As always, MT, your observations and insights are absolutely on target--especially about the problems with time travel and changing story lines. Thanks!
Poor Barnabas. Imagine what it would be like to know that everyone you care for will be destroyed, and the more you try to protect them, the worse it gets. No TV show, book, movie, etc. has ever achieved the standard set by DS. I do still like Barnabas but the writers are making it very hard with this story line.
If Tim didn't know about the vampire before Pansity blurts out what she's done for her Carl, he certainly does now. He quickly appoints himself her handler and tells her that Edward will be very grateful--and no doubt Tim expects to get a cut of Edward's gratitude.
KLS (STILL billed as Kathryn LEE Scott) looks absolutely gorgeous as the pearl-bedecked Kitty, even prettier than when she was Josette, because now we can see the scheming intelligence behind those big brown eyes. (Sorry, but Josette really was a bit dim.) So why does Edward invite Kitty to live at Collinwood, despite the various supernatural dangers? My guesses: (1) He probably thinks she is now an extremely wealthy widow; and (2) he probably thinks he will get extra manliness points with her for protecting her from said supernatural dangers.
Pansity is quite properly affronted--as who would not be?--when Edward doesn't believe that she staked the vampire. Go see for yourself, she dares him. Edward wants to go alone, but Tim invites himself along.
Although Kitty treats Pansity with haughty condescension, Pansity does her mentalist act. Lo and behold, no sooner does her second sight kick in than she hears--surprise!--the music box theme (and so do we)! Pansity warns the irritated Kitty that the music box will cause her death.
Meanwhile, Edward and Tim are in the cave with Barnabas’s coffin. To think that his life would end here, in a dismal cave, Edward murmurs. Although he regarded Barnabas as a monster, to Edward he was a Collins nonetheless. Edward opens the coffin, grimaces at what he sees (which remains hidden from us), and closes the lid. Barnabas Collins is dead, he says. May he rest in peace. The coffin must be chained. The cave must be sealed. He must remain here forever. And with this, he and Tim depart.
Edward returns, relieved that Barnabas has been disposed of. In fact, he's so relieved that he invites Kitty to a special dinner, just for the two of them. Kitty smiles to herself at how well her plans are going.
Pansity gloats to Edward that he won't be calling her a liar anytime soon. Edward assumes she wants a reward. Sure, she does, Tim interjects, but Pansity tells him to keep out of it. I’d like you to answer one or two questions that might seem strange, Edward says. About Quentin--you followed him to the cave? He knew where the vampire was, C/P replies to Edward’s astonishment. I got that feeling, talking to him--that’s why I followed him. Edward wonders, If he knew, why didn’t he come to me instead of telling you just enough to make you follow him? He could have kept it in the family. in the family, Edward says--his real point. You can count on _us_ to keep it very quiet, Tim promises. Can I indeed? Edward asks. She’ll keep it quiet, Tim says as if C/P is his property or his underling. I’ll see to that. Edward asks, You will, will you? I’m sure of it, he adds resignedly, and no doubt at a price. What _is_ your price? Tim says, Someday, I might want a little favor. I’m prepared to do you a favor right now, Edward replies, by taking Miss Trask off your hands. You may deny being Charity Trask, he tells C/P, but I remember the day you came to Collinwood with your father. Perhaps it is fortunate that he is visiting Judith, because he might not like my suggestion. Stay here with us, he tells C/P--we can get proper treatment for you. Proper treatment? repeats C/P, insulted. Who’ll get proper treatment in this house? There are doctors, Edward replies. I ain’t sick, guv, C/P insists. Do you remember the girl you were when you first came here? Edward asks. I remember coming here with my Carl, she replies. This house holds no happiness in it, for no one! We will change all that, Edward promises. It will never happen, she insists. I love my life, singing at the Blue Whale. I ain’t about to start sitting around at my age! If my Carl was still alive, she adds sadly, it might be different. Edward starts, Miss Trask-- She explodes with fury: You are _not_ to call me by that name! You should call a lady what _she_ chooses, and I choose to be called Pansy Faye! You got that? Take me back where we belong, she tells Tim. She will be all right, Tim assures Edward. Why don’t you come to see us at the Blue Whale sometime. I doubt if I will find the time, Edward replies stiffly, then adds sourly, But I am quite sure that you will find an opportunity to _drop in_ and see me--when you want something. Tim smiles faintly and leaves with C/P.
Who knew Kitty has a mother. Evidently she does. Kitty is up in her room, smiling as she writes a letter, which she helpfully reads aloud for us: Mama, Edward has been exactly as I expected: hospitable, understanding, and very dear. The house is nearly as grand as Hampshire House. He has invited me to stay as long as I wish. Thank goodness, because I would barely have the money to come to you in Pennsylvania. But things are looking up now! She folds the letter and puts it in an envelope, then gets up to get a stamp for it. When she turns back, she is shocked to see a music box--we know it’s Josette’s--atop a couple of books on the table. She recalls C/P’s words: It's a music box. An old, old music box. You must destroy it. It will cause your death. Kitty opens the music box, and Josette’s theme starts up. She recognizes it as the song C/P sang for her....
