413 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces. The terror that has plagued the Collins family now has spread to the village of Collinsport itself. Held captive on a charge of witchcraft, Victoria Winters is the one person who knows that this is the beginning of a 200-year-old nightmare.
Collinsport Gaol - Peter tells Vicki he wants to tell Trask the truth--that he released her to go to Collinwood. Otherwise, Vicki will be convicted, the way things stand now. Vicki fears this will land Peter in more trouble than she's in, and the unselfishness they're displaying makes it obvious these two young people are starting to care about each other.
You're very special, she says, doing what you think is right, no matter what others think. We're two worlds apart, says Vicki. Peter says he's glad she's in his, and seems sorry to hear her say she badly wants to return to her own world. He asks if there's someone special in her life in the future, but she prefers not to discuss it. She has no idea how she was transported 200 years in the future, but she's very grateful to him, and kisses his cheek to show it. Wow, you must be from the future, marvels Peter, because women in his time wouldn't do THAT! He assures her he liked it. (Hey, they had prostitutes who I'm sure would do much more!)
Peter tells Vicki he's been reading the Collins family history book, and she suddenly remembers that Sarah's 11th birthday is two days off, and that, according to the book, she dies of exposure on her 11th birthday! (I thought it was 10th, but why quibble?) Sarah must be kept inside until after her birthday, says Vicki, or she'll die. She asks Peter to bring Naomi to see her so she can warn her--and tell her it's a matter of life and death if necessary!
Collinwood foyer - Sarah comes downstairs and asks her mother where Josette is. She went into town, says Naomi. I made her a candle to cheer her up, says the little girl-Josette can light it and bring Barnabas, who the child is sure she still loves, home. Sadly, Sarah tells her mother SHE misses Barnabas, too, and wants to see him. Naomi, a catch in her voice, tells her daughter that Sarah won't see Barnabas for a long time, perhaps not until she's grown (perhaps, Naomi was implying, when Sarah has a child who might resemble her brother?) Sarah says she'll light the candle in Josette's window and bring her brother back-soon. Naomi, wishing it could happen as much as her daughter does, looks miserably after Sarah, who runs defiantly.
Ben enters the tomb as Barnabas is rising, and comes into the secret room. He advises Barnabas against going to the village again; there's a lot of ruckus as a result of his attacks on the women--he's taking chances and might get caught. Barnabas reminds Ben that this isn't his choice; it's necessary for his survival! Barnabas tells Ben he's going to keep his promise to Josette and return to her. Ben cautions him against doing this; it might shock her too much to actually see him return from the dead. Barnabas feels she'll be expecting him, but agrees that perhaps a more gradual preparation would be a better idea--he'll leave her something that will let her know his return is imminent.
Naomi goes to see Vicki at the gaol. She's unhappy to hear that Josette told her about Barnabas' death, and explains about Joshua's insistence that the story about their son going to England be the accepted story. Poor Naomi is stunned to hear about this mysterious Collins history, and seems on the verge of believing Vicki is a witch when she starts warning her about keeping Sarah inside the house until after her 11th birthday, but Vicki points out that whether she's a witch or not, or whether the book is true or not, it won't do any harm to keep Sarah inside for a couple of days. Naomi sees the love Vicki has for her daughter and decides to trust her and do as Vicki suggests--to the latter's great relief. Naomi also asks if the book predicted Barnabas' death. No, says Vicki, and explains the history said he went to England.
Sarah is about to light the candle in Josette's window when she peers outside and sees Barnabas looking up at her! Sarah calls to him, but he quickly recedes into the shadows, not wanting her to see him. Sarah races downstairs, intent on finding him, and Barnabas hurries away-she mustn't see him! Sarah asks why he's running away and begs him to come back.
Naomi, leaving the gaol, asks Peter about the book. It exists, he says, he's seen it. Naomi, unaware that it is already too late, is anxious to get back to Sarah, and he escorts her back to Collinwood.
Sarah walks through the cemetery, searching for her brother. She approaches the mausoleum and calls to him through the gate. I'm cold and scared, pleads Sarah, and when she gets no answer, says, "I'm coming in to find you!" Sarah enters the mausoleum and looks around.
NOTES: Not as much high drama and excitement as the last few days' episodes, but we do need a breather, don't we? This is going to be sad, folks. Prepare yourselves with tissues again. Would it have saved Sarah if they'd told her he was dead, or would she have refused to believe it and chased after what appeared to be her brother, anyway?
414 - (Joan Bennett) - A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood, a seance which has suspended time and space and sent one girl on an uncertain and frightening journey into the past, back to the year 1795. There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles a present-day member of the Collins family, but the names and relationships have changed, and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger in a sea of familiar faces. On this dark, mysterious night, a child has run from the house following her missing brother-he must escape her, lest she find out his terrible secret.
At the mausoleum, Sarah petulantly accuses Barnabas of hiding from her. The gate closes, locking the child in.
At Collinwood, Millicent gushes to Nathan how much she appreciates his showing her the eclipse, even if it WAS really late. They discuss Barnabas' odd, hasty departure for England, and he takes her in his arms. She blathers on about a sense of humor being a character defect, according to her lawyer, banker and broker, and he insists they're just in love with her themselves. She says he makes her feel scared (probably all that passion). He stuns her (and himself) by asking her to marry him, confessing his honorable intentions surprised him as much as her. She says she shouldn't accept as quickly as she does, and says yes, then squawks when he tries to kiss her. They must be even more proprietary now that they're engaged, insists the daffy heiress. He will probably leave the Navy so they can be together always, and so she doesn't have to follow him to ports where she might contract God know what illnesses, but he will find suitable employment, even if it does take time. (Translation: we'll live on your money, which I will squander. I will gamble, booze it up and cheat on you as often as possible. When did Nathan become such a bad, if cute, guy?) He promises her a wonderful life and gives her a big smooch, but they dart apart upon hearing Naomi calling for Sarah.
Sarah rattles the gate. "Let me out!" she cries.
Nathan offers to get Riggs and Ben and search for Sarah. Millicent remarks on how masterful Nathan is, and Naomi fears Joshua's wrath when he returns from Portsmouth and finds out their daughter is missing. She's sorry she ever left to go to town, and tells Millicent about what Miss Winters told her about Sarah dying on her birthday.
Millicent thinks the witch is cruel for saying such a thing, but Naomi insists Vicki isn't a witch, that she told her in order to save Sarah. Millicent suggests Miss Winters cast a spell on Sarah so she would already be gone by the time Naomi returned, a statement which shocks Naomi. "I think more than people give me credit for," Millicent pouts. (LOL!) Unable to bear just waiting around any longer, Naomi joins the search.
Sarah sits against the mausoleum wall, weakly begging Barnabas to find her.
Barnabas goes to the docks, where he meets the flirtatious, heavily make-up Ruby Tate. She recognizes him, and they flirt. Since the married man she was expecting to meet didn't show up, Barnabas is certainly an excellent substitute, purrs Ruby, although I do wonder why you're staring at me like that. (hungry!)
She clasps his arm and says she can't wait for her friends at the Eagle to see her with Barnabas Collins! No one must know they met, he says, still gazing raptly at her. He makes a half-hearted attempt to leave without harming her, but she insists that he stay, and melts against his chest. This gives him a good opportunity to munch on her throat, and he attempts to fang her, but she realizes something isn't right, and backs away. "You're the one!" she cries. She backs away from him, then topples into the water. "RUBY!" screams Barnabas, but she's gone, presumably drowned.
Millicent and Nathan meet in the foggy woods. She tells him Naomi is out searching, too. Collinwood and all its inhabitants are cursed, laments Millicent, and I'm frightened. Everyone who tried to love and be loved--Angelique, Josette, the whole lot of them--ended up miserable. She doesn't want them to have a similar fate! It's thundering.
Millicent asks Nathan if he searched the graveyard, but he is sure Sarah would be too scared to go there (shows how much he knows about kids).
Barnabas kneels before Jeremiah's tombstone and tells him how ironic it is--they used to laugh at others' follies, but they were both the true fools, both killed by Angelique. Jeremiah was more fortunate--at least he is a ghost who will eventually find rest. Not so Barnabas, mouth stained with blood, doomed to roam eternity as this creature he's become. He groans aloud in despair; Millicent hears the pitiful sound and asks Nathan what it was. A dog, he says. Barnabas enters the mausoleum and is startled when Sarah pops up and joyfully calls him. He tries to keep his back to her as she begs her big brother to take her home; she's so tired! He tries to tell her he can't, and she can't tell anyone she saw him, but when he turns and she sees his bloody mouth, she cries, "You aren't Barnabas!" and runs from him. "Oh no," moans Barnabas, realizing dawn is upon him.
NOTES: Barnabas can't follow his little sister himself--who is going to save her? Or is she doomed to die, just as Vicki told Naomi, and nothing can be changed from what originally happened?
Barnabas is one miserable vampire, and Nathan is chomping at the bit to get his hands on Millicent's money. Vicki is in serious trouble and Sarah appears doomed. How will this sad story resolve itself? Can history be changed?
Love, Robin
