PAMELA: THE WOMAN WHO LIVED TWICE

On the occasion of Patrick Mulcahey’s birthday, I thought to celebrate this day by proposing you one of the best SB’ episodes and definitely the best of the 1991 season. At the time Mulcahey had already left SB about a year ago, when Bridget and Jerome Dobson back to the soap that they created, after winning the long-running lawsuit against the New World Television. For their return the Dobsons had thought about a grand entrance: in fact they decided to bring with them the character of Pamela, CC ' ex-wife and Mason’ mother, locked in a mental hospital after trying to kill Kelly in 1988. So they contacted Mulcahey and asked him to write this episode  (he left SB in 1990, probably due to some creative differences with then-executive producer John Conboy). Mulcahey accepted because of the strong friendship that linked him to the Dobsons. The episode has a strong symbolic meaning: the crazy, insane Pamela returned to Santa Barbara to rock (again) the life of the Capwell family ... as well as the Dobsons are back to the show to awaken characters who slept too long. Pamela, magnificently played by Marj Dusay, wears a beautiful green dress, evocative of ghosts from the past and death. That same green color that Kim Novak wore on Hitchcock's masterpiece "Vertigo". On the movie James Stewart, haunted by the death of his beloved, tries to bring her to life shaping another woman in her image and resemblance.

Kim Novak on "Vertigo"

Even on Santa Barbara, Pamela brings all the skeletons locked in the closet of the Capwell  house: CC stealing Pamela from his own brother Grant, Sophia stealing CC from Pamela and meanwhile conceiving a son with CC’ number-one enemy, Lionel Lockridge, culminating in the murder of Channing Junior by Sophia, his own mother. A real private trial for the exclusive use and enjoyment of the Capwells. Remember that they learned that Pamela had not jumped to her death off  Manhattan 59th Street Bridge, just in 1987 during another (real) trial, Cruz’ trial for Elena Nikolas’ murder. Patrick Mulcahey wrote that episode, elected the best episode of the year by SOD. From Pamela’s (then played by Shirley Ann Field) poignant entrance into the courtroom assisted by both of her sons, to a sight gag of Gina wearing an ostentatious black veil, to Keith’s comment about Pamela’s sudden wealth (“I thought she left New York without a pot to puree in”), to Julia finding Mason drunk (“I’m sorry. I can’t help it if I’m drowning. It’s genetic!”), Mulcahey’s writing came together with directing and acting in a coherent and entertaining fashion. In summary, Pamela enters to the Capwell house labeled like a crazy woman, but over the dinner she reveals the truth: she is definitely crazy, but Capwell Mansion is nothing more than a madhouse. And for once we are rooting for the villain. As on some Hitchcock’ movies, as on Shakespeare's tragedies, as on Santa Barbara. This is the Elephant of Surprise. Happy Birthday Mr. Mulcahey!

Pic #1 is from Capridge.com