235 - May 19, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[narrating]
- My name is Victoria Winters.

Darkness hovers over Collinwood like a shroud

and somewhere in that darkness

exists the presence of an evil force,

someone with the powers of enormous destruction

at his command.

He has been waiting to strike.

waiting to destroy,

and tonight perhaps he has.

An innocent young girl is a prisoner in a locked room

and no one knows what fate awaits her.

[pounding]
- Maggie!

Maggie!?

Maggie! Why won't you answer me?

Maggie, why won't you open the door?

[dogs howling]

Maggie! Maggie!

[knocking]

Oh, Burke, thank heaven you're here!


- What's the matter?


- There's something in there with Maggie!


- What? What's in there?

I left the room just a minute to phone you and...

Then when I came back the door was locked from the inside.


- Maggie!?

Maggie, are you in there?

I'm going to have to break it down.


- What is it?


- Don't come in.

Vicki, stay back.
- Oh!

[dog howling]

♪♪


- How is she?

What happened to her, Doctor?


- I don't know.

All I know is that she's lost a tremendous amount of blood.


- But how?


- I don't know that either.

I don't see any other injuries

besides those wounds on her neck.

They have been reopened again.


- How could that have happened?


- I wish I knew.


- It couldn't have been an accident.


- I ruled that possibility out a long time ago.

The only explanation I have is so wild...


- What is it?


- Those wounds look to me like bite marks.


- Bite marks?


- The kind of thing she would have gotten

if she were attacked by some large animal...

A huge dog, for instance.


- I...

I heard some dogs outside her window.


- Where's the phone?


- In the living room.


- I've gotta get an ambulance up here

and get this girl right into the hospital.

[door opening]


- Oh, Dave, you're here.

How is she?


- I'm calling for an ambulance.

I've got to get this girl right into a hospital.


- Well, she, she's that bad?


- She's that bad.


- Maggie?


- Mr. Evans, I'm glad you're here.

Did Burke tell you what happened?


- Yes, yes he told me.

I shouldn't have left her here tonight.

I should have stayed with her.


- It's not your fault.


- How long has she been like this?


- She was that way when we found her.


- She hasn't come around once?

She's been unconscious all this time?


- Yes.


- Well, those... those things on her neck.

I, I thought they were healing.

They are reopened again.

How could reopen?


- I don't know.

The doctor only knows that she's lost a lot of blood.

But he doesn't know how.


- [loud whisper] Something...

Something!

Something did this!

Something inhuman!

Maggie, Maggie, look at me.

Open your eyes and look at me.

It's me.

Can't you see me?

Can't you hear me?

Maggie? Maggie!


- Well, the ambulance is on the way.

I'm afraid that you two are going to have to clear out.

I haven't finished examining Maggie yet.


- Why is she so still?

Why, why doesn't she move?

Why doesn't she open her eyes?


- Sam, will you go on out into the other room?

I'm doing all I can for her.


- I know you are, David, I
-
-


- Come on, Vicki.
- I know.


- Drink, Sam?


- No.


- You had better take one.

You look like you need it.


- For the first time in my life this won't solve anything.


- Shall I fix some coffee?


- What happened, Vicki?


- Well, I was in there with Maggie

and I heard some strange noises.


- What kind of noises?


- They sounded like dogs howling.


- And then?


- Well, then they...

howling and growling.

It got closer and closer and louder

until I thought they were about to break into the room.

And, and they, they started,

they started to bang at her windows

and then I ran out here and I, I called Burke

to get him to come here.

And then when I went back to her room,

the door was locked from the inside.


- How could anything get in that room?

The windows weren't broken.

They were locked from the inside.


- I know.

They were still locked when I left the room.


- What would want to harm Maggie?

What would want to do anything to her?


- We'll get to the bottom of this.

Maggie's gonna be all right, Sam.


- Of course she will.


- She's got to be all right.

[Joe]
- She will be.

Sam, stop thinking that way.

[door opens]


- Dave.


- I don't know.

I'm pretty sure that she doesn't have

any injuries besides the neck wounds.


- Then, uh, what happens now?


- We wait for the ambulance.

I can't do any more for her

until we get her to the hospital.

One thing I am sure of though...

I'm going to have to give her another sizable transfusion.


- You haven't answered my question.

How sick is she?

What kind of a chance do you give her to pull through this?


- Look, Sam, I can't stand here and make predictions.


- Well, you can make a guess.


- I don't want to do that.


- Dave, Dave, look, look now.

We've known each other for years.

That's my daughter in there.

Now you can level with me.

What kind of a chance do you give her?


- Sam, I think if she makes it through tonight

then she's got a pretty good chance.


- Then, then, then you think that there's a possibility

that she might not make it through tonight?

[siren approaching]


- There's the ambulance.

Now listen Sam, we're going to do everything

we can for that girl.

You have to believe that.

Everything.

♪♪


- Her heartbeat seems to be stronger.

She seems to be having

a little less difficulty in her breathing.


- I think, uh...

I think there is a little more color in her cheeks, don't you?


- Yeah, there could be.


- Well, uh...

Are, are you a little more hopeful about that?


- A little.

Nurse, would you check and make sure

that that oxygen equipment is on the floor and ready?


- Yes, doctor.

[Maggie moaning]


- Vicki phoned me, how is she?


- Very, very weak.


- She's going to be all right, isn't she doctor?

[Maggie moaning]


- Maggie?

[Joe]
- Is she coming out of it?

[Dr. Woodard]
- Yeah, I think so.


- Pop...


- Maggie, yes, darling.


- Where...

Where?


- Please...

You've been sick, darling. You're in the hospital.

But you're going to be all right.


- Joe.


- Hi Maggie.


- I'm glad you're both here.

[Sam]
- [laughs] Of course we are here, darling.

We're going to stay right here with you.

Dave, would it be all right

if we spoke to her for a few minutes?


- Yeah, but just for a few minutes.

Don't let her talk too much.

She mustn't waste her strength.


- All right.

Darling.


- Yes, Pop?


- Now... I don't want to upset you

but I want you to answer a question.

And I want you to answer it quietly and calmly.


- What is it?


- What... what happened to you tonight?


- Tonight?


- Yes.

You know, after Vicki left your room.

What happened?


- Vicki...

Vicki was there and we were talking.


- Uh
-huh. And then?


- And then I had...

I had a dream.


- A dream?


- I don't remember what it was

but it was terrible.

It is the worst nightmare I've ever had.

Pop, I'm so scared.
- Quiet down, Maggie.


- I'm so scared!
- No, no, no, no, no, no...

Now, don't get excited, darling.

Remember the doctor said you had to take it easy.


- I can't remember the dream.

I don't want to.


- You don't have to remember it.

We'll talk about it some other time.


- Joe?


- Yes?


- I'm sorry I picked those fights.

They didn't mean anything.


- Forget it.


- Pop?


- Yes, darling?


- Would you promise me something?


- Anything.


- Promise me you will take care of yourself.

Don't drink so much.


- No, you get well

and I'm gonna go on the wagon.

I promise you this time.


- I'm not going to get well.


- Oh, Maggie.


- I'm going to die.
- No.


- What kind of crazy talk is that?


- No, I know it's true.


- Now I don't want to hear any of that kind of talk.


- Maggie, you're going to get well.


- Now you're going to get well, Maggie, do you hear me?

You are going to get well.


- I hear you, Pop.

[door opens]


- Sam, Joe, I'm afraid you're going to have to go now.


- Oh no.


- So she can get her rest.


- I'm not... I'm not going to leave the hospital.


- Neither am I.


- Well, there's a lounge down at the end of the hall.

You can wait there.


- We have, uh, we have to go now darling, but, uh,

we'll just be waiting outside.

And then we'll come back and see you after you've been rested.


- Goodbye, Pop.


- Oh... Not goodbye...

We'll see you later.


- Yes, later.

[Joe]
- You get some rest now, Maggie.


- Joe...

Joe, come closer...


- Why?


- Joe...

I just wanted to see you again...

Once more.


- You...

You take care of yourself, Maggie.

And you're gonna get well.

I want you to remember that.


- Is that an order?


- It's an order.

[Dr. Woodard]
- Joe.


- What I was saying

was true.

It's true.


- What's true, Maggie?


- Nothing.

Nothing.

[clock ticking]


- There's nothing more I can do for her tonight

but you get in touch with me immediately

if there's the slightest change.


- Yes, Doctor.


- Remember now, she's not to be left alone for a moment.

If you have to go out of the room for any reason,

you get somebody else to come in here until you are back.

It's vitally important that there's someone

with her at all times, you understand?


- I understand.


- Oh, and, um...

Make sure that that window is closed at all times.


- Why?
- Well, now, please, do as I say

and don't ask any questions.
- All right.

Just
-
- Its got to be closed and locked every minute.


- All right.


- I'm going to stay in the hospital tonight.

You can page me if you need me.


- Yes, Doctor.

[bell chiming]


- It's almost :.


- It's funny.


- What is?


- I...

I sat right in
-
- right in this same spot...

in this same hospital

the night was
-
- that Maggie was born.

Now, now I am sitting here waiting to find out

if she's gonna... [crying]


- Come on, Sam, don't.


- Well, why
-
- why don't they tell us something?

Why don't they let us know what's going on?


- If there's any change they'll let us know.


- Yes.

I suppose.


- Look, Sam, why don't you...

go home and rest for awhile.

And if there's any, any news I'll let you know.


- I have got to wait for her.

I couldn't go home now.

You go on home if you want.

I've got to stay here.


- I can't leave her either.

I don't want to leave her.

[clock ticking]


- [gasping]


- Miss Evans?

Miss Evans?


- Who?


- I am your nurse.

Now don't try to talk, just rest quietly.


- Would you do me a favor?


- What's that?


- Would you open the window?


- I'm sorry, I can't do that.


- Why not?


- Doctors orders, he said the window was to remain shut

at all times, he was very emphatic about it.


- Why?


- I don't know.

I just have my orders and have to follow them.


- But I can't breathe.

I've got to have some air.


- I'm sorry.


- Please.

I can't breathe.

There's no air in here.

I'll suffocate.


- Now don't get excited. Just, just lie still.


- Please.

There is no fresh air, I...

I've got to have some air

or I I'll suffocate, I'll die.


- I don't see any harm in opening it just a crack,

but that's all.
- Please.

Please do.


- Just a crack.


- Oh...

Thank you.

Thank you.


- Feel better now?


- Yes.

Much...

much better.


- Then rest.


- I will.

[bell chiming]


- Joe, if anything happens to her...


- Nothing is going to happen to her, Sam.


- Do you really mean that?


- Yes, sure.


- Look at me when you say that.


- She's gonna be all right.


- You're thinking the same thing that I am, aren't you?

I can see it in your eyes.


- [gasping]


- Miss Evans?

♪♪

Oh, Doctor.

You've got to come quickly.

It's Miss Evans.

I can't detect any heartbeat

and she seems to have stopped breathing.


- No heartbeat?


- I don't
-
- I don't understand.

She was... She was there just a minute ago!

The window, it was only open a crack.


- You said no heartbeat...

and no breathing.


- There was every indication that she was dead.

[dog howling]

♪♪

♪♪

[announcer]
- "Dark Shadows" is a Dan Curtis Production.