483 - At the Old House, Julia sits in a chair and gazes into the fire. Barnabas comes downstairs and asks how she is. She says she still has strong reservations about his plan, and he says he intends to go through with it. There are matters that need attention, and he needs her help. She promises anything. He asks if she makes decisions about her patients. Yes, she responds. "I want you to arrange for the release of Willie Loomis," says Barnabas, surprising Julia.
Julia rises from her chair. She can't get him released, she says, well, she can, but why does he want him released? Why not? asks Barnabas--you receive periodic reports? isn't he improving rapidly? Yes, but he isn't completely sane, says Julia. She received the last report a month ago, so he could be perfectly normal by now, right? asks Barn. (or is that Dr. Collins?)
Or he could be dangerous and disturbed, counters Julia, but Barn insists Willie is no danger. Why do you want Willie released? asks Julia again, and Barnabas goes into a whole big speech about how Willie was shot down by the police, accused of murder, and confined to an institution--all because of him. Julia assures Barnabas he had no way of knowing Willie would try to warn Maggie, but even so, Barn feels responsible--this is very much on his conscience. Julia says, "Your conscience" in irony, and Barnabas retorts, "You say that as if you believe I don't have one--well, I do, and I want to clear it before I change my life." Julia asks if that's the only reason he wants Willie released. What other reason? asks Barn, and Julia says she finds it interesting he never had pangs of conscience about Willie or anyone else before. Barn asks if it's inconceivable he could perform an act of kindness. Everyone is capable, smirks Julia, but let's be honest, with you, it isn't, shall we say, characteristic. Barn insists he's been very fond of Willie, and Julia says he's also been very cruel to him. Impatient, (and I think he even stamped his foot), Barn demands to know if she's going to grant his request or isn't she? She can't answer now, she says, she has to see if it's practical or possible. Barn says it's both, and she wonders how he knows--he hasn't seen reports or visited Willie, so she finds his "conscience pangs" curious. Barn reminds her until recently, he couldn't function during the day to see Willie, but she says she could have arranged it--he never asks. Barnabas makes a determined face, and tells Julia he wants an answer. She says she'll call Windcliff and request a progress report. That will take several days, protests Barnabas, and Julia says that can't be helped. Barn says their own eyes and ears will be more effective--let's go to Windcliff, see Willie, and make our own decision, today. There's little time before Lang's experiment, and he wants to do this for Willie right now. It will only take a few hours--is that too much to ask? coaxes Barnabas. Unsmiling, Julia agrees, and they leave together, Barn gallantly helping Julia into her coat.
At Windcliff, Barnabas waits in a waiting room, thumbing through a magazine. Julia comes in and announces a nurse is bringing in Willie. She reminds him he agreed to accept her decision, and that Barn is to treat him as he would under normal circumstances--no leading questions. Barn tells Julia not to try to intimidate him, and she says she isn't--she just wants to make it clear her concern is what is best for Willie, not Barnabas. The nurse ushers Willie in. He's in a maroon bathrobe and looks a little spaced out. Barnabas greets him and asks if he remembers him--it's Barnabas. Willie hasn't seen him in a long time, but he does recognize him. Barn asks him if he remembered where he lived. "The Old House," answers Willie--I sometimes think about the Old House. Barn asks if his thoughts are pleasant, and Willie smiles and says yes. Barn asks if he'd like to go back there. "Barnabas," cautions Julia, stepping forward. Willie seems eager; he wondered when he would go back. Julia tells Willie they're concerned about him. "Why?" asks Willie. Julia says he's made remarkable progress and there's a chance he might be able to leave. Where would I go? asks Willie, and Barn says I'd like you to go back with me. Julia asks Barnabas to let her ask the questions, but Barnabas insists no further questions are necessary--obviously, Willie is himself. Julia says that's her decision, and asks Willie what he remembers about the time before Windcliff. Willie remembers working for Barn at the Old House, and Julia asks he if remembers why he was brought there. "Maggie Evans," replies Willie. It was night, he went to her house and there were a lot of men outside, policemen. Barnabas looks nervous. Willie continues--I wanted to tell her something--but can't recall what.
Julia asks if Willie wants to leave, and he seems puzzled at first, then says he'd like to work for Barnabas again--they were good friends and Barn did a lot for him--does Julia think there's a chance he can go?--he's not weak anymore, he's strong, and wouldn't cause anyone trouble. Barnabas promises to do everything they can to get him released, and Julia gives Barn a look and tells Willie he has to go back to his room. This upsets Willie--he's going to have to stay here? Julia says she and Barn will have to talk, and Willie, almost childlike, asks Barnabas to tell Julia he wants him back, and not forget. Barnabas promises not to forget, and Willie returns with Nurse Jackson. Julia angrily informs Barnabas he made THAT as difficult as possible, and Barnabas insists Willie is ready to leave Windcliff. Julia denies this. He's the way he was before, a little more subdued, more reticent, not dangerous, Barnabas says. Julia sarcastically thanks "Dr. Collins" for his diagnosis. Barnabas calls her peevish, which annoys her. Barnabas has made up his mind--there was something pathetic about Willie's appeal to them--he can't live with himself if Willie stays here, and Barnabas will accept full responsibility for him if he is released. Julia still isn't sure she will. Barnabas says, manipulatively, "You didn't need to--I could tell that your heart went out to him every much as mine did." And you can tell Julia will acquiesce, perhaps against her better judgment. (Back in human form, Barnabas is as manipulative and charming as ever!)
Willie joyous returns to the Old House. Barnabas tells him he must obey certain rules: remain inside the house and go outside only if accompanied by Barnabas. When Willie asks why, Barnabas explains that certain people will need time to adjust to his being home. Willie asks if Barnabas thinks he'd hurt anybody, and Barnabas assures him on that score. He sends Willie to his room to rest, and Willie goes upstairs, a smile on his face. Barnabas tells Julia he's as docile as ever. Too docile, says Julia. She's concerned that he may have left Windcliff too soon, unable to cope with the outside world. "Leave him to me," advises Barnabas, but Julia shakes her head, not at all pleased. Willie sneaks out the back exit of the Old House and disappears into the night.
At the Evans cottage, Maggie puts together a frame. Hearing a knock at the door, she says, "Come in, Joe." When no one enters, she opens the door--Willie is there, and she backs away in fear. He asks her not to scream--he's been released, don't be afraid. He tried to kill her, she cries, backing away, but he insists he won't hurt her--he wasn't going to hurt her when he came last time. She says she'll call the police, but he asks her not to do that--it would get Barnabas angry. She stops at this, and he explains that Barnabas came to Windcliff today and brought him back to the Old House--I'm not sick anymore, and I had to come see you right away. Maggie, nervous, just wants him out! She shouldn't be scared of him, he says, he must tell her what happened that night. He never would hurt her. He chases her around the couch and she brandishes the hammer. Willie explains that he'd come to warn her about the danger she was in, he always liked her, never would have heard her. There's a knock at the door and Maggie screams for Joe to come in. Joe enters, pulling Maggie into his arms, and Willie runs out. Joe asks how he got in there and Maggie, in tears, just begs him to hold her tight.
Old House -- Willie, holding a shotgun in his hands, hides behind a column. Joe bangs the knocker on the door loudly, then enters, demanding Willie. Barnabas admits he arranged for Willie's release, and Joe says the man is a maniac and Barnabas must have lost his mind. Barnabas assures Joe Willie has been judged normal and he is going to be responsible for him. Joe says he's doing a poor job--Willie almost finished what he started several months ago--he went to the Evans cottage to kill Maggie! Willie glances through the window, gun clutched in his hands. Barnabas tells Joe he must be mistaken, but Joe says he saw Willie there, and stopped him just in time. Willie promised not to leave the house, says Barnabas, and Joe asks Barnabas to go get him--he wants to speak to Willie himself. Barnabas asks to handle this, but Joe says he sees Willie or goes to the police.
Barnabas assures Joe Willie's release was legal--unless he committed a crime and Joe can prove it, the police won't do anything. Joe wants to know why Barn wants to protect Willie, and Barnabas responds, because he's a sick man--if Joe wants to blame anyone for what happened, blame him--he wasn't very careful. Joe refuses to let it drop that easily, as long as Maggie's life is still in danger. Barnabas promises that isn't so. How can Barnabas guarantee that, he can't keep tabs on Willie day and night. Joe tells Barnabas to warn Willie that if he ever goes near Maggie again, he'll kill him. Barnabas watches Joe leave, his forehead creased with worry.
As Joe leaves, Willie moves out from behind the column and pretends to shoots at Joe, laughing maniacally--but fortunately, the gun wasn't loaded.
NOTES: GREAT to have Willie back, isn't it? And while Barnabas is human now, he's still as manipulative in many ways as he was when a vampire.
Willie is apparently not cured, and still has a violent streak that can't be erased. Notice how cleverly he manipulated Barnabas into getting him out--not that it took much--but one senses Willie learned a few things at Windcliff, and really hasn't change much.
Now that he is human and can function during the day, we will see Barnabas becoming more involved with the people around him, not just the family, but outside the family circle. So far, he isn't scoring brownie points with either Maggie or Joe by taking Willie back into his employ.
484 - Barnabas broods in his chair as a smiling Willie returns home, rifle in hand. Holding his temper in check with difficulty, Barnabas asks Willie if his visit to him during the daytime at Windcliff didn't surprise him--he doesn't need to "go out at night" anymore. He wants to discuss Willie returning to Windcliff. Willie doesn't want that, but Barnabas says he's going to send him back and have him keep them there for the rest of his life. Willie looks horror-stricken.
Contrite, Willie begs Barnabas not to send him back, but Barn reminds him he broke his promise and went to Collinsport. He asks Willie what he did there, and Willie says it's been so long, he had to go see what it was like. Barnabas, angry, presses, and Willie admits he went to see Maggie. Barnabas calls this act stupid and insane, but Willie says he had to try to speak to Maggie. You almost ruined everything, accuses Barnabas, and your blunder brought Joe there to warn him that if Willie goes near Maggie again, he'd kill him. Willie admits to eavesdropping outside the window; overhearing Joe's threat. Barn asks about the rifle--was Willie going to use it? No, says Willie nervously. Barn demands he give it up, but Willie doesn't want to--he wasn't going to use it, it wasn't even loaded. Barnabas again demands the rifle and Willie passes it to him. Willie says he meant no harm by what he did and again gives his word not to go into Collinsport again. Barnabas is silent, then asks if Willie is sure he can keep that promise this time. Willie assures him he can and Barnabas says he'll give him one more chance. Putting the rifle on the desk, Barn explains he's doing this for himself, not Willie. Willie doesn't follow, and Barn says he's less perceptive than he was before he went to Windcliff--didn't Willie realize how unusual Barn's visit was yesterday--during the day? Willie says he thought Barn had forgotten him. Oh, yeah, says Willie, finally getting the difference, that's right! He asks what's happened, and Barnabas says nothing compared to what is to happen--he'll be free of the curse after almost 200 years! Willie asks how. It's too complex to explain, says Barn, and explains he'll be undergoing an operation. Julia quietly enters and listens as Barnabas goes on to describe that the doctor doing this procedure will need some very simple assistance. "And that's why you were released from Windcliff, Willie," says Julia, stepping into the room. She angrily approaches Barnabas and says she never should have believed him. Defensively, Barnabas says Willie needs to be occupied now that he's here, and Julia points out that Willie knows nothing about a medical lab. He'll only have to follow orders, says Barn, and Julia sarcastically reminds him Willie can't follow HIS orders, how will he follow Lang's? She ran into Joe in the village and feels Willie shouldn't be allowed to assist Lang. Barnabas tells Willie he can assist Lang or return to Windcliff. Willie gazes from Barn to Julia and says he'll do whatever Barn and Lang tell him to do.
Barnabas glances with satisfaction at Julia, who is clearly not happy at being outfoxed again.
Julia is holding the rifle and puts it down when there's a knock at the door. It's Lang. Julia is brusque with him. He's come to give Barn one more treatment. Julia says he's with Willie, his new assistant. Oh, yeah, Lang remembers. Barn said he'd find someone. Julia said she arranged Willie's release, and Lang is pleased. Julia gives a piece of professional advice--don't go through with the experiment tomorrow, he can't do it alone. He'll have Willie, says Lang, but Julia says if Willie helps him, he'll fail. He might not even need Willie, says Lang, but there's someone better qualified--Julia! She says no, but he warns that there might be a risk to Barnabas. This doesn't sway Julia. She'll let Barnabas run the risk of dying? wonders Lang. If Barn knows the dangers of the experiment being done by Lang alone, he won't go through with it, counters Julia.
Your will against mine, says Eric, calling her a formidable adversary. He believes she'd do anything to keep Barn off the operating table. Willie was once in Barnabas' power and has hidden resentments that could destroy everything for Lang--she knows Willie--don't let him into that lab! Lang agrees. He will try to find another assistant, but assistant or none, the show goes on tomorrow!
Jeff lies on the sofa, at the Evans cottage, reading. He hears the tinkle of Josette's music box and then a bang at the door. He can't stop thinking about the dream. He has to do something about it or go out of his mind. There's a knock at the door for real, and he answers. It's Lang. "No, it can't be," Jeff says, agitated. It's happening just like in the dream, again! Lang says he isn't there to hurt him, he needs him for the experiment. They begin to scream at each other, and Jeff tells him about the dream he had last night. It almost killed him! Lang asks him to describe the dream, and Jeff says he won't let him leave the room until he tells him.
Jeff describes his dream and how Lang was his beckoner, yadda yadda yadda. Jeff feels he would been decapitated, had he not awakened (pity he did), by the guillotine. Jeff feels relieved for having told Lang. He HAD to tell Lang and no one else, Maggie told it to him, exactly the same dream, with only one door. He got to two. The third door, says Jeff, grinning, must be yours. Lang looks solemn.
At Lang's house, the doctor falls asleep in a chair (doesn't anyone own a bed?). The dream begins. His beckoner is Julia, final door contains a headless man in a turtleneck, reaching out for him and laughing.
Lang awakens with a start and clutches his head, gasping for breath.
NOTES: DS liked using headless people. I never understood why.
I can't blame Julia for being angry with Barnabas for manipulating her into releasing Willie, but don't we already know who will really assist Lang with the experiment? As pissed off as Julia is, she doesn't want Willie working on the experiment because she's concerned he has hidden resentments against Barnabas, whom she loves and will do everything to protect and keep safe.
Lang and Jeff, two old yellers. It's so annoying having the two of them in the same scene!
Love, Robin
