Episode #224
David begs someone to please let him out! He bangs on the door, tries to open it again to no avail and suddenly the dogs stop howling and barking. Barnabas appears and when David tells him about the problem opening the door, Barnabas of course is able to go right over and open it. He tells David he wasn't grasping it correctly. (I had no idea there was a secret to turning a doorknob!) David tells him he was afraid of the dogs howling and that he thought they were actually in the room with him (it sounded that way to me too) Barnabas assures him they are not.
He asks why David is there, and David explains about coming to ask about the portrait of Josette. If Barnabas doesn't want it anymore can he have it? Barnabas tells him that portrait can't leave this house, it belongs here, and it will hang prominently in one of the other rooms when they are fixed up. At that time David can come by any time he wants to see it. (Here we go with this "come by anytime" business, knowing good and well that he doesn't mean it and he will make Willie look unfriendly and rude when he tries to get rid of anyone who comes by!)
Willie appears (finally!) and David is informed that Willie works there. He seems pleased (he's the only one!) Willie tells David it's time to go home now, obviously concerned about Barnabas meeting anyone, even his young cousin. As David leaves Barnabas tells Willie he worries too much (this isn't the last time he'll say this, and given what Willie knows about Barnabas he has a good reason to worry!) But at least Barnabas isn't going to harm David [spoiler]yet! not til he thinks David knows his secret![/spoiler]
At Collinwood Jason smokes as he looks out the window when Liz appears. He asks about dinner but she has come for another reason. She wants him to do something about Willie working at the Old House. (I don't know what she thinks he can do, he's Barnabas' "employee" now.) Jason says he'll take care of it, he had not been aware that Willie was still in town and working of all things!
As she turns to go he asks about that little "detail", has she taken care of it? She says it's being arranged, and it will take a few days. He kvells in the fact that he is to have a Swiss bank account, he's always wanted one and now she's making his dream come true. He wonders what the number will be, he hopes it's lucky (how about 666?) Now we know why she sold that land to Hackett! (What a pig Jason is, I hate him more with every episode!)
He goes upstairs and Barnabas enters with David. They tell Liz about their conversation concerning the portrait, David is satisfied that he will see the portrait again. Liz is happy that Barnabas has been able to put David's mind at ease concerning that. David leaves and Liz wants to talk to Barnabas. She asks him to do her a favor, get rid of Willie immediately!
Barnabas plays this scene with finesse. He tells her that Willie has changed, he is now working, he is doing a great job at the Old House, and she has no need to worry about him, he is totally under control, he does what he is told without argument or reluctance (by virtue of my fangs and cane, which he doesn't tell her but we know!) When she protests that Willie is a troublemaker, he has been asked to leave town (by who? Only Burke who hasn't got that authority!), does Barnabas know about Willie's past? Barnabas says he will cause no more problems, but if she insists, he will let him go, it's entirely in her hands, she is very wise, he will submit to her judgement, though he's sure Willie is a different person and he'd like to give him the chance to prove himself. With this argument Liz is pretty much forced to give in, since if Willie really wants to reform himself she can't stand in his way. She will give him the benefit of the doubt. Barnabas knows how to get her eating out of his hand!
Jason goes over to the Old House and when Willie answers the door he asks if the "lady of the house" is at home. (The old Willie would have punched him out and I felt like doing just that!) He just pushes his way into the house, and starts demanding answers from Willie. Willie says he's busy but Jason will have his answers. Well, this isn't the lap of luxury now is it? What are you doing here? Willie says he's working, doing some carpentry and plumbing (I was pleased to hear this, maybe he's fixed up an indoor bathroom for himself!) Jason teases "A little light housekeeping?" (By now my fist really ached to make connection to his nose!)
Jason rags on him that he swore years ago he'd never work, now he's working in this dump doing piddly dink jobs. Willie claims he wanted another way to live (and who can blame him? Though slavery ain't so nice, he must feel somewhat better about himself working now rather than stealing) Jason doesn't believe this, Willie likes money and now here he is working for someone who's loaded. He demands to know what Willie is up to, and then Barnabas appears and tells Jason he'll tell him what Willie's up to. Jason turns nervously, hadn't heard Barnabas come in. Barnabas then praises Willie's work on the squeaky floorboards! (Poor Willie!) Barnabas sends Willie out to do that "job" and Willie leaves.
Jason is amazed to see Willie as an errand runner, how did Barnabas get him under his control? Barnabas has a way. He explained to Liz about Willie's working there to her satisfaction and Jason has to be content (for now) but he wants to warn Barnabas about the kind of man Willie is. Barnabas says he already knows. Jason offers his help in dealing with Willie should he get out of line, but Barnabas says he can deal with him far more effectively. (Yeah he has the secret weapon, Jason!)
At the Evans cottage Maggie brushes her hair. Sam comes in, he's fixing to go to the Old House to work on Barn's portrait. She doesn't want him to go, she feels afraid for some reason, probably because of all the attacks on girls in the village. He says he'll stay if she wants but she tells him to go because Barnabas is paying him good money. After he leaves she goes to bed.
At the Old House, Sam is working on the portrait. Barnabas is pleased with his progress but Sam comments he'd like to work on it some in the daylight. Barnabas talks about his "ancestor" whose portrait was also painted in this room. He asks if Sam's daughter drove him up, Sam says no she is at home. Again Barnabas comments that she is a lovely girl. Sam agrees, she is a hard working girl and he'll be happy when she marries. Barnabas says her future is already assured. (We know what he means by this but Sam doesn't and I was surprised he didn't ask.)
Maggie falls asleep and has a frightening dream in which she is in the woods or a cemetary (??) and comes upon a casket. She opens it and sees herself in it. She screams and then her face turns to a skeleton. Very frightening. She awakes screaming.
Alondra[/b]
