437 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past?back to the Collins family in the year 1795. Fear of the unknown has turned others against her and placed her very existence in peril--and the forces of evil which have surrounded her fate now threaten a deadly end to her journey.

(Black and white kinescope) - Peter has brought the Collins family history book to Vicki's cell. She still has doubts about telling the truth about herself, but Peter says they have to do something or she'll be convicted and hung. (damned if you do or don't.)

Trask has sent for Nathan and they have a private closed-door meeting in the courtroom. He wants Forbes to make one little change in his statement--instead of saying he helped Vicki because of his friendship with Barnabas, he is to say Miss Winters bewitched him. Nathan refuses until Trask blackmails him, reminding him of his career prospects and that he has received a reprieve, not pardon, from Joshua Collins. Nathan refuses to the end, but Trask is confident he has his prey cornered.

Courtroom - Alone with Peter, Vicki ponders being convicted and hanged, and relates to him how, as a child, she has terrible nightmares. She tried to stay asleep and keep dreaming until the very last second, when the car crashed or the monster got her. She would wake herself up. Growing hysterical, Vicki cries, "Wake myself up. . .it has to stop! Wake myself up, now, now! Got to stop now!" until she's screaming it and Peter is forced to slap her to bring her out of her hysteria. Then he hugs and holds her. "Be quiet," he admonishes her. They hear footsteps--time to go to court. Peter asks her if she'll be all right, but she doesn't answer him.

Later, Trask again puts Nathan on the stand, and guides him to say what he wants him to say. Forbes tells the judges that he felt compelled to help Vicki, he had no choice, his mind was swimming--she bewitched him! Vicki and Peter are shocked at his further duplicity and perjury. When Peter cross-examines, he demands that Nathan look at Vicki and reminds him that when they first met, he found her very attractive and said pretty girls were his weakness. Forbes also tried to kiss Miss Winters, and she had to slap him.Nathan admits that, and Peter goes on to say that it was Forbes' uncontrollable desire for Miss Winters that led him to help her and had nothing to do with witchcraft. Nathan says he doesn't know and thus Peter leaves doubt hanging in the air. Nathan and Vicki exchange looks as he leaves the witness box, hers of reproach, his of shame.

Peter calls Vicki to the stand. Clearly, calmly, she tells them she was born in 1946 (astounding the judges), was raised in a foundling home in New York, which she left in 1966 to work for the Collins family in the future. She describes how she was knocked unconscious (liar, Vicki!) Peter hands the Collins family history, dated 1965, to the judges. This, Peter says, explains her ability to know the future and proves she's telling the truth. The judges glance at this astounding evidence and look at the photographs, which Peter explains are taken by machine. Peter ends by asking Vicki is she's a witch, and she states, firmly, that she isn't.

Trask pounces in cross-examination, and before he's through, has Vicki admitting she was transported to the past during a seance, a ritual to conjure up the dead, and not for the first time, either.Trask hurls accusation that she innocent-faced Vicki is a child of the devil, that she admits to flying through time, calling up the dead. "She is a witch!" screams Trask, and Vicki screeches back, over and over, that she isn't.

Peter and Vicki await the verdict. The fact that it's taking a while is a good sign, says Peter, the judges must have doubt about her guilt. Vicki is scared; she doesn't want to die. Peter tells her that he loves her and she begs him not to; she might be executed or returned to her own time, and in either case, he'll probably never see her again. Peter holds her close and tells her that, no matter what her fate, he loves her. This is a nice scene.

Nathan venomously tells Trask that he never met a preacher, even a self-styled one, whose specialty is blackmail. Trask denies this charge--he was just trying to show him the error of his ways. Nathan says he feels like telling the judges how he was forced into his damning testimony against Vicki, but Trask reminds him that it would end everything--for Forbes. As the judges return to the bench, Nathan hisses to Trask that he hopes they free Vicki.
Unfortunately, the judges pronounce Victoria Winters guilty of witchcraft--she will be hung by the neck until dead! Vicki cries out, "No!" and faints into Peter's arms. Trask grins triumphantly.

NOTES:  Poor Vicki! She's certainly innocent, but thanks to Forbes, Angelique and Trask, she couldn't catch a break.


438 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past--back to the Collins family in the year 1795, back to a time the powers of darkness and superstition prevail over light and reason. In that perilous time, Victoria Winters has been accused and condemned as a witch.

Barnabas awakens to hear bad news from Ben--despite his best efforts at giving testimony providing the truth, Angelique showed up in the courtroom--Vicki Winters has been convicted of witchcraft and will hang! I couldn't help it, says Ben sadly, she appeared and I lost control of myself. Ben wonders why, and Barnabas says she did it because freeing Victoria Winters was something he wanted, and she'd be damned before letting him have any victories, even this one. Barnabas focuses on the hated MR Trask--he's going to get him for what he did to Miss Winters. Ben pleads with Barnabas to cease the violence; true, he's been lucky so far and hasn't been caught, but that luck could end.Barnabas intends to take care of Trask using his own weapon--fear--he'll let him live with terror, then give him a slow death! Barnabas thoroughly relishes this idea, although Ben is not happy to hear it.

Trask goes to Collinwood and ends up having heated words with Naomi. He's gloating over his victory in court; she says Peter just might come up with new evidence to overturn the decision. He wants the keys to the Old House, he says, so he can go get Miss Winters' belongings--her worldly goods must be destroyed. Naomi refuses, saying his presence disgusts her, so he lashes into her for choosing the "wrong" side--Satan over God!Furious, Naomi slaps him across the face (OH, THAT WAS SO GOOD!), then dares him to strike her back. She knows he wouldn't dare hit the mistress of Collinwood; he isn't that stupid, but he prefers abusing women who can't fight back, like Miss Winters! She orders Trask to get a search warrant for the Old House, but he reminds her that Joshua was displeased by her testifying and is sure he wouldn't like it if he had to get the search warrant by such means. Naomi reluctantly relents and tells Ben Stokes to take Trask to the Old House--and to stay with him until he leaves! Ben notes that it's getting dark, but Trask assures him he isn't afraid of that. Trask stands next to Barnabas' painting, pleased over his latest coup.

Ben sends Trask upstairs to Vicki's old room alone, then races to the basement door, which Barnabas has just exited. He warns him Trask is in the house, per Naomi's orders, and tells him what he's doing there.

Upstairs, heading to Vicki's room, Trask hears Ben talking to someone.

Barnabas orders Ben to remain with Trask; he'll stay in the basement. He locks the door.

Trask comes downstairs with a bundle and demands to know who Ben was talking to--was he communicating with the witch? Ben says he was just talking to himself, a habit he has.Trask gives Ben a speculative look, then leaves the Old House. Barnabas comes upstairs and, gazing evilly out the window, tells Ben Trask is in for a night he'll never forget. Trask goes to his lodgings and things begin to happen rapidly. As he unwraps the bundle of Vicki's belongings, he hears the sound of dragging chains. Exiting his room to see if anyone is out there, he hears a woman screaming and immediately runs back into his room. For a brief time, all sound ceases, then Barnabas' voice, calling "TRASK!" over and over, fills the room. The vampire?s voice, terrifying in its force, goes on, reminding Trask about his innocent victims, chained, tortured, miserable. He's a fraud, and he won't live to see Victoria Winters hang! Trask cries out that it's the witch and he refuses to be frightened (although he clearly is). He knocks the bundle to the floor, and after he picks it up, sees his reflection morph into that of a skull. Barnabas laughs, "Victoria Winters will live!" Trask orders the evil spirits to be banished as the chains and Barnabas' laughter continue. The skull disappears from the mirror, but blood runs down its surface. "Victoria Winters will live--you will die!" Barnabas' voice promises. A disembodied hand appears out of nowhere, twisting and turning, reaching for Trask. He tries to leave the room, but the door won't open. We see Barnabas' ring on that hand, and Trask is screaming, "Get away!" The hand disappears, and Trask, cowering on the floor, eyes wide with horror, hears, "It won't happen tonight, or tomorrow night, but soon, Trask, very soon, you will die!"

NOTES:  (I remember when I saw this ep for the first time, I was TERRIFIED! Barnabas was doing a terrific job of scaring Trask and the audience!)

Love, Robin

433 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past?back to the Collins family in the year 1795. In the midst of a long reign of evil and terror, Victoria Winters is forced to defend herself against a charge of witchcraft.

At Vicki's trial, Trask relates the tale of Abigail's death, emphasizing the unspeakable horror on her kind, gentle face (), as though confronted by EVIL itself! Victoria Winters used her powers to strike Abigail down! shouts Trask. Peter orders those remarks stricken from the record--Vicki might not have been a big fan of Abigail, but that doesn't mean she hated her enough to kill her. After Peter says Miss Collins died of a heart attack, Trask points out that she was in perfect health previously, a fact which the judge agrees to.However, there isn't enough evidence yet to charge Miss Winters with murder. Trask requests a recess so he can find a witness. When it's granted, he grins, pleased.

Vicki's cell - Peter tells Vicki he's concerned about all this; Trask is too confident. He asks Vicki with whom she might have discussed Abigail, but most of the people Vicki ticks off on her fingers are dead now. Grasping at straws, Peter asks if Ben could have murdered Abigail, but Vicki says no. Peter is scared--they need a good witness of their own to counteract Trask's actions.

At the gaol later, Peter and Vicki talk to Nathan Forbes, tell him of Abigail's demise and ask him to be a character witness for Vicki and assure the court she never said anything negative about Abigail. Nathan is reluctant, citing his falling-out with the Collins family (he doesn't give details), but he agrees to help them, or at least do his best.Trask listens to this conversation outside the cell door and is again smiling happily.

Back in the courtroom, Trask calls Vicki to the stand. Peter brings up the "innocent until proven guilty" rule and reminds the judges about her right not to incriminate herself, but the judge assures him those rights will be protected. Trask goes at Vicki with a vengeance, asking her if she HATED Abigail for suspecting her of witchcraft--did she hate her enough to KILL her? Peter objects. Vicki denies wanting to see Abigail dead. Trask offers Vicki's Zodiac charm bracelet into evidence (Trask calls it a symbol of the devil). He gets Vicki to admit it's hers and tells them it was found on poor Abigail's dead body; Peter reminds the court that they haven't really hooked Vicki up to that murder yet. Besides, Abigail had that bracelet in her possession long before her death. Then Trask drops the bomb and bring in Nathan Forbes, who walks past the defense unseeingly, to testify against Vicki! Peter, clearly angry and shocked, tells the judges that this was supposed to be THEIR witness. The judge asks Nathan if he was coerced in any, which he denies.With Trask asking the questions, Nathan says Vicki hated Abigail, threatened her, called her a religious fanatic, told him that, if she had the power, she would see her dead and buried. "That's not true!" screams Vicki, outraged and horrified, several times, throwing the courtroom into pandemonium. Peter, in cross-examination, reminds Forbes that he befriended and helped Vicki hide from Trask, bringing her food. Forbes insists he did this only to maintain his friendship with Barnabas, who believed Vicki innocent, but he, Forbes, didn't agree with him.Peter also brings out that Trask tied Miss Winters to a tree like an animal, which Trask described as "doing his duty to the Almighty." Nathan knew witchcraft was being practiced at Collinwood, and since Vicki was the last person to arrive, she was the most logical suspect. Vicki gazes in disbelief at Nathan and screams, "WHY?" Forbes exits the witness box after taking one last look at Vicki, who Peter has taken in his arms. You can't quite read his face, but Trask is grinning evilly, joyously.

NOTES:  We know that whatever happened between Nathan's agreement to testify for the defense and his testifying against Vicki, Trask got his mitts into Forbes and said something to change his mind. I'm sure we won't have to wait long to find out exactly what Trask said to bring Nathan over to his side, but we sure do hate the handsome Lieutenant for his betrayal, don't we? Oh, yeah!


434 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family in the year 1795. There, Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces, one of whom has just testified at Victoria Winters' trial for witchcraft, and in his testimony showed that she had both the motive and desire to kill the woman who had first accused her of being a witch.

Nathan stands at the desk in his quarter, telling himself not to feel sorry for Victoria Winters--he had to be selfish. Peter barges in and demands to know why Nathan lied. Nathan insists he didn't, that he simply decided he'd been wrong about Vicki.They go back and forth on this debate for some time. Peter encourages Nathan to come to the gaol and see her, but Forbes has no desire to see a woman crying. What happened in the two hours between his promise to testify on Vicki's behalf and your perjuring yourself? demands Peter. How are the Collinses bribing you? Nathan denies this--he's on bad terms with the family and he and Millicent have broken their engagement. Peter points out that the Collins family could jeopardize his job with the Navy, which would certainly be a motive for his lying. Before long, the two of them are physically brawling; Peter knocks Nathan to the floor. Nathan declares that Peter won the round, but lost the fight, and Peter retorts that they'd see the victor when Vicki is sentenced.

At Collinwood, Naomi and Joshua talk. He hasn't gone in to work, which she attributes to his grief about his sister--why doesn't he show it? He asks to be left alone, but she refuses. Abigail had no life, laments Naomi--a senseless death and a senseless life. Joshua objects to this, saying his sister had her family. She had the wrong values, says Naomi, and, unlike her brother, was a businesswoman without a business to run. She loved Joshua, but only tolerated the rest of them, Naomi continues. She would have liked to make Abigail's life fuller, happier. Perhaps she had a broken romance in her past. Joshua insists his sister knew her own mind. He declares Naomi too emotional, a poor judge of character (i.e., Vicki), and says he's going to the yards to see Trask. Naomi watches his gruff departure, smiling.

Trask promises Nathan that he will, as promised, talk to Joshua about him. He needs his job now that he's lost Millicent (Trask insists he knows nothing of physical love, but he must have had a kid somewhere, since there are Trasks in the future). Nathan reminds Trask he did the Collinses a favor by testifying against Vicki, and he believes Trask owes him.Trask takes this as blackmail, reminding Forbes he could have accused him of being the witch's accomplice, but Nathan smoothly reminds him the time for doing so has passed. Nathan strongly implies that if Trask doesn't do what he promised on his behalf, he might just consider Bradford's suggestion to change his testimony.

Trask speaks to Joshua and suggests that if he and Naomi testify against Miss Winters, on top of Nathan's testimony, it would pretty much ensure a conviction--and it would be what Abigail would have wanted. Joshua refuses--his family has given enough. Trask keeps pressing, reminding him that Nathan gave Miss Winters a motive for killing Abigail, and he really SHOULD withdraw his threat to speak to the Navy. . .or Miss Winters might not be punished--Forbes' testimony is that important to the case. At first, Joshua refuses to speak to Forbes, but when Trask reminds him that he isn't really doing anything to help convict Vicki, he reluctantly agrees to see him--out of respect for Abigail's memory, as Trask puts it. Joshua asks to see Nathan alone.

Nathan plays humble with Joshua, saying earnestly that losing Millicent is enough of a punishment for his lies. Let him keep his job, it's all he has, and he'll serve the Navy well in the future! He asks if Joshua didn't make mistakes as a young man, such as his unfortunate marriage. Sourly, Joshua interrupts--he didn't want to hear this tawdry story!He agrees not to write the disciplinary letter, but only if Nathan applies for a transfer and leaves Collinsport so he never has to see him again.

Collinwood foyer - Peter tells a distraught Naomi than Nathan lied at the trial, but she says she can't do anything to help. Then Vicki will die, says Peter. After Bradford leaves, Naomi is pouring herself a sherry when Joshua comes home and inquires sarcastically if this is what she's been doing all afternoon. She tells him that Nathan lied on the stand about Miss Winters, and Joshua knows damn well it isn't true. Vicki isn't a witch--and I am going to testify for her! Livid, Joshua orders her to stay in the house and sip sherry all day, but she is not to interfere.To hell with dignity, proclaims his wife, she's lost both her kids and has nothing but what little piece of him he allows her to share. When he threatens to lock her in her room, she informs him that she'll escape, testify and NOT COME BACK! She puts on her cloak, marches out the door and gets into the carriage while her husband shouts that she is his wife, she'd better come back, even following outside and shouting her name at the departing carriage.

NOTES:  HURRAY, NAOMI! Love that gumption, girl! You GO!

Love, Robin

429 - (Clarice Blackburn) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, Victoria Winters is helpless to alter the tragic events being acted out before her terror-stricken eyes.  Josette Collins, she knew, was destined to die a horrible and violent death.  And now it has come to pass.

Mausoleum secret room - Barnabas leaves his coffin and finds Ben waiting there.  Why have you stopped your work? The vampire demands.  I don't want you to come out and see what I'm doing, says Ben.  Why should I avoid the sight of an open plot of earth? demands Barnabas.  You know it's not an ordinary grave, says Ben hesitantly.  Are you afraid I would hate the sight of such an open plot of earth? asks Barnabas, his voice growing harsher--are you afraid I would take hold of such a man?--are you afraid I would grasp his throat and fling him into the earth?--Josette is dead!--how DARE you dig her grave?  Barnabas grabs his throat.  Ben struggles, gasping for breath.  Would you want anyone else to do this work? he asks Barnabas, who finally lets him go and, despairing, orders him to finish.  Stay inside, implores Ben. Is there a wind tonight? queries Barnabas--does it blow off the sea, through the trees, down the meadows?  Yes, says Ben.  Are there stars? Asks Barnabas.  It's dark, answers Ben.  Darkness will hide what must happen this night, says the vampire, pleased--why should anyone live when she is dead?--they all feared the plague--well, I will visit upon them a pestilence that will leave them nothing but the wish for a sudden and speedy death!--all I want is drestruction, blood, and death!Don't hurt innocent people, begs Ben.  Abruptly, Barnabas announces he wants to see Josette's body.  Ben reminds him gently how she died, and pleads with him not to look at her, to instead remember her as she was.  Was she wearing my ring? asks Barnabas.  Learning she was not, he says he must find it--she must be buried with it.  Ben tries to talk him out of this--Joshua saw Josette wearing the ring, and came to check Barnabas' body--and found the coffin empty.  So he knows, says Barnabas.  He knows nothing, says Ben, he assumed it was graverobbers.  Then he came back, explains Ben, and saw you in the coffin--now he thinks he imagined it all.  Then the danger is past, says Barnabas.  Never! Replies Ben--forget the ring, please!  It was my pledge to her, and hers to me, insists Barnabas stubbornly.

Collinwood, drawing room - Trask tells Abigail that the tragedies will continue to befall the Collins family as long as the witch lives.  She's angry the judge is prolonging the trial--could he possibly be under Miss Winters' influence? Trask doesn't think so--Bradford is the problem.  I have made repeated attempts to indicate his error, says Trask.  Make it clear to him that he cannot advance without the influence of our family, says Abigail.Trask decides to pay Bradford a visit.  I wish we could find that book, says Abigail, to save us all, we must bear much.  As Trask is exiting, Ben enters with a load of firewood.  I want you to testify how Vicki sent you to steal my hair ribbon, she says, but Ben insists Vicki wasn't responsible. You're lying! accuses Abigail--and while you're digging Josette's grave, consider its purpose--and reflect on what a return to the back-breaking labor in prison would do to him.  (such a mean, spiteful woman!)
Peter's place - He is reading through the Collins family history book when Trask comes calling.  I'm busy! shouts Peter.  I won't require more than a moment, says Trask. Peter hides his book under his coat on a chair, and lets Trask in, who immediately launches into the meagerness of Peter's home, the coldness, and the bare furniture.  Leave, says Peter.  You'll have no future if you defend Miss Winters, warns Trask--do you really want to incur the enmity of the Collins family?--continue living a life of squalor?--eating food barely fit for a swine?--wearing clothes that would disgrace a scarecrow?  (nice, Rev, but I think you look more like a scarecrow!)  Trask grabs hold of Peter's raunchy coat to emphasize his point, but Peter forces him to let it go.  The way I live is no concern of the Collins family, says Peter--you're a hypocrite!--isn't it a waste of one's life to destroy everything you don't understand?Trask is outraged by what he calls Peter's insolence.  Leave! Demands Peter.  Trask stalks out, infuriated.  Peter picks up the book, wraps it in cloth, and leaves his meager lodgings.

Cemetery - Peter buries the book.  Barnabas hears the sounds of digging and quietly calls, "Ben?"  Peter, startled, heads toward the mausoleum, asking who's there.  Barnabas retreats into the secret room.  Peter enters the outside room of the tomb just in time to spot the secret door closing shut.  When Ben comes in and Peter relates what happened, Ben assures him he just imagined it--and besides, you're on Collins property and you'd better leave.  After Peter leaves, Barnabas joins Ben and is agitated, sure Peter saw him--I must kill him! Insists Barnabas.  (the paranoia got an early start, didn't it?)  Peter is Vicki's only hope, points out Ben, and no danger to you.  Barnabas walks into the cemetery and stares down at the filled-in grave, his face rife with sadness.  I do not know what powers are mine or how far they reach into the dark, he says, but I promise I will summon their full force to call her back.  No! protests Ben, don't!  I have made my own dark conquest of the grave, says Barnabas, hers will be next--that I swear.

NOTES:  I guess in his misery, Barnabas wants only to bring Josette back to him, but he has no idea in what form she will return--if he even succeeds.  He is being very selfish now, and really should allow her rest after her earthly torment.  Ben is right.

Peter has buried the Collins family history book--is that a good thing or a bad thing?  Will it hurt or help Vicki?

Love the plotting of Abigail and Trask.  Some pretty hot stories have been written in fan fic about these two, believe it or not, presenting them as two randy people. Hard to believe, seeing them in these episodes.


430 - (KLS) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, Victoria Winters tried to prevent a tragedy from happening, a tragic death of a young girl.  But she could not.  Nor can she avert the flood or terror that will follow in its wake, for on this night, there is one who would summon the dead girl from her grave.

After the funeral, the others have departed, and Natalie, with Abigail standing sympathetically by, sobs over Josette's grave. Barnabas watches from the mausoleum, wondering if Josette still hates him, and determined to bring her back to him.The Countess asks Abigail to leave her alone, and as she places a small bouquet of flowers on the fresh grave, Natalie laments that she had such high hopes for her niece when they first came, but life was unkind to Josette. Now all she has left is despair. She hopes death will at least bring her peace. "Goodbye, my darling," sobs Natalie, and she prays. Ben comes and gently helps her to her feet; he's there to place the headstone. He liked Josette, he tells her, she was kind to him, and it could have been worse. . .Josette chose to die as she did, perhaps that was what she wanted. The church bells mournfully toll for Josette, and Ben escorts Natalie to the carriage.

Ben enters the tomb, where Barnabas sits on a coffin, places his hand on his shoulder and tells him it is done. "No!" cries Barnabas fiercely--I am going to bring her back!Ben calls this idea crazy, but Barnabas is determined--Angelique brought back Jeremiah, why can't he command the powers of darkness to do the same for Josette? Ben protests, reminding him Josette didn't want to come to him, didn't want to be what he was, she hated him! Let her spirit rest, begs Ben. Barnabas, growing steadily angrier, denies this, and finally tells Ben to shut up or he'll kill him.  (he used to treat him so kindly.) He orders him back to Collinwood. "GO!!!"  After Ben leaves, Barnabas kneels at Josette's grave and calls her to return to him. The air is filled with the sound of sobbing. He implores her to come back--"I love you. I need you. Return to me!" Josette wants to know why he has disturbed her rest--I cannot return to you!

At Collinwood, Abigail offers Natalie a brandy. She assures her the witch will pay, and laments that if others had listened, they might have prevented Josette's death, which doesn't much comfort Natalie. The wind blows the window open and when Natalie goes to close it, she hears the sound of sobbing--it's Josette, the Countess says, beginning to cry.
Barnabas refuses to let Josette go. They are lost to each other, she sadly tells him. Barnabas insists their love can span time and space, and orders her to come to the Old House, which was to have been their home, to her room, which was to have been their bridal chamber, and meet him there. Josette again begs him to leave her be, but he insists she obey him.

Natalie tells Abigail it was Josette's cries she heard--she sounds as if she's in trouble and needs her. She wants to go to the grave, but Abigail says it's her imagination.

In Josette's room at the Old House, Barnabas tells Josette's portrait that he's waiting for her--"Come to me." The earth over Josette's grave begins to churn and shift. We see a pair of white slippers and the hem of a white gown drifting through the cemetery. Barnabas continues to call to Josette, ordering her to come from the land of the dead. The white slippers ascend the Old House stairs. Barnabas notes how deadly silent the room is--the clock stopped! The door blows open and Josette, her face covered in a bridal veil, enters. He's pathetically happy to see her, but she doesn't feel the same. He forced her to come, and demands he keep his distance. She assures him she doesn't hate him, she's beyond all that. She feels nothing. He wanted them to be forever together, he says. He asks if she forgives him, and she replies there is nothing to forgive--they have gone to their respective fates. They can't be together, she says, and he must allow her to rest. He presses her to stay, relentlessly, and she finally lifts her veil to reveal her torn, tattered, hideously deformed face. Barnabas gasps, "No!"
NOTES:  Barnabas was totally selfish in this episode, and while I felt sorry for him, I thought he should have listened to what Josette was saying. The sight of her face must have driven home to him how self-centered he was being to bring her back and insist she stay.  Since he became a vampire, he behaves as if the world revolves around him--and I suppose he thought it did--but not anymore.

Love, Robin

425 - (Grayson Hall) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters  finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces. On this night, in a deserted old shack on the Collins estate, preparations are being made for a man and woman to be united in death as they never were in life.

Fishing shack - Ben builds a coffin, and a finished one stands nearby. Barnabas enters and expresses disappointment that he hasn't completed both. I'm leaving Collinwood, reveals Barnabas, and I will not be alone-I will have Josette with me. Ben is horrified to hear this, and reminds his master that he vowed to stay away from Josette. I tried to resists, says Barnabas, ashamed, but I could not. I thought you loved her! says Ben. I do, says Barnabas. Then how can you do such a cruel thing to her? asks Ben. Josette wants this, the vampire insists. No one would want this, asserts Ben, and I won't be party to it. You're my servant! Cries Barnabas, grabbing his throat, and I'll kill you if you don't obey! (throat grabs inherited by Julia from Ben.) Nearly strangled, Ben agrees to finish the coffin. Have a closed carriage here by midnight, orders Barnabas, to carry the coffins to the ship. He leaves. Ben decides he has to warn Natalie, but when he tries to go, he finds the door is locked. Angelique's laughter fills the air, and her face materializes in front of him.You will stay here, she commands-I would not let them be together in life, and I will not let them be together in death.

Josette's room - How do you feel? Natalie asks the young woman. Very relaxed, replies Josette--there is no need to worry. I will worry until this day is over, Natalie assures her--I am grateful none of the signs Miss Winters prophesied are coming true--no sign of a storm, and so   far, you've shown no signs of being despondent. The book is wrong, says Josette, I am very content. You'll be safe in two hours, when it is midnight, insists Natalie. I feel completely secure, says Josette, as if no power on earth could do me any harm, and I'm under the protection of a powerful force. Confused, Natalie asks Josette if she left the house voluntarily the previous night.  Josette denies being with anyone. Why did you go to the Old House? asks Natalie-there is nothing but tragic memories for you there. That's not completely true, says Josette-not anymore.  What caused your collapse? asks Natalie--why were you calling for Barnabas?You wouldn't understand, says Josette softly, noticing that her ring is missing. Her agitation ignites Natalie's; her aunt realizes the prophecy is starting to come true. I must go to the Old House to look for my ring! declares Josette, climbing out of bed--Barnabas will expect me to have the ring. This statement horrifies Natalie, who tries to stop her. They struggle, overturning a small table, breaking the lamp that was on top of it. "The sound of glass shattering," remembers Natalie, who glances at the sky and is aghast to see storm clouds beginning to gather, obscuring the moon. The door blows open, terrifying both women. Natalie runs to close it, stepping out into the hall a moment to call to Riggs.  The wind blows the door shut behind her, leaving her in the hallway and Josette still inside. Neither woman can force it open. Josette moves away from the door, oblivious to her aunt. A dreamy expression on her face, she opens her music box and listens to the tune. She hears Barnabas summoning her, and she apologizes to him for losing his ring. I found it, his voice tells her--meet me at Widows' Hill--leave through the secret panel and come to Widows' Hill. She does as she's told and leaves. For a moment, a laughing Angelique appears.

Fishing shack - The two completed coffins please Barnabas, who asks if the carriage is ready.  Aye, says Ben, leaving to get it. Barnabas hears Josette's voice calling his name, asking him to meet her on Widows' Hill. He realizes it's Angelique using his beloved's voice. What are you planning to do? he cries--no, Josette, don't go to the cliff!

Riggs has finally forced open the door to Josette's room. Natalie is horrified to find it empty.  Spying the open secret panel, she takes a candle into her hand and steps inside.

Widows' Hill - Josette searches for Barnabas. Laughing, Angelique assures her that Barnabas is coming soon. Frightened, Josette asks her former maid why she has returned. Sarcastically, Angelique replies that she was always a loyal servant to her--I have returned to warn you, to show you what will happen to you after you go away with Barnabas--he is evil, Josette! "That's not true!" wails Josette-"Barnabas loves me!" If he loved you, mocks Angelique, he would have told you that he plans to change you into the monstrous thing he has become--he is planning to kill you, and after you are dead, he will bring you back to life-but then, you will no longer be the beautiful creature you are now--he will have transformed you into a grotesque, blood-thirsty animal." STOP! begs Josette. "Look over the cliff," bids Angelique, "and see yourself as you will become--go on, Josette, look into the future and see how you will change!"Josette covers her face with her hands, unable to bear it, but is compelled to look up and see the apparition appearing before her--herself, dressed in the clothing of the grave, her face, so pale, eyes sunken, cheeks gaunt, her mouth hanging open to reveal long fangs and a thin trickle of blood on her mouth. "TAKE IT AWAY!" screams Josette, but Angelique urges her to keep looking at it--"That is what Barnabas will do to you!" Barnabas comes up behind Josette, calling her name. She turns to see him and orders him to stay away--"Don't come near me! I know what you are--I know what you are! Don't come near me! Don't touch me! I don't want to be what you've become--I don't want that to happen-please, I'd rather die before I'd let that happen! He lurches forward and grabs hold of her. Too close to the edge of the cliff, they struggle. Josette breaks away and backs away from Barnabas, finally turning to step over the edge of the cliff. Her long, wailing scream fades and is abruptly cut off.Barnabas, gazing down, shrieks her name, over and over, agony in his voice.  Angelique's laughter, high and crazed, fills the air, mocking him.

NOTES: A pivotal episode, of course. This more or less matches the story Barnabas told Carolyn and Vicki one stormy night at Collinwood. Josette was running and he was running after her. Of course, there is no mention of Angelique, because she had not yet been thought of. Josette said she would rather die than become what Barnabas was, and so she made her choice to take her life. How cruel Angelique was in death, first forcing Barnabas to remain a vampire, then robbing him of the one person with whom he wanted to share a vampire eternity. One wonders how he could possibly have admitted to loving her in 1840, but we have to assume things had changed drastically by then.

I feel sorry for Ben. He's trying to do the right thing and knows it's wrong for Barnabas to turn Josette, but he's also his servant. I think it's safe to say that the human Barnabas would never have grabbed Ben's throat as he did in this episode, and it's sad to see Barnabas' kinder feelings eroding in this new state.

Pretty wonderful episode, and another sad ending for Barnabas' hopes for happiness, even after death.


426 - (Nancy Barrett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces. And this night, a night which began with bright moonlight, has turned dark. And a woman has thrown herself from a cliff, the victim of a witch's curse. The agony is over for her, but just beginning for those she has left behind.

Mausoleum - A numb Barnabas stumbles in and tells Ben what happened. I couldn't stop it, he says brokenly, she stood on Widows' Hill--I heard the ocean pounding the rocks below--she turned, ran from me. . .she died, hating me." It was the curse, Ben says, trying to assuage his master's guilt.In despair, Barnabas describes how he saw Josette's crushed body on the rocks below--she is gone from me, and I have eternity without her. Ben suggests that Josette might return to him on earth. She died by her own choice and will not return--no one who loves me shall live, declares Barnabas--that was the curse. Sensing his dead wife's presence, he shouts, I will end the curse--you will kill no one else that I love-do you hear me? I will go to my father and let him do what must be done. The gate clangs shut, Angelique's cruel laughter echoing through the tomb.  Barnabas tears at the bars, screaming to Angelique, Are you determined to keep me in this hell you have consigned me to?--Have you no pity?--I know you will not let me die--I will never love anyone again--you need kill no one else!--I will never show love for another human being again!-Your curse is over!--go back to your grave! The gate swings open, creaking, slowly, and Barnabas orders Ben not to follow him--"If this is the way eternity is to be, it can begin." He walks away from the mausoleum as Angelique continues to laugh at him.

Collinwood, drawing room - Naomi reports to her husband that Natalie cried herself to sleep--I loved Josette since the day she came here--she was exactly the kind of young lady I would have chosen for Barnabas. Don't think about Barnabas, urges Joshua. There's no name I can mention that does not have grief attached to it, mourns Naomi mournfully. They expected death in the war, but that is over, says Joshua--we are at war with the powers of darkness. Naomi refuses to believe that witchcraft was responsible for what happened. Millicent comes in, black flowers twined in her hair. When Joshua tells her of Josette's death, she seems emotionless, and says, "At least she died loving Barnabas." Naomi is shocked at this statement, but Millicent says that she herself would like her last thought to be of love. Men change, says Millicent, and seldom for the better. Are you feeling well? queries Naomi. "The more one learns, the worse one feels, says Millicent, I did not realize life was like that--probably a well-known fact no one bothered to tell me." Is Nathan coming over? Asks Naomi. He is not welcome tonight, says Millicent. Forbes is grieving for his own loss, points out Joshua. "Men's minds contain their secrets much better than men's don't you think? asks Millicent, who then leaves to take a walk. Her parting shot: I love the night--the darkness lets you see only what you want." Walking at night isn't safe, warns Naomi, but this doesn't deter Millicent, who leaves anyway. Joshua refuses to follow her despite Naomi's request that he do so; he says that death affects each of them differently--Millicent will be back shortly.

Cemetery - Barnabas kneels by Jeremiah's grave, his face filled with sorrow. "I am glad you cannot see me now," he says-now Josette will lie beside you-the husband she did not love-you will be together in death as you never were in life-the choice was not your own." He rises. Millicent calls his name, walks up to him, asks for a favor, but he never says a word. Ben calls to her; when she turns to look at him, Barnabas disappears, confusing and astonishing Millicent. Barnabas is away, Ben reminds her, but she insists Barnabas has returned--perhaps no one bothered to tell her about it, she adds peevishly. I should take you home, says Ben. I have not done what I came here to do, she says, choose my last resting place. She enters the mausoleum. It's not what I would have chosen, she says, but then I can't think of what would be ideal. She decides she'd like to be buried beside Sarah, "Because we both lived very little." Remember that, she says, and have today's date marked on the stone--no matter how long I may live, I died this day--I want Nathan to know that. (poor Millicent, you're a bastard, Nathan!)Ben doesn't comprehend her prattling.  Barnabas will, she assures him. He again tries to convince her she didn't see Barnabas-perhaps she saw a ghost. Barnabas is not dead, she reminds him. (whoops, Ben!) When he tries to argue with her, she reminds him he's a servant. Don't speak of what you saw, cautions Ben. She giggles, saying that he's a man and is trying to deceive her--bitterly, she asks if her reputation for gullibility has reached even him. She cries about her shame, then wonders if Barnabas ran from her because he thought her a ghost. She thanks Ben for showing her the tomb and leaves.

Drawing room - I've written to Andre about Josette's death, Joshua tells Naomi. He shows her the deposition for Miss Winter's trial--Abigail will represent the family there, which begins the next day.  Naomi wants to testify, but Joshua forbids it--Abigail will be the only Collins at this trial! He worries Naomi will become hysterical if she testifies, creating a public disgrace.Naomi insists.  "You are my wife (goodbye city life?)--you will obey me," commands Joshua. Millicent enters and asks for Barnabas. He's in England, says a nonplused Joshua. Surprised, Millicent says she thought they would want someone to defend her honor, and Barnabas had the dueling experience--I saw him at Jeremiah's grave. You're ill, says Joshua, and asks Naomi to take her upstairs. I have been ill all my life, says Millicent, sounding loony, but I've never been alone until now--Barnabas must kill Nathan--I suppose it would be in the course of a technicality, like a duel, but he must kill him--Nathan was married!--Suki was Nathan's wife!She bursts into tears.  Barnabas MUST defend her, Daniel isn't old enough--why did Barnabas run from her?--even Ben denied seeing him--they must punish Ben for lying to her--and if you have not seen Barnabas, and I have, then someone must find out why. Yes, agrees Joshua, someone must find out why. Outside, dogs howl.

NOTES: Outstanding Barrett performance today. Sad seeing Barnabas apologizing to Jeremiah for what happened, mourning that he and Josette will lie together in death when they didn't love each other in life.

Millicent sounds as if she's truly losing it. Finding out about Nathan's betrayal has sent the already-fragile heiress over the edge, and she will teeter there for quite some time.

Love, Robin

421 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces.  On this night, one man, living though dead, cannot resist his desire to see the woman he loves, a woman who still waits for him to rise and come to her, regardless of what horror and grief his coming may bring.

We see the bite again, but Josette is in a different nightdress and Barnabas bites her on the opposite side of her throat.  It was still a great scene.

Josette lies in bed, looking as sated as a new bride on the morning after her wedding night. Her pulse beats hard under the puncture wounds Barnabas left on her throat. Natalie knocks at the door and Josette quickly covers the marks with a scarf. Natalie comes in and starts to open the drapes, but Josette tells her not to--too much light. Natalie is puzzled by Josette's behavior, languid yet joyous, talking about how, after the day, night comes.The Countess, concerned, observes how pale she is.  She tells her niece a story about having a tea party with the servants and Ben's unwanted attentions toward her. When Josette doesn't react to these bizarre stories, Natalie is even more upset. She's happy, Josette insists, but her alarmed aunt says she wants them to make arrangements to go, to meet Andre in New York right away. Josette refuses to go, and Natalie guesses, "Barnabas--you're still waiting for him. Or has he already come?" Josette reminds her that Natalie said Barnabas was dead, but Natalie mutters something about witchcraft and how fantasies become reality at Collinwood. There's nothing you can do, Josette tells her distraught aunt, and after Natalie leaves, she closes the drapes, lies down and contemplates the heady joys she must have found in Barnabas' arms the previous night.

Natalie goes to the Gaol to see Vicki, and with Peter (who Vicki assures Natalie is her friend) standing by, listening, promises her anything--money, freedom--if she'll just release Josette from the spell she's put her under. Once again, Vicki denies weaving any spells, but Natalie doesn't believe her, accusing her of putting Josette under a spell so her prophecy about Josette's death will come true.Josette has refused to leave, frets Natalie, who asks to see the book so she can prevent the young woman's death herself. Vicki tells the shocked Countess that Josette jumped from Widows' Hill and describes the events of that evening--Josette was serene, happy. She lost a ring, gold with a black onyx stone. Glass shattered, doors blew open, and a great sound echoed through the house. Natalie says Josette doesn't own a ring like that and accuses Vicki of working with Satan and refusing to help save Josette. Vicki denies this, but Natalie's parting shot is, "Tell your master I will save Josette,"--even if it means my own end.

Peter is annoyed that Vicki keeps sacrificing herself to help these people. They'll use all this at her trial, he warns. She insists she feels if she keeps being honest, it will help her, and says she can't understand their behavior--people in her time don't believe in witches!Peter asks Vicki how she would react if someone from the 21st century came to her in 1968 and told her her own future. Vicki admits she would think that person crazy, and wouldn't understand-- exactly the way the Countess reacted. It suddenly (finally!) hits her what he's trying to say, and she calls herself a fool.  Peter and Vicki begin to talk about more romantic issues. He wants her to stay, and wonders if she has ever thought about it. Yes, she confesses, but can't imagine living out her life here. Does she have any siblings, or a fiance, questions Peter, and she explains her fiance was killed in a plane accident. When she tries to describe an airplane to him, a machine that flies people through the air, he smiles and says she IS crazy. She grins back--there's so much he doesn't know, but when he asks if she's making fun of him, she assures him she isn't. Stay, says Peter, and she says he almost makes her wish that. They kiss, and she seems to like his kissing her far more than she ever liked Burke.  "You're just a girl," he says. "I'll make you forget the rest."  (?)

Nightfall. Josette locks herself in her room, and she's thrilled when Barnabas enters through the secret panel. Does you hate me, he asks?-I was almost afraid to face you again. She assures him she loves him. He tries one more time to talk her out of her decision, reminding her of the life they will have to lead--can she give up her family and friends, live a secret life, afraid of even a knock at the door, the risks, a life of chance? Yes, she assures him. The only thing she fears is his telling her he doesn't love her, but he promises her that isn't true. They love each other, she reminds him, and she trusts him. She will be different, as he is, Barnabas points out, does she understand that?She realizes he is dead, yet alive, she says. No ceremony can make her more his wife, Josette says, her eyes gleaming, a smile of joy on her lips.  Barnabas slips his onxy ring off his own finger and places it on Josette's. She hugs him, ecstatic.  Natalie knocks at the door. Barnabas hurriedly tells Josette to meet him at the Old House later. Josette opens the door to let Natalie in.  Her aunt heard her talking to someone and was worried, but she can see no one is there. Then Natalie spots the ring on her niece's finger and gasps. "Where did you get it--you must tell me!" the Countess demands.

NOTES:  FABULOUS EPISODE, and wasn't that a nice "wedding" ceremony between Barnabas and Josette? Well, it's as close as they ever got, isn't it?


422 - (Grayson Hall) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces-faces now hostile and suspicious because of her special knowledge of what is destined to happen.  The death, for instance, of a young woman whose doom will be preceded by the loss of a certain ring.

Josette refuses to tell her aunt anything about the ring, and says Vicki's prophecy is absurd-nothing is going to happen.  When Natalie demands again to know where she got the ring, Josette merely says, perhaps from Mama.  Although Natalie insists they return to Martinique immediately, Josette refuses.  It's almost as though you don't want to save yourself, laments Natalie.I'll be all right, Josette assures her.  Barnabas is dead, insists Natalie, and won't return-you can't waste your life grieving for the dead!  I am not grieving, not anymore, says Josette.  Then there is nothing to keep you here, says Natalie.  There is nothing that can make me leave, counters Josette-it's my own life and I will live it here at Collinwood.  If there are forces preparing a special destiny for me, they will find me here-for now, I'd like to be alone.  Natalie reluctantly complies.

Foyer - Natalie gazes at Barnabas' portrait, focusing specifically on the ring.She remembers when she saw his ghost and wishes she could see it again, to plead with him to help Josette.  Joshua enters and explains to Natalie that Barnabas planned to give his ring to his wife-but fortunately that never happened-although I'm sure Angelique had her sights set for it.  Was the ring unique or part of a set? Queries the Countess.  Our jewelry, like our pride and ambition, is without equal, he replies.  Josette wanders downstairs, appearing to be sleepwalking, murmuring something about going out for fresh air.  She suddenly faints.  Joshua shouts for Riggs to get some brandy, then spots the ring on Josette's finger.  He's astonished.  Barnabas must have given it to her, suggests Natalie, but Joshua, shocked, whispers that it's impossible-Barnabas was buried with that ring?

In the corridor outside Josette's room, Natalie instructs Riggs neither to let anyone into Josette's room not let her niece leave.

Foyer - Natalie attempts to discuss the ring with Joshua, but he pays no attention to her, and hastily leaves the house.

Josette's room - Remembering her promise to go to Barnabas, Josette shouts for her aunt.  I've been instructed not to let you out, Riggs tells her.  I'll have you dismissed, she threatens, but Riggs just ignores her.  She searches for the secret panel, then pounds on the door, screaming to be released.  The panel opens behind her and Barnabas enters."They tried to keep us apart, she tells him--nothing can keep us apart, ever again.  This night will fulfill all my longings."  She asks him if he's come to take her away.  Yes, he says.  Then come-let us go and never return, she says.  Never, agrees Barnabas.  Show me the way and I will follow, she murmurs.  It is a road with no return, warns Barnabas, a world of darkness.  Lit only by our love, says Josette-we will share eternity together.  Yes, eternity, agrees Barnabas.  Are you certain? He asks, it's not too late-you can still be free of me-you can have life, find love, perhaps, in the world of light and the living.  The time for questions is long past, she says-I don't want to be free of you-I'm yours-I must go with you, not to death and darkness, but to a world of unending joy-come take my hand and we will go together.  They clasp hands and enter the corridor beyond the secret panel.  Barnabas closes the door behind them.

Mausoleum.  Joshua enters, pausing for a sad moment before Sarah's grave before entering the secret room.  I saw the ring on Barnabas' hand before I closed the coffin, he remembers-who would dare defile the dead?  He gazes down at the coffin, thinking, "I never gave you love, but I wanted at least to give you peace."  He vows revenge if someone has disturbed his son's rest.  He lifts the lid of the coffin and stares in horror at its empty interior.
NOTES:  Joshua now knows something weird has happened, but is probably thinking graverobbers.  How sad for this poor man to have to visit his son and daughter in their graves.

Romantic moments between Josette and Barnabas-but does she have a clue about what will be expected of her?  She's a woman in love, does she realize she must die to be with Barnabas-and live forever as a vampire?

Love, Robin.

417 - (KLS) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces.  One member of the Collins family has been cursed and must walk the earth as one of the living dead.  He seeks to end the curse, and after this night, perhaps he will.

Ben tells Barnabas he's afraid to destroy him, but Barnabas reminds him it would be giving him the gift of peace, which he longs for, and would be his only salvation. Ben promises, and also swears he'll help Vicki. Barnabas has told him where to find money and asks him to keep the rest, start a new life for himself and forget all the horror that has transpired. He also, heartbreakingly, asks Ben to remember the good about him. Barnabas wonders how it will be, to know no more sun or moonlight, but Ben advises him to think of nothing. When Ben mentions that Josette will only remember the good about him, Barnabas decides he must see her once more before the end. Ben tries to discourage this--what if Barnabas does something to her, as he did to the woman murdered the night before? That won't happen, promises Barn, but Ben continues to make his case against seeing Josette again, and Barnabas curtly sends him away. Josette sleeps. Barnabas enters her room, first as a bat, then transforms into himself. He gazes at her, says goodbye, and even as he's cautioning himself, moves closer. The door opens and before he can take action, Natalie, gasping, has spotted him!He immediately dematerializes before her eyes. Josette awakens to find her flustered aunt standing there. Natalie insists they must immediately leave Collinwood, but Josette insists she's going to wait--her lifetime, if necessary--for Barnabas to fulfill his promise to return to her. If Natalie wants to return to Martinique, fine, but Josette is staying!

Natalie changes tactics and comes up with another idea--isn't Josette afraid of the prophecy of her death, especially after Sarah? Yes, but she's willing to wait and die, says Josette. Natalie comes up with yet another story: she's scared--she read the Tarot and she, the Countess, is going to die! So that means BOTH of them are in danger!Natalie is going to die if she remains at Collinwood and she refuses to leave without Josette. Josette reluctantly agrees to leave as soon as possible, but it's apparent she doesn't want to and is only doing so to save her aunt. Natalie is relieved. So is Ben, later, when Josette meets him on the terrace and she tells him they're going back to Martinique.  Ben is staring at her (probably checking for signs of vampire attack), which she notices, but he says he's just worried about her. They discuss the women who were attacked in town and he reminds her the house is an unhappy place. She doesn't want to leave, she says, citing Barnabas' promise to return to her and her feeling that he's very close by, but he says Barnabas is dead, and that's all there is to it, and her feelings of closeness to the man she loves are all in her imagination. Leaving Collinwood is the best thing for her, and she says she knows she has to.

Josette, heading up to get some sleep as dawn approaches, hears soft laughter, but Ben doesn't. It's time for his grisly task of destroying his good friend.

Ben enters the secret room and opens the casket in which Barnabas slumbers. After a false start in which he has to get his courage up, he places the stake over the vampire's heart and is about to hammer it home when he hears a woman's cackling laughter. "Stop it!" demands Ben, and after a few moments, it does. Angelique's face suddenly appears, growing larger. She's laughing. She tells Ben she isn't going to allow him to end her curse, and to prove it, causes his stake to disappear.She still has power over him, she declares, and orders him to go. The secret door opens by itself, and Ben runs in out, terror-stricken, from the laughing visage. Angelique's head hovers over Barnabas as she warns him that her curse will be carried out. "You'll never escape the curse," she says with glee, "nor shall your Josette!" Her head grows larger and her triumphant laughter fills the room, growing louder and more maniacal.

NOTES:  Although Angelique did try to prevent Barnabas from rising as a vampire, I would assume she's pissed enough over being murdered by him to insists that her curse remain in place.  Poor Ben, he wants nothing more than to be free of her, but she won't let him go, not now, and one assumes, not ever.


418 - (KLS) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces, swept along with the entire Collins ancestry in a terrifying tide of inhuman horror--the effects of which will haunt even the present.

Barnabas awakens in his coffin, and upon realizing he was not destroyed, grabs Ben's throat in fury. He attempts to strangle him more than once before poor Ben can explain that Angelique appeared and prevented him from destroying him as he'd requested. Realizing that, even dead, his witch-wife will continue to torment him, Barnabas is despondent. Ben tells him that Angelique is determined that the curse be carried out, and Sarah's death is the first sign of it. Barnabas wars with himself over seeing Josette again; as much as he realizes that he can't trust himself, he still wants to be with her. Ben tells him that Josette remembers Barnabas' promise to return to her, and when he saw her earlier, she said she feels his presence.This immediately resurrects Barnabas' passion for his beloved Josette, and he decides he MUST see her again--he craves her love. Ben tells him Josette is returning to Martinique, for her own safety, and hopefully, to prevent the curse from coming true. Though the human Barnabas agrees this would be best, the other part of him disagrees. Barnabas says he's going out to wherever the night takes him (not Josette), and closes Ben in the secret room. Angelique's head appears again, laughing at Ben. Her curse will be fulfilled, she assures him; if Barnabas won't go to Josette, Josette will come to him! She speaks Josette's name, first in her own voice, then it changes over to Barnabas'. Angelique's floating head appears over Josette's bed, where the young woman is sleeping.  "Surrender yourself to me," intones Angelique, "and you'll have your greatest wish." In her sleep, Josette hears Barn calling to her and responds by calling his name.
Josette dreams a dream conjured up by Angelique, who beckons and taunts her; she is led by the witch (only in shadow, so she doesn't know who it is) to the mausoleum. This is where she will find her beloved Barnabas! "See and remember," chants Angelique, and Josette awakens with a scream.

Josette hears Barnabas' voice calling her and hurries out of bed. She meets Ben in the woods, who at first tries to offer to take her home, and discourages, then begs, her from going to the cemetery, where he tells her she is now headed. Angelique's laughing head appears again when Ben is about to tell Josette whose voice she is REALLY hearing,but what comes from his mouth is, "The wind in the woods." Josette asks him to come with her, but, under Angelique's power again, he refuses, and tells her to just go on where she was going. Angelique smirks as Josette complains of the chill in the air and Ben leaves her alone. Josette wonders why she's following a dream, but keeps going, into the mausoleum. She reads Sarah's plaque, hears a noise, wheels around, and finds herself face to face with Barnabas!
Josette is stunned and happy to find him, but Barnabas is not; when she tells him she heard his voice, calling her, he denies it. He begs her to leave, go far away. He walks away, to the other side of the tomb; she pursues him. She's in danger, she must leave, he implores. She's puzzled, she knows he loves her, they both have suffered so, he promised to return to her, and now he has! He says there are powers over them they can't control; she agrees--their love for each other! He backs away from her, but she assures him she isn't afraid--take me and hold me in you arms, Josette pleads. She reaches out to him, and Barnabas, overcome, gathers her in his embrace and, as she murmurs that she is, at last, safe, he moves her hair away from her throat and prepares to sink in his fangs. . .

NOTES:  POWERFUL STUFF!

Love, Robin

413 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces.  The terror that has plagued the Collins family now has spread to the village of Collinsport itself.  Held captive on a charge of witchcraft, Victoria Winters is the one person who knows that this is the beginning of a 200-year-old nightmare.

Collinsport Gaol - Peter tells Vicki he wants to tell Trask the truth--that he released her to go to Collinwood. Otherwise, Vicki will be convicted, the way things stand now. Vicki fears this will land Peter in more trouble than she's in, and the unselfishness they're displaying makes it obvious these two young people are starting to care about each other.
You're very special, she says, doing what you think is right, no matter what others think. We're two worlds apart, says Vicki.  Peter says he's glad she's in his, and seems sorry to hear her say she badly wants to return to her own world. He asks if there's someone special in her life in the future, but she prefers not to discuss it. She has no idea how she was transported 200 years in the future, but she's very grateful to him, and kisses his cheek to show it. Wow, you must be from the future, marvels Peter, because women in his time wouldn't do THAT!  He assures her he liked it. (Hey, they had prostitutes who I'm sure would do much more!)

Peter tells Vicki he's been reading the Collins family history book, and she suddenly remembers that Sarah's 11th birthday is two days off, and that, according to the book, she dies of exposure on her 11th birthday!  (I thought it was 10th, but why quibble?)  Sarah must be kept inside until after her birthday, says Vicki, or she'll die.  She asks Peter to bring Naomi to see her so she can warn her--and tell her it's a matter of life and death if necessary!

Collinwood foyer - Sarah comes downstairs and asks her mother where Josette is. She went into town, says Naomi. I made her a candle to cheer her up, says the little girl-Josette can light it and bring Barnabas, who the child is sure she still loves, home. Sadly, Sarah tells her mother SHE misses Barnabas, too, and wants to see him. Naomi, a catch in her voice, tells her daughter that Sarah won't see Barnabas for a long time, perhaps not until she's grown (perhaps, Naomi was implying, when Sarah has a child who might resemble her brother?) Sarah says she'll light the candle in Josette's window and bring her brother back-soon.  Naomi, wishing it could happen as much as her daughter does, looks miserably after Sarah, who runs defiantly.
Ben enters the tomb as Barnabas is rising, and comes into the secret room. He advises Barnabas against going to the village again; there's a lot of ruckus as a result of his attacks on the women--he's taking chances and might get caught. Barnabas reminds Ben that this isn't his choice; it's necessary for his survival! Barnabas tells Ben he's going to keep his promise to Josette and return to her. Ben cautions him against doing this; it might shock her too much to actually see him return from the dead. Barnabas feels she'll be expecting him, but agrees that perhaps a more gradual preparation would be a better idea--he'll leave her something that will let her know his return is imminent.
Naomi goes to see Vicki at the gaol. She's unhappy to hear that Josette told her about Barnabas' death, and explains about Joshua's insistence that the story about their son going to England be the accepted story.  Poor Naomi is stunned to hear about this mysterious Collins history, and seems on the verge of believing Vicki is a witch when she starts warning her about keeping Sarah inside the house until after her 11th birthday, but Vicki points out that whether she's a witch or not, or whether the book is true or not, it won't do any harm to keep Sarah inside for a couple of days. Naomi sees the love Vicki has for her daughter and decides to trust her and do as Vicki suggests--to the latter's great relief. Naomi also asks if the book predicted Barnabas' death.  No, says Vicki, and explains the history said he went to England.

Sarah is about to light the candle in Josette's window when she peers outside and sees Barnabas looking up at her! Sarah calls to him, but he quickly recedes into the shadows, not wanting her to see him. Sarah races downstairs, intent on finding him, and Barnabas hurries away-she mustn't see him! Sarah asks why he's running away and begs him to come back.
Naomi, leaving the gaol, asks Peter about the book. It exists, he says, he's seen it. Naomi, unaware that it is already too late, is anxious to get back to Sarah, and he escorts her back to Collinwood.

Sarah walks through the cemetery, searching for her brother. She approaches the mausoleum and calls to him through the gate. I'm cold and scared, pleads Sarah, and when she gets no answer, says, "I'm coming in to find you!" Sarah enters the mausoleum and looks around.

NOTES:  Not as much high drama and excitement as the last few days' episodes, but we do need a breather, don't we? This is going to be sad, folks. Prepare yourselves with tissues again.  Would it have saved Sarah if they'd told her he was dead, or would she have refused to believe it and chased after what appeared to be her brother, anyway?


414 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795.  There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces.  On this dark, mysterious night, a child has run from the house following her missing brother-he must escape her, lest she find out his terrible secret.

At the mausoleum, Sarah petulantly accuses Barnabas of hiding from her. The gate closes, locking the child in.
At Collinwood, Millicent gushes to Nathan how much she appreciates his showing her the eclipse, even if it WAS really late. They discuss Barnabas' odd, hasty departure for England, and he takes her in his arms. She blathers on about a sense of humor being a character defect, according to her lawyer, banker and broker, and he insists they're just in love with her themselves. She says he makes her feel scared (probably all that passion). He stuns her (and himself) by asking her to marry him, confessing his honorable intentions surprised him as much as her.  She says she shouldn't accept as quickly as she does, and says yes, then squawks when he tries to kiss her. They must be even more proprietary now that they're engaged, insists the daffy heiress. He will probably leave the Navy so they can be together always, and so she doesn't have to follow him to ports where she might contract God know what illnesses, but he will find suitable employment, even if it does take time. (Translation: we'll live on your money, which I will squander.  I will gamble, booze it up and cheat on you as often as possible.  When did Nathan become such a bad, if cute, guy?)  He promises her a wonderful life and gives her a big smooch, but they dart apart upon hearing Naomi calling for Sarah.

Sarah rattles the gate. "Let me out!" she cries.

Nathan offers to get Riggs and Ben and search for Sarah.  Millicent remarks on how masterful Nathan is, and Naomi fears Joshua's wrath when he returns from Portsmouth and finds out their daughter is missing.  She's sorry she ever left to go to town, and tells Millicent about what Miss Winters told her about Sarah dying on her birthday.Millicent thinks the witch is cruel for saying such a thing, but Naomi insists Vicki isn't a witch, that she told her in order to save Sarah.  Millicent suggests Miss Winters cast a spell on Sarah so she would already be gone by the time Naomi returned, a statement which shocks Naomi. "I think more than people give me credit for," Millicent pouts. (LOL!)  Unable to bear just waiting around any longer, Naomi joins the search.

Sarah sits against the mausoleum wall, weakly begging Barnabas to find her.

Barnabas goes to the docks, where he meets the flirtatious, heavily make-up Ruby Tate. She recognizes him, and they flirt. Since the married man she was expecting to meet didn't show up, Barnabas is certainly an excellent substitute, purrs Ruby, although I do wonder why you're staring at me like that.  (hungry!)She clasps his arm and says she can't wait for her friends at the Eagle to see her with Barnabas Collins! No one must know they met, he says, still gazing raptly at her. He makes a half-hearted attempt to leave without harming her, but she insists that he stay, and melts against his chest. This gives him a good opportunity to munch on her throat, and he attempts to fang her, but she realizes something isn't right, and backs away. "You're the one!" she cries.  She backs away from him, then topples into the water. "RUBY!" screams Barnabas, but she's gone, presumably drowned.

Millicent and Nathan meet in the foggy woods.  She tells him Naomi is out searching, too. Collinwood and all its inhabitants are cursed, laments Millicent, and I'm frightened. Everyone who tried to love and be loved--Angelique, Josette, the whole lot of them--ended up miserable. She doesn't want them to have a similar fate! It's thundering.

Millicent asks Nathan if he searched the graveyard, but he is sure Sarah would be too scared to go there (shows how much he knows about kids).

Barnabas kneels before Jeremiah's tombstone and tells him how ironic it is--they used to laugh at others' follies, but they were both the true fools, both killed by Angelique. Jeremiah was more fortunate--at least he is a ghost who will eventually find rest. Not so Barnabas, mouth stained with blood, doomed to roam eternity as this creature he's become. He groans aloud in despair; Millicent hears the pitiful sound and asks Nathan what it was. A dog, he says. Barnabas enters the mausoleum and is startled when Sarah pops up and joyfully calls him. He tries to keep his back to her as she begs her big brother to take her home; she's so tired! He tries to tell her he can't, and she can't tell anyone she saw him, but when he turns and she sees his bloody mouth, she cries, "You aren't Barnabas!" and runs from him. "Oh no," moans Barnabas, realizing dawn is upon him.

NOTES:  Barnabas can't follow his little sister himself--who is going to save her?  Or is she doomed to die, just as Vicki told Naomi, and nothing can be changed from what originally happened?

Barnabas is one miserable vampire, and Nathan is chomping at the bit to get his hands on Millicent's money.  Vicki is in serious trouble and Sarah appears doomed.  How will this sad story resolve itself?  Can history be changed?

Love, Robin