381 - December 11, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[Angelique narrating] - A séance was held in the great house of Collinwood,

a séance, which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain

and frightening journey to the past,

back to the Collins family, who lived in the year .

On this night, those within the Collins mansion

will suffer the shock of discovering

that deceit and betrayal of guests in the house

- You were helping her dress for the ceremony.

Now, did she say anything to you?

- Nothing, monsieur.

Well, I thought she would be here.

[door opening]

- The Reverend Brooks is very upset.

I didn't know what to tell him.

- Well, what could we say, that the bride disappeared?

- Well, I did say we would notify him

as soon as we learn what had happened.

- Good.

The less he knows, the better.

- What do you mean?

- Mr. duPrés?

- Yes. What is it?

- Mr. duPrés, I - I just looked in the stable. - Mm-hmm.

- Ms. Josette's horse is missing.

- Missing?

- Mr. Jeremiah's horse is gone, too.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

- I don't understand any of this.

Was Josette afraid to go through with the ceremony?

- Yeah, I wish I could give you an answer,

but I cannot.

- And what is this about Jeremiah's horse missing?

- Well, I asked Ben to go out to the stable

and find out if any of the horses were missing.

- Surely you don't believe that Jeremiah

had anything to do with Josette's disappearance.

- I - I do not know,

but perhaps someone else had taken his horse.

We'll find out in a moment.

- Where are you going?

I'm going up to Jeremiah's room

to see if he's still here in the house.

- Mr. Barnabas,

I'm sorry about what happened.

- I don't know what happened, Ben.

Where is the countess?

- I took her upstairs, to her room.

She said she wasn't feeling well.

- I see.

- Would you like something to drink, Mr. Barnabas?

- Oh, no, thank you, Ben.

Now, listen to me, the both of you,

you are to say nothing about what you've seen and heard

this evening, is that understood?

- Of course, Mr. Barnabas.

- We will speak to no one.

- I feel it would be pointless to upset a great many people

when there is probably a very simple explanation

of everything that happened.

- We understand.

- You may go to your rooms now,

but don't retire for the night. I may need you.

- Yes, sir.

♪♪

Well?

- Jeremiah is not in his room and --

- And what?

- His luggage is gone.

And Josette's.

- Mr. duPrés, you seem determined to believe

that Josette's disappearance in some way is connected

with Jeremiah's not being here.

I find that's an astonishing and rather shocking assumption.

- I am not passing judgment on my daughter

or your uncle,

but I do find it a very disturbing coincidence.

- And I assure you that's exactly what it is,

a coincidence.

Jeremiah and I are almost like brothers.

It's unthinkable that he would ever do anything deceitful.

- Very well.

I would still like to know why he's not here.

Where is he?

Why is his horse gone from the stable?

- Mr. duPrés, why are we concerning ourselves

with Jeremiah?

He very often goes into Collinsport in the evening.

He could be at the shipyards.

He could be anywhere. But where is Josette?

That's what concerns us most.

- You think I'm not concerned about my own daughter?

- I'm certain that your concern is as great as mine,

but we shall be doing no good by staying here

and worrying about it.

We must go out and try to find her.

- Where do you propose that we look?

- Well, we could start by looking through the woods

between here and Collinsport.

- Barnabas, your servant has told you that her horse

was gone from the stable.

Now, she's riding a horse,

she's not going to be wandering off through the woods.

- Ben did not say that Josette had taken it.

- Then who did?

And what do you mean?

- The horse could have been stolen by someone.

It's not the first time that's happened.

- Oh, no, I find it inconceivable that -

that she'd be wandering off in the woods all by herself,

alone at night.

Well, it makes no sense.

- Well, her sudden disappearance before the wedding ceremony

doesn't make any sense either.

It could well be that she's in some kind of danger.

- Where are you going?

- To my room, for my pistols

and then, go out and search for her.

♪♪

♪♪

- You were supposed to knock before you come into a room.

Have you no manners, Ben?

- None, my lady.

- I am not your lady.

What are you doing here?

You were told to return to your own room.

- You're forgetting.

I take orders from you.

- Well, I have no need of you right now.

- I thought I ought to come to see you to congratulate you

for doing your work so well.

- Are you impressed, Ben?

- Aye.

You got them all dancing like puppets on strings,

haven't you?

- I told you.

I always get what I want.

- I used to think the master of this house

was the meanest person I ever met,

but I was wrong.

Next to you, Mr. Joshua Collins is a saint.

- I do not appreciate lectures, Ben,

least of all, from a convict.

- What are you getting so angry for?

You got what you wanted, didn't you?

You should be real pleased with yourself.

- Oh, why are you always so stupid?

- I told you to stop calling me that!

- What are you going to do to stop me?

- I'm sorry to come here now.

- Oh, you should be.

And now that you are here,

perhaps you would like to stay

and see what further surprises Barnabas has in store for him.

- What do you mean?

- Did you really think my work was finished, Ben?

- Haven't you done enough to this family?

- No, not quite enough.

- Ms. Josette is gone,

she's run off with Mr. Jeremiah.

Mr. Barnabas will know about it in a few days.

What more do you want?

- I want him to know about it now, tonight!

- Why?

- Because there is much to be done after he finds out.

He'll feel humiliated and rejected

and I want to make certain that I am the one he turns to.

- It should be easy.

All you have to do is use one of them evil spells of yours.

- On Barnabas?

- You used them on others. Why not on him?

It would make it real simple for you.

- That's exactly the reason why I would never

put Barnabas under any spell to gain his love.

Oh, I could have him that way, yes,

but he would not be truly mine.

No.

No, he must turn to me of his own free will.

- And if he doesn't turn to you?

- He will.

- You're pretty sure of yourself, ain't you?

- It's the only way to be, Ben.

And now, it's time to stop talking about it

because there's much work to be done.

- Work?

What kind of work?

- I told you,

I want Barnabas to know before this night is over,

that his dear uncle and Josette

have fallen in love and run away together.

- He'll have to see them together

before he'll believe that.

- No, no, he won't.

- Well, how are you going to convince him?

- Do you know where Barnabas is right now, Ben?

- Aye. He's downstairs in the drawing room

with Mr. duPrés.

- Wrong.

He's gone into the woods to search for Josette.

- Alone?

- Yes.

- I shouldn't be here.

I should be with him. - Wait!

Oh, there's nothing you can do.

- He's probably looking for me to ask me to help him.

- He didn't find you and so, he left without you.

- But he shouldn't be alone out there.

- Oh, Ben.

Do you think I would let my dear Barnabas

go walking through the woods alone?

I wouldn't think of it.

No.

He'll have company in the woods,

all the company he needs.

♪♪

♪♪

- Josette!

Can you hear me, Josette?

It's Barnabas!

[rustling in woods]

Josette, is that you?

Who is it?

Who is out here?

Speak up whoever you are!

Come out in the open where I can see you!

[sinister laughing]

Who are you?!

What are you doing out here?!

- Poor Barnabas.

- Come out where I can see you!

- Over here, Barnabas.

- Where?

I asked you where!

- Directly behind you!

- Who are you?

- Don't you recognize me?

- I cannot see you.

- I'm your uncle, Jeremiah.

- No.

You are not Jeremiah.

Your voice is different.

- Your Josette is gone, Barnabas.

She has left you because she does not love you.

- You're lying.

- Oh, no.

It is true.

She's in love with me.

- Stop it!

She has left you to marry me, Jeremiah.

- That's not true!

You're not Jeremiah.

Who are you?! - She's made a fool of you.

She's deceived you!

She has been unfaithful to you!

- Stop it! Stop it!

- Barnabas the fool!

[g*n shot] Barnabas the fool!

[sinister laughing]

[André] - Barnabas!

Barnabas, do not sh**t!

- Oh, Mr. duPrés, where did you come from?

- I decided you shouldn't be out here alone.

Why did you fire your p*stol just a moment ago?

- I wasn't alone.

- Who was here?

- I don't know who it was,

but there was someone over there, a man,

it was too dark, I couldn't recognize him.

- And you shot at him? - Yes.

- Why?

- He tried to tell me he was Jeremiah

and that Josette had followed him.

- Well, perhaps,

you were imagining that you saw someone.

- No. There was a figure over there,

but I know it was not Jeremiah.

- But I - I - I think we ought to go back to the house.

You can't see anything out here.

It's much too dark.

- Maybe you're right.

[Angelique] - Barnabas.

- Wait.

[Angelique] - Barnabas.

- What is it?

- I hear a voice.

Is it you, Josette?

[Angelique] - The road, Barnabas, go to the road.

- What road?

- Who on earth are you talking to?

- Can't you hear it?

It's a voice.

- I hear nothing.

- What road?!

[Angelique] - The road to Collinsport.

You will find it there.

- Find what?

[Angelique] - You will see.

- Barnabas. - [Angelique] You will see.

- Barnabas, are you sure you're feeling quite all right?

- I feel fine.

Come, we're going to the road to Collinsport.

- Why?

- Well, because the voice told us

that there will be something there.

♪♪

The road is just up ahead.

- And what is it you think we'll find there?

- I don't know.

Well, here's the road, but I don't see anything.

- Just as I expected.

Should we go back to the house now?

- Yes, there's nothing here.

- What is it?

- Josette's wedding veil.

- He has found it.

- Found what?

- Josette's wedding veil,

torn and splattered with mud

on the road to Collinsport.

- How did it get there?

- How do you think?

- And now what?

- And now --

and now, we wait a few moments

until Barnabas and Monsieur duPrés return

and then, we go downstairs

and then, you will see how much he has changed.

- I don't want to see it.

- But you must, Ben!

You doubted my word yesterday

and again, this evening.

I want you to see how wrong you are.

I told you the course of true love can be altered,

but you won't believe it unless you see it with your own eyes.

- I don't have to see it now.

I believe you can do anything.

And the meaner it is, the better you can do it.

- You must go downstairs first.

We wouldn't want them to think

that we've been up here together, won't we?

- Are you afraid Mr. Barnabas might think

there's something between us?

- You be careful, Ben.

Do not make me too angry.

What happened to Mr. Joshua could very easily happen to you.

Only I don't think being a cat

would be suitable for you, Ben.

How would you like to be a --

a moth, Ben,

a moth.

- You're a mean, unmerciful woman.

- I can be when I'm not treated with the proper respect.

Remember that.

- I still don't understand how it got out on the road.

- Nor can I.

Do you suppose Josette could have been abducted?

- I - I do not know what to think anymore.

- Mr. Barnabas, is everything all right,

Mr. Barnabas?

- No, Ben, everything isn't all right.

Where were you a while ago? I was looking for you?

I wanted you to help me search the woods.

- I'm sorry, sir, I was doing a chore,

I forgot to bring in the firewood.

You found nothing in the woods, sir?

- Nothing of any importance.

Good night, Ben.

- Monsieur Barnabas,

is there any news of my lady?

- No, none at all.

- Barnabas, may I suggest that

you go to bed and try to get some rest?

I'll go and speak to the others.

We can resume the search in the morning.

- I'd prefer to stay here and wait for her.

- Oh. Very well, if you like.

Good night.

- Barnabas?

You really should try and get some rest,

after what you've been through tonight.

- In spite of what I have been through, I still love her.

No matter what has happened

or what will happen,

I will always love her.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪