1024 - May 27, 1970

[bunniefuu]

[mysterious whuistling music]

NARRATOR: Collinwood in parallel time,

and Maggie Collins is struggling desperately

to preserve her marriage to Quentin.

But she does not know that his first wife, Angelique,

has returned from the dead, assumed the identity of Alexis,

the sister she m*rder*d, and is determined

to have Quentin, as her own.

This night, to further her plans,

Alexis has caused Maggie to have a dream about

a hidden drawer in which Quentin's secret is concealed,

and now Maggie sets out to discover if the dream is true.

It was only a dream.

It was only a dream!

[ominous music]

[dramatic music]

[mysterious whistling music]

They're all from Quentin.

They're all to Angelique.

Series of love letters to her before they were married.

QUENTIN VOICEOVER: Dearest, when I left you last night,

I walked to the docks, sat staring at the sea.

How incredible it is to have found you.

To know that no matter how long I live,

I will never want any other woman but you.

You see how much he loved me, Maggie?

Adored me.

Read them all, Maggie.

Read them all.

And then wonder

what kind of a chance your marriage has got.

Know the truth, Maggie, and know it now.

Well, what are you doing here

in the dark, Miss Stokes?

Oh, Mr. Collins, you did frighten me.

Oh, I'm sorry.

So you're alone?

I thought I heard you talking with someone.

[laughing]

I have been caught, haven't I?

I'm afraid that you may have found out

one of my deepest, darkest secrets.

BARNABAS: Indeed?

[laughing]

Oh, I love the fire.

I always have, ever since I was a little girl.

Didn't it ever frighten you?

MAGGIE: Why, no, why should it?

Well, it does most children, at least, at some time.

I feel a kinship with it.

The flames, leaping, higher and higher.

Changing their forms and designs.

It's like looking at a picture, a strange picture,

that's always changing.

My sister, Angelique, could never understand me.

She used to laugh at me.

But then Angelique only liked people.

People frightened me.

I guess I was always very shy.

But then when I would look into the flames,

I could somehow feel that I could voice my deepest feelings.

I suppose I seem very odd to you.

No, no, no.

I understand.

Well, where's Quentin?

I was hoping I would see him.

Oh, he's not here.

BARNABAS: Oh, something wrong?

Well, how perceptive you are.

Yes, he and Maggie, they've been quarreling.

Oh, he has such, black moods.

She does mean well.

But somehow, everything she tries to do, goes wrong.

So easy to see other people's problems.

But it's so heartbreaking

when two people who need each other so much

just keep missing and somehow running into trouble.

QUENTIN VOICEOVER: The baby looked so beautiful

through that glass window at the hospital.

I understand now why I wanted a girl

so desperately, my darling.

So she would grow up looking exactly like you.

Company!

Good, I need it.

Well, Barnabas, do you feel bright and amusing?

Entertain me with your adventures.

I've just spent the evening staring at the ocean,

thinking about the past and present.

I need cheering up.

I thought tonight was gonna be a night of solitude.

As usual, I'm wrong.

I wonder where I ever got the illusion

that an hour or two alone

would settle all of one's problems.

Where's Maggie?

ALEXIS: She's gone upstairs.

Ah, the sleep of the innocent, eh?

I don't think she's sleeping.

She was very worried about where you were.

Perhaps you should reassure her that you're all right.

QUENTIN: Would that be true?

Quentin, what is wrong?

Oh, you don't know what tonight is, do you?

But then no one does.

Well I guess I'll go get the bride

and tell her that the spouse has returned.

Last one, before he left Boston.

My dearest, I know now that I will never

be able to love another woman, ever.

If something should happen to you,

I should be haunted by my memories all of my life.

Does that interest you, Maggie?

[dramatic music]

Well, I seem to have been completely wrong

about you, too.

MAGGIE: Quentin, no!

I was just talking about your innocence, downstairs.

Quentin, please, listen to me.

QUENTIN: Obviously, that innocent was something

that my deranged mind invented.

Quentin, innocence is not the subject.

What about trust or love?

Love is something we should talk about.

Obviously, we have different ideas about it.

Now, go to your room.

Quentin, it's our room too.

QUENTIN: Maggie, go!

Quentin, not until you listen to me.

Maggie.

You couldn't bear it.

You came here, in pride.

Quentin, that's not true!

I had a dream!

Quentin, I did!

I know it sounds crazy.

Yes, even to me.

Tell another story.

Quentin, please believe me.

How did I know that there was a secret drawer in this table?

You saw it in your dream?

MAGGIE: Yes, but I didn't know

what I would find in there.

But you knew how to open the drawer?

But that was in the dream.

QUENTIN: Quite a talent you have going for you.

Quentin, please believe me.

Maggie!

Do you think that what's happened in this house

has deranged my mind so much that I'll accept

your outrageous lies?

How do you think I knew about this drawer?

Curiosity.

MAGGIE: How do you think I knew how to open it?

Obviously, you looked in her diary.

I did not!

Maggie, I'm positive that you looked

through every drawer and every shelf in this room!

Quentin, please, I didn't.

And you know how I hate you being in here.

I'm sorry I did it.

Then why are you here?

I want to understand you.

I thought you did understand me.

Before we came to this house.

Before we got married.

Obviously, I was wrong.

Quentin, please.

Get out of here, Maggie.

Quentin, I did it for you.

Get out, will you?

I understand that you're a sculptress, Miss Stokes.

Yes.

And call me Alexis, please.

Alexis.

Did you bring any of your work with you?

I'd be fascinated to see it.

No, I left it all in my studio in Italy.

You've done no work since you've been here?

ALEXIS: No.

Isn't that unusual?

Well, I thought I needed a vacation.

You plan to start again?

I suppose I will eventually.

Have you had a showing at any gallery in New York?

No, no, I haven't.

Check.

Never ever try to give a party.

Alexis, will you help me, please?

I think there are people who haven't RSVPed

Something must have happened to their invitations.

I'm not very good at arranging things.

Angelique always did it so brilliantly.

ALEXIS: Oh, I'd be so happy to go through the list

with you again, Mrs. Stoddard.

ELIZABETH: I so want it to be a success,

for Maggie's sake.

Quentin.

I've been trying to think of something to say

that would make it possible for us to be together.

Well, then I think we better forget about

what happened earlier.

Can you?

I don't think I can.

Well, if you don't then we'll simply

go on quarreling, Maggie.

I don't want that, either.

I think we'll have to begin

by being more open with each other.

Are you talking about yourself or me?

MAGGIE: You.

You still haven't admitted to me that you lied

about the dream.

I didn't!

Now we're right back to where we started.

I don't want that.

Quentin, I know that you've been upset today.

With reason.

Yes.

I know that today is the anniversary

of your marriage to Angelique.

I don't want to discuss that!

I also know that tomorrow's party

started out as an anniversary.

Maggie, we're not gonna talk about it!

Now that's all!

Quentin, I.

[door slamming] Quentin!

Oh, Quentin, don't leave me.

QUENTIN: I want this party canceled.

What?

QUENTIN: Call it off!

Well, Quentin, I can't, it's tomorrow.

QUENTIN: You must.

What can I say?

Quentin, it's too late.

QUENTIN: I won't have it, do you hear?

Barnabas, tell him it is.

I won't have it, Elizabeth.

Go after him, see what's wrong.

I'm not sure I'm the one.

He'll be rational with you.

Please, go.

[engine rumbling] Quentin!

MAGGIE: He's gone?

BARNABAS: Yes.

Let me help you.

I don't think anyone can.

No one.

Have you chosen your costume yet?

No, not yet.

I'd really think you should begin to think about it.

Miss Stokes has gotten a trunk from the attic.

There are some very elegant gowns there.

I'm sure you can find something.

Thank you.

The ball has always been a costume party, hasn't it?

Do you know why?

The first Mrs. Collins loved costumes.

Became a tradition.

Everything she did seems to have survived.

She looked forward to this so much.

Hoffman, how are things going for tonight?

JULIA: Very well, I think, sir.

Mrs. Stoddard is trying to calm cook's nerves.

Hello.

Hello.

Did you have a busy day?

Oh, so so.

I was asleep last night when you came home, I guess.

You must have gotten up very early.

Yes.

Elizabeth said that you wanted to cancel--

Maggie.

The party.

I decided I'd try and live with it.

Quentin, really, I think we should--

Maggie, listen to me.

We are going to try and have a nice pleasant evening.

We're going to forget about what happened.

Never happened at all.

MAGGIE: Alright, Quentin.

Quentin.

How are the cook's nerves holding up?

Very well, with the help of a sherry.

[clock chiming]

Oh, I think I better get dressed.

You too, Maggie.

I understand you haven't decided

what you're going to wear?

Really, Maggie.

I suppose Angelique always knew weeks in advance.

Why don't you go to Alexis?

She's had some lovely things brought down from the attic.

I'm sure you'll find something that will suit you.

Thank you.

I remember coming down the stairs in this.

And Bruno began to applaud.

How melodramatic he is.

Bruno should have been a character in an opera.

I was watching Quentin.

How beautiful he thought you looked.

Only a year ago.

It suited me then.

It suits you now.

No, no, not now.

Tonight, Hoffman, I shall wear this.

Let's see, getting late?

You think Maggie is going to come?

Oh, I'm positive.

I hate leaving things to chance.

Mrs. Stoddard told her to.

Chance and Mrs. Stoddard are identical twins.

[knocking]

Come in!

I don't know, Hoffman.

Do you think I should wear this, really?

You think the color suits me?

Oh, Maggie!

You help me decide.

I think it's very pretty.

Well, then I'll wear it.

Oh, you have so many dresses here.

And have you chosen one, yet?

Not yet.

Well, then please help yourself.

There's some beautiful things.

If you'll excuse me, I really should go

and attend to things downstairs.

Yes, of course, and thank you so much.

She really is invaluable.

She ironed everything in the trunk.

So you can wear anything you like.

I don't really care that much.

Oh, but you must.

You'll be meeting most of these people tonight

for the very first time.

I think I'd rather wear my own clothes.

Darling, you can't.

It's always been a costume party.

Yes, I know.

Here, how do you like this?

Oh.

No.

It's all wrong.

Do you think so?

I think it's rather pretty.

I'll find something better.

Alexis, were you ever in the States

after Quentin married Angelique?

Yes, yes of course.

Well, did you ever attend one of these parties?

Why, no.

No, Angelique would never have asked me.

Why not?

Well actually, we didn't get on

and she didn't like having other women around,

especially one that looked so very much like her.

MAGGIE: That's a pretty one.

ALEXIS: I'm not sure it's right for you.

Perhaps it is.

Oh, I like it.

ALEXIS: Well, then you should wear it.

How many beautiful women must have worn this dress?

ALEXIS: Well, you will wear it as they did.

Thank you, Alexis.

Barnabas, how handsome you look.

This period really suits you.

Thank you.

I don't see why men don't realize

how much more dashing they look in these clothes.

Would you recognize him?

Of course he would, Elizabeth.

The face conquers the period.

Glad you could come, Barnabas.

BARNABAS: My pleasure.

Have a glass of champagne.

I'm determined that this evening be successful.

Alexis!

Oh, what a perfect choice.

BARNABAS: Isn't it?

The period becomes you, too.

Why, thank you.

But wait until you see Maggie.

QUENTIN: When is she coming down?

Now, Quentin, you're being difficult.

You promised you'd be easy with her.

QUENTIN: I'm not being difficult.

I just want her down here.

After all, this is her party.

I'll see if she needs some help.

ALEXIS: Oh, but here she is now.

Maggie, you look lovely.

The dress is perfect on you.

Stay where you are.

Quentin!

Quentin, come and see your lovely wife.

Maggie.

Do you like it?

- That dress! - What's wrong?

You can't wear it.

You can't ever wear it!

Now get it off!

Get it off!

[glass shattering]

[dramatic music]

[mysterious whistling music]