1238

Template:Epbox Melanie learns the truth about her parentage despite the best efforts of Julia.

Synopsis

Melanie’s mother is Josette duPrés Collins, who used to talk to her when she was a little girl. Melanie wants to know why Josette didn’t keep her; Julia eavesdrops. Julia tries to get Josette to stop talking, but Melanie throws the c*obs del* out.

Melanie learns that Josette’s plan to move to Boston was thwarted by Justin Collins--Melanie’s natural father. Josette recounts the affair resulting from the aftermath of Barnabas’ death and how happy Justin was at her unexpected pregnancy.

Josette is also somehow ignoble; she refused to allow Justin to leave Flora for her. Julia rags on Kendrick for his “meddling” (after all that’s the purpose to which she’s devoted HER life) and wants to know what he plans to do with the information.

Daphne begins a recovery and tells Bramwell she dreamed she had his son. Bramwell is upset at this (remember Catherine’s knocked-up by him). Melanie (who was apparently close to Bramwell growing up) and Josette want to tell the world, but Julia (who feels obligated to fulfill her spinster life by protecting Justin’s memory) points out how it would hurt Flora.

Melanie agrees to keep the secret; Julia orders Josette away from Collinwood forever. Josette goes back to The Old House, where Bramwell mopes; later, he goes to Collinwood to confront Julia. Josette shows up to say Daphne’s turned for the worse. Daphne tells Bramwell to love again, to love Catherine, with her blessing before she dies.

--Jdb523msslp 04:58, 6 November 2007 (UTC)

Cast

Nancy Barrett as Melanie Collins
John Karlen as Kendrick Young
Mary Cooper as Josette DuPrès Collins (PT)
Grayson Hall as Julia Collins
Kate Jackson as Daphne Harridge Collins
Jonathan Frid as Bramwell Collins

Notes

See mistakes.

Mistakes

Unless Melanie is to be believed as a 10-year-old (and what a sick couple she and Kendrick would make were that so!), this must be a separate timeline (or, that is, must be accepted retroactively by fans as a separate timeline) than the one leading up to 1970PT as Barnabas is stated to have died in 1830 (Episode 972). Of course, there are also the facts of Bramwell as a poor relation, not the heir to the Collins land and money, and the missing sons....
Another possible explanation, retroactively of course, although it doesn't explain Melanie's age, is that Will's History was wrong, and Quentin, Morgan, Gabriel, and Bramwell were all thought to be Barnabas' sons by the descendants of Bramwell and Catherine.
In short, it seems easiest to accept this timeline as a second alternate timeband. Template:Ep-nav