Ah, Henry, I have missed your stream-of-consciousness patter about DS--welcome back!

Trask is just so delicious, isn't he?  Nathan is growing more evil, Barnabas is getting his revenge, and Vicki and Peter smooch and hope, even though it sure looks bad for her.

Glad to see you, Henry, hope you stick around forevah!

Love, Robin

439 - (Vala Clifton) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past--back to the Collins family in the year 1795, where she finds herself labeled a witch and forced to endure a trial which could only have one verdict--for the one person who could have saved her was unable to make himself known, and must settle for revenge on the prosecutor.

Ben comes downstairs to greet Barnabas as he rises from his coffin. The vampire wonders if Trask had nightmares, and Ben says if Barnabas had anything to do with it, he sure did. His dreams will worsen, promises Barnabas, before ceasing altogether. Ben is unhappy that the vampire wants to kill Trask; why not just scare him back to Salem? Ben fears that killing him will also make it worse for Miss Winters; they'll blame his death on her. No, says Barnabas, they will have to be clever about it. Besides, he doesn't want Trask to just leave, the SOB will only inflict the same on other innocent young girls, so Barnabas is making this his business!Trask is important, argues Ben, almost a hero to some after the trial, and if he disappears, the villagers won't forget. Trask will disappear right there, in the Old House basement, says Barn, drawn there by a nightmare. Barnabas gazes at an alcove and tells Ben he must bring him a ring large enough to tie a man's hands to, plus bricks and mortar--and make sure he's not seen! Ben refuses to help him--no more killing, there's been enough! It will never end for me, the vampire reminds him. Ben sadly points out that Barnabas used to care about him, was thoughtful, tried to make his load lighter--doesn't he have any feelings? (sad query, Ben) Yes, says Barnabas, I have hate! Ben fears imprisonment for keeping Barnabas' secret, but Barnabas reminds him he can never let him go--he trusts no one, has no choice now. Ben realizes Barnabas would kill him if he had to, and Barnabas admits it's true. Then kill me now, demands Ben--I don't want to watch what's going to happen to you. Barnabas confesses that he can't harm Ben, and the servant says, yes, because Barnabas needs him. "You'll go on with me," says Barnabas gently, "because there's nothing else either of us can do."

A very touching scene there; my heart ached for both of them.

At the Eagle, Ben gets drunk on rum in the company of Maudie Brown, a "big city" girl who is clearly looking for some action. Ben warns her not to be alone. She knows all about Ruby Tate, but SHE was common, sniffs Maudie, and would talk to any man--I only talk to gentlemen! She's annoyed when Ben pounds his glass on the table, demanding more rum--he obviously prefers rum to her. Nathan comes in with a buddy he knows from the Navy, Noah Gifford. Maudie sulks to them that she wants to return to New Bedford with her money. Nathan agrees to meet her in an hour, then quietly reminds Noah to pump Ben for information on the Collinses. Noah joins Ben, who orders him a rum. The seaman asks Ben questions about the Collins family, indicating he'd like to work for them before getting on another ship.While Ben blathers on drunkenly about going to sea himself, to China, maybe, Noah keeps asking questions. Ben slips up and mentions Barnabas, saying working for him is not the way it used to be--the things he asks you to do, and you can't say no. . .stay away from the Collinses, warns Ben darkly.

Barnabas meets and flirts with Maudie on the docks when he picks up her dropped handkerchief. She fingers the head of his cane, and although he tries to leave her, she pretends to faint, and he takes her into his arms. As she leans against him, he warns her that it isn't safe to be out, but she flirtatiously says she'll take her chances with him.He opens his mouth, fangs exposed, but Maudie sees his face before he can attack, and screams. Barnabas begins to strangle her and drops his cane as they struggle.

Nathan hears Maudie's screams and comes running, but Barnabas is gone by the time he arrives. Forbes picks up the cane, mutters, "It couldn't be," then says he knows whose cane it is. Nathan takes her into the Eagle and buys her rum to assuage her fear of almost losing her life. He wants her to go to the police, but she's so frightened, she just wants to leave town. Nathan promises to take care of this himself. I must be wrong about whose cane it is--my friend who had a similar one is in England. She describes her attacker to Nathan as tall, dark-haired, elegant, with serious brown eyes that looked right through her, and a deep, refined voice. He was handsome at first, but then his face changed into that of an animal. He started choking her, giving her a clear view of his gold and onyx ring! This clinches it for Nathan, who is stunned, but he tells Maudie his payment for saving her life is to keep quiet about the incident. He says if he's right, she isn't the only lucky one tonight!
NOTES:  And so Ben was right!


440 - (Vala Clifton) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past--back to the Collins family in the year 1795, and the secrets which still haunt the Collins family today. One secret concerns a man who is dead but still lives, and the horror of his existence can bring untold grief to those alive now, as well as those in centuries to come.

Barnabas finds Ben sleeping off his hangover in one of the chairs in the Old House living room. Barnabas thought Ben had quit working for him, but Ben says he couldn't. If you're going to stay, warns Barnabas, no moralizing on what I do. He orders Ben to the docks to find his dropped cane, then has to explain how he lost it. This alarms Ben, who is sure the vampire has been found out--what will they do now? he anxiously asks Barnabas.Don't panic, the vampire says--the woman doesn't know me. Hearing that the victim was Maude Brown, Ben nervously reveals he was keeping that very lady company at the Eagle and knows where she lives. Barn says he'll stay home, avoiding further trouble, and keep Trask busy--the devil's work makes for idle hands, the vampire chortles; Ben is to find the cane, even if he has to check Maude's room--just make sure she isn't in it. Barnabas wonders if Trask has begun to feel any remorse for Vicki Winters or is planning to persecute someone else, and promises that wherever he goes, the light will leave.

So saying, Barnabas viciously blows out a candle and the candle on Trask's desk goes out, too. When he re-lights it, it is again extinguished. He hears Barnabas' resounding laughter and says the devil has come again. Nathan stops by to visit Trask, who re-lights the candles again. Trask asked the Lieutenant to stop by because he was concerned that he, too, is being similarly victimized by the vengeful witch. Nathan insists HE doesn't believe in witches, and Trask says he should have seen that disembodied hand floating towards HIM, growing, until all one could see was the ring!Nathan pounces on this, and Trask describes the black onyx stone set in gold. Nathan says he knows that ring, Maude was attacked by the man wearing it, and it isn't the devil--it's Barnabas Collins! Trask continues to maintain the witch is responsible and believes that both of them will be punished. The hand appears then, Barnabas' clenched fist, but only to Trask?s bulging eyes. Nathan sees how upset Trask is and suggests he's been under too much strain from the trial. "The strain begins, for you and you alone!" cackles Barnabas voice, only heard by the hysterical Trask. The non-Reverend quickly agrees that the trial is getting to him, and Barnabas' voice adds, "You will give much more!" Trask insists to Nathan that he has faith on his side, and Barnabas laughs at him maniacally. Flustered, Trask speaks back: "I will fight you!" Nathan insists he doesn't hear the voice, and Barnabas tells Trask that he's alone. Trask screams that he ISN'T alone, and Nathan continues to gaze oddly at the crazed man. Nathan says he has to go back to Maude and advises Trask to leave, too, but the latter says he's going to stand firm and barks at the Lieutenant to go. Trask, left alone, hears Barnabas' voice telling him that he is "To die, to die, to die. . .!"

Ben searches Maude's room but finds nothing. Where it the cane, he frets, it should be there! Nathan knocks at the door but leaves when no one answers. Ben quietly slips out, but Nathan has been hiding and follows him.

Barnabas is perturbed when Ben returns to the Old House without the cane. He assures the vampire he wasn't spotted and that Maudie herself was getting drunk at the Eagle and telling tall tales about her attack. She didn't show the cane to anyone, swears Ben. Outside the window, Nathan eavesdrops, and Barnabas hears someone outside. He goes to investigate, but Nathan is gone. Ben wants to return to town to resume the search, but Barnabas wants to go settle Maudie himself, which upsets Ben terribly. You'll be caught, he argues, but Barnabas seems to feel he'll be caught anyway. Ben suggests Barnabas leave Collinwood--he'll go with him!--but Barnabas insists he still wants to be where he and Josette were almost happy. Barnabas leaves, Ben begging him to reconsider.

Nathan and a drunken Maude go into her room. She pouts that she wants to return to the Eagle, but he locks her window and orders her to lock her door after he goes--her attacker wants his cane back. She clings to him, trying to get him to stay, but he chuckles about not ruining his reputation. There's a stage leaving at 8 AM, be on it, he orders Maude; he'll stop by to say goodbye to her. After he goes, Maude hears a bat squeaking outside the window. She backs away, frightened, and starts to pack, but soon finds herself face to face with Barnabas. I want my cane, he tells her. She insists she doesn't have it and screams for help, but he says he knows she's there alone, and they must be quiet.His eyes scare Maude, and she tries not to look at him. "He" has the cane, she says. Barnabas grabs her, they struggle, and he keeps shouting at her not to scream, finally silencing her himself with strong hands squeezing into her throat.

Trask returns home, angry at himself for letting the witch scare him away from his own room. He'll show her he isn't afraid!He enters his room and begins to light candles. He spots something in his bed and realizes that someone has left a grisly present spread across his covers--Maude's dead body, eyes staring in wide-open horror. "No!" cries Trask.

NOTES:  Barnabas is really having fun with Trask, isn't he? The sweet guy Barn was as a human being is blotted out by the terrible, delicious things he's doing to avenge what happened to Vicki. That revenge will soon take a much deadlier turn!

Love, Robin

I've always thought of whoopee and Collinwood as oxymorons.  I mean, really, I can't even imagine anyone doing the deed in that creepy, drafty old house!

However, I feel challenged, so let me think. . .

I doubt Naomi and Josh were doing a darn thing, and losing both kids to sudden death might ruin any romantic mood even if they were.

Frankly, I can't imagine that any Collins family members, or even Natalie, would feel like doing "it" under the circumstances, so I'm going to guess it was the scullery maid, Eloise, and her ardent gardener-lover, Patrick "the rake" O'Neal.  She's going to get pregnant and Joshua will send her and her lover packing!

Love, Robin

No way did Millicent go all the way with Forbes.  He probably wouldn't even have tried to do THAT.  The kiss they exchanged was scandalous enough in Millicent's eyes, and his betrayal extreme--he was legally married to another woman and engaged to her--and kissing her!  My God, that had to constitute her going straight to hell.  

On the other hand. . .SPOILER. . .








They will get married, and I always wondered if they ever consummated their marriage before all hell broke loose.

Love, Robin

437 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past?back to the Collins family in the year 1795. Fear of the unknown has turned others against her and placed her very existence in peril--and the forces of evil which have surrounded her fate now threaten a deadly end to her journey.

(Black and white kinescope) - Peter has brought the Collins family history book to Vicki's cell. She still has doubts about telling the truth about herself, but Peter says they have to do something or she'll be convicted and hung. (damned if you do or don't.)

Trask has sent for Nathan and they have a private closed-door meeting in the courtroom. He wants Forbes to make one little change in his statement--instead of saying he helped Vicki because of his friendship with Barnabas, he is to say Miss Winters bewitched him. Nathan refuses until Trask blackmails him, reminding him of his career prospects and that he has received a reprieve, not pardon, from Joshua Collins. Nathan refuses to the end, but Trask is confident he has his prey cornered.

Courtroom - Alone with Peter, Vicki ponders being convicted and hanged, and relates to him how, as a child, she has terrible nightmares. She tried to stay asleep and keep dreaming until the very last second, when the car crashed or the monster got her. She would wake herself up. Growing hysterical, Vicki cries, "Wake myself up. . .it has to stop! Wake myself up, now, now! Got to stop now!" until she's screaming it and Peter is forced to slap her to bring her out of her hysteria. Then he hugs and holds her. "Be quiet," he admonishes her. They hear footsteps--time to go to court. Peter asks her if she'll be all right, but she doesn't answer him.

Later, Trask again puts Nathan on the stand, and guides him to say what he wants him to say. Forbes tells the judges that he felt compelled to help Vicki, he had no choice, his mind was swimming--she bewitched him! Vicki and Peter are shocked at his further duplicity and perjury. When Peter cross-examines, he demands that Nathan look at Vicki and reminds him that when they first met, he found her very attractive and said pretty girls were his weakness. Forbes also tried to kiss Miss Winters, and she had to slap him.Nathan admits that, and Peter goes on to say that it was Forbes' uncontrollable desire for Miss Winters that led him to help her and had nothing to do with witchcraft. Nathan says he doesn't know and thus Peter leaves doubt hanging in the air. Nathan and Vicki exchange looks as he leaves the witness box, hers of reproach, his of shame.

Peter calls Vicki to the stand. Clearly, calmly, she tells them she was born in 1946 (astounding the judges), was raised in a foundling home in New York, which she left in 1966 to work for the Collins family in the future. She describes how she was knocked unconscious (liar, Vicki!) Peter hands the Collins family history, dated 1965, to the judges. This, Peter says, explains her ability to know the future and proves she's telling the truth. The judges glance at this astounding evidence and look at the photographs, which Peter explains are taken by machine. Peter ends by asking Vicki is she's a witch, and she states, firmly, that she isn't.

Trask pounces in cross-examination, and before he's through, has Vicki admitting she was transported to the past during a seance, a ritual to conjure up the dead, and not for the first time, either.Trask hurls accusation that she innocent-faced Vicki is a child of the devil, that she admits to flying through time, calling up the dead. "She is a witch!" screams Trask, and Vicki screeches back, over and over, that she isn't.

Peter and Vicki await the verdict. The fact that it's taking a while is a good sign, says Peter, the judges must have doubt about her guilt. Vicki is scared; she doesn't want to die. Peter tells her that he loves her and she begs him not to; she might be executed or returned to her own time, and in either case, he'll probably never see her again. Peter holds her close and tells her that, no matter what her fate, he loves her. This is a nice scene.

Nathan venomously tells Trask that he never met a preacher, even a self-styled one, whose specialty is blackmail. Trask denies this charge--he was just trying to show him the error of his ways. Nathan says he feels like telling the judges how he was forced into his damning testimony against Vicki, but Trask reminds him that it would end everything--for Forbes. As the judges return to the bench, Nathan hisses to Trask that he hopes they free Vicki.
Unfortunately, the judges pronounce Victoria Winters guilty of witchcraft--she will be hung by the neck until dead! Vicki cries out, "No!" and faints into Peter's arms. Trask grins triumphantly.

NOTES:  Poor Vicki! She's certainly innocent, but thanks to Forbes, Angelique and Trask, she couldn't catch a break.


438 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past--back to the Collins family in the year 1795, back to a time the powers of darkness and superstition prevail over light and reason. In that perilous time, Victoria Winters has been accused and condemned as a witch.

Barnabas awakens to hear bad news from Ben--despite his best efforts at giving testimony providing the truth, Angelique showed up in the courtroom--Vicki Winters has been convicted of witchcraft and will hang! I couldn't help it, says Ben sadly, she appeared and I lost control of myself. Ben wonders why, and Barnabas says she did it because freeing Victoria Winters was something he wanted, and she'd be damned before letting him have any victories, even this one. Barnabas focuses on the hated MR Trask--he's going to get him for what he did to Miss Winters. Ben pleads with Barnabas to cease the violence; true, he's been lucky so far and hasn't been caught, but that luck could end.Barnabas intends to take care of Trask using his own weapon--fear--he'll let him live with terror, then give him a slow death! Barnabas thoroughly relishes this idea, although Ben is not happy to hear it.

Trask goes to Collinwood and ends up having heated words with Naomi. He's gloating over his victory in court; she says Peter just might come up with new evidence to overturn the decision. He wants the keys to the Old House, he says, so he can go get Miss Winters' belongings--her worldly goods must be destroyed. Naomi refuses, saying his presence disgusts her, so he lashes into her for choosing the "wrong" side--Satan over God!Furious, Naomi slaps him across the face (OH, THAT WAS SO GOOD!), then dares him to strike her back. She knows he wouldn't dare hit the mistress of Collinwood; he isn't that stupid, but he prefers abusing women who can't fight back, like Miss Winters! She orders Trask to get a search warrant for the Old House, but he reminds her that Joshua was displeased by her testifying and is sure he wouldn't like it if he had to get the search warrant by such means. Naomi reluctantly relents and tells Ben Stokes to take Trask to the Old House--and to stay with him until he leaves! Ben notes that it's getting dark, but Trask assures him he isn't afraid of that. Trask stands next to Barnabas' painting, pleased over his latest coup.

Ben sends Trask upstairs to Vicki's old room alone, then races to the basement door, which Barnabas has just exited. He warns him Trask is in the house, per Naomi's orders, and tells him what he's doing there.

Upstairs, heading to Vicki's room, Trask hears Ben talking to someone.

Barnabas orders Ben to remain with Trask; he'll stay in the basement. He locks the door.

Trask comes downstairs with a bundle and demands to know who Ben was talking to--was he communicating with the witch? Ben says he was just talking to himself, a habit he has.Trask gives Ben a speculative look, then leaves the Old House. Barnabas comes upstairs and, gazing evilly out the window, tells Ben Trask is in for a night he'll never forget. Trask goes to his lodgings and things begin to happen rapidly. As he unwraps the bundle of Vicki's belongings, he hears the sound of dragging chains. Exiting his room to see if anyone is out there, he hears a woman screaming and immediately runs back into his room. For a brief time, all sound ceases, then Barnabas' voice, calling "TRASK!" over and over, fills the room. The vampire?s voice, terrifying in its force, goes on, reminding Trask about his innocent victims, chained, tortured, miserable. He's a fraud, and he won't live to see Victoria Winters hang! Trask cries out that it's the witch and he refuses to be frightened (although he clearly is). He knocks the bundle to the floor, and after he picks it up, sees his reflection morph into that of a skull. Barnabas laughs, "Victoria Winters will live!" Trask orders the evil spirits to be banished as the chains and Barnabas' laughter continue. The skull disappears from the mirror, but blood runs down its surface. "Victoria Winters will live--you will die!" Barnabas' voice promises. A disembodied hand appears out of nowhere, twisting and turning, reaching for Trask. He tries to leave the room, but the door won't open. We see Barnabas' ring on that hand, and Trask is screaming, "Get away!" The hand disappears, and Trask, cowering on the floor, eyes wide with horror, hears, "It won't happen tonight, or tomorrow night, but soon, Trask, very soon, you will die!"

NOTES:  (I remember when I saw this ep for the first time, I was TERRIFIED! Barnabas was doing a terrific job of scaring Trask and the audience!)

Love, Robin

435 - (Lara Parker) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one woman on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past-back to the Collins family in the year 1795. As another day comes to a close, Victoria winters finds herself closer to being convicted on a charge of witchcraft, for which the penalty is death by hanging.

When Barnabas rises for the evening, Ben tells him how badly the trial is going for Miss Winters, that a snake, Nathan, testified against the former governess in regards to Abigail. Trask has turned Abigail's death against Vicki, and, as Ben rightly points out, Barnabas is responsible for that. Since he can't go himself, Barnabas orders Ben to go to the courtroom and be a witness for Vicki--tell them about Angelique being the witch! Ben is terrified that Angelique won't let him--look how many times she made him mute before, to protect herself! And besides, Joshua might send him back to prison for testifying for Miss Winters, and Trask will be quick to point out that Ben is a convict.Barnabas doesn't want to hear any arguments or objections; he's sure that once Ben is on the stand, he'll convince everyone. "Tomorrow morning, Ben!" orders Barnabas harshly, and after Ben leaves, Barnabas is so angry and probably feels so impotent to help Vicki, he puts his hand to his mouth and looks like he's gnawing on his knuckle.

At the trial, Peter asks that Nathan's testimony be stricken from the record in light of the testimony just given by the respected Naomi Collins (wish we could have seen it, but I guess it wasn't really necessary). What Mrs. Collins says is opinion, not proof, insists the head judge, and says that both testimonies will stand. Trask rests his case, surprising Peter, who hasn't been able to round up any witnesses. Ben Stokes enters the courtroom and confers with Peter and Vicki, who thanks him for coming forward. He has much to say, he tells her, and hopes he will be believed. No sooner does Ben take the stand than Trask brings up his prison record, but the judge says he's under oath. A nervous Ben admits that he protected and helped Miss Winters because he knew she wasn't a witch. He knew who the real witch was (and here Trask does a comical double take)--"Angelique Collins!" gulps Ben.Vicki is stunned. Ben explains how he saw Angelique performing acts of witchcraft and forced Ben to help her. She made him steal a lock of Jeremiah's hair to perform the love spell on Josette and Jeremiah. Angelique wanted Josette to be unfaithful to Barnabas, her fiance, because she wanted Barnabas for herself--and got him. Miss Winters had nothing to gain, points out Peter, but Angelique had much--that's a motive for the acts of witchcraft. Peter requests that the case be dropped, but the judge says Trask must be allowed to cross-examine the witness. Where is Angelique Collins? asks Trask. Ben doesn't know; he is no longer under her spell. She left the day after Barnabas went to England, a month ago. Trask accuses Ben of lying--the acts of witchcraft continued, nay, escalated, in the past month. There were three deaths in the Collins household, plus all the attacks in the village--witchcraft is still being practiced--and by Victoria Winters! NO! screams Ben, Angelique is guilty. He saw her turn Joshua into a cat; she was responsible for Sarah's death--not Miss Winters! Pandemonium breaks out; everyone is yelling at everyone else.

Outside the courtroom, Angelique materializes out of the air. "THAT WOMAN IS DEAD!" screams Ben, pointing at the smiling ghost--I saw her in her coffin, buried her!Angelique and Ben stare at each other. Trask demands that Ben's testimony be stricken from the record--look at the discrepancies! First he says she's gone away, then that she's dead. Peter insists Ben be allowed to explain, but the judges order poor Ben from the courtroom. As he goes, he covers his face with his hands, terrified, despairing--he can't escape her, even in death!

Trask wants Angelique to take the stand, and Peter confers with Vicki as to whether or not this is wise. She realizes now that Angelique WAS the witch, it all makes sense! (DUH!) They decide it would be in their best interest to let Mrs. Collins take the stand.

At first, when Angelique is questioned, she says that Vicki was always courteous and kind to her, and displayed no strange behavior. However, Miss Winters was living with her and Barnabas after their wedding-her husband believed Vicki innocent and was protecting her.When Trask performed his exorcism, however, Miss Winters was the only one driven from the house. She was calling fire, but Angelique checked the room and there was no evidence of such.

Peter, looking defeated, refuses to cross-examine Angelique. He has no witnesses, but asks for more time to find some. The judge tells him they will be back in the courtroom at 9 AM Monday, and if he doesn't produce any witnesses, the trial will be over.

Outside the courtroom, Angelique fades just before Trask, Vicki and Peter pass her by, then, giggling, she reappears, gazing after them in triumph.

NOTES:  She can't even let Vicki get away with the witchcraft-and since she's dead, what difference does it make for her to be branded a witch-especially since she IS one! Angelique, you are such a witchy woman! Mean to the bone!

Some great scenes in this ep, and that last one, with Angelique disappearing before anyone sees her, is one of the classics.


436 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past-back to the Collins family in the year 1795. At this moment, she is in great danger, for she has been charged with witchcraft and is on trial for her life. And she is beginning to make a strange and terrifying discovery.

Poor Alex Moltke had a cold in these eps; you can hear it in her voice.

Vicki and Peter sit in her cell, where she tells him she believes Ben was telling the truth about Angelique being the witch. She describes to him how she found Barnabas' toy soldier and handkerchief in Angelique's room, and realizes she probably was responsible for the choking incident. She thought Sarah had left them, but now, since Angelique talked her out of mentioning them to the child, she's not so sure.Peter says it doesn't matter; there's no proof, but Vicki insists that Angelique is the only one with a motive for keeping Josette and Barnabas apart-she could see Angelique's love for Barnabas, explains Vicki and used to feel sorry for her, thinking it hopeless. Peter reminds her that Ben's claim that Angelique was dead after she walked into the courtroom, obviously alive, certainly blew his testimony out of the water, and Vicki admits she's grasping at straws. Vicki is dejected, but Peter promises to follow this up.

On the wharf, Ben frets over his failure to help Vicki. He fears what Barnabas will say, and that Joshua will punish him for what he did. He considers running away, but believes Angelique will pursue him, even from her grave. Nathan shows up and offers Ben money to share information with him. Ben tells Forbes he doesn't like him and has no desire to talk to him, then hands his money back to him. Nathan insists he knows the truth about Barnabas Collins, giving Ben some bad moments there. Then Forbes points out that Millicent has seen Barnabas, he himself thought he spotted him, and Ben, too, has seen Barnabas--so, he apparently never went to England! Ben denies this, saying Millicent isn't right in the head, thanks to what Nathan did to her.Nathan investigated and learned that no ships went to England the day Barnabas disappeared, nor any in the month since. Ben claims Barnabas didn't leave from Collinsport, and Nathan points out he can check out ships leaving from anywhere and check the passenger lists. Ben grabs Nathan's shirtfront and warns him that if he doesn't stop probing and prying, he's going to kill him with his bare hands!--leave the Collins family alone and stop making trouble for me, orders Ben. Nathan is clearly scared, but as Ben lopes off, he realizes that Stokes already answered his question--Barnabas never went to England and Ben knows where he is. Nathan will learn the rest himself.

Peter catches up with Ben at the door to the Old House. Ben says he can't do anything further to help Vicki. Peter's been searching for Angelique, in town and now here at the Old House. He won't find her, says Ben, she's dead and buried, and it was her ghost that appeared in the courtroom. Ben knows she died, he buried her (although he refuses to reveal how she died). Peter asks to see Ang's grave, and although he's afraid, Ben takes him to the spot. Peter asks for a shovel and begins to dig.

Vicki paces her cell, hoping, wondering what's keeping her boyfriend/jailer/lawyer.
Peter finds no body in Angelique's grave and Ben pronounces that she vanished into thin air. Maybe she never really died, he speculates, but she wouldn't stay in her grave, anyway. Ben believes her hears her laughing in the distance. He races off nervously, making a big tree shake in a blooper.

Peter returns to Vicki and tells her he thinks Ben has lost it--he's a babbling maniac! It's weird that there's no trace of Angelique, says Vicki, and says she still believes Ben is telling the truth.Peter tells Vicki that rather than bringing up the business with the handkerchief/soldier, he's going to put Vicki herself on the stand to tell the entire truth about herself, including her coming from another century. He hopes they will see what he, Peter, saw when she told him--a lovely, girl incapable of witchcraft. Vicki fears, and rightly so, that they will take it as proof positive of her guilt. Peter caresses her face and says this might be her only hope, which upsets her. They hug, clinging together.

NOTES:  I think Peter's plan is foolhardy, but given the current situation, perhaps he has a viable plan. With Ben's testimony discounted, Nathan having testified against her and Naomi's testimony well-meaning but apparently useless, Peter hopes Vicki's sweetness will shine through for the judges as it did for him. He's falling in love with her, however, and the judges aren't looking at her romantically. Tell 18th century men that you come from the 20th century? Get the gallows ready; methinks Vicki hasn't a chance in hell!

Love, Robin

433 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past?back to the Collins family in the year 1795. In the midst of a long reign of evil and terror, Victoria Winters is forced to defend herself against a charge of witchcraft.

At Vicki's trial, Trask relates the tale of Abigail's death, emphasizing the unspeakable horror on her kind, gentle face (), as though confronted by EVIL itself! Victoria Winters used her powers to strike Abigail down! shouts Trask. Peter orders those remarks stricken from the record--Vicki might not have been a big fan of Abigail, but that doesn't mean she hated her enough to kill her. After Peter says Miss Collins died of a heart attack, Trask points out that she was in perfect health previously, a fact which the judge agrees to.However, there isn't enough evidence yet to charge Miss Winters with murder. Trask requests a recess so he can find a witness. When it's granted, he grins, pleased.

Vicki's cell - Peter tells Vicki he's concerned about all this; Trask is too confident. He asks Vicki with whom she might have discussed Abigail, but most of the people Vicki ticks off on her fingers are dead now. Grasping at straws, Peter asks if Ben could have murdered Abigail, but Vicki says no. Peter is scared--they need a good witness of their own to counteract Trask's actions.

At the gaol later, Peter and Vicki talk to Nathan Forbes, tell him of Abigail's demise and ask him to be a character witness for Vicki and assure the court she never said anything negative about Abigail. Nathan is reluctant, citing his falling-out with the Collins family (he doesn't give details), but he agrees to help them, or at least do his best.Trask listens to this conversation outside the cell door and is again smiling happily.

Back in the courtroom, Trask calls Vicki to the stand. Peter brings up the "innocent until proven guilty" rule and reminds the judges about her right not to incriminate herself, but the judge assures him those rights will be protected. Trask goes at Vicki with a vengeance, asking her if she HATED Abigail for suspecting her of witchcraft--did she hate her enough to KILL her? Peter objects. Vicki denies wanting to see Abigail dead. Trask offers Vicki's Zodiac charm bracelet into evidence (Trask calls it a symbol of the devil). He gets Vicki to admit it's hers and tells them it was found on poor Abigail's dead body; Peter reminds the court that they haven't really hooked Vicki up to that murder yet. Besides, Abigail had that bracelet in her possession long before her death. Then Trask drops the bomb and bring in Nathan Forbes, who walks past the defense unseeingly, to testify against Vicki! Peter, clearly angry and shocked, tells the judges that this was supposed to be THEIR witness. The judge asks Nathan if he was coerced in any, which he denies.With Trask asking the questions, Nathan says Vicki hated Abigail, threatened her, called her a religious fanatic, told him that, if she had the power, she would see her dead and buried. "That's not true!" screams Vicki, outraged and horrified, several times, throwing the courtroom into pandemonium. Peter, in cross-examination, reminds Forbes that he befriended and helped Vicki hide from Trask, bringing her food. Forbes insists he did this only to maintain his friendship with Barnabas, who believed Vicki innocent, but he, Forbes, didn't agree with him.Peter also brings out that Trask tied Miss Winters to a tree like an animal, which Trask described as "doing his duty to the Almighty." Nathan knew witchcraft was being practiced at Collinwood, and since Vicki was the last person to arrive, she was the most logical suspect. Vicki gazes in disbelief at Nathan and screams, "WHY?" Forbes exits the witness box after taking one last look at Vicki, who Peter has taken in his arms. You can't quite read his face, but Trask is grinning evilly, joyously.

NOTES:  We know that whatever happened between Nathan's agreement to testify for the defense and his testifying against Vicki, Trask got his mitts into Forbes and said something to change his mind. I'm sure we won't have to wait long to find out exactly what Trask said to bring Nathan over to his side, but we sure do hate the handsome Lieutenant for his betrayal, don't we? Oh, yeah!


434 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family in the year 1795. There, Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces, one of whom has just testified at Victoria Winters' trial for witchcraft, and in his testimony showed that she had both the motive and desire to kill the woman who had first accused her of being a witch.

Nathan stands at the desk in his quarter, telling himself not to feel sorry for Victoria Winters--he had to be selfish. Peter barges in and demands to know why Nathan lied. Nathan insists he didn't, that he simply decided he'd been wrong about Vicki.They go back and forth on this debate for some time. Peter encourages Nathan to come to the gaol and see her, but Forbes has no desire to see a woman crying. What happened in the two hours between his promise to testify on Vicki's behalf and your perjuring yourself? demands Peter. How are the Collinses bribing you? Nathan denies this--he's on bad terms with the family and he and Millicent have broken their engagement. Peter points out that the Collins family could jeopardize his job with the Navy, which would certainly be a motive for his lying. Before long, the two of them are physically brawling; Peter knocks Nathan to the floor. Nathan declares that Peter won the round, but lost the fight, and Peter retorts that they'd see the victor when Vicki is sentenced.

At Collinwood, Naomi and Joshua talk. He hasn't gone in to work, which she attributes to his grief about his sister--why doesn't he show it? He asks to be left alone, but she refuses. Abigail had no life, laments Naomi--a senseless death and a senseless life. Joshua objects to this, saying his sister had her family. She had the wrong values, says Naomi, and, unlike her brother, was a businesswoman without a business to run. She loved Joshua, but only tolerated the rest of them, Naomi continues. She would have liked to make Abigail's life fuller, happier. Perhaps she had a broken romance in her past. Joshua insists his sister knew her own mind. He declares Naomi too emotional, a poor judge of character (i.e., Vicki), and says he's going to the yards to see Trask. Naomi watches his gruff departure, smiling.

Trask promises Nathan that he will, as promised, talk to Joshua about him. He needs his job now that he's lost Millicent (Trask insists he knows nothing of physical love, but he must have had a kid somewhere, since there are Trasks in the future). Nathan reminds Trask he did the Collinses a favor by testifying against Vicki, and he believes Trask owes him.Trask takes this as blackmail, reminding Forbes he could have accused him of being the witch's accomplice, but Nathan smoothly reminds him the time for doing so has passed. Nathan strongly implies that if Trask doesn't do what he promised on his behalf, he might just consider Bradford's suggestion to change his testimony.

Trask speaks to Joshua and suggests that if he and Naomi testify against Miss Winters, on top of Nathan's testimony, it would pretty much ensure a conviction--and it would be what Abigail would have wanted. Joshua refuses--his family has given enough. Trask keeps pressing, reminding him that Nathan gave Miss Winters a motive for killing Abigail, and he really SHOULD withdraw his threat to speak to the Navy. . .or Miss Winters might not be punished--Forbes' testimony is that important to the case. At first, Joshua refuses to speak to Forbes, but when Trask reminds him that he isn't really doing anything to help convict Vicki, he reluctantly agrees to see him--out of respect for Abigail's memory, as Trask puts it. Joshua asks to see Nathan alone.

Nathan plays humble with Joshua, saying earnestly that losing Millicent is enough of a punishment for his lies. Let him keep his job, it's all he has, and he'll serve the Navy well in the future! He asks if Joshua didn't make mistakes as a young man, such as his unfortunate marriage. Sourly, Joshua interrupts--he didn't want to hear this tawdry story!He agrees not to write the disciplinary letter, but only if Nathan applies for a transfer and leaves Collinsport so he never has to see him again.

Collinwood foyer - Peter tells a distraught Naomi than Nathan lied at the trial, but she says she can't do anything to help. Then Vicki will die, says Peter. After Bradford leaves, Naomi is pouring herself a sherry when Joshua comes home and inquires sarcastically if this is what she's been doing all afternoon. She tells him that Nathan lied on the stand about Miss Winters, and Joshua knows damn well it isn't true. Vicki isn't a witch--and I am going to testify for her! Livid, Joshua orders her to stay in the house and sip sherry all day, but she is not to interfere.To hell with dignity, proclaims his wife, she's lost both her kids and has nothing but what little piece of him he allows her to share. When he threatens to lock her in her room, she informs him that she'll escape, testify and NOT COME BACK! She puts on her cloak, marches out the door and gets into the carriage while her husband shouts that she is his wife, she'd better come back, even following outside and shouting her name at the departing carriage.

NOTES:  HURRAY, NAOMI! Love that gumption, girl! You GO!

Love, Robin

Jonathan Frid - The man who made me love DS above all other things, I was fascinated by his charisma for almost four years.  Very sexy, marvelous voice, oh, I wanted him!
 
David Selby - handsome, devilish, loved his smile.  Very charming and sexy.

Don Brisco - not my type.  Cute, but did nothing for me.

Roger Davis - thought him cute back then, great for the grieving Vicki, but again, not my cuppa tea.

John Karlen - adorable, huggable, had that daring, dangerous edge before Barnabas got his fangs into him.  I just plain pitied and liked Willie, who often made me laugh, and men who make me laugh are sexy!

James Storm - eh.  Attractive, but didn't give me that thump below the belt.

Michael Stroka - See James Storm.

Chris Pennock - Cute, seemed like a druggie to me, then and now.  Excellent actor in PT as Cyrus/Yaeger.  Nice eyes.

Joel Crothers - Loved him!  Cute, sweet, great both as evil Nathan and kindly Joe Haskell.  Fabulous hair, eyes, build, he gets a 10 from me!

Humbert Astredo - another sexy devil, there was something very erotic and exciting about this excellent actor.  I wanted to be his helper just so I could look at him as much as I wanted.  He shone as Nicholas Blair.

Love, Robin