The Extortionist

Falcon Crest 

Season 1 Episode 7

Air Date: January 15, 1982

Recap:  Julia and Emma are talking about Jason’s funeral, and Turner Bates.  Julia asks Emma what really happened when Jason died, but Emma tells her that she can’t remember.

   Chase is carrying some fence posts when Turner comes out of the bushes.  He tells Chase that he used to work for Jason and Jason let him sleep there.  Gus comes over as Turner walks away and tells Chase that Turner is a loser.

   Emma and Angela are playing backgammon, when Angela gets a phone call, Turner comes up behind Emma, he asks her if she is mad at him for leaving.  Angela comes out and tells him to leave, Emma tells her that she wanted to talk to Turner.

   Chase gets home and Maggie tells him that she thinks she might be pregnant and has an appointment to see the doctor.  He is concerned about her, but they will wait to find out for sure after the appointment.

   Turner goes back to the house and hits the wind-chimes, which Emma hears and goes down to meet him.  She tells him how much she missed him.  They kiss and he takes her to the Spring House.  He asks her what happened to Jason after he left, and how he got into the truck.  She tells him that she can’t remember. 

   Maggie and Vicky cleaning the house, Maggie asks Vicky if she would like a baby brother or sister,  Vicky guesses that she is pregnant, she isn’t cool with it and gets upset thinking that she will get stuck babysitting all the time.

   Angela comes out and tells Lance that Emma wandered off, he tells him to go look for her.

   Vicky finds Cole, she tells him about their mother, he doesn’t seem to think that it would be such a bad thing. Lance pulls up and  tells them that Emma is missing and to call if they see her.  After he leaves Vicky where Emma probably is and that she is with Turner.  She goes to warn them that Lance is snooping around.

   Turner is still trying to get Emma to tell him about that night, but she can’t tell him anything, he locks her inside the cottage.

   Angela gets a phone call from Turner, who tries to disguise his voice, he tells her that he knows what happened to Jason, because her daughter told him everything.  Angela guesses who it is, casing Turner to kind of freak out and hang up the phone.  Angela calls the sheriff.

   Vicky knocks at the door of the cottage and Emma tells her that Turner locked her inside, Vicky tells her that she will try to find another way in.  Turner comes up behind her and grabs her and takes her into the cottage.

   Cole goes into the house and talks to Maggie, he tells her that Vicky told him about the baby and that he is okay with it if she is okay with it.

   The sheriff comes over to Angela’s and tells her that they’ve got road blocks set up, but they can do anymore than that for now. 

   Chase gets home and they realized that no one has seen Vicky since she went off earlier.  Cole tells them where she was going, so he and Chase go off to find her.

   Vicky tells Emma that she was worried when she found the door locked.  Emma tells Turner she remembers him fighting with Jason, he yells at her to stop, Emma tells him that she wants to leave like he promised her they would.  They plan to leave now, he sends Emma off before him so he can tie Vicky up.

   Vicky hears a car drive by she calls out, then she sees a light as the door opens, Chase comes in and  unties her.  She tells him about Turner and that he’s got Emma, he asks her if he hurt her, she tells him he did a little.  She tells him that Turner was there fighting with Jason the night he died.

   The next morning Chase and Cole go to Angela’s she asks how Vicky is doing, she tells him that the police are still looking for Emma and Turner.

   Outside Turner and Emma are hiding in the bushes, he gets into Lance’s car and starts it, he makes Emma get inside, when she tires to get out, he hits her.  In the house they hear the car start, Lance, Chase and Cole run out, but just miss the car, they get into Chase’s Jeep and drive off after them.  Angela is following them, she makes Julia stay behind in case the sheriff calls.

   Emma starts to remember the night Jason died, she grabs the steering wheel and they hit the side of the mountain, the car catches fire.  Chase and Cole get Emma out of the car, but when Chase and Lance go back to get Turner the car explodes.

   Maggie gets home from her appointment, Chase tells her he wonders what Turner knew about his father.  He asks her about her appointment.  She tells him it was a false alarm.  She tells him that she was relieved yet felt empty when the doctor told her the news.  Vicky comes in and tells her mother that she is sorry for the way she acted the other day.

   Angela asks Emma if she remembers what happened to Turner, when Emma tells her that she is going to Oregon with Turner.  She then asks Emma if she and Turner talked about Jason.  Julia is outside the door listening to them talk.

Final Thoughts:  What a brat Vicky is, she needs a good smack in the face.  I'm glad that Turner is out of the picture, he was annoying with his Sonny Bono mustache.  I thought that the story was interesting though aside from the minor annoyances. 
Best Outfit:  While nothing is wrong with this outfit, I think that the sweater is too short.

Fight Count:  1 (car chase between Turner, Lance and Angela)

Land of the Free

Knots Landing

Season 1 Episode 7

Air Date: February 7

Recap:  Everyone is having a great time at the beach, Val and Karen are watching Diana play volleyball, while Ginger and Laura are playing with Jason in the waves.  Karen tells Val it’s time to get her swimsuit wet, I find this hilarious, since in the last episode she didn’t seem to mind getting her dress wet.  Trouble comes when a bunch of bikers come through the beach, they proceed to harass everyone, driving through the volleyball net, one of the guys grabs Laura.  The leader of the bunch, whose name is Music breaks up the scuffle.  Karen tells them that motorcycles aren’t allowed on the beach, Music says that it’s a free country, I hate people who use that line, if something isn’t allowed then it doesn’t matter if it’s a free country or not. 

   Back at the cul-de-sac they are talking to the police, they didn’t see the license plates, so there isn’t much the police can do, they have to catch them doing something.  Richard tells them that the group will be gone so there is nothing to worried about, he wants his dinner.  The police tell them that the beach patrol was cut due to budget cuts. 

   Karen is still upset about what happened at the beach, she doesn’t think it’s funny when Sid thinks that they had good taste since they were bothering them and no one else.  She goes upstairs and hears Diana talking in her room, she goes inside and she finds Diana practicing lines for the play she is auditioning for, she wants the first lead since Buzzy, the boy she likes is auditioning for the lead boy.

   The next day they all go back to the beach and guess  who comes back the bikers, this time they ride around the group, one of them pulls on Karen and when Michael goes for he practically gets hit, and falls to the ground. 

   Sid meets Karen at the hospital, Michael has to have some stitches, but he’s okay.  Karen is upset because there was nothing she could do to protect him.  On the way home they see the Music and the guy who almost hit Michael, his name is Alien.  Sid tells Karen to call the police and parks the car in front of the bathroom, where Music went.  He grabs a hold of Alien, the police take him into custody, Karen decides not to press any charges against Music since he didn’t do anything to them at the beach.

   Everyone goes over to Karen and Sid’s to talk about he bikers.  Richard tells them that Alien probably won’t be in custody, he won’t have any money so his friends will probably steal something to get the money.  Karen goes to take Diana to her audition.  When she gets home Music comes out of the shadows and tells her that he wants to talk to her.  She calls for Sid and tells him that she’s going to call the police.  When Sid comes out he asks what he wants, Music tells them that he wants them to drop the charges, the other bikers won’t leave without Alien, and so  who knows what they will do while they wait for him to be released from jail.  He leaves and the boys ask Karen and Sid what he wanted, Michael asks her if she will drop the charges and Karen tells him that she won’t.

   The next morning is garbage day, and the bikers pay a visit to the cul-de-sac, they throw garbage in the yard, all over Richard’s car, and they ride through the yards.  Sid and Karen watch as they ride off, when the police come, he tells them that they will have a patrol of the neighborhood, it will take some time for them to get the bikers.  Karen tells them that Richard thinks that she should drop the charges, Gary tells her that he’s only thinking of himself.  Val tells her that she’s glad she’s not giving in, and she tells them how the police couldn’t help her when JR’s boys took Lucy away from her. 

   At Richard’s house, he’s only concerned about his car, Laura asks him what if it was Jason instead of Michael, his response was that it wasn’t Jason.

   Val goes with Karen grocery shopping, Music comes up to them as they are putting the bags in the car, and when they are driving home two girls surround the car and kick at it telling them to pull over.  Val points out a police car, which follows the two girls who drive off.  Karen and Val hurry inside the house and Karen gets a harassing phone call, they can’t get an outside line.

   Laura is going out, she backs out but she realizes that there is a problem, she gets out of the car and sees that all the tires have been slashed.  She looks around and sees that all the cars in the cul-de-sac have been slashed, a biker moves out from behind Val’s car, finishing the job.  Laura runs to get Karen, she tells him what happened as the guy rides off.  She goes back inside and tells Val that Laura is calling Sid and Karen.  They hear a cry outside and run out to see that Karen’s boys fell from their bikes because there is oil all over the street.  She tells  them to get into the house.  Val asks her if she’s okay, and Karen tells her no. 

   Richard goes with Karen when she goes to the station to drop the charges, he tells her that she did the right thing.  Music meets Alien, who wants to get out of town, but Music tells him that he needs to stick around and pay Karen back for keeping him locked up for a day.

   Gary and Val are over at Karen’s house, they hear a motorcycle, Sid goes out to check it out, but it’s only the police officer patrolling the cul-de-sac.  Sid tells them that he’s not sure that it’s over yet.  Gary and Sid go back to discuss advertisements for the dealership.  Diana leaves to go to her rehearsals.  Not long after she’s gone Buzzy, comes back and tells them that the bikers took Diana to the beach. 

   Diana tells them to let her go, they see that Sid is coming towards them.  Music lunges at him, Kenny shows up and starts beating up Alien.  Gary and Richard get to the beach and soon everyone is fighting.  Some of the bikers get away, but the police arrive and take control of the situation.  Richard feels great, even though the only thing he did was chase a girl around the garbage can and hold on to her when the police got there.  But all is as it should be and the beach is safe for everyone once again.

Final Thoughts:  This episode was a bit hard to believe, I can't imagine that the police couldn't do anything to stop the bikers, especially when they trashed the neighborhood.  I thought it was a good episode though.

Best Outfit:  Were you running out of time to put on a shirt?  Seriously it would have taken less time to put on a t-shirt then it would have to put on the jacket and button it up.
Fight Count:  1 (biker gang vs the neighbors)

Whatever Happened to Baby John? Part 2

Dallas 

Season 2 Episode 2

Air Date:  September 28, 1979

Recap:  Outside the hospitals the reporters are questioning doctors.  Sue Ellen is being questioned, she thinks that it’s her fault.  JR stops her from going any further with it, the detective tell s him that he needs to question her, but JR tells him about Sue Ellen’s car accident and that the baby was born premature, and that is why she is feeling guilty.  The detective tells JR that he wants to tap the phone.  Sue Ellen is getting upset so JR asks the doctor to give her something to calm her down. 

   A ranch hand drives up and tells Jock that Miss Ellie wants him to go back to the house, he goes off to find Bobby.  Another ranch hand goes to Lucy’s school and tells her to get home right away.

   Jock finds Miss Ellie in the nursery, he asks her what’s wrong, she tells him that the baby’s been kidnapped.  Lucy and Bobby get home at the same time and find them in the drawing room, they give them the news, Bobby goes into Dallas to find Pam.

   There are police and reporter all along the border of the ranch, JR helps Sue Ellen into the house, he tells his parents that the police are going to be tapping the phone and that they are calling in the FBI.  Miss Ellie wants to know why no one saw anything, the detective tells her that it’s always like that, which is why they keep on questioning everyone, because eventually someone will remember something.

   In Dallas Pam hears the news on the radio as she is walking back to The Store, she finds Bobby at the door, she tells him she just heard the news.  Bobby asks if she’s seen Cliff, she tells him that Cliff would never do something like this.  She asks him not to go looking for Cliff, he asks her when she’ll realize how much her brother hates his family.  After he leaves her she calls Cliff’s office and leaves a message for him to call her right away.

   At the ranch the baby’s nurse arrives, Miss Ellie takes her to her room.

   Pam goes to Cliff’s apartment and gets his landlord to let her into his apartment.  She begins to search for where he could be.

   Jock says he’s tired of sitting around.  Lucy goes out to the stables, JR tells his mother that it’s alright there are police all over the ranch.  The phone rings and it’s a friend of Sue Ellen’s, JR tells them he can’ stay at the house and is going into the office.  He goes up to their room and gets a gun, Sue Ellen is coming out of the sedative, he tells her to go back to sleep.  Ray comes over and asks if there is anything he can do.  The phone rings again and Jock answers it, it was a woman who said that she took the baby, but now feels bad about it and will give them the baby at the flag poles at City Hall.

   JR gets to the office, his secretary tells him that Miss Ellie called for him to come home, and that Jeb Ames called and has left three messages.  JR tells them to go home and takes the call.  Jeb tells him that they have his son, and he wants 1 million dollars.

   Ray and Jock meet up with the police and wait for the woman by the flag poles.

   Sue Ellen gets up and goes to the baby’s nursery, she begins to talk about how she won’t cry because she’s cried too much already and that no one will hurt her anymore not even the baby. 

   Miss Ellie tells JR about the phone call, he tells her that it’s just a hoax.  He calls Vaugh Leland and tells him he got the call and he needs a lot of cash.

   Bobby goes to Cliff’s office and goes through his papers trying to find out where he is, his secretary doesn’t know where he is and is very disturbed with Bobby going through Cliff’s paper.

   Pam is still at Cliff’s, when he gets home he tells her that he was in Austin and just heard the news, she asks him to tell her he didn’t have anything to do with it, he asks her how can she think that he would do something like that, she tells him to let her handle Bobby when he gets there.  When he gets there Bobby thinks that Pam knew that Pam knew where he was all along, Pam tells Bobby to listen to Cliff.  Cliff tells him that he wasn’t in town, and that they can fight tomorrow, but they need to find the baby.

   The police tell Jock that they should go that the call was just someone’s idea of a sick joke.  They call Miss Ellie, and she tells Lucy that JR was right about it being a hoax.

JR gets the money from Vaughn played by Dennis Patrick who was Jason McGuire in Dark Shadows, he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for JR to do this alone again like he did when Bobby was kidnapped.  JR tells him that he doesn’t have enough time.

   Bobby, Cliff and Pam go to the hospital and tell the nurse that they want to question patients and the doctors and nurses, she tells them that the police did this already.  A doctor comes over and they tell him what they want and he agrees to let them do it and allows them to look at records too I find this highly unlikely that the hospital would allow them to do this, but the Ewing’s can do whatever they want. 

   JR gets back to his office and Jeb calls he tells him that he’ll be right over, he tells JR that Willie Joe has the baby so he better not try anything.  When they hang up Jeb says it is sure lucky that someone kidnapped that baby what I totally didn’t see this coming I was sure that it was them.  Pam goes to look at the baby’s and suddenly remembers seeing a woman there a lot, she tells Bobby and Cliff about her.  I recognized this lady as the woman who played Scully’s mom on The X-Files.  The go to her house and Pam asks her if she saw or remembers anything.  The lady tells her that she can’t remember, Pam gives her, her card and asks her to call if she remembers anything.  Pam hears a baby, she asks what that was and the lady tells her that it was her baby she just brought him home today.  While she is checking on the baby Pam calls Bobby and Cliff.  She tells them that she has a baby, Bobby reminds her that the nurse told them that her baby died.  Pam introduces her to Bobby and Cliff.  Cliff asks to hold the baby but she won't let him.  Bobby tells her that they saw the hospital records, and Pam tells her that it isn't her baby.  She begins to cry and swears that it is.

   Jeb gets to JR's office, he looks at the money, but JR won't give it to him until he gets his boy, the phone rings while Jeb is getting himself a drink.  Bobby tells him that they got the baby and that they will be home soon.  Jeb turns around thinking that he's got JR, but then JR pulls out his gun and tells him to get out of his office, Jeb tells JR that he owes them.

   Pam asks what's going to happen to the lady, Bobby tells her that whatever happens they will help her.

   Back at Southfork Pam and Bobby take the lady to the drawing room where the family is waiting.  She brings the baby to Sue Ellen and apologizes for taking the baby.  Sue Ellen thanks her, she hold the baby for like a minute before handing him off to the nurse. 

Final Thoughts:  I was sure that the kidnappers would have been Willie Joe and Jeb, but I liked the twist.  Pam needs to wake up, we get it you love your brother, but you know that he's got a big grudge against the Ewing's.  

Best Outfit:  The top is just huge, it would look a lot better if it was about 2 sizes smaller.

Guest Stars:   Sheila Larken and Dennis Patrick

Fight Count:  0

Whatever Happened to Baby John? Part I

Dallas 

Season 2 Episode 1

Air Date:   September 21, 1979

Recap:  At the hospital Sue Ellen is looking at the baby, while JR is talking to the doctor, on his way over to Sue Ellen he borrows a lady’s newspaper and reads that Willie Joe Garr and Jeb Ames have been paroled.  He tells Sue Ellen that she gets to go home today and that the doctor told him that the baby can come home in a few days.  They walk out of the hospital and don’t see Cliff, who is lurking in the hallway.

   Bobby and Jock are rounding up the cattle, Bobby found a dead one and they need to take care of the screw worm that is going around or they could lose all the cattle.  JR and Sue Ellen drive by and he makes her wave to Bobby and Jock.

   Pam and Cliff are having lunch, she is trying to tell him that Sue Ellen still isn’t herself, and he needs to give her a chance to get better.  He thinks that he can help her, Pam tells him that he can only help her start drinking again.  Pam tells him he needs to stop blaming JR and start taking some responsibility for himself.

   Lucy is with her friends on the patio, she runs over to JR and Sue Ellen when they get home, she tries to hug Sue Ellen, but she is very distant.  Lucy’s friends say that they thought she was better.  In their room JR tells her that he’s glad that she’s home, and he promises to make it up to her.

   At Ewing Oil, Willie Joe and Jeb are there to see JR, his secretary tells them that he’s not in, they ask about the baby, she tells them that the baby is still in the hospital.

   Miss Ellie is worried about Sue Ellen, but JR tells her that he’s trying hard, and she’ll be herself again soon.  Jock and Bobby get home and tell JR about the cattle.  When Pam gets home she goes after Sue Ellen and tells her that she’s glad that she’s home, Sue Ellen barely acknowledges her.  Pam tells Bobby that it’s impossible t o talk to her, and she thinks that Sue Ellen hates them all.

   Sue Ellen goes to the nursery it’s really creepy, she starts all the music boxes, Bobby goes in and talks to her, he asks her how she is, she tells him that she’s fine, but there is no emotion in her voice at all.  He tells her that everyone cares about her, not just the baby, she says that she knows that, but you can tell that she’s just saying this to get rid of him.  He tells her that she can trust him not to tell anyone what she told him about Cliff and the baby.  She tells him she doesn’t know what he’s talking about then drops the music box she’s holding and walks out of the room.

   Bobby and Jock are checking on the cattle and Bobby has to shoot one.

   JR wants to take Sue Ellen to a little Greek restaurant that they used to go to after they go see the baby, but Sue Ellen tells him that she’s not going to the hospital, she tells him that she needs to rest.  JR goes downstairs and Miss Ellie asks him if when he’s going to see the baby, and offers to take him and Sue Ellen to lunch, he tells her that Sue Ellen isn’t going to the hospital today.  Pam tells Miss Ellie not to worry.

   At the O.L.M office a co-worker is telling Cliff that he needs to stop focusing on Ewing Oil, and that he can’t decline the environmental report, this time.  He tells him that he’s heard things from Austin and if he’s not careful he’ll be out of a job, and have a lot of questions to answer.  Cliff calls the hospital and pretends to be a friend of the family to get information about the baby.

  The secretaries at Ewing Oil are looking through a wedding catalogue, when JR comes in, they tell him that Harv Smithfield is in his office and that Willie Joe and Jeb have been calling for him.  JR goes into his office and meets Alan Beam, the lawyer who will help them with the O.L.M.  Willie Joe and Jeb call, but JR tells the secretary to tell them he’s in a meeting, they say that they will make JR talk to them.

Lucy and Pam go to see the baby, the nurse allows Pam to hold the baby since she tells them that Sue Ellen won’t be coming in today.

   JR updates Jock about Alan Beam.  Pam and Lucy get home, JR goes over to Sue Ellen who is sitting by the pool, he tells her that he wants her to start taking an interest in things.  She asks like what.  He tells her the baby.  He gives her a ring, but she tells him that she can’t be bought anymore.

   Miss Ellie and Sue Ellen are talking in the dining room the next morning, she tells Sue Ellen not to brood on the past.  She tells her that she and Jock are very happy to have another grandchild, but they want her to be happy too.  Lucy comes in and asks when they are going to go see the baby, Sue Ellen gets up to go change, but fakes a dizzy spell and says that she’s going to lie down.  Lucy says she doesn’t think Sue Ellen wants her baby, Miss Ellie tries to deny it, but Lucy says that some mothers don’t want their babies like her parents didn’t want her.

   At the hospital they run into Pam, they tell her that the baby will be able to come home tomorrow.

   Alan tells JR that the property they want to drill is perfect, and he’ll write up a brief and if Cliff shuts them down again, then they can file an abuse of power against him.  JR’s secretary comes in and tells him that Willie Joe and Jeb are here to see him, he tells her to tell them that he’s in a meeting, but they burst in anyway.  They tell him that they want to talk to him in private.  They tell JR it feels like he’s been avoiding them, they tell him that they think he’s just as responsible for Julie’s death as they are.  They want him to give them money since they can’t touch their own because they are being sued by everyone.  He tells them that he’s not going to give them a cent, and tells them to get out of his office, they tell him that he’ll be sorry.

   When Bobby gets home he finds Sue Ellen home, he tells her that he’s going to go see the baby, and tells her that she can’t keep avoiding the things that are important.  She asks him what he wants from her.  He just wants to help her.  She tells him that the only way he can help her is for him to leave her alone.

   Cliff is walking toward the hospital when Bobby gets there, he tells him that he told him to stay away.  Cliff tells Bobby that he wants Sue Ellen and the baby.  Bobby tells him that he’ll only cause Sue Ellen more problems, Cliff tells Bobby that he will get Sue Ellen and the baby anyway he can.  He tells Cliff that he and JR will get him if he tries anything.

Cliff goes back to his office and tells his co-worker that he’s going to make the Ewing’s give him everything that is rightfully his.

   Jock tells JR that he doesn’t want Willie Joe or Jeb to have anything to do with Ewing Oil, JR tells him not to worry about that.

   Pam asks Bobby if he’s mad at her, he tells her he’s sorry, he’s just had a bad couple days.  He tells her that the Barnes/Ewing feud makes it hard to be honest with each other.  He tells her that he sent Cliff away from the hospital, she tells him that Cliff wouldn’t do anything I remember her saying this before and she learned that her brother is just as bad as JR I guess she’s forgotten all about that.  Bobby tells her that if Cliff doesn’t stay away from Sue Ellen then he’ll tear him apart and he won’t be able to work in Dallas.  Bobby goes with Jock to take care of the cattle. 

   JR gets home and wants Sue Ellen to go with him to pick up the baby from the hospital, she tells him that she can’t go because she’s got a headache, Miss Ellie tells him to be patient with her when he follows her into the house.  In their room he tells her to get dressed and that he’s not fooled like everyone else it with her excuses.  He tells her that it’s time she started acting like a wife and mother, he goes to the closet and pulls out a bunch of clothes and tells her to get dressed or he'll do it for her.  

   When they get to the hospital there is a crowd about the hospital, reporters come over and start asking them questions, a detective comes over and takes them into the hospital where he tells them that the baby has been kidnapped, the doctor and nurse apologize telling JR and Sue Ellen that this has never happened before.  JR calls home and tells Miss Ellie that the baby had been kidnapped.

Final Thoughts:  This was a great episode to start the next season, you've got two choices about who kidnapped the baby, but I think it's pretty obvious who did do it and his initials are not C.B.  I doubt the change in JR's attitude will last that long.  It's interesting to hear Lucy say that her parents don't want her since they are remarried and living in California, "waiting" till they think they are ready to have her live with them, she won't know that they are remarried till the end of this season of Dallas, but will in the next episode of Knots Landing, Lucy isn't a child anymore she just graduated I highly doubt that she would really want to live with her parents even if she knew that they were back together. 

Best Outfit:  There weren't any really awful outfits, but this one of Pam's was the closest, she's got a scarf tied around her waist, in a previous scene you can see it on the side, it must have shifted or it's been redone in this shot.

Fight Count:  2 (Bobby vs Cliff) (JR vs Sue Ellen)