By 1968 Christina's marriage had crumbled and she became suddenly ill. When she had to be hospitalized for an abdominal operation, Joan telephoned Gloria Monty, director of The Secret Storm. "Wnat about Tina's contract? Will she lose the role?" Joan asked.

"No, of course not," replied Gloria Monty. "It's not like the movie studios in the old days. I'll have to find another actress to fill the role until Tina can return." "Gloria, I'll play it," Joan announced. The director was astounded. Joan Crawford in a soap opera! "Are you sure?" "Yes, I'll do it. If it would help Tina, I'd do anything."

Fred Silverman, chief of daytime programming at the CBS television network, was delighted with the news, and he cleared the use of a studio for rehearsals on Saturday and taping on Sunday. Gloria Monty went to Joan's apartment on the night before rehearsal and found her in a state of excitement.

"I know this character like this," said Joan, snapping her fingers. "It's Mildred Pierce!" "Okay, let's not talk too much; let's just read the scene," said the director. She was amazed at how adroitly Joan fell into the character, and at the subtlety she lent to the soap-opera dialogue.

On the day of taping, Joan grasped Gloria Monty and said desperately, "I'm in your hands." Joan's chauffeur had brought the Pepsi-Cola cooler with vodka, and Monty strove to keep Crawford on the set so she wouldn't drink too much. At one point the director replaced the vodka in Joan's glass with water, and when Joan took a sip she bawled, "Who the hell touched my glass?"

Monty watched helplessly from the control booth as Joan's performance deteriorated through the day's taping. All the precision that Joan had displayed while rehearsing the scripts in her apartment was gone. When Joan missed her cues or failed to hit her marks, the director covered by announcing, "Sorry, I made a boo-boo in here. Could we try it again?"