I missed HoDS this time around but have DVRed Trade Winds. It sounds like a hoot!

Funny exchange between Bruno and Cyrus, when Bruno comes to the lab to ask for Cyrus's help. It makes you realize that Bruno has never examined his own character or motives. I only believe things that I’m certain of and that I can see, Cyrus says, but sometimes I wish I had your daring. He starts making notes as Bruno insists, The woman at Collinwood is Angelique. I would stake everything I own on it. Wrapped up in his work, Cyrus comments, You don’t own a whole lot, so the risk would be minimal. You believe Angelique is at Collinwood because that’s what you want to believe. Of course, he adds, I wasn’t involved with Angelique in the same way. I want you to help me with your scientific knowledge, Bruno says. I have a lot of work to do, Cyrus replies dismissively. How long are you going to stay cooped up in your own tiny little world? Bruno wonders. Your world is the one that is small and narrow, Cyrus tells him loftily. Bruno looks at him in shock as Cyrus straightens his glasses and continues, Because there is no one in it, really, except you. However, my world is open to expansion, and expand it shall--very soon. Having said his piece, he turns away from Bruno and resumes making notes. I’ll go mad if I don’t find out about Angelique tonight! Bruno declares, then stomps up the spiral staircase.

Bruno somehow gets into the Great House again and pesters Alexis again, still sure that she's really Angelique. Later, Alexis comes downstairs and finds Quentin. He instantly loses his temper when she tells him that Bruno is back. Bruno, however, has followed Alexis downstairs and tells Quentin, It’s possible that Angelique fooled us all and didn’t die at the séance (the first we hear of the circumstances of her death). You’re mad! Quentin decides. I’m anything but, Bruno retorts. If you keep ranting about people returning from the grave, Quentin warns, [other] people are going to start wondering about you. Bruno answers, Well, let them wonder. I know what I know. I’m surprised that you don’t realize who she really is! But then, you never really did know her as well as I did, did you? His hatred plain on his face, Quentin grabs Bruno by the collar and snarls, Get out! After a few more snide comments and a bow to Alexis, Bruno does.

Makeup gave Horace Gladstone a very nice prosthetic scar. He breaks into the lab and finds Cyrus's notes. We hear Cyrus's voice as Horace reads: With each passing day I draw steadily closer, morally and intellectually, to the inescapable truth that man is not truly one but truly two, the one being good and the other evil. Now I am prepared to prove that each of these elements can be housed in separate identities. In separate identities! Gladstone repeats aloud. Cyrus confronts him. Horace is a rather old-fashioned gent and refers to Sabrina as "your young lady"--evidently he realizes that Sabrina isn't just Cyrus's lab assistant. Cyrus gets huffy and insists that Horace did nothing to help him. I agree Horace might have been a tippler, most likely because of his own near-miss when he decided to give up his own "lonely, dangerous course." I think his offer of help to Cyrus is sincere.

Alexis offers Quentin a cup of tea, and he actually accepts it. I hope Bruno is gone, she says. There’s no way I can force him from the estate, Quentin admits. The séance he mentioned, Alexis says: Did it have anything to do with my sister’s death? Quentin gets up and walks away. Have I brought up a painful memory? Alexis asks apologetically. You have a perfect right to ask about anything concerning your sister, Quentin replies. But you would rather not talk about it, Alexis realizes.

In his underground lab, Cyrus carefully pours some white powder into some purple fluid, which immediately boils and forms a purple foam on top. He pours a bit of the liquid into a tumbler, then takes it to his desk. As he picks up a pen, he thinks to himself, My theory is ready to be put to the test. I am aware of the potential power of the drug I have created and of the danger that I face. And perhaps I am even risking death, but I am not afraid. As he prepares to drink the purple fluid, Sabrina comes downstairs, dressed in her overcoat, and he quickly hides the glass. Will you ever rest? she wonders. The experiment is almost finished, he replies. It will be nice to see more of you, Sabrina comments, but I realize you’re dedicated to your work. Now that it’s almost over, I hope you’ll tell me about it. If it’s successful, Cyrus promises. Now run along. Since it’s 1970, Sabrina tells him, I don't mind playing second fiddle to your work. You are such a gentle man. That is what I love most about you. She gives him a chaste goodnight peck on the lips and goes upstairs. Cyrus waits till she’s upstairs, then returns to the desk. Very nervously he picks up the glass and quickly drinks off all the liquid. After a moment’s wait, he suddenly reacts as though feeling pain throughout his body. He drops the glass with a scream. He grips his stomach, then drops to his knees. Finally he rolls over on his back, convulsed with agony.....

Quote from: DarkLady on October 02, 2015, 09:56:14 PM

I see we're in October! 

Come back in a couple of hours and you'll see that we're really into October!

WOWEE!!!

I see we're in October! 

Quentin and Alexis exchange apologies, and she ends up staying at Collinwood. No no no no no.

Bruno tries to put his icky moves on Cyrus's cucumber-cool assistant, Sabrina. Cyrus arrives, and Bruno is caught. Sabrina is still perfectly calm, serene in the knowledge that she has done no wrong. Cyrus tells Sabrina he’s expecting a Special Delivery (!) package, so she goes upstairs to wait for it after glaring at Bruno.

Bruno waits tensely for Cyrus to give him what-for for hitting on Sabrina--but the expected storm never arrives. You seem very cool, considering what just happened, Bruno says finally. Or else you don’t care. About Sabrina? Oh, yes, I care--very much, Cyrus replies, with just the faintest hint of anger. Then why wasn’t there any blowup? Bruno asks as he takes off his coat. It didn’t mean anything, Cyrus lies, preparing a tourniquet and an alcohol swab. How can you say that, knowing me the way you do? Bruno asks. I can say that, Cyrus answers, knowing Sabrina the way I do. Don’t forget that I am a man with a lot of tricks, Bruno warns as he rolls up his sleeve. I play the game pretty ruthlessly. I know, Cyrus says. That is why I am interested in you. He ties a tourniquet around Bruno’s arm and swabs a spot with alcohol. Is that why you want to take samples of my blood? Bruno asks. Do you think ruthlessness is a blood factor? He smiles at the thought. Cyrus answers, We know so much about man’s chemistry, and yet we know so little--so very little. Bruno yelps as Cyrus jabs the hypodermic home, rather harder than strictly necessary. What is it you would like to know? Bruno asks. More, Cyrus answers as the syringe fills, just more. What makes me such an invaluable part of this experiment? Bruno asks. Oh, you think you are invaluable, do you? Cyrus answers. Why else do you pay me as much as you do? Bruno asks. I mean, you could get someone else. I am patronizing the arts, Cyrus replies. After all, you are a composer. In other words, you aren’t going to tell me anything, are you? Bruno says. Do I give that impression? Cyrus asks. Definitely, Bruno answers. Well, good. That is exactly the one I wanted to give, Cyrus replies with satisfaction. He smiles at Bruno--but it’s a rather scary smile. Bruno actually has an insight: You know, I am beginning to understand why you and Sabrina hit it off as well as you do. I mean, you two are very much alike. One thing on the outside, but inside--who knows! Cyrus raises his eyebrows in appreciation (but neglects to bandage Bruno’s arm).

As he smokes a post-donation cigarette, Bruno explains that he's playing a game too.  I think we’re not interested in the same things, Cyrus replies. Why not? Bruno wonders. You’ve always been so interested in the occult. Cyrus looks up from his work at this word but loftily tells Bruno, I am a scientist, and my experiment is for the betterment of mankind. My experiment concerns the dead coming back to life, Bruno says. Do you think Angelique will return? Cyrus asks. Just then, Sabrina comes down to tell Cyrus that the package has arrived. Before she can go back upstairs, a rather seedy gentleman comes downstairs anyway. My name is Horace Gladstone, he announces. (Welcome back, John Harkins--the Master of Dartmoor in 1897.) He politely takes off his hat, and we can see he has a large scar on his forehead and a crooked smile. He stares closely at Cyrus, who a bit nervously asks to speak to Gladstone alone. Not the least bit put out by his disappointments--he tells Sabrina, See ya, honey--Bruno leaves by a side door that Cyrus bolts after him from the inside (an important detail).

Sabrina is inclined to hang around, but Cyrus sends her back upstairs. Gladstone says, I was interested in meeting the man who is working with the "chemical synthesis" you ordered. I’d like to know the intention of the experiment. I don’t discuss my work with anyone, Cyrus huffs, but his voice scales up with nervousness as he clutches the package to himself. Gladstone remarks, From my own former experience in chemistry, I wonder if you’re aware of the potency of the synthesis. More aware than you are, probably, Cyrus answers and thanks Gladstone in dismissal. But Gladstone says what he came to say: It seems he is a former chemist because he backed off from his work when he saw that it might lead to “truths better left unknown.” As always, Cyrus is impervious to any warning, and Gladstone leaves none the wiser.

Bruno learns that Alexis couldn't have come from Genoa on a commercial ship--and instantly starts choking. He tries to get Alexis to "take the pins out of the doll." Alexis waves a wicked-looking pair of shears at him. (She was trimming a flower arrangement.) Insulted, she tells him, I sailed to New York on a rich friend's private yacht. How dare you accuse me! I’ll leave, Bruno says, but my experiment isn’t over yet. Why don’t you want me to know the truth? Leave me alone! she screams at him. He does.

Cyrus’s chemistry set is bubbling away at top speed as Sabrina notes, You seem quieter than you used to be, more secretive. (As he sits at his desk, we can see two Spy-type or even Max Beerbohm-type cartoons, with the men’s feet cropped off, and other small pictures surrounding what looks like his diploma.) As she straightens up the lab, she finds a small box with a ring in it. I hoped you would find it, he stammers when she asks about it. Am I about to make a fool of myself and fling my arms around you, she asks, or is this an engagement ring? I certainly hope so, he answers. Do you like it? They embrace, rather tentatively on his side, as Sabrina replies, I love it and you. You know how heavily I concentrate on my work, Cyrus reminds her. Would you mind? Why should I? she answers (well, it was 1970). Some women would, he says. Very happily, he says, I’ve spent my whole life excited about my work. Your devotion to work is just one of the things I like about you, Sabrina replies. Tell me about your new experiment. I don’t want to tell you even now, he says. I’m sorry, she says. You have a right to work on anything you choose. Do I? he asks, as if in answer to another question altogether. Do I really? Of course, Sabrina answers. What a strange question. Cyrus says, I wonder if there are any limits. Suppose I was to do something that was harmful to mankind? Something evil? Shocked, Sabrina asks, What are you talking about? Oh nothing, he answers, I was just bringing up age-old ethical questions. I tend to do that. I can’t imagine you would do anything that wouldn’t be in the best interests of everyone, Sabrina enthuses. Yes, he agrees, his voice scaling up with nervous excitement. You see, that is exactly it. That is exactly what I want to do. I want to achieve something that will help everyone, that will help every single man, woman and child. It would bring out all of the yearnings of good, and it would be undeterred by evil impulses. None of them would stop it. They destroy and they blunt all of the good things in this life. Now, if I could just find a way to.... He trails off as he realizes Sabrina is staring at him strangely, and he finishes lamely, I'm afraid that I get carried away and speak clichés. I'm sorry. Shall we get back to work? Sabrina asks, You weren't just talking about your new experiment, were you? With a high-pitched near giggle, Cyrus answers, No! My experiment? Heavens, no. I mean, have you ever heard such a long list of abstractions in all your life: mankind, good, evil. I mean, darling, I am a scientist. The only things I deal in are things that are scientifically attainable. No one has ever found an abstraction in a test tube--at least, not yet. Good, evil--I will never find that here. But the lab equipment percolates on as if contradicting him.

A very frightened Bruno goes to the Collins mausoleum (past the grave of Thomas Findley, one of Jeb Hawkes’s little zombie army) to make sure Angelique is really, truly dead. He finds her grave marker (with her name and the dates 1939-1969 below a beautifully engraved drooping lily). He has brought a claw hammer with him, and now he starts to pry the marker from the wall............

We find out that at least one of the Stokes clan is musical and a good sight reader too. Bob Cobert has arranged the "Ode to Angelique" so it sounds like a Chopin nocturne.

Jennifer Evans survives PT by remaining off stage in New York. Too bad we don't get to see her. It would have been fun if she had turned out to be Maggie's twin.

Bruno's PT costumes are even more wonderfully hideous than RT Bruno's. He wears a dark blue chalk-stripe jacket with a V-neck polo shirt and, yes, a big gold medallion on a heavy gold chain. The multicolor granny-square afghan has also migrated to PT and is now at the cottage. Does this mean that the elementals are in sympathy with him and Angelique? I'm sure he wants to stay there because Angelique deeded the cottage to him, so he gets to live rent free.

Somehow, after Chris took Angelique's little black book from Cyrus, it has magically turned red.

Chris has always been the estate manager, never the caretaker. So he's been a lawyer all along.

Alexis is still at the piano, still playing Bruno’s Ode to Angelique when Quentin finds her. He sits next to her on the piano bench. He puts his arm around her when he notes the tears on her cheeks. I don’t understand why it happened, Alexis says. I understand, Quentin says gently as he leans toward her. Their nearness is far too much temptation for either of them to withstand, and the scene fades as they inevitably clinch....

I remember Laura reminiscing too, Gothick. That's why I thought they retrofitted her into the original older Jerimiah story.

Then again, Laura could have been as young as 16 when she married Jerimiah.

Jerimiah's age depends on which story line you're following. In the big 1795 flashback, he and Barnabas are age mates despite being uncle and nephew. But way back in the beginning, when we heard about Josette for the very first time, Barn said that she was a young woman, roughly his age or a little younger, who was forced (more or less) into an arranged marriage with his much older uncle.

I think that when they decided to add Laura to the 1795 story, they had to go back to that much earlier version of events. Otherwise, Jerimiah would have been the same age as Barn--10 years old!--when he married Laura.

Although, knowing the Collinses....

About those closing credits: They should have issued a big giant spoiler alert. Although--did we know that Angelique's maiden name was Stokes?

I guess Angelique never vocalized for Daniel before because even in the afterlife she never imagined she'd have a Hated Rival. At least Amy is a nice little kid.

Poor Maggie! On the cusp of victory--until she returns to the drawing room. I have to say I thought LP did a good job as Alexis.