477 - Carolyn finds the door to Collinwood locked and is forced to knock. Cassandra answers. You must be Carolyn, she says, and introduces herself as Mrs. Collins, Roger's wife. Carolyn's mouth drops open with astonishment.
Stunned, Carolyn says, I had better sit down (her reaction is very amusing). Cass asks if she's terribly shocked. "Uncle Roger, married, I don't know what to say," says a dazed Carolyn. Cassandra suggests congratulations, and Carolyn apologizes--she never dreamed Roger would marry again. Neither did anyone else--they all reacted as Carolyn did, says Cassandra, expressing hope that they'll be good friends. Carolyn is shocked to hear they knew each other only a day when they wed, and decides to stop asking questions. (this was very funny and well-written.) I'll unpack and we can get to know each other, says Carolyn--David stayed in Boston a few days longer. Cass asks if Carolyn thinks David will disapprove of her, and Carolyn responds that she might win him over immediately--or be furious with his father for not consulting him over such a big decision. Tony Peterson barges in as Carolyn ascends the stairs; she accuses him of conducting business at strange hours. He isn't there on business, he says, and wants to talk to her. I'm not in, she says grandly, and he orders her to come down. She marches down and tells him she doesn't like him ordering her (but she did as he demanded). Cassandra is ready to go upstairs, and Carolyn introduces him as "occasionally a lawyer and almost never a gentleman". Carolyn introduces Cassandra as Roger's new wife, and Tony says he didn't know Roger was married.
Since last Wednesday, beams Cassandra, and Tony congratulates her on the marriage and on Roger's good taste. When Carolyn tries to dismiss Tony, he excuses them to Cassandra, grabs Carolyn and yanks her into the drawing room. Cassandra listens as he asks Carolyn if she's forgotten how to use the telephone--he was waiting for an explanation about the cozy incident with Barnabas, and she reminds him she told him there was nothing between Barnabas and her. Tony didn't believe it. There's nothing to discuss, insists Carolyn. "There's you and me," counters Tony. She's sorry, but it takes two to tango. He refuses to leave until she tells him why she went to the Old House. You'll need a suitcase, then, she advises. (love this dialogue!) The man is your cousin, says Tony, and old enough to be your father--I'm concerned and don't believe you really love Barnabas. It wasn't what he thought, she says, and accuses him of having unbelievable nerve--you stormed out without giving me a chance, and you still think you're owed an explanation--and you aren't going to get one now--get Barnabas to tell you, she simpers. I will, he assures her. He angrily exists the drawing room, grabs his briefcase, and storms out. While they're talking, Cassandra rifles through Tony's briefcase and steals something from it.
Tony goes to the Old House to see Barnabas, who knows who he is. Peterson confesses to following Carolyn the night they had a date; Carolyn began behaving strangely. What about it? asks Barn. Tony confesses that he stood outside the window, watching them, which Barnabas says was an uncalled--for thing to do. I'm interested in Carolyn, says Tony. Barnabas counters that by saying it's a pity he isn't a gentleman. Tony did what he believed right; Carolyn was acting oddly. Barn says he's fond of Carolyn and interested in her. In what way? demands Tony, and Barnabas begs his pardon. Tony, chastened, says he's concerned Carolyn is making a grave mistake. "What the devil are you talking about?" asks Barnabas. Tony asks him his intentions toward Carolyn. Barnabas is perplexed--you can't be serious! I'm very serious, says Tony, and Barnabas grins widely.
Tony resents being laughed at, and Barnabas suggests he not go around being so amusing. There was nothing funny about what he witnessed, says Tony. "There is always something faintly amusing and rather sad about a man who's jealous for no good reason," says Barnabas, who leads Tony to a chair and assures him he'll set the record straight for him.
Cassandra, in shocking green, waits at the gazebo. She "speaks" to Tony, telling him he's lost his lighter--he'll discover the loss and keep looking for it. She fires up the lighter. "You will feel the warmth of the flame on your cheek," she says, "and your instinct will tell you to follow the flame, to find the flame, Tony, and you will find me waiting for you."
Barnabas has apparently finished his explanation (wish I'd been a fly on the wall), assuring Tony he's gotten himself worked up over nothing. Tony rises from the chair, not completely convinced--I saw you kissing her. Barnabas says he has the right to give his cousin a friendly kiss, but Tony, pulling out a cigarette, insists that wasn't a friendly kiss he saw. Whatever Tony saw, he isn't romantically interested in Carolyn, Barnabas says--he can't make it clearer than that. Tony goes for his lighter in his briefcase, but can't find it. Perhaps you left it at Collinwood--go there and look for it, suggests Barnabas. Tony apologizes for taking up Barn's time, and they wish each other goodnight as he leaves. Tony touches his cheek, feeling Cassandra's promised flame.
When Tony arrives at the gazebo, Cassandra clicks the lighter closed. She sits, sobbing, and Tony touches his cheek upon finding her. She tells him not to look at her. He asks what's the matter. She says she wasn't crying, but he says he heard her. She admits she was, and he says he doesn't mind listening. She feels no one at Collinwood is willing to accept her. She feels so lonely all the time. He sits beside her and says everyone will be friendly when they get to know her better. He keeps reassuring her that they're fairly reasonable people. She's still a stranger, and she and Collinwood will need time to get to know each other. He asks to escort her back to the house. She asks him why he came there, and he says he doesn't know. He had misplaced his lighter and was heading back to Collinwood to look for it, but somehow ended up at the gazebo. Amazing coincidence, says Cassandra--she has his lighter! She takes it out and lights it, explaining that the flame was helping her forget her trouble. Isn't the flame fascinating? Yes, he agrees, going into a trance. She asks if he sees the flame flickering in her eyes, and encourages him to keep looking into her eyes, deeper and deeper. What does he see? He seem a man, his face isn't clear.
Look deeper, she says. The man is him! he says. "Yes," she agrees. It's you because I need your help--will you help me? Yes, he says. When she needs him, she'll call him, and he'll come to her. Yes, he agrees. She closes the lighter and the trance is broken. Freed, Tony says he wants to take her back to the house. Cassandra says Carolyn is wrong about him--he's been a complete gentleman to her. Arms linked, the head to Collinwood. (It must amuse her so much to have a Rev. Trask lookalike in her power--but how will this affect Carolyn?)
Barnabas sleeps in his drawing room chair. He hears Angelique calling to him, and his wife, dressed in her 18th century clothing, says she must see him and tell him what the future holds. Barnabas orders her to get away from him, but she insists they must talk. He can't move, what is she doing to him? Nothing she says--you're having a dream, and I'm causing it so we can be together again for just a moment. She walks toward him, touches his head. He wants her out of his sight, but she says she won't harm him. Do what you want to do get it over with, he moans. You won't escape me, she swears, and no doctor will help you. Go away, he cries. Only a dream, she says.
He wants to awaken, and will, she giggles, when the time comes. It happened for the first time in this room, Barnabas, she asks, and he answers, weakly, yes. It used to be such an elegant room, she reminds him. What do you want to say? he asks. Beware of dreams, she cautions. What evil game will you play? he asks. Beware of dreams, she says, because that's how the curse will return to him again--a DREAM CURSE! First one person will have the dream, and that person will remain terrified by the experience, until they tell the dream to a second person, only this time the dream will go a step further and be even more terrifying. Then that person will not rest until he's told that dream to a third person, and that person will have the dream, and tell it to a fourth, and on and on it will go, and each time the horror of the dream will increase. Angelique grows almost orgasmic as she continues?"And the terror will mount and the fear will be more unbearable until finally, someone tells it to you, Barnabas, and you will have the dream, step by step you will go until the very end and the dark and terrifying thing that you will find there WILL TURN YOUR BLOOD TO ICE!"
Barnabas awakens, screaming, "STOP IT, STOP IT!" He looks around. "Angelique!" he cries, his face filled with fear and loathing.
NOTES: So she came back in a nightmare to tell him he's going to experience a nightmare of his own, one that will end in a terrible way. She scared me in his dream, she really did. She really got being bad down pat by this time, didn't she? Brrrr!
Doesn't Barnabas ever sleep in a BED?
Tony Patterson will be her slave in this era, apparently, a Trask clone to do her bidding. She can destroy Carolyn's budding relationship with him--and aren't Carolyn and Tony a hoot in their Bogey-Bacall bouts?
478 - Cassandra, in a fairly hideous black and white dress, answers the door at Collinwood. It's Maggie Evans, and Cass is clearly shocked to see this Josette look-alike. She introduces herself to Maggie, who congratulates her. They stare at each other, and Maggie asks her if something is wrong. (must be that hatred.)
Cass says you look like someone I knew long ago. Vicki enters the drawing room as Cassandra is telling Maggie how nice it's been to have met her--Cass is on her way to the study to write some (poison pen?) letters. Alone in the foyer, Cass tells Barn's portrait that she will start his dream curse with Maggie Evans--the irony appeals to her, and is so appropriate.
Maggie stares vacantly into space, and doesn't react when Vicki asks her if she wants more sugar in her tea. Maggie doesn't respond to lemon or cream and Vicki suggests her mind is elsewhere. Vicki pays close attention as Maggie explains how Cassandra kept staring at her; both women are spooked by it. Vicki says she can see why, and suggests Cass said Maggie reminded her of someone--but didn't say who. It's too fantastic, says Vicki, but Cass came so suddenly into Roger's life--they married the day they met. Maggie finds it strange, too.
Vicki needs Maggie's help--she wants Jeff Clark to stay at their cottage for a while. (aren't there only two bedrooms?) Vicki admits she knows little about him, but says Jeff is a nice guy. Maggie wonders if romance is in the air, and Vicki admits to liking him very much--but she isn't sure if it's love. Maggie asks if Vicki loves Jeff, and she says that she DID. They met after the accident, but she feels as though she's know him a long time. Maggie can't bear this half-info, why so mysterious, she demands. Cass knocks at the door--Jeff Clark is on the phone. Vicki asks Maggie if Jeff can move into the cottage, he won't stay long, only until he gets a job, and Maggie promises to try her best. Vicki goes to the phone and Maggie picks up her cup. Cassandra eyes her like a piranha waiting to strike, making Maggie uncomfortable.
Lang prepares an injection while Jeff learns he has a place to live--he'll be at Maggie's in half an hour. Lang tells Jeff he's making a big mistake, but Jeff says that's his opinion, he has to pack. Jeff tells Lang he already leveled with Vicki and told her what he knows about himself. What about your being a murderer? asks Lang. I'm not, insists Jeff. Lang threatens that he has proof, but Jeff advises him to keep quiet--if Lang tells Vicki anything about him, Jeff will call the police and reveal everything about Lang and his monster. The police won't believe you, insists Lang, but Jeff thinks he won't want cops around the lab asking questions. They should be helping each other, says Lang, but Jeff has no interest.
Jeff wants out, no threats, no deal. Lang intends to conduct the experiment tomorrow, he only needs Jeff one more day. Jeff refuses adamantly, even though Lang says he'll be completely free. Theatrically, Lang tells Jeff they will only destroy each other--give me one more day!!!! Jeff thinks it over for a few moments, and Lang repeats one more day, for sure. Jeff agrees to stay one more day and leave tomorrow night. Lang thanks him, but Jeff doesn't want his thanks. Jeff goes to call Vicki to change the plans, and while he's on the phone, his back to Lang, the doctor strolls up behind him. Jeff learns Vicki has left Collinwood, and as Lang says that's too bad, he jams the hypo into Jeff's back. Jeff cries out in pain and demands to know what Lang did to him. Jeff chases Lang, but collapses to the floor.
Drawing room - Cassandra, in a black velvet cape, tells Barnabas the time has come. His fate was sealed almost 200 years ago, and he can't change his destiny or permanently escape. The curse will fall back on him, forever, she promises. "Let the dream curse begin this night," she says, "it will be carried by the wind until it finds its way to someone who is the image of one you loved--go deep into the sleeping mind of Maggie Evans, and she will be the first to know the terrible fear it carries with it." Cass takes a leaf from the tree outside the window and tosses it. "Sleep, Maggie, sleep," she murmurs.
Maggie sleeps in her bed. Cassandra tells her she will allow the dream to enter, become its prisoner, until her fear reaches the limit of her endurance. "Let the dream begin, now. . ." In her dream, Maggie climbs from her bed and finds Jeff knocking at her bedroom door. She asks him who he is and what he wants, and threatens to scream, but her scream is silent. Jeff beckons for her to follow him and says she won't follow him--she doesn't know who he is. She is compelled to follow, however, through darkness, candles, into another room. Jeff locks her out. She begs to be let out, doesn't want to be left there, but footsteps retreat away. Jeff recites, "Through sight and sound and faceless terror, through endless corridors by trial and error, a head of blazing light does burn and one door leads to the point of return." Maggie begs to be let out again, she doesn't know what that means. She continues to walk to the sound of tinkling crystal, and tries one door, which doesn't open, and then another, which also doesn't open, and the third. She hears the music from Josette's music box, then opens the fourth door. Inside is a skeletal head with bulging eyes, and Maggie screams. She awakens screaming, staring around her with horror on her face. She huddles back against the pillows, perturbed.
Lang sets up surgical instruments. Jeff lies strapped to a table. He awakens, stares around, and finds himself unable to move. Lang observes he's awake (this doc doesn't miss a thing!) Jeff demands to know why he's strapped to the table. Lang says he couldn't let him go, knowing what he knows. Jeff says he can trust him, but Lang doesn't believe him--he can't trust anyone. Jeff calls him insane, which Lang calmly accepts--he's in distinguished company, challenging the forces of nature. Jeff struggles against his bonds, saying Lang is unleashing a monster on the world, not making a contribution--why not just kill me? asks Jeff, why am I strapped to the table? Lang holds up a scalpel and says he has plans. Light dawns--Jeff realizes he's going to be providing the creature's face! Lang orders him to lie quietly while Jeff demands he let him go. Then Lang gives him another injection filled with air, by the way, and Jeff passes out. Lang picks up the scalpel again and tells Jeff he should feel honored--it's through his eyes Barnabas has chosen to see, through his lips he has chosen to speak. The scalpel descends towards the unconscious Jeff's throat. . .
NOTES: Re: the Dream Curse - I have always despised the dreams everyone has, this is my least favorite segment of this storyline. After a couple of viewings, I simply fast forward through all the dreams.
Lang is going to use Jeff's face, so familiar to Vicki, on his creation's body--doesn't he think she will notice the difference? I realize her understanding is limited, but damn. . .! This just strikes me as silly. I can't help it. After the brilliance of 1795, to come to this!
Love, Robin
