1239 - March 24, 1971

[bunniefuu]

[eerie music]

NARRATOR:The Great House at Collinwood

in the year .

A time when unrelenting terror held sway

over the Collins family.

Haunted by a curse placed on them years ago

by one of their own ancestors,

every generation of the family

has undergone death and madness.

On this night, as the family waits to learn what terror

the curse will bring them next, tragedy of another kind

has just occurred at the Old House on the estate.

[suspenseful music]

Bramwell?

Julia just told me that Daphne's taken a turn for the worse.

I came as quickly as I could.

Bramwell, what is it?

Please, tell me it isn't true.

Daphne is dead.

She d*ed a few minutes ago.

[dramatic music]

[eerie theme music]

She d*ed peacefully, without pain.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Why couldn't it have been me?

I'm the one who deserved it.

We can't think that way now, it isn't what she wanted.

She was so young, so full of life.

She had everything to live for.

A person like that doesn't want to die.

The will to die has got to be inflicted upon them.

And we inflicted it, didn't we?

You say she d*ed without pain.

What about the pain that we brought into her life?

God, I wish I was dead.

I feel I must tell you that she had

one last wish before she went.

She said she wanted you and me to be together and happy.

Oh, please stop it.

You're making it worse.

I'm sorry.

[sniffles]

I'd like to go up and see her again, if it's all right.

Just one more time.

No, please.

I'd like to go by myself, if you don't mind.

[eerie music]

[door opens]

[door closes]

[Kendrick laughs]

Julia, we have the most wonderful surprise for everyone.

Surprise?

Melanie is now Mrs. Kendrick Young.

We were married in the village an hour ago.

Well, aren't you going to congratulate us, Ms. Collins?

Julia, this can't possibly come as a shock to you.

Please, please forgive me.

Bramwell was just here and we were talking,

and then Josette came in and said that Daphne

had taken a sudden turn for the worse.

Julia, is she, is she still alive?

I don't know.

I'm waiting to hear now.

After Bramwell went back to the Old House,

I told Catherine about it, and then she went there, too.

I'd like to go and see her, Kendrick.

JULIA: No.

No, I think it's best for us to stay here and wait.

Sometimes it seems we spend most of our lives

waiting for death to come.

Melanie, I'm so sorry you had to come back to this news.

This should be one of the happiest nights for you.

Now, for my congratulations, Mr. Young,

and welcome to the family.

Thank you.

And why not get used to calling me Kendrick?

JULIA: All right, and you call me Julia.

I wish you every happiness.

Thank you, Julia.

There is one thing that troubles me.

KENDRICK: What is it?

Have you made any plans?

[laughs] We've been married less than an hour.

No, we have made no plans.

I just wondered if you and Melanie

would be staying here, at Collinwood?

The fact is, we intend to, at least temporarily.

Oh, you don't know how much that pleases me.

Melanie, I'll have one of the servants

prepare a room for you and Kendrick.

Thank you, Julia.

I think I would like to go upstairs.

[door slams]

Catherine, how is Daphne?

She's dead.

[dramatic music]

Oh no, no.

[crying]

It's just so hard to accept the fact

that I'll never see her again.

Death is, death is something that we have to accept,

in order to go on living.

[crying]

I never knew Daphne very well, but I did pray for her.

MELANIE: That's good of you.

No, not at all.

I think it was selfish of me.

Why do you say that?

Perhaps now isn't the time to discuss it.

It must be discussed.

The family will have to be told, of course,

and I am particularly worried about how Morgan will react.

MELANIE: Morgan?

Ever since Daphne became ill,

he has been especially bitter toward Bramwell.

I can't understand that.

Morgan didn't know Daphne any better than you did.

Why should he be bitter?

Oh, bitterness is only a surface reaction.

Beneath that is fear.

Fear of what?

JULIA: With Daphne gone, Bramwell will be free.

Free to be a rival for your affections.

I'm not going to let anything like that happen.

I'm not as worried about what you will do

as I am about Morgan.

If this fear takes hold of him,

there's no knowing what will happen.

Julia, you don't have to, you don't have to worry.

I'll go to Morgan immediately and tell him,

and tell him he's to leave Bramwell alone.

[tense music]

[laughing]

KENDRICK: I love you, Melanie.

I love you.

KENDRICK: I know you're still upset about Daphne.

I'm sorry, Kendrick.

It isn't fair to you.

KENDRICK: No, no, no, don't talk that way.

You should be happy tonight.

KENDRICK: Both of us should.

But, I can't be, don't you understand that?

KENDRICK: Of course I understand,

but there's a million other nights left.

Melanie, you've got a beautiful new life ahead of you.

Don't you believe it?

I want so very much to believe it,

but I don't know if I will ever be able to,

as long as the curse goes on.

As long as death and madness are all we know in this house.

[wind howling]

[suspenseful music]

[knocking on door]

[door knob rattling]

[door closes]

May I come in?

BRAMWELL: Catherine has told you?

JULIA: Yes.

BRAMWELL: I suppose you've come as the official spokesman

for the family with the family condolences.

JULIA: Yes, yes, I have.

I know you all so well.

I know every move you make before you make it.

Well, you've given your condolences,

and I extend my gratitude.

The ritual is over.

Good night.

You mean you really don't believe in our sincerity?

BRAMWELL: I don't know, and at the moment, I don't care.

I just want to be left alone.

I had, I had another reason for wanting to come here.

BRAMWELL: [sighs] What is it?

I believe that when the funeral is over,

it might be wise for you

to leave Collinwood.

[dramatic music]

Leave Collinwood?

I don't know what you're talking about.

I think my statement was plain enough.

But not the reason behind it.

Explain yourself.

I think you understand the reason.

I simply want to avert another incident like that duel.

Say no more.

It's all become crystal clear.

You're here on Morgan's behalf, of course.

He doesn't know I'm here.

No, I know he doesn't.

You never consult anyone when you're cooking up

one of your little schemes.

This is not a scheme.

I am genuinely concerned about the future.

I am afraid that if you stay here,

Morgan may try something foolish.

No, you're afraid that if he tries something foolish,

he may get himself k*lled.

Or you will.

No, Julia.

We both know, we both know perfectly well that,

well, that he doesn't stand a chance this time.

You haven't given me an answer.

Will you consider leaving?

My answer is, "No"!

This is where I belong, and this is where I'm staying.

JULIA: But, you know your presence here

can lead into trouble.

No force on Earth will make me leave Collinwood.

I vowed, five years ago, that I would come back here

a rich man someday, and see you people rot in hell.

Well, it took longer than I thought,

but I'm rich now, rich as any of you,

and I have one good reason for staying here.

Ah, and that reason is Catherine.

Yes, Catherine!

JULIA: It doesn't matter to you that she is married,

and happily, to another man?

Julia, you and I both know, just as Daphne knew,

there's only one man who could ever make Catherine happy.

Now, thank you for your advice, dear cousin.

Good night.

[tense music]

I'm so grateful that you spoke to me, Julia.

When I told Morgan about Daphne,

I was amazed at the depth of his anger.

He was all ready to go to the Old House, find Bramwell.

It was all I could do to stop him.

JULIA: But, you did stop him?

Yes, after a great deal of persuasion.

I finally did get him to give me his word

that he would leave Bramwell alone.

I hope he will keep his word, and I hope that Bramwell

will stay away from Collinwood.

[door opens]

Kendrick, where's Melanie?

Is something wrong?

No, nothing is wrong.

She's still very upset about Daphne.

I finally put her to bed.

She's sleeping now.

JULIA: I'm sure the rest will do her good.

If anything in this house can do her good.

I think you should know, Julia, I have had second thoughts

about something I said to you earlier.

JULIA: Oh, what was that?

I told you I planned to stay here for the time being.

I have reconsidered, Julia.

My stay here is going to be very brief.

I plan to take Melanie away as soon as I possibly can.

[suspenseful music]

[wind howling]

[shutters slamming]

What is happening?

Who is in this room?

[ominous laughing]

Who are you?

[Melanie screams]

Brutus.

Brutus Collins.

[dramatic music]

Why have you come to me, Brutus.

Why?

My curse must be fulfilled.

MELANIE: Oh, stay away from me.

You will help me, as you have helped me before.

You shall bring suffering upon them.

MELANIE: No, no, I don't want to hurt anyone.

You can't escape me.

Leave me alone, please.

Leave me alone.

I will have my revenge,

and you shall be the instrument of my revenge.

Amanda!

I'm not Amanda.

I'm Melanie.

You are Amanda,

and you must do as I tell you to do.

MELANIE: No, no, please.

No.

[crying]

Are you sure I can't persuade you to change your mind?

Only Melanie could do that, if she sincerely told me

that she wanted to stay, but I know she wants

to leave Collinwood, Julia.

But, what Melanie wants, and what is good for her,

are two different things.

I'm sorry, Julia.

I believe they're one and the same.

She must get out of this house.

Good night.

[tense music]

Melanie?

Melanie, where are you?

Melanie, where are you?

Answer me!

JULIA: Kendrick, what's wrong?

Melanie, she's not in her room.

Well, we've got to find her.

I've met you before.

You're not a Collins.

You don't belong here.

It's me, Kendrick.

MELANIE: My name is not Melanie, it's Amanda.

I warned you before to get out of this house,

but you didn't listen to me.

All in this house are destined to die.

And now, you are going to die with them.

JULIA: No, no, Melanie!

[grunting]

We've got to take her to the tower room and lock her up.

KENDRICK: No, we don't!

Yes, it's the only thing for her.

She's dangerous this way.

It's the best thing for her.

Come on, we've got to take her.

[clock chiming]

There, have this.

Now, you can see why Melanie must never leave this house.

All right, Julia.

Whatever you say.

But, only till this curse is done and finished with.

Then, I swear to you, we'll never come back here.

What do you think can be done about it?

[scoffs] I don't...

[wind howling]

[chandelier rattling]

Julia, what's happening?

I don't know!

[ominous laughing]

Julia, who's laughing?

I've heard it before.

It's Brutus.

It's the ghost of Brutus Collins.

A ghost?

Julia, look!

[Julia gasps]

Hear me and hear me well.

She will not be sane again.

Not until another Collins enters the locked room.

[dramatic music]

[eerie theme music]