273 - July 12, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[narrating] - My name is Victoria Winters.

The foundations of Collinwood lie deep in the age-old rock

that has resisted the sea for centuries.

Its walls rival the cliff,

and it would seem that even the thunders of heaven

could never shake the stones on which it stands.

But it may be that the whole vast structure

of the proud and ancient house

rests on ground no larger than the size of a man's grave,

and the disturbed earth is about to send a shudder

through the piled stones that will topple the walls

and destroy the old house forever.

- Well, the lock looks rusty enough to break.

- There can't be much of him left after years.

- No, probably not.

It's not going to be pretty.

You know I've never searched for anything

that I wanted less to find.

- Poor Liz.

To think she's lived with this for all these years.

- Well, I guess there's no sense stalling any longer.

Here goes.

It's stuck-- give me a hand, will you?

♪♪

[eerie music]

♪♪

♪♪

- There's no reason why you can't go upstairs and rest.

- I can't rest.

- Liz...

Why didn't you ever tell me the truth?

- Well, how could I?

- I would have kept it a secret or didn't you trust me?

- It wasn't that.

- Well, then what was it?

- [sighing] Pride, I guess.

- Pride?

- [sighing] I'm your older sister...

The keeper of the family conscience, remember?

The woman with so much integrity.

The one with the greatest sense of family honor.

Maybe I didn't want to give up the role.

Maybe I was too proud to be a normal human being.

- No, that wasn't the real reason.

You've known me too well.

In my own way, I wonder if I would have done

any differently than Jason.

- Don't even mention his name.

- Oh, I would have kept it a secret, just as he did...

but I would have used it to my own purposes, just as he did.

You were right not to tell me.

- What does it matter?

The secret's out now.

- But, Liz!

You have an unimpeachable defense!

Paul Stoddard was robbing you.

There's no court in this country

that's going to convict you.

- Roger, try to understand.

I haven't kept this terrible secret all these years

because I wanted to escape the law.

I haven't wanted to tell the truth

because I was terrified of what it would do to Carolyn.

- Well, she will understand in time.

- Will she?

Where is she?

She's gone.

And I can't go after her.

I can't do anything for her anymore.

That's my real punishment.

- Liz, please, you've got to stop

tearing away at yourself like this.

- She's all I have, Roger.

She is all I've ever had.

And now I've lost her.

Did you find the trunk?

- Yes.

- I was sure you would.

[phone ringing]

- I'll get that.

- Maybe it's Carolyn.

[ringing]

- Hello?

Oh, yes, just a minute.

It's for you, Sheriff.

- Yes?

You did?

No, no, don't take him there.

Bring him right here, right away.

Yes, thank you.

They've got McGuire.

- And you're having him brought here?

- Is that really necessary?

I-- I'd rather not see him if it's possible at all.

- I agree with my sister.

- I'm sorry, but there are some specific questions

that I want to ask him...

- I think I...

- About the trunk in the basement.

- I think I can give you all the answers you want.

- I doubt it.

- Well, will it be necessary for--

Will I have to identify the body?

- Surely that's not necessary!

- No, it won't be necessary.

- Thank you.

- There are, however,

some other questions that must be answered.

- I'll do all I can.

- Why don't you tell her?

- Well, I'm just about to.

- Tell me what?

- Well, the, uh, trunk that we dug up in the basement...

- Yes?

- The one that McGuire buried Paul Stoddard in.

- Yes?

- Well, maybe you can answer this.

Why is it empty?

♪♪

- Empty?

- Absolutely empty.

♪♪

♪♪

- You don't have to go in if you don't want to.

I see no reason why you can't just take my word for it.

- I... I have to see.

- Is that the trunk?

- Yes.

- And is this the spot where he was presumably buried?

- Yes.

- Well...

Well, then, take a look if you want to.

- I have to.

Well, there's nothing there!

- No, and there's no sign that anything ever was.

No blood stains, nothing.

- There's nothing there!

- Liz, please, you shouldn't be down here!

- Why is there nothing there?

- Well, that's one of the things I want to find out from McGuire.

- But I've kept this room locked.

I-- I haven't left Collinwood for years

to be sure nobody came down here and found out.

- Come on, Liz, let's go back upstairs.

- I've been a prisoner because of this room.

- Liz!

- But there's nothing there-- Nothing!

- No, nothing but an empty old trunk.

- But why have I lived like this?

Why have I kept guarding this room?

Why have I dreamt night after night

that someone came down here and found out?

Why have I had these nightmares night after night after night?

- Okay, you've, uh, seen what you came to see.

Let's go back upstairs. - No, wait.

- Liz, there's no reason to stay down here.

- But where is he?

Where is Paul if he's not here? Where is he buried?

- Well, that's the thing I want to find out from McGuire.

- But, why?

What-- what did he do with the body?

If he's not buried here, where is he?

- Did it ever occur to you that you didn't k*ll Paul Stoddard?

- Oh, I did k*ll him. I know he's dead!

- How can you be absolutely sure?

- I saw him.

I-- I hit him, I saw him fall, I saw the blood.

- Didn't you tell me that McGuire came

and told you that he was dead?

- Yes.

- And you never saw Paul after that?

- No.

- Well, then, isn't it possible?

- I know I k*lled him-- I know he's dead!

- How can you be so sure?

- Because I know, that's all.

- Oh, come on, Liz!

- I have felt his presence.

- Because you felt guilty.

- No, the feeling was too strong

when I came down here to see if anyone had broken in.

- And all the while, he wasn't even buried here.

- I know, I know.

I can't explain, but I swear I've heard his footsteps.

It's as if they were coming towards me.

[footsteps approaching]

Listen.

- Who's there?

- Jason!

- They just brought him in.

I thought you might want him to explain

something about this room.

- I don't know anything about this room.

- Jason, you've got to tell me the truth!

- I've told you all I know...

which is nothing.

- Show him the trunk.

- See anything familiar?

- I've never even seen that trunk before.

- You're lying.

- Well, that's your opinion.

- It's more than an opinion.

You've seen this trunk before and you knew it was empty.

- And what makes you so sure?

- Please, Jason...

you've got to tell me what happened.

You've got to tell me what you did with him!

- If he buried him at all.

- I don't know anything about anything,

and you might as well let me go.

- And I suppose you don't know

anything about the blackmail either,

or the money in the bank in Switzerland?

- You might as well tell us everything, McGuire.

We've got enough on you now

to give you a nice, long vacation as it is.

- Jason, haven't you tormented me enough?

- Oh, Liz, he wouldn't understand

what you're talking about.

- I'd like to speak to Mrs. Stoddard alone

for a few minutes, if I may.

- You'll tell me the truth?

- Well, I think we ought to have a little chat together,

just the two of us.

- I'm sorry, but that's out of the question!

- Roger, please, if you'll tell me the truth.

- No, Liz, he will only try to make another deal with you.

- If I have anything to say,

I intend to say it to Mrs. Stoddard alone.

Otherwise, I've said everything I intend to say.

- Then come upstairs.

- Are you sure that this is the way you want it?

- Well, if this is the only way I can find out the truth!

- I'm afraid...

it is.

- Liz, don't you understand?

He's only looking for another chance to get away!

- No, he can't get out of the house.

It'll be all right. Let's-- let's let them talk.

- Then... shall we go upstairs?

♪♪

- Every time Jason McGuire and my sister

have a private conversation,

he always manages to get her to do exactly what he says.

- Well, the situation has changed a little bit, hasn't it?

- Well, perhaps,

but force of habit makes me expect that Jason

will get Liz to do as he says.

- Is that the truth?

- That's the truth, Liz.

Now, would you like to call in your friend the Sheriff

so that I can be on my way as soon as possible?

- Yes, of course.

I can hardly believe it.

- Well, this time, Liz, you can believe it.

Now, please. Call in the Sheriff.

Gentleman, Mrs. Stoddard has something to tell you.

- Will you come in? All of you?

- What's happened?

What's he been saying to you?

- The truth, Roger!

The truth.

- I did not k*ll Paul Stoddard.

- I knew it!

- Tell them, Jason.

Tell them what you told me.

- Well, it's really very simple.

No doubt you've already guessed it.

- You only said that he was dead

so that you could blackmail Mrs. Stoddard.

- Ah, no, not originally.

- I only stunned Paul when I hit him,

even though there was a cut on his head.

- Then they must have made some arrangement between them--

between Paul Stoddard and Jason.

- Well, poor Paul was not very bright, you know.

Many is the time I had to, uh, you know, uh,

formulate plans for him, and, uh,

well, the night of the m*rder was no different.

- Exactly what happened?

- When I came into the room, he was sitting up,

rubbing the back of his head.

Right away I told him, very quickly,

that he was a fool and very wrong

to try to get away with so much money.

No wonder Liz wouldn't let him go.

I told him that a little bit less

would still be plenty for both of us.

Well, as usual, Paul bowed to my superior judgment.

- So, you went ahead with the burial

and then you split the price with Stoddard.

- Well, Paul Stoddard requested a slightly larger cut--

but, then, he's notoriously greedy.

- Not so greedy as you.

You had to come back for more.

- That wasn't greed!

That was necessity.

I was broke.

And now, is there anything else you'd like to know?

- Where is Paul Stoddard?

- I don't know.

I lost contact with him in Hong Kong

more than years ago.

- But he's alive?

- Well, his health was very good at that time.

- Paul-- still alive somewhere!

- Well, now, you must all excuse me.

- Just where do you think you're going?

- Well, I don't know, exactly.

I understand that Canada is rather beautiful

at this time of year.

- Well, you're not going to Canada!

You're coming with me.

- No, wait.

- Just what do you mean?

- Let him go.

- What do you mean, let him go?

Even if there was no m*rder, he still-- there's blackmail.

- Blackmail-- What blackmail?

- I'm dropping all charges.

- But you can't!

- I had to.

- So, you made one final deal with her, huh?

- Can she do this?

- I promised if he told me the truth,

I'd forget all about the blackmail.

- How could you make a promise like that?

- It's very simple.

If she insists, the discretionary power

of the authorities allows them to drop the charges.

Isn't that correct, Sheriff?

- If the offended party makes a strong plea.

- Well, I'm sure Liz will make a very persuasive one.

- Liz, you can't! - [sighing]

I gave him my word that I would.

I can't go back on my word.

I had to know the truth, and now I know it.

- For many, no price is too high for the truth.

And now, gentleman, I really must leave you.

- Wait a minute!

Sheriff, I want that man arrested.

- Roger! I gave him my word.

- But I did not give mine!

Sheriff, I insist-- arrest that man.

♪♪

- And exactly what are the charges?

- Extortion! Blackmail! Fraud!

- Against whom? - Against my family!

- I'm sorry but that isn't quite right.

All of my activities were directed, well,

primarily toward your sister.

- You took family money from her.

Business money.

- Roger, please, don't you understand?

I only want to be rid of this man once and for all.

- Liz, we cannot let him do what he did and then get away.

- What would you prefer?

Public charges brought against him followed by a public trial?

- You didn't think of that now, did you?

- The scandal-- The humiliation for me,

telling everyone what I've been through.

I can't do it, Roger.

- Do we have to let him go? - Please, yes.

I never want to hear his name again.

You know what I've been through already.

- I agree with Liz.

I'd hate to see her go through a public trial.

- Well, I'm happy to see some sense from someone here,

not to mention the compassion for Liz.

- Compassion?

You make a mockery of every word you say--

after what you put my sister through!

- All right, Roger. Let's not get too excited.

- Well, I really think I must be going.

- Just a minute, McGuire!

I have a few words I want to say to you.

- A fond farewell, no doubt, Sheriff?

- You can call it that.

I'm giving you until sunup to get out of Collinsport.

I'm giving orders to my men to pick you up

if you're found anywhere in the vicinity after :.

- Well, now, I'm not sure you have the right to do that.

- Oh, I have the right, and I'm going to exercise it.

- But I'll have to make some arrangements before I leave.

- You've made enough arrangements

around here, McGuire.

- And I hope I never see you around again.

- Just let me handle it, Burke. - Okay.

But I hope you heard me, McGuire.

- Well, I'm sorry, gentlemen,

but you're going to have to do me one more favor.

- Are you kidding?

- Please...

Anything, as long as he goes.

- Just give me until tomorrow evening.

Sundown. That's all I ask.

- What for? What do you have in mind?

- Well, a man just can't pack up and leave

in a couple of hours.

Liz, please, as a final request.

Please ask them to let me stay until tomorrow evening.

- Give it to him.

Anything-- only make him leave this house, please!

- All right, gentleman.

After tomorrow evening,

you won't see hide nor hair of me again.

You have my-- - Don't give me your word!

It's about the most worthless commodity on the market.

Just see that you're out of town by tomorrow evening.

- You're very kind.

- Not by choice.

- Well, Liz...

This is good-bye.

- Please! Get him out of here!

- Come on, McGuire. I'll show you to the door.

- I know the way!

- I'm sure you do, but I'd better call off my men

or you'll never get through.

- Well, in that case, the pleasure is all mine.

Liz...

Thank you...

for everything.

[door opens, closes]

- He's gone.

At last, he's gone.

- We shouldn't have let him go.

- I'd like to know what his arrangements are.

- No, we're better off not knowing.

We're better off not knowing anything about...

Jason McGuire.

♪♪

[eerie music]

♪♪

♪♪

- "Dark Shadows" is a Dan Curtis production.