741 - April 27, 1969

[bunniefuu]

[ eerie music ]

NARRATOR:The time is ,

and intrigue and terror are rampant over Collinwood,

as Barnabas Collins makes a desperate effort

to piece together the jigsaw puzzle of the past,

in order to save a boy's life,

and a man's fate in the present.

But Barnabas' efforts meet constant obstacles,

and now he searches to discover

the secret of a woman whom he has reason to believe

he knew over years ago.

I don't want to open it!

BARNABAS: You must.

You don't believe in the spirits.

I do.

It is dangerous to open a tomb,

to disturb the peace, the rest!

BARNABAS: I'm sure that no spirit will be disturbed here.

How do you know that?

How?

Because the woman who was buried here

walks at Collinwood tonight.

Now open it.

Go ahead.

Now!

[ banging ]

The bedroom is ready.

What were you doing in there, Magda?

I made the bed.

No no, that noise, what is it?

MAGDA: I don't hear anything.

[ hammering ]

You must!

It sounds like,

like chipping stone.

[ hammering ]

It's getting louder.

You should try to rest.

Oh!

God!

Where are you going?

LAURA: Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!

If the body is there, we will pay for this.

We will be punished.

Open it.

Open it!

[ creaking ]

[ dramatic music ]

[ eerie music ]

There's no sign the body had ever been there.

Maybe there was some mistake.

Maybe she was never buried here at all.

How is that possible?

Her tomb is marked.

Grave robbers, maybe.

There was never anyone that opened that coffin.

What does it mean, then?

Shh.

SANDOR: What?

Well, what's wrong?

BARNABAS: I don't know.

SANDOR: Tell me.

I feel there's someone here.

Someone watching.

The spirit!

No.

It must be.

We've got to leave here now.

We are not leaving, Sandor.

But if you felt it, something was here.

Something is still here.

No.

It's gone now.

It's gone.

Where is the mysterious Laura,

my dear Magda?

And don't play the silent gypsy with me.

Judith will accept that, I won't.

Now, is Laura with Dirk?

No.

Well, at least you know that much.

Now, I wonder what would make

her leave this charming nest the very night she moved in.

Shall we play a guessing game, Magda?

You play whatever you want.

All right.

Laura is at Collinwood.

She's sitting by Jamison's bed.

Her mother's instinct has finally shown itself.

Is she at Collinwood?

Tell me the truth.

The truth?

All the time, you want the truth.

But what do you give me, eh?

I give you the truth in return.

I must talk to her about Jamison.

What you talk to her about is your own business.

But I've got to find her first!

How long ago did she leave?

Mm, a half hour, perhaps.

Alone?

Yes, she just ran out.

Oh?

Oh-h*.

Now, why?

Why did she just run out, huh?

A shock?

Sudden surprise?

Premonition.

Laura's much given to premonitions.

Which is it, Magda?

I don't know.

I swear.

A year ago you would've blamed me for the surprise,

the shock, wouldn't you?

But now I'm innocent.

So who else is interested in Laura Collins?

That's the next question, Magda.

Who?

Don't matter if the coffin is empty.

The Laura at Collinwood is no ghost, I know that.

How do you know?

I have seen ghosts.

They don't breathe.

They don't eat, they,

they don't live on this Earth like people do.

But the portrait!

It showed us that there was a duplicate of this woman

living when I was a boy.

Pure coincidence, Sandor?

I don't know.

BARNABAS: I don't believe in coincidences.

SANDOR: Maybe, this Laura is a...

A descendant.

The original never had children.

Remember, I was there.

Let's get out of here!

Wait.

What for?

I don't remember how Laura Collins died.

What difference does is make?

Perhaps a great deal.

The light.

It's a sudden death, that I know.

My father wrote me to say that

my cousin,

Uncle Jeremiah, was...

Was very disturbed.

He said not to tell him, when I returned home.

SANDOR: One way of dying is the same as another.

Not necessarily.

Here it is!

"Laura Collins died,

"January th, .

"Cause of death,

Fire."

Fire?

How could I have forgotten that?

Mr. Barnabas, we've got to leave here.

Or did my father change the course of history again?

Was there something about her,

about her death which made him conceal the cause?

The watchman will be here soon.

How can I discover the truth?

Quentin.

Quentin can tell me!

What?

What happened when they went away together,

wherever it was.

Alexandria?

Egypt?

You know that?

Jamison asked me if I had ever been there.

He said, his uncle Quentin had.

What if he found out what I believe to be the truth?

What if he left her there?

You don't think he'd tell you?

No.

But he may say something he didn't intend to.

That is my only hope.

MAGDA: Is there anything you want me to do before I leave?

Mrs. Collins?

Burn the painting.

What?

Get the portrait, and put it in the fire.

Why, you will do that.

Oh no.

No, I can't do it.

You must do it for me.

I will take it to the old house.

No!

But it may be worth a great deal.

Do as I say.

And tell no one.

If Barnabas should ask,

simply say it disappeared, yes.

Do you understand?

No, I do not.

Well, I don't care, burn it.

Is it burning?

MAGDA: Yes.

[ sighing ]

It's been so long.

So long.

Alexandria?

Well, the elusive cousin Barnabas.

Good evening, Quentin.

QUENTIN: I never will understand your life.

Nor I yours.

But I am home sometimes.

You never are.

I was just at the old house.

You're always out, night and day.

Well, I am fortunate, I don't need much rest.

Oh, I envy you.

You know, you interest me a great deal.

[ chuckling ] I've gathered that.

It's too bad that we started off so badly,

because you could be so much help to me

in adjusting myself to my new surroundings.

Everyone here is so secretive.

With reason.

But you are so open with your friends.

Too open, my sister thinks.

What do you know about Laura Collins?

What happened to her in Alexandria?

Alexandria?

BARNABAS: You were both there together.

Sorry, whoever told you that is wrong.

Quentin--

I wouldn't have forgotten, Barnabas, now would I?

Here is a cable from Alexandria.

Perhaps that will refresh your memory.

Well, you know,

two and two do not always add up to four, cousin.

You should know that.

This is from my oldest friend.

He's rich enough, fortunately,

to be able devote his life to travel.

At this time, he's in Egypt.

What a fortunate coincidence.

QUENTIN: If you're obsessed with finding out

where Laura Collins was,

I would suggest that you run

to whatever gossip said she was with me.

I thought that was common knowledge.

Why are you so interested in Laura Collins, anyway?

BARNABAS: I'm interested in anyone I meet.

Hmm.

You know,

I don't believe you.

But then, this is not the first time

I've told you that, cousin.

Nor shall it be the last.

Now what does that mean?

[ clock chiming ]

That you're not going to stop?

What if I decided to uh,

find out everything I could about you?

You're much more mysterious than Laura.

BARNABAS: I don't mean to be.

You know, I don't even know what business you're in.

Investments.

Oh, really?

Is that what you travel to Bangor so often?

Yes, I have connections with a banking firm there.

Really?

Well, uh, tell me, are you uh,

going to Bangor today?

I haven't decided yet.

QUENTIN: Well, when will you?

I don't know.

QUENTIN: Because if you do,

I'd like to ride up with you.

I'll let you know.

- [ rooster crowing ] - Now, if you'll excuse me,

I, I must be going.

Well, my questioning has made you nervous.

Not at all.

Then why are you in such a hurry to go?

The cook will make us a marvelous breakfast.

BARNABAS: I'm afraid I don't eat breakfast.

Well, if you don't go to Bangor today,

then why don't we have lunch together?

You do eat lunch, I presume.

Don't you, cousin Barnabas?

MAGDA: But what could have happened to Barnabas?

You worry about him more than you do about me.

It will be light soon.

Ah, you are his keeper.

Something is wrong with Barnabas.

Quentin is keeping him there on purpose.

Sandor, Quentin guesses?

I don't know, but Barnabas should be in that cell already,

this very moment.

Yes, you are quite right.

We must have lunch.

Very soon.

Well uh, shall we make it a definite date?

[ knocking ]

Since this evening seems mysteriously inconvenient.

SANDOR: Mr. Barnabas.

There you are.

A messenger has just arrived from Bangor.

At this hour?

Well, I certainly wasn't expecting one,

it must be an emergency, if you'll excuse me.

Of course, Barnabas.

I have no choice, do I?

You must hurry, I know.

He said it was most urgent.

You stay here with him.

He may follow us.

Did he tell you to stay?

Who?

Your master.

Mmm, Barnabas is not my master.

No, I stayed because I thought you would like to know

that Mrs. Collins returned soon after he left.

Did she say where she'd been?

No.

Then goodnight.

She, she was, she was most upset.

QUENTIN: What did she do?

I think someone is threatening her.

Now, do you think I'm going to believe that?

Don't you realize, Magda,

that I know you're playing

each of us against the other?

What kind of fool do you think I am?

You know we're alike, you and I.

Only you play for pennies,

for coins dropped in your palm,

while I, at least, ask for everything.

I knew it.

I knew I was right.

I knew it.

What are you talking about?

I knew it.

But what am I going to do now?

[ dramatic music ]

What is it, Quentin?

Nothing, nothing.

MAGDA: It's a lie.

I used to be able to believe my own lies.

How fortunate I was.

How very fortunate.

I don't think I realized that until tonight.

Laura, has she changed, do you think?

She still likes to order me around.

But has she changed?

Do you think she has?

Yes.

Yes, yes.

She is more desperate, perhaps.

QUENTIN: Desperate?

Yes, about--

How?

About the children, I don't think she was ever

terribly interested in them before.

The children.

Children.

Magda, listen to me.

Magda, for once, for once you've got to be on my side.

You've got to answer me honestly.

I will.

Please.

Yes, I swear.

Has Laura any powers?

Powers?

QUENTIN: You know what I'm talking about!

Does she study the black arts too,

did you teach her?

I asked you a question!

She has a certain sensitivity,

she always had, but she has no power.

Are you positive?

Well, tonight she asked me to read the cards,

would she do that if she had any powers herself?

Hmm.

No, when she is angry, she takes it out on me,

a woman with powers doesn't have to do that.

No, Quentin, you needn't worry.

You will be safe.

You can do whatever you are planning.

Quite a picture.

Oh, you frightened me.

Very prim and proper before the fire.

Ha, that surprises me, that I'd frighten you.

Quentin, it's very late.

We've been here later before.

I'd like to say I don't remember.

But you do.

I do.

Laura.

Why have you come back here?

You are such a little boy.

Have you wondered that ever since I first appeared?

Haven't you been able to decide for yourself?

I really don't believe you've come back for the children.

I need the children, Quentin.

What will you take in their place?

I'd get anything, money.

[ laughing ]

Don't laugh!

I'm serious.

I'll steal it, but I'll get it.

I'll do anything so you'll leave.

I have powers.

I'll use them to help you.

All I want is my children,

why is that so difficult for you to accept?

Because I know what will happen to them if you take them!

And I know what will happen if they stay here.

You will ruin Jamison, and I know why.

Because he is the heir.

You'll get money by using him.

Do you really think I'm going to let that happen?

Oh no.

You can't have him, Quentin.

But at least he'll be alive!

Are you starting that again?

"Laura died in the fire in Alexandria."

QUENTIN: Yes, yes, I'm starting that again.

Well, it's very foolish of you.

No, it's not.

Because now, Laura,

now I have this.

LAURA: More paper, Quentin?

Yes.

A paper from Alexandria, from the police.

Ah, your friends.

"Regarding your cable, April th.

"Stop.

"Police records confirm,

"Laura Murdoch Collins died by fire,

"March th, .

Death certificate follows."

[ dramatic music ]

[ eerie music ]