820 - August 17, 1969

[bunniefuu]

[ eerie music ]

NARRATOR: Collinwood has survived

another night of terror.

But even in the light of this day,

there are those whose fears cannot be stilled.

In the old house, Magda Rakosi

reads a strange note over and over again--

a note that could spell death for her.

And in an artist's studio in Collinsport,

a young man is about to receive a visit

from the mysterious Count Petofi,

who has learned that death may finally be awaiting him.

[ eerie music ]

[ knocking ]

[ knocking ]

CHARLES: The door is open!

A host usually answers his own door.

CHARLES: I'm busy, and I'm not your host.

Busy, are you?

What delightful surprise are you preparing

for the world today?

Oh, her.

Yes her.

I shall never understand, Charles, why you persist

in painting that same picture over and over again.

I've told you already.

You're a grown man, Charles.

Only little boys invent ideal women.

Look, I don't care to go over it with you again.

Maybe I like to paint her because,

because she's the only thing

in this world that really belongs to me.

She doesn't even exist!

She does to me.

Since you serve me so well,

I--I suppose I must tolerate your childish fantasies.

I take it that you want me to do something for you?

Someday Charles, I hope you will learn to be less bitter.

Look, would you mind just telling me what you want?

And then you can leave.

I have a commission for you.

Something that only you can execute.

Something that requires the touch of a master's hand.

What is it?

PETOFI: This.

[ dramatic music ]

[ eerie music ]

Well, what's your answer, Charles?

I don't see why you should be so shocked by my request.

I don't either.

In fact, nothing you should say should really surprise me.

I guess it's just that this is a little more grisly

than your usual requests.

But you will do it, won't you?

Come on, there are a lot of other artists in Collinsport.

Why don't you get one of them?

PETOFI: No other artists have your touch.

Well why don't you try the local embalmer?

Yes, I think he could probably help you.

Very well, now you've had your little joke.

Your answer?

- Look-- - Charles, your answer.

I don't-- I don't want any part of this, or of you.

You have an obligation to me,

in the form of a contract.

Look, uh...

What do you want me to do this thing for anyway, huh?

What is it you want?

PETOFI: Would it soothe your feelings somewhat

if I assured you that no one would be hurt

by this little deception of mine?

Yeah I guess it would if I believed you, but I don't.

You know I never harm anyone

unless it's vitally necessary.

Yeah, like the other night with that girl, Charity Trask.

You know, Petofi, I stay up almost all night

wondering what damage you inflicted on her.

Not at all.

The girl is now a thoroughly happy person.

Oh, yes, I can imagine.

My dear boy, I'm running out of time.

When can you start?

Don't be afraid to look inside, Charles.

It's quite harmless, really.

Come on, Charles, don't be so squeamish!

- [ sighs ] - [ pats on back ]

I'll be back at one this afternoon.

I expect you to be finished with it by then.

[ suspenseful music ]

[ ominous music ]

[ opens and shuts the draw ]

[ knocking ]

TIM: Amanda?

Amanda, what are you doing?

Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving.

And just when were you planning to inform me?

I wasn't.

Well I'm not letting you go!

You don't own me!

You can't keep me here.

Now listen to me, Amanda.

I was counting on you to help me.

I've helped you all I'm going to.

Just a few more visits to Trask,

- that's all I ask. - That's too much!

But I've had all I can take from that,

from that pompous idiot!

But he's hooked, Amanda.

Now that we have him, don't spoil it for me.

Spoil what?

I, I don't understand.

You don't tell me anything.

I still don't know what you plan to do

to this man, when you have him where you want him.

When the time has come, I shall tell you.

AMANDA: When the time has come?

I'm sick of hearing that, too.

Amanda, you mustn't leave me now. I...

I need you.

It would be different if you needed me for yourself,

but you don't, you're just using me!

And paying you well.

AMANDA: I-- I don't care that much about the money.

Oh, that's not what you told me in New York.

Well I've changed.

TIM: Changed, why, what's made you change?

I don't know.

But I have...

and I've got to get out of this town.

One more day, Amanda.

Just one more day?

- Well-- - I want you to do

one more job for me.

Oh, you're something special.

And for a minute I thought you were

growing to enjoy my company.

Well, I was.

I do enjoy your company, you know that.

Well I thought that for a time, but I was wrong.

Amanda.

One more day,

and it will make all the difference in the world,

believe me.

What difference?

That which I need to accomplish can be done only by you,

and once it's done, my dear, once it's successful

I'll have Trask just where I want him.

Tim I don't want to stay here,

and I don't want you to stay here either.

I can only think of the disaster

that will become of us if we do.

Oh, I can only think of the bliss

if I get what I want.

Amanda, you know how I feel about you.

Please, do this one last favor for me and I promise,

I'll take you back to New York myself.

- Do you really mean that? - Yes.

What do you want me to do?

Put on your makeup and your best dress, my dear.

And I'll tell you about the gentleman

you're going to meet.

All right.

By the way, what's his name?

Count Petofi.

[ dramatic music ]

[ rattling ]

My dear Magda, if you come to implore me

to release Barnabas Collins...

No, no I came to ask you if you would help me.

- What sort of help? - Read this.

"Between life and death,

"there is not room for a flea to jump."

[ chuckles ]

A most interesting observation

and true, more often than not. Who wrote it?

Nobody, it's an old saying of the gypsies.

It was pinned to my door last night.

Oh, I see.

- You know, too. - MAGDA: Know what?

That the gypsies are coming here.

I suspect the neighborhood will be swarming with them soon.

You mean you already knew?

PETOFI: Yes, I-- I-- I did.

How did you know?

Well I would like to say that it was an act of clairvoyance,

but honesty compels me to tell you what a simple truth.

I found out purely by accident.

MAGDA: What-- what are you going to do about it?

Nothing.

Nothing? but what if they come here looking for you?

They won't be looking for me

unless they know why I'm here, and they don't.

Now as that note rather frighteningly suggests,

my dear Magda, it is you they will be looking for.

Petofi, Petofi, you got to help me.

PETOFI: Why?

Because you got to protect me or they're gonna k*ll me.

If I protect you, they may find me.

You can understand my reluctance

to endanger my own existence.

- Maybe your scheme don't work. - [ Petofi laughs softly ]

I have no reason to think it shouldn't.

Maybe they find out that you are in Collinsport.

They won't know unless you tell them.

And you won't betray me, my dear Magda,

because you won't be able to speak or write my name.

- [ gasps ] - PETOFI: Go on, try.

Try to say my name. Say it.

I cannot.

And you will not.

Is that quite clear?

[ stammers ] Yes.

I hope your brethren will not be too intemperate

when they finally catch up with you.

I have a certain fondness for you, but...

you must go now.

I don't want to go back to the old house now.

PETOFI: You cannot stay here.

I have another visitor, now get out.

I hope it is King Johnny himself!

[ dramatic music ]

[ rattling ]

WOMAN: Are you Count Petofi?

You are the guest, my dear.

You must identify yourself first.

My name is Amanda Harris.

Who sent you here? How did you find this place?

- A man named Tim Shaw. - Oh.

So Mr. Shaw has decided to disregard my advice.

PETOFI: Amazing.

AMANDA: Is something the matter?

Come here so that I can have a closer look at you.

Now come my dear, I won't hurt you.

Absolutely astonishing.

Oh. What are you talking about?

You are a very beautiful woman, Miss Harris.

One might almost say an ideal woman.

Have you ever had your portrait painted?

Well, why do you ask me that?

PETOFI: Pray, answer the question.

No I haven't.

You're quite sure?

AMANDA: Well I, I should think I would be sure if I had.

You would indeed. Pray, sit down.

And tell me when you first met Charles Delaware Tate.

Who?

The name means nothing to you?

AMANDA: No.

Where do you come from, Miss Harris?

New York.

You were born and brought up there?

Speak up.

Yes, I was born and brought up there.

I can only conclude that...

somewhere at sometime Charles Delaware Tate

must have seen you.

What is all this talk about a Mr. Tate

and why are you so interested

where I was born and brought up?

I have an appointment in half an hour.

I must go. Kindly state your business.

You are a very strange man.

You didn't come here to tell me that.

No, I came here to ask you to help me.

Oh?

I'm in love with Tim Shaw.

Then he is a very fortunate young man.

What else could he want?

I'm the one who wants something.

I want to get him away from here.

He came back to get revenge on someone

and he's determined to get it before he leaves.

I'm afraid for him.

Afraid he might get hurt...

or even k*lled.

What has all this to do with me?

AMANDA: Well, Tim has told me that

you have a talisman of great power.

He says it's the only thing that will ensure his revenge.

Oh, if you could only allow him to use it just once.

Oh, Count Petofi, I beg you, let him use it.

I'm so afraid of living in danger.

All those sleepless nights, oh, please.

Help me get Tim away from here.

You must indeed be in love with him.

Has Mr. Shaw told you anything about this talisman of mine?

Has he told you what it is?

No.

Then I will tell you.

It is the hand of Count Petofi.

It is this!

[ gasps ]

And it has great power.

Too much power to be meddled with

by the likes of Tim Shaw.

Although I'm not surprised at his clumsy attempt

to recover it.

Go and give him a message from me.

Once I congratulated him on his choice of enemies.

Now I congratulate him on his taste in women,

but his conception of strategy is pathetically inadequate.

Good afternoon, my dear.

I hope we shall meet again sometime.

[ rattling ]

[ eerie music ]

King Johnny! [ gasps ]

[ dramatic music ]

You are frightened aren't you, Magda?

Have mercy.

You ask for mercy, that is good.

Coming from a swine like you, that is something.

MAGDA: What are you going to do to me?

I will tell you what I would like to do.

Slit your throat here and now and be done with you

and the problems you have caused.

No, no, please.

- No please. - Shut up!

You will get to live your miserable life

a little longer.

Not because we have pity for you,

but because we do not yet have the hand.

MAGDA: Tell me, tell me what will happen to me.

If you return the hand willingly,

you do not deceive us again, then maybe,

maybe Magda your punishment will not be so severe.

But because of Julianka's death,

there is no way for you to avoid going on trial.

[ gasps ]

Then k*ll me, k*ll me now. Please, I beg of you.

k*ll me because I ain't got the hand

and I cannot get it for you.

JOHNNY: You're lying!

No I ain't, you searched the house. You ain't found it.

JOHNNY: I intend to search it again.

While I am gone...

think again, Magda.

Think well.

And if you cannot remember where the hand is,

then maybe I won't have to take you back for a trial.

Maybe King Johnny will k*ll you right here!

- What will you do? - I don't know.

I have no choice. I must stay here.

Don't say you have no choice, you do!

You can leave anytime you want to.

Well then I prefer to stay.

Why is Mr. Trask so important to you?

He was responsible for the deaths of two people.

One of whom happened to be very close to me.

I happen to love, love that person very much.

- AMANDA: A woman? - Yes.

Oh, I wasn't in love with her as you're probably thinking.

It was a, a kind of love, that's all.

AMANDA: Well I understand.

- You better pack. - [ unlocks suitcase ]

No.

[ sighs ] I'll stay a little longer.

Why?

You refuse to recognize the danger you're in.

I can't protect you from it, but maybe in time

I can convince you to get out for your own good.

Thank you, Amanda.

Tim will you promise me something?

What's that?

Please, don't have anything to do with Count Petofi.

Why?

Tim, he's the most frightening man I've ever met.

He kept asking me questions about my past,

but the way he asked gave me the feeling

that he was seeing deep inside me.

I shouldn't think that's very unusual.

It's in the natural order of things for someone

to ask about someone's past.

It was frightening.

Because before two years ago,

I don't remember anything about my past.

[ ominous music ]

I-- I told you the hand ain't here.

Now you seen for yourself, huh?

I seen nothing but a lying, thieving, gypsy!

- But Johnny, please... - King Johnny!

King Johnny, please I swear I ain't got it.

But who has it?

I don't know.

JOHNNY: You're lying, who has it?

I can't say!

You can't say?

You are Magda, who can say anything.

Anything you want to say.

Maybe you need some help...

- No. - Help in remembering.

MAGDA: No.

Well, I will give you that help.

- [ cries in pain ] - How about that?

Now, do you remember the name?

- Or do you need more help? - [ sobs ]

JOHNNY: What's the matter?

I don't, I don't understand it.

But I do.

You finally realized that going against

your people was a little too dangerous.

But I swear you're clever...

as always, Magda.

You slipped it there while I was upstairs, didn't you?

No, I swear I did not.

No, I did not because I ain't got the hand.

Then what's in here?

Nothing, it is empty.

Go, open it, open it you'll see!

It has got to be empty.

Why don't you look for yourself, Magda?

[ Magda gasps ]

[ dramatic music ]