558 - August 14, 1968

[bunniefuu]

♪ [eerie orchestral music]

- The fate of Victoria Winters rests with a strange man named

Adam who now holds her hostage.

In the Old House in the Collins estate,

Barnabas Collins knows what has happened to Vicky

and who is responsible,

but he is powerless to do anything about it.

And so he must wait anxiously as another man makes

a final effort to reason with Adam in the hope

that he will spare Vicky's life.

- Adam, I sympathize with your feelings.

Perhaps, what you want from Barnabas is right.

What is wrong is using an innocent person to get it.

Victoria Winters has nothing to do with all this.

She is not to blame for that desperation and loneliness

you feel.

- Listen, you say it is wrong to hurt someone who is innocent.

Well, Barnabas hurt me.

He's responsible for what I am.

And he didn't even care enough to make me in a way

that I could be loved.

He will care.

He loves Vicky, and he knows if he

doesn't give me what he want, he will never see her alive again.

♪ [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

♪ [eerie theme music]

- Why are you waiting, Professor?

Why don't you go tell Barnabas what I have said.

- I'm trying to understand this incredible change in you.

I don't believe it happened because I told you

about your origin.

- You have nothing more to say, Professor.

- You've been listening to someone else, haven't you?

- No.

- Someone who's been teaching you all the wrong things.

You tell me who it is.

Is it Nicholas Blair?

- I have listened to no one.

I know what I want, and I know how to get it.

- You're going about it in the wrong way.

- Do you think Barnabas will give me what

I want if I don't keep Vicky?

- I don't know.

- Well, I do. He will not.

He hates me.

- Adam, no matter how just your cause may be,

you cannot achieve it by committing an injustice.

Don't you understand?

- Injustice.

- This is a question which should be settled

between you and Barnabas.

It may be true that Barnabas loves Victoria Winters,

but she loves someone else, a young man named Jeff Clark.

How do you think he feels now?

- I don't even know him.

- How do you think you would feel if someone took Carolyn

away from you?

- Carolyn.

- Yes, took her away and threatened to k*ll her

unless you met certain demands.

- No, they cannot do that.

- Why not?

If what you are doing is fair, then that would be fair, too.

- No, Carolyn is good.

- So is Victoria Winters.

They're both good people.

Think about the possibility of never seeing Carolyn again,

then you will know how everyone who loves Victoria Winters

feels now.

♪ [eerie orchestral music]

[clanking]

- You've been gone a long time.

- I'm sorry I got here as quickly as I could.

- You were at the hospital all this time?

- Yes. - Well?

- Well, I tried to see Tom Jennings,

but they treated me just as any other visitor.

- You mean they wouldn't let you in?

- The only person that can see him is his attending physician.

- So you found out nothing?

- Well, I did see a few doctors that I know and spoke to them.

One of them had seen the wound, and he described it

as a bite inflicted by an animal with fangs.

♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]

- Then we were right.

- I'm beginning to think so, yes.

- Is Jennings giving any chance to live?

- He has a slight chance.

- But if he dies from that wound,

he will become a vampire.

We must find a way of getting to him

and find out who attacked him.

- How long have you been back at the house?

- Oh, about two hours.

- What happened with Stokes?

- I'm still waiting to find out.

- What do you mean?

- Well, I went to his house, and I

think that he was genuinely, well, surprised when

I told him what Adam had done.

- Perhaps he was pretending.

- No, no, I can't believe that Stokes is that way.

He maybe eccentric or mysterious at times,

but I don't think he's evil.

- Then we're right back where we started.

- Not quite.

He said he would try and help us.

- How?

- He went to where Adam was hiding.

He said he would try to persuade him to release Vicky.

- You let him go alone?

- Well, I wanted to go with him, but he wouldn't hear of it.

- Well, why didn't you follow him and find out

where Adam is hiding?

- I thought of that, but he warned me

that if I did follow him, it might put

Vicky's life in greater danger.

- What do we do now?

- We'll simply wait, Julia, and trust

and hope that he will succeed.

He may be the only hope we have.

♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ [eerie orchestral music]

[knocking]

Come in, Professor, come in.

- Thank you.

Good afternoon, Julia.

- How are you, Professor?

- I have had days that were infinitely more enjoyable.

- Did you talk to Adam?

- For more than an hour.

- Well, tell us what is happening.

- I'm afraid I don't know.

- You don't know?

What did the two talk-- what did you both talk about?

- Mostly about Victoria Winters.

- And he refuses to release her?

- I didn't say that.

- Well, you haven't said much of anything so far.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Collins.

If I seem reticent, it is because I--

don't want to give you hope when there may be none.

- Did you discuss that thing or didn't you?

- Of course, I did.

- Well, he must have said either yes or no.

- Until the very moment before I left, he kept refusing.

But there is a chance, perhaps, a very slight chance

that my last appeal may have reached him.

I told him to think it over and then make his decision.

I expect he'll reach you by nightfall.

- Why do we have to wait so long?

- Because after that, he will risk coming out in the open

during the day.

- Professor, tell me about Vicky.

Is she all right?

- I assume she is.

- You assume?

Well, didn't you see her?

- She wasn't with Adam.

He'd hidden her somewhere else.

- Well, do you suppose he might already have k*lled her?

- I doubt that very much.

- Why?

- Adam may lack a certain maturity,

but he's a very intelligent creature.

He knows that if he were to harm Ms. Winters,

it would destroy his chances of getting what he wants from you.

- Are you aware of what it is he wants?

- Yes.

Mr. Collins told me about it this afternoon.

- Do you think we should give in to his demand?

- My dear Julia, I think we should solve this problem one

step at a time.

Hopefully, my appeal to Adam's conscience

may convince him to let Ms. Winters go.

If it doesn't, the crucial question is what do we do then?

- I don't know.

- What do you think we should do?

- If my appeal fails, I'm convinced

that nothing else will help.

I believe he'll go through with his plan to k*ll Ms. Winters.

And there's only one way for us to prevent him from doing it.

- To give him the mate he wants.

- Yes.

- Unfortunately, that decision does not rest with me.

It's entirely up to Dr. Hoffman.

- Am I to conclude from that Julia

that Ms. Winters is somewhat less dear to you

than she is to Mr. Collins?

- No, you're not.

- And yet you are not anxious or not willing to perform

this experiment.

Why?

- I'm not sure I'm capable of doing it

all from the beginning.

Do you realize how difficult it is?

- Yes, I can imagine the difficulties involved.

I don't envy you the decision you may have to make.

- Professor Stokes, did you gather

from your conversation with Adam that somebody else

may have been involved?

- I don't think there's any question about it.

Adam has come very far in a remarkably short time,

but not far enough to have conceived

such a plot by himself.

- Well, who do you think may have helped him?

- I told him I thought it Nicholas Blair.

- Yes.

- But he denied it.

- Yes, we've suspected Nicholas Blair, too.

- But if it is Nicholas, what could he

expect to gain from all of this?

- I haven't the slightest idea.

Evil man that he is, you can be sure it's something designed

to further his own ends.

Pity is that Adam is being used, and he doesn't know it.

I don't think you'll have to wait long.

It will be dark in about an hour.

I'll be at home all evening.

I'd appreciate it if you'd call me

the moment you know what Adam has decided.

♪ [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

- If someone took Carolyn and k*lled her,

I would never see her again.

It is wrong.

I can not do it.

♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[wind howling]

[clock ringing]

♪ [eerie orchestral music]

- A lovely, clear night, a good night

for making wise decisions.

Barnabas will agree to another experiment.

The key will go free.

Adam will be happy.

And I am the one who will gain the most.

♪ [SINISTER MUSIC]

[knocking]

- Adam, what are you doing here?

- I couldn't stay at Collinwood.

I kept thinking of Vicky.

- You don't have to worry about her.

She's perfectly safe.

I told you I would come to see you at Collinwood.

- Yes, I know.

- You shouldn't have taken the risk of coming here.

Someone might have seen you. - I came through the woods.

No one saw me. - Are you sure?

- Yes, where is Vicky?

- I told you.

She is quite safe.

- I must see her. - Why?

- I'll take her with me.

- Take her?

Where?

- To Collinwood.

- And Barnabas has agreed to what you want?

- No.

- Well then, we can't let her go now.

Come in, Adam.

No, Adam, that would be a big mistake.

- What I did is wrong.

- Wrong?

- Yes.

Vicky is innocent.

She's never tried to hurt me.

It's wrong for me to hurt her. - I see.

Well, it seems that someone has been giving

you the do unto others message.

- Do unto others?

- I find it hard to imagine Barnabas coming

to you with a morality lecture.

- I don't understand what you're saying.

- Who told you it was wrong to hold Vicky hostage?

Come now, Adam, sit down.

Now you trust me, don't you, Adam?

- Yes.

- Now, tell me, who was it?

- Professor Stokes.

- And you believe he was telling you the truth?

- He has never lied to me.

- Adam, all people are capable of lying to you

if it is to their advantage.

- Well, what he told me made me feel bad.

- Do you know why?

- Yes, because he is right.

It is between Barnabas and me, not Vicky.

She doesn't hate me.

She never did anything bad to me.

- Well, of course she didn't.

But tell me now, if you set Vicky

free, how will you get Barnabas to do what you want him to do?

- I will have to find another way.

- Adam, there is no other way.

Barnabas Collins hates you.

He will not do anything for you unless you

apply enough pressure. - But Vicky is--

- You know why you felt bad after Stokes talked to you?

You felt bad, because he wanted you to feel bad.

Because he wanted you to have a guilty conscience.

- Nicholas, this is very confusing.

Professor Stokes tells me something is wrong.

You tell me something is right, I--

- The question is why did Stokes come

to see you in the first place?

- What do you mean?

- How did he know you were holding Vicky c*ptive?

- He found out from Barnabas.

- Exactly.

So who do you think he's helping, you or Barnabas?

- He has always been my friend.

- He's been Barnabas' friend a lot longer.

- Nicholas, do you think that he is trying to trick me?

- You are beginning to use your head, Adam.

- I find that very hard to believe.

- All right, think about it a little more.

As long as you hold Vicky, Barnabas

knows he must go through with another experiment.

Isn't that right?

- Yes.

- Now, if you let Vicky go, Barnabas

will never do what you want.

You will never get the mate you deserve,

and you will live all through the rest

of your life in loneliness.

Now you don't want that, do you?

- No.

- Now, Professor Stokes tried to tell you

that it was wrong for you to hurt Vicky.

But the fact is you haven't hurt her, have you.

- No, but--

- And you have no intention of hurting her as long

as Barnabas Collins does what you want.

Now shall I tell you what that means, Adam?

- Yes.

- It means that Barnabas will give in to you.

He will have no other alternative.

He would rather make a mate for you then see Vicky die.

- But what if he will not do it?

- I tell you he will.

You see, Adam, what this amounts to is a kind of a test.

Barnabas Collins is matching his willpower against yours.

Now if you give in first, he wins.

If he gives in first, you win.

So the question is who has the strongest willpower, you

or Barnabas?

- Me!

- Good.

Now, I will take you upstairs and show you

that Vicky is perfectly safe.

And then you will go to Barnabas with your answer.

♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

- It's almost :.

Where is he?

- It doesn't do any good wondering where he is.

- I should have followed my first instinct that day

in the laboratory.

- Yes, I should have let you k*ll him then.

[knocking]

♪ [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

- Adam.

- You've come to tell us of your decision.

Well, what is it?

- It is not my decision to make, Barnabas.

It is yours, and I expect your answer now.

- Then you refuse to release Vicky?

- We will talk of Vicky after you

have created a woman for me.

- Didn't anything that Stokes said

to you make you realize that

- Professor Stokes tried to trick me.

- That isn't true.

- Yes, it is.

He is your friend, not mine.

You sent him to me.

- Adam, don't you realize that this is wrong?

- I am tired of talking of right and wrong.

Though I have seen Vicky.

She is safe.

But after tonight I don't know what will happen.

- I guess we know.

Julia,

- I can't possibly make a decision now.

I need time.

- No, I will not give you more time.

- Why?

- Because I want my answer now.

- Julia, we have no choice.

He means what he says.

- I can't let Vicky die.

- Then you will give me what I want.

- I will try, but that's all I can do.

I can't guarantee that I will be successful, but I will try.

- Then you will begin another experiment?

- Yes.

- On one condition, Adam.

- What condition?

- We will begin the experiment when you release Vicky.

- No.

You will see Vicky when you are finished.

- But we need time.

You can't hold her until we finish.

- I told you I will not hurt her.

- It is not a question of hurting her.

She deserves to be freed.

She's done nothing to do--

she's had nothing to do with any of this.

- No, Barnabas, I will hold Vicky.

- Then we will not do what you want.

- Are you willing to let her die?

- I've told you.

We will begin the experiment when you have released Vicky.

You have my word for that.

- I don't trust you, Barnabas.

- It is not a question of whether you trust me or not.

If you do not release her, we will not go through

with the experiments.

- Are you testing me?

- I am not testing you.

I mean everything I say.

You will get your mate, only if we get Vicky first.

- All right, Barnabas.

I will let Vicky go free, and you will give me what I want.

But I will warn you now if you don't keep your word,

or you try to trick me, I will get Vicky again,

and I will k*ll her.

And I will not stop with Vicky.

- What do you mean?

- I will turn on every one of your family,

on every one who bears your name, and I will k*ll them,

one by one.

♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ [theme music]