norman, and that she was pregnant with his child. Now the old man could rewrite his will so that everything will pass over Catherine and go to Norman AND Betty.
...except Martin Peyton reveals he has no intention of doing that.
Betty goes stone cold and demands to know why.
Martin explains that he's been keeping a close eye on Betty's doings these past several months, and he thinks that she's pulling a fast one on him, that the baby isn't Norman's... but Rodney's.
While this is certainly the truth, Betty's not about to let a frivolous thing like that get in the way of inheriting the Peyton fortune. So she lies and says that the baby is indeed Norman's, and that the only reason she was ever spotted with Rodney was because he chased her and she humored him. But she "never" slept with Rodney, as she knew that would ruin her and Martin's plan. Besides, after what Rodney put her through the first time back in 1961, why would she want to go through all that again? She's finished with him, and only wants to be with Norman now!
Martin admits that he has no proof one way or the other... and that's why he's going to wait until the baby is born, and then he'll inspect it. If the baby looks like Norman, Martin will rewrite his will... but if it looks like Rodney, he'll disinherit Norman, unless he agrees to divorce Betty.
Betty puts on a bold front: of COURSE the baby will look like Norman! He's the father, after all!
While that's happening, Leslie Harrington tracks down Norman and has a little chat with his youngest son. They have a serious discussion over Norman marrying his older brother's ex-girlfriend, with Leslie bluntly saying that Betty is obviously only after Norman's inheritance, and is using this baby to entrap him. Norman shrugs and says, "Well, what's wrong with that?"
"I'll tell you what's wrong with that, son. I won't have that Anderson girl getting one red cent of our money. Not after all the trouble she's caused. Now either you get an annulment or a divorce, I don't care which. Until then, you'll be out of my will."
Norman panics, realizing that this will mean he'll be financially dependent on Catherine now... and right now at this moment, being at his mother's mercy is NOT something he wants.
However, once Norman and Betty reunite and relay what just happened to them, he remembers something... something that Charles Partridge had revealed to him last season... about Hester Goodale leaving her house and a sum of money to him...
He hesitates.
The idea of living in that creepy old house where that creepy old woman used to live and stare at him... what if her ghost was still there? What if she never gave him a moment's peace? What if... what if... what if he never got away from his own mother? What if he spent the rest of his life being strangled by her apron strings? What if he never got to see Paul Hanley again?
Reluctantly, Norman ends up revealing this other inheritance he has coming to him, and Betty immediately pounces on it. Doesn't he see? This means freedom for them! Nobody can tell them what to do anymore if they have their own money and their own house. So what if the house used to belong that old nut Goodale? Betty certainly didn't believe in ghosts, and even if there were any, Hester Goodale's would be long gone by now! Besides, they can always remodel and redecorate, make the place feel like theirs'! After all, they have a baby on the way, isn't it Norman's job as the husband and father to provide for his new family? Once Norman secures the home and the money, he won't have to worry about raising his brother's baby anyway, Betty will take care of that all by herself while Norman secretly goes and has his trysts with Paul Hanley.
"Don't you see, Norman? It's the only way for us to be happy!"
Side note: in an earlier post, I talked about having the Yoowing family moving into Hester Goodale's house, but I changed my mind.
And so, Norman and Betty go to Charles Partridge's office, where the older man is only too happy to finally hand over the deed and the money ($65,179.86, which would equal $642,738.60 in today's money) to Norman. They have to go to the bank for this, and Matthew Swain just so happens to be there. He overhears them talking and can't help but stick his nose into the conversation... except this proves to be a good thing, because after hearing that Norman may be disinherited from both of his parents for being married to Betty, Matt offers Norman a job at his newspaper as a combination bookkeeper and circulation manager, which the young man happily accepts!
Thus, the newlyweds move into their "new" house on Chestnut Street - the "best" street in Peyton Place, with $65,000+ in the bank and a decently-paying job lined up for Norman!
Betty is over the moon at this turn of good fortune after having the rug pulled out from under her earlier. She can now smugly nestle down in her house (which she of course will redecorate) while she waits her pregnancy out. She still intends on proving that the baby is Norman's, and is pretty certain she can get away with it. After all, both Norman and Rodney look very similar (Norman is shorter and thinner and has an overall more "feminine" look, but they have the same coloring, and bear a passing resemblance to their father). And even if Martin continues to believe that the baby is Rodney's, then fine. What does she care? Betty's sitting pretty right now!
...that is, until Norman goes in for his first day of work, leaving Betty alone in the house...
...and Catherine Harrington comes in...
...wielding a knife.
She corners Betty in the bathroom, very much acting like Glenn Close's character in "Fatal Attraction."
However, this doesn't result in a fight scene (sorry if that's a letdown, lol). Instead, Betty hastily confesses that the baby is Rodney's not Norman's...
...and that's enough to bring Catherine back down to earth. She asks Betty repeat herself, and she does: "The baby isn't Norman's. It's Rodney's."
Catherine heaves a HUGE sigh of relief, smiles and starts behaving in a saner manner... although she still keeps a hold of the knife. Backing out of the bathroom, Catherine declares that she's going to have the marriage annuls, and Betty doesn't dare argue with her. Instead, she slowly and carefully follows Catherine to the door, and once the older woman is out, Betty quickly locks the door, doing the same to all the windows and the back door, before huddling down and sobbing.
Meanwhile, Charles Partridge makes an alarming discovery when he comes home from work: when he gets out of his car in the garage, he happens to look over at his wife's car... and notices a dent on the front part... one that he's certain wasn't there the day before. He flashes back to the day of the trial, when he and Marion came home afterwards: Marion was enraged and going on about how Dr. Rossi was a murderer and how Selena was a murderer and how they and every member of the MacKenzie household were sinners who needed to be hanged or sent to a gas chamber or something, when finally Charles had enough and screamed at his wife to SHUT UP.
Marion was thunderstruck that her husband would speak to her like that, but he repeated himself, pointing out that Marion wanted him to prosecute a girl who defended herself against a rapist; who the hell is she to judge anyone?!
This started a huge fight, with Charles even grabbing one of the hundreds of nick-nacks Marion kept around the house and deliberately breaking it.
Kind of like this scene:
Marion screeched and screamed and cried and wailed, until finally she ran out of the house, into the garage, hopped into her car and sped off. Charles gave no more thought to his wife the evening, and simply sat in his chair in his study all night. He heard Marion come in later, but other than that, he heard no peep.
And now he knows that Allison MacKenzie had been hit by a car that same evening... could it be...? He doesn't want it to be... and after all, there was a chance that it wasn't... but if it was...
Charles goes inside and finds his wife...
...and here's where I'm stuck. Sorry. Now I do know what I want to have happen: Charles confronts Marion, who confesses that she was indeed the person who hit Allison with her car. Except I'm not sure exactly how to bring this about.
I do know I'd like for Marion to say absurd stuff like she was doing God's will in running down Allison, even though she was trying get Selena. After his wife confesses, Charles declares that he's going to call the police. Marion is upset, but surprisingly relents - but that's because she thinks Charles will defend her.
Charles, however, says that he won't be doing that. In fact, I'm tempted to give the Partridges this scene from the original series:
https://youtu.be/T7Ou4y1YZ6c?t=325
(Only Charles tells his wife to stay with Roberta Carter instead, since Marion has no family to stay with - or at least, no family who will take her in.)
Marion runs out and jumps into her car yet again, while Charles telephones the police. While driving, Marion comes to the conclusion that she can't let "that slut" Connie MacKenzie "get away with all this." So she drives over to the MacKenzie house... with the intention of killing Connie.
Meanwhile, guess who wakes up out of her coma? Why, Allison MacKenzie, of course! Oh, happy day!
Dr. Claire Morton inspects Allison, asking her all the customary questions and whatnot, before asking her if she remembers the accident. After a bit, Allison does remember: she saw a car coming towards Selena, and recognized it as Marion Partridge's car, with Marion herself behind the wheel!
Momentarily stunned, Claire orders one of the nurses to call the police, while Laura Brooks calls Connie, who thankfully answers.
Just as Laura finishing up explaining what Allison just said, Marion's car screeches to a halt outside the house.
Marion charges inside and comes face-to-face with Connie, who now knows who almost killed her daughter.
A woman scorned (or so she believes herself to be) vs a mama bear.
You thought we were going to get a deadly catfight earlier with Betty and Catherine? Nope! THIS is the deadly catfight!
...and once again, I'm stuck, because even though I plan on Marion Partridge dying... I haven't figure out yet exactly how it happens.
Suffice it to say, no charges are pressed against Connie, who was clearly acting in self-defense, especially since Marion came into her house with obvious intentions, and what's more, the fact that both Charles and Allison testified at different times and different places that Marion was the hit-and-run driver, is proof enough that Mrs. Partridge was the villain here.
Well, the town once again feels a shudder as this scandalous news ripples its way through town, and Charles Partridge decides it's time for him to move on. He leaves Peyton Place to start a new life... but not before he sells both his house and his practice to...
...Steven Cord, who acquired both at a bargain price, thanks to Charles being in a hurry to move on.
And so, old Charlie leaves town, declaring that the first stop along the way will be a whorehouse.
But this also means a serious new rearrangement for Chestnut Street:
Not only that, but get this: in the original books, Selena ended up getting together with Peter Drake, who acted as her defense lawyer at her trial. However, I always found Peter to be a terribly bland and generic character... plus, you may recall that I had Steven Cord as Selena's defense attorney.
Which means yes, at some point, Selena may find herself the new mistress of the house once owned by Marion Partridge herself. The poor woman will be rolling in her grave!
The final scene is modeled after this:
https://youtu.be/AQsO4bafCTk?list=PLAg2DUkk2Tt4hOvzG2JHTJfJlwNEEBpuU&t=1323
Just as things are getting back to normal with Connie back at work at the book shop, Matt Swain comes in and announces two important developments: Mike's hospital privileges have been suspended, he's being investigated and may lose his medical license thanks to his (albeit fake) confession to an abortion... and that Matt will speaking at the parole hearing of Elliot Carson... who has reached the end of his 20 year sentence.
"You may be facing Elliot soon."
Episode 1:
June 1964
The 4th season starts off like this:
Notable differences would be:
-Connie MacKenzie runs into Laura Brooks instead of Betty Anderson;
-even though Mike Rossi arrives on the scene to help settle his fiancée, Dr. Claire Morton is there too. Because Mike is Allison's future stepfather, it would be unethical for him to operate on her, so Claire is going to take over for that, not to mention Mike is currently in danger of losing his medical license;
-when Connie insists on seeing Allison, she says, "The image of my daughter lying out there in the middle of the road keeps flashing before my eyes! If I see her... see her now... maybe that image will go away!"
-when she's finally allowed to see her daughter, we actually get to see Allison... lying there unconscious with tubes and hoses in her... thus making it a cruel mercy that they let Connie see her. Now the image of seeing her daughter in this state has replaced the image of her in the street.
Naturally, the whole family is shook: just when they thought things had finally settled down with the end of Selena's trial, Allison becomes the victim of a hit-and-run. Heck, the whole town is shook, and since the accident happened only hours after the trial ended, there were still many reporters in town (and since most, if not all of them, were at Whitehall Inn, it's possible it was Catherine Harrington, who again is on the hospital board, made certain that they all knew about it). Thus, the media fiasco has extended, with nosy reporters hounding the MacKenzies for details, though thankfully the police manage to stave them off.
As for Allison, she's in a coma like in the original series, in critical condition. Dr. Claire Morton and Dr. Harry Miles do their best to help her while the MacKenzie family (plus Mike and Matt Swain) waits anxiously.
The police interview Selena, who recaps what happened in the last episode, while also revealing new information: when the two girls decided to head back home after their walk (side note: they had gone to Allison's secret place in the woods), Allison playfully said, "I'll race ya," prompting in a friendly run. Just as they neared the block where the MacKenzie house sat, Selena lost a shoe and went back into the road to get it... when suddenly, she heard the revving of a car engine, followed by something pushing her out of the way.
At first Selena thought she herself had been struck by the car, only to realize that no, Allison had come running and pushed her out of the way... only to take the blow herself. Selena was so fixated on Allison that she didn't even bother trying to remember anything about the car: not the color, not the model, not the license, who the driver was... all she could see in that moment was Allison, her childhood best friend and adoptive sister who testified on her behalf at the trial and just now saved her life...
The MacKenzies can only huddle and pray that Allison somehow makes it.
Meanwhile, Catherine Harrington is distraught herself: her precious baby Norman is nowhere to be found! He disappeared after the trial, and he hasn't been seen or heard from since yesterday! This has never happened before, Norman disappearing overnight. Catherine becomes convinced that he's been kidnapped, and even thinks the MacKenzies are somehow involved. At first, Leslie Harrington isn't too concerned, as Rodney has stayed out nights before, until Catherine points out that this is Norman they're talking about. Leslie realizes his wife has a point, and calls the police.
However, Norman returns later in the morning, much to the frantic relief of his mother, and the more sobered relief of his father... except both Harrington parents grimace as soon as they realize that Betty Anderson is once again darkening their doorstep... only to react in absolute shock when Norman announces:
"Betty and I are married."
Betty smiles with serene smugness and coolly announces, "And we're expecting," patting her stomach.
Silence.
Followed by a long, slow wail that erupts from the mouth of Catherine Harrington. How could her little boy DO this to her?! After all she had done for him?! Did Norman really hate her so?! Had he been bewitched?! Yes, that's it! Her baby had been bewitched! She knew that Anderson tramp was no good, she knew it all along! How DARE that common whore seduce her beloved son?!
Catherine tries to throw herself at Betty, but Leslie, Rodney and Norman manage to hold her back. Betty simply stands there, serene as Mary and smug as Satan.
Leslie tells Norman to take Betty and leave the house while he calms his mother down. Figuring that that's the only wise thing to do right now, Norman obeys and herds his new wife out. The first place they go is Matthew Swain's house, as it's right next to the Harrington house. Because it's later in the day, they realize Matt will probably be at work, but figure he won't mind if they sit in his living room for a while. However, as they walk up, Alma Miles, who lives on the other side of Matt's house, calls from her porch and tells Norman and Betty about Allison's accident. She gives them a ride to the hospital.
In the meantime, Leslie manages to pin Catherine down while Rodney fetches a tranquilizer. Once Catherine is subdued, Leslie carries her back to bed, and he and Rodney discuss this new development: Rodney's ex-girlfriend now married to Rodney's younger brother. And so suddenly, too! There had been rumors, but nothing concrete about anything going on between Norman and Betty! Heck, Betty had even hooked up with Rodney a few times over the past several months, although Rodney admits that Betty never said she wanted to get serious with him again; she was just looking to have fun.
Rodney further admits to how confused he feels: he supposes he does feel betrayed by his brother and ex-girlfriend, but at the same time... what would he, Rodney, want with Betty anyway? Things were so complicated where she was concerned. And then there's Allison; Rodney still hasn't gone to see her, mostly because he isn't sure about whether he should or not. He had asked her if she wanted to get back together, but she said no. She seemed really put off by the idea... did that mean she didn't want him around ever?
Leslie expresses deep sympathy for his son, and promises he'll get things settled for his sake. Rodney, as always, decides to leave things to Daddy dearest.
Back at the hospital, the MacKenzies are visited by Norman, Betty, Alma, Steven Cord and Reverend Jerry Bedford. The news on Allison is that she's stabilized but comatose, and Matt Swain is working at the Clarion, getting all this down as he can't just sit and helplessly wait for more news - especially since he's the one in town who makes the news. He's just hopeful that he doesn't have to type out an obituary next.
Selena ends up quoting one of Allison's old poems:
"Indian summer filters in
with promise of an endless song.
But twilight comes with new demand,
and now my soul be strong."
At some point, Dr. Claire Morton takes Mike aside and says that he doesn't have to worry about losing his medical license; she'll confess that she was the doctor who gave Selena her abortion. Mike, however, forbids it. "I was the one who convinced you to do it, it was my idea, my plan, so therefore, I'm the one who should be reaping the consequences. Besides, I've already made the public confession; even if everyone in town is told that I lied, they'll still remember my confession. I'm ruined anyway. Don't let the same thing happen to you."
After some more arguing, Claire hangs her head and agrees; she won't tell anyone the truth.
Eventually, everyone must leave the hospital and go their separate ways, as there's really nothing any of them can do. Connie has to be coaxed home, being reminded she has to be there for Selena and Joey as well. This, however, makes things worse for Connie, because after all, whoever hit Allison is not only still out there... but there's a chance they were after Selena. And given all the people who were against Selena...
Mike tells her she shouldn't start making accusations, and also points out what the police have already discussed: they're going to keep an eye on every local garage for any car that has the right kind of markings for a hit-and-run. Although it's possible that whoever's responsible will just go to Boston or some other faraway city...
...except the person responsible didn't go to a faraway city.
They remained here in Peyton Place, their car parked inside their garage.
And who is the culprit, you might ask?
Why, none other than Marion Partridge herself!
Dun dun duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!
And that's another reason for why I decided to have Charles Partridge be the prosecutor last season: originally it was going to be John Fowler, and I was going to keep in his wife, Marian, being the one who hits Allison... except I ended up realizing just how much more dramatic, dynamic and deliciously ironic it would be if I replaced the Fowlers with the Partridges. Especially since the wives are "Marian" and "Marion."
Plus, this is also meant to tie into something that happened in the book: at Selena's trial, Marion Partridge became convinced that her husband was having an affair with Selena, and decided, "I'll kill her myself." Sadly, such a development never saw the light of day, not even in the book's sequel. Which was really sad, considering all the drama that could have come from that. So I decided to put that to good use for this version.
In the meantime, Betty Anderson - or should I say, Betty Harrington - goes to Peyton Castle to announce to Martin Peyton that she had eloped with Norman, and that she was pregnant with his child. Now the old man could rewrite his will so that everything will pass over Catherine and go to Norman AND Betty.
...except Martin Peyton reveals he has no intention of doing that.
Betty goes stone cold and demands to know why.
Martin explains that he's been keeping a close eye on Betty's doings these past several months, and he thinks that she's pulling a fast one on him, that the baby isn't Norman's... but Rodney's.
While this is certainly the truth, Betty's not about to let a frivolous thing like that get in the way of inheriting the Peyton fortune. So she lies and says that the baby is indeed Norman's, and that the only reason she was ever spotted with Rodney was because he chased her and she humored him. But she "never" slept with Rodney, as she knew that would ruin her and Martin's plan. Besides, after what Rodney put her through the first time back in 1961, why would she want to go through all that again? She's finished with him, and only wants to be with Norman now!
Martin admits that he has no proof one way or the other... and that's why he's going to wait until the baby is born, and then he'll inspect it. If the baby looks like Norman, Martin will rewrite his will... but if it looks like Rodney, he'll disinherit Norman, unless he agrees to divorce Betty.
Betty puts on a bold front: of COURSE the baby will look like Norman! He's the father, after all!
While that's happening, Leslie Harrington tracks down Norman and has a little chat with his youngest son. They have a serious discussion over Norman marrying his older brother's ex-girlfriend, with Leslie bluntly saying that Betty is obviously only after Norman's inheritance, and is using this baby to entrap him. Norman shrugs and says, "Well, what's wrong with that?"
"I'll tell you what's wrong with that, son. I won't have that Anderson girl getting one red cent of our money. Not after all the trouble she's caused. Now either you get an annulment or a divorce, I don't care which. Until then, you'll be out of my will."
Norman panics, realizing that this will mean he'll be financially dependent on Catherine now... and right now at this moment, being at his mother's mercy is NOT something he wants.
However, once Norman and Betty reunite and relay what just happened to them, he remembers something... something that Charles Partridge had revealed to him last season... about Hester Goodale leaving her house and a sum of money to him...
He hesitates.
The idea of living in that creepy old house where that creepy old woman used to live and stare at him... what if her ghost was still there? What if she never gave him a moment's peace? What if... what if... what if he never got away from his own mother? What if he spent the rest of his life being strangled by her apron strings? What if he never got to see Paul Hanley again?
Reluctantly, Norman ends up revealing this other inheritance he has coming to him, and Betty immediately pounces on it. Doesn't he see? This means freedom for them! Nobody can tell them what to do anymore if they have their own money and their own house. So what if the house used to belong that old nut Goodale? Betty certainly didn't believe in ghosts, and even if there were any, Hester Goodale's would be long gone by now! Besides, they can always remodel and redecorate, make the place feel like theirs'! After all, they have a baby on the way, isn't it Norman's job as the husband and father to provide for his new family? Once Norman secures the home and the money, he won't have to worry about raising his brother's baby anyway, Betty will take care of that all by herself while Norman secretly goes and has his trysts with Paul Hanley.
"Don't you see, Norman? It's the only way for us to be happy!"
Side note: in an earlier post, I talked about having the Yoowing family moving into Hester Goodale's house, but I changed my mind.
And so, Norman and Betty go to Charles Partridge's office, where the older man is only too happy to finally hand over the deed and the money ($65,179.86, which would equal $642,738.60 in today's money) to Norman. They have to go to the bank for this, and Matthew Swain just so happens to be there. He overhears them talking and can't help but stick his nose into the conversation... except this proves to be a good thing, because after hearing that Norman may be disinherited from both of his parents for being married to Betty, Matt offers Norman a job at his newspaper as a combination bookkeeper and circulation manager, which the young man happily accepts!
Thus, the newlyweds move into their "new" house on Chestnut Street - the "best" street in Peyton Place, with $65,000+ in the bank and a decently-paying job lined up for Norman!
Betty is over the moon at this turn of good fortune after having the rug pulled out from under her earlier. She can now smugly nestle down in her house (which she of course will redecorate) while she waits her pregnancy out. She still intends on proving that the baby is Norman's, and is pretty certain she can get away with it. After all, both Norman and Rodney look very similar (Norman is shorter and thinner and has an overall more "feminine" look, but they have the same coloring, and bear a passing resemblance to their father). And even if Martin continues to believe that the baby is Rodney's, then fine. What does she care? Betty's sitting pretty right now!
...that is, until Norman goes in for his first day of work, leaving Betty alone in the house...
...and Catherine Harrington comes in...
...wielding a knife.
She corners Betty in the bathroom, very much acting like Glenn Close's character in "Fatal Attraction."
However, this doesn't result in a fight scene (sorry if that's a letdown, lol). Instead, Betty hastily confesses that the baby is Rodney's not Norman's...
...and that's enough to bring Catherine back down to earth. She asks Betty repeat herself, and she does: "The baby isn't Norman's. It's Rodney's."
Catherine heaves a HUGE sigh of relief, smiles and starts behaving in a saner manner... although she still keeps a hold of the knife. Backing out of the bathroom, Catherine declares that she's going to have the marriage annuls, and Betty doesn't dare argue with her. Instead, she slowly and carefully follows Catherine to the door, and once the older woman is out, Betty quickly locks the door, doing the same to all the windows and the back door, before huddling down and sobbing.
Meanwhile, Charles Partridge makes an alarming discovery when he comes home from work: when he gets out of his car in the garage, he happens to look over at his wife's car... and notices a dent on the front part... one that he's certain wasn't there the day before. He flashes back to the day of the trial, when he and Marion came home afterwards: Marion was enraged and going on about how Dr. Rossi was a murderer and how Selena was a murderer and how they and every member of the MacKenzie household were sinners who needed to be hanged or sent to a gas chamber or something, when finally Charles had enough and screamed at his wife to SHUT UP.
Marion was thunderstruck that her husband would speak to her like that, but he repeated himself, pointing out that Marion wanted him to prosecute a girl who defended herself against a rapist; who the hell is she to judge anyone?!
This started a huge fight, with Charles even grabbing one of the hundreds of nick-nacks Marion kept around the house and deliberately breaking it.
Kind of like this scene:
Marion screeched and screamed and cried and wailed, until finally she ran out of the house, into the garage, hopped into her car and sped off. Charles gave no more thought to his wife the evening, and simply sat in his chair in his study all night. He heard Marion come in later, but other than that, he heard no peep.
And now he knows that Allison MacKenzie had been hit by a car that same evening... could it be...? He doesn't want it to be... and after all, there was a chance that it wasn't... but if it was...
Charles goes inside and finds his wife...
...and here's where I'm stuck. Sorry.
Now I do know what I want to have happen: Charles confronts Marion, who confesses that she was indeed the person who hit Allison with her car. Except I'm not sure exactly how to bring this about. I do know I'd like for Marion to say absurd stuff like she was doing God's will in running down Allison, even though she was trying get Selena. After his wife confesses, Charles declares that he's going to call the police. Marion is upset, but surprisingly relents - but that's because she thinks Charles will defend her.
Charles, however, says that he won't be doing that. In fact, I'm tempted to give the Partridges this scene from the original series:
https://youtu.be/T7Ou4y1YZ6c?t=325
(Only Charles tells his wife to stay with Roberta Carter instead, since Marion has no family to stay with - or at least, no family who will take her in.)
Marion runs out and jumps into her car yet again, while Charles telephones the police. While driving, Marion comes to the conclusion that she can't let "that slut" Connie MacKenzie "get away with all this." So she drives over to the MacKenzie house... with the intention of killing Connie.
Meanwhile, guess who wakes up out of her coma? Why, Allison MacKenzie, of course! Oh, happy day!
Dr. Claire Morton inspects Allison, asking her all the customary questions and whatnot, before asking her if she remembers the accident. After a bit, Allison does remember: she saw a car coming towards Selena, and recognized it as Marion Partridge's car, with Marion herself behind the wheel!
Momentarily stunned, Claire orders one of the nurses to call the police, while Laura Brooks calls Connie, who thankfully answers.
Just as Laura finishing up explaining what Allison just said, Marion's car screeches to a halt outside the house.
Marion charges inside and comes face-to-face with Connie, who now knows who almost killed her daughter.
A woman scorned (or so she believes herself to be) vs a mama bear.
You thought we were going to get a deadly catfight earlier with Betty and Catherine? Nope! THIS is the deadly catfight!
...and once again, I'm stuck, because even though I plan on Marion Partridge dying... I haven't figure out yet exactly how it happens.
Suffice it to say, no charges are pressed against Connie, who was clearly acting in self-defense, especially since Marion came into her house with obvious intentions, and what's more, the fact that both Charles and Allison testified at different times and different places that Marion was the hit-and-run driver, is proof enough that Mrs. Partridge was the villain here.
Well, the town once again feels a shudder as this scandalous news ripples its way through town, and Charles Partridge decides it's time for him to move on. He leaves Peyton Place to start a new life... but not before he sells both his house and his practice to...
...Steven Cord, who acquired both at a bargain price, thanks to Charles being in a hurry to move on.
And so, old Charlie leaves town, declaring that the first stop along the way will be a whorehouse.
But this also means a serious new rearrangement for Chestnut Street:
Not only that, but get this: in the original books, Selena ended up getting together with Peter Drake, who acted as her defense lawyer at her trial. However, I always found Peter to be a terribly bland and generic character... plus, you may recall that I had Steven Cord as Selena's defense attorney.
Which means yes, at some point, Selena may find herself the new mistress of the house once owned by Marion Partridge herself.
The poor woman will be rolling in her grave! The final scene is modeled after this:
https://youtu.be/AQsO4bafCTk?list=PLAg2DUkk2Tt4hOvzG2JHTJfJlwNEEBpuU&t=1323
Just as things are getting back to normal with Connie back at work at the book shop, Matt Swain comes in and announces two important developments: Mike's hospital privileges have been suspended, he's being investigated and may lose his medical license thanks to his (albeit fake) confession to an abortion... and that Matt will speaking at the parole hearing of Elliot Carson... who has reached the end of his 20 year sentence.
"You may be facing Elliot soon."
- Awards
- 5
Fantastic! What a rollercoaster of an episode! I can see it in my head
- Awards
- 4
Thank you so much!!!
I'm so glad you can! @Mel O'Drama
Although I ended up changing my mind about how Marion's death scene goes. Having her jump into her car in a rage twice in one episode feels repetitive, so instead, it's Connie who goes over to the Partridge house with Mike and Selena, after having received the call from the hospital about Allison's testimony.
Charles was in the middle of calling the police (with Marion sitting in a pout) when Connie barges in, practically breathing fire out of her nostrils. She confronts Marion, who not only confesses, but tries to justify her actions by saying how it serves "you MacKenzie sluts" right for trying to seduce Charles.
Connie, practically foaming at the mouth and screaming that she never slept with Charles ("You stupid bitch!"), is ready to throw herself at Marion, but Mike holds her back, while Selena, who has an eerily calm look on her face, steps forward and says, "You're a godless woman, Mrs. Partridge. You puff yourself up and parade around like you're a paragon of virtue, but everyone in town can see your vices. Your greed, your vanity, your envy. All those years I did odd jobs for you, I could see how much you hated Connie, all because she's everything that you aren't: beautiful, smart, young, accomplished, and above all... important."
I was inspired by the scene from "The Help":
Marion gawks at the 20-year-old Hispanic girl in front of her, speechless at being called out - and so correctly, too. Ever since she moved to Peyton Place, Marion was convinced that everybody (sans Matt Swain) saw her how she wanted them to see her... but to hear Selena's words... as well as the suggestion that the whole town thought contrary to Marion's image of herself...
...it's enough to make her spit out that she only has two regrets: that she didn't get Selena, and that Allison didn't die.
And Charles is still on the phone, and the police on the other end hear everything.
Connie breaks away from Mike's hold (though it's possible he let her go on purpose) and tackles Marion. A small but violent catfight breaks out, before the men manage to pull the two women apart-
-but Marion grabs a sharp object (either a knife or some other household object) and charges at Connie-
-only to trip and fall-
-and land on the sharp object herself, dying instantly.
I had two sources of inspiration for this:
Thus, the end of Marion Partridge.
Also, when Charles decides to sell and business and house, Steven Cord swoops in and takes advantage of the older lawyer's hurry to get out of town, thus the young half-black man acquires both for that bargain price.