I did a little research using a newspaper archive and looking at which of the major soap opera columnists overdue Another Life. Jon-Michael Reed only covered monthly synopses for the show for the first and second month. Seli Groves seems to start with summaries in late August, 1981. The earliest consistent summaries come from Mary Ann Cooper's column. With these, we are able to get a broad overview of the missing episodes.
A real treasure was finding 2 weeks worth of summaries (9 days) from late July from a Massachusetts newpaper where the show was carried in primetime. I suspect other papers may have provided daily teasers so hopefully we will, in the nearish future, get an even clear picture of the missing weeks.
June 1981
Miriam Mason accused her professor husband, Paul, of adultery with student, Lori Davidson. Lori's parents, Scott and Terry, hired Mitch Dunbar to defend Lori. Paul was suspended and Miriam sought custody of their child, Frederick. Miriam conned her father, Charles Carpenter, to pay for student Norman Eliot's false testimony. Norm is Miriam's secret lover. Lori's friend, Becky, and Lori's sweetheart, Russ Weaver, failed to break Norm's lies. Liz Cummings' husband, Jeff, took to drink. Lori learned that her brother, Peter, also hit the bottle. Scott convinced Gene Redlon to help him investigate drug traffic
July 1981
Miriam was granted a divorce from Paul and won custody of Frederick. Scott and Terry filed a countersuit to clear Lori's name. Jeff seduced Mandy Bolen, who has a married lover, Loring Chase. Jeff assured Mandy he's divorced, while Liz suspected Jeff is cheating on her. Mitch convinced the judge to reopen the case because of evidence that Norm perjured himself in return for loot from Charles. Paul was fired because of the adultery scandal.
Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3, 1981
(episodes #21 - 25)
Paul Mason and Lori Davidson refuse to settle out of court and are determined to clear their names. Charles Carpenter pays Norm Elliot and Creasy to testify against Paul. Paul admits to Terry Davidson that he loves her daughter Lori, but would never say so. Liz Cummings threatens to divorce her husband Jeff Cummings as he continues to drink.
Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 10, 1981
(episodes #26 - 30)
Lori Davidson worries about her boyfriend Russ Weaver's lack of faith. Miriam Carpenter Mason and Charles Carpenter try to put more pressure on Paul Mason. Creasy says that Paul Mason's tie clasp was found in Lori Davidson's room. The divorce is granted on the grounds of adultery. Miriam Carpenter Mason gets custody of Frederick Mason. When Miriam condemns Paul to their son Frederick Mason, Frederick runs away.
Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17, 1981
(episodes #31 - 35)
Paul Mason refuses to resign his post. Scott Davidson accuses Miriam Carpenter Mason and Charles Carpenter of a frame up.
Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 24, 1981
(episodes #36 - 40)
Jeff Cummings makes a play for Mandy Bolen and succeeds. Becky Hewitt steals a deposit slip and letter addressed to Norm Elliot from Miriam Carpenter Mason from Norm's room. Scott Davidson discovers that Norm was dishonorably discharged for stealing and dealing in the black market.
July 20, 1981: Mitch investigates Creasy's financial situation and Paul checks around the church for further leads.
July 22, 1981: Becky steals a deposite slip and a letter addressed to Norm from Miriam; Mitch learns that Creasy deposited a $2,500 check in May.
July 23, 1981: Back from investigating Norm in Washington, Scott praises Becky for her discoveries and makes copies of Norm's letter from Miriam.
July 24, 1981: Scott's findings in Washington reveal that Norm was dishonorably discharged from the army for stealing and dealing in the black market
Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31, 1981
(episodes #41-45)
Mitch Dubar plans to reopen the case soon. Scott Davidson praises Becky Hewitt's efforts. Miriam Carpenter Mason fights back when Paul Mason reopens the case. Jeff Cummings continues his affair with Mandy Bolen. Lori Davidson tries to maintain her optimism despite her fears that the tables will be turned on her and Paul once more.
July 27, 1981: Jeff assures Mandy that he is divorced, but she puts him off. Charles warns Norm to stay away from Miriam.
July 28, 1981: Liz confides in Terry that Jeff may be cheating on her. Russ considers working at the Norfolk waterfront to earn money for medical school.
July 29, 1981: Moran is having second thoughts about pulling Scott off the air. Norm learns that Becky has been seeing his roommate, Francis.
July 30, 1981: Mitch convinces judge to re-open case after revealing new evidence.
July 31, 1981: Warren tells Charles and Miriam that Mitch is suing them for defamation of character and that they could go to jail if the witnesses were bribed.
Monday, August 3 - Friday, August 7, 1981
(episodes #46-50)
Scott Davidson and Becky Hewitt land a hand to Paul Mason. Charles Carpenter learns money won't buy everything. Jeff Cummings lies when he tells Many Bolen he is divorced. Scott Davidson has to hold his temper on the job. Lori Davidson receives a great deal of peer pressure to change her values.
Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 14, 1981
(episodes #51-55)
Paul Mason gets support from an unlikely source. Jeff Cummings is almost caught. Norm Elliot is picked up by the police for questioning and threatens to get even with Francis Miller for squealing to Becky Hewitt. Helen Carpenter tells Charles Carpenter that she'll seel th house and leave him if he's guilty of framing their son-in-law, Paul Mason. Moran gives Scott Davidson editorial control and his old job back. Russ Weaver asks Lori Davidson to marry him, but Lori thinks they're not ready yet.
Monday, August 17 - Friday, August 21, 1981
(episodes #56-60)
Russ Weaver has an angry confrontation with Norm Elliot. Helen Carpenter takes strong action. After Norm Elliot is beaten up by Russ Weaver, Norm suffers flashbacks about his life in Vietnam. Charles Carpenter plans to sell his import business and return to his trucking firm which services Capital Distributors, dealing with liquor and drugs. Jeff Cummings' drivers license is suspended and he may lose his sales job. Scott Davidson and Gene Redlon plan to begin their drug trafficking investigation.
Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28, 1981
(episodes #61-65)
Jeff Cummings' life hangs in the balance. Norm Elliot has more violent outbursts. Mandy Bolen is hired by Capital Distributor's new boss (Nick Trench?) as a secretary and Jeff Cummings, out of the hospital, is also hired as a sales rep. Miriam Carpenter Mason puts her lover Norm Elliot down, but convinces her father, Charles Carpenter, to hire Norm. Norm says he is available to do anything, even drive, steal, or kill. Jimmy Redlon is in the hospital from a drug overdose. The loss of his driver's license threatened Jeff Cummings' sales job. In a panic, he asked Nick Trench for a job. Mandy Bolen promised Jeff she would behave.
Monday, August 31 - Friday, September 4, 1981
(episodes #66-70)
Miriam Mason moves to Richmond. Russ Weaver gets a new job. Afraid of being hurt, Jimmy Redlon will not tell who gave him the drugs. At Paul Mason's home for dinner, Lori Davidson, Russ Weaver, and Becky Hewitt learn that Charles Carpenter and Miriam Carpenter Mason, Paul's former wife and father-in-law, have moved to Richmond. Norm Elliot goes on his first assignment for Charles delivering "fish" with a gun for protection. On the way to Lori's parents home, Russ and Lori are side-swiped and overturn many times before landing at the bottom of a hill. Norm Elliott realizes he needs help, but isn't ready to ask for it. Scott Davidson agreed Terry Davidson must befriend Liz Cummings, no matter how much Jeff Cummings hates the Davidsons. Scott crusaded against drugs on the air.
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dc11786 ·
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