Carolyn chides Vicki for becoming obsessed with the past. Vicki--wearing a dark velvet robe--is up in her room, preferring to listen to the music box over and over instead of getting ready for a date with Burke. And who can blame her?

Burke gives Barnabas a dressing-down about the costume party. He says, On account of the party, not only did Vicki think she saw that little girl at the Old House, she also thought she saw Maggie Evans at the cemetery. Impossible! says the ambushed Barnabas. Maggie Evans is dead, so there was nothing _to_ see. She couldn’t have seen Maggie Evans-- [slowly] any more than she could have seen that little girl on the stairs.

Vicki enthuses to Barnabas about the possibility of his helping "Miss" Hoffman write her history of some of the old New England families. But Barnabas is able to curb his enthusiasm. Now Vicki spots the book that Barnabas came to give her. It’s really of very little interest, he says deprecatingly. I was going to give it to you, but the others talked me out of it. His method works perfectly, as now nothing will do for Vicki but that she must have the book. Opening it up, she sees that he has inscribed it to her. Why weren’t you going to give it to me? she asks. Without a shred of remorse, Burke admits, I didn’t want Barnabas to give it to you. Vicki glares at Burke, and Barnabas says primly, I’m sorry if I created a somewhat clumsy situation. It isn’t _your_ fault, Vicki says pointedly. After Barnabas leaves, Burke tells Vicki, What you need is a good time--good and loud--and I’m gonna give it to you. Ewwwww!!

Vicki and Burke end up quarreling as yet another storm starts up. He leaves in a huff. Vicki looks a little sorry, but immediately dips into the book. But the next moment, she's hurried down to the Old House to apologize for everyone's behavior. But the storm has become too violent for her to go home, and Barnabas invites her to wait till it dies down. In his most spellbinding voice, he tells her, This room is never lovelier than when it is lit by lightning, and the thunder echoing down the corridors. Vicki concludes apologetically that she must spend the night at the Old House. Barnabas is only too eager to play host and tells her that Josette's room is ready for her at all times. Yes, of course, Vicki says--Josette’s room. Barnabas smiles with unholy anticipation; as he draws close behind her, his eyes stray toward her neck....

I agree. And then she shows great compassion to Jeremiah after Angelique's spell has worn off and they realize they're pretty much stuck with each other.

Maggie may be slowly coming out of her regression to childhood, so why does she STILL have to wear a nightgown? Or is Julia afraid that if Maggie is in street clothes, she'll try to escape?

It's very nice to see Elizabeth being so chipper, but this being the Dark Shadows universe, it's sure not to last. Vicki disregards her sensible advice and plays the music box some more.

When Vicki goes to the Old House to return Josette's gown, she laments to Willie, I still think I ruined the party. With massive understatement, Willie tells her, It wasn’t your fault. He’s just kind of strange that way.

Vicki does ask for only an hour off to lay flowers on Josette's grave. She tells Elizabeth she'll get Burke to take her, but why can't she go alone? She must know how to drive, since she's gone to Collinsport any number of times--unless she's the world's greatest hiker.

Beneath her cool and detached manner, Julia really does want to help Maggie regain her memory. But poor Maggie gets upset all over again when Julia suggests going to the cemetery.

Oh, yes, Barnabas gives Vicki the music box--the whole point of the exercise. As she listens to the music, already enthralled, he gazes at her fondly.

The music box never seems to need winding--it must be possessed.

I'll bet that the spirit who is possessing Vicky is Naomi, who wants say, "Barnabas, my son, I didn't raise you to bore your party guests!"

 

Carolyn's and Vicki's gowns have zippers up the back. So much for clothes from another century!  The fashions correspond to the dates we have seen so far on the tombs in the mausoleum, about 1820 or so--for now.

For a brief moment, out of Carolyn's hearing, Victoria wistfully murmurs, Victoria Winters, Victoria Winters.

Barnabas actually compliments Willie on how well the party preparations are going. But Burke is extremely upset that Vicki is going as Josette Collins.

One of the classic conversations of DS: Later, Vicki comes to the Old House and reminds Willie that the party is to show off his restoration work.  Willie mutters a thank-you. Will you be there? Vicki asks. I’ll be around, he answers vaguely. Will you be wearing a costume? Vicki wants to know. Mr. Collins wants me to, Willie replies in just above a mumble, but I feel a little funny about it. Vicki observes kindly, You could do with some fun. You never smile. I haven’t got much to smile about, Willie answers brusquely. Nonplussed, Vicki falls back on praising the fantastic job he’s done. You deserve to be very happy and very proud, she insists. Willie finally lets himself open up just enough to say with genuine sincerity, Thank you. That’s very nice of you. Then he goes on: A lot of people don’t get what they deserve--and [bitterly] a lot of people get what they don’t deserve. That's an interesting philosophy, Willie, Barnabas observes as he enters the drawing room, but I'm dedicated to seeing that people get what _I_ think they deserve.

Barnabas tells Willie to take a well-deserved break, but Willie doesn't leave unt il he hears Vicki say that she can stay for only a moment. But that's all she needs to persuade Barnabas to invite Burke to come as Jeremiah.

So, Lydia, you really had a great-great-great grandmother also named Lydia? How wonderful that you know so much about her! And that's a great anecdote about the army jacket at Shiloh. I'm sure that what you felt is also a huge motivation for all those reenacters. I once ran into a group of Civil War reenacters in New Jersey, where they were camping out in a spot overlooking the Hudson, and they were certainly giving it their all, with period tents, rations, etc.

I also was entirely convinced by Elizabeth's feelings about wearing her ancestor's gown. And thanks for mentioning the interview with Sam Hall.

Following orders, Willie has brought down the trunk with all the costumes. The first thing Barnabas takes out is Josette's gown--which was lying on the bed in the last episode. Willie is full of misgivings about the whole idea and even daringly tells Barnabas that Vicki never hurt anybody--nobody [meaning Barnabas] should hurt her. Of course this doesn't win him any points with Barnabas.

After her initial hesitation at the end of the last episode, Vicki is full of enthusiasm for the idea. Barnabas very wisely allows her to plead his case to Elizabeth.

When Vicki is looking through the costumes at the Old House, Barnabas implies that Josette's gown is the one she is wearing in the portrait over the mantel--even though the portrait dress has long, fitted sleeves and the gown has short, puffy ones. Perhaps vampirism has dulled his fashion sense.

We get our first hint of the existence of Millicent Collins when Vicki spots the initials "M.C." in the lining of another dress. Vicki IDs a man's jacket as Jeremiah's, knowing that he was Josette's husband--and Barnabas hastily puts the jacket aside. Vicki likes the idea of becoming Josette--at least for one evening.

But best of all is Sarah, who plays with her ball in Josette's room just before Barnabas and Vicki arrive. The room seems unoccupied when they enter, but Barnabas tenses, feeling that someone or something is in the room with them (nice bit by JF). Vicki has the same impression.

After Vicki takes Josette's dress away with her, Barnabas lingers in Josette's room, playing the music box and doing his best to contradict Vicki's statement that he will never find the past. As he sets it down on the dressing table, his reflection is clearly visible in the mirror! But he gets angry when Willie spots the little girl's dress and starts talking about Sarah, even describing her long hair. First Barn calls it ridiculous, then moves it up a notch to preposterous, then gets angry.

How poignant that after Barnabas and Willie leave, Sarah returns and finds her pretty blue dress!