459 - (Thayer David) A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightened journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There in the master bedroom of the Collins mansion, a woman hovers between life and death, the victim of a curse placed upon her son. He waits alone, hoping beyond hope that the curse will not be carried out.

Barnabas walks into the drawing room, anguished. She can't die, he tells Ben.Ben says no one knows how much poison she took, and reveals that Forbes told Naomi where to find him. Barnabas assures him Nathan will pay for that--I begged my mother not to love him, warned her about the curse, but she wouldn't listen to me. You can't just tell someone to stop loving, Ben points out. Barnabas frets: where is the doctor? Why is he taking so long? Joshua comes downstairs and tells them that there's no need for a doctor--"Your mother is dead." Barnabas face crumples with grief. Joshua asks Ben to leave them, he wants to talk to Barn alone--but stick around, he'll need him later. Joshua assures Barn Naomi died quietly, but this is little consolation to Barnabas. Joshua feels he's to blame for her death, too, she wouldn't have taken her own life if she felt she could turn to him. Barnabas says he never heard his father speak this way before. She told me she loved me, says Joshua. "You didn't know?" asks Barnabas, but Joshua said he thought she'd stopped loving him long ago. "Because you stopped loving her," says Barnabas. "Perhaps," says Joshua--I wanted to love her, she was my wife. But you didn't, says Barnabas. Uncomfortable, Joshua suggests he's incapable of loving anyone. It could be your salvation, says Barnabas--you can't love me, so you won't be a victim of the curse. (As if he isn't already a victim--he's lost his sister, daughter, wife and, for all intents and purposes, his son!) The curse must be ended, insists Joshua, and he'll do it. He can't allow this to go on any longer, anymore people to die--he must destroy him, but he couldn't drive a stake through his heart. There's another way, says Joshua, a silver bullet fired directly into his heart will do the job. He learned this in Boston. He must destroy him, and if Barnabas has any human feeling left, he'll let him do it. He's sent Riggs into town to have a silver candelabra turned into 6 bullets, and he will use those bullets to destroy him. Barnabas asks where Forbes is, and Joshua is about to respond when Ben burst in--Vicki is gone! Search the grounds, orders Joshua. Barn asks if there's a price on Vicki's head, and they both realize Nathan took her to get the money. He must die, insists Barnabas, but Joshua doesn't want that. He's responsible for Naomi's death, says Barnabas, but Joshua doesn't want his son committing anymore destruction.This will be his one last act, says Barnabas, "and one which will give me enormous pleasure." Joshua can't stop him--no one can. Barnabas walks out, leaving Joshua absolutely miserable.

At the Eagle, Nathan sifts through his ill-gotten gains, and tells the young lady at the table with him he's leaving Collinsport, without his wife, for whom he has special plans. You'll be missed, she says, being so handsome and all, and slides an affectionate arm around him. Nathan suggests she join him. Their flirting is ended by the sight of a huge bat fluttering outside the window of the Eagle. She's terrified, she hates bats. She wants to go lie down for a while, she says, and if he wants company, he knows where to find her. Left alone, Nathan orders another drink. Suddenly he hears Barnabas' voice calling "Forbes!" Nathan looks surprised, and fearful. Did you think I'd gone to England? asks Barnabas. That's right, says Nathan. You told my mother I was alive and in the tower, says Barnabas--she found me there, and she's dead!--she killed herself because she found out about me--and she found out about me because of YOU! I didn't want any harm to come to her, says Nathan, sounding genuinely distressed to hear this. And what about Daniel? pursues Barnabas. I lost my temper, but didn't mean to harm the boy, protests Nathan. And Millicent? pursues Barnabas. I'm married to her and love her very much, insists Nathan. Barnabas calls him a lying hypocrite--"You'll stop at nothing to get what you want--MY MOTHER IS DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!" cries Barnabas, clearly scaring Nathan. Barnabas smashes his cane on the table, destroying the glassware. Nathan denies this accusation, then pulls out his pistol. "I've captured the Collinsport strangler," announces Nathan triumphantly, pointing the gun at Barnabas, who laughs and retorts, "Is that what you think?" I know it, says Nathan, and we're going to the constable--I'm not bluffing, I'll shoot. "Go ahead, shoot me," orders Barnabas. "Shoot! SHOOT!" Nathan fires. Barnabas momentarily clutches his chest, then looks the wide-eyed Nathan in the eye and says, "I cannot die because I am already dead! Do I frighten you, Forbes? I do not plan to kill you, at least not here and now. Later, Forbes, after you've had time to think about it. Nine o'clock. When the clock strikes nine, you will die!"Nathan gazes wildly around him, but Barnabas has disappeared. The barmaid reappears, demanding to know where the shots came from. "He isn't human!" cries Nathan. "He isn't human! I've got to get out of here!" He flees the Eagle, observing that the time is 8:30.

8:45. When Rigs returns with the silver bullets, bring them to me, along with a revolver, Joshua orders Ben--I'll do the job in the secret room--bring the coffin there--I will do it at sunrise. Nathan rushes in, begging Joshua to help him--I saw Barnabas at the Eagle, but no one else saw him--I fired a bulletin into his chest, but didn't die, he just disappeared. He's a vampire, reveals Joshua, to Nathan's pure horror, placed under a curse that has destroyed this family and, in due time, Barnabas himself. Nathan can't believe it--Barnabas threatened to kill him! (Ben grins a cute, happy smile.) Joshua is surprised Barnabas didn't kill Forbes, who he blames him for Naomi's death--as do I, says Joshua--I have tried to talk to Barnabas, but can't talk him out of his plan--I'm almost sorry for you, he tells Nathan, but there's nothing I can do--I won't stick around, and don't want to see what is going to happen to you, adds Joshua, and leaves. Ben reveals to Nathan that he knew about and protected Barnabas for a long time--I tried to stop Barnabas once, tried to destroy him in the one way he can be. Nathan begs to know this information, but Ben withholds it for a few moments, then slyly tells him the way to kill Barnabas is to go to his coffin tomorrow morning, when he's resting, and drive a stake through his heart. But by tomorrow morning, chortles Ben, "you'll be dead!"Nathan's face shakes as he contemplates this horror. Nathan starts to leave Collinwood, but hears dogs howling, which Ben says means HE'S nearby. It's 8:56. Nathan looks like his eyes are about to spring from his head. Ben leaves him, too, saying he doesn't want to be around when it happens, either. Nathan's only hope is to be with Joshua, perhaps Barnabas won't harm him then. Joshua is sitting in the study, but he refuses to be with him at 9 PM. Then Nathan spots the crossbow hanging in the study wall and tells Joshua he's right--he should go--I was being cowardly, I might as well face death like a man. Joshua sadly says he almost wishes he could do something for him, in spite of everything. He goes.  Nathan takes the crossbow down from the wall and loads it with a wooden arrow--if it pierces Barnabas' heart, it will destroy him. The front door opens and Barnabas enters. He heads to the study. Nathan waits with the loaded crossbow, standing against the door for a moment. He aims the crossbow at the door, steps back, and fires it where he figures Barnabas' heart will be at the right moment. Barnabas' booted feet walk inexorably across the carpet. The clock strikes 9. Nathan cautions himself to be steady, aim carefully. The storm rages outside. Barnabas opens the door, enters (he could have just materialized in the room and really scared the crap out of Nathan). He spots Forbes with the weapon, shouts, "NO!" Nathan fires. Barnabas screams as the arrow enters his body.

NOTES: Exceptional performances by all here. I hate Nathan, but Barnabas' threat scares me almost as much as it does him; I am that caught up in Frid's performance. Ben is having so much fun watching Nathan's terror, and when he tells him he doesn't want to witness what Barnabas is going to do to him, you sense he really DOES want to stick around and watch Forbes get his. Joshua, on the other hand, cannot bear the idea that if Barnabas continues to survive, he will murder other innocents. How much worse can it get for this father, who you KNOW loves his son, deep down, to be forced to contemplate destroying him? It really chokes me up.


460 - (Alexandra Moltke) A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightened journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There, in the village of Collinsport, Victoria Winters has been unjustly accused of witchcraft, and on this day she will be hanged by the neck until dead. And another she has known, Barnabas Collins, faces a final and ultimate destruction.

Unfortunately for Nathan, his arrow missed Barnabas' heart; the gleeful vampire withdraws the arrow and triumphantly informs him of this--"It didn't hit me!"Nathan, after hurling a piece of furniture at Barnabas in one last-ditch effort to save himself, succumbs to the vampire's strangling hands.

Joshua enters the study and tells Barnabas Ben buried Nathan (and I bet with a great deal of satisfaction, too!) They'll say he left Collinsport, everyone knows he was a blackguard and won't be surprised he deserted Millicent. Joshua told Millicent Nathan was gone, but she only remembers a suitor named Forbes who deceived her and that she sent him away. Barnabas is glad she doesn't even remember her marriage, and Joshua plans to have the union annulled--as far as history is concerned, it never happened (which is why, in the history book, Millicent never married). Barnabas observes his father is trembling. He asks if Joshua has the gun and silver bullets, and when he nods, tells him to use it. Joshua can't, not here or now, but Barnabas says he must, or he'll go on destroying--Angelique's curse, Barnabas begs his father. Joshua says he wants to wait until the morning; he instructed Ben and Riggs to carry the coffin back to the secret room in the tomb--go there at sunrise and he will do what he must. Barnabas seems pleased at the thought of eternal peace, and Joshua says that, although he doesn't know what lies beyond the grave, he wishes his son some kind of peace. (sob!) What will happen to you, Father? Barnabas asks. "I'll survive," says Joshua. Millicent? She won't recover, and Joshua will care for her as his own daughter and make Daniel his adopted son and legal heir--I hope to be a better father to him than I was to you and Sarah. Barnabas laments his sister's death, wishing he could undo what he has done. No one will ever know about you, promises Joshua, or what happened after Angelique came--every mention of her name will be struck from the family record, and both Jeremiah and Naomi will have died natural deaths--no mention will be made of the duel. Barnabas wishes this really was the truth, but Joshua says it will be true in historical terms--the world will only know Barnabas was his son and went to England--that is all. The cock crows. Daylight is near. Barnabas asks his father to free Ben--he deserves it for being so loyal. He also asks Joshua to try to save Miss Winters. I've tried and failed, reports Joshua, but Barnabas asks him to appeal to the governor and ask for a stay of execution and new trial. Joshua promises. Barnabas says he must go. Joshua hesitantly says he was never able to show much affection. . .Barnabas asks him not to show it now--forget I am your son, forget I ever existed. Joshua cries that he can't. You must, insists Barnabas. They exchange good-byes, and a heartbroken Joshua watches his son walk from his sight for the last time.They gaze at each other for a long, long, sorrow-filled moment, and Barnabas leaves. Joshua sifts the silver bullets through his hands, then takes a pistol into one shaking hand and looks as if his heart is going to break at the thought of destroying his only son.

Later, in the mausoleum, when the time comes, however, Joshua holds the pistol over his son's inert body, aimed at his heart, and can't bring his shaking hands to destroy him. He closes the lid of the coffin. Ben enters and asks if it's done. I couldn't, says Joshua. Ben didn't hear a shot and seems pleased. "He was my son and heir," says Joshua, "whatever has happened to him, I couldn't forget that." He orders Ben to confine Barnabas to his coffin forever--he learned in Boston that if a silver cross is affixed to the inside of the lid, facing him, Barnabas will be immobile--using the silver bullets would have meant his final destruction. The alternative is dangerous, adds Joshua--if someone gets into the secret room and frees him, Barnabas will roam the world again. Ben feels that will never happen. It might, says Joshua. He has the cross, he wants Ben to affix it to the inside of the coffin lid, facing Barnabas, then bind the coffin with chains. Ben vows to do so. Try to forget, advises Joshua. Ben wants to, as does Joshua. They leave the secret room, Joshua hobbling like an old man.

Back at Collinwood, Joshua sits in the study, thinking Stokes must be finished.  Goodbye, Barnabas, he says in his mind, I hope you find peace--some kind of peace.At the tomb, Ben is locking the final chain around the coffin. He, too, bids Barnabas goodbye, then closes the door for what he believes will be eternity. Ben enters the study. Joshua has him sit down; he wants to talk to him. I did everything I was told to, says Ben. He gives Joshua the key to the gate, and says it will never be opened again, until Joshua dies--and then never again. Joshua explains that he promised Barnabas that he would free Ben--to go wherever he chooses to go, and will give him a hundred dollars. This pleases Ben immensely, but Joshua assures him he earned it. Someone knocks at the door and Ben brings a letter to Joshua--the governor refuses to stay Miss Winters' execution. Vicki is going to the gallows--innocent. A sorrowful Joshua wishes he could help her, but there's nothing he can do. He looks sad, old and very depressed.

At the gaol, Vicki seems to pray. Peter is allowed in to see her and they hug. He thought they'd never see her again, but seeing him was her last request. They ask to be alone. They have five minutes before she's scheduled to be executed, and Vicki clings to Peter and he holds her close. They sit on her bunk, trying not to think about what's to happen. She wants him to convince the judges she killed Noah--she tried to tell them, but they refused to listen--Peter can't die for what she did. He asks her to stop talking and thinking about death--what were you like as a little girl? questions Peter--what was your favorite flower, color, music, best book you ever read, and the happiest time you ever had in your life? She smiles, delighted, and he's glad to see it. She wants to know all that about him, but they have so little time to get to know each other. They profess their love for each other, the first time she's said it--she was afraid to say it before, but not now. They kiss, lengthily. Vicki hears the jailers coming to get her. I swears I'll find you, vows Peter, and Vicki promises to remember. They hug one last time, but the jailer shows up to take her to the gallows. She and Peter exchange one last, loving look, and she says goodbye. They kiss once more, but the jailers separate them. I'll find you, Peter says again.The gallows are tested with a heavy canvas bag. This set is very effective, foggy, dark and dismal. Vicki is led outside and stares with fear at the scene. She walks up to the gallows and is assisted up to the platform. The rope is placed around her neck. When asked, Vicki indicates that she wants a hood placed over her head, and this is done. She hears Peter's voice in her head, reminding her that he'll find her again. "May God have mercy on your unrepentant soul," says one of the jailers, and the platform falls under her feet. We see the rope swinging back and forth.

As a final, sad coda to this episode, we see Barnabas' coffin, chained.

NOTES: RIP Nathan Forbes, you SOB; good luck, Ben, you've earned it; Barnabas, I hope it's true vampires are in a state of suspended animation and you didn't wake up in that coffin, night after night, trapped, helpless and slowly going crazy. I can only imagine what a sad life Joshua led after all this?And we know from meeting Daniel as an adult in 1840 that Joshua didn't do such a great job fathering him, either.

So what happens now? Do Phyllis and Vicki exchange places? Will Peter and Vicki meet again? We already know Barnabas' fate--Willie releases him in 1967, something his father feared would happen.

I loved 1795/96. It's by far my favorite storyline, the only one that seems complete, with few open ends and a satisfying, if very sad, ending.

And now, without further ado, on to--or back to--1968!

Love, Robin

455 - (black and white) (Alexandra Moltke) A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one woman Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. Convicted as a witch, she is a fugitive from the law. But a child, knowing her hiding place, runs to her from a man who has been paid to kill him.

Noah looks like a goofy elf in that hat. Vicki holds the frightened Daniel in her arms as they hear Noah walking around in the outer room, exploring the walls with his hand. Vicki warns Daniel to keep quiet. Noah leaves and closes the gate behind him, then starts walking away from the tomb. Daniel explains to Vicki that Nathan sent him to the Old House on an errand and this man grabbed him, took him to the fishing shack, and talking about them going away in a boat--he escaped from him. Vicki assures him it's all right. Daniel doubts the man saw him come in there, but might have heard him say her name. Daniel is afraid he'll get her caught. Vicki says Peter is returning with food and medicine, and then they will leave. Not on a boat in this storm, warns Daniel. They have to wait for her arm to be better. Daniel wants to go with them, fugitives or not. He doesn't want to stay--his sister is weird.Get her back to NY, says Vicki, but he insists he wants to go with her and Peter, pay his own way--Millicent signed all her money over to him--they could buy a boat. Vicki asks why Millicent did it, and he explains she did it when she married Nathan, and the latter doesn't like him anymore--he's changed. Vicki is unnerved to hear Nathan is at Collinwood, and she fears for Peter. Daniel says Forbes will turn in Peter and find them, too. Vicki says Peter is very careful--perhaps Nathan isn't there.

Collinwood, Nathan is there. He finds Noah in the drawing room and is furious with him. He closes the doors behind him and orders him out. I lost Daniel, Noah tells him, he got away.Nathan grabs Noah by the lapels, eyes popping, furious. He calls him stupid, threatens to kill him. Noah warns him he'd better let him go or the whole house will know what's going on. Noah explains Daniel went into the mausoleum, called, "Miss Winters,"then disappeared. He wasn't in the tomb, and couldn't have left. He vanished, says Nathan, disbelieving. Noah tells him to give him his money, then hire another bungling fool. Daniel can identify him, frets Noah, and Naomi pushes open the door. Nathan escorts Noah out, telling him he'll help him find a job on a ship. Aye, aye, sir, says Noah, giving him a dirty look. Nathan says he is trying to help a former employee find work.

Naomi wants to know how Nathan can be unconcerned about Daniel, out in this storm, at this hour--he hasn't come home for dinner. Naomi fears something might have happened to him, but Nathan is blase. He curtly tells her he knows his responsibility, and she feels that his not searching for Daniel means he knows where the boy is. She wants to tell Millicent, but he forbids it. He is staying at the house because of his wife, and Naomi should stay away and not upset her about Daniel.Naomi is still upset. Forbes suggests the escaped witch might have taken him, but Naomi insists Vicki isn't a witch. Nathan suspects they'll exchange Daniel for their freedom. Millicent will agree with him, states Nathan, and he wants to ensure his wife's peace of mind. Find Daniel, says Naomi, and he reluctantly agrees to join the search.
Peter spies through the window. Naomi is heading upstairs when she hears a knock at the door. She's glad to see Peter and assures him it's safe. He doesn't want to tell her where Vicki is hiding, but their former governess believes Daniel is in terrible danger. Naomi is upset to hear this. Peter says Vicki dreamed Nathan intended harm to Daniel, but Naomi feels Forbes isn't inhuman. Nathan can't be trusted, says Peter, he lied about Vicki at the trial. What can I do? asks Naomi. We need to leave the country, says Peter, who wants to speak to Joshua. Joshua is in Boston, but will help them when he returns, they have her word, Naomi promises. Peter tells her Vicki was shot in the arm when they escaped. Naomi wants Peter to bring her to Collinwood, but he doesn't want to--he fears Forbes and Vicki is weak. She'll give them what they need. He thanks her. She has felt impotent about all the terrible things that have happened, and she's glad to have a chance to help.

Vicki rests on a cold stone step and Daniel asks if he can help her. He's very sweet and protective of her. Don't be brave, he says. She shushes him. She thinks she hears Peter. He'll be there soon. It's been an hour, says Daniel. Vicki looks like she's in pain. Daniel starts to suggest he's been captured and Vicki says he hasn't, and that's all! She starts to cry. Daniel wants to leave; she reaches out a hand to stop him and he feels how hot it is. She can't stay there, he insists, he'll go get Naomi. He resolutely opens the secret door over her protests and he's ready to run through the woods--he won't let anything happen to her. "Wait!" she cries, but he goes. He exits the mausoleum and tiptoes away. He's grabbed by Noah and struggles in his grasp, screaming for help. Vicki hears him, opens the door and steps outside. She sees Noah strangling Daniel, warns him to stop, and finally is forced to shoot Noah in the back. Vicki asks Daniel if he's all right and tells him to get back in the room; she has to get help for Noah, he might be dying. Do as you're told, she orders, but Daniel says he's going to help her. Vicki checks Noah's pulse. He's dead! she cries, then begins calling for Peter, who is in the woods heading their way. Noah lies dead on the ground, and Peter kneels to check him. He picks up the gun and hears Nathan order him to stand up.He takes away the pistol. "It's back to prison you go," says Nathan, holding his pistol on him, "but this time there's a new charge--murder! Now move!" And he leads Peter away.

NOTES: Vicki always wants to do the right thing, but now she's gotten her new boyfriend in trouble with Nathan, and he's going to be accused of murder. There was no one else around to have done it, and of course, fingerprint technology doesn't yet exist. We have to hope that Peter can somehow escape from Nathan and that Naomi can help both of them.


456 - (Alexandra Moltke) A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one woman Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. Where now, branded as a witch, she is a fugitive from the law, hunted, forced from her hiding place, she runs with a child whose life she has saved, but he is still marked for death.

Daniel enters Collinwood through the side window, first checking to make sure no one is around. He closes the window after him, then gestures to Vicki that it's safe to come in--no one is there. He races her to the study, where she sits down. He assures her Naomi is home, and Vicki warns him never to be alone with Nathan, ever. He understands, Daniel says. He tells Vicki to lock the door behind him and he'll knock three times as a signal when he returns. She worriedly observes how long it's been since Peter's been away. Daniel runs into Milicent on the steps--who has kept him up this late, she demands--who is in the room with him, who was he talking to? He refuses to answer, so she goes to see for herself. "Millicent!" he calls to his sister, then chases her. She vows to learn who he was talking to, and he confesses it was himself. She worries her handkerchief, hearing this, Daniel isn't perfect. She'd tell Nathan everything, if he were ever at home--everyone is mistreating her, including her little brother. Naomi races down and hugs Daniel. You spoil him. chastises Millicent, who is upset to hear Daniel went somewhere. Millicent accuses Naomi of lying to her--Barnabas is back! Nathan says Naomi is trying to drive her mad, and she won't listen to her, ever! Millicent runs into the drawing room and closes the doors behind her. Daniel whispers to Naomi that he's brought Vicki back--she's in the study. They go there; Daniel knocks 3 times. Vicki lets them in. Naomi is all set to hug her but doesn't because of her arm. Naomi explains she told Peter to bring her there--at least 2 hours ago. He never reached her, reveals Vicki, sure Peter's been caught. She wants to leave, afraid of getting Naomi into trouble. They'll hide Peter, too, says Naomi, and when Joshua returns, he'll help both of them run away. Daniel tells his cousin abut the man who grabbed him and took him to the fishing shack. They were going to go on a boat, and he was going to tie Daniel up. Vicki starts to explain about killing Noah, but then they all overhear Nathan calling Millicent. Millicent accuses her husband of being against her--he tells her nothing. She didn't know Daniel was away, and he's in the study, unless they're hiding him. They always hide people! Nathan says he'll speak to Daniel, with her permission, and Millicent assures him he's in charge--that's how she wants it. Nathan bangs at the door and Naomi gestures for Vicki to hide in the closet. Nathan insists on speaking to Daniel and Millicent says her husband has more rights than her cousin does to speak to Daniel. When Naomi unlocks the door, Millicent calls her presumptuous. Nathan smiles at Daniel, he's glad to see him back. He wants to hear everything that happened to the boy--he wants to speak to him alone, but Naomi doesn't want to go just yet. Millicent leaves. Naomi explains about the man who grabbed Daniel.Nathan doesn't believe it. Daniel says the man tried to kill him--caught him in the graveyard, was strangling him. Nathan accuses him of lying. Daniel describes him as thin, with red hair, with a scar on his face, dressed like a sailor. That sounds like Noah, says Naomi, Nathan's friend who was there earlier. Nathan says he knows Daniel is lying--Gifford is no friend, and he sincerely regrets his having come to this house, as he's dead now. Nathan discovered Noah in the graveyard, he's been shot, and he already brought the murderer to the constable--Noah was killed because he stumbled upon the witch--by Peter Bradford. Unless the witch is found, says Nathan, Peter will hang before she does. Vicki overhears this and is horrified.

Drawing room - Millicent stares dreamily out the window. Nathan tries to send her to bed. They must do something about Daniel, insists Forbes--Naomi is taking over. She sent Daniel to bed and Stokes to watch over him. He wants a legal document drawn up putting him under Nathan's guardianship. Millicent says there's a witch in the house, she feels it. This interests Nathan. Daniel let someone in the front door, reveals Millicent, she didn't see who, but heard them talking. The house is filled with people who aren't what they seem, says Millicent vacantly, then gets hysterical--she won't go to bed if there's a witch in the house! Nathan leads her away after promising to find the witch.

Vicki paces the study. She hears three knocks at the door and lets Naomi in, who explains that Daniel is in bed and Nathan in his room. Vicki tells her that she must go to the village--Peter didn't kill Noah, she did, to save Daniel. She tells the story of finding Noah strangling Daniel in the graveyard, so she shot him. She had to do it, agrees Naomi, there was nothing else to do. She thanks her for saving Daniel, but she won't allow her to give herself up.Vicki can't allow Peter to take the blame for her crime; Nathan lied about Peter and will get him convicted, too--why is Nathan doing this? Naomi isn't sure, but when Joshua comes home, he'll know what to do. Naomi wants Vicki to stay in her room tonight, so she'll be safe. She tells Vicki to follow her, and they leave the study. Vicki follows Naomi upstairs.

Daniel passes Nathan by silently on the steps, and the ex-lieutenant accuses him of bringing Miss Winters back to the house. You lied about the man grabbing you, Nathan accuses--you're lying! Naomi interrupts, "And I won't let you take that tone with Daniel!" Daniel runs from the house and Nathan tells her to stop interfering--he's in charge of the boy. Naomi denies this, and says she's having the authorities investigate what happened to Daniel, who went into town to identify the man who attacked him. Nathan says he made it up, but she tells him there's a witness. Who? Demands Nathan. Unimportant, she replies--why is Nathan so anxious to know, are you worried? Joshua wouldn't like the authorities to be there, says Nathan nervously. He'd approve, insists Naomi. He hasn't told her, has he, inquires Nathan, about Barnabas? He's in England, insists Naomi. Not true, says Nathan. All right, so you found out he's dead, says Naomi. No, says Nathan, I found out he's not dead.She refuses to listen and he tells her to go to the tower room. You're lying, says Naomi--why would my husband keep it from me? Because Barnabas is a murderer, says Nathan. He's dead, insists Naomi, and tries to force him out of the house. Nathan says she sounds just like her husband before learning it was true. "Your son is the strangler, Mrs. Collins--you think about that before you call in the authorities. Go to the tower room. Go on." And he walks away. She clutches her hands and heads upstairs. The coffin sits in the tower room. Naomi goes there, unlocks the door and sees it. Surprised, she stares at it a moment, then starts to walk out, but turns back.She sets her candle down on a table and begins to lift the lid.

NOTES: Imagine being a mother of a son you thought dead. One man tells you your son is a murderer, another says he's under a curse and must remain in a coffin. Now you're going to learn the truth, a truth you aren't sure you want to know. How will Naomi, who is already so unhappy, handle this?

Love, Robin

Incestors, by Roger Collins, has always been my favorite.

I also love the falling tombstones, giant trees that wobble and Quentin taking the sword from the wall and crashing a lamp all over the floor.  You could hear it being swept up behind the scenes as the dialogue went on!

Love, Robin

I liked Julia and Stokes, too.

Believe or not, Adam and Carolyn.  He was so huge and dark, she so small and blonde--they looked good together, and she should have given the poor lunk a chance!

Willie and Carolyn.  I paired them off in a fan fic story, with steamy results!

Joe and Vicki.  They seemed very much alike.  

Barnabas and Vicki.  These two seemed made for each other, actually, both lost lambs needing solace and passion!

Angelique and Quentin - two passionate people with a taste for danger, and both immortal--I think they'd have been great together!

Peter Bradford and Amanda Harris--he could paw his hair, she could cry, "Peterrrrrrrrr!" in that awful whine of hers!

Nicholas Blair and Angelique - they argued with too much passion not to be together romantically in a storyline.  They might have killed each other, but it would have been explosive!

And a fun pairing--Liz and Nicholas--he could have taught her to be really bad and have fun.

Love, Robin

453 - (Alexandra Moltke) A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent Victoria Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There, having been tried as a witch and condemned to hang, she has now escaped and become a hunted woman.

Peter and Vicki stumble through the woods. She needs rest, but he says they can't stop. She chastises him for putting himself in trouble, but he refuses to leave her. He hoists her up--they'll go hide at the Old House.

Nathan pours himself a drink, sits, and puts up his feet. Daniel comes in. What happened to my sister? he asks Nathan. Nothing, says Nathan, he can see her in due time, not now. She isn't feeling well. She's locked up like a prisoner, accuses Daniel. Nathan denies this. Riggs is guarding the door! In case Millicent needs anything, says Nathan. Daniel says Riggs told him his sister was to be kept under lock and key, and no visitors. Soberly, Nathan says it wasn't his decision alone, Joshua and the family doctor said to keep her isolated for a few days. Daniel loves his sister, and he's worried about her. She'll have to stay in her room for a while, and might not recognize Daniel. She isn't herself, her mind has become irrational. Daniel is puzzled. Nathan promises she'll get good care and treatment, but the doctor isn't optimistic. Is Millicent crazy? asks Daniel--I don't believe it. Nathan understands. She was all right the day before yesterday, says Daniel, and promised him they'd return to NY. All that's changed, says Nathan, they're staying at Collinwood--and Daniel has no choice. Daniel is going to talk to his cousins about that, but Nathan tells him HE is making Millicent's decisions, and now that she's incapacitated, HE is Daniel's legal guardian.Daniel doesn't want him to do that, but Nathan says it's a question of law--he's married to Millicent and responsible for her brother's well being. (uh oh) Daniel accuses him of being different--unfriendly. He doesn't want to stay at Collinwood, and won't do anything until he talks to his sister. He threatens to get Cousin Naomi, and Forbes grabs and shakes the boy, warning him that he is in HIS care now, and he'll make all the decision affecting him and his future--cooperate and life will be pleasant, if not, very difficult. Is that quite clear? Yes, mutters Daniel, and stumbles from the room.

Peter and Vicki enter the Old House and lock the door behind them. Peter settles Vicki into a chair and Ben hears them. Peter explains that he helped Vicki escape and Ben notices she's been hurt. He promises Vicki he'll help her. She thinks the bullet went right through. Ben sends Peter to get bandages, and Vicki winces as takes off the sleeve of her dress. She won't be able to travel until it's healed, but they want to get as far away as possible. She asks if he can hide them and he says she didn't even need to ask.Ben bandages her wound and says he'll get her something to eat--they'll hide at the Old House. Peter says they can't--it's the first place they'll look. Vicki agrees, and it will get Ben in trouble. There won't be a safe place, warns Ben--she lost a lot of blood, might be 3-4 days before she can travel. Ben assures them he knows a place no one will find them. Daniel knocks at the door. Ben opens the secret room, which Vicki recognizes, and Peter and Vicki slip in there. Daniel continues to knock and call to Ben. Ben opens the door and Daniel says he was wandering around outside--who was Ben talking to? No one, says Ben--you should go home. Daniel doesn't want to. Daniel spots the sleeve of Vicki's dress on the chair and drops of blood on the carpet. He follows them to the shelf hiding the secret room, and gazes accusingly at Ben--you're hiding someone, the boy says. Ben tells him to go home. Daniel opens the secret door. Miss Winters! he cries. Peter explains they forced their way out, and Vicki asks Daniel to keep quiet about seeing them.They can count on him, promises Daniel. Vicki says Ben is taking them to a safe place, but Ben won't tell Daniel where. He'd rather go with them, says Daniel. It's scary at Collinwood. His sister isn't the same anymore--she doesn't know anyone, and Nathan won't let him see her. They were married, he tells a shocked Vicki. It can't be true, but it is--he used to always like Forbes, but now, he's changed, and he doesn't understand why. Ben says they must be going, and Vicki tells Daniel she wishes she could return to Collinwood--she assures him that Naomi loves him and will take care of him. She doesn't know if they'll see each other again, but she hopes so. They hug, and Peter helps Vicki up and out of the Old House door. They walk into the darkness and Daniel follows. Ben leads Vicki and Peter to the cemetery, then into the mausoleum. Peter was there, and Ben says he almost found out the secret a while back. Ben opens the secret panel and shows Peter how to close it from the inside. Ben explains the room was put there to hide guns and ammo during the war. Ben will get them horses when Vicki is ready to travel. It's the one place they'll be safe, says Ben. Daniel  approaches the tomb.

Daniel returns home and tries to sneak in. Nathan demands he come to him. Daniel says he was out for a walk and Nathan says it's too late for him to be out--don't let it happen again! Who did he meet on this walk? No one, says Daniel. Did he meet Miss Winters? She's in gaol, says Daniel innocently, and Nathan curtly tells him she escaped and half the town is out looking for her and Peter. Where did he see her? Daniel denies seeing her. Nathan grabs Daniel's arm--how did that blood get on his arm--it's Vicki's, he accuses--she was wounded when she tried to escape. Daniel swears he never saw her--he wants to go to bed. Nathan coldly advises that if he does know anything about the witch not to withhold it, for his own good. Daniel runs upstairs, glad to be away from his brother-in-law.

Peter and Vicki sit in the mausoleum, leaning against each other, sleeping. She dreams of a wooden casket being opened by an unseen, caped figure. It's empty.The person puts on a pair of white gloves, steals up behind Daniel, and begins to strangle him. It's Nathan! Terrified, Vicki awakens screaming, "Daniel!  Daniel!"

NOTES: Bad nightmare for Vicki--was this a premonition? Does this mean Nathan is really going to kill Daniel? Why would he? Will Vicki manage to escape Collinsport, or possibly die of an infection from her wound? Ben is so sweet, so good, and I'm glad he's willing to help them.


454 - (Alexandra Moltke) A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent Victoria Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. As she nears the end of that journey, she finds herself a hunted woman. In a place of refuge in the Collins mausoleum, she will have a strange dream in which she will discover she must change the course of history.

Upset, Vicki tells Peter someone is trying to murder Daniel--she has to get to Collinwood right away. She explains that she saw Nathan strangling Daniel. It was a dream, says Peter, but Vicki says it was a premonition--they must stop it! He says she isn't making sense. The Collins family book didn't predict Daniel's death--he's going to marry a Collinsport girl and grow up. Vicki says the book was wrong about Millicent and Barnabas, but Peter says she can't prove the book was wrong about Daniel. She knows Daniel is in danger! He won't let her go--she hasn't the strength and it's too dangerous.She begs him to go without her or a vital part of the Collins history will be screwed up. If Daniel dies, the family of her time will die, too.

Collinwood - Nathan comes downstairs, smiling, full of himself. He closes the doors, touches things as if he owns them, sits down and begins to look through the mail. Daniel opens the doors, sees Nathan and starts to leave; he's looking for Naomi, not Forbes. Nathan asks if he's still withholding info about Vicki, but Daniel continues to maintain he isn't. Nathan tells him the constable is coming to question him and he'd better speak up. Daniel only wants to talk to Naomi--he wants her and Joshua to adopt him so Nathan will no longer be his legal guardian (wise boy). Daniel immediately turns on his heel and defiantly leaves.

Nathan and Noah meet at the hut by the sea. Nathan again promises Noah money in the future--soon. Obstacles, says Nathan, but the last will be out of the way by nightfall--he's planning to have Noah dispense with Daniel. Noah refuses to help, not if he has to kill anyone. Nathan gets nasty--Millicent came to him, he convinced Joshua to agree to the marriage, and they will soon have plenty of money. Noah refuses again. Nathan says he didn't know Millicent would turn over all her money to her little brother. Noah's pissed that it turned out this way, but he picks up easily on Nathan's plan. Nathan says Daniel told him he wants to be adopted by Joshua and Naomi, and Noah comments Daniel sounds smart.He won't be adopted by anyone, says Nathan, and Noah will help him--or he'll speak to the constable about how Noah strangled Maude and attacked Millicent. Nathan has a clean record in Collinsport, while Noah has a record for petty theft and has stuck around without any visible source of income. No evidence, says Noah, but Nathan reminds him about the silver wolf's head cane he found in Noah's room and that Millicent will testify to that effect. Nathan also says he's not crazy, as Noah accuses, just greedy. Finally, Noah agrees. Nathan says Noah willl abduct Daniel, take him out for a ride from Hatter's Cove, then return without him. He can find him near the Old House and Noah can wait and grab him.

Later, Noah waits in the woods and grabs Daniel from behind, covering his mouth and dragging him away.

Peter leaves the gun with Vicki--he'll only warn Naomi about Daniel if she promises to protect herself. She wants him to take the gun, but she agrees to take it and use it if she has to. Peter leaves the mausoleum. She tells him to be careful and they kiss. She closes the secret door behind him and gazes fearfully at the gun.

Noah drags Daniel to the sea hut. The boy demands to know who he is, but Noah only reveals he knows Daniel's name. He'll stay here until the storm blows over, Noah says, and demands he not ask any questions. People will look for him, warns Daniel, but Noah says they'll be going before that--they're going on a little trip to sea, take a little boat from Hatters Cove.Daniel asks how long they're going to be, and Noah becomes impatient. The window shutters blow open and when Noah stands to close them, Daniel runs from the hut, Noah in pursuit. I've got to find the mausoleum, thinks Daniel, trying to remember the way. Daniel opens the gate to the tomb. Noah, in the cemetery, hears Daniel calling to Miss Winters. Daniel can't figure out how to get into the secret room, but Vicki hears him and quickly opens the door. He tells her that a man is after him, trying to kill him--he's out in the graveyard now! Noah enters the tomb and looks around, puzzled. Where did the kid go?

NOTES: Daniel is in serious trouble now, and he might have brought the same on Vicki by leading Noah to her hiding place. This is one unscrupulous guy, doing anything for money?--and delayed money, at that. Nathan hasn't played straight with him yet, how does he know he will in the future?

Will Peter be able to convince Naomi to help Daniel--and them?

Will Nathan's plan to kill Daniel--and the succeeding generations of the Collins family come to fruition? Good stuff, huh?

Love, Robin

I guess they wanted to keep the repetition in for those who might not watch every day, but come on!  The problem is, we're watching two eps per day, back to back, so that intro just seems to go on, and on and on. . .!

Love, Robin

Sounds like everyone had a great time doing this panel--and Roger Davis wasn't TOO obnoxious!

Many thanks, Nancy and Marlene, for this interview--and that photo of Jonathan and Lara IS really nice.

Love, Robin