Quentin is at his absolutely worst in this episode. Kudos to Selby for making him absolutely hateful.
Poor Jenny realizes how thoroughly her supposed best friend has betrayed her. She charges at Beth, but Quentin forces her down on Beth's narrow bed and strangles her, ignoring Beth's pleas. Finally he realizes that he's just murdered his wife and runs out. Beth runs too. Jenny is free of all the madness and fury that tormented her.
Edward returns from somewhere (looking very handsome in a top hat), and Beth is forced to tell him that Jenny is lying dead in her room. He guesses how it happened and sneers (for once, rightfully) at Quentin's cowardice. What are those clothes doing on your dresser? he asks. I was taking them into the village, to the children, Beth replies. Yes, Edward says--Jenny's children. And Quentin's, too, Beth reminds him. God help them, Edward says, she must have seen them here. [He means the clothes.] Yes, Beth sobs. Quentin doesn't know, I'm sure. Get rid of them, Edward orders her. And when you're finished doing that, get rid of the knife and fix the cut on your face--you did it by accident. Beth touches the scratch and starts to say something. Just get busy, he orders her. There is much to be done and little time to do it. He hurries out. Beth puts down the knife, holds the tiny garments close, and sobs, heartbroken.
Wearing a cape and carrying a carpetbag, Quentin sneaks down the main staircase. Intent only on escape and the safety of his own skin, he has forgotten even Beth. Even though he is ready to travel, he has not even begun to walk the long road that awaits him. Edward quietly opens the door under the stairs, spots him, and grabs the suitcase when Quentin gets to the foyer. I can't stay! Quentin insists. You’re not going anywhere, Edward declares. You’re going to stay right in this house!
Edward concocts a story to explain Jenny's death so that Quentin won't have to go to jail. Quentin asks, Why are you so willing to protect me? Edward replies scornfully, Do you think I’m doing all this to protect _you_? Quentin answers his own question: Of course not, family honor and pride--nothing else matters to you. Edward agrees and adds, I won’t let the reason for her death bring scandal to the family name. Quentin argues that too many other people know about Jenny. Edward proposes bribing Magda and Sandor and is stunned and horrified when Quentin reveals that his late sister-in-law was also a gypsy. They are about to start arguing when they hear the dreaded knock on the door. Without one shred of compassion, Edward tells Magda and Sandor that Jenny is dead. They go upstairs to see her.
Quentin is freaking out more by the minute, refusing to face his in-laws. Edward tells him that he will face them and that he'll do exactly what Edward tells him.
Magda weeps inconsolably over Jenny's body while Sandor watches with concern. She kneels, taking her sister's hand and wails, If she had stayed with us, she would have been alive today! What might have been can never be, Sandor tells her sadly. Still weeping, Magda touches her sister’s face and composes Jenny’s hands over her chest. She finds that one hand is tightly clutching a button, which she holds up for Sandor to see. Edward lied to us, they realize. She fought for her life, Magda decides with a certain grim pride. Sandor takes a closer look at his sister-in-law’s body and spots the bruises on her throat: She was strangled--what will we do? he asks. Avenge her death, Magda snarls fiercely.
Edward rehearses more lies for Beth and Quentin to tell Magda and Sandor. But they have the button from Quentin's coat. Edward points out that (1) no one will believe them rather than the mighty Collinses; and (2) Magda could have found the button anywhere. Magda realizes that he's right, but she's far from finished. She turns to Quentin and says, I warned you if anything happened to Jenny, you would be sorry. I will keep my word. I will set a curse on you, Quentin--a curse that will last all the days of your life. You will suffer as she suffered. You will wish that you were as dead as she is. But it will not be possible. It will not be possible. We hear her spit on the ground at his feet, though we don’t see it. Then she turns on her heel and leaves with Sandor.
You’ve got to stop her, Edward! Quentin almost shrieks, believing implicitly in Magda’s power. She's serious! She'll do it! She’ll put a curse on me! I believe it, she can do it! Words, Edward scoffs, her only defense, and if you believe she can do it, you are past saving. I’m going to tell Judith and Barnabas of the unfortunate accident, he says and leaves. Quentin turns toward Beth, but she hurries to the door. Beth, don’t go! he pleads. Terrified, she looks at him, then runs out without a word. Beth! he calls forlornly. Alone in the drawing room, in his mind’s eye Quentin sees Magda’s hand outstretched in the sign of the horns. He buries his head in his hands as if trying to hide. Magda’s words repeat over and over in his head: All the days of your life. All the days of your life...…
