Any episode featuring Peggy Lipton is a plus, but this lyrical story transcends the standard cop-show formula and plays more like a classic "Route 66" drama. A wistful story with a depth of feeling seldom, if ever, expressed in the series. An especially memorable, sensitive drama with Lipton at her best as a somewhat lost, troubled Julie. Guest star Vincent Price -- playing a nice guy for change -- was never more charming and accessible.
A burned out Julie needs some alone time at a remote (and fabulous) beach house. On a stormy night she falls asleep watching an old movie (starring Price) and wakes to see a shadowy figure at her window -- who looks like the actor from the film (who died years earlier). What starts off like a ghost story turns into a touching friendship between Julie and "John Wells". A mysterious recluse, he takes an almost fatherly interest in Julie and becomes a friend and mentor as he drifts in and out of her life like an apparition. In fact, Julie's co-workers think Wells is just a figment of her imagination at first. Other elements include an enigmatic artist, a painting that contains a clue, and a secret cave.
The dream-like tone of the story holds up almost to the very end. The 3rd act does backslide a bit, allowing some stale cop show plot points (murder, betrayal, revenge, gun-play) to intrude in the finale. Still, the script is solid enough to withstand what was surely last-minute tampering by network hacks.
This is probably the closest Price ever came to playing himself on film. By all accounts he was an extremely kind, charming and sophisticated companion, and those qualities resonate in a role that was probably written expressly for him. The relationship between him and Lipton elevates this story miles above the usual formulaic, assembly-line production of crime-dramas of this era.
The title, by the way, is from a 13th century Persian poem (recited by Price in the story).
If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft, And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left, Sell one, and with the dole, Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.
