Episode
Day 81
Day 81 brought the peculiar magic of Seahaven Springs in full force: fog arrived at town's edge and stopped as if remembering an appointment, clocks disagreed with the confidence of old friends, and a mystery rash kept Dr. Pratt thoroughly delighted at the hospital—though dear Elaine Whitlow bore it with her usual grace. Meanwhile, the traveling garden gnome continued its mysterious pilgrimage to yet another porch, seagulls remained undefeated against Marla's sandwich supply, and somewhere, Fern Gorse received a postcard from hands unknown, bearing secrets the bay keeps close. As rain fell and umbrellas bloomed across town in perfect synchronization, one sensed that in Seahaven Springs, even the weather knows exactly what it's doing.
OPEN THIS DAY IN THE BROADCAST
What was announced
00:00Fern Gorse has been discharged from Seahaven General and is right as rain.
03:00Clouds drift in over the bay. Gus pretends not to enjoy it.
07:00The lights of Seahaven Springs flickered for exactly three seconds. The town clock is unbothered.
08:00Fog has come in off the bay and stopped, very precisely, at the edge of town.
10:00Fern Gorse has received a postcard from somewhere far away. The handwriting is unfamiliar.
12:00The Town Hall clock and the bakery clock disagree by two minutes. Both are certain.
12:08The weather does something nobody predicted, which is somehow typical of this place.
13:00Marla Finch is in a staring contest with a gull on the dock. The gull is winning.
14:00A seagull has stolen Marla Finch's sandwich near the dock. Again.
15:00A hedge has been trimmed one inch past a boundary. Diplomacy is under way.
16:00Someone is practising the same eight bars of piano again. The town has grown fond of them.
17:00Rain has begun over Seahaven Springs. Umbrellas deployed with suspicious synchronization.
17:00Elaine Whitlow has come down with a mystery rash Dr. Pratt is thoroughly enjoying. Dr. Pratt is keeping them in for observation.
18:00There is one more chair at The Anchor than there was yesterday. Rex has not mentioned it.
21:00The puddle outside the Sunrise Café has returned to its usual dimensions.
22:00The traveling garden gnome has been spotted on a new porch. Nobody admits to moving it.
What was said
12:13Truman Beaumont, June Ellery
Morning, June. That coffee I owe you — am I collecting today or did the weather committee overturn my bet?
12:46Walt Gorse, Fern Gorse
There she is. Heard you took a tumble down the Town Hall stairs.
13:32Elaine Whitlow, Fern Gorse, Walt Gorse, Dr. Cornelius Pratt
Fern! Look at you standing. I was just telling the petunias you'd be back soon.★
16:49Sal Marino, Fern Gorse, Rex Callahan
Fern! Good to see you upright. The stairs didn't win after all.★
17:39Truman Beaumont, Bev Tanner
Bev! Thought I'd find you in here. Marla says the rain's supposed to last through supper.
18:08June Ellery, Marla Finch
Marla. Thank you for squeezing me in. The rain's making everything damp at Town Hall.
18:30Pearl Gorse, Elaine Whitlow
Elaine, love. I brought you some of Walt's shortbread. He insists on it.
18:54Kip Doyle, Dr. Cornelius Pratt
Doctor! Come in, come in — careful of the step, it's slick from the rain.
20:01Gus Tidewater, Marla Finch
Coffee's good today. You're using the darker roast.
20:03Dr. Cornelius Pratt, Dot Ferris
Dot, might I interest you in an early supper? The rain makes for poor ward rounds.
20:46Marla Finch, Gus Tidewater, Rex Callahan, Bev Tanner, Norma Quist
Rain like this reminds me of the old days—good for settling in with coffee, not so good for the dock.★