433 - February 21, 1968

[bunniefuu]

[narrator] -A séance has been held in the great house at Collinwood,

a séance which has suspended time and space,

and sent one girl on a uncertain

and frightening journey into the past,

back to the Collins family in the year .

In the midst of a long reign of evil and terror,

Victoria Winters is forced to defend herself

against a charge of witchcraft.

- And there, late last evening in the woods,

not half a mile from the Collins mansion,

we discovered the lifeless body of Abigail Collins.

Long will I remember the look of unspeakable horror

frozen in to the features

of a once kind and gentle face.

It was as though she had been confronted by evil itself

and I submit to this court

that that is precisely what she did see,

that there is one in this court

who wanted to see Abigail Collins dead,

one who summoned up all the powers

endowed upon her by Satan himself

and used them to strike down a gentle

and God-fearing woman.

I charge the m*rder of Abigail Collins

to the witch on trial in this court,

Victoria Winters!

♪♪

[eerie theme music] ♪♪

- Your Honor, I ask the court

to strike Mr. Trask's last remarks.

- On what ground, sir?

- On the grounds that everything you said is irrelevant

to these proceedings and you know it.

- It is a known fact that Ms. Winters

hated Abigail Collins.

- Yes, but that does not mean she caused her death.

- In my opinion, Mr. Bradford, there is a possibility--

- Opinion is not evidence, Mr. Trask.

- What more evidence do we need

than the terrible series of deaths

that has plagued the Collins family

since that woman came to them.

- Gentlemen, gentlemen, we have had quite enough

bickering between the two of you.

It is for the court to weigh the evidence

that is presented here.

- Your Honor, the court has already seen the medical report

stating that Abigail Collins died of a heart failure.

- Your Honor, that that medical record also makes it clear

that that Ms. Collins was in perfect health.

Her heart had never bothered her once in her life.

- I'm sorry, Mr. Trask.

I must allow Mr. Bradford's objections to stand

unless you can produce more positive evidence

than you have presented thus far.

- With all due respect, Your Honor,

does it not seem strange to you

that Ms. Collins should die so suddenly

alone in the middle of the woods?

- It does seem strange indeed.

I remember well how vigorous and healthy she appeared

when she took the witness stand a few days ago.

- Well, sir, then I submit that--

- However, there not been sufficient evidence

to warrant an additional charge of m*rder

against the defendant.

- And what would the court consider to be

sufficient evidence?

- If the prosecution can produce a witness

to support its allegations

that the defendant had reason to k*ll Ms. Collins,

the court would be willing to hear such testimony.

- Your Honor, if Victoria Winters

were going to k*ll Abigail Collins,

doesn't it stand to reason that she would have done it

before Abigail testified not after.

- Your point is a logical one, Mr. Bradford.

Unfortunately, human actions

are not always based on such logic.

- Your Honor, I ask that the court be recessed

in order that I may find the required witness.

- The request is granted.

The court will recess until o'clock this afternoon.

- Are you really that worried?

- Yes, a little.

Trask seemed very confident about finding a new witness.

- Well, it's just going to be impossible for him to find

anyone who can swear under oath that I k*lled Abigail.

- He doesn't have to go that far.

All he has to do is find someone who is -

who is willing to prove that you had a good reason

for saying that - for k*lling Abigail Collins.

- Well, he's not going to be able to do that either.

- Abigail Collins was cruel to you

from the very first moment you came, wasn't she?

- Yes.

- Did you ever speak of this to anyone at Collinwood?

- Well, her name came up in the conversations all the time.

- With whom?

Jeremiah, Barnabas,

the Countess DuPres, Ben Stokes.

- The Countess DuPres has already testified.

Jeremiah and Barnabas are dead.

Stokes refused.

It could be that Trask has gotten Stokes

to testify against you.

- No.

Ben Stokes hated the sight of Abigail.

- Enough to k*ll her.

- No.

Peter, Ben is really a very gentleman.

- Yes, with a prison record.

- Now, that's the kind of talk I'd expect from Trask

but not from you.

- I'm sorry. I--

I suppose the things that are happening in this court

are finally beginning to get the better of me.

- Trask really has you frightened, hasn't he?

- Yesterday, the main witness against you was alive.

Today, she is dead.

- But you and I both know that I didn't k*ll her.

- What we need is a witness of our own,

somebody who can prove that you didn't hate Abigail

enough to k*ll her.

♪♪

I am sorry.

Come on, I'll take you back to jail now.

- Are you sure he said he was coming?

Is Lieutenant Collins--

Lieutenant Forbes a man of his word?

- I think so.

- Why didn't you tell me about his involvement before?

- I didn't think it was important.

- Vicki, don't you understand if he's willing to testify,

it may be exactly what we need.

[knocking] - Why?

- Lieutenant. Come in.

- Thank you.

Hello, Ms. Winters.

- Hello, Lieutenant.

Thank you very much for taking your time to come here.

No, it's - it's my pleasure

although I - I still don't know why -

why you sent for me.

- Look, I don't have much time, Lieutenant,

so I'd have to hurry.

Won't you sit down?

Are you aware that Abigail Collins is dead?

- No, when did that happen?

- Last night about a half a mile from Collinwood.

- Was she - was she m*rder*d?

- The medical report said that she died of a heart attack,

but Trask is convinced that she's been m*rder*d

and he's also convinced that Ms. Winters did it.

- Well, how could she have

if she's been confined to a cell here in the jail?

- I'm afraid, Mr. Trask doesn't accept that kind of logic.

He is sure that Ms. Winters is a witch

and that a witch can be in two places at the same time.

Well, he hasn't convinced the court of that, has he?

- Not yet, but he's bearing down on it.

That's why I sent for you.

- I don't understand.

- I want you to testify on behalf of Ms. Winters.

- Me?

Well, what help could I possibly be?

I mean, I'm sure that Vicki didn't k*ll Abigail Collins,

but then, the court would never take my word for that.

After all, I was in the village all day yesterday

and last night.

- Look, I - I only want you to be a character witness.

You can just answer a few questions, that's all.

- Well, what - what kind of questions?

- You remember that Abigail Collins was the first person

to accuse Ms. Winters of being a witch.

- Yes.

- You also remember that--

Look, you were the only one

who was willing to help her, weren't you?

- Yes, but I don't see what difference

that's going to make.

- Look, I want you to go to court

and I want you to tell them that

despite the persecution that Ms. Winters has gone through

that you never saw anything

and she never said anything at all

that would lead you to believe that she would

eventually k*ll Abigail Collins.

Look, would you do that?

- Well, I - I suppose I could

if you think it's absolutely necessary.

- You seem to have some serious reservation about that.

- No, no, not - not really.

It's just that I think I might not be

as much of help to you as you think.

- What do you mean?

- Well, I'd rather not go into details, Mr. Bradford,

for personal reasons, but the fact is

that I'm no longer on very good terms

with the Collins family,

so that any testimony I give now might be viewed

as something less than objective.

- Mr. Trask, what is it?

- I didn't realize this room was occupied,

forgive me.

- You can have the room in another few minutes.

- Thank you.

- Now, Lieutenant, it doesn't matter whether or not

you're on good terms with the Collins family.

We need your testimony.

- Are you sure there's no one who can be

of more help to you than I?

-Look, if we could get someone, it wouldn't make any difference.

We don't have enough time.

You only have to tell the truth.

- All right. I'll do my best.

- Thank you, Lieutenant.

♪♪

- The court is in session.

Mr. Trask, you may resume.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

I would like to call Victoria Winters to the stand.

- May I ask for what purpose?

- You may not, Mr. Bradford. I am within my rights.

- May I have the court remind Mr. Trask

that Ms. Winters also has some rights.

She does not have to say anything which might be

self-incriminating.

- The court assures, Counsel,

it will protect the defendant's rights.

Ms. Winters may take the stand.

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

- I do.

- Ms. Winters, it was Abigail Collins

who first recognized you as being a witch--

- Objection, Your Honor. - Sustained.

- Mr. Trask, the court has warned you

repeatedly about your manner of questioning.

The defendant must be regarded as innocent until proven guilty.

You will bear that in mind.

- It was Abigail Collins who first accused you

of being a witch, was it not?

- Yes.

- What was your reaction to that?

- I tried to convince her that it wasn't true.

- Didn't you hate her for what she was trying to do to you? - No.

- Come now, Ms. Winters.

You're not going to tell the court that you loved her.

- Well, no, but--

- Then you must have hated her enough to k*ll her.

- Objection! - Sustained.

- You must have had some feelings towards her.

- Yes. I - I did but--

- What were they?

- Well, I don't know.

I was confused by her attitude.

And I - I was frightened by her.

- Did you ever threaten to get revenge

for what she was doing to you?

- No.

- You never told anyone that you would be glad

to see Abigail Collins dead?

- I never said anything like that to anyone.

- Do you recognize this object?

- Yes.

It's a charm bracelet.

- Is it your charm bracelet?

- Yes.

- I offer the bracelet in evidence, Your Honor,

and I call the court's attention to its interesting design.

You will notice that each of the figures represents

a sign of the zodiac,

a symbol of the devil himself.

- Your Honor, all of this proves nothing.

- Mr. Bradford, please.

- I want you to tell the court where you got that bracelet.

Well, Ms. Winters, where did you get it?

- I can't tell you. - Then perhaps, I can tell you.

- It was given to you by Satan himself. - Your Honor--

- Where the bracelet came from

is a matter of conjecture, Mr. Trask.

- But where it was found last night, Your Honor,

is a cold fact.

It was found on the body of the m*rder*d Abigail Collins.

- Abigail Collins had that bracelet long before last night

and I thought this court was going to keep Mr. Trask here

from pursuing the matter of Abigail Collins' death

until he had sufficient evidence

to prove that she's involved.

- I have complied with the court's wishes, Mr. Bradford.

- I am about to introduce a new witness.

- Who is this new witness, Mr. Trask?

- Lieutenant Nathan Forbes.

♪♪

- Your Honor, you must not swear in this witness.

- Why not, Mr. Bradford?

- Because he has promised to testify for Ms. Winters.

- Are you suggesting that the witness was coerced

into testifying for the prosecution?

- I don't know how Mr. Trask has applied his pressure.

- Your Honor, I can assure the court

that the witness has not been pressured in any way.

- Is that true, Lieutenant?

- Yes, sir.

- Place your hand on the bible.

- Do you swear to tell the truth,

the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth so help you God?

- I do.

- Lieutenant,

do you know the defendant, Victoria Winters?

- Yes, I do.

- Where did you first meet her?

- At the Collins mansion.

- Were you aware that Abigail Collins was convinced

that Victoria Winters was a witch

and was determined to punish her for that crime?

- Yes, I was.

- Did you ever have occasion to discuss this matter

with Ms. Winters?

- We discussed it on several occasions.

- And did you ever discuss Ms. Winters' feelings

towards Abigail Collins?

- Yes, we did.

- Would you tell the court what her feelings were?

- Well, she made no secret of the fact that she hated Abigail.

- That's not true!

- The defendant will be silent.

- And did she ever say anything of a threatening nature

pertaining to Abigail Collins?

- Yes, she did.

- Would you tell the court what she said

as you remember it?

- She was in the stable behind the old house,

hiding from Abigail and - and from you.

I found her there and had a long conversation with her.

In the course of it,

she called Abigail Collins a religious fanatic.

- He's lying!

- Silence, Ms. Winters.

- Go on, Lieutenant.

- She said that if anyone deserved to be dead and buried,

it was Abigail Colins.

- Lieutenant Forbes, didn't the defendant also

say that if she had it within her power,

she would not hesitate to strike Abigail Collins dead?

- Yes, that's what she said.

- No further questions, Your Honor.

- Mr. Bradford, do you wish to cross examine the witness?

- Yes, sir, I do.

Under what circumstances,

did you have most of your conversations with Ms. Collins?

- I don't know what you mean.

- Isn't it true that you befriended her shortly after

she was accused of being a witch?

- Well, yes.

- And this man over here,

didn't he take her into the woods

and tie her like some sort of crazy animal to a tree?

- I object to that statement!

- Mr. Trask, did you or did you not

take her into the woods and tie her to a tree?

- I was performing my solemn duty to the Almighty.

- Your actions speak for themselves.

Now, tell me, Lieutenant.

Did you go into that woods

and did you release her from that tree?

- Yes, but it was at the insistence of Barnabas Collins.

- And then, did you take her to the unfinished house

at Collinwood and give her shelter there?

- Again, it was Barnabas who insisted on it--

- Yes or no, Lieutenant. - Yes.

- And for the next few days, did you give her shelter and -

and food?

- Yes.

- And was the reason that you did all this

because you were certain that she was not a witch?

That's the reason, isn't it?

Well, Lieutenant?!

- No.

- You mean you took care of her and all of the rest

knowing that she was not - that she was a witch.

That doesn't make sense, Lieutenant.

- I was convinced from the beginning that witchcraft

was being practiced by someone at Collinwood.

Since Ms. Winters was the last person to arrive there,

she was the logical suspect and I did suspect her.

- Well, perhaps, you can tell us why you took care of her then.

- I had no choice.

- What do you mean?

- I told you before.

It was Barnabas who was convinced

that she wasn't a witch.

- I valued Barnabas' friendship.

He made it very clear to me that that friendship was jeopardized

unless I helped him protect Ms. Winters.

- That's all a lie!

Why are you doing this to me, Lieutenant?!

- Why?! - Order! I'll have order in the court.

- Order!

♪♪

[eerie theme music] ♪♪