EPI-LOG ARTICLE on Beauty
and the Beast
review by Nina Johnson. Click
here for contents.
Episode 22 (Season 1, Episode 22)
A Happy Life
A Happy Life (airdate: April 8, 1988). Catherine is asleep and dreams of a woman who sits on her bed. Catherine wakes up and realizes that it was only a dream. She rolls back over and begins to weep. In the morning she calls the office to tell them she won't be in. Her father comes by later and they talk about Catherine's mother and how she affected both of them. It is the twentieth anniversary of her death. Catherine is very depressed over this and many other things such as her relationship with Vincent, and cases at work. She declines her father's offer of lunch saying she is to meet an old college friend. Nancy and Catherine talk about the past. Nancy asks about the men in Catherine's life, but she refuses to talk about Vincent. Nancy asks her to visit her and Nancy's family in Westport, Connecticut to which Catherine gives no answer. Vincent comes to her balcony that evening to see if he can help her. She tells him of her mother's death and he tells her that her feelings of loneliness have been brought to the surface since she met him. Because of their relationship she is not able to talk with people who can help her. Vincent tells her that if they continue on as they are, she will be even more lonely. She announces that it is worth it.
A case that Catherine and Joe had worked on has been overturned and she must help them gather even more information for the prosecution. With no one to talk to, Catherine talks with a psychiatrist who comes to realize that her sadness over her mother's death is not the real reason for her despair. Catherine tells him about her relationship with Vincent very vaguely. When he asks her if she wants to end the relationship, she finally answers "No". Vincent is distracted too. He and Father are trying to play chess but his heart is just not in it. He tells Father about Catherine's feelings. Father then describes how he sees their relationship to Vincent. They are both swimming across a raging river. They both swim with the same strength and courage. But the swim is greater fro Catherine than it is for Vincent.
Nancy Tucker calls Catherine to inviter her to a birthday party the following weekend. Catherine tells her she will check her calendar. At work, Catherine is having a hard time keeping her mind on her work and it begins to show up there. Finally she tells Joe that she must have some time off or she will have to quit. She goes back to the psychiatrist and explains more of her relationship with Vincent. But she can't reveal the whole truth.
Now with time off, Catherine decides to go to a piano recital with her father and his friend. She tells him that she will be going to New England for a little while by herself. As the recital begins, the piece that is opened with is a Grieg concerto that she and Vincent had heard together in Central Park. Catherine begins to cry. When her father notices her face, she explains that the music is just too sad. She excuses herself for a tissue and runs out of the auditorium. She runs to the main tunnel entrance where Vincent is waiting for her. He asks her what is wrong and she tells him that she is so sad because all the best things that are meant to be shared together above are impossible for them. She knows that something must be done before it destroys both of them. Vincent gently explains that their dream must end. She will go back to her life above and he to his below. She asks him to let her live below with him but he won't let her turn back on what she is and who she is. Catherine suggests that she go away for a while but Vincent is adamant. He can not bear to see her in pain because of him. Their love is slowly destroying each other. He tells her never to come back to him and closes the gate. She cries out for him to wait but he leaves her. Catherine goes back to her apartment and calls Nancy. She leaves for Connecticut as Vincent climbs a building and gazes over the city once again alone. Catherine has a good time with Nancy and her friends and meets a brother of a schoolmate. He tries to see her the next day but she doesn't really want to. Vincent goes to Catherine's apartment and remembers the happy moments of their past, then he tells her goodbye. Catherine is asleep and has more dreams. Vincent and she are walking in the park enjoying themselves. She tells him she loves him and as they move to kiss, she sees that it isn't Vincent. It's the man from the party. She sees Vincent walking away from her. She screams his name, then wakes up. Nancy rushes in having heard Catherine scream. They have a long talk, then Catherine asks her to borrow her car. She wants to get back to New York. It is three o'clock in the morning and Catherine sets off. Vincent is at the mirror pool with Catherine's white rose. He senses that she is on her way to him and he begins to run. Catherine runs through the fog-enshrouded park to the main tunnel. She runs to his arms, nearly knocking him down. She asks him to forgive her for doubting. She says that what they have is worth everything which he reiterates.
Guest Cast: Betsy Brantley as Nancy Tucker, Sam Freed as Dr. James Grafton, Richard Young as Buddy, W.K. Stratton as the patrolman, Mimi Craven as Rebecca, John McMartin as Charles Chandler, Annette McCarthy as Jenny, Dianne Travis as Kay, Kelly Kehoe as Catherine (as a child), Caryn West as Catherine's Mother, Zachary Benjamin as Jeremey, Marina Suriano as Jill, Patrick Pankhurst as Paul.
Writer: Ron Koslow.
Director: Victor Lobl.