EPI-LOG ARTICLE on Beauty and the Beast
review by Nina Johnson. Click here for contents.

Episode 36 (Season 2, Episode 14)

When the Blue Bird Sings

When the Blue Bird Sings (airdate: March 31, 1989). Catherine and Joe are returning to the office after lunch. She tells him she has to stop at the office after lunch. She tells him she has to stop at a used book store to buy a present for a friend. Joe exhibits no interest whatever in books and the clerk suggests that he look around the local video store. Catherine goes through the books. She picks one up them replaces it. A young man in a Mets caps suggests she try a certain book. The name plate says "From the Library of Kristopher Gentian". The book is a first edition of Tennyson poetry. She decides to get the book but when she goes to thank the man, he is gone. She and Joe go back to the office. She waits on the elevator alone. Kristopher approaches her and asks for her to pose for him. Simultaneously, Father and Vincent are talking when Vincent stops. He senses extreme coldness but has not idea where it comes from. Catherine tells Kristopher that she doesn't want to model. He asks for his card back from her as it is his only one. At her desk, Catherine tells Jenny Aronson about the artist. Joe comes into warn her about those "artist types". She tells Joe not to worry about her - she has experience from her college days. Joe is embarrassed and starts to leave, when he turns around. He says that she went to Radcliffe and she agrees. He feels better now because he knows Radcliffe was a girl's school. When Joe leaves, Rita wants to know if Radcliffe went coed. Catherine tells her in 1971. They both laugh about their prank on Joe. Catherine goes that night to the tunnel to give Vincent his present. She almost gives up on him when he appears. He reads a line, then a stranger finishes the poem. Catherine sends Vincent away as Kristopher steps out from behind a bush. Catherine tries to get rid of Kristopher but finally gives in to him. Vincent talks with Father saying he didn't feel the man's presence but did feel all the other people in the park's.

Catherine goes with Kristopher to a local artist's bistro. They talk about Kristopher's favourite artists and past. He shows her a painting on the wall that he gave the owner in exchange for food. He begins begging her to let him sketch her and she gives in. He grabs a sketch pad and pencil, then begins. Vincent has a bad dream that night. He is alone in a warehouse that is full of boxes and other things. Catherine appears in a white nightgown. She tells Vincent "He's dead." Vincent opens a steamer chest and finds a little boy with a Mets cap on who is coloring. Vincent watches as he colors a toy. Joe tells Catherine the next day at work, that he had Rita check into Kristopher. He's been dead for two years. Catherine goes back to the bookstore to find out about Kristopher but the owner denies knowing him. She goes back to the office and has the Gentian files brought to her. The boy really was an artist and also an orphan. He was unable to sell his works and was found one night, dead of exposure. The man who identified the body was the bookstore owner, Mr. Smyth. Catherine goes to talk with Mr. Smyth again. He tells her that Kristopher is dead and he has seen his ghost who often appears for pretty women. Gentian's paintings are in storage but he has bought his books collection. Catherine goes that night to the warehouse but finds the door locked. She gets back into her car when she sees the padlock open. She goes in and finds Vincent there. Vincent growls and chases Kristopher through the warehouse. Vincent corners him and he says "Hi" to him. Kristopher then shows him his belongings and his paintings. Catherine starts to compliment him but he is gone. Vincent tells her that he cannot sense Kristopher at all. Catherine later calls Jenny to arrange a showing of the Gentian works. Jenny promises she will try to find someone who can do the showing within the two weeks. At the showing, Catherine teases Joe about a model in a painting. She turns around to see Kristopher as a waiter. When she goes after him, he is gone. Seeing Mr. Smyth she tells him that all the monies from the sale will go to him. Mr. Smyth gets the name of the gallery owner just in case more works by Kristopher Gentian show up. The gallery showing is over and the owner gives Catherine a package. She takes it to Vincent's chamber and together they admire the painting. It is a full-length portrait of Vincent holding Catherine in his arms. Vincent and Catherine stand together, enjoying their painting. Kristopher's voice is heard while they stand: We shall lay our hands on the basolysk - and see the jewel in the toad's head, Champing his gilded oats, the hippogriff will stand in our stalls, And over our heads will float the Blue Bird - singing of beautiful and impossible things. Of things that are lovely, and that never happen. Of things that are not, and that should be.

Guest cast: Franc Luz as Kristopher Gentian, Severn Darden as Mr. Smyth, William DeAcutis as the Gallery owner, Tony Polone as the woman in the cafe, Beah Richards as Narcissa, Terri Hanauer as Jenny Aronson, Carolyn Finney as Rita.

Writers: Robert John Guttke, George R. R. Martin.

Director: Victor Lobl.