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A spin-off of NBC-TV's enormously popular "Another World", Somerset debuted on March 30, 1970 with a traditional soap opera format. Created and written by Robert Cenedella, Somerset's original title was "Another World--Somerset" and had much in common with the parent program: the same opening title, the same theme music, and the same announcer (Bill Woolf). Four characters (and three actors) from the "Another World-- Bay City" serial, which aired one hour earlier, were on the newer program: Missy Matthews (Carol Roux), Ricky Matthews, Sam Lucas (Jordan Charney), and Lahoma Vane Lucas (Ann Wedgeworth). Located about fifty miles from AW's Bay City, Somerset's characters initially traveled freely between the two programs. However, NBC was quickly disappointed with Somerset's paltry Nielsen ratings and decided to make drastic changes in its format.
With the success of P&G's The Edge of Night in mind, Somerset was soon revamped into a crime-mystery format. Creator/writer Robert Cenedella returned to his writing duties at AW, while P&G hired Edge's headwriter Henry Slesar to pen the newly restructured Somerset. In no time at all, Somerset began to resemble Edge's Monticello as murders, rapes, and other criminal activities infiltrated the small town of 25, 000. During his tenure at Somerset, Slesar penned several memorable storylines (most notably the Gothic-toned Andrea Moore mystery), and although the show's ratings remained moderately good, they weren't good enough for NBC who replaced Henry Slesar with veteran soap creator Roy Winsor (Love of Life, The Secret Storm). Winsor ostensibly returned the show back to its traditional roots though murderers, stalkers, and crime syndicates continued to dominate the story until late 1976 when NBC finally axed the show to make room for "Lovers and Friends", another P&G soap.
March 30, 1970 - December 31, 1976
MON-FRI: 4pm (ET)/3pm (CT): NBC-TV
Headwriters: Robert Cenedella (1970), Henry Slesar (1970-73), Roy Winsor (1974-75), Winifred Wolfe (1975), Russell Kubec (1975), A.J. Russell (1975-76), Robert J. Shaw (1976).
Executive Producers: Lyle B Hill; Sid Sirulnick
Producer: Sid Sirulnick
Associate Producer: Barbara Taylor
Directors: Joe Chomyn, Ira Cirker, Bruce Minnix, Joe Scanlon, Jack Coffey
Scenic Designer: Gene Tunezi
Lighting Directors:Alan Posage; Lee Carlton
Costume Designer: Julia Sze; Jerry Boxhorn
Hairdresser: Joe Coscia
Music Director/ Organist: Chet Kingsbury
Music By: Score Productions
Somerset Theme: Charles Paul
Technical Director:Ray Barrett
Production Assistant: Francine Caruso
Production Secretary: Joan Krams
Announcer: Bill Woolf
Stage Manager: Jerry Evans
NBC Press Representatives: Leonard Myers (New York); Norm Frisch (Burbank)
Sam Lucas: JORDAN CHARNEY (1970-73)
Lahoma Vane Lucas: ANN WEDGEWORTH (1970-73)
Missy Palmer Matthews: CAROL ROUX (1970)
Jasper Delaney: RALPH CLANTON (1970)
Robert Delaney: NICOLAS COSTER (1970-72)
India Delaney: MARIE WALLACE (1970-72)
Peter Delaney: LEN GOCHMAN (1970-72)
Laura Delaney: DOROTHY STINNETTE (1970-73)
Jessica Buchanan Delaney: WYNNE MILLER (1970-72)
Ben Grant: EDWARD KEMMER (1970-74)
Ellen Grant: GEORGANN JOHNSON (1970-76)
David Grant: RON MARTIN (1970-74), TOM CALLAWAY (1975-76), PHILLIP McHALE (1976)
Jill Grant Farmer: SUSAN MacDONALD (1970-72; 74-76)
Rex Cooper: PAUL SPARER (1970-76)
Tony Cooper: DOUGLAS CHAPIN (1970--71), ERNEST THOMPSON (1972-74), BARRY JENNER (1974-76)
Pamela Davis: PAMELA TOLL (1970-71)
Gerald Davis: WALTER MATTHEWS (1970-71)
Marsha Davis:ALICE HIRSON (1970-71)
Ike Harding/Harry Wilson: FRED J. SCOLLAY (1970-71)
Sandy Buchanan: GARY SANDY (1970-72)
Dr. Stan Kurtz: MICHAEL LIPTON (1970-76)
Leo Kurtz: GEORGE COE (1971), GENE FANNING (1972-73)
Dr. Terri Martin Kurtz: GLORIA HOYE (1973-76)
Ginger Kurtz Cooper: MEG WITTNER (1972), RENNE JARRETT (1972-73), FAWNE HARRIMAN (1973-76)
Karen MacMillan:NANCY PINKERTON (1971)
Dannie Cotsworth:MELINDA PLANK (1971)
Julian Cannell: JOEL CROTHERS (1972-76)
Zoe Cannell: LOIS SMITH (1972-73)
Andrea Moore: HARRIET HALL (1972-74)
Dana Moore: CHRISTOPHER PENNOCK (1972-73)
Emily Moore Matson: LOIS KIBBEE (1972-73)
Philip Matson: FRANK SCHOFIELD (1972-73)
Carter Matson: JAY GREGORY (1972-73)
Rowena Standish:DORTHA DUCKWORTH (1972-73)
Chrystal Ames: DIAHN WILLIAMS (1972-73)
Virgil Paris: MARC ALAIMO (1973)
Bill Greeley: BILL HUNT (1973)
Sgt. Ruth Winter: HOLLAND TAYLOR (1973)
Doris Hiller: GRETCHEN WYLER (1973-74)
Judge Brad Bishop: ALAN GIFFORD (1972-74)
Eve Lawrence: BIBI BESCH (1973-76)
Heather Lawrence: AUDREY LANDERS (1974-76)
Dr. Jerry Kane: JAMES O'SULLIVAN (1974-76)
Greg Mercer: GARY SWANSON (1974-76)
Mark Mercer: STANLEY GROVER (1974)
Edith Mercer: JUDITH SEARLE (1974)
Kate Thornton Cannell: TINA SLOAN (1974-76)
Tom Conway: MICHAEL NOURI (1974), TED DANSON (1974-76)
Frieda Lang: POLLY ROWLES (1974)
Martin Nell: RAY FULMER (1974)
Stephanie Dillard Nell: MARY WORONOV (1974)
Hilda Benson: ELEANOR PHELPS (1974)
Dr. Warren Parker: BRUCE GRAY (1974)
Marian Parker: ELLEN BARBER (1974)
Becky Winkler:JANE ROSE (1974-75)
Victoria Paisley: VELEKA GRAY (1975-76)
Ned Paisley: JAMES CONGDON (1975-76)
Scott McKenzie: PETER MacLEAN (1975)
Skipper McKenzie:GLEN ZACHAR (1975)
Dorothy Conrad: JOAN BASSIE (1975)
Carrie Wheeler: JoBETH WILLIAMS (1975-76)
Jack Wheeler: BILL JOYCE (1975)
Frances Wheeler: MARCELLA MARTIN (1975)
Peter Goodwin: MARK LENARD (1975)
Lena Andrews: ABBY LEWIS (1975-76)
Dale Robinson: JAMESON PARKER (1975-76)
Lt. Will Price: EUGENE SMITH (1974-76)
Chris Kirby: TED LePLAT (1975-76)
Vic Kirby: JOE JULIAN (1975-76)
Bobby Hansen:MATTHEW GREENE (1975-76)
Lyling Sun: HELEN FUNAI (1976)
Mac Wells: LOU JACOBI (1976)
Steve Slade: GENE BUA (1976)
Avis Ryan: SIGOURNEY WEAVER (1976)
Sarah Briskin: MOLLY PICON (1975-76), CLARICE BLACKBURN (1976)
Dan Briskin: BERNIE GRANT (1976)
Rose Gammage: PAMELA KING (1976)
Brian Gammage: ROBERT FIELDS (1976)
Bernie Bailey: RICHARD BRIGHT (1976)
Luke MacKenzie: ROBERT BURR (1976)
Attorney Sam Lucas and wife Lahoma Vane Lucas moved to the small town of Somerset where Sam became the junior law partner of Ben Grant. Ben Grant's family consisted of wife Ellen and fraternal twins teenagers Jill and David. Ellen Grant's shrewd calculating sister India married Robert Delaney, an heir to Somerset's chief employer-- a cannery named Delaney Brands.
The patriarch of the Delaney family was cruel, domineering Jasper Delaney, whose three children (Robert, Peter, and Laura) had never been able to stand up to him. Because Delaney Brands was the major industry in Somerset, Jasper's actions affected most of the town's citizens. Robert and India had no children and a very unhappy marriage. Although not intentionally bad, India had a hunger for life and resorted to having affairs when the emasculated Robert refused to stand up to his father. Robert worked for his father at Delaney Brands, though it was brother-in-law Rex Cooper whom Jasper favored for controlling the business after his retirement. Jasper had arranged a marriage between Rex and Jasper's unhappy daughter Laura, who was even more affected by Jasper's cruelty than brother Robert. Rex and son Tony Cooper couldn't understand Laura's erratic behavior and morbid depression, but there was a good reason... Laura was hiding a terrible secret. Many years before, Laura had an affair with a man named Harry Wilson. Jasper discovered the affair and forced Harry to leave Somerset forever, unaware that Laura was carrying Harry's child...Tony! Keeping the secret of Tony's parentage had taken its toll on Laura, resulting in a life of secret alcoholism.
Sam Lucas' former brother-in-law and his family also resided in Somerset: Gerald Davis, wife Marsha, and daughter Pamela (Pammy). Pammy was attracted to the handsome, wealthy, and honest Tony Cooper, though Tony harbored a deep infatuation with Jill Grant. Meanwhile, Gerald ran the Riverboat nightclub. Gerald's employees included Jessica Buchanan, a beautiful lounge-singer, and the mysterious Ike Harding, whose dirty dealings were often at odds with the basically fair Gerald.
Somerset was suddenly rocked to its foundation when Jasper Delaney was found shot to death in the anteroom of his office at Delaney Brands. There were many possible suspects including: Robert, Peter, Laura, Rex, Tony, India, and Gerald. But, the murder weapon (Jasper's German luger) turned up with Robert's prints on it, and Robert was soon on trial for his father's murder. Ben Grant and Sam Lucas agreed to defend Robert, though an acquittal seemed unlikely. Then, in an unusual twist, Laura admitted that she had accidentally shot her father during a drunken confrontation. Things continued to look bleak for Delaney and Cooper families. However, all that changed one afternoon when Sam visited Somerset High School for a lecture. While waiting for his audience to arrive, Sam noticed the names of eight presidents on the chalkboard: Wilson, Truman, Harding, Eisenhower, Coolidge, Kennedy, Roosevelt, and Johnson. Killing time, Sam wrote the first names above the last names of the presidents. Suddenly, he circled the HARRY above Truman, the IKE above Eisenhower, the WILSON, and the HARDING. Sam wondered if Gerald's assistant Ike Harding might actually be Laura's former lover Harry Wilson. Sam investigated the theory and finally, in a confrontation, Ike admitted that he was indeed Harry Wilson. And not only that, he killed Jasper Delaney, too! After Laura shot her father and fled the scene, Ike arrived and smothered the still breathing Delaney to death with a pillow.
A stunned Laura, who didn't know that Harry had returned, became so hysterical that Rex feared for her safety and had her committed to a sanitarium. Meanwhile, son Tony, devastated at learning his true parentage, fled Somerset with Gerald's daughter Pammy. Robert, free from his father's dominance, divorced India and married nightclub singer Jessica Buchanan, with whom he'd fallen in love. Their happiness was short-lived. A pregnant Jessica died in a car accident, while Robert moved to nearby Bay City. Before Robert and brother Peter left Somerset, they sold Delaney Brands to businessman Leo Kurtz, whose brother Stan was a prominent doctor in Somerset. Unbeknownest to anyone, though, Leo was actually the front-man for a powerful criminal syndicate that wanted a foothold in Somerset.
Following the departure of Tony Cooper, Jill Grant turned her attention to Mitch Farmer, a troubled young man with a shady past. Despite the objections of parents Ben and Ellen, Jill married Mitch and left Somerset, too. Jill's twin brother David had problems of his own. David dated the spunky, but sickly Andrea Moore, whose oddball family consisted of icy mother Emily, despondent brother Dana, gold-digging stepfather Philip Matson, Philip's strange son Carter, neurotic daughter Zoe, Zoe's classical pianist husband Julian Cannell, and Emily's nutty Aunt Rowena. The wealthy Moore's and Matson's were very competitive and success-driven and every evening fierce backgammon matches were held in the family mansion. Meanwhile, Andrea became sicker and sicker, displaying unusual symptoms.
Emily called Dr. Stan Kurtz to consult on Andrea's case, but initially to no avail. As a child, Andrea had suffered a debilitating illness that kept her incapacitated much of the time. Andrea fondly remembered that brother Dana would dress as her favorite clown character Jingles and bring a joke every evening along with her medicine. Dr. Kurtz attempted to treat Andrea, but her illness continued to worsen. Then, in the middle of the night, Andrea started having terrifying visions of Jingles the clown lurking around the family mansion. Andrea assumed that the visions were some sort of surreal nightmare, but Dr. Kurtz discovered that Andrea was being poisoned with small doses of arsenic and theorized that the culprit was dressing as Jingles. The natural suspect was Dana, who had dressed as Jingles for Andrea in childhood. However, the terrifying clown was eventually revealed to be Emily's aunt Rowena. Rowena was hospitalized, but the poisoning continued. As it turned out, Rowena wished no ill will toward Andrea, though Julian's crazed wife Zoe did!
Insanely jealous, Zoe feared that Julian had fallen in love with Andrea and decided to eliminate any competition. With the poison plans foiled, Zoe invited Andrea and David to a secluded weekend retreat in the mountains. Zoe managed to get rid of David, then pulled a gun on Andrea. Back in Somerset, Zoe's brother Carter learned that Zoe had purchased a chemical containing arsenic at Delaney Brands. Carter hired a helicopter and raced to the mountains to save Andrea from his demented sister's clutches. Just as Zoe was about to kill Andrea, Carter burst through the door and was shot to death. Zoe was captured before she could do further harm to Andrea and was soon confined to a sanitarium for the criminally insane. Distressed by the deadly turn of events, Emily and Philip left Somerset with Andrea's brother Dana. Andrea purchased the town's failing newspaper The Somerset Register and discovered that she did indeed have feelings for Julian, whom she appointed managing editor. But, Julian in turn had fallen in love with Chrystal Ames, a secretary at Delaney Brands.
Julian wanted to use his new career as a tool for something good, and vowed to expose the criminal element that had infiltrated Somerset. Unfortunately, Julian had no idea that his new girlfriend Chrystal Ames was part of that criminal element. Chrystal, a former gun moll, was firmly ensconced as Sam Lucas' executive secretary at Delaney Brands. Sam, having left his law practice to run Delaney Brands, uncovered criminal infiltration after friend Rex Cooper was paralyzed in a suspicious accident at the plant. To have a hold over Sam, Leo Kurtz arranged for Chrystal to seduce Sam and threaten his marriage to Lahoma. Chrystal reluctantly went along with the scheme, but she secretly loved Julian.
Concurrently, Delaney Brands' newest plant manager-- ruthless, scheming Virgil Paris, became obsessed with Leo's daughter Ginger. Ginger married Tony Cooper, who returned to Somerset after the death of his mother Laura. One night, Virgil savagely raped the pregnant Ginger, who almost miscarried Tony's child. An enraged Leo found out and in retaliation ordered the Mob to bump off Virgil. Unfortunately, Ginger arrived shortly after the hit and was arrested for Virgil's murder. When it looked as if Ginger would be convicted, Leo stepped forward and admitted the truth about the Mob hit and his criminal activities at Delaney Brands. Leo was sent to prison, while Tony and Ginger sold their Somerset apartment and sought refuge at Whispering Beaches, a nearby suburb.
Fearing for his family's safety, Sam sent Lahoma and daughter Susannah away, planning to join them later. However, when the truth about Sam's affair with Chrystal came out, Lahoma realized that she couldn't forgive her husband's infidelity. Devastated, Sam decided to move back to Bay City alone. Meanwhile, Chrystal reformed and Julian forgave her for her past misdeeds. Unfortunately, disaster was waiting on the horizon. Julian's crazed wife Zoe managed to escape from the asylum and made her way back to Somerset. She eluded capture for weeks. One day, Andrea and Ginger were walking in the woods when a shot rang out. Ginger was struck by the bullet, but not seriously injured. The police suspected Zoe was the culprit still gunning for Andrea. However, a forensics report showed that the weapon had been the German luger used to shoot Jasper Delaney years earlier. In time, Laura confessed that it was she who shot Ginger, whom Laura thought wasn't good enough for son Tony. Distraught and embarrassed, Laura turned the gun on herself, committing suicide.
Meanwhile, Zoe was stalking Julian and Chrystal and realized that Chrystal was far more of a threat than Andrea Moore ever was. One night, Zoe caught Chrystal alone, gained entry to her apartment, and shot Chrystal to death in cold blood. Once again, Julian was left alone, while Zoe returned to the asylum.
Similarly, life for the Grant family was suddenly thrust into angst when Ellen Grant's father Judge Brad Bishop returned to Somerset with fiancee Eve Lawrence, a beautiful woman thirty years his junior. Both Ellen and Ben, as well as Eve's own daughter Heather, were violently opposed to the marriage. Further turmoil erupted from Mark Mercer, the new plant manager at Delaney Brands. Years before, Mark and Eve had been involved in a steamy love affair. Mark's possessive wife Edith saw Eve as a threat and began spreading vicious rumors about her around Somerset. Meanwhile, Mark and Edith's son Greg fell in love with Eve's daughter Heather. Likewise, Eve seemed strangely adamant about Heather's relationship with Greg, and for good reason. For years Eve had kept a shocking secret-- Heather was actually Mark Mercer's daughter! In order to keep them apart, Eve was forced to tell Greg and Heather that they were brother and sister. Heather reluctantly forgave Eve, but Judge Bishop couldn't and promptly left Somerset with grandson David Grant. Meanwhile, Mark and Edith Mercer decided to leave Somerset, too. Greg remained in Somerset as a reporter for The Register and learned to love Heather as his half-sister.
With the capture of Zoe Cannell and downfall of Leo Kurtz, life in Somerset seemed to be tranquil once again. But, that tranquility was just an illusion, for trouble was brewing nearby. Tony and Ginger Cooper, having settled in Whispering Beaches with infant son Joseph Rex, found a wonderful cottage in which to live. The cottage was owned by a wealthy, but eccentric, older woman named Hilda Benson who had an affinity for the occult. Hilda dealt with people based soley on their astrological birth charts, and took an instant liking to the young Coopers. Hilda felt a great deal of concern for Tony and Ginger after a palm reading indicated something terrible in their future. What Hilda didn't know was that she would unwittingly be the cause.
Hilda's scheming business manger Martin Nell and secretary Stephanie Dillard had secretly married and conspired to steal Hilda's fortune. Unbeknownest to Hilda, Martin added a codicil to Hilda's will which gave Tony Cooper an inordinately large inheritance. Next, Martin and Stephanie pilfered small amounts of money from Hilda, while plying Tony with alcohol. In time, it began to appear that Tony was a thieving alcoholic. Martin and Stephanie's demonic scheme reached a dramatic climax at the Somerset County Fair, where Hilda was reading palms. Stephanie managed to get a drunken Tony to the scene, while Martin stabbed Hilda in the back with a large carving knife. Heather Lawrence, happened by and found an unconscious Tony lying next to Hilda's body. Tony was arrested and placed on trial for Hilda's murder. Meanwhile, Martin and Stephanie were the wealthy new benefactors in Hilda's will. Things looked very bleak for Tony until attorney Ben Grant noticed something odd. Tony's fingerprints had been found on the weapon, but the prints were on the wrong side of the weapon for a left-handed person. Ben investigated and after learning of Martin and Stephanie's secret marriage, as well as the new codicil to Hilda's will, Martin and Stephanie were caught and arrested. Shortly afterward, Ben decided to visit daughter Jill and son-in-law Mitch Farmer in Italy. While vacationing, Ben and Mitch were both tragically killed in a car accident.
Andrea Moore, still trying to interest Julian Cannell in a romance, eventually realized Julian would never return her feelings and decided to move to Paris. Subsequntly, Andrea's seductive cousin Kate Thornton arrived in Somerset to oversee the business affairs of the Somerset Register. Kate was instantly attracted to Julian, but Julian had now fallen for Eve Lawrence. When Eve suddenly developed sexual frigidity and couldn't make love with him, Julian assumed that it was because Eve didn't really love him. Kate exploited the situation by seducing Julian with lusty sex every chance she got. While Julian and Kate were away on a business trip to Florida, Eve finally summoned the courage to tell Julian about her sexual dysfunction, but when Kate and Julian returned, Eve was devastated to learn that the two had been married.
Eve's daughter Heather was also involved in romantic intrigue of her own. One night Dr. Warren Parker, a new intern at Somerset Hospital, tried to force himself on Heather. Terrified, she ran out into the rainy night and suffered a breakdown. Heather was found by handsome stranger Jerry Kane, who nursed her back to health at his secluded cabin. Jerry possessed too much medical knowledge for the average layman, and in time, it was discovered that Jerry had turned away from a successful medical career in New York when he failed to save the life of his fiance, who had been shot. Tormented with guilt, Jerry seriously doubted his abilities as a doctor. All of that changed when Jerry was called to treat Skipper McKenzie, a young heart patient. Jerry succesfully performed complicated open-heart surgery on Skipper's heart and regained confidence. Jerry and Heather fell in love and married. Meanwhile, Eve tried to forget Julian by dating Ned Paisley, the wealthy owner of Paisley's Department Store. Ned and Eve fell in love, and Eve happily accepted Ned's marriage proposal.
Suddenly, Heather began to receive threatening, anonymous letters and became the recipient of frightening pranks. However, the mysterious stalker soon segued into more dangerous games. One night, intending to kill her, the stalker punctured the brake cylinder on Heather's car, but it was Eve who drove the car and nearly died in the inevitable crash. Ned rushed to Eve's side, but was horrified to hear her calling Julian's name while delirious. After Eve recovered, Ned kept what he had heard to himself and began to seriously doubt Eve's love for him. Eventually his coldness turned to resentment, and he cancelled the engagement. Meanwhile, the police scrambled to find Heather's assailant.
The chief suspect was Heather's husband Jerry, since the stalker obviously had intimate knowledge of Heather's activities and personal habits. The case against Jerry was strenghthened when Heather was nearly shot to death at Jerry's cabin, which had been bugged with electronic surveillance equipment. However, the assailant actually turned out to be Jerry's psychotic ex-wife Dorothy Conrad. In New York, Dorothy had lost her mind after Jerry divorced her, and it was she who had murdered Jerry's late fiancee Wendy. After learning that Dorothy had escaped from the sanitarium, Jerry raced to warn Heather, but it was too late. Dorothy broke into Heather and Jerry's apartment and held Heather at gunpoint. Insane with jealousy, Dorothy gleefully tormented her victim, vowing to assassinate Heather for "stealing" Jerry. Suddenly, Jerry arrived, broke down the door, and was shot while struggling over the gun with Dorothy. The police arrested Dorothy, who was returned to the asylum, while Jerry recovered from the gunshot wound.
Several lives in Somerset were affected by the arrival of Ned Paisley's spoiled sister Victoria, an amoral schemer and dynamic manipulator. The primary target of "Vicky's" manipulations was Kate Cannell, whom Vicky loathed instantly. Vicky decided to steal Kate's husband Julian, who was getting close to Eve Lawrence once again. Eve, lonely and depressed about Ned's rejection, drowned her sorrows in alcohol and constantly cried on Julian's shoulder. Vicky convinced brother Ned that Eve really did love him. Meanwhile, Eve was preparing to leave Somerset forever. Ned and Heather began a frantic race- against- the- clock to reach the airport on time and stop Eve from leaving. They arrived just as Eve's plane was ready to taxi down the runway. Ned stopped the plane and begged a flabbergasted Eve to marry him. She agreed, and the two wed in a lavish ceremony at Ned's country estate Charlevoix.
Meanwhile, Kate accidentally got pregnant. Already fearful of losing Julian to Eve, Kate decided to get an abortion rather than risk not being able to keep Julian happy with lusty sex. With the assistance of fellow schemer attorney Tom Conway, Kate underwent an abortion in New York City then told a devastated Julian that she'd miscarried while worrying about whether or not he was having an affair with Eve! Guilty, Julian decided to indulge Kate's every whim. Unfortunately for Kate, Vicky wasn't impressed with Kate's "loss". Vicky had seen Tom and Kate having a tete-a-tete at the airport, and she soon discovered the truth about Kate's trip. Vicky told Julian, who had a violent altercation with Tom and got him to confess the truth. Furious, Julian railed at Kate for all of her deceptions and vowed to get a divorce. He ran back to Eve, but she no longer felt any love for him. Ned, now assured of Eve's devotion, whisked his bride away to a happy new life on the island of St. Thomas. Vicky gained control of Paisley Department Store and happily planned to finally get her hooks into the despondent Julian.
With the arrival of reporter Carrie Wheeler, The Somerset Register was now the focus of romantic and criminal intrigue in Somerset. Carrie and fellow reporter Greg Mercer instantly disliked one another and constantly vied for the best stories and one-upmanship in the office. All of that changed, however, with the death of Carrie's mother Frances Wheeler, an invalid who had been paralyzed many years before in a mysterious car accident. Carrie blamed her father Jack, who had been driving the day of the accident, and the two had never gotten over their estrangement. When Jack saw Carrie at her mother's funeral, he followed Carrie back to Somerset, hoping for a reconciliation. Although Greg urged her to forgive her dad, Carrie steadfastly refused. Jack, meanwhile, met and fell in love with Jill Grant Farmer, who had also returned to Somerset following the deaths of her husband and father. Jack confessed to Jill that he had not been driving the day Frances had her accident.
In reality, Frances was an amoral slut who was trying to run away with her lover Peter Goodwin when the car crash occurred. Jack, wanting to avoid scandal and save the reputation of his daughter's mother, lied about driving the car and paid Peter Goodwin to leave town. Lena Andrews, Frances Wheeler's mother, knew the truth and convinced Jack to tell Carrie. He did, but Carrie didn't believe him. Finally, Carrie tracked down Peter Goodwin, who lived nearby, and Peter substantiated Jack's story. A relieved and remorseful Carrie begged her father to forgive her. Jack happily accepted his daughter back into his life. Jack's sudden devotion to Carrie frightened Jill, though, and fearing that Carrie was more important to Jack, Jill decided to end their romance. Lena went to Jill and convinced her that Jack not only loved her, but planned to marry her as well. Jill rushed back to Jack, but it was too late. Jack had been murdered by a serial killer who was now terrorzing the residents of Somerset.
Devastated over the loss of Jack, Jill moved to Hong Kong to live with her brother David. Jill's mother Ellen still grief-stricken and lonely over the death of husband Ben, met a mysterious, blonde haired stranger named Dale Robinson. Dale, very young and very attractive, soon fell into a passionate love affair with the much-older Ellen. Meanwhile, the murders in Somerset continued. Sarah Briskin, Ned Paisley's former housekeeper, told Lt. Will Price that she had been attacked by the deranged killer-- a young, blonde-haired man who looked exactly like Dale Robinson. Sarah saw Dale at Somerset Hospital and fingered him as the killer. Lt. Price investigated, and after learning that the antique coin Dale had given to Ellen for Christmas actually belonged to Jack Wheeler, Dale was arrested and charged with murder.
Dale insisted that he bought the coin from a student at Somerset University, but the police didn't believe him. Meanwhile, Jerry Kane's friend Vic Kirby was delighted when estranged son Chris returned to Somerset after a long absence. Vic's delight quickly turned to horror when Chris confessed that he was the killer who had been terrorizing Somerset. The anger between father and son in childhood had taken its toll on Chris, who internalized the pain and became violent. Vic vowed to stand by Chris. Sarah Brisken cleared Dale in a police lineup, while Chris surrendered himself to the police. However, all of the events seriously damaged Dale and Ellen's relationship. Realizing that Dale would be better off without her, Ellen gently broke off the affair.
Kate Cannell, having lost husband Julian after her abortion was exposed, sought revenge on Julian by firing him at the Register. Kate appointed young Greg Mercer to the editor's position, incurring Carrie Wheeler's jealousy. However, the anger against Julian and problems at the newspaper slowly built until the pressure was too much for Kate to bear, and she slashed her wrists in a suicide attempt. Dr. Terri Kurtz, Kate's psychiatrist, recommended commitment, and Julian agreed. With Kate out of the way, the Somerset Register was soon purchased by Dan Brisken, the wealthy son of Sarah Brisken. Dan restored Julian to the editor's position, while Greg happily investigated a series of deadly fires that plagued the Treemont section of Somerset.
Getting no where with Julian, Vicky Paisley decided to start a steamy affair with Tony Cooper, who had been appointed manager of Paisley Department Store. Tony, jealous of Ginger's growing attachment to Julian after Kate's commitment, was only too happy to comply. But, in time, the stress of a secret affair took its toll on Tony, who suffered chest pains. One day, Tony had a heart attack at Vicky's apartment after a quarrel with Ginger. Vicky rushed Tony to the hospital, but Ginger arrived and discovered Tony's affair. Tony recovered, but decided to leave Ginger, even though Ginger wanted a reconciliation for their son's sake. In time, Ginger and Tony reconciled and moved to California with Tony's father Rex.
Investigating the Treemont arsons, Greg Mercer uncovered information that implicated two men: David Gammage and Bernie Bailey. After Gammage was found barely alive inside a burned building, Greg wrote a story which suggested that Bernie Bailey double-crossed Gammage and left him to die in the fire as a decoy for the real crime. Shortly afterward, Greg received anonymous threats against his life. Lt. Price realized that Greg was in serious danger and ordered police protection. Meanwhile, both Dan and Julian felt responsibility for running the story in the Register. Carrie-- now in love with Greg and fearing for his life-- professed her true feelings to him. Greg and Carrie decided to marry, but it was not to be. The head of the arson ring stationed an assassin outside Greg's apartment, and when Greg answered his telephone, a shot was fired--killing him instantly!
Shortly after Greg's death, Gammage awakened in the hospital. Carrie taped Gammage's story in front of Gammage's wife Rose and Nurse Fellowes, the duty nurse. However, Gammage died and Nurse Fellowes was found murdered before the arson trial against Bailey began. Steve Slade, a new reporter hired by Julian to replace Greg, suspected that Carrie might be in danger, as she was one of the few witnesses to Gammage's deathbed confession. Steve's suspcions seemed true when Carrie's apartment was found to be bugged, and mysterious threats were made against her life.
Steve and Julian speculated that Carrie might have inadvertently possessed evidence that would expose the syndicate's "Mr. Big". Although Carrie insisted that there was nothing incriminating in Greg's papers, someone was determined to keep her quiet. First, a hit-and-run driver attempted to run down Carrie, then another assassin took a shot at Steve in Carrie's hallway. The attempts on Carrie's life reach an apex when a pregnant Heather Kane, visiting Carrie, was shoved down a flight of stairs by a hired killer and miscarried her unborn baby.
Fearful for Carrie's safety, Lena Andrews stepped forward to admit that she had taken Greg's notebooks after his death to protect granddaughter Carrie. Steve and Carrie uncovered several clues from Greg's notes, including something about an "iron man" and a "music box". The case against the arson ring appeared further weakened after an explosion in the DA's office destroyed Carrie's tapes of the Gammage confession. Meanwhile, attorney Tom Conway assured associate Fred Harrington that everything would work out for them as Tom had a "friend" in the DA's office.
Julian and Steve vowed to uncover "Mr. Big". As part of the plan, Steve pretended to be fired from the Register, and in retaliation, got himself hired into Mr. Big's organization by thug Joe Castor. After proving himself loyal, Steve learned from Castor that the "iron man" had ordered a hit on Julian, who was causing too much publicity for the Organization in the newspaper. Castor then warned Steve that he was in danger. Steve insisted on pleading his loyalty to Mr. Big, and Castor arranged a one-sided telephone conversation. While speaking to the silent boss, Steve heard the sound of a music box in the background, which was actually a chiming clock in "iron man" Fred Harrington's office! Afterward, Fred ordered Castor to not kill Steve, but plans for Julian's assassination continued.
Dan Brisken, Julian's publisher, begged Julian to give up his obsession with cracking the arson ring, as Julian would most certainly be killed. Concurrently, Castor devised a plan that would take care of both Julian and Steve. Cleverly arranging to get Steve's prints on a gun, Castor planned to murder Julian and frame Steve for the crime. But, the plan backfired. A sympathetic member of the organization warned Steve, who unable to contact Julian, rushed to stop Julian's murder. Steve took the bullet for Julian, and was rushed into surgery.
Julian, who by now had succumbed to Vicky's charms and became her lover, confided the clues about Mr. Big to Vicky. Vicky realized that Fred Harrington not only had an iron-plate in his arm from a skiing accident, but also took great pride in an antique chiming clock in his office. Julian suddenly realized that Fred Harrington was Castor's boss. Julian informed Lt. Price, who issued an arrest warrant for Harrington's capture. Before Harrington could be arrested, he visited with his own boss--the real Mr. Big...Julian's publisher Dan Brisken! Fearing that the police were closing in, Brisken suddenly shot and killed Harrington. By chance, Julian stopped by Dan's office to discuss Harrington, whom Julian knew had once been Dan's friend. While there, Julian answered Dan's phone and was astonished to hear Joe Castor's voice, asking to speak with "the boss". Dan reluctantly confessed his part in Harrington's murder and the criminal infiltration of Somerset, then gleefully informed Julian that no one could prove it. At that moment, Lt. Price stepped into the room, and having overheard Dan's confession, placed him under arrest.
With Brisken captured and the arson ring convicted, Steve recovered from his gunshot wounds and proposed marriage to Carrie, who happily accepted. Julian, seeing the better side of Vicky, realized that she might be a good mate for him after all. Heather and Jerry arrived at Somerset Hospital to announce Heather's pregnancy to Julian and Vicky and Steve and Carrie. As lovers and friends gathered in Steve's hospital room on New Year's Eve, life in Somerset seemed happy and tranquil at last.
