PEYTON PLACE
Episode 302.
01-09-67
Fire at the Peyton Mansion.
WA: Hannah Cord is leaving town. The woman who posed for 28 years
as the mother of Steven Cord has revealed that Catherine Peyton
was Steven's mother. Now she must set her house in order. She
has seen Steven probably for the last time in her life and
realized that he could not control his hatred for her. Thus
the one deeply felt experience in her life, her relationship
with Steven is at an end. There is very little left for Hannah
Cord to do.
MEL: Hannah sold the house on the auction block and gave the check
to Betty. Steven decides to go to the Peyton mansion to return
the check and finds the house in flames. Rossi is out of town.
Both Mary and Thomas have been given the evening off.
Intro: Hannah Cord carrying a large black handbag, walks toward the
front entrance of the Peyton mansion. She goes in. She looks
around and walks over to the bottom of the stairs as the maid,
Mary, walks up and greets her.
Scene 1: Maid Mary tells Hannah that Mr. Peyton doesn't want to be
disturbed. Hannah asks Mary to tell Thomas that she'll be
right out. Mary tells Hannah goodbye. Hannah looks around,
for possibly the last time, then goes over and torches
Catherine's portrait. She then hurriedly leaves apparently
locking the door behind her.
Scene 2: At the General Store, Eli forecasts snow for tomorrow. Eli is
talking with Rachel and Norman. Eli loans his copy of "Poor
Richard's Almanac" to Rachel and she promises to take good care
of it. Rachel eats an apple and talks to Eli about the
"Farmer's Almanac".
Scene 3: Steven and Betty drive toward the mansion in Steven's car.
He is annoyed that it hasn't snowed yet. Hannah would not
take the money back from Betty for the house. Betty tells
Steven how organized Hannah seems to be. They arrive at the
Peyton mansion to find it ablaze.
Steven breaks a window beside the front door, reaches inside,
and unlocks the front door. [Hannah must have locked the door
when she left, but this was not shown.] Steven calls out for
his mother and for Peyton. Through the heavy smoke, Steven
carries Martin Peyton to safety. He places Peyton on his
stomach, in the front yard, and rubs his back, an old form of
artificial respiration. When Peyton shows signs of life,
Steven rushes back inside yelling for his mother. Betty asks
Peyton if there is anyone still remaining in the house. Peyton
tells her that no one is in the house. Betty calls to Steven
that the house is empty. Betty tells Steven that Dr. Rossi has
gone on vacation in New York City.
Scene 4: In the General Store, Norman and Rachel notice the sirens.
Rachel is noticeably disturbed. She puts her hands over her
ears. Eli comes back in and asks Rachel what is wrong. Rodney
comes in the store and tells them that the firetrucks are going
up the hill. Eli tells Rachel that the hot chocolate is ready.
Rodney comforts and embraces Rachel. Rachel asks Rodney not to
treat her like a child, not even when she acts likes one. She
adds that she doesn't like the sound of fire engines. Rachel
relates the story that when she was a child, the neighbors'
barn burned down.
Scene 5: A good camera shot from above and north of the Peyton Place
fire station pointed toward the Clarion, shows the fire truck
commencing its run. Rodney continues to comfort Rachel.
Rachel tells Rodney and Eli that her parents died in a fire.
She and Rodney go outside and encounter Lee Webber who is on
his motorcycle. Webber goes out of his way to annoy and
irritate them. Lee tells Rodney to go ahead and hold
Rachel's hand. Rodney tells Lee to move on. Lee revs his
engine and rides off. Eli rushes out and informs Rodney and
Rachel that Mr. Peyton is in the hospital. And that the fire
was at the Peyton mansion.
Scene 6: Elliot wanders around his house as Constance prepares for
Rachel's imminent arrival. Elliot indicates that he has
reservations, about Rachel, but Constance is excited at the
prospect of Rachel coming to live with them. Rachel is almost
the same age as Allison.
The telephone rings and Elliot, in his role as Editor of the
Clarion, is told by the police sergeant about the fire and
that Steven Cord rescued Martin Peyton. Elliot tells
Constance that Peyton is alive and is at the hospital.
Elliot says that he'll get right over there.
Scene 7: Steven and Betty talk with Dr. Fielding, the acting chief of
staff at Doctors Hospital. Since Dr. Rossi is away, Dr.
Cortell, Peyton's Boston physician has been summoned. Dr.
Fielding says that he is concerned about possible burns in
Peyton's respiratory passages. He tells Nurse Fletcher to tend
to Steven's wounds, but to let him, the doctor, see the wounds
before she covers them with bandages. Steven says that it was
irresponsible for Rossi to leave with Peyton in the condition
he was in. Betty tells Steven how proud she is of him. Steven
says that Dr. Cortell is a very old man. Steven, showing his
concern for the old man, says it will take a lot of will power
for Peyton to make it.
Preview: Lee talks to Sandy. Elliot talks to Rachel. Dr. Fielding
talks to Rodney, Betty, and Steven.
LW: I forgave you once because I was in jail. And you were
lonely. But, I'm home now.
EC: But, I do have reservations about you, Rachel. I don't
think you've told me everything about Allison's bracelet
for one thing.
DF: He's asking for his grandson.
BA: I think he means you, Rod.
Dr. Fielding, fills in as chief of staff while Michael Rossi is on
vacation in New York City. Ed Nelson is on sick leave.
The actor playing Dr. Fielding is never credited.
Dr. Rossi had told Constance that he would be gone a couple of days but it
turned out to be well over a month. [In real life, Ed Nelson is ill.]
Dr. Cortell, Peyton's old Boston physician.
Nurse Fletcher-not credited.
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