Caffeinated Joe

F13TS 25 - Showcase Promo

2013-04-16T03:00:00.000-04:00

Showcase is a Canadian network.

Here is a (blurry) promo for the show:

Anyone from up North watch it when it aired here?

F13:TS 25 - Blog Post on the Series

2013-04-08T16:32:00.001-04:00

The blog Supernatural Television did a post on the show, check it out!

Friday the 13th: The Series

Happy 50th General Hospital

2013-04-06T09:19:00.000-04:00

Monday was the 50th anniversary of the premiere of General Hospital.

Port Charles is a special place.

Here's to 50 more - at least!

F13TS 25 - Season 3 DVD Promo

2013-04-02T03:00:00.000-04:00

Here is a little promo I made,

using stills from the ad that played on various sites,

like IMDb, when the 3rd Season DVD set

of the show was being released.

Not great, I admit,

but I mainly wanted to preserve the stills

from the ad campaign.

F13TS 25 - Robey in Cancun

2013-03-19T03:00:00.000-04:00

Here's a piece from the 80s show

Runaway with the Rich and Famous,

with Robey and her manager in Cancun, Mexico!

Great video!

F13TS 25 - La Boutique Aux Malefices

2013-03-05T03:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the French opening for the show:

La Boutique Aux Malefices

Love it!

F13: TS 25 - The Quilt of Hathor: The Awakening

2013-02-22T03:30:00.000-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #20: The Quilt of Hathor: The Awakening

Original Airdate: May 14, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Scott Paulin as Reverend Josiah
Kate Trotter as Effie Stokes
Bernard Behrens as Inquisitor Holmes
Diego Matamoros as Matthew
David Brown as Elder Fraser
Carolyn Dunn as Laura Grange
Araby Lockhart as Elder Florence

Written by Janet MacLean, Larry B. Williams

Directed by Timothy Bond

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We start with a recap of the previous episode, a voice over by Jack. Then, back at the colony, Elder Florence watches as Effie folds up the quilt. In the barn, Elder Fraser tells Reverend Josiah he stopped at another colony and that they have grave concerns about this colony and Josiah's leadership, including his inability to choose a wife. The Reverend says his two choices have been taken from him. Fraser alludes to the fact that maybe a reverend from a different colony should take over.

Florence later tells Ryan that she wants to tell the reverend that she saw Sarah's quilt, being held by Effie. Ryan tells her they need to get the quilt from Effie, since it is evil. Florence agrees, but only if they give the quilt to the reverend.

Penatite Ryan would make a great collectible F13:TS action figure!

Fraser again confronts the reverend, saying the other colony believe occult forces may be at work and questions the reverend giving his daughter away to be married to an outsider, Ryan.

Florence makes Ryan wait as she goes up to Effie's room, since men aren't allowed there. She finds the quilt, but is surprised by Effie. Florence says the reverend will decide who owns the quilt, but Effie pulls it away from her and tosses her out. She then lays down with the quilt and again dreams of the ball. In the dream, Florence is cutting the meat for the meal. She drops the serving fork and Effie picks it up, she then goads Florence with it and then stabs her in the eyes. Florence dies in the dream and in reality, having pulled her eyes from her head. Ryan tries to get to Effie, but other men stop him.

Elder Florence dies in the most gruesome way!

At Curious Goods, Micki and Jack are hurrying to leave. They are worried about Ryan, being alone at the colony and believing he is unaware the quilt is still there.

Back at the Penatite colony, Fraser tells Josiah that the council has sent an inquisitor to investigate Josiah's leadership of the colony. Josiah says they must make sure there are no incidences while the inquisitor is there. He is then informed at Elder Florence has died.

Laura finds Ryan and he says he must speak to her father. The others are blaming Ryan for the events that have been occurring saying he has brought witchcraft to their home and seduced the reverend's daughter, as well. The reverend has Ryan brought to his office.

Once inside, Ryan wants to explain, but the reverend wants to question him, not the other way around. He orders Fraser to leave so he can be alone with Ryan. He says four have died since Ryan arrived and people believe it is witchcraft. Ryan agrees, but the reverend thinks he is mocking him. Ryan tells him about the quilt and the curse. Ryan tells him he believes Effie is the one in possession of the quilt. The reverend is suspicious and reluctant to believe Effie would be so evil. He says he has known Effie for years and Ryan for weeks and would choose to believe her over him. He sends Ryan away so he can decide what to do.

At dinner, the reverend addresses the group, talking about how his choices for a bride have both been taken from him. But he has asked another and she has said yes. He tells them he and Effie were wed in secret that afternoon. Ryan is shocked.

Laura is bemused that her father has married Effie.

Ryan, however, is confused.

That night, Effie is pleased that her dream has finally come true. The reverend hopes he hasn't acted in haste, she assures him she is happy. She pulls the quilt out and places it over them in bed, telling him it will assure them of a dreamless sleep. Effie is hurt when Josiah chooses to go to sleep instead of being with her.

Doh.

Effie can't get a man even when she's married to him and in bed with him!

Once they are asleep, Effie is once again in her dream of a ball. She is dancing with Josiah, a knife in her hand, ready to kill him. As they twirl on the dance floor, she is shocked to find she is losing control of the dream. She is soon her plain self again and in a field with Josiah. He bends her backwards, snapping her spine, killing her. In reality, Josiah wakes up, having moved from the bed to the chair with the quilt, alone. On the bed lies Effie, dead.

Effie got the sheet pulled out from under her. So to speak.

Josiah takes Effie's body outside, wrapped in a different quilt. He hides her in the basement of his home.

Jack and Micki are stranded on the side of the road when there car breaks down. They are still many miles away from the colony. Micki hopes Jack talks to Ryan about coming back, but he says if Ryan wants to stay, they have to respect his wishes.

The next morning, Josiah lies to Ryan that he almost had the quilt, but that Effie took the quilt and fled the colony in the night. He says he is sorry. Ryan is skeptical.

Later, Josiah greets Inquisitor Holmes when he arrives to see just what has been going on at the colony and with the reverend's leadership. He tells Josiah he has much to answer for.

I have to guess they had him walk under the ladder as an omen.

Ryan asks Laura if she is at all suspicious of her father marrying Effie to get the quilt. Laura is shocked that Ryan could think badly of her father and stomps off.

Matthew is talking with the inquisitor, telling him all their problems began when Ryan arrived. The inquisitor says it is their way to accept outsiders, as long as they agree to take vows to uphold their beliefs. Next, the inquisitor asks Josiah about the quilt that had been stolen from Sarah, a quilt that seems to be occult in design. Josiah lies and says Sarah told him the quilt wasn't really stolen, she had just misplaced it. The inquisitor is skeptical.

Ryan arrives later and apologizes to Laura. She accepts but before they can make up, Josiah arrives and lies to Ryan that the inquisitor has ordered Ryan's expulsion from the colony. He must leave at once and there is nothing the reverend can do. He takes Laura inside and shuts the door.

Ryan is packing when Laura arrives. She says she is sorry and she will write to him, often. Ryan tells her how special she is to him. Laura says their worlds are so far apart. Ryan begins to ask her to leave with him, but she says she can never leave. They put on brave faces and promise to never forget each other. They are about to share a kiss when Matthew comes in, telling Ryan the inquisitor wishes to see him, now. Laura hopes he can sway the man to let him stay. Josiah watches from his window as Ryan heads out.

The inquisitor is barely able to keep his eyes open as he works. Ryan arrives and sees the man having a nightmare, fighting someone in his dream. Ryan tries to awaken the man, but to no use. The inquisitor lifts a letter opener and kills himself. Ryan pulls the weapon out as the other men come in and find him. The believe Ryan killed him and has been behind all the bad occurrences.

Ryan, Ryan, Ryan.

When are you going to learn?

Do not grab the item someone was just killed with!

In his room, Josiah awakens and hides the quilt, having killed the old man in his dream.

Laura arrives and is told Ryan killed Inquisitor Holmes. Laura is shocked and Ryan is sure he is doomed, as he knows Josiah is behind all this. Micki and Jack finally arrive and see the commotion. Laura tells them what happened and Jack says this looks like a lynch mob.

Ryan claims innocence when Josiah accuses him of killing the inquisitor. Ryan says Josiah knows he didn't do it. Jack speaks up, but him and Micki are taken out of the room. Ryan appeals to the others, but Josiah scoffs. Ryan then tries to tell them about the cursed quilt, but only makes himself look more guilty. The reverend then sentences Ryan to death by fire. The men grab him and take him outside. Laura tells Micki and Jack what happened. Ryan then begs Laura to go find the quilt in her father's home. She rushes off.

Ryan is dragged to a pyre as men follow with lit torches. Laura searches her father's home. Ryan is tied to the post as a woman begins singing. The men wait, torches in hand. Micki yells at the reverend to stop this, but he won't listen. Jack says Josiah rigged this and killed the inquisitor and framed Ryan. Josiah tells Jack to be quiet or face the same punishment.

We should be concerned that they already had this set up.

Laura arrives then, telling them to stop. She has a quilt covered in blood. She tells them the quilt was his, made by her mother. She found it wrapped around Effie's body. She scoops snow onto the fire as Ryan is untied from the post. Josiah denies it, but she tells the others to search under her father's house, they'll find Effie's body there. The men head off, no longer listening to Josiah's pleas to burn Ryan. He then jumps on a horse and heads off and Ryan and Laura jump in a carriage and follow him.

Josiah goes to the mill to use the quilt. Ryan and Laura arrive and find the door locked. Ryan tries to break it down. Josiah rushes to the top of the building and gets the quilt. Ryan breaks down the door and enters, Josiah telling him not to rush. He then sits with the quilt and begins to doze off. As he does, so does Ryan, but Ryan is able to grab the quilt and yank it away from the older man, breaking the dream before it can begin. The two then struggle.

How did he think he could fall asleep before Ryan got to him?

As they struggle, Laura tells Ryan to let go. When he does, Josiah loses his balance and falls backward out the window to his death. As the others all arrive, Ryan and Laura come outside. He pulls the quilt off of Josiah's body and hands it to Jack. Laura looks sadly at her father's body and says "Thy will be done."

The next day, Ryan is saying good-bye to Laura. He says he can't stay, yet. He has too much work to do with Micki and Jack. He asks her to come with him, but she says she has to stay. She has things to do there. She says she has learned a lot from Ryan, a lot about love. Ryan wishes he hadn't come, but she says love is too rare to wish away. They hug and he heads off as Matthew joins her on the porch. She mouths "I love you" as Ryan drives away with Micki and Jack.

At the store, Ryan yawns and sits down, weary from the recent events. He soon dozes off. Micki comes in and sees him asleep. She picks up his hat and takes a quilt and covers him, smiling and wishing him sweet dreams. She heads upstairs. Within minutes, Ryan is jolted away by the sound of thunder. A nightmare, perhaps?

Micki is just so damn happy to have him home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

A great wrap-up to the previous episode! Almost like a Friday the 13th: The Series movie!

We get a twist here, as the villain from the previous episode is quickly outdone by her prey, who then becomes the new villain. Great twist!

I also think it is ironic that Josiah becomes the bad guy due to Effie killing off the women he has chosen to be his bride. I mean he might have been strict, but it appears that the effects of the quilt and the deaths have pushed him over the edge.

Love how Effie thinks she is in control of the dream, unaware the Josiah has taken the quilt off of her and is using it himself. Quite a twist! And he kills her so brutally!

Also love how Ryan comes to his senses at the end, realizing he has responsibilities to Micki, Jack, the store and in getting the curse antiques back. And how Laura doesn't give up her life and beliefs just to follow him. They are truly at an uncross-able divide. I wonder, had Ryan's life not gone off-track eventually, would he have found his way back to Laura? And would it have been too late, as we see Matthew ready to step back in to her life at the end? Hmmm...

A quibble: If singing and music is shunned by the Penatites, why is the woman singing when Ryan is going to be executed? I mean they were all shocked when Laura was singing a lullaby to a horse, for cripe sake!

The end is cute, but odd. Why would Micki let him just stay asleep in that uncomfortable chair? Ah well.

Great two-parter, even if it is sad for Ryan at the end.

Next week: "Double Exposure"

F13TS 25 - Entertainment Tonight Piece

2013-02-19T03:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick piece Entertainment Tonight did on the show in 1987:

You'll have to click THIS LINK,

since the user who uploaded it won't allow embedding.

Love seeing Chris Wiggins and Louise Robey talk up the show!

F13: TS 25 - The Quilt of Hathor

2013-02-15T03:30:00.000-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #19: The Quilt of Hathor

Original Airdate: May 2, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Scott Paulin as Reverend Josiah
Kate Trotter as Effie Stokes
Diego Matamoros as Matthew
David Brown as Elder Fraser
Helen Carscallen as Sarah Good
Carolyn Dunn as Laura Grange
Araby Lockhart as Elder Florence
Rebecca Lamb as Diana Rowland
Patricia Strelioff as Jane Spring

Written by Janet MacLean

Directed by Timothy Bond

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We open on a carriage ride in a village. A man, the revered, and a young woman are riding together, he is anxious for the night they will be will wed. They stop and kiss and are caught by Effie Stokes, who is surprised to hear they are betrothed. The reverend Josiah snaps at Effie, telling her there is nothing wrong with their marriage. He then takes the young woman, Jane, inside, leaving Effie to deal with the horse.

Effie reminds me of the chicken who had the hots for Foghorn Leghorn!

That night, Effie pulls a quilt out of the bottom of her cedar chest. Elsewhere, Jane is saying her prayers before bed. Effie goes to sleep under the quilt. She goes to sleep dreaming about the reverend, and in her dream, she is the bell of an old-fashioned ball. Josiah dances with her but when he sees Jane, he tosses Effie aside. As they dance on the balcony, Effie tells Josiah "it's time". He then tosses Jane off the balcony to her death, the continues to dance with Effie. In reality, Jane dies in her sleep.

Why did Sarah by an occult quilt from Lewis in the first place???

At Curious Goods, Ryan is rocking out to music until Micki alerts him to a guest. Sarah has arrived from the Penatite colony in answer to one of their mailers. She once purchased the Quilt of Hathor from Lewis. She says she knew the quilt was evil, but it was stolen from her. She believes one of her sect stole it from her. Jack tells her they need to get it back. Sarah tells Micki and Ryan they need to dress quite simply if they are going to fit in back at the Penatite colony, as they shun modern ways.

Sarah brings Micki and Ryan to her colony, showing them the buildings and people as they go by in the carriage. Ryan makes jokes, but Sarah is serious. There are punishments for transgressions, she tells them. Sarah tells Laura, the reverend's daughter, that Micki and Ryan are her sister's children. When Ryan smiles at the girl, the carriage driver, Matthew, makes sure to mention he is betrothed to Laura. Ryan notices that Laura doesn't seem as happy about that as Matthew. Sarah tells them all the marriages here are prearranged by the elders.

The colony is so close to modern civilization!

That night, at dinner, Ryan can't take his eyes off of Laura. The reverend Josiah offers a prayer over his lost fiancee, Jane, whom he still mourns. Effie makes sure to mention that even Jane had faults, but Sarah scolds her. Ryan makes small talk, finding out Matthew and Laura are to marry in a week.

Ryan is instantly smitten with the lovely Laura.

Later, Sarah brings them to her rooms and tells them to wait until everyone is in bed before searching for the quilt. Effie listens in. Ryan goes outside to look around. He spots Laura going into the barn and follows. He finds her singing to a horse. He tells her the song is beautiful, startling her. They then proceed to sing together and dance a bit. Matthew rushes in and tackles Ryan, telling him he can see the lust in Ryan's eyes. He tells him the penalty for that is death.

Laura tries to stop Matthew from killing Ryan and eventually convinces him to give her the razor in his hand. Matthew then tells Ryan they will settle this at a hearing, even though Ryan says he did nothing. Laura tells him that her father, the reverend, will make the judgment about what Ryan has done.

Simple, sweet romance. Too bad Matthew keeps popping up!

The next morning, at the hearing, the reverend calls Ryan and Laura forward. Ryan tells him he did nothing wrong. Matthew says Ryan is an adulterer. The reverend says he isn't, as Laura is not yet married. Laura tells them what happened and says it is her fault, not Ryan's. She then sings the song a bit, reminding the reverend that her mother used to sing it to her. Micki sticks up for Ryan, telling the group everyone dances where they come from. The reverend makes his decision, telling Ryan that he will abide by their laws while he is there and that he must stay away from Laura. If he messes up again, there will be consequences.

At a meeting, a question comes up about the colony's finances. The reverend tries to move to another subject, but the others persist. He scolds them. Effie then brings up the fact that, per their law, the reverend must take a new wife. Josiah says he is still mourning. But they tell him he must marry. Effie tries to present herself, but Josiah doesn't pick up the hint.

Later, Effie practices accepting Josiah's proposal. She wants the power that comes with being the reverend's wife. Micki and Ryan meet up after searching for the quilt, but other than a dirty magazine, they come up with nothing. Micki then searches Effie's room unaware the woman is there. Micki finds a mirror and is startled when Effie surprises her. Micki drops and breaks the mirror. She makes an excuse, saying she thought this was Sarah's room. Effie is suspicious and threatens Micki if she tells that Effie had a mirror. Micki leaves.

At dinner, the reverend praises Rebecca for the meal. He then makes an announcement about his choice of a bride. He then asks Rebecca to be his bride, much to Effie's dismay. Rebecca agrees and everyone is pleased, even Laura. Effie sits, simmering in her rage.

Ryan sneaks into the barn later to see Laura. She is surprised, but tells him she feels an attraction to him, as well. When Matthew calls her name, she has Ryan hid in the haystack. Matthew arrives and offers to help with the horse, using the pitchfork to get hay. As Laura leaves with him, blood seeps out of the haystack where Ryan was hiding.

That night, Effie again pulls the quilt out and sleeps beneath it. Her dreams are of Rebecca this time. At the same old-fashioned ball in her dream, she is pushed aside by Rebecca. Effie then poisons the woman's wine. Rebecca drinks and then chokes and dies. The reverend dances with Effie. In real life, Rebecca dies in her sleep.

Effie may be plain, but in her dreams, she is the belle of the ball!

Micki is out searching for Ryan and heads into the barn. She calls for him and hears a moan. She pulls the pitchfork from the haystack and Ryan sits up. He was wounded in his arm. Micki tells Ryan it is hard to watch someone she cares about make a mistake. Ryan says it isn't a mistake, that Laura is special. They hear a commotion and are told that Rebecca died. Ryan wants to check on Laura, but Micki says they should look for the quilt.

The next day, at a funeral for Rebecca, the reverend questions God as to why both Jane and Rebecca have been taken away. He wonders if it is to punish him. Ryan and Micki watch and wonder who could be using the quilt. They wonder if someone either hates or loves the reverend enough to use the quilt this way.

Ryan chases Laura, wanting to ask about who would want to marry her father. Laura tells him that Effie Stokes has been infatuated with Josiah for years, but the reverend never notices her. She asks why, but Ryan says he can't tell her. Ryan leans in and kisses her and Laura kisses him back. Matthew again jumps Ryan, striking him. He is ready to kill Ryan, but the reverend appears and stops him. He tells them they will solve this the old fashioned way. Laura tells Ryan there will be a cleansing.

Ryan, in the Penatite version of American Gladiators!

That night, the men build a frame around bonfire. Ryan must fight Matthew above the fire and whoever falls in is the loser and the colony will be cleansed. Micki says it is barbaric. Ryan tries to make them listen to sense, but they won't hear of it. Matthew begins struggling with Ryan and Ryan has no choice but to fight back. Micki stand by, worried. Matthew thinks he has won, but Ryan saves himself and fights back. The men struggle and Ryan eventually knocks Matthew down. He walks toward Micki and Laura and then walks off with Laura.

Aw, Poor Micki, dissed by Ryan for a hug.

Later, Effie follows Sarah as the woman enter's Effie's room. Sarah tells Effie she is looking for the quilt stolen from her. Effie plays dumb, but Sarah says she knows what is going on in Effie's mind about the reverend. She says she is evil and leaves.

Micki then tries to get some help in dealing with Ryan. Sarah's says if it is God's will, then let it be. She then tells Micki she believes Effie has the quilt.

That night, Effie again goes to sleep under the quilt, dreaming about Sarah. At the ball in her dream, Sarah is a maid who keeps calling Effie a liar and a murderess. Effie then strikes Sarah with a candlestick and drops the flames onto the old woman. In the dream, Sarah burns and in reality, Sarah's room is also on fire. Ryan and Micki are too late to save Sarah, who dies. They then go to Effie's room and find the quilt and Micki grabs it. Effie calls them thieves, but they flee.

Effie just loves that freaking quilt!

The next day, at Sarah's funeral, the reverend again wonders aloud what the colony has done to suffer so. Micki is packing when Ryan arrives. He tells her he is staying at the colony. Micki asks about all the other antiques, Ryan shrugs. He says he is in love with Laura, and that he has found a sort of peace with the way of life at the colony. Micki asks about the store, the antiques and Jack, but he just says he has to do what he has to do. She says she deserves better. She says she can't keep hunting the antiques alone. He says Jack will be fine and she is strong, she doesn't need him anymore. She grabs her stuff and goes to leave, telling him she will miss him before heading out the door. Ryan watches her get in the carriage and leave.

At Curious Goods, Micki arrives with the quilt. She sees a horse statuette and sings the lullaby Laura sang. Jack asks where Ryan is and she tells him. He is shocked, confused that Ryan would become a Penatite to be with the girl. He says he will miss him. Micki says she will, too. She then shows Jack the quilt. He tells her what the curse on the quilt does. As he moves the quilt, it tears. Jack then uses his lighter and burns the corner. He tells Micki the real quilt can't be destroyed and they realize this quilt is a fake.

To be continued!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

Quite a different episode of the show! Not only do we get a unique locale - an Amish-like place - we get Ryan actually choosing to leave the store and Micki and Jack for the love of a woman he just met!

I can see Ryan's thought process. He was so young and carefree when we first met him and now he has seen so much horror and death, a place like the Penatite colony would be appealing to him, especially since he think the cursed item is now gone from there. But I have a bit of a hard time buying that he would just dump the entire responsibility of the store and, even more so, the hunting of the antiques, on Micki and Jack. Love makes one do stupid things, but wow.

Micki shows some of her deepening feelings for Ryan here, too. She at first plays off Ryan's infatuation with Laura as a lark. And when he fights Matthew, she is shown hoping Ryan is rushing to her. We see her visibly saddened when he instead goes to Laura. And then when he decides to stay behind, she is angry but also very heartbroken. Quite a moment for them, even if Ryan can't see it.

They should have known Effie was playing them for fools when she doesn't fight them over the quilt, but maybe they were just eager to get the quilt.

Love the idea of a quilt, such a simple, benign object, being able to bring up such horror through the curse. Creepy!

Also love how, at the end, even thought they are both sad, Micki and Jack never say they are just going to give up, as well. Ryan might have deserted them, but they both seem determined to keep hunting the items. Good on them.

Next week: "The Quilt of Hathor: The Awakening"

F13:TS 25 - Interview with John D. LeMay

2013-01-29T03:00:00.000-05:00

The website Twisted Central has an interview with John D. LeMay

Check it out here!

F13: TS 25 - Brain Drain

2013-01-25T14:49:00.000-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #18: Brain Drain

Original Airdate: April 30, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Carrie Snodgress as Dr. Viola Rhodes
Denis Forest as Stewart Pangborn
Brian Paul as Dr. Verner
Francois Klanfer as Dr. Robeson
David Walden as Dr. Maxwell

Written by Josh Miller
Directed by Lyndon Chubbuck

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We open on a museum. In the lab, a Doctor Robeson is monitoring hope a below-level intelligent man functions doing menial tasks. Another man comes in and the doctor tells him he has something to show him that is big news. Robeson leads the other man to a secret room in the basement. The patient, Harry, follows the men and spies on them.

Denis Forest, great actor, gone too soon.

The doctor shows the man a gorilla brain that is tied into computers, he has found a way to reprogram the brain to make it more intelligent. He says the brain is as smart as the patient he was doing tests on, maybe smarter. Robeson wants his friend to build hands of a sort, so the brain can use them. The doctor then takes his friend to show him something else, an item called a trephinator, something used to drain fluids off brains and spinal columns in the old days. This one, however, was modified to supposedly swap the intelligence of one person into another. Both men find it humorous that someone would actually think it could work. Anyone who used it would be dead in hours.

Another huge freaking antique!

Harry, the patient, has heard all the doctor said about how the machine works and when the other man leaves, he grabs Robeson and straps him into the machine. He sits in the other seat and pulls the lever. Both men are hit in the back of their heads by the trephinator mechanism. However, since it is a cursed antique, the machine does work, transferring Robeson's intelligence into Harry and vice versa.

Yeah, that's the stuff, man...

At Curious Goods, while Jack is complaining about again, Ryan is going through the mail and finds a letter about the trephinator from the manifest. He thinks they are going to get to go to Africa, but finds out Dr. Robeson has moved back and is working at the museum nearby.

At the museum, Jack finds out Robeson died a month ago after walking into traffic and being hit by a truck. Jack then spies a woman and approaches her, calling her Vi. She is Dr. Viola Rhodes, and she is just as surprised to see Jack. She tells him she is working at the museum for awhile. They both are very happy to see each other. Viola tells Jack to call her tonight, she wants to catch up. Micki and Ryan tease Jack and he tells them he was engaged to Vi once, 20 years ago. She wanted him to go to Kenya, he said no, and the engagement ended. Ryan tells Jack they found out Robeson had an assistant, Stewart Pangborn, who took over his research, so they go to see if he has any of the late doctor's belongings.

Jack cannot believe his eyes.

Dr. Pangborn is Harry, the patient who used the trephinator to steal Robeson's intelligence. He has gotten even more intelligent and has called on another man, Dr. Verner, to help him. Verner comments on how Stewart has some of the same mannerisms that Robeson had. Jack, Micki and Ryan come in and ask about the trephinator. Stewart says no and rudely tells them to leave. After they leave, Verner tells Pangborn he remembers Robeson saying something about a trephinator. Stewart takes the other doctor to the basement and shows him the trephinator, telling him it was a machine to measure the size of a person's brain. Playing on the man's ego, he gets Verner to sit in the machine so they can compare their brain sizes. Stewart pulls the lever and the machine hits both men, transferring the doctor's intelligence into Stewart. Dr. Verner then stumbles away and falls down the marble staircase. Jack calls for an ambulance as Micki notices the puncture wound on the back of Verner's neck.

At the store, the group tries to decide what their next course of action should be. Micki thinks they should talk to Verner, in the hospital. Jack comes into the kitchen, dressed up for his date with Viola. Micki comments on how good he looks and his cologne.

At dinner, Jack and Vi reminisce about their past. Jack tells her he was married once. Vi tells him she was married to her work. He asks what she is working on, but she says she can't tell him, but it is very exciting and experimental. She tells him she needs to get back to the hotel, she has to work early. Jack says she is the same old Viola. She says she isn't the same, she wouldn't make the same mistake twice.

Ryan comes back to the store and tells Micki he got an autopsy report for Dr. Robeson. Micki tells him she couldn't see Verner, he died before she could visit. Ryan tells her Robeson also had a puncture wound on the back of his neck.

At the hotel, Vi invites Jack up to her room and they share a kiss. Jack then goes with her upstairs.

It is like no time has passed for these lovebirds.

At the lab, Stewart, speaking in the accent of the doctor he just killed, tells the brain in his lab that it will make him famous.

It's alive! It's ALIVE!!!

Arriving home late, Jack attempts to sneak into the store, but Micki and Ryan are awake and waiting for him. They tell him about Verner dying and how Robeson had the same puncture wound. Jack speculates that the trephinator must have transferred their intelligence into Stewart Pangborn. Since the museum isn't opened yet, Jack says he was take a nap and then they will head over. Ryan asks if Jack is going to see Vi again. Jack says he is having lunch with Viola.

At the museum, Stewart tells Viola he is honored to have her working with him. She thinks the work is revolutionary. When she tells him they could get the brain learning language in months, he snaps, saying he wants results sooner. She tells him he needs patience, he wants her to work faster. She tells him she cannot help and then begins to leave to meet Jack. Stewart stops her, apologizing and asking her to come see one other piece of equipment. She tells him she has to go and will see it later.

Brains make a make clean up well.

At the museum, Ryan and Micki snoop around, looking for the machine. In the basement, Ryan remarks that the items are as strange as what they have in the vault. Micki adds that at least these items aren't cursed. They search through files and are about to give up when Ryan finds a file for a patient named Harry Bradden who is Stewart. Since they can see what his IQ used to be, they realize he is the one gaining intelligence using the trephinator.

In the storeroom of the basement, Stewart hears a noise and calls out for Dr. Rhodes. Micki is surprised that Stewart knows who Vi is. They try to be quiet, but Ryan bumps into something and Stewart keeps looking. Both Ryan and Micki have a hard time being quiet, so Stewart arms himself with a spear and searches the room. Micki hides in a crate. Ryan is just about to be discovered when Dr. Pangborn is paged by security. He hurries out. Ryan finds Micki in the crate and lets her out. She is shocked to see there was a mummified corpse in the crate with her. She wants to leave, but Ryan insists they keep searching.

Upstairs, in the lab, the see the brains in fluid, pulsing and alive. Ryan goes through more files, but finds nothing. They hear a guard come down into the basement. He looks around and leaves.

At the hotel, Jack and Vi are finishing lunch and Jack asks what is on Vi's mind. She tells him that she believe there is something wrong with the director of the program, Stewart. She says the program could be ground-breaking, however. Jack comments that is sounds like she could be around for awhile. She says she could be. Jack then pulls the old engagement ring out of his pocket and Vi says she would love to marry Jack now. He gives her the ring, telling her it was always hers. He wants to spend the day with her, but she says she has to go back to work so she can have the night free.

Micki and Ryan argue about what to do. Ryan says they need to find the trephinator, Micki says they should warn Vi first. Jack arrives and tells them he has news about Vi. Micki says Dr. Rhodes is in danger and fills him in on what they learned at the museum. They rush out, worried for Viola's safety.

Stewart chides Vi for being distracted, she says she just had a personal matter to deal with. he asks for her help with something and she agrees, following him.

Jack speeds to the museum, snapping at Micki and Ryan as they try to comfort him. He tells them Vi is going to marry him and he can't lose her. They tell him they want to help and he apologizes. Jack is in a near panic, worried he will lose Vi again, and this time, for good.

Stewart shows Dr. Rhodes the trephinator and when her back is turned, he hits her, knocking her out.

Arriving at the museum, the trio rush to find a way into the closed building.

Vi awakens strapped into the trephinator and before she can grasp what is going on, Stewart pulls the lever, transferring her intelligence into his brain.

Zoinks! That's smarts!!!

Unable to find a way in, Jack worries for Vi's safety. Searching around the back of the building, Micki comes across Vi, laying barely alive in the alley. Jack tells Ryan to get the door open, telling them there is only one chance to save Vi, they have to reverse the process and get her mind back from Stewart.

Stewart works with the brain using Vi's knowledge, getting it to make a sound. He tells the brain the world is waiting for them.

Inside the museum, the group brings Vi, hoping to save her. Ryan says Stewart could be anywhere. They bring her to the basement, looking for a safe place for Vi so they can go and look for Stewart. She begins to come around, but is incoherent. Ryan asks if Jack is willing t kill Pangborn and Jack says there is no other way, he can't watch Viola die. Micki and Ryan rush off to find Pangborn. Jack looks around for the doctor or the machine. In the lab he finds a gun and takes it with him.

Micki and Ryan, debating what to do about Pangborn and Viola, are stopped by a security guard.

Jack chases Pangborn, who sneaks up behind Jack and gets the gun away from him. Stewart tells Jack he knows what the woman thought and knew about Jack. Just as Pangborn is about to shoot, Vi stumbles out and rams into him, causing the gun to shoot wildly. Jack sees the trephinator and demands Pangborn tell him which seat to put Vi in to get her back. Stewart tells him it is too late, Vi's memories only live in his mind now. Both men struggle around the room, but eventually Jack gets the upper hand, stunning Stewart, who collapses into the trephinator seat. But before Jack can do anything else, Vi pulls the lever, and the machine hits Pangborn as well as the brain in the glass case. The brain in the case dies, Pangborn is given even less intelligence than he started with and Vi dies.

Poor Jack.

Would it have been better for him to have not reconnected with Vi?

Later, at the store, Jack rues the events, wondering if he could have done something different. Ryan and Micki comfort Jack as best they can. Ryan tells him that they do what they have to and, if they are lucky, it is good enough. Micki tells him to remember the time he did have with Viola. Jack speaks to Viola, telling her to wait and maybe they can be together, someday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts: Quite an interesting episode! Not only do we get an unique and unusual antique with a very cool curse, we get a glimpse into Jack's past!

The trephinator is a great item, giving the user such a gift for the deaths the person has to give in return. It is yet another huge item for the vault, however. Going to run out of room before season one even ends!

Love the glimpse into Jack's past and the romance he rekindles with Viola. Sadly, he loses her again, but this time in the most awful and final way possible. Damn Lewis, yet again.

Love Micki and Ryan being the one to give Jack words of advice and comfort at the end, words he has given them many times before. They are all growing and changing, even if it is due to some horrible events along the way.

Also love seeing Denis Forest, yet again. He was almost a member of the cast!

One thing I have to wonder is what would have happened to our Curious Goods group had Viola lived and her and Jack married? Would have been interesting!

Next week: "The Quilt of Hathor (Part One)"

F13TS 25 - Scream Promo

2013-01-22T03:00:00.000-05:00

Here's the promo that aired on Scream Television:

Another channel I never got! :(

F13 TS 25 - The Electrocutioner

2013-01-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #17: The Electrocutioner

Original Airdate: April 23, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Angelo Rizacos as Eli Pittman
Frank Adamson as Warden Hobbs
Marcia Bennett as Peggy Hobbs
J. Winston Carroll as Judge Miller
Jennifer Cornish as Melissa Duvall
Ron Hartman as Mr. Downing

Written by Rob Hedden
Directed by Rob Hedden

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We open, in black and white, outside of an old prison during a storm. The year is 1978 and a man is taken from his cell, his head is shaved and he is brought to the room with the electric chair. Other men and guards are standing, ready to witness this prisoner's death. Another man sits by the phone. When it rings, he has the unfortunate task of telling the prisoner, Eli Pittman, that his stay of execution has been denied. Eli professes his innocence, but they flip the switch and he is electrocuted. Once it is over, the doctor examines him and reports that Eli is not dead. The switch is flipped again, he is again electrocuted. This time the doctor declares him dead and he is wheeled out on a gurney Before they leave, he grabs the guard's hand. The other men want him back in the chair, but one man stops them, saying that he was pronounced dead and they cannot execute a man twice. Eli is taken away to a hospital to see what effects the double-electrocution has had on him.

The actor goes through three different looks in this one episode!

In the present day, Ryan is rocking out to some music while fooling around with a lightening lamp. Micki turns off his radio and Jack arrives with a letter they sent out about an antique. Seems it was returned as there was no forwarding address, but Jack says the doctor's name turned out to be phony, the medical association never heard of the man. Ryan asks what Lewis sold him and Jack replies that it was an old electric chair.

Flash to Haverstock Reform School where a teenage girl is just coming out of the nitrous oxide after her appointment. The dentist, Dr. Lindheim, who is the former prisoner Eli Pittman, says he was sidetracked from his schooling in the 70s, but went back cause he likes working with kids. Mr. Downing, who runs the school, comes in and tells the dentist how happy they were to have him come work there, but he is sad to report that the school will be closing in two weeks due to lack of funding. After Downing leaves, Eli flashes back to his execution and the men who were present but did nothing to stop it. Eli puts a hand on his dental chair, which is the electric chair re-purposed.

At the prison, Jack and Ryan are interviewing the warden about the electric chair, pretending to do research for a book on infamous antiques. He tells them about Eli Pittman being the only one who survived his time in the chair, saying it gained a little notoriety after the incident. The chair was sold to a private collector, whom Ryan speculates was Uncle Lewis. The warden tells them that Eli had been telling the truth, someone else ended up confessing to murdering his girlfriend.

Next, we see Dr. Lindheim aka Pittman with a new patient in his chair. He makes small talk with the young man, then flips the switch on the electric chair and kills him, vaporizing the boy's entire body, leaving only his clothes behind. Eli then gets into the chair and it imbues him with power from the murdered boy.

Eli could have resumed his life,

but his experience left him too damaged.

That night, an older man, Mr. Kendricks, is working late in his office. Eli arrives, letting himself in. He remembers the man as the one who wanted to put him back in the electric chair after he survived his execution. Eli introduces himself as Dr. Lindheim. The old attorney is under the impression the dentist has information about a man who was wrongly executed. Eli then reveals himself as the prisoner. Kendricks wants him to leave. When the old man has his hand on the doorknob, Eli grabs the other side of the knob and the electricity the chair filled him with flows through, killing Kendricks.

Eli can kill with no muss and no fuss,

but not without pain.

At Curious Goods, Ryan and Micki tell Jack they found a lot of information at the library on Eli. Jack says no one knows whatever became of Eli after the mental hospital. Jack recognizes Kenricks from Micki and Ryan's files as the attorney who was killed last night.

In his office, Eli x'es out Kendricks face from an old photograph. Two other faces are already crossed out. He makes a call to the office of Judge Avery, another man from the photograph. He learns when the man will be at home. He then pulls a patient file, the young girl from the beginning of the episode.

At the store, the trio is going over the Pittman files to try and find out where he could be now, when Ryan finds a paper about Eli's previous dental school ambitions. Jack suspects that Dr. Lindheim and Eli Pittman might just be one and the same.

At the dental office, Melissa is startled by Dr. Lindheim. He wants to know why she missed her appointment. She was unaware of any appointment, but since she will excused from history class, she goes with the doctor.

Melissa, as a poster child for the 1980s!

Jack, Micki and Ryan prepare to head out and alert all the other people involved with Eli's execution that they may be in danger.

Mr. Downing goes looking for Melissa and finds her room empty. He continues to search. Melissa is high on the nitrous oxide and Eli flips the switch, killing and vaporizing the young woman. He removes her clothes and hides them just as Mr. Downing arrives, asking if the dentist has seen Melissa. He lies and says no. After the man leaves, Eli gets into the chair to be imbued with the electricity once more.

Quite the big antique!

Between this, the mulcher, the Houdan box

and then the trephantor and playhouse,

it is no wonder they needed more room in the vault!

That night, Judge Avery arrives home, unaware he is being watched by Eli. Ryan and Micki arrive to warn the judge about Eli, but Eli confronts the judge first. He questions the judge about what the punishment would be for someone who wrongly executed an innocent man. The judges realizes who Eli is tells him not to come any closer. Eli agrees, but he grabs the same iron railing the judge is holding and the electricity course through, killing the judge. As Eli turns, he notices Micki and Ryan watching and chases them. Ryan trips and falls in a puddle and Eli places his hand into it just as Micki gets Ryan out. Ryan just barely avoids being electrocuted. The pair rush to their car and lock the doors, but Ryan dropped the keys in the street. Eli approaches and Ryan tells Micki not to touch anything metal, just as Eli reaches out to place his hand on the vehicle's hood ornament. Electricity surges throughout the car until Eli is drained of all power. Micki and Ryan avoid being killed and Eli flees into the night. Aware of how close they came to death, Ryan says he'll go look for the keys.

Amazing that they even got the car started and drove home!

At the store, Ryan and Micki inform Jack of what Eli is capable of and Micki says almost everyone in the photo is dead, except for one man and a couple of guards. Jack tells them that he found where Dr. Lindheim is working, at the reform school. He has made arrangements to visit the school. Ryan tells them to wear rubber boots and gloves.

Micki and Jack, in rubber boots, arrive at the school and talk with Mr. Downing. Eli spies them. Downing shows them around, believing they are interested in the antiques. Downing takes a call and says he will be right there. We then see Eli hang up his phone, a hypodermic needle in his hand.

At the prison, Ryan is showing the photograph of the men involved in Eli's unsuccessful execution to the warden, hoping to find out who the unknown man is. The warden says he was the jury foreman during the trial, Mr. Stridel. The warden says he has more info at his home and invites Ryan to dinner with him and his wife. Ryan says he will give him a call later.

Micki and Jack search the school for Eli's office. Downing arrives and is immediately injected by Lindheim, aka Eli, who places the old man in the electric chair. He takes out his dental drill and demands to know what the old man told Jack and Micki. When he professes ignorance, Eli drills without Novocaine He asks again and the old man says they are just antique dealers. Eli then begins to drill again. Micki and Jack continue to search for the office. Downing is now nearly catatonic by the point, as Eli apologizes for what he has done.
Micki and Jack then see the lights in the building flicker and become concerned. Eli removes the clothes Downing left behind when he was vaporized then gets in the chair and becomes empowered with electricity once more. Micki and Jack don rubber gloves before entering the office. They find the place empty, the exit door ajar. Looking around, Jack recognizes the chair and Micki finds a stack of clothes on the floor. Jack then makes a needle into a magnetic compass as a way to find Eli. Following the floating compass, they are soon on Eli's path, through the basement of the school. Eli waits for them in the shadows. Jack seems a transformer and they are relieved to think the electrical sounds they here are merely from it. But when they turn around, the see Eli watching them. He steps closer, removing his rubber gloves, but at the last minute he turns and tuns away.

Micki and Jack must both be wondering

how the hell they are getting that home and into the vault!

Back at the store, Micki and Jack, after much struggling, finally place the chair into the vault. Jack is glad that Eli won't have access to it and will just have the final charge he got, but wonders why the man didn't use the electricity to kill them. Micki says he must be saving it for his next victim. Ryan arrives and tells them the jury foreman died ten years ago. Ryan thinks their job is done but Micki says that they still have to stop Eli, he is a killer on the loose. Eli still has a charge, as well. Micki speculates that maybe the final person wasn't in the photo. Jack says that warden Hobbs was the one who ordered the switch to be pulled.

After getting no answer on the warden's phone, the group rush out to his house. The man is just arriving home, unaware that Eli is watching from the bushes. Inside, Hobbs and his wife embrace and he asks about their dinner guest, Ryan. She says he hasn't called and the warden heads to his study. When the doorbell rings, Hobbs wife thinks the man is Ryan Dallion and lets him in. When Eli removes his hat, Mrs. Hobbs is surprised by his appearance, but says she expected him to be younger. Eli says he wants to surprise the warden and heads off to the study.

Micki, Ryan and Jack continue racing to their warden's home. When Eli and Hobbs do meet, Hobbs soon recognizes the man as the long-ago prisoner. When Mrs. Hobbs opens the door, she is shocked that this is Ryan. Jack sends Micki away with Mrs. Hobbs to find help and tells Ryan to go get the jumper cables from the car. He then rushes upstairs and tells the warden to get away from Eli. The man hides in a room and Eli tries to get in, but Jack keeps him distracted. Ryan arrives and attaches the cable to a radiator. Jack goads Eli, telling him that he has the chair and its all over now. Eli yells and attacks Jack, but Jack clamps the jumper cable onto Eli's hand. Eli winds up electrocuting himself and this time, he dies for real. The warden steps out of the room to find Eli's shriveled, smoldering body, Jack and Ryan watching.

Just how the hell do they explain this to the warden, much less the cops?

The next day, Micki is happy the sun is out, as Jack works on connecting Ryan's lightening lamp to his stereo. He tells Micki to put her hand on the globe. She does and thinks it feels kind of cool. Jack and Ryan snicker at Micki, who is unaware the electricity has sent her all of her hair to stand on end.

Micki can rock any look!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

I love it! Well written, this is an antique one wouldn't think of, but it has the potential to give super powers, in a way, to Eli. Sadly, it also turns him into a killer.

Funny how the chair is supposedly not cursed before Lewis gets it, but Eli does survive his electrocution. Merely a coincidence, I guess?

Love the unexpected in this episode. Eli survives and becomes - a dentist! So now he has a plausible way to lure people into his chair, even if it doesn't look like any normal dentist's chair. I mean, didn't people wonder what the head thing was for?

Also love how ingenious Jack is in this episode! He not only figures out a lot of what is going on and who Eli becomes, he also goes all MacGyver and creates a compass to track the killer then comes up with the way to stop Eli at the end. Bad ass Jack being all bad ass!

Love Ryan's quip about Micki and Jack wearing rubber boots and then we see them in rubber boots!

Love how weird the warden gets when he invites Ryan to dinner. The man is like giddy with excitement over the idea!

Also love Melissa's totally 80s look.

Just a great, fun, interesting episode!

Next week: "Brain Drain"

Sonnet XXIX

2013-01-13T03:30:00.000-05:00

F13:TS 25 - Tattoo

2013-01-12T12:10:00.000-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #16: Tattoo

Original Airdate: March 12, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Keye Luke as Lum Chen
Leonard Chow as Tommy Chen
Mung-Ling Tsui (Meung Ling) as Linda Chen
Denis Akiyama (Dennis Akiyama) as Hai Kwan
Harvey Chow as Frankie Wong
Von Flores as A.J.

Written by Dan DiStefano, Stephen Katz
Directed by Lyndon Chubbock

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We open in the Chinatown part of the city, at a gambling facility where we see a young man named Tommy Chen, losing, again and again. As he leaves, he spots some men and runs. They pursue him and catch him. Seems Tommy owes the older man, Frankie, money and they are tired of waiting. Tommy promises to pay but the man demands his henchman cut off Tommy's thumb. Tommy begs for more time and Frankie relents, giving him 24 hours. Tommy flees.

As he makes his way through the back rooms of the building, he spies a woman tied up. A man is with her, drawing a tattoo on her leg. As Tommy listens in, the man tells the girl the tattoo needles he owns are magic. As he leaves, the tattoo of a scorpion comes to life and climbs up the helpless girl. Tommy watches. At the tables, the man is winning big. The scorpion bites the girl on her neck and she dies. Tommy can't believe what he has witnessed.

So creepy how she is all in white and then you see the white's of her eyes.

Upstairs, he finds the man at the tables and sees the pile of cash he has won. Later, as the man leaves, Tommy follows him. In an alley, the man stops for a smoke and Tommy jumps him and stabs him. When the man falls, Tommy searches his coat and finds the tattoo needles in their box. He takes them and runs.

Back at home, his grandfather, Lum Chen, scolds Tommy about where he has been and what he was doing. Tommy fights back, doesn't want to hear it. His grandfather tells him he has been acting shameful. Tommy tells him to wait and see, he will prove him wrong. Lum asks about the blood on his hand and Tommy lies. Tommy's sister, Linda, comes out and comforts her grandfather. He tells her Tommy has the same problem as his son, their father. He thinks the boy is headed for bad things.

Powerful set of needles.

Wonder if even the box is cursed?

In Tommy's room, the old man finds the tattoo needle box and examines it. He is disturbed by it, and turns it over in his hands. On the bottom is a sticker declaring the item came from Lewis Vendredi Antiques.

A "Vendredi" sticker!

Is the sticker cursed, too???

At Curious Goods, the group is doing inventory. Micki wants to stop, she's tired. The phone rings and Jack answers. Mr. Chen asks about Vendredi Antiques and mentions the tattoo needles. Micki and Ryan search the manifest. Jack says he will be happy to buy the needles back from him and takes down the man's address. Before he can ask more questions, the line goes dead.

Tommy has hung up the phone and tells his grandfather the needles are his. Lum tells the boy he must return them, they will only mean death. The two men struggle and Tommy strikes his grandfather, takes the needles and leaves. Linda comes to her grandfather's aid.

Always great seeing Keye Luke.

He was great in Gremlins!

I loved him in his stint on General Hospital, as well.

At an opium den, Tommy finds a woman barely conscious and proceeds to tattoo her leg.

Micki, Ryan and Jack arrive at Lum Chen's home. Linds tries to stop them, but Jack says Lum Chen invited them and enters. He asks the old man about the needles. Lum Chen lies and says a robber broke in and stole them. Linda tells them they must leave. Ryan says he sees no signs of a break in and wonders if Lum is protecting someone. They leave.

At the den, Tommy finishes a tattoo of a tarantula on the woman's leg and then leaves. At the gambling hall, he joins a game. The tarantula comes to life and climbs up the woman's chest. Tommy bets high and, as the spider attacks and kills the woman, he wins big. He hands bills out to the dealer and young woman. As he leaves, he comes across Frankie, who takes all the rest of Tommy's winnings. Tommy tells the man he hopes to work for him someday. The man gives Tommy back ten dollars and tells him that should be enough, if Tommy is as lucky as he says he is.

The next day, in Chinatown, Ryan buys a box of crabs to get information about Lum Chen and his grandson. He says Tommy owes everyone some money. Jack tells Micki that maybe she can get some info from Linda. Ryan hands her the box of crabs to put in the back of the car as she winces.

The car must have stunk after that purchase!

Lum is in bed and Tommy apologizes for his actions the previous night and shows the man the cash he has won. The old man ignores him and throws the money back at the boy. He says he wants a grandson to be proud of, not cash. Tommy doesn't understand and Lum tells him to leave.

That night, Ryan recognizes Tommy from a picture of him and Linda he saw. Ryan follows Tommy through Chinatown. Micki and Jack head back inside to Lum Chen's home. At the gambling hall, Tommy tells his friend that he can't lose. He offers to show his friend how the tattoo needles work. Ryan follows at a distance.

Tommy is tattooing a clawed serpent hand on his friend's chest. Tommy lies and tells the man he will win big, as well, he just has to wait in the basement. Tommy goes back upstairs and joins a game.

Okay, Tommy is just sadistic!

With Lum Chen and Linda, Micki and Jack try to get information about Tommy's whereabouts but Lum won't say anything and tells them good-night. As they leave, Linda asks Micki if Tommy is really in danger. When Micki says yes, Linda tells her where to find her brother.

Ryan finds the body of the young girl and jumps out. Tommy's friend thinks Ryan killed the girl and they fight. He raises a board to hit Ryan, but before he can, the tattooed hand comes to life and strangles him, killing him, as Ryan watches. Upstairs, Tommy is winning, again.

Micki and Jack leave Chen's and wonder why Lum is protecting Tommy if his injuries came from his grandson. They get in the car to head to the gambling hall.

At the hall, Ryan goes upstairs and sees Tommy winning. The owner of the establishment tells Tommy to leave, he believes the young man is cheating, as his streak of luck is too unusual. Tommy goes to leave and again encounters Frankie, who tells the boy he should be worried, if he can't get any more money. Tommy tells him he can't lose. Frankie leaves. Ryan follows Tommy, but loses him outside as Micki and Jack arrive. Ryan tells them about how the needles work. Jack says they need to find Tommy, he'll need money for his next game.

At home, Lum finds Tommy attempting to steal some Ming vases to sell for cash. They struggle and Tommy drops them, shattering them. He flees as his grandfather stares at the broken shards.

Later, Tommy is at a phone booth, begging the man on the other line to hook him up with some cash or a game. The man hangs up. Tommy calls Frankie and asks for more time, telling him he'll do anything. Frankie tells him to go home and wait for him, he'll be in touch. Frankie tells his henchman he has a player, so "the game" is on.

At home again, Tommy waits by the phone. Eventually, there is a knock at the door. Tommy answers and lets Frankie in. The man tells Tommy the game he has for him is the ultimate game of chance. Tommy takes the address, and Frankie tells him he must be precisely on time, not early or late. Frankie leaves and soon after, Tommy does. Linda sees the slip of paper with the address and grabs her coat to follow her brother.

Outside, Jack, Micki and Ryan attempt to follow Tommy, but they are stopped by Frankie and his goons, who won't let them follow the boy. He orders the three of them into his limo at gunpoint. Unseen by Frankie, Linda leaves, having found the address Tommy left behind.

Jack, Micki and Ryan are held by Frankie. When Jack protests and tells him this is kidnapping, he is stuck in the face. At home, Lum also spies the paper with the address written on it. When Lum calls to Tommy and Linda, he finds they are gone.

The group can't find a way out of the room Frankie locked them in. But Ryan does find a box of fireworks. They rig up the door and the fireworks blow it open. They flee as the rest of the fireworks go off. At Lum's, they ask where Tommy is. Lum tells them to mind their own business. Jack tells the old man Tommy is going to kill someone. Lum sighs.

They know how to make an escape!

At the gambling hall, Tommy attacks a waiter but Linda interrupts him and the man flees. She says she wants to help Tommy. He agrees, grabbing his sister and tying her hands and feet so she can't flee. He pulls out the tattoo needle.

Jack tells Lum that if Linda is with her brother, she could die. Lum gives Jack the slip of paper with the address and tells him there is a game there. he also gives Jack a needle that is from a monastery and it carries the mark of a healer. Jack thanks him and sends Micki to the address to watch for Tommy's arrival. Jack and Ryan head to the gambling hall to see if Tommy went there.

Tommy arrives at the address Frankie gave him and wonders what the game is. The man at the door says the game is life or death. Inside, Tommy is told to sit at a table across from another man. He is told the game is Russian Roulette.

Oh, Tommy. So confident and cocky.

At the gambling hall, Jack and Ryan find Linda tied up and a snake sliding over her body.

The gun is placed on a turntable and spun, to see who goes first. Tommy gets the first chance and picks up the gun. He cocks the weapon, places it to his forehead and fires. Nothing happens. He places it on the table and the other man takes a shot, which is also a dud.

Jack tells Ryan not to touch the snake, it is a coral snake and absolutely deadly.

At the game, both men take second shots that don't fire.

Jack loads the needle from Lum into a straw and takes aim at the snake.

Micki watches as Tommy raises the gun to his temple once more. He is confident he will survive, since he left his sister with the tattoo.

Jack blows into the straw and shoots the needle into the snake, killing it before it can kill Linda.

Micki watches as Tommy pulls the trigger and the gun goes off, killing him. As the people mill about, she slides up to Tommy and pulls the tattoo needles in their box from Tommy's jacket.

The next day, at Curious Goods, Jack tells them the needles are locked safely in the vault. Lum and Linda arrive and he offers thanks to them for saving Linda. He gives his grandfather's needle to them as a gift, and Jack says they are honored. Lum says he was mistaken, he thought the world has lost the tradition of honor and tradition. But he sees that those values are still present, in the three of them. Jack says the values haven't been lost, they were just misplaced for a time. Lum asks if Jack is a healer. Jack says no, but he has been interested in the art.

Lum points out that our little Curious Goods family is a good one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

Great, different episode with a very cool cursed item!

The needles offer such a variety of possibilities They bring luck to Tommy, but I would suppose they could offer a variety of things to whomever happened to be using them. And their tattoos themselves offer an endless array of ways for the victims to die. Creepy and unsettling, without a doubt.

I like how Lum is determined to stand by the honor of his grandson and family, constantly keeping mum to Jack about what is going on. Only until Linda is threatened does the old man finally back down.

Tommy is sad. You keep expecting him to show deep remorse, but his gambling addiction is so bad, he even uses his sister for a victim so he can win again. He is just too far gone.

Micki and Ryan are only slightly playful here, having small moments of humor. Things seem darker, more serious, and you can see it in the way the characters are. Slowly but surely losing their youthful innocence, thanks to Lewis and his damned curse.

The effects of the tattoos coming to life was nicely done, as well. Creepy, but effective.

Great episode!

Next week: "The Electrocutioner"

Not As We - Alanis Morissette

2013-01-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

Not As We

by Alanis Morissette

Love this song.

She sings it so well.

Sad, but looking forward.

F13TS 25 - Chiller TV Promo

2013-01-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Here's is the promo commercial for the show's run

on Chiller TV:

Sadly, I have never gotten Chiller,

so haven't been able to watch the show there.

F13:TS 25 - Vanity's Mirror

2013-01-04T13:16:00.001-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #15: Vanity's Mirror

Original Airdate: March 5, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Ingrid Veninger as Helen Mackie
David Orth as Scott Thomas
Gwendoline Pacey as Joanne Mackie
Zack Ward as Greg Mazzey
Gayle Cherian as Sylvia Ungar
James Loxley as Charles Meniger
Simon Reynolds as Russel Weigan

Written by Roy Sallows, Ira Levant
Directed by William Fruet

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We start at night, with a not-so-attractive street flower vendor, Sylvia, selling a carnation to a businessman she likes. She gets too stalker-ish, so he tries to get away. But when Sylvia demands he look at her, he ends up gazing at the glaring reflection from the compact mirror she holds. Instantly, he sees her in a new light. She is beautiful and he falls for her. Sylvia leads him down an alley where he professes his love. She asks if he will love her til the day he dies and he says he will. Sylvia tells him to stand still then proceeds to pull the crank on a fire escape, sending the iron stairs into his head, killing him. She runs off and into the street, straight into the path of a truck. Sylvia is stuck and killed, as well. The crowd that gathers doesn't notice the teenage girl pick up and pocket the dead woman's compact.

Sylvia, you shouldn't be so careless after a cursed antique murder!

At Curious Goods, Micki is reading the manifest as Jack and Ryan come up from the vault. Jack says they have collected and locked up 23 cursed antiques so far. Micki says they aren't getting them back fast enough, since 23 is less than 10% of the items listed in the manifest. Ryan kids that they could hire more staff, but Jack warns that they cannot trust others with the items. Ryan then picks out a random antique from the manifest to be their next mission for recovery. His finger lands on the gold compact sold to Sylvia Unger.

Love this high framed shot of the store!

At the local high school, Helen, the girl who picked up the compact in the street, is snapping at her sister, Joanne, and her sister's boyfriend, Scott, for poking fun at her. Other kids then mock Helen, saying it is weird how Helen and Joanne can be sisters, since Joanne is so pretty and Helen is ... not. Scott then comes to Helen's defense to the group of guys, but only because Joanne doesn't like people being mean to her sister. They guys apologize, insincerely. Scott and Joanne make plans to meet that night as Helen watches, envious of her sister's happiness.

Russell, should you be making fun of Helen with that hairstyle?

Returning to the store, Ryan and Micki tell Jack about Sylvia's death. Jack studies the picture in the newspaper article about Sylvia's death and notices Helen in the background, picking something up off the street. From her jacket, they deduce she is a high school student.

How lucky that the photographer captured that precise moment!

Back at school, Helen is sitting outside, checking out the compact, when the boys again poke fun. One of them, Greg, comes over to her and asks if she is going to the prom. She says she has better things to do. Greg then asks her to the prom, jokingly. Helen tells him she would never go with him and he says the only way he would take her would be on a leash. Greg heads back to his friends as Helen opens the compact. Angry, she yells at Greg, who turns to look at her and ends up gazing into the glare of light reflecting off the compact. He is instantly smitten with Helen and wants to be with her, offering to carry her bags. Helen thinks this is another prank and tells him off, but Greg keeps trying to prove his devotion to her, saying he loves her. Helen is convinced and leads Greg off as his friends watch, stunned.

In school, Helen and Greg walk hand-in-hand, Greg wanting to spend every second with her. Helen likes the attention and the looks from other kids, but soon Greg's complete infatuation beings to annoy her. Helen tries to get Scott to notice her new boyfriend, but he barely acknowledges her. Outside, Helen has had almost enough of Greg when he says he will love her until the day he dies. This gives Helen an idea and she leads the boy to the trash compactor. She drops her handkerchief inside and he jumps in to retrieve it, eager to please her. She turns the machine on and Greg, unable to disappoint Helen due to the curse, stays inside until he is able to hand her the handkerchief. But by then it is too late and he is trapped. Helen happily walks away as Greg is crushed to death, still professing his love for her. Later, the students are all shocked by Greg's death, but his friends have a feeling Helen had something to do with it.

Alas, poor Greg, he ended up with a broken, hell, crushed heart!

Jack finds a picture of the girl from the newspaper in a yearbook and identifies her as Helen Mackie. Ryan comments on how bad her photograph is. Micki finds an address in the phone book and comes up with a ruse to see if the girl has the compact and Jack tells Ryan to go to the high school and see what he can find there. Jack says he will stay behind to figure out how the curse on the compact works, mentioning he may contact his friend, Rashid.

At home, Helen is eating and watching television as Joanne and Scott mourn Greg's death. They are both aghast at Helen's cavalier attitude towards the boy's death, seeing as how he had recently become so devoted to her. She shrugs it off. A knock at the door and Helen meets Micki, who says she is looking for a gold compact to purchase. Helen says she never saw anything like that and slams the door in Micki's face. Inside, the girl avoids Joanne's questions runs up to her room. Once there, she pulls out the compact and wonders just what it is all about. Then she takes out a picture of Scott.

Micki and Jack meet up with Ryan at the high school and he fills them in on Greg's "accidental" death. Since Helen already saw Micki, Jack suggests Ryan go undercover at the school to get close to Helen and see what she really knows.

The next day, as the kids set up the gym for the prom, Greg's friend Russell has words with Helen, telling her he knows she did something to Greg and he will find out what it is. Helen quickly pulls the compact and gets Russell to stare at it. He is cursed and falls for her. She leads him out of the gym.

Helen becomes a pro at wielding the cursed compact in no time!

Ryan is wandering the school looking for Helen and he finds her leading Russell off into the basement, so he follows. Helen takes her newest admirer into the utility area, looking for a way to dispose of him. Russell is oblivious, only seeing her as the love of his life. Helen leads him to a workshop area and demands the boy say he'll love her until he dies. When he does, she pushes his head onto a table saw. Russell is killed instantly. Ryan hears the boy's screams but arrives too late. Helen pulls out the compact, hoping to use it to stop Ryan, but he evades its shiny reflection and tries to escape. Helen chases after him and keeps flashing the cursed antique. Ryan ends up tumbling over a landing and falling down to the floor below. Believing him dead, Helen takes off.

And this makes how many injuries for poor Ryan?

At home, Helen is attempting to do her own makeup when Joanne comes in. She is happy to think her sister is going to the dance, but Helen is still harsh with her. Joanne keeps being nice, asking who Helen is going to the prom with and offering her help getting ready. Helen turns down any help. Joanne admires the compact and Helen is nervous as her sister holds it, opening and closing it. But Joanne leaves, giving the compact back to her sister.

At the school, Ryan comes to, briefly, before passing out again.

Scott waits impatiently for Joanne to dress for the prom. She comes down and he admires how beautiful she looks.

Outside the school, Micki tells Jack she can't find Ryan or Helen anywhere. They go off together to search.

Helen comes down the stairs, in her dress, with her hair and makeup done in an almost comical way. She asks Scott if he thinks she is pretty. He tries to be diplomatic, but she asks if she is as pretty as Joanne. He says yes, but in a different way. Joanne offers to help Helen fix up her makeup, but Helen takes it as an insult and snaps at her sister. Scott tries to make peace between the sisters. Joanne wants to leave, but Helen begs them to wait for her date to arrive. Scott convinces Joanne a few minutes won't hurt.

Have to wonder: were one of these sisters adopted?

Micki and Jack continue to search the school, having no luck finding Ryan. In the basement, rats begin to crawl towards the unconscious man.

Joanne and Scott tell Helen they have to leave and offer to give her money for a cab. Helen again asks if she is prettier than Joanne and then flashes the compact at him. Scott is caught in the curse and leans in to kiss Helen. Joanne doesn't like this joke and pulls them apart, slapping her sister in the face. Scott grabs Joanne and throws her into the wall, stunning her. He is angry that she hurt Helen, who goads him into slapping her hard across the face. Helen then says they need to fix it so Joanne can't hurt her ever again. Later, Helen and Scott leave for the prom as a couple, having left Joanne tied up with a noose around her neck, and a wobbly stool beneath her feet.

At the prom, Helen and Scott arrive together, shocking everyone who seems them. Scott is oblivious, telling Helen how lovely she looks. Helen takes all the attention, not caring that it is how she gets it.

Oblivious Scott and Crazy Helen, the Prom King and Clown.

In the basement, Jack and Micki find Russell's body and at first think it is Ryan. Relieved, they continue to search for him, unaware how close by he actually is.

Scott and Helen mingle as everyone stares. At home, Joanne is barely able to keep her footing on the stool. At the school, Micki searches the basement and eventually comes across Ryan, tossing rats away and getting him to his feet. She leads him away to safety. Ryan remembers the prom and they head there to find Helen.
Jack arrives at the Mackie home, searching for Helen or the compact. He quietly heads upstairs and finds Joanne just as she is about to fall and be strangled. He holds her and cuts the rope, freeing her.

In the gym, Ryan and Micki confront Helen, Ryan screaming at her that she didn't expect to see him again. Helen is shocked and tells Scott they need to go. He punches Ryan before they take off. Micki gets Ryan to his feet again and they go after the teens.

At home, Jack comforts a crying and confused Joanne.

Helen leads Scott across the campus, Ryan and Micki in pursuit. Helen doesn't know what to do. Scott says he loves her and she gets an idea. She leads the boy to a place they can be alone. Soon enough, they are on the rooftop of the school. Scott again professes his love and they kiss. Helen gets up on the ledge, Scott following. They slowly dance, mere inches from the edge of the roof. She tells him how special he is to her and he repeats the sentiment. A crowd gathers below and Micki and Ryan spot the couple just as Jack and Joanne arrive. They all rush inside to get to the roof.

Helen says she doesn't want to kill Scott, she doesn't want to lose him. They embrace as the others rush up the staircase. Helen realizes the only way to keep Scott is in death. As the group arrives and pleads with her to stop, she tells Scott she loves him then pulls him with her off the roof. Joanne screams as the pair falls to their deaths. Jack picks up Helen's discarded purse but is disappointed to find the compact missing.

A sad lovers' leap.

Later, the police question the students and Joanne. Jack asks why getting this item back is so hard. He tells Ryan and Micki he didn't find the compact. They take Ryan away to get medical attention.

At Curious Goods, Micki tells Jack the compact is out there, somewhere. He agrees, but tells her that no one ever guaranteed them that each attempt to get an item back will be successful. She says all the deaths were for nothing, then. Jack reminds her that they have been very lucky in getting the items back, so far. He says they will get another chance, since the compact can't be destroyed. It will turn up again. Micki wonders about all the people who will die because they weren't able to get this one locked up in the vault. Jack has no answer.

A not-used-to-losing Micki needs some wise counsel from Jack.

Back at the high school, an unknown woman finds the compact under a bush and picks it up.

The compact lives to kill again!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

A classic episode of the show! The compact is a great cursed antique and the twist of having it be female-centric is interesting. Sort of like a female version of the Cupid statue.

Helen is playing up for near-comic effect with her looks and inability to fit in with others, especially when she makes herself up for the prom. She really thought she looked good? Oh man.

Love the mention at the beginning about how many cursed items they have retrieved to date. This is the 15th episode, but Jack says they have gotten 23 items into the vault. Like how there are other items and adventures we don't see. Would have made a great premise for a book series based on the show!

Also love how Micki is so frustrated at the end, not being used to losing a cursed item and it still being out there, somewhere. Jack has to remind her that this is no guarantee and that they should consider themselves lucky they aren't dead and that they do in fact have some things locked away. Great point of view, and one we see again in the show.

The ending is a twist, as well, with Helen happy to have gotten what she always wanted and, instead of fulfilling the curse, deciding to just end her own life with the man she loves, no matter how she got him. She is a selfish girl, but I always wonder how much influence the cursed items have over the people who use them. To me, it seems that the curse amplifies the negative qualities in those who use the items.

Great episode with a dark message. Our heroes can do everything in their power, even risking death as Ryan did, and still come up with nothing to show for it. Makes their mission even more dangerous and their willingness to keep at it even more courageous.

Also, we get our first (I think) mention of Jack's friend, Rashid! And it is fun seeing Zack Ward in a role here. You might remember him best as Scut Farkus from "A Christmas Story" or any of the other dozens of roles he has had as a prolific character actor.

Next week: "Tattoo"

F13:TS 25 - Bedazzled

2012-12-29T10:24:00.000-05:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episode Recap #14: Bedazzled

Original Airdate: February 27, 1988

Starring:
John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion
Louise Robey as Micki Foster
Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast:
Alan Jordan as Jonah
Gavin Magrath as Richie
David Mucci as Tom
Paual Barrett as Jenny
Timothy Webber as Telephone Lineman
Ratch Wallace as Officer Kennedy
J.J. Makaro as David Jones

Written by Paul Monette, Alfred Sole

Directed by Alexander Singer

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week, we start underwater! A camera pans across the sunken wreckage of a ship. Later, a man on a ship holds a lantern beam towards the water. A diver comes up, telling the man he was right, it works. They haul up and onto their boat a treasure chest. Back at the dock, two men carry the chest while one of them tells the guy with the lantern, Jonah, that he couldn't find anything until the man shone the lantern light into the sea. Then, the treasure chest was there. The three men bring the chest inside a docked ship. Outside, Jack and Ryan are skulking about, looking for the lantern.

Wonder who ended up finding the treasure on Jonah's ship later?

Jonah and one of his men use a blowtorch to try and get into the chest, sending the other man above. Jack and Ryan decide to slip into the ship, careful to avoid the man above. Jonah opens the chest, revealing gold, diamonds and more inside. Jonah then holds the lantern up to his buddy and opens it, the beam of light hitting the other man in the chest, igniting him into flames and killing him. Ryan and Jack hear the man's screams and rush in. Ryan attacks Jonah, who drops the lantern, which Jack picks up. Ryan and Jonah struggle as Jack tries to get away. The third man, Tom, comes back and struggles with Jack. Back and forth they all go until Ryan knocks Tom away from Jack and they make their escape. Before Jonah or Tom can reach them, they get in their car and drive off. Jonah makes notice of their license plate, however.

Lantern is pretty straight-forward. Plays on greed, pure and simple.

At Curious Goods, Micki hears about their shipboard adventure and says she is glad she missed it. Ryan says the lantern is locked safely in the vault. Jack reminds them of what the lantern's curse was: for every treasure the lantern found, a diver had to die. Jack mentions the storm outside getting worse. Ryan thinks they should stay home, but Jack says this is the only day the astrology convention is being held this year. Braving the storm, Jack and Ryan head out to the convention, leaving Micki home alone. Jonah and Tom watch the two of them leave from across the street.

An astrology convention! Interesting way to get them out of the store.

As Micki locks the store up, Jonah calls, hears her voice and hangs up. Jonah tells Tom that it doesn't matter, he's getting the lantern back. Tom reminds Jonah that Jack mentioned something on the ship about putting the lantern in a vault. Jonah tells him that when he bought the lantern here from Louis, there was a vault in the basement.

The phone rings again and Micki answers, nervous. But it is her friend, Jenny, asking if Micki can babysit her son, Richie. Micki agrees, telling her to bring the boy over.

Outside, in the rain, Jonah and Tom wonder how to get inside. Just then, a telephone repairman pulls up to do some work.

Micki moves some breakable antiques to safety as the weatherman on the radio says the storm is getting worse, being upgraded to a hurricane. The men outside approach the telephone man, making small talk. Before long, Jonah has a phone cord around the man's neck and he strangles him, killing him.

In the shop, the phone rings again. Micki answers and hears Ryan's voice, telling her that they are stuck at the convention, the storm is too bad. She tells him to have fun and stay safe, she is fine. As she hangs up, she gets the chills. Jonah cuts the phone line outside.

Jack and Ryan, after calling Micki, debate driving back home, but decide to proceed on to the convention, since the roads are so bad.

Micki hears a knock at the door and opens it to Jonah and Tom, posing as the telephone repairmen. Micki says the phone is working, she was just on it. He asks her to check again and when she does, she finds the line dead. Jonah asks if he wants her to fix it and she agrees, letting them inside. He asks where the basement is, Micki leads the way, then hears another knock on the door. She lets them go off on their own and lets her friend Jenny and his son Richie inside. Richie isn't happy to be there. Jenny heads out, leaving Micki to babysit. He hides from Micki as soon as his mother is gone, then scares Micki with an old mask. Micki snaps at him. Richie asks to read Ryan's comics and she lets him be.

Love all the shots of the interior of the store in this episode!

In the basement, Jonah and Tom are trying to access the vault, but cannot find a way in. Jonah decides they should use the blowtorch to break into it open. Micki gives Richie some cookies, he proceeds to pull all the chips out to just eat them. Micki goes to check the windows.

You are a weird kid, Richie.

The blowtorch makes no progress on the vault. Tom knocks some stuff over and Jonah snaps at him. Richie hears the commotion and goes to investigate. He doesn't buy their story about fixing a phone with a blowtorch. He says they aren't supposed to fool with the vault. Jonah places nice, trying to keep the charade up. Jonah asks for help from Richie, who is reluctant and wary of the strange men. He says he is going to tell and attempts to run off, but Jonah grabs him.

Micki is looking for the boy upstairs when Richie yells for help. She rushes downstairs and finds the men tying the boy to a chair. Micki acts calmly when Jonah says pretending to be phone men was their only way in. A cop pulls up alongside the abandoned phone truck outside.

Jonah wants the lantern and wants Micki to open the vault. She says she doesn't know how to get in. Jonah threatens her with a match, asking her if she knows what skin smells like burning. He then burns the end of her hair and she concedes, telling him there is a secret entrance to the vault. She lies and says the instructions to get into the vault are written in the manifest, upstairs on Jack's desk. Jonah takes her upstairs to look, leaving Tom with Richie. Outside, the cop finds the cut phone wires and repair equipment, but not repairman.

Wonder if she let them really burn the end of her hair?

Jonah snaps after being unable to find the vault instructions. Micki attempts to attack him, but he grabs her and takes her weapon away, leading her back to the basement. The cop opens the compartments of the truck and eventually finds the repairman's body. He heads toward Curious Goods.

Micki is trying the various bricks around the vault, pretending not to know which one activates the vault. The cop knocks on the door and Jonah sends Tom up to investigate, telling Micki to keep trying the bricks.
Tom calls to the cop, not wanting to open the door. The cop plays cool, saying he is just checking the neighborhood, making sure all is okay. He asks if they are having trouble with the phones and Tom says no, their phones are fine. The cop knows the man is lying. He tells Tom to have a good evening, then proceeds to surprise him by breaking the door in. He tells Tom to freeze, but the man tries to attack, so the cop shoots him.

Jonah tries a brick Micki keeps avoiding and the vault opens. He heads inside just as they hear the gunshots above. He tells Richie to be quiet then tells Micki to untie the boy and put him in the vault. He follows, grabs a weapon, then locks the two of them inside. He goes after the cop. Micki comforts the boy, telling him they will get through this.

The cop searches the store as Jonah slowly heads upstairs. The cop doesn't see Jonah with the weapon from the vault. Jonah attacks from behind, impaling the man through his back and out his chest. The cop dies. Jonah pulls the blood-soaked weapon out of the man's chest and uses it to fix the door so it cannot be opened. He checks on Tom, who is also dead, and removes the chain from around his neck. In the vault, Micki is looking for something to use to defend themselves against Jonah. She finds the lantern the man wants and picks it up.

When Jonah comes back, he opens the vault and sees the lantern places right in view. As he reaches for it, Micki attacks, stunning him. She tells Richie to run as she grabs the lantern and follows. Jonah soon regains himself and follows.

In the store, Micki and Richie find the dead cop and try to get out, but the door is jammed. She tells Richie to go to her room and hide, then grabs the lantern and follows, shutting the door and blocking it with her bureau. She then grabs her bedside lamp and strips the wire, telling Richie she is going to give the man the shock of his life. She slips the wire onto the metal of the lantern and sets it on the bed, then tells the boy not to touch the lantern after he plugs the cord into the wall. They hide, waiting for Jonah.

Slowly going up the stairs, Jonah is wary of where Micki might be hiding. He goads them from outside the room, then forces the doors open, pushing the bureau away. He spies Micki, who eggs him on toward the lantern. She says he can't have it, but he sees it sitting on the bed and reaches for it. When he grabs it, he is electrocuted and collapses to the floor. Micki tells Richie to pull the plug. She undoes the wire and they attempt to leave the room. Jonah grabs her ankle, knocking her down, and they struggle about the usptairs.
Micki eventually gets to the landing, telling Richie to toss the lantern over. He does and when Jonah goes to grab it, she grabs his foot and uses his momentum to push him over the railing and onto the floor below. They believe the man is dead and head down the stairs.

Ouch, to put it mildly! Surprised this didn't kill him!

As they reach the bottom, Jonah jumps up and grabs the lantern, opening the door so he can use the cursed beam to kill them. As the light plays across the store, Micki evades it and grabs an antique mirror, using it to deflect the beam back at Jonah. He is ignited and his head burns. He is killed.

Smart thinking, yet again!

The next morning, Ryan and Jack have returned and Ryan goes on about all the trouble they had on their trip. Micki listens and when he asks what she did all night, she says nothing. Ryan says he wishes he could have a quiet evening like hers. Just then Jenny arrives, asking Micki to not tell Richie any ghost stories next time she babysits. Micki says she didn't, but Jenny tells her all the stuff Richie told him about his night at the store. When she mentions the lantern, Jack and Ryan are curious. Micki merely, smiles, heads upstairs, saying "Kids." as she goes.

Ah, Micki. Leaving a mystery for the boys to figure out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thoughts:

An awesome episode! The show takes the premise of a babysitter being stalked in the home on a stormy night and turns it into quite a great episode. Micki is great as the babysitter, showing us just how resourceful she has become in her time at the store.

The lantern is a great antique, love how the curse works and what Jonah will do to keep this item for himself!

Love the scenes in the sea and on the water. Beautiful shots!

Amazing shots, well done!

One thing I was curious about: If Jonah took the sword-type weapon from the vault and used it to kill the cop, wouldn't whatever curse the item had be activated? I know he doesn't have much time to figure out what the item does, but seems like something should have happened with it.

Jenny and Richie are interesting, since we have been led to believe the neighbors all avoid the store, especially after the events on Halloween. Yet Micki has a friend who is willing to let her son be babysat there. Maybe Jenny just has no idea about the store's history. Then again, we never see Jenny or Richie again, so he must have been adamant about never returning there.

Micki also was able to get all the evidence of the night's events cleared up before anyone got back. I mean, the repairman, the cop and two other people were killed in and around the store and there is no investigation on going or anything. You would think there would be police tape or something! Hah!

Anyway, it is a fun, stormy-night episode of the show, with tons of scenes set at the store, which I also love. A favorite!

Next week: "Vanity's Mirror"

A Snowflake Fell - Glasvegas

2012-12-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

A Snowflake Fell

by Glasvegas

Such a haunting, melancholy song.

Love it.

Looks Like a Cold, Cold Winter - Bing Crosby

2012-12-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

Looks Like a Cold, Cold Winter

by Bing Crosby

Great winter song!

F13:TS 25 - More Bloopers!

2012-12-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

Here is a short blooper reel from the 3rd season of the show:

Glad to see them having fun!

Christmas Cookies - George Strait

2012-12-26T03:00:00.001-05:00

Christmas Cookies

by George Strait

Fun tune!

Now I want some cookies.

Merry Christmas Beautiful - Jim Brickman

2012-12-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas Beautiful

by Jim Brickman

Great, peppy holiday tune!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

The Night Before Christmas - Carly Simon

2012-12-24T03:00:00.000-05:00

The Night Before Christmas

by Carly Simon

My new favorite this year,

don't know how I missed it before.

To me, it seems like she is saying you don't have to

be religious to enjoy or celebrate Christmas.

A message I love.

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Hope you have an amazing day and night!