Skip to content

American Playhouse

Season 7 · 16 episodes · Jan 13, 1988

  1. Episode 1

    Strange Interlude, Part I

    Jan 13, 1988

    Spanning decades, Nina Leeds, deeply traumatized by the death of her fiancé during World War I, is unable to move past the unconsummated relationship, she embarks on a turbulent journey across different roles in her life (daughter, wife, mistress, and mother).

  2. Episode 2

    Strange Interlude, Part II

    Jan 19, 1988

    Spanning decades, Nina Leeds, deeply traumatized by the death of her fiancé during World War I, is unable to move past the unconsummated relationship, she embarks on a turbulent journey across different roles in her life (daughter, wife, mistress, and mother).

  3. Episode 3

    Strange Interlude, Part III

    Jan 20, 1988

    Spanning decades, Nina Leeds, deeply traumatized by the death of her fiancé during World War I, is unable to move past the unconsummated relationship, she embarks on a turbulent journey across different roles in her life (daughter, wife, mistress, and mother).

  4. Episode 4

    The Lawrenceville Stories, Part 2: The Return of Hickey

    Feb 3, 1988

    The mischievous Hickey returns to school to find himself against a worthy rival. Scheming to outdo each other for the loyalty of their peers, their comedic battle of wits turns the school into the headmaster's worst nightmare.

  5. Episode 5

    Lemon Sky

    Feb 10, 1988

    17-year-old Alan strives to build a relationship with his preoccupied father, only to confront his father's emotional dishonesty, cruelty, and lies, leading to a bitter realization that the father he wants doesn't exist.

  6. Episode 6

    The Revolt of Mother

    Feb 17, 1988

    In 1890s New Englans, Father is going to build a new barn. However, Mother wants the new house she's been promised.

  7. Episode 7

    Pigeon Feathers

    Feb 17, 1988

    A young boy suffers a crisis of faith when he begins to question whether or not the soul exists and if there is life after death.

  8. Episode 8

    Billy Galvin

    Feb 24, 1988

    Boston ironworker Jack Galvin wants his son to become an architect, but Billy wants to be a steelworker like his dad, leading to conflict over their differing dreams.

  9. Episode 9

    Journey Into Genius

    Apr 6, 1988

    A historical recreation of actual events in the life of playwright Eugene O'Neill, drawing on his troubled youth as he attempts to deal with his conflicting feelings of jealousy, competition and love with his father.

  10. Episode 10

    Suspicion

    Apr 13, 1988

    A sheltered heiress falls for a charming playboy and elopes with him, but soon discovers his gambling vice and mounting debts. As his lies deepen and those around them meet mysterious ends, she begins to suspect that her husband’s affection may conceal a deadly motive—and that she could be his next victim.

  11. Episode 11

    The Trial of Bernhard Goetz

    May 11, 1988

    A presentation of uncensored portions of the highly emotional December 1984 videotape confession of Bernhard Goetz, known as the 'Subway Vigilante', who opened fire on four teens he feared were about to rob him on a New York subway train.

  12. Episode 12

    The Land of Little Rain

    Jun 1, 1988

    Early feminist and nature writer Mary Austin struggles to write and publish in the male-dominated California of the early 20th-century.

  13. Episode 13

    I Never Sang for My Father

    Jun 15, 1988

    A man who wants to move on with his life by moving to California and marry his girlfriend, finds it difficult as he still lives in the towering shadow of his aging father.

  14. Episode 14

    Native Son

    Jun 29, 1988

    In 1940s Chicago, a young Black man takes a job as a chauffeur to a white family, which takes a turn for the worse when he accidentally kills the couple's teenage daughter and then tries to cover it up.

  15. Episode 15

    The Big Knife

    Jul 27, 1988

    Charles Castle is a successful Hollywood actor who has opted for screen success over art. He must make critical decisions regarding his career, his marriage, his art and morality. Castle is pressured by his superiors and manipulated into a potentially murderous cover-up to protect his career.

  16. Episode 18

    Episode 18