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# 206 <9.01> The Price of Freedom According to a CBS press release, LEO PENN was the original choice as the director of this season's opening episode. Executive producer JERRY THORPE, however, took over this duty himself on very short notice.  This episode, there is no recap before the main title to remind the audience of the events of the previous season. The following episodes, however, will usually contain a short recap of the past episode.This episode instead uses a so-called cold open, a pre-title segment jumping directly into the new story. In this episode's teaser before the main title, Jorge, the boy in the vineyard, leads Lance to a dead female falcon ("the señora") — a symbol the old show is gone. Contrary to popular myth, this female falcon is not Lance's male falcon, Apollo. It remains a mystery what has become of Apollo since the animal was last seen in season 3. The filming location is a growing field at Lincourt Vineyards in Solvang, CA (Santa Ynez Valley) — pretty close to the driveway at the intersection of Alamo Pintado Road and Adobe Canyon Road. The background picture on DANA SPARKS' and DAVID BEECROFT's main title cards in season 8 was already shot there (compare # 184).    The main title was completely redesigned for this season by DAN PERRI. It features an entirely new font, Friz Quadrata. This episode contains a special show logo, which was intended to be used for the whole season, but will be replaced again with the previous logo in the following episode already (compare # 207 for details). In the title, the upper arm of the capital "F" in "Falcon" was modified to look like a falcon's beak. In contrast, picture 3 shows what the regular "F" looks like in Friz Quadrata.
Series time frame: Apparently, a few months must have gone by since the season 8 finale (04/15/1989; see # 205) — especially considering Richard's trial took place in the meantime. As it can be concluded from the scene with Lance and Pilar in the vineyard, the 1989 grape harvest has not taken place yet. Giving respect to the fact that # 207 (see there) closes on Friday, 09/15/1989, the current episode most likely depicts the events around the first or second week of September 1989. The new season does not continue plotlines from season 8 although they were not finished:
 The picture car for Frank's gray Jeep Wrangler YJ (compare # 184) is a different one now. The fact that this is a new vehicle is recognizable because the current model does not have the big "Wrangler" lettering on the front fenders. It does not seem as if these tags were removed during hiatus, but it is apparently a different picture car of the otherwise exactly same type.
 In this and the following episode, all exterior scenes of the penitentiary where Richard is imprisoned as well as some interiors — processing room and corridor, cell block, dining room and light panel — are portrayed by a real prison, the Wayside Honor Rancho, a part of the Wayside Maximum Security Facility (nowadays Pitchess Detention Center — North Facility of the North County Correctional Facility) in Castaic, CA.
  Mistake: Richard's left hand is in different positions in subsequent frames — first a good distance away from the tray, then touching the corner of the tray. Again, this is the typical mistake caused by the particular close-up filming technique — check # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for details.
Deleted scene: Before Maggie comes home where Emma is waiting for her in the evening, the director's cut contained an act 1 scene with Maggie's first visit with Richard in prison — in a visiting room with a wire-mesh screen between them. Right at the beginning of this scene, Richard notices and addresses Maggie's new haircut. Richard tries to explain he has changed, having undergone a trauma in prison and feeling humilated. Maggie tries to fight off her tears because she is still torn between anger and her feelings for Richard. The scene ends with Maggie pulling out "We Miss You, Daddy" drawings from Michael and Kevin and pressing them against the glass partition. Unfortunately, this highly emotional scene was removed in post-production.   Strange: Where does Maggie live now?The Channing den seems very similar to the study at the ranch featured in season 8 (the shape of the room and the fireplace, even its decoration with two golden lions, is the same), but a modified hallway and a new entrance was added to that set. Is it just a similar room in a small house or is it really supposed to be the ranch? The bedroom (compare # 207) also seems to be the same one as in season 8. In # 205, Maggie agreed to move back to the ranch. Script # 206 only says "Channing House", exactly as in season 8. But in the following episodes, the new home rather seems to be a small cottage. Besides, the pool is different from the one at the ranch (compare # 171). The season 9 bible, however, clarified for # 207: "Richard returns home to the house he shared with Maggie", i.e. the ranch. When Richard talks to Julius, he mentions several real life names — partly product placement: Sharpe's office is said to have been designed by star architect I.M. PEI. Sharpe is said to wear suits by the Italian fashion house BRIONI. Original pictures by ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG (American pop artist) and JACKSON POLLOCK (American abstract expressionist) are said to be on his office walls.   In the fitness area of Sharpe's office, "Seated Figure (Classic Male)" is on the wall, a 1941 — 43 Expressionist style painting (oil and charcoal on wood panel) by Dutch-American artist WILLEM DE KOONING (1904 – 1997). An odd change was made to the upper right corner of the picture though.As with all artwork, it remains unanswered throughout the series if they are originals or if they are meant to be reproductions. The original of the aforementioned artwork is in a private collection. Inside joke: The character name of Michael Sharpe is an ironic portmanteau of two real names: The first name is "borrowed" from MICHAEL MILKEN, a controversial American investment dealer; the last name from W.S. SHARPE, a renowned MBA, who invented the "capital asset pricing model", a stock market theory he won the Nobel prize for. Real-life allusions: The character of Michael Sharpe and the Richard Channing / Michael Sharpe investment crimes storyline is an allusion to the white-collar crimes of MICHAEL MILKEN and his cohorts. The MILKEN name is even mentioned explicitly by Michael Sharpe when he talks to Richard in the penitentiary; also the "junk bonds" are referred to by Michael Sharpe — a special kind of high yield debt invented by MILKEN in real life. Background: During the 1980's, MICHAEL MILKEN greatly expanded the use of high yield debt, otherwise known as junk bonds, in corporate finance and acquisitions, which fueled the 1980's leveraged buyout boom. In 1986, the SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) conducted investigations about an insider trading ring of professionals working at a number of Wall Street firms, which had apparently been formed by DENNIS LEVINE, another investment banker, and also lead to a collaboration with MILKEN. In late 1988, New York District Attorney RUDOLPH GIULIANI (later the NYC mayor) charged MILKEN with 98 counts of various white-collar crimes. The investigation was greatly supported by IVAN BOESKY, an associate of MILKEN's, who had agreed to cooperate with the authorities to save his own butt. Indicted by a federal grand jury, MILKEN pled guilty to a very small portion of the original charges in a plea bargain. He was sentenced to ten years in a minimum-security facility — a term later reduced to 22 months. The parallels in the Channing / Sharpe storyline are obvious: By and large, the crimes Richard is convicted of match the ones MILKEN was charged with. Richard being sent to a real penitentiary rather than a "country club prison" (according to the judge) is a sarcastic allusion to MILKEN being sent to a minimum-security facility. Richard's plea bargain to be released from prison sooner alludes to BOESKY's cooperation with the D.A. and SEC.
 Changes in the Falcon Crest Victorian Mansion interior set:The first floor — except the study — was partly refurnished and repainted: yellow paint instead of blue wallpapers; as for the foyer, where the octagon carpet is back again (compare # 193), refer to the screen capture from the following episode. The stained glass window above the door from the kitchen hallway to the sun room is much brighter and shinier because there seems to be some light behind it now. There is no reason to be seen for the renovation in the first floor during the hiatus. The latest renovation remains a mystery giving respect to the fact Angela had everything redecorated just after the fire last season.   Mistake: During Angela's conversation with Gus Wallach in her study in the Falcon Crest Victorian Mansion, the phone on Angela's desk is not in the same place in all the frames — without being touched during the scene. The prop masters were not too careful during the various takes of the scene; neither were the editors when they combined the various versions that were filmed.In the usual process of making a movie or a TV show, scenes are oftentimes shot multiple times (e.g. as a wide angle shot and in close-up), which bears the risk of inconsistencies. Compare # 001 (Chase and Maggie at the Gioberti Family Cemetery) for the advantages and disadvantages of this shooting procedure. Original casting plans: Before JOHN DIEHL got the part of Gus Wallach, STUART PANKIN was cast, but the producers finally chose to use him in the upcoming rôle of Jason Sampson. Deleted scenes:
Real-life allusion: One of the prison guards mentions JOHNNY CASH. Deleted scene: Removed in post-production was a scene with Gus Wallach keeping a surveillance eye on Pilar in downtown Tuscany, where she comes out of the bank (filmed on My Three Sons Street on the backlot of CBS-MTM STUDIOS (now RADFORD STUDIO CENTER), including office building 5). It would have been interesting to see if that building was propped as the Tuscany Interstate Bank again.   Lance has a new silver 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL convertible (type R129) now.The filming location for the vineyard scene with Lance and Pilar is close to the family home of Lincourt Vineyards in Solvang, CA (Santa Ynez Valley); details see above. In Lance's close-up, the rectangular pavilion, which is actually situated right next to the Lincourt residence, is visible on the far right of the frame.
 The hot dog stand where Sharpe and Chalo meet is an exterior set built in front of office buildijng 5 at CBS-MTM (now RADFORD STUDIO CENTER), which was used as Tuscany Interstate Bank in season 8.LORIMAR's original blueprints of this set and many others are available for DFCF members in the Show – Production Office – Filming Locations – Movie Studios – Exterior Sets section.
 Uncredited extra DOUGLAS MAIDA appears as Dave in this episode again — this time, at his place of work again. This scene reveals that he is the receptionist in the Spa Building at the Del Oro now (so he was apparently promoted). Pilar addresses him as Dave, so this is the moment when his first name is revealed on the show.Strangely enough, it is not DOUG MAIDA's own voice in the short conversation with Pilar. He was dubbed by someone else in post-production. This and more details about the background actor's work are addressed in the exclusive 2022 DFCF interview with DOUG. Compare # 224 for biographical details about this minor rôle and a list of appearances throughout the series. For details about the extra, compare # 034.   The scene with Lance and Pilar in the Del Oro steam room is another proof for the new sex & crime format of the series. This scene was like a revolution on the most conservative CBS TV network in the late 1980's. In those days, the people in charge even spoke of it as the most intensely erotic love scene ever filmed for network television.
 Fictional entity: Jane Callendar, Sharpe's tax lawyer, is staying at Betsy's Motel.The exterior filming location is the front of bungalow 10 facing St. Elsewhere Street on the backlot of CBS-MTM STUDIOS (nowadays RADFORD STUDIO CENTER). The bungalow's "other" front facing My Three Sons Street was utilized for other purposes, e.g. in # 210 (compare there). This part of the backlot was remodeled in the 1990's.a small structure with semicircular arches next to the Wardrobe Department and behind bungalow 10 on St. Elsewhere Street on the backlot of CBS-MTM (RADFORD STUDIO CENTER). LORIMAR's original blueprints of this set and many others are available for DFCF members in the Show – Production Office – Filming Locations – Movie Studios – Exterior Sets section.
 The painting by JAMES ENSOR entitled "Le coup de lumière" ("Effect of Light"), which has been hanging in the Falcon Crest Victorian Mansion dining room on the wall adjacent to the stairway since # 130, is now on the dining room wall adjacent to the hallway between the kitchen and the sun room.For details about the picture itself, compare # 130. Frank lists a bunch of real life tennis professionals he played with, e.g. KEN ROSEWALL, FRANKIE SEDGEMAN, TONY TRABERT and LEW HOAD. Pilar confesses she was involved with Richard once, but before her marriage with Lance. Their affair must have been in 1986 because it was revealed in # 194 that Richard had saved Glenbraddoch from a hostile takeover at that time and must have gotten to know Pilar. Their affair can hardly have been at a later time because this would seem most unbelievable as Richard madly fell in love with Maggie later in 1986. Pilar mentions visiting Tommy and Kelly; she obviously survived the accident in Lake Tahoe, and they are living together now. Amazing that the writers mention those characters although they completely ignore any other part of the show's history. It seems strange that Sal is so surprised to see Richard in the prison tailor shop in the morning. If the explosion had worked out the way Sal planned, he would have heard of it. Episode time frame: It is early evening when Maggies dives into the pool — as she tells the boys to go inside with the nanny and get ready for dinner right before she tries to get Richard's soldiers from the bottom of the pool. When Richard arrives at the courthouse for his deposition, it is the next day, as can be concluded from greeting his lawyer: "Morning, Julius." The scenes in between are not in chronological order as far as the segments with Richard are concerned. Interspersing and going back and forth between Maggie and Richard was only hinted to a certain extent in the script and was deliberately expanded in post-production after the director and staff viewed the dailies. The idea of this montage of visuals was to create a stream of consciousness in which Richard, with his inner eye, is sensing what happened.  Richard's ride in the police car is obviously a blue screen technique. It is the very same shot of the road as seen through the window of the limo in the scenes with Emma and the Habermans in # 171 (see there) and in Rosemont's limo in # 181 (see there). The Tuscany Valley country road seen in the projection is Oak Knoll Avenue outside Napa (driving from northeast at approximately the intersection with Big Ranch Road in southwestern direction); it is stock footage LORIMAR shot during earlier location filming in the Wine Country.The police car is a 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Sedan.  The location of Richard's prison is a mystery because its name is never mentioned. It has to be outside of the Tuscany Valley County though since the deputy sheriff in the police car taking Richard from the penitentiary to the courthouse does not have the usual "Sheriff Tuscany Valley" shoulder patch, but a totally different one saying "Deputy Sheriff" (without any location).  Five of Richard's toy soldiers were dropped into the Channing pool.There are two editing mistakes in Maggie's desperate struggle — a montage of various takes of that scene: The position of the soldiers on the pool ground as seen from above is slightly different from their position when the camera features Maggie coming into the frame to get them.
 The additional office space of the Tuscany County Courthouse in the concrete building of the Tuscany County Administration Offices is portrayed by the southern entrance of the CBS-MTM (RADFORD STUDIO CENTER) dadministration building again albeit with a prop sign saying "Tuscany Courthouse" only. For the extensive use of this building, also refer to # 074.LORIMAR's original map of this part of the studio lot is available for DFCF members in the Show – Production Office – Filming Locations – Movie Studios – Exterior Sets section. It seems a mystery why Richard is taken to the Tuscany County Courthouse for his proposed testimony against Sharpe for three reasons: First, the prison where Richard is held is elsewhere (see above); secondly, Sharpe's company seems to be located in Sausalito (compare # 221); thirdly, when Richard finally testifies before the attorney general in # 207, he does so in the Philip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco. It seems the writers just lost track...  Except the final part with the Falcon Crest Victorian Mansion (a reused 1983 clip, which has been in use in the main titles since season 3), the end credits are superimposed over footage from the Santa Ynez Valley.The first segment is an aerial view of the main vineyard and barrel room of Lincourt Vineyards in Solvang, CA. For season 8, the final part of this clip was used on DANA SPARKS' and DAVID BEECROFT's main title cards. The footage in the current end credits is an earlier part of that helicopter view.
 The fifth segment of the end credits is a later part of the aerial view over the vineyard of Stolpman Vineyards on Ballard Canyon Road in Solvang, CA, which is known from segments 2 and 3; it is near the center of the vineyard, quite similar to segment 3, but a little further in northwestern direction.The actual order of the footage from Stolpman Vineyards as filmed from the chopper would be: segments 3 — 2 — 5. By cutting the whole sequence in parts and rearranging, the editors created the illusion of many different vineyards.
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