267 - There is a cliff near Collinwood that by legend was created for those who have lost all hope, because their existence has become intolerable. It is a place of a dividing line between life and death. There is one who has come to this place, seeking an escape from problems that have become insurmountable.
The scene between Barnabas and Liz in episode two, which begins with us wondering if he's going to push her over or hold her back, was really lovely. First of all, Barnabas looked very handsome. Secondly, their conversation about death and life and refuge from pain and whether death is non-existence or something else, was thought-provoking, revealing a lot about both of them.
Peace or torment? Death or life? Barnabas suffers in torment even though he is undead; Liz is suffering very human tortures of guilt, despair and misery. For a man who claims he doesn't get involved, Barn sure did get involved in dealing with Jason and trying to help Cousin Liz. His pointing out that a woman who is soon to be married shouldn't be entertaining such melancholy thoughts. Of course, we know she made up her mind to take the plunge off the hill, but he was so sweet, trying to help her in his own way.
We realize know Liz must be beyond help when she ignores David, who she probably loves second only to Carolyn.
Adorable scene between David and Barn, too. He wants David to tell his little friend not to play at the Old House,
but as David points out, he isn't ALLOWED there, so he can't very well help with that, can he? David says the little girl is very uncool, singing "London Bridge" and all, and Barnabas raises an eyebrow over that!
Did Barnabas put the make on Vicki or what? He flattered her so much, she was actually blushing! Calling her wise and mature, complimenting her so blatantly, why didn't he just sink in the fangs and be done with it?
It was fun to watch him swarming over her, verbally, that is, and of course, he felt so comfortable with her, he was able to tell her about his concern for Liz--that it appears to him as if she's contemplating suicide. Barnabas is not at all pleased that Vicki is dating Burke, especially after she tells him she'd like to spend more time with Barnabas.
I enjoyed the opening scene with Vicki and Burke at the Blue Whale, too, with him complaining over his lost dime while she reminded him how well it actually worked. Poor Vicki had to be on emotional overload after listening to Mrs. J and Barnabas tell her of their concern for Liz, so she danced, still in her coat, held closely in Burke's strong arms, had a drink, held his hand. confessed she felt like crying, and told him everything.
Telling him broke the romantic mood (and they do look nice together), and she felt compelled to return to Collinwood to check on Liz. She loves the Collins family, and she wants to work as David's tutor rather than accept a vice presidency at Burke's company. You got the definite impression that Mr. Devlin would like nothing better than to have Miss Winters working under him. : )
When Vicki does return home, Liz walks right past her and David, ignoring them. David shows Vicki the Collins family bible Aunt Elizabeth was looking at, and points out she was gazing at the page with her own date of birth on it.
Could the matriarch of Collinwood REALLY be thinking of taking a leap to become the fourth widow?
268 - Near the ancient walls of Collinwood, there are cliffs that project upward for hundreds of feet from the turbulent sea below. Some say the cliffs are haunted by three women who have died here--and yet, according to the legend, their spirits remain, lingering, to beckon another to her death. One desperate3 woman has become obsessed by this legend, for she is beginning to believe that she is destined to fulfill it--destined to die on the rocks below the cliff--summoned there by voices beyond the grave.
Liz goes over the family bible, turning to the page containing her name. At the open window, she once again hears the widows calling to her. She looks fearful. When Vicki comes in and asks to take David to Bangor for the day, Liz asks her to put it off. Roger comes in. Liz asks Vicki to take the day off so SHE can be with David. Vicki agrees and leaves. Roger tells Liz he heard from Richard Garner that Liz was checking her will. This puts Liz in an awkward position, and she reminds her brother that David and Carolyn are her legal heirs, and she doesn't plan to add Jason to her will. Roger tries to convince Liz to call off the wedding, without success. Spotting the bible, he reminds her that events are to be marked in there after they occur.
He leaves. Liz touches the bible.
David comes into Liz' room, and she tells him she wants to spend time with him today. He says he'll take her to a special place, and she emphasizes that she wants him to know how important he is to her. In a sad voice, she discusses what he'll be like when he grows up.
She tries hard to be cheerful, keeping her tears at bay. Get ready for our walk, she suggests. Before he leaves, Liz embraces him, and when he's gone, seems ready to cry.
Drawing room - Liz waits for Carolyn, who defiantly comes in and says she's been out with Buzz. While Carolyn thumbs through a magazine, Liz explains to her that she's her mother's whole life, and she has never stopped loving Carolyn. Carolyn would like to believe her, but knows Jason is the cause of their problems, and can't comprehend why Liz is marrying him.
Carolyn notices how strangely her mother is behaving. As Liz turns to leave, she gives a long last look at her daughter. After she goes, Carolyn is depressed.
Liz goes to her room, takes the family bible, opens it to the page with her name and fills in her date of death--today's date.
When Vicki joins Carolyn in the drawing room, Carolyn tells her Liz just went to bed. She's concerned about her mother, who isn't acting like herself
--she got the impression that Liz was saying goodbye. Vicki goes to bed; Carolyn turns off the lights.
Vicki knocks at Liz' door. The room is empty, the windows open. Vicki spots the family bible open, Liz' date of death written on it.
On Widows' Hill, Liz gazes down at the roiling sea as the widows call her to join them...
NOTES: Joan Bennett did a wonderful job making me feel sobby as Liz, in touching scenes, bid farewell to her daughter and nephew, although she kind of left out Roger. Did you see how pissed off David was, at first, when he learned he wouldn't be going to Bangor, but his sensitivity to his Aunt Liz' feelings won out, and even when she told him to go to Bangor if he really wanted, he decided to take her for a walk to his secret cove instead. Nice acting on both parts, and that hug they shared put a lump in my throat.
Even Carolyn, as flippant and defiant as ever, sensed her mother's strange mood when Liz was asking her to remember their good times in the past, rather than their bad ones in the present. "Don't doubt my love," she begged, and you could see Carolyn becoming concerned and thinking about someone besides herself for the first time in a long while.
Now, this bugged me--when Carolyn told Vicki about her conversation with Liz, Vicki acted clueless, but she'd had previous discussions with both Barnabas and Mrs. Johnson that blared: MRS. STODDARD IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SUICIDE!!!! Was Vicki just pretending when she told Carolyn not to be worried? Apparently, however, she was concerned enough herself to check Liz' bedroom, find her gone, then (thank God) see the entry of her own death Liz had marked in the bible, then go tearing after her.
Love, Robin
