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

Episode 29 (Season 2, Episode 7)

A Fair and Perfect Knight

A Fair and Perfect Knight  (airdate: Jan. 13, 1989).  Michael, one of the tunnel dwellers, is reading to the children.  Vincent and Father come in with good news for Michael.  He has been accepted at a college for the winter freshman class.  Michael and Vincent talk later in the Whispering Gallery.  Michael is sad about going above to school.  His mother is dead and his father has rejected him.  Vincent tells him that he will have many friends.  Catherine and the other helpers will support him.  Vincent talks with Catherine later.  Vincent hates to see Michael go but wants him to have everything he deserves.  On the last day before Michael leaves, the children help him pack.  Father tells him later of his first day of college in New York.  Vincent takes Michael to the tunnel entrance of Catherine's building. He will be staying with her until he can find a place to live.  Catherine helps Michael settle in and they go for a walk.  She takes him to dinner at an expensive restaurant.  They are talking of his old neighborhood when he sees a  beggar on the street.  He takes hi plate out to the man and shares it with him.  Catherine joins him.  When they try to go back into the restaurant, the owner refuses to let Michael in.  They walk along the street as Michael expresses his rage over society's blind eye.  At a hot dog vendor, Catherine buys them something else to eat.  His gaze wanders along the street and Catherine teases him saying she won't buy him three dinners that night.  Michael comes to Catherine's office the next day soaking wet to invite Catherine to lunch.  Joe asks a few questions and Catherine tells him he is only a friend.

    That night, Michael and Catherine sit on the balcony and talk.  He wants to forgive his father.  Over dinner they talk about his classes.  Afterwards, he gives a book to Catherine in which he has inscribed "To Catherine, who showed me the sky."  The book is Songs of Innocence and Experience.  Catherine reads a poem aloud. She goes to bed and Michael goes to the couch.  He looks at her bedroom door and is able to see her through the louvers combing her hair.  The doors open and Catherine, in her nightgown, walks to him. She holds out her hand and Michael follows her.  They get in bed and Michael begins to kiss her mouth and neck.  Vincent smashes through the balcony windows and attacks Michael.  Vincent rips his throat.  Michael wakes up with a start, realizing it had only been a dream.  Catherine comes home from work that evening and begins to get ready for the orientation party.  Michael at first doesn't want to go but she convinces him to.  At the dance, Michael meets a young girl names Tina.  Michael goes back to Catherine.  As they talk, Michael watches a man enter the room.  It is his father.  Michael goes to the man, who doesn't recognize him, and tells him that he is his son.  The man wants to know what Michael wants.  He replies that he wants to be his son.  The man tells him that the affair was over long ago.  He wishes him luck and leaves.  Catherine rushes after Michael as he runs out of the room.  She follows him and corners him outside.  He tells her that he has been lying.  The man is his father in fact only.  His mother was the man's housekeeper.  Catherine hugs him and he slowly begins to kiss her.  Vincent is below and stops because he feels Catherine's emotions.  Catherine pushes him away and Michael flees to the tunnels.  Vincent approaches Michael to see what is wrong, when he realizes that Michael was kissing Catherine.  Catherine goes to Vincent's chamber.  He tells her to leave but she won't.  He says he doesn't want her to see him fully of envy and jealousy.  He is envious of Michael and what he shared with Catherine.  She explains that she has the same feelings of envy for those below who have his constant companionship and attention.  These feelings are just another part of love.  Vincent comes up behind Michael in the Whispering Gallery.  Michael tells Vincent not to come any closer, then screams out that he has betrayed him.  Vincent grabs Michael and asks him "How could anyone not love her?"  Days later, Michael walks to class.  Tina sees him and they walk to class together.

Guest Cast: Bill Calvert as Michael Richmond, Cyndi Strittmater as Beth, John-Frederick Jones as Michael's father, Raymond Lynch as the manager, Stepehen Hastings as the panhandler, Marcie Leeds as Samantha, Laurel Moglen as Brooke, Riad as Tina, Philip Waller as Geoffrey, Zachary Rosencrantz as Zach.

Writer: P.K. Simonds Jr.

Director: Gus Trikonis.