Suspense Television

For the Love of Randi

"For the Love of Randi" stars Darrin McGavin in a story that is a cross between an episode of Suspense and an episode of General Hospital. At the center of the drama is Randi, a plumpish brunette sexpot with a husky voice.

When we first see Nurse Randi Sloan, she is in the dispensary looking for something. What is she looking for? It is a bottle of white powder. From this, she takes a small amount and wraps it in a piece of paper. Hmmm, what does she have? Dr. Dave Bonnell comes in and catches her at this, but it is OK with him. He doesn't seem to mind the drug stealing, he just wants a kiss. Specifically, he wants her to "kiss him like she used to." Randi doesn't want to. To be nice, she gives him a peck -- but that only inflames his desire for more! He insists that Nurse Randi "kiss him like she used to." She doesn't. Instead she bolts out the lab as fast as she can.

In the hallway, Nurse Randi's boyfriend, Dr. Ted Larson, is looking for her. When he finds her, he can see that she is upset. Randi doesn't want to talk about it, she just wants to leave. Ted tells her that he knows something is wrong. Just then, Dr. Dave Bonnell strolls out of the dispensary.

At this juncture, we find out that Ted and Dave are not just rivals for Randi's love but that they are also roommates and best friends. (Uh-oh!)

After Ted and Randi leave, the cleaning boy, Walter, asks Dr. Bonnell if those two are going to be married. He skulks away without giving Walter a definite answer.

When we next see Dave and Ted, they are at home having their morning coffee. (On the table we see coffee, bread, jam and an ashtray.) The neighbor girl, Daisy, comes in and brings them a package. It is a box of homemade candies for Ted from Randi. He shares them with Dave and Daisy, but doesn't have one himself. Then, while Ted and Dave prepare to leave for the hospital, they have a little chat about Randi. Dave says that he refuses to play second fiddle. Randi used to be his gal, and he sees no reason why he should not to try and win her back. It doesn't matter that they are best friends. All that matters is who gets Randi. Ted agrees.

Not long afterwards, Daisy falls ill and has to be taken to the hospital. Dave becomes ill as well and complains to Randi that it is probably because of those awful candies she made. She tells him that she never made any candies! Ted and Randi save Dave's life but Daisy dies.

In the second act, we find out what was in the candies. Arsenic! Nurse Randi is head nurse, so the sheriff questions her while he eats his lunch. He tells her that the district attorney considers her a suspect because she has access to so many drugs and chemicals. Then, suddenly, the sheriff is distracted by a plate of delicious sweet corn that was hiding behind a stack of papers on his desk. Hmmmm! Sweet corn. The sheriff can barely stay focused on Randi as he butters, salts, and peppers his corn cob.

Not distracted by the corn, Randi pleads with the sheriff to find the person who sent the poisoned candies. She swears that she didn't do it. It was some crazy person out there. The sheriff tells Randi that she and her two suitors need to sit down and try and come up with a solution before someone else gets hurt.

In the next scene, the three of them try to sit down and find a solution, but within minutes, they are drinking, smoking and fighting. Randi tries to calm the tension by presenting them with a big plate of cookies that she baked with her own little hands. Dave and Ted pass on the cookies. (She should have tried corn!)

Back at the hospital, Randi chats with Walter, the cleaning boy. He tells her that there is a rumor that she and Dr. Larson have called off their engagement. Then, the sheriff arrives and tells Randi that the district attorney has built a case against her. He tells her that he needs to go over a few things again and then disappears into the dispensary.  Does the sheriff know something that will help him catch the guilty one?

"For the Love of Randi" starred Darren McGavin as Dr. Ted Larson. Jack Manning played Dr. David Bonnell and Rita Lynn played Nurse Randi Sloan. This episode aired on July 15, 1952. It is available on Disc 3 of Suspense: The Lost Episodes Collection 2.

Wisteria Cottage

In "Wisteria Cottage" Conrad Janis plays Richard, a disturbed young man who latches onto older women. As the episode opens, we hear the sounds of "Greensleeves." Why?... Don't wait for an answer.

When we meet Richard he is working in Jenny's Bookshop. Jenny wants to close down for the summer, but Richard is a little worried about what will happen to him. Jenny thinks he should have money leftover from his winter wages, but Richard grumbles something about how cheap she is. Then, he steals a couple of bucks from the till.

Jenny catches him and they have a fight. Jenny knows that he has stolen from her cash register before. He tries to sweet-talk her, but it doesn't work. She tells him that she doesn't think he is the "homeless innocent" that he claims to be. Jenny thinks that he is a danger to women who might fall for his charm.This time, she is going to "teach him a lesson." Uh-oh! Richard isn't keen on being taught a lesson and brutally stabs her in the back.

When we next see Richard, he is in the grocery store. He has found another nice older lady to latch onto, Mrs. Florence Hackett. In no time at all, Richard learns that she and her daughters live alone. He quickly engraciates himself into the family...

Mrs. Hackett likes Richard but her older daugher Louisa doesn't. When she finds out that Richard is coming to dinner again, she isn't excited. Her sister, Elinor, (Yes, that is how it is spelled it in the credits) reminds her that "even poets have to eat, too." Uh-oh! Richard is a poet. (We know from the radio show Suspense and its sister show Escape that poets mean trouble! See also: Escape "Present Tense", Escape "El Guitarerro", Escape "Evening Primrose", Suspense "2462")

Mrs. Hackett then tells her two girls that she asked Richard to find a nice summer place for them to rent, and that he has found one on Long Island called Wisteria Cottage. Of course, Richard will be coming along as well, but he will be staying in the shack. Louisa is seriously tired of their constant guest, (See Louisa pictured middle), but her sister Eleanor is happy. Louisa goes along with her mother's plan, despite her reservations.

At the cottage, things are going well, but Richard doesn't like it when the ladies have guests. He gets pouty about it. Louisa thinks Richard is trouble and that their "poet" should get a real job. Mrs. Hackett says that it is just the heat that is bothering everyone and then makes a bunch of other excuses for the increasingly unstable Richard.

Later that night, Elinor goes to visit Richard. Now we know why she has been on Richard's side! She is sort of having a fling with him. When he gets serious, Elinor points that they are just having fun. Richard wants a commitment -- not fun. He gets angry and tries to throw her out, but then Louisa and her boyfriend arrive. Richard is rude to all of them and demands that he be left alone. So, they all leave.

While they are gone, Richard busts up their cottage's dining room. Afterwards, he feels better and the next morning he is peacefully sitting in his shack playing the guitar. (Conrad Janis is also a professional musician and here we see his other talents. We assume that it is also Janis playing the guitar in the opening credits.) It is a very pretty tune, but why are we listening to "Greensleeves?"

When the family came home and found the cottage in a shambles, they knew that Richard had done it!  Now, Louisa's boyfriend, Ned, confronts him. When Richard attacks Ned, Mrs. Hackett tells Richard that she wants him out! Now, finally, she realizes how disturbed Richard is. Is it too late? Will she end up like Jenny?

The end of this episode is marred by bad sound quality. When Richard returns to the cottage and explains to Elinor and Mrs. Hackett why they should die, we miss some of the poetic details.

"Wisteria Cottage" was presented on Suspense twice. The first time on June 27,1950, and then again on July 17, 1951. The DVD package claims that this episode is the 1951 version, but that may be incorrect. According to the book Suspense: Twenty Years of Thrills and Chills by Martin Grams, the version starring Conrad Janis aired in 1950. (In the other version, Billy Redfield starred as Richard.) Since Conrad Janis made three other appearances on Suspense in 1950, we will assume that the 1950 date is correct.

Conrad Janis played Richard and Mrs. Hackett was played by Marjorie Gateson. Joan Copeland, who in real-life is the younger sister of the late playwright Arthur Miller, played Louisa. Elinor was played by Carlotta Sherwood and Ruth McDevitt played Jenny.  This episode is available on Disc 3 of Collection 1 of Suspense: the Lost Episodes.