706 - (Grayson Hall) - The great house of Collinwood stands deserted. The living have sought refuge elsewhere, leaving an evil spirit to roam the cold, empty corridors alone. At the Old House, Barnabas Collins remains in a deep trance. He has employed the mysterious powers of the I-Ching and gone through the door to the infinite. And he has been transported back in time to the year 1897. And this night, he has been taken to see the dying matriarch, who lives only to tell a terrible secret to a grandson who has been away.
Edith sobs in fear, unable to speak. Barnabas listens at the door--ill he be exposed as a vampire? Edith sits up, dazed, looking for her dead husband, muttering that the secret can't be told this way--he will kill him, says Edith--my husband knew that knowing the secret would ruin my life, but he had no choice. . .Edward begs to know--I will take the burden from you, he assures her. The mausoleum, she mutters. Barnabas listens. Edward is puzzled--what does it mean? He asks. Barnabas rushes off. Edith lies there, motionless, as Edward continues to beg her for the information. I'm very weak, she murmurs. Try, pleads Edward.
At the Old House, Magda is putting the finishing touches on the furniture and such--it looks really nice. Magda is surprised to see Barnabas back so soon; she curtseys and sarcastically informs him she was going to arrange everything as he ordered--"Your majesty." He demands to see Sandor. Magda reminds, my husband is YOUR slave--you should know. Barnabas accuses her of insolence. Sandor went on the errand in town you sent him on, she tells him. Get Sandor, he orders, we must go to the secret room in the tomb and bring the coffin here--the room must look deserted for a hundred years, and as if she and Sandor were never there--do you understand? No, she replies. He gets in her face--"Idiot!" he spits. I don't understand, she says--who will open the door? He won't tell her that, or who they will be looking for. He barks at her to get her coat and go. Magda curtseys again, thanking him for his concern about her in the cold. "GO!" he shouts. Seeing he means business, she does.
Edward looks out the window. He checks Edith, who rouses from sleep, glad to see him. She asks for Judith, who was kind to her while Edward was gone. The secret, prods Edward. I know why Judith was so kind--she thinks she's getting the money, chortles Edith--YOU are not kind, you shouldn't have gone and left me. He again asks for the secret. Is Judith dead? asks Edith. No, concentrate, he says--the mausoleum. Yes, she says. . .
At Collinwood, Barnabas paces the foyer, nervous and scared. (Why doesn't he just run?) From the secret panel, a young man emerges, pistol in hand. He points it at Barnabas' head, scaring him. "Don't move," orders the man--I know where you're from and who you are--I know EVERYTHING about you! Barnabas cringes in his seat.
Barnabas tells the Willie-Loomis look-alike, you have the advantage, sir--I've never seen you before in my life. The man giggles, noting he's the spitting image of the painting. That was my great-great grandfather, says Barnabas steadily, the man's gun pointed squarely on his temple. Oh, that's your story, chortles the young man. It's more than a story, it's true, insists Barnabas--put down the gun. Admit anything that comes to your mind, advises the man--I hate liars, and people are always trying to take advantage of my family. "YOU are a Collins?" demands Barnabas. Yes! he laughs--old Carl doesn't believe them, he knows the truth when he hears it--start talking, my finger is on the trigger warns Carl. There's been enough disturbance in the house tonight without you adding to it, says Barnabas. Are you telling me how to act in my own house? asks Carl. Put down the gun and we can settle our differences, suggests Barn. I'm counting to 3, says Carl, one. . .two. . . Barnabas desperately says, I don't know what you want me to say; I just arrived from England!. . .three! "No, please stop!" cries Barnabas, flinging himself out of the chair. Carl fires the gun, which spews out a flag that says FIB! Carl roars over this joke and "the look on your face!" Barnabas, meantime, is horrified at this sample of a family member's bizarre sense of humor. It was as silly as yours looks now, retorts Barnabas (rather a humorous situation for our favorite vampire). Carl is indignant--just listen to you, it was quite a trick, and I'm sorry you didn't appreciate it as much as I did. He introduces himself as Carl Collins and shakes Barnabas' hand, then apologizes--I'm sorry you didn't like my fooling around, but things do get dead (LMAO!) around this place, you have to do something to pass the time. Smiling a bit, Barnabas calls Carl's a "curious way." Carol laughs and says I like you, you have a certain way of saying things--when he you him sitting there, I was thinking, ¢â‚¬ËœPoor man, coming at this time. . .' everybody playing leapfrog to get at Grandmother's money--I felt sorry you and wanted to cheer you up--this was a brand new joke, I just got this gun from Tacoma, WA, another of our states, named after our first president, the father of our country. Carl asks Barn who he thinks will get the money. I don't know, says Barn. I'm not going to wait for Grandmother to tell her secret, then die, I have my own ways of finding out, insists Carl--I won't be surprised when the will is read--I told you this because you have a kind face, and I know we will be good friends. Barnabas gazes at him, perhaps thinking of Willie. Carl whispers that he has to go now, find out you-know-what. Don't let me stop you, urges Barnabas. Carl hands him the FIB gun--you can borrow it, and go ask Judith what she's hiding--heck, everyone is hiding something!--you might get a big laugh. Barnabas thanks him, but says it's not the right time to do it, because of Grandmother. Edward's up there now, reveals Carl, listening to the secret and hoping she dies before morning--I know Edward--if he comes down, don't tell him you've seen me today. "I'd only have to tell the truth," says Barnabas indulgently, and they laugh together. Carl knows they are going to be buddies. Barnabas, on the other hand, looks like he's just been slapped with that dead fish.
Edward speaks to Edith, asking if she's feeling better. Every time she closes her eyes, she thinks she's looking at the room for the last time--so many things have happened in this room. . .has she told him the secret yet? No, says Edward. Why don't I remember the right things? she frets. "What are you doing here?" she demands--"You're dead!" No one is here, however, as Edward tells her. He's come for me, she says--"Daniel, keep away from me, I always hated you! You ruined my husband, you never were a father to him, you made us live in this house, I HATED it! I wanted to live in the Old House, I begged you"--but he said to be a Collins, you had to live at Collinwood. I learned what it was to be a Collins, all right, says Edith, I found out! Go away from me, don't come near me, Daniel, if I'm dying, I don't go with you--someone else! Edward tells her she isn't dying. She begs him to make Daniel go away. He tells her there's no one in the room. Edith asks if they're dancing downstairs--they shouldn't be, not with my husband so ill. Didn't mother warn not to tell Edith secrets, rambles the old lady, Edith can't help telling. She must have told you that, I remember it, the day before their wedding. . . Sourly, Edward reminds her he's her grandson. She hasn't told him the secret. Please, he begs, tell him.
She looks totally foggy. On and on rambles Edith, complaining everyone is asking her the secret--Judith, Carl, Quentin. Poor Quentin. Edward doesn't want to discuss Quentin, he's upset she let him come back--Edward's always upset, laughs Edith. She must not start on that, she has no time. Barnabas listens outside. Edward opens the door and tells him she's asleep. He invites him in, apologizing for being curt--I didn't welcome you properly. Edith stirs. Edward asks Barnabas, tell me about yourself.
At the Old House, Carl smacks her hand and tells Magda he'll pay her next week, but she insists the cards don't speak the truth unless there is money in her hand. He hands her a bill and asks her to tell him all about the will--I think you know lots about the will--you could "help out" the cards a bit if you wanted to. She lays out the Tarot deck. There is much money, more than anyone knows, she says, exciting Carl. "How much?" he asks. She finds the joker, and he's thrilled. Everyone will be very surprised, she says. She's going to give the money to the joker--is that what it means? he asks eagerly.
I didn't say that, amends Magda. Say it plainer, he demands. Grandmother likes your jokes, she laughs--there is murder behind the joker. This doesn't please him. Nobody kills for money, objects Carl. (and what fantasy world do you reside in?) Edith has the last laugh, says Magda--the queen is in her parlor.
Edward invites Barnabas to stay as long as he likes--it will be a relief having someone besides the gypsies at the Old House. Barnabas calls him enormously kind. Edith calls Edward to come close--my heart is beating so fast. He takes her hand. Listen, she says urgently, ask no questions. . .Barnabas' face looks very anxious.
Magda tells Carl the money will not stay with the person who gets it. If I get it, says Carl, it will stay with me, and not any of my siblings. Magda picks the death card and gasps. She rises from the chair, walks around the room staring at the air, waving her hands about. Carl demands she finish, but she shushes him, then says, "She is gone now! Edith is dead!" Carl is stunned--how do you know? The cards, and then I felt her spirit, says Magda. Where? asks Carl. She tells him the reading it over and they must wait for her will--the cards are silent. Carl grabs and shakes her, demanding to know if Grandmother told Edward the secret. No, she says. Someone has to know, asserts Carl. Someone does, she insists, but not Edward. He shakes her harder, insisting, tell me who does know!. Go! she commands, get out and grieve for your grandmother. I am going to, at least, she says sadly.
Edward closes Edith's dead, open eyes. "She's gone," he says, "but I am going to find that secret out somehow, if it's the last thing I do."
He says this with determination to Barnabas, who furtively looks away.
NOTES: Terrific show. I love Grayson as Magda. I love Carl, who is so manic and silly and insane. I loved Barnabas' terror, and had to give him credit for bravery, coming not just back into the house, but into the old lady's room. Didn't they do a great job of keeping up the suspense of wondering if Edith will tell Edward about Barnabas or not? I think senility saved Barnabas more than anything here!
Fantastic!
707 - (KLS) - Barnabas Collins remains in a deep trance. He has employed the mysterious powers of the I-Ching and, in the basement of the Old House, he has gone through the door to the infinite, hoping to find and defeat the spirit that haunts Collinwood. But beyond the door, he has been transported back in time to the year 1897, a time of intrigue and terror for all who live at Collinwood.
Edward, wearing a black mourning armband, comes downstairs at Collinwood and checks his mustache in the mirror. He glances at the newspaper and puts it down, then goes to the desk, take a pipe, and sticks it in his mouth. He opens his can of tobacco only to have fake snakes fly out. Carl comes bouncing out from behind the drapes, laughing wildly. Coldly, Edward asks that he be warned about other booby traps he may have hidden in the room. Carl says that would take all the fun out of it. For you, yes, says Edward--you're so easily amused, you must be a very happy person. Carl gathers up his fake snakes and says, I am, most of the time. Edward suggest he can be happy ALL the time, in a sanitarium, where he can show his fellow inmates one prank after another. This turns Carl serious. Edward rants about him playing the buffoon--and only the day after a family member has died. I have plenty of respect for the dead! Carl shouts at his brother. Observe mourning in a proper manner, says Edward. Carl, his voice soft, tells him, I know something you don't know--Edith died without telling you the secret. Carl smiles enigmatically. Someone knows the secret, someone right here in this house! reveals Carl. Edward looks stunned.
Judith, dressed completely in black, comes downstairs. She demands that Edward tell her what this is all about. Sounding resigned, Edward tells her to go into the drawing room and wait. She gives him a look, but does as he asks. Carl bounds downstairs to report Quentin just got up and will be down in a minute. Edward orders him into the drawing room, telling him there are things to be settled--just go in! Carl finally does as he's told. Quentin, fixing his cuffs, comes down and calls Edward as predictable as the morning sun, calling a meeting before Edith is even buried yet--but he never did like to let the grass grow. Edward curtly shoos him inside, too, closes the doors, then tells them that Edith died before telling him the secret--but she did tell one of the other three! Judith and Quentin deny it, but Edward encourages Carl to speak. The Collins prankster tells them about how he was with Magda the night before, she knew the exact moment Grandmother died--and that she didn't reveal the secret to Edward--however, she said someone else knows it. She didn't tell the children, surmises Edward, or anyone outside the family, so it's one of us. Carl says, I'm not the one--why would I have told you what I did if that were so? Why not? says Edward--to cast suspicions elsewhere--I think you are sometimes crazy as a fox--it could easily be you and you know it. Carl says he'll swear an oath on not knowing the secret. Quentin suggests they get the Good Book and let Carl take the oath. This isn't a matter to be lightly treated, barks Edward. Quentin counters that it isn't a matter for a minor inquisition, either. Quentin is sure Judith knows it, and offers to let the prosecution state it's case.
Judith, incensed, tells Edward to make him stop carrying on, but Edward refuses to help his sister. Quentin, getting in his sister's face, asks who in the house in the past week saw more of Grandmother than anyone else, and who did the utmost to prevent others from seeing her?--"dear Judith"? She tells Edward she doesn't know the secret. Both Quentin and Edward agree she wouldn't say if she did know. Judith had the best opportunity, argues Quentin, and she did. Judith insists she did not. Quentin points out, you never did lie very well. Indignant, Judith stands and tells Quentin, when it comes to straight-faced lying, no one can compete with you! Touche, says Quentin. Judith suggests Quentin tell Edward about his visit to Grandmother. Looking uncomfortable, Quentin says there's nothing to tell. Judith informs the others that Quentin tried to force the secret from Edith the night before. Edward demands to know if this is true. Quentin asks Judith if she feels "cleansed," now that she's done her duty? Edward demands an answer. Quentin admits it's true--it happened in a weak moment. Then Quentin must be the one, asserts Edward. Quentin doesn't follow his logic. You terrorized her, probably told her you'd kill her if she didn't tell, accuses Edward, so she gave up and told. Alas, no, the old lady wasn't afraid of dying, and didn't spill the secret, says Quentin. The siblings gaze suspiciously at each other. Edward finally breaks the silence--one of them is lying, and they won't leave the room until he learns who it is. Carl complains he has things to do. Judith asks what if she didn't tell any of them--you only have the word of a gypsy to go on. Our grandmother didn't go to her grave with that secret, insists Edward--she told someone. Then Quentin interjects they're all forgetting Judith let in one other person to see Grandmother--Barnabas Collins. She would never have told him, scoffs Edward. Why not? asks Judith, he is a relative. Or claims he is, says Quentin. Edward orders Carl to go to the Old House and get Barnabas. Carl bitches that he's always the one being asked to do the errands, but Edward tells him to just go--and don't return without him. Carl stomps off. Quentin tells the other two he thinks Barnabas is a very real possibility--he could have forced it out of her. Force didn't work for Quentin, points out Edward, it wouldn't work for Barnabas--she either told him or she didn't, it's a simple matter.
Old House - Carl enters without knocking (this generation isn't different from any others). He calls to Cousin Barnabas, then enters the refurbished drawing room. Josette's portrait hangs above the mantle. Carl calls upstairs--no response. He hears a sound and turns around, puzzled, looking through the bars of the basement. It opens easily, and Carl's mouth forms a big, startled O.
"What are you doing here?" Carl asks Sandor. The gypsy makes sure Carl returns to the drawing room, then locks the basement door. "I live here," answers Sandor. In the cellar? queries Carl.
What do you want? asks Sandor. I'm looking for Barnabas, says Carl. He isn't here right now, says Sandor, and I don't know where he is. Why are you still living here, now that Barnabas has taken over? asks Carl. We made a bargain, says Sandor--in exchange for certain duties, Barnabas lets us stay (yes, vampire protection being chief amongst them). He's hired you as his servants, says Carl. You could say that, agrees Sandor. Carl laughs, remarking of Barnabas, "He is a weird one, isn't he?" Sandor frowns at him. No offense, Carl assures him. Barnabas will be back tonight, says Sandor. I can't wait that long, complains Carl. Go away and return tonight, suggests Sandor. I can't do that, either, says Carl--I can't return to Collinwood without Barnabas, and they won't believe I can't find him--Edward doesn't believe anything I say. Sandor roars with laughter and pounds the furniture, suggesting, there's gypsy blood in you somewhere. Carl giggles along with Sandor, asking him what he means, and both continue to laugh as Sandor says no one in the family trusts anyone else. Carl has a solution--Sandor will return to Collinwood and tell Edward Barnabas is away. Sandor starts to object, but Carl is already up and running.
Rachel wanders out onto the terrace, seeming entranced by the quiet and beauty she finds here. She's patting her face with a handkerchief when Quentin joins her, leans in close and says "Good afternoon." She jumps, surprised. She hasn't seen all of the house yet, so he offers to conduct a tour-- he knows Collinwood more intimately than anyone else, and would consider it an honor to escort her. He asks her to call him Quentin, but she objects--Edward wouldn't approve of such familiarity. He agrees with her, but says Edward needn't know about it. He sits beside her, very close, and Rachel, uncomfortable with his scrutiny, gets up and walks away. He asks if she's frightened of him, or the house. She assures him of course not--I'm not afraid of anything, she says, then confesses she's just so new and unsure. He tells her to forget all that--she's found a friend and confidant in him--we can begin tomorrow--I'll show you through the house--we can cover the main structure, then the West Wing, where I live (and his bed, perhaps?). Eager to change the subject, Rachel asks about the tower. No one has been up there in 100 years, says Quentin, it's an old family legend that a woman committed suicide in that room in 1796. (Poor Naomi.) Quentin is leaning close to Rachel's ear as he relates this. So ever since then, everyone fears it's haunted, asks Rachel. Yes, says Quentin. Do you think it is? She asks. I consider it an interesting legend, but that's all, says Quentin. She asks if he believes in ghosts, and he counters, "Do you?" I don't know, she says. I think you do, teases Quentin--maybe that's what scares you about the house--don't worry, you're perfectly safe here. (And he's nearly licking her earlobe as he says it.) I know that, she says, thank you for being so concerned. I like you, he says, you're shy, innocent, and very beautiful. She thanks him. I think we'll be very close friends, he says. She looks as if she isn't quite sure how to take that. Quentin walks away, grinning.
Carl bursts into Collinwood, shouting for Edward. Prompted by Carl, Sandor explains that Barnabas left the Old House early this morning, and won't return until after dark. Edward wonders where he went. Sandor says, my master said he had some business to do. What business? demands Edward. Sandor says he was instructed not to answer any questions, so he can't tell him what he wants to know. Edward is irritated by this response. Sandor is about to leave when Judith, standing at the top of the steps, tells him she wants to speak to him. Coming down, she informs him that Edith passed away last night. Sandor expresses his condolences. Judith says that while Edith was alive, he and Magda were firmly entrenched here, and now, the two gypsies have 24 hours to vacate the Collins property. Sandor looks quite upset.
After dark - Rachel comes out on the terrace and to her surprise, spots lights on in the tower room.
Judith goes into the drawing room to speak privately with Edward, who asks her to be brief. She tells him his instructions concerning the tower room have been followed to the letter. He reminds her they were never to refer to that room again. I can't very well give you a report without referring to it, she says. I told you before I left that you didn't have to give me a report, says Edward. I need your guidance and advice from time to time! Insists Judith. No, he says, I told you what to do and you may dispatch the arrangements with your usual efficiency. There are certain risks involved, she reminds him. He asks if something went wrong. Not at all, she says--very smoothly--Beth visits the room three times a day, and makes the installment weekly payments to Mrs. Fillmore. Edward doesn't know why Judith is bothering him with all this, but she insists she felt he'd want to know. I have washed my hands of the entire affair, he barks--is Beth satisfied with her end of it? Judith haughtily says she should be, we're paying her enough--in fact, too much. Silence and loyalty cannot be bought cheaply, he reminds her.
She'd do the same even if she were getting less, says Judith. I consider the excess payment a form of insurance, says Edwards--from this day on, I don't want to be told or reminded of that problem--I'm not interested in it at all. Rachel knocks at the door. When Judith opens up, the governess rushes in and tells Edward, I saw a light in the tower room while I was out on the terrace. That's impossible, says Edward. Judith hurries upstairs. Rachel explains she was speaking with Quentin a short time ago, and he told her about the legend of the tower room. True, says Edward, and Quentin made a mistake in telling you, because it stirred up your imagination, apparently. No, says Rachel, I did see a light. There isn't a light, counters Edward--was it an electric or candle light? Rachel explains it was too bright to be the latter, so it had to be the former. That proves you wrong, says Edward--there is no electricity in the tower room. He leads her out to the terrace to show her she was mistaken.
After Rachel and Edward exit the house, Judith hurries down, out of breath, acting as though a major catastrophe has been averted.
Edward leads Rachel to the terrace, and shows her the now-dark tower room. "Just as it was dark before and has been dark for over 100 years," he tells the disbelieving, shaking Rachel.
NOTES: What a family! Talk about dysfunctional! Poor Rachel, getting gaslighted this way. What is the big secret of the tower? What were Edward and Judith discussing that Beth is involved in, but Edward wants to hear nothing further about? Quentin wants Rachel bad, doesn't he? He couldn't be more obvious. I guess he likes ¢â‚¬Ëœem innocent!
The whole family is squabbling over the secret. We know it's only about Barnabas, but they probably are sure it involves money and/or power, their favorite thing. Carl is such a silly clown, but good-hearted, too. More than his grandmother dying, Edward seemed concerned about learning the secret. They certainly don't seem to be mourning her much; Magda was more broken up about the old lady's death.
It's so much fun to see the enmity amongst these siblings, listen to their quibbling, back-biting and accusations. This was a wonderful storyline, and the interaction amongst these four characters was one of its best aspects.
Love, Robin
