Episode #245 - Streaks of red the color of blood wash the sky that sets the western limits of Collinwood. It is as though the day were dying a horrible death. . .and the peace the sunset usually promises has failed to penetrate the darkness--the fear that the day could not disperse remains. An already mounting terror continues unchecked.
Willie runs downstairs at the Old House, then turns to face Barnabas, who is towering over him. Dr. Woodard is arriving shortly, Barnabas informs the terrified young man--give him a blood sample. Willie begs him not to have to do it, but Barnabas orders him to calm down and allow it.
Woodard's office - Dave, ready to go get Willie's blood sample, tells Burke he's confident of success in this matter; otherwise, he will be forced to obtain a court order. He hopes this will help him identify the disease both Maggie and Willie have shown symptoms of Could the condition have been caused by a wild animal? Suggests Burke, noting the howling and growling that terrified Vicki and the marks on Maggie's throat. This was done by a man, not an animal, asserts Woodard. Burke expresses fear for Vicki, insisting no one is safe.
Old House - Barnabas pours Dave a drink, then calls Willie. As the doctor prepares to draw the blood sample, Barnabas urges Willie to cooperate, pointing out that it might benefit both Maggie and Willie himself. He physically pushes Willie toward Woodard, and a very unwilling Willie relinquishes his blood sample. Afterwards, Barnabas reminds his dejected servant he had no choice. Willie pours Woodard another drink, then leaves. Barnabas requests to see the slide, which he takes over to gaze at over a candle. He makes admiring remarks about the beauty of the blood splotches. Dave puts away the equipment and takes back the slide, explaining that he hopes to find similarities in Willie's blood and Maggie's, and would then more closely investigate Willie. Barnabas warns Woodard to be careful--the man who broke into his office had great strength, after all. Woodard refers to that man as a monster and remarks that Barnabas seems to feel sympathy for him.
On the contrary, says Barnabas, "I loathe him very deeply."
Blue Whale - Burke urges Vicki not to go out alone, considering there's a madman on the loose.
Forget it, he suggests, and they dance. Vicki, who says she thinks she hears dogs howling, can't relax and enjoy herself. Burke plays a song on the jukebox and they keep on dancing.
Woodard looks through his microscope at Willie's blood and shakes his head. In the distance, a dog howls.
Old House, drawing room - Willie begs Barnabas to let him go far away, but Barnabas insists he needs him. Willie fears what will be found in his blood, and Barnabas asks him what he'd say if asked questions. Nothing, Willie says despairingly. Barnabas accuses Willie of possibly betraying him and tosses the much-abused young man to the floor,
then takes the slide from his pocket to admire it. Willie realizes that Barnabas switched the slides, and Barnabas admits that he found some extras when he paid his recent visit to Woodard's office. Nothing abnormal will be found on the slide Woodard took tonight, Barnabas assures him--but I might not protect you in the future, he warns Willie.
Blue Whale - Disappointed, Woodard reports to Vicki and Burke that he found nothing out of the ordinary in Willie's blood sample.
An "unholy union" was going on in Maggie's blood, however, says Woodard grimly, but he has no idea what it was, and now he'll never know. Dogs howl, and Burke stares at Vicki's face, noting her terror at hearing them.
Episode #246 - Collinwood, in the morning sunlight, appears to be serene the peaceful, but inside the great house, there are those who cannot know serenity. One woman in particular must endure a life of torment because she harbors a secret that could destroy her.
Liz calls Garner, her lawyer, and discusses getting a divorce. Apparently, the decision to do so didn't come easily, as Carolyn tells Vicki she heard her mother pacing all night. While everyone thinks it's about time she divorced the 18-years-missing Paul Stoddard, including Carolyn and Roger (who is delighted at the news), the REASON for this action is puzzling everyone.
When Garner asks if she has a prospective husband in mind, Liz queries, "Who would I marry?"--and then Jason bursts into the drawing room. He's all for the divorce, and takes it to mean Liz is seriously considering his proposal. Liz assures him she detests him, and he feigns hurt--he's so fond of her! They're going to be married and happy (which eerily reminded me of what Barnabas was telling Maggie/Josette the other day).
Liz and Roger drink brandy together, and he indicates unhappiness that Jason is ditching work. He tells her the state has been called in on Maggie's case. Roger puts an arm around his sister in a rare, affectionate gesture and suggests that both of them probably weren't meant to be married. Not so fast, counters Liz, making Roger instantly suspicious. Jason barges in and asks for a brandy for medicinal purposes to treat the little cold that kept him from the cannery, then goes on about how he certainly feels like a member of the family.
In the study, Vicki and Carolyn discuss Maggie's disappearance again, and agree they're both frightened.
Roger comes in and tells the disbelieving pair that it looks like Liz is getting a divorce--so she can marry Jason! Carolyn is certain Jason is holding something over her mother, probably having to do with that mysterious basement room, so she determines to get the key or break in, if she must, and get to the truth. If she exposes what's in that room, she's sure it will loosen Jason's hold over her mother. Roger tells her the key is on a chain around Liz' neck, so Carolyn goes into the drawing room, where Jason and Liz have been arguing about his implication that they were going to marry. She'd rather go to prison than marry him, she vows, but Jason reminds her that Carolyn won't be very happy to learn her mother murdered her father. "Dear Liz" he calls her, but she is disgusted with his blarney. Carolyn enters and politely requests that Liz give her the key on the chain around her neck.
Twice she asks, and Liz gets upset, as she usually does, that someone wants to pry into her private memories. She begs her daughter to leave her alone and leaves the room. Jason wants to know why Carolyn is making trouble for her mother this way, but Carolyn retorts she knows damn well who the real troublemaker is in this situation. He tells her he feels she SHOULD get into that room and promises to get her the key. Liz will give it to him. Carolyn says she won't rest until Jason is out of their lives, an he responds, "We'll see about that, my girl, we'll see about that." She gazes after him as if she wants to put a bullet through his black heart.
NOTES: Why else would Liz want Paul declared dead if not because she knows that she's going to give into Jason's insistence that they marry?
Dennis Patrick continues to make Jason a hateable yet charming lout. Although you want him sent out of the house on his butt, he still manages to retain that blarney-filled charm, and you feel that life with him would never be dull (and oh, would your bank accounts empty out fast)!
Now it seems that Jason and Carolyn are pitted against one another, and given how protective Liz is of her daughter, will she do what Jason wants to prevent Carolyn from learning the terrible truth? How far will Jason go? How far will Carolyn? How far will Liz?
Love, Robin
