586 - (Nancy Barrett) - Clouds obscure the moon over Collinwood. The house is as dark as one man's intention, for he feels he has been betrayed by the man who promised to make him a mate, and now he must do what he has threatened to.

Vicki can't answer Barnabas' frantic calls because Adam is strangling her, vowing Barnabas will know the loneliness he promised him. Barnabas continues to knock, trying the door, which is locked, over and over. Vicki falls unconscious in Adam's lap and he looks at his hands and wipes one on his shirt as if it's coated with something gross. (guilty blood?) Carolyn comes down the hall and asks Barnabas what's wrong. She says she'll get the key to Vicki's room. Adam slips back out the window as Carolyn rushes to get the key. (Why didn't Barn just break it down?) Carolyn wonders why he thinks something is wrong. Barnabas is unable to fit the key in the lock at first. He finally forces the inside key to drop out and he and Carolyn rush into Vicki's room. Vicki is unconscious. They both tend to her, and Carolyn asks who did it. Adam, reveals Barnabas. Carolyn asks why. Get Julia, orders Barnabas, they desperately need a doctor. Carolyn goes, reluctantly, because she wants to know Adam's connection to this. Barnabas laments to Vicki using her as a pawn in all this, but he had no choice--or at least that's what he's told himself.He has caused this--the curse! Is it still alive, even if Angelique isn't? Must everyone he loves die, even now, after 200 years? he asks himself. (a very good question!)

Carolyn calls the police. Nicholas, dapper as always, offers to help her instead. He's much more polite and effective than the local gendarmes. (LOL!) She asks if he's been with Adam, and he asks if she's calling the police about Adam. He plucks the phone from her hand and hangs it up, infuriating her. Nicholas insists he wants to talk to her. She accuses him of lying to her--he wasn't with Adam--Adam just tried to kill Vicki. Carolyn says Vicki is unconscious, with Julia, but Adam tried to choke her. Nicholas expresses his sorrow, but asks who said it was Adam. Barnabas, she says, but it makes no sense. Nicholas asks if he SAW Adam. Carolyn tried to question Barnabas, but he's too upset about Vicki--Barn knows it was Adam, sans explanation.Nicholas suggests Adam has been rendered the local whipping boy; whatever happens, he's responsible. Carolyn, upset, says if Adam did this, she can't keep him here. The police aren't the answer, insists Nick. Carolyn says so many strange things have happened since Adam came here, but Nick says he was with Adam all evening, playing chess for two hours, so he's providing Adam with an alibi. He lives there, too, Nick reminds her, and doesn't want a potential murderer on the estate. Nicholas brings up Jeff's bad temper--he and Vicki broke up, right, and others have a very good reason, while Adam doesn't. He invites her to see Adam--they will have a game of cards. He suggests she go check on Vicki, then join him in Adam's room.

Carolyn goes to Vicki's room. Barnabas sits in a chair, anxiously watching Vicki. He tells Carolyn Vicki is in some kind of shock, and Carolyn asks if she's spoken yet. No, says Barn, but she will be all right. Carolyn tells Barnabas he saved Vicki's life; she heard nothing in the next room. She wants to know why he thinks it was Adam, but he insists on answering her questions later. Yes, she says curtly, you will answer my questions--I intend for you to.

Nicholas berates Adam for his insane behavior--Carolyn, his FRIEND, was about to call the police. He lied and told her they were together. Why did he do this thing now? You wouldn't understand, as Carolyn doesn't says Adam--Barnabas doesn't intend to finish his mate. Nicholas tries to explain how hard it is, much harder than Adam understands. It's so complex, no one could do it before Adam. Barnabas is stalling, insists Adam, the life force is holding him up. Nicholas says he should have come to him when Barn was looking for the life force. Nicholas' mouth drops open when he hears Barnabas' choice for the life force--Maggie Evans. Nicholas assures Adam he knows where the lady lives. Barnabas went to get Maggie, says Adam, but Nicholas waves a finger at him and says, in a ragged voice, "NO. . .no, we must stop them NOW!" Adam gazes with puzzlement at the angry warlock. (Nicholas cares for Maggie as much as Willie does, so of course, he doesn't want his lady used for this experiment! Interesting--love over duty!)Nicholas paces. Adam wonders why he's so upset. Adam tells Nick that Willie took Maggie, but he doesn't believe that. Nicholas wonders where Willie took her, and Adam says, contemptuously, that Willie is in love with her (why is Adam so contemptuous? He loves Carolyn). Nicholas tells Adam that if anything happens to Maggie, he will hold him responsible. Adam rises from the bed, looks at Nick, and says he never told him they couldn't use Maggie.  He'd have stopped them, says Nicholas, and Adam accuses him of being in love with Maggie. "Love isn't a word that I use," says Nick, but Adam wonders why he's so upset and angry, then. Nicholas doesn't want anything to happen to her. Adam asks if he believes Barnabas' story about Willie, and is pset to hear Nicholas answer absolutely not to Adam's question about using Maggie if she is found. There's a knock at the door. Nick orders Adam to deny everything to Carolyn--better still, let him talk. Nicholas admits Carolyn and she bids Adam good evening. He is upset, says Nick, he told him what she believed had happened. Adam apologizes, and Carolyn wonders why. He says he's sorry, he heard what happened. Carolyn tells them Vicki is still in a state of shock and hasn't spoken. She apologizes to Adam for jumping to a wrong conclusion--she couldn't imagine why Barnabas thought it was him. Nicholas says Adam's getting used to being blamed. Adam insists he is NOT used to it. Carolyn realizes Adam is angry and disappointed in her, but he says he's just angry at the crappy way his life has turned out. You must not be, she says. He says he'll feel better tomorrow. She assures him they all will feel better tomorrow, and bids both men good night. She tells Nick to stay with Adam, and tells the big guy she'll see him in the morning. Nick closes the door after her. Adam is sorry he lied to her--he promised he never would. Nicholas observes he loves her very much, and Adam sorrowfully says for as long as he lives.

Carolyn turns off the lights in the foyer. Julia is staying with Vicki, Barnabas tells her, but he says he's tired and can't offer an explanation. She can't sleep until he does, and wants to know why he thinks it was Adam. Julia was heading for Collinwood and saw Adam in the woods. She assumed he was coming here and ran back to the Old House to tell him.WHY? demands Carolyn--if Julia thought Adam was coming to Collinwood, why didn't she just come to Collinwood and warn them? She was closer to the Old House, says Barnabas, and figured he could head Adam off. Carolyn asks why Vicki is involved. Barnabas always felt Adam was connected to Vicki's disappearance. Have you any proof? queries Carolyn--she finds it all difficult to understand--he isn't a man who lives by his prejudices, so he must have a reason for believing it was Adam. And Barnabas feels she has her reasons for refusing to believe them. She knows where Adam has been hiding, and she must care more for Vicki than Adam. Carolyn admits she feels a great deal for Vicki, but Barnabas has given her no proof. "Then we've reached an impasse, haven't we?" he asks pointedly, and leaves.

Nicholas is asking Adam if "that plan" is acceptable to him, and it apparently is. Adam must start it, and be very cool with Barnabas--stay in charge, don't lose his temper. Adam tells Nicholas how grateful he is, Nicholas IS his friend. Go, orders Nicholas, Barnabas has no choice but to do as you say. Adam leaves, looking self-satisfied, as does Nicholas, grinning in that Snidely Whiplash way of his.

Old House - Barnabas finds his front door ajar. Adam is waiting for him, sitting in a chair. "Good evening," he greets him, playing solitaire. Barnabas is surprised Adam believes he'll help him, after tonight. Adam tells Barnabas to sit down, and Barnabas asks him how dare her come there. Vicki is still alive, Adam reminds him. No thanks to you, says Barnabas. Adam would like Vicki to stay alive, but Barnabas believes him capable of going back there tonight to finish the job. Adam again asks him to sit down, and comments what an imposing gentleman Barnabas has always been--I find it hard not to be frightened by your manner. Adam has decided to believe his reason for not doing the experiment--he believes him about Maggie. Too late to bring that up, says Barnabas, but Adam realizes Maggie is unsuitable, anyway. Who they use is no concern of Adam's, says Barn, but Adam insists the life force must be suitable to him. You must try and please me, says Adam, but Barnabas, sitting at last, says he doubts it possible. Adam tells him he is to be ready to bring his mate to life tomorrow night. Do you know where Maggie is? asks Barnabas. No, says Adam. They need a life force, insists Barnabas. They'll have one, Adam replies, but he doesn't need to know who. Barnabas says they can't use a stranger who will talk. It isn't a stranger, Adam assures him. Barnabas insists on knowing. Adam responds, "The only woman I want to bring that body alive--the woman I want my wife to be like--Carolyn Stoddard," says Adam calmly. Barnabas' face registers shock.

NOTES: Adam aims high, obviously with Nicholas' assistance. He wants to use Carolyn for this potentially dangerous experiment, where she could die, if the experiment proceeds the way the first was supposed to. I can't believe Adam accepting this, but Blair talked him into it in his inimitable way, we can be sure. And the calm way Adam presents this suggestion to Barnabas is priceless.  To suggest using Carolyn Stoddard, heir to Collinwood, in such a dangerous experiment? Yet Adam TELLS Barnabas that's the way it's going to be.


587 - (KLS) - A cloudy, windless night, and those who sleep in the great house of Collinwood do not dream their lives are in danger. But two men know. And, in an old house on the estate, they meet, and one who, six months ago, did not even know his name, is now giving the orders.

Barnabas and Adam reminded me of a father and son having a serious talk as Adam tells "Daddy" he wants Carolyn to provide the life force for his mate.Impossible, says Barnabas, out of the question--he can't ask Carolyn to do it. Adam says he won't have to ask, but Barn suggests he's overestimated his influence. Barnabas insists he listen--he's considered the life force very carefully and decided on Maggie because she lives alone and wouldn't be missed. (she would by some!) Most importantly, she can be controlled--Julia will hypnotize Maggie and she will have no memory--that's vital. Carolyn won't talk, says Adam, but Barn says she can't be missing for a length of time. Barnabas says that if he has all this affection for Carolyn, he can't expect her to do it, it's too dangerous. Barn explains that the giver of the life force is supposed to die. Adam asks if Barnabas was willing to die to bring him to life, and Barn explains that he was to live in Adam--think, react as he does--he'd BE him. This is news to Adam--that I would have thought what you thought? He can't even understand him now! Adam realizes he would have lived in this house, and Barnabas says the family would have thought him a cousin. Adam asks how he could hate himself so much he'd want to change his body? Past history, says Barn, but Carolyn is the present. Adam reminds him he didn't die, but Barn says that's because he didn't go through with the experiment as Lang had originally outlined. So, says Adam, Julia will do this experiment the same way as the first--simple. No, says Barn, if Julia forgets one move, no telling what will happen. If Adam is so fond of Carolyn. . .he can't change it now, says Adam. Tell her all this, insists Barnabas, she might refuse--and talk. No, she won't talk, says Adam. So, says Barn, you are willing to sacrifice her. As you are willing to sacrifice Maggie, retorts Adam--using Carolyn, you and Julia will be even more careful, and that is good. Barn asks if he could have Maggie there tomorrow, get her back from Willie. . .Adam remembers a day when Barnabas controlled him and Willie, and not long ago. They will use Carolyn, Maggie will stay wherever she is, Adam insists, returning to his game of solitaire and defiantly slapping down the cards.

In the mausoleum, Willie ponders Maggie sleeping on the cold floor, and wonders, how can he keep watching her all the time? How will he know if it's safe to let her go? Where will he get food? He can't go to the Old House. . .into town. He kneels and is about to touch Maggie, but stops. He opens the step the contains the hidden door release and leaves the secret room. Willie creeps to the wrought iron gate. Maggie stirs, sees the still-open door, and quietly slips out. Willie returns to the secret room and sees she is gone. "Maggie!" he cries, looking around. Maggie crouches behind Sarah's coffin, out of Willie's view. He returns to the secret room, calling her. She leaves her hiding place and rushes for the door. Willie spots her, grabs her, and they struggle. She begs him to let her go, and he tells her he's doing this for her own good. She tells him he's crazy, making up a story about Barnabas trying to hurt her. Willie protests he's more sane than he's ever been, and she sobs how cold, tired and hungry she is--let her go home! She looks at the plaques on the walls and realizes they are in the Collins tomb. Maggie grips the gate and begins to scream for help. Willie covers her mouth and she nips him, making him cry out in pain. He finally catches her, covers her mouth again, and forces her back into the secret room, but not before she bites him again. She triumphantly tells him he'll have to close the door and she'll see him do it. She refuses to accept he's doing this for her own good."I hate you!" she cries twice, and vows to go straight to the police as soon as she escapes--she doesn't think someone like him should be running around loose! He pleads with her, saying she'll change her mind someday, when she knows. Someday, perhaps he'll tell her part of it, so she'll forgive him. Maggie vows never to forgive him. Willie, standing behind her, opening the bottle of chloroform, says he knows she is cold and hungry--he'll get her food and blankets, he says, if she lets him. . .he covers her mouth and nose with the rag, apologizing again. She falls limp in his arms, and he lowers her to the steps. He gently moves her hair off her face, leaves the secret room, and pulls the ring in the lion's mouth, closing it behind him.

Nicholas waits impatiently in the gazebo. "You took long enough," he says to an approaching Adam, who tells him Barn is upset about using Carolyn, but didn't talk him out of it. Barnabas told Adam it would be dangerous, which Nicholas said he would do. He made Adam believe it, but Nick insists that was just a ploy to scare him. No, says Adam, he wants him to wait until he finds Maggie. NO, says Nick, Maggie won't be used--he wants Adam to love this woman, which will only happen if she's like Carolyn. Yet I am not like Barnabas, states Adam. Nicholas says he'll see Carolyn in the mate, just as Adam and Barnabas share certain traits. Adam doesn't feel Barnabas believes they share any characteristics, but Nicholas insists that's only because Barnabas won't admit it. Nicholas asks Adam if he saw Willie, and Adam replies no. Adam wants Nick to tell him how he's going to get Carolyn to cooperate, and, grabbing his arm, insists he not use violence on Carolyn. Of course not, says Nicholas.  Adam wants Carolyn to WANT to be part of the experiment, and Nicholas says he understands that. She must want to do it, says Adam, for HIM, and Nick promises that will happen. Adam wants to accompany Nicholas to speak to Carolyn, but Nicholas says it's impossible--he's doing this as a favor to him and must choose his own time and place, and deal with Carolyn without interruption--Adam wouldn't control himself. Nick tells Adam to stop worrying, and Adam again grabs his arm, staying him--he can't stop worrying! Nicholas orders him to let go of him, and Adam accuses him of being more concerned about Willie Loomis. I am, confesses Nick, at the moment--"now let go of my arm!"

Nicholas and Adam hear Willie skulking through the woods. They don't want to be caught, so they hasten away, Adam taking a look through the trees. Nicholas tells Adam to stay where he is and approaches Willie, who is scared. Nicholas orders Willie to come to him, but Willie protests he has to go. Nicholas tells him he knows he's lying, and Willie takes offense. Nicholas' eyes seem to glow as he stares at Willie. "You can't take your eyes away from mine," intones Nicholas. "Come here, Willie. You need my help very badly, now come here." Willie, in a trance, comes forward. Nicholas tells him he knows about Maggie Evans. . .Adam watches from the bushes as Nicholas tells Willie he knows he kidnapped Maggie, and for her own good. He understands that. Nicholas assures Willie Maggie is out of danger now--take his word for it. Willie realizes this man knows just about everything, but Nick says he's too modest to admit it. He orders Willie to let Maggie go--that's an order, but not to say HE gave him the order. As a bonus, he'll let him forget this meeting ever took place. Willie isn't sure about that, but he knows what he's supposed to do. Willie backs away and leaves. Adam rejoins Nicholas, tells him to follow Willie, see where he's hiding Maggie. No, says Nick, he doesn't want her to know he's involved. Adam wonders how he knows Willie will let her go, and Nicholas explains he has "a way" with people, which should assure Adam of success with

Carolyn. Maggie Evans will be freed tonight, he predicts.

Maggie lies asleep in the mausoleum. "Willie," she mutters. "Willie." She dreams of a table set for two in the Old House, Willie opening Josette's music box and setting it on the table, lighting the candles. He hears knocking, and Maggie is there. He tells her to come in. She's wearing a hideous dress! She notes the music, and Willie says he was told to play it for her. She asks where she is, she knows she shouldn't be here, there's something wrong with her being here. Why is she here? You'll know soon, Willie says. A place card on the table says Josette, but Maggie knows she's been dead for centuries, so why does that card says Josette? Willie tells her he follows "his" orders, and Maggie wonders who that is--Barnabas? What does he want from her? She wants to go now. You can't, says Willie. Let me go, she says, don't keep me here. You must stay, says Willie, he's coming. Maggie asks why she feels this way, but Willie says she'll be all right. No, she won't be if she sees him, she protests, if she stays here. You will stay and see him, insists Willie. No, says Maggie, what's happening to me?--something's wrong, why am I afraid. Willie warns her to be quiet, he can hear her. She doesn't care. Barnabas appears, and there is a blood-curdling scream (the fake one).Maggie sees Josette Collins' gravestone as the screams go on and on.

Maggie awakens. Barnabas! she whispers. Why? Why was she afraid of him? Because everything that happened that night actually happened! She remembers that evening, she was terrified--why?

NOTES: Nicholas marvelous as always, and Maggie's dream creepy. Barnabas and Adam's conversation was quite civilized, and I enjoyed it.

It appears that everything is now coming back to Maggie, and if she remembers what happened to her when Barnabas was a vampire, it will be so ironic, given that he no longer is one of the living dead.

Nicholas and Willie both have a similar motive in not wanting Maggie used for the experiment--love. Barnabas doesn't want his cousin risking her life, nor does Adam, so they are not at cross-purposes, either, when you get down to basics. Nicholas lied to Adam about the potential danger to Carolyn, but won't explain why he so vehemently is against Maggie being used--a very interesting scenario, huh?

Love, Robin

582 - (Grayson Hall) - There are many secrets at the great estate of Collinwood, secrets that sometimes demand action--and one of them lies on an operating table in an old house on the estate. It is a lifeless body which may, someday, walk. And on this night, an attempt is being made to bring it alive--but by a man who does not have the right to do it, using a woman who knows she must give life to the body in order to escape the punishment to which she has been sentenced. And if they succeed, they will create more terrible problems than they have solved.

Upstairs at the Old House, Barnabas returns home, hears the equipment whirring and immediately races to the stairs to see what's going on. Barnabas pauses at the door, listens, and enters. Jeff is madly fiddling with the controls, but by the time Barnabas enters the room, Jeff is alone--Angelique has disappeared! Jeff turns around and is horrified when Barnabas demands to know what he's doing, but what scares him even more is the fact that Angelique is gone.. He claims he was checking the equipment, but Barnabas doesn't believe him--the electrodes are attached to the body! Barnabas also notes that someone has been on the other table--WHO? Jeff assures him no one would lie there by choice, except Barnabas himself, and he doesn't know why. Jeff feels his throat and reminds Barnabas he's doing this to save his ex-fiancee's life (nasty dig, Barn). Jeff calls it blackmail and says it's because of him that he and Vicki broke up. Barnabas says everything seems to be his fault, and Jeff's attacking him this way is a clever ploy. What was going on? Jeff claims he was trying to simulate the experiment, but Barnabas calls him a liar.He knows Jeff was going to destroy the body--he doesn't want the experiment to work now, since he and Vicki are broken up--Jeff knows what will happen to her if they don't finish the experiment, and accuses Jeff of never loving Vicki--you hate Vicki now, want her to die, insists Barnabas, but Jeff says that's not true, he doesn't want to put Vicki in danger--that's only what Barnabas wants to believe. Barnabas frees Jeff of his responsibility for the experiment, but Jeff wants to stay. Keep out of the room, demands Barnabas, they'll save Vicki without him. "Now get out," orders Barnabas, vehemently. Jeff leaves, gazing at the lab and Barnabas one last time before heading up the steps.

Ang finds Jeff in the woods and tells him she wants to try the experiment again. He demands she not touch him and wonders why she is that she can just disappear and reappear this way. She's not human, he says, holding his head--she's a demon! When I'm with you, I'm real, she says, reaching out for him--you must meet me tomorrow night. Jeff says he can't help her--he's free of the experiment now and doesn't have to go back to the lab. She is adamant--they will do this experiment so she can be the life force. He dodges her, but she says they won't fail--and she will answer all his questions when it's over. She holds out her hand and insists he take it; she says it feels human, doesn't it?You must not fight me, you must not! She bites his throat.

Julia assures Barnabas Jeff did no harm. She can't believe he meant to destroy the body, but Barnabas is sure. Barnabas doubts Jeff's love for Vicki--he couldn't have changed so quickly. Julia believes Jeff did love Vicki, and Barnabas calls her a romantic. No more, she says. (oh, how sad that she admits that) Barnabas wonders about the straps being fastened, but Julia says if someone were on the table, he'd have seen that person. He asks how long the body will last, and she tells him 3-4 days. He says this has been one of the most unpleasant things he's ever had to do, but now comes an even more unpleasant decision--the life force. When he gave Adam life, he made the decision himself, at least--who will provide the life force for her? The woman will also made the decision, says Julia reasonably. Who? He asks. Who can they take into their confidence, will be willing to risk her life? He had something to gain, and he's considered every woman they know. For their safety, it must be someone they can control. Julia realizes he's already made the decision--tell her who. Maggie Evans, he says. Julia gasps.

Julia says they can't use Maggie--she's been through enough, and Adam caused Sam's death. He'd never be able to talk her into it, insists Julia, but all that aside, SHE won't do it. She'll never know, says Barnabas. Julia says he sounds so like the old Barnabas in saying such a thing. He realizes Julia doesn't like to be reminded of him, and she agrees--she doesn't like being reminded of how cruel he can be. He points out if they don't find someone to use at the life fore, Vicki will die, as will the Collinses, and Julia herself. Julia once hypnotized Maggie, but Julia won't now--she only did it before because she knew about Barnabas! Barnabas expresses his gratitude for Julia saving him, but now the trouble is even more serious--and surely Julia realizes it. They can use Maggie in the experiment and Julia can induce her to forget. If she even lives, Julia reminds him. I lived, says Barnabas, following her around the table. Eric Lang didn't think he would, says Julia. Barnabas tells her to conduct the experiment the same way. Julia says she isn't sure, but Barnabas is. Julia says they can't ask Maggie to take that chance. Willie comes down and listens to the rest. Julia says she knows Barn isn't doing this out of maliciousness, but he must find someone. She doesn't agree with his decision, however, and he asks her to suggest someone.Until she does, says Barnabas, Maggie is their only choice, and Julia had better prepare herself for that and find a way to get her here. Not until she has to, says Julia, and Willie's eyes widen as he listens to this.

Julia opens the straps and tells Barnabas she doesn't feel like working anymore, she wants to return to Collinwood. He feels if she seriously considers Maggie as the life force, she'll realize he's right. She doesn't know, she says, and bids him goodnight. Barnabas wonders if he should talk to Jeff, since he isn't a part of it anymore, can they trust him? Will he talk? Julia feels seeing Jeff wouldn't do any good--she'll deal with him. Barnabas thanks her for volunteering for that. Willie comes down and Julia bids him good night. Willie asks if he can talk serious-like to Barnabas, who seems reluctant to interrupt his reading. Willie is insistent, needing more than a moment, but Barn asks him to wait until tomorrow. Willie agrees, reluctantly, and goes upstairs as Barnabas, oblivious, pours over a notebook. Julia is putting on her coat when Willie asks to speak to her. She's tired, but more obliging than Barnabas. Willie asks her to do him a favor and talk privately with him. She sees something is eating him and sits down in the drawing room. He tells her he didn't want to get mixed up with the experiment, and is sick inside. They keep on going when they're sick inside, her and Barnabas, but he wants to stop now. Your work is done, says Julia. Willie knows what they're going to do--and not with Maggie Evans! He heard it all downstairs. Julia says that's up to Barnabas, and Willie must speak to him. Barnabas won't listen, says Willie, and he wants Julia to refuse to conduct the experiment with Maggie. Willie kneels as if in supplication and she tells him Stokes in a master hypnotist. But Julia is the one who knows how to work the equipment, says Willie desperately, and Barnabas needs her! She can dictate what will happen and she likes Maggie--they must make Barnabas listen! Julia says she doesn't think anyone can talk him out of this, but Willie comes close to hysteria--they must make Barnabas listen!--he gets an idea in his head, there's nothing stopping him, but Willie can't think that way!They can try, says Julia, but Willie screams that isn't good enough--Julia doesn't understand about caring about someone and watching them go through this. . .Julia looks at him sadly. "Don't I?" she asks. "You forget, Willie, I watched Barnabas. (sigh, very sad, too) Good night, Willie." And, back straight, she leaves. Willie thinks. Barnabas comes up and tells him to lock up--I'm going upstairs to try to sleep. Willie says he does have trouble thinking, and Barn asks what he means by that. Willie is going down to clean up, and Barnabas watches him, forehead furrowed, wondering what his servant is thinking. Willie trudges downstairs to the lab and walks around the draped body, an ugly expression on his face. He picks up a scalpel in his fist and smiles at it. To the corpse, he says, "Maggie Evans. No. She ain't gonna die for you!" And he raises the scalpel high, preparing to plunge it into the body.

NOTES: I wonder what everyonethinks slashing the body is going to accomplish? You can't "kill" it, it's already dead! Are they trying to make it more scarred-looking than Adam? I can't figure out Jeff and Willie's motive for sticking a scalpel into the body. Willie would only be forced out to get more parts and create a new woman.

It does seem cruel of Barnabas to home in on Maggie for this experiment's life force. She HAS been through so much, and losing Sam to Adam seems like something that would surely eliminate her for this experiment altogether. But Willie knows Barnabas too well, and Barn will do what he wants.

I feel sorry for Julia. She loves Barnabas and understands Willie's torture, because she went through it herself, but she will bow to Barnabas' wishes in this as she nearly always seems to do. Julia COULD put an immediate stop to this by simply refusing to use Maggie. A stranger would make more sense, really.


583 - (Alexandra Moltke) - Dark clouds hang over the great estate of Collinwood. The sleeping house seems to be at peace. But in an old house on the grounds, an act of treachery is about to take place. For one man intends to end a project and the end will mean misery and death to many.

The music cue is seriously botched as Barnabas comes down into the basement and shouts, "Willie! If you touch that body, I will KILL you!" Face trembling, Willie doesn't move, even after Barnabas orders him to drop the knife. Willie's face crumples as he finally does so, and Barnabas demands an explanation. Adam will kill Vicki and everyone else, Barnabas reminds Willie, who cannot bring himself to speak at first, then mentions using Maggie as the life force. Willie first suggests using Julia, but Barn says she must run the experiment. Calculatingly, Willie suggests, "Use Vicki." Barnabas guiltily walks away from him, and Willie wants to know why Maggie? Willie reminds him about helping Maggie become Josette, to which Barn retorts, "Before you fancied yourself in love with her." (low blow, Barn, others can be in love besides you) Willie reminds him that Adam killed Maggie's father--he can't ask her to risk her life for him! She won't die, insists Barnabas, but Willie reminds him Barnabas wasn't supposed to survive. This time it might, says Willie, and his face crumbles again as he contemplates Maggie's possibly dying.Barnabas orders Willie to look at him and makes him promise he won't try to ruin the experiment again. If you promise not to use Maggie, counters Willie. Barnabas can't make the promise, even after Willie promises to get him another girl. Barnabas tells Willie he must accept it, and Willie shouts at him he wants him out of the way so he can use Maggie. Barnabas tells Willie he doesn't want to involve anyone in this. Willie says they all do what they have to do, a weird expression on his face.

Vicki and Maggie sit out on the back terrace, drinking coffee. Vicki can't believe Jeff changed so completely and suddenly. Just as Joe did, laments Maggie. Jeff always wanted a good, steady job, says Maggie, yet turned down Roger's offer. Maggie tells her that Joe quit his job. They both changed, with no reason, the ladies say. Vicki wonders if it was her fault that Jeff turned down Roger; his pride was hurt. Yet Jeff is more sensible than that. Maggie ran into Joe in town. He grinned at her as if they were merely acquaintances, and she was going to spend the rest of her life with him!--I wanted to run home and cry. Vicki wonders what it will be like to see Jeff--she dreads it, yet daydreams about it all the time. She hopes he'll come to her and say he was wrong. Most men have trouble doing that, Maggie remarks. Barnabas joins them and tells Maggie it's a pleasant surprise to see her. Vicki leaves to get a cup for Barnabas and he sits down with Maggie. He was going to call on her, see how she was getting along. He imagines she's lonely without her father. Yes, she says, and she has had to make many adjustments. She seems to be waiting for something, she says, but doesn't know what--she feels as if she's in a vacuum, but she must get a job soon, probably in Boston. This shakes Barnabas, who says he hopes she doesn't do that. She feels like changing her whole life, but doesn't really think she'll be able to leave. Have you told anyone else about your plans to leave? asks Barnabas. Just Vicki, she tells him.Barnabas offers his friendship and says if there's anything he can do, please think of him--he'll do anything for her. Vicki brings the cup and pours coffee for Barnabas. Maggie rises and tells her she might not go to Boston. She thanks Barnabas for everything and promises to let Vicki know her plans. Barnabas comments that Vicki is looking well. David left on a camping trip, says Vicki. Barnabas says he heard about her and Jeff and he's sorry if she's unhappy about it. Vicki walks away from him, looking sad. He apologizes for causing her pain, but says it's better to know these things now. He asks her to come to Bangor for a concert next week. She accepts, seeming glad. Adam is listening at the gate as Barnabas tells her he'll get the tickets and help her get over Jeff. She just wishes she knew if she wanted to forget, sighs Vicki. Barnabas spots Adam, and, looking at him, vows to see to it that Vicki isn't unhappy. Adam turns away.

Maggie sits in her bedroom at the cottage, writing a letter. Someone knocks at her French doors, startling her. It's Willie. She protests he frightened her. He says he tried the front door and she didn't answer. She asks what's wrong, but he can't tell her. He asks her if she'd like to go away for a while, and hands her 50 dollars. He knows she hasn't much money and it's expensive to travel. She must leave, tonight, and there's a bus leaving for Bangor--he'll drive her to the bus station in half an hour--pack and he'll take her. She says he isn't making sense, but he reminds her he's a friend and she's got to take his advice. Things are going to happen, he says, people have plans for her, and she doesn't know about it. I'm worried about you, that's why I'm here, believe me, pack a bag, you're in danger!She can't understand him, and he can't tell her who or what is putting her in danger. He babbles that it's Barnabas, and he's involved whether he likes it or not. She shakes her head. She finds this hard to believe, she saw Barnabas and he offered to help her. Willie says she must leave, and soon, and he gets more and more hysterical--she's got to go! She asks what's wrong with him, and he insists he isn't crazy, he's never been saner! They raise their voices and Willie says he's loyal to Barnabas because he's been good to him (?), and he's being as loyal as he can, but if she isn't there, he can find somebody else! Willie becomes incoherent, looking like he's tearing out his eyeballs, and Maggie gently says they have no more to talk about--she isn't leaving tonight. If he wants to be her friend, he can't get so worked up. She doesn't know what happened, but she doesn't believe Barnabas would harm her.

Terrace - Adam waylays Barnabas by putting a hand around his throat. Why aren't you working? Demands the big guy--you've been here twice today!--while you visit the girl you love, I am still alone! Barnabas assures him the body is nearly ready, but Adam says it would be even more so if he had worked today--he isn't living up to his bargain.Adam threatens to go to Vicki's room and kill her tonight, clenching his fist under Barnabas' face.

Old House basement - Willie comes downstairs, looking around. He must do something about Maggie, he tells himself, even if she hates him. After it's over, after they find another life force, he'll explain it to her. How can he save her, he wonders, pacing. Then his eyes light on a bottle of chloroform in the cabinet. He takes it. That's it, he says gleefully, knocking over a stool. Barnabas calls "Julia!" Willie runs out of sight as Barnabas descends the stairs. He glances around but all he finds is a knocked-over stool. Why was it knocked over?--no one is here--it must be his imagination. He heads back upstairs and Willie, hiding crouched behind a piece of equipment, appears to be biting his nails.

Evans cottage - 11:35 PM - Maggie sleeps. Willie opens her unlocked French doors and observers her. He opens the bottle of chloroform and applies it to a piece of cloth. Maggie awakens and screams as Willie covers her mouth and nose with the cloth. Willie says, "I'm sorry, I've gotta do it, forgive me, forgive me, Maggie!" She is unconscious.

Barnabas knocks at her door, calling to Maggie (I guess the word has gotten around that she accepts all late-night callers)--he must see her! He opens the door, but she's gone! He remembers Adam asking him if he should kill Victoria Winters tonight, and a tortured look comes over his face.

NOTES: So, Willie has kidnapped Maggie--to keep her safe! How bizarre! What will Barnabas and Julia do now? Can they find a new life force before the body deteriorates?

Willie is a loon, but his motives are the right ones. He loves Maggie and wants to keep her alive--but at what cost? Will he tells her why he did this? Will she believe him and be grateful? Willie's done a dangerous thing, because vampire or not, Barnabas is a man to reckon with.

Angelique has destroyed two relationships. I doubt she care about either Maggie or Vicki, but she never seems to care who she hurts in pursuit of what she wants.

Love, Robin

578 - (Louis Edmonds) - On this night, the great house of Collinwood is quiet--and no one is aware of the potential dangers that exist--for in the deserted West Wing of the great house, there is one who is watching a scene that is being enacted on the terrace below--a scene that is provoking him to jealousy and anger--and in a moment his anger will explode in an unexpected burst of violence.

We have a substitute actress playing Carolyn, obviously wearing a blonde fall. She doesn't kiss Tony with the same amount of passion.

Carolyn finds Tony lying by the terrace and calls to Roger. She fears he's dead, but Tony stirs, making that diagnosis wrong. They ask him what happened, and he says someone attacked him from behind. He didn't see who it was. Carolyn and Roger help Tony into the house. Adam, watching from above, sneers and petulantly says he knows Carolyn will be angry with him, bur he doesn't care!

Carolyn and Roger assist Tony to the sofa and he tells them he has a big headache. He refuses a doctor, and has no idea who attacked him--I started to leave and someone grabbed me. He was very strong, and said, "Stay away from her." Carolyn's face conveys that she's figured out who his attacker was, and Tony knows, too. Carolyn says that's ridiculous, no one would want him to stay away from her--she has no idea who it was, either. Roger wants to call the sheriff and report a prowler attacking visitors, even unexpected ones, like Tony. (LOL!) What was he doing at Collinwood? Liz sent for me, explains Tony--she wants to change her will. This upsets Roger, who asks for details, but Tony says he can't tell him--Liz hired him just this evening. Roger explains that his sister is emotionally unstable and has no need of his services. Tony insists that's for Liz to decide. Carolyn says she feels Tony is right--she won't oppose what her mother wants. Roger demands to know about the changes to the will, and Tony retorts that he should ask Liz himself if he wants to know. Roger says he'll call the sheriff after he speaks to Liz. Carolyn sense a family battle in the offing and suggests Tony leave--he's been through enough tonight. I always runs into trouble at Collinwood, says Tony. Carolyn asks if it will keep him from coming back. He asks if she wants him to come back. Yes, sure, assures him softly. He asks if she is sure she doesn't know who attacked him--who else could he have been talking about when he said "Stay away from her."Carolyn, mystified, says she hasn't seen anyone since they stopped dating--do you believe me? she asks. Tony wants to. Then do, she asks. He agrees to leave it at that for now. Is he angry? No, he assures her, she didn't have anything to do with this. She's sorry it happened, but he's glad they saw each other tonight. Holding his hand, she escorts him to his car.

Adam watches as Tony's car takes off, looking after it as it heads down the road. She loves him, he agonizes, I wish I had killed him. (That's a bad temper, Adam!)

Adam answers Carolyn's knock at his door. He ask what she wants, and she says she knows he attacked Tony and could have killed him. He doesn't deny it. She tells him she should turn him over to the police. Go ahead, he challenges. She can't allow him to attack innocent people, she insists. Then call the police, he says--I don't care. You broke your promise by leaving the room, she accuses, why?--were you jealous of Tony? NO! barks Adam. She apologizes for asking the question, and he says to leave him alone. She's trying to help him, she protests. Stop trying, advises Adam. She doesn't know what to say, and he says to say nothing and just go. No, wait--he opens a drawer and gives back her scarf. Take it, he says, you left it here and I kept it. Why? I look at it sometimes, he says harshly. He pushes it into her hand--it reminds me of you--I don't want it--I don't want to think of you. She doesn't want to hurt him, she says. He asks if she loves Tony. She likes him, she says. You said you liked me, Adam reminds her, but she says, honestly, she's very confused about Tony. She doesn't know him well enough to be sure if she loves him, but she admits she is attracted to him. He knows what that means--she likes him in a way she doesn't like Adam. She tells Adam she wants to be his friend, since it's all she has to offer--forget anything else. He doesn't want to be her friend, he says huskily.She objects to that, and asks why he makes things so difficult for both of them. Just go, he urges, leave me (does that sound like Daddy Barnabas or what?) She does, angry, and he locks the door behind her, depressed.

Drawing room - Roger helps himself to a drink. Carolyn comes downstairs. Where have you been? he demands--I want to talk to you--whatever you've got to do, this is is far more important--Tony does want to change her will--Liz intends to cut them all off without a cent unless they agree to some bizarre suggestions. She wants them to build her a special mausoleum, at once, a tomb, a final resting place. That's not all--the tomb is to be equipped with a buzzer system in her coffin. Carolyn is stunned. This will be connected to the bells in the tower, and, when pushed, the bells will ring and the coffin will open. Carolyn is perplexed. Roger says Liz still thinks they are trying to bury her alive. He's worried about her and feels she should return to Windcliff--they can't help her here.Roger proposes to return her to Windcliff, but Carolyn is mixed up about Tony and can't make such a serious decision tonight. She grows upset with her uncle, asking him to leave her alone. He asks what has gotten into her, and she apologizes and hastily leaves as Roger takes another, much-needed--sip of his drink.

Out on the terrace, Carolyn meets with Harry. She asks him to stay with Adam 24 hours a day if necessary. Adam needs company, but Harry says he and Adam don't like each other. Harry's all she's got, says Carolyn--he brings Adam his food--he's used to him. Harry says he's afraid of him, he did try to kill him once. Carolyn says Adam will be friendly to Harry if Harry is friendly towards him. How will he explain his disappearance to his mother? asks Harry, and Carolyn says she'll say she sent him to Bangor on business. What do I get out of it? demands Harry, and she assures him he'll be paid for his trouble. He wants $100 per day for every day he's up there.She agrees to $100 to stay with Adam tonight, but that's as far as she'll go. Harry tells her he'll stay, but he doesn't like it at all.

Morose, Adam sits in his room, writing on a pad of yellow paper. Harry knocks and Adam lets him in. Harry explains that Carolyn sent him up--she wants him to stay with Adam who she feels is in need of company. Adam doesn't want company, but Harry has his orders. Adam tells Harry to tell Carolyn he wants to talk to her, sounding near tears. Harry says Adam doesn't need to speak to him, but he must stay, per Carolyn's orders. Adam again demands to see Carolyn. Harry can't. Adam insists. He grabs Harry by the arms and threatens to kill him if he doesn't go get Carolyn. Harry agrees, but he must lock the door. Adam tries the handle and realizes he is, indeed, locked in. Adam is pissed.

Carolyn apologizes to her uncle. Roger points out that she behaved as if she wasn't thinking of Liz at all. I'm as worried about her as you are, she assures him. She thinks Julia should make the final decision about sending Liz back to Windcliff. Harry appears in the foyer, asking to speak to Carolyn right away. She closes the doors behind her, leaving Roger alone in the drawing room. She demands to know what he's doing here. Adam wants to see you, says Harry--he threatened to kill me if I didn't go find you. Roger paces the drawing room. He goes into the foyer to look for Carolyn, but she's gone.

Harry and Carolyn find the door to Adam's room ripped from its hinges. There's a note which Carolyn reads: "You don't want me. Goodbye." Harry wonders where he went, but Carolyn doesn't know--nor does she know what's going to happen to him now.

NOTES: Don't know what happened to Nancy Barrett today, but it sure was weird having so many important scenes played by a different actress. No Barnabas or Julia again, boo hoo! I miss them!

It was great seeing Tony back, and the kiss he planted on Carolyn was damn nice! I guess she's ready to forgive him for his "attraction" to Cassandra, but will she? Or will the Tony-Carolyn relationship just fade away? Roger has no idea how very preoccupied his niece is, how much she has going on. Between Adam's crush on her and her feelings for Tony, she doesn't know whether she's coming or going. And now she must worry about Adam's disappearance--again. Where will he go? Nicholas, probably, who seems to be his only ally--at least Adam thinks so. Bad move!


579 - (Alexandra Moltke) - It is nightfall at Collinwood, and the great mansion lies quietly under a gleaming moon. Beneath its radiance, the Old House hides dangerous secrets--secrets a young man is attempting to learn. He is under the spell of an evil woman, and because he cannot break her hold over him, he must secretly learn how to complete a terrifying experiment.

Jeff, rubbing his neck instead of his hair for a change, goes into the Old House basement and hears a sound. No one is there; Julia's going to be gone for at least an hour. He opens a cabinet and takes out a red notebook. This is the information he needs, the way Lang intended to make Adam live. He takes the notebook over and adjusts the voltage to the equipment, then checks a marble notebook, rubbing his eyes. Why is he doing this? he asks himself--because of that girl, because she's forcing him to do it? She has such a hold over him. . .he's asked himself a thousand times why, but he doesn't know. If Barnabas and Julia learned what he was doing. . .he pages through the red notebook. Someone comes downstairs. It's Julia. "Jeff!" she cries He's snagged!

Tight lipped, Julia demands to know what he's doing with her notebook. He hedges, explaining that he just wanted to learn more about the experiment.Why? She demands, twice. Because of Vicki, he says, since this is the only reason he's helping them. If anything happens to Julia, he'll have to complete the experiment alone, so. . .she assures him nothing will happen to her, but he reminds her she was ill before. You know all you need to know, she says, and the book is my property--you should have asked to see it. He says he didn't think she would mind. "Well I do," she says, locking the book in the cabinet and pocketing the key. He asks Julia about Barnabas providing the life force--who will bring this creature alive? Julia doesn't know. Jeff asks what will happen to whoever is used? Nothing, says Julia, but Jeff read in Lang's journals that Barnabas was supposed to die--what did she do to prevent it? Julia asks about all his questions, telling him not to be so curious--the less he knows, the better. She only needs him to help set up the apparatus. Julia hears Barnabas come in upstairs and asks Jeff to work on some wiring. He's upset, knowing she suspects him. He must be very careful, he warns himself.

Barnabas, cane in hand, sits in the wing-backed chair, looking really sad. He tells Julia he's puzzled--he just came from Collinsport, and nothing has happened. He expected to hear of attacks, but there haven't been any. Julia says she's glad, as is Barn, but someone attacked Tom, and they know what did it. Why hasn't the vampire attacked anyone else? Barn is convinced Blair has something to do with this. Julia is, too, but Willie has been watching his house and nothing has happened. Julia suggests they stop worrying, and consider that the danger ended when he destroyed Tom. No, Barn senses something is wrong, but he feels they have only seen the beginning of this. Another vampire exists somewhere very close to them, and yet where is HE? (No consideration of a female vampire?) Julia tells Barnabas about finding Jeff reading her notebook, claiming he wanted to learn as much as he could in case anything happened to Julia. Although she doesn't believe it, Barnabas considers it a sensible explanation. Barn admits he isn't fond of Jeff, but feels he loves Vicki and wants the experiment to succeed so Vicki won't be in danger. Julia's trust of Clark has gone downhill, but she can't explain why. Vicki knocks at the door and tells Barnabas that Stokes is on his way to see him, and it's very important. She came to make sure he would be there. Barnabas thanks her for delivering the message, and Vicki asks to speak alone with Julia.Barnabas heads downstairs. Vicki asks Julia about Jeff's medical history--is he all right? Physically, he's healthy, Julia assures her, although he might never remember his past. Vicki says he's been behaving strangely and wondered if he was sick and didn't want to tell her--I'm worried, sobs Vicki.

Barnabas meets Jeff going upstairs and Barn tells him Vicki is upstairs with Julia. She came to deliver a message, says Barnabas, and wanted to see Julia alone. He doesn't know why, but Jeff does, and sneaks upstairs to listen in. Barnabas looks worriedly after him. Vicki tells Julia about Jeff turning down Roger's wonderful job offer without a reason. He said he was busy--doing what? Vicki says he hasn't had a steady job since he worked for Lang, months ago, so why did he turn it down, especially since it would have meant they could have married sooner? Jeff is listening in as Julia assures her that Jeff must have had a good reason. Vicki wonders what that is. He might be disturbed about something, but Julia says not. Perhaps he's having second rhoughts about her and their marriage, muses Vicki, but Julia assures her he loves her. Vicki believes he wants to delay the marriage, and she's so unhappy. Julia comforts her and says she'll take her back to Collinwood. Eavesdropper Jeff feels like crap, wishing he could race after her and tell her everything's all right--but he can't!

Stokes tells Barnabas Adam disappeared from his hiding place last night. Barn asks what the note said, but Jeff comes out and greets the professor, who expresses surprise at seeing Jeff. Barn tells him he's helping with the experiment for Vicki's sake. (Didn't Stokes already know this the other day, or is he pretending it's the first he's heard of it because of Barnabas?) Jeff announces he's leaving; he has a date with Vicki, and Barnabas tells him about Adam's disappearance. Stokes says this puts Vicki in greater danger than ever before--when Adam was hidden, he unfortunately fell in love--with Carolyn. This is shocking news to Barnabas. They spent a great deal of time together, continues Stokes, and Adam became emotionally obsessed with Carolyn. Barnabas realizes Carolyn WAS hiding Adam, and demands to know where.Stokes says it doesn't matter, as he isn't there any longer. Carolyn was forced to reject him, and the note said, "You don't want me. Goodbye." Jeff wants to know what this has to do with Vicki. Stokes says Adam threatened to kill Victoria Winters. Jeff says he knows they're working on the experiment, which was enough to pacify him--until now. Stokes knows Adam--he's only driven to acts of violence when rejected--and he's just experienced the cruelest rejection, to be rejected by the woman he loves. His mood is dark and violent and Adam could strike out at anyone, anytime--he swore his first victim would be Vicki. First he'll come to the Old House to see how the experiment is progressing, guesses Barnabas. Jeff adds that if they haven't gotten far enough, as far as Adam is concerned, it will hurt Vicki. Stokes advises them to give Adam what he wants--work around the clock, work harder, he and Julia. Jeff wonders how he'll explain this to Vicki, but Stokes suggests that one tick of the clock could mean the difference between life and death for his fiancee, and he'd better consider that. Both Jeff and Barnabas consider Stokes' words, concerned.

So Jeff goes to Collinwood and breaks his date with an unhappy Vicki. He tries to tell her it doesn't have anything to do with her. All right, Jeff, she says, I won't ask for an explanation because I know I won't get one. Trust me, he says, and, fed up, she turns on him--you put everything on that basis, she cries, and it just isn't fair. He knows, but that's the way it must be. Is it, she says, and moves away from him when he tries to touch her hair. She asks for 3 minutes of his time, and invites him into the drawing room. She asks him to look at her. Do you still love me? she asks. He assures her he does. Why can't you confide in me, then?--why did you turn Roger down?It came at the wrong time, he says, helplessly, he can't leave Collinsport now--in a week or two, yes, not now. She says she'll try to accept that, but why haven't they even been seeing each other? I've been busy, he says--I can't tell you how. She asks if he doesn't want to marry her. Oh, no, he wants to more than anything else in the world! Why are you behaving this way? she asks--you can tell me anything, I'll try to understand, but you've got to tell me something! I can't, he says. It's no use, she says--us, our engagement--I can't marry a man who keeps secrets from me, and you're doing it--I would stop loving you after we were married if that happened, and so, we aren't getting married the way things are now! He begs her not to say that, he loves her very much. She hands him back his engagement ring and thrusts it into his hand. "There's nothing left to say!" she cries, running upstairs and slamming the door. "Vicki, please!" he calls after her, but she ignores him. He rubs his forehead, wishing he could tell her he's doing this for her. . .but he can't! And she can't understand, maybe she never will, maybe he really has lost her--forever. He holds the ring in his hand, miserable.

Down in the lab, Julia's gloved hands place instruments on the table. She removes the gloves. Barnabas comes downstairs; she tells him the body will be completed tomorrow. If they're successful, says Julia, touching the draped body, this creature will be a living human being.

NOTES: So, we've reached the crucial part of the experiment, but who will serve as the life force? Will Nicholas provide the most evil woman he can conjure up? Will Barn and Jul have to make a choice? This sounds like the hardest part!

Now Jeff has lost Vicki, at least for now. How can he possibly EVER tell her why he is behaving so strangely? Won't she most likely break up with him even if she learns the truth, that he was creating a mate for a very strange, violent creature--Adam?

What has become of Adam? Where will he go? How will he react to this final rejection of Carolyn's? How cans he make someone this "young" yet this sexually mature soul understand why they aren't right for each other? Then again, could Carolyn love Adam if she let herself?

Love, Robin

574 - (Lara Parker) - The night is silent and seemingly peaceful. Those who live in the great house at Collinwood are unaware of the drama that is unfolding not far away. In a majestic old house by the sea, an evil woman, curse to live only by night, waits for a man she has summoned-- and in a cottage on the other side of Collinsport, a young woman will soon make a heartbreaking discovery.

Blair House - Angelique gazes out the window, waiting impatiently for Joe to arrive.

Evans cottage - Nicholas turns on the light, and Maggie sees that Joe is gone! "No, no," she mutters.

Nicholas comforts a crying Maggie. She doesn't know what else to do--everything seems to be falling apart. He suggests Joe went for a walk. He seemed so anxious to stay here last night, sobs Maggie, seemed almost afraid to leave--why did he leave? Where did he go?

Angelique spots Joe heading towards the house and opens the door to meet him. He looks sick. She hugs his shoulder--she's been waiting for him. He knows, he says, but he didn't want to come here. But you couldn't resist, could you? she asks. He tried. She says he's where he belongs now, with her. She takes his hand and leads him into the drawing room.

Nicholas continues to comfort Maggie. He asks what makes her think something is wrong with Joe. There has to be, she says, he never behaved this way. It takes time to change, suggests Nicholas. Maggie said it began soon after he left the hospital. She thought the concussion could have caused it, but he insisted her questions upset him, as though she implied he had permanent brain damage.I'm not a doctor and can never know the truth, says Nicholas, perhaps Joe is fearful of going to the hospital and finding out--I feel sorry for him. Maggie says Joe is allowing it to affect his health, his job, and he isn't being very kind to her--she wants to help him. Nicholas says it might be terrible stress because of something or someone. Someone? Maggie wonders--perhaps he's interested in another woman and can't tell her. Joe doesn't sound like that kind of person, says Nicholas. He hasn't been himself for two weeks, says Maggie, and there must be a reason--and if he doesn't tell her the reason soon, she adds, it will be too late.

Ang observes how unfriendly Joe is, and he says he doesn't want to be here. You can't resist, she says, so accept it. He asks her to let him go back to Maggie. She refuses. She needs him. What for? he asks. I like you, she says. You're just using me, says Joe.That isn't true, she says, and even if she weren't what she is, she'd still like him--she wants him to try to like her just a little. He refuses. She reminds him that she could force him to like her. He knows that, but she says she'd rather let him decide that for himself. He gets up--it's time for him to leave. SHE will decide when it's time for him to leave, says Ang. He points out the sun will be rising soon. She agrees--you will be waiting for me tomorrow night when I wake up--won't you? He doesn't know. Perhaps this will help him not to forget, she suggests and, her face filled with lust, she approaches him, mouth wide open, her fangs exposed.

Joe sits in his room with a bottle of booze. Maggie knocks, but he doesn't want to answer the door. He reluctantly does, and she sees how terrible he looks. He isn't in shape for talking, he says, and asks her to go home. She demands he tell her what's happening, but he can't. Why? she asks--you aren't making sense. Joe says little has made sense for the past few weeks. She opens the shade, and he begs her to close it, covering his face. He doesn't want the shade up, the sun hurts his eyes. She closes the shade and asks if there's something wrong with his eyes. She wants him to go back to the hospital, but he's in such bad shape, he rubs his unshaven face and can't even pay attention to her. Is there someone else? she asks, another girl? He never thought the time would come she'd ask him something like that, he says, but she persists--is there or not? He swears there isn't. If he's afraid to tell her. . .what's wrong? she begs. He asks her to leave him alone and starts to pour another drink, which she takes away from him. Why did she have to come to him? he asks.I can't go home and just forget you, she protests--your boss called me this morning--he wanted to know if I knew where you were--he couldn't reach you on the phone. She was very upset to hear how many days Joe had missed in the past two weeks--you must go see him. I can't, protests Joe. Maggie says his boss threatened to fire him if he doesn't report to work or at least call him--you would be saving your job, she says. Joe says he can't speak to his boss anymore than he can speak to her--he doesn't know what to say. You won't even call and tell your boss you're sick? asks Maggie. No, says Joe. This really upsets her. "Not as sorry as I am," she says, "not nearly as sorry as I am. Goodbye, Joe." She takes her purse and leaves Joe sitting on his bed, his forehead pressed against one of the four-posters. (This was very, very sad. Ang and Nick suck!)

Maggie has wrapped up Nicholas' painting and has it ready when Willie knocks at her door. He just stopped by to talk to her. She is expecting someone, she says, so she has little time. He asks to come back tomorrow, and his sad demeanor makes her pull him by the hand into the house. They could both use the company, they agree. Willie needs to get him mind off things. He can't explain, things just aren't going the way he'd hoped--he came back, he thought all would be OK, but it's all going wrong--so many weird things at the Old House, sometimes he thinks everyone is going crazy, including Barnabas and Julia. She asks what he means, but before he answers, Nicholas stops by. She introduces Willie to Nicholas, and Willie nervously says he'd better be going--he'll come by tomorrow. She agrees. At the door, Willie says, "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Blair," as though he doesn't mean it at all. Maggie tells Nicholas she has his painting ready. He asks if that wasn't Barnabas' servant, and she says yes. Nicholas met him once at Collinwood. Maggie wonders why Willie didn't remember him, and he suggests Willie is (touching his head) "an odd one." Maggie chuckles at this description, and says Willie has a tendency to be obscure--he just told her things were going wrong at the Old House. Oh, asks Nicholas, pretending indifference. He asks about the painting. He wants to get it back to his house before dark, and disappoints her by saying he can't stay for coffee. He has company coming at 8, and wants to have the painting on display by then. He grins, big, suggesting she might have a new market for Sam's paintings. She tells him she hopes to find a way to thank him, and he says he should be thanking her--for this, and for the pleasure of her friendship. Now that their business transaction is over with, he asks her to call him Nicholas. She agrees, and grins at him as he kisses her hand and promises to see her again soon. He leaves, hat, gloves and painting clutched in the same hand, and Maggie smiles as she closes the door behind him.

Nicholas and Angelique at home - Ang notes that he's looking at the clock a lot. He has an appointment shortly, he says, and she asks if he needs her help. Not tonight, he says. How are your plans going? she asks--they aren't going badly, are they? (don't you get the feeling that she's delighted at the prospect that things aren't going Nicholas' way?) They aren't progressing as quickly as he'd hoped? He wonders about all this curiosity, but she says she was thinking about the experiment, remembering Lang's tape--they never found out the meaning of the message on the tape--is that the reason why Barnabas' plans aren't progressing? He grins and suggests she tend to her own business and let him worry about it. The clock chimes and he tells her to go to her room. She complains she gets so bored, but he opens the door and ushers her out. Nicholas looks in his magic mirror, "Cast your reflection away from this room, away from this house." He finds Willie sleeping in his room and awakens him. "Tell me what I wish to know." Willie hears a voice and asks who it is. Nicholas orders him to stay where he is, answer his questions and relax. Nicholas questions him about the experiment, and Willie sleepily reveals they've been having problems down at the lab--Barnabas, Julia and Jeff Clark. Nicholas asks what role Barnabas and Julia played in the first experiment, and Willie says Barnabas provided the life force for Adam. What does life force mean, asks Nicholas, but Willie doesn't know--they strapped Barnabas to one table and Adam to the other, then drained all the life force from Barnabas and put it into Adam. That's how Adam came to life, explains Willie from Dreamland.So, Nicholas realizes, they need a life force for the second experiment, but they haven't found anyone yet. No, says Willie. Nicholas sends Willie off to sleep-- when he awakens, he'll remember it as nothing more than a curious dream. [spoiler](Willie is sleeping in the same narrow brass bed in which Catherine and Bramwell will later conceive their child.)[/spoiler]

Nicholas turns away from the mirror, triumphant. So that's how it's done! Draining the life force from someone into the body of the creature. Well, now, that changes the picture entirely, says Nicholas, smiling. Angelique, who has been listening to the entire episode, covers her mouth as though this has huge meaning for her, too!

NOTES: Both Ang and Nick now know a life force is needed, and we can bet they have entirely different ideas of who should serve as that life force--opposing ideas! This battle should prove fascinating.

Maggie has more or less severed her ties with Joe--she tried her best to help him, but he wasn't accepting her help, and now it looks like Angelique has him, at least through their blood bond if no other. He's miserable and still wants Maggie, but it's as if his Ang's lust for him is stronger than his own feelings for Maggie. Pity, too!

Poor Willie, interrupted in his sleep by Nicholas, fishing for information. He got everything he n needed, but then again, Willie never was good at keeping secrets--except for the biggest of all--Barnabas'!

You'd think Nicholas' charm would be enough to entice Maggie away from Joe, but he has to make sure the odds are totally in his favor and knock his competition right out of the ring. I detested watching the breakup of this sweet, genuine pair.


575 - (Alexandra Moltke) - Those who live in the great house of Collinwood are unaware that their collective fate depends upon the success of a strange experiment soon to be conducted in the Old House. Not far from Collinwood, in a house by the sea, a man has just learned of a way to insure the experiment's success. He does not know that a woman has also learned the secret and will try to use it to her own evil advantage.

Angelique joins Nicholas and asks if she can stay with him, for a while. Sure, he says, he wants to speak to her anyway, about his plans and why they weren't moving as rapidly as he wished--he knows more than he did before, as in why her curse on Barnabas failed, and how he survived it.

Angelique is anxious to know, of course, and he explains about Lang's taped message--if the experiment succeeded, Adam would drain Barnabas of his affliction, which is exactly what happened. That's what Barnabas did--he provided the life force. Angelique doesn't understand. In the strictest sense, says Nick, Lang put together a human body, which in itself was incredible, except he needed to imbue that body with the spark of life, which is one thing he couldn't do alone. He found the way to take the life force from a living human being and place it into the inanimate human body he created. The experiment succeeded, Barn was drained of his affliction, rendering him immune to her curse--that's why Barnabas and Adam can't survive without each other. That's incredible, comments Ang. Nick realizes the second experiment has been delayed because they must find someone to be the life force. Nicholas doesn't want them to find just anyone; he's going to provide them with the life force himself. Why? she asks. He still has difficulty controlling Adam at all times, he has a strong mind and willpower, but if he, Nicholas, had been in control of the life force he received, he would be his complete slave now. So that's why you want to provide the mate's life force, asks Ang. Yes, says Nick, if he controls her, he will let her handle Adam--the question is, who shall I choose? Angelique asks what kind of woman he wants. The most evil woman that ever lived, he says, and Ang seems to take that as a compliment to her. Someone like Lucrezia Borgia, says Nick, smiling, deliberately insulting her, but she asks if he doesn't want someone living. The spirit of evil can be made to live again, he says. He could bring Lucrezia back to life, sure, just long enough for the experiment to be completed. She says he seems to have it all worked out. Ms. Borgia isn't exactly what he wants, says Nicholas. She anxiously asks who he DOES want. He suggests the Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Ang, again disappointed, says she was a vile woman, and Nicholas says ambitious, conniving, devious, cunning, decadent-- and beautiful! Angelique says she'll leave him to his little games; she's going to her room--what's happening here has nothing to do with her. It could have everything to do with you, says Nicholas, and you know it--Remember, you, like Barnabas, could benefit from this new experiment-- get rid of YOUR affliction. He grins, knowing she's already thought of that. Why shouldn't I, she asks, I want to be free. Find some other way, he orders. She says if he uses her as the life force, he won't have anything to worry about, to which he retorts, "Angelique, with you, I ALWAYS have something to worry about!" (LOL!)He says she is to have nothing to do with the experiment--is that clear? Yes, she says, floating off, but she pauses in the hall, in the light, looking very pissed indeed.

Old House basement - equipment is blinking reds and greens, the closest we'll ever get to Christmas. Jeff leads Stokes down into the basement and Stokes admits Barnabas didn't know he was coming. Jeff realizes he shouldn't have brought him here. Stokes tells him to relax--he knows about the experiment's "whys" and that Jeff is involved--Julia told him, one of the few things she has in recent months. Looking at his eye in a magnifier, Stokes asks how the electrical stuff functions. Jeff explains they installed a generator. Stokes comments on Julia's wonderful job, and notes that Jeff doesn't sound enthusiastic. It's a matter of life and death, says Stokes, as Jeff comments how disgusting it all is. Stokes looks under the sheet at the body. Truly incredible, he remarks, that on that table an inanimate body will be brought to life. Adam comes downstairs and demands to know what Stokes is doing there. I came to see Barnabas, says Stokes. Adam tells him Barnabas isn't there. Jeff looks at the big guy with horror. Why isn't Barnabas here? asks Adam. Adam recognizes Jeff as Vicki's friend, and Jeff explains Barn and Julia went to Collinsport. And left you alone? asks Adam. Yes. Why isn't Julia here working? demands Adam. Jeff, gazing in amazement at Adam, says HE is conducting this portion of the experiment. He tells Adam he still finds it hard to believe that what Lang put together they actually brought to life--and that he helped him. This news surprises Adam. Jeff says he was his graverobber, and Adam asks him to explain. Jeff, amused, asks if he doesn't know where his parts came from. An angry Adam demands an explanation as Stokes snaps at Jeff that he's said enough--I already told Adam how he came to be. Jeff thinks Adam should know how revolting and disgusting he really is. Adam insists on hearing.Jeff tells Adam he robbed graves, dug up dead bodies, arms, legs, and brought them to Lang, night after night, and Adam is that rotten collection of death. Adam asks Stokes if that's the truth, and Jeff screams that he sure is--he didn't take a nice clean slab of flesh and carve him out of it. Adam looks miserable to hear this. Jeff takes a sharp knife into his hand and says there are lots of ways it can be undone. He attacks Adam with it and they struggle. Adam takes it out of Jeff's hand and holds it on him. "You wanted to kill me? Now YOU will die!" cries Adam. Stokes tells him to stop, but Adam orders him to stay out of it. Julia and Barnabas need Jeff's help, warns Stokes, and if anything happens to Jeff, the experiment may be delayed. This gets through to Adam, who pushes Jeff away from him and down to the floor. Jeff knocks down some stuff with a lot of noise and nearly knocks down a lit candle. Jeff, rubbing his head, says he should thank Stokes. And the latter suggests he remember what's at stake. Yes, I should, agrees Jeff, who grabs his jacket and says he's going to Collinwood, but will be back. Infuriated, Adam asks Stokes what else has to be done here. Stokes doesn't know, but they still have a long way to go. Adam wants Stokes to go to Collinwood and demand that Jeff come back. Stokes tells Adam to be reasonable, and, growing bitter and sad, Adam asks who's been reasonable with him? "Who cares for me? If I died tonight, who would say a kind word for me, cry for me? No one, Professor, no one." Adam looks at the draped body and says that someday soon, a body will come to life who will. "I want her. I need her and I will have her," he says determinedly, and asks if Stokes will go get Jeff or does he have to drag him back? Stokes doesn't answer, but he heads upstairs. (You have to feel sad for Adam, who does have a valid point. And Jeff is simply a doo-doo head.)

At Collinwood, Jeff paces the foyer. Stokes comes in and asks Jeff is he's seen Vicki? We're getting ready to go out, says Jeff, but Stokes tells him what Adam has demanded. Too bad, says Jeff, but he hasn't seen Vicki for days--go back and tell Adam he's done giving Vicki excuses. Stokes tells him he's in no position to make Adam angrier. Jeff promised to come back, but not until after he takes Vicki out. Stokes tells him Adam might be hovering near the house and if he doesn't come back, he and Vicki might be in grave danger. Jeff calls it insanity, but Stokes says the pressure will be off once the experiment is finished. If Adam gets the mate he wants, he'll go away. Jeff says there's no guarantee he'll keep his word, but Stokes feels he will. Jeff asks Stokes what happens if the experiment fails, and Stokes advises they all think in terms of success. That's great, says Jeff sarcastically, except there's one final thing he's forgetting--Lang is the only one who understood the experiment. Dr. Hoffman finished the first one, points out Stokes. Yes, but after Lang set up all the groundwork, replies Jeff--Julia just pulled the right switches. Vicki comes downstairs and warmly greets Stokes, who claims to have come to see Barnabas. Stokes wishes Barn would get a phone, bur Vicki doubts he'll succumb to modern conveniences. Jeff, who has been standing and thinking over what Stokes said, turns when Vicki calls him. He tells Stokes to go along and asks to speak to Vicki. Adam glares in through the window, watching what is to transpire, and Jeff spots him.

When Vicki joins Jeff in the drawing room, Adam hides. Jeff tells Vicki he must cancel tonight, puzzling her. Why did he change his mind? She asks. He says he's tired, shot, but she says he was feeling fine when he came in--you were too busy last night and the night before, she reminds him, wounded. Over Vicki's shoulder, Jeff spots Adam beginning to crawl through the window. I was working, says Jeff quickly, and I'm tired tonight.She asks if something else is wrong; they aren't seeing much of each other. He assures her all is fine, he really loves her, and he kisses her lengthily to prove it. He promises to get lots of sleep tonight--he'll call her in the morning, he loves her, and he gazes at Adam defensively over Vicki's shoulder before he leaves. Vicki looks dejectedly after her departed fiance.

Angelique enters the living room at Blair house, looks for Nicholas. then leaves the house. Jeff checks the body and looks at a clipboard he has in his hand. We see Angelique reflected in a small round mirror above the table (blooper alert). "Good evening," she says to Jeff. Startled, he asks how she got in and who she is. She says her name isn't important, she's here to help with the experiment. She knows he's Jeff Clark from Adam's description; she promised Adam she'd help him when his mate is ready. Jeff says she looks familiar, but she assures himthey've never met. He doesn't understand why no one told him she was supposed to help with the experiment, and he says they'll find out right now.She stares intensely at him and he asks why she's looking at him like that. He seems embarrassed as she reaches out her hand to his neck, then darts forward and puts her special love bite on him!

NOTES: Roger Davis wasn't half bad today, one of his better performances for sure. He seemed more subdued somehow, but Jeff really was a fool insisting on riling up Adam, who doesn't need to be further infuriated. Jeff knows Vicki's life hangs in the balance, so why does he feel compelled to piss the big fella off?

Apparently Nicholas is right--he can't trust Ang and must worry about her constantly. Here she is, ready to "help" with the experiment, which we're sure means she's going to insist on being the life force so she can be human again. We can only imagine the trouble that would ensue if she is successful. She's already bucking Nick's orders as a vampire--and what will become of her plans for Barnabas if her essence is inside a different body?

As always, delightful, wicked banter between Ang and Nick. These two make quite the evil, satanic pair!

Love, Robin

570 - Old House - Barnabas and Willie return from searching for Julia. Why can't we find Tom Jennings? frets Barnabas--where can Julia be meeting him? He feels they're meeting in some place they're overlooking. Willie asks if he could destroy him, really. Barnabas sarcastically asks why he thinks they've been hunting him--without Julia, they can't finish the experiment! Is that the only reason? demands Willie. What else? asks Barnabas--Adam might come there tonight to inquire into the progress of the experiment. Willie suggests Barnabas has another reason. Yes, he'll kill the rest of the family, one by one, responds Barn obtusely--Adam goes through with his threats.Willie smiles, shakes his head, then laughs. Barnabas is pissed and asks why. Willie says, "Oh, Barnabas, you're talkin' about all the people except the one who concerns you the most. I mean the experiment, Vicki, Adam, the family, I know you care about all these people, but the one you don't mention much is Julia, and she's the one you need the most." Obviously, says Barnabas, I can't do the experiment myself. You just don't get it, says Willie. Barnabas demands, "Are you being profound?" (LOL, gotta laugh at his tone.) "No," says Willie, "but you're acting like some man whose secretary is missing. And I know that isn't how you feel." Barnabas turns away. Adds Willie, "I mean, Barnabas, you're more than just worried about Julia." "For a specific reason," insists Barnabas. "That's all I'm sayin'" says Willie. Barnabas fears Julia will become a vampire, so they must stop him, and insists on going out again to search. Stubbornly, Willie wants to know WHY? Confesses Barnabas, "What do you want me to admit, Willie, that I care for Julia more than I appear to? All right, I will admit it, she's been an important part of my life for so long, a very important part, and I must find her, but where could they be?" (note this rare admission!) Barnabas considers it from a vampire's viewpoint--he remembers the docks at night, deserted except for the occasional woman hurrying home. . . Barnabas is drawn out of his thoughts by a knock at the door. It's Liz. She runs in and tells Barnabas they have her coffin all ready--it's empty, waiting for her. Barnabas is shocked, and she accuses him of not believing her. "Hide me," she begs, "you must."

Liz pleads with Barnabas to believe and help her. She asks him to send Willie away, she can't talk in front of him. She asks Barnabas if he's always liked her. Of course, he assures her. Roger wants to send her back to Windcliff, says Liz, you must stop him--I ran from my own house--Roger or Julia must have told him. Barnabas insists they have her best interests at heart. Liz says Roger is determined to send her back to Windcliff and let her be buried alive. She sees his stunned face. It could happen, she assures him, it's going to, they will think her dead, but she won't be. Barnabas assures her they wouldn't make such a mistake--I would let you stay if I felt it for the best. She will be all right if he lets her stay, begs Liz. I would come back to Windcliff and talk to your doctors, he says. That won't help, says Liz--Julia is in on it. Barnabas doubts it. I begged for Julia's help, reveals Liz. Barnabas asks if she's seen Julia, and she tells him what happened--she followed her to the coffin, in a place Liz had never been before. She asks Barnabas to be on her side if she tells Roger, and he promises if she tells him where Julia is.It's an empty crypt at the edge of the Collins Cemetery, where I will be buried, says Liz, and where they are hiding my coffin--when Julia saw me in the doorway, she screamed at me to leave, because she knew I had found out the truth.

Barnabas enters the crypt. He finds Julia lying there, unconscious, and takes her hand in his, calling her name. Liz watches through the window as Barnabas carries Julia into the Old House. Willie comes in and Liz, closing the curtains, asks what he's doing there. Looking for Barnabas, says Willie, but she is sure he's spying on her. Willie offers to close the curtains and asks where Barnabas went. On an errand for me, says Liz--if anyone comes to the door, Willie is to answer it and tell them he hasn't seen her. Willie promises. They hear banging at the front door; Barnabas calls to Willie, who opens the door. Barnabas enters, carrying Julia in his arms. Willie opens both doors as Barnabas places her on the chair. "She's dead," says Liz somberly. Willie asks if it's true. She isn't dead, but almost, says Barnabas, kneeling in front of Julia. Willie wants to get a doctor, but Liz says it's too late. Willie asks if that's so, is she going to die? Barnabas doesn't know, but he tells him to prepare Josette's room, now. "You're lying to me," accuses Liz, "she's dead. You can't keep that from me." Barnabas tells Willie to take Liz upstairs, to the front room, first. Tomorrow they'll figure out what to do. Liz glances at Julia and says death follows her everywhere she goes. She isn't dead, protests Barnabas, and hands Liz off to Willie, who ushers her upstairs. Barnabas talks to Julia. When she opens her eyes, he's glad--stay with me, he begs. The dog howls. Julia says, "He calls to me and I must go." I know, says Barnabas gently. She awakens, looks around and says, "I'm going to die!" He forces her to sit back and gently tells her to rest. "I can't," she moans. He tells her he's going to help her, he can he will, he swears it. "No," the mutters, seeming to faint. "Julia!" he cries. Willie races out and says they must take her to the hospital. Barnabas asks what time it is, and Willie says 4:30. Nearly dawn says Barnabas, but Willie fears Julia will die before then. They must take that chance, says Barnabas. They have to take her for a transfusion, screams Willie. Will that end it? asks Barnabas, or will Tom appear in the middle of the night at her hospital bed?--no, they have to settle him, it's the only way to settle her--now I know where Tom will be at dawn, and I will be there, too, he says firmly. "Get me a stake, Willie--now!" orders Barnabas.

Willie holds the stake in his hand. Barnabas comes downstairs and tells him Julia won't be well until they do what they must. Barnabas gazes out the window and tells Willie he's sure this will work--it's time to go. Willie offers to go with him--we don't want to get there before it's light, blathers Willie. We won't, says Barnabas. It won't be safe unless he's in the coffin, Willie reminds him. Barnabas and Willie head out to save Julia.

Liz drifts downstairs, holding a candlestick, looking, in a black robe, like an angel of death. Julia sleeps in Josette's room. Liz comes in, puts the candle down, and tells Julia, "You're dying.Tonight you were so strong, and now you're dying." Julia awakens and looks at Liz. "They left you alone to die, all alone," says Liz. "I forgive you for being involved, for not telling me where my coffin was. Roger made you do it, I don't know why, he made you plot against me, and now it's you who will be buried before I." Julia, her face pasty, slumbers.

Barnabas and Willie enter the crypt. It isn't light yet, Willie warns. Barn tells him to be quiet, then opens the coffin--it's empty! Willie, face ashudder, screams, "He's going to come back any minute!--I ain't stayin' here!" Willie races off, dropping the stake and hammer in his haste. The window in the crypt shows the pink of dawn as Barnabas retrieves them. Tom enters and Barnabas whirls around. "You!" he says. Tom snarls in an Elvis imitation as Barnabas warns him there's no time, it's getting light--just a moment is all you have. Tom attacks Barnabas, gripping his wrists, forcing him to drop the hammer. Barnabas and Tom grapple. "The light!" screams Barnabas, "you're wasting your time with me!" Tom attacks again and pushes Barnabas back against his coffin as they choke each other. Tom, stronger, forces Barnabas to release his grip. Barnabas, trapped between Tom and the coffin, screams helplessly as the vampire goes for his jugular!

NOTES: Oh, God, that had to be a Friday episode, and I bet I didn't sleep a wink in 1968, wondering what was going to become of my beloved Barnabas in the terrible clutch of the vampire!

I never did like the Liz--death business and was not thrilled to see her return, but she DID alert Barnabas to Tom's hiding place, which certainly led to one of DS's most exciting cliffhangers. Barnabas looked SO terrified at the possibility of Tom biting him! I wonder why he didn't wait a little longer to be sure he was in his coffin? Methinks he WANTED a confrontation like this, a way of defending Julia!


571 - A pale Julia lies in Josette's room, writhing on the pillows, begging Barnabas to help her. Liz, sitting at her side, tells her he left her to die, but Julia denies that.

As Barnabas and Tom fight viciously, the sun is rising. Tom, fangs bared, forces Barnabas to release the weapons. Tom goes for Barnabas' jugular, forcing a scream from Barnabas, but before the vampire can sink in his fangs, a rooster crows. It's dawn, warns Barnabas, and if you don't get into your coffin, you will be dust. They grapple again; Tom chokes the breath out of Barnabas, rendering him unconscious. Just as Tom is about to attack Barnabas' throat, he stops, realizes how late it really is, and hastily climbs into his coffin just in time. Barnabas awakens from his stupor and painfully rises, clutching his throat. He places his hand on the coffin.

Julia moans, "The light! Close the curtains!--I'll die" Liz hurriedly closes them, blocking out the light of dawn.

Barnabas opens Tom's coffin and gazes down at the sleeping (and breathing) vampire. He wonders if someone ever looked at him as he now is looking at Tom? No, or he wouldn't be alive now, he muses. He picks up the fallen stake and mallet, agonizes for a moment, realizing he must do this if Julia is to live. He must do what he feared, dreaded, perhaps even wanted for himself. He places the stake over Tom's heart. Down, down, he plunges the mallet. Tom screams, a horrific sound. Julia awakens with a start, protesting the death of her vampire lover, then falls back against the pillow. Liz anxiously asks if she's all right.

Barnabas gazes disgustedly down at his gruesome handiwork and tosses the mallet and stake off to one side, then closes the coffin. He can't leave the body there, he realizes, it must be buried--after dark. He can't take a chance of doing it before then. Now he must see if Julia is all right.Nicholas, impeccable as always, watches Barnabas exit the crypt, then hurries inside himself. He opens Tom's coffin and glances in.

Julia sits up, to Liz' protests, and requests a mirror. Liz brings her Josette's hand mirror and Julia finds her vampire hickeys have vanished. She is thrilled--they're gone, she exults. She, however, still looks very pale. Liz asks what Julia is talking about, and Julia covers by saying she must have dreamed of having a scar on her neck. You don't, says Liz. Barnabas anxiously comes in to see Julia. I'm feeling better, she says. He asks Liz to leave him alone with Julia, whose miraculous recovery puzzles Liz. Barnabas takes Julia's hand in his and tells her it's over--Tom will never bother her again. She clutches his hand and thanks him. He tenderly tells her she saved his life so often, he doesn't deserve thanks.

Liz looks out the Old House window and spies Roger heading up the walk. She's afraid when he knocks, and looks for a place to hide. He finally opens the door and enters, calling to Willie and Barnabas. Barnabas comes downstairs and Roger asks about Liz. He doesn't know where she went. Barnabas tells him she's been there since late last night. Roger is angry at Barnabas for not alerting him, but Barnabas explains he was concerned about Julia. Liz, who has been hiding behind a wing backed chair, darts up and tells Roger he hasn't been worried, he doesn't care-- he was going to return her to Windcliff. Liz accuses him and Julia of a huge plot to bury her alive at Windcliff--Julia even has her coffin ready!She tells him about following Julia and seeing a coffin in the crypt. Roger turns to go check it out, but Barnabas tries to stop him. Roger is anxious to corroborate Liz' story, and she wants him to do so. Barnabas insists on going with Roger to the crypt, but first he must check on Julia. Liz tells her brother that he'll find she isn't crazy, which he says would make him happy. When he sees the coffin, she says, they will discuss Windcliff. IF the coffin is there, cautions Roger.

Barnabas frets to Julia about Roger finding the coffin--and the body. Julia is upset, but Barnabas doesn't know how to stop him.

Liz makes a deal with Roger--if the coffin is there, she stays where she pleases. Barnabas answers a knock at the door--it's Nicholas, with a big bouquet of flowers he wants to give to Julia. Barnabas says he'll see she gets them, but Nicholas wants to present them himself. Liz intervenes--is Julia worse?--she was so much better before. Nicholas asks Liz to ask if Julia would see him, then cordially greets Roger. Roger tells him he and Barnabas have something to do, but Barnabas gives Nicholas a long, suspicious look before telling him if Julia does want to see him, to keep it short. Nicholas promises he will, then glances around the room, playfully putting out a couple of candles with his fingers. Liz returns and tells him Julia will see him. Nicholas thanks her.

Barnabas and Roger walk through the woods. Roger is sure there is no coffin in the crypt. Barnabas suggests he discuss Liz' problem rather than embarrass her and expose a lie. Roger feels Barnabas agrees that there's no empty coffin. Barnabas tries to talk him into returning to the house, but Roger feels obligated to check as he promised Liz he would.

Julia thanks Nicholas for the flowers. He says he was very concerned about her--good doctors are vital to all of them, and they can't afford to have her sick. He notices how weak she looks, but she says she'll be out of bed tomorrow. And back to work? asks Nick--I imagine you have a lot to do. She agrees that the virus did come at a bad time for her. He can imagine, he says, and she retorts that she doesn't believe he came just to inquire after her health--there's more to it than that. What? he asks. You tell me, says Julia.He smiles and suggests he's planning to be ill--he'll need her to take his case. No, she says, your health is extraordinarily good--I believe you indestructible. I hope so, he says, knocking wood, and gives her a big grin. He stands to leave. She asks if he found out what he came there to see. Yes, he replies, you're much better--he gallantly kisses her hand and leaves. Julia gazes suspiciously after him.

Barnabas advises Roger--if there IS a coffin, there's no need to open it, just the fact that it's there would be enough. We'll see, says Roger. Barnabas hesitates outside before joining him in the crypt--which proves to be empty. There is no coffin, says Roger, just as we both suspected. Barnabas is shocked, asking himself what it means.

At the Old House, Liz insists the coffin had to have been moved. How much do you expect me to believe? asks Roger. Ask Julia about the coffin, begs Liz--I wants you to know I'm sane! Barnabas asks that Julia not be disturbed, but Roger goes upstairs to ask her anyway. Liz asks Barnabas why everything is so weird now, she doesn't know when it all began to change--with Cassandra, she thinks. Barnabas agrees--that's indeed when it changed. Liz admits she still fears being buried alive, but she's OK aside from that. (is that all?) Barnabas assures her he believes her.

Roger questions Julia about the coffin in the crypt--Liz did follow her, but not to the crypt. Roger decides this means Liz must return to Windcliff, but Julia says she won't make progress there if she doesn't want to go and won't cooperate. Roger finds Julia's talk about her own hospital strange. Julia advises him to let Liz stay home--she will be a consultant. Barnabas comes upstairs and tells Roger and Julia that Liz believes they are plotting against her. Again Julia tells him to let Liz stay at Collinwood, where she feels secure. Roger goes downstairs. Julia confesses she lied, which Barnabas agreed was the only thing to do. They must find out who removed the body and coffin, says Barnabas. Julia wonders about Nicholas' visit--is there a connection? How? Why? asks Barnabas--only one person knows about Tom Jennings--the vampire who made him what he was. . .tonight, that vampire is walking the earth, and I must find "him,"--soon!

NOTES: How odd that Barnabas is sure the vampire is male--it doesn't occur to him that this predator is female--and perhaps someone he knows intimately?

Liz is so weird now, seemingly lost in her own fantasies of death. She otherwise seems more like herself--no further Naomi confusion--but that leftover fear of being buried alive stays with her.

Loved Nicholas' visit to Julia. He's so cool and suave, finding out exactly what he wants to know in his own subtle way--and their dialogue is wonderful. I often wished he had pursued Julia; they're equals on so many levels and it would have been fun to watch.

Barnabas tenderly tells Julia how grateful he is to her, and she is thankful that he saved her life, but you get the impression she still isn't hearing anything close to what she wants to hear from Barnabas.

Love, Robin

566 - Barnabas wanders the woods, searching for Tom Jennings. At the Old House, in the basement, Julia lies on the floor, unconscious. Willie comes in, calling to her, and goes downstairs. He finds her, kneels and slaps her hands. Can you hear me? he cries. She opens her eyes and looks at him. He asks if she recognizes him, and she does. She feels her neck, but when Willie asks what's wrong with it, she says nothing. He observes how weak she seems, but she says she just has a stiff neck. Willie helps her up and seats her on a stool. She assures him she's all right, but he says that can't be, given how he found her. She says she fainted from too much work. Willie says she needs to take it easy. She says she'll return to Collinwood and go to bed. She tells him she'd appreciate it if he doesn't tell Barnabas about this, and he wonders why not. She doesn't want Barn to worry about her, and makes Willie promise to keep mum. Willie offers to walk her back to Collinwood, but she assures him she'll be all right. She looks deathly pale as she heads upstairs, her hand on her neck. Willie notes how messed up the lab is, and seems perplexed. There is glass on the floor, the notebooks, too. Why?

Mrs. Johnson, annoyed, answers the door at Collinwood. It's Julia. Mrs. Johnson apologizes for locking her out, but she thought everyone was in the house already. Julia, looking near collapse, stumbles in. Mrs. J tells her it would make things a lot easier if people informed her of their comings and goings. Seemingly in a trance, Julia walks upstairs, ignoring Mrs. Johnson, who is irritated she didn't even get a thank you.

Barnabas finds Willie straightening up the lab and inquires after Julia. Willie evasively says she returned to Collinwood--he doesn't know why.  Barnabas thought she'd be working late, at least that is what she said. She must have changed her mind, suggests Willie, she was tired, needed rest, was working too hard. Barnabas can tell Willie is holding back information and demands to know what.Willie says nothing, but Barn says he's behaving strangely--why? Willie says he promised not to tell, but Barnabas forces it out of him: Willie found her unconscious. Barnabas is angry he didn't tell him before, but Willie says it's just overwork and she'll be fine tomorrow. Barnabas says he had better be right, and hurries upstairs. Willie is angry at himself for revealing what he promised Julia he wouldn't.

Julia ties an orange scarf around her throat to cover her vampire hickeys. Mrs. Johnson knocks at her door--she thought Julia would already be leaving. I'm not leaving today, says Julia, I'm staying in bed all day--not feeling well--a bit rundown. She tells Mrs. Johnson to have the room curtained off; there's too much sunlight. Julia stares at her pale countenance in the mirror. She doesn't want to see anyone or take any calls, too, says Julia. Mrs. Johnson promises she won't be disturbed.

Barnabas lets himself into Collinwood after knocking. He's in dark blue, my favorite color on him. Mrs. Johnson greets him. He asks her to tell Julia he wants to see her, but Mrs. Johnson says Julia gave her strict orders that she wasn't to be disturbed today--she wasn't feeling good and was staying in bed all day. She isn't herself, says Mrs. Johnson. In what way is she different? inquires Barnabas. Hard to explain--she's in some sort of daze, says Mrs. J. Barnabas insists on seeing her, but Mrs. Johnson refuses--no exceptions! Barnabas says he must talk to her. He asks if she'd bring Julia a note from him, and Mrs. J says Julia didn't tell her she wouldn't accept notes. Barnabas sits and scrawls a note, then gives it to Mrs. J and tells her he wants an answer as soon as possible. Barnabas contemplates. . .something.

Julia lies in bed, fingering her fang marks. She adjusts her scarf when Mrs. J. knocks. The housekeeper indicates Barnabas' note and tells her he's waiting downstairs. He was upset over Julia's not wanting to see any visitors, explains Mrs. Johnson, but Julia says he has to wait until she's feeling better. She hands Julia Barnabas' note, explaining that he's awaiting a response, but Julia rips in up into little pieces. (how much did this shock you--has another taken Barnabas' place in Julia's heart?)

Night - Julia lies in bed. Willie enters her room and smiles at her. He shakes her leg, waking her up. He asks her not to get mad, he's only following orders from Barnabas. She orders him to go. Willie tells her Barnabas is upset with her for not seeing him today--Mrs. Johnson told him she tore up the note. Julia says she just isn't feeling well, there's no reason for Barn to be upset. Willie reminds her she was supposed to be working on the experiment, and she quickly says she knows that and hopes she can get there tomorrow.Willie asks if she'll be all right then--she looks like she could go back to the Old House right now! I don't want to, says Julia--is that why Barnabas sent you? He wants to see you, says Willie, but Julia says it ain't gonna happen, and to tell him that. The dog howls. Willie glances sharply at Julia. Is she sure there isn't something else she wants to tell him? Julia asks if he wants her to call Miss Stoddard in there, and Willie backs out as the dogs howl more ferociously.

Tom, in the woods, summons Julia. "Can you hear me, Julia? I am waiting for you. You will leave the house and come to me now. You will know the way, Julia, I am waiting!" He grins, anticipating his food heading his way.

Mrs. Johnson spots Julia leaving the house, but when she asks where she's going, Julia walks right past her, in a trance. She doesn't know if she's sick or she's not, complains Mrs. Johnson, but she leans against the closed door and listens to the howling dogs, looking sickly herself.Julia meets Tom in the woods, like a lover. "You heard me call to you," he says, "and you knew where to come.""Yes," she says, sounding downright ecstatic. "Come here, Jooolia," he says, and, pulling her into his arms. He bends down and eagerly sinks his fangs into her throat.

At the Old House, Barnabas paces, worried, twisting his fingers around each other. Willie comes in, walking slowly. Barn asks where Julia is. She wouldn't come with me, confesses Willie. I'm worried about her, says Barnabas, as the dogs howl. Willie says Julia looked OK when he saw her, but she seemed a little healthier than the night before. Yes, but it won't last long, says Barnabas, light dawning. He heads out the door. "I must see Julia," says Barnabas, leaving Willie looking upset and fearful over what new horror has befallen all of them.

Julia stands in the woods, looking like a woman who has just had the most erotic experience of her life. Tom circles her, asking if she's sure no one knows where she is. Yes, very sure, she says. He tells her she now knows she must come to him here, every night. "Yes," says Julia happily. She must tell no one, he says, and tells her to return to Collinwood. Eagerly, she tells him she will stay with him, if he wants her to, but he says no, if she's gone too long, it might arouse suspicion. Reluctantly, she leaves him. He gazes after her, pleased. Barnabas enters Collinwood.  Julia comes in, surprised to see him. He comments that he thought her too sick to go out, and she says she just went for a walk right outside. He's looking at her very closely. She's touching her blue scarf, adjusting it, and he wonders why he didn't see her, since he just arrived--she must have come through the woods. She turns away from his scrutiny, saying she's tired and must go to bed. He stops her--she has to answer some questions first. Not now, she protests. Yes, now! He asks if she was walking in the woods. She points out that it's ridiculous for her to walk alone in the woods at night. Relentlessly: "Why were you unconscious when Willie found you last night? And why did you remain in your room today--and not see me at all? And finally, why are you wearing that scarf?" She starts to say it was cold out, and he points out it isn't cold in there, so she should take it off. "Take it off, Julia!" he demands, against her protests, and he yanks it off her throat, revealing the puncture wounds.Julia gazes at him defensively while he stares at her, stunned.

NOTES: Who thinks Barnabas should have figured out Julia's problem as soon as he heard she'd been found unconscious in the lab--or at the very least, suspected? He knew Tom had escaped his stake and would be trolling for victims.

What do you think of Tom as a vampire? Sloppy, erotic, something Julia deserves, perhaps craved. What a difference between Julia and Joe as victims, huh? Whereas Jonathan Frid abhorred having to open wide and show his fangs, Don Briscoe reveled in it.

Julia is so engrossed in her new fella, she orders Barnabas to stay away from her--and even rips up a note he sent her! How unJulia-like is that?

And now Barnabas knows what Julia's been hiding from him--how did you like the leadup to his ordering her to "take it off"? I'm sure under other circumstances, Julia would be wishing he'd meant remove something else. Absolutely fantastic, that last scene!


567 - Barnabas tells Julia, "I feared this all day long. "--I kept telling myself it might not be true. She ties the scarf back around her neck and says she tried to keep it from him. He asks how long she expected to keep it from HIM--of all people. She asks what he's going to do, and he says he'll find and destroy Tom--and Julia will help him. "Good night, Barnabas," she says coldly, but he continues relentlessly: where did she meet him tonight? She says she doesn't know. He asks if she's seen the coffin, knows where it's hidden, but she reminds him she can't answer his questions, even if she wants to. Barnabas promises her he will destroy Tom, and she responds, IF you find him, like a challenge. Barnabas knows more about Tom's affliction than other people, but he must get him before he gets Julia.She says it's too late, but Barnabas assures her it isn't. When she goes to meet Tom tonight, he will follow her there and find out where his coffin is. Julia tells him she can't do that, and he knows why. He agrees. He's going to take her back to the Old House; she won't be safe being left alone at Collinwood. She won't be safe no matter where she is, she reminds him, but Barn promises to lock her in a room at the Old House and prevent her from seeing him--he'll be forced to come to you, says Barnabas, and I will be ready for him. Julia protests the danger Barnabas will be placing himself in, but he urges her not to worry about that--will you come with me to the Old House, he asks--"For me?" She agrees, reluctantly, and he says she can resume the experiment in the morning. She can't, after what happened last night, she protests--I couldn't function during the day, I'm too weak. He reminds her that many lives depend on their going ahead with the experiment. Although Julia realizes Adam will carry out his threat, but she's too weak during the day to proceed with the experiment, no matter what Adam does. They realize this is a huge dilemma.

Adam comes to the terrace, where he runs into Jeff and Vicki. She tells Jeff Adam is the man who kidnapped her, and Jeff attacks Adam, who knocks him to the ground. Vicki screams for help and Barnabas and Julia hear her and race outside.

Jeff is regaining consciousness when Julia and Barnabas appear, and Vicki tells them Adam attacked him. Julia kneels to check Jeff, who has a bad bump on his head. Jeff wants to get inside and call the police--the man who hit him is the same man who attacked Vicki in the woods. Vicki realized that as soon as she saw Adam, she explains. Vicki helps Jeff into the house and Barnabas tells Julia they must go to the Old House, since Adam was clearly on his way there to check the experiment's progress.

Jeff calls the police and tells them Adam ran into the woods after hitting him. The sheriff is sending all six of his available men to search for Adam, reports Jeff. He and Vicki go into the drawing room, where he asks if she's sure the man who attacked her was Adam. It's not possible, he mutters, just a hunch he had about a week ago.  He rubs his head and asks her about the incident in the woods. I was walking back to Collinwood; Adam suddenly appeared, picked me up--I fainted--I don't know where he took me, and the next thing I remember is returning to Collinwood to see you--the two days I was missing are still a total blank. He asks her to try to remember more, and she says she has tried, but. . .something Adam said--"You will help me."That puzzles both of them. What could it mean? Jeff tells Vicki to wait there for him; there's something he must check on, something to do with the hunch he mentioned earlier. He smiles and kisses her before he goes, and it's a nice moment. Before he leaves, Vicki asks him why he can't tell her, but he promises to tell her everything as soon as he gets back. He kisses her again, caresses her hair, tells her not to worry. (She looks pretty in green.)

Old House - Adam fondles the equipment down in the lab, looking around. He checks the mirrors, the notebooks, seems angry. He takes a glass beaker and smashes it. He hears a door slam upstairs and is soon joined by Julia and Barnabas, from whom he hides at first. I've been waiting for you, he complains--where have you been? They were at Collinwood, explains Barnabas, and heard what happened on the terrace. Vicki recognized me, says Adam, and Barnabas chastises him for not being more careful--the young man called the police. Adam says they won't find him. They will eventually, says Barnabas.Adam accuses him of wanting him to be captured, that would relieve him of his promise. Barnabas says he hasn't gone back on his word, but Adam impatiently says it's been 2 weeks since he promised him a mate. Barnabas tells him to be reasonable, but Adam says they have an agreement--no one at Collinwood has been hurt. Barnabas says they need more time, and asks Julia to try to make him understand. She says she is a doctor, but there are many complex factors in this experiment, and they need several weeks to complete it. Adam isn't pleased to hear this, but Julia says it's her fault--she's been ill. Adam doesn't believe her, but she says it's true. Adam suggests maybe they're hoping the police will find him so they don't have to go through with the experiment. Barnabas denies this and says he must give them the time they need. How many weeks? demands Adam, but Barn says they can't be that specific. Adam insists on hearing a time frame and Julia says she might be able to complete it in 4 weeks. Adam agrees to that. Barnabas reminds him of the MIGHT; it isn't that easy. Adam says four weeks--that's all. Barnabas asks him to keep away from here, but Adam says he doesn't trust him and will come back sometimes to check the progress of the experiment and remind him of what happens if he fails--Vicki first, then everyone else at Collinwood. Barnabas assures him this reminder isn't necessary, but Adam believes it is--he wants Barnabas to think about it, and not forget, and do what he asks. Adam bids Julia and Barnabas good night. They watch their "son" leave, exchanging a look of despair. Barnabas sits down and Julia caresses his shoulder.

Jeff searches the woods, flashlight in hand. He sees Adam exit the Old House and disappear into the shadows.

Julia tells Barnabas she didn't know what else to tell Adam except that she was sick, and Barnabas says she couldn't very well have told him the truth--he wouldn't have known what she was talking about--he's going out to destroy Tom. She wishes she could help; he knows it isn't her fault. Fearful, Julia asks what they'll do when Tom summons her again;Barnabas promises to do everything possible to keep him away from her. He has no choice--despite the danger, they only have 4 weeks to complete the experiment. They've barely gotten started, says Julia, promising him she will try to work tomorrow. He escorts her to Josette's room, where he plans to lock her up.

Jeff watches through the window as Barnabas tamps out the candles in the drawing room. Jeff finds the doors to the Old House locked (AMAZING!) and tries the window, which, miraculously, is unlocked! (as usual!) He climbs in, sneaks downstairs and gazes at the laboratory equipment. Why do they have all of Lang's equipment and instruments down here? he wonders. He picks up a scalpel and stares at it. He finds Lang's private journals. He was right, Barnabas lied to him. They didn't dispose of the creature's body, they found a head and completed the experiment! They brought that THING to life, created Lang's monster--but why?? What was their interest in such a project? What could they gain? Jeff ponders all this, then comes across the woman's body on the table. "Oh, no!" he cries, holding his head in horror. "Yes, Mr. Clark," says Barnabas, walking from the shadows, "we're going to create another one."

NOTES: What a finale! We knew it was only a matter of time before Jeff realized Adam was Lang's creation. Now that Barnabas has admitted the truth to them--that they are creating a mate for Adam--how will Jeff react? He'll probably want to go to the cops right away, but Barnabas will explain about the danger Vicki and the rest of the family is in, and insist Jeff assist them, given that Willie isn't proving reliable.

How solicitous Barnabas is toward Julia, but it sounds like his main concern isn't her, so much, as the experiment, and that he's counting on her to complete it. Once again, misguided motives--and it looked like he really gave a damn about Julia herself, didn't it?

Love, Robin

562 - Joe orders Willie to come to the sheriff's office with him--he must be insane to rob a grave. Willie denies robbing a grave, but stutters over what he's doing there--it's none of Joe's business, says Willie defensively. Joe grabs Willie's arm and they begin to struggle. "You can't!" protests Willie.

Angelique realizes that something is interfering with Joe coming to her, she can sense Joe isn't responding, and begs Nicholas to help her. She has the power, Nick assures her, use it to force Joe to respond. Angelique calls to Joe again to come to her. Joe, struggling with Willie, releases him. "That voice," says Joe, but Willie hears nothing. Joe covers his ears--he can't listen. Willie asks what's wrong with him, isn't he taking him to the police? He should, agrees Joe, listening to the voice in his head. Joe knows what he should do, but Angelique's voice is all he hears. "No!" screams Joe hoarsely. "I can't let it happen." Willie is confused. Is Joe trying to decide whether or not to take him to the police? Joe says he can't decide anything, the decision has already been made. He wanders away, he's going where he has to go. Freaked out, Willie calls to Joe to come back, pleading with him. Angelique grins, it worked! Joe has heard her and is responding to her call. Excellent, praises Nicholas, now Joe will NEVER be able to resist her. She looks feral and hungry and happy.

Willie races back to the Old House, screaming for Barnabas. He runs around the house, looking for him. Barnabas comes in and Willie tells him Joe caught him in the graveyard--he caught him digging up a grave. Barnabas wonders how Joe, who seemed so ill this morning, had the energy to leave his room. All Willie knows is that Joe was heading for the police, and they have to get out before they come. They'll search the basement, find out everything, blathers Willie.Barnabas assures him they'll fabricate a story, then asks Willie what he told Joe. Willie says he gave no explanation. "Fool!" cries Barnabas, who says they'll tell the police Willie wasn't responsible for what he did--Willie was in a mental hospital, so Willie could simply display irrational behavior sometimes. Willie protests that it isn't fair to dump the blame for this on him, especially since he didn't want to go in the first place. It's all you can do, says Barnabas--Willie getting caught was the risk they had to take. In a panic, Willie refuses to accept the blame. Barnabas asks if Joe went to the police. Willie is sure he did--where else would he go?

Angelique hears the door open and close. Joe is there. She was expecting him, she says. In a tortured voice, he says he didn't want to come--he wish he's never seen her. She says he doesn't mean that, and he says he does. He doesn't understand why she has this power over him, and she says it's the power of love. He doesn't love her, he loves Maggie, he protests--he doesn't even know her. She tells him her name is Angelique and his is Joe, and that's all they need to know about each other. He turns away; he doesn't want to be there, he HATES himself for being there! Ang assures him he won't feel that way for long--come to me and put your arms around me, she wheedles, holding out her arms and smiling. He refuses. She tells him it's useless to resist. "Come to me," she says, and Joe, looking like a man entranced, comes closer. She slides her arms around his neck and bites into his throat. (Weird, isn't it, how some vampire victims can't wait to give their blood to their attacker, while others protest, as Joe does?)

Once again, Joe awakens, his neck dripping blood. Angelique kneels next to him and asks how he feels. He doesn't know. He thinks he's all right. He's happy, and so is she. "Your eyes," he says, "I can't look away from them."She tells him he belongs to her now and he must remember that and never try to resist her again. He wants to, he says, but he can't. Why? she asks. He shouldn't be here, he protests, there are other places he should be. He belongs with his cousin, he says, at the hospital--Tom Jennings will come out of his coma and I should be there. Angelique says, "Tom Jennings will die. That's the way life is. We die." Joe leans on the mantel. He should be with Maggie. Ang tells him to forget about her--he will in time. I'm in love with Maggie, he says. Angelique reminds him, "You need me." Joe admits that's true. In time his need for her will prove stronger than his love for Maggie, promises Ang. Joe wishes he could think when he's with her, but he can't. Don't think, it's useless, she tells him, just as resisting me is useless. She asks what interfered with him coming to her earlier, and he tells her he came across Willie Loomis in the graveyard.

Nicholas asks Joe what Willie was doing in the graveyard, and Joe asks where he came from. "The other room," says Nick. Did you hear what we were saying? demands Joe, wide-eyed. Nicholas overheard part of their conversation and found the last part quite interesting. Joe is angry that he was eavesdropping, but Nick insists it's his house. Angelique asks Nicholas for a few moments alone with Joe, but the warlock sends her to her room--he must talk to Joe. Joe doesn't want to speak to him--he wants Ang to stay, and, as he tells Angelique, "We don't have to take orders from him." Angelique tells him she must, and promises to see him again soon, very soon. She glides away, and Joe asks what right Nick has to give her orders--what's his power over her?--what's the power of this house? Nicholas tells him HE asks the questions. Joe doesn't feel he has to answer them, but Nicholas says if he doesn't, he can't see Angelique again; he can only see her when Blair says he can. "Your power over her is that strong?" asks Joe, and Nick says yes, and therefore his power over Joe is strong, too. Answer a few simple questions, orders Nick, and Joe agrees. He tells Nicholas Willie was digging up a grave, and he warned him he was going to the police.Did you do that? queries Nick, and Joe says no, not yet. Nicholas is pleased, and Joe wonders why, but Nick says "Never mind." Instead of doing to the police, says Nicholas, you will do something I will tell you to do, and if you wants to see Ang again, you will obey. Joe looks horrified. Even though Nicholas' orders make no sense to Joe, after Nicholas urges, "Just do it," Joe reluctantly agrees. Joe asks when he'll see Ang again, and Nick says do what he told him to do--then he can see her. "All right," says Joe, and leaves. Nick is smiling.

Willie's suitcase clumps down the stairs and he firmly tells Barnabas he's getting out. Barnabas tells him he isn't going anywhere. When someone knocks at the door, Willie is sure it's the police. Barnabas tells him to go upstairs, he will handle this. It's Joe Haskell, not the police. He tells Barnabas he saw Willie in the cemetery at Eagle Hill, digging up a grave. Joe was about to report it to the police, but he chose to come to Barnabas first. Barnabas puts a friendly hand on Joe's shoulder and confidentially tells Joe he's very worried about Willie, whose behavior is, at times, very irrational. Barnabas is sure Willie is basically harmless, which is why Joe decided not to report him to the police. He owes Willie for saving his life, he explains to a relieved Barnabas, and doesn't want to give Willie more problems with a police record.Barnabas promises to keep an eye on Willie and asks about Joe's speedy recovery after being so ill this morning. I wasn't as sick as I thought, replies Joe. Barnabas asks what Joe was doing in the cemetery, and Joe responds he was visiting a friend and took a shortcut through the woods. Willie races downstairs, overjoyed. He wonders why his employer isn't happier, and Barnabas says he finds Joe's behavior very strange.

Angelique sits, radiantly happy. Nicholas says she shouldn't--he just talked to the hospital, Tom Jennings is coming out of his coma, and if he says anything about seeing her coffin, they will both be exposed. Angelique looks appropriately dismayed, and Nicholas is downright grim.

NOTES: Superior performance from Joel Crothers today as the tortured Joe, and watching Nicholas and Angelique together is like watching a pair of black widow spiders spinning a web. We KNOW Tom Jennings isn't going to fare well!

Sometimes vampire victims seem almost in love with their attackers, other times they protest the attachment. Strange how it's different for almost everyone.


563 - Angelique asks Nicholas if she has time to go to Tom now. No, says Nick, he'll go in the morning as a concerned visitor. What if Tom speaks? asks Ang. Nicholas assures her it will be taken as the ravings of a confused man. What if they won't let Nick see him, asks Ang, and he says that would be a shame for himself and Tom--then he'd let Ang take care of him. She'd like that, wouldn't she? Yes, she indicates hungrily. Nick predicts a climax for Tom Jennings tomorrow that his doctors won't expect.

Collinsport Hospital - Nicholas walks the hall, but when he starts to go into Tom's room, claiming to be his lawyer, the nurse refuses him entrance. I must see him, insists Nicholas. Maggie interrupts, bearing flowers. The nurse tells her Tom is improving and allows Maggie into the room. Nick tries to follow, but she bars his way. Maggie has permission from the doctor, the nurse informs him. Maggie arranges a beautiful bouquet of red and pink roses on Tom's desk. Tom looks pale, his neck bandaged. Maggie tells him she and Joe have been visiting daily--they're so glad he's getting better. He looks at her, says her name. She asks if there's anything Joe can bring him, and indicates they're relieved he's going to be all right. He says, "Coffin-room, room with a coffin!" Maggie thinks it's a nightmare, but he says not. The nurse comes in to escort Maggie out, but Tom tells her to get Joe--there IS a coffin in the house. The nurse injects Tom with something that sends him to dreamland, and Maggie urges him to rest.

Out in the hall, Nicholas waits. Maggie comes out. You waited for me, she notes, glad he did. Nick is annoyed that visitors can't get any info from the staff of this hospital--is Tom out of his coma? Yes, says Maggie. Nick says that's great--but has something new developed? The accident happened after Tom left his house, and he feels responsible. Maggie says Tom isn't behaving like himself, but now he's talking about coffins. Nick is all ears to this. Maggie explains that Tom kept saying, "Room, coffin," over and over. Do you think he really saw a coffin? asks Nick, and Maggie suggest perhaps it's a terrible memory. He and Joe are cousins, she says, and Tom will tell Joe all. Nick says not to worry, he's positive "her" Joe will take care of everything.

Dusk, Blue Whale - Joe sits at a table, twisting his fingers around each other. He drinks, covers his face with his hand, very preoccupied. Maggie comes in. He points out that she's late; She's furious with him that he didn't show up or call last night. She wasn't even going to come, but wanted to tell him about Tom. He apologizes for not showing up, but she wants an explanation. Then she says to forget it, she doesn't want to be one of those women who force men into making excuses.Joe tells her he fell asleep, he laid down after work and fell asleep--until 2 AM. She was worried about him, she tried phoning him! He didn't hear the phone. He glances at the door and she asks what he was thinking. It's getting dark, he says. He asks about Tom. Maggie promised him Joe would come to visit him tonight. Joe rises and looks out the window, miles away. Maggie asks about it, and he complains it's gotten dark so quickly. He lights the candle on the table and Maggie asks what's bothering him. "Nothing!" he shouts, banging his fist on the table, making her jump in her seat. "Nothing"!

Angelique sits up in her coffin, a rose clutched in her hand (that's strange!). Her fangs descend, ready, and she calls to Joe in her mind. "Where are you, Joe?" The man she is calling rubs his face. Maggie says, sarcastically, "All right, nothing is bothering you." He asks if she wants to finish her drink, and she says they have lots of time before hospital visiting hours--is he listening to her? Sure, he replies, but is unable to repeat what she just said correctly. She's annoyed that he isn't listening to her, and he screams at her again, "It's hard enough as it is!" Maggie is perplexed.

Angelique calls to Joe to come to her, he needs her, as much as she needs him. Come to the house by the sea, she calls, and Joe's eyes widen. Maggie finds his expression a puzzle, his behavior is very peculiar. Then he stands and says he has to go to the hospital, now. She says they won't let him in now, but he leaves, anyway, and Maggie sits down with a sob, leaning her head on her hand in despair. Nicholas finds her sitting there, looking downcast, and says he's completed the diagnosis of her problem--a lover's quarrel--he saw Joe storm out and offers her a shoulder to cry on. She isn't crying, she says, and he suavely offers her a confidant. She doesn't know what to say, but he does--he'll sit there and charm all her problems away. Maggie smiles and says she'd like that. Nicholas sits down, removes his gloves, and grins at her like she's going to be his dinner.Maggie is smiling broadly as she watches Nicholas pull his handkerchief off another tall drink. She protests she shouldn't, she doesn't drink that much. He says this evening they should do everything they don't normally do, break all the rules! If she hates to swim after dark, they'll swim. If she's always home till midnight, they'll stay out until dawn. The camera focuses on his eyes as he tells her he's trying to take advantage of her, and she says she doesn't believe him. She promises him she'll see, and he says he likes women who have a sense of themselves. She isn't sure she does, but he says she must, since she didn't chase after Joe when he left. She isn't sure she ever wanted to have that much of a sense of herself. Nicholas is caressing the fruit in his drink with his ring finger and she says she's taking herself too seriously. I like serious women, purrs Nicholas, observing she feels guilty about sitting there with him. Nope, she says. You will, he predicts, after we have dinner. Are we doing that too? she asks. He says the evening hasn't turned out at all as she expected, has it?--do you mind? he asks. She answers that she should, but. . . Nick says if he were a magician (and he illustrates with the straw from his drink), she would be carefree and smiling. She says he IS a magician (honey, you don't know the half of it!), in a way, and he agrees. She says she'd love to have dinner with him, no guilt--she's tired of staying home, waiting--"Let's have some fun!" They raise their glasses in a toast to each other, and smiling, drink.

Joe enters the house by the sea, where Angelique waits. He tells her he doesn't understand why he comes there, he should be at the hospital visiting Tom, with Maggie. What's wrong with me? he asks, rubbing his head in confusion. She says he'll see Tom tonight--both of them will visit his cousin. Why, asks Joe, then it hits him--she did this to Tom, didn't she? He grabs her by the arms, shakes her. "DIDN'T YOU?" he demands. She nods.  "No," says Joe, and she pulls him into her arms and feasts on his blood again, changing his mind as only she can.

In Tom's hospital room, Joe tells his cousin he's glad he's feeling better, they were worried. Maggie told him they were both coming tonight, says Tom, but Joe says she couldn't make it. Tom tells Joe to go to the police and tell them he isn't the kind of person who lies--it sounds strange, but it did happen, and to him--Blair, that's when it started--he saw the coffin. Joe says he knows Nicholas Blair well and there's no coffin there. Tom insists there is, and Joe must help him. Tom explains that he left Blair's house and was walking through the woods. It was dark, and it really happened--this beautiful girl, blonde, strange eyes, silent, wings like a bird, and there she was, standing there looking at him. She came toward him, her arms outstretched, and he couldn't move--she did this to him, she DID this to him!He can tell Joe doesn't believe him, although he says, in a neutral voice, that he does. Tom begs him to go to the police if he believes him, and Tom fears Joe is only telling him he believes him. Joe promises to go and he'll see him tomorrow. Tom is delighted to hear his cousin is willing to help him. Joe opens the blinds, then the window. Tom asks what he's doing. It's hot in here, says Joe, but Tom disagrees. Joe suggests his cousin get some sleep. The relieved Tom leans against the pillow. Joe turns out the light over his bed, bids him good night, and leaves.

2 AM - Tom sleeps. A dog howls. The curtains blow in the wind. Tom moans in his sleep, twisting against the sheets. We hear the squeaking of a bat. Tom pulls off the bandage covering his throat. Angelique stands in his room.Slowly, she approaches the bed, her fangs exposed. She leans down and feasts on Joe's cousin's throat, oh, so happily, draining him.

NOTES: Imagine the guilt Joe feels, knowing he was setting up his cousin for death--and after falsely promising to help him! Of all the terrible things the bad people do in this show, this is one of the worst--getting between Maggie and Joe, forcing Joe to participate in the murder of his cousin! It's really nasty, and both are only in it for their own ends--Angelique, to sate her vampire hunger and keep her secret, Nicholas so he can work on Maggie and cause dissension between the once-happy couple.

Nicholas is surely the smooth one, working on Maggie after her argument with Joe, putting the make on her while she's vulnerable. He's a snake, but a good-looking, charming snake!

And now, Tom will die, and another vampire will stalk Collinsport. Who will his victims be?

Love, Robin

558 - Barnabas paces his drawing room, wondering how Stokes is faring with Adam.

Stokes sticks around Adam's squalid room, and the big guy wonders why he doesn't leave and tell Barnabas what he said. Stokes is pondering the huge change in Adam, but doesn't believe what he told him is entirely to blame--someone has been teaching him all the wrong things--is it Nicholas Blair? asks Stokes. Adam insists he knows what he wants and how to get it, and keeping Vicki is the only way he can force Barnabas to give him what he wants. No matter how just your cause is, you're committing an injustice, insists Stokes, it should be kept between you and Barnabas--Vicki loves Jeff Clark, not Barnabas, and Jeff is very unhappy now--how would you feel if someone took Carolyn away from you and threatened her life? No, protests Adam. Why not? asks Stokes, if what you're doing is fair, then that would also be fair. Carolyn is good, says Adam. So is Vicki, counters Stokes--think about never seeing Carolyn again, then you'll know how those who love Vicki feel now. Adam turns away from Stokes, but you can see he is thinking about the professor's valid point.

Julia comes to see Barnabas. She was at the hospital and couldn't get in to see Tom Jennings--only his attending doctor can see him. Julia did see a few doctors who described it as a bite inflicted by an animal with fangs--so they were right--but there's only a slight chance Jennings will survive. We must get to him and find out who attacked him, says Barnabas--I'm still waiting to hear from Stokes, who was really surprised by Adam's actions--Stokes is eccentric but not evil--he said he would try to help them--he went to see Adam to try to persuade him to release Vicki.Julia wonders why he didn't follow Stokes to Adam's hiding place, but Barn says Stokes warned him if he followed him, it might put Vicki's life in more danger. They must wait and trust and hope Stokes will succeed. He may well be their only hope.

Barnabas sits. Julia paces. Stokes comes to see them. He tells them of his talk with Adam. He doesn't know what's going to happen--they discussed Vicki, yes, but Adam kept refusing to cooperate. Stokes thinks his last appeal might have gotten through to Adam, and expects Adam will reach Barnabas by nightfall. What about Vicki, is she all right? Stokes assumes she is, but didn't see her. Adam hid her somewhere else, but Stokes doubts he killed her--Adam lacks maturity, but is intelligent, and knows if he harms Vicki, it will destroy his chances of getting what he wants. Julia asks Stokes if they should give in to Adam's demand, and Stokes says they must work one step at a time, perhaps his appeal to Adam's conscience will work. Stokes says if his appeal failed, nothing else will help--Adam will kill Vicki, and the only way to prevent it is to give him the mate he wants. Barnabas says that decision rests with Julia. Stokes asks her if Vicki is less dear to her than to Barnabas (loved the way he phrased that.). No, says Julia, she doesn't feel she's capable of doing the experiment from scratch, it's very difficult. Stokes doesn't envy her decision.Barnabas asks if he feels someone else is involved in this, and Stokes is sure that is so--he couldn't have conceived this plot himself, and suggested Blair, but Adam denied it. Julia excitedly says she and Barnabas suspected Blair, too. If it's Nicholas, what could he gain? wonders Barnabas. Stokes doesn't know, but evil man Blair is, it's designed to further his own ends. Adam is being used and doesn't know it, says Stokes--they won't have to wait long, and he asks Barnabas to call him the moment they know Adam's decision. Stokes leaves. Barnabas and Julia stare soberly after him.

Adam lies in bed, contemplating--if someone took Carolyn, he'd never see her again. . .it is wrong, he can't do it! He leans his head on his knee, morose.

The House by the Sea - 8 PM - Nicholas gazes out the window at the lovely, clear night, thinking it's a good night for making wise decisions. Barnabas will agree to another experiment, Vicki will go free, (he brushes away a fly), Adam will be happy, and I am the one who will gain the most. He stares at his reflection, adjusting his tie, admiring himself. Adam pays him a visit. Nicholas is surprised to see him; he took a big risk. Adam kept thinking about Vicki, who Nicholas assures him is safe. Adam wants to see her; he's taking her back to Collinwood. Nicholas assumes Barnabas has agreed to his demands, but Adam says he hasn't. They can't let Vicki go now, then, protests Nicholas. Adam says what they did was wrong--Vicki is innocent and doesn't deserve to be hurt.Nicholas says someone has been giving him the "do unto others." message. It couldn't have been Barnabas with the morality lecture, figures Nicholas, so who told him holding Vicki hostage is wrong? Adam admits it was Stokes, who has never lied to him. Nicholas says Adam felt bad not because Stokes was right, but if he sets Vicki free, how can he get Barnabas to cooperate? Adam says he'll find another way, but Stokes reminds him Barnabas hates him, he won't do anything for him unless he applies the right pressure. He felt bad because Stokes wanted him to feel bad, to have a guilty conscience, insists Nicholas. Adam us confused about right and wrong now. Stokes knew he was holding Vicki captive because Barnabas told him, so he's helping Barnabas, not Adam. Was Stokes trying to trick me? asks Adam, finding it hard to believe, but Nicholas points out that as long as he holds Vicki, Barnabas must go through with another experiment; if he lets Vicki go, he will never get his mate and live in loneliness forever. Stokes tried to tell him it's wrong to hurt Vicki, and they have no intention of doing so as long as Barnabas does what he wants--Barnabas will have to give in to him, and make a mate for him rather than see Vicki die. This is a test, says Blair, Barnabas matching his will against Adam's--whoever gives in first is the loser, so who has the strongest willpower, Adam or Barnabas. "ME!" says Adam belligerently. Nicholas promises to show Adam Vicki is safe, then go to Barnabas with his answer; the warlock, leading Adam to Vicki's room, is cool and smiling.

Old House - It's 10 PM and Barnabas and Julia are regretting not killing Adam that first day in the lab. Adam knocks at the door. Julia rises, staring at him. "Adam," she says. Adam tells Barnabas, "It's your decision to make, not mine." Barnabas asks if he is refusing to release Vicki. Adam says they'll discuss Vicki after he's created his mate. Barnabas asks about what Stokes said to him, and Adam says Stokes tried to trick him. Not true, says Barnabas, but Adam says Stokes is Barnabas' friend. Julia asks Adam if he doesn't realize this is wrong. Adam replies that he's tired of talking of right and wrong. He's seen Vicki, she's safe, but after tonight, he doesn't know what will happen. Barnabas turns to Julia--the ball is in her court now. Julia says she needs time for this decision, but Adam insists he wants his answer now. Barnabas tells Julia they have no choice, Adam means what he says. Julia agrees they can't let Vicki die, and promises to try. She can't guarantee success, but will begin another experiment. On one condition, says Barnabas, they will begin after Vicki is released. No deal, says Adam, you will see Vicki when you are finished. Barnabas says they need time, and he can't hold Vicki until then. Vicki deserves to be free, says Barnabas, but Adam insists on holding Vicki. "Then we will not do what you want," says Barnabas. Adam asks if he's willing to let Vicki die, but Barnabas assures him he can trust him to begin the experiment after Vicki's release. Adam doesn't trust him, but Barnabas says no release, no experiment. Are you testing me? asks Adam, but Barnabas assures him he means everything he says--Adam gets his mate only if they get Vicki first.Adam agrees to let Vicki go free, but warns him if he doesn't keep his word or try to trick him, he will get Vicki, kill her, then turn on everyone in his family, everyone who bears his name, and kill them, one by one! (Sounds more like Angelique's son than Barnabas', doesn't he?)

NOTES: So thanks to Nicholas' influence, son pushed father to the brink and Daddy agreed to his terms--but he insists that Vicki be released before the experiment will take place. Adam, in turn, warns Dad that if he doesn't comply, not just Vicki but every other Collins will die. Does that mean Liz and Carolyn are safe? Well, Carolyn, we would assume.

And Stokes, brilliant man that he is, asks Adam how he'd feel if Carolyn were being similarly threatened, and he almost got through to him--until Nicholas again intervened.  Heavy issues!


559 - Nicholas preens, admiring his reflection in the mirror. Angelique drifts in and asks him if he's admiring himself again. He says sure--he has every reason to. Do you? she asks. Yes, all my plans are working out perfectly, he boasts. She is surprised to hear Barn has agreed to another experiment for Vicki's freedom, and comments that her former husband must love Vicki very much. That must be most distressing, teases Nicholas, and if Barnabas had loved her half as much, she wouldn't be where she is today. She asks if he's really planning to release Vicki. Yes, he says. How can you, knowing Adam abducted her, and kept her in a room in the house? She wonders. Nicholas shows her the mirror, which doesn't reflect her, but only Nicholas (we do see a bit her of her and forehead, mistake there). The mirror shows Vicki sitting on the bed in her room. Nicholas explains he's allowing Vicki to escape--she will get the biggest surprise of her life. The door opens by itself and Vicki looks at it. She rises to her feet, looks out cautiously then slowly, almost as though she doesn't believe it, exits the room. Ang asks Nick what she's waiting for. Nicholas explains she's afraid of what lies beyond the door, and it isn't her time yet. Vicki steps out of the room. Ang asks what he's going to do to Vicki. Nicholas tells Angelique to find a hiding place and watch--she might learn by watching a master at work--Ang called him conceited, but he says at least HE never makes the same mistake twice (oh, no?) Vicki walks downstairs, still slowly, fearfully. She glances into the living room, then tries the door to the outside, which she finds locked. She enters the living room, checks the window and finds it locked, too, and she can't seem to unlock it. She continues to look around the room, finding another door, which she rattles and finds locked, too. She hears the tinkling music from Josette's music box, then Nicholas Blair's voice, which she doesn't recognize. She says she's never been to this house before, but he says of course she has, look around! She asks, "Where are you? Please let me go!" He tells her she can go as soon as she tells him who he is and where she is. She knows neither, and he says then she must stay. She shakes her head, upset. The music grows louder, and she begs him to stop it. Where would you hear Josette's music box? he asks. The Old House, she replies. And that's where you are, Nick's voice tells her, but she denies that. He tells her to think harder, remember what happened--she left Collinwood to come to the Old House to see "me". You aren't Barnabas, says Vicki, and he says to think again--she's in the Old House, isn't she? Vicki is unsure, and he tells her to try to cooperate or he won't be able to help her. Does she know who he is yet? She thinks so--Barnabas. Splendid he praises her. Where are you? he asks, and she replies, "The Old House." When she leaves, she will go to Collinwood, she says, because Jeff is waiting for her and she's late. He tells her to go home, hurry, she doesn't want Jeff to start worrying, does she? He tells her to go to the door, open it, and return to Collinwood. "Back to Collinwood," repeats Vicki, and exits easily through the front door. Nicholas and Angelique, grinning, observer her departure, Nick very proud of himself indeed.

Angelique asks Nicholas if Vicki will remember anything, and he assures her Vicki's last few days were a complete blank. Nicholas takes his hat and gloves, he has something to do. She asks if she should stay there, bored, waiting for him, and he says he couldn't have put it better himself.

Nicholas' "business" is Maggie; he shows up at the cottage. She's delighted to see him. He apologizes for barging in so late and secondly, for not getting back to her about the painting. She hadn't thought about that, she's been visiting Joe at the hospital a lot. He's completely recovered, she says, and will be released in a few days.Blair feels he should offer an explanation--he took a house by the sea, owned by the Collinses, and rented it. He says he now has a place to hang the painting and would like her answer. Joe shows up and Maggie is ecstatic, hugging and kissing him enthusiastically. Joe looks displeased to see Nicholas as Maggie introduces them. Maggie explains Nick likes one of Sam's paintings, and she asks why Joe didn't call and let her know he was leaving the hospital. Joe says he wanted to surprise Maggie. You certainly did that, says Nicholas--I would have brought champagne along for such an occasion, had I known. Maggie runs to the kitchen to get some sherry. Nicholas comments how well Joe looks. Joe says he was told he had a hard head, and some good luck. Nicholas says Maggie is a rare find, and Joe agrees, then asks Nick what he does for a living. A consultant, says Nicholas, specializing in human relations. Joe comments that doesn't tell him much, and Nicholas agrees. Maggie returns with the sherry, and Nicholas proposes a toast to Joe: "May it bring you everything you deserve."They sip; Joe gazes suspiciously at Nicholas, who purses his lips over his sherry glass while Maggie beams.

Jeff is on the phone talking to the sheriff when Vicki walks in. He looks pretty disheveled, saying he won't get any sleep until Vicki is found. He hangs up, rubs his face. Vicki greets an amazed Jeff, apologizing for keeping him waiting. He asks if she's all right, and kisses her hard, then says, "Thank God!" She wonders at his effusive reaction, and he says he feared she had been killed. He asks where she was. At the Old House, visiting Barnabas, she responds. She apologizes for staying longer than she intended, and he tells her he and the law have been searching for her TWO DAYS! She can't believe it, but he assures her it's true. She takes his hands and says if she'd been missing two days, wouldn't she have remembered it?He points out that her engagement ring is gone, and she stares at her ringless hand. "It's gone," she agrees.

Back at the cottage, Maggie offers Nick another drink, but he says he'll leave them alone. He asks her to let him know about the painting, and Maggie sees him out with a brilliant smile. She tells Joe Nick is a nice man, and Joe comments that he just met him, but Maggie seems to have seen a lot of him. It's clear Joe is jealous, but Maggie says she and Nick have only discussed Sam's paintings. Joe wonders why she never mentioned Nicholas to him when she visited him in the hospital, and she says she never thought of it. Nicholas is nice and charming, but that's all, she assures him. Joe, comforted, grins and they kiss.

Nicholas returns home to a pissed off looking Angelique. She turns away, annoyed. He asks how she is, noting she's a trifle upset. You know what's the matter, she complains. "You want to get out, meet new friends," he guesses. Why not, she pouts, you get to go where you want, why not me? Nick says if she behaves, it can be arranged. How about tonight? she asks, but he says no. Because they may be having a visitor before the night is over, says Nick--a handsome young gentleman by the name of Joe Haskell. Ang knows him as Maggie's fiancee. Nick says he might be wrong, Joe might not show up tonight, and if so, she will have to seek him--either way, Joe is her next victim.Ang looks intrigued--and hungry!

NOTES: I guess Nicholas doesn't feel he can win Maggie all by himself--he must eliminate the competition of siccing Angelique on him! That isn't nice, Nicholas, and certainly not sporting! Maggie and Joe have waited a long time for his recovery, and Ang is going to suck out all the nice blood the hospital probably gave him! You've got to admire the man's sense of power, however.

Took Vicki a long time to find her way out of that room; the spunky gal who first came to Collinwood surely would have gotten out sooner! Then again, David imprisoned her for quite a stretch! If Nicholas could manipulate her this way, why not Tom Jennings? Why did he feel he had to send Angelique after him to keep him silent about seeing the coffin?

Love, Robin