JANUARY 1975

Various close friends of Martha are forced to testify to her hatred toward Taffy Sims. Adam's forceful examination of Fairchild and revelation that the whole adoption scam was an extortion plot does not out weigh that fact that Martha confessed to killing Ms. Sims. Everyone in the court is stunned when a package containing the missing murder weapon suddenly and mysteriously is handed to the prosecution. With the case going so bad, there is only one thing for Adam to do: place Martha on the witness stand. Bill, fearful of his wife's mental state, goes to Mike and Adam and convinces them to let him testify. Martha begs Bill not to ruin his career by exposing his unfortunate "favors" for the underworld, but Bill testifies to his orders to release Harry Johnson and Floyd Porter because of Fairchild's threats. Adam calls Luke Chandler to the stand, who explains that those criminals would have been released anyway due to lack of evidence. Bill gets the support from the police commissioner who says that his actions because of the mob's strong-arm techniques won't jeopardize his job.

Martha then testifies to what happened the night of the murder. She says that when she was threatening Taffy with the gun, it went off almost by itself. Brandy then produces the gun and asks Martha to fire the gun in to a protective shield. Since Martha has to exert such force to pull the trigger, this negates her claim that there was a hair trigger - thus destroying the defense's case.

In a secret meeting, LePage says that he would get Vic to represent Fairchild should he need legal assistance. Privately, Morlock recalls his role in recovering the murder weapon and altering the trigger to insure that Martha and Fairchild go to jail. Morlock boasts to Johnny Dallas that Martha will be convicted which puzzles and upsets both Johnny and Mike. Kevin desperately searches for some clue to help exonerate Martha. He goes over the pictures of Taffy Sims body at the murder scene. At the Marceau house, Kevin shows Bill and Adam the pictures. Martha comes in to the room and when Bill's attempt to hide the pictures from her fail, she looks at them and says that something is wrong. When she fired the fatal shot, Taffy was rolling up her hair with curlers. The pictures of the body clearly do not show curlers in Taffy's hair! Adam's contention is that Taffy "died twice" that night. He sets out to prove that Morlock and Fairchild were the ones responsible for the death sometime after Martha left the apartment.

Ira Paulson and Brandy argue over her apparent softening of her cross-examination of Martha and demands that she show her mettle in another courtroom showdown against Adam. Brandy does not consider Martha's testimony about the curlers as real evidence. Adam and Brandy polarize in a confrontation when he insists that he will prove his case of reasonable doubt and will win Martha's freedom.

Jim Fields has been offered an important psychiatric post in Canada but has trouble making up his mind as Liz and Jason are in Italy caring for Orin. Trying to keep a hold over Kevin, Geraldine requests that Kevin and Phoebe postpone their marriage plans.

Danny and Tracy Dallas are getting along better which pleases Johnny and Laurie. Noel Douglas who is slowly captivating Tiffany Whitney, pursues Tracy to her apartment where he reminds her of her one time profession as a call girl. Johnny and Laurie are pleased that Vic and Kay are willing to put the past to rest and resume a friendlier atmosphere.

FEBRUARY 1975

Adam recalls Paul Fairchild to the stand in a vain attempt to get him to admit that Taffy Sims was shot after Martha left the apartment. Adam has no recourse but to plead with the prosecution for a continuance so that he can prove his theory that Morlock and Fairchild engineered the whole plot to control Police Chief Marceau. But, Adam is denied the continuance, and he prepares his summation for the jury - hoping that he can persuade them of Martha's innocence. Mike, almost completely recovered from hepatitis, plans to be at Adam's side when court reconvenes. Ira Paulson, feeling guilty about causing a rift between Adam and Brandy, agrees to go to the Karr home and offer the defense an opportunity for Martha to plead guilty - hopefully gaining a lesser prison sentence. Adam adamantly refuses to consider their suggestion, because he firmly believes in Martha's innocence, but agrees to contact her and present her with this distasteful option.

Kevin is surprised and pleased to learn from Geraldine that he is to have a new and prestigious assignment as a world crime correspondent when the trial is over. He is unaware that Geraldine maneuvered the assignment in order to separate him from Phoebe. Kevin tells Phoebe that this would be a romantic honeymoon. Geraldine is not pleased by this as she does not want Kevin and Phoebe to marry. Joe Pollock tells Kevin that he must leave within a week to cover an important murder trial in London. Phoebe, unable to commit herself to hasty wedding plans, breaks off her relationship with Kevin.

Tiffany is swept off her feet by Noel Douglas' marriage proposal. She tells Geraldine that she will accept no matter her objections. Geraldine feels her daughter-in-law doesn't know enough about the background of Douglas' background and fears that he may be a fortune hunter. Geraldine is further disturbed to learn Tiffany plans to move from the mansion when she marries and fears being left alone in the large house.

Walter LePage learns that Kay has invited Johnny and Laurie to finner. He viciously berates John's character. In defense, Vic blurts out the truth that Johnny is really working undercover for the cops. Furious, LePage contacts Morlock who arranges to have Johnny murdered in an early evening robbery at the New Moon so no suspicion would fall on the mob.

Vic goes to the New Moon to pick the Dallas' up for dinner. Otis and Vinnie enter and hold up the restaurant. They hold the patrons at gunpoint and take all the loot. Finally as they are about to leave, one of the hoods turns to confront Johnny. Thinking it's all over, Johnny begins to walk away to call the police. As the hood asks Johnny where he is going, "You going for a gun" You're going for a gun, huh?" he fires a shot at his intended victim. However, Johnny has stepped further out of the line of fire and Vic is shot instead! The crooks flee. Vic is rushed to the hospital. Before wife Kay can reach the hospital, Vic dies with Johnny at his side. LePage is enraged that Johnny is still alive and orders Morlock to take care of that matter himself.

Because it appears that Johnny was the intended victim, Mike and the crime commission plan to expose Johnny's cover hoping to remove all retaliatory threats to his life. Alone at the New Moon, Johnny waits to tell Danny the truth about his undercover work. Morlock arrives to kill Johnny; however, Danny comes in just as Morlock has his gun trained on Dallas and interrupts the murder. Thwarted, Morlock viciously lashes out with cruel innuendoes about Babs to Danny. He lets slip that he knew Babs went to Floyd Porter's apartment on the night she was murdered. Danny lunges at Morlock and they have a brief fight before Johnny breaks them up and sends Morlock away. Danny says that he felt a gun strapped to Morlock and guesses that he came there to kill Johnny.

Otis and Vinnie go to Morlock for payment for their job at the New Moon. Morlock gives them keys to a blue sedan parked on the corner and the address of a cabin in the country where their money will be found. The thugs get in the car and drive toward the country cabin. However, as they reach the steep winding country roads, they discover that the breaks have failed, as they rapidly approach a precipice. They turn the steering wheel rapidly and then throw their hands up in horror as the car spins wildly out of control and crashes!

Later Danny goes to Lt. Chandler to tell him about Morlock and his possible involvement in Babs' murder, but Luke is too preoccupied about the discovery of Otis and Vinnie's bodies at the bottom of a gorge. Not getting any immediate satisfaction from Luke, Danny goes to confront Morlock and somehow force the truth out of him. Morlock denies everything. He asks Danny to leave so that he can return a call to LePage. Danny defiantly searches the room for the gun to prove Morlock had intended to kill Johnny. He discovers it in a bureau. Morlock tries to take the gun away from Micelli. The two men struggle over it. They tumble on to the bed. Locked in a life and death embrace, a shot rings out!

MARCH 1975

As the shot rings out, Danny jerks with apparent pain, but it is Morlock who rolls off the bed bleeding from a gunshot wound. He is rushed to the hospital. The police realize that the shooting was an accident and do not charge Danny with a crime. Morlock has a serious, but not fatal, wound. While groggy on painkillers and seeing a priest in his room, Morlock thinks the Father is there to administer last rites. Believing himself about to die, Morlock makes a deathbed confession to Adam to his numerous crimes. He confesses to his involvement in the Sprite explosion, murdering Babs Micelli, Floyd Porter, and lastly Taffy Sims. He explains that Martha was to believe that she had shot the woman but that there were blanks in the gun. After Martha left the apartment, Fairchild called Morlock over. As Taffy was unrolling her hair and demanding more money, Morlock picked up the gun, replaced the blanks with live ammunition, and shot Taffy Sims dead. Unfortunately this confession, although witnessed, was not given with awareness or consent - therefore inadmissible in court - and cannot be used to save Martha. Adam rushes over to Fairchild's apartment just as the crooked lawyer is packing to skip town. Adam confronts him with the details to the Sims murder and Fairchild crumbles. Adam brings Fairchild to the Karr's where he makes a full valid confession to Bill, Luke, Mike, Adam, and Nancy. Even though Morlock and Fairchild are imprisoned, Morlock remains silent about the real head of the syndicate leading Mike and others to believe maybe Morlock is the leader. When there is talk that the crime commision should be a permanent committee, Nancy fears for Mike's safety again.

Relieved that Johnny's undercover work is over, the Dallas' are elated to learn that Laurie is preggers.

Brandy finds her budding romance with Adam has abruptly ended. On a post trial visit to New York, Brandy's brother, Dr. Quentin Henderson, notices his sister's depressed mood and plans to keep in close contact. Adam does not want to forgive Brandy for her forceful attack on Martha despite his protests that he realizes she was only doing her job. Brandy and Nancy both suspect the real reason for Adam's attitude is his obsession that somehow Nicole may still be alive. The Karrs are disturbed to learn that Adam has been secretly running an ad in local Caribbean papers offering a reward for information about Nicole. Adam delivers to Geraldine her revised will which names Kevin as sole heir and is shocked to learn from her that Nicole had a first cousin, Serena Travis Faraday, the black sheep of the family, presently living in Capitol City with her publisher husband. Adam tells Mike he's resolved the Nicole situation and is no longer looking for her, but Mike asks if his interest in Serena isn't yet another search for Nicole.

When Kevin's new foreign crime reporting assignment begins immediately after the Marceau trial, Geraldine forces Phoebe to make a decision and let Kevin leave with out marrying her. Geraldine forcefully points out not only how prestigious the trip will be for Kevin's career, but she will disinherit him if they marry now. Phoebe not only finds herself without a fianc�e, but without a job as well as Jim Fields has left for Canada.

Without reservation, Tiffany accepts Noel Douglas' proposal, ignoring Geraldine's warning about not knowing enough about the man. Unknown to the Whitney women, Noel has been making regular intimate visits to Tracy Dallas reminding her of the old days in Chicago. Tracy insists she does not want to carry on the relationship once he marries but he has different plans. With Babs' ghost laid to rest, Danny goes to Tracy's apartment (while Noel remains hidden in the bedroom) and bumblingly confesses his love for her. Following the Douglas' simple wedding ceremony at the Whitney mansion, Geraldine's toast to the couple's future happiness is ominously interrupted when her champagne glass suddenly falls from her hands and is shattered.

APRIL 1975

Mike and Adam accept a difficult plagiarism suit against Capitol City Adelphi Publishers. They find valuable help in ending the case from Serena Faraday. Adam, curious about Serena who is Nicole's cousin, is caught in the personal problems of Serena and her husband Mark, who works for the publishers. The Faradays recently went through an acrimonious divorce. Mark explains his ambivalent feelings toward Serena, who has gained custody of their son Timmy. Serena, secretive about her early vagabond life as a child, appears to be privately tormented and reluctant to be friendly with Adam. Adam returns home after wrapping up the lawsuit expecting never to hear from either Faraday again, but he discovers that Mark has sent him an oil portrait of Serena as a gift. Later a distraught Serena calls and says that Mark has virtually kidnapped their son Timmy from his boarding school and refuses to relinquish the boy. Mark charges Serena openly of being an unfit mother because of repeated affairs, which she vehemently denies, and accuses Adam of being blind to the type of woman she is because he has fallen in love with her.

Quentin Henderson sets up his new psychiatric practice in Monticello with the help of his assistant Phoebe and his sister Brandy. Quentin is concerned for Brandy's depressed mood since her break up with Adam. Conversely, Phoebe is delighted when she and Kevin, recently returned from Europe, set a wedding date of June 6, the 3-month deadline Phoebe promised Geraldine she would wait so that Kevin won't be disinherited. Geraldine shows interest in the fact that Phoebe's new employer is young, handsome, and single.

The Monticello crime rate still soars even with Morlock's capture. The police fear they haven't got the hidden "man at the top." Walter LePage must answer to his superiors for Johnny's undercover spying for the police. Gerald Kincaid, sent by the mob, checks on Johnny at the New Moon and warns him his "business partner" will not tolerate further police association. Johnny is later puzzled at a slip of the tongue by LePage, who states that Vic was killed while saving Johnny's life. Johnny wonders how LePage knew about Johnny's undercover work before it became public knowledge.

Laurie miscarries her baby and worries everyone when she cannot cry. Laurie irrationally insists that she killed Vic twice, since she feels completely at fault over his death - and for losing the child she and Johnny were to name for him.

Tiffany and Noel Douglas return home early from their honeymoon because of Noel's "pressing business affairs." Unknown to Tiffany, Noel now has control of her fortune and has set Tracy Dallas up in a luxury apartment for his private entertainment. Tracy quits her job at the New Moon, lying about having a new high paying fashion job and making Danny think that he is losing her to this glamorous new life.

MAY 1975

Mark Faraday allows Adam to act for Serena and convinces him to return Timmy to his mother. Embittered by 10 years of an unfaithful marriage, Mark warns Adam that he will only be hurt if he pursues a relationship with Serena. In order to repay Adam for his help, Serena arranges a dinner date at her apartment after her long journey of driving Timmy back to boarding school. Adam arrives and learns from the building super that Serena returned already but left with a suitcase. A puzzled Adam returns to Monticello believing he had been stood up. He learns from Tiffany, Serena's old friend from school, that as a teenager, Serena used to suffer memory lapses. Meanwhile at the New Moon Caf� a group of boisterous patrons arrive and one, a woman named Josie, who bears a striking resemblance to Serena, makes obvious persistent plays for Johnny.

Brandy is appointed the liaison between the DA's office and the Crime Commission. Adam congratulates her and realizes how much he has missed her since their separation. They rekindle the romance. Quentin is concerned because he feels that Adam may hurt his sister again.

Tiffany decides to pay her old friend Serena a visit in Capitol City. When they return to Serena's apartment, they find the place in shambles and the message "Prepare to die" written in lipstick across the living room mirror. Since nothing appears to be stolen, Serena accuses Mark of this vindictive act but refuses to press charges when the police arrive. Serena pleads with Tiffany to go to Adam and tell him that she needs his help - not only legally, but to help her put her life back in order. She claims that all her life she needed someone with Adam's strength and kindness and fears that a misunderstanding has ruined her relationship with him. Serena says that she was asleep in the apartment when Adam arrived for their date. That night Tiffany is aroused by a phone call from Mark who has taken back the oil portrait he sent to Adam and wants to return it to Serena. Tiffany discovers that her hostess has dressed and disappeared. Tiffany returns home, deeply troubled by Serena's strange behavior and by Mark's seemingly irrational vindictiveness. She arranges to speak to Adam who reluctantly agrees to get in touch with Serena.

Meanwhile, the seductive Josie returns to the New Moon and finds a receptive ear when Gerald Kincaid is attracted to her fictitious claims about an affair with Johnny. Mark enters Serena's apartment with his own key and replaces the portrait. After he leaves, Josie arrives, finds a pair of scissors, and slashes the portrait in a violent frenzy.

Johnny finds himself entangled with the mob again when Kincaid graphically threatens Laurie's life by showing Johnny how easily a bomb can be placed next to his wife anytime. Kincaid demands that Johnny spy on father-in-law Mike Karr, who heads the Crime Commission, and discover the name of the secret witness who plans to expose everything about Monticello's organized crime. In return, Johnny will get his freedom from further mob obligations and complete ownership of the New Moon.

Desperate to become pregnant again, Laurie becomes completely hysterical when tests show that she is not pregnant. Nancy feels she should wait a while to completely recover from the first miscarriage and Vic's death. Nancy and Mike wish they could make their daughter realize that she was not responsible for her miscarriage or Vic's death.

At the Whitney Mnasion, Kevin accidentally leaves with Noel's briefcase. To discover Noel's whereabouts in oredr to return it the briefcase, Kevin opens it and discovers the lease to a luxury apartment signed by Tracy Dallas. Kevin learns of Noel's infidelity when the doorman at the apartment building confirms his suspicions. Meanwhile, to keep Kevin from moving out after his marriage to Phoebe, Geraldine plans to fake a "heart attack" so that her "son" will have to stay and nurse her back to health. She gets some pills from Dr. Lacey under false pretences. Upon returning home she takes them, and her pressure starts to rise. Kevin rushes home to tell Geraldine the truth about Noel and is badly shaken when it appears that Geraldine has had a heart attack brought on by her concern for Tiffany's welfare.

JUNE 1975

Carrying out Kincaid's orders to insure Laurie?s safety, Johnny places a bug in Mike's study so the mob can keep track of the Crime Commission and learn who is double-crossing them. However, after a moment of soul searching, Johnny removes the bug.

When the police finally contact a possible secret witness, Ernie Casper, who was high enough in the ranks of the mob to name the bosses, an all out campaign of strict security is put in place to protect the witness. Mike meets with him at a sleazy bar, Pier 19, and arranges to comply with Casper's demands of no police protection. Mike guarantees him a large sum of money and a new identity in a foreign country in exchange for his valuable information. As good faith, Mike gets Casper to agree to give the name of the mob's informant placed in Police Headquarters. When Mike arrives to the bar to meet the witness again, he finds that Casper has been murdered. Mike, Bill, and Luke are chagrined as to how their well-guarded secret could have leaked out. The whole story is then leaked to the press - presumably by the informant in Police Headquarters - and Bill is galled. This frightens the other possible witnesses underground.

Johnny believes himself to be responsible for the murder, but unknown to him, it was the bar man at Pier 19 who informed Gerald Kincaid and killed Casper. Kincaid, cleverly seizing the opportunity to keep Johnny entangled, gives him complete ownership of the New Moon. At a follow up meeting in Mike's study, Bill speculates that the phone may have been tampered with, but they can't be certain. Nancy is alarmed at her husband's dangerous involvement with hoodlums again and the threat to their home and family. Also, Laurie and Johnny have developed a rift in their marriage. Luke tells Mike and Brandy of the secret investigation that Bill has conducted to expose the spy at Headquarters, speculating that the spy must be in the only other office that has access to these confidential matters--- Brandy's office!

Adam finds himself further drawn into helping the troubled Serena. He assures Brandy that Serena is only a friend who needs help. Reminding Brandy that their resumed relationship is to remain casual, Adam learns that Brandy has trouble keeping her deep regards for him in check.

When she receives a second lipsticked death threat on the mirror, Serena calls Adam for help. She is convinced that Mark is behind it, and Adam is half inclined to believe her since Mark has a duplicate key. Mark denies any knowledge or involvement in the crime, warning Adam that Serena is using him. Adam is disturbed when Mark knows about Adam's plan to spend the weekend with Timmy, something Mark couldn't possibly have known. Timmy is awakened by a nightmare and tells Adam about a dark haired lady who has come to his boarding school to kill him. After the delightful weekend together, Adam prepares to drive home and realizes a small gift left in the car. He returns to Serena's apartment, finding the door unlocked and a terrified Timmy huddling in his bedroom - screaming for his mother to save him from the dark haired lady who suddenly appeared. Josie, hiding in the closet, manages to slip past Adam and get away before he has the chance to catch her.

Geraldine's simulated heart attack succeeds in postponing Kevin's marriage to Phoebe. Quentin Henderson moves into his new apartment and tells Brandy that he has fallen in love with Phoebe, who finds him a good friend and a firm shoulder to cry on. Geraldine accidentally overhears Kevin denouncing Noel's infidelities with Tracy. She demands Noel end all connections with Tracy as a price for her and Kevin's silence to protect Tiffany from ever learning the truth.

JULY 1975

After driving Timmy back to his boarding school, Adam returns home, perplexed about Serena's disappearance, and tells a pleased Brandy and Quentin that he has become involved with Mrs. Faraday for the last time. Suddenly, Adam is contacted by the Capitol City police and learns that Serena was found barely alive in a tenderloin hotel - apparently after attempting suicide by taking an overdose of pills. Pressured by Brandy, Adam rushes to Serena, only to find she has no idea of how this happened or where she was after saying goodbye to Adam before the weekend. She admits these "blackouts" are serious and says that she needs professional help. When Mark hears of the suicide attempt, he tells Adam he plans to take Timmy away from the "unfit" mother. Investigating the attempted suicide, Adam interrogates the motel desk clerk, who claims he saw a dark haired woman enter Serena's room. Adam jumps to the conclusion that this may be a possible attempted murder.

Under the direction of Gerald Kincaid, Josie takes up the task of disrupting the Dallas marriage. Kincaid has a spy network so entrenched that it includes Brandy?s private secretary! He wants Mike Karr's every move watched by his son-in-law Johnny and is uses Josie to drive a wedge between the already quarreling couple. Laurie is ecstatic to learn she's pregnant again, but after another near-miscarriage, she becomes pathologically over-protective of herself, which results in a widening rift between her and Johnny. She finally moves out and back to her parents, where she tells Nancy about Johnny's "affair" with another woman. Deciding to go to the New Moon for a possible reconciliation with Johnny, Laurie is met with the horrifying site of Josie brazenly kissing Johnny. Unknown to Laurie, Josie only did that when she saw her enter the restaurant.

Nancy's concern for Mike's safety is somewhat reduced when Mike reveals his plans to resign from the Crime Commission, because he feels personally responsible for Ernie Casper's murder. Later, Mike reconsiders when it is pointed out that his resignation would result in a victory celebration by the mob. Also, Mike prepares to deal with the unexpected offer of valuable inside information from Walter LePage. Fearing for his life, LePage offers to make a secret deal with Mike - demanding immunity, secrecy, and assistance in fleeing Monticello in return for the names of people only the head of the crime syndicate could know. LePage warns Mike their plan better work... or else they will both be dead men.

Josie has a momentary brush with Adam and Brandy at the New Moon but passes by them totally unrecognized by Adam. She returns to Kincaid's apartment, where she has been staying while working for him. When Serena suddenly awakens and finds herself in this strange apartment, she is shaken, bewildered, and runs to Adam's resident hotel suite , where he and Brandy are making plans for a weekend trip. Much to Brandy's displeasure, Serena enlists Adam's help in getting a room at the Monticello Arms.

Tracy returns to waitressing when Noel cuts off all financial support. Danny is happy about Tracy's return, but is sympathetic to her loss of what everyone thinks was a high paying fashion job.

Geraldine's fake heart attack successfully ends Kevin's engagement. Suspicious after a doctor visit, Kevin confronts Geraldine about the EKG test, which showed no change from previous ones and the perfect timing of the attack in canceling his marriage.

AUGUST 1975

Mike learns from LePage about Johnny's working for Kincaid in order to get Crime Commission information. Johnny, drunk and depressed over the separation in his marriage due to Laurie's preoccupation with the unborn child, almost succumbs to Josie's charms. However, he is suddenly stunned by what appears to be bizarre behavior. Serena emerges into a shocking and bewildering situation and screams at Johnny to leave.

Terrified by her frequent blackouts, Serena turns to Nancy for support and is advised to see Quentin Henderson professionally. Nancy discovers a dark wig in Serena's bureau and mentions it to Mike and Adam along with her suspicions that Serena may be afraid to learn the real truth causing these emotional upsets. Mark again threatens a custody suit because he says he now has evidence to prove Serena an unfit mother.

Johnny and Laurie reconcile, but Nancy is still worried because Laurie feels that the unborn baby is an intruder the same way Josie intruded on their marriage. On a visit to Laurie, Josie is frightened off by the appearance of Nancy, who senses the similarities between Serena and Josie. Nancy asks Serena about this coincidental likeliness but unknowingly confronts Josie (who is pretending to be Serena). Serena/Josie shocks Nancy with the story that she has a secret, hidden disreputable "half-sister," who follows her around and causes trouble.

After an unsuccessful attempt to prove Johnny is connected with mob activities, Luke and Mike's fears about Dallas may be verified. LePage's information about Brandy's secretary Lila being the mob's inside informant proves correct. Weary from his confrontation at Police Headquarters, Johnny returns home and receives a call from Josie, who taunts him about leaving a lighter at her apartment. Laurie overhears this on the extension phone and throws Johnny out for his apparent deception and unfaithfulness. Laurie calls Nancy, who rushes to her daughter to comfort her, as Mike leaves for the restaurant to find Johnny.

Josie shows up at the New Moon, and a despondent Johnny, disgusted by her taunting, forcibly moves her toward the door as Kincaid walks in and quietly instructs Josie to leave. While Kincaid orders Johnny to pump Mike about the new informer, Johnny puts two and two together and asks Kincaid if Josie is on his payroll. Kincaid tries double talk, but Johnny realizes that he has been had and emotionlessly refuses to cooperate after Kincaid draws a gun on him. However, when Kincaid verbally threatens Laurie, Johnny wrests the gun from him and clobbers Kincaid with the butt of the weapon. Only Mike's arrival prevents Johnny from killing Kincaid.

After facing Geraldine about his suspicions of her fake heart attack, Kevin prepares to leave for good. Just as he informs Phoebe, he is summoned back by the news of a second more severe seizure which results in Geraldine's hospitalization. Tiffany and Noel are upset to learn that Geraldine had used some pills of Trudy, the maid, which are known to produce heart palpitations. The Douglas', suspicious that the recent heart seizure may have been self induced, agree not to tell Kevin about their doubts. Later Noel arrives home with a lipstick stained handkerchief monogrammed "Tracy" and is discovered by Kevin. As repayment for Kevin's silence to protect Tiffany, Noel tells Kevin about Geraldine's use of Trudy's pills to produce her well-timed heart attack.

SEPTEMBER 1975

No one can understand why Johnny would run off and go into hiding over a trivial quarrel, but Bill and Mike suspect that Johnny believes he killed Kincaid. Kincaid, certain that Johnny is the new informant and resentful over his injuries, hires hit man Ewell Jorgenson to take care of Johnny Dallas. Armed with a pistol, Jorgenson tracks Johnny down to a seedy hotel. Pretending to be room service, he gains admittance to the room.

Josie finds her life threatened by Kincaid, who demands she cooperate in trapping Johnny. Nancy, desperate to help Laurie, goes to Serena's hotel room to ask about "half-sister" Josie but finds Josie there instead. Nancy questions her about her obvious dark wig and her knowledge about Johnny's whereabouts. Josie orders Nancy out. When Nancy and Mike learn from police that Kincaid has been paying the rent on Josie's apartment, the connecting links begin to fall into place.

Due to his anxieties over the trouble in his parent's marriage, Timmy is sent home from boarding school in a near-autistic state. He is further frightened by the frequent appearances of "Aunt Josie." Nancy, who agrees to baby sit while Serena goes apartment hunting, is stunned to discover Josie there instead of Serena and the terrified boy has locked himself in the bedroom. In a scuffle to try to unlock the bedroom door, Nancy impulsively pulls Josie's wig off exposing her as Serena! Josie desperately insists she is an identical twin to Serena and finally threatens Nancy?s life with a nail file if she tells anyone about her. Nancy barely manages to escape, when Josie is distracted by the ringing telephone.

Quentin rushes to Serena's when she calls to explain that she has had another blackout while caring for Timmy. He gives her a sedative. Adam also arrives after learning of Nancy's experience with Josie. He confronts Serena with the dark wig surreptitiously kept in the suite. To the amazement of Adam and Quentin, Serena is racked by sudden cranial pain, becoming Josie before their eyes.

Arriving home from the hospital, Geraldine is confronted by Kevin about her phony attack. Kevin and Geraldine quarrel bitterly, and he denounces allegiance to her because of her plans to wreck his marriage plans. Noel is jubilant that Kevin will be moving out, but Trudy begs Kevin to reconsider his decision to leave - especially now when Mrs. Whitney is so ill. While Trudy is out of sight seeing to Kevin's packing, she overhears Geraldine vow to strip Kevin of everything by cutting him out of her will. Geraldine contacts Adam and informs him of her desire to change her will just as soon as they return from Washington D.C. Geraldine, along with the Douglas' and John and Trudy, are going to Washington for a memorial dedication at the White House for Senator Colin Whitney.

Kevin, believing he has lost Phoebe for good, allows his temper to flare, and he loses self-control while sparring in his karate class - injuring a classmate and causing the karate master to dismiss him from further lessons. Meanwhile, despondent over losing Kevin, Geraldine decides to leave for Washington immediately. Tiffany accompanies her to the airport, but Noel, feigning pressing business matters, plans to follow later. Trudy, who fears flying, leaves by train with John.

Because the New Moon has closed due to Johnny's disappearance, Tracy is desperate for money and considers returning to prostitution. She calls Noel, who makes plans to have her come to the deserted mansion later for an illicit tryst. Kevin, who is packing to leave, is disgusted by Noel's apparent renewed unfaithfulness.

At the departure gate, Geraldine is unexpectedly overcome by weariness and insists Tiffany go with out her. Noel, preparing for Tracy's arrival, lays and kindles a fire and sets out drinks. Just as he and Tracy are making out on the sofa, Geraldine appears. She denounces Noel, threatens Tracy with exposure of her lurid past, and dismisses both from the house.

Adam and Brandy dine together and resumed their close relationship. He invites her up to see his newly acquired barn which he is renovating. He tells Brandy of Geraldine's wish to change her will. Adam tries to call Geraldine at home but is unable to reach her. Kevin, returning to finish his packing, rushes to answer the phone but just misses it. He turns to go up the stairs and discovers Geraldine lying crumpled like a broken doll at the foot of the staircase. He calls Dr. Lacey who rushes the woman to the hospital. They discover her spine has been broken. Although it appears that she had a heart attack causing the disastrous fall, Bill puzzles over the smoldering embers in the fireplace. Dr. Lacey informs all that Geraldine's injuries are so severe, involving brain damage, that she isn't ever expected to regain consciousness. Bill learns of the argument with Kevin and that Geraldine was going to disinherit him as well as of a suspicious bruise on Geraldine's neck.

OCTOBER 1975

After Josie emerges out of Serena's subconscious in front of Adam and Quentin, Adam takes Timmy from Serena and places him with the Karrs. Mark, furious that Serena may somehow deprive him of his visitation rights, seeks out his ex-wife. Recalling her psychiatrist's name, he bursts in on a therapy session while she is wearing a dark wig. Mark greets Serena, but it is Josie who lashes out at him. Mark finally leaves but now feels he has foolproof evidence that can win him permanent custody of Timmy.

Adam fears that Timmy will become a pawn between Mark and Serena and be severely hurt in the process. Mark goes to Nancy to take Timmy away with him. Despite Nancy's pleading to leave the boy where he feels happy and secure, Mark becomes abusive. Only the arrival of Luke Chandler, who came with information concerning the missing Johnny, forces Mark to back off. Serena approves of the Karrs caring for Timmy while she gets the help she needs. When she is told about her becoming Josie, Serena finds it very hard to believe but realizes something is terribly wrong with her.

Adam fears that Mark really doesn't want to resume the actual care of Timmy, as much as gain vengeance against Serena for an unfaithful marriage. Furthermore, Mark is known to have a drinking problem, so he may not be any more fit to be the sole parent responsible for Timmy's care. Adam learns that Mark has hired Richard Jaffe, an attorney known for only taking sure-fire cases, and admits that things look bad for Serena maintaining custody. Adam refuses to represent Serena for two reasons: she needs someone with more experience in domestic cases, and he feels that Serena is too dependant on him already. Out of regard for his relationship with Brandy, he doesn't want to further involve himself with the confused Serena.

Quentin begins regular therapy sessions with Serena and explains that she is not "insane" as Mark claims but that with time she should become a whole, healthy, and integrated person once again. As Serena goes on relating her love for Adam who will save her from losing Timmy because he loves her as much as she loves him, Serena begins obsessively snapping her fingers and Quentin realizes that she is on the verge of a transformation. Josie is about to emerge. When Serena is served with a summons to appear in court, Mike reluctantly agrees to assist her as her attorney. Adam still refuses any connection with Serena's case but makes a tactical error by having a business lunch with Serena and not telling Brandy. Nancy forces Adam to admit his real feelings for Brandy, and finally putting his natural reticence aside, he takes Brandy in his arms, kisses her, and proclaims his love for her.

Mike considers appointing a "guardian ad librum" to protect the interest of Timmy in court. Consulting with Quentin, Mike learns that should Mark successfully take Timmy away from Serena... it could damage her so badly that Quentin may never be able to get rid of the Josie personality. Serena tells Nancy that the thought of losing Timmy is destroying her. Mark arrives and is openly pleased that he has the opportunity to hurt Serena by flaunting his apparent "open and shut" case against her. After he leaves Josie emerges and denounces Mark's threats against her "sister" and goes to take Timmy away to hide from Mark.

Phoebe feels that Geraldine's accident may have altered the way she feels for Kevin. Still confused about resuming her close relationship with him, she nonetheless knows Kevin could not be responsible for harming Geraldine. Kevin says that Bill may be considering arresting him for attempted murder. Everyone at the Whitney mansion - with the exception of Noel Douglas - grieves for the once vitally active Geraldine, who lies in a coma. When Bill, investigating the accident, mentions that it occurred at a very propitious time for Kevin, Tiffany becomes upset at the implications. However, Noel secretly visits police headquarters and tells Bill of the "private war" between Geraldine and Kevin, which led her to fake her heart attack.

Bill and Luke continue to investigate Kevin as a potential suspect and learn from Mr. Otoni, the karate master, that Kevin lost his temper and injured a student. He reluctantly admits that Kevin was skilled enough in Karate to harm someone. This information coupled with the unaccountable bruise on Geraldine's neck makes Luke press Bill for the arrest of Kevin on the charge of suspicion of attempted murder. Kevin, fearing arrest, goes to Adam to ask for representation. Phoebe relates all she knows from Kevin's personal investigation about Noel's affairs with other women. This could account for Noel having a strong enough motive to wish Geraldine harm, but Bill reminds his daughter that it is only Kevin's unsubstantiated word. When she learns of the police investigation of the Whitney accident, Tracy is frightened and asks Noel for enough money to leave town. He advises her to "try hitchhiking." Tracy finds herself in a desperate corner.

Johnny manages to overpower Ewell Jorgenson and shoot him in self-defense. Johnny calls Mike and relates the story of his narrow escape but refuses to return home. Laurie grabs the phones and pleads with her husband to return, but he refuses. He goes to Tracy's apartment and asks her to cash a check for him for $5,000 from his joint account. He plans to use the money to get out of the country. Johnny calls Laurie and explains why he must withdraw the money from their joint account. Luke tries to have Laurie stall long enough to have the call traced but fails. He then dispatches the police to watch for Dallas at the bank when he attempts to cash the check, not realizing that Tracy has already withdrawn the money. Desperate to escape the Whitney investigation, Tracy leaves her brother a note with the doorman telling him she is leaving town with his money!

Laurie calls Danny and instructs him to tell Johnny that something has happened to her. She then gets in her car and begins driving at speeds of 90 mph on the turnpike, but fortunately she is stopped, cited, and returned home before harm is done. Johnny goes to Danny for help, believing Tracy has skipped town with his money. Danny cannot believe Tracy would do such a thing without a very good reason. Danny fails in an attempt to contact the Karrs about Johnny, when Johnny discovers him on the phone. Dallas claims that his best friend is ratting on him, and he rushes away. Johnny ends up Sal, a bartender friend, and asks him to cash a check for him. Then, in one of the booths, Johnny spots his sister. Tracy apologizes, claiming she couldn't do anything that low to her brother, and tells him about her involvement with Noel Douglas and Geraldine's near-fatal fall down the stairs. While Tracy leaves, Johnny learns from Sal that the police have an A.P.B. on him. Tracy, seeking refuge at Danny's and fearing her precarious future, accepts his marriage proposal.

Now able to pay his way out of the country, Johnny goes to a "travel agent" named Max Barrett whose underworld connections make it possible for fugitives to leave the country. On the other hand, Barrett?s ties to the mob also places him in a position to contact Kincaid. Fortunately, Walter LePage, acting as secret informant to the police, learns of the death trap ready to snap shut on Johnny and alerts Mike Karr. The only clue that LePage can give Mike about the planned meeting is that it's somewhere on the waterfront.

Bill dispatches squad cars to patrol the site, and they spot Kincaid entering 127 Front Street, where Johnny has returned expecting to receive his false identity. Bill and Luke rush in and arrest Kincaid. Unfortunately, Kincaid is released on a technicality. He follows Johnny to the New Moon, where his two hoods savagely beat Johnny into unconsciousness and set fire to the restaurant!

NOVEMBER 1975

Kincaid, pleased that he has squared accounts with Johnny Dallas, arranges with Lenny, one of his hoods, to fly to New York in his place - thus establishing Kincaid's alibi. Kincaid then goes to his office and accuses LePage of being the secret police informant who led the cops to the waterfront in time to save Dallas' life. Although LePage tries to deny it, Kincaid knows the truth and coldly shoots the former mob boss to death.

Danny and Tracy go to the New Moon to tell all about their engagement and discover the restaurant engulfed in flames. Danny manages to pull Johnny from the fiery holocaust, but Tracy collapses from smoke inhalation. Risking his life again, Danny dodges flaming, falling beams and rescues Tracy. Bill and Luke discover LePage's body and are positive Kincaid is responsible.

During a therapy session, Quentin suggests to Serena that she may want to go to the apartment where her opposing personality Josie lives and somehow bring Josie into some tangible reality. Deciding to go on her own, Serena arrives and discovers Kincaid, who has been laying low till his return from New York. Kincaid, believing he is interacting with Josie, is surprised to see her without the dark wig. Serena secretly manages to call Adam and tell him about her circumstances. Sensing something is wrong, Kincaid starts to rough her up ,triggering a personality change, and Josie emerges. Fortunately, Bill and Luke arrive and arrest not only Kincaid, but Josie as well. Josie refuses to talk to the police or cooperate without her lawyer, Adam. Adam convinces her she must help clear herself of any suspicions regarding her involvement with Kincaid. Josie tells the police that Johnny was not responsible for informant Ernie Casper?s death because the phone tap didn't work.

Now cleared of all charges, Johnny looks forward to starting life all over again and to reestablish the New Moon. Unfortunately, his future looks clouded again when Bill and Luke ask him to testify in court against the Mob, so they can pin not only attempted murder and arson on Kincaid, but Walter LePage's murder, as well. Laurie is fearful, but Johnny emphatically states Kincaid tried to kill him twice and threatened his wife and unborn child-"Just name the day!" he proclaims.

Happy that she is close to Adam again, Brandy is nevertheless plunged to her depths when she learns that Nicole cannot be considered legally dead for another five years, and therefore, Adam is still a married man. Brandy contemplates living with Adam if he suggests it. Meanwhile, Timmy expresses a desire to see Adam again. Adam invites the boy to spend the weekend with him at the Barn, hoping that Brandy won't mind.

Mike plans to base his defense case on Quentin's expert testimony. Mark intends to make Serena appear unfit because she is "mad", but Quentin professes that she is not insane. Mike is shocked when Josie shows up for Serena's therapy session, and he warns Quentin that if Josie shows up at the custody hearing, they will certainly lose the case. Quentin assures Mike that neither Josie nor Serena want Timmy to go to Mark, and it is unlikely that Josie would do anything to jeopardize the case.

Johnny, excited over a possible new location for the New Moon, is surprised when he is served a subpoena to appear at the Faraday hearing. Nancy also is subpoenaed to testify against Serena.

Everyone gathers in Judge Sussman's private chambers at the appointed time except Serena. Mike is worried that Josie will show up instead, but Serena rushes in, slightly out of breath, upset over a traffic snarl. The judge calls for opening statements and cautions Quentin that although the proceedings may appear informal, she expects the same serious and truthful testimony that one would demand in a trial.

Adam begins to piece the circumstances together leading up to Geraldine's near fatal fall. Acting on behalf of both Kevin and Geraldine, Adam initiates his own investigation. He suspects Noel of planning a rendezvous with Tracy that night, since the rest of the house had gone to Washington. Having seen Geraldine's private dossier on Tracy's life in Chicago, Adam concludes that Noel had as much motive to harm Geraldine as Kevin allegedly has.

Adam has Kevin pretend to be Noel over the phone, and by tricking Tracy, they confirm their suspicions that she and Douglas did go to the house that fateful night. Tracy later calls Noel and discovers he wasn't the one who called her, and she becomes frightened about these turn of events.

Despite Noel's prompting to "pull the plug" on Geraldine's life support system, Tiffany encourages Kevin to leave on an interview trip of doctors whose patients recovered from their comas. Tiffany pours out her grief to her comatose mother-in-law and is stunned when Geraldine opens her eyes. Noel, fearing further recovery, secretly enters Geraldine's hospital room and pulls the plug on the machine! Dr. Lacey later tells them that although they had a brief scare when one of the nonvital machines was unplugged, Geraldine has shown further motor recovery and is moving her hands.

Danny and Tracy set their wedding date for December 1. Tracy panics when Bill questions her about knowing Noel. She calls Noel and confesses to having returned to the Whitney mansion after they were thrown out by Geraldine to beg her not to expose her lurid past to either Danny or Johnny. "I pushed her down the stairs. I didn't mean to," she sobs.

Kevin returns to tell Tiffany the results of his investigation. When Tiffany learns of a woman in a Paris hospital who recovered from a coma, she contacts the doctor by phone, hoping she will gain information regarding Geraldine's recovery. The woman had recovered from her coma, she learns, but has no memory of her past. Tiffany asks Kevin to fly to Paris and speak personally with the attending physician Dr. Calmette. Hopefully they will discover what brought about this woman's recovery. Felling all his research is futile, Kevin can't refuse Tiffany.

Kevin arrives in France and is relieved that Dr. Calmette speaks fluent English. The doctor explains his patient's case: She was discovered on a small island near Guadeloupe. It was originally believed that she was mentally retarded because she could not speak. Later, in the hospital in Guadeloupe, she spoke to the doctors in French. Assuming she was of French nationality, they sent her to Paris to be treated. When Kevin details the circumstances surrounding Geraldine's coma, Dr. Calmette is very sympathetic but doubtful his "mystery woman's" case has any solutions to offer toward a cure for Geraldine. He tells Kevin that the woman really feels that an American doctor named Clay Jordan was the one who "cured" her and suggests Kevin should interview him as well. Kevin and Dr. Calmette go to the "mystery woman's" apartment to talk to her. They knock on the door. It opens. The doctor enters. Kevin follows and is shocked beyond belief to see who this patient is. He is dumbstruck ! He has come clear across the world to confront a living ghost-NICOLE TRAVIS DRAKE!!!

DECEMBER 1975

NOTE: Beginning with the December 1, 1975, telecast, "The Edge of Night" is now seen on the ABC Television Network.

Quentin Henderson is called to the stand in the custody hearing of the Faraday case. He explains the inner conflicts of Serena's multiple personality problem. Mark Faraday's attorney, Richard Jaffe convincingly destroys Quentin's credibility as an impartial expert witness when he points out that Quentin's sister, Brandy is a close friend of Adam who is a distant relative of Serena.

Nancy is forced to relate her frightening confrontation with Josie in Serena's hotel room, Timmy locking himself in the bedroom, and Nancy's fears of what might have happened if Josie got into that bedroom. She tells the court how they struggled, and she pulled off the dark wig - exposing Serena.

Johnny then testifies to the role that Josie played in Kincaid's attempt to entrap Johnny to get crime commission information from Mike. Elated by Johnny's testimony, Jaffe says that Josie was more that a flamboyant personality, she was a known consort of dangerous criminals. Mike finally scores some points when he describes Mark Faraday as a so-called devoted father who only paid Timmy three visits at the boarding school for the entire year. He pointedly asks Mark if he wants to be a full time father or is his only motive to punish Serena by taking her son away.

Jaffe's final witness is a surprise to all. He arranges to have Timmy appear in court. The boy tells of "Aunt Josie" and how he was frightened of her and the nightmares that he would have of her. Jaffe is quick to point out that the nightmares and forced the boy in such an emotional state that he was asked to leave the exclusive boarding school. Timmy continues that he had locked himself in the bedroom that day because he feared that "Aunt Josie" would kill him. Serena's tenuous emotional calm is destroyed, and she jumps up, bursting into tears and screaming, "I can't!," she runs from the chambers out of the courthouse.

The hearing is forced to adjourn, temporarily leaving a gloating and smuggly victorious Mark Faraday and his lawyer to saunter out of the court house, optimistically speculating on the outcome of the hearing. As Mark leaves the court house portico and descends to the busy city street, he is suddenly met by a dark haired Josie, who calls for him to stop. Before the astonished eyes of over fifty witnesses and amateur photographers, Josie raises a revolver and stating that she has a "message from her sister" shoots Mark at point-blank range... killing him instantly! Suddenly losing all momentum, she hands the gun over to Adam and pleads, "Adam, you will defend me, wont you?"

Josie is immediately taken into custody and then begins a repetitive chant "poor Mark is dead..." Adam is convinced that Serena is either temporarily - or completely - insane. When Bill questions the chanting woman, she says that he deserved to die and that she had to take care of her "stupid" sister. Brandy comments how life can change in just a few seconds. Timmy, watching children's shows on TV is unaware of what just happened until a bulletin is broadcast. He cries out for Adam, whom he clings to for love and support.

Josie demands that Adam defend her, despite the fact that Mike was handling the custody case. When he refuses, she slaps his face. Josie willingly agrees to make a tape recorded statement that she stole the gun from Kincaid's apartment. When confronted by the realization that she may go to prison, Josie retreats and Serena emerges in front of Bill and Luke, apparently unaware of what happened since she ran from the courthouse. Serena desperately pleads for Adam to help her, and he reluctantly agrees. He will defend Serena.

Monticello District Attorney Ira Paulson assigns Draper Scott, his newest assistant, to the Faraday case. It is their opinion that Serena was only faking her insanity. They plan to go before the grand jury and ask for an indictment of murder one. Brandy is upset to learn that Paulson has assigned her to the case, also pitting her against Adam again. Adam impetuously proposes that they enter the court as husband and wife. Unknown to Adam and Brandy, Kevin has found Nicole alive and well in Paris and agrees to bring her back home, despite the claims of her doctor and her companion/friend Dr. Clay Jordan, who stresses that he believes she should write her husband and let Adam come to Paris to claim his wife.

Tiffany is surprised when Kevin mysteriously says he is returning with the recovered woman -but nothing more. Geraldine continues to show signs of improvement by sitting up, and then on Christmas day, possibly moved by Tiffany's prayers, appears to cry.

On the day of the Micelli wedding, Johnny gives Danny part ownership of the New Moon. Johnny is disturbed when he finds Noel in Tracy's bridal dressing room. Noel has come to gloat about Tracy confessing to pushing Geraldine down the stairs. Johnny later fiercely defends his sister to the police insinuations that Tracy was Noel's lover and visited him at the Whitney mansion the night of the so-called accident.

Tiffany cheerfully greets the long missing Nicole and agrees to somehow gently tell Adam about her return over cocktails that evening. Nicole still feels like a newlywed even though she intellectually knows Adam has been seeing other women over the past eighteen months. She panics at the last minute before Adam is to arrive and rushes out of the Whitney mansion. Prompted by a sympathetic coffee shop waitress, Nicole goes to seek out old friends and is drawn to the Karr's nearby home. She lingers in the shadowy park when she notices a man returning to his car. Suddenly, as Adam prepares to start the car, he is startled by the familiar shape of the woman in the shadows and calls out to her only to have her run off. Adam is shaken by this encounter only to have Nancy call and cancel the date at the Whitney's. When Nancy calls Tiffany, she and Mike are stunned to learn that Nicole is alive.

Nicole spends a lonely Christmas Eve on a cot in the diner. Mike contacts Bill who conducts a "discreet" investigation for the missing Nicole. On Christmas day, Nicole is found in the diner and is taken to Bill, who calls the Karrs.

Mike and Nancy, who had extended an invitation to Adam, Brandy, and others for a holiday open house, must tell Adam about Nicole. Mike explains the situation to early-arrival Quentin, who agrees to help. But when Adam and Brandy arrive - she with an expensive fur coat and a large diamond engagement ring - the Karrs are torn between the joyous news and telling Adam about his wife. Mike insists on detaining Adam on "confidential matters" and Quentin diplomatically offers to take Brandy home. Mike begins by reminding Adam of his old obsession, then changing his tact, says that he has just received some astonishing news. Drained and finally absorbing Mike's words, Adam, stunned, can only whisper the question, "Is Nicole alive?" As Mike explains everything, Brandy suddenly returns to retrieve her forgotten purse and keys and seeing a dumbfounded Adam, asks "What just happened?"