Yes, I remember poor Wanda Paisley--from Champagne girl to dead one in probably no more than a couple of hours. And yes, good perf. by Karen Lynn. This scene is a nice reminder that what we imagine can be much, much scarier that what the directors might have shown us--too bad nobody seems to remember that now. Great, blood-curdling scream. What happened to Wanda must have been truly awful--even PQuentin and Aristede look shocked. Luckily, nothing remotely similar happened when my friends and I threw the Ching.
But before all that, Aristede evicts QPetofi from the cottage, formerly the scene of Quentin's many conquests. QPetofi voices his only hope of defeating PQuentin: Sooner or later, he will say something, make a mistake, and someone will know he isn’t really me! Aristede laughs at this idea. He won’t make a mistake! he boasts. It may be your body, but remember, it’s his mind, and he’s a lot smarter than you are. To prove Aristede’s point, the director takes a few moments to show us a split screen of Petofi and Quentin.
Back at Collinwood, Trask complains to Edward that having Lady Hampshire stay there is costing a lot of money. Edward naturally gets huffy and defensive. When QPetofi shows up, Trask accuses him of not caring about Amanda. This throws QPetofi for a moment, and Trask pounces, declaring crushingly (or so he thinks) that Quentin is and always will be nothing but a heartless womanizer. PQuentin is telling Edward, Something was bothering me, and after listening to you and Trask, Edward, I realized what it was. Trask is insufferable! He’s like some medieval torture machine, some grim punishment pressing down on all of us, squeezing the life from this family! I didn’t know you had such a way with words, Edward comments. Trask inspired me, PQuentin says, backtracking a bit, and I won’t take what Trask says. It’s not just the life he’s squeezing out of us, Edward agrees, it’s [even worse] money. He plans to remedy the problem by marrying the charming (and, he thinks, rich) Kitty. She is a very charming lady. She also has other assets as well. She’s very wealthy. The Hampshire holdings take up half the county. Seeing PQuentin’s shock, Edward asks, What’s wrong? Don’t you approve of my plan? PQuentin points out, The recent death of her husband just might stand in your way. [And really, who would know better than the count about Kitty’s actual financial standing?] I worried about that at first, Edward admits, but now I feel she’s drawn to me, and things are going well. Kitty is very interested in you, PQuentin agrees. It takes money to be the master of this place, Edward says, and I think Trask’s days of being master are coming to an end. So do I, PQuentin says, looking pleased at the prospect.
Later, QPetofi tries to convince Edward that he's really Quentin, but Edward tells the "old man" to go home and stop these aberrations.
Strangely, today's hexagram is the hexagram of vigor. QPetofi tries to stop the proceedings, but Aristede bundles him into the next room and locks the door.
Meanwhile, Wanda is still in the trance. She moans, apparently in distress. I see it! she cries. I see it! In her mind’s eye, she sees the door with the hexagram. It’s opening! she cries. Go into it, PQuentin orders her. No, she protests, I don’t want to! It’s dark! Do it, PQuentin orders her harshly, and tell me everything you see. Reluctantly she moves through and into the dark. At first she sees nothing--because in the land of the dead, there is nothing to see. Then she screams at the sight of a pair of skeleton arms. We hear a man’s mocking laughter, and she turns around to see a hideously grinning skull with bulging eyeballs. She screams even louder when the skeleton moves closer, its bony arms reaching for her.
Good god, what happened to her? Aristede asks in horror. Seated at the table is not a young woman but Wanda’s skeleton, with her hair and clothing. The little feather ornament is still absurdly perched atop her head. I don’t know, Aristede, I don’t know, PQuentin whispers, equally horrified. It couldn’t have happened, not like this, Aristede protests. As the camera swings back to poor Wanda’s skeleton, PQuentin says, Anything is possible beyond the I Ching door--anything.....
