387 - December 19, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[Angelique narrating] - A séance was held in the great house of Collinwood,

a séance, which sent Victoria Winters back

on an uncertain and frightening journey to the past,

back to the Collins family, who lived in the year .

It is a time of intrigue and terror

in the old Collins mansion.

The family fears the presence of a witch in the house

and a decision has been made to find and destroy her.

- Ms. Winters was bound securely to the tree.

She could not possibly have freed herself.

Someone must have untied those ropes for her.

- Are you suggesting, Reverend,

that it was someone in this house,

a member of this family?

- I am saying that whoever helped her escape

is also in league with the devil

and that can mean only one thing.

- And what is that, sir?

- That there is more than one agent of Satan at work here.

We are dealing with a coven of witches.

They must all be found out and destroyed one by one.

- And how do you propose to do that, sir?

- I shall start by interrogating every person in this house.

- Do you mean to say that you think this coven of yours

is to be found here?

- I did not say it would be, sir,

but I would point out to you that at a time like this,

no one should be above suspicion.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

Do I have your permission to proceed at once, Mr. Collins?

- I must ask you not to let this regrettable situation

go out of your control.

- What do you mean?

- I expect you to exercise sound judgment

and to proceed with full of caution.

- Mr. Collins, my knowledge in these matters

is the result of many long years of experience.

- The prestige of the Collins family name, sir,

is the result of many long years of hard work,

dedication to high principles and the devotion to God.

A scandal must not be risked at any cost.

Do you understand that?

- Completely, sir.

- Very well.

Then I place my house at your disposal.

You may begin whenever and with whomever you choose.

- Mr. Collins, am I to understand

that you are taking this gentleman seriously?

- That is correct, sir.

If there is a witch in this house, I want her removed.

- And you are willing to subject your family

and your guests to the embarrassment

of being interrogated by this self-styled witch hunter?

- I am confident that the reverend will exercise

proper discretion.

- Now, a moment ago,

he said there was no one inside this house

who was above suspicion.

Now, that hardly seems the remark

of a discrete and responsible man.

- I find your protestations most interesting, Mr. duPrés.

I must ask you why you object to being interrogated

in this matter.

- I object because I find the whole matter

to be utterly ridiculous.

- This house has fallen under the spell of a witch.

Everyone is involved.

- I am a civilized man, sir.

I come from a civilized country,

where such childish notions were cast out centuries ago.

I refuse to be questioned by this man.

- Mr. duPrés, you cannot deny that various strange

and unusual things have been going on in this house.

- No, I cannot. - Well, very well then,

whether they are the result of witchcraft or not,

I am anxious to get to the bottom of it.

And now, I fail to realize why you will not cooperate.

- Perhaps the gentleman has a very good reason,

Mr. Collins.

- What do you mean by that, sir?

- Refusal to cooperate could mean many things,

a desire to protect oneself or to shield someone else.

- The reverend is implying

that I might have something to hide.

- Do you?

- Don't be absurd.

- Then what harm can there be in answering a few simple,

direct questions? - None.

It's a matter of principle. - Principle nonsense!

I want this matter settled and done with!

As the master of this house,

I must insist that you submit to any questions

that the reverend put to you!

- Very well!

I'll go along with this nonsense.

- Mr. duPrés -- - But I trust the record if there is to be a record.

It will show that I proceeded under duress and also,

will maybe fortunate enough to show that I was questioned

by a complete idiot!

♪♪

- Good day, Lieutenant.

- Hello, Angelique.

- How odd to see you here.

- Odd? Why?

- Because this is a servant's entrance.

Members of the family and their guests

never go in and out here.

- Oh. Have I broken one of the rules of the house?

- That depends on what you were doing in the kitchen.

- Nothing. I was just passing through on the way out.

Listen, if I have broken any rules,

you won't say anything, will you?

- Oh, what have you got there?

- Where?

- In that bundle. - Oh! This?

Nothing. This is just an old shirt.

I was on my way out back to burn it.

- Oh. I wouldn't do that if I were you.

- No? Why not?

- Because it smells too delicious to burn.

It smells almost good enough to eat.

- All right, Angelique.

I borrowed a little food from the kitchen.

- Borrowed?

- Yes.

You won't tell anyone, will you?

I - I just decided to go on a little picnic

and I was too lazy to go all the way into Collinsport

to get my own provisions.

- Do you always go on a picnic in the woods alone,

Lieutenant, and in such cold weather?

- Well, as a matter of fact, I'd like nothing better

than the company of a pretty woman.

Perhaps you'd like to come with me?

- Perhaps some other time.

- Oh. I'd like to - I'd like it to be now, wouldn't you?

- Oh. Well, I am sorry.

I - I have duties to attend to in the house.

You must excuse me.

- Angelique,

this - this will be our little secret, won't it?

- Oh, don't worry, Lieutenant,

I won't tell a soul.

- Thank you.

Someday, I'll return the favor.

- What a conceited fool you are, Lieutenant Forbes.

You did not deceive me for a moment.

I know you are taking that food to Victoria Winters.

- All of the other servants were performing their duties

when they were called.

Why wasn't this, whatever her name is --

- Angelique. - Yes.

Why is she suddenly missing?

- Well, Reverend, she is not one of our servants.

She belongs to the duPrés family.

- The duPrés family.

Even their servant's behavior is now suspect.

What matter of people are these anyway?

- They are the richest and most influential family

on the island of Martinique.

- They are also arrogant and sacrilegious.

If Mr. duPrés is any example --

- Mr. Collins.

My mistress said that you wanted to see me.

- Are you Angelique?

- Yes.

- Where have you been?

- I was walking in the woods.

- Do you know who I am?

- You're the Reverend Trask.

- And do you know why I am here?

- Well, everyone knows you are here to find a witch.

- To find as many witches as there are here.

- Is there more than one?

- That is what I want you to tell me.

- But I don't know.

- We shall find out what you know

and what you don't know.

Sit down, girl.

I am told you came here with the duPrés family,

from Martinique.

- Yes.

- Do you believe in the Almighty?

- Oh, of course. - And fear him?

- Yes.

- Do you consider yourself his obedient servant?

- Yes, I do.

- Then tell me what you know of the sorcery

that has afflicted the people in this house.

- I know nothing, nothing at all.

- Have you been baptized?

- No, sir. - Why not?

- My mother and father died when I was very young.

- Why haven't the duPrés family had you baptized?

- I don't know, sir. - I think you do know.

Your answers are not at all satisfactory.

- Well, I'm sorry, sir. - You shall be sorrier still

if you are trying to obstruct the will of God.

Why were you walking in the woods?

- I had no reason.

I went to get some air.

- Were you alone?

- Yes.

- Why?

Do you always go walking alone in the woods?

- Yes, but -- - What is there about the woods

that make you want to be there alone?

- Well, I don't know.

- Yes, you know all right,

and before you leave this room,

you're going to tell me.

♪♪

You're being evasive.

You're trying to deceive me.

- Oh, no, I'm not!

- Then tell me why you were walking alone in the woods.

- I told you! I do not know!

- There is something about the woods that fascinates you,

that draws you to them, isn't that right?

- Well, I've never thought of it in that way before.

- Perhaps there is someone you go there to see. - No.

- Someone like the devil himself!

- Oh, no!

- I go walking in the woods alone!

- Everything must have a reason

and you have not given me one!

- It is not to communicate with the devil!

He has never tempted me and he never will!

- You mean, he has tried?

- Well, he tries to tempt everyone, does he not?

- But you are too strong for him,

is that what you're trying to tell me?

- The devil knows that my loyalty is to my God.

- Is that what you've told him?

- I've never seen him.

- Not even in the woods?

- No.

- Then why do you go there?

- If I told you, you would not believe me.

- Tell me.

- I go to the woods alone

because it is quiet and peaceful

and I long to be close to - to communicate to God.

- By your own admission, you have not even been baptized,

how can you ever hope to be close to God?

- Sometimes, when I'm alone, I feel that I am.

Sometimes, I close my eyes, I hear voices and I see images.

- Graven images!? - Oh, no!

Oh, you must believe me!

I longed to be a child of religion,

to feel a part of it!

And I do feel it!

Now! At this very minute!

- What are you talking about, girl?

- I began to feel it a moment ago.

Closer to God than I've ever felt in my life.

- Open your eyes!

- No. I begin to see something.

My whole body is filled with a strange sensation.

It must be religion.

And, Reverend, you're responsible.

- Tell me what it is you see.

- It's becoming clearer and clearer.

Oh, I've never felt this way before in my life!

- What is it, Reverend?

What is happening to the girl?

- She's either a complete charlatan

or she is indeed having a spiritual revelation.

Tell me what it is you see.

Describe it to me.

- It's a house.

- What kind of a house? Where is it?

- It's a very large house and it's new,

there's no one there.

- Do you know of such a house, Mr. Collins?

- Yes. Collinwood.

It will be the family's new home when it's completed.

- There's no one there, but I hear voices,

a man and a woman are speaking.

- Do you recognize these voices?

- No, no.

- How far is Collinwood from here, Mr. Collins?

- It's on the hill, overlooking the ocean,

about minutes walk from here.

- I should like to go there at once.

- What on earth for?

- This child has just had a most amazing

spiritual revelation.

If I am not mistaken,

the witch we are looking for will be found at Collinwood.

♪♪

- Ah!

My humblest apologies, Ms. Winters!

- What for?

- I forgot to bring you salt.

- You're as hungry as I am.

Lieutenant, I want to thank you

for being so kind and helpful to me.

- Oh, it's been my pleasure.

- I hope you haven't put yourself in any danger

by helping me.

- Well, as long as no one knows about it,

I can't be in any danger.

- Are you sure that no one saw you come here?

- Positive. I had only one close call.

Angelique saw me leaving the house with the food,

but I - I made her promise not to tell anyone.

- I'm sure she won't.

How long do you think I'll have to stay here?

- I don't know.

Barnabas went to his father this morning,

but apparently, Abigail had gotten to him first.

He's allowing Trask to stay.

- No.

If only there was some way that I could get back.

- Back where?

- Back to my world, back to my time.

- You do say the strangest things.

- There has to be a way.

In order for me to come here,

I - I had to transcend time and space,

but how could I do that? How?

- You --

Ms. Winters, I - I don't know how or why you got here

or where you came from,

but I do know that you'd better stop talking like that

or pretty soon even your friends will begin

to have doubts about you.

♪♪

- Forgive me, Lieutenant, I was just thinking out loud.

- Well, you must stop doing that

because the things you say make no sense whatsoever.

- No.

Of course it - it couldn't make any sense to you.

I should have stopped to consider that.

- Well, it's not because I am stupid that they make no sense.

The things you say defy all logic and reason,

"transcending time and space."

It's no wonder the reverend is convinced that you're a witch.

- I hope that you are not beginning to think I'm a witch.

- Ms. Winters, in spite of the way I sometimes behave,

I - I do think of myself as an intelligent,

open-minded person.

No, I don't think you're a witch,

but you are a most unusual person.

In fact, I - I don't know what to think of you.

- All I ask is that you think well of me.

Please believe me when I say that I am not a bad person.

- Well, I don't know why, but that, I do believe.

- Then I can continue to count on your helping me?

- Oh, yes.

I won't tell anyone where you are.

[door opening]

- The family will move in here

as soon as the work men have finished,

in about another month.

- Yes, I can sense it.

- Sense what?

- The girl was right.

There is an evil spirit in this house.

[Reverend Trask] I can sense it.

It would be a mistake for you and your family to move in here

before the spirits have been driven out.

- Just how does one go about sensing an evil spirit?

I've always been curious about that.

- What was that?

- What?

- I believe it came from in there.

- Lieutenant Forbes! - Oh.

- What are you doing in this house?

- Hello, Mr. Collins, I just --

- Well, speak up, man!

- Well, the fact is, sir,

that Barnabas has spoken to me so often

about the fine architecture of this house,

I just was quite anxious to come over and have a look around.

- It's just customary to request the permission

of the master of a house

before one sets foot inside its door.

- Yes. I - I know, sir. I'm sorry.

I tried to look for you this morning.

I couldn't find you.

- Well, then you were incumbent to wait upon me

until you did find me!

- My apologies, sir. It will not happen again.

- It had better not!

[Reverend Trask] - Where is she, Lieutenant?

[Lt. Forbes] - Where is who?

[Reverend Trask] - The witch!

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

- I don't believe you came to this house

to inspect the architecture, Lieutenant.

I believe you have just lied to Mr. Collins

because you are trying to protect the girl.

- Is that true?

[Lt. Forbes] - If he's referring to Ms. Winters,

I have no idea where she is.

[Reverend Trask] - You had better tell us the truth, Lieutenant.

It will go better for you, if you do.

- I tend to agree with the reverend, Lieutenant.

Tell us why you are here.

- Sir, I just told you that I -- - That explanation is not satisfactory!

- I suggest we search the entire house room by room.

Do I have your permission, sir?

- By all means, Reverend.

In fact, the lieutenant and I will accompany you.

- Are your workmen in the habit

of leaving this window opened, Mr. Collins?

- They should not. I will speak to them about it.

- That might not be necessary, sir.

- What do you mean?

- You don't allow your workmen to eat in this house, do you?

- Certainly not!

- Someone has been eating here,

but I should say, it hasn't been too long ago.

The food is still quite fresh.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪