617 - November 4, 1968

[bunniefuu]

[suspenseful music]

An autumn dusk has settled over Collinwood,

bringing with it not the fear of night

but a renewed hope of happiness for a young woman

long-acquainted with the terrors that

have plagued these premises.

But as the deepening dark surrenders to the night,

a new threat, evil in its creation

and awesome in its consequence, will

reveal its final purpose: the destruction

of Victoria Winters.

- I don't understand you, Jeff.

Really, I don't.

- I don't know what could be plainer.

I think we should get married next month at the latest.

- You know what I mean.

For a very long time, I've hardly seen you at all.

- I told you I couldn't.

- Well, it just doesn't make any sense.

- Well, does it make sense that--

that I love you and I missed you and I thought about you all

the time?

- No, it doesn't, because if you felt that way

you would have come to see me.

- Look, I couldn't, and don't ask me to explain why.

I will.

But you trust me?

You do trust me, don't you?

- Well, I guess if I don't trust you

then there's nobody I can trust.

- Oh, Vicky.

We love each other and we belong together.

- Sometimes I get so many doubts and I'm so worried.

Then when you hold me, I feel safe again,

and I know that no one will ever hurt me.

[tense music]

[theme music playing]

- Will I see you tomorrow?

- I would like to see anybody try and stop me.

Jeff?

- Yes?

- I'm very happy.

- Oh, and I'm going to see that you stay that way.

I'm going to make it my personal responsibility.

- Jeff, how have you been?

- Well, I guess I've been a little busy.

- I know.

You've made yourself a complete stranger.

- Well, all that's going to change now.

- Yes.

I have to go, Mrs. Stoddard, but Vicky

has something to tell you.

- Well, I hope it's what I think it is.

- Good night, Vicky.

- Good night.

- Will we see you soon?

- Yes.

Wouldn't be surprised if you saw me soon and frequently.

Good night.

- You've set your wedding date.

That's it, isn't it?

- Well, it's not the exact date but we've

decided that it won't be any later than next month.

- Next month?

- You don't have any objections, do you?

- Vicky, how could I object to your happiness?

- Then what is it?

- Need I tell you?

Next month seems so near, yet so far.

So far, in fact, that I'm afraid that I--

- You'll be here.

- Will I?

- Of course.

Who else would be my matron of honor?

- Vicky, it's my greatest hope.

I want to be here then.

I want to be so much.

- Peter.

Peter Bradford.

- Who is it?

Who's out there?

- You don't remember me?

- What are you doing here?

- Looking for you, Peter.

- How many times do I have to tell you

that my name is Jeff Clark?

- No, your name is Peter.

Peter Bradford.

You-- you act as though you almost remember.

- How can I remember something that never happened?

- But you do recognize me.

- Yes, of course.

You came to my house the other night, right?

And I'm going to tell you now what I told you then.

Stay out of my life, OK?

- You don't remember me before that?

- Look, we've been all through this and the answer is no.

- I may not look the same but we've met before, Peter.

A long, long time ago.

- Stop calling me "Peter."

That's not my name.

And it never was.

- Never?

Far, far in the past?

- No, no, never.

- Yes, in the past.

A long, long time ago.

- Will you go away and leave me alone?

- Why are you afraid of me?

- I'm not.

- Yes, you are.

You're afraid to remember me because you're

afraid to remember the past.

- I'm not afraid of anyone.

- Then look at me.

- You're right, Vicky.

I'm not going to be gloomy for one more second.

We have so many plans to make.

Such happy ones.

So from now on, it's going to be all smiles and cheer, right?

- Right.

You'll be married here in this room by the fireplace.

We'll fill the room with flowers and candles.

You'll look so beautiful.

Can't you see it now?

- Yes.

- Vicky, there's one favor I must ask of you.

- Of course.

- Will you let Roger give you away?

He'd be so pleased.

- Do you think he'd-- he'd really like to?

- Oh, I know he would.

Can't you see him now, coming down the stairs

rather pompous and proud, with you

on his arm, a beautiful bride all in white?

- I can hardly believe it's going to happen.

- And then you'll come into this room and lift your veil

and you'll be so radiant.

- I shouldn't be here.

- But I had to see you, Peter.

- No, don't call me that.

- Why?

Does it have an echo you don't like to hear?

- No!

It's not my name.

- Yet it disturbs you to hear it.

- Look, I'm sorry, I have to go.

- Then perhaps we can go together.

- No, we can't go together.

- You were not always so afraid of me.

- Look, I'm not afraid of you, do you understand?

- Then why do you look afraid?

- I'm not afraid.

I'm just in a hurry, that's all.

- Were you frightened of me then, in the past?

- No, I wasn't frightened because there wasn't any past.

- I know what it means to have a faulty memory.

- My memory is perfect.

- No, it isn't.

Nor is mine.

But perhaps if we try we can both remember.

- No.

- Look into my eyes and let me look into yours deeply.

Deeply.

Perhaps there we can find a clue.

- No, no.

- There's only one way to remember

what we have forgotten.

Here, hold me.

Kiss me.

[suspenseful music]

- I beg your pardon.

I don't believe this lady and I have met.

- Mr. Collins.

- Would you be kind enough to introduce me?

- [FRANTICALLY] No.

No introductions. Please!

- What a stunning woman.

Who, may I ask, is she?

- I don't know. - Really?

I had the distinct impression that you

were rather well- acquainted.

- No, she-- she claimed she knows me from a while back.

- And you were trying to recapture old memories,

I understand.

- Look, Mr. Collins, I--

I know what it looked like but it's not what you think.

And I can't explain.

- What makes you think an explanation is necessary?

- All right, then.

Think what you want to.

But it was a mistake!

- I agree with you there.

Unfortunately it was a mistake that

has been discovered in time.

- What do you mean?

- Apparently we've all been more than a little

mistaken about your character.

- Look, I-- I'm not talking about my character.

And you know that.

- But it would be a greater mistake not telling Vicky.

- You're going to tell Vicky?

- Really, Clark?

Did you think for a second that I wouldn't?

- Look, I'll have to ask you not to do that.

- Well, I'm afraid it would be an exercise in futility.

- Why?

Look, wait.

That woman she-- she thinks that--

that I'm someone named Peter Bradford.

- And how do we know that you're not?

- Mr. Collins, you know who I am.

- We know who you say you are.

Actually, we don't know very much about you,

about your past.

- Well, then at least give me the benefit of the doubt.

- No, I don't think I'll do that.

- Why not?

- Because I don't have any doubts.

Especially after what you've just said.

- What do you mean?

- Well, you said that this woman mistook you for Peter Bradford.

- Well, that's right.

- All right, if that's true, then why would

you object to my going to Vicky and saying Jeff

has encountered a certain woman who

mistook him for Peter Bradford? - No, you can't do that.

You can't do that for her sake.

- A woman who claims that they knew each other a long time

ago.

- Look, please.

Please don't tell her.

- Don't you realize that you are confirming my worst

suspicions more and more by the way you're acting?

- Please don't tell her any of this.

That's all I'm asking.

- Well, you're asking far too much

considering the circumstances.

- I'm telling you, Mr. Collins, it's for her sake.

- [ANGRILY] Exactly.

For Vicky's sake.

- Please, please wait!

I-- Mr. Collins, I--

- Good night, Vicky, and thank you.

- For what?

- For these few moments tonight I haven't been afraid.

- But you must never be.

- Now, we agreed not to talk about it.

Good night. - Goodnight, sleep well.

- I hope so.

[door opens]

- And I think she should be told.

- But I'm telling you it's completely unnecessary.

- What's the arguing about?

- Mr. Collins, please...

- Vicky, would you come into the drawing room?

There is something I think you should know.

[suspenseful music]

- I'll say it one more time, Mr. Collins.

Please, please don't.

- What is it?

- Vicky, I have a bit of news that I'm

afraid will distress you very much.

- Oh?

- It concerns someone very near and very dear to you.

- What-- what's this about?

- All right.

All right, if you insist.

But remember this, Mr. Collins, you're

going to be destroying some of the happiest moments

in her life.

- If something has happened I--

I want to know about it.

- Well, it's probably something that you will find out

sooner or later, anyway.

- Is it something to do with David?

- No, it's nothing like that.

- Then what?

You-- you said it had something to do with someone who is near

and dear to me.

Please tell me.

- Well, go on.

Go on, tell her.

- Well, perhaps you can wait.

- No, I want to know.

- You have been very happy this evening, haven't you?

- That's not important now.

- Well, perhaps it wasn't as important

as I thought at first. That's not true, Roger.

You said it was very important.

Jeff, please, you tell me.

- Well, I--

- It's about Barnabas.

- Barnabas?

- Yes, it's nothing that can't be discussed later.

- What's happened?

- Oh, probably nothing.

- Please, Roger.

- Well, it's just that I went to the old house to see Barnabas

and I couldn't find him.

It's as simple as that, you see.

- You-- you went to the old house and--

- Yes, I looked for him and I--

I couldn't find him.

I expected him to be there and--

and he wasn't.

- Do you think something's happened to him?

- [LAUGHING] No, I was--

I was just having one of my moments

of inexplicable hysteria.

Now, what reason would Barnabas have to be there simply

because I expected him to be?

There's none at all.

- But you sounded so concerned.

- Well, it was just my temporary hysteria.

Unfounded and ridiculous.

Please forgive me.

- Well, I-- I promised David I'd say goodnight to him.

But when I come back I want you to explain this to me.

- There's nothing to explain.

- I'll be right back.

- Thank you, Mr. Collins.

Thank you very much.

- Don't thank me.

I didn't do it for your sake.

I did it for hers.

- Well, don't you think I--

I could be as grateful for her sake as for my own?

- Now listen to me, Clark, and listen carefully.

Vicky is one of the few people in this world

that I find worth caring about.

And if I ever discover, or hear the slightest rumor

about you and that woman--

- You won't hear anything and you won't see anything.

- Well, I better not.

Because if I do, I'll go straight to Vicky and tell her.

Because to keep silent will pose a greater threat

to her happiness.

Do you understand me?

- Very.

- Good.

- He was sound asleep.

- Oh, sleep!

The very word is an invitation that can't be denied.

Good night, Vicky.

Good night, Clark. - But, Roger--

- Oh, please.

I would be doubly ashamed if you worried about Barnabas.

I'm convinced he's perfectly all right.

- I just don't understand this.

- He explained.

He let his imagination get the better of him, that's all.

- But then why were you arguing as to whether I

should hear about Barnabas?

- Vicky, he told you.

I just didn't want you to--

to worry on a--

on a night that was so enjoyable.

- If it's so unimportant, then why would I worry?

- Hey, I want you to give me a great big smile.

- I should have told her but I just couldn't.

- You know you shouldn't.

- But you didn't see what I saw, Liz.

The way he reacted when I threatened to tell Vicky.

- Well, your instincts were right.

It would only have hurt her.

- What if she goes ahead and marries him?

- She'll be very happy.

- Oh, Liz.

- Roger, if Jeff told you she mistook him for someone else,

why shouldn't you believe him?

- Yes, but the way he was acting.

- Roger, you're making a great deal about nothing.

Jeff is a fine, worthwhile young man.

That's one thing I am sure of.

And he's the one person who can make Vicky happy.

- With another woman following him around?

- You don't know she's following him around.

- Liz, a perfect stranger with no reason to be here?

Of course she was following him around.

- Well, now that Jeff has told her

she's mistaken him for someone else,

we'll probably never see her again.

[eerie music]

- Are you sure there's nothing to worry about?

I mean, about Barnabas.

- Look, I thought you were going to forget about that.

- Yes, I don't want anything to spoil tonight.

- That's right.

- Can't you just see it?

My-- my coming down the staircase,

and Mrs. Stoddard and Roger?

- Mr. Collins?

- Yes, and-- and you waiting in there.

Well, it all sounds just like a dream.

It's going to come true.

[eerie music]

["here comes the bride" playing]

[intense music]

- If she marries, she will die!

She must not marry him!

[suspenseful music]

[theme music playing]