852 - (The sound and lights made by the train seem very real. I like when DS utilizes an effective effect like that.)
Angelique holds the pin poised over the clay doll's heart, leading Quentin to realize he has no choice. The train has left. That's my Quentin talking, exults Ang--a little less romantic, a little more realistic. He brushes past her, furious. When she turns him around to face her, he orders her, don't touch me. Why not, we're engaged, Ang reminds him, and to be married--then you can get on any train you like--with me. I'm not going anywhere with you, Q says. Yes you are, retorts Angelique--you're going back to Collinwood to plan our wedding. "Doesn't it bother you that I detest you?" demands Quentin. She faces him and says, of course it bothers me, but you'll get over it, I'm sure of it--one day Amanda will leave your mind as easily as that train left the station.
I'll always grieve for Amanda, he says. Don't grieve, she warns him, or you'll be grieving for a dead girl, rather than an abandoned one--shall we return to Collinwood? She goes. Quentin follows, suitcase in hand.
Collinwood - Edward sits at the desk. Kitty enters and greets him very warmly. The strangest thing happened to me this evening, she relates--I was sitting in my room, the window was open, and the night air seemed to be calling me, as if to some great adventure in the night--come walk with me--we can find adventure together. I can't, says Edward, I'm expecting a phone call. The forced gaiety leaves her face. I don't mind, she assures him. The call is rather personal, he says--I wouldn't want to burden you with it. Breathily, she says, the Collins family is very fortunate having someone strong to run it. He grins. Thank you, he says--I do what I must. Perhaps some other night she suggests, as the phone rings. She leaves the drawing room. It's Dr. Seward, Judith's doctor. How is my sister doing? asks Edward.
Out in the woods, Kitty hears a snapping branch. She looks around--who is it? she asks--I know someone is there, answer me, she demands imperiously. She starts to move on, hears the sound again. Edward, is that you? she asks, suddenly scared. Who is it? Leave me alone! She cries, and runs off.
Edward sits by the fire. He stands and takes a drink. Someone knocks hurriedly at the front door; he goes to answer it. It's Kitty, terrified. She calms herself down, but he notes she's trembling. In the woods, someone was watching me, she explains. Someone you could see? he asks. No, but I knew I wasn't alone, she explains--someone was watching every move I made. Must have been some stranger who took a wrong turn, insists Edward. No, says Kitty, no stranger, I felt it was someone who knew me very well. Angelique and Quentin return home. Who is that woman? demands Kitty. Quentin's fiancee, says Edward--Miss duBois. Just as Edward is about to introduce them, Kitty says, "You were in the woods watching me, you've always watched me, always spied on me--well, you won't spy on me anymore!" And she begins to choke Angelique!
Kitty and Angelique grapple. Lady Hampshire's eyes widen insanely as she tries to throttle Ang. Edward finally succeeds in pulling Kitty off Angelique. Kitty faints in his arms. I'm all right, Angelique assures Edward. Kitty comes around, but doesn't remember anything but being in the woods and being frightened--someone was watching me! You accused Angelique of watching you, says Quentin. I was introducing you to Angelique, says Edward, and you tried to strangle her. This stuns Kitty--I can't believe it or understand it! Did I hurt you? she asks Ang. The latter, giving Kitty the evil eye and a frown, assures her--you didn't.
I couldn't have been myself, says Kitty--I don't know what I was thinking--please, please forgive me. A night like this can cast all kinds of spells on people, says Ang, not entirely accepting this explanation. Kitty gives her a funny, twisty-mouth grimace, and says, Edward, I want to go to my room. I'll go with you; he says, you're as pale as if you've seen a ghost. He escorts her upstairs. We can go into the drawing room and discuss our wedding day, says Angelique. Quentin stands looking upstairs for a few moments; she has to call his name twice. I think I know why she did that, says Q--the hate I feel for you was somehow transferred to her mind, and she hated you enough to kill you. Interesting theory, says Ang, but you'll come to know sooner or later that the reason that woman attacked me has nothing to do with either of us. (Josette flashback?) Let's go into the drawing room, she says--may I have a brandy? He tucks his hands in his pockets, unwilling to comply. "Please," she says--after all, I'm still a little shaken from my close encounter with death." To bad she didn't succeed, remarks Q, I'd be free. (LOL!) Well, she didn't, says Ang, and you might as well face the fact you'll never be free--so learn to love your jailer. He hands her a drink. Just one more thing, she adds--the wedding--anytime this week will be fine. "A week from tonight, then," says Q. "That will put it off as long as possible." (Talk about a reluctant bridegroom!) She smiles over her brandy glass.
Ever since I came to Collinwood, I've been saying and doing things I don't understand, Kitty tells Edward. She presses a handkerchief to her mouth, suggesting, perhaps it would be best if I go away. I have an explanation, says Edward--Gerald's death was such a shock, more than you realized--you kept your feelings in check, thus firing up your imagination. You think it's all in my mind? she asks. Yes, he responds. Forgive me if I've been difficult, she begs. Only if you forgive me, he says--I should have sensed when you asked me to walk with you that you needed me. You had the phone call to wait for, she says. No, he says, I was selfish, I wanted to go with you--I've always found it difficult to change my plans--but I shall change, I would so very much like to look after you, so please don't talk of going away! Simpering, she says, I may take a good deal of looking after--and moves in close. Edward assures her, I will provide it. I have a feeling that what happened today is only the beginning of something, and I'm terribly frightened, something I hadn't even admitted to myself, and now I'm admitting it to you. She begins to cry, and tells him so. Go ahead, he urges, it's good for you--and takes her in his arms--it can be a relief from fear. "Then you'll always protect me when I'm frightened, and have patience with my tears?" she asks. I will, he promises. I'll be safe no matter what happens, she says. She kisses her fingertips, then presses them to his lips--good night, Edward--good night, my dear, dear friend. He bids her good night and leaves. Kitty gets that pursed, twisty little grin that makes me want to slap her phony face.
Drawing room - We'll have an informal little ceremony, Angelique tells Quentin--a shame it must be so small, I'll be a beautiful bride. And I'll be a miserable, unhappy groom, snaps Quentin. Must you throw away your love on that nobody? she asks--there's so much I can do for you! He turns away from her. Edward enters and reports, Lady Hampshire is a little better--she's a brave woman, much more to her than you would imagine. Angelique, grinning falsely, agrees yes, I'm sure there is--Edward, Quentin and I will be married at the end of the week. Edward congratulates them. Quentin walks away. Edward asks Angelique, please leave me alone with Quentin. She goes. Quentin asks--what's with the big brother tone this time? I don't like the way you treat your fiancee, says Edward, or your attitude about your marriage. "My attitude is my concern!" says Quentin angrily--"Not yours!" That girl has suffered enough because of this family, says Edward--I don't want her to suffer more--she was victimized by Barnabas Collins. So she was, agrees Quentin, but I'll treat my bride-to-be any way I damn well please--and I assure you, Edward, she understands. Quentin is about to leave, but Edward stops him--another matter--a little less personal, but concerns us both--I've been meaning to talk to you about it ever since Barnabas was killed--"You found Barnabas Collins in his coffin, and yet, despite knowing he was a vampire, that your brother Carl was killed because of him, despite all of that, you walked away, and let him live.
Why, Quentin? Why??"
Quentin gazes hard at Edward and admits, I didn't kill him. Why, knowing what he was? demands Edward--t was Charity Trask who killed him, not you--why? Maybe in the end, I was as human as my brother, says Quentin. He takes a drink--remember, Edward, you had Barnabas locked up in the Old House cellar, and could have destroyed him--you had the gun and silver bullets, and could have ended it all right there!--so why did you wait for the dawn to do your work for you, and give him a chance to escape?--we have both faltered, says Q, and a mad child has finally done our work for us, so we should drop it. You certainly can be convincing, says Edward--I remember your glib tongue as a boy, but I pride myself on being a good judge of character, and no matter what you say, I'll never trust you completely. Quentin laughs--I didn't think I'd ever laugh again, he says, and you caused me to do it. Edward doesn't know what he said that was humorous--enlighten me, Quentin. You just said that you are a good judge of character, Answers Q--well, if that lady upstairs is any indication of your approval of people, we are all in a great deal of trouble! What do you hold against Lady Kitty? demands Edward. I wouldn't dream of telling you, says Q, that would be interfering in personal affairs...nope, I'll let you find out about HER all by yourself. And Quentin drinks.
10:30 - Kitty lies asleep, in the throes of a vivid dream. She twists and turns under the covers, moaning as if in distress. She hears Angelique's voice calling her "mademoiselle." Angelique, laughing, is dressed as a maid. To Josette/Kitty, she says, I told you that in our country, it's flirting with misfortune to ever let the bride see the bridegroom before the ceremony. "What did he say to that, Angelique" asks Kitty/Josette. "He assured me that he would never cause you misfortune, oh, no, not for the world, but he begged me to give you some tokens so you would not forget him." Angelique laughs. Kitty/Josette protests--I would never forget him!
I told him that, says Ang. Kitty/Josette asks to see the tokens. Ang holds up a bouquet--"Something for the nose and eyes." Then she gives her a book--"Something for the mind and heart." "Poems and Songs of Robert Burns," reads Kitty/Josette--"How did he know that was my favorite?" She opens the book and reads, "My love is like the red, red rose that's newly sprung in June, my love is like the melody that's sweetly played in tune. And I will come again, my love, (I couldn't hear the last line no matter how loud I made the TV). It's beautiful!" Yes, agrees Angelique--everything's always so beautiful for the little mademoiselle, but be careful--too much good fortune can make the gods jealous of you! Jealous of you! Jealous of you!" She repeats it over and over as Kitty awakens, a fly buzzing around her face. Who was I? she wonders--where was I?--what was happening to me?--why was Angelique my servant? I don't understand, but I don't really need to--Edward says it's all in my mind. Kitty is relieved--until she looks over and spots the red and white bouquet sitting on her dresser, the same as in her dream--and under it, the same Browning book! It's not in my mind, she tells herself, it's happening, something is really happening!
NOTES: So, who is Kitty's secret admirer? Not Quentin, clearly, he sees through her ploy very easily, probably because of all his varied experience with so many women. Clues, more clues...Angelique was a bitch in Kitty's nightmare and is being a bitch in real life. Quentin hates her, how can her pride allow her to marry him? (then again, it didn't stop her from wanting to remain married to Barnabas even after he discovered she was a witch.) Kitty is a laugh-riot with her fakery and false flirtation with Edward. Money, power and security are her main desires, but why pursue Edward--because she knows it's like shooting fish in a barrel? He's already so smitten. And what report did he get about Judith from the doctor? Loved Quentin and Edward's discussion about why they couldn't bring themselves to kill Barnabas. Guess they needed a non-family member to do that nasty deed, hmm?
853 - A morose Quentin drinks and listens to his music in the drawing room. Kitty, fully-dressed and highly agitated, enters in and interrogates him all about his fiancee--is she French? No, he says. (We accidentally see Lara Parker in the background.) She must be, frets Kitty, how long has she been here? Six months, and she came to see me, says Q. From where?--I'm sure I knew her in England, says Kitty, growing more and more upset--surely you can tell me that much. If he can't, interrupts Ang, I can--no, I've never been to England--does that satisfy you curiosity? Kitty apologizes for how absurd it must sound--but I am sure we have met before. Have we? asks Ang. Were you ever a servant or personal maid? queries Kitty. I'd have been a poor one, says Ang, since servitude requires a temperament I don't possess (she seems pretty insulted, too). Coldly, Angelique asks Quentin--assure Lady Hampshire you aren't marrying below your status (ooh, bad flashbacks to her marriage to Barnabas, and Joshua's disapproval). Kitty knows that, Quentin tells his fiancee. I didn't mean to be insulting, snaps Kitty, and stalks from the room. You could have been a little kinder, says Quentin. "She reminds me of someone I loathe," replies Ang nastily. Well, why didn't you tell her? he asks. "My charming Quentin--I wonder how much longer I'll put up with these moods of yours?" asks Angie. Stop anytime you like, invites Quentin. She caresses his shoulder. He moves away. I'll only wait so long for you to change, she warns. And if I don't, what are you going to do? asks Q Change you myself, she threatens--I'm going to the village. Where are you going? he asks. I'll let you wonder why, she says archly. He gazes hatefully after her.
Kitty, holding the red and white bouquet she found on her night table, tells Edward--it's almost as if a ghost left the flowers. "Kitty," he chastises gently. Don't look at me that way, I'm not mad, she says. I know it very well, he assures her. Then who came into he bedroom while I was asleep? she wonders. Jamison, suggests Edward. He's hardly paid any attention to me, she protests. That's how boys his age are, says--they develop the most astonishing crushes--I know if you had come into my life when I was Jamison's age, I would have thought the flower bouquet huge, and as for the book, it wouldn't have been Burns--Donne more likely--funny, I didn't know we had a copy of Burns in this house (he opens it to the first page)--no, the Old House, must have come from the library there. Who lives in the Old House? she asks. No one, he says icily. Since Barnabas Collins, she states. Jamison often plays there, says Edward--I'm sure that's the explanation--I'll talk to him, see he doesn't trouble you anymore, before I go to sleep--you'll be all right, he assures her. Kitty holds the book to her lips. "Barnabas," she murmurs. "Barnabas..."
Quentin paces the drawing room, probably pondering his miserable life. Amanda, where are you? he asks aloud. He is about to pour another drink when he spots Kitty, staring at the portrait of Barnabas, which is back on the wall. "His eyes want to see again," she murmurs. Edward enters, puzzled by what's happening. "He wants to come home," says Kitty. "The portrait," says Q. Where did she get it? demands Edward. Kitty, crazed, says, I won't let you harm him! Edward pulls her into his arms--you must come to her senses! He insists. Wildly, she struggles--don't touch me! "Let his eyes tell me what to do!" she begs. No, cries Edward. She calls him Joshua and runs out of the house, Edward in pursuit.
We see Jeremiah Collins' grave. Kitty is kneeling beside it, muttering, "My husband, I didn't want you to die, even though I love him, I didn't want you to die, Jeremiah. Angelique made us marry, she used her black arts." Kitty bursts into tears. Edward kneels behind her, hands on her shoulders. Don't hate me, Joshua, she begs, sobbing. I'm not Joshua, and I don't hate you, insists Edward. You can't take me from my husband's grave, wails Kitty. "Gerald isn't buried here!" blares Edward--"This is the grave of Jeremiah Collins! He died over a hundred years ago, you were not married to him, he was married to a woman named Josette." "Barnabas," says Kitty. Never say that name again, he demands.
Don't blame me, she cries--he is not to blame, don't blame him! "Kitty!" shouts Edward, shaking her. Don't call me that! she pleads. She rises and runs from him as he looks after her, perplexed.
Rectory - Angelique hands Julia a packet. Thank you very much, says Julia, tucking it into her doctor's bag. Is everything all right? queries Ang--and when will you need more? Tomorrow, says Julia, if you could possibly bring it earlier. All right, agrees Ang. "It's curious, meeting you," says Julia, smiling, "even liking you."
Ang grins--after all you've heard. "All of it true, I'm sure," says Julia, then quickly adds, "that wasn't very tactful, was it?" No, agrees Ang, but I'm sure everything Barnabas told you was the truth--but there was one truth he couldn't accept--that I sincerely, honestly loved him. As you love Quentin now? asks Julia (probably praying it's true, because she doesn't want Ang still loving Barnabas). As I will love Quentin when he lets me, corrects Ang. Be very careful, warns Julia, Petofi is planning something that involves Quentin--watch him and do everything you can to protect him. I'll try, promises Angelique--but that hand...it frightens even me--I've never admitted that before, even to myself, and will deny it again tomorrow, but it does, Julia, it does! Julia nods in agreement. I must return to Collinwood, says Angelique--it wouldn't do to arouse suspicion. Julia looks thoughtful.
Kitty, in the woods, calls to Barnabas. Hearing a sound, she asks, is that you, Barnabas? It's actually Quentin, who tries to subdue her as she insists, I must go to Barnabas, he's in danger. And she runs from him, Quentin chasing after her. (Lots of Collins men chasing Kitty, because the sounds she heard were undoubtedly from another Collins male.)
Angelique returns to Collinwood and runs right into Petofi, who calls her "the most charming woman at Collinwood." (Who else is left?) What do you want here? she asks. To see Quentin, he replies--I've already been told he isn't in, but I want to wait. What do you want him for? asks Ang. "You're incredibly direct," he says, "for a moment I thought I was talking to Julia Hoffman." Well you're not, she says--you're talking to the woman who is marrying Quentin. Are you asking me for my blessing? he asks. No, says Ang, no need for that--and there won't be--you have the hand, and I also have a gift of my own--I can summon up strange and horrifying spirits--how would you like to be walking through the woods one night and suddenly, in your path, there's a bolt of lightning--and there stands Johnny Romano, his sword held high? Petofi looks unhappy.
You wouldn't risk that meeting, would you? she asks, and walks past him, upstairs, as he looks after her, then, protectively, at his hand.
Kitty bursts into the rectory--Barnabas! she calls. Quentin is on her heels. "You are here, I feel it," says Kitty, "but where are you, my darling, where? Yes, my darling, I'm coming, I'm coming..." She drifts across the room, smiling radiantly. Quentin, brow furrowed, wonders what the hell is going on.
Josette's tune begins to play. "You are coming to me," says Kitty, walking toward a door and opening it. Julia is there. What are you doing here? demands the doctor. "What are you doing to Barnabas, why do you keep him locked up in there!" asks Kitty--"Let me see him!" She and Julia grapple as she tries to get past her. "Barnabas is dead!" says Julia. Quentin watches and listens closely. No, says Kitty, he isn't dead, you won't let me see him! Julia begs for Quentin's help. Coming out of her Josette trance now, Kitty says, "Quentin?" He comes over to her. Let me go, she says, heading for the door. Go after her! commands Julia, you must. No, says Q--"Julia, I know why you stayed in our time--I just found out--Barnabas isn't dead, is he?" You know he is, says Julia. No, I don't, says Q--I believed Kitty--I don't know why, but I did. Because you want to, that's why, says Julia, you saw Barnabas in his coffin, everyone told you they saw the stake in his heart--go to the cave and see for yourself. Edward had the cave re-sealed, he reminds her. And Barnabas' body is there, he's dead, she says--I don't believe it, either, but I must, and so must you.
In her room, Kitty tells Edward--whatever is happening to me must stop. It will, he promises, with rest, and love. Will love cure me? she asks. I'm sure it will, he says gently. I don't think I could live through this without you, she says, taking his head between her hands. She drops them and asks, did Jamison leave me the nosegay? Yes, he did, says Edward. No, he did not, she says, but thank you for the kind lie. We will find who left it, I know it, Edward assures her.
Collinwood drawing room - We see Petofi's hideous hand; he holds it up to his mouth as if to kiss it. When Quentin pours a drink, he asks him, are there no other forms of relaxation available? Not for me, says Quentin. I'll teach you some, offers Petofi. I'm too tired and confused, says Quentin--please leave me alone. Putting on a lamp, Petofi remarks, you're becoming as inhospitable as Charles Tate. Don't mention that name, says Quentin. Love has made you bitter, says Petofi. Leave me alone, repeats Quentin. I'll do better, says Petofi--I'll calm you. Don't count on it, says Quentin, settling in a chair. Years ago, I learned a fascinating trick, says Petofi, in the Middle East--takes away your cares completely. You can show me if you leave afterwards, says Q. Happily, says Petofi, showing him his amazing hand--what it can accomplish--you've seen my ring before? I never noticed it before, says Q. It comes from the Middle East, too, explains Petofi, and there's a legend attached--when you wear it, you make yourself available to begin a new life--such a charming fantasy. He rubs Quentin's temples--would you like a new life? Quentin? Yes, answers Q.
Who wouldn't? asks Petofi, rubbing, even I...even I--would you like to be as you are now in your new life? he asks. Never...never responds Quentin. Petofi continues to rub his temples, urging him, sleep...sleep. He releases Quentin's head. The big guy falls asleep. Petofi whispers something in his ear, then looks at him, smiling. Quentin awakens, saying, "a new life." You may awake anytime now, Quentin, says Petofi and, smiling, he leaves. Quentin opens his eyes. "Petofi?" he asks. He finds Petofi's ring on his right hand and stares at it, startled. When you wear it, you make yourself available to begin a new life. . .would you like a new life, Quentin? "Not with you," says Q, trying to take off the ring, but he can't--it's stuck fast to his finger. He struggles to remove it.
NOTES: That last scene was cool between Q and P. What did he do to him, and why did he leave him with his ring? We wonder. Lady Kitty is losing it, turning into Josette and back again. How can she romance Edward successfully with all this going on? Yet he seems utterly smitten by her helplessness and problems. Lovely scene between Angelique and Julia. They're helping each other, isn't it weird, and yet they have banded together against a common enemy--to help a man they both love. Who would have believed it would ever come to pass?
Has Kitty been dating Barnabas? Sounds like it, doesn't it? Sounds like she knows something a lot of other people don't yet suspect.
Love, Robin
