285 - July 28, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[Victoria narrating] - Today, the sea beyond the cliffs of Collinwood

is calm and motionless.

What waves there are curl onto the beach

with an almost tender touch.

But the sea is never still.

[music box playing]

The unseen moon beckons the massive watery wastes,

and almost against its will, the sea is drawn from the shore

in tidal obedience to a distant force.

And so, sometimes, it is with us.

What force has beckoned, we do not know.

But motionless and still, we move and answer

to something unseen,

not knowing whether we are being drawn from

or toward some final shore.

[music box continues, wind whistling]

[knocking]

[knocking intensifies]

[Carolyn] - Vicki?

Are you in there?

Vicki?

[music box stops] - Oh, uh... come in!

- Is anything the matter?

- No, why?

- Well, I knocked and you didn't even hear me.

- I didn't?

- Are you sure you're all right?

- Yes, of course.

I was just sitting here thinking.

- You must have been doing some pretty deep thinking.

- I was thinking about Maggie.

- Maggie?

- I thought I saw her the other day.

- Saw her?

But Vicki, Maggie is dead.

- I know.

♪♪

♪♪

- What do you mean, you saw Maggie?

- Well, it was like when you see something

out of the corner of your eye,

and then you look, and it's not really there.

Well, that's how it was when I was in the cemetery.

- In the cemetery?

- Yes, I went there the other day.

- But why?

- I know you're gonna think this sounds very silly...

but it was Josette's birthday.

- Josette's birthday?

- You probably think I'm very sentimental,

but I wanted to buy some flowers and put them on her grave.

- I think there's more to it than just sentimentality.

- What?

- Well, if I didn't know you better, Vicki,

I'd say you were still under the influence

of that party the other night.

- Well, I have to admit that I enjoyed going as Josette.

- No, I don't think that's what got you most.

- What then?

- That séance.

We really never should have done that.

My mother's right, there's some things

we just shouldn't fool around with.

- She spoke through me, didn't she?

- Vicki, I think you should forget all about it.

- Well, it-- it's not that important.

- Well, that's what I thought at the time,

but look at the effect it's having on you.

- Look, I-- I'm just feeling a little bit quiet, that's all.

It's probably just the weather.

- Was it the weather that made you think

you saw Maggie Evans?

- No.

But then, I didn't really see her.

- But you thought you did.

- Look, you-- you're making an awful lot out of nothing.

- And was it the weather that made you think you saw

a little girl on the top of the stairs the night of the party?

- I thought we agreed

that that was just an effect of the séance.

- Vicki, all I'm saying is that the effect

hasn't really worn off yet.

- But I'm all right. Really, I am.

- Well, Burke has been waiting downstairs

for almost half an hour.

- Burke? But I-- I didn't know--

- Vicki, Burke has taken you out on this particular night

for the past two months.

- I completely forgot.

- Well, he's waiting.

- But I-- I'm not so sure that I want to go out tonight.

- Where did you get this?

- Don't you recognize it?

- Yes, it was in Josette's room in the old house.

- Mm-hmm, Barnabas gave it to me after the party.

- Barnabas gave it to you?

- Is that so strange?

- No, I guess not.

- I was listening to it when you came in.

Do you want to hear it?

[music box playing]

Isn't it beautiful?

- Yes.

Vicki, do you mean you were just sitting here listening to that?

[music box stops]

- What's wrong with that? - Well, I don't know.

It just isn't like you.

- I could go on listening to it forever.

- Well, you better make it some other time,

because Burke is still waiting.

- Oh, yes, well look.

You tell him that I'll be downstairs in ten seconds.

- All right, but you stop listening to that,

or it'll be ten hours.

- Maybe you're right. - [laughs]

[music box playing]

- I'm glad we've met, Devlin.

I wanted to thank you again for coming to my party.

- I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

- Well, I have to admit that it was a most unusual evening.

- Barnabas, I didn't know you were here.

- I was hoping to see Miss Winters.

- Oh, uh, Vicki said she'll be down

in just a few minutes, Burke.

- What did she do, forget what night this is?

- No!

She just was a little busy, that's all.

- I hope I'm not intruding. - Well, that all depends.

Vicki and I have a date. - Of course.

I only wanted to see her for a moment.

I have something for her. - Is that it?

- Yes, would you like to see it?

- Oh, it's very handsome.

- And very old and very rare.

- And you're giving it to Vicki?

- Well, she does seem to share my appreciation

for things from the past.

- Yes. Yes, I know.

- But when I mentioned my library the other day,

she-- she seemed so interested, that, well, I thought

I'd give her this one little volume.

- Barnabas, I-- I probably have no right to say this, but...

- What is it?

- Well, do you think it's such a good idea

to be so involved in the past?

- I'm not sure I know what you're talking about.

- I do.

Carolyn probably feels that Vicki is letting herself

get too involved with the past.

And I agree.

- But surely, it's a harmless pastime.

- Yes, up to a point.

- And I imagine that Miss Winters

has not reached that point.

- I'm not so sure.

- But I really can't take you seriously.

- Barnabas, do you know where Vicki went the other day?

- Why, no. - I do.

Because I went with her.

- But where? - To the cemetery.

She insisted on putting flowers on Josette's grave.

- She did?

- Now, that's a little bit too far out.

- Seems to me a very thoughtful and lovely thing to do.

- That's not the way I see it.

After all, what is Josette to Vicki, anyway?

- Well, their relationship seems a very natural one.

- You mean, the séance?

- Well...

- Yes, and that was probably our first mistake, that séance.

- Perhaps. - No.

No, I'll tell you what our first mistake was.

It was wearing those costumes.

- Now, there I disagree.

- Look, I really don't think this is something

we should argue about, but... well, do you think

it's a good idea to encourage Vicki in acting this way?

- Well, I doubt if it's as excessive

as you two seem to think it is.

- Oh, isn't it?

Well, let me tell you one more thing.

Vicki is beginning to see things-- people.

The other night at your party, she saw that little girl.

And at the cemetery, she thought she saw Maggie Evans.

- Maggie Evans?

- That's right. - But, that's impossible.

- [chuckling] We agree.

- But Maggie Evans is dead.

- Now, you see what I'm trying to tell you.

- And you were with her when this happened?

- Yes, against my better judgment.

- And you saw something?

- Of course I didn't see anything.

There was nothing to see.

That's what I'm trying to say.

- Of course, you saw nothing. There was nothing to see.

- But Barnabas, doesn't it prove that Vicki's getting

sort of carried away?

- Possibly.

She certainly couldn't have seen Maggie Evans...

any more than she could have seen

that little girl on the stairs.

♪♪

- But are you gonna leave right away?

- Yes, I'm afraid so. - Did you see Mrs. Stoddard?

- Well, no. - I think she's in the study.

- Actually, Barnabas didn't come to see Mrs. Stoddard.

- Oh? - I came to see you.

- Oh, oh, about Miss Hoffman.

- Is she the woman who came to the house with you yesterday?

- Yes.

Did Willie tell you why she was there?

- No, we didn't discuss it.

- Well, she's doing a history

of the famous New England families, and she wanted

to do some research into the Collins family.

So, I told her that you were the one she should talk to.

- So, she's interested in the Collins family?

- Yes.

Well, I-- I thought you'd be very excited by the idea.

I know I am. I hope I can help her.

- Well, I'm not sure I'm too enthusiastic about the idea.

- But I was so sure you'd love it.

- Well, I've always preferred to keep the family history

within the family itself.

- But it's too exciting, you have to share it.

- I do, but only with people

I know who have an appreciation for it.

- Well, I'm sure that Miss Hoffman would.

- Well, perhaps.

But it's nothing that has to be settled right away,

so, if you'll excuse me.

- Of course. But promise me one thing.

That you'll at least think about letting

Miss Hoffman do her research.

- I will.

Well, I must be going. The storm is coming.

- Good night.

- Oh, is that one of the books

that you were talking about from your library?

- Yes, but it's-- - May I see it?

- It's really of very little interest.

- How can you say that? You know I'd be very interested.

- Well, then you must come and see

the entire collection sometime.

- Well, can't I at least look at this one?

Please?

- Well, I suppose so.

- Just by touching it,

I can tell that it's very, very old.

It's like holding a piece of history in my hand.

[thunder rumbling]

I don't understand.

- What is it?

- It's inscribed to me, from you.

- Yes.

- And you were going to leave without even letting me see it?

- Well, I guess I may as well confess.

- What are you talking about?

- I didn't want Barnabas to give you the book.

- What? - I-- I'm sorry

if I've created a somewhat clumsy situation.

- Why didn't you want him to give me this book?

- Mr. Devlin felt that you've become too enamored

of the past as it is.

- But a book? I don't understand you, Burke.

This is-- what is this all about?

- Okay, so I went a little overboard.

But I just think you oughta get off

this history kick for a while.

- Do you mean that-- that you actually told Mr. Collins

that he could not give me this book?

- I'm sorry, but I really must excuse myself.

I really shouldn't have intruded to start with.

[thunder rumbling]

- No, that-- that's not true at all.

It was very thoughtful of you to bring me this book,

and I thank you.

- You're very welcome.

Good night.

♪♪

[thunder rumbling]

- You ready to go? I-- I need a drink.

- I'm not sure that I want to go out tonight.

- Oh, come on, Vicki, you're not that sore at me.

- No, I'm not sore at you.

I'd just like to stay at home, that's all.

- Sorry.

What you need is a good time-- good and loud,

and I'm gonna give it to you.

- No! Burke, please!

- Vicki, what's the matter with you?

- Nothing!

[thunder roaring]

- I suppose you'd rather curl up with that ridiculous book.

- Well, what's wrong with that? - Plenty.

- You sound as though I'm gonna be swallowed up by the past.

- Vicki, let's go, the storm is about to start.

- Look, please, don't be angry,

but I'd-- I'd like to stay at home tonight.

- But I will be angry.

As a matter of fact, I'm angry right now.

- Well, we can go out some other time soon.

[sighs]

- I can't change your mind?

- No.

Thank you.

- You're welcome.

- Good night?

- Good night.

[thunder roaring]

♪♪

[thunder roaring]

♪♪

[knocking]

[knocking]

- Who is it?

- Oh, Mr. Collins, it's Vicki Winters.

- Miss Winters, come in.

- I-- I can't stay long, the storm is about to break.

But I wanted to talk to you.

- Well, what is it?

- I want to apologize. - But what for?

- We all behaved so badly.

- Of course not. - Oh, yes, we did.

Carolyn, and Burke, and-- and I did, too.

- But everyone was most polite.

- Oh, yes, most polite.

Criticizing you up and down for giving me that lovely book.

- Perhaps because they don't understand our appreciation

for things gone before.

- I wasn't very polite, either.

- Now, there, I disagree completely.

- I-- I never really thanked you.

- Your acceptance is thanks enough.

- Well, I loved having it. I just want you to know that.

- You're very kind.

- Then you do forgive us? All of us?

- Of course, if there's anything to forgive.

- Well, I better be getting back,

but I-- I hope we can talk soon.

- I hope I can persuade you to stay just for a moment.

- Oh, I-- I don't wanna take the chance.

But I-- I hope you'll let Miss Hoffman do her research.

- We'll see.

- And I hope she'll let me help her.

- Does the Collins history mean that much to you?

- Isn't that obvious?

Good night.

- But the storm has already started.

- Well then, I'd-- I'd better hurry.

- Oh, you can't go out in that.

- But I have to.

- If you'd wait for it to let up just a little bit.

- I was so sure that I'd have time to get here

and then make it back to the house.

- Perhaps it'll blow over soon.

- Oh, I-- I don't think so.

It doesn't look like that kind of a storm.

- Well, going out in it now is impossible.

- But I have to get back.

- Well, I can always tell Willie to tell them now

that you are quite all right.

- No, that won't be necessary.

Nobody should go out on a night like this.

- Well, I'm sure that he's capable

of going across in the storm.

- Oh, no, that's all right.

No one will miss me.

[thunder continues]

I don't know how I could have been so stupid.

I saw that-- that storm coming.

Well, I-- I guess I'm gonna have to stay here.

I'm very sorry.

- Please forgive me if I'm delighted.

- [laughs] You're very kind.

- Have you ever been in this house before in a storm?

- I've never been in it in a storm like this.

- This house was built for storms.

- What do you mean? - This room is never lovelier

than when it's lit by lightning.

Look.

And the thunder echoing down the corridors.

- I see. - It was for storms like this

that this house was built.

- I think I know what you mean.

- Do you? - Yes.

What am I gonna do if it doesn't stop?

- You'll wait here.

- I don't think you understand.

I'm afraid this storm, it could last for the whole night.

- Well, if my company wearies you,

you can always rest a while.

Don't forget, Josette's room is ready at all times.

- Yes, of course.

Josette's room.

♪♪

♪♪

[announcers] "Dark Shadows" is a Dan Curtis production.