PEYTON PLACE
Episode 1.
09-15-64
Writer: Robert J. Shaw
Director: Walter Doniger
Producer: Richard Goldstone
Executive Producer: Paul Monash
The continuing story centers around the residents of Peyton
Place, a small Massachusetts town, that is not the quiet
little place it appears to be. In the series opener new
doctor Michael Rossi arrives in Peyton Place by train and
sets up his practice, having purchased it from the widow of
Dr. Donald Brooks, the sister of Leslie Harrington.
WA: No narration by Warner Anderson.
MEL: [Warner Anderson plays the role of Matthew Swain,
Editor-Publisher-Owner of the Peyton Place Clarion. His
character dropped out of the series when the paper was
turned over to Elliot Carson in episode 101 but Warner
Anderson continued to narrate the series. Norman
Harrington, Betty Anderson, and Dr. Michael Rossi were the
only characters to endure the entire series. Rodney
Harrington dropped out of the series in episode 502 when he
moved to Boston to return to college. He was driven to
Boston by Norman, Rita, and Betty. He rented a small
apartment on the river, near the college campus. It was
his intention to become a teacher.]
Intro: A steam locomotive pulling a train, steaming toward Peyton
Place.
Scene 1: The train conductor engages Dr. Rossi in light conversation.
He allows that most people leave Peyton Place when they can.
And that it seems strange to him that Dr. Rossi is moving
to Peyton Place. He says that most people move away.
Scene 2: Norman Harrington walks Allison Mackenzie home and is invited
in. He politely declines. Allison allows that Norman used to
be the smartest boy in class. Norman replies that he got dumb
all of a sudden. Allison is carrying a plethora of books.
Allison says that they've always been friends. They hear the
whistle of the train. Norman mentions that his brother went
down to the station to pick up the new Dr. Rossi.
Allison goes in the house and is interrogated by Constance, her
over-protective but loving mother. Allison tells her that
Norman walked her home. Constance tells Allison that she likes
Norman but expresses reservations about his brother, Rodney.
Allison opines that her "Prince Charming" is lurking somewhere.
Allison glances at the photograph on the mantle and says that
she wishes her mother would get rid of the photograph of Mr.
Mackenzie. And that she wishes that her mother didn't live
alone. Constance allows that she doesn't live alone.
Scene 3: Rodney and Betty drive over to the Peyton Place train station
and park by a NO PARKING sign. While awaiting the train,
Rodney and Betty make use of the time by hugging and kissing.
Betty spots Dr. Rossi who has just arrived from New York City.
Rodney, wearing a Peyton High School letter jacket with a large
letter "P," gets out of his convertible and introduces himself
to Dr. Rossi. Rodney puts the doctor's suitcases in the back
of his convertible and tells him he has made a room reservation
at the Colonial Post Inn. Betty says, "Oh, it's the only one
isn't it, Rod?" [The writers afflicted Betty with some really
dumb dialog including the previous and also, "And there aren't
many left." Fortunately she is given much better dialog as the
series progresses.] Rodney and Betty drop off Dr. Rossi at the
Colonial Post Inn and drive over to the Peyton Mill.
Scene 4: Back at the Mackenzie house, Allison remembers that she has
forgotten to deliver this week's "Teen Talk" column to
Matthew Swain so she rushes out. [Notice that there is no
chain on the double doors. Later in the series, a door
chain has been installed.] She runs back to the Clarion
office on the square to give it to Matthew Swain,
purportedly her mother's second cousin twice removed.
Scene 5: Rodney and Betty arrive at the Peyton Mill near the wharf.
Betty waits in the car while Rodney goes upstairs to
apprise his father of the safe arrival of Dr. Rossi.
[Notice that the sign on the inner office reads: Leslie
Harrington, Private. After Leslie is rehired by
Peyton, the sign reads L. Harrington.] Meanwhile, in
Leslie Harrington's inner office, Leslie and Julie
Anderson, his secretary, are working late and talking
business. Leslie asks her to go to New York with him on a
business trip. They start to kiss just as Rodney walks in.
Rodney greets them both. Julie (Betty Anderson's mother)
slinks out of the office. Rodney informs his father that
he picked up Dr. Rossi at the train station and dropped him
off at the Colonial Post Inn. Leslie tells Rodney he
shouldn't get any misconceptions about what he just
witnessed.
Rodney leaves, goes back down the stairs, and returns to his
convertible and Betty. He tells Betty that he will take her
home.
Back in the second floor office at the mill, Leslie assures Julie
that he will make Rodney understand what he witnessed. This
lame assurance is less than comforting to Julie.
Rodney gets back in his car and drives Betty directly to the
George and Julie Anderson house. Betty senses that Rodney has
a problem and wants to know what is up. Rodney doesn't tell her
about the kiss he just witnessed between his father and
her mother. Betty asks what she has done. Rodney says
they have been getting too serious. Betty gets out and goes
into her house. Rodney drives off recklessly.
Scene 6: Rodney continues to drive recklessly, narrowly missing Allison
Mackenzie who is on her way back home from the Clarion
newspaper office. Rodney apologizes. Allison says, "That's
okay, you missed me." Rodney resumes driving recklessly.
Allison asks him why he has to drive that way. Rodney replies,
"For no particular reason." He is obviously still quite upset.
They arrive in front of the Mackenzie house and talk for a
while. Rodney asks her why she doesn't mix. She counters that
she has friends. He asks her for a date for the following
Friday. Rodney kisses her. Constance, watching out the front
window, sees them. Allison gets out of Rodney's convertible
and runs inside her house. [The fact that Constance observed
them is confirmed by the narration in the folowing episode.]
Scene 7: Inside the Mackenzie house, Constance begins to interrogate
Allison about her relationship with Norman and with Rodney.
Constance tells Allison that she doesn't want her to get hurt.
Allison tells her mother good night and goes up to her room.
Scene 8: Later that evening, newsman Matthew Swain introduces himself to
Dr. Rossi on the Peyton Place square just across the street
south from the Colonial Post Inn. At this time, Matthew is not
accompanied by his dog, Rip.
Preview: At the breakfast table the next morning, Leslie talks with
Rodney. Betty talks with Julie. Allison talks with Constance.
LH: I want you to forget last night.
RH: Tell me dad, why did you have to pick on the mother of the
girl I've been going around with?
BA: We broke off last night.
JA: What did he say?
BA: He said, "I'll call you."
BA: Mother, you didn't hear them talking did you?
AM: He kissed me once. And I kissed him once.
CM: And that's called?
AM: Kissing.
Train conductor-Charles Charlie Seel.
Dr. Michael F.B. Rossi-Edward Ed Nelson.
Norman Harrington-Christopher Connelly.
Rodney Martin Harrington-Ryan O'Neal.
Leslie B. Harrington-Paul Langton.
Betty Anderson-Barbara Parkins.
Julie Anderson-Kasey Rogers.
Allison Mackenzie-Mia Farrow.
Constance Swain Mackenzie-Dorothy Malone.
Matthew Swain-Warner Anderson.
Warner Anderson appeared in Destination Moon, The Caine Mutiny, and
Blackboard Jungle.
Paul Langton appeared in Episode 1 of Twilight Zone.
Kasey Rogers appeared in Bewitched as Mrs. Larry Tate.
Ryan O'Neal appeared in episode 13 of Desperate Housewives as Rodney
Scavo. His wife is named Allison [or Alison]. This episode first
aired 01-23-05.
In other media, Mackenzie is sometimes spelled with a capital "K".
MacKenzie.
NEXT HOME