407 - (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, as all about her the fateful tragedies of the Collins family surge to their fulfillment.

Angelique is on her hands and knees, frantically trying to wash her own blood from the floor, but it's dried and won't come up. Naomi stops by and gets her daughter in law very flustered. She wants to see her son, says Natalie, but Angelique says he went somewhere, and he refused to tell her where--maybe something to do with business.

Upstairs, moaning, Barnabas pulls the bandage from the holes in his bloody throat. (He plays sick so very convincinglyl!) Naomi continues to quiz the nervous Angelique about her husband's whereabouts, then says she wants Ang to come stay at Collinwood while Barn is away. Ang refuses, but Naomi insists, and they go back and forth about it for a while. Barnabas hears them talking, sounding echoey, through his sweaty fever. Ang argues that she wants to be there when Barn returns, and besides, Joshua won't welcome her. Naomi spots the huge bloodstain and is immediately alarmed, but Angelique assures her she just spilled some wine, Barnabas' favorite, darn it all. Naomi is suspicious.  Barnabas rises from the bed. Ang tells Naomi she doesn't believe in witches, but it's good Vicki Winters is in custody, anyway. Angelique does tell her mother in law how much she appreciates her kindness. Barnabas knocks a brush to the floor and Naomi hears the sound, but Ang convinces her it's just the sound an old house makes.  Naomi finally agrees not to force Ang to stay at Collinwood, and after the door closes behind her and Angelique leans against it, relieved, Barnabas exits the bedroom, calling, "Mother!", then collapses.

Angelique finds him, wounds re-opened, and he murmurs that he heard his mother. Ang tells him he heard nothing! She helps him back to bed with great effort. Rest, she tells him.  I feel something terrible is happening to me, Barnabas says. She promises to help him. "Help me," he mutters. She lifts his head and orders him to drink what's in the glass. It's the only thing that will help you, she says, sighing--if only you hadn't tried to betray me, this wouldn't have happened.  She pushes his eyes closed, then tells him to open them when she orders him to. I don't want to open my eyes, he protests. She pulls back the drape, letting light into the room, and orders him to open his eyes. He does, screaming piteously, then covers them with his hands. Defeated, she lets the drape fall, sobbing that the medicine should have helped. Why did you betray me? she asks again, then says, chillingly, "What's done cannot be undone."
At Collinwood, Joshua pooh poohs Naomi's fears about Barnabas' mysterious departure, and says he doesn't care what his son does anymore. Although Naomi asserts their son would never just leave his wife, Joshua is sure Barnabas has gone to Josette, and that they will never see either of them again. There's a knock at the door.  Naomi wonders if Angelique didn't change her mind about staying at Collinwood.  Joshua insists he won't have her! It's Josette and Natalie. Standing on the landing, Joshua gazes down contemptuously and says, "Josette."Natalie explains to Naomi and Joshua about her forebodings. Josette describes how Barnabas felt she was in danger and sent her away, and was planning to meet them at the Inn. Joshua accuses Barnabas of deception, of plotting to run away with Josette, but Natalie gets angry-she wouldn't allow anything improper to go on, sure assures him. They were going to return to Martinique! Naomi explains that Barnabas isn't at the Old House and Angelique claims not to know where he is. Josette doubts that Barnabas left and insists on going to the Old House. After they leave, Joshua tells Naomi he couldn't care less about Barnabas and Angelique, but after his wife goes upstairs, Joshua looks very concerned indeed.
Old House drawing room - It's a tense scene between Angelique, Josette and Natalie as the latter two try to explain that they're concerned about Barnabas and there was nothing improper going on. Josette admits to Angelique that she left because Barnabas felt her life in danger, but Angelique essentially tells them her husband's whereabouts are not their business and orders them out of her house when they become insistent. Natalie definitely feels bad vibes at the Old House.  Upstairs, Barnabas overhears their voices   floating up to him. He sits up, muttering, "Josette. . .I'm coming to you!"

Josette wonders why Barnabas didn't meet them at the Inn as he said he would, and Ang plays the wounded wife and tries to force them out of the house. Nat begs them to forget the petty quarrels for now, and after again begging Angelique to help them, coldly says she hopes that, wherever Barn is, he's safe. Calling Josette's name, Barnabas hoists himself out of bed, stumbling across the room. Angelique is still insisting she knows only too well what's happening here, and Josette, angry, is just about to leave when Josette hears Barnabas calling her and vaults upstairs. Angelique tries to stop her, but Natalie stops Angelique, holding firmly to her arm and giving her a warning look.
Josette finds Barnabas sprawled on the floor, calling her name. She sees his puncture wounds and screams. Still calling, "Josette!" he pulls away from her and totters to the doorway, calling her name over and over.

NOTES:  This is where we learn that Ang is great for putting curses on, but not taking 'em off. Poor Barnabas. Poor Josette. Poor Joshua, pretending he doesn't care about his son when he clearly does!


408 - (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.  As she is being forced to witness the first moments of the Collins tragedy that was to reach across the centuries.

Barnabas comes out of his delirium long enough to recognize Josette and fear for her safety. He thought she was far away! He tells her he is going to die soon, upsetting her terribly, and she asks him who the witch is. He's about to tell her when Angelique comes in, and he immediately passes out before uttering a word.
Barnabas is back in bed with Josette and Angelique hovering over him.  The jealous Mrs. Collins wants Josette to leave Barnabas alone; she's only upsetting him! Natalie comes in and is horrified when she see the gashes in his throat. Angelique beckons them away from the bed, and Josette, sobbing, says she doesn't believe he's going to die. It's   witchcraft, says Josette, but Angelique says it's worse than that--it's the plague, so they had better get out, because it isn't safe for them!  A huge argument ensued; Natalie insists on getting a doctor, Angelique insists if they do, he'll send Barnabas away to die, alone--better he stay there where his wife can take care of him! Although Josette agrees with Angelique, Natalie has the last word, and goes to get a doctor. "Josette!" Barnabas calls. Angelique implies that Barnabas' condition shouldn't concern her, but Josette says he's her friend, so it sure does. Angelique tries to make her leave, but Josette says she ain't going anywhere until she hears from the doctor.  Angelique coldly says Barnabas wants to be alone with his wife, so Josette says she'll wait in the drawing room--even if it offends Angelique, begging her forgiveness. Our girl Josette actually displays some major cojones here, good for her! After Josette has gone, a furious Angelique says aloud that Josette will be begging for more than her forgiveness before she's through with her!
The doctor examines Barnabas, gives him a sedative (early Julia relative?) and tells Natalie and Ang that he does suspect plague, saying he appears to have been bitten nastily by a rodent--and he wants to send Barnabas away to protect everyone else in the community--there are no remedies for the plague. Josette bursts in--she had to know what's happening. Hearing that the doctor feels there's no hope, Josette begins to cry. Natalie coaxes the doctor out of sending Barnabas away-he should stay with his family. Besides, should he really risk panicking the town when he isn't sure it's the plague? It could only be an isolated case, so why not keep him at Collinwood? Angelique agrees--she'll take care of him, all she needs is time. Besides, reminds Natalie, the Collinses would be ever-so-grateful if he just keeps quiet about this. They can't banish the man on the evidence they have, right?  The doctor, thus convinced, agrees to do nothing and say nothing, and Natalie escorts him downstairs.

Angelique tells Josette she should leave. Josette says they have time now, which is good. Barnabas almost named the witch! She thinks she knows who the witch is and intends to protect Barnabas, she says, showing true spunk. She'll return, hopefully, with a means to save Barnabas. After Josette leaves, Angelique gazes at her husband in consternation.
Josette, determined, goes to the gaol to see Vicki. Lift Barnabas' curse, she begs the governess, and I'll get you out of here somehow. Or, begs Josette, destroy ME, I have no life without him anyway. Vicki denies being a witch, but, disturbed to learn how ill Barnabas is, once again makes a foolhardy decision--go get the Collins family history book out of my room, she tells Josette. Something terrible is going to happen to you, and perhaps if you have foreknowledge, you'll be able to prevent it. You're in terrible danger, leave Collinwood, advises Vicki passionately.

Angelique caresses Barnabas' hair. She knows he almost told Josette about her, but that isn't important. His family knows now, and will want to see him. If he doesn't keep his mouth shut about her to them, Josette will die. One word, and Josette is doomed! Barnabas agrees he must never tell her anything--he must save her.

Natalie and Josette search Vicki's room and find the Collins family history book. Natalie always thought Miss Winters pretty dull, but this business about coming from another century is sure interesting. They see the book was published in 1965, in Bangor, ME (which back in 1795 was in Massachusetts). Josette sees a picture of her just-painted  portrait and reads about herself--she died by her own hand in the winter of 1795 (actually, 1796)!  I'd never do that, protests Josette, horrified.

NOTES:  So sad to see Barnabas suffering this way, knowing that Angelique was unable to break her own spell and that he is doomed.  His love for Josette has come sweeping back, both over him and his once-intended, and Angelique won't stand for it.

Will Joshua, learning how sick his son is, finally come to see him?

Love, Robin

403 - (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 names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces, one of whom has unknowingly married a practitioner of black magic-and after his discovery of his wife's secret, he feels he has only one chance of escape.

Barnabas pulls back the covers and realizes he has just stabbed wadded up bedclothes. Do you hate me that much? demands Angelique from where she has been standing. You are the witch! he cries. He knows all, he heard her incantation. She never meant for him to find out, she admits, but does he realize that she loves him, and always will? Ignoring her words, he raises the knife to plunge it into her heart, but she raises a hand and forces him to drop it. He disparages her claims of love, tells her she made him hate himself. He wants to kill her! He lunges for her, reaching for her throat, but she makes him drop his murderous arms and tells him she can use her powers to force him to embrace her, if she wanted to--but she can't be that cruel. Cruel? shouts Barnabas--you've been practicing witchcraft all along. She swears she'll stop, if that's what he wants, but he sneers that he can never forget that she turned Josette against him. She wanted a man, not a puppet, she insists, so she would never actually cast a spell on him.  He saw a woman in Martinique, not a witch, she reminds him. He calls her a destroyer, and she says she never wanted Jeremiah to die. He says she is as responsible for his uncle's death as if she'd pulled the trigger herself, and she agrees with him. Abigail and Natalie were right, he fumes, there WAS a witch. He demands she set the record straight and tell him everything. Angelique says she didn't do anything the first night when she came to his room, he loved Josette and she wanted to change that--have something that belonged to her. (Here is where we wonder about Ang's "loving" motives, and even Barnabas shoots her an incredulous look here, like she spilled the beans on a very important revelation.) She was furious at his rejection that first night, and if he'd only resumed their Martinique relationship, none of this would have happened. She confesses to being responsible for the choking incident and how she realized she didn't want him to die; the Josette/Jeremiah love potion; Sarah's illness. Barnabas has had it--he's leaving. Oh, no, warns Angelique, you're going to stay with her, play the loving, attentive husband, and after a few years, even you will believe we can have a good life! If he dares to tell the authorities about her or tries to leave her, Josette will die--and if she has to produce a realistic vision of her death, hell, she can do it! Barnabas shoots Angelique a look of unrelenting hatred and walks out on her.

Nathan and Millicent giggle together on the terrace. They've apparently been meeting in secret, and he's been quite touchy-feely with the airheaded heiress. She shocks herself in his presence, she says breathlessly. He tells her she's falling in love, but she wisely points out that he always talks about her loving him, but never the other way around. (Millicent is sharper than she appears.) He wants her to invite him to tea, but she insists that's flaunting the rules, and he says he hates rules. He kisses her neck to prove it.  Barnabas appears.  Millicent moans, "I'm ruined!" She lies and said she and Nathan met by chance while strolling outside. He begs her to awaken Josette, but the Countess appears (eliciting another moan of disaster from Millicent), congratulates Barnabas on his marriage and says it's a strange way to be spending his honeymoon. Josette doesn't wish to see him, says Nat firmly.

Angelique is upset Barn had the nerve to leave her.  I must have eyes that follow him wherever he goes, to spy on him, she decides.
Natalie tells Barnabas he can't see Josette. Does he want to tell her how sorry he is that he married her maid?--Josette is unhappy enough.  Without telling her why, Barnabas just says that Josette must leave Collinwood, go to Boston--her life is in danger! He begs Natalie to follow his instincts, but she seems to feel he wants them out because their presence is ruining his honeymoon. Is he saving Josette's life or his curious morality, she demands. Forget Josette, advises Natalie.  Barnabas is upset, he thought the Countess his friend. Natalie says his marriage has made her lose all respect for him, and making friends of the Collins family is impossible--they're too difficult to understand and speak in riddles. She doesn't trust him not to try to see Josette, and insists on accompanying him downstairs.
Angelique draws a pair of long-lashed eyes on paper--these "eyes in the night" will follow Barnabas and watch him.

Millicent sobs to Nathan that they were seen by TWO people, and she is now compromised--Nathan is not a gentleman. He feigns being hurt by her comment, and says if he isn't a gentleman, why is she hanging out with him? Perhaps SHE is no lady, suggests Millicent. Everyone knows about them now, he points out, and is about to kiss her when Barnabas appears again. He begs Millicent to have Josette out in the garden at 9 AM the next morning--he must speak to her. She waffles about it, insisting it's improper, but Nathan reminds her that she might need a favor from Barnabas sometime, and she giggles and agrees. She feels a sudden chill, saying someone is watching them, and Nathan and Barn encourage her to go into the house.
Nathan asks Barnabas if he needs someone to talk to; he looks like he does. He's more familiar with women like Angelique than Barnabas is (women like what, I wonder?), so, no offense, but can he help?  Barnabas agrees he does need to talk to someone, but they're interrupted by the sound of loud squeaking. Nathan points out a bat, hovering near the gate, watching them!

NOTES:  One of the very best DS eps in the archives, folks, it rarely gets better than this!  Is that bat Angelique's "eyes" plus a portent of things to come?

Barnabas and Angelique's confrontation is one of the reasons I always adored this show.  They are so passionately pissed, and the way she makes him drop that knife is amazing, mesmerizing.  You almost get a glimmer of the passion they must have shared in Martinique from watching them together here.


404 - (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.  And she has been accused of witchcraft.  One member of the Collins family knows that she is innocent, but for the moment he must remain silent, in order to protect others whose lives are in grave and immediate danger.


Barnabas nervously paces the gazebo, waiting for Josette to show up. He has to warn her about the danger she's in, but can't reveal it's Angelique, or the witch will kill his beloved. He's very distressed, therefore, when Millicent shows up and says Josette refused to see him--at the Countess' insistence. Millicent thinks Josette doesn't want to meet him because she still loves him and doesn't trust herself in his presence. Nonsense, says Barn, but he's clearly pleased to hear this. Josette must leave Collinwood, insists Barn, and Millicent must arrange for him to bump into Josette by accident. She is afraid of Naomi  and Joshua's reaction to participating in this scheme, but then Barnabas utilizes a little blackmail--he saw her with Nathan, and he brought her home VERY LATE! She's flustered, but she insists Nathan is genuinely fond of her--and besides, both of them are single. Barnabas tries to warn Millicent that the charming Nathan is too much for an innocent like her to handle, but she refuses to listen, and diverts the discussion by saying she COULD arrange for Josette and herself to be taking a walk when Naomi and Natalie are in town, and he COULD accidentally run into them--the garden gate after sundown! Don't fail him, says Barnabas soberly; this is a matter of life and death.

At the Collinsport Gaol, Barnabas brings Judge Matigan, who he hopes to defend her at her witchcraft trial, to see Vicki. Although Barnabas does his damndest to deflect Vicki's responses, saying she was hurt in that carriage accident and her brain has suffered as a result, Vicki decides to be completely honest. Barnabas offers to be her character witness, but the judge says he hasn't known Vicki long enough.  Unfortunately, the judge's questions about her family and friends in the Boston area where she claims to have come from a foundling home, unnerve Vicki, so the brilliant Miss Winters decides to tell Matigan that she came from another century! To no one's surprise, including Vicki, Judge Matigan bows out of defending her.
Vicki sits miserably in a chair, and that's when Peter Bradford, her jailer (gaoler?) and lawyer-in-training, who had been standing by, listening to every word of what she told the judge, tells her that he's been watching her since she came to the gaol, and he decided she's not a witch.  Witches don't cry, he says gently, and he's heard her crying in her cell. He gives her back a locket taken from her when she was brought to the gaol, a gift from Burke, it seems, and she is very grateful to him.  They play really sappy music over this exchange, as he tells her he's felt pity for her, and doesn't believe he'd feel pity for a witch. She says hearing this from him made her feel less alone. He explains that he's studying law and that if Mr. Collins can't find anyone to defend her, he is willing to try. He finds her story of coming from another time strange, but believes her. Vicki, thrilled to hear this, smiles. He's right outside if she needs anything, he promises, and she returns to her cell with a smile--she's not afraid to return there now!

Barnabas waylays Millicent and Josette on their walk past the terrace.  The latter says she has been forbidden to speak to him, but he insists, and sends Millicent back into the house. It's better not to see each other, murmurs Josette, but Barnabas explains that she's in danger and must leave Collinwood immediately. He explains to her that she and Jeremiah were never in love with each other; they were under a spell cast by a witch. Her marriage seems a dream, both then and now, she admits. He knows who the witch really is, he says, but he can't tell her such dangerous knowledge. She can't believe anyone hates her so much, but Barnabas asks her to trust him. The witch is plotting her death, and is watching them! As he says this, there's a squeaking sound, and a bat with glowing red eyes is indeed watching them!

Love, Robin

399 - (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.  Here in this bizarre world, one woman with powers beyond those of mortal men conspires to destroy her.

Vicki says in the intro that Ang has powers beyond those of mortal men. Does that make her Superman?

Angelique is horrified at the close call; luckily she shut Ben up before he could say more than "witch."  In the Old House drawing room, she has readied a name to receive the word witch--Victoria Winters--and she takes a taper and lights three candles. Sarah, playing ball in Collinwood's foyer, hears her governess' voice calling to her, telling her to come to the Old House. She isn't supposed to, asserts Sarah aloud, but the voice of Vicki Winters continues to call, "Come. . ."
Collinwood drawing room - Joshua tells Abigail he's had Ben locked up for stealing, but Abigail fears the witch. He was stealing her black hair ribbon, a personal item that could easily be used to cast a spell! Joshua is disdainful, but his sister begs for his help and says they must search for her at the Old House. Joshua says they will NOT set foot in that house; he might see Barnabas (which seems to scare him far more than any witch)! They find Sarah in her jacket, ready to leave for the Old House. Her governess called her, the child explains, but she only heard Miss Winters' voice, calling her to come to the Old House. Joshua wants to send his daughter to her room, but Abigail prefers to let her go to the Old House--and they can follow her! Abigail tells Sarah to go ahead to the Old House, but Sarah first asks her father's permission. Abigail orders her brother to go.

Barnabas, puzzled at seeing his bride using candlelight during the day, asks Angelique why she lit them as she snuffs out her spell-binding candles. Oh, she was crawling around on her hands and knees in a most unladylike posture, searching for the brooch Naomi gave her--so she had to light the candles to find it. It was a gift from the mother of her loving husband, she says softly, caressing his face, but then Sarah, calling, "Miss Winters!" walks into the Old House followed closely behind by Joshua and Abigail. Angelique does her best to play hostess, but she is ignored, and Joshua glares at Barnabas as he asks permission to come into his house. (Poor guy is just trying to show his father that he's an adult, a bridegroom, but Joshua just won't bend.)  Abigail demands that Sarah explain how she heard her governess' disembodied voice, but Barnabas calls the whole situation absurd and insists Vicki isn't there.  Abigail asks his permission to search the house, anyway. No, says, Barnabas, Miss Winters is a poor, frightened, hunted girl (and he flat out says he wouldn't tell them she was there even if she was). Abigail warns Barnabas that all of them are in danger from the witch, but especially Sarah, who Miss Winters called to.
They find Sarah has left the group and Joshua stiffly requests that he be allowed to search for his daughter, at least. Angelique smiles.  Abigail orders Joshua to tell Barnabas about finding Ben in her room, and his confession that he was stealing for the witch, but Barnabas seems far more concerned about Ben's fate than Abigail's prattling.

Sarah has found Vicki in her upstairs room, but the latter denies calling to the child. Sarah complains that she never sees her brother anymore, nor Miss Winters, and Abigail is very scary! Vicki sympathizes with her.  However, Vicki is very upset to learn that Abigail and Joshua are downstairs--she has to hide! Sarah takes her to a hiding place in the attic that no one knows about, and promises not to tell anyone she saw her.

Downstairs, Joshua and Abigail are calling to Sarah, and Angelique stands at the bottom of the stairs, grinning with triumph. Abigail interrogates Sarah in Vicki's now-empty room, and the trembling-voiced child lies and says she never saw Miss Winters. Abigail shudders to recall what happens to little girls who lie, and you can see how hard it is for Sarah not to tell all--but her love for Vicki is stronger than her fear of Abigail, and she insists, again, that she didn't see Miss Winters anywhere in the Old House. Joshua apologizes to Barnabas for their intrusion--he doesn't usually give in to Abigail's hysteria, but his children are important to him, and he can't bear to see them coming to hard--or disgrace, he adds nastily, gazing directly at Angelique, who turns away in shame and anger.  (Lighten up, Josh!)  Abigail sourly says Sarah denied everything, and Barnabas suggests they listen to the child. Sarah insists she's telling the truth, but Abigail insists the witch is using her powers to hide herself from them. Trask will come to the Old House and use exorcism to oust the witch, says Abigail. Barnabas is dead set against this, but Joshua asks him to go along--let Trask perform his mumbo jumbo and when nothing happens, perhaps it will put the matter to rest. Abigail insists Trask is a righteous man, but Barnabas calls him a fraud. Angelique agrees with Joshua to let the man perform the exorcism, and Barnabas reluctantly agrees, saying it goes against his principles.

Sarah asks her father if she can stay at the Old House for a while, but Joshua says no, and when she asks to be allowed to come back in the future, he refuses that, too. After Abigail, Sarah and Joshua leave, Angelique tells Barnabas his father was very unkind to him. He says he wants to be alone, but agrees, tiredly, to the blasted exorcism. After he goes upstairs, Angelique re-lights the candles and casts another spell--everyone is going to be surprised, especially Trask, when they find someone who behaves very much like a witch--Victoria Winters! Yes, Angelique says happily, and Vicki, in the darkness of the attic, gazes fearfully around her, having no idea what fate Angelique has in store for her.


400 - (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.  Within this nightmare, forces not of this earth, evil, malevolent, slowly plot her impending destruction.

In her old servant's room, Angelique constructs a house of Tarot cards, ordering them to do her bidding.  A fraud will come, she says, but his worthless ceremony won't touch them.  However, it will rid the house of "a young, beautiful enemy" as well as any suspicion that might be aimed at Angelique herself.  Trask will find his witch, she says--the cards are the walls of her room. . .she is enclosed in my power--stand fast!--keep watch--the moment is almost here!
Vicki's room - Barnabas tells Vicki that Trask is on his way, upsetting her--are you planning to turn me over to him? Asks Vicki.  No, Barnabas assures her, Trask won't find her.  His exorcism will fail all this will be over, and they will be convinced she isn't there.  She tells Barnabas she's still scared, and wishes she could return to her own time.  Perhaps your imagination is deluding you, suggests Barnabas, and she works hard to assure him she's telling the truth--your descendent is a kind, gentle man, says Vicki.  If he free of the trials we're suffering? Queries Barnabas, and she tells him, "Not completely."  Trask won't enter the house, he says, his ceremony will be performed at the threshold.  Vicki has a premonition of bad things to come, and shivers.

Angelique's room - She commands first cold, then fire, reaching into the card house to the room that symbolizes Vicki's.  That room is completely within my power! She cries.
Drawing room, Old House - Trask orders Barnabas to surrender the witch to him.  There is no witch in this house, Barnabas says.  Exorcism is terrible stuff, inviting evil, says Trask--turn the witch over to me!  Again, Barnabas refuses, and warns him that he is not to search the house.  Trask says it will work effectively from outside the house, and takes a forked stick into his hands.  The next mortal to cross this threshold shall be known to hold the power of evil! Announces Trask.  Annoyed, Barnabas says he has more important things to do and leaves.  Trask begins the exorcism, ordering the evil out--"Yield yourself to their commands and spare yourself their awesome force, which is about to strike your very soul!"  He calls to Victoria Winters, telling her powers of light have come to battle the powers of darkness--your destruction is at hand!  He kneels down and, using chalks, draws a circle in the dirt, enclosing the letter "V" inside it.

Vicki hears Trask calling to her as he continues commanding that she surrender herself to the powers of light.  "Let the witch come forth!" says Trask.

Angelique has set the house of cards on fire in her room, calling upon the heart of fire burning within the heart of ice--the fire that freezes and does not consume itself--I summon the eye of fire which burns within the ice eye, which watches over all things evil.  I call to this room of my own creation--heart of fire, heart of ice, fiery eye of the coldest evil, burn!  I command you to come and burn. . .burn. . .burn!

Flames erupt in Vicki's room.

At the threshold, Trask adds a W to the V in the circle, calling to Vicki over and over, demanding she come forth.  He tosses dirt into the circle as well.

Angelique continues her incantation, and the house of cards merrily burns.

Vicki turns to find fire blazing in her room.  Terrified, she throws a rug over it, but it starts up in another spot, which she desperately attempts to beat out as well.

Trask sets the stick on fire.

In Angelique's room, the house of cards is completely consumed in flames (thanks to an overzealous person on the set who doused way too much lighter fluid on the cards).

Barnabas, in the corridor outside Angelique's room, overhears his wife calling upon fire and ice.  He's about to go in when he hears Vicki yelling, "Fire!"

Victoria Winters! intones Trask, your name is now known to fire.  Surrender yourself!  Come forth, or you will be consumed!

Barnabas races into Vicki's room, but she's gone-and there is no trace of any fire.

Evil, show thyself! Calls Trask, the powers of darkness are conquered now!  The powers of light are triumphant!  Come forth!  You are summoned by the powers of everlasting light!
Calling for help, Vicki runs downstairs.  Trask hides behind the door and grabs her as she runs out, shouting, with triumph, The powers of darkness are conquered now, the power of light triumphant!  Down, witch, down on your knees!  Down, down, down to the dust!  I have the witch! Vicki cries out with terror as Trask forces her to kneel, then drags her off.

Exterior, Old House - Barnabas holds the blackened stick Trask used in his ceremony.  I don't understand what happened, he tells Angelique.  She pretends not to know and asks what happened.  He describes the odd circumstances--he heard Vicki calling fire and went to her room, but she wasn't there.  She implies that Vicki's a witch, reminding him of all the weird things that have occurred.  She is unaware of the barrier that has come between them--he answers her words, but in the manner of one speaking to himself.  I don't believe in witchcraft, says Barnabas, but it would sure explain a lot.  Did you hear Vicki shouting fire? He asks.  I was in the sewing room, replies his wife, and heard nothing.  I thought I heard your voice in your old room, says Barnabas, puzzled.  She swiftly denies it and goes upstairs.  He stares after her.  She lied, he realizes, I looked in the sewing room and she wasn't there.  He considers her strange words and wonders. . .
He pushes that thought out of his head--I'd rather believe in the guilt of a strange girl who claims to be from another time--a witch, yes, but my wife?  Oh, not my wife!  (denial, denial, denial!)

In her former room, Angelique picks up a burned card.
Old house drawing room - Barnabas decides to ask Ben what he knows about the witch.

Angelique is quite pleased with herself--even Barnabas now believes Miss Winters to be the witch!  Perhaps, she muses, some of the old customs can be revived--we all know what the fate of a witch should be-ashes, ashes!  She crushes the ashes of the cards between her hands, ecstatic.

NOTES:  Here's where Angelique made her mistake.  If she hadn't been so jealous of Vicki, and just let things be, she wouldn't have felt compelled to seal the other woman's fate by casting a spell-which Barnabas heard as he was passing by.  He puts together the fact that she lied about where she was and the peculiar words her heard her say.  Those words will have even more significance in the next episode.

Love, Robin

395 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house of 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.  Even in those times, an atmosphere of terror prevails in the great house above Widows' Hill, for there is one in the house who practices the black art of witchcraft, and will stop at nothing to get what she wants.

Collinwood drawing room - When Barnabas tells Joshua he and Angelique are going to get married tonight, Joshua becomes absolutely infuriated--this decision is disgusting; HE is to decide when the time is right for the marriage, not Barnabas! Barnabas' mind is made up; he's marrying the girl tonight. Joshua is equally adamant, and he's angry Barnabas is going back on his word to wait a suitable mourning period. Barnabas is sure his father is just trying to buy time and undermine the wedding--he knows of his father's attempts to buy off Angelique, and Joshua is forced to admit she turned down the 10 grand in gold he offered. He did it for his son's own good, argues Joshua, he was testing Angelique.  It almost pains Joshua to admit that the prospective bride turned down his offer--she wants Barnabas, not his money. Barnabas thinks this must have astounded his father (which is really sad, apparently Barnabas thinks his father doesn't consider him worthy of being loved). Barnabas vows to go ahead with the wedding tonight without his father's blessing, but Joshua warns him that if he does that, he will forfeit his inheritance--no money, no property, no part in the family business, and no portion of the will. Barnabas can hardly believe his father would disown him, to not even allow him to lead his own life, but as far as Joshua is concerned, if Barnabas marries Angelique tonight, he isn't capable of running his own life! As if that isn't harsh enough, Joshua orders Barnabas and Angelique out of the house by nightfall. "I am no longer your father, and you are no longer my son," Joshua says coldly. As Barnabas heads upstairs, Joshua looks as if he is about to collapse from misery.
Angelique gazes out Josette's open window with joy. She holds Josette's white wedding gown up against herself, then puts it away in a drawer. Barnabas comes in and sadly tells her he's been disinherited; Angelique can't believe his father would do such a thing to his only son, but assures him she's marrying him because she loves him, not because of what he owns. He tells her she can change her mind, if she wants, but she says that, rich or poor, she will make him happy and will be proud to be his wife. He tells her, all right, then, pack, we're being kicked out of here, too. They'll stay at the Inn, and perhaps move to Boston; his father will see to it he never finds a job in Collinsport. She promises that whither thou goest, I will go, and they hug.
Josette overhears the last part of their conversation as she comes in, and her voice is filled with tears as she expresses her sorrow that Joshua isn't being more understanding. "I will be losing the service and companionship of my dear Angelique," says Josette sorrowfully. Angelique nods, and Barnabas explains they will be leaving tonight. Josette releases Angelique from further obligation and wishes them happiness.  Angelique goes to her room to pack and leaves Josette and Barnabas alone. It's a very sad scene as Josette tells Barnabas she will miss him, too, and asks if that's wrong to say. No, he assures her. She hopes he will forgive her and eventually think well of her again. Why did it happen this way? asks Barnabas, and Josette responds that she'll be asking herself that for the rest of her life--it could have been so different, so good and beautiful. They bid each other goodbye, and as Barnabas leaves her room, she sits down and begins to cry.

Foyer - Naomi stops Barnabas and Angelique as they are leaving. Barnabas fears repercussions should Joshua find them still there, but Naomi invites them into the drawing room and gives them with the Old House, which she owns, as a wedding gift. Barnabas, moved, wants to refuse; Angelique is clearly thrilled. Oh, Joshua will rage and rant, says Naomi, but she's used to that. Barnabas is all set to refuse, but she asks him to accept the house as a favor to her. Joshua will come to his senses, regret what he's done, and seek Barnabas' forgiveness; she doesn't want Barnabas to be far away and unreachable when that happens, or it will kill Joshua. Barnabas accepts, agreeing to stay on as master of the Old House, for his mother's sake.
Later, as Naomi drinks in the drawing room, Joshua comes in--he's searched the house and they are gone (can you believe he actually did this)?  He predicts Barn will regret his blunder, and with no money, and no job prospects, come crawling back. Naomi tells him Barnabas and Angelique are staying at the Old House, and he becomes apoplectic with rage--he'll have the constable come arrest them for trespassing! Naomi tells Joshua SHE gave them the Old House, and he accuses her of doing so to spite him. No, he's our only son, Naomi reminds him. WAS, counters Joshua. He orders Naomi not to have anything to do with them, and she had damn well better obey him! Naomi drinks.
Old House drawing room - Barnabas is leaving to get the minister, and Angelique stands with her arms around him, bidding him to hurry back. She admires her reflection in the mirror, then surveys HER house with joy. She walks to the mantle and caresses the clock. When Jeremiah appears, her mood changes. She sternly orders him back to his grave--she's done with him--go rest in peace! He steps forward, and she says she controls him, so he must go back!  Ignoring her orders, he continues to advance on her as she fearfully backs away.

NOTES:  Angelique dredges up Jeremiah's ghost, but can't control it--are her powers that new?

How touching of Naomi to give the couple the Old House.  Wise, too.  She knows Joshua does love his son and that he would eventually come around.

The scenes between Angelique and Barnabas, Josette and Barnabas and Joshua and Barnabas were marvelous. There were so many great scenes in these shows, and Jonathan Frid's performance was stellar.


396 - (Lara Parker) - A seance has been held in the great house of 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.  In a house where nightmares have become reality, a woman who has used her powers to contact the land of the dead is suddenly aware that she may have plotted her own destruction.

Angelique realizes she has lost control over Jeremiah's ghost, and when he menaces her, causing her to cower against one of the pillars in the Old House drawing room, she orders him to leave her alone and not return until summoned.  Barnabas returns to find her trembling, terrified, but she insists nothing is wrong.  She tearfully asks if they have to live in the Old House--perhaps, given all the bad stuff that has happened, it would be better to start out somewhere else? That would make them appear ungrateful for Naomi's gift, protests Barnabas. She denies being afraid, but clearly is.  Ben comes in and Angelique goes to get ready for the wedding. Barnabas tells him he and Ang are getting married, and Ben wishes him happiness. Ben tells Barnabas Trask was snooping around the stables and nearly discovered Miss Winters. Barnabas orders him to bring her to the Old House--he's sure Angelique will be as eager to protect her from Trask as he is (yeah, right). Barnabas then asks Ben to be his witness for the wedding, and Ben says he'd be honored. He says he hopes the wedding will end Barnabas' problems, which puzzles the latter--but Ben can't say more.

Angelique, decked out in a white dress and veil, and a pendant, pirouettes in front of the mirror, luminous. When she glances at her reflection, she is horrified to see her clothing stained with blood--yet when she looks down at the dress itself, it's spotless.
Ben brings Vicki into the Old House, assuring Barnabas no one saw them.  Barn sends Ben to get the starving, exhausted Vicki some food. She's been afraid to sleep, fearing Trask, Vicki tells Barnabas, who promises her asylum from Trask, a persecuting fanatic, in his opinion.  He assures her he knows she isn't a witch; he saw her with Sarah. She decides it's time to tell him the truth about herself and reveals she's from 1967, is a governess for his descendents--she thought she recognized him because she knows his ancestor, also named Barnabas, from that time. She reveals she was transported somehow during a seance. Barnabas listens and calls it incredible, but you can see he is wavering in his feelings about Vicki. He can understand why she didn't feel she could tell anyone else, Vicki says, and he heartily agrees with this. She thanks him, but notices that he seems upset. Ben comes in--Vicki's food is ready--and Barnabas encourages her to go to her room upstairs, eat and rest. After Vicki leaves, Barnabas asks Ben if she thinks the girl could be a witch (way to go, Vicki). Ben insists no, she's no witch. How can Ben be so sure; does he know something Barnabas doesn't know? No, he just knows, Ben says.

Bedroom upstairs - A hysterical, Angelique is tossing her clothing into a suitcase. Barnabas comes up, about to tell her about their houseguest, Miss Winters, but he forgets about that when she insists she wants to get married in Collinsport, anywhere, just away from that house! She continues to deny being afraid of anything (why doesn't she just tell him it's Jeremiah; he saw the ghost himself)? There's an evil presence in the house, insists Ang, and she wants to be married elsewhere. Barnabas looks down and finds Sarah's doll and the pins Ang used to make Sarah ill in her suitcase--the clothing is gone! Angelique has no idea what's going on, but she wants to go--until Ben comes up and announces the minister has arrived. Yes, they'll get married immediately, agrees Angelique--that will assuage her fear. Barnabas is clearly puzzled by his fiancee's yo-yo behavior, but he and Ben go downstairs so she can fix her veil.
She finds herself locked in the room after they go, and Jeremiah appears. He's going to punish her for disturbing his rest, and teach her what it's like to live in the land of the dead! Jeremiah advances on her. As Barnabas and the minister wait downstairs, wondering what's keeping her (and Barn probably fearing he's been stood up for the second time in just a few weeks), a laughing Jeremiah carries Angelique to his grave, drops her in, and begins dumping dirt on her and her clean white gown. Terrified, she stares up at him, shrilly screaming, "NOOOOO!" as he continues to bury her in his grave.

NOTES:  Scary last scene, but who thinks Angelique deserves this?  She used the ghost to facilitate her marriage and now Jeremiah wants to stop her from marrying Barnabas!  She's going all over the place, emotionally, and one wonders if Barnabas doesn't think her insane.

Love, Robin

390_391 - (Lara Parker) - A seance has been held in the great house of 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 among the legends of the Collins family which have turned to terrifying reality.

Jeremiah lies in his bed, face completely bandaged (did Barnabas shoot him in the face?  Or were they just trying to hide the fact that Anthony George had left?)  Joestte sits beside him, and Naomi and Andre wait vigil with her. Andre and Naomi encourage Josette to get some rest, but she doesn't want to leave her husband's side. Josette feels a chill race through her and tells her father she believes death will be coming to collect Jeremiah--tonight.

Downstairs in the drawing room, Andre tells Barnabas of Josette's fear that Jeremiah will die this night. She's quiet, not crying, he says, as though mourning a man already dead. She feels responsible. No, says, Barnabas, I shot him, I'm responsible. Andre asks Barnabas to take pity on Josette and absolve her of blame. Barn says that's asking a lot, but Andre says if he ever loved Josette, do this for her. Barnabas promises to talk to her--perhaps Jeremiah will recover and he and Josette will be happy together, says Barnabas sadly--it would be nice if someone got to be happy.
Angelique enters and tells Barnabas that Sarah is doing well, chafing at being kept in bed. She kneels beside Barnabas, who is sitting in a chair, and asks him if he'll tell Josette that they're getting married. What? asks Barnabas. She blathers on about how it will surprise everyone, that many will think her unworthy, but she's going to be a good wife and make him happy. Huh? They never spoke of marriage! he says. She reminds him of his forgotten promise, but he gets flustered and says he only said that because he was willing to do anything to help Sarah get well--he was desperate! Realizing he's trying to weasel out of his promise, Angelique tries reverse psychology. If he doesn't want to marry her, she releases him from his promise! He's grateful, he says, and didn't want to hurt her. No, he just doesn't want to marry her, she cries, and bursts into tears. He asks her not to cry--he wants to be fair, but he loves Josette, and while there can never be anything between him and his uncle's wife . . .  She accuses him of not wanting her because she's only a servant, not a great lady like Josette, so he can't care as much for her! (amazing manipulation, Ang!)  "I love you, but you cannot love me or accept me as your wife," she sobs.  He looks miserable and uncomfortable, but says if she can accept him as he is, with all these heavy, complex feelings for Josette, OK, he'll marry her. She hugs the dejected bridegroom-to-be, promising him happiness and obedience. He tells her not to tell anyone, he'll do that, including breaking the news to Josette. She agrees, promising that will be a practice in their married life--she will be an obedient, devoted wife (brother!).

Naomi comes in and sends Angelique upstairs to tend to Josette. She asks Barnabas if he's spoken to Josette yet--she really could use his consolation. He asks his mother to sit down and reveals that he is going to marry. Who? she asks--Millicent? (Can you imagine that pairing?) No, Angelique he says--she's a lovely young girl and will be devoted to me. Do you love her? asks Naomi, and he hedges the question and says he wouldn't be marrying her if he didn't.  You were about to marry Josette a week ago, his mother reminds him. She asks if he's sure and hopes he isn't making a mistake he'll regret. He looks like he's already regretting the entire situation, the poor guy.
Angelique enters Josette's room. Did Barnabas ask to speak to her?  No, Angelique says with relish. Barnabas was in a strange mood, reveals Angelique, and while she knows what he was going to say to Josette, she can't say it. Josette promises not to tell Barnabas she told, and all Angelique will say is that Barnabas forgives her. Josette is sure her father is behind this forgiveness and that Barnabas hates her--she turned friends to enemies, brought bloodshed to the family; she sure hates herself and wishes she were dead. Don't say that, Angelique cautions, but when Josette asks her to leave, that she wants to be alone, the witch is smiling malevolently.

Andre is sitting with Jeremiah. When Barnabas comes in, he tells him he doubts his uncle will make it through the night. He asks Barn if he's spoken to Josette yet, and Barnabas says no, he has something else to tell her, something everyone will know soon enough. Barnabas assures Andre though he should hate Josette, but he can't. He forgives her for falling in love with Jeremiah. He wants to forgive Jeremiah, too, but can't forget he's Josette's husband. He's dying, Andre reminds Barnabas, forgive him, and the latter says he's trying to. He keeps remembering that Jeremiah stole Josette from him, causing the hatred and bitterness return. Andre calls Barnabas to Jeremiah's bedside; he thinks he stopped breathing!
Josette lies asleep. At 2 AM, she sees Jeremiah appear in her room. She speaks to him, asking if he's recovered, but he doesn't answer. He reaches out one hand and walks out, Josette following.

Andre covers Jeremiah's dead face. Josette bursts in--she saw Jeremiah! She cries.  The clock was striking two when he appeared in her room! That's impossible, insists Andre-- Jeremiah died, and just as the clock was striking 2 AM!
Josette gazes somberly at her dead husband.


392 - (KLS) - A seance has been held in the great house of 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.  Here she learns that the family history has not told her all of the secrets of the family-or their tragedies.

Everyone is dressed in black and the guys wear black and purple mourning flowers in the wake of Jeremiah's demise.  Naomi chastises Joshua for his decision to put out the story that Jeremiah died after an unfortunate accident cleaning his pistol.  It's to avoid scandal, he insists, but she asks if it will make things better for Barnabas, who killed his uncle and best friend, or for Josette, or for any of them? He tells her they are moving to Collinwood immediately, even if it isn't quite finished. There have been enough tragedies, he does have feelings, and they're leaving this accursed house ASAP!  Naomi breaks the news to her husband that something else bad is about to happen--Barnabas getting married!  Joshua assumes he's going to marry Josette and is scandalized, but Naomi says, propriety be damned, she wishes that were so--he is marrying Angelique!  Joshua immediately demands that Naomi bring their son to him. When Barnabas stands before him, trying to be an adult, Joshua tells him his plan to marry that servant girl is absurd. Joshua can't figure out how they have exchanged enough words to even know each other, no less marry (he should only KNOW what happened between Barn and Ang in Martinique; he'd have a heart attack!), but Barnabas assures his father he knows her well enough. The shock of what happened has made you rush into this says Joshua, almost kindly for him--tell that servant girl you made a mistake and call it off. No, says his son with dignity, you brought me up to be an honorable man, and I won't break my promise. He tried to marry the "right" woman, and look what happened. Joshua calls Angelique an adventuress. She loves me, Barn points out, but this doesn't impress Joshua. If it is a mistake, it's mine to make, insists, Barnabas, I will be happy with Angelique, so leave us alone. Joshua makes it clear that he is determined to stop this, and Naomi looks very unhappy over this latest rift in the family.
Barnabas watches a black-frocked Josette kneel at Jeremiah's grave, cross herself, and place down flowers. How can he tell her about his engagement to her maid? He decides it might actually help matters if he does--perhaps telling her of his future plans will ease her remorse.  Josette gazes up sadly at him and they exchange chastened greetings. He asks if she's offended that he's there, and she says he has as much right to be there as she does. He tells her not to blame herself-he killed him. She should have come to Barnabas before they ran away, she says. Barnabas assures her that she's young and has many pleasant things to look forward to--even after this. They gaze at each other like lovers for a moment, and Barnabas continues, saying they have to start living again, to heal themselves. How, she asks, and he starts to tell her about Angelique. Seeming to sense he's going to suggest that they get back together; she tells him not to say anything he'll regret.  Sadly, she says she never thought they'd share remorse, but his words have made her feel better, somehow. He again tries to tell her about his engagement, but she protests, "Not here, not now," still assuming he's talking about the two of them and their future. Angelique interrupts them, offering Barnabas a ride back to the house in their carriage, but Barnabas refuses to ride back with his past and present fiancees. After Josette walks away, Angelique jealously asks if she interrupted anything, and he assures her she didn't. She'd better not have, she retorts, and he looks as if he's suddenly gotten an unpleasant flash-forward of his married life with this jealous harpy.
Drawing room - Awaiting Angelique, Naomi warns Joshua not to alienate the young woman and to treat Angelique tactfully. Josh's attitude is, she's a servant and tact isn't called for. Showing rare backbone, Naomi warns him that she doesn't want Barnabas turned against them; she won't have it! Angelique enters and demurely asks Joshua if she may sit down. Joshua wants Naomi to get ready for the big move, but she refuses to budge.  Joshua gives the impression that he believes this marriage idea was all hers, but Ang insists Barnabas did the proposing. Joshua says there was no emotion in Barn's voice when he spoke of Angelique, but she assures him there's plenty when he talks to HER. Why do you want to marry my son? demands Josh. Because I love him, Angelique responds.  Josh seems to think the two only spent an hour in each other's company, but again, he isn't privy to what happened in Martinique, or he might have sent Barn in a chastity belt. Joshua accuses Angelique of taking advantage of Barnabas in a weak moment, and cites the curing of Sarah incident. No, says Ang, holding onto her temper, they would have wed anyway. She should have waited, as a lady would, Joshua insists, and Angelique retorts that yes, she's a servant, but this is America and she can rise above her station in this great new land. She wants Joshua's approval, but he coldly refuses to give her that. Naomi is appalled. He offers Angelique $10,000 in gold--she can return to Martinique in style with that kind of money. (whew, nice bribing, Josh!)  It's a small enough ransom for Barnabas' future. Angelique wants him to like her, and if he doesn't bend to this, his life will be very lonely. Naomi agrees. Joshua asks her to wait a suitable mourning period, to be decided by him, but Angelique says he only wants to buy time to fight her. Then we understand each other, says Joshua stiffly. Then the wedding will take place immediately, spits back Ang. Naomi begs Angelique to wait the mourning period, and promises her friendship to her for the rest of her married life. (drunkard or not, Naomi makes the most sense.) Angelique, smiling triumphantly, agrees to this.

Angelique realizes, however, that she still must contend with Josette, who could very well take Barnabas from her. She must fix that--tonight!

Josette lies sleeping; Angelique's voice awakens her.  Jeremiah is waiting for you, he isn't dead!  Go to his grave, now!
In the woods by Jeremiah's grave, Angelique holds a miniature coffin in her hand. She tells it that Barnabas is trying to steal his wife, that she's forgotten you, Jeremiah! Will you let your murderer have her?

Naomi is sipping sherry down in the living room when Josette comes down and insists she must go out, go to Jeremiah--he's not dead! Josette leaves, followed by Naomi. Angelique opens the mini-coffin in which a mini clay figure rests. "Come to his grave, Josette!" calls Angelique's voice. "Jeremiah is waiting for you to bring him back! Say his name--waken him!"

Josette and Naomi arrive at Jeremiah's grave. Josette calls to her dead husband. A hand rips through the earth, grasping, clutching, and the two women scream and run away.

NOTES:  The scene between Angelique, Joshua and Naomi was classic here, and so very good. You knew Angelique wanted to lash out at her future father in law but didn't dare. Their parrying was wonderful to watch.

As for Jeremiah's ghost's arm thrusting from the earth, it scared me plenty the first time I saw it!

Love, Robin

386 - (Grayson Hall) - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795.  An evil woman is at work in the old Collins mansion. She has sown the seeds of intrigue and deceit within the family.  She has aroused suspicions of witchcraft, and those suspicions have been directed at one who is innocent.

Drawing room - Angelique brings Natalie her deck of Tarot cards and comments about how distracted she seems. Natalie says she wants to do a reading to find out where Vicki is. Angelique asks no further questions and goes upstairs. Barnabas and Nathan come in and ask Natalie to describe Trask's interrogation of Miss Winters. Natalie explains exactly what happened, and how Vicki refused to cooperate with Trask. Nathan and Barnabas agree that, for her safely, Vicki must leave the house, but Natalie informs them it's too late--Trask forcibly took her away! She regrets allowing it, she confesses, and tells them how Trask hopes to prove by morning that Vicki is a witch. Natalie accepts blame for what happened and asks them to look for Vicki--she fears Trask is torturing the girl. Nathan and Barn resolve to search for Vicki, but Barnabas first tells Natalie that she and Abigail should be ashamed of themselves. She complains that they've had nothing but misfortune since coming to Collinsport and she wishes they'd stayed in Martinique.
Trask returns, but steadfastly refuses to tell Barnabas where he took Miss Winters. He shouldn't be interfering in his fight with Satan, warns Trask--and besides, why is Barnabas defending this woman, a stranger who harmed his family? Barnabas curtly reminds Trask that they just fought a war that established certain rights, one of which--that a person is innocent until proven guilty (yes, Frid bobbled the line and said innocent until proven innocent, but we know what he meant)--applies to Miss Winters. He and Nathan head out to find her.
Then Trask spots Natalie's Tarot cards and takes her to task for claiming to be a religious woman. Those cards are the devil's playthings!  Essentially, Natalie tells him to screw off. Angelique brings in tea as the two of them are discussing the "tree test" to which he's put Vicki. You can see Angelique has an idea, and, looking like Little Blue Riding Hood in a hooded cloak, she heads out of the house. Vicki, tied to the tree, cries weakly for help. Barnabas and Nathan, searching with a llantern, hear her and head in that direction, Angelique following, maintaining her distance. They untie Vicki, and Barnabas wants to take her back to the Old House, but Vicki is petrified at that idea-she doesn't want Trask near her! Nathan suggests hiding her at the new house, and Barnabas agrees.
Angelique, after they've gone, sets a small tree aflame on a rock. It burns steadily, and soon, the tree to which Vicki was tied begins to burn, too. At dawn, Trask leaves the house and Natalie follows him.

Nathan and Barnabas bring Vicki to Collinwood. They promise to bring her blankets and food. Vicki says she never wants to see Trask again, and assures her if he has his way, Trask will be sent away soon. Natalie catches up to Trask in the woods--she wanted to see if Vicki was safe. Trask muses on how powerful Miss Winters is--everyone feels sorry for her. She tells him she didn't approve of the way he treated Vicki.  He wants her to return to the house, and she suggests he is afraid he's failed in proving Vicki a witch and doesn't want her to be witness to that fact. He's sure he's right, and when they go to the tree, Vicki is gone, but the tree is now a charred, smoking stump!

NOTES:  Gotta love that Reverend Trask! Whatta guy!

Now that Angelique has used witchcraft to make Vicki look guilty, what is going to become of the poor girl?  Will Barnabas and Nathan be able to keep her safe, or will she be discovered in her hiding place?  Will Trask's determination to capture her, coupled with Angelique's desire to prove her a witch end up being Vicki's undoing?


387 - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795.  It is a time of intrigue and terror in the old Collins mansion.  The family fears the presence of a witch in the house, and the decision has been made to find and destroy her.

Drawing room - Trask tells Joshua and Andre that there might well be a coven of witches, since SOMEONE freed Victoria Winters from that tree.  Angelique, doing some chores, listens to this with interest, and some trepidation, I'm sure. Trask asks Joshua permission to interrogate everyone, but the family patriarch orders caution and judgment--the Collins family oretuge ge is at stake, after all. Andre, who Trask says is either protecting himself or someone else, is miffed to be included amongst the interrogatees, calling Trask a self-styled witchhunter, and only after Joshua insists does he agree to be questioned--but let it be known that he is doing it under duress and being questioned by a complete idiot!
You go, Andre!

Angelique catches Nathan leaving the back servants' entrance bearing a shirtful of food. He claims he was going to burn the shirt, but has to change his story when she smells the food inside. He then says he was going on a picnic and invites her to join him. She's puzzled by the December picnic, but he asks her to keep her knowledge that he  "borrowed" food from the kitchen a secret. She agrees, but after he leaves, thinks that he's a conceited fool--she knows damn well he's bringing that food to Victoria Winters.
Drawing room - Trask, annoyed that Angelique is late for his interrogation, calls the duPres' and their servants sacrilegious and arrogant. When Angelique enters, she is polite and forthcoming, but he manages to make her solitary walks in the woods sound like meetings with the devil. It doesn't help that she admits she wasn't baptized, and claims it's because her parents died when she was young. She claims to fear the Almighty and assures him she knows nothing of sorcery. The devil has never tempted her because she has such a strong loyalty to her (?) God. Angelique drops to her knees, clasps her hands together, and claims she wants to be a child of religion. Suddenly, she has a vision, which she claims is thanks to Reverend Trask's influence. Joshua enters while Ang is having her spiritual revelation--she hears voices, a man and a woman. They are in a big, new house, and no one is there. Joshua recognizes the description as Collinwood, the house being built, and Trask immediately wants to hasten there and find the witch! Angelique, still kneeling, grins.
Collinwood drawing room - A hungry Vicki devours the food Nathan brought her. He tells her Angelique saw him with the food, but Vicki is sure she won't say anything. She thanks him and expresses a hope he isn't endangering himself by helping her. Then, foolishly, she begins to talk about getting back to her own world, her own time. Nathan warns her that talk like that will begin to make even her friends doubt her. She apologizes--does Nathan think her a witch? No, but he does think her strange. He likes her and wants to help her, he assures Vicki. They hear voices in the foyer--Trask and Joshua! Oh, yes, there's definitely an evil spirit in this house, says Trask, and they'd better get rid of it before the family moves in. They hear a noise and Nathan comes out. He was checking out the house, he tells Joshua, who says he should have asked permission first. Trask asks Nathan where the witch is, and when Forbes says he has no idea, accuses him of lying--they'll search the house, Trask insists. When the enter the drawing room, Vicki has fled; the window is open. Trask finds the fresh food on top of a crate and gazes with suspicion at Nathan.

NOTES:  Angelique is such a hoot in this ep! She really knows how to play Trask like a fish on a hook, with her kneeling and swearing she wishes to be a child of God. Too bad Vicki can't take lessons from her.

Love, Robin

382 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has sent Victoria Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795, where the doomed love of two people caused wave after wave of mystery and horror and death.

Vicki comes in from visiting the post office bearing more wedding presents for Barn and Josette. She muses that if she ever gets back to her own time, she'll never again want to know anyone's secrets. Natalie enters and says the gifts will have to go back. How long have you known about Jeremiah and Josette plans to elope?, the Countess demands of Vicki, who denies knowing anything.When Natalie, citing the terrible, tragic things that are about to happen, demands that Vicki admit she knows the future and changed the cards, Vicki denies everything.

Naomi drinks in her room. She hides the bottle when Abigail knocks at her door. Her sister in law comes in and begins to blather heatedly, hatefully, on and on about the cat, the devil, and Naomi's drinking. Naomi suggests Abigail must be quite an authority on the devil by this time and SHE drinks as a tonic for her shattered nerves. She thinks she and Abigail should bond together instead of arguing.  Josette and Jeremiah were drawn together by lust, spits Abigail. Natalie joins the hen party; she agrees with Abigail that the devil is at work here, in the form of a minion--a witch.Yes, and it's Vicki, Abigail insists. Natalie tells the other women she wants Naomi to question Vicki about the future, and that if she doesn't, she's inviting tragedy.

The cat is sitting on Vicki's bed, balefully moving its tail, as Vicki gazes at Sarah's photo in the Collins family album. She remembers how much she used to enjoy looking at the book, and now, here she is, living with them! It's horrible to know their fate but to be unable to do anything about it. Abigail knocks on Vicki's door and Vicki scrambles to hide the book. Naomi wants to see her, says Abigail, and what is that cat doing in your room? Foolishly, Vicki says she likes cats, but Abigail insists she hates them. Vicki wants Abigail to leave her room when she does, but Abigail reminds her they own the house and can go into any room they want. She tells Vicki to tell her master that she, Abigail, is his enemy, and orders Vicki to go to Naomi. After Vicki leaves, Abigail informs the cat it won't stop her, and she begins searching Vicki's dresser drawers. There is a horrific screech, a puff of smoke and the cat disappears;Joshua, confused and dazed, is sitting on Vicki's bed in its place! Abigail promptly faints in her brother's arms.

Naomi questions Vicki about her past life, and Vicki says she wishes she could tell her everything--but can't. Natalie says Vicki WON'T tell, and hasn't explained away her clairvoyant remarks, such as stating that Josette wouldn't marry Barnabas, but Jeremiah (Vicki put this one down to being confused about all the new people and new names), but is satisfied that Vicki was trying to be kind in each instance.Naomi doesn't like the way Natalie is interrogating Vicki--a good woman who has offered acceptable explanations as far as she is concerned. Natalie thinks it's a good way to ward off suspicion, but everything comes to a halt when Joshua comes in and Naomi hugs him, delighted to see him. He wasn't even aware of being away a week! Abigail orders Vicki the witch to tell Joshua what she did to disrupt the household, and screeches to her brother that Jeremiah and Josette eloped. Naomi says they don't know that for sure, they disappeared, just as Joshua did. Yes, but he didn't take his clothes, as they did, Natalie reminds her. Joshua is appalled at this terrible news. Abigail maintains that witchcraft made it happen, and Vicki is the witch! See, the cat is gone! Natalie tells Joshua she's glad he's well. Naomi asks Vicki to order cook to prepare some broth for Mr. Collins (nah, give him a nice fat mouse), and Abigail follows Vicki out of the room--she's gonna watch her closely! Joshua tells his sister the witchcraft-Vicki business will wait for now. (Joshua does ask about how Barnabas is taking all this, so he does care.)

Abigail and Natalie, who predicts the cat will never be seen again, search Vicki's room. They find her shocking outfit, as well as a Zodiac bracelet. Abigail is horrified to see a devil depicted in one of the charms and hastily drops it. She tells Natalie she's going to send for Reverend Trask, expert witchhunter from Salem, to help them. Natalie looks pleased to hear this.

NOTES: Trask! We all know that name well, don't we, at least those of us who have watched the series before? He's going to stir the pot!

Why didn't Vicki better hide her things from 1967? She should have known they would only get her into trouble.


383 - (KLS) - A seance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a seance which has sent Victoria Winters on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795, where a strange, haunted honeymoon followed the marriage which cannot logically be explained.

Josette and Jeremiah Collins, wearing matching wedding rings and pitchforks on their hands, make love, over and over, at the Collinsport Inn. They consider staying in that room, where they've been since they were married 2.5 days ago, raising a family and living to be old, but after making love, Jeremiah sleeps and Josette sits staring into the fireplace. She hears her father and Barnabas chastising her, asking her how she could have done this to everyone. Barn's voice accuses her of not loving him, and she denies this. When Jeremiah awakens, her entire mood, once lighthearted, passionate and flirtatious, has changed--she wants to go back to face the music at Collinwood. She's crying, wishing she had told everyone before they eloped. He reminds her they tried to fight it, but it didn't work. When he tries to touch her, she orders him not to, but he reminds her they're married (so that gives him the right to, I gather)."Take me back, tonight, now," she demands. She tells him about hearing Andre's and Barnabas' disapproving voices, and feels they have no right to happiness. Does he love her, she asks, and he assures her he does. They must not forget they love each other, they agree, but when he kisses his wife's hand, the pitchfork love brand is gone!

Andre and Barnabas have a talk in the study. Josette told him how much she loved him, Mr. duPres assures Barnabas, who was concerned that Josette had changed her mind about him after arriving in Collinsport. Nevertheless, Barnabas refuses to consider that his uncle and fiancee ran away together. Joshua comes in and announces he, Natalie and Abigail think Josette and Jeremiah were the victims of witchcraft--and that Miss Winters is the culprit! Reverend Trask will be there shortly, and he will ferret out the witch! Barnabas defends Vicki staunchly,but his father orders him to keep out of it--and if he does protect Vicki, as he threatens to do, he will consider his son an enemy, too.

Jeremiah enters the drawing room and greets Riggs, who is dusting. He sends him to find Joshua. Jeremiah finds the brand has disappeared from his hand, too, so the spell is broken for now. Josette comes in and he reminds her he told her to wait in the carriage. Their feelings for each other have clearly evaporated, which she realizes when she clings to him and he behaves coldly toward her. Though they now realize they feel no love for each other, they resolve to try to be kind. Andre enters and hugs Josette, and Joshua, calling Jeremiah "the prodigal brother", demands to know what's what.When they hear that the couple have married, they are both stunned. Andre reminds Jeremiah of his promise to keep away from Josette, which clues in Joshua to the fact that he knew something was going on between the pair. Jeremiah has no explanation for their actions, but they are fully prepared to leave town. No, says Joshua, there will be no grist for the gossips--they are family and will live under the Collins roof, presenting a united front! Barnabas walks in on this upsetting tableau.Joshua immediately reveals that they are married, and Josette quickly turns away, unable to face her former fiance. "No," Barnabas says, and demands that Josette admit it. It's true, she says. "Why?" he asks. He didn't know her, was wrong about her! Jeremiah can offer no explanation for why he stole Josette from his nephew; they simply couldn't fight what they felt. "Then you will fight me," Barnabas announces, and slaps his uncle across the face. "Choose weapons!" Joshua forbids a duel, Andre tells his daughter it's between men now (!), Josette screams, "No!" and Barnabas turns to her and tells her she lost the right to ask anything of him. They are going to duel, he firmly tells his father, and he can't stop them!

NOTES: Loved the high drama, but didn't Barnabas look totally betrayed? By the way, Jeremiah didn't kiss Josette with anymore passion than he kissed Vicki.

Love, Robin