239 - May 25, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[narrating]
- My name is Victoria Winters.

A gentle night wind blows over Collinwood,

and all is silent and peaceful.

But there is no real peace in the night,

for those in the great house

and for those beyond it.

For one man especially,

the approach of nightfall brings with it

ever
-increasing desperation,

for a search is in progress,

a search for a missing girl

once believed to be dead.


- Well, any news?

They're not doing as much as they could.

She should be easy enough to find.


- Sam, they put out a three
-state alarm.

They've combed every...

beach between here and Bangor and all of the highways.

What more do you want them to do?


- I don't know. Maybe nothing.


- At least we know she's still alive.


- Or that she was.


- Now, don't let your imagination

run away with you, we'll find her.


- How could she have walked out of that hospital

in the condition that she was in?

And where should she want to go?

I
-
- I just don't understand.

Where?

[music box plays]

♪♪

♪♪


- Willie...

Please light the candles.

Miss Josette is ready to dine.


- Barnabas?
- What is it?


- Why do you call her by that name?


- Because that is her name, now.


- But, Barnabas, you know it isn't.

You know her name is Maggie Evans.


- Willie, that's enough.

This is Josette Collins.

It is her portrait that is hanging upstairs.

From now on, you must call her Miss Josette

and Miss Josette only.

Do you understand that?


- Yes.


- Then don't ask me any more of your weary questions.

Miss Josette is waiting to be served.


- Yes.


- Are you comfortable, my dear?

You look very lovely by candlelight, Josette.

But of course you always did.


- I...


- What are you trying to say?


- Candlelight.


- We always dined by candlelight

in front of a fire.

The candlesticks are lovely, aren't they?

They were part of your dowry.

You brought them with you from France.

You had a silversmith fashion them

from your own design.

You always had impeccable taste.

Oh...

You have your music box with you.

You're very fond of it, aren't you?

Do you know why?

Because I gave it to you.

It was the only present you ever accepted from me.

You had to keep it hidden

because there were those...

who were against our love.

But no one will be against us now.

We have each other,

and soon, very soon, you will be my bride.


- Bride.
- Yes.

Play the music box for me.

♪♪


- That was your favorite tune.

Hearing it brought you back to me

after you had gone.

I felt indescribable anguish

at the memory of it.

But now you are with me,

and you will stay with me, forever.


- Excuse me, Miss.


- Tell him your name, my dear.


- Josette.


- To you, my darling.

Forever.


- Forever.


- I've drunk enough booze to float a small island,

and I still can't get drunk.


- I would really tie one on

if it would do any good, but it wouldn't.


- Sitting around here is driving me up the wall.

Why don't you phone the sheriff's office?


- Sam, I just talked to him ten minutes ago.

He said he'd let us know if there was any news.


- So. We sit around here and wait.

Maggie may be dead or dying or...


- Take it easy now, Sam.


- Yeah, sure, sure.

Maybe you can take it easy, but I can't.


- Do you think I'm not as scared

and worried as you are?


- I know you are.


- Look, you should try to think about something else,

for your own sake.


- How can I do that?
- Oh, I know it's tough on you,

but you should try to concentrate

on something else
-
- go back to your painting.


- I can't paint. I'm in no condition to paint.


- Well, maybe not.


- Every time I look at a brush,

all I do is think of Maggie.


- What about that portrait of Barnabas Collins?

What did you decide to do about that?


- Tell him I can't go through with it.

No, not at least until I find something out about Maggie.

As a matter of fact, I was thinking of going up

and telling him tonight.


- Listen, I've got my car outside.

Do you want me to drive you up there?


- You know, anything is better than sitting around here.

We can search the roads for her on the way out.


- We've gone over that territory a hundred times

and so has the Highway Patrol.


- I know, I know.

It would take a miracle to find her.

That's what I'm praying for.

A miracle.

♪♪

[music box playing]

♪♪


- Josette.

Look at me, my dear.

Look at me.

Look into my eyes.

All I want is to make you happy.

You know that, don't you?


- Yes.


- Then you must never be frightened of me.

Ever.
- Frightened?


- You were frightened of me once.

So frightened that you ended your life on Widow's Hill.


- Widow's Hill?


- You didn't understand.

I didn't want to harm you.

Do you understand that now?

Tell me.

Tell me you understand.

I've been waiting to hear you say that for so long.


- I understand.


- Tell me that you know

that we are going to be happy together.

Tell me you know that...

How happy we're going to be.


- Yes.


- You don't know
-
-
- Happy...


-
-
-what that means to me, to hear you say those words.

You can't know.

Don't withdraw from me.

You said you aren't frightened of me.

You aren't, are you?


- No.


- You want to be my bride.

You want it as much as I do.


- Yes.


- I remember the first time I saw you.

You couldn't speak a word of English.

A beautiful dark girl of .

My job was to teach you English.

Those hours we spent together were the happiest of my life.

And we will relive them again and again as time goes by.

Time will mean nothing.


- Nothing.

[knocking on door]


- I don't hear anybody stirring.


- Well, he should be at home.

He always is.

[knocking on door]


- What should I do?


- You'd better answer it.

Tell whoever it is I can't be disturbed.


- It's you. What do you want?


- Mr. Collins at home?


- He can't be disturbed.


- Well, it will only take a moment.

It's rather important.


- He's busy.


- Well, I won't take too much of his time.

Just tell him that I'm here.


- All right. You wait here.

They're here.
- They?


- Her father and Joe Haskell.


- They say they want to see you.

They say it's important.

What should I tell them?


- I'd better see them.

I don't want to arouse any suspicion.


- Is it safe for them to come in the house?

Shouldn't I tell them
-
-
- Do as I say.

Now take Josette up to her room

and stay with her.

Now go with Willie, my dear.

I'll come up and see you later on.


- Come with me.


- Why, Mr. Evans.

I'm terribly sorry to have kept you waiting.

Mr. Haskell, how are you?
- Mr. Collins.


- Well, I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Collins,

but I'd like to have a word with you.


- Well, yes, certainly, come in.


- Thanks.


- Is there any word of your daughter?


- No, none.

Seems to have vanished into thin air.


- Oh, I'm extremely sorry to hear that.

If I can be of any service to you, I would
-
-


- Thank you very much, there's nothing you can do.


- The police are doing everything they can do find her.

We're still hopeful.


- Allow me to share your hopes.

What is it you wanted to see me about?


- Well, I wanted to see you about the portrait.

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to stop for awhile.


- Oh, I understand perfectly.


- Well, that is, at least until I hear something about
-
-


- Oh, please, don't bother to explain.

I would expect that you wouldn't

want to be working at a time like this.


- Well, I know how anxious you were to have

your portrait completed, but...

Well, I'm sorry, it just can't be done.


- Please, don't be sorry.

As a matter of fact,

I wanted to speak to you about my portrait.


- Oh?
- Yes, even though

you had the time,

I wouldn't be able to sit for you.

As I told you, I have a plan to start

a business of my own,

and I find myself increasingly busy.

I was going to suggest that perhaps

we could suspend the sittings for the time being.


- Mm
-hmm, well, I... I guess I...

could take it home, work on it there.

When I start to paint again, if I ever do.


- I'd rather you leave the portrait here.

You can take the paints if you like.


- Come on.

You need sit down nice and quiet, huh?

That's right.

Barnabas will be here soon.


- I'll put your gear in the car, Sam.


- Oh, thanks, Joe.


- Well, if you want to commission another artist, uh...


- Oh, please, I wouldn't consider it.


- Are you sure?
- Of course.

You're the man for me.


- Sam?
- Yeah?

Yeah, Joe?


- Do you want me to take the easel too?


- No, no, I think it's better if we...

leave the easel here to keep the painting on it.


- Yeah, right, whatever you say.


- I...


- What is it? What's the matter?


- I heard voices.


- Voices.

I heard voices.


- You didn't hear anything.


- But I did.

I know I did.
- No.

You just settle down, you'll be all right.

Do you hear me?


- Yes.


- Good, come on.


- Whose room is this?


- What?

Well, you know what room it is.

It's your room.


- My room?
- Well, sure, of course.


- No, it isn't.


- What are you talking about?


- I've never been here before.


- Never been here?


- Why am I here, I...

I want to leave!


- Now, you can't leave. You just settle down.

You'll get in big trouble if you don't.


- But
-
- no. I want to go!


- You will get in big trouble, do you hear me?

Now you just settle down and relax.


- Voices!
- Huh?


- You just take it easy.


- Voices.

I heard voices.
- Now, you forget about that.


- I did.

They were calling me.


- I see we did come at a bad time.


- What do you mean?


- Well, your dinner table, it's set for two.

You must have been expecting someone.


- That's right.


- I didn't know you knew anybody in town.


- I have my family.


- Oh, of course. I forgot about that.


- Voices... Calling to me.


- Will you stop that?


- Voices...

Pop... it was Pop's voice.


- You didn't hear anything.


- And Joe.

They were calling me.


- Nobody was calling you.


- Yes, I have to go to them.


- Now, you're not going anyplace.


- Yes... Yes...
- You can't!

Now, something terrible would happen to you

if you left this room.


- Please! Please!


- Well, I got all of the gear into the car.

You ready to go?
- Yeah, I guess so.

Thank you, Mr. Collins,

for being so patient about the portrait.


- Of course. I'll show you to the door.

[Maggie gasping]

[crashing]


- What was that?


- Willie must have dropped something.

He isn't the most agile of servants.


- I would say he certainly isn't.


- Well, please let me know

if I can be of any assistance to you

at any time, Mr. Evans.


- Why, thank you very much, Mr. Collins.

It's very kind of you.


- Shh. I'm trying to protect you.

Don't you understand?

Huh?

[door slams]

[car engine fades]


- Oh, Pop!

Joe!


- It's too late. They're gone.


- I wish there was more of a moon.

I can't see much of anything.


- No, I...

Look.
- What?


- Look. Up ahead, there's a woman on the road.

Slow down.


- Is it...
- No.

No, it isn't Maggie.


- I was almost afraid to hope.


- Oh... every woman I see,

no matter how faintly she resembles Maggie,

I
-
- I just can't help thinking that...


- Yeah, I know, I feel the same thing.


- Oh, it's terrible not knowing anything.

I would rather know that she was dead, anything,

than just not knowing anything at all.


- Don't say that, Sam.


- Oh, I'm sorry. I can't help it.


- You know, Sam...

Sometimes I
-
- I get the oddest feeling.


- What's that?


- Well, that...

that Maggie is somewhere nearby,

very close to us.

So close we can almost...

reach out and touch her, but...

for some reason we can't.


- I would give the rest of my life

to know that she was safe,

or know anything at all.


- Now, you shouldn't have called out.

Let's just hope Barnabas didn't hear you.

[door opens]


- Barnabas.
- Get out of here, Willie.


- Um...

It was my fault. I knocked it over.

It was an accident, Barnabas. Yeah, an accident.


- I said, get out of here.


- Don't
-
- don't hurt her.


- I said go!

Why are you crying, Josette?


- I didn't...


- Why did you call out?

Why did you try to get out of here?


- I didn't.


- I heard something fall.

I heard you scream.

You were trying to escape from here, weren't you?

You tried to leave me, didn't you?


- No, I didn't.


- I know when you're lying, Josette.

You mustn't lie to me.

You mustn't leave me.

You're never going to leave me!


- No.
- Never!


- No, I
-
-

[Maggie screaming]

♪♪

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