make love to the Brandy decanter!!"

A rare live shot of Collinwood at dusk opens this episode.

My questions have been answered. David may have gotten into Burke's room, though I am not sure of that, but we know know he hasn't planted the valve because Carter didn't find it. And Maggie does report to Roger that David is in town.

I was laughing to myself that in a few years (?) David will get back at Maggie for her betrayal today. I do think Maggie should have thought to look in the phone booth, especially with the door being closed. And the overhead light should have come on but I guess not today.

I'll pass on those sloppy ice cream sundaes! I guess the studio lights did a number on the ice cream. And we see the blooper of Louis behind the lobby doors warming up for his upcoming scene.

I wasn't particularly engrossed in any of the scenes involving Carter, Devlin or Roger. Though I enjoyed Roger (and Burke for that matter) finding out David was caught in (or sneaking into) Burke's room. I enjoy seeing Roger taken aback. And though it did him no good admitting it, I was happy to hear Burke say he wouldn't be railroaded twice by the Collins family.

Maggie gets her first break in trying to find out Sam's connection to Burke and Roger. She's got Burke interested in finding out too.

A common live wide shot of Collinwood and an excellent opening voiceover start this riveting episode.

David creeps out of the east (?) wing with Vicki's letter in hand. He takes six steps before encountering Vicki exiting his room. She pityingly admonishes him. He thinks it's in regard to his stealing her letter (again). Vicki asks him how he could try and hurt his father, David feigns confusion and focuses on the letter until she opens her hand to reveal the bleeder valve. He uses every childish verbal trick in the book to deny any guilt. Vicki intends to show it to his aunt. With fierce and desperate determination he grabs her hand trying to get the valve from her. Struggling to get away from him she runs to her room but David forces his way in. Vicki finally manages to get the valve safely locked away in a drawer. David demands she give it back. She talks him down long enough to get him locked out of her room. David futilely pounds on the door, "Let me in! Let me in!!"

Roger visits Sheriff Carter. He demands to know why Burke hasn't been arrested. Carter puts him on hold while he orders lunch. Carter explains that he doesn't have sufficient evidence to charge and hold Burke.

Back at Collinwood. Vicki, from behind her locked door, reminds David that his father will be home soon. David contemplates his next move.

Carter unpacks his lunch to find mustard on his ham sandwich. This doesn't bode well for Roger - Carter doesn't like mustard on ham. A sarcastic Roger is told to calm down by a mustard maddened Carter. In an effort to sway him into action, Roger threatens the sheriff with his job throwing the weight of the Collins name in his face, hinting that without their backing he may not win re-election. The sheriff isn't impressed and throws all of Roger's threats back in face telling him that he won't manufacture evidence against Burke to suit him. He will follow the law to the letter from barking dogs to murder (my words, not his). Roger asks if Burke's suite has been searched yet. Carter dismisses him claiming that anyone would be a fool or a psychotic to keep the bleeder valve in their possession.

We see David at Vicki's door. He tries the doorknob one more time before exiting the hallway. Vicki opens her door, looks for David, then walks to David's door.

Liz enters the foyer from outdoors. The clock strikes three as Liz removes her shawl. At the sound of heavy and hurried footsteps, she looks up toward the landing to find David bolting from the the hallway and down the steps. Liz grabs him preventing his escape. He pleads to be let go of. Liz insists he tell her what is going on. He proceeds to set up a defense against what he knows is coming - Vicki spilling the beans about finding the bleeder valve in his room. He really pours it on. He claims she hit him, dragged him to her room, and predicts she will blame him for his father's accident. Liz does her best to read between David's lines. Vicki enters the drawing room. Liz states that David has informed her about some trouble between them. Vicki asks if he's stated the cause. Liz says it involves the letter. Vicki asks to speak to her alone. Liz: "David says you tried to hit him. Is that true?" Vicki: "I'd rather discuss that with you in private." On his way out, David  tells Vicki that his aunt won't believe her. He again invokes the letter as the reason Vicki has it out for him. Liz says, "We'll see." She closes the drawing room doors for privacy, strikes a (deliciously) dramatic pose and shoots Vicki a glowering look (worthy of a gif).

Roger paces for time as the sheriff enters with a search warrant in hand. Roger asks how soon the search will start. Carter promises to start as soon as he's done with his stale sandwich and suggests Roger go back to his office and wait to hear back from him if he's needed. Roger states that he hopes the search will be extremely thorough. Carter replies, "Just as if tomorrow was election day." Roger smirks then lingers while the sheriff makes a call to the hotel regarding Burke and takes a call about a stolen dog. Roger wants in on the search of Devlin's room. Cater turns him down on legal grounds. Roger leaves with an insulting parting shot. Fed up, Carter makes a call regarding his NY investigation on Burke. Unhappy with it's progress, he snaps at his coworker, demanding results, then apologizes stating he is under pressure and having a lousy day. He grumbles about the mustard, dumping his sandwich in disgust and heads out the door, search warrant in hand.

In the foyer, David listens in as Vicki explains the details of their confrontation to Liz. She tells of finding her letter missing and going to David's room to search for it. Before she can get to the bleeder valve, Liz interrupts asking if she tried to hurt David. Vicki says that it was David who tried to hurt her. Liz can't believe it. Vicki speaks of David's recent obsession about his father sending him away. Liz asks for the bottom line and Vicki gives it to her in all it's ugliness. She mentions the accident and Liz says with suspicion that he told her she'd try and blame it on him. Liz defends David by exclaiming that both she and Roger know that Burke caused the accident. The phone rings. It's Roger. David picks up the receiver in the foyer to listen in. Roger whines about Carter, Liz defends Carter's integrity and ends the call. Liz tells Vicki that Carter is going to search Burke's suite. If he finds the valve, their discussion should be over. Vicki says he won't find because she has it. She found it in David's dresser drawer. Liz is stunned with disbelief. Vicki sympathizes with her but explains that she found it while looking for her letter. Liz asks why he would have it and Vicki slays her with her reply, "Why did you think Burke Devlin had it?" Vicki reminds her of how easy it would be to remove the valve, "I remember Mr. Collins saying even a child could do it." Liz is wrecked, "Stop it, Miss Winters!" Liz can't handle the truth. Vicki offers to show her the valve. Liz continues to doubt the obvious. Vicki unlocks her drawer and finds the valve missing. Liz doubts Vicki more now than ever.

Has there ever been as awful a young child in daytime soaps before or since David Collins?! Too bad Liz stopped him from jumping out the window a few episodes back.
I got a kick out of Roger and Carter's smart remarks to each other.
I was disappointed with Liz. But I guess it couldn't have gone any other way considering her fondness for David and the fact that Vicki really hasn't been in house long enough to be fully trusted.
Is it the east wing or the west wing at the end of the hallway?

Opening shot  - Collinwood and a live shot of the Collins Port Inn. Another three piece voiceover. It works.

Carolyn enters the diner, sets gift-boxed packages down on a table, then walks to the lobby to call Joe to confirm their lunch date. Dark Shadows must have gotten a raise. Curtis fills the diner with a lunch crowd of three. Constable Carter drops in to ask Maggie if she's seen Burke. She pries and gets nowhere. Carter goes to the hotel lobby hoping Burke will show up. Carolyn returns and orders two medium burgers (last time Carolyn's was rare) and two coffees. Maggie jokingly asks if she's eating for two. Then seriously asks if she's meeting Burke. Carolyn gets slightly defensive. Maggie mentions that Carter is looking for Burke. She starts prying again but momentarily gets nowhere. She follows her back to her table to ask more questions. Carolyn wants to know why Maggie is so interested in Burke and Maggie mentions her father. Carolyn doesn't get the connection. Maggie changes course and mentions that Burke will be sitting for a portrait. Carolyn seizes onto that bit of info with curiosity and concern. Maggie decides to go for it and ask Carolyn if her father's name has ever come up in the row between Roger and Burke. A confused Carolyn asks why it would be. Before the conversation can continue, Joe enters cheerfully greeting both girls. He asks where his lunch is and Maggie takes responsibility for it not being ready - she blames her gabbing. He hurries Maggie off to get their lunch order in. Now seated, Joe asks Carolyn what all the important talk was about? "Burke Devlin and the constable", says she, and Joe looks none to pleased to hear it.

Burke walks into the lobby and is immediately called to by Carter. Burke greets him cordially. He asks to speak with Burke and Burke invites him to lunch in the diner. Carter declines. Burke again invites him to sit while he eats but Carter asks to speak to him in his room. Burke agrees but will first check his mail and then order lunch to bring to his room. It obvious that Burke knows what's coming.


Maggie serves lunch. Joe asks Carolyn when her uncle decided to call the police? "This morning." She takes a bit of her burger trying to change the subject but he continues, asking if she thinks Burke was responsible for the accident. Carolyn asks if they can not talk about it stating that she's sick and tired of the whole thing. "Including Devlin?", he asks. "Especially Devlin.", she replies. Happy to hear it, Joe shares his excitement with Carolyn about the prospect of buying a boat sooner rather than later. He hopes to go in as partners with a workmate on a boat he checked out earlier in the day. Carolyn cautions him about going into business with another but Joe emphatically trusts his friend. He slyly uses the opportunity to bring up marriage. But once again Carolyn shut's him down. Joe takes it a little bit better than usual.

Burke comes in to order lunch. Maggie tells him the constable is looking for him. She pries (again) but Burke quickly shuts her down. After ordering he greets "the kids" but gets the cold shoulder from the them both, especially Joe. Burke asks how long they'll be there. Carolyn says they'll be leaving an a half hour. It's obvious that Burke is formulating a plan. A disgusted Joe tells Carolyn that he sees himself punching Burke in the mouth one day.

Carter talks to Burke in his room. A confident Burke denies any wrongdoing. He calls Carolyn up to his room via Maggie who assures Joe it's a clean deal as Constable Carter will be chaperoning. Joe is not amused. Once there Carolyn clears Burke of any premeditation. Carter has no choice but to drop the questioning for now. He leaves, telling Burke not to leave town for any extended periods. Now alone, Carolyn confronts Burke about his using her against her family. As per usual, Burke denies any and all accusations of wrongdoing. Carolyn leaves asking Burke if he tried to kill Roger, he again says no.

The phone rings. Burke answers. Bronson is in Bangor much to Burke's surprise. Burke has him sit tight and promises to be there in an hour and a half.

Well, things are moving along. Burke's plan to become king of Collinsport is picking up steam. He doesn't seemed too concerned about the attempted murder charge Roger & Liz are trying to pin on him. I guess not being guilty has a lot to do with that.
I'm dying to know what the hat in the hatbox (that Carolyn brought in he diner) looks like! I don't recall Liz  ever wearing a hat. Liz doesn't go anywhere and Carolyn, well, how can you Frug and keep a hat on your head?!
Anyone notice the table-hopping guy in the diner? It was pretty cool and almost shocking seeing a lunch crowd. Maybe Maggie will be able to afford buying the diner after all. I mean she wasn't getting there on Mrs. Johnson's thin dimes, that for sure!
Maggie had absolutely no luck trying to get info out of anybody! I'd accuse her of being a snoop but she had Sam's interests at heart so I am going to give her a pass.
Good old hard working Joe (in his cute fisherman outfit) must really love Carolyn as he earnestly keeps coming back for more. I'll be glad when that's over.
Just when Joe thought all of his troubles might be behind him, who shows up but Burke. I was amused with Joe's blunt comments to Burke. I didn't guess what Burke had in mind for Carolyn upstairs but that was a pretty clever move on his part. It got rid of Carter for the time being anyway.
This was a good episode. I liked the pace and the cute chit chat, and all the serious stuff. 

date your ex cellmate

if her luxuriant Italian ponytail was a fall?!!

James Bond flair!!"