Episode Guide – Season Eight

161. Just Disappeared (1)

gs: Paul Napier (Senator Henderson) Robert Ito (Yoshio Shinno) Doug Savant (Young Mack MacKenzie) Joshua Devane (Young Greg Sumner) Steve Gianelli (Young Phil Harbet) Nicolette Sheridan (Young Anne Winston) Patrick Cronin (Marty Sweeney) J.J. Barry (Ed Falco) Hoke Howell (Groundskeeper) Greg Finley (Plain Clothes Detective) Don Nardini (Officer #1)

Karen’s kidnapper, Phil Harbert, brings her to a guestroom in his home. He’s laden it with food and new clothes for Karen, telling her he wants her to be comfortable. He tells Karen she hasn’t been kidnapped, she’s just disappeared. Greg uses the cleanup of Empire Valley as publicity for Peter. Greg tells him that he won’t really clean it up until Lotus Point goes bankrupt. Peter tells Jill, who tells Gary.Val is overjoyed when Ben comes home. Later Ben receives a note from his old friend Jean Hackney to meet her. He goes to her boutique, which is a cover from underground activities. She asks him to spy on Greg, and kisses him. He tells her he no longer can do either activity.

Flashback Scene: Young Mac, Greg and Phil go to the Matheson’s, only to find out they’ve gone to their summer residence. Mac is upset because he didn’t get to say goodbye to Anne.

b: 18-Sep-1986 pc: 175301 w: Bernard Lechowick d: Joseph Scanlan

NOTE: As the 1986-1987 season begins, Karen is kidnapped by Phil harbet, who makes his first appearance here, and Paige Matheson graces her appearance at the Mackenzie home. Ben meets an old friend of his named Jean Hackney, who makes her first appearance in this episode. In the next few episodes, we will take a look at Mack’s past, which also involves Greg, Phil, and Anne Matheson (who we will meet as the season goes on), who is interesting played in the flashbacks by Nicollette Sheridan.

162. Distant Echoes (2)

gs: Robert Ito (Yoshio Shinno) Tammy Kaitz (Julie) Alan McRae (Director) Lynn O’Brien (Young Mother) Ken Shell (Man) Albert Owens (Construction Manager) Doug Savant (Young Mack Mackenzie) Joshua Devane (Young Greg Sumner) Steve Gianelli (Young Phil Harbet) Nicolette Sheridan (Young Anne Winston) Ken Snell (Business Man)

Phil makes Karen cut her hair because he likes short hair better.Ben refuses to spy for Jean. The arsenic levels at Lotus Point are rising. Gary decides to run for the senate himself, against Peter. He thinks that this will pressure Greg to really clean up Empire Valley. Jill agrees to be Gary’s campaign manager, and this angers Peter. Jill tells Peter that only Gary is important to her now. Mac breaks down to Val over Karen, and Val comforts him.

Flashback Scene: Mac, Phil and Greg see Anne on a train, but Mac is afraid to approach her. Greg speaks with her, and she slaps him. Mac apologizes to Anne, and she agrees to go out with him. He falls asleep by her pool while waiting for her to get ready on their first date.

b: 18-Sep-1986 pc: 175302 w: Diana Kopald Marcus d: Nick Havinga

NOTE: Karen is forced to have short hair, which explains her new hairdo for the season.

163. Reunion

gs: Paul Napier (Senator Henderson) Robert Ito (Yoshio Shinno) Tammy Kaitz (Julie) Earl Boen (Contact) Gerald Berns (Columnist) Catherine MacNeal (Stringer) Constance Cawlfield (Receptionist) Steve Giannelli (Phil Harbert)
Jean calls Ben and he tells her never to call him at home. Ben poses Val a hypothetical question: Should he do a report on a man who was once in a subversive group that bombed a building, but had gotten out and was now a responsible man with a family? Val says no, as it would hurt his family. Abby shows up at a speech that Gary gives, and tells Jill that she will be with Gary morning, noon and night. However, she gives Peter copies of Gary’s speeches and schedule. Phil tells Karen that he wants Mac to feel what it’s like not to know where his wife is. Phil says that Mac sent him to jail and he didn’t know what was happening to his wife, and then she died. He says he’ll let Karen go in a year. Greg decides to really clean up Empire Valley. Phil stops by to see Greg. Greg excitedly tells Laura that he’s a good friend from law school.
b: 25-Sep-1986 pc: 175303 w: Lynn Marie Latham d: Joseph Scanlan

NOTE: Phil explains the reason why he kidnapped Karen in this episode.

164. Past Tense

gs: Tammy Kaitz (Julie) Muriel Minot (Moderator) Morgan Lofting (Mrs. Whitehead) Milton Murrill (Mr. Teller) Doug Savant (Young Mack Mackenzie) Joshua Devane (Young Greg) Steve Gianelli (Young Phil) Nicolette Sheridan (Young Anne) Patrick Cronin (Marty Sweeney) Paul Linke (Tapper Shell)
Flashback Scene: Mac tells Phil that the firm he is working for is involved with the mob, but Phil says he has a wife to support. Later Phil is indicted, and asks Mac to lie on the stand, but Mac says he can’t.

The polls begin to shift in Gary’s favor. Peter decides to use married Gary’s affair with Jill against him, although they’ve decided to hold off until after the election. Mac has a phony story released that they found the kidnapper’s fingerprints and know who he is. This makes Phil very nervous, and Greg figures out that he is the kidnapper. Greg confronts him and gives him one day to undo the situation. Phil pours gasoline all over the house and lights a match. As the house starts to go up in flames, Karen discovers a trap door to the attic.

b: 02-Oct-1986 pc: 175304 w: Sandra Smith Allyn d: Nick Havinga

165. Slow Burn

gs: Morgan Lofting (Mrs. Whitehead) Milton Murrill (Mr. Teller) Tina Lifford (Tina)
News of Gary and Jill’s affair hits the papers. Abby’s furious, and has a little talk with Peter. At a debate, Peter makes it clear that Gary’s personal life is not an issue. Gary and Jill resume their affair. Greg has Phil’s license plate traced to an address in Dillon, CA, and drives there. Jean keeps trying to call Ben, and he keeps hanging up on her. Karen escapes the burning house. Phil sees her on the road and tries to run her down. She escapes into the woods and eventually comes across a vacant house. She breaks in, but Phil finds her. She throws a bucket of ammonia in his face and runs out back to the barn. He is breaking down the barn door when Greg shows up and stops him. Greg says he’ll let him go for old times sake, as long as he goes back east and never gets involved in their lives again. Karen is confused when she hears 2 cars leave. Police tell Mac they received a tip about where Karen is. Mac and Karen run into each other’s arms, and he brings her home.
b: 09-Oct-1986 pc: 175305 w: Joel J. Feigenbaum d: David Jacobs

NOTE: Peter tries to use Gary and Jill’s affair to ruin Gary’s campaign, with no luck. Mac finally finds Karen as Phil tries to kill her.

166. For Appearance’s Sake

gs: Gerard David, Jr. (Police Officer) Bill Morey (Matthew Pierce) Morgan Lofting (Mrs. Whitehead) Bennett Guillroy (Counsellor) Terrence Guillroy (Moderator) Milton Murrill (Mr. Teller) Christopher Carroll (Analyst) Chuck Lindsly (Mechanic) Nick DeMauro (Vender) Gerald David (Police Officer) Roger Scott (Randy, the florist) Mary McKuen (Receptionist) Patrick Cronin (Marty Sweeney) Tina Lifford (Tina) Greg Norberg (CHP Officer Joe Broido)
Abby and kids move back to the ranch to help out Gary’s family image. Gary catches Abby in bed with Peter, but doesn’t care. Olivia smokes pot and is suspended from school and steals Abby’s car. She’s is in a minor accident and picked up for driving without a license. Gary gets her, and misses a debate. Mac tells Karen about Paige and they invite her to dinner. Roses are delivered from Phil with a card that says “You won’t get away next time.” Greg changes his tires and gives Phil’s name to police, saying he recognized him from the police sketch. They show his picture to Karen, who ID’s him. Mac is shocked. Seeing his picture on TV, Phil shows up at Greg’s office and says that police think 2 people were in on the kidnapping, and he’ll tell police that Greg hired him unless he will help him get out of the country.
b: 16-Oct-1986 pc: 175306 w: Bernard Lechowick d: Joseph Scanlan

NOTE: Abby moves back to the ranch. Olivia’s back on drugs as she gets in serious trouble.

167. All Over But the Shouting

gs: Iona Morris (Reporter) Scott Jones (Pizza Delivery Boy) Roger Nolan (Reporter #2) Patrick Cronin (Marty Sweeney)
Mac thinks Greg has something to do with Karen’s kidnapping. Greg puts Phil up in a motel until he can make arrangements to send him to Hong Kong. They agree to meet the next morning. Phil orders a pizza. The delivery boy recognized Phil from TV and calls Mac. Michael is uncomfortable with his attraction to Paige, but they begin to kiss. Jean introduces herself to Val as an old college friend of Ben’s, and Val invites her to dinner. Ben tells Jean to leave him alone or he’ll expose her on TV. While grocery shopping, Ben loses Bobby and later finds him with Jean. Scared, he goes along with her and supports Peter on TV. Abby is furious, but tells Peter it was her idea. Peter wins the election.
b: 23-Oct-1986 pc: 175307 w: Dianne Messina and Lou Messina d: Robert Becker

NOTE: Michael and Paige have a little something going on between them, and Ben is terrorized constantly by Jean.

168. Pressure Points

gs: Milt Oberman (Doctor) Michael Griswold (Pharmacist) Nova Ball (Young Woman) Charles Walker (Servant) Gary Hays (Teen)
Police go to Phil’s motel, but he’s across the street, and people yell to the police where he is. Phil runs into the street, and is hit by a car. At the hospital, Phil tells Mac that Greg was behind the kidnapping, but Mac knows he’s lying. Phil dies.Peter is upset with Sylvia’s drinking, because she talks too much. Sylvia says she wants Peter to get money from Abby for her, or she will tell a tabloid the truth, because she doesn’t care who pays her as long as she gets money.Lotus Point has a grand re-opening. Paige spots Peter, and is definitely interested in him. Sylvia makes a drunken spectacle of herself. She has a “spell” and asks Peter to pick up a refill of her prescription. The pharmacist tells Peter that if Sylvia takes too many pills, it will cause cardiac arrest so Peter purposely gives her too many. Both Greg and Abby pressure Peter to join certain committees, but he stands up to each of them and refuses.
b: 30-Oct-1986 pc: 175308 w: Dianne Messina and Lou Messina d: Nick Havinga

NOTE: Phil dies in this episode. Lotus Point re-opens, and Paige meets Peter for the first time.

169. Brothers and Mothers (a.k.a.) Brotherly Love and Family Business

gs: Nick Benedict (Man) Michael Griswald (Pharmacist) James Hoyt-Kelly (Driver)
Peter continues to add extra pills to Sylvia’s medical dish. Peter tells pharmacist he needs more pills because Sylvia dropped them down the sink. Then Peter feels guilty and flushes the extra pills. A studio options “Capricorn Crude” and wants Val to write the script. Eric walks in on Michael and Paige sleeping together. He’s furious about what that would do to Mac and Karen. He and Michael have a physical fight, and trash the room, but won’t tell Karen what it’s about. Paige can’t pay her hotel bill and moves in with the MacKenzies. The hotel calls and says Paige’s check bounced, and Karen wonders why she pretends to have a lot of money. Ben tells Val he doesn’t like Jean and not to be friends with her. Jean tells her lover that Ben’s real assignment is to kill Greg.
b: 06-Nov-1986 pc: 175309 w: Diana Kopald Marcus d: Robert Becker

NOTE: Eric catches Michael and Paige getting it on. Peter tries to slowly kill Sylvia when she says that she will out him with the truth about the election.
This episode name is actually “Brothers and Mothers”.

170. Over the Edge

gs: Kevin McBride (Dan Miller) Pamela Roylance (Cheryl Miller) Brian Sheehan (Joel Miller) Don Bruner (Servant) James Ralston (Jeweler)
Jean scratches Greg’s car in order to meet him, and later comes on to him. Mac tells Paige he can come to her if she needs money. Paige pawns some jewelry. Peter can’t find Sylvia, and calls Jill over to Sylvia’s. Peter tells Jill about the pills, and she’s angry that he’s gone too far. Ben, who was going to interview Sylvia, stops by and is suspicious about Jill being there. Sylvia shows up at the ranch telling Abby that Peter tried to kill her. Peter denies it, but Sylvia says she’s staying at the ranch until Abby finds her new accommodation. Gary and Abby sleep together, but he tells her that sex isn’t enough anymore. Jill won’t tell Gary what her relationship to Peter is, so he gives her an ultimatum. Jill tells Peter that she’s going to
tell Gary he’s her brother, and Peter flips out. They argue, and Jill accidentally falls over the side of a cliff.
b: 13-Nov-1986 pc: 175310 w: Lynn Marie Latham d: Nick Havinga

NOTE: Jill threatens to tell Gary that Peter is her brother, and she falls off a cliff while arguing with Peter.
This episode marks Knots Landing moving to it’s comfortable 10pm timeslot on Thursday Nights on CBS it will stay at this time threw the series run.

171. A Turn of Events

gs: Louis R. Plante (Servant) Brick Tilley (Man) Robert Balderson (Lawyer) Gene Keller (Patient #1) Marylin Bradfield (Patient #2) Lillian Lehman (Nurse #1) Karen Huie (Nurse #2) Walter Coy (Delivery Man) Brent Hinkley (Domestic) Sara Lee Wade (Woman) Richard Finefrock (Waiter) Walter Cox (Delivery Man) Marilyn Bradfield (Resident #2)
Abby suggests Sylvia have an attorney draw up a letter with the truth about Peter, to be released to the public if anything happens to her. The attorney then gives the letter to Abby. Sylvia gives another copy to Olivia. Karen walks in on Michael and Paige cuddled up asleep, and tells Mac that they’re sleeping together. Ben and Mac try to figure out the link between Peter, Jill, Abby and Sylvia.After Jill falls off cliff, Peter calls 911. At the hospital, Gary apologizes to Jill for his ultimatum. Peter tells Mac and Ben he used to date Jill, but now they’re good friends. Gary tells Abby that he loves Jill. Something goes wrong, and a code blue is called for Jill. Abby and Gary overhear a Doctor saying that Jill is pregnant. Jean tells Ben to report that Peter was seen with Jill before the accident. Another man tells Ben he saw Jill fall off the cliff and that Peter was with her.
b: 20-Nov-1986 pc: 175311 w: Lawrence Kasha & Michael Filerman d: Kate Swofford Tilley

NOTE: Gary reveals to Abby that he loves Jill. It turns out that Jill was pregnant when she was knocked from the edge! Karen discovers the truth about Michael and Paige in this episode. (At least she knows what Eric and Michael were fighting about in Episode 169.)

172. Touch and Go

gs: Larry Cox (Bradley) Lillian Lehman (Night Nurse) Kevin McBride (Dan Miller) Karen Hue (Day Nurse) Brick Tilley (Producer) Ricardo Guttierez (Police Officer) Doug Savant (Young Mack MacMenzie) Nicolette Sheridan (Young Anne) Karen Huie (Nurse) Brick Tilley (Eyewitness)
Mac and Karen confront Paige and Michael separately. Paige agrees to stop the affair, but Michael maintains they are in love. Sylvia tells Peter about the letter she gave to her attorney. The producer tells Val that they need the first draft of her script in a few days, so she hires a personal secretary. Ben is afraid he has ties to Jean. Jean tells Ben that if they bury Peter in the media, she’ll get out of his life. Ben and Mac question the witness, Paul Kelly. They find holes in his story and Ben figures he is working for Jean and confronts her. Greg thinks someone is trying to ruin Peter’s career, and tells Peter that he and Jill’s story better match when she wakes up. Jill loses the baby. Jill wakes up and Gary is mad that she requests to see Peter instead of him.
b: 27-Nov-1986 pc: 175312 w: Joel Okmin & Tom Citrano d: Lorraine Senna Ferrara

173. The Inside Man

gs: Larry Cox (Bradley Rothman) Kevin McBride (Dan Miller) Kelly Ames (Camarade) Catherine MacNeal (Reporter) Kyra Stempel (Classmate #1)
Greg makes out a will for Peter with him as the beneficiary. Abby brings Sylvia to stay with the Sumners. Jill tells Peter that she’ll cover for him, but their relationship is over. Paige reject Michael and he takes it out on Karen. Paige agrees to go to a movie with him as “friends”, but stands him up when Peter asks her out. Peter cancels a date with Abby to meet Paige. Jean gives Ben cash for his “services”. Lilimae finds it while doing laundry and show Val. Ben tells her it’s the office pool. Val’s worried about Ben’s strange behavior. Greg offers Ben a job. He doesn’t want to take it, but does when Jean threatens his family. Karen finds a letter that Anne wrote to Mac about Paige’s birth, but they suspect Paige wrote it herself, and wonder if she’s lying about anything else. In a cemetery, there is a tombstone that says “Paige Matheson, 1967-1985.”
b: 04-Dec-1986 pc: 175313 w: Linda Salzman d: Paul Tucker

NOTE: Mac finds a tombstone in a cemetary that states that Paige died in 1985, which turns out not to be true since she faked her death.
Ruth Roman (Sylvia Lean) departs the cast and makes her final appearence on the show.

174. Gifts

gs: Nick Benedict (Contact) Frank Birney (Winston Domestic) Paula Marchese (Woman) Jasmine Gagnier (Receptionist) Doug Savant (Young Mack Mackenzie) Joshua Devane (Young Greg)
Ben gives Abby his resignation. Greg tells him his job is to keep Peter’s nose clean. Peter tells Ben that he is not Greg’s puppet. Jean’s lover asks her what Ben will do if he finds that she is no longer with the CIA. Michael is jealous when he sees Paige fawning over Peter at the Lotus Point Christmas Party and at the mall. He blames Karen. Abby shows up at Peter’s nude under a Fur Coat. Karen leaves a message for Paige’s grandparents, the Winstons. When Karen tells Paige, she flips out and says her grandparents hate her because they hated Mac. Mr. Winston calls Karen and says that she’s sick, because Paige is dead. Laura tells Greg she is pregnant, and he’s not happy. Olivia buys some drugs, and then Abby and Gary give her a sports car for Christmas. Olivia takes Lilimae for a ride, and they get into an accident.
b: 11-Dec-1986 pc: 175314 w: Bernard Lechowick d: Nicholas Sgarro

NOTE: This Christmas is very eventful: Abby sleeps with Peter, but not before Paige flirts with him; Mack finds out that Anne is alive and well; Olivia is more involved in drugs and gets Lilimae into an accident in her brand new sports car(Ouch); and Laura is pregnant, but Greg is not happy about that.

175. Truth Will Out

gs: Marina Ferrier (Mrs. Winston) Virgil Wilson (Librarian) Doug Savant (Young Mack Mackenzie) Joshua Devane (Young Greg) Robert MacNair (Butler) Virgil Wilson (Librarian)
Gary goes to Jill’s to get her some clothes. He sees her yearbook where her name is Dorothy Simpkins, and pictures of Peter that are signed “for my sis.” Home, Jill asks Gary to marry her, but he says he needs to get to know her better. Lilimae gives Abby a packet of cocaine she found in Olivia’s car. Abby searches Olivia’s room as Olivia is in the barn snorting coke. Abby follows Olivia and sees her buying drugs. Abby grabs her purse and dumps out the drugs. Greg wants Laura to have an abortion. Paige tells Mac and Karen that she faked her death to get away from her grandparents. They are not sure if they believe her. Karen researches and finds an obituary saying Paige died in a boating accident. Mac decides to call the Winston’s, and Mr. Winston tells him to stop calling because it upsets Anne. Mac is surprised to hear that Anne is alive.
b: 18-Dec-1986 pc: 175315 w: Scott Hamner d: Timma Ramon

NOTE: Yes, Anne is alive and well, and it seems that Mr. and Mrs. Winston has a hatred for Paige because of Mack. Abby finds out that Olivia is indeed buying drugs and decides to get rid of them, unknowing that Olivia is out back in the barn getting high on drugs she had hidden there!

176. The Unraveling

gs: Joy Claussen (Miss Todd) Dennis Haysbert (Police Officer) Dave Adams (Vender) Dana Ashbrook (Teen) Judith Jones (Teen) Jody Carter (Secretary) Betty Muramoto (Bank Director) Doug Savant (Young Mack Mackenzie) Nicolette Sheridan (Young Anne)
Mr. Winston flies into town and confirms that Paige really is his granddaughter. Paige is upset to see him. Karen convinces Mac he needs to fly to New York and tell Anne that Paige is alive. Paige cooks a romantic dinner for Peter.Jill admits to Gary that Peter is her brother. Gary thinks she means she is Galveston’s daughter. Gary asks Jill to marry him. Abby demands Olivia give her all of her drug paraphernalia, but Olivia gives her baking soda. Gary invites her to AA, but Olivia refuses. Gary tells Abby they’ll have to wait until she hits bottom. Abby finds out that Olivia has drained her and Brian’s bank account, has been skipping school, is failing all of her classes, and didn’t pay her tuition. Out of money, Olivia decides to sell drugs, and her dealer hits her when she uses them instead. Abby takes Olivia’s house and car keys and puts her under house arrest.
b: 01-Jan-1987 pc: 175316 w: Lou Messina & Dianne Messina d: Nicholas Sgarro

NOTE: Olivia is ruining her life, her education, and finances in this episode, and this causes Abby to place her on house arrest.

177. No Miracle Worker

gs: Frank Birney (Winston’s Domestic) Dana Ashbrook (Teen) Randy Crowder (Installer)
Mac flies to New York to see Anne. Under house arrest, Olivia sneaks out and does drugs in the barn. Olivia locks herself in the bathroom, so Abby chops the door down and finds drugs which Olivia tried to flush. Olivia makes calls, and tells Brian that her friends will bring her homework to his school. Abby catches Olivia stealing money from her purse, and they fight. Olivia trashes Abby’s room, and Abby has to restrain her. Olivia gives Brian an envelope and tells him it’s her homework to give to her friends. Lilimae brings Brian to school, but comes back with Olivia’s “homework”. It is actually money. Upset, Olivia says she had to give it to Brian, or her friends would beat him up. Abby rushes to Brian’s school, but he’s already been beaten up. Abby brings him home and forces Olivia to face her bruised and bloodied brother. Upset, Olivia runs to the chicken coop and gives Abby all of her drugs.
b: 08-Jan-1987 pc: 175317 w: Bernard Lechowick d: Kate Swofford Tilley

NOTE: This episode is considered to be one of Donna Mills’ favorite episodes that dealt with Olivia’s drug problem. In a way, this episode is somewhat like the movie The Miracle Worker, but the miracle that breaks through in Olivia comes from when Brian gets beaten up by the dealer and she gives Abby all of her drugs, placing her on the road to drug-free awareness.
William Devane (Greg), Constance McCashin (Laura), and Douglas Sheehan (Ben) did not appear in this episode.

178. My True Love

gs: Brad Blaisdell (Employee) Annie Gagen (Marjorie) David Higgins (Surveillance Watchman)
Paige tells Karen she’d better worry about Anne’s intentions with Mac. She then packs goes to stay with Peter. Anne tells Mac that he’s the only man she ever loved, but didn’t tell him she was pregnant, because she found out her father paid him $5,000 to leave her. Mac says that isn’t true. She says she’s afraid she’ll fall in love with Mac again. Karen is jealous of Anne’s looks, and they talk uncomfortably while waiting for Paige. Anne says Paige did this to bring her and Mac back together and she is snide to Karen. Olivia goes to AA with Gary, and apologizes to Brian. Abby still wants to postpone the divorce, but Gary says no. Jean has Ben bug Greg’s office. They hear Peter ask Greg where he sent Sylvia on vacation, but Greg won’t tell him. Then Jean calls and says she wants Ben to break into Greg’s computer.
b: 15-Jan-1987 pc: 175318 w: Lynn Marie Latham d: Lorraine Senna Ferrara

NOTE: Michelle Phillips makes her first appearance as Anne Matheson in this episode.

179. Never Trick a Trickster

gs: Nick Angotti (Don Sadler) Kevin McBride (Dan Miller) Katherine Moffat (Deborah Kensington)
Seeing Anne’s immature behavior, Karen feels sorry for Paige and wants her to stay with them. Anne wants Paige to come back to NY, and threatens to cut her off financially. Peter tells Paige it isn’t good for his image to live with someone, so she moves back to the MacKenzies. Anne says she’ll stay until Paige agrees to leave with her. Greg finds the bug in his office, and suspects that someone has hooked up to his computer. He makes phony deals, and tells Ben about it. Ben tells Jean, who’s upset because she fell for it. Abby tells Gary she will fight for the ranch unless he gives her $3 million so Gary gives her the money. Ben tells Val that no matter what happens, to always remember he loves her. Jean tells Ben that his new assignment is to kill Greg.
b: 29-Jan-1987 pc: 175319 w: Alan Goldfein d: Joe Coppoletta

NOTE: Jean decides to kill Greg after he discovers that she had bugged his office and went into his computer.

180. A Plan of Action

gs: Robin C. Loya (Receptionist) Christopher Kriesa (Mechanic) Kevin McBride (Dan Miller) Jay Arlen Jones (Bank Teller) Katherine Moffat (Deborah Kensington)
Paige accepts a job at Lotus Point. Anne asks Karen to arrange for her to live at Lotus Point. Greg and Laura disagree about her having the baby, so she moves back to the cul-de-sac. Abby opens a nightclub at Lotus Point. Peter asks Abby to the opening, but tells Paige it is only for PR purposes. Ben refuses to kill Greg, and Jean says she’ll kill his family. After someone tries to run Val off the road, Ben tells her that he was part of a subversive group that bombed a building and an innocent man was killed. Ben says they want him to kill Greg. Ben and Val decide to run away. Val won’t tell Lilimae what is up. Ben is being followed, and steals a car to lose them. Val, Lilimae, and the kids follow Ben’s plan to meet him secretly. As they drive away, Jean pulls up next to them in her car.
b: 05-Feb-1987 pc: 175320 w: Lawrence Kasha d: Kate Swofford Tilley

NOTE: Jean is after Ben, and Val and the kids try to hide from her in this episode.

181. Survival of the Fittest

gs: J.P. Bumstead (Jay Tweed) Daniel Weisman (Daniel)
Jean catches the Gibson’s, and they know that their house is bugged. She instructs Ben to kill Greg at the Lotus Point Club Opening. At the opening, Greg and Laura make up. He says he’s happy about the baby. Anne hangs all over Mac at the party, and Karen pretends not to mind. Mac is amused at Karen’s jealousy. Ben tells Val that they’ll escape in a catering truck after the party. Jean tells Ben that if he doesn’t kill Greg, she has people at the party who will kill Val. Ben says the time isn’t right, so Jean tells him to make an opportunity. Gary and Jill tell Val that they’re getting married and Val runs off crying. Ben confronts Greg in his office and pulls out a gun. He tells Greg to help him find a way out of this, because if he doesn’t kill him, they’ll kill his family. Jean listens in on the bug. Ben can’t bring himself to kill Greg, but then a shot rings out.
b: 12-Feb-1987 pc: 175321 w: William Devane d: Michael Preece

NOTE: Anne flirts with Mack for old times sake, and Karen is a little bit jealous. Gary and Jill tell Val that they are (gasp!) getting married! Ben is faced with a choice: Kill Greg or Have Val Killed? Then a shot goes out…..continued next episode.
William Devane (Greg) wrote this episode.

182. In Mourning

gs: Jasmine Gagnier (Secretary) Alan Feinstein (Nick) Larry Maskowitcz (Lawyer) J.P. Bumstead (Jay Tweed) John Marshal, Jr. (Man) Anthony Ellis (Reporter #1) Linda Kurimoto (Reporter #2) Daniel Weisman (Daniel) Larry Moskowitz (Lawyer) John Moskal Jr. (Painter)
Val and the kids are brought home in a catering van. Val is frantic about Ben. Mac hires bodyguards posing as construction workers to protect Val and instructs Val to say that Ben is on a business trip. Lilimae asks Karen if she knows what’s going on as Ben had her close her bank account, they drove around in a stolen car, then in a Catering van all night, and now there are 2 carpenters at the house who aren’t doing anything. Karen asks both Mac and Val what is going on, but neither will tell her anything. Greg’s death is in the paper. Abby rushes to Peter’s and says he’d better be prepared to take over Galveston Industries and pressures him to make a public statement. Gary and Jill had planned to marry in Las Vegas, but he postpones it. Val goes to the ranch to comfort Laura, then Greg walks in, and Val suddenly wonders if Ben is dead.
b: 19-Feb-1987 pc: 175322 w: Alan Goldfein d: Nicholas Sgarro

NOTE: This episode is somewhat like Episode 99, when everyone thought Gary was dead, only now everyone thinks that Greg is dead, but he comes back at the end. Then everyone wonders if Ben is dead. Will someone clear this up for me, please?!
Douglas Sheehan (Ben) is not present in this episode.

183. Nightmare

gs: Alan Feinstein (Nick) J.P. Bumstead (Jay Tweed) Terence Goodman (Gun Shop Vender) Ramon Angeloni (Employee)
Jean’s superior tells her she needs to kill Greg. Mac, Greg and an agent find out that Jean and her associate are trying to kill Greg. Mac punches out Jean’s superior, and he’s arrested. Not knowing he’s on to her, Jean invites Greg to her hotel room. Greg says he knows what she’s up to and pulls a gun. Mac and the agent come in and arrest her. Mac explains to Karen that he couldn’t tell Val that Ben was alive, because she would give it away. Val, hysterical about Ben, tries to buy a gun. Unsuccessful, she goes to the ranch and takes Gary’s gun. Val breaks into Jean’s store, and almost shoots a cleaning woman by accident. Gary finds her and brings her home. Ben walks in and they hug and kiss and cry. That night Ben dreams that Jean kills Val. Abby tells Jill, “Let the second Mrs. Ewing give the soon to be third Mrs. Ewing some advice. The first Mrs. Ewing doesn’t go away – ever!” Gary and Jill decide to get married some other time.
b: 05-Mar-1987 pc: 175323 w: Dianne Messina & Lou Messina d: Bill Duke

NOTE: This episode is where it all begins with Jill wanting to be rid of Val. Gary decides to marry her another time, which starts the ball.

184. Neighborly Conduct

gs: Lawrence Casey (Al Stahler)
Ben is upset that Greg sent Jean to Paraguay instead of pressing charges. He is ultra paranoid and thinks he sees Jean everywhere. Greg fires Ben. Jill questions Gary about whether she comes first in his life. Olivia joins Peter’s Youth Commission against drugs. She admits to Paige she has a huge crush on Peter.Abby and Paige vie for Peter’s affection. To win his affection, Paige tells Peter that Sylvia gave Olivia a letter, and that he can use Olivia’s crush on him to get the letter back. Peter sends Olivia flowers, thanking her for her help. Anne rents Laura’s house, and hangs out at the MacKenzie’s. Karen doesn’t like this, and tells Anne to stop coming on to Mac because she doesn’t stand a chance. Anne sends herself a package, but has is delivered to the MacKenzies. When Mac brings it over, she tells him she wants him to stay and get reacquainted.
b: 12-Mar-1987 pc: 175324 w: Lynn Marie Latham d: Lawrence Kasha

NOTE: Ben starts going crazy when she starts seeing Jean everywhere. Thank goodness she had left the show in this episode otherwise she could have had the whole cast killed. Oliva starts falling for Peter (Oh no, Olivia! Not You Too!), as Abby and Paige try to win his affections.

185. Deadly Combination

gs: Lawrence Casey (Al Stahler) Bee-Be Smith (Servant) Randy Crowder (Alarm Installer)
Laura’s furious with Val over the whole incident, and even quits Lotus Point so she won’t run into her there. Ben is still paranoid, and wants the family to go into hiding, but Val says that is no life for the twins. Ben has an elaborate security system installed. Lilimae accidentally sets it off, and Ben, thinking she’s Jean, gets her in a choke hold. Peter appoints Olivia as his youth advisor. He tells her she is prettier than Abby, and asks if she’s heard from Sylvia. Anne and Mac discuss old times, and she tells him that she still loves him. Karen and Mac argue over Anne. Karen tells him to tell Anne to leave. Mac tells Anne that he loves Karen and will never leave her. Anne asks Mac to meet her for a goodbye breakfast. Anne then takes a bunch of pills. Mac decides to eat breakfast with Karen instead of meeting Anne. Anne is passed out on her living room floor.
b: 26-Mar-1987 pc: 175325 w: David Marlow d: Beth Brickell

NOTE: Anne tries to commit suicide by overdosing on pills when Mack will not acknowledge her. Ben’s craziness has taken a toll on the family when he installs an elaborate security system.
The song “Dedicated to the One I Love” plays while Anne swallows her pills and plans her suicide. The song, which was Mack and Anne’s favorite, was song by the Mamas and the Papas and included Michelle Phillips (who plays Anne).
Wendy Fulton plays the “imaginary Jean” in this episode.

186. Our Secret

gs: Lawrence Casey (Al Stahler) Richard Balin (Doctor) Craig Schaefer (Employee)
Anne is rushed to the hospital, but the doctor says she’s fine. Paige tells the McKenzies that it’s only a stunt, but Mac says it’s still a cry for help. Guilty, he is extra nice to Anne, which doesn’t sit too well with Karen. Sylvia is dead, so Peter really comes on to Olivia, giving her a locket and even kissing her. Olivia leaves lots of messages for Peter, which Peter and Paige make fun of. Michael tells Olivia that Paige is dating Peter, but Olivia says Paige would have told her because they are best friends. Gary and Jill plan to go away, but they meet Peter at the airport picking up Sylvia’s body. Thinking it is Jill’s mother too, Gary decides they should stay in town. Ben flips out when Lilimae turns off the security system, and she and Val are really worried about his paranoid behavior.
b: 02-Apr-1987 pc: 175326 w: John Leasure d: David Jacobs

NOTE: Peter actually makes move on Olivia, but he had a motive: Olivia has a copy of a letter that Sylvia, who is now dead, wrote to Gary explaining the truth and Peter was trying to get it back from her. Michael tells her that Peter is actually going with Paige, but Olivia does not believe him.

187. Breakup

gs: Terry Burns (Pastor) Alma Washington (Woman) Marte Boyle Scott (Woman)
Peter pressures Olivia for the letter. Abby sees them kissing and is furious. Greg tells Abby that he is only after Olivia’s letter. Olivia stops by Peter’s, but when she sees Paige there, she sends the letter to Gary. Ben, thinking Val is Jean, freaks out. She thinks he is hallucinating from lack of sleep. Home again, Anne milks Mac’s guilt over her suicide attempt. Anne tells Karen on the phone that she did it to bring Mac to his senses, that Mac is only with Karen out of obligation, and will never be happy in their little tract house on a dead end street with its barbecues and “Kiss the Cook” aprons. Mac overhears this. Mac invites Anne to dinner. He puts on his “Kiss the Cook” apron, and barbecues, while telling Karen how much he loves their life and home. Ann yells at him for insulting her. He yells that she insulted Karen. He says that he loves Karen, and not her. Furious, Anne tells him that he is not Paige’s father – Greg is!
b: 09-Apr-1987 pc: 175327 w: Dianne Messina & Lou Messina d: Joe Coppoletta

NOTE: Anne leaves in this episode, but she will, no doubt, be back in Season 10 to join the cast.
Once again, Wendy Fulton plays the “fake Jean” in this episode.

188. Parental Guidance

Laura has a baby girl – 8lbs, 3 oz! Anne goes back east. Mac asks Greg if he could be Paige’s father, but Greg insists he never slept with Anne. Jill intercepts Olivia’s letter for Peter and burns it. Paige thinks she and Peter are getting married. Peter tells Abby that he’d rather marry her. Abby tells him to dump Paige. After he does, Abby tells Peter to take a hike. Mac and Karen tell Paige that Greg may be her father. Crying, she says Anne was just being vindictive, but thinks this is why Peter broke it off with her. Ben tells Val that his obsession is ruining the family, and she thinks he has come back to his senses. Ben makes plans to leave the country, but tells Val he got a job in South America. Ben asks Mac to keep an eye on the family, and tells Gary that he’s glad he’s glad that the twins have him as security, in case something should ever happen to him. Ben leaves for his “job” in a taxi, but one gets the feeling he is really leaving forever……
b: 30-Apr-1987 pc: 175328 w: Lawrence Kasha & Michael Filerman d: Nick Havinga

NOTE: Douglas Sheehan makes his final appearance in this episode when he leaves for South America. Laura has a little baby girl in this episode.

189. Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate

gs: Bill Crafton (Ed Rutledge) Kurt Woodruff (Employee #1) Bee-Be Smith (Employee #2)
Laura names her baby Marguerite Catherine (Meg) after her mother. Val calls Ben’s news service, and they tell her he’s not on assignment for them. Olivia confronts Paige on dating Peter, and Paige tells her about Abby and Peter. Olivia and Abby scream at each other. Peter thanks Jill for burning the letter, and she throws him out. Abby screams at him for leading Olivia on. Paige throws plates at him and screams at him for not telling her that Greg is her father, and Peter laughs at her. At the Lotus Point Club, Abby hears Olivia scream, and comes out of the Ladies room, drying her hands. Abby sees Olivia leaning over Peter’s dead, bloody body, and Abby thinks Olivia has killed him. Olivia sees Abby wiping her hands, and thinks that Abby has killed Peter.
b: 07-May-1987 pc: 175329 w: Lynn Marie Latham d: Joseph Scanlan

NOTE: Hunt Block makes his final appeanance in this episode when he is found dead in the Lotus Point Club. Another whodunit begins: Who killed Peter?
Douglas Sheehan (Ben) makes his final appearance on the show in this episode. He left town in the previous episode, but calls Val one more time before disappearing forever.

190. Cement the Relationship

gs: Kay Cole (Pianist)
Val tells Lilimae that she knows Ben went after Jean Hackney and is not coming back. Mac tells Paige that he called Anne, and Anne admitted Mac really is her father. Peter can’t reach Greg, but is more interested in playing with Meg than finding him. Abby hears that cement is going to be poured for the new Children’s playground at Lotus Point, so Abby decides to bury Peter there. With several interruptions and near misses of getting caught, Abby buries Peter, only to dig him up for his car keys and rebury him. She brings his car to the airport and takes the bus home. Olivia tells Abby she is not worth what Abby did (meaning Abby shouldn’t have killed him.) Abby, thinking Olivia means she shouldn’t have buried Peter on her behalf, assures Olivia that she did it for her, and that no one will ever know. The cement is poured in the children’s park, and Karen and Abby go to inspect it. Karen points out that there is a structural crack in the cement, and it will need to be done over….
b: 14-May-1987 pc: 175330 w: Bernard Lechowick d: Nick Havinga

NOTE: In this season finale, Mack admits to being Paige’s father. Val also finds out that Ben went to South America to look for Jean. Abby tries to hide Peter’s body, and decides to bury him under concrete that is being poured there for a new playground. Olivia and Abby both think that one of them killed Peter for the other, but actually it was…..find out next season!
Steve Shaw (Eric) leaves the cast in this episode, but returns to guest star for two episodes next season. In this episode, Eric announces that he’s leaving Knots Landing to attend college.
Even though he departed the cast in the last episode, Douglas Sheehan (Ben) is featured in the opening credits of this episode