1221 - March 1, 1971

[bunniefuu]

[eerie music]

NARRATOR:For over a century and a half,

the Collins family has been haunted by a mysterious curse.

To appease the evil spirit,

one member of each generation has been chosen by lottery

to spend a night in a mysterious, locked room.

All who have remained there have either d*ed

or gone insane.

When Gabriel Collins drew the marked lottery slip,

he hired a villager to take his place,

but the villager was discovered dead,

and Gabriel roams the world, insane.

Today, the lottery has been held again.

This time, it is Catherine Collins who has been chosen.

[suspenseful music]

I don't know how you can smile at a time like this.

It's good to know I have you, Morgan.

It's good to know I have someone to care about me.

I knew it would be this way.

I knew it would be you.

You know, I almost think I knew it, too.

Catherine, I'm not going to let it happen.

I am not going to let you go into that room.

[dramatic flourish]

[surf whispers]

[eerie theme music]

Morgan, the lottery has been held.

We agreed on the rules beforehand,

I must go into the room.

- Oh, but Catherine-- - Oh, Darling.

It isn't fair.

We've only been married for such a short time.

You don't understand,

one thing or another may happen to you.

You may die, or you may go insane.

I can't bear the thought of that, Catherine.

And, I won't let it happen to you.

I wanna take your place.

That's impossible, the family would never allow it.

Alright, then I'll order a carriage.

We can be gone long before dusk.

Morgan, what are you saying?

I'm going to take you away from Collinwood,

as far as we can go.

Do you think that will solve anything?

MORGAN: If it'll keep you out of the room,

I'm willing to do it, yes.

Morgan, this family has believed in this curse

for a very long time,

and they all say that you can't run away from it,

that it will find you wherever you go.

Well, I'm willing to take that chance.

Morgan, you can't run away from something

that you must face.

Catherine, Gabriel went into that room,

and he faced it for a short time.

Now, look what happened to him.

He's running through the woods, crazed.

The police are after him.

I don't want that to happen to you.

Morgan, it won't happen to me,

because I don't believe in the curse.

I never have, and I never will.

I know what happens to people when they go in that room.

And what is that?

They become the victims of their own fear.

Do you really believe that if you go in that room,

you won't die, and you won't go insane?

It's exactly what I believe.

It's fear...

Fear alone.

Everyone who has gone in there has believed

that some horrible, unknown fate awaited him...

And, there's no fear more terrifying

than the fear of the unknown.

Well, how do you account for Tim Braithwight?

Tim Braithwight?

Tim Braithwight was the man that Gabriel hired

to take his place in that room.

He knew about that, about the legend.

I've thought about that,

and I think Gabriel may have k*lled him.

Gabriel?

Yes, I know Gabriel was only in the room for a short time,

but he may have been in there long enough

for his fear to drive him mad.

And, if he was mad when Tim Braithwight came in there,

he may have k*lled him.

For someone who doesn't believe in that room,

you seem to have been doing a lot of thinking about it.

Yes, and all of my thinking

has not changed the way I feel.

Catherine, you're as strong and as brave

as anyone I've even known,

but it is not possible.

You're as wrong about that room,

please, let me take you away from this.

No, Morgan.

Sooner or later,

someone has got to prove that the room and curse are a myth.

Now, I will go into that room.

I will go without fear,

confident that I will come out again tomorrow,

sane and healthy as I am right now.

Morgan, I will break the curse.

I know I will.

[suspenseful flourish]

[mysterious music]

MEMORY OF CATHERINE'S WORDS: It's you I must speak to,

Bramwell.

The truth is for you alone.

I'm going to have a child...

And the child is yours.

Oh, Catherine.

Catherine.

[door thunks]

WOMAN: Bramwell, I'm back.

[eerie music]

Hello, Daphne.

Well, you don't look very happy to see me.

I am, of course, I am.

Bramwell, has something happened?

BRAMWELL: No, nothing.

Well, perhaps you're just having second thoughts.

But, you look so lovely.

Radiant, and so innocent.

I love you.

[loud knocking]

[eerie music]

[wind whistling]

Good afternoon, Julia.

You look rather disappointed.

Were you expecting someone else?

No, I wasn't expecting anyone.

JULIA: May I come in?

Please, do.

[wind whistling]

I've come to offer you both congratulations

on behalf of the family.

Thank you, Julia.

And, to give you this.

What is it?

Oh, you might call it the official family wedding gift.

Do open it, Bramwell.

[suspenseful music]

Oh, it's a portrait of my father.

The one you've always admired, so.

Laura and I both felt that this was the place for it,

and this seemed to be the logical time to give it to you.

DAPHNE: I've never seen a portrait of Barnabas Collins,

you look very much like him, Bramwell.

So I've been told.

Well, thank you, Julia,

and do extend my appreciation to Flora.

Of course.

Would you like to stay and have a brandy?

Alright, just one.

I'll be right back.

[suspenseful music]

I'm glad we have this moment to talk alone, Daphne.

Why, Julia?

Are you aware

that we held the lottery again this afternoon?

No, no, I had no idea.

I know that there's been some coolness,

between you and your sister,

but I feel that you should know

that Catherine drew the losing.

Julia, do you mean that Catherine's got to go

into that room?

Yes, at dusk.

Julia.

[suspenseful music]

Were you planning to tell me, or just Daphne?

I see no harm in your knowing it, too.

Bramwell, we've got to stop her.

No one can do that.

She's been chosen, she must go.

It is a point of honor in the family.

No one would avoid doing his or her duty.

Gabriel did.

JULIA: Yes, and he's paying for it, now.

You all have to pay a price for being Collinses,

don't you?

I don't know what you mean?

You all seem to look upon that lottery

with some strange pride.

In your minds,

you've turned that room into some family tradition,

as though it were an honor for anyone to go in there.

A duty is a duty.

Well, I'll keep my faith in Catherine,

and hope that she'll retain enough common sense

not to go through with this.

Catherine is resigned to what she must do.

No, I don't believe that.

It's true.

Daphne, if Catherine,

Daphne!

[dramatic flourish]

Daphne!

[suspenseful music]

Daphne.

Catherine, I had to come.

I know we've had our differences,

but they must be put aside now.

Catherine, you're my sister, and I do love you,

and I don't wanna see anything bad happen to you.

Please, Catherine, please, don't go into that room tonight.

[dramatic flourish]

[suspenseful music]

I'm afraid there's nothing to discuss, Daphne.

I intend to do what is expected of me.

But it's madness, Catherine--

Do you really believe any harm will come to me?

I don't know what'll happen to you,

but I do know that history of that room,

and I don't think the risk is worth taking.

I appreciate your concern, I really do.

But, I sincerely believe that I'll be alright.

[scoffs] you do fit in well with this family,

you're pride is just as insufferable as theirs.

I don't believe that,

you speak as a member of this family, too, now.

Another branch of the family.

[eerie music]

Are you happy with Bramwell?

Since we've been married less than a day,

I'd say it's a bit early for an answer.

I wonder how long it will be,

before you realize what a mistake you've made.

I didn't come here to discuss my marriage.

Then, why did you come?

Morgan.

She is trying to convince me not to go into the room.

Morgan, you're not going to let her go through with it.

I tried to stop her,

but I guess I didn't have as much success as you did.

And so, you gave up, just like that?

You gave into her?

Morgan, you can forbid it, you're her husband.

Daphne, the subject is closed.

And, you won't reconsider.

No.

You know, I think you actually want to go into that room.

[dramatic flourish]

Is your own life so miserable that you're willing to end it?

I won't have that talk in this house.

Good day, Daphne.

[dramatic music]

[suspenseful music]

I was afraid you hadn't got my note.

Oh, but I found it difficult to get away from the house

without arousing suspicion.

But, I know why you want to see me.

So, I might as well tell you what I've told everyone else.

You still insist on going through with this.

CATHERINE: Yes.

Even knowing what we both now know.

Bramwell, I've given you all my reasons.

Have you considered the consequences

of going into that room?

Yes, I have.

Carrying that child, our child.

I have given that the most consideration.

I hope that if I go into the room tonight,

the child will be spared a lifetime of misery.

perhaps years from now,

he won't have to go through a day of terror just like this.

You keep saying perhaps.

There's still doubt in your mind.

No.

No, there's no doubt.

I will go into that room without fear,

and I will overcome the curse.

If you've become a Collins in such a short time,

you've made up your mind,

and no power on Earth's gonna stop you.

You're concerned because of the child, aren't you,

not because of me.

I'm concerned about you as well as the child.

I once called this curse and this lottery

a lot of superstitious nonsense.

I could afford to say that then,

because I didn't care who was going in there,

but now, you're going in, and that's different.

Nothing must happen to you, Catherine.

Nothing.

[melancholic music]

I never would have dreamed,

when we met, before that church, so long ago...

That we would ever be forced to meet together like this.

Catherine.

My darling.

[dramatic flourish]

[eerie music]

Oh, Bramwell.

We'll never stop being drawn to each other.

This is wrong, terribly wrong.

We're both married, now.

But, you're going to have our baby.

- Goodbye, Bramwell. - Catherine.

Please reconsider.

[melancholic music]

[suspenseful music]

[door thunks]

Morgan.

Yes, Julia?

Where have you been?

I had to go to the express office,

to pick up a package.

Why?

Well, I was worried about you.

Why were you worried about me, Julia?

Well, when I couldn't find you, I thought--

MORGAN: You thought what, Julia?

Speak up.

Morgan, I know how you feel about Catherine,

and I know you don't want her to go into that room,

and I was afraid

that you might have thought of some way of interfering.

I see.

Well, I'll put your mind at ease.

I have resigned myself to the fact

that Catherine must go into that room,

and she must do it alone.

I do have one request, however.

Oh, what's that?

I don't think I could dread going with her,

taking her down that corridor,

seeing her face before she goes in.

I wonder--

[uneasy music]

I understand.

Would you please do it for me, Julia?

Yes, yes I will.

And, I want you to know that I, too, understand.

[uneasy music]

Catherine.

When the time comes, Morgan,

we'll have our moment right here.

The two of us, darling.

Darling.

[suspenseful music]

[wind whistling]

[suspenseful music]

I felt I had to.

Do you understand?

I want to understand why you had to see Catherine,

Bramwell.

In times of crisis,

well, one can never completely erase the past.

Memories come back, memories that demand certain actions.

[melancholic music]

She's risking her life.

And, I couldn't let her go without trying to stop her.

Are you sure that's all there is to it?

[melancholic music]

Yes, I'm sure.

Well then, I do understand.

And, I love you all the more for it.

You mustn't say that.

Why not, it's true.

Well, you could never hate Catherine,

and that's as it should be.

You're a good man, Bramwell.

And, deep down, a very gentle one.

Bramwell, I'm going to make you a good wife.

I'll do everything in my power to make you happy.

I believe that.

We'll travel and we'll work very hard together,

and someday,

it'll be you that all the Collinses look up to.

You and your son.

[suspenseful flourish]

My son?

Someday, Bramwell,

I want to give you a son you'll be very, very proud of.

[melancholic music]

Oh, Daphne.

Daphne.

Well, what's wrong?

Tell me what's wrong?

[suspenseful flourish]

[suspenseful music]

She's in there, Morgan.

[eerie music]

It's time, my darling.

Yes.

[eerie music]

But, Morgan, it's not a farewell.

Everything will be alright tomorrow morning, you'll see.

When I come out, I'll be just the same.

But, you'll be different, all of you.

Happily different.

[eerie music]

[suspenseful music]

Go on, Julia.

Open the door.

[suspenseful music]

[key rattles]

- There's something wrong. - Well, what is it?

I'm certain this is the right key.

[suspenseful music]

MORGAN: It's the right key, Julia,

but the lock has been changed.

CATHERINE: Morgan!

Yes, Catherine.

I'm in here.

JULIA: Morgan, Morgan, come out of there, at once.

It's too late.

Quentin has the only key to the new lock,

and I made him promise that he would give it to no one.

I am taking your place, Catherine.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

[dramatic flourish]

[eerie theme music]