True Confessions was a short-lived anthology series
which produced episodes that were inspired by articles in
the magazine of the same name; dramatic tales of heart break
and betrayal that were told from a woman's perspective.
The syndicated daily half hour series ran at various times
in various markets in 1986-1987.
130 episodes were produced.
The stories were introduced by host Bill Bixby.
Patricia - Laurie Burton
David - David Hedison
Elizabeth - Anita Jesse
Dan Vickers - Nick Eldridge
Story by Alan Landsburg and Howard Lipstone
Teleplay by Charles Keel
Director - John "Doc" Moody
Patricia is the secretary to ad agency
executive David. Due to downsizing, his department is being
eliminated and he is offered early retirement as a graceful
exit. David seems less upset about his sudden "retirement"
than Patricia, his secretary. It turns out she is his
mistress and has been for 18 of the nineteen years she's
been employed.
He is going to accept the offer and when they meet at her
apartment, Patricia doesn't see how the affair can continue
when he is retired. He could always say he had to work "at
the agency" on the Mondays, Thursdays and every other Saturday that he spent with her. He never wanted to hurt
his wife Elizabeth by telling her he
was having an affair.
Patricia presses for a new arrangement. David promises to
get another job so they
can stay together in the old one. He doesn't want to lose
her. They seal the deal with a kiss.
Back at the office, head of human resources Dan Vickers will
be taking over David's office. He asks Patricia to work for
him. She declines, saying she'd rather move on with David to
his new job. Dan is surprised that she doesn't know about
the non-compete clause in David's severance package. His
salary is covered as long as he doe
s not take another ad job
for two years. Patricia is upset he has not told her this.
She arranges to meet David after hours by using their code.
He doesn't want to, but he does meet her. She confronts him
about the clause. He says he forgot all about it
and that he doesn't think it will be a problem. He asks for
time to find another way for them to be together and he
wants her to take the job (temporarily) with Vickers until
he can figure out what to do.
Now that his sons are grown, Patricia wants David to
consider leaving his wife. He won't, claiming that without
his job, he can't afford a divorce. David promises he still
loves her and asks her to hold on, he will work out
something.
David comes for his usual Saturday and says there is no way
he can got out of the clause. But he doesn't want to give up
the money, either. She presses him, but he doesn't want to
talk about it.
Patricia invites Elizabeth
to lunch to find out if David has made any plans.
Elizabeth thinks they are meeting to
plan his farewell party, but that's not what Patricia wants
to talk about.
But before Patricia can tell Elizabeth about her affair
with David, she is horrified
to learn that Elizabeth
knows all about the contract clause, and confides that David
is taking her to
Hawaii for six months as soon as
he retires.
Reluctantly, Patricia accepts the job from Dan Vickers. He
is relieved. Dan tells her he's divorced and invites her out
for a drink at The Grotto, so the agency can pick up the
tab. She doesn't want to go, but finally does. While they
are there, Patricia spots David cuddling with the new young
copywriter. Vickers is not surprised. He says David has
always fooled around and that there was a office pool as to
when he would make it with the "new" girl.
Patricia walks over, confronts David and says they are
through, admitting out loud to herself that in a way, she is
relieved and vows to start over, without him. She leaves him
with his new conquest, for however long that will last.
