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13 Episodes 1999 - 1999
Episode 1
60 mins
The Baileys are in dire straits. They learn Hugo has no intention of keeping the mine open if and when he buys it - in his own words, buy what others want. May plans on selling some of her land holdings not to reopen the mine if it goes into receivership but solely for her and Grace to live (Grace can no longer provide any income to the household as Callie, not wanting to deal with a Bailey, fires her from the radio station), however the property at Bass Lake is one with which May will not part. It is that property however that Luc and Hugo want to purchase to develop into a resort. Luc is still interested in striking both a professional and personal relationship with Grace, the former required if he is indeed able to purchase the Bass Lake property from May. With Del still confessing feelings but not a long term commitment, Grace entertains the idea of a relationship with Luc. Ultimately, Grace admits her true personal feelings. On the professional front, May may be able to keep the mine open as one of her other investments - in an oil exploration venture - shows promise. However, Mr. Sainsbury at the bank is unwilling to offer May any credit only on the prospect of oil coming through, this despite Mr. Kendrick's willingness since he is a New Bedford resident who wants to see the mine succeed. From a conversation Grace overhears, she learns that Hugo has other ideas for the Bass Lake property when he gets his hands on it, Hugo who is in collusion with someone who can assist in getting the property from May. May, who has ideas of her own to salvage her family business, holds a family meeting to help her make the ultimate decision. It is a idea from Hub that helps May execute her final plan.
Episode 2
60 mins
Three couples evaluate their relationships. Grace and Del have been dating but Grace feels that they are still incompatible as a couple. She thinks she has scientific evidence to this fact when she takes a magazine romance quiz and fails. However she doesn't bother to tell Del why she's been so standoffish of late. Honey and Max look at their life following Zach's birth. Honey receives some devastating news: due to the complications from the birth, she can probably no longer have any more children. She feels that she has lost one manifestation of her love for Max and a part of her own womanhood. With this news, Max revisits his own insecurities about Honey, in choosing him, settling for second best after Jack's death. To help them through this difficult time, May thinks they need a romantic getaway and offers them the use of the cabin at Bass Lake for the weekend while she takes care of her grandchildren. The weekend at the lake ends up not really helping Max and Honey as unbeknownst to anyone, Bob and Toppy have made the trek from Toronto to the Bass Lake cabin for the weekend as well. Upon seeing the Torontonians, Max and Honey can see that there is something different and troubling in Bob and Toppy's marriage. Bob and Toppy are keeping one collective secret which is placing strain on their marriage, but Bob has one of his own that could cause even more damage. Back in New Bedford, Wanless Furniture is sponsoring a bed race. Hub, Fat and Maisey are sure they can win. All they need is a bed, a sponsor (which they find in Ollie) and a little luck. They aren't going to win if the Cramps have any say in the matter, the Cramps who are entering the race themselves and who place a wager with the children on the race outcome.
Episode 3
60 mins
Following her separation from Bob, Toppy is back in New Bedford living in May's house. She is feeling self-conscious of her new separated status and the probable talk around town behind her back. Meanwhile, fourteen year old Hub is growing up and getting to the stage in life where he is testing his own mettle. Honey and Max are asking more of him around the house. And the adults around town see him as a good boy. However, what he sees as his goody-goody status does not sit well with him as he feels it is too constricting on his life. He rebels by hanging out with the boys at the pool hall, something a good boy would not do. Although not directly associated with them, Hub does protect the wrong-doings of those boys, and even contributes to the wrong-doings by stealing pocket change from his mother's business to play pinball. Max knows what's going on with Hub. Rather than harshly discipline him, Max decides a better course of action is to acknowledge the wrong-doings and ask Hub to make amends for it. But Hub needs to figure out for himself how he best fits into life in New Bedford at this transitional stage of life. This thought process is assisted when he is asked to sit vigil overnight for the body of Ruth Fillian - a teen-aged girl who committed suicide - and after he takes the literal leap of faith that all the other boys who verge into manhood have taken in New Bedford by jumping off the railroad trestle into the lake below just before the arrival of the train.
Episode 4
60 mins
Max and Honey have decided to give Hub a little more leeway in his life, something difficult for Honey to do as she still does not agree with many of the choices he is making. Doris is coming back to New Bedford to visit with her mother. Along with Doris are her two snobbish friends, sisters Frankie and Clarice Bloore, to whom Doris has told fanciful stories of her mother's glamorous but tragic life, the stories seemingly straight out of a romance novel. Upon their arrival, the Bloore sisters see in New Bedford and its residents a backward rural town and backward townsfolk not to their urban sensibilities. Toppy gets wind of her daughter's stories about her and does whatever she can to gain her daughter's approval. Doris' visit coincides with the annual New Bedford Fall Fair. Historically organized by May, the Fall Fair this year is being organized by Grace because of May's health issues. Things are going relatively smoothly until the grand prize for the fair's showpiece - the most beautiful mother-baby competition - gets broken in transit to New Bedford. Along comes Tucker Findlay to save the day. Tucker is a photographer with popular Vanity Lane magazine, he who is traveling the Ontario fair circuit doing portraiture sales. He offers his services as the grand prize. Although a good photographer, Tucker is a scam artist, bilking local businesses along the way and offering unrealistic hopes of fame and fortune to his customers for a price. What's worse is that he is a Lothario preying on unsuspecting women. Although caught up like everyone else with Tucker's promises, Honey soon learns first hand of Tucker's true nature. First, he captures a risqué photograph of Honey - unintentionally risqué on Honey's part - which he talks Alden into running as the front page photograph for the Chronicle's Fall Fair edition. And second, he gropes Honey at a later photo shoot. When Tucker seemingly has run out of town without settling his financial accounts, Honey, Max, Archie, Grace and Hub go after him at what is his last scheduled meeting in New Bedford, that at the Bailey household to take Toppy's portrait. Will they make it in time to catch Tucker and more importantly save Toppy from his groping hands?
Episode 5
60 mins
Many in town are getting into new business ventures. With the demise of the North Bridge bus, Alden and Callie want to start their own bus line both to keep the viability and need for the hotel by bringing people to town, and to make money. They talk Del into being a 25% partner, Del who is solely to provide mechanical support and the driving. Del regrets getting into this venture when he first sees the bus Alden purchases and second when the Cramps take total control of the decision making. Max gets into a business venture of his own with the Cramps when he needs transportation for the boy's basketball team to Pinebury and talks Alden into a creative win-win solution with his new bus. Max also later regrets this venture when Alden's decision making gets them into trouble. On smaller scales, Alice is working with her mother cleaning houses. And Fat and Maisey, who stumble along an overturned transport truck with cargo, decide to take the caseload of dry breakfast cereal. Their thought is to send the boxtops to the cereal company for their advertised giveaways, and sell the cereal itself at a marked down price to whomever wants to buy it. Fat also later regrets this decision as no one wants the cereal and when Max gets wind of what Fat did, Fat is grounded. Hub has other things on his mind. At age fourteen, he is going through puberty - the fever as Maisey calls it - and is starting to notice girls. The one he has his eye on is fourteen year-old Alice, who is also going through the change physically. Hub thinks he may be in love. But Alice, who is still not allowed to talk to "a Bailey", also has other things on her mind. She hates her life: her father has begun to drink due to not being able to work because of his disability, and she has to work to help make ends meet for the family. In addition to Hub, she also catches the eye of Cliff, a young twenty-something man in town to help clear the transport truck mess. In Cliff, Alice sees someone who can get her out of her miserable life in New Bedford. Hub does whatever he can to stop Alice from getting involved with Cliff, although Hub isn't sure if he's doing it for Alice's sake or his own.
Episode 6
60 mins
Penniless recluse Orvy Potter has just passed away. In his will, he has bequeathed a Mexican crystal skull to May. Orvy states in a note to May that the skull has psychic powers, but also contains a curse that will be unleashed to anyone who disposes of it unwisely. Despite not having any emotional ties, Orvy's bequest to May was because he figured she of everyone he knew would know what to do with it. May thinks that claims of the skull's powers are nonsense, but Grace, Toppy, Fat and Maisey are intrigued. Grace and Toppy decide to test Orvy's claim regarding the skull; one by one, the questions they ask of the skull are answered in some fashion. News of the skull's powers quickly spreads among town, especially to May's friends and even Sergeant Stoneman, who wants to consult the skull on some unsolved petty theft cases. May is still skeptical until she inadvertently gets an important answer to a personal question in the presence of the skull. In another situation, she has a dream in the skull's presence which if true would help her on the road to saving the family business. With help from a stranger, May tests her dream. After May finds out the skull's history, cultural value and economic value, she decides to give it back to who she feels is the rightful owner. Meanwhile, a collection of squatters is found on May's Bass Lake property, apparently the group part of a relocation program of homeless out of Toronto who once out of the Toronto city limits are meant to fend for themselves. Among the squatters is young teen Ruby Trammel, who Maisey knew and hated in Toronto and who is every bit as tough as Maisey. Although Maisey has told fanciful stories of her own father being a mariner sailing around the world, his whereabouts and condition unknown, Ruby is spreading rumors of Maisey not ever knowing her father, a convicted criminal. Although not knowing the entire truth, Fat knows that Ruby's tales are probably closer to reality. But Fat sticks with Maisey, his friend, in her time of emotional need. Fat and Maisey decide to consult the skull about Maisey's father. This question looks to be one that will go unanswered until a mysterious young man arrives in New Bedford asking about Maisey.
Episode 7
60 mins
Crime is on the minds of New Bedford residents. Baby Face Nelson has been pulling his bank robberies in the States, and locally a band of robbers known as the Burlesque Bandits have been holding up unsuspecting victims. The Bandits have not yet arrived in New Bedford but the Cramps have been stirring up fear through what May considers sensationalistic journalism by glamorizing these acts of crime both in the Chronicle and on CRNB radio. At the same time, the mysterious stranger just arrived in town has caught at least Maisey's attention. The stranger, Eddy Jackson, has been hanging around her and the pawn shop. She thinks that he's casing the place to later rob it. But Eddy has been hired by the Cramps as the new bartender at the hotel, so he is at least trying to earn a decent wage. Leo recognizes Eddy as a shifty character from Cabbagetown, the old neighborhood where they lived in Toronto. Eddy had spent some time in jail for his past illegal deeds. Leo has not told anyone he knows Eddy. When Leo finally talks to Eddy for the first time, Leo learns that he is Maisey's biological father - Maisey being the reason Eddy has come to town - Maisey's parentage of which Eddy thought Leo knew. Leo wants Eddy to have nothing to do with Maisey. When the Cramps are held up by the Burlesque Bandits, many in town jump to the conclusion that Eddy is responsible, despite the fact that Eddy's watch was also stolen in the hold-up. Sergeant Stoneman brings Eddy in for questioning and detains Eddy when he learns that Eddy has a criminal record. The real Bandits try to hawk the stolen jewelry at the pawn shop, the loot which includes Eddy's watch which Fat recognizes. Ultimately the real Bandits are caught and Eddy's watch returned. But Eddy's reputation has now been tarnished in New Bedford and thus he can no longer stay there. Based on the inscription on the back of the watch, Maisey suspects he may be her father, a question she asks him directly. Eddy denies Maisey's question and he leaves town, but not before leaving her with a keepsake.
Episode 8
60 mins
With silver prices down and nickel prices up, May thinks it's a good time to move mining operations out to the Bass Lake property. To do so, the company will need to have their line of credit reinstated, which should only be a formality. For added insurance, May asks her old friend, Senator Carlisle Woodman who is now a board member with the Royal Dominion Bank, to use whatever influence he has to ensure the line of credit is approved. The senator is in town to help his son Maurice campaign, Maurice the Tory candidate running in the local federal by-election. Despite the senator's influence, Mr. Sainsbury still has the final say as District Manager, he who politely tells the senator to stay out of the business affairs of the bank. Against the wishes of Benjamin Kendrick, the local bank manager, Sainsbury declines the credit. Catching the senator in a white lie, May reevaluates her political friendships and her politics in total, especially when she speaks to the enthusiastic but self-deprecating Angus Hardy, the candidate for the newly formed Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF). With the bank, May still has a few tricks up her sleeve, which are made all the more easy to implement effectively when Hub and Fat uncover Sainsbury's true motivations and his actions to implement his own plans. Meanwhile, the Sutton brothers teach the local children the skill of orienteering when a small child is lost. And Del has to make some tough decisions when Ollie lays him off due to lack of business at the garage. Grace wants to be part of the decision making. Although she may not be able ultimately to influence Del, Grace can at least make decisions which affect her own happiness.
Episode 9
60 mins
The birth of the Dionne Quintuplets is all the talk in New Bedford. Grace in particular is fascinated by the story, she who is keeping a scrapbook on the babies. May is concerned that the Dionne Quintuplets and the scrapbook are replacements for Del, who has left town and Grace. Other town news is the permanent nervous leave taken by teacher, Mr. Bedoes. The reason for his leave brings to the forefront the on-going disagreement between Mrs. Whitney and Max on administering the strap on students, Mrs. Whitney being pro-strap, Max against the strap. In Mr. Bedoes' place is Mr. Flett - Jim - a widower who has been looking for a permanent teaching position. Jim is cerebral and quiet but he inspires his students - his life motto is "FLETT": first learn everything, then think. May thinks that Jim would be the perfect suitor for Grace, who is embarrassed by her mother's forthrightness in approaching Jim, especially since Del has only been gone for a short time. Jim may not be ready to date either as he has only been widowed for a short period (just over a year). With Jim is his son Pritchard, his given name being his mother's maiden name. Pritchard, who is Fat's age, is precocious, equally intellectual as his father, and one who has the gift of the gab. He is also small for his age but nonetheless plucky. Fat doesn't much like Pritchard, and some on-going issues between the two at school again raises the issue of effective discipline on students, Mrs. Whitney who increasingly pressures Max into using the strap as discipline. In Mrs. Whitney's view, Max's only other option if he is not going to use the strap as discipline is to resign as Vice-Principal. Max is forced to administer the strap on a student he later finds out did not commit the offense for which he was punished. This situation ultimately brings Fat and Pritchard closer as friends. But the issue of the strap's use eventually goes to the school board who has the final decision on the matter, regardless of Max or Mrs. Whitney's views.
Episode 10
60 mins
Star struck Grace is trying to fulfill her fantasies of a starlet's life. She starts a business as advertised at the back of Tinsel Times magazine, not so much for the income but because she thought it would bring her one step closer to being like a star. The venture is an utter failure. Just then, Nathan Sparks arrives in town. A director with Associated Screen Productions - a production company that specializes in newsreels - he is only passing through on his way to do a newsreel on the Dionne Quintuplets. Sparks' dream as a filmmaker is to make important feature length movies that have social significance, if only his producer/financier Bert Potter thought the same. Grace thinks Sparks' presence in New Bedford is fate. She convinces him to turn one of his stories into a feature length film to be scripted by Max and filmed in New Bedford with real people as the actors. The filming has its problems, especially in overacting by the non-actors, and Sparks only having a limited amount of film with which to work. But Ollie sees this project as an opportunity to rekindle his relationship with Grace. The entire project is halted when Bert Potter comes to town looking for his employee. Despite this dream not working out, Sparks' visit is ultimately beneficial for both him and Grace in knowing what they need to do in achieving their respective dreams. Grace's self-esteem is heightened with a little help from Fat, who is trying to find his own place in life in New Bedford.
Episode 11
60 mins
It's the Christmas season, 1934, and a time for reflection for many New Bedford residents. On pragmatic matters, May is quickly called away to Cape Breton to take care of Cousin Jessie, who has taken a fall and requires care. Doris is spending the holidays in New York with her friends, which gets both Grace and Toppy thinking about their own lives and dreams. Grace laments never having accomplished anything she's ever wanted to do, such as travel, and laments the suitors that have gone from her life. And Toppy laments her new separated status - at least with Grace, she sees someone who had a choice in her life whereas her separation from Bob was his decision. But Alden and Callie, in addition to wanting to make money, are building on these and other dreams by sponsoring a 126-hour dance marathon to start on Boxing Day, ending on the stroke of midnight New Years Day, 1935. The winners, if any, will win $200. To build loyalty into the CRNB listening audience, the Cramps also sponsor a team for which they think their listeners will cheer. They recruit Max and Honey, the Cramps who offer them as a winner's bonus three months free rent. Max and Honey agree to this deal, and think about buying a house with the possible winnings. But the Suttons aren't the only ones who hope to win to fulfill their dreams. Hub enters with Alice, Hub who thinks he's in love with her, but Alice who only sees in Hub a friend, like a brother. Toppy convinces Archie to dance with her, despite admitting he does not know how to dance. And Grace goes to reliable Ollie to ask him to be her partner, but Ollie is not there for her this time as he is now serious about Marjorie who will be his dance partner. Grace decides to ask Jim, who she doesn't know well, but being alone during the holiday season - Pritchard is in Niagara Falls visiting with his maternal grandparents - he agrees. Jim is still mourning the death of his wife, Kathleen, and is only doing this to get into New Bedford life. During the process of the marathon, the respective dance partners get to know each other better and get to know their deepest dreams and feelings. Will any of them get to fulfill their dreams by winning the contest?
Episode 12
60 mins
Left to their own devices, Fat, Maisey and Violet get into a animal care/cooking mishap. This incident is only the latest which gets Honey into a old feud with May regarding what Honey sees as May's criticisms of her both as a mother and a human being. Honey has of late been assisting Iris Barlow in the women's mission, specifically in halting the spread of influenza that has not quite yet reached New Bedford, and providing services for and supplies to those on relief. What she feels is her small contribution, Honey provides free hairdressing service to those on relief. One of her free clients is Norma, who Honey sees much like herself immediately after Jack's death. Norma, with two children both still in the diaper stage, has been traveling around Northern Ontario looking for her husband who has been searching for work. Honey does whatever she can to help Norma get through this rough time. Norma and her two children become ill, and Honey appoints herself as their nursemaid. The illness turns out to be the virulent strain of influenza that has already killed six people in Pinebury. Honey ends up being quarantined at Norma's apartment because of it. Norma and her family recover from the illness, however Honey comes down with a worse case of the illness since Honey had had a previous chest infection which made her more susceptible to such. With the hospital in North Bridge already overflowing to the rafters, Dr. Barlow feels he can better treat Honey at home. May shows the family what she really thinks of Honey when it looks like Honey may not survive her illness.
Episode 13
60 mins
The mood in the Sutton household is somber as Honey is still in the hospital in Toronto, with little news making it back to New Bedford about her condition. But the family is trying to continue with life. Max in particular is exhausted and is asking more from the boys to keep the household functioning. Fat, with Maisey and Pritchard, have a new fascination with Buck Rogers. Jim fuels this fascination with theories of life on Mars. Hub is still thinking about Alice, now that she is again speaking to him. But Mrs. MacFarlane knows that nothing can ever come of a union between a Bailey and a MacFarlane, a concern she expresses directly to May. But Alice has other thoughts on her mind, which is ultimately indirectly aided by a move by her mother. On business fronts, May is holding a shareholders meeting to discuss publicly trading the company with the new nickel venture at Bass Lake. Bob is coming from Montreal for the meeting. Both May and Toppy see Bob's impending visit as both a positive professional and personal visit to get involved in the family business once again, and move back to New Bedford to resume his life with Toppy. However, Bob's intentions are exactly the opposite as he brings his new girlfriend to New Bedford with him. The shareholder meeting also brings to the forefront the issue that Max, having never adopted the boys, is not their legal guardian. This news prompts a reaction from Fat. Meanwhile, Ollie and Marjorie are preparing for their impending nuptials. As Marjorie seemingly has few close friends, Grace throws Marjorie a bridal shower, which results in townsfolk talking about Grace trying to display outwardly that she has no romantic feelings for Ollie. When Libby, Marjorie's sister and matron of honor, sprains her ankle, Grace is also forced to act as Marjorie's new maid of honor. Grace isn't sure if she should accept this role, especially after an admission from Ollie.