Blue Whale - How long can we go on telling lies? Sam asks Roger--they are now standing by the window--how long can we continue building a wall with bricks that have no substance? Those bricks will be real as long as we say they are, says Roger. It won't work, insists Sam, What would you prefer? Asks Roger--telling the sheriff that Malloy called that meeting to clear Burke's name manslaughter conviction--that you had information that would prove me guilty of that crime? But to pile lie upon lie, says Sam, can't you see--it build up like an inverted pyramid that sooner of later must topple of its own weight! Not if we stand together, points out Roger as they both sit down at the table--I'd better point out something to you--if Malloy had shown up at that meeting and proved his accusation, you wouldn't be sitting here today--you'd be in prison, awaiting trial, as an accessory after the fact--you know that, don't you? Yes, says Sam, rubbing his beard.
At the Old House, Joshua impatiently checks his pocketwatch, then paces a few steps. He looks out the window. Natalie knocks at the door and he lets her in. He thanks her for meeting him. He sent her a note, which has made her curious. He gave great thought to where they could meet, which she calls flattering. This is difficult for him, he admits. She tells him she hoped never to enter the house again. Josette's portrait is gone, shocking her. He says Barnabas hung it in Josette's room. It was there the night he died, she reminds him, he must be mistaken. Joshua agrees, the portrait was there, and Barnabas DID move it. He tells her Barnabas isn't dead, which puzzles her. He doesn't understand himself, says Joshua.
In the mausoleum, Willie ponders Maggie sleeping on the cold floor, and wonders, how can he keep watching her all the time? How will he know if it's safe to let her go? Where will he get food? He can't go to the Old House. . .into town. He kneels and is about to touch Maggie, but stops. He opens the step the contains the hidden door release and leaves the secret room. Willie creeps to the wrought iron gate. Maggie stirs, sees the still-open door, and quietly slips out. Willie returns to the secret room and sees she is gone. "Maggie!" he cries, looking around. Maggie crouches behind Sarah's coffin, out of Willie's view. He returns to the secret room, calling her. She leaves her hiding place and rushes for the door. Willie spots her, grabs her, and they struggle. She begs him to let her go, and he tells her he's doing this for her own good. She tells him he's crazy, making up a story about Barnabas trying to hurt her. Willie protests he's more sane than he's ever been
they are interrupted by a knock at the door. I know who my visitors are, says Laura, I've been expecting them--they must be very anxious over the state of my health--sit down and be calm. She lets in Quentin and Barnabas, calling this "a pleasant surprise." Q humorously observes Dirk and asks if they've come at a bad time. Not at all, she assures him--Dirk was helping me rearrange some furniture, and I invited him for a drink. Rearranging furniture all evening? asks Q. Yup, says Laura--that seems to surprise you.
The Rumson mansion, Little Windward Island - Sky is on the phone, ordering a plane to be here at 7 sharp--and have a helicopter waiting to take us into the city--Mrs. Rumson isn't going with me to Washington, he says, unfortunately, so cancel all appointments next weekend, we're coming back here...no arguments!--do it! commands Sky. Julia is waiting until he finishes this phone call (luxurious living room!) I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, says Sky. It kind of you to let me intrude, she responds. I don't know how you found us, says Sky, few people do. There was a reason, she says. If it's business, says Sky, call my office in the city, any weekday--if you're soliciting for a charity, get in touch with my executive secretary. He jabs a cigar in his mouth. It's about a Tate painting you own, explains Julia. A View From South Wales? he asks. Yes, says Julia, is it here, can I see it? You're something new for me, says Sky--driving 50 miles, hiring a launch just to see a painting. It's most important, she assures him. You must be a true art lover, comments Sky, who leads her to a wall and turns on a light over the painting. She examines it, thinking to herself, it's the right size--but how can I tell if there's anything beneath it?--I must get it to Prof. Osmond.
Roger wends his way through old furniture and cobwebs in the east wing. He opens the doors and sees Bruno lighting a cigarette. Roger, unable to enter the room, is stunned to see a man he saw die a short time ago. Bruno! he calls. Bruno speaks to Angelique's portrait--you're still as beautiful as ever, he says--I remember the day you sat for this portrait, listening to the music I composed for you, the music that will keep your memory alive forever. Liz enters and icily asks Bruno, "What are you doing here?" Roger, watching, is absolutely amazed. You always did have a knack for showing up unexpectedly, says Bruno. Why have you come back? Liz asks angrily. I belong here, he claims. You're the only one who thinks so, he retorts. Wrong--she thought so, says Bruno, gesturing to Angelique's portrait. Quentin is returning soon and will never let you stay here, says Liz. I understand he's married, says Bruno. Yes, says Liz. Won't he be in for a surprise, predicts Bruno--do you think that she will let another woman come into this house?--she won't, you know that as well as I do. Why does everyone keep talking about her as if she were alive? asks Liz--it's frightening. Nothing was ever frightening about her, says Bruno--you were all envious of her because she was the most beautiful creature that had ever graced this earth. I think you'd better leave now, advises Liz. Fortunately for you, says Bruno, I have no desire to argue with you, so I'll see you around, my DEAR Elizabeth. She gazes hatefully after him, then stares at the portrait. Barnabas wasn't imagining things, says Roger, people like ourselves are living a completely different existence, here in this room--I must tell him.Roger turns to go, then hears his own voice, inquiring, was that the temperamental boy wonder I saw leave the room just now? Roger turns back, fascinated. Yes, Liz tells PT Roger--he's come back. Back to compose more of his morbid music and bore us with his tiresome memories of her? wonders Roger--it will be worth it to see the look on Quentin's face when he finds out. Roger stares at his counterpart, flabbergasted, as PT Roger laughs.
Dave examines Willie, who is doing better every moment. He tells Julia the transfusions worked, and she responds, "That's wonderful, Dave," very unenthusiastically.
She lights up a cigarette (really freaky to see this in a hospital room!) as Dave explains he doubts Willie was the kidnapper.
It's difficult to believe that anyone with second sight, a talent like that, could get it that quickly, remarks Barnabas. Perhaps I've always had it, she says, and simply didn't realize it. Could you demonstrate this talent for us, asks Barn, or do you p[refer to keep it a secret? It's no secret, she says. Prove it, he challenges. I don't have to! she insists--I can see the past, it's as real to me as this day here. You've always been willing to help us, he says, are you now?--I must know why you want that song--can you see into the past?--if you can, you can help us--where did you learn that song?--in some other time--some other life? I think so, replies Carolyn, smiling, yes. Where? asks Barnabas, think!--in this room, Carolyn? She sees a vision of the turning carousel. "There's a carousel, turning," she describes--"toys, so many toys..." She stops.Go on, says Barnabas--you were in the playroom Julia and I saw in 1998 (?) the playroom that doesn't exist in this house now. Then how could I have been there? she asks. Because you found it, says Julia, you must take us there. You're mad! she accuses, I simply described the room! But a room with a toy carousel, points out Barnabas--you must have seen it. In my mind I saw it, she says. Is that all? he asks--you must be honest. I AM being honest, says Carolyn, near tears, why do you keep after me, I've helped you all I can, why do you keep bothering me like this?--leave me alone! She sits in a chair and cries.
Flora herself, book in hand, red shawl on her arms, enters Collinwood with a cheery, "Hello?!" She runs into the drawing room, smiling, and finds Gabriel, who wishes her good morning. She's startled to see him and gasps, then says she doesn't know what to you--she supposes it's the excitement--a migraine, isn't it typical. He nods. And my horoscope promised me a triumphant day, she complains, sounding rather like a disappointed little girl--and then a migraine, just as I was stepping into my carriage--is he here? she asks, smiling girlishly. Is who here? asks Gabriel sourly. The healer, she says. You give the most improbably names to the most improbable people, says Gabriel, what is that? My new novel, she says, presenting it to him--isn't it GLORIOUS? I don't know, I haven't read it yet, he says, examining it--did you bring it for me? No, not exactly, she says hesitantly, but you must read it, though--it's by far my best work--I do hope the critics notice. A SUMMER'S DEATH, he reads. In three parts, adds Flora, the book, not the death--it's an ironic title--it's a story about love, a love that endures until the lovers die.
I never dreamed anything like this would happen--we meant no harm. Who are you talking about? asks Morgan. Your mother and I, explains Julia--Stella did not leave Collinwood--your father tried to...he wasn't himself--that monstrous room! Julia please tell me! he insists. Flora and I discovered Justin threatening Stella--if we hadn't gone in there that very minute, he would have killed her--WE saved her!--but we couldn't allow her to stay in this house, not knowing what she knew about your father, and heaven knows what else--so we locked her in the tower. You WHAT? cries Morgan. We didn't mean her harm! exclaims Julia. You must let her out! says Morgan. We can't, says Julia. This is outrageous, he says--have you lost your mind, too?
Then he didn't admit to tampering with the brakes on his father's car, says Carolyn. I told you, says Liz, he wouldn't speak--a nine year old boy lying on his bed, terrified. But you know now that he was responsible, says Carolyn. Yes I know, admits Liz, sighing. It's all over then, isn't it? asks Carolyn. I don't think so, her mother says, it will go on and on--Carolyn, when you were in town, did you tell anybody why David ran away. No, says Carolyn. No one must know it, no one, cautions Liz. But how do you explain what happened to the car? asks Carolyn. I've already taken care of that, says Liz, I said the brakes failed--it was an accident.
Barnabas tells Sam and George that he feels responsible for Willie's reprehensible actions and tells Sam to let him know if he or Maggie ever need anything. A deputy knocks at the door--Willie's coming out of the coma!Sheriff Patterson vows to get the truth out of him.