742 - (Nancy Barrett) - The influence and the effects of supernatural forces have been felt by all who live in and near the great house of Collinwood. Two men, Quentin Collins and Barnabas Collins, have been trying to solve the mysterious past of a woman recently returned to the estate. Each man knows there is a connection between Laura Collins and a frightening supernatural power.
Quentin holds the cable he received up to Laura's face--I have the proof, he warns, and am ready to use it. Proof of what? she asks. That you're dead, he says. You're showing a side of yourself I've never seen before, says Laura--your determination and sheer persistence will convince everyone of just how stupid you are!--do you think that cable means anything?--show it to the world, she says, have it published--nothing will happen at all. It proves what happened in Alexandria, he says. The only proof is me, she points out--a living, breathing human being--my presence here makes your death certificate a shambles, along with any other proof you might uncover--now leave, Quentin. He agrees this doesn't constitute proof to anyone else--but it does to me, and I'll find out what you are and how you got back if it's the last thing I do. Which it may be, interrupts Dirk. Well, well, says Quentin, it's your lov--or should I be discreet and say "personal bodyguard?" I think you've said enough, opines Dirk, who moves to bodily throw him out. Q assures him, I know the way. Quentin reminds Laura of his intentions, then leaves. Dirk asks Laura if Quentin came to threaten her. His threats are as hollow as he is, scoffs Laura. Dirk takes her in his arms and tells her, you underestimate Quentin, he's dangerous. Not as long as I have you, she says. What if I hadn't come in? he asks. Why did you come? she asks. I don't know, replies Dirk, I just wanted to see you. No, you knew I needed you, she corrects. I've never felt this way, he says. You'll understand more and more as time goes on, she assures him. I want to stay with you, says Dirk. It's not practical, says Laura--you must take care of your duties at Collinwood--I can see you tonight, she promises, fingers on his lapels. Yes, he agrees. She gives him a chaste kiss on the cheek (I guess she only needs the hard stuff when near death)!
Charity comes downstairs; Dirk greets her. He's taking her into town, and she thanks him.
Dirk - Old House - Barnabas rises from his day slumber, looking really spiffy. He goes to the window, draws back the drapes and calls to Charity to leave Collinwood and come to him. Now, I need you, he says, eyes closed.
Charity and Dirk are about to leave the house when Dirk notes a sudden wind--must be a storm coming up. She touches her neck. We'd better get started, advises Dirk. Hearing Barnabas' impassioned voice imploring her to come to him, Charity doesn't move. Dirk asks if she's all right. I forgot a book, she lies. When he goes in to retrieve it for her, she disappears; when he comes back out to tell her there was no book, Charity has gone. She shows up outside the Old House, gazing at Barnabas through the window. He opens the door to let her in. I must not be here tonight, she cautions him. Ignoring what she said, he tells her to come in. Entranced, she complies. My father is waiting for me in town, she says. "I need you more than he does," says Barnabas--I need your help. Please, let me go, she begs, I don't want to be here, I want to go into town.
Barnabas approaches her with fangs bared, then buries his face in her neck, undoubtedly convincing her, as only he can, that she doesn't want to go to town at all.
Sated, Charity, the marks clearly visible on her throat, stares at Barnabas with love. What do you want to do now? he asks. Stay here with you, she says--what do you want me to do? Do you believe in spirits? He asks. My father believes there are evil spirits that can influence people, responds Charity. For once I agree with your father, says Barn. He reminds her of the portrait of Laura Stockbridge--we opened her grave and found nothing there. Charity is horrified to hear they did this. Laura is at large, he says, and I want to communicate with her. Looking sick, Charity says, I don't understand. I have a plan, he explains, and if it works, it will solve the mystery of Laura and why she's at Collinwood--I need someone I can trust to be witness for what I'm going to do. And what is that? she asks. I'll explain when I return, he says, you will wait for me here. Obediently, Charity opens a book and begins to read.
Quentin and Beth kiss with great passion. They're in his room, where she tells him she must leave--I've been too long already and I'm afraid Judith will start asking questions. (It's a safe guess they just finished making love, her payment to him for keeping Jenny safe.) What would you do if that happened? He asks. Beth fixes her hair in the mirror and says, I don't know. Tell her we're in love with each other, he suggests. "Could I?" she asks (such hope in her eyes!)--"It's a very casual kind of love, isn't it?" she says. He tucks his hands in his pockets and says, I could tell something was wrong with you this evening. Not something, everything, she says--I feel a sense of hopelessness--I want to think we have a future together, but we can't as long as you're married to Jenny. We've been over this before, he says impatiently. Yes, but we haven't settled it yet, she says--sooner or later, we must. Jenny is stark raving mad, he reminds her. Yes, but still your wife, says Beth. When the time comes, he says, when I can approach Judith with the subject, I'll have Jenny committed and the marriage annulled. Are you sure it can be? Asks Beth. With the Collins money and power behind me, anything is possible exults Quentin--we must approach Judith at the right time--be patient, I promise you won't regret it--"I love you very much," he says, kissing her. Outside the window, a bat hovers, squeaking, watching them. Quentin wants to escort her downstairs, but she warns him they can't be seen together too much. Nonsense, he insists, being seen together may even be the answer--we should let Judith begin to suspect us, and when her suspicions are confirmed, it will give her a great deal of triumph, and at that point, she's always easy to deal with. They leave, both lovers in good spirits. No sooner are they gone than Barnabas appears in Quentin's room.
Down in the foyer, Quentin teasingly complains to Beth that when you go out of your way to attract attention, there's no one around to look. Just as well, she says; she walks him to the door, kisses him again, then closes the doors after him. Beth is smiling, pleased. When Dirk comes in, she wonders aloud why he isn't giving her a stern lecture on morality. I don't see why, he says, grinning it's your life, if you want to throw it away, do it any way you choose.
Barnabas searches Quentin's desk, finding the I Ching wands--and a book. Beth catches him in there. "Mr. Collins," she says. Barn claims to be looking for his cousin, who obviously isn't here.
That's right, she agrees, he just left the house. He tells her, I'm fascinated by a rare volume I saw here the other day--I wanted to borrow it, but planned to leave a note, of course. Not necessary, she says, too politely, when Quentin returns, I will be most happy to tell him you were here. Barnabas smiles, too.
Down in the foyer, Beth tattles on Barnabas. Quentin is angry. Why didn't we see him going down the stairs? wonders Beth. Q doesn't care about that--what book did he take? Beth doesn't know, but I did see part of the title--"dead"--he was near her desk.
Q, figuring Barn took the Egyptian Book of the Dead, rushes right out, telling Beth, my cousin Barnabas and I have some talking to do!
At the Old House, Barnabas pores over the book. Charity asks why he wanted the door locked. I'm expecting a visitor, says Barn--by now, Quentin knows I took the book from his room. Why did you take it? she asks. It's the EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD, says Barn, and I suspect there's a connection between Laura, Quentin and the occult of Egypt--Laura's child had a premonition that she would return--the child made a drawing of a pyramid and Egyptian hieroglyphics--Quentin and Laura spent a great deal of time in Alexandria--now, this book. . .I may be wrong, he says, snuffing out the candles, but there may be a connection, and I intend to find out tonight. I'm frightened, says Charity. He assures her I, not you, are the one in danger--sit on the settee and watch carefully. Yes, she says. He stands over a red, lit candle, calling to "Amen Ra, Prince of Light and Radiance--I summon an eternal shade who worships thee."
In the cottage, Laura tells Dirk his presence has given her great strength (great something)!--but you must go now. I don't want to leave now, he protests--you need me, my protection. She assures him she'll be all right, but suddenly grows faint, weak, her strength ebbing away. Dirk holds her.
Barnabas continues to chant over the candle (this is really stirring), asking that the corridors of time allow her to be free to rise, speak and walk again.
Laura demands that Dirk let her go, but she can't move--get me the scarab.
He searches and asks, is Quentin doing this to you?--you won't be safe until Quentin is dead. He looks up, scarab in hand, but Laura disappears right before his eyes. Dirk calls to her.
Barnabas calls for Amen Ra to let the way be open for her. Charity feels something happening becomes upset. A ghostly Laura look-alike dressed in 18th century clothing appears and accuses Barnabas of disturbing her. Who are you? he asks. Laura Stockbridge Collins, she replies. Are you the same as the woman who lives here now? asks Barn. I am Laura Stockbridge Collins, she informs him. Why have you returned to Collinwood? he asks. "The children shall be mine," says the woman. This causes Charity to scream "NO!" and race from the house. Why must you have the children? asks Barnabas. Quentin bursts in, sees the apparition, and stops short. "Oh, no! Oh my God!" he cries. The ghost lets loose with a scream and disappears.
NOTES: Some not very fancy special effects here. Love the kinky scenes between Dirk and Laura; all this talk of heat, body and otherwise, is cool. Poor Beth, does Quentin love her enough to do what he promises? She's apparently keeping her part of the bargain--and keeping Quentin safe from Jenny and vice versa. But to what cost to herself? Barnabas loves taking Charity away from her daddy-Trask, which is really nasty of him, but can you blame him? Barn just loves his little power plays over his victims, and it was funny, how Charity objected to being at the Old House until he gave her a little vampire lovin'. Frid's recitations were marvelous, his face alight, his voice, as always, magnificent. We saw some nice kisses from Beth and Quentin, that passionate "necking" between Barn and Charity, and even a little Phoenix love for Dirk from Laura.
743 - (Roger Davis) - The year is 1897. Intrigue and suspicion pervade the great house of Collinwood. Mysteries have begun here in the past which will affect the lives of all who live in the present. Terror appears with the sudden return of Laura Collins. The motive behind her return and the dark secrets of her past represent a threat to the entire Collins family. On this night, Barnabas Collins makes a secret effort to expose her--and finds he has a dangerous witness.
Old House - Quentin witnesses the disappearance of the apparition who appeared to Barnabas. He rushes forward and says, "That was Laura Collins!" Barnabas orders him to leave, and now. Quentin reminds him, you began the evening by stealing a book from my room. I borrowed it, insists Barn. Why? Q asks, I'm interested!--to light a few more candles, since your ceremony is Over. Barnabas invites Quentin to go ahead. Quentin lights more candles and calls Barnabas "deceptive in so many ways."--so many young ladies are strangely attracted to you--first Rachel, then Angelique, then Charity--how do you account for it? Charity and I are good friends, says Barn evasively. Q asks, do you tend to use your friends in strange ceremonies that send them shrieking off into the night? Barnabas refuses to answer his cousin's questions. You'd better answer them or face up to the consequences! yells Quentin--Edward and Judith would be very upset to learn their new cousin is a practitioner of the black arts! Barn looks at him--do you intend to tell them that? Yes, says Quentin, unless you tell me everything I want to know. Go ahead, says Barn, calling his bluff, tell them--I'll simply deny everything--your reputation being what it is, they will believe me over their own brother. Quentin chuckles that it's true--without proof, I suspect they would--I want my book back. Quentin is ready to leave, but Barnabas thinks they can help each other for once--I'll answer your questions if you answer mine--unless you're afraid to tell me about Laura Collins.
Quentin isn't afraid--but I would like to know why you are so interested--and what were you doing when I came in? Barn counters with his own question--why did you lie to me about being in Alexandria, when you know darn well you and Laura spent lots of time there? All right, it's true, so what? says Q. I want to know what happened there that made you permanent enemies, says Barn, and so anxious to get rid of her? Quentin sits. I'm not afraid to talk about it, he assures his cousin, but more afraid you won't believe me. It must have been very strange, says Barn, sitting across from him. Quentin reveals, Laura was consumed by flames in Alexandria--I witnessed it, and I'm positive there's no way she could have survived it--and yet she's back with us, a living human being--I know she's dead, and the cable I received confirms it. Barnabas assures Q, I believe you. Quentin is surprised--why?--what is your interest, and what were you doing with the BOOK OF THE DEAD? When you came in, explains Barn, you saw an apparition you know to be Laura Collins, but she was dressed in 18th century clothing--the other day, I came across the portrait of a Laura Stockbridge, who died in 1785, by fire--the resemblance of the woman in the portrait to the present Laura was incredible, so I used the book to summon Laura Stockbridge, in the hopes of proving the two women were one and the same person--you came in at the crucial moment, when she was talking of her children, that she wanted to take them away with her. "That's exactly what Laura told me!" exclaims Quentin. Did she? asks Barn--when? Early tonight, replies Quentin. The two men agree they must get rid of her, but I still doesn't understand your interest, says Quentin--is she a threat to you? I have a vested interest in the future of the Collins family, says Barnabas, and she represents a threat to that future--we must immediately get to the cottage--the ceremony I performed had to have had an effect on her, and it should be easy for us to determine if she had a severe shock this evening. Barnabas races out, Quentin close behind him. We see a red candle flaming.
Cottage - Dirk hears Laura's disembodied voice begging for his help. He asks where she is, staring at the empty air. She suddenly appears in front of him, then falls to the floor in a faint.
On the sofa, Dirk brings Laura back to consciousness. What happened? She asks. You just disappeared, he says. I remember someone summoning me, she says, a strange, dark ceremony directed against my spirit. Dirk doesn't understand. It's becoming clearer, she says--there were questions asked, about me, about my past, the children. . .someone was trying to destroy me.
Quentin, guesses Dirk. No, she says--it's someone at the Old House. The gypsies, says Dirk. No, says Laura--Barnabas Collins. Why would he want to help Quentin? asks Dirk. I don't know, says Laura, but both men are against me. We will stop them, vows Dirk, but how?--Quentin seems to lead a rather charmed life, he was given up for dead once after Jenny put a knife in his chest, which he somehow managed to survive. Laura is shocked to learn Jenny is still at Collinwood. I shouldn't have said it, insists Dirk. Laura is delighted--I want to know more, like why it's been kept a big secret. Because Jenny became insane shortly after Quentin left, says Dirk, I locked her in a cell down in the basement, and hardly anyone knows she's there. So that's why Judith was so touchy about the subject, says Laura--we don't have to worry about Quentin anymore, Jenny will dispose of Quentin for us--she hates him enough to kill him. Yes, agrees Dirk, angry, but she thinks she already killed him, and doesn't know he survived. I will tell her, says Laura. Dirk, however, refuses to take her to the room. It won't be necessary, says Laura, I have a way. He asks what way, but they are interrupted by a knock at the door. I know who my visitors are, says Laura, I've been expecting them--they must be very anxious over the state of my health--sit down and be calm. She lets in Quentin and Barnabas, calling this "a pleasant surprise." Q humorously observes Dirk and asks if they've come at a bad time. Not at all, she assures him--Dirk was helping me rearrange some furniture, and I invited him for a drink. Rearranging furniture all evening? asks Q. Yup, says Laura--that seems to surprise you. It looks the same as this morning, remarks Quentin. Dirk and I were chatting much of the evening, says Laura (so that's what we're calling it now--arranging the furniture and chatting?). Dirk agrees. I was anxious to hear what happened while I was away from Collinwood, says Laura, and Dirk was filling me in (I like that euphemism much better!). She offers the men a drink; both refuse (history is made for Q!).
Quentin observes living at the cottage agrees with you--you're in a chipper mood. Yes, says Laura significantly, I've been like this all night long, never felt better in my life!--what brings you here? Quentin wants to see the portrait I gave you, says Barn. You can't, says Laura--I sent it out to be reframed--I'll show it to Quentin when it returns. Q suggests they go. Barn agrees it's getting late--I'm going to show Quentin some rare family volumes at the Old House. The men depart. Laura sweetly wishes them good night. After they're gone, she exults that Jenny will want to know they went to the Old House. When do you want me to let her out of her cell? asks Dirk. Tonight, says Laura, as soon as I prepare her for what she must do.
Jenny hums the pretty little horses songs to her twin dolls, shushing them, patting them. She cuddles them and tells them not to cry, to be brave. It's not allowed at funerals, she says, you must be very solemn and respectful of the dead. Dirk enters her cell. She tells him they're burying Quentin today and she's getting the babies ready for the funeral. Dirk closes the door and leans back against it.
Old House - Quentin tells Barnabas Laura could have been telling the truth--perhaps she WAS in the cottage all night. No, says Barn, her exuberance is because we can't prove she wasn't there. What now? asks Q. Find another answer, says Barn--perhaps I can summon the ghost again. Your method won't work a second time, says Quentin (why not?) but I am well-versed in the black arts, why don't I give it a whirl? Quentin isn't sure, but Barnabas advises him to come up with something fast--if she's of the supernatural persuasion, then she is truly dangerous, and we must do something about her before she does something about us.
Jenny sits, staring vacantly. When Dirk comes in with her tray, she asks if the carriage is here to take them to the funeral. Yes, says Dirk, I remember. Jenny grabs him and warns, through gritted teeth, I don't want to be left behind. Don't worry, he says, you won't be. She sits down to eat. Dirk checks his watch. She asks if it's time. Not yet--have a nice meal and I'll go check on the carriage. Yes, make sure it doesn't leave without me, she says. (so sad and poignant!) He leaves the room. Jenny sips her soup.
Laura gazes into the fire and sends her voice via the flames to Jenny: You will hear my voice, Jenny, as clearly as you hear your own voice--Jenny! calls Laura. Jenny drops her soup spoon in her dish and asks who is calling her--I don't recognize the voice. "You can't see me, Jenny, but surely you know who I am." LAURA! realizes Jenny, angrily demanding, "Where are you?--You took Quentin away from me!" accuses Jenny, her face shaking. But he didn't love you, says Laura, he loved me (bitchy Phoenix!).
Don't say that, begs Jenny. It's true, says Laura. You've come to take him again, but you can't, says Jenny, grinning crazily, laughing, because he's dead, Quentin is dead!--that's why you can't have him. Quentin is very much alive, says Jenny. You're lying! Jenny accuses. It's true, Laura assures her. Upset, Jenny insists, I killed him, I know he's dead. He's alive, says Laura, ALIVE!!!--he's hiding from you in the Old House, being protected by Barnabas--see for yourself! Outside, Dirk unlocks the door, but leaves it closed. Go on, Jenny, encourages Laura, go to the Old House, find Quentin, and kill him! Jenny goes up the small flight of stairs to freedom. Dirk listens. We see Laura's eyes¢â‚¬¦
NOTES: Now that Laura has sicced Jenny on Quentin, what will happen? Poor Jenny, that was really mean of Laura to use her as a weapon to kill Quentin--again. Laura is very nasty, but we already knew that. Barnabas and Quentin have formed a reluctant alliance against a common enemy, but how long will it last? Each doesn't trust the other, but they need each other right now. Will family loyalty win out?
Is yet more tragedy in store for the Collins family?
Love, Robin
