1201 - February 1, 1971

[bunniefuu]

[eerie music]

NARRATOR: The Great House at Collinwood,

in the intriguing world of Parallel Time.

A world in which the Collins family is surrounded

by mystery.

For many years, there has been talk among the townspeople

of a strange room in the Great House.

A room which is always kept locked

for reasons known to no one

outside the family.

According to the legend,

six people have slept in the room,

and each of them has either d*ed

or come out stark raving mad.

On this night,

the master of the house has d*ed,

and Morgan Collins,

the oldest son, has made preparations

for a strange ritual,

which takes place once during each generation.

A ritual which decides who will be the latest

to enter the room.

[thunder rumbles]

[suspenseful music]

[drawer rattles]

[paper rustles]

What are you doing?

Preparing the lottery slips.

There are three of us.

Must we have it tonight?

You know, we must.

What the devil did Brutus Collins do?

He brought the curse on us!

But we...

We don't have to have it tonight.

I mean, this doom and destruction,

who believes that?

I do

and Father does.

There must be a way out.

There's got to be a way out!

There is no way out, Gabriel!

[eerie music]

[music crescendos]

[waves crash on rocks]

[eerie theme music]

[eerie, enchanted music]

[thunder rumbles]

[door rattles]

I gotta talk to you.

You've got the stuff hidden all over the place,

don't you?

Isn't there a way to stop him?

Stop who?

Big brother, that's who.

You know what I'm talking about?

Quentin, there must be a way,

I mean, he's insisting the lottery's going to be tonight!

He can't do that.

It's alright, it's alright!

You're simply postponing the inevitable.

If it's not tonight, it'll be tomorrow

or the day after, tomorrow.

Now, we might as well get it all over with.

Oh, right, that's just what big brother wants!

That's what he wants.

He wants to push one of us into that room

and then have it over with.

Gabriel, there is the possibility...

Well, the possibility of something that we never discuss.

What? What is that?

Whoever goes into that room just may survive this time.

Oh, you don't really believe that,

do you?

I said it was a possibility.

Don't be a fool, Quentin.

Now, six people have spent the night in that room,

and they've either been k*lled

or they've gone insane!

You know, I wonder really what happens in that room.

Do you ever wonder what happens in that room?

I'm sick of wondering what happens in that room!

Listen to me,

listen to me, I...

I'm going to be chosen

to go in that room.

I know it, I feel it.

It's just your nerves!

Just listen to me, please.

Now, if I go into that room,

I'd rather die than end up like Father did.

So just do one thing for me.

- What? - If I go in that room

and I come out,

I want you to k*ll me.

- [scoffs] k*ll you? - That's right, k*ll me.

I don't care how you do it, just do it.

Do it!

Now listen to me.

We don't even know if you're the one who's been chosen.

So I don't wanna discuss it until we know.

You're insufferable, you know that?

I mean, you stand there pretending not to be afraid!

But ya are.

You are, you're just as frightened as both of us.

That's right.

I am afraid.

But I'm not going to give into it.

I'm going to take my chance in the lottery and do...

Do whatever, I have to do.

Now buck up, old boy.

You know, I'd be willing to bet money

that you won't even be the chosen one.

Do you think so?

Do you know something I don't know?

Not at all.

It's just a feeling I have, that's all.

Just a feeling.

[dark, ominous music]

[knocking]

Oh, Catherine.

I didn't expect you until tomorrow.

Oh, Morgan.

I just heard the news about your father.

I'm so, sorry.

We all are, of course,

but it was bound to happen.

If there's anything at all I can do to help

Now, Catherine, I am glad you stopped by tonight.

I did want to talk to you.

Please, come into the drawing room.

[Mysterious music]

[door thuds]

Morgan, what is it?

Please, sit down.

I must talk to you.

Or rather,

I must warn you.

Warn me?

You will feel impelled to ask questions.

And I must ask you to refrain from all questions,

at least until tomorrow.

Very well, I'll do whatever you ask me to do.

Because I'm the oldest son in the family,

I have inherited certain responsibilities.

One of these is most serious

and must be carried out this evening.

I want you to promise

that if anything happens to me...

Happens to you, What?

I didn't mean to put it just that way.

What I'm trying to say is, that...

That is, if I act any different tomorrow,

you must not marry me.

Not marry you?

Why, Morgan.

why should you be any different tomorrow

than you are tonight?

Catherine, you promised not to ask any questions!

Morgan, are you in some kind of trouble?

No, of course not.

But you're so, distressed!

I want to help you.

There is nothing you can do to help.

If there were, you know I'd let you know that.

But you can't keep me in the dark like that.

It is not fair!

Catherine!

You must not ask any more questions.

You're going to tell me...

What's wrong, before I leave here tonight.

You're a very strong-willed young woman.

Very well.

You're going to know sooner or later.

I might as well tell you now.

Tell me, what?

About the legendary locked room

and the family lottery.

The locked room?

The lottery?

Do you mean that the stories and the rumors

in the village are true?

- Yes. - [gasps]

I'm afraid, they are.

There is, such a room.

And once during each generation,

someone is chosen by lottery

to spend a night in that room.

But what's in the room?

I don't know.

No one, has ever known.

What about the people who spent the night there?

No one has ever known...

To live, to talk about it.

Those who spent the night there

have either d*ed or gone mad.

You mean what happened to Joshua Collins

was not the result, of an accident?

That's right.

Something that happened to my father in that room

so terrified him that he was unable...

Unable to think of it for the rest of his life.

Morgan, you must not hold this lottery.

We can not, we must go through with it!

I tell you, I will not lose you this way!

Why, it's, it's primitive!

I don't even see how you can take it seriously.

Of course you would think it strange.

I can understand that.

And I can also understand if you have second thoughts

about marrying into this family.

Second thoughts?

I am more determined than ever to marry you, now!

Tell me...

Who participates, in this lottery?

The men in the family.

Including Bramwell?

By rights, it should include Bramwell.

But he is a coward!

And he has refused to live up to his obligation!

Whatever his reason is for refusing, it's not cowardice.

Bramwell has many faults.

But he is certainly not a coward.

I refuse to talk about this any further!

Or to have you defend him!

Very well,

I won't mention it again.

I'm sorry, Catherine, I...

I didn't mean to be so harsh.

I think it best if you go on home.

No, I told you!

I'm going to stay here tonight and see this through.

You really do love me, Catherine, don't you?

You give me great stamina and courage.

Morgan!

We are waiting on you.

I'm sorry.

Catherine arrived unexpectedly.

Where's Gabriel?

He's on his way.

[chuckles] Bit unsteady on his feet,

but he's all ready to meet his destiny.

What is she doing here?

There aren't any outsiders allowed, you know that.

She is not an outsider!

I have told Catherine everything.

Are you ready, Gabriel?

Are you gonna at least let me have my fire water?

As a last gesture, before one of us meets certain death?

Give him a drink.

Just give me my drink.

[glass clinks]

The lottery slips

are in this vase.

Two are blank,

and one is marked with an X.

Who would like to draw first?

[dramatic, ominous music]

[suspenseful music]

No volunteers?

Why don't we...

go in order, of age?

Well, that would put you last, wouldn't it?

Boys...

No one is going in any order at all.

What are you doing here?

Morgan, prepare two more lottery slips.

MORGAN: Two more? For whom?

For Julia and me.

Mother, what's the matter with you?

You know what we've decided.

Only the men in the family.

Women were included in the past.

Julia and I insist on being included now.

Mother, if we include you,

we'd have to include Melanie too.

No.

Inasmuch as Melanie went in that room one time,

to get Justin,

we feel she should be excluded.

Catherine!

Mother,

I've taken the liberty of telling Catherine everything.

MORGAN: She knows what's happening.

Morgan,

make out those additional lottery slips,

or I'll make them out myself.

No, I won't allow it!

I don't care about what's happened in the past.

There is no good reason for you to be subjected to this.

I'm willing to take my chances.

In fact, I might almost say I'm eager.

QUENTIN: You don't know what you're saying!

Oh, indeed, I do.

Justin, is gone now.

My reason for living has gone.

And if you don't mind my saying so,

that's rather a selfish attitude.

Selfish?

Yes.

Because you know that we love you.

And we need you very much in this house.

You're young.

You all have something to live for.

At least you should have.

We have no less to live for

than you and Aunt Julia.

Now, that decision was entrusted to me

as the oldest son.

And I have decided

that only the men will participate in it.

Catherine!

What are you doing?

[dramatic music]

MORGAN: Catherine, what's the meaning of this?

[Laughs] Why do you all look so frightened?

I simply b*rned three meaningless pieces of paper.

And nothing happened.

You see?

Because nothing is going to.

Because this is all a lot

of superstitious nonsense!

Catherine, for your information,

the history of that room is not nonsense!

The facts are very well documented.

And I'm sure that they are

logical and rational explanations

for what happened in that room.

I'm surprised that a lot of intelligent people

should take something like a legend so seriously.

Bravo, Ms. Harridge!

I agree with you %.

And I think,

I think we should,

I think we should just ignore the whole thing.

You would.

I'll make out new slips.

Morgan, please don't go on with this!

I have told you, Catherine,

there is no, way out!

There is no other choice.

All right, if you insist.

But allow me one request.

FLORA: What's that?

Postpone it.

The lottery is always held

within one or two days after the death

of the master of the house.

All right, then, hold it tomorrow,

so that Morgan and I

may marry tonight.

FLORA: Marry? Tonight!

Catherine, are you sure about this?

More sure than I have ever been.

Catherine, why do you insist on tonight?

You could just as well wait

until after the lottery is held.

Because Morgan may be chosen in the lottery.

And because that might happen,

I want time alone with him.

I want to stand by his side and be his wife.

FLORA: Morgan?

If that's what Catherine wants.

I couldn't be happier.

Very well.

We'll arrange to have the marriage here, tonight.

[suspenseful music]

Quentin, go to the village and get the minister.

All right.

Catherine.

You're a very brave woman.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Quentin.

Gabriel,

I think the two lovers would like to be alone for a moment.

I have to go back to my house

and get my sister, Daphne.

Catherine,

are you sure you want to go through with this?

Yes.

If you change your mind, I'll understand.

No, I won't change my mind.

I'm very sure.

Nothing, can stop me now.

[Catherine laughs]

[giggles] Let's all hear it for Catherine Harridge!

Do you feel relieved, Gabriel?

[sighs heartily]

Well, don't you? No.

Well, why not?

She gave us...

She gave us all a little bit more life,

didn't she?

You know, no matter how long you live,

you'll never be a realist, will you?

All we've done is postpone the inevitable.

There is just about as much consolation in that

as not paying gambling debts.

The debts are still there

and they still have to be paid.

The room is still there,

and so is the fear.

That's why I'd just as soon get it all over with.

Now, what do you think would happen

if we just never played that lottery at all?

I don't know.

And I'm not so sure that I want to find out.

Well, you know, I would like to find out.

I would like to find out,

because I'd take the risk.

Because whatever happens wouldn't be as bad

as spending the night in that room.

You know something?

If they ever give rewards for cowardice,

I'm going to shudder to think how rich you are.

[scoffs]

[door thuds]

[glass slamming]

[rustling and clattering]

[door clicks open]

Catherine,

where are you going?

Home, to get Daphne.

She'd never forgive me

if I got married without her.

Oh, I understand.

[door rattles]

Have you got your carriage?

Yes, it's down there by the gate.

Good evening, Catherine.

Good evening, Flora.

I came to see you,

to offer my condolences.

Thank you, Bramwell, that's very kind.

You know, I was very fond of Justin.

If there's anything I can do.

There's really nothing.

The funeral is tomorrow.

The services will be simple,

as he wished.

Well,

you better be on your way.

The minister will be here soon I expect.

Oh, well, you see...

Please, Mrs. Collins,

I'd rather tell him myself.

Very well...

She's had a change of plans.

I have decided to marry Morgan tonight.

[dramatic chord rings]

We'll be waiting for you.

Please, hurry.

When was this decided?

CATHERINE: Only a short time ago.

Will you come with me, please?

Well, I must get home get my sister, Daphne.

Can't, Daphne wait?

Please, do me this one last favor,

and come with me just now.

[tense music]

[door opens]

[gasps] Have you lost your mind?

I could ask you the same question.

[door lock clicking] What are you doing?

I'm not letting you out of here

until you've gained your senses!

You can't keep me prisoner.

I can and I will.

I will never let you go.

I will never let you marry Morgan Collins.

[Catherine gasps]

[dramatic music crescendos]

[eerie theme music]