Dawson suggests to Valerie, Gerard must have made quite an impression on you the first time you met him before tonight. I'm sorry, she giggles, I have been going on about him, haven't I?--shall we talk about you now? I would much prefer to talk about you, says Dawson. Barnabas rushes in--Valerie, he says, I must speak with you immediately. She introduces Barn to Mr. Dawson and tells the latter, my husband does seem to be concerned about something--will you excuse us?
Morgan informs the startled Flora and Julia of Bramwell and Daphne's wedding. He's annoyed when the ladies discuss sending a wedding present to the newlyweds. This family is not obligated to Bramwell, says Morgan. Bramwell is a Collins, Julia reminds him, and when a Collins marries, it's customary to send a gift. We have more important worries than wedding gifts, he says. Morgan, it's simply a gesture, we are not going to dwell on it, we're just going to do it, says Flora.
Vicki has gotten Sam on the phone, and asks if he remembers the portrait of the girl who looks so much like her--would you happen to know her name--uh huh--would you happen to know if that's a nickname or a...good...no, that's all I wanted to know--thank you very much--goodbye. She hangs up and excitedly tells Carolyn, I was right--her name is Betty Hanscomb. And you think that's the same name that's on the ledger sheet? Asks Carolyn. It has to be, says Vicki--how many B. Hanscomb's can there be in Collinsport? What does that prove? Asks Carolyn. Don't you see? asks Vicki, sitting beside her on the sofa--she and I look so much alike, there must be some connection. You mean you think she might be your mother?--is that what you're trying to tell me? asks Carolyn. I don't know, admits Vicki, all I do know is there is a possibility that I have or did have some family here in Collinsport. Wouldn't that be wonderful? asks Carolyn. Yes, it would, says Vicki.
You must not fail me, says Barn--I must find another coffin to rest in. I understand, she assures him--what do you need? I need a small amount of earth from the grave in the basement of the Old House, he says--it's too dangerous for me to go there, so you must go for me. She's set to leave immediately, but he warns her, Edward is guarding the house, and if he sees your there, you won't be able to explain yourself. How can I do it, then? she asks. I'm going to tell you another way to get into the Old House, promises Barnabas, and Edward will never know you've been there.
Josette calls the Collins history a book of sorcery--Barnabas said he knew the identity of the witch, but didn't say who. Vicki denies being a witch, but Josette says the book has convinced her, and she wants to use it as evidence against her in when her trial begins. Vicki desperately points out that Barnabas was going to help her, so why would she do such a thing, but Josette doesn't listen--she's going to testify against her and make sure she's punished for taking away the one person she most cared about. And if the book is right, and she is going to die by her own hand, she'll make sure Miss Winters hangs first!Josette leaves
She asks if he's all right. He tells her he had the dream, but nothing happened. Both are puzzled. Wonderingly, he says it happened just as Vicki described it--I came through the door and into the room, and was waiting for the end to come-and it never did!-did you jar me awake? No, I just watched you sleep, she replies. He is jubilant, but Julia wonders why this dream is different from the others. Exultant, he says I've won-I wasn't meant to survive the dream, but I did, and now I'm free of Angelique! Julia is wary--how can you be so sure? Something went wrong with the dream curse, guesses Barnabas. Julia protests this seems too easy. Barnabas is sure it's all over now, and orders Julia to go get Willie from the basement. Julia wants them to go down there together, she doesn't want him alone, but Barnabas says nonsense--go get him. (oh, we just KNOW this is bad!)
Edward says the coffin hasn't been touched. Then we know Barnabas didn't spend the day there, says Trask. Yes, says Edward, and that's all we know--I have a feeling he's outsmarted us, I don't know how, but it's obvious his powers are more formidable than we thought.Trask assures him Barnabas' days are numbered. What concerns me most right now is the possibility that someone else might learn this dreadful secret, says Edward, ruining my family's reputation. Trask agrees the Collins name must be protected. Edward remarks, it will be dark in another hour--another opportunity to get him
Julia rocks back and forth as Willie brings her the stake and hammer. She asks for them, not really wanting the instruments of her loved one's destruction. She sets the stake against Barnabas' heart, but can't go through with hitting it with the hammer. She gazes at them, drops them, steps away from Barnabas, shaking her head. "I cannot do it," she cries, and Willie grabs her shoulders with joy, pressing his head against her shoulder. They both know. . .she thanks him. She can't do it! He'll turn into a vampire, Willie reminds her--should they get his coffin set up in the basement or secret room? Willie reminisces about discovering Barnabas in the tomb-he never should have taken him out of there, he knows it now. (an understatement!) They can't put him back there; too many know about that place, says Julia, including Angelique. Julia tells Willie she promised Barnabas he'd never live as a vampire, and she'll keep that promise-they'll bury him in the woods. He's dead, they must face it. She orders him to dig the grave. They can't do it alone, protests Willie, but Julia says they can because they must.
Go to the window and remove the cross, and then I will appear to you, he promises. Looking very pleased at this prospect, she takes down the cross and puts it away in her dresser drawer. Barnabas appears. She's very relieved--I thought about you all day, she says--there was so little time before the dawn, I was afraid...I didn't know if you have found safety or perished. "I am safe now," he says smiling, "thanks to you." "I have pleased you?" she asks. "Very much," he responds. It's too dangerous for you to come back here, says Charity. Your father believed it would be impossible for me to come back here, says Barnabas, but he's underestimated my powers. Charity looks puzzled--you must not stay long, she warns Barnabas--you must make other plans, find a permanent hiding place, and then take me there with you--I want to be with you, she says, "Oh, Barnabas, that is what I want."
Samantha answers a knock at the door. It's Trask, apologizing for coming so late, but I've come on a matter of the utmost importance. What is it? Samantha asks. I've come to warn you, he says--you must leave Collinwood tonight!
The cock crows. You're quite right, Evan tells Barnabas, you have very little time and there is much I want to know--should I lower the cross, so we can look at each other? Evan does so. Barnabas turns and says, I don't trust you. Evan agrees--I'm not to be trusted--but I'm not going to kill you now. Later, says Barnabas, of course. Depends, says Evan. I don't want to be at your mercy, says Barnabas. Evan grins, big, enjoying himself--you have no choice, he tells the vampire, You're at my mercy as long as I wish it to be so--I find you fascinating to have under my control, and feel you knows much I would wish to know. "So I am to be impaled by a pin and put under a microscope," says Barnabas. "No, Mr. Hanley." You'll enjoy it eventually, maintains Evan--you've forgotten the pleasures of confession. I never knew them, insists Barn, and don't plan to start now. The question is academic, says Evan.
These recurring nightmares David is having are starting to worry me, Liz tells Vicki down in the drawing room. Liz sits at the desk. I can't imagine what causes them, says Liz. I can't, either, agrees Vicki. Having that frightening picture in his room doesn't help--why did you give it to him, you must have known it would upset him, says Liz. I'm not sure why I gave it to him, says Vicki, some kind of an impulse--he was so insistent about having it--he seemed to want it so much. Has Mrs. Collins seen it? asks Liz. Yes, says Vicki. What did she say? asks Liz. She was mystified by it, says Vicki, when I showed it to her, she seemed very frightened--she was very insistent that it shouldn't hang in David's room. I must say I agree with her, says Liz.
Maggie, in the hospital now, sleeps, an IV in her arm. Dr. Woodard says her heartbeat is stronger, her color better. An anxious Joe shows up. Maggie awakens, and they explain to her that she's in the hospital. Maggie is glad Joe and Sam are both with her, but when she starts describing what happened, she grows agitated and says she doesn't want to remember her terrible nightmare.