1066 -
David and Barnabas stare at each other. Barnabas asks the boy, don't you recognize us?--it's Barnabas and Dr. Hoffman--speak to us! he implores. He won't speak, says Julia. Suddenly, David turns away and fades into the wall. The ghost of David Collins, says Julia. Barnabas, amazed, steps forward. Yes, why has it come back to Collinwood now? wonders Barnabas. Perhaps he's been here ever since the catastrophe, suggests Julia. If only we'd been able to communicate with him, laments Barnabas. Did you see the expression on his face when he looked at us? asks Julia. Yes, says Barnabas, it was absolutely no recognition--I'm convinced this room holds the key to what we're looking for--I know this room didn't exist in 1970, and yet this room had something to do with what happened then. Even though it didn't exist? asks Julia. Strange as it sounds, yes, replies Barn, yes. How can we find out what happened, we've been trying to from the beginning? she queries. I think Quentin knows more than he's telling us, says Barn, I'm so anxious to know why he reacted to the ghost when he saw it like he did. Yes, says Julia, why did Quentin run off like that?--and more important, where did he run to? They agree they had better find him--he's in no condition to be running around by himself. They exit the playroom.
Quentin, clomping downstairs, tries to leave through the front doors, but finds them locked. A fierce wind blows through the house. Quentin, gazing around fearfully, goes to the windows in the drawing room and looks out. A light fixture falls only feet from him. No, leave me alone! he cries--no, leave me alone, I didn't want to come back here, they forced me to come back in the house--listen to me--can't you hear?--if you let me go, I promise I'll never come back here again! He huddles pitifully between two fallen beams, staring skyward. The sounds of sci fi music fill the room, hurting Quentin's ears. He covers them, then runs into the drawing room, demanding, "Will you stop torturing me?" The kitchen door sways in the wind. He tries again to exit the house, banging on the door, but fails. The sounds stop, leaving an eerie silence. Quentin walks back into the center of the foyer, gazing upward, then looks to the landing, where we see the silent man standing, staring back at him. Quentin clings to the clock. The man comes downstairs. Stay away from me! pleads Quentin, God, please stay away from me, please! He stumbles backward into the living room and falls to the floor. He curls into a fetal position, moaning, crying. We see what appears to be The Man enter the drawing room; he stands beside him, touching his shoulder. Quentin screams. The camera draws back and we see it isn't the man with the cruel face, but Barnabas who has touched him. Quentin, covered in debris from the floor, rises to his feet and clings to the crossed beams. What's wrong? Barnabas asks. There's no way out, babbles Quentin--he has us trapped in here. Who has? asks Julia. Tell us who you're talking about, says Barnabas. He's going to kill us! blares Quentin, hugging the beam--and there's nothing we can do to stop it--he's out there on the landing, I saw him. We just came across the landing and down the stairs, says Barn, and saw nothing. HE IS OUT THERE ON THE LANDING, I'M TELLING YOU, I SAW HIM! says Quentin. I'm going to prove to you there's no one there, insists Barnabas and walks out of the room. Where are you going? asks Quentin, following him. To the landing, says Barnabas. No, says Quentin, he'll kill you! Barnabas goes anyway. He looks upstairs, then walks up, as Julia and Quentin watch. Barnabas stands on the landing--Quentin, he says, no one is here, you have nothing to be afraid of. Oh, yes I do! Quentin insists--I'm telling you, we've all got something to be afraid of, he has us trapped in this house--he begins to laugh wildly--and the door's locked and there's no way out! Barnabas comes back downstairs and tries the front door. It opens easily. Quentin tries to bolt outside--we've got to get out of here! You should return to the Old House with us, says Barnabas--Julia will give you a sedative. No, argues Quentin, as Julia seems to be experiencing a chill--I don't want anything from either one of you, you should of never come back here--never! He runs off. Julia calls to Barnabas--I have the same feeling as I had the other night, she says--the presence of evil. He offers to take her back to the Old House. Someone is watching us, she says, clutching her jacket collar more tightly to her throat. Barnabas looks around--no one is here, he says. No one we can see, she says--but the feeling is overwhelming. Come along, he says, escorting her out and closing the door. From the landing, the evil man watches them go.
As they are leaving Collinwood, Barnabas and Julia spot what appears to be David and a blond girl in a pink dress standing in the gazebo.
They haven't seen us, says Barnabas. Let's make sure they don't, advises Julia; they hide in the bushes. The music begins to play again. Where's it coming from? asks Julia. I don't know, says Barnabas. David holds out his arm to the young blonde girl, leading her off the terrace to the grass. They bow to each other; he takes her hand. They begin to dance, in a very old-fashioned manner. They didn't dance that way in 1970, says Julia. Barnabas agrees. It's a minuet, realizes Julia, why are they doing that? They watch the children bow to each other again. Let's approach them, suggests Barnabas. No, says Julia, if we do that, they'll just go away--we should watch, wait and see if we can learn something. David and the young girl finish their dance. She kisses him on the cheek. He takes her hand and they walk off together.
They're leaving, says Barnabas. There's no way we can stop them, says Julia. David, wait, speak to us! calls Barnabas--that girl...who is she? David and the young woman walk toward the trees, fade, and disappear. I believe she's important to all this, says Barn--isn't it curious that David should be with someone we never saw at Collinwood? Maybe she came after we left, suggests Julia. How much time has actually passed since we left? asks Barn. I don't know, answers Julia--Quentin might know who she is. No doubt about that, says Barnabas, the question is, can we get him to admit it and tell us about her? We can try, encourages Julia, her hand on his arm--and off they go.
Old House - Quentin, still covered in house debris, looks up and asks no one, "Why won't you appear to me? Is it because of all the tragedy and death? Nothing can change all that--whatever's done cannot be undone." Barnabas and Julia enter the house, overhear Quentin talking to himself, and quietly listen. "Just like," continues Quentin, "nothing can be done about the burden of guilty that I've felt for all these years--the memory of you is all I have left--oh, please, Daphne, please let me see you again."
Barnabas and Julia stare at him, perplexed.
Barnabas approaches Quentin, who asks how long have you been standing there? We just came in a moment ago, says Barnabas, but we couldn't help overhearing--Quentin, who is Daphne? I'll tell you nothing, says Quentin. Is she the girl we saw talking with David a short time ago? Barnabas asks. David? repeats Quentin--David Collins?--David Collins is dead! We know that, says Barnabas, we all saw his ghost earlier in the playroom--you ran when you saw it. Quentin, voice trembling, asks Barnabas, why are you trying to confuse me? Julia steps forward---you must know who you saw, she says. I did not see David in the playroom--it was Tad that I saw! cries Quentin. Barnabas, she says, that was one of the two names on that birthday card. Barnabas goes to Quentin--the child we saw was David, he says, there's no doubt about that--why do you think this person is named Tad? I am not going to answer anymore of your questions! says Quentin defiantly. Quentin, who was Tad?--tell us, demands Barnabas. Quentin grabs Barnabas by his lapels and shouts, "Now you get out of my way before..." Before what, Quentin? asks Barnabas quietly. Quentin stares at him. Barnabas adds, "I suggest you try to get a hold of yourself." Quentin slowly releases Barnabas' collar and turns away. Go upstairs and get some rest, urges Julia. There can be no rest now, scoffs Quentin, and goes upstairs, his gait one of defeat and exhaustion. Barnabas, it's almost dawn, Julia reminds him. And another night's gone by, laments Barnabas, and each new clue that we find leads to so many more questions--three meaningless names. They're meaningless now, says Julia, but in time, they don't have to be--we'll learn who they are. Yes, in time, agrees Barnabas. He walks to the cellar and closes the door behind him. Julia is thinking hard.
Quentin comes back downstairs. He sees Julia napping in the chair and observes her. She awakens--you frightened me, she says. Why should I frighten you? he asks. I didn't expect to see you standing there when I got up, she says. You shouldn't be afraid of me, he says softly, I never mean to hurt people--intentionally. Are you feeling better today? She asks. I was upstairs in the attic room and found the door locked, he says--who locked it? Barnabas, says Julia. Why? he asks. To protect your painting, says Julia. Where is Barnabas now? asks Quentin. It's still daylight, she reminds him--you know he can't come out until dark. I don't know what you're talking about, he says--anyway, it's going to be dark soon. Julia licks her lips, not expecting this. Tell Barnabas I want to see him, says Quentin, and exits the room. Through the window, Julia sees the blonde girl who danced with David at the gazebo, beckoning her to come out. Julia leaves the house and follows the young girl, who leads her to Collinwood and opens the double doors. Julia follows her inside, spots the young girl on the landing, and follows her upstairs. With that same weird, slanty camerawork, the blond arrives at the playroom and enters, closing the door behind her. Julia comes in right after she does, looking around the room for the girl, but can't find her. The door closes, locking Julia in. She tries the knob.
Suddenly, the man with the cruel sneer appears across the room from her.
NOTES: This was a very short episode; usually I have nearly three pages from each episode. Ah, I see from the credits that the new blond character who did the minuet with David is named Carrie, played by Kathy Cody. However, it appears that the character wasn't David, but Tad? How are Tad and David related? Another mystery in the pot.
David Selby is excellent in this portion of the series. Insane, childlike, sometimes seemingly normal, he imbues Quentin with pathos, empathy and sometimes makes us furious with him. What could have happened to make him this way, and who the hell is Daphne? Last time we saw him, he was under a spell put in play by Angelique to love Maggie (which might explain the picnic photo of the two of them looking so chummy).
Now Julia finds herself face to face with Gerard, the mysterious ghost who somehow had a hand in destroying Collinwood--or so it would appear. What are his plans for her? Surely they can be nothing but evil, given the vibes he gives off now. And why did Carrie so willingly lure Julia to Collinwood to face Gerard?
Many questions, more every day, but where are the answers? How is it that Quentin seems to have forgotten that his cousin is a vampire? It's one fact that most folks would find hard to forget. Who--and why--was David doing such an old-fashioned dance with that girl--or was it David doing the dance at all?
It's getting very good indeed.
1067 - "A ghost whose mere presence corrupts the surrounding air," is how Thayer David describes the spirit Julia finds when she goes into the playroom and finds herself trapped with the snarly-lipped ghost himself. Nervously, she turns and sees him eying her from the opposite side of the room.
Fearfully, Julia asks, "What do you want? Please don't look at me like that, I can't bear it! Stay away from me...don't come any closer!" He ignores what she asks, moving relentlessly nearer, and she repeats, stop looking at me that way, please stop! He simply glares at her, not saying a word, and locks his eyes with Julia's.
Barnabas rises from his coffin down in the Old House basement. He closes the lid and goes upstairs. We see the head of a walking stick, which is held in the hand of Eliot Stokes, who waits in the dark. Barnabas comes out, calling to Julia, and is surprised to find this bulky person who isn't Julia sitting in his chair. What are you doing, Eliot, sitting there in the dark? It was still dusk when I came in; says Eliot, I must have dropped off in the chair while I waited for you. Barnabas asks for Julia. She isn't here, reports Stokes--I'm surprised you didn't hear me when I called you--where were you, in the basement? Yes, says Barn, at the far end of the house--there was a flaw in the foundations back in 1970, and I was checking for further deterioration. Barnabas tells the lie smoothly as he lights the candles. And was there? asks Stokes. Considerable, says Barnabas. I'm not surprised, says Stokes--everything here has deteriorated. Why did you want to see me? Barnabas asks. I tried to revive Carolyn's memory about the night of the disaster, says Stokes, with as little success as you and Julia had. I have other things to ask you about, says Barn--there are apparently two other ghosts beside the evil spirit you mentioned--do sit down. Stokes sits.
Julia, dazed, walks downstairs at Collinwood. She wanders into the foyer and gazes up at the landing, where the ghost stares malevolently back at her. As if in a dream, she leaves the house.
Why, wonders Barnabas, am I getting the impression that you aren't being completely honest with me? I am being honest, says Eliot--as I told you, I was in Europe when the disaster occurred, and know none of the details. Did anyone reported to you that two children were on the estate? Asks Barnabas. Eliot is puzzled--children? Yes, David Collins and a young girl, says Barnabas. You saw David? asks Stokes. His ghost, says Barnabas, and the ghost of a young girl--what do you know about them? Nothing, says Stokes. Do the names Tad and Carrie mean anything to you? questions Barnabas. Stokes thinks it over and says no, nothing. Barnabas explains about the birthday poem he and Julia found in a playroom at Collinwood, written by Carrie for Tad. Eliot rises from his chair and says, there have never been any children with those names at Collinwood. I'm aware of that, says Barn, but the birthday poem must have had some meaning. I haven't the slightest idea what it is, says Stokes. Quentin insisted that David was Tad, explains Barnabas, and he also mentioned the name of a woman--Daphne. You talked to Quentin? asks Stokes. He's answered from the steps, by Quentin himself--"Yes, he talked to Quentin and now Quentin's going to talk to Professor Stokes." His face is furious as he advances on Stokes, who asks, what are you doing here? I was drawn here by an insatiable desire to put my hands around your neck, says Q and... He begins strangling Stokes. Barnabas moves behind Quentin and pulls him away. I told you I'd kill you and I meant it! yells Quentin. Barnabas, holding him at bay, demands, why, Quentin? "Because he failed!" says Quentin--"He failed--look around, you can see for yourself!" Eliot, what does Quentin mean? asks Barn.
Scared, Eliot says Quentin will kill me--he's mad. Yes, agrees Quentin, mad, but why, Stokes--why--because of you and your phony exorcism--you said you'd rid Collinwood of the ghost in this house--and what happened?--you simply raised his wrath--if you had not angered him, none of this would have happened! Barnabas listens intently. Stokes walks gingerly around Quentin, begging Barnabas, keep Quentin at away from me--"He'll kill me!" Eliot hurriedly exits through the front door as Quentin shouts to Barnabas, let me get Stokes, I want to put my hands around his neck! Barnabas grips his arms, keeping him from going after Stokes, and says, "You're going to stay here with me." He pushes Quentin into a chair. He deserves to die, insists Quentin--you see what he's done. Perhaps, says Barnabas, he was only trying to do what he could! Julia enters, takes in the scene--I saw Stokes rushing through the woods--what happened? she asks. He's in the woods? asks Quentin, rising from the chair--good, I'll find him. Once again, Barnabas grabs his arm, holding him back--Julia, give him another sedative, says Barn. Quentin insists--the only sedative I need is to get my hands around Stokes' neck--I'll be calm for the rest of my life. What's going on, Quentin? she asks. Quentin believes Stokes' attempted exorcism caused this disaster, explains Barn--by bringing the wrath of the spirit down on everyone at Collinwood. He failed, accuses Quentin as Barnabas pushes him back in the chair, he failed. Of course he failed, agrees Julia, sounding far away--everyone will. She heads upstairs, looking really spooky, not saying another word.
Old House - Barnabas paces the drawing room. He looks upstairs as Julia comes down--how's Quentin? he asks. He's calmer, she says, I'm hoping he'll sleep. I can't forget what Quentin said about Stokes' attempt at exorcism, says Barn--Julia, I'm convinced more than ever that the evil spirit holds the key to everything that's happened here. He can't be reached, says Julia. What if I don't want to reach him--what if I just want to get rid of him? suggests Barnabas. How? she asks. Another exorcism, says Barnabas. You can't, she objects. I can try, he says, or get someone who knows how. She shakes her head. No, it's too dangerous, she says, believe me, I know what I'm talking about--when he wants to do something, nothing will stop him. His forehead creased with puzzlement, he asks, how do you know that? Because of the way he made me feel when I saw him first, she says, I tried to explain that to you. But if he were gone, perhaps Carolyn and Quentin would recover, suggests Barnabas. That's what Stokes thought, but it didn't work, says Julia. I can't give up, he insists. Barnabas, she says, looking deeply into his eyes, but she walks away and says, I have something important to tell you. Outside the window the ghost stands, looking in at her. Spotting him, she hastily says, it happened at dusk tonight--I was sitting in this room. And what? prompts Barnabas. Nothing, says Julia, it wasn't important, I felt a presence here, probably my imagination, I shouldn't have mentioned it. That's all? asks Barnabas. Yes, she answers. The ghost is gone when Barnabas stands close to Julia and warns, you must be careful--very careful--especially when I'm not with you during the day. I will be, don't worry, she assures him. Which reminds me, says Barnabas, at sundown, where were you?--where did you go? For a walk, she says, I felt the presence here and just wanted to get out for a while. She sits in one of the chairs. You didn't go to Collinwood, did you? he asks. Do you think I'd be that foolish? she asks. No, of course not, he says, smiling. They hear something upstairs. Probably Quentin, she says, why don't you go upstairs and see what you can do to help him? I'll do what I can, says Barnabas, hurrying upstairs. After making sure he's gone, she goes to the desk, takes paper and pen, and writes something down. She glances upstairs and very quietly leaves the house.
Barnabas and Quentin come downstairs. Come in and sit with me, invites Barnabas. Quentin is rubbing his temples as though in pain. I promise to say nothing to upset you, says Barn. Quentin complains, I feel like my head is going to explode into a thousand different pieces. Maybe Julia should give you more of a sedative, suggests Barnabas--where is Julia? He finds her note, which only says she's gone out. Maybe if I just sit down and don't move, don't blink--even my teeth hurt, says Quentin, still rubbing his temples. Barnabas wonders aloud, where could Julia have gone?
Collinwood - playroom - Julia enters and looks around. Someone's here--is it you? she asks--who is it? A woman dressed in red comes out and faces Julia. Who are you? Julia asks. From behind Julia, the sneering ghost enters. The music begins to play. Julia tells the male ghost, someone else is here, I saw her. The female ghost disappears. Someone was here, says Julia--I heard a sound, like the rustling of a woman's dress, and the scent of lilac--who is it?--tell me who it is. He sneers at her. Tell me why you sent for me, persists Julia--I know, you're afraid that I'll tell Barnabas that I've seen you, that we've met--I won't, I swear I won't--please don't look at me like that--I'll never tell! He continues to stare at her.
Stokes gazes nervously upstairs, asking Barnabas, are you sure Quentin won't come down again? Quite sure, he's sleeping, Barnabas assures him. He's dangerous, says Stokes, you should know that by now. I do, says Barnabas. He shouldn't be here, says Stokes, you ought to send him back to the institution. What if I told you I know of a way to cure him completely? asks Barnabas. I should be very skeptical, if you'll forgive me, replies Stokes. What's doing this to him? asks Barnabas. The devastation of Collinwood, says Stokes, and what happened to the people who lived there. That and the presence of the evil spirit? asks Barnabas. What are you suggesting? ask Stokes. Isn't it obvious? counters Barnabas. Not another exorcism, says the Professor. What else? asks Barn. (There is an abrupt cut to the next scene here, and one senses something was taken out.)
Back in the playroom, Julia asks Mr. Nasty-Face, why do you keep looking at me?--what do you want of me? He seems to tell her telepathically.
"Yes, I understand what you want...yes...yes..." she says, her face sad.
Standing inside at the Old House door, Stokes tells Barnabas, I wish I could persuade you to profit by my terrifying experience--please, don't do this. Of course I will speak to Julia before I do anything, Barnabas assures him. Stokes nods--as much as I'm against it, he says, let me know if I can be of any help if you do decide to proceed. Of course, promises Barnabas, and lets Stokes out. He goes back and re-reads Julia's note, perplexed.
Stokes walks through the woods and runs into Julia. The male ghost is with her, but disappears into the shadows before Stokes can see him. Are you all right, Julia? asks Eliot. I am, she says she is, you just startled me, that's all. Who was with you? he asks, I was sure I saw someone walking behind you. Must be the leaves and the shadows, says Julia with a tiny smile. Curious, says Stokes, I could have sworn... I'm afraid Collinwood works on all our imaginations, she says. He gives her an odd look and agrees--come, he says, I'll walk you back to the Old House. You don't have to, she says, I'm almost there, and walks away. There WAS someone with her, Stokes tells himself, I'm certain there was! He turns and hurries off. The ghost comes out of hiding, watching where Julia's gone.
Old House - I'm sorry, Barnabas, for just running out that way, says Julia, but I needed some air--how's Quentin? Still sleeping, says Barnabas. I'd better check, says Julia, heading upstairs. Quentin is suffering so much, as is Carolyn, says Barn--"You will help me, won't you?" (Does he already sense something different about her?)
She tilts her head, smiles--of course, she says, I'll do what I can. "I've not always been kind to my cousins," says Barnabas, "there are times when I was even cruel--to see what's happened at Collinwood, and what the Collins family has been brought to, at some moments it seems almost more than I can bear." You care about them very much, don't you? asks Julia. Yes, says Barnabas, they are people I love, people who have struggled and suffered--forgive me. He looks down as if ashamed. Julia comes back downstairs, stands beside him and says, we should try to get back to our own time--all we can do here is watch them suffer, and even worse things could happen. Leave here, doing nothing, knowing nothing? asks Barnabas. If we stay, she says, we don't know what could happen. Is anything the matter? Barnabas asks--did something happen to you out there just now? No, she says, what makes you ask? It just isn't like you to speak like this, he points out. Yes, I'm sorry I mentioned it, she says, of course we'll stay, and what will happen will happen. She goes upstairs, but first gives him a smile. Barnabas, smelling lilac, asks, who's here?--I sense your presence--appear to me. A woman materializes before him. Who are you? he asks--please, I beg you, speak to me! Thunder rolls; wind fills the room, blowing out the candles. She begins to fade.
Don't go! pleads Barnabas, come back, to me--come back! She is gone. Barnabas picks up a piece of paper on which he finds written three woods: "She will die!"
NOTES: Wow! It looks like this creepy ghost has put Julia under his power, and you somehow sense whatever his plans, they bode evil for both Barnabas and Julia. The ghostly woman appeared to warn Barnabas that "she" will die. It could mean Carolyn, one supposes, but most likely Julia, now that Gerard has his claws into her. This is exciting!
Barnabas' idea to do another seance is a bad one. What makes him think he'll succeed where Stokes failed? Why bother when everything is already so messed up? He should go back to 1970 and prevent this from happening at that end, not this one. Stokes is such a good man, wanting to stay and help even though Quentin apparently blames him for the tragedy that befell Collinwood.
Sad speech by Barnabas, admitting he's done terrible things to his cousins (including biting Carolyn's throat and running down Quentin), but he does love them now, and wants to prevent this tragedy from happening. Julia tried to get him to go back, to escape the ghost's ugly influence, one senses, but as usual, Barnabas talked her out of what would be the best course of action. Of course, he doesn't know what happened to Julia, but was astute enough to notice SOMETHING did. He's less clueless than usual here, but his choices are dangerous.
The scenes between Julia and Gerard are creepy. "Stop looking at me like that!" she repeatedly pleads, but one senses his eyes are the windows to one very evil mind. It makes one tremble to think of what he has in mind for our hard-working supernatural hunters.
Love, Robin
