293 - (Alexandra Moltke) - There is the feeling at Collinwood that time has been suspended, that the past and the present exist as one, for there is one who lived long ago who has returned to live again. He is destined to live and sow the seeds of terror in the dark hours of the night.
When Willie, at coffinside, tells Barnabas at that Julia will be stopping by that evening, Barnabas says to tell her he'll be at Collinwood all evening. A nervous Willie wants to know why. "I am not beholden to you, you are beholden to me," Barnabas reminds his servant.
Drawing room - Willie insists that Barnabas is only going to Collinwood to see Vicki. Barnabas counters that Vicki is an extraordinary young woman. And besides, he has no sinister plans for Vicki, he simply enjoys her company--while Willie has become boring, with all his fears. Barnabas plans to work on Vicki the way an ordinary man would, and when Willie reminds him he isn't a normal man, Barnabas says that's right--he's better! He's going to allow Julia to proceed with her foolish, scientific plans, for now, anyway--but he wants Willie to keep an eye on the doctor.
Barnabas finds Willie's concern for Vicki and lack of concern for Julia very amusing. (Then again, Willie knows Vicki a lot better than he does Julia.) Barnabas disses poor Willie badly by saying that the gap between Willie and Vicki is as wide as the sky, then goes on to say he doesn't understand why people welcome aging and growing ugly. He, Barnabas, is untouched by time--untouched by ANYTHING. "Except loneliness!" Willie tosses at his retreating back, and Barnabas pauses, looking sad.
Vicki and Burke discuss the house, which she entered despite a no trespassing sign and found to be in perfect condition. She teases him by telling him she saw a schooner from one of the windows at the house, bearing a bride from Barbados.
Burke sees this house Vicki loves so much as a rival and he wants to go there right away and size it up. He's really pissed off when Barnabas picks that moment to show up. While Vicki is describing the house to Barnabas, it gives Burke a chance to caustically mention how CERTAIN people don't enjoy such creature comforts as electricity and heat.
Burke isn't thrilled at the prospect of all three of them going to see the house by moonlight. Vicki suggests they all go on a picnic there the following day, and bringing David along. Of course, this isn't a viable possibility for Barnabas, so he reminds them that the cops won't see them trespassing illegally at night, but in the daytime. . .Burke reminds Vicki HE wanted to see it right away first. When Vicki mentions to Barnabas that it seems a long time since they were David's age, Barnabas looks solemn again, commenting that it was a long, long time ago.
Burke and Barnabas wait for Vicki to change into a warmer dress. Burke is impatient at the amount of time it's taking her to get ready, but Barnabas says a beautiful woman is worth waiting for--for eternity, if necessary (romantic vs, practical--Barnabas vs. Burke). They go back and forth, with Burke remarking that he wasn't planning on a guided tour (obliquely saying, "Go away, Collins!"), doesn't like old houses, and he's impatient with the length of time it's taking Vicki to get ready. Barnabas says men of the past knew how to respect women, and Burke throws in a nasty remark about candlelight.
Things between them grew heated as they each accused the other of being a mystery man. Where in England are you from? demands Burke--who were your friends? Barnabas volunteers only that he had a cousin, Nile Bradford. They accuse each other of having pasts that are total blanks.
When Vicki appears, Barnabas tells her she was well worth waiting for as Burke stood there, seething.
NOTES: And, they're off! Barnabas is slightly ahead of Burke on the turn, but Burke is moving up fast--he's known Vicki longer and already established a relationship. Burke is probably already considering setting down roots in this house Vicki found, with her at his side as the little wifey. Barnabas respects women more, but he and Burke both have shadowed pasts, and which is the bigger bad guy?
It was a really funny pissing match to watch here, but Barnabas had the last word and came out on top, at least that's the way it appeared to me. In any event, it's funny that all this went on while Vicki was changing, and she comes down and doesn't realize what has transpired. Very enjoyable sparring between Barnabas and Burke, isn't it?
294 - (Alexandra Moltke) - There is a terrible secret at Collinwood. It is a secret of one who must forever walk the night--of one who has already struck terror into the heart and mind of an innocent girl. But there are barriers that have kept the secret from being known--barriers that have kept the girl from revealing the evil that threatens many others.
Sarah shows up in Maggie's room at Windcliff and, in a touching scene, promises to help her get home (tap your heels together three times and say. . .no, that was a different story). Sarah even assures her friend that she'll protect her from whatever is frightening her. They collect Samantha, Sarah's doll, then trick the nurse into unlocking the door. Nurse Jackson enters the room to find that Sarah, sitting on the bed singing that inevitable song, appears to be the only one in the room.
When the nurse comes in, Maggie sneaks from behind her hiding place behind the door, and off they go. The nurse is baffled; she lost both the little girl and Maggie! Surely this will mean she'll lose her job!
It's more Barnabas vs. Burke as the two of them take Vicki to her house by the sea. Barnabas has intelligently thought ahead to bring candles, and Burke is pissed off about that, about Barnabas' superior eyesight, etc., etc. Barnabas points out how nice the house looks by candle and moonlight, and Burke, who does like the house but isn't waxing rhapsodic about it the way Vicki and Barnabas are, checks out the beams. Burke refuses to check out the attic, despite Vicki's coaxing, so Barn plays hero/scout and goes up alone--he is more used to candlelight, after all. He promises to bring Vicki back something from the past. Burke remarks that the house has a rosy future, gazing pointedly at Vicki. Maggie and Sarah continue their trek to Collinsport. We know it's 100 miles, and assume they must have gotten one ride from a kindly soul along the way (there was a truck taking them in the original script, but it was taken from the production). Sarah refuses to tell Maggie how she got in or out of the locked room, but Maggie doesn't press it;
she laughs, delighting the little ghost, then they continue on, singing London Bridge together. (YUK!)
Burke, impatient to leave Vicki's dream house, suggests abandoning Barnabas there and making him hitch home if he doesn't come down soon. Burke complains of how cold the house is, and says he'd put in central heating, but Vicki objects to changing the house. Barnabas comes down and gives Vicki a little present he found, an embroidered lady's handkerchief that says "F McA C." Vicki thanks him warmly, and asks if he thinks it's OK for her to take it.
Barnabas gallantly assures her he's sure she'd want Vicki to have it.
Meanwhile, Sarah and Maggie are heading towards Collinsport. Maggie asks her friend how she got into her room at Windcliff, but Sarah merely teases her, not answering the question.
At the Blue Whale, Barnabas goes to the bar to order drinks while Burke tells Vicki he's sure she'll stop all this living-in-the-past nonsense once her present and future look more enticing (hinting at a future alliance between them, I'm sure). She fingers the handkerchief, wondering who it belonged to. Barnabas praises Vicki's good taste when she says she could see herself living in that house forever, and when they toast to the house, Barnabas only lifts the glass toward his lips, but doesn't drink. The music abruptly stops, the door opens, and IN WALKS MAGGIE EVANS! Vicki and Burke, stunned, rise to their feet, but Barnabas stays seated and turns his face away from Maggie, who is walking slowly towards their table.
He keeps turning his face away from her gaze. "No," she says, then faints, leaving Barnabas clearly shaken.
NOTES: What a Friday cliffhanger this was! I believe this is the last episode telecast in black and white; from now on, save for kinescopes, the rest will be in color. It was a very exciting day when we got our new color TV set and DS went into color almost on the same day! It took away the film noir feeling and made it seem even more real, more grounded.
Clever Sarah comes up with a plan to free her pal Maggie, and they immediately head to Collinsport. Did they meet a tin man, straw man and cowardly lion along the way? We know that they didn't walk the entire way; a script of this episode shows that Maggie and Sarah jumped off the back of a truck in one scene, but it wasn't included in the final cut.
We were wondering exactly what Barnabas must have been--did Maggie recognize him? Will she reveal his secret to the Blue Whale patrons? How shocked must everyone be to see the presumed-dead Maggie Evans? Will this mess up Julia's plans for a cure? So many questions for a weekend, as I recall, and once again, I couldn't wait for Monday!
Love, Robin
