776 - (Louis Edmonds) - This night has been dark and filled with dread, for an unnatural creature has been let loose to force his will upon those he claims as victims. Dirk Wilkins has made a deadly demand upon Barnabas Collins, a demand that must be met by dawn. And now the dawn is nearing.
What are you doing with a gun? Rachel asks Judith, who replies, in a monotone, "It has to be done."
When Judith's attention is momentarily diverted, Rachel tries to escape, but is unsuccessful. Put the gun down, Rachel says--you've got to realize please! she begs. Tim, standing outside the cellar, hears several gunshots. He races into the cellar. He asks Judith, what's going on?--what was all the shooting? He notices Judith is holding the gun, then spots Rachel on the floor, her bodice stained with much blood. He lifts her up. "Oh, no!" he cries. She whispers, I don't know why Judith pointed a gun at me. Tim asks Judith, are you crazy? She simply says, "I did what I had to do. I had no choice." I have sharp pains in my chest, says Rachel, her eyes filled with agony. Don't talk, urges Tim--everything will be all right--it must be all right. I'm frightened, says Rachel, and cold. . .so cold. Judith places the gun on top of Dirk's coffin as Tim cradles Rachel in his arms.
Edward tells Trask that Dirk was all over the house at once, upstairs, downstairs; I pursued him as best I could--how can you pursue something you can't see? Trask reassures him, it wasn't your fault, you could do nothing against this creature of darkness. And the police can't do anything, either, laments Edward, it can't go on like this!--what does he want?--who is he, and what does he want from us?--from her?--the questions go round and round. Trask pours a drink a gives it to Edward, hoping to calm him a little. Edward accepts it gratefully. The phone rings. It's the sheriff--his men searched the woods completely, without finding Judith or her abductor. The sheriff is widening the search and will keep him informed. Everyone is so confused, except Cousin Barnabas, says Edward--he seems certain the creature is Dirk Wilkins. Trask finds this interesting, and remarks I would tend to believe it is not--I don't know what reason Barnabas has for accusing Dirk, but when all is said and done, it will prove to be at odds with whatever is good for the rest of us. Do you trust Barnabas? Asks Edward. Trask replies, I neither trust nor like Barnabas, and never have. (The feeling is mutual, Revvy.) Hardly the time for personal prejudices, comments Edward. Trask accuses Barnabas of knowing all about poor Judith's disappearance--I'm also convinced he knows where Rachel and Tim are, providing them with a place to hide. Edward isn't sure about the latter accusation, but doesn't believe what Trask says about Judith--Barnabas is her cousin, and he has nothing to gain. And the Collins are therefore above suspicion? asks Trask. Let's drop the subject, suggests Edward. "As you wish," says Trask. The front door opens. It's Judith. Edward asks, are you all right?--where have you been, what happened to you? She holds the gun pointed at him. "Judith, what have you done?" Edward asks miserably.
Give me the gun, Judith, Edward asks. She does, docilely. He tells Trask it's her own gun, brought back from France by Grandmother. He examines it--three shots have been fired. He asks Judith again what happened. Trask feels she can't tell him anything at the moment. Where has she been? asks Edward. Judith repeats, "It has to be done." Desperate for more information, Edward presses her, pointing out that they can't help her if she doesn't help them, but she is not forthcoming. I did as he told me to do, says Judith. The vampire, states Trask. What did he tell you to do, who is he? demands Edward. I'm very tired, Judith says--I want to go inside and sit down--there's nothing pressing that needs my immediate attention.
Edward asks Trask, is Judith completely mad? Not mad--possessed! says Trask--by a will much stronger than her own. Edward asks, what should we do? Trask advises Edward to take her up to bed--sometimes sleep separates the real from the unreal, strengthen the mind. Edward wonders about the three missing bullets. That will come out in time, says Trask, but right now, I want to thank the powers that be for sending Judith back to us, then seek divine guidance against the evil spirit possessing her and plaguing this house--I've been successful with the higher powers in the past. I hope your success continues, says Edward--Judith needs it desperately. Edward takes Judith's arm and gently suggests she get some sleep. Yes, I must sleep, agrees Judith. Edward helps her upstairs. Trask closes the double doors and kneels, hands in a praying posture. He asks for the Lord's help; together, we must help this poor, afflicted woman possessed by an evil spirit of darkness. With Your help, we shall drive the demon back to hell from whenst it came.
Tim, carrying Rachel, enters the Old House, frantically calling for Barnabas--for anyone! He helps her lie down on the sofa. I feel very weak, she says. Of course, he says. The pain is gone, she says. That's good, says Tim. No, it's bad, she says. Tim calls over and over for Barnabas, speculating he doesn't hear me. Rachel thinks Barnabas isn't here. Tim says you're hurt bad, but that doesn't mean...you'll be all right, you need a doctor to fix you up. No, doctor, she tells him. Yes, he insists, I'm going into town to get a doctor--I hate to leave you here, but I have to. Rachel doesn't want him to go. I must he says--you'll be all right, really. No, I won't be, she says, and if you go into town, they'll catch you. I'm willing to take that chance, says Tim. Please, she begs, they're looking for you. I only have to go to the edge of town to Dr. Brooks' office, says Tim. No, she objects. Please stop saying no, begs Tim. You don't understand, she says--if they catch you, they'll kill you. Her body rises as she feels pain. I'm going for the doctor, he says. She begs him to stay with her. It wouldn't do any good for me to stay, says Tim. Rachel remembers how, when we were children, we used to pretend our fathers were whaling captains, and that's why we were at the school?--we used to sing sea chanties. I remember, he says, clearly distressed. We used to sing softly, so Trask wouldn't hear us, recalls Rachel, her strength ebbing. There's no point in us keeping up this pretense, says Tim--you're dying, you know it. Yes, I do, says Rachel. If I don't get help, you're going to die, do you want that? he asks desperately.
Collinwood - Judith lies in bed, asleep. Edward sits down in a chair and watches her. Judith hears Dirk calling her. She answers him, in her mind. Follow me, he orders, find me where I lie waiting for you--"Find me!" I've found you, says Judith, and in her mind's eye, she sees his coffin, him inside it, fangs bared. "I want you to come to me!" he commands. I did what you said, Judith reminds him. I know that, he says, and you were quiet when they tried to make you talk. (Must be hard to speak with those fangs in his mouth.) "Come to me so that I may reward you--let nothing stand in your way!" Judith rises from bed. Edward asks where she's going. She leaves the room, walking the robotic walk. Edward realizes she's going to HIM, the vampire, as Barnabas said, and Edward follows.
A dying Rachel asks Tim, "Can you keep a secret?" What is it? he asks. My father's coming back, she says, to take me to live with him, in a big white house--I used to tell you about the beautiful white house overlooking the ocean
--he's going to come soon, but you must not tell Rev. Trask--it must be our secret. Rachel dies. Tim, calling her name, hastily checks her pulse, his voice shaking. He presses his head to hers, mourning. His childhood friend and confidant is dead.
Edward follows Judith to Dirk's coffin. "I have come, as you commanded me to," says Judith, her hands on the closed coffin. Edward orders Judith, stand away from the coffin! Calmly, she says, you have no right to be here. "Is he here? asks Edward. "Is this where he hides during the day?" He only summoned me! says Judith Get out my way, orders Edward. Don't hurt him! says Judith. I'll do more than hurt him! vows Edward angrily. I won't let you, says Judith. I'm trying to save you, and all of us! cries Edward. Judith bangs on the top of the coffin, calling, "Dirk, Dirk! He's going to destroy you--you mustn't let him!"--wake up and kill him before he destroys you! Judith passes out and Edward puts her limp body off to the side. He opens the coffin and sees the vampire slumbering inside. It's Dirk! he realizes (wasn't that the name Judith was yelling?), and hastily closes the coffin. It's almost night, mutters Edward, there isn't much time. He finds a large rock on the floor, then searches for something to serve as a stake, heading upstairs. It's dusk. He returns with a stake (did he make it or find it?) and re-opens Dirk's coffin. He takes the rock and stake and, looking sickened, hesitates just long enough for Dirk to awaken and reach out to grab him.
Edward quickly pounds the stake into Dirk's chest. The vampire succumbs, eyes open, blood flowing from his mouth as he sags back into the coffin. (Pretty graphic for DS.)
Notes: We lose two in this episode, Dirk and Rachel. KLS was going to Africa with her boyfriend, Ben Martin, so she's written out of the script for quite a while, but we will see her later on in a different, very interesting, role. Same thing happens to Roger Davis. Trask is very suspicious of Barnabas, and one can't help but wonder if that isn't inherited from the Trask line to the one and only Barnabas Collins, LOL. Sad scene between Rachel and Tim. Her memories of their happier childhood always make me feel so sad for both of them. She didn't want him to get a doctor because she feared for his safety, but did she doom herself to death? Perhaps her wounds were too serious, even if Tim had gotten a doctor. They--and we--will never know. I do like how Edward closed ranks against Trask when he insinuated that Barnabas knew more than he was saying, but Edward himself tried to trick Barnabas with his own sketchy vampire knowledge as he brought Barnabas and Judith together to see her reaction. No trust, Eddie!
777 - (Kaye Frye) - Collinwood in the year 1897, and the dread cry of VAMPIRE is in the air. To keep his own secret safe, Barnabas Collins has been forced to turn Dirk Wilkins into a vampire. Now Dirk Wilkins has been destroyed, and with his death, his victims no longer remember their ordeal. But certain things cannot be forgotten, as Judith Collins will learn this day.
Judith, still looking rather vacant, expresses frustration over the lost hours of her life as Trask hands her a cup of tea in the drawing room. He urges her, don't dwell on it--you know what Edward and I told you--Dirk's hold on you is over. He caresses her throat, commenting, even the marks on your neck are gone. She smiles, seeming to enjoy his touch. (Ewww!) He suggests they think of the future. Tim enters. Trask holds him at gunpoint, ordering Judith to call the police and tell them Minerva's murderer has been captured. He and Tim stare each other down.
Tim suggests Judith not make the call, for her own good. Judith is puzzled. If you tell the police about me, I'll have to tell them about you as well, warns Tim. Huh? says Judith. Trask tells her to just make the call. Judith wants to know what Tim means. Tim wonders how she can have forgotten shooting Rachel Drummond. Again, Judith can't believe it. Rachel is dead because you killed her, accuses Tim. Trask calls him crazy. I had no reason to kill Rachel, says Judith, and don't remember seeing her. Tim says, you sure did see her, in the abandoned house, and I found you standing over Rachel with a gun--come to the Old House and see for herself, suggests Tim, that's where I took her, but it was too late. Judith asks, could I possibly have done this? More likely, says Trask, Tim himself turned on poor Rachel--the way he turned on Minerva. Prove it, says Tim. Something in the back of my mind, says Judith--I remember coming back to Collinwood, but not from where, but I recall you and Edward examining a gun--whose was it?-- Gregory, I asked whose gun it was? Yours, admits Trask, but that doesn't mean. . . Then Edward said, continues Judith...how many times was Rachel shot? Three, says Tim succinctly, giving Trask a look. Yes, says Judith, and three bullets were missing from my gun--I did kill her! Judith sits down and covers her face with her hand. Trask comforts her. Isn't it enough, he asks Tim, that you destroyed one fine woman? Rachel's dead, too, Tim reminds him--shall we all simply forget about her? He leans on the mantle. Forget Rachel?--never, says Trask, but we must put grief aside and concentrate on the living--if Judith shot. . . IF! shouts Tim--no if about it, and she even admitted it. She wasn't morally responsible, argues Trask, under the spell of an unnatural creature. And so was I when I killed Mrs. Trask, says Tim. That's a convenient excuse, says Trask. I must admit it, says Tim, I had something to do with Minerva's death, but I don't know how or why or who cast me under this spell--but I think I'll have the leisure to discover who that was--NOW. He looks at Trask significantly, and the Reverend looks stonily back. Judith calls to "Gregory."--I still want to call the police--but you, Gregory, must make it for me.
Tim says, that isn't such a good idea, is it?, focusing on Trask. The latter suggests Judith just rest. I can't, she says--you must call the police and tell them there are two murderers at Collinwood. "She doesn't know what she's saying," says Tim. Trask escorts him out, saying I have to speak to Judith, but don't do anything you'd regret, he advises. He closes the double doors on Tim, dismissing him. You must understand, he tells Judith--you had no control over what happened. But I did kill her, says Judith, how do you think I feel? How do you think I feel? asks Trask, for so many years I was responsible for Rachel's soul, may it rest well in heaven tonight. (oh, give me a break!) I can't bear it anymore, says Judith, I want you to call the police and get it over with. Be strong, he urges her, putting his hand under her chin and making her look at him--I have fought against evil all my life and recognizes the enemy--I know what the evil force wants you to do next--permit yourself to be destroyed because of Rachel's murder. But I did it, objects Judith. Only if you confess to the crime, only then will you be evil, says Trask, only then will you be lying--you didn't kill Rachel, Dirk did. But Dirk is dead, says Judith. And so is Rachel, says Trask--will it restore her for even one moment if you, Judith, are destroyed too?--and you could easily go to the gallows. This horrifies Judith. And if you died, says Trask, my life would be bleak, dark, meaningless, that I would soon die, too. Do you mean that? she asks. Every word, swears Trask--you should be silent--I will speak to the police myself. What about Tim? she asks. Relax, says Trask, I will do what has to be done. You can't keep Tim from telling the police about me, says Judith. Trask assures her, I can. He picks up the phone. There is a way, he says, asking for the sheriff's office.
Out in the foyer, Tim starts to sneak off, then changes his mind. He listens at the door, walks away. Judith listens as Trask tells the sheriff Tim Shaw is at Collinwood with him now...
3 PM - Tim listens at the door again, pacing. Judith looks miserable. Trask tells the sheriff Tim spent the night in Bangor; in the excitement of the night, I had forgotten I'd sent him there for supplies. No, I had no idea she was dead and am extremely shocked--you can speak to Tim, yes, but he's a most unlikely suspect--you'll have to look elsewhere for the fiend who murdered my wife. I'm very honored, Judith tells Trask--you set free Minerva's murderer to save me. I had no choice, says Trask, and I'm sure Minerva would have understood, she was that kind of gal. He goes out to get Tim, who enters the drawing room. Trask explains, I've finished speaking with Judith and the police--I told them I sent you to Bangor, and I am sure you will support that story. Gladly, says Tim. Then you will leave Worthington Hall, says Trask. Even more gladly, replies Tim--do you think Mr. Hanley will still help me find a job? Trask advises him against seeking that avenue for work. Perhaps I should speak to Mrs. Collins, suggests Tim--after all, I obviously do need a new position. Trask suggests, leave this part of the country--the world is wide for a young man. Collinsport is world enough for me right now, says Tim. Sternly, Judith says Mr. Edward handles the hiring. But I'm not the usual applicant, says Tim, smiling, I'm industrious, well-educated, ambitious--besides, I have an exceptionally good memory. Judith promises to speak to Mr. Edward. Carl interrupts--I already spoke to Edward, he says angrily, and I learned Dirk is dead--you never asked him about his Pansy. Judith insists, Edward was never in any position to ask Dirk anything. He could have asked him SOMETHING, insists Carl, if he wasn't selfish, like everyone else in this family!--what does any of you care about my Pansy, dying of thirst or hunger, or even if she's dead?--no, she can't be dead! Judith tells him, I don't want to hear another word about Pansy! Carl shuts up. Trask tells Carl about Rachel's death. A search party was out combing the woods for a vampire, and someone heard her moving around and accidentally shot her. Judith bows her head guiltily as Trask tells this lie. Who did it? asks Carl. We don't even know that, answers Trask--I found the poor child dying and took her to the Old House--the nearest place to go for help, but Rachel was beyond help. Judith moans and covers her mouth. Trask tells Carl Judith is most upset--we must put ourr shoulders together and bear the burden for her. Carl agrees. Trask will send the police to the Old House. Judith says, I want Rachel brought back here, so she can be buried immediately. Carl asks his sister, are you feeling all right. She's most upset, says Trask, Rachel was very dear to her. Why are you acting as if she died of the plague? Asks Carl--why do you want her buried immediately? The poor child had no family, says Trask, why should we delay putting her to rest? Carl is still puzzled by the rush. Trask sends Carl and Tim to the Old House to await the police--sooner started, sooner ended, he says. The two young men leave. Trask tells Judith, you must be more cautious--even Carl is suspicious. Judith knows--I'm sorry, I tried, but I couldn't. Yes you can, he says, you can do anything, I have supreme faith in Judith Collins. We will have the service this afternoon, says Judith. Yes, as soon as I've spoken to the police, he says. She thanks him.
Old House - Tim tells Carl, "It's difficult for me, even now, to realize she's gone--it seems almost as though I myself had died--we were close once, very close." I don't believe it, says Carl, I don't believe Rachel died by accident--there have been too many accidents happening around here, and no one explains them well enough for old Carl's satisfaction--my Pansy didn't disappear by accident, I know that, my missing fiancee
--I'm going to the police about it, I would have mentioned it to them before, but I prefer not doing it when my sister is around--my Pansy is a wonderful girl, he says, beautiful, refined, cultured--she's English, and just disappeared, he says unhappily. He suggests they return to Collinwood. Tim says he'll join him in a moment. After Carl leaves, he picks up a scarf from the purple piece of furniture and suddenly hears Pansy' singing her song. He listens. The curtains blow in, and he's afraid. Pansy's ghost appears before him.
Who are you? he asks, where did you come from? You aren't the one I'm looking for, says Pansy--I have so little time, I must find him. Barnabas? he asks. She wanders past him. I must keep looking, she says. Terrified, Tim races for the door, screaming, "CARL!" Carl returns. Tim meets him outside--there's a very strange woman in there; she came from nowhere and came in asking for you, says Tim. Hysterical, Carl enters the room and calls to Pansy, his darling Pansy, in a lost, high-pitched voice, but she is no where to be seen.
Carl searches for his beloved fiancee, but, dejected, asks Tim, did you really see her? I saw SOMEONE, says Tim. It must be my Pansy, says Carl. We have to get to the funeral service, says Tim. Go on without me, urges Carl. We searched the entire house, says Tim, and she isn't here. Go, go, insists Carl. Tim leaves. Carl speaks to the air, telling Pansy I know you were angry at the way Judith acted, but please, please, please, please, don't be angry with me, I can't stand it, sweetheart, please come out, begs Carl.
Trask speaks over Rachel's coffin, the hypocritical bastard: "Hardly more than a child herself, she had a wonderful way with children, they loved her as we loved her; we will long remember her bright smile, her youthful radiance, but most of all, her devotion, her dedication, to duty.
Tonight, the littlest angels will have a lovely new teacher to care for her." Judith, dressed in black, walks away from the coffin, crying into a handkerchief. Tim and Carl stand by. Trask tells the young men to take Rachel's body to the graveyard, he isn't coming because he doesn't want to leave Judith alone. He doesn't think it would be a good idea for her to go to the cemetery, she's much too upset.
Tim and Carl finish burying Rachel. A dejected Tim decides to go into Collinsport and get drunk. Carl tells him if he sees Pansy, to tell him he's looking for her. Carl says he's going back to the Old House, and Tim tells him that if he sees Barnabas, he should tell him what happened-- he was a very good friend. Tim will come back later with flowers--after he gets drunk. Carl, left alone, hears Pansy singing to him, "I Wanna Dance For You." He talks to the air, begging her to come out. He gets angry, telling her if she doesn't come out, he's leaving! Oh, Pansy, he begs, she should be frightened in the graveyard, alone with the dead--unless. . ."You're dead, too!" Carl's mouth drops opens as he considers this terrible possibility.
NOTES: Poor Carl--have his worst fears been realized? Although you sense he's brought more than his share of "tarts" home, he seems to genuinely care for Pansy. It's not wise to bring loved ones to Collinwood, is it?
How dare Trask speak over Rachel's coffin, given that he's partially responsible for her ending up dead way before her time. As for Tim, I wouldn't give him any prizes for his treatment of Rachel, either. And the poor governess probably felt Barnabas betrayed her, too. Farewell, Rachel, you weren't too bright, but didn't deserve this untimely death.
Love, Robin
