Soap

- Season 1

(1977)

The Tate family is rich and has many secrets to hide. The Campbell family is working-class and tackling many personal problems.

After her tennis lesson, Jessica lunches with Mary, who mistakes her sister's glow for a facelift. At the office, Claire catches Chester wooing his newest mistress via telephone. Claire threatens to tell Jessica; when that fails to scare Chester, she also threatens to call the SEC. Jodie comes out of Mary's closet wearing one of her outfits and blonde wig. Mary tells Burt that Jodie wears her outfit better. . . and that is not Jodie's big surprise! Burt ran into his long lost son at a sporting goods store; he is coming to dinner that evening to meet the family. Danny ...

The families are introduced to Peter Campbell, Burt's son from his first marriage; the Godfather offers Danny a contract to leave the mob, by killing his own stepfather Burt.

NFL quarterback Dennis Phillips turns out to be Jodie's boyfriend; Danny makes several hilarious attempts on Burt's life while the oblivious victim is happily making a sandwich.

Corinne reveals her feelings for Catholic priest Father Timothy Flotsky, but still decides to move in with Burt's son Peter; Burt cannot reveal his secret to a sex psychiatrist, who admits to his own troubles from a Playboy bunny.

Father Tim has to raise his voice in church to drown out Corinne's pleas; Jessica blames Chester for her affair with Peter, as he was the one who bought her a tennis racket for her birthday.

Chuck and Bob arrive from Hawaii, insulting everyone within earshot; Chester's secretary Claire reveals all to Jessica, who believes only that the poor girl is delusional about having an affair with her husband; on a fishing trip with Danny at a secluded cabin, Burt goes from jubilant to nervous as his stepson reveals his intent to kill him.

Unable to kill his stepfather Burt, Danny must now hide out from the mob, telling his mother that he's been chosen to work undercover as a spy.

Awaiting his sex change operation, Jodie befriends an elderly Jew named Barney Gerber, and a pretty nurse who jumps at the chance to 'convert' a homosexual; Burt tells Dr. Medlow how he killed Mary's first husband in self defense, and is assured that it was not premeditated.

An ecstatic Burt returns home ready to celebrate after six months of celibacy, but a distraught Mary is unable to reciprocate; devastated at losing Dennis to a woman, Jodie swallows 45 pills in a desperate suicide attempt, tearfully slipping away as Barney Gerber displays his joy for life.

Barney Gerber reassures Burt and Mary that Jodie is doing fine, while Jessica confesses her affair with Peter to her husband Chester, who only feels amusement at her unfaithfulness.

Jessica delivers an ultimatum to the philandering Chester, and threatens to kill Peter Campbell for lying to her and betraying her daughter Corinne; late that night, while in the shower, Peter is murdered by an unseen assailant.

In the aftermath of Peter's murder, Chief of Police Tinkler goes over the facts with both the Tates and the Campbells.

In the aftermath of Peter's murder, the Tates and Campbells take turns suspecting each other. Chief of Police Tinkler arrives to make a startling arrest.

Corrine's natural mother, formerly the Tates' Swedish maid, travels to Dunn's River to be with her daughter; tiring of running from the mob, Danny winds up in bed with the daughter of mob boss Mr. Lefkowitz.

Corinne meets her real mother, Ingrid Svenson, for the very first time; still vengeful at the loss of her child, Ingrid has hired a German detective whose abrasive nature rubs Benson the wrong way; and Chief of Police Tinkler gathers enough evidence to arrest Jessica for Peter's murder.

Chester has to mortgage the house to make Jessica's bail; Burt claims he can make himself invisible.

Chester enlists on Jessica's behalf E. Ronald Mallu, the most expensive attorney money can buy; Chester's spiteful secretary Claire finally makes good on her threats by turning him in to the SEC.

E. Ronald Mallu struggles to find good character witnesses for Jessica among her crazy family; Jessica's heartfelt pleas to Corinne are shot down by the bitter Ingrid Svenson, who convinces Corinne that she only did it to prevent her testifying against her mother in court.

Exhausted by Elaine's affections, Danny is stunned to learn that he must marry her or have his brains blown out; Jodie hides Bob in the refrigerator, only to learn that Chuck cannot carry on a conversation without another identity.

Jessica's trial begins, with the prosecutor saying such nasty things about her that she threatens not to come back; Jodie meets Carol David, E. Ronald Mallu's assistant, who finds the 'suicidal homosexual' adorable.

While dining at a Japanese restaurant, Carol convinces Jodie to go away with her for a weekend; Jessica's trial continues, with the prosecutor announcing a surprise witness.

Burt finally tells Mary how he killed her first husband; Ingrid loses Corinne after sleeping with Judge Petrillo; and Tim's mother can't suppress the desire to strangle Corinne, the girl who stole her son away from the priesthood.

Jodie wakes up in bed with Carol, understandably confused about the previous night's events; Chief of Police Tinkler drops by to arrest Chester for his stock manipulations; E. Ronald Mallu's summation brings Jessica's trial to a close.

Tim and Corinne plan their wedding; Carol convinces Jodie that they should live together; and the jury returns a verdict in Jessica's trial.