In some ways, this was more like a Friday episode than a Monday one! What a cliffhanger ending!
Holding a purple cravat, Quentin strides purposefully toward Maggie. You promised! Amy shrieks at Quentin. You lied to us! the children scream. Please don’t do it! We promise we’ll do whatever you want! Maggie manages to let out a shrill scream. Quentin turns to glare at the children, then turns back to Maggie. As the children huddle together in the corner and scream at him to stop, Quentin tries to strangle Maggie (from the front again--will he never learn?). Overcome with terror, she simply faints.
Mrs. J and then Elizabeth rush in. Elizabeth doesn't believe that Quentin exists--for now. Mrs. J. marches the kids upstairs. Elizabeth turns back to Maggie, trying to revive her, and and stares in astonishment at the cravat on the floor beside Maggie--the first proof that Mrs. Johnson’s story is true.
Great work by the kids when Elizabeth wants to go to the Old House to get Julia. David and Amy completely lose it, circling her in hysterics.
Elizabeth returns from the Old house and tells Maggie wearily that no one was at the Old House. (Perhaps Barnabas and Julia are dining out!) Go to the study and call Professor Stokes, she tells Maggie. If anyone can make sense of this, he can. I'll go upstairs while you make the call. Maggie goes off to the study, and Elizabeth walks slowly upstairs. [Just before Maggie enters the study to call Stokes, someone dashes across to the left.] Maggie dials the number and pleads with Professor Stokes to answer his phone. The storm has continued to rage the whole time, but suddenly everything falls silent. The silence is louder than the wind that was howling a moment before.
Upstairs, Elizabeth can hear the wind too, but it stops abruptly. Mrs. Johnson dashes out to the hall and tells her, Come in--quickly! David is lying on the bed; Amy is slumped over the desk. They were both screaming and yelling, Mrs. Johnson says, then suddenly, everything stopped, and they collapsed. It was so unnatural! One minute they were yelling how Maggie was to blame, then there was deathly quiet. What does it mean? I don't know, she answers herself. Outdoors, the thunder and lightning and rain just stopped! Elizabeth suggests, Perhaps it's over. Mrs. Johnson opens a window and says, It's still pouring, she observes. There are none of the usual house noises. It's quiet as a tomb. Don’t say that, Elizabeth chastises her. Mrs. Johnson declares, I’m certain something bad is going to happen. While Elizabeth, who has had enough, tells her to stop it, Quentin's music begins to play. Both women hear it. It's old music, Elizabeth comments, like an old record. Neither of them can tell where it's coming form. As the music gets louder, Amy revives and raises her head. David revives too, and sits up. In an evil voice he declares solemnly, It's too late--too late to be afraid. He starts to laugh uproariously. Quentin’s laughter blends with David’s and with the music. As the noise reverberates through the house, Elizabeth and Mrs. Johnson clasp hands, terrified....
