PEYTON PLACE Episode 270. 09-19-66 Matthew Carson is born. WA: Eli Carson plays a waiting game. He has come to the White River Airport to meet his son, Elliot, returning from New York, where he has been searching for his daughter, Allison. If time is on his side, Elliot will be in Peyton Place for the birth of his second child. Now Eli can only wait impatiently for the plane to land. Eli knows that if the modern miracle of speed, can out-race the age-old miracle of birth, every moment will count. Intro: WHITE RIVER AIRPORT. An airline captain is leaving the terminal building. A ramp is being moved to the airplane. Passengers are coming off plane. Elliot is the eighth person to get off the plane. Scene 1: Eli meets Elliot. Elliot is concerned. Eli calls Elliot a "chowder head." Elliot almost forgets the luggage. Elliot says that he wants to drive. Scene 2: At the hospital, Steven walks up to Betty and miss Choate. The nurse is overly sweet to Steven. Elliot rushes through the double doors to the Information Desk in the reception area, and asks Betty if he is on time. Elliot is becoming hyper. Eli tries to calm Elliot down. Eli talks about his wife [Ruth] and the time when Elliot was born. Eli tries to convince Elliot that the baby could be a girl. Elliot finds it extremely difficult to imagine. [This was before sonograms became common for pre-natal gender identification]. Dr. Rossi comes out to announce the birth of an 8 lb. 2 oz. healthy boy. Scene 3: Betty picks up the phone at the Information Desk. Martin Peyton has telephoned Betty at the hospital. He had tried the Carson house and got no answer. Peyton wants her to come to the mansion alone, tonight. He insists. He expects her to come over after she sees Mrs. Carson. He abruptly hangs up, as is his custom. Steven says that he wonders what the old man wants. Steven tells Betty to spy on Peyton while she is there. Steven reminds Betty that he is Lee Webber's lawyer. Scene 4: Elliot comes in to see Constance as she is being rolled to her room. Elliot kisses Constance and Eli thanks her for his new grandson. There was no indication what-so-ever of a recovery room. Scene 5: Rossi comes out of Maternity into the corridor carrying a metal clip-board. Betty congratulates Dr. Rossi on the successful delivery. Rossi excuses himself. Betty opines that Rossi is still very lonely. Elliot knocks on Constance' door and asks the nurse if he can see Constance again. The nurse bruskly informs him that he will have to ask the doctor. She goes back in and shuts the door. Eli allows, "She's about as personable as a wash basin, a steel wash basin." The nurse tells Dr. Rossi that she has gotten Constance into her bed. Rossi tells the nurse to admit Elliot. She gives Elliot a dirty look and walks off with her nose in the air. Scene 6: Elliot comes in to visit Constance again. He kisses her in deep appreciation. Elliot says that, "God gave us Matthew to replace Allison." Scene 7: Steven goes over to the Peyton County jail to confer with Lee in his cell. Lee is playing solitaire. [Back in those by-gone days, people actually used playing cards for solitaire. Bill Gates had not yet taken charge.] He says he thinks he has this one beat. Then Lee says that he is just a born loser. Lee asks Steven if he has seen his brother, Chris. Steven says no. Steven does not want Lee to worry about anything except how he impresses Judge Chester. Lee mentions "Goldilocks Harrington." There is no jury in a hearing of this sort. Lee says that "The basement of Martin Peyton's mansion is not much better than that shack I have down on the wharf." Steven tells Lee that he is not going to put Lee on the stand to testify. Lee, accusingly, asks if Steven plans to see that he is convicted. Steven calls for the guard. Lee threatens to come back and get Steven if he is pulling anything on him. Steven asks, "How and when?" Lee holds up a very dark three of hearts. Scene 8: Meanwhile back at the Peyton mansion, Betty is pouring sherry. He tells her that he has missed her. Peyton is seen through a glass darkly. But Betty comes over to him, face-to-face, bringing him his drink. He says that he is surprised that Steven let her come over that late at night. Peyton commends her loyalty. He says Steven is very lucky to have her. Peyton tells Betty that the reason he called her over is that he does not want Steven to defend Lee Webber. He tells Betty that he had asked Rodney to talk to her about this but Rodney refused. Peyton insists that Steven must not defend Lee Webber. Betty says this is "business, not personal." [As Michael Corleone says in the "Godfather" movie]. Scene 9: Elliot is sitting by Constance' bed as Dr. Rossi comes in to check on her. Rossi tells Elliot it is time to go. Rossi says he has broken every rule in the hospital. Elliot kisses her and leaves. [Back in those days, non-patients were considered a huge nuisance, only to be tolerated during brief specified visiting hours]. Dr. Rossi takes Constance' pulse. Scene 10: In the hospital nursery, a masked nurse is tending the newborns. Rossi takes Elliot to the nursery viewing window. Elliot says, "Mike, which one?" Rossi hands Elliot a card which reads "CARSON." Elliot holds up the card and the nurse brings Matthew. Matthew lets out a loud cry. Elliot inquires why his son is crying. Elliot wants Matthew put back in his crib. Rossi signals the nurse that they are through looking so she puts Matthew back in his crib. Preview: Chris Webber talks to John Fowler. Outside the Clarion, a couple congratulates Elliot Carson. Martin Peyton talks to Hannah Cord. CW: You want to know if I would be a good witness for the prosecution. You wouldn't mind strengthening your case against Lee by having his own brother testify against him. M: Oh, Congratulations, Elliot. W: It's wonderful. MP: You've maneuvered Steven for 28 years. You'll manage him this time. You'll have to. Elliot kisses Constance three times in this episode. PREV HOME NEXT