289 - August 3, 1967

[bunniefuu]

(Victoria narrating) - There are those who watch in the night.

They move about unseen,

covered by the mantle of darkness.

Some who are watched never become aware of it.

But others who are more sensitive

can feel the burning eyes upon them.

(thunder rumbling)

(Josette's music box playing)

(knocking on door)

- Come in.

- Vicki, I didn't know whether you'd be awake.

- Who can sleep with all that going on out there?

- Don't I know it.

I heard your music box playing.

- It makes me feel better.

- I wish I had something to make me feel better.

I just can't seem to go to sleep.

- Carolyn...

Before you came in, I was looking out the window.

I thought I saw someone out there.

- Oh, Vicki, don't tell me that.

(thunder crashing)

- Look! Over there!

Doesn't it look like someone's standing behind that tree?

- It seems as though there's someone

standing behind every tree out there tonight...

watching and waiting.

Now I feel worse than ever.

- I'm sorry.

I was just so sure that I saw someone standing there.

**

(eerie music)

**

(thunder rumbling)

- Well, I'm certainly not gonna stand here

and let the lightning flash at me.

- Well, then, let's not spend the night

commiserating about the weather.

Let's do something about it.

- Like what?

- Like going to sleep and waking up in the morning

to see the sunshine.

- What a wonderful idea. Let me know if it works.

- Carolyn, I'll sit up with you if you'd really like me to.

- No, Vicki. I'm all right.

Just call me Miss Jitters of .

I'll see you in the morning.

Good night. - Good night.

(thunder crashing)

(Josette's music box playing)

(music box stops)

**

(thunder rumbling)

(Josette's music box playing)

(music box stops)

(light switch clicking)

(knocking on door)

- Who is it? - It's Carolyn.

- Oh... come in!

- Did I wake you?

- No, I... I was already awake.

What happened? The lights don't work.

- Oh, a power failure again.

I was sitting there, trying to read,

when suddenly the lights went out.

You can imagine how I feel now. - I was asleep.

- Well, then, I did waken you.

- No.

It was the music box. It was playing.

- Well, you were listening to it before.

You must have fallen asleep.

- No. I know that I shut it.

Somehow, it started playing again.

- Perhaps the top popped open.

- There's nothing wrong with the catch.

(music box plays, stops)

See? Carolyn, I don't understand it.

(thunder crashing)

Carolyn, I-- I have the feeling that something was here.

Something was here in this room with me.

- Not now.

- I have the feeling that I was in some kind of danger,

but then something intervened.

(thunder rumbling)

(music box playing)

**

(thunder rumbling)

- I'm sure a good strong cup of coffee

will shake this awful feeling out of us.

- Well, if nothing else, at least it'll keep us awake.

- That's exactly what I want. I wouldn't dare go to sleep now.

- Miss Hoffman? - Oh, good evening...

or should I say good morning? - You'd better make it morning.

You're up awfully late. - Aren't we all?

- Doesn't it bother you, the lights being out?

- Well, it does interfere with my reading.

Candlelight isn't conducive to good vision.

- We came down for some coffee.

- Oh, Mrs. Johnson has already beaten you to it.

The coffee must be perking by now.

- Oh, good, I'll ask her to set out a few more cups.

I'll be right back. - All right.

- Miss Winters, I'd like to talk to you for a moment.

- Of course.

- I'd like to ask you some more questions about Josette Collins.

- Well, I think that Barnabas Collins

can fill you in a lot better on her that I can.

- Yes, but I-- I'd like to know your impressions of her.

(exhaling)

You've worn her dress, you've slept in her bed.

I wondered if there are any insights

that you gained from the experience?

- Well, I think she was a very warm person.

She liked people and she liked parties,

and she loved fine clothes.

- Hmm. She had good taste, then? - Oh, yes.

You remember her room, how beautifully it was furnished.

- Mmm, I certainly do. But-- but why is it

that you're so particularly interested in Josette?

- Well, you know, she's made several contacts through me.

I've always wondered why she chose me to be her medium.

- Was there anything else that specifically

stimulated your interest?

- Well, there was the restoration of the old house

and seeing her room, and, of course,

talking to Barnabas Collins about her.

- Mmm, yes, Barnabas Collins. I imagine he influenced you too.

- Well, I think that Josette was his favorite too.

He knows so much about her. - So I've learned.

It was his idea that you wear Josette's dress

at the party, wasn't it?

- Yes, it was. - Did you want to do that?

- Of course. I felt very honored

that he would want me to come as Josette.

- What's that you have? - Oh, it's a music box.

- Oh, it's quite beautiful.

- It belonged to Josette. - Josette?

- Yes. Mr. Collins gave it to me.

- Barnabas Collins gave it to you?

Would it be too personal a question to ask why?

- No, not at all. He-- he said it was out of gratitude

for having me help him make his party a success.

It's the most wonderful present I've ever gotten.

Would you like to hear it? - Yes, yes, very much.

(music box playing)

- Isn't it a beautiful melody? - Yes, it is.

- I especially love the tinkling sound it makes.

- Yes, it does have a tinkling quality to it.

Someone, recently, was trying to describe a melody to me.

It was a... It was a tinkling melody,

just like this one.

**

(music box playing)

- I love this melody. I play it over and over.

- Why do you do that?

- I told you-- because I love it.

(music box stops)

Josette used to play it over and over also.

Miss Hoffman, why are you asking

so many questions about Josette?

- She's fascinating from an historical

and literary point of view.

- Yes, I... I suppose I can understand that.

Josette was the kind of woman that anyone would want to be.

Everything about her was so distinct, even her perfume.

- What do you know about her perfume?

- It was Jasmine. - Jasmine...

That's a rather strong fragrance, isn't it?

- Oh, yes, very strong. And very unforgettable.

Mr. Collins let me wear some the night of the party.

- Mr. Collins had some?

- Yes, it's in a bottle in Josette's room.

- A strong fragrance... and a tinkling melody.

How very, very interesting.

Mr. Collins allows you to wear Josette's dress and perfume,

fills you in on her history, and gives you the music box.

- What are you trying to say?

- Wouldn't it seem that he's trying to re-create Josette?

- No, absolutely not!

I-- I think that that's an absurd notion.

- Oh, it's just a thought, an impression I had.

- Why do you ask so many questions?

- It's the nature of my work.

- But all of your questions are directed at Barnabas Collins.

- I'm interested in the Barnabas Collins of the last century.

- I don't like what you're insinuating.

- I'm not insinuating, I'm merely observing.

- Well, I'm not sure that I'm interested

in any of your observations. - I'm sorry.

- I'm-- I'm very tired. Excuse me.

- But the coffee will be here.

- Vicki, here's the coffee.

- I'm tired. I don't want any.

(thunder rumbling)

- She seemed upset.

(thunder crashing)

- Mmm, the coffee smells good.

I guess it must have been the storm that upset her.

- No, I don't think it was the storm.

- Oh? Thank you. - I think it was the music box.

- The music box? - Yes, it woke her up.

She said she turned it off,

but when she wakened, it was playing.

- Well, perhaps unconsciously, she--

she reached out and-- and opened it.

- Well, there's more to it than that.

She thought that someone had been in the room.

She's been terribly apprehensive all evening.

I've been nervous about this storm, but...

She kept looking out the window,

thinking she saw someone

standing there in the driving rain.

You know how it is with the lightning.

- Yes. Tell me, do you think that...

Miss Winters has a--

has an inclination for the-- the supernatural?

- Well, I never really thought about it that way,

but strange things do seem to happen to her.

- And-- and Barnabas Collins...

- Oh, there.

That's more like it.

Well, now I have to go around the house,

shutting off some of the lights.

Are you going up?

- I-- I think I'll stay here and finish my coffee.

- Fine. Good night, then.

- Good night.

(thunder crashing)

**

(door closing)

**

- The storm's almost over. - I can see that.

- It's getting close to dawn. - I know.

It's something I always know, something I can't control.

I wish I could control it, though.

I wish I could hold back the dawn

and make the night eternal,

but that's a power that will never come to me.

I want you to go into Portland this morning.

Have you the list of items that we need?

- Right here.

- Well, I want you back as soon as possible.

- I will.

- Well, I want you to look after the house with great care.

- Well, I do.

- But Miss Winters was here the other day.

- Well, you said she could come here anytime she wanted to.

- I know, but she came with that Hoffman woman.

I don't really know who she is,

but she asks too many questions-- too many.

I don't want her around here.

- I'll watch out.

- Well, it's time for me to go downstairs.

You may as well leave now.

- Okay, I'll get back fast.

**

(birds singing)

**

(hinges creaking)

**

(eerie music)

**