378 - (KLS) - Time has been suspended at Collinwood, while one woman makes an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the year 1795, where she finds a family unknowingly held in the grip of an evil force which no one can fight.

Ben is out in the woods sharpening an axe when Angelique summons him. He tries to ignore her call, thinking how much he'd rather help Barnabas than Angelique, but when her face appears before him, growing bigger, telling him he can't fight her, he knows he can't escape, and runs back to the Old House.

Barnabas is hurt and confused when Jeremiah tells him he's going away, right now.At first, Jeremiah won't say that he's coming back for the wedding, at which he's supposed to be his nephew's best man, but tells him, evasively, he will do nothing to interfere with his and Josette's happiness, giving Barn the impression he will be back in time. Jeremiah tells Ben to get his bags and horse; he'll be taking the stage out of Collinsport.

Angelique isn't happy to hear about Jeremiah's sudden trip, and asks Ben to help her figure out a way to keep him from leaving. He tells her Barnabas already spoke to Jeremiah, trying to convince him not to go, but it didn't work. Ben says Josette must make Barnabas prevent Jeremiah from leaving; it's the only way, and Angelique is pleased that her slave came up with such a great idea--to make Barnabas' fiancee keep her lover in town. Angelique takes the headless doll and kneels before the fire. She tells the doll, "Jeremiah is leaving you, only Barnabas can stop him. Make Barnabas stop Jeremiah or you'll never see your lover again."

Josette immediately runs downstairs to Barnabas, who spots the mark on her hand. She dismisses it as a bruise. Trancelike, she tells him to stop Jeremiah from leaving. She knows why he's going--he hates her and disapproves of her marriage to Barnabas! Barnabas denies this--everyone loves her! Suddenly, the spell seemingly broken, she falls into his arms. He caresses her hair and professes his love--he'll talk to Jeremiah if it means that much to her.Let him go, Josette says, it's for the best. He finds her change of heart rather peculiar and asks if she's all right. She notices the bruise is gone and is thrilled. Jeremiah should go, she says, she loves Barnabas and no one else! They kiss ardently.

Ben carries down Jeremiah's bags, signalling to Angelique that her plan didn't work. A triumphant Ben teases her about it, telling her Barn and Josette went to the stables to go riding together. Should she make their horses turn around? He smirks--he can tell her their names, if it would help. Joshua comes down and overhears Angelique telling Ben off, and demands to know if he said something improper. Angelique says he sure did, getting petty revenge, and pissing Ben off at her. Ben shouts at Joshua that he's rather be in prison than working for Joshua, and the latter orders Angelique to avoid Ben in the future--she's been warned! Angelique realizes that Jeremiah couldn't go if something happened to Joshua. Do something mean to him, chortles Ben, and Angelique promises that whatever she does, it will be a present to him.

Joshua and Jeremiah argue over the latter's impulsive decision to leave. Joshua has plans for him (Millicent), and he's being cruel to Barnabas to leave (which Jeremiah rightly denies); is he leaving because of some slut in the village?The duPres' will take this as a sign of instability in the family; what if Joshua gets sick--who will take care of the business. . .Jeremiah listens impatiently, says he's lost control and must leave on a personal emergency, he's leaving, and that's it!

Angelique works the clay as Ben suggests what she should turn Joshua into--a snake, spider, jackass (oh, he'd work him to death, Ben gloats, and beat him good).

Jeremiah, having proclaimed his decision to leave no matter what, turns around to face Joshua. There is a black and white cat sitting there, but Joshua is gone!Angelique hands the clay cat to Ben, who takes it in his hands and and laughs as Angelique says, "THERE is your master!"


379 - (Alexandra Moltke) - Time has been suspended at Collinwood while one woman makes an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the year 1795, where in this house, a new mystery has started with a cruel and eerie disappearance.

Drawing room - Everyone is talking about Joshua's mysterious disappearance. Vicki tells Natalie that Naomi is very upset about Joshua, but the Countess insists that if SHE had lost a husband like Joshua, she'd order champagne. She insists that Vicki re-enact the circumstances under which the master of the house disappeared, and does a dead-on impression of Joshua's pomposity. Vicki, regarding this as cruel and embarrassing, isn't at all pleased about being asked to participate in this charade, ordered to look out the window as Jeremiah was during the argument, but the Countess feels if they do, the cat Will show up--and it does! The women stare at it, but Natalie warns Vicki not to touch the animal. The cards showed evil, and they were right!

Barnabas, exhausted from searching, comes in. There wasn't a trace of Joshua, he says forlornly. What is he going to tell his mother? Natalie asks Vicki to leave and Barnabas more kindly requests that she check on Naomi. Natalie asks Barn if they usually have a cat in the house, and Barnabas says no, Abigail calls them the devil's pet. Natalie believes Joshua was taken, and witchcraft is involved somehow.She predicts he won't be found in any conventional places like the shipyards, and the cat is the laughter after the joke. Nathan bursts in--they've found footprints on Widow's Hill. Barnabas tells him where to find a pair of Joshua's boots to see if there is a match. As Nathan eavesdrops, Natalie tells Jeremiah that someone, a witch, didn't want Jeremiah to leave, then asks if Barnabas trusts Vicki.

Nathan heads into the study to get the boots, and when Vicki comes in, he tries to make another pass at her. She tells him he lacks taste and reminds him she now has to tell Sarah about her father. Does he really think she has nothing better to do to fly into his arms? He pronounces that a good idea, since she is beautiful, but Vicki is annoyed with him--she can't turn her emotions off and on as he apparently can. He gets quite serious then, and tells her she is going to need all the friends she can get--because Natalie thinks she's a witch! She refuses to believe him, and he says if Barnabas or Jeremiah told her, she would do so.He remembers her weird dress and behavior when she first came, and assures her that her position isn't as secure as she thinks. She won't be blackmailed, says Vicki, and he advises her not to take this lightly--it's very serious.

The Countess sits in the study, having a drink, and Vicki comes in. She mentions Widows' Hill and Vicki says to herself, "Where Josette will die." She asks Natalie if what the cards say about the future can be changed, and Natalie says of course, then invites Vicki to sit down. The Countess has a severe coughing fit that causes tears to come to her eyes. She starts questioning Vicki about herself, and Vicki explains she was born in Boston. She almost reveals her birthdate to be the 20th century, but catches herself. She says she's 22, born March 4, 1774, but she doesn't know the hour for the Countess' offer of a horoscope. Vicki does says she no longer believes we are in charge of what happens to us (I guess the trip to 1795 has changed that view). Natalie notices Vicki's nervousness, which Vicki says is caused by the presence of the supernatural.Vicki denies being clairvoyant, that it's a joke between her and Barnabas, and the Countess accuses Vicki of walking a thin line. Natalie gets nasty--something terrible is going to happen and she can't prevent it unless she knows what it is! Vicki knows she can't outright tell Natalie that Josette is going to marry Jeremiah, so when the Countess leaves the room, she quickly changes the cards in order to clue the other woman in. Nathan and Barnabas come in from searching, the latter exhausted. Natalie offers him a drink, and Vicki assures Barnabas that Joshua will be all right, immediately fanning Natalie's suspicions again. Vicki snuffs out the candles in the living room while Natalie gives Barnabas brandy in the study and takes another for herself. Barnabas tells her he's been considering the possibility of witchcraft, but Natalie has noticed the changed cards and is horrified.Barnabas wants to know what they said, but she refuses to tell him anything except that he and Josette must get married tonight--if he loves her, they must wed within 24 hours, or it's not going to happen!

Love, Robin

374 - (KLS) - Time has been suspended at Collinwood, while one woman makes an uncertain, frightening journey to the past, back to the year 1795. And the secrets, those too terrifying to be written in the family history, are finally being revealed.

Angelique admires Josette's beautiful room, but when Ben says it's to be Barnabas and Josette's bedroom, she says they will never be together there. Angelique wants Barnabas, and she's gonna have him! She uses Josette's cologne, and tells Ben she has worn her clothes and stolen her suitors. She calls Ben a child who goes by everyone else's rules, which is why he's a convict working out his sentence. SHE makes her own rules! She adds a new ingredient to Josette's rosewater cologne, and tells Ben that Josette didn't love any other man until Barnabas came along. Now Josette is in for some surprises--the spell will make her love someone who doesn't want her, but who will go to Barnabas and tell him.

As they head downstairs to the drawing room together, Jeremiah protests Barnabas' leaving bed over doctor's orders, but Barnabas wants to see Josette, and look at a wedding present together. Jeremiah feels Josette should have brought the gift up to Barnabas' room, and makes her promise to get him back there after they open their first wedding gift. After Jeremiah leaves, Josette tells Barnabas that she feels his uncle orders everyone around and makes her feel selfish. Barnabas knows how protective Jeremiah is, but they are very close, and he wants Josette to like him. Josette changes the subject by saying it's Barnabas she cares most about, but when they start to kiss, and he really gets into it, she pulls away, saying they shouldn't be alone together. Nonsense, says Barn, her aunt and father know the two of them kiss. She says he's too modern, and his face darkens as he remembers what happened with Angelique. He agrees with Josette that perhaps he is.

Josette thinks the gift is a silver vase, Barnabas thinks it's a globe, but they both turn out to be wrong--it's a skull wearing a wig! Josette screams and Barnabas races to her side. He vows to find out who brought it, and questions Ben first, who has no idea who left the present. They wonder who could hate them so much to send such a grisly gift. Barnabas asks a delighted Ben to watch over and bodyguard Josette, then tells him he plans to have him working for them after their marriage. Ben is grateful, all set to tell him about Angelique, but the moment he opens his mouth, he's struck mute. He runs off as Barnabas and Josette stare, astounded, at each other.

Ben races up to Josette's room, where Angelique is making the bed. She knows he tried to tell, she says venemously. When he makes threatening moves toward her, she renders him motionless, too,and will only restore voice and movement when he promises to never hurt or betray her. He is forced to promise, clearly hating her.

Jeremiah asks Barnabas to let him handle the gift problem. It might be some disgruntled villager or shipyard employee. Barnabas seems to think it's an inside job, and he calls Angelique into the drawing room to question her. He minces no works and asks her if she sent the cruel gift.She denies it, but he says he doesn't believe her. He doesn't know her, then, she spits out, not if he thinks she would do anything to make him hate her!

Ben assures Barnabas that he's OK, then adds he just had a feeling about a possible someone. There are many who hate the Collins family and don't realize Barnabas is different. Unfortunately, he can't pinpoint any one person. Barnabas reminds him again that he expects Ben to come stay with him and Josette after they are married, and Ben says he hopes it happens (the wedding or the job--probably both). Nothing will stop them from marrying, Barnabas assures him.

Josette lies on her bed, suffering from a headache. She confides in her maid she's looking forward to her family returning to Martinique; that's when she feels her life will truly start. Angelique rubs some of her cologne on her forehead. Josette asks her maid if she's ever been in love, and Angelique says yes, with someone she met in Martinique. Will she marry him? asks Josette. He's not in love with her--yet, Angelique reveals. Josette tells Angelique her headache is fading.

In his room, Jeremiah is downing his toddy. He has a vistor--Josette, and not only is she dressed to seduce, her manner is very flirtatious. I had to see you, she says, wanted to see you--I can't explain it. She throws herself into his arms and says, "I love you."He grabs her and pushes her away from him. "NO! You love Barnabas!" he insists, shaking her.

She runs back to her room, sobbing. Angelique is waiting for her, wanting to know where she went. Her aunt and father will be displeased to hear of this. Josette falls on her bed, begging her not to tell anyone, and asks to be left alone. Smirking, Angelique leaves the room.

NOTES: Angelique does BAD so well! She's using everyone as puppets for a hopeless cause. Manipulating everyone around Barnabas could work, but it will never make him love her, will it?


375 - (Grayson Hall) - 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 year 1795. The loves and hatreds that were born then, in this house, will never die.

Jeremiah agonizes over his dilemma--how can he tell Barnabas his fiancee came to him the previous night, professed her love? How can be risk hurting his nephew? Angelique comes in and when he asks if Josette seems disturbed by this different culture, she assures him her mistress is behaving exactly as she does at home. That's even worse, Jeremiah realizes; Josette is a slut wherever she is, and she's fooled Barnabas completely! Jeremiah decides he must tell Barnabas, before the marriage, and heads off to do just that, Angelique grinning after him.

In his room, Barnabas teaches Ben to write, but the poor guy is getting his p's and q's mixed up. Jeremiah interrupts, wanting to speak to Barnabas. His face is very serious, and Barnabas thinks Josette has been in an accident. Barn goes on about how much he loves Josette, how she moves and listens, the respect she shows others. He can't figure out why she chose him. Jeremiah suggests that Barnabas doesn't know Josette as well as he thinks, but Barnabas reminds him that his uncle has taught him people perception well, and has always felt his people-sense is good. He is concerned that Jeremiah doesn't like Josette, and wants them to be friends.Barnabas suggests that, while Josette likes his uncle, she's perhaps jealous of Jeremiah's influence over him. Barnabas believes Josette will do anything to please him, and they love and trust one another. Jeremiah vows no one will come between Barnabas and Josette, and will be happy, if he has anything to say about it.

Ben has eavesdropped on this conversation, and relates it to Angelique, who is pissed off that Jeremiah didn't tell Barnabas what really happened. Well, she's going to have to send a special toddy to Jeremiah this night, and Ben will deliver it. Ben is fearful of taking chances, but she reminds him of how she made him mute and promises that the only thing he has to fear is HER, because she can mete out far worse punishment. Jeremiah will now fall in love with Josette. Angelique tells Ben she felt sorry for her mistress, loving a man who didn't return it--she well knows that feeling.

Josette enters the house, passing by Jeremiah silently. He demands to speak to her, and they go outside. She tells him she couldn't sleep, how embarrassed she is, she never did such a thing before. Jeremiah tells her he was all set to tell Barnabas, but didn't. She loves Barnabas, she tells him, and has no idea why she came to Jeremiah that way. She'd better figure out why, he warns her, and had better not hurt Barnabas. She vows she would kill herself first, and, entering the house, she glances at herself in the mirror with confusion and horror.

Josette comes downstairs later and Natalie tells her that Mrs. Collins was quite upset that she didn't come down for lunch, terrible food nothwithstanding. Barnabas came home for the meal, too. Josette tells her aunt she wasn't feeling well, and asks her to go with Barnabas to the cabinetmaker to choose their furniture. Natalie is perturbed, reminding Josette she'll have to live with that furniture for the rest of her life--she should pick it out herself. Natalie delicately asks if Josette is fearful of marriage--or Barnabas (I guess she was talking about sex). No, Josette assures her, she'd marry Barnabas tonight if she could. Natalie questions her further, and mentions how handsome Jeremiah is. Josette nervously disagrees.Natalie asks her niece to go along with Barnabas to the cabinetmaker, but if she wants her to cover for her, she's going to have to be more forthcoming. . . Barnabas interrupts and teasingly chides Josette for avoiding him. He meant it as a jest, but his fiancee bolts upstairs, leaving him very upset. He wants to follow Josette, but Natalie discourages it; Josette is behaving like all brides, and he should leave her alone. She asks him to take her along to the cabinetmaker instead, and Barnabas, still concerned, asks her to go talk to Josette. She has no idea what to say, Natalie admits. Barnabas frets further to Natalie later when Josette passes on dinner, too. Jeremiah comes in, and the three of them strike up a conversation.

Angelique hands Ben the love potion to put into Jeremiah's toddy.Barnabas refuses a drink and Natalie asks for brandy. Natalie, trying to make Barnabas feel better, tells him Josette said she would marry Barnabas tonight, if she could. Natalie encourages this, but Barnabas points out that they are expecting so many guests, etc.

Ben makes up Jeremiah's toddy, adding Angelique's special ingredient.

Natalie chides Barnabas and his family for being too rigid and conventional. Later, Natalie shoos Barn upstairs to be with Josette and he tells her if there's no other reason for marrying Josette, it's because Natalie is her aunt. (great sucking up, Barn!)

Natalie is playing cards in the drawing room when she sees Josette heading downstairs. She couldn't sleep, and Angelique (!) took care of her headache already (another application of love potion #9?). Her niece wants to take a walk, and although Natalie discourages it, Josette leaves the house, Natalie following. Jeremiah is waiting in the gazebo for Josette. They aren't sure why they've come, but they do know they are there for each other. "I love you," he says. That's what I wanted to hear, she murmurs, and goes into his arms for an embrace and kiss.Appalled, Natalie watches from the bushes.

NOTES: The poop has hit the fan now! Forcing these two together can only have tragic consequences, but perhaps that's what Angelique seeks. I can understand her being jealous of Josette, but why drag poor Jeremiah into it? Because he's there, I guess.

Love, Robin

372 - (Lara Parker) - Time stands still at Collinwood, for one girl has taken a mysterious and dangerous journey into the past--a house she knew as old and deserted is now her home, and the home of the Collins family. And under this roof, unseen by all, a dangerous game of intrigue and terror is being played out.

Vicki, searching for Sarah in the Old House drawing room, encounters Matthew Morgan lookalike Ben Stokes stoking the living room fire, and immediately screams in terror, remembering when Mattew kidnapped her. Her scream brings Joshua running, and even though Vicki vouches for Stokes and explains that he resembles a man who once frightened her, Joshua sternly insists that Ben is not permitted to speak to any of the women in the house, so be broke a rule.He promptly takes away the holiday promised to Ben tomorrow. Ben says, "Yes, sir," and gazes with hatred at Joshua. Even though Vicki continues trying to undo the damage she's done, citing unfairness, Joshua explains that Ben is an indentured servant who was serving time in a Salem jail for breaking into a farmhouse and stealing food after the war, claiming he was hungry and cold. When Vicki suggests this might be true, Joshua is annoyed--she sounds just like the liberal Barnabas and Jeremiah; if it were up to them, Ben would sit table with the family! Joshua tells Vicki that Millicent Collins and her brother Daniel are due to arrive soon for the wedding, and if all goes well, Millicent will marry Jeremiah. Vicki mutters, "But Millicent never married," raising Joshua's eyebrow, but she gives him a silly reason for saying it--she read a book about a girl named Millicent who never married. (duh!)

In the woods, Ben comes across Angelique picking leaves which she tells him are bay leaves, intended for Josette's salad. He informs her that the herb she thinks she's picking is deadly nightshade, and poisonous! Oh, no! she says, dumping the basket of leaves on the ground. Angelique begins to flirt with the poor man, commenting on his strength. He could be whipped for even talking to her, he says, which she calls cruel and ridiculous. Ben indicates that he'd love to do something violent to Joshua--someday. As they're saying goodbye, she grabs his wrist and coos that she hopes they can talk again sometime. That she actually likes talking to him surprises Ben, and a shy smile spreads over his face.She asks him not to tell about the leaves and he promises he won't.

Vicki enters Angelique's room and is puzzled to find the toy soldier and Barnabas' handkerchief. When Angelique comes in after her leaf-gathering expedition, Vicki asks the blonde what she's doing with these items. Angelique has no idea--Sarah must have brought them in here. She visits periodically, and Angelique likes the child. Vicki is all set to either scold or talk to Sarah about leaving the items in Angelique's room, but the latter talks her out of it--if she gets into trouble for leaving those things in Angelique's room, she might not visit her anymore--would Vicki just quietly replace the items and keep silent? Vicki agrees, accepting Angelique's gratitude, then leaves. Angelique ponders what a close call she had and decides she needs a helper who will deflect suspicion from her. She grins, then gets a vision of her "helper" splitting logs in the woods--Ben! She sits in front of the fire and begins mixing a potion.Vicki finds Ben splitting logs in the woods and offers him an apology for getting him into trouble. He says it doesn't matter--Joshua would have found another reason to deny him his holiday--he's mean, and he'd like to grab his throat and. . .he slams the axe into the stump rather than put his threat into words.

Angelique summons Ben to come to her. He tells Vicki he feels strange and asks her to go before she gets him into further trouble. She leaves.He not only hears Angelique calling him to come to her, he sees her ghostly form appear, then disappear, before him in the woods. When he goes to Angelique's room, he says he has no idea what he's doing there. I wanted you to come, she says silkily. "You wanted me?" he asks, shocked, but, probably gratified for his luck, reaches for her lustily. Hey, if she's offering, why not? Later, she says, but first, a drink. After that? he asks. We shall see, she promises. He quickly downs her potion. I feel strange, he says. She smiles in triumph. He no longer has a will of his own, she informs him. He will do as she orders, because he's now her slave!

NOTES: Great stuff! Thayer David was wonderful, and Angelique continues to enthrall as she seeks revenge on the man who rejected her.


373 - (Alexandra Moltke) - Time has been suspended at Collinwood while one woman makes an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the year 1795. Back to the secrets which have brought so much horror and grief to the great house and those who inhabit it.

In her room, Angelique tells Ben he is now bonded to her, unbreakably, and she plans to use his strength when she has none to use. He knows he must obey her. She tells him to get an unbroken spider's web from an oak tree--she's going to make a dress of it. He lasciviously expresses a desire to see her in that spider web dress, but she says it's for the headless clay figure she shows him. Love is headless, replaced by the heart, and her plan is to make Josette love Jeremiah. She already has the latter's handkerchief and now needs a lock of his hair to complete the spell. Ben laughs at her, insisting Barnabas and Josette are to marry. No, Angelique says venemously, because when Barnabas finds out Josette has been unfaithful to him, he's going to hate her, and then she, Angelique, will comfort Barnabas in her room. Ben threatens to tell--Barnabas has been kind to him--but she strikes him mute as a reminder of the hold she has over him.He will never speak again if he betrays her, she warns. He calls her a witch, and she agrees, smiling proudly--and he is her helper!

Millicent Collins arrives. She's a rich (New York real estate, la di da) giggly, silly blonde with bouncing curls. Joshua hopes for a marriage between her and Jeremiah, to ensure Millicent's money remains in the family. Millicent even calls Joshua witty, saying the Maine quiet has helped her nerves.Joshua uses the opportunity to push the idea of her moving to Maine, then suggests Jeremiah take Millicent to see the recovering Barnabas. Millicent is concerned about catching whatever it is Barnabas had (she's very delicate), but Jeremiah wiggles out of it (and his brother's matchmaking attempts) by saying he's coming down with a cold. Vicki comes in and of course mutters, "Carolyn" when she sees the new arrival. Millicent giggles, batting her eyelashes at Jeremiah.

Jeremiah tells Vicki that he's glad her memory is returning--her remembrance of her friend Carolyn is encouraging. Vicki tells him she thinks she is there to change something, although she has no idea what. He envies Vicki her freedom from family ties, with no past, and no one attempting to arrange her life for her. He feels he has known her in some other time and place, although he doesn't believe in such things. Vicki says she does, and he calls her a romantic. He, on the other hand, is a realist--imagine him married to Millicent?Vicki says she has a feeling that Millicent will never marry. Jeremiah says he's perplexed by Vicki, and finds her very interesting. Joshua comes in and icily informs Vicki she will be responsible for Daniel as well as Sarah, and he is sure that will leave her little free time for herself. After Vicki leaves, Jeremiah accuses Joshua of being rude. He will NOT be pushed to marry Millicent, and although Joshua cares greatly about keeping Millicent's money in the family, Jeremiah couldn't care less. Think of Millicent with an open mind, advises Joshua, she'll be around for a while. Jeremiah accuses his brother of never giving up, and Joshua smiles in agreement.

In her room, Angelique tries on one of Josette's bonnets, which she pilfered from her mistress. Ben says the hat doesn't go with the rest of her, but she brags that she's stolen Josette's things before and Josette has some many, so what's a French bonnet? Ben has brought in Jeremiah's usual bedtime toddy, and she slips a sleeping potion into it. He wishes she could carry out the rest of it, but she says a lady can't go into a gentleman's room (but she sure let a gentleman, Barnabas, into her room in Martinique, didn't she?), and she fully plans to be a lady--Barnabas will never be ashamed of her. She has studied, watched, her table manners are as good as Josette's, she can tell the finest silks by feel, and when she leaves that house, it will be in her own carriage! (Sounds like she's setting a trap for the money, not just the man.)

Ben brings Jeremiah the toddy, and waits nervously until he tastes it and pronounces it fine. Ben feared he would taste the difference. Angelique pins Jeremiah's handkerchief about the clay figure's waist. "Yes, Miss Josette, no Miss Josette," she says to herself--well, Josette gives her orders in her own room, but here, in Angelique's room, I give the orders, and I'm fashioning a life for Josette that she is going to loathe! She wonders where Ben is; she's waiting for him.

Ben slips off Jeremiah's ring, then uses a knife to cut off a lock of his hair. Angelique winds the hair around in the ring. She is going to create a cobweb of love, which will trap Josette. She takes the branch with the spider's web, drapes it over the figure and pulls it down, leaving the web draping the figure.Then she ties a "belt"--Jeremiah's hair--around the clay doll's waist. Grinning triumphantly, Angelique says, "Josette loves Jeremiah" three times.

NOTES: So the trap is set. Note how jealous Angelique is of Josette, how she despises being ordered around by her, and boasts of stealing her clothing and her suitors. One wonders if Angelique doesn't love Barnabas because he's wealthy, more than because of the man he is. Something to think about.

Love, Robin

Originally posted by ROBINV on February 24, 2002 at 04:15:05:
In Reply to: Re: Angies HOT for Barn but he's. . . . posted by Luciaphil on February 23, 2002 at 19:26:20:

As for Angelique's blindness, well, she's hardly the first to see something where there was nothing. And in her defense (which I won't be doing often, btw) she seemed to expect that while he would marry Josette for her dowry, he would be carrying on with her on the side and that would hardly be uncommon for those time periods

This is one of the things I appreciated about Barnabas--he COULD have married Josette and kept Ang as his mistress, but he didn't want to do that; he loved his fiancee so much, he wanted to be faithful to her. And while it may have been common, too, for men to "dally" as he did with Angelque, at least he wasn't following the crowd by doing the wife+mistress thing. I always thought it pretty neat that something was dangled in front of him, ripe for the taking, and a fruit he had apparently enjoyed plenty in Martinique, and he refused to go for it. I respected Barnabas for that decision.

Robin

Originally posted by ROBINV on February 22, 2002 at 12:53:22:
In Reply to: Vickie's Dorothy Gayle moment(s) posted by Bob on February 22, 2002 at 11:07:50:

After a while (and repeated viewings), listening to Vicki blather on about the resemblances, not realizing she has to shut her mouth or dig herself into a deeper hole, I really want to knock her lights out. It was different the first time, because I, too, felt the awe and disbelief she did. Once it wore off for me, however, I really thought it should have worn off for her, too--but it didn't!

Loved the nasty Abigail, the gorgeous costumes and jewelry, the sweet, giving Barnabas, and the seductive, vengeful Angelique. 1795 will always be my favorite non-present storyline on DS.

Love, Robin

365 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A sudden storm over the great house of Collinwood. The heavens are as full of unrest as the house itself. Perhaps the spirits which disturb the house will finally make themselves known--or perhaps they will only bring new horror, and grief.

Liz paces Collinwood's drawing room as the storm surges outside. She enters the foyer to say greet the newly-returned Roger, who complains about the terrible weather. Liz wants to discuss David. Roger opines that they made a mistake bringing him back from Boston. Julia has corroborated David's claim about seeing Sarah, and Liz says she hasn't questioned Julia for details because she's afraid of what she might hear.

Study - Roger and Liz confront Julia, who will only admit that Sarah is NOT imaginary--she thinks Sarah is a ghost. While Roger expresses doubt, Julia flips through the family album and shows them the picture of Sarah Collins. Liz is willing to accept that it could be the same child, but Roger feels it's a coincidence. Carolyn joins them--David doesn't know what he's talking about, she insists, and she only pretended to see Sarah in order to help her disturbed cousin--and perhaps Julia is trying to help someone NOW? I'm not lying, says Julia, and Carolyn, you know it! I don't know a thing about it, says Carolyn, playing innocent. There's no way to prove anything, points out Roger, but Julia suggests there might be--a seance! Carolyn calls the idea ridiculous, and Roger isn't enamored of the idea, either, but Liz, reminding them they learned something from the last seance, insists that it's a go.We must reach Sarah, says Liz, or we might never find out what's wrong with David.

At the Old House, Barnabas stares out at the storm, then walks around the drawing room, ruminating. Where is Sarah is now? Why did she leave me before I could explain? What can I explain? My life? No. That I still love her? I am still her loving brother, I am not to blame for what has happened to me, I didn't choose this. Or would she rather I was dead--would she forgive me then? Barnabas hears a knock at the door, but before opening it, he asks who it is. Carolyn responds, telling him to let her in. He opens the door partway and tells her he isn't up for company tonight; he has much thinking to do. When she warns him there's going to be a seance at Collinwood, he opens the door fully, allowing her in. The others at Collinwood want to speak to Sarah, Carolyn tells him. Not tonight! Says Barnabas, horrified, remembering what transpired this evening between his sister and him. Julia and Mother are determined to go through with it, says Carolyn, concerned--"Do you want to stop it? Must you stop it?" she asks him.

Study, Collinwood - Barnabas tells Liz he doesn't want this seance conducted. She's surprised he feels this way, considering his passion for the past. I respect my ancestors' privacy, says Barnabas. Liz informs him that Julia saw Sarah. I don't think Miss Hoffman is the most stable of women, says Barnabas. (cold!)Julia wouldn't lie, objects Liz, and the seance might tell us what we have to deal with, and finds Barnabas' objections to this action shocking. He offers an apology--he thought he was being rational. Roger and Julia join them, and Roger invites Barnabas to the seance. He refuses--I'm a cynic, he says. I was, too, at first, admits Roger. He and Liz leave to find candles for the seance. Julia starts to go, too, but Barnabas calls to her, asking slyly, "What if Sarah doesn't appear--and Dr. Woodard does?" Is that why you're not coming to the seance? Counters Julia--Woodard will name you, not me, as his murderer! Are you willing to take that risk? Asks Barnabas pointedly. "I am willing to take any risk," insists Julia determinedly, "I have no choice but to see this through till the end--you have no choice, either, if you would only realize it." She excuses herself and exits the study.

Foyer - Carolyn meets Barnabas on his way out of the study. I couldn't stop the plans for the seance, he says, I must be very cautious--I have a plan for you, and I will sit next to you during the ceremony.

Drawing room - Roger, Vicki, Julia and Carolyn set up the room for the seance. Liz comes in, pleased to announce that Barnabas is going to join them. Julia lights the candles as Barnabas enters the room. Roger expresses pleasure at Barnabas' decision--he felt her was being "rather stuffy" earlier when he declined. (look who's calling who stuffy, LOL, Roger didn't want to participate either, at first!) I don't mind being called stuffy, says Barnabas, but I don't want anyone doubting my concern for David. I want the family album on the table, says Roger--if Sarah does appear, I want to make sure she's really Sarah Collins. Actual physical appearances are rare, Julia tells him, and attitude is very important during a seance--if anyone doesn't believe, it might stop the person they're trying to reach from making contact. "I'll try to suppress my natural levity" comments Barnabas sarcastically. (LOL!) Vicki brings over the family album, opened to Sarah's picture, and places it on the table. Everyone settles into their chairs and they begin. Roger closes the door and switches off the lights. Outside, the storm continues, unabated.

Form an unbroken circle of your hands on the table, instructs Julia, but when Barnabas deliberately fails to do as asked, Julia is forced to chastise him. "I'm sorry," he apologizes, not sincerely, to my ears. Clear your minds and think only of Sarah, orders Julia. Appear to us, Sarah! Bids Roger. Carolyn looks over at Barnabas, who is seated beside her, and Julia glances suspiciously at both of them. We need you, Sarah! Calls Roger--we want you to help us with your friend, David!--make a sign if you hear us! The sound of Sarah's flute playing "London Bridge" fills the room and Vicki begins to moan. Roger keeps calling Sarah--speak to us, if you won't appear! he urges the little ghost. Barnabas gives Carolyn a furtive nod. She pretends to be going into a trance of her own, speaking in a little girl's voice. No, no! she cries--I do not have a friend named David. Vicki interrupts. "She lies!" insists the governess--"David IS my friend--I play with him--I am Sarah Collins". Carolyn tries to intervene, but Liz stops her. "I will never, ever let any of you see me again," declares Sarah, speaking through Vicki--"I came to her (Carolyn), she saw me--she tells lies!" Carolyn rises to her feet, trying to ruin the seance, but Liz orders her to sit back down and be silent. Barnabas gives Carolyn another nod, and she sits back down. The vampire gives Carolyn an evil look. "Why is my new nursemaid late?" wonders Sarah-Vicki--"I drew a picture of how she is to look--she will be that pretty." We want to know about David, says Roger--why do you come to David? Sarah-Vicki begins to reply, but instead says, "Let me go to the gate, please--I hear the carriage there!" Again, Roger begs Sarah to tell them about David. "Barnabas will take me to the gate," says Sarah-Vicki. This frightens Barnabas, who declares these proceedings ridiculous and cruel. "Barnabas?" asks Vicki-Sarah--"when you marry Josette, will you still love me?--will you come and see me at the new house?" Roger presses Sarah to speak of David. She hesitates, then replies, "To tell him--to tell him the story, how it all began. . . no, I won't go to bed until my new nursemaid comes--you said that I could stay up to see her. . .don't take the candle!--I won't go to sleep--don't take the light--don't!"

Vicki screams, and the candles flicker out.Barnabas rushes to turn the lights back on. Everyone stares, stunned--Vicki is gone, and a woman dressed in 19th century attire has taken her place at the table. Barnabas gazes at her, terror-stricken. The woman seems totally out of it; she tells them she came from Boston--"The carriage overturned!" she cries. Confused, she stares at all assembled and demands to know where she is. Noting everyone's shocking dress, she insists she only works in "respectable houses." Sit down, commands Roger--we will ask you the questions. My name is Phyillis Wick, she reveals--I was hired by Mrs. Collins to be the new governess for a nine-year-old girl named Sarah. Everyone looks at her, completely flabbergasted.

Vicki stands in a clearing in the woods in front of the Old House, the Collins family history book clasped in her arms. Something is different about the Old House, she notes--it looks downright new!"It's different!" she says--"Where am I?"

NOTES: For those of you who have seen DARK SHADOWS before, you know exactly where Vicki is, and what is going to happen to her over the next couple of months. Notice here that Sarah speaks of Barnabas marrying Josette, but according to all the stories we've heard until now, Josette was married to Jeremiah, Barnabas' much older uncle. So already there is a gigantic discrepancy, and given how recently we heard a completely different story, we have to wonder exactly when the writers chose to alter history in this manner. This is going to explain how Barnabas came to be a vampire, and introduce us to some fascinating new characters, all played by actors with whom we are familiar. Curtis could have hired an entirely new cast, but why bother when you're already paying these people, and now they can play the Collins family ancestors! It's a stroke of brilliance.

Watch as the kindly Joe Haskell becomes a totally different character in the personage of Lt. Nathan Forbes. The murderous Matthew Morgan becomes Ben Stokes, a completely opposite, totally fascinating character. Meet Angelique, one of DS' most talked about, alluring, enduring and complex villains. Silly Millicent, seemingly heartless Joshua, loving drunk Naomi, sweet Sarah, pious-to-a-fault Abigail, witch-hunter extraordinaire Reverend Trask, Peter Bradford, who will make Vicki pretty much forget Burke, pretty, innocent, doomed Josette, the delightfully forthright Countess duPres, loving father Andre duPres, Jeremiah, Barnabas' loving yet strangely betraying uncle, young Daniel, heir to all the Collins possess, Noah Gifford, a blackguard supreme, Suki, a wronged, blackmailing wife--and anyone else I might have forgotten.

1795 has always been my favorite trip to the past, and I look forward to taking this journey into "a sea of familiar faces" with Vicki yet again.


366 - (Joan Bennett) - Inside the great house at Collinwood, a seance has been held in an effort to establish contact with the supernatural. But at this moment, life for the six members of the seance has suddenly come to a standstill. For one of their members has mysteriously disappeared and been transported back through time and space. Victoria Winters has begun a terrifying journey into the past.

Vicki is quick to notice how brand-new the Old House looks, but she isn't too on the ball about much else in her new surroundings. Then again, how often does one find oneself transported to another time?

Barnabas comes out of the Old House, and Vicki tells him she's glad to see him. He is confused; he's never met HER, he says, and she asks him if he's teasing her--and why is he wearing those old clothes?He notes that her attire is odd, to say the least. He begins to suspect she's ill. Sarah comes out, protesting that she doesn't want a nap. Barnabas kneels, very sweet and affectionate towards her, insisting gently that she must do as he says. Sarah tells him this lady is her governess, but when Barnabas asks Vicki if this is so, she says she doesn't know. Sarah wants to take her new governess to her room, but Barnabas orders his sister to take her nap. Vicki introduces herself to Sarah as "Vicki," then corrects it to "Victoria" when the child finds the name peculiar. "Au revoir!" Sarah says to Vicki--she's learning French for the wedding--she's going to be a flower girl! Vicki is shaken to realize that, to Barnabas, she's a total stranger, and starts mumbling about the seance, which puzzles him further. She mentions his cousins, Roger and Mrs. Stoddard, and those names mean nothing to him, either. He suggests that she lie down. She admits she IS a governess, and Barnabas suggests she get hold of herself. She also reveals that she lives at Collinwood, which startles him, since it's only now under construction. Vicki is further stunned, so Barnabas ushers her into the house to take a rest. She's shocked at the new furniture in the Old House, and after Barnabas takes her upstairs (and was probably staring in shock up her short skirt), Sarah sneaks out and watches them go up the steps.

In her simple room, Barnabas asks Vicki where her luggage is, but all she's got is the Collins family history book--and she doesn't know how it or she got here! Barnabas calls her strange. This must be a nightmare, she says helplessly, shaking her head. He explains the Collinses have been called many things, but not the most nightmarish people in the Province of Maine. PROVINCE? wonders Vicki. He leaves her alone, suggesting she rest. All Vicki can think is that she's having a dream from which she can't awaken.

Vicki isn't alone long. Sarah sneaks in to visit her, asking her not to tell on her for not taking her nap. Although Vicki insists she isn't Sarah's governess, Sarah says she is--she drew a picture of her.She shows Vicki the crude drawing, which could be anyone, although it does have Vicki's long dark hair and one of the bows she always wears in it. Vicki tells Sarah everything has changed except she herself, and it frightens her. Sarah tells her not to be afraid, and when she hears her mother coming, swiftly skedaddles. Vicki quickly leaves her room and runs downstairs. A handsome man in a blue and yellow uniform is in the drawing room, and he looks exactly like Joe Haskell. To his delight, Vicki runs into his arms, calls him Joe and asks him to take her to Collinwood. She accuses him of playing a joke on her and asks why he's dressed that way, and he smirks and remarks she's hardly dressed at all. He identifies himself as Nathan Forbes, Lieutenant in the Navy, tells her she's pretty and begins to make amorous moves on her,backing her into one of the columns, which she rebuffs, eventually slapping him across the face. You're engaged to Maggie Evans, my best friend! she accuses. He only knows a scullery maid named Maggie, says Nathan, and she knew her way to a man's heart, for sure. He guesses that she's Millicent Collins, newly-arrived for the wedding, and when Vicki asks WHAT wedding, Forbes tells her Barnabas Collins is marrying the beautiful, rich Josette duPres. HUH? Josette came there to marry Jeremiah, Vicki muses to herself, so this MUST be a dream. Aloud, she says, agitated, if it's a dream, why can't I wake up? If it's not, what is it--"Why doesn't anyone know me?" Forbes isn't thrilled at being slapped, and regards her coldly.

A woman who looks like Liz Stoddard (and what a magnificent gown she wears!) enters. Vicki wonders aloud if she's going mad, and the kind woman, who introduces herself as Naomi Collins, urges Vicki to sit down. She'll get a doctor for her, she promises, and asks about Vicki's carriage ride from Boston. Since Vicki took such a trip back in 1967, she wisely mentions she and David took a bus there and flew back, which makes Naomi suggest to Nathan, "The child obviously has a fever." She asks Nathan to read aloud one of the wedding invitation he picked up in town for her--"We request the honour of your presence. . .wedding of Barnabas Collins to Josette duPres on December 20, 1795. . ." Hearing the date, Vicki says, "That's impossible! I must be dreaming!" Josette married Jeremiah! Vicki tries to induce herself to awaken from this, and Naomi, probably suspecting the new governess has gone mad, gazes at her, alarmed. Barnabas comes in and tells Forbes and his mother that the carriage carrying the new governess overturned--three people were killed and the governess is missing! That might explain the way Vicki is behaving, suggests Naomi,but then they realize there's a difference in the name--Victoria Winters isn't the name of the woman she hired, it was Phyllis Wick! The three of them stare at her. Naomi turns to Vicki, demanding to know who she is. Miss Winters decides it's time to tune out of this bizarre gig and faints at their feet.

NOTES: The gorgeous costumes in 1795 always made me glad the show was in color. 1967 is so drab by comparison. We meet the handsome, skirt-chasing Nathan, who here seems an OK guy, with an eager eye for the ladies. Vicki can't believe what's happened to her, evidence to the contrary, and she really seems to be dumbing down here. Of course, it's hard to accept such an enormous change, but she catches on so slowly!

Barnabas is a nice guy who loves his sister, looks much younger and is anticipating getting married to Josette. This is at odds with what Vicki knows, of course, but does she have to say everything out loud so they can think she's crazy?

I loved the beginning of 1795 and couldn't wait to get home from school every day to see it. So many wonderful things are going to happen soon!

Love, Robin

Originally posted by ROBINV on February 18, 2002 at 13:20:01:

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Love, Robin

361 - (Nancy Barrett) - Storm clouds have gathered in the night sky over Collinwood, and a monumental storm is beginning, a storm so violent that all the elements of nature will rage against one another. For one woman this will be a night she will never forget.

There are only two characters in this episode, the voice of Dr. Woodard (Turgeon), and, at the beginning, a repeat of the previous episode's scene between Julia and Sarah. Otherwise, this is a tour de force of hysteria and voiceovers for Grayson Hall.

After realizing she's been deserted by Sarah, Julia finds herself locked in the Collins mausoleum (although she could have probably crawled underneath that gate, it looks like enough space). Julia grows more and more hysterical as she hears a woman sobbing, then a woman's horrible, cackling laughter. She calls out to Sarah, but no one responds. She lights a cigarette with shaking handsand then is terrified to find blood pouring from behind Sarah's plaque on the wall. She fiercely tries to wipe the blood from her hand. She grabs the gate, sobbing, begging to be let out, and when she falls, crying wildly, on Sarah's coffin, the door opens by itself and she is free. The gate clangs shut after her departure.

Breathless, Julia closes the double doors of Collinwood behind her. She's dismayed to learn that the only one home is Carolyn, who gleefully informs Julia she's on her way out, too. Julia's relieved to see the blood is gone from her hand. Despite their poor relationship lately, Julia begs Carolyn to stick around,but the young woman merely teases her about being afraid of being alone and heads out the door.

9:05 PM - Julia decides to calm her nerves with a game of solitaire in the drawing room, but first she hears a shutter banging in the wind, then feels an icy chill in the air and decides that whatever was in the mausoleum is there with her, now! She hugs herself and paces, resumes the game of solitaire, and tries to calm down. The window blows open and she closes it, then the double front doors. Only the wind, she soothes herself, wishing someone would come home. She warms her hands over the fire, which leaps up as if to burn her (wonder if Laura was in on this, too). Who's doing this? She frets. Sarah? Barnabas? Or, worse of all. . .is Dave haunting her? The piano begins to play "London Bridge" all by itself, and Julia slams the cover shut over the keys. She tells whatever it is to go away, she's not afraid, but then she spots a white-coated figure standing by the window and, terrified, screams and races upstairs to her room. She locks the door, gasping--she's safe! She doesn't hear anything but the storm. "Dave, was that you?" she asks. The lights flicker, then go out (it was awfully light in there for a dark room). She decides to leave the house and get help, but finds she is locked in her room. She bangs on the door, crying for help. She realizes no one is there but her and her intended destroyer. She tries the phone, which is dead, begging it to work. Prays that Roger is on his way home, please, please! She lights a candle and it is blown out; the curtains billow in the wind, yet the window is closed!She sees the figure again--is it Dave? Begging to be left alone, she sinks to the floor, sobbing, clutching the legs of a small table. The phone rings and she instantly answers it--it's Dave's voice. "You're dead!" she cries hysterically. "And soon you will die," his voice coldly warns her. She hangs up, wailing, backs away from the phone, and hears a grinding sound growing louder and louder. Someone is turning the knob!The door appears distorted in her eyes, the sound escalating. Julia tips her head back and screams, loudly and lustily.

NOTES: According to what I learned a few years ago, the budget for DS had gone over, so Dan Curtis decreed that they could only afford to pay 2 actors for this episode. That's why poor Grayson Hall got stuck in a virtual one-woman show. What did you all think of it?

I remember finding this episode VERY creepy the first couple of times I saw it. Julia, all alone in the house, beset by chills, blood spilling from a wall, inexplicable piano playing, the voice of a man she helped murder promising she will die, too, and over the phone! It's everyone's nightmare brought to life, and Grayson Hall did a masterful, if somewhat over the top job in this essentially solo episode.


362 - (Nancy Barrett) - The skies over Collinwood are lit by lightning, and the crash of thunder resounds through the great halls. But Collinwood is deserted, save for one terrified woman. She fears more than the storm, she fears a dead man who, perhaps, has returned from the grave to haunt her.

After hanging up on Dave Woodard, who terrifies her by promising she could die as early as tonight, Julia fearfully faces whoever is trying to get into her room. It's Barnabas, behaving very solicitously--he heard from Carolyn that Julia was alone in the house and wanted to make sure she was all right The lights downstairs are working fine, and he proves Julia's are also working by turning on her lamp. She tells him his plan to drive her crazy isn't working, that she refuses to be frightened. Aw, she saw Dave Woodard's ghost again, didn't she, he inquires.She accuses him of causing what's happening to her, asks him to stop, and he responds, poor Julia, I wish I could help you--trust me, get some sleep. He leaves her room, smiling evilly, and she closes and locks her bedroom door after him.

Barnabas meets Carolyn outside Collinwood and gleefully reports that Julia is terrified and confused. You're being very cruel, Carolyn says, but Barnabas says she deserves such cruelty because she tried to keep him and Vicki apart. By the time he's finished with Julia, he gloats, she'll end up in a home for the incurably insane. First, however, he must get her notebook and destroy the last piece of evidence. Carolyn proudly reports to him that she gave Tony a piece of jewelry to put in his safe and now knows the combination. Now Barnabas can go retrieve the notebook! No, says Cousin B, Carolyn will get the notebook, using her womanly charms on Tony Peterson to get his keys and the notebook. (I don't understand why; is this a test? It would be so much easier for Barn to get it himself.) She asks what will happen if she gets caught, and he strongly advises her not to.

After dinner, Carolyn talks Tony into taking her to his messy apartment, where his ashtrays are filled with cigarette butts and there's no ice in the ice cube trays. He likes the fact that she keeps him guessing, but seems uncertain about her claim to prefer poor guys to rich ones. (Joe is a good example.) When he leaves to pour them some drinks and she steals the keys from his coat pocket and slips them into her pocketbook. When he returns, drinks in hand, she suddenly remembers a pressing personal errand she had to do for Roger and tells him she has to go--but will come back.First he asks to come along, which she refuses, then he gives her an hour to finish her errand and come back to his apartment--otherwise, forget it. She gives him a quick kiss before leaving, and he stands in the doorway sipping his drink, staring after her.

Julia is relieved when Roger comes home. They discuss the perpetually stormy weather around Collinsport for a while, then he starts talking about how unhappy he is with Carolyn's latest boyfriend--that lawyer who is on his case about the cannery incident.Julia is dismayed to hear that Carolyn's new friend is the man she entrusted with her precious notebook. She hustles Roger out of her room; she has to go to bed, she insists. Instead, as soon as Roger leaves, Julia calls Tony and tells him, even if he is expecting company,she's coming to his apartment. He's annoyed at her barging in the way she does, but she tells him she knows he's expecting Carolyn. She goes on to explain that Carolyn is not interested in Tony, she's only using him--she wants Julia's notebook and will do anything to get it. Tony complains about spies and counterspies and wishes he knew what was in that notebook that was so important. Julia feels he shouldn't trust Carolyn and should stop seeing her, which angers the lawyer--his social life is none of her business! Besides, the notebook isn't in his office safe, he took it out and has it at his apartment with intentions of putting it in a safety deposit box the following day. Julia insists on seeing it, but when he goes in his coat pocket to retrieve his keys, they aren't there. Julia is very upset to hear this.

Carolyn uses the stolen key to break into Tony's office, then opens his safe with the combination she so cleverly memorized. The notebook isn't there! Tony must have put it someplace else, she realizes, but she doesn't have time to ponder where--the lights in the office flick on, and Tony is standing there, furious.

Carolyn is busted!

NOTES: Tony deserves better than Carolyn, but right now she's under Barnabas' influence and will use whoever she has to in order to accomplish her master's ends, and Tony is simply a tool.

I was so happy to see Carolyn caught. What is Tony going to do now?

Love, Robin