279 - A dark mantle of deception hangs heavily over Collinwood. There are those who are about to play a game that death has devised, a game that death cannot lose. They don the garments that will transform them into other people, from another time, garments that will help forward a diabolical scheme.
Carolyn's room - Carolyn looks over her costume. Vicki enters her room wearing HER costume, and Carolyn tells her she looks just like Josette. Vicki feels odd, as if she's worn the dress before, and Carolyn confesses to getting a chill when she tried on Millicent's dress. Everything will be all right, says Vicki, and this will bring the family closer. I respect the past, says Carolyn, but have no desire to live in it. This is just a harmless masquerade, says Vicki, something to lift us from the depression we've all been in.
Carolyn decides to agree with Vicki; she's also pleased her mother is going. Vicki is entranced by the idea that for one night, she'll be a member of the Collins family. Victoria Collins, she says dreamily. . .no, Josette Collins.
Old House drawing room - The house must be immaculate for the party, Barnabas instructs Willie (and is this the "tonight must nothing go wrong" blooper?) He's glad to hear Willie delivered the costumes to Collinwood, and remarks that tonight will be the most important night of his life.
Burke comes to Collinwood, where Carolyn thanks him for all his help, and assures him her mother is doing well. Carolyn leaves.
Drawing room - Burke invites Vicki out to dinner tomorrow night, but she can't go--she's got Barnabas' costume party! Hearing that Vicki's going as Josette disturbs Burke, especially since Josette spoke through Vicki at Dr. Guthrie's seance.
Vicki tells him she's going to ask Barnabas to invite Burke, too, and convinces the reluctant Devlin to drive her to the Old House to make her request.
Old House - Burke waits in the car while Vicki goes in. She compliments Willie on the wonderful job he's done with the restoration--you should be proud, she tells him. He thanks her very much for saying that, his voice sincere and sad. "There's a lot of things we deserve and never get, he remarks, and there's a lot of things we get and don't deserve." Barnabas, standing in the foyer, tells Willie that's an interesting philosophy--"But I'm dedicated to seeing that people get what I think they deserve." (serious shivers.) Barnabas suggests Willie take a rest from his work, and the servant-philosopher leaves the room. Upon first hearing the request, Barnabas isn't pleased at the though of inviting Burke to his party,
but after thinking it over, agrees. Burke must play a very important role, says Barnabas--Jeremiah Collins. After Vicki leaves, Barnabas tells Willie that tomorrow night he might finally have the chance to do to Jeremiah what he always wanted to do.
(another shiver, foreboding big time.)
280 - (Alexandra Moltke) The night winds murmurs through the ancient trees surrounding Collinwood, sounding like hushed voices speaking in whispers, whispering from a void that transcends time. On this night, the voices may be heard most clearly from the forest, surrounding a gloomy, forbidding old house. For there is one in this house that would transcend time this night, who would cause the past to merge with the present--who would cause the land of the living to merge with the land of the dead.
Ghosts and a sĮթance--does it get any more fun than this? I have to say that, even in black and white, the men looked very handsome and the women absolutely stunning in their costumes and curly 19th century "do's". Even Willie, in his nice vest, seemed especially festive.
Barnabas, dressed in his own Barnabas clothes, pre-party, tells Willie how much he LOATHED Jeremiah, and how appropriate it is that Burke Devlin, his rival in the present, will be coming as Jeremiah, his rival from the past.
To emphasize his words, Barnabas rips Jeremiah's hated photo from what is probably a priceless family album and crumples it viciously.
Everyone troops into the drawing room in their costume finery, exclaiming over how wonderful each family member looks.
Vicki is still thrilled about the party, but Carolyn and Liz have last-minute misgivings. Roger promises Carolyn not to start anything with Burke if he meets him halfway. The others leave Vicki alone to await Burke and head for the Old House, where Barnabas begs Josette's portrait to please accept him this time; he's waited so long. Vicki, staring out the window looking for Burke, almost seems to be responding to Barnabas' plea.
Willie comes up to tell Barn everyone is there--except Burke and Vicki. Barnabas, who was playing Josette's music box, slams it closed, not pleased with this news. Remember, Willie reminds Barn, Burke won't let Vicki come to you so easily, but Barn is confident this will happen. He refuses to tell Willie if he's planning to offer the music box to Vicki, then heads downstairs to greet his guests. Willie picks up the music box, gazes at it, then at Josette's portrait, anguish clearly on his face.
Carolyn, Roger and Liz are admiring the work that Barnabas has done so far. He offers them claret cup, then nearly slips and says Liz looks just like his mother, then almost slips again and refers to Roger as his father. Barnabas goes ballistic when he's reminded that Josette and Jeremiah were married, and when Carolyn has the nerve to say they were very much in love, he rudely corrects her misconception and says, "That's not true!" He apologizes for his anger; it's just that he hates hearing false versions of family stories.
Burke and Vicki arrive. Barnabas admires his lovely Josette clone,
but when Burke puts out his hand in greeting, he glares and only reluctantly accepts a handshake from him. Barnabas drinks to the past, and everyone raises a glass. The chapel bell rings 11 PM, Liz feels a phantom hand touch her shoulder, the candles flicker and Roger suggests the presence of a ghost--and says, "Let's have a sĮթance!" Barnabas protests, Roger persists, even accusing Barn of being afraid. Liz advises Barnabas to go along, because Roger will not let up. When the six of them are seated at the table, Roger gets things started with the unbroken circle of hands, then calls out to the spirit. At first, nothing happens, and the nervous Barnabas tries again to convince them to abandon this parlor game.
They're about to do just that when the candles are all blown out, the door blows open and Vicki starts to moan! A spirit has contacted them!
Love, Robin
