Episode #172 - Even the brightness of morning cannot dislodge the phantoms of the night before--they remain to live in the mind of all who were at Collinwood, as the source of a baffling mystery and an undefined terror.
Mrs. Johnson energetically dusts items on the mantel in Laura's cottage. You are here to dust those things, not to break them, says Laura, please be a little more careful, they're very fragile. So am I, Mrs. Collins, I break very easy! says Mrs. Johnson. What are you talking about? asks Laura. My nerves aren't what they used to be, not with all the goings-on around here, complains Sarah. I'm afraid I don't know what you mean by goings-on, says Laura. Don't you?--what about last night? queries Sarah. What about it? asks Laura. The spooks and ghosts and whatnot, says Sarah, I've a good mind to give my notice. I don't see what they has to do with you, says Laura. You don't? asks Sarah--just think about it for a minute, now you take last night--she sits at Laura's knee, in front of the fire--I was upstairs, watching over your little boy, trembling in my boots for fear something would happen to him. Yes, that's exactly why I'm very anxious to get him out of here, says Laura. I'll tell you the truth, says Sarah, it never seemed right to take a Collins out of Collinsport, but I'm coming more and more to your way of thinking, that any place would be better for that child than to be around here. Thank you, says Laura, I'm glad you're beginning to see my viewpoint. You take Vicki Winters, says Sarah--she's a sweet child, now why did they mix her up in this?--she leans closer to Laura--will you tell me why she cried out in sheer terror last night?--why?? Laura looks circumspect.
Can you give me one good reason why that girl was in such a state? Demands Sarah. No, I can't, says Laura. I didn't think so, nobody can, says Sarah--poor thing, carried up to bed, she was a bundle of raw nerves all night! That's another reason I want to get David away from here, says Laura, she's much too high strung to be left in charge of him. Not usually, says Sarah, just last night--ordinarily, she's as sensible as they come. She has resumed her dusting. Then something's happening to her, says Laura, because she's changing. That's what I'm getting at, says Sarah, everyone's changing--something happened toe everybody, I don't know what it is. Neither do I, says Laura--certainly not everybody is changing--you're not, you remain the same. That's because I'm a person that believes in minding her own business, says Sarah. So I've noticed, says Laura. (LOL!) I don't mess with what shouldn't be messed with--leave well enough alone, that's my motto, says Sarah. And a very admirable one it is, says Laura. I tell you, if everyone were like me, there wouldn't be any problems, says Sarah. I couldn't agree with you more, says Laura. You take that Dr. Guthrie--some doctor, says Sarah--I'd like to know what he's doctoring. He's a psychologist, says Laura. Well, a psychologist is supposed to deal with people's brains, supposed to say, "Lie there on the couch and tell me your problems," and all that foolishness. I suppose so, says Laura. Then what is he doing here? demands Sarah. He's trying to find out what caused my sister-in-law's illness, you know that, says Laura. That's what I'm getting at, says Sarah, if he's working on Mrs. Stoddard's case, why is he here and she stretched out on Boston, telling nothing to anybody--answer me that! I can't, admits Laura, I wish I could. And what kind of psychology was he practicing there last night, and who was he practicing it on? asks Sarah, incensed. Yes, agrees Laura, I wonder. I tell you, I never heard of a doctor doing what he was doing, says Sarah, outside of a witch doctor in a movie! It was just an experiment, I think, says Laura. Oh, scoffs Mrs. J, what kind of experiment?--doctors are supposed to be scientific people--there was nothing scientific about what went on last night! I'm just as much in the dark as you are, says Laura. It may be an old New England custom, says Sarah, but I never held with anything like those seances and that kind of tomfoolery. Neither do I, says Laura. I smell something fishy, says Sarah (did Roger bring home his work again?, and it's not the wind off the bay, and I don't like it. Time will tell, says Laura--and if one has enough time, it will tell everything. I'm going to try to keep him away from Vicki, vows Sarah, picking up a shovel from the andirons. that might be a very wise idea, says Laura. I'd better finish up here and get back to the house, says Sarah, tamping out the fire. What are you doing? asks Laura. Trying to put out the fire so I can clean your hearth, replies Sarah. Laura rises. You mustn't do that, she orders
--leave it alone--I want it left burning all the time. Sarah looks are her oddly. It gets awfully chilly in here, says Laura by way of explanation. It won't take but a minute, says Sarah. You heard what I said--don't touch that fire--don't ever touch it, ever, do you understand that? asks Laura desperately--I want that fire burning all the time! Yes, Mrs. Collins, says Sarah. Thank you, says Laura, much more quietly. Sarah returns the andiron and leaves the cottage, but not without giving Laura a look first. Laura sits by the fire, reading the book she was involved in when we first saw her.
Sarah reports to Burke's hotel room. I didn't expect to see you today, he says. I have information I'd give you even if you weren't paying me, she says. Well it must be pretty devastating information for you to give it to me for nothing, he says, hands in pockets. (LOL!) Do you know what went on at Collinwood last night? she asks. That's what I pay you for, he reminds her, to find out. They had a seance, she reveals--to call on the spirits--I say spirits are like dogs--let sleeping ones lie! She sits in a chair. He sits across from her. Why did they do it? he asks. They said it was to help find out what's wrong with Mrs. Stoddard. I should think a doctor would be more help than a ghost, says Burke. That's what I'm getting at, she says, it was Dr. Guthrie's idea. Dr. Guthrie--what's he up to? asks Burke, suspicious. I don't know, and I don't like it, or him, much, she says--as far as I know, I was upstairs, looking after young David, and they were having this thing down in the drawing room. Burke asks who was involved. Dr. Guthrie, Carolyn, Vicki, Roger, then Mrs. Roger Collins came in, she says, they sat there, they had the lights out and all of a sudden, Vicki began spouting French in a strange voice--and then suddenly she gave a terrible scream and collapsed. Is she all right? asks Burke anxiously. Yes, they put her to sleep and she's coming along, says Sarah, she said that before she had this feeling of a terrible fire, being burned up, just before the collapsed. That settles it, says Burke, rising to his feet and angrily slapping his thighs, something's got to be dome about this Dr. Guthrie, and done quickly! I thought you'd feel this way, she says, that's why I came to see you about it. Whatever's going on at Collinwood, whatever my quarrel with the family, he says, I don't want it touching that girl! What do you want to do? she asks. I'll put my lawyer on it, find out who Guthrie is, he says--I want you to keep an eye on Vicki--I don't want anybody who can get to her to harm her. I'll do just that, she promises, and picks up her pocketbook. Burke is already on the phone. He thanks her and says he'll talk to her later. She leaves.
I want to speak to Grant, he says--I don't care if he's in a meeting, get him for me right now--Grant, I want you to do something for me right away--I want to run a check on Dr. Peter Guthrie--I want to know who he is, where he came from, what he's doing in Collinsport--you won't get on it tomorrow, you'll get on it today!--I want to know immediately. (Ya gotta love this guy's power!)
Peter enters Collinwood without knocking, takes off his coat and hangs it up. He starts to go upstairs, but Sarah stops him. May I ask where you're going? she inquires. I thought I'd take a look at Miss Winters, he says. She marches to the stairs and bars his way. She is to have no visitors! commands Sarah, those are MY orders! I'm not an ordinary visitor, I'm a doctor, he says. I don't care what you call yourself, she says, if it weren't for you, that girl wouldn't be in that condition. I might be able to help her, he says. Like you did last night? she accuses. There are some things that are hard to understand, he says. That may be, she says, but I understand a couple of things, I understand when a girl is in a bad way, and I understand who put her in it. I'm not going to argue with you, he says, attempting to move past her. Then I'm not going to argue with you! she informs him, sticking out her arm to bar his way--the only way you'll get up these stairs is over my body--now if you want to knock me down, you're welcome to it, but that's the only way you'll get to see Vicki Winters. (lion at the gate, protecting the governess.)--now, nobody goes upstairs--that's that! Defeated, he walks instead into the drawing room, looking at Sarah, who looks back at him, a determined expression on her face.
Sarah closes the double doors to the drawing room and is about to go upstairs when Laura comes in. I just came by to see Vicki, she says. She's resting, says Sarah. Oh, well I'll go upstairs and sit with her until she wakes up, says Laura. In he condition, says Sarah, it's better for her to be resting than visiting. I'll just look in on her, says Laura. What for? demands Sarah. (gotta love her nerve!) I want to see her, says Laura. Outside of being a little paler, says Sarah, she doesn't look any different than she did yesterday. (medical report.) I see, says Laura, I think I'll go upstairs and see my son. No, ma'am, says Sarah. Why not? asks Laura. He's not there, says Sarah. Where is he? asks Laura. Off with Miss Carolyn, says Sarah, she thought if would be best if he were out of the house while Vicki was resting. Oh, says Laura, I think I'll go upstairs anyway. You can't, says Sarah, blocking her way. You mean you won't let me, says Laura, annoyed. I have my instructions, says Sarah, there's too many strange things going on around here, and until some of them are explained, nobody's going to be wandering around that girl--nobody goes upstairs! They suddenly hear voices from the seance, like echoes: Carolyn: I smell perfume in the room. They hear Vicki moaning. It's jasmine, says Carolyn. What is that? asks Laura. Dr. Guthrie, doing his homework, says Sarah sourly--now if you don't mind, I've got other things to do--and she goes upstairs. Laura enters the drawing room, where Dr. Guthrie is listening to his tape of the seance and making notes. Laura enters, and he turns off the recorder. They bid each other hello, and he tells her he was just going over some notes he made at the seance last night. How did you feel about the seance? she asks. I thought it was fascinating, he says. Did you really? she asks--goodness, I thought it was complete failure, with Vicki fainting just as it was getting exciting. Quite the reverse, he says, I think that may have been the most exciting part. Really? she asks, I didn't mean that, I just meant I was concerned about Vicki. Exciting may be the wrong word, he says, revealing may be more accurate. Then you don't think it was a failure? She asks. No, I think it was very successful, he says. Do you? she asks--how fascinating! Yes, he says, it fascinates me, too. Can you tell me more about it? she asks sitting on the sofa, or is it a deep, dark secret? Once all the facts are assembled, he says, sitting beside her, you'll be among the first to know. I'm flattered, she says, but can't you give me some hints as to the direction your analysis is going to take? I'm not quite sure yet, he says, just when everything seems to be going in one direction, there's a sudden switch--it's as if there were several kinds of phenomena acting here at the same time. Phenomena? She asks, what an interesting choice of word--but when are you going to sort through all these phenomena and come to some sort of conclusion? I'm going to sort through them using a very modern scientific device, he says, a tape recorder. Oh, you wires us for sound, she says. In a manner of speaking, yes, he says, I took the precaution of having a recorder here in the room at the seance last night. That was very clever of you, she says--may I hear it? No, he says, no, I'd rather not have anyone who was at the seance hear it--it might color their reactions. I see, she says, but you really feel this is going to help? Yes, he says, it's objective--it records without making any editorial statements--you see, in the darkness and confusion, what we thought we heard might not be what we heard at all--we were too upset by what was happening to Vicki. Well, yours was a very subtle move, she says--one might almost say...crafty. One might, he agrees, after all, the tape is a tool of my craft. I can hardly wait to know what's on it, she says. You sound as caught up in what we might learn as I am, he says.
She gazes at the recorder. I may very well be, perhaps more so, she says--after all, a woman's curiosity is greater than a man's, and I am EXTREMELY curious about it.
Burke walks into the cottage, where Laura is sitting by the fire, reading a book. It is considered good manners to knock before entering a lady's home! she informs him. Never mind my manners, good bad or indifferent, he says brusquely, you married the one with the manners, and look where it got you. You are awfully tiresome on the subject of Roger, she says. I'm very sorry, he says mockingly, is that a marked improvement in my manners? What do you want now? she asks, irritated. He sits on the arm of a chair. I want to know what's going on around here, he says--I don't like any of it, and I don't want to be... And I don't like your tone of voice! She says--our only chance of getting what we want is by remaining allies! You're right, he says, this time I am sorry. I'm every bit as much disturbed by what's going on here as you are, she says. What is happening here? he asks. I wish I knew, she says. What about this seance business? he asks. Oh, so you've heard about that already, she says. I have my sources, he says. A fact of which I am very much aware, she says. What happened to Vicki? he asks. I don't know, says Laura, she assumed the voice of some spirit and just at the moment something important was about to happen, she collapsed. Is she all right now? he asks. I guess so, I don't know, says Laura, Mrs. Johnson was standing guard and wouldn't let me upstairs. Good, says Burke, if there's anything in the house working against Vicki, I want to protect her from it. She looks at him sharply. You didn't have anything to do with Mrs. Johnson's attitude, did you? she asks. Me? he says, chuckling, what would I have to do with it? I don't know, she says, it's not important, what is important is Guthrie. You're absolutely right, he says--is he a policeman? Oh, Burke, use your head, Roger wouldn't let a policeman in the house. (he's allowed several.) Then who is he? asks Burke. I don't know, she says, but whatever he is, he's not what he seems. I don't care what he is, says Burke, as long as he doesn't interfere with us. Oh, but he is interfering, she says, he's disrupting the entire household, he's delving into the past. What's that got to do with us? he asks. Carolyn is helping him, she says, need I remind you that since we, well, since you stopped going out with her, she's not what I'd call on our side. What's she stand to gain by it? Revenge, says Laura, we've got to find out who Guthrie is and why he's here. We'll know soon enough, he says--I put my lawyer on it, he's checking out Guthrie right now. Good, says Laura, whoever he is, I have a feeling he's here to block us--and if that's the case, well, he must be removed. That's very easily said, Burke reminds her, but how are we going to do it?
By whatever means are necessary, she says, and he looks at her oddly.
Guthrie exits the drawing room and yells for Mrs., Johnson. Would you come down here?--quickly, please! he says, obviously very upset. Come in here, please, he says, taking her arm and almost dragging her. What is it? she asks. Did you touch anything on this table while you were dusting it? he asks. I did not, she says, not appreciating what he said. Are you sure you didn't touch the tape recorder accidentally? He asks. Dr. Guthrie, she says, I wouldn't touch that thing with a 10 foot pole! Did you see anyone leave or enter the room? he asks. There's been no one leaving or entering, what is all this about? she asks. Listen to this, he says, and turns on the recorder. There are no words.
It sounds like a fire crackling, observes Sarah. Yes, says Guthrie, the sound of fire. He sits down, gazing at the recorder.
NOTES: The sound of fire. Sounds like Laura had a little fun at Guthrie's expense, recording over his important tape with her own happy, fiery music, so to speak Sorry, Peter, she won this round. Maybe you'll win next time.
LOVED Sarah Johnson keeping everyone away from Vicki! She was like a lion protecting her young. It was a riot the way she barred first Peter, then Laura, from seeing her. At least she's right keeping the latter out! And the way she went to Burke to "report" on the latest Collinwood goings-on, all huffy and such, was marvelous. She put Guthrie in his place, too!
I don't understand Burke. He's so tough with everyone else, but marshmallow with Laura. Unless she has him under a Phoenix spell, his defense of her makes little sense to me. He THINKS she's going to help him once he helps her, but his instincts are bad, off-kilter, if he really believes that and trusts her. And she did seem to realize there was some kind of connection between Sarah and him. This woman's sharp!
Episode #173 - A man has come to Collinwood, a man searching for answers, a man with probing questions that are disturbing to all who come in contact with him and forces them to quick and almost violent decisions to act.
Cottage - If you want what you've asked of me, then you have to help me get what I want, Laura tells Burke. I already said I would, he reminds her. No matter what the cost? she asks. No matter what the cost, he says, as soon as I'm through running this check on Guthrie and finding out who he is and what he stands for, and what he's doing here. I can't wait that long! she insists. He rises. What do you suggest? he asks. I was hoping you might have a solution, she says. As soon as I find out something concrete, he says. They're all against me, she complains--Carolyn, Vicki, Liz and now Dr. Guthrie--it's too much! You've got Roger to help you, he says. That's a big help, she says sarcastically. What do you want me to do? he demands. You get along very well with David, she says, he likes you, looks up to you, he'll listen to you--I want you to convince him to go away with me--there's no alternative, Burke--please arrange it
--he's got to go away with me! Burke looks at her, puzzled by the extremity of her desperation.
Drawing room - Vicki arranges flowers in a vase. David comes in and, apparently furious, says he wants to talk to her. Look at these flowers from Dr. Guthrie, she says, he sent them to me because I wasn't feeling well--wasn't that nice of him? I don't care, pouts David. What don't you care about? she asks, that I wasn't feeling well or that he sent me flowers? I don't care about anything, he says angrily, I want to talk to you. All right, she says, and sits on the piano bench. I heard about last night, he says, about the seance. Who told you? she asks. Mrs. Johnson, he says. I'm going to have to talk to her, says Vicki--she shouldn't have! Why must there be secrets from me? he asks. She seats him next to her. It's not a question of secrets, she says, but there are certain things it's better off for a little boy not to know about. Not when it comes to Josette, he says, I saw her first, so she's mine! There is no such thing as owning her, says Vicki. But there is! he insists. First of all, you're being very silly, she says, and secondly, you're being rude. Why wasn't I invited? he asks. Because a seance is no place for a little boy, she says. Why not?--Josette's my friend, I should have been there, he says. I'm not going to argue with you, she says, you're just going to have to take my word for it. I don't have to take your word for it, he says, crossing his arms over his chest, I don't have to take anybody's word for it--today I'm mad at the whole world! She tries to touch his arm to comfort him, but he wrenches away. Don't touch me, he orders, we can't make up--I'm going out to play. Can I come with you? she asks. No, I don't want you, he says--I want to be alone. Vicki looks concerned--and resigned. (poor girl, she's taken a few steps back with David.)
Now is the time to act with David, Laura tells Burke. I'll help, he sighs, I'll do everything within my power. Thank you, she says--we've got to act quickly. Why the rush? he asks--wouldn't it be better to let the boy come to you on his own? Yes, it would be better, she agrees, but I just don't have time to let that happen--I've got to act while Liz is in the hospital--hard enough to arrange that. What do you mean, arrange? he asks. (you slipped, bird-girl.) Nothing, she says hastily, I just mean I tried very hard to convince people to send her to the hospital, not for me, for her own good--you know as well as I do that she never could have received proper treatment here. Burke is silent. That's all I meant, she says. Well, I'll talk to David as soon as I can find him, says Burke. Do it today, she insists. I don't know where he is, says Burke, I can't go up to Collinwood and knock at the door and ask for him, the way Roger and Carolyn feel about me. It's a nice day, he's probably out playing, she says--try the Old House--no, I know, try the fishing shack, he likes to play there. OK, I'll try to find him, says Burke--there are a lot of things that don't add up, he says. You've got to trust me, she says. OK, he says. We've got to trust each other, she adds, if you want me to help you, you've got to help me get David. (trust your instincts, Burke--don't trust her!)
Fishing shack - Burke enters and greets David, asking how he is. I'm fine--I guess, says David. Burke closes the door and asks what he's up to. David is working on a pile of ropes and explains he's trying to straighten out this stuff, it's no good the way it is. It sure is tangled up, agrees Burke. Nobody cares about it, says David--my father's never around to fix it, and I can't do it by myself. Well, says Burke, maybe I ought to help. You think you can? asks David. I think I can handle it, Burke assures him. He pulls over a barrel, sits down on it and suggests that they get a boat, go out in the bay and do some fishing. You really mean it? David asks eagerly. Sure, why not, it would be fun, says Burke, been a long time since I had a reel in my hand--I ought to get back to it. When can we go?--soon?--tomorrow? asks David. I'll ask Vicki about it, he says. Then I don't think we'll ever get to go, says David, disappointed--Vicki won't let me--she gets too worried about colds and junk like that. Burke laughs. I'll tell her I'll bundle you up good and warm, he says--I have an old, heavy fishing jacket, probably come down to your knees. Your jacket?--you're going to let me wear it? asks David. Sure I'll let you wear it, says Burke, even before we go fishing. Honest? asks David. Honest, says Burke, then you can play with it, OK? Oh, thanks, says David, thrilled. I guess you don't have much fun around here, do you Dave? Asks Burke, working on the rope. You can say that again, says David, everyone's been acting so crazy--you know what I mean, strange. What about your mother? he asks. She's all right, I guess, he says. You're not very enthusiastic, says Burke. I used to like her a lot, before she came back, when I would just think about her, he says. What did you think when you saw her? asks Burke. I didn't like her so much anymore, he says, she scared me--I can't explain, she just scared me, that's the way I felt. How do you feel now? asks Burke. I like her now, says David, but I don't mind being with her anymore. You ought to love her, he says, she loves you very much. I try, he says, but I can't get it out of my head that I was afraid of her once. I see, says Burke, I guess that would be a little difficult--but you know you ought to give her a break, she's a very nice woman. I'll try, says David. You know, says Burke, what you ought to do--take a trip with her, anywhere she wants to go--you say you're not having very much fun around here. What makes you think I'd have more fun with her? asks David. You'd get away, Burke says, there's a whole world outside this town. I'm not so sure I'd want to, says David. Why not? asks Burke, she's very smart, she could teach you a lot, you'd have a good time, too. I wouldn't mind being with her a little while, says David, but I wouldn't want to be with he forever--I can't leave here forever! How do you know? asks Burke, you might leave this town, then you'd find out you liked it there, and you'd never want to come back--he chucks David under the chin--you'd be surprised--think it over, anyway, will you?
I'll think it over, says David, but I'm still not sure. Burke chuckles. Seems to me a boy would like to get away, says Burke. Most boys would, agrees David, but not forever, and not with someone that once scared you so much. Burke looks at him, perplexed. (now, David, go with that fear, it's trying to tell you something!)
Burke has finished untangling the rope. That about does the job, he says. Now we'll have great equipment for our fishing trip, exults David. Yeah, that's right, says Burke, clapping David on the shoulder. You won't forget? asks David. I won't forget, says Burke--and give a little thought to going away with your mother. I will, says David--it's a deal, we both won't forget. Vicki enters the shack. There you are, she says to David, I've been worried sick about you! She greets Burke and he says hi and asks how she is. I don't ever want you to run off like that without telling me where you're going, she tells the boy sternly, is that understood. Yes, I guess so, he says. You have no idea how worried I was, she says. I'm sorry, he tells her, shrugging. That's more like it, she says. Ask her now, about the trip, David asks Burke. I thought I'd take Davy on a little fishing trip out on the bay, says Burke, his hands on David's shoulders. In this weather? asks Vicki, aghast. I told you what she'd say! says David resentfully. I'd make sure he was bundled up good and warm, Burke assures her. We'll talk about it in spring, says Vicki, then maybe you can do it. All the people around here just want to spoil my fun! complains David. Where are you going now? Vicki asks him. To my mother's cottage, he says. I wish you wouldn't, says Vicki. My father says I can, and if he says I can, I'm going, insists David. All right--but you be back before dark, says Vicki. OK, he says, resigned, and heads away as Vicki watches from the doorway. What's wrong with him seeing his mother? Burke asks over her shoulder. Mrs. Stoddard wouldn't like it, she says, please, I don't want to talk about it. Suit yourself, he says--now I want to know how you really are. I'm all right, she says. I heard about last night, he says. News certainly travels fast around here, she says. He smiles and looks down. I was a little concerned, he says, I saved your life once, and I guess I have a sort of investment in you. With you everything always boils down to business, she says. (LOL!) He closes the door. Not everything, he says. It's funny that it should be Josette again, she says, just like before--and fire--just before I fainted, I got a very strange sensation that I was burning alive. What's this Dr. Guthrie up to? demands Burke, incensed. He's trying to get to the bottom of Mrs. Stoddard's illness, says Vicki. He sure has way out ways of doing it, says Burke. I don't know anything about them, so I can't say whether he has or not, says Vicki. What's he going all over town asking people questions for? Burke asks. He's trying to find out what everybody knows about her illness, says Vicki. What's all this seance business? asks Burke--what does a doctor have to do with that kind of thing--that's not a doctor's normal sphere of activity. This is not a normal case, insists Vicki. I know you're gonna be mad at me again and blame me for this, but we're friends, and friends ought to be able to talk to each other--what is all this opposition against Laura? Because Mrs. Stoddard made us all promise to keep David away from her, says Vicki. That's Liz Stoddard, scoffs Burke, she wants David for herself--she didn't like Laura 10 years ago, when they first met--I know, I was there--what about you? You want the truth? she asks--you're not going to like it. Let me be the judge of that, he says. There are an awful lot of things about Laura that are questionable, downright mysterious, she says--I'll give you the facts--she came back here after many years without a word to anyone. She's been ill for a long time, you know that, says Burke, she's well now, and she has a mother's natural longing to see her son--what's wrong with that? That part is fine, says Vicki, I'm the first to be in sympathy with it, but an awful lot of strange things have happened since her arrival. Strange things are always happening at Collinwood, says Burke. But these have to do with her, says Vicki--there's Sam Evans and his painting--then there's that fire at his house when he burned his hands--and what about that fire in her apartment in Phoenix--that body was positively identified as Laura Collins--and don't forget that she was the last person who saw Mrs. Stoddard before she went into the trance--and she never even mentioned it
--can you explain these things?--can anybody?
David enters the cottage, startling his mother. I guess I should have knocked, he says. No, of course not, she says, my goodness, my home is your home, you can come and go as you like. Gee, thanks! He says. She invites him to sit beside her (in front of the fire, of course). Tell me about you day, what have you been doing? she asks. I've been down at the fishing shack, he says, trying to straighten out some of the fishing gear. Planning on going on a fishing trip? She asks. Burke came around and thought I might want to, says David--he might take me out on the bay. That was very nice of him, comments Laura. But I don't think they'll let me go, says David. Why not?--I'd let you go if you were staying with me, she says. You would? he asks. Of course I would, anytime you wanted to, she assures him. Burke said I should give some thought about going away with you, he says. She ruffles his head and tells him that nothing would please her more. I'll think about it, he promises. Good, you think about it very hard, she says. Will we go someplace where there's fishing? he asks. If you want to, she says, we can go anywhere at all if you'd go away with me. Burke seemed to think I'd like to go away with you, he says. Oh, well, he's a very smart man, she says, he thinks very highly of you--I'm sure if he suggested it, he meant it for your own good. I'll think about it, he says--Mother, what's a seance like? Oh, just a lot of foolishness, she says. Then how come you went to one last night? he asks. You shouldn't even have been told about such things, she says--as a matter of fact, I didn't go--I just happened to be there. Tell me about it, he says. There's nothing to tell, she says, the only thing that came of it was that Vicki got very upset--she's a very nervous, high-strung girl--and then of course, you can't place too much faith in what people like that say, that includes Dr. Guthrie--as a matter of fact, they might say some wicked things about your mother
--you mustn't believe anything they say about me, darling, will you promise me that? He nods. Burke enters the cottage and tells David he'd better be getting home--it'll be dark soon. Otherwise I'll get in trouble again, complains David, rising to his feet. Hey, says Laura, haven't you forgotten something?--don't I get a kiss? Sure, he says, and kisses her proffered cheek. David says goodbye and leaves. Now that David walks in and out of here, says Laura, I don't think you should come here anymore--he might take it into his head to mention something to Roger, and that would ruin everything. I don't want to talk about David, says Burke seriously--I want to talk about you. Why don't you stop talking and start thinking? she asks, annoyed. That's exactly what I have been doing, he says, I just had a little talk with Vicki about you. That's all I need, to have you listening to her, says Laura, sitting down--bad enough this awful influence she has over David. I'm very fond of David, says Burke angrily, and if you would explain a few things that have been happening around here since you came back, no one would object if you took the boy away. I know where all this comes from, she says, I can just hear Vicki enumerating everything--the painting, Sam's fire, the body in Phoenix, Liz' illness--look at me, Burke--it would take a superhuman being to do all those things--do you se anything but a woman appealing for your help? He sits beside her. I want to help, he says softly. Then do it, she says, touch me, I'm flesh and blood, the same woman you once loved--touch me! He caresses her cheek, then her chin. Do you feel anything that's any different from someone just appealing for your help? she asks. He turns away. What's the matter, what is it? she asks. Don't work on me, he says. Think of the future, she says, think only of you and me.
He looks into her eyes, and she looks back, probably hypnotizing him...
NOTES: It looked like Vicki might have gotten Burke to believe her, but Laura has that magical hold over him, whatever it is, and he's lost again, in Laura's eyes. She will retain his help until such time as she no longer needs him and releases her hold on him--or kills him. Thanks to him, David will probably agree to go away with his mother, and God knows what terrible things might ensue as a result.
David thinks he owns Josette, because he saw her first, and he was quite put out that the adults contacted her without him. Frankly, given the outcome, it would have been better to include David and exclude Laura!
Poor David needs a father as much as he needs a mother, preferably a human mother. Burke is so much nicer to him than Roger is, and it's pathetic to watch how eagerly David responds to Burke's smallest kindnesses. It's David's father who should be taking him fishing, at least the man he thinks is his father!
Vicki has outlined to Burke all the odd things about Laura. Is he so besotted with the blonde that he'll ignore it all, or is he finally beginning to get a hint that the woman he once loved is, shall we say, somewhat different from what she used to be?
Love, Robin
