Augusta Lockridge's first departure
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From the first episode, Augusta appears as the daughter Minx Lockridge would have dreamed of having to ensure her legacy. As a true femme fatale, Augusta embodies all the traits of a Lockridge heir, even though she was born a Wainwright. Augusta uses her charms and weapons to keep the shadow of justice away from her son Warren's life. She works behind the scenes to keep Ted Capwell away from Laken's life. She calculates and maneuvers to uncover Minx's secrets, as well as those of Brick and Cassandra. Throughout her marriage to Lionel, Augusta is the guardian of the Lockridge clan; she has absorbed the strength, beauty, and soul of the estate she lives in. People call her eccentric, but the word that truly describes her is excessive ! Accompanied by her faithful Doberman, Breeze, she is the keeper of this sanctuary, of her sanctuary...

A villa as a sanctuary...

Lionel, through his betrayals, has broken one by one the ties that bound them. The shadow of actress Sophia Wayne Capwell, present from the early years of their marriage, eventually overcame his determination. Even though Augusta married the war between her heart family and the Capwells, she was worn down from fighting in Lionel's place. Her deepest wound remains the loss of the villa to their eternal enemy, C.C. Capwell, to pay off Warren's gambling debts. In exchange for Capwell's silence, Lionel and she lost the villa, the family stronghold. Although they were divorced by then, Augusta never recovered from this wound : it was almost as if they had ripped not one of her children away, but one of the diamonds from Breeze's collar...

By an unfaithful love, Lionel and Augusta have always loved each other. But in 1986, Augusta grew tired of eternally fighting against Sophia. If the others never mattered, Sophia always held a special place; a place now made real with the arrival of Brick Wallace in town. Brick, the carnal embodiment of Lionel's betrayal, is certainly the most painful wound for Augusta. That is why, one day, determined to end her marriage, she organizes a house sale or a "wedding sale" to get rid of all the gifts Lionel gave her during their life together. Everything goes : evening gowns, throws, even her wedding shoes and her wedding ring... Although she ends up buying it back, Augusta wants to show Lionel that for her, the page has turned. And that the word "divorce" no longer scares her !

After their divorce, off-screen, Augusta distanced herself from the Lockridge life, like a ship leaving its usual port to discover new horizons. Her path crossed that of another man, a man who restored her confidence in herself, a man who placed their love above all else. That was enough for Augusta to become the Augusta Lockridge of the early years again. Joseph, for that was his name, rekindled the passion, the fire, and the madness within her. Yet, despite all this love, Augusta feels incomplete, imperfect. She eventually realizes what she is missing : she cannot bear that the Lockridge villa is in the hands of the Capwells ! So...

A kidnapping for a villa...

Then... Even though she fought Lionel during their divorce to obtain paintings and other artworks, Augusta knows that this villa can belong to no one other than the Lockridges. So, with the help of her lover, Augusta sets up a scheme. She orchestrates her own kidnapping with Joseph and demands a ransom of 2 million dollars ! This is what she explains to Lionel after her fake abduction. She reveals part of the truth : she sympathized with her kidnappers and does not want the police involved in this story. So, in an empty Orient Express, in the heart of the circle of truth drawn by Lionel, Augusta confesses. She admits that she fell in love a long time ago with a man, the kidnapper with whom she organized this fake kidnapping. Her wish before leaving Lionel and living her love with Joseph is for Lionel to buy the villa back for his mother. This is what she tries to explain to a Lionel who doesn't seem to understand her words. His Augusta, despite everything they have been through, wants to leave him for another... And she does not want to leave him with anything but pity... Lionel collapses, alone. Joseph's love for his Augusta defeats him...

Joseph and Lionel briefly face each other at the Orient Express. Augusta presses herself against Joseph, as if searching for the only way not to rush into Lionel's arms. What does Lionel infer from their relationship during this brief encounter ? Is it jealousy that makes him think his Augusta has lost all eccentricity, all the radiance that made her such a unique being ? As she departs, supported by Joseph, it is a cold, half-extinguished figure that walks away, and Lionel watches her leave the restaurant... A being who has lost the magic of love...

This new love will also affect Julia. Julia, who comes to try to reason with her sister, does not understand. Julia, so rational, can not grasp how her sister can give up her real life to leave with a man whose name she has never once spoken. She does not understand why Augusta, who is packing her suitcase, is taking a picture of Lionel with her. And as always in such situations, Julia cries, Julia shouts... And when Joseph enters the apartment, Julia looks down on him. When she lays eyes on him, she sees mystery, she sees an appearance, a shadow that breaks the bond her sister had with Lionel. Julia stares at him and demands that Augusta not introduce him : she does not want to know him, because in her eyes, he does not deserve to be known... Simply because he does not matter. And yet, it is in his arms that Augusta seeks refuge...

A refuge of masquerade... A facade of love... An illusory couple. That is the reality of Augusta and Joseph's relationship. There is no love... Only false appearances and illusion... And mystery. Because Joseph is here to make Augusta leave town. He is a reason, a sleight of hand, or magic, to make Augusta leave the city and be forgotten by her loved ones. Joseph is here to make them forget the essential : why is Augusta leaving ? What is the true secret behind Augusta's departure ? What is hidden behind this fake relationship ?

Augusta leaves Santa Barbara, supported, escorted, in the arms of a Joseph with whom there has never been real proof of intimacy. Joseph, although appearing kind and present, does not embody the lover who would suit Augusta. His whole being breathes classicism; no eccentricity, no color, no "life"... And yet... Yet, he is the one Augusta chose to dare to finalize her separation from Lionel... He is the one she chose to offer her a different place and a new life... And what life ? We will never know...

A character surrounded by mystery, Joseph is in his too brief appearances a man who sparks interest and raises questions. Who is he really ? What is the true nature of his relationship with Augusta Lockridge ? What secret do they share ? And, just like Lionel, we have the right to ask ourselves, why him ? So many questions that will remain unanswered. Yet with Augusta, we could have expected the best ! With Joseph's help, Augusta could have formed a business duo to take on C.C.. They could have armed themselves against Sophia and made her regret her past affair with Lionel by stealing the Armonti Industries, or by resurrecting old secrets about the former actress. Maybe Joseph has been Augusta's lover for years, Warren's biological father ? Maybe Joseph was a henchman of Anthony Tonell, who came too early to abduct his boss's fiancée ? Or maybe, just for a while, Augusta simply got tired of the California coast ?... Some possibilities and leads that the writers could not or did not want to explore... Fortunately, 1988 will see Augusta's return to the Santa Barbara beaches.

Text written for this site by Lilian