Moment of Truth (1985)

“Moment of Truth”
	;
Episode no.	Season 1; Episode 3
Directed by	Nancy Malone
Written by	William Bast & Paul Huson (story & teleplay)
Production no.	TC-003
Original airdate	1985-11-28 (ABC)
Ratings	50th (13)
Episode chronology
"Conspiracy of Silence"	"Family Album"
	Season Guide
	Season 1
Spin-off continuity
"The Proposal"	"The Close Call"

Plot Overview[]

On Thanksgiving Day, Dr. Maurice Boland confronts Jason with the bad news that another specialist has confirmed that he has left only six more months to live. Consequently Jason gives Miles 10% of Colby Enterprises as wedding gift for him and Fallon, but he still keeps the tragic facts about himself a secret.

Frankie wants to bridge the gap between her and Jeff. She offers her help concerning Fallon, but her son keeps being very hard on her and by telling her he does not need her anymore now. Monica tries to convince Jeff that Fallon loves Miles now and that he should give up on her. Miles wants to flee the tension and suggests Fallon to take her away for a honeymoon, but she wants to stay in L.A.

Frankie and Jason meet in the middle of the night and remember their very short affair they had a lifetime ago. Suddenly Sable turns up, but she obviously isn't suspicious.

Miles asks his mother to stay out of his life, but Sable is determined to help him. During lunch, she tries to talk Fallon into having a baby as soon as possible, which her new daughter-in-law refuses because she feels she must first find out who she is. Sable for her part appeals friendly but very unmistakably to Jeff's reason to move out, but Conny interferes and tells Sable that this will only happen over her dead body.

Jason warns Bliss’ boy friend Sean not to use her for his political purposes. Sean is indignant about his behavior and get into an argument with Bliss, but in the end they forget about Jason and reconcile.

On the next occasion, Sable blames Frankie for intruding into her family and her affairs and accuses her of conspiring with Conny in order to help Jeff. Frankie is determined to leave after that, but Jason manages to persuade her to stay - for his sake.

Zach makes Miles present a business offer of Powers Shipping to Jason. Again father and son clash with one another, because Jason almost blames him for talking to Zach.

By chance, Sable gets hold of the laboratory report of Jason’s doctors and is thunderstruck. At the same time, Dr. Boland breaks the news to Jason that everything about his sickness was a computer error: He is perfectly healthy. Jason is furious and threatens to kill him before he calms down and offers him a drink. This unexpected happy ending brings him to show to Sable a letter he wrote for her when he thought he was dying.

Cast[]

rest of cast listed by end credits order:

Charles Van Eman ... Sean McAllister
Nicholas Pryor ... Dr. Maurice Boland
Reid Shelton ... Oliver Baines
Ivan Bonar ... Henderson Palmer
Eb Lottimer ... George Samuels
Kiva Lawrence ... Denise

Crew[]

Produced by

William Bast .... developer / producer
Paul Huson .... developer / producer
Eileen Pollock .... creator / supervising producer
Robert Pollock .... creator / supervising producer
Esther Shapiro .... creator / executive producer
Richard Shapiro .... creator / executive producer
Douglas S. Cramer .... executive producer
Aaron Spelling .... executive producer
E. Duke Vincent .... executive producer
Marko Joelson .... associate producer
Christopher Morgan .... producer
Stephen K. Rose .... associate producer

Original Music by

Duane Tatro

Cinematography by

Richard L. Rawlings

Film Editing by

Chuck Montgomery

Casting By

Marc Schwartz

Art Direction by

John E. Chilberg II

Set Decoration by

Robert Checchi

Costume Design by

Nolan Miller

Makeup Department

Jeffrey Fetzer .... makeup artist
Tom Hoerber .... makeup artist
Lynn Masters .... hair stylist
Norman Page .... makeup artist
Barbara Ronci .... hair stylist

Production Management

Robert Della Santina .... assistant supervising production manager
Joseph Dervin Jr. .... executive in charge of post-production
Norman Henry .... executive production manager
Al Kraus .... supervising production manager
Catherine McCabe .... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Sam Epstein .... second assistant director
Richard T. Schor .... first assistant director
Wendy Shear .... second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

Richard J. Bayard .... construction coordinator
Douglas M. Keenan .... property master
Gordon Kirschbaum .... superintendent studio operations
Olga Lehmann .... set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department'

Bud Maffett .... sound mixer

Special Effects by

Gary Zink .... special effects

Camera and Electrical Department

Bill Williams .... assistant camera (uncredited)
Marty Dobkousky .... grip (uncredited)
Scott Hamilton .... assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department

Vicki Huff .... casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Robert Berdell .... wardrobe: men
Jean Rosone .... wardrobe: women

Editorial Department

John Woodcock .... supervising film editor

Music Department

Bill Conti .... composer: theme music
Rocky Moriana .... music supervisor
Tom Boyd .... oboe soloist (uncredited)

Other crew

Adell Aldrich .... script supervisor
Rick Edelstein .... executive script consultant
Bret Garwood .... executive coordinator
Bridget Hedison .... assistant to producer
Phill Norman .... title designer
Elaine Rich .... special consultant
Larry Luttrell .... location manager (uncredited)

Info Alert[]

Beginning with this episode, The Colbys moves to its regular time slot - Thursdays at 9:00 p.m.
This episode is the least watched episode of the season.
Zach mentions in this episode that his first wife was greek. In the original plans, Sable was to find out by the end of the season that Zach was still married to his true first wife, Irena (now disabled and unable to leave her home). That idea was scrapped and Zach was given a sister instead (Sean's mother).

Production details[]

Shooting dates: from September 20, 1985 to September 30, 1985
Filming locations: Paramount studios; Paley Residence (Bel Air); Marineland of the Pacific (Rancho Palos Verdes); Rodeo Collection (Beverly Hills); City Hall (Los Angeles); Barnsdall Park Art Gallery (Los Angeles).
Deleted scenes: While in his car, Jason looks at Francesca who is in the garden; Sable would like Jason to talk about Miles' wedding gift during the dinner but he refuses; Jason can't sleep so he left his bedroom; At Nina Ricci's, while seeing an emerauld dress, Fallon/Randall remembers wearing a similar dress and has an argument with Sable who tries to convince her to forget her memories; Jason and Miles talk about Zach again (and mention the rumor of Zach killing his wife in order to get her company).
Trimmed scenes: After his talk with Jason, Zach bribes a man from the maritime commission in order to have some informations on the Colby maritime transportation; Before his talk with Sean, Jason lifts a kid on his shoulders so he could enjoy the show of the dolphins; Once she knows about Jason's diagnostic, Sable tries to reach Dr. Bolland.

Quotes[]

Jason Colby: Damnedest thing, I... walk into your office for a routine checkup and walk out with a year to live. Now even that seems like a luxury. So many things I never got finished... so many things I never got said.
Monica Colby: I'm telling you Jeff, Fallon belongs to Miles now. Forget her.
Jeff Colby: Monica, you might as well tell me to stop breathing. I want Fallon back. And I'm going to get her back. Miles can go to hell.
Francesca Colby: 25 years is a long time, I know. But, we've got to start some place if we're ever going to bridge that gap.
Jeff Colby: Maybe if you stuck around that gap wouldn't exist.
Sable Colby: I thought you were above eavesdropping, Constance?
Constance Colby: I was not eavesdropping, I live here.
Jeff Colby: Miles, what was Zachary Powers doing here?
Miles Colby: He came to see me.
Jeff Colby: About what?
Miles Colby: That doesn't concern you.
Jeff Colby: Hey pal, half of everything that goes on around here is my business.
Miles Colby: This half isn't.
Sean McAllister: [about Jason Colby] Before I ever met this man I hated everything he stood for. Now I know why.
Jason Colby: I don't speak computerese. Talk human to me.