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.
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