373 - November 29, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[Victoria narrating] - Time has been suspended at Collinwood

while one woman makes an uncertain,

frightening journey to the past,

back to the year ,

back to the secrets which have brought

so much horror and grief to the great house

and those who inhabit it.

- Now that you have drunk that,

you are in my power --

and I will protect you against all evil spirits,

even from death itself.

For yours is the hand I will use when mine is too small,

your arm when mine is too weak.

And we are united by invisible bonds

which can never be broken.

Do you understand, Ben?

But you do know you must do as I say.

- Aye.

- Do you know the forest here? - Aye.

- I must have a spider's web.

- What for?

- You must get it from a -- an oak tree.

You must be very careful when you remove it.

Not a single strand of the web can be broken --

and bring it to me.

Go.

- Well, I can't now. Mr. Collins, he needs --

- He's not your master now,

I am.

Now, hurry.

I must begin my work.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

- I took down three spider webs

before I got one without breaking the thread.

- Oh, you did well, Ben.

Why, it's perfect.

- What do you want it for?

- It will be a dress.

- A dress?

I -- I'd like to see you walkin' around here wearin' it.

- It's not for me. It's for this.

- What's that supposed to be?

- A woman.

- It ain't got no head.

- Sometimes love is headless, Ben.

The heart replaces the head.

My mistress,

my Mistress Josette's handkerchief will be a dress

and the spider's web will cover the dress

and they will be held to the figure

by a lock of her lover's hair.

- How are you gonna get a lock of Mr. Barnabas' hair?

- Not his, Jeremiah's.

My Mistress Josette will soon love Jeremiah.

- [laughing]

- Don't laugh.

- I can't help it.

- I told you to stop laughing.

- Why would you even think of somethin' like that?

- I never think of anything else!

- But why?

Mr. Barnabas is gonna marry Miss Josette, and --

- No. - No?

- No, I don't think he'll want to marry her.

- I don't understand.

- What does a man hate most in a woman, Ben?

- I don't know anythin' about ladies like Miss Josette.

- If you were married,

you would want your wife to be --

- Aye, faithful.

- And if she weren't, how would you feel?

- I'd k*ll her!

- Barnabas won't go that far.

He'll hate her, though.

Oh, I can see the look in his eye when he sees her

after she has been with Jeremiah.

I can hear his voice sending her home --

and I will be the one who comforts him.

Here in this room.

- If you make Mr. Barnabas unhappy,

I'll -- I'll -- - What?

- I -- I won't let it happen.

- Yes, you will.

- I'll tell him. I swear it.

- No, you won't.

- He's been kind to me.

He's the only one around here who has.

I've got no loyalties to you.

- But you have. - No.

- If you say one word --

- Nothin' can stop me from tellin' --

- Finish what you were saying, Ben.

- [mumbling]

- If you open your mouth to say one word against me,

or to tell anyone what I plan to do,

you will never speak again.

- You are a witch!

- And you are my helper.

♪♪

- More arrivals? - Aye.

- Who this time?

- They didn't give me their names.

- Well, whoever it is, evidently intends to stay.

- Aye.

- Watch out, Stokes!

If you have broken anything --

I'm sure Cousin Millicent is most particular

about her things.

- Cousin Millicent?

- And mind you, be civil to her.

They are used to respectable servants in New York.

- Isn't she early for the wedding?

- We haven't seen her and her brother for so long

it seemed an ideal opportunity for a visit.

Daniel is almost now,

and wait until you see Millicent.

She is everything a girl of our family should be.

- Well, I can tell she has quite won your heart.

- That, I gather, was intended as a humorous remark.

It isn't my heart I'm interested in Millicent winning.

- Oh no, please.

- Jeremiah, it's time that you marry.

- Past time, I should think.

- You never seem to find anyone suitable.

I'm very concerned for your happiness.

- Do you know what that means? - What?

- Happiness. Define it for me.

- We are not playing a word game.

- Wouldn't it be more pleasant if we did?

- You will listen to me, Jeremiah.

In the five years since the unfortunate accident

which robbed Cousin Millicent of her mother and father --

- Don't go on, Joshua. - Hear me out, I say!

Millicent's estate has grown enormously.

Real estate in the City of New York is at a premium

and its value increases daily.

A strange situation, but one I cannot argue with.

Cousin Millicent, herself, has matured into a woman.

- She would be a curiosity if she didn't.

I'd hate to think she was still a girl hiding behind doors.

- Besides the obvious advantage of having a wealthy wife --

- Do you ever stop planning?

- Ah, Cousin Millicent.

I hope you found your room satisfactory.

- Oh, charming.

- We had hoped to be in the new house by the time you arrived --

but the trouble with workmen today is they don't work.

- [giggling]

Cousin Joshua, what a witty man you are.

- Witty? Oh yes, thank you.

You remember Cousin Jeremiah, of course.

- Of course.

- How are you, Cousin Millicent?

- Oh, I'm much better, thank you.

The quiet has done my nerves much good already.

New York is a very noisy, hectic city and --

I find that noise affects my nerves.

- Indeed?

Well, I should simply pack my bags and move out of it.

You know you always have a home here.

Isn't that right, Jeremiah? - Always.

Remember that, Cousin Millicent.

Joshua is not known as being so free with his invitations.

- Your brother is very kind.

- Joshua is also very serious.

He would like nothing more than to have all the Collins

living in the same house, one large happy family.

A dream, I'm afraid, which will not come true.

- I wonder if you would be kind enough, Jeremiah,

to take Cousin Millicent to see Barnabas.

He hasn't been well.

- Indeed?

Is it serious?

- Oh, no, no, no, no.

- Anything... contagious, possibly?

- Oh, of course not.

- I must be extremely careful.

I am delicate and if anything happened to me,

what would my poor little brother do?

- Yes, he is quite young to manage your affairs.

But seeing Barnabas will be perfectly safe for you.

Well, Jeremiah?

- As much as I would like to, Joshua,

I'm afraid that Cousin Millicent would not appreciate it.

I feel a slight cold coming on. - Oh no.

- So, you would be much safer with my brother.

- Oh, excuse me.

- Oh, that's quite all right, Ms. Winters.

I would like you to meet our cousin,

Millicent Collins.

- Carolyn.

- You said something?

- No I -- I'm sorry, Ms. Collins.

It's just that you look so very much like someone

I knew well a long, long time ago.

- [giggling]

♪♪

- You must be pleased.

That was very encouraging a few moments ago.

- What was?

- Confusing Cousin Millicent with -- whoever it was.

- Carolyn.

She used to be my very best friend.

I miss her.

- Your memory is coming back.

- In flashes.

But I still -- don't know how or why I'm -- I'm here.

Although, I'm beginning to think

that I'm here for a purpose.

- To educate Sarah. - Oh no,

it's something more than that.

I have the feeling that I'm here to change things.

- What things?

- I don't know.

Just change them, whatever they are.

- But how can you do that?

Certainly, our house will be different because you're here,

it already is.

Perhaps not different enough.

You know, I think I envy you.

- Well, you shouldn't do that.

- Oh no, I'm serious.

You're -- you're free in a way.

No past you can remember, no -- no family obligations,

no one trying to decide your life for you.

Why do I think I know you well enough to say that?

- Because you do.

- Yes but,

I rarely, I rarely say anything like that to anyone.

We have talked only four or five times and --

and I have the strangest feeling that

we've known each other some other time,

some other place.

Of course, I don't believe in that sort of thing.

- Don't you?

- Do you?

You are a romantic, Ms. Winters.

- And aren't you?

- Oh no.

No, perhaps I was at one time but --

living here and working as I do,

no, I'm a realist.

Not as much of a realist as Joshua,

but then who is?

Can you imagine me married to her?

- To who? - Cousin Millicent.

That's the latest development.

I sometimes feel I don't have to live my life at all.

I could just let Joshua do it for me.

But this time, he will not get his way.

- No... he will not.

- Why do you say that?

- I just meant --

- What?

- She will never marry.

Never.

- Ms. Winters, you say the strangest things.

- It's just a feeling that I had.

- Do you think I'll ever understand that mind of yours?

- I don't know why you'd really want to.

I'm not very interesting.

- I think you are.

- Still here, Ms. Winters?

- Yes.

- I'm sure it's past Sarah's bed time.

- Yes, if you'll excuse me.

- Now that Cousin Daniel is here,

your duties will include his supervision.

I should think that would leave you very little

free time for yourself.

Do you understand me?

- I think I do.

Good night, sir.

- That was unnecessary, Joshua,

unnecessary and quite rude.

- You are not one to talk of rudeness.

- If I was rude to Cousin Millicent,

it's because I will not be pushed!

- You will get nowhere unless you are.

- I will go where I want to go.

- An extremely selfish attitude.

How you can consider letting

Millicent's inheritance escape us.

- Joshua, I respect your business sense

and I obey your orders at the yards.

But I do not here and I will not.

Do you understand?

- I understand that there is no point

in discussing this further tonight.

- Or ever.

- I do earnestly hope, Jeremiah,

that, despite yourself, you will be able to regard

Millicent with an open mind,

if not today, perhaps tomorrow.

Her visit will be an extended one.

- You never give up, do you?

♪♪

♪♪

[knocking on door]

- Where are you goin'?

- How do you like my new hat, Ben?

- It sure don't go with the rest of ya.

- Well then, I'll change the rest of me --

everything from Paris France.

- Is that where that hat come from?

- Especially made.

- You took it from Ms. Josette.

- She'll never miss it. She's got lots.

- You'll get caught someday.

- If I do, you will be caught with me.

- Aye.

- Is that Jeremiah's toddy?

Let me have it.

- That's just gonna put him to sleep, that's all?

- That's all, Ben.

- It -- it won't do nothin' else?

- Nothing else.

- You're sure? You're -- You're not lyin'?

- And what would you do if I were?

- I don't wanna be a party to anythin' like --

- Here, you taste it. - No.

- Go ahead.

Just one drop on your tongue.

You'll only feel drowsy. - No, I believe you.

But if -- if Mr. Jeremiah, this drink tastes different -- - It won't.

- He's awful particular about his toddies.

- Oh, you worry too much, Ben.

- Aye.

- Now, you know what to do when he goes to sleep.

- You told me.

I wish you could do it.

- Why Ben,

a lady doesn't go into a gentleman's bedroom.

I may not be a lady yet but I will be.

Barnabas is never going to be ashamed of me.

I study, Ben, and I watch.

Why, my table manners are as good as Josette's

and I can tell the finest silks

and not by looking at the price either.

You'll see, Ben, you'll see.

If I ever leave this place, it will be in my own carriage.

[knocking on door]

- Yes?

- Your toddy, sir.

- Oh yes, Ben, just put it down.

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, Ben?

- Your toddy, sir, is it all right?

- Oh.

Yes, it's fine. Thank you.

[thinking] - Yes, Ms. Josette.

No, Ms. Josette.

She thinks she orders me

and she does but only in her room.

In this room, I am the one who orders her.

She can tell me to wash her clothing,

make her bed,

but I am making a life for her,

a life that she will loathe so much

that there will only be one thing left for her to do.

Ben, I am waiting for you, Ben.

Bring me what I need now, Ben.

- The oil from Jeremiah's ring --

the oil from his skin,

will bind his hair into a belt

for the cobweb of love.

The cobweb of love will trap Josette.

And the strands of the web will be as iron.

There, it's done.

Josette loves Jeremiah.

Josette loves Jeremiah.

Josette -- loves -- Jeremiah.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪