559 - August 15, 1968

[bunniefuu]

The disappearance of Victoria Winters

has cast a pall over the great House in Collinwood.

On this night, at the Old House in the Collins estate,

Barnabas Collins has been forced to agree to a diabolical plan

in order to ensure Vicki's freedom.

On the other side of Collinsport,

in a house by the sea, a mysterious man

named Nicholas Blair is ready to let Victoria Winters return

to Collinwood, but not before he subjects her

to a terrifying experience.

- Admiring yourself again?

- Why not?

I have every reason to.

- Do you?

- Of course.

All my plans are working out perfectly.

- Barnabas has agreed to another experiment?

- In return for Vicki's freedom.

He must love her very much.

Yes.

And that must be most distressing to you.

Just think if he had ever loved you as much,

you wouldn't be where you are today.

- Nicholas, are you really planning to let Vicki go?

- Well, of course, I am.

How can you?

She knows it was Adam who abducted her.

Why, she knows all about this house.

She knows about one room in this house, and by the time

she leaves, she won't remember that.

But come, you shall see for yourself.

Just look into the mirror and tell me what you see.

- Only your reflection.

- Keep looking.

- [gasping] Aren't you clever, Nicholas?

- Yes.

Now, actually, I'm not going to release Vicki,

I'm going allow her to escape.

- To escape?

Yes.

The poor child is frightened to death

that she'll never be free again, but she

is about to get the biggest surprise of her life.

Watch.

[door unlatches]

♪ [theme music]

- What is she waiting for?

- Now, don't be so impatient, Angelique.

The poor girl is frightened.

She doesn't know where she is or what's beyond that door.

- This is her chance to escape.

Why doesn't she take it?

Well, it may be her chance, but it's not quite her time.

What do you mean?

You'll see very soon.

She's beginning to leave the room.

What are you planning to do to her, Nicholas?

I suggest you find yourself a hiding place, my dear,

and watch.

You might learn something by observing the master at work.

- Was there ever a more conceited man than you?

- One thing that can be said for me, my dear,

that cannot be said by you.

I never make the same mistake twice.

Now, you'd better hurry. She's found the stairs.

She may be here any moment.

[music box playing]

- Josette's music box.

Vicki.

Vicki.

- Who's calling me?

Don't you recognize my voice?

- Oh.

But you must know where you are.

- I've never been here before.

Of course, you have, Vicki.

Look around and see how familiar it is.

Where are you?

Please let me go.

Please.

You're free to go soon as you tell me who I am

and where you are.

- But I don't know who you are, and I don't know where I am.

Then you will have to stay here until you do.

- Please.

Think about it, Vicki.

Look around and see how familiar everything looks.

Think very carefully.

Listen to Josette's music box.

- Stop it!

Stop it, please!

Now, tell me in what place would you hear Josette's music box?

- In the Old House?

Of course, and that's where you are, isn't it?

- No.

I'm not in the Old House.

Well, you're not thinking hard enough.

You're not remembering what happened.

You left Collinwood to come to the Old House to see me.

- You are not Barnabas.

Think again, Vicki.

You're in the Old House, aren't you?

- I don't know.

Yes, you do, Vicki.

Now, try to cooperate, or I won't be able to help you.

Do you know who I am yet?

- I think so.

Who am I?

- You're Barnabas.

Splendid, Vicki.

Now, tell me where are you?

- In the Old House.

And what will you do when you leave here?

- I will go to Collinwood.

Why?

- Because Jeff is waiting for me, and I'm very late.

Well, then you'd better hurry, Vicki.

You don't want Jeff to start worrying, do you?

- No.

Quickly then.

Go to the door and open it and get back to Collinwood

as fast as you can.

- Back to Collinwood.

Back to Collinwood.

- Well, my dear?

- You're sure she won't remember anything when she gets back

to Collinwood? - I am positive.

The last two days she spent here will be a complete blank.

And now, if you will excuse me.

- Where are you going?

- Well, I have another matter to attend to.

I won't be late.

- And what am I supposed to do, just sit here and get bored

waiting for you?

- I couldn't have put it better myself.

[knock on door]

- Oh, Mr. Blair.

- Good evening, Miss Evans. May I come in?

- Please do.

- I'm afraid I owe you an apology, make that two

apologies. - What for?

- Well, first for barging in on you so late.

- Well, there's no need to apologize for that.

- And the second for not getting back to you about your father's

painting.

I'm sure you began to think that my offer was insincere.

- Well, to tell you the truth, Mr. Blair,

I haven't given it that much thought.

I spend a lot of time at the hospital.

- Ah, yes, with your fiance.

What was his name? - Joe Haskell.

- Yes, of course. How is he?

- Oh, he's completely recovered.

The doctors are going to release him day after tomorrow.

- Well, you must be very glad to hear that.

- Yes, I am.

- I still feel I should offer some explanation

about the painting.

You see, I've taken a house by the sea.

You're no longer at Collinwood?

- No.

I found a house that was ideal and discovered

it was owned by the Collins family.

Unfortunately, I could only rent it them.

They didn't want to sell it.

- Money is one thing the Collins family doesn't need.

- I know.

I don't mean to rush you about the painting,

but I do have a house now, and--

- I understand.

I promise you I'll give you an answer very soon.

[knock on door] - Wha--?

- Another unexpected visitor.

- Apparently.

Joe!

- Surprise.

- Oh, what are you doing out of the hospital?

- It was quite a hassle, but I was making

so much trouble for them.

- Oh, Joe, this is Nicholas Blair.

Joe Haskell. - How do you do, Mr. Blair?

- I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr. Haskell.

Maggie has told me a great deal about you.

- Oh?

- Oh, Mr. Blair has been coming here

to see some of pop's paintings.

- Yes, there's one in particular I've

been trying to get her to sell me,

but I'm afraid she is reluctant to part with it.

- Joe, why didn't you give me a call

to tell me you were leaving the hospital?

- Why, yes.

I could have driven Maggie to the hospital and picked you up.

- I wanted it to be a surprise.

- Well, you certainly did surprise her.

If I'd known there was going to be such an occasion,

I would have brought along a bottle of champagne.

- Well, I have some sherry in the kitchen.

- Splendid.

I certainly think this occasion calls for a drink,

don't you, Maggie? - Yes.

I'll be right back.

- Well, you look remarkably well for a man whose just

had a severe head injury.

- Well, they tell me I have a hard head.

- And a little bit of luck, I think.

- Yes.

I've always had that too when I needed it.

- I'm sure you have.

One doesn't come across young ladies like Maggie every day.

- No, one doesn't.

Tell me, what do you do, Mr. Blair?

- Do?

- For a living. - Oh, yes.

Of course.

Well, you might say I'm a consultant.

- Oh, what kind of a consultant?

- I specialize in human relations.

- That doesn't tell me very much.

- No, it doesn't, does it?

Here we are.

- While you were out in the kitchen,

Maggie, Joe and I have been discussing

his incredible good luck.

Now, I should like to propose a toast.

To your future, Joe.

May it bring you everything you deserve.

- No.

No, Sheriff, I won't be here when I hang up.

No, Miss Stoddard will.

Yes, you can call her.

No.

No, it wouldn't do any good.

Oh, I'm not going to get any sleep until I find her.

I don't know.

All right.

Yeah, we'll be in touch.

[sighing]

- Jeff.

- Vicki.

- I'm sorry if I kept you waiting.

- Are you all right?

- Of course, I'm all right.

- Oh, thank god.

Oh, thank god.

- Jeff, what is this?

- I was afraid you might have been k*lled.

- k*lled?

- What happened, Vicki?

Where have you been?

- You know where I've been.

I went to the Old House to see Barnabas.

I told you I was going there before I left.

Look Jeff, I'm sorry if I stayed a little longer than I intended

to.

- A little longer?

The sheriff, his deputies, everybody in his house,

we've been looking for you for two days.

- Two days?

You must be joking.

- Vicki, you've been missing for two days.

Does that sound like some kind of a joke?

- I don't believe it.

- It's true.

- Oh, Jeff, if I've been missing for two days,

don't you think I would have remembered it?

- I don't know.

Vicki, you went to the Old House to tell

Barnabas about our engagement, didn't you?

- Yes.

- Weren't you wearing the ring I gave you?

- Yes.

- Well, where is it now?

- It's gone.

- Do you care for another drink, Mr. Blair?

- No. No.

It's getting late. I'd better be going.

I'm sure you two would like to be alone.

You will call me in a few days about the painting, I mean?

- Oh, yes. Of course.

- Thank you.

Good night, Mr. Haskell.

- Good night, Mr. Blair.

- Good night, Maggie.

- Good night.

- Well, isn't he a nice man.

Isn't he?

- I guess you'd know that better than I would.

- What do you mean?

- Well, I just met the man.

Seems you've seen quite a lot of him.

- Well, I don't know if I like the way you put that.

- How else can I put it, Maggie, the way he was talking?

- Well, I can't help the way he was talking.

Mr. Blair and I have seen each other only

to discuss pop's paintings.

- Look, how long ago did he show an interest in your father's

paintings?

- About three weeks.

- Why didn't you tell me anything about him

while I was in the hospital?

- Well, I guess I just never thought of it.

Look, I think that Mr. Blair is a very nice, very charming man.

That's all.

- OK.

That's all.

- How are you, my dear?

- How do you think I am?

- You sound a trifle upset.

- Oh, stop it.

- Oh, now tell Nicholas what's the matter.

- You know very well what's the matter.

- You feel confined here.

You want to get out, meet new friends.

- Well, why not?

You get to go everywhere you want to go.

Why can't I?

- Well, if you behave yourself, I'm sure it can be arranged.

- Oh, Nicholas, it's not too late.

I could be back by dawn.

- Not tonight, my dear.

- Why not?

- Because if I'm not mistaken, we

may be having a visitor before the night is over.

- Oh?

- A handsome, young gentleman by the name of Joe Haskell.

- Maggie Evans' fiance.

- You know him.

- I've met him.

- Well, you're going to meet him again.

Perhaps I'm wrong and he won't come here tonight.

Perhaps you will have to go out and seek him,

but nevertheless, your next victim will be Joe Haskell.

♪ [theme music]