That's a great thought, dom! That would have been sooooo interesting!

Magda thinks that Barn WANTED Trask to know that he had bitten Charity. He protests that he's just unwilling to give up what life he has. Sandor is properly horrified at the idea of digging up Laura Stockbridge Collins, died 1785.

Magda tidies up the cottage so Laura can move in. Her first real find is a deck of tarot cards--then she finds Angelique's little knitted doll (the one she used to choke Rachel Drummond). Laura notes with surprise there are no pins in it. He must be saving it for someone special, Laura comments sarcastically. You, perhaps, madam, Magda suggests with sly irony. Unoffended, Laura says, No, this isn't for me. He's done everything to me he possibly can--and soon I will return the favor. She has Magda read the cards, even though she doesn't believe in them. "La Mort"--Death--keeps turning up. Even though it signifies change rather than death, Laura is upset.

Edward confides in Barn that he doesn't want the school on Collins property. Barn points out that it will keep the kids close by. But Edward says it's really about Laura and asks, How well do you know Laura? I can't honestly answer, Barnabas says (and that’s no lie). You've met my wife--no doubt you found her charming, Edward says stoically. I’m far too old to trust first impressions completely, Barnabas replies dryly. Edward tells the whole story, apparently relieved to have revealed it at last. Barnabas promises to speak to Judith.

Barn takes Laura's portrait to the cottage. Laura is uncomfortably surprised on seeing it, but agrees it's incredible. Come look at it, she urges Magda. I might have sat for it myself! Yes, Barnabas agrees dryly. You must have had a near relative living here one hundred years ago. Either that or many women look like me, suggests Laura. Untrue, although many regret it, Barnabas replies suavely. Pretending to be flattered, she thanks him for the compliment. The more I looks at it, the less I think it resembles me, she says to Magda. Is my chin really that pointy? After Barn leaves, she orders Magda to put it away.

Barn's next stop on this busy night is the mausoleum. He orders Sandor to open Laura's tomb. Sandor complies, but itsn't happy about it. Somehow Laura knows that Sandor is using a hammer and chisel. She runs from the cottage.

Meanwhile, Barnabas opens the coffin, since Sandor refuses. What's inside?

O. M. G. *thud*

I've always wondered if this conversation marks a turning point in the Barn-Angelique relationship. As they enter the drawing room and sit in the two-sided love seat, Angelique comments, After all these years, your taste in women should have improved over the years. Charity seems rather thick witted--I suggest you leave her alone. Amusing advice, Barnabas comments with no amusement whatever, coming from you, who made me what I am. Angelique warns him, Charity Trask can be nothing but trouble, just like all other Trasks. I see you’ve forgotten about them. No, Barnabas says. Angelique reminisces, I remember dear Reverend Trask well--the man who tried, and failed, to destroy the witch. Thanks to me, Barnabas reminds her. Angelique replies, There was a rather sweet irony in the way you handled his execution--walling him up in your own cellar! I always rather appreciated that. Thank you, Barnabas answers coldly. [They are just two supernatural beings chatting together!]

Naturally Barn asks Angelique to make him human again, and naturally she refuses. Angelique, Barnabas sighs wearily, your concern for me, as usual, is concern for yourself. Angelique looks away. She has no reply to this, possibly because it’s the simple truth--and Barnabas knows it too. He prepares to leave, saying, It is getting late, and you know I cannot stay. Angelique steps in front of him and says with surprising urgency, Barnabas, for your own sake, as well as for what you are trying to do here, spend your time with the girls down at the docks, girls that have no names, no homes, no hopes and most of all--no fathers. [For the first time, Angelique expresses jealousy over a woman whom Barnabas does _not_ love. She senses and resents what Barnabas describes to Charity as not love but "the special thing we have between us." Yet Angelique is sincere in her concern and advice for Barnabas. She no longer wishes simply to destroy him.]

Charity starts to cry when Judith, apparently with real kindness, tries to put her own black shawl on her. Meanwhile, Angelique meets the current Trask and advises him to marry Charity off ASAP. Judith arrives, and Trask wonders why Charity hasn't come to greet him. Judith says she's upstairs resting, then invites him into the drawing room. My dear lady, I would follow you anywhere, Trask assures her obsequiously. (Especially to the bank, I'll bet!)

Judith offers Trask the use of a small house on the Collins property while the school is being rebuilt. For once, Trask is utterly flabbergasted. You would do all this for me?-- for us? he hastily amends, but Judith doesn’t notice. She is, however, embarrassed by Trask's fulsome gratitutde and says that when one has money, it's easy to offer it. Trask invites her to confide in him: I see there are problems in your heart and in your soul. These must be uncovered and talked about to a dear friend. I shall be that friend. Judith answers, Reverend Trask, I can't tell you how much I admire you. We all complain so, yet you seem so uncomplaining despite everything--despite your ill health. My ill health? Trask asks, surprised. Your wife mentioned it during her visit, Judith explains. We can all but see the light bulb go off above Trask’s head as he slowly turns away from her and says, How strange of Minerva. You see, she is the one who is in ill health-- _increasingly_ ill health.

Judith takes Trask upstairs to see Charity, but she's already answered Barnabas's call and arrives at the Old House, still wearing her pink nightgown. She's also wearing the black shawl that so horrified her earlier--now it doesn't bother her one bit. I’m feeling very well, she says. I was upset and depressed at first last night, when I met your fiancée. But afterward, lying in bed and thinking about it, it didn’t seem to matter that the two of us are engaged to others. Because of this special thing that we have between us, Barnabas suggests. Yes, I know that now, Charity agrees. It makes me feel elated, as if something extraordinary might happen.

Barn shows Charity a portrait of his uncle Jeremiah's first wife--who knew??!! We see that the portrait shows a woman who only generally resembles Laura in a bright, flame-colored dress. Nonetheless, Charity exclaims in amazement, It’s she! It is the same woman! As Barnabas reminisces, it becomes clear that the writers have decided once again to make Barnabas much younger than his uncle instead of making them the age mates we saw during the 1795 episodes. They've also decided that Barnabas was just 10 years old when he met Laura, and that she was his first crush. When you were ten years old? Charity asks, surprised that the ageless vampire was ever a young boy. Barnabas disregards her, caught up in the memory: She was like a flame, a flame coming toward the house that day, in her bright orange riding habit. How ironic that fire should kill her. Charity gets freaked out by the idea that Barnabas has lived so long, but he quickly re-mesmerizes her by reminding her of the "special thing we have between us." Now he intends to use her to spy on Laura.

Trask wants to search for Charity, not out of loving fatherly concern but out of annoyance that she isn't where he put her. Just as Judith is about to send for Dirk, Charity rushes into the house. Sternly, Trask tells Judith, There is no reason to search. She is here. He walks over to Charity: And she had better have an answer for me--a good one! A very good one! Where have you been, Charity Trask, and what have you been doing? Charity starts, I... But suddenly she seems to grow faint and collapses to the floor, unconscious. She’s fainted! Judith exclaims, rushing over. Trask kneels by Charity and moves to touch her neck for a pulse--then pulls back, startled, as he spots the bite marks on her throat....

This time, when Dirk picks up Laura and carries her to the bed, RD doesn't seem to strain his back. In fact, they're on their feet almost the whole time.

Jamison's first act as the future Master of Collinwood is to find someone to wake up. Naturally he makes a beeline for Laura's room.

Quentin converses with Charity about Laura. You may hear people say, Miss Trask, that Quentin Collins is a wicked man. I can’t believe that, Charity opines, but without a shred of remorse and indeed some satisfaction, Quentin continues, Oh, it's true, it's true. I have committed all of the sins that you just read about. Charity turns away from him, seemingly troubled but not just by Quentin’s admission. Do I shock you? he asks hopefully. No, she lies. Enjoying himself thoroughly, he piles it on: And more--many more. All of that can cost a man a great deal--spiritually, of course. Yes, of course, Charity agrees, feeling on firmer ground now. Quentin finishes, But through Jamison, I have a second chance. I want to devote my life to being brother, uncle, friend, everything to that boy. Charity smiles and comments, You aren’t wicked, not with the kind of concern that you show tonight. Quentin reminds her, It’s a “grave” (his word) night: That poor lady may be dead already. But Quentin whirls around in shock when he hears Laura laughing on the landing above him. As usual, Quentin, she laughs, you are wrong. The “poor lady” never felt better! She laughs uproariously at his consternation.

Quentin and Laura squabble. Quentin loses and snaps at Charity, then apologizes. But she's caught sight of Barnabas's portrait in the foyer and barely notices.

Laura tells Jamison, Someone in the house wants to hurt me. They can't do that, Jamison tells her. One day, very soon, I will be master of this house. [I guess he thinks his aunt Judith isn’t long for this world!] He promises Quentin that he'll speak to him later (uh-oh).

Barnabas is writing a letter to-- well, someone (turning down a dinner invitation, perhaps) when Charity knocks at the door. She says she feels ashamed of herself but her eyes are aglow. Barn says she's always welcome. She tells him about the fire. The school was completely gutted and my father’s life’s work destroyed--but I don’t care, because it gave me an excuse to come to you. You need no excuse to come to me, and you know it. Come whenever you feel you must, Barnabas says hospitably. I have never known anyone like you, Charity tells him. You have made me see the world as a warm, beautiful place. Barnabas, is there a mirror? The vampire is startled at this request, but Charity explains, I want to look into one, because in your world, I feel that I too am beautiful. You are, Barnabas assures her--you need no mirror to know that. Look at me and into my eyes--you will see, he says. She slowly turns and gazes up at him, adoration and longing in her eyes. (Perhaps because of Charity’s request, this ep. has two shots that are reflected in mirrors.)

Dirk comes to Laura's room and swears to do anything for her. Ask Ra for the scarab, she orders him. After some hesitation and some prodding by Laura, he says the magic words and the scarab appears. Jamison knocks on the door and comes in. Jamison is old enough to be none too pleased to see Dirk standing between his mother and her bed. I thought you would be alone, he says. Dirk was just helping me with something I needed, Laura says. You can go now, Dirk, Jamison orders in an adult tone of voice. Dirk turns brusquely and leaves. How could you speak to Dirk that way? Laura wonders, displeased. Jamison explains, Quentin says servants need to know their proper place. Angrily, Laura says, Quentin is the person who is trying to hurt me. Jamison laughs in disbelief, but Laura says, It’s true. You must believe it or Quentin will hurt me again. She kneels to look him in the eyes and tells him and says, You didn’t have a dream. It was a vision of me dying--because Quentin wanted me to die. Jamison is stunned.

Barnabas and Charity continue their visit. I’ll take you back to Collinwood, Barnabas offers. You can spend the night there. Must we go immediately? Charity asks, having a different conclusion in mind. No, Barnabas says, but soon. She muses, I don't understand it at all. I always thought I cared about Tim, but this is so... different... somehow. Is it? Barnabas asks politely, though he surely knows. It is as if I have no will of my own, Charity tells him. As if I wanted no will of my own. As if ... I had to do anything you wanted me to do. That was the only way that I could be happy. Oh Barnabas, please, make me happy! She turns to face him, lifting her chin to expose her pale and slender throat. His fangs are already bared. I will, he promises, then bites her very slowly, bringing the scene and Charity’s visit to a steamy conclusion.

Jamison tells Quentin that he hates him and orders his uncle to get out of his sight! Quentin is stunned. Laura arrives and orders Jamison to bed so that she and Quentin can argue in the drawing room about which is the more heartless. Really, it's a draw. Dirk arrives and Quentin makes snide remarks about him and Laura, then leaves. Dirk puts his arms around her just in case she needs “warming” again--right there in the drawing room with the doors wide open--but any further activities are put off by a knock at the door.

Barnabas brings Charity back, saying that he found her wandering in the woods, a little disoriented (and no wonder, after that steamy bite!). Barnabas gets his first good look at Laura--and he reacts as if seeing a ghost. For once he is too astonished for speech, even when Laura introduces herself. He swallows hard, covers it with a smile and says, Edward never told me you were as young and beautiful as you are. Edward wouldn’t, Laura replies sourly. She holds out her hand to Barnabas, but instead of bowing over it to bestow his usual gallant kiss, he simply gives it a quick squeeze. It’s late, Laura remarks. She wishes Barnabas and Charity a good night, then goes upstairs. What’s the matter? Charity asks. When Barnabas regains his voice, he says, It cannot be! I saw her, I heard her voice, I touched her hand--but that woman has been dead for over a hundred years!

[Perhaps because Barnabas bites Charity so slowly, the closing credits roll as slowly as they will ever roll.]

Well, she certainly was ahead of her time! Were you one of the lucky fans, Gothick?

Welcome back, MT! You've missed only a few episodes. Do you want to know how Quentin got restored?

Just stumbled onto this, Doctor! What an amazing effort--thanks!

Trask makes it pretty clear that he can get Tim and Rachel to do whatever he wants by threatening them with the gallows. I suppose that for Tim, even marrying Charity might work out better than that. Trask tells him, Children are animals but with one important difference. They can be taught. But not by talking--they learn through fear! (Tim is sitting on the only chair--a small stool.) Changing the subject, Trask notes, You weren’t at dinner last night--Charity was upset. I haven’t been feeling well, Tim says with a most un-loverlike lack of inflection. Please give her my apologies. One must not give in to these weaknesses, Trask advises him. I trust you feel strong enough to go to Collinwood. Mrs. Trask has come back with unsettling news.  Do they want to send the children back? Tim asks hopefully. No, Trask replies, Rachel has decided not to return. Tim looks away to conceal a surprised smile, but Trask pounces: What do you feel? Envy? Are you proud of her for her defiance? Don't you think that she would learn, as you have, that this house is filled with love? I will have nothing to do with bringing Rachel back to Worthington Hall, Tim says resolutely. But in the end, he does.

Trask almost boastingly asks Jamieson if he's heard stories of punishment from the other kids. Jamieson says yes but refuses to name names and gets locked in the closet for his trouble. He has more backbone that all the adults at Collinwood combined. But when he thinks he's figured out how to escape from the closet, Trask is waiting for him, just as he's waiting for Rachel when Tim takes him to the mausoleum.

ILB, Jerry Lacy sure does a great job with the evilness of Trask, doesn't he!