Joey, your spoiler is probably correct.
Yeah, MT. Why do they play Quentin's Theme when he's out in the foyer, intercepting Beth as she returns from seeing his children? He's certainly not at his best. Once more she has to lie to protect him, improsiving a story about Alice Austin, her cat, and the cat's biting Beth (to explain Barnabas's marks).
Barn loyally tells Judith that he doesn't know what's going on with Quentin.
Mad Dirk is a lot of fun--I think maybe RD was enjoying himself. Fortunately for Barnabas, Judith receives only a blank sheet of paper from the late, unlamented Laura--unlamented, that is, by everyone but Dirk. Barnabas destroyed the original letter when he first bit Dirk.
In his deep and resonant vampire’s voice of command, Barnabas tells Beth, I will need you later, in about an hour, at the Old House (for a late-night snack?). After he leaves and she is released from his spell, Beth realizes that she can’t be in two places at once.
We get another magnificent scene between Crawford and Selby, fraught with anger (his), passion (theirs) and sorrow (hers). He very cruelly slaps the one woman who is faithful to him, whatever happens.
At the Old House, Beth tells Barnabas, Quentin insisted I meet him at the cottage. He accused me of wanting to kill him. He took me by surprise. I know he’s frightened. He kept asking questions about why I went into town, and I got so confused, I almost told him about the children. That would be a mistake, Barnabas reminds her. Beth also tells Barnabas that Quentin saw the bite marks and how she lied about Alice Austen’s mother, her cat, and how it bit her. He saw the marks, Barnabas realizes with alarm. Everything that could go wrong went wrong! she sobs. Calm down, Barnabas tells her. I can’t! she sobs hysterically. I’ve been telling one lie on top of another, and soon they’ll all come crashing down on me! I don’t know how much more I can take, and there’s no one in the world I can turn to. Except me, the vampire reminds her in his most seductive voice as he gazes into her eyes--except me. Under his command, Beth calms down. Unable to turn away, she answers, And you have me, to do whatever needs to be done. And now I'll tell you what has to be done, he says. With Magda and Sandor in Boston, you must guard me. I will, Beth vows. It will be difficult, but you must do it, he says as he hands her Magda’s gun. There are winds blowing in all directions, he warns. You must be watchful. I will be, she promises. He goes downstairs to his daily rest. Beth sits upright in a chair, gun in hand.
At 5:20 a.m., Beth drifts off to sleep, but wakes with a start when Dirk sneaks in. What are you doing here? she asks. I'm here to visit Barnabas, he says. He's away, she says. Oh, yeah? he retorts. What are you doing here, then? I came to get something for Miss Judith, Beth improvises. No, Dirk replies, you're here like a watchdog. He even howls as he points to the cellar door. He's right there in that cellar, where he is every other day [what he says!]. Don’t go down there! Beth warns as she aims the gun at him. I'll kill you if you make one more move toward that door! He gazes at the gun and asks laughingly, Are you serious? Yes, I am, she retorts. Dirk easily gets the gun away from her and points it at her. Didn't your mother tell you that you should only play with dolls? he asks mockingly. (RD certainly seems to be having fun!) You're the one who'll be hurt if you go down there! Beth warns. He'll kill you if he isn't-- Isn't what? Dirk asks. Please don’t go down there! Beth begs him. And what if he's not what? Dirk repeats. I've been down there. I just don't remember now. I think I should go down there and find out! He opens the door and heads downstairs. Beth watches him, then walks to the window and looks out anxiously--just in time to hear a rooster greet the morning.
Dirk comes downstairs and thinks to himself, I’ve been here before. But the coffin was empty last time I was here--but not this time! Laura told me, of course! he realizes as his memory returns. Oh, Barnabas, you're just in the wrong place at the wrong time! And I'm gonna kill you! Because you-- Laura, I'm going to kill him because I love you. I love you. He opens the coffin.
Barnabas is just nodding off and sits up in surprise as Dirk takes aim. Realizing the danger he’s in, he tries to get the gun, but the approaching day robs him of his unhuman strength. Dirk empties the gun into him even after he collapses back into the coffin....
