April 20th 1981: The Final Episode of "Soap" Aired Leaving Cliffhangers Unanswered - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-20-2010, 08:55 AM

Jessica has been kidnapped by El Puerco’s enemy and brought back to Malaguay. If El doesn’t return to the island, she’ll be killed. Mary is upset that her baby is likely half alien. After being hypnotized and regressed to a past life, Jodie still believes that he’s an old Jewish man named Julius. The Governor of Connecticut wants Burt to run as his Lieutenant Governor but insists that Burt distance himself from his crazy family. Before he can decide, Burt is lured into an ambush by thugs who’ve been told to kill him. Danny and Annie’s affair is discovered by a despondent Chester who’ll likely soon die in a duel with El. Feeling humiliated, he decides to shoot the pair first. Jessica tries to cajole and convince her captors not to execute her but is unsuccessful. She’s placed in front of a firing squad and we hear the guns fire. The series ends with several unresolved cliffhangers.

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treky · 04-21-2010, 02:30 AM

as for Jessica, we can assume that she really did die; because she showed up later on an episode of "BENSON" as a ghost.

McGillicuddy · 04-21-2010, 05:02 AM

That answers my question. I knew the character of Jessica showed up on a later episode of Benson, so I thought that suggested she survived the firing squad. However, I didn't realize she appeared as a ghost! So she really did die.

JR1 · 09-19-2010, 06:03 PM

Susan Harris revealed that Jessica would have survived the shooting (that the firing squad had blanks in their guns). I don't know if she ever spoke of the fates of Chester, Danny, Burt, etc.- I'm sure they would have survivied, though.

TVJunkie01 · 01-10-2012, 05:45 PM

actually it was said on Benson that Jessica was in a coma in mexico. so she was still alive.

Dr. Thong · 01-10-2012, 06:21 PM

Someone pointed out to me years ago that she felt that the last episode was very negative. And having rewatched it a while back on DVD, I have to agree.

I know Soap had some darkness from time to time, but it really does seem to me like they piled it on a lot towards the end of the show's run.

Guy Incognito · 01-11-2012, 03:26 PM

I always imagined that the aliens returned to "save" Burt, but only because they wanted Scotty back (because Burt proved himself "unworthy" by ignoring his family in pursuit of a political career). And faced with the possibility of losing his son, Burt finally comes back to himself and fights to regain his family's love. Obviously Chester doesn't shoot Danny and Anne (who do eventually get married...and then break up), but I imagine that he goes crazy again and disappears for awhile. El, Danny and Dutch attempt a rescue and get captured themselves along with Jessica. They attempt to escape, but El and Jessica disappear over a waterfall and are presumed dead (thus Ghost!Jessica's comment about being in a coma somewhere in South America). Back home, Eunice, Billy, Dutch and Corrine (who has returned in the wake of the tragedy) search for Chester and try to keep the household together. And Saunders will stand around looking snooty and cracking jokes.

Obviously, I've thought about this for awhile. Haven't solved the Jodie/Julius issue yet (though I'd imagine that Wendy would be the one to snap him out of it).

comedyfreak · 01-25-2012, 09:54 AM

That was the day the fans were cheated!! With no ending...

ThomasE · 07-08-2012, 02:22 AM

Jessie survived. I was glad about that when I saw her on Benson. She was not dead but in a coma somewhere in south america. I really cared more about her than anyone else for that matter.

04-20-2010, 08:55 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	April 20th 1981: The Final Episode of "Soap" Aired Leaving Cliffhangers Unanswered Jessica has been kidnapped by El Puerco’s enemy and brought back to Malaguay. If El doesn’t return to the island, she’ll be killed. Mary is upset that her baby is likely half alien. After being hypnotized and regressed to a past life, Jodie still believes that he’s an old Jewish man named Julius. The Governor of Connecticut wants Burt to run as his Lieutenant Governor but insists that Burt distance himself from his crazy family. Before he can decide, Burt is lured into an ambush by thugs who’ve been told to kill him. Danny and Annie’s affair is discovered by a despondent Chester who’ll likely soon die in a duel with El. Feeling humiliated, he decides to shoot the pair first. Jessica tries to cajole and convince her captors not to execute her but is unsuccessful. She’s placed in front of a firing squad and we hear the guns fire. The series ends with several unresolved cliffhangers. http://tvseriesfinale.com/tv-show/soap/ Attached Images
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04-21-2010, 02:30 AM	#2
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	as for Jessica, we can assume that she really did die; because she showed up later on an episode of "BENSON" as a ghost.
	__________________ the Clampetts are in a fancy Beverly Hills jewelry store. Granny points to a tray of rubies. Granny: "How much fer one o' them red diamonds?" clerk: "Madam, those are rubies." Granny: "OK ask her kin we buy one offa her." clerk: " The ruby I am talking about is not a lady." Granny: "Lissen, how she got them diamonds is her business. I'm just sayin' ask her kin we buy one from her."

01-10-2012, 06:21 PM	#6
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Someone pointed out to me years ago that she felt that the last episode was very negative. And having rewatched it a while back on DVD, I have to agree. I know Soap had some darkness from time to time, but it really does seem to me like they piled it on a lot towards the end of the show's run.
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01-25-2012, 09:54 AM	#8
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,058	That was the day the fans were cheated!! With no ending...
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04-21-2010, 05:02 AM	#3
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	That answers my question. I knew the character of Jessica showed up on a later episode of Benson, so I thought that suggested she survived the firing squad. However, I didn't realize she appeared as a ghost! So she really did die.

09-19-2010, 06:03 PM	#4
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	Susan Harris revealed that Jessica would have survived the shooting (that the firing squad had blanks in their guns). I don't know if she ever spoke of the fates of Chester, Danny, Burt, etc.- I'm sure they would have survivied, though.

01-10-2012, 05:45 PM	#5
TVJunkie01 Member First Time Poster Join Date: Jan 10, 2012 Posts: 1	actually it was said on Benson that Jessica was in a coma in mexico. so she was still alive.

01-11-2012, 03:26 PM	#7
Guy Incognito International Man of Misery Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2011 Location: The Solar System Posts: 83	I always imagined that the aliens returned to "save" Burt, but only because they wanted Scotty back (because Burt proved himself "unworthy" by ignoring his family in pursuit of a political career). And faced with the possibility of losing his son, Burt finally comes back to himself and fights to regain his family's love. Obviously Chester doesn't shoot Danny and Anne (who do eventually get married...and then break up), but I imagine that he goes crazy again and disappears for awhile. El, Danny and Dutch attempt a rescue and get captured themselves along with Jessica. They attempt to escape, but El and Jessica disappear over a waterfall and are presumed dead (thus Ghost!Jessica's comment about being in a coma somewhere in South America). Back home, Eunice, Billy, Dutch and Corrine (who has returned in the wake of the tragedy) search for Chester and try to keep the household together. And Saunders will stand around looking snooty and cracking jokes. Obviously, I've thought about this for awhile. Haven't solved the Jodie/Julius issue yet (though I'd imagine that Wendy would be the one to snap him out of it).

07-08-2012, 02:22 AM	#9
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Jessie survived. I was glad about that when I saw her on Benson. She was not dead but in a coma somewhere in south america. I really cared more about her than anyone else for that matter.