MB, many thanks as always for the wonderful frame grab. That is an unusual outfit for Barnabas, and JF looks great in it.

Philip wears a black suit to Michael's wake. But he probably isn't very sorry, because it's a black safari suit.

Julia is late for her appointment with Stokes. He tells her that Professor Osmund is getting ready to do his tests on Tate's View of South Wales. He pours her a sherry, no doubt hoping to get her to talk. She asks him about Coleyville. It’s a dreary little place twenty miles down the coast, he observes. He notices that she’s pale, and she realizes that she hasn’t eaten since breakfast. Stokes goes into the kitchen to get some English biscuits. [He is by far the best host of anyone on the show!] What will I find in Coleyville? Julia wonders, her mind already on the next stage of one of her puzzles. A few moments later, Stokes emerges with a plate full of biscuits, but Julia is already gone.

Julia knocks on Mrs. Hutchins’s door, and a voice calls out to tell her to come in. Julia enters and steps past a birdcage with a live green parakeet inside! Mrs. Hutchins (played to a tipsy fare-thee-well by Camilla Ashland) emerges from a back room. I was lying down, she says, but she has obviously been drinking. Julia introduces herself and explains that Megan said Mrs. H. had cared for Michael. Mrs. Hutchins produces a handkerchief and proceeds to tell Julia, It wasn’t a shock to me, not the way that boy grieved when his parents.... She lets it trail off, then asks, How was the funeral? Julia tells her it was very nice. I had to give the boy up, Mrs. H. explains, because I’m not well enough to handle him. He was difficult--all of the Hacketts are “pretty spirited.” His father, Burt, for instance, was the most mischievous little boy! I knew the family for a long time, she sighs, but they are all gone and I’m still here. Julia thanks her and leaves. The moment Julia is out the door, Philip Todd emerges form the back room and tells Mrs. Hutchins, You’ve done very well. How did you find out about me? she asks. He replies, I know about a number of people who at the proper time could prove very useful--as you have. Thank you for your help, he adds, handing her an envelope. It’s full of cash, which she carefully counts. It’s enough for bottle after bottle, he assures her. Mrs. Hutchins starts to ask questions, but Philip says, Remember our agreement. The other part is that you’re to forget it all and forget me, Dr. Hoffman, and the boy. It is all something you dreamed after too much whiskey. Hesitantly, Mrs. Hutchins asks, Was there really a little boy who died? Or did you make the boy up too, like Burt and Evelyn? Forget it all, Philip tells her again. After he leaves, she is troubled for a moment, until she remembers the money and starts to count it again.

Of course Julia is lurking in the shrubbery and watches Philip leave.

At the antique shop, Megan is arranging some more stock in a desultory way. She pauses over a wooden Continental soldier identical to the “member of the regiment” from Barnabas’s boyhood collection, the soldier that Sarah used to protect David long ago. Philip returns and tells her, Dr. Hoffman was completely convinced. It is all over, they agree, but Megan adds, I will have to learn to stop looking for things that Michael would like.

Julia returns to Stokes's house, knowing she will have to pay for her rudeness, and she's right. He takes her to task and guesses that she went to Coleyville. Julia finally says, I need your help desperately. Something is going on. She tells him about Barnabas’s strange behavior; Paul Stoddard’s mental state; her conversation with Mrs. Hutchins-- And, she adds, the whole series of strange little boys coming to and going from the antique shop--all with blond hair and blue eyes, all with the same birthmark on the wrist. Today the last and oldest boy died, and it was his funeral I attended this morning. [This is very quick work, since he took ill and died, she signed the death certificate, Megan and Philip held the wake, and the funeral took place seemingly all on the same day!] It was a classic case, as if his symptoms had been read out of a book, but something about his death disturbs me, she continues. Ever since Barnabas returned, something evil has been threatening us all. We must try to stop it, Stokes immediately agrees. How do we begin? Julia tells him, I saw Philip Todd coming out of Mrs. Hutchins’s house, but why would Mrs. Hutchins lie? I’m sure Barnabas could answer all my questions--if he would. Stokes suggests, You could win Paul Stoddard’s confidence despite his fears. I will visit the antique shop that specializes in a succession of strange, disposable little boys.

At the shop, Megan is still working when Philip suggests they close. I miss Michael, Megan says plaintively. You have to stop thinking about him, Philip reminds her. The boy had to be gotten rid of. I think you were glad, Megan says spitefully, but whatever argument they were about to have is forgotten when Stokes enters the shop. He introduces himself, explaining, Carolyn Stoddard told me about your charming shop. He admires Megan’s Leviathan locket [which is unfortunately flipped to the back for its closeup] and actually buys a vase. Philip wraps it up, and when he hands it back to Stokes, the professor notices a Naga ring on Philip’s hand. After Stokes leaves, Megan and Philip discuss their visitor. He is intelligent, they agree, and dangerous. He’s outside, Megan says, watching the shop. I shouldn’t have worn the ring, Philip says, but Megan makes light of it. I wish we didn’t have to hide and pretend, she says impatiently. If we were like ordinary people, I couldn’t have given up Michael. Stop thinking about it! Philip says as he grabs her. After he lets her go, Megan closes the wooden window shutters. Goodbye for now, Professor Stokes! she comments sarcastically. Philip says it’s quite dark and goes to turn on the lights. Megan says not to, then hears footsteps. Philip hears them too, and a moment later, Michael, still wearing his dark funeral suit, comes down the stairs. With a really weird smile he says, I have decided not to go through with it........

[The closing credits feature a closeup of Mrs. Hutchins’s live budgie, hopping around on its perch.]

The stairs at the antique shop have been the stairs at the Blue Whale and the stairs at Dr. Lang's house. A couple of story lines from now, they will have an even more important role.

For the first time, Barn seems to have doubts about the Leviathan cause--and about time, too. He figures it all started when he opened the box. He decides to stall for time while he figures out a way out of the cult.

Poor Maggie is still stuck in the storage room. Things only get worse when the heavy breathing starts up again. Michael tauntingly warns her not to fall asleep.

Maggie hears approaching footsteps and goes to a very high mantel shelf to retrieve a candlestick. It’s almost time, Michael’s irritating high-pitched voice tells her. Just a few more minutes, and then I will open the door and come in. Then you will know who I am, won’t you? Maggie runs to the door, brandishing the candlestick. She shouts, I don’t want to know who you are! Don’t come in here! If you come in here I swear I will kill you!

Philip returns to the two wall lamps from the opposite direction he set out. He turns onto a different passageway. Maggie hears his footsteps getting louder and louder as he approaches her prison, and prepares herself for what she has to do. Philip reaches the door. Maggie! he calls out. Answer if you can hear me! I’ve come to get you out of there. He fumbles with the latch. (Why couldn’t Maggie open it from the inside??) As the door opens, Maggie shuts her eyes and raises the candlestick high overhead to strike.......

Yes indeed!

David and Michael play a game called Wall Street. Hmmmm.....

Julia and Angelique are actually friendly as A. reluctantly agrees to part with her husband's wedding present, the notorious "View of South Wales."

I suspect the Paul Stoddard story line would have unfolded at a more leisurely pace if [spoiler]Dennis Patrick hadn't been picked to be in the movie Joe. [/spoiler]

Yes, one of the greatest speeches in the whole series! 

Mine too!