704 - March 5, 1969

[bunniefuu]

[Elizabeth narrating] - The great house of Collinwood stands deserted.

The living have sought refuge elsewhere,

leaving an evil spirit to roam the cold, empty corridors alone.

For some, this night will seem an eternity.

Barnabas Collins remains in a deep trance.

He has employed the mysterious powers of the I Ching,

and gone through the door to the infinite,

hoping to find and defeat the spirit that haunts Collinwood.

But beyond the door,

he has been transported back in time

to the year ,

a time of intrigue and terror

for all who lived at Collinwood.

- Tell, me, Cousin Barnabas,

what boat did you arrive on?

- The Pride of Jamestown.

It arrived in Collinsport this afternoon at :.

- Yes, so it did.

- I'm curious about the paintings in this room.

Is the portrait of Joshua Collins here?

- No.

His portrait is somewhere up in the West Wing.

- Oh, I see.

Well, he was the man who built Collinwood, wasn't he?

It seems to me that --

- I would advise you not to make a move.

- Cousin Quentin,

is this some kind of practical joke? - No!

No, it certainly isn't.

- Then, you better explain yourself.

- I intend to.

You see, it just so happens

that I recently returned from England myself.

I spent the better part of six months there,

so I had ample time to discover

that there is no English branch of our family

and there never has been.

Now, I'll give you exactly five minutes

to tell me who you are and what you want here.

Or so help me, I'll run you through.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

I would suggest you start talking.

Five minutes go by rather quickly

when a man is about to die.

- Even though I don't know you, I --

I find it hard to believe you could be so cold-blooded.

- I can be and I will be.

- What are you afraid of? - Nothing.

It just so happens that I know you're a fraud.

You're after something.

I want to know what it is.

- I expected nothing more than simple hospitality

and good manners.

It seems that I was wrong. - I don't believe you.

- That is your privilege.

What is it that you think that I am after?

- You don't have time to start asking questions.

Just explain yourself.

- I have nothing to explain.

Except that you are wrong.

There most certainly is an English branch of the family.

- I just told you I was there for over six months.

Now, how come I never came into any people

that were related to me by the name of Collins?

I think the answer to that is rather obvious.

- What do you mean?

- I submit that it's possible your reputation

arrived in England before you did.

Any man who would who would put a sword at another man's throat,

moments after they met is hardly the sort of person

that his relatives would want to meet.

- Quentin!

What are you doing?

- It seems that your brother doubts my credentials.

- Quentin, put down that sword. - Stay out of this, Judith.

This man is an impostor. - Don't be absurd.

It is perfectly obvious he is a Collins.

- He isn't from England

and there is no English branch of our family over there.

- I don't care whether there is or there isn't.

You have no right to behave like a barbarian.

Now, put down that sword!

- Thank you.

- I'm terribly sorry about this, Cousin Barnabas.

- Perhaps, under the circumstances,

I - I should leave.

- Oh, no, no, I wouldn't think of letting you leave.

I want to show you that we can be hospitable.

Quentin, I think an apology is in order.

- Why?

No one has alleviated my doubts.

- Perhaps, I can.

I seek nothing but friendship.

I think you will find that I,

along with the rest of the English branch of the family,

am quite self-sufficient.

I have all the money I need.

- Does that make you feel better?

- If I made the mistake of judging you in haste,

I'm sorry.

- Now, Cousin Barnabas,

come sit down and have your tea.

- Thank you.

I think I'm ready for it.

- How long do you plan to stay in America?

- Permanently, I hope.

I will be moving along, of course,

once I decide how to invest my money.

- Now, we have plenty of room at Collinwood.

I hope you will stay with us until you leave.

- As a matter of fact,

I have been exceptionally charmed by

one of the houses on the estate.

- Oh really, which one?

- The old house.

I read about it in the family histories.

So, I - I took a look at the outside of it

on my way over here.

I hope there wouldn't be any objection to my staying there.

- Oh, I - I really don't know what to say.

- Will tell me if there is.

Well, it is most unfortunate,

but at the moment, Cousin Barnabas,

the old house is occupied by Gypsies.

- Gypsies? - Please, don't be too shocked.

- Somehow, these people managed to ingratiate themselves

with my Grandmother Edith

and she granted them the use of the house.

- Oh, I see.

Well, perhaps as a relative,

if I can talk to your grandmother.

She might be willing to alter her - her arrangements.

- She might very well but I'm afraid she is too ill

for you to see her this evening.

But I could talk to her about it.

- Would you do that? - Gladly.

Now, I am sure she will agree to let you stay there.

- Well, that's splendid.

I would like to look at the inside of it, if I may.

- Of course.

And if you find it suitable,

you could make the necessary arrangements.

Well, that's very kind of you.

I would like to look at it now, if I may.

- By all means.

Quentin, will you go to the door with Cousin Barnabas?

- Of course.

I'd be glad to.

I hope you find the old house

to your liking, Cousin Barnabas.

- I'm sure I will.

I will come back and tell you.

- I want to place a call to Mr. Edward Collins

at the Parker House, Boston, Massachusetts.

Quentin, give me that! - Operator,

please cancel that call.

- Give me that phone!

- Why on earth were you trying to call Edward?

- Because I had orders to.

- From grandmother? - Yes.

She is worried about Edward

and she thinks he ought to be here by now.

- Now, there's no need for us to worry, is there?

What to do you mean by that?

- Judith! Why tamper with fate?

If Edward can't get here,

then grandmother may have to tell

one of us the secret, right?

- Give me that phone. I have to make a report.

- Tell her there's a flood in Massachusetts

and the railroads aren't running.

If she believes a gypsy,

she will certainly believe you, won't see?

[wind whistling]

- Beth! - [gasps]

♪♪

Wait, Beth.

Don't be afraid. You needn't be.

- Who are you?

- Barnabas Collins is my name.

- I've never seen you at Collinwood before.

- I only arrived hours ago.

- But how did you know my name?

- Well, Judith Collins was showing me

a book of photographs.

I saw a picture of you with the children.

I asked who you were.

- Oh, I see.

- I particularly asked about you because,

well, I assumed that you were one of the Collins'.

- I don't know how you could assume that.

- Beth, that was easy.

You have an aristocratic look.

- Well, I'm not one of the Collins.

I'm just an ordinary servant.

- A servant, but far from ordinary.

- Why are you staring at me like that?

- I'm sorry,

I have just ended a long trip from England

and I'm rather tired.

- Then goodnight, Mr. Collins.

- I hope I will see you soon, Beth.

- If you will be at Collinwood, you will.

- I will be visiting Collinwood.

I'm anxious to meet the children.

Jamison and --

- Nora.

- Nora, yes.

Well, I am afraid I have forgotten the name

of the other child.

- There is no other child.

- You mean Jamison and Nora

are the only children in the house?

- Yes.

- How odd.

Why did I think there was another child?

- I don't know.

I have to leave now, Mr. Collins. Goodnight.

- Goodnight.

[thinking] There must have been another child

unless she was lying for some reason.

Or the third child is already dead

and has been buried

somewhere on these grounds.

- Well, well, the wandering maidservant returns.

- Good evening.

- You've been gone a long time.

You must have had a lot of errands.

- Only one that was important.

- Your gentleman friend?

- That would be telling, wouldn't it?

♪♪

- Charlie? I - I can't find my compact.

Did you see what I did with it?

I can't go back to the pub without my compact.

Charlie?

Charlie, you're drunk, that's what you are.

Well, you can just stay there and sleep it off.

You certainly know how to spoil a lady's evening.

- May I help you? - Oh?

You startled me.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.

- Oh, that's all right.

Being startled is the most interesting thing

that's happened to me all evening.

- Did you lose something?

- Oh, yes, my - my compact.

It must have fallen out of my purse.

It was given to me by a very kind gentleman.

Captain Strathmore.

Do you know him?

- No, I don't believe I do.

- Well, he was a very considerate gentleman.

Only, I don't know whatever happened to him.

- Is this your compact?

- Oh, yes. Thank you very much.

- You're welcome.

- You are very considerate, too.

- Thank you.

- And I'm very grateful to you.

- You needn't be.

- My name is Sophie Baker.

What yours?

- I think it would be better if I --

if I didn't mention my name.

- What an odd thing to say.

- Well, I'm glad you that found your compact.

I must go now.

- Oh, wait. You can't go.

- I must.

- Well, what's - what's the matter with me?

- Oh, nothing at all. You're --

You are very lovely.

- Well, then, why am I having such a miserable evening.

First, Charlie gets drunk, and then you get cold feet.

- I am sorry.

- Well, so am I.

Captain Strathmore wouldn't have treated me like this.

He - he was a very considerate man.

- Goodnight, Sophie.

- Wait a minute!

The least you could do is -

is escort me to the door of the Blue Whale.

Would you - would you mind doing that?

- Not at all. I - I think we better go.

- All right. But I can't go like this.

I'll just be a minute.

- We better hurry.

- I - I really can't understand you at all.

It's such a nice night.

And you are alone.

And I am alone

and you know we could --

Why don't I see your reflection in my mirror?

Who are you?

Why are you staring at me that way?

Ahh!

[clock chiming]

- Where are you going?

- I am taking to your grandmother her food.

- Well, let me take it.

- That is very thoughtful of you,

but it is my job.

- Well then, put the tray down for a minute.

I'd like to talk to you.

- The food will get cold.

- Beth, I need your help.

- For what?

- Well, my dear sister Judith,

is being a little too protective over Grandma.

She won't let anyone in to see the old girl

and I would like to see her.

- Why?

- Oh, I just want to talk to her.

- You think she will reveal the big dark secret.

- She might.

- How do you think I can help you?

- By getting Judith out of the room long enough

for me to get in.

- You are very friendly with people you want to help you.

Aren't you?

- Will you do it?

- I am very happy with my job here.

I don't want to risk losing it. Sorry.

- Wait a minute.

What's the matter?

- For a sick old lady, Grandmother certainly has

a healthy appetite, doesn't she?

Where are you going with all this food?

- I am taking it to your grandmother's room.

- She couldn't possibly eat all this and you know it.

- Most of it is for Ms. Judith.

She is having dinner with your grandmother tonight.

May I go upstairs now?

- Yes.

Go on.

- Judith? - Yes, Grandmama?

- Did you speak to Edward?

- I couldn't reach him.

- Oh, he must get here in time.

- He will, I'm sure.

- It is getting cold in here.

Judith, you know I --

you should not have let me go to sleep

with the blanket turned down.

You know I always get a chill.

- I know, I'm sorry.

- But you have been very faithful to me

and I know it and I will be grateful.

- Thank you, Grandmama.

[knocking on door]

- Who is that?

- Probably Beth with you consommé.

- I must talk to you.

- What is it?

- Quentin stopped me in the foyer

and questioned me about the food.

- What did you tell him?

- That I was bringing it up to you.

- Did he believe you?

- I don't know. I think so.

- Well, now that he is back, we must be much more cautious.

We mustn't let him become suspicious.

- Judith, my consommé.

- Yes, Grandmama, I'm bringing it.

- You go upstairs with the food

and don't let him see you.

- What were the two of you

whispering about over there?

- Well, I was giving Beth her instructions for tomorrow.

- Taste the consommé and tell me if it is too hot.

- Yes, Grandmama.

[clock chiming]

♪♪

- Edward? Is that you?

- Yes, Grandmama.

- No, no. It isn't Edward.

- Quentin, I know your voice.

I am not as far gone as you think.

- Yes!

Yes, you are, Grandma. - What do you mean by that?

- I mean, that you are going to die tonight,

but before you do,

you are going to tell me the secret,

aren't you, Grandmother?

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪