452 - March 19, 1968

[bunniefuu]

[narrator] -A seance has been held in the great house at Collinwood,

a seance which has suspended time and space,

and sent one woman on an uncertain

and frightening journey into the past,

back to the year .

There Victoria Winters has been condemned as a witch

and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead.

One man could save her, but to do so

he would have to reveal a terrifying secret.

[clock chiming]

- Joshua.

- Are you alone? - Yes.

- Poor Millicent is up in her room resting.

Have you seen her?

- Yes, I have seen her and I pity her.

- Where is Forbes? - With her for once.

- Good. We must have complete privacy.

- Joshua, are you going to tell me what you were doing

at the Old House because I demand to know.

- I will tell you in a moment,

but first I have a question to ask you.

- What is it?

- Why did you go to the Old House?

- Because of something Millicent said.

- Millicent? - Yes.

- When Lieutenant Forbes and I returned home,

we found Millicent here saying all kinds of things.

She kept saying she'd seen Barnabas

and that you had taken him to the Old House.

- Naomi, you know better than to pay any attention

to what Millicent says.

She is not coherent. She doesn't what she is saying.

- Something is going on there.

Something strange.

And Joshua...

- What is it?

- I know you are keeping something from me,

and I think I know what it is, but it's impossible.

- Well, you're not making any sense.

- Barnabas is alive.

♪♪

[eerie theme music] ♪♪

- Barnabas alive?

- I know it is impossible and yet.

- Naomi, you saw Barnabas after he died.

- You saw him in his coffin. - I know.

- Then how could you possibly think such a thing?

- Because Millicent claimed she saw him. - Oh.

- And Millicent, to put it charitably, is mad.

- But I am not,

and she saw the same thing I saw.

I saw a light in the tower and so did Millicent.

- Oh, we're back to that, are we?

- I told you I saw a light,

and you kept telling me I didn't.

Why did you lie to me, Joshua?

- I - I didn't lie to you, Mill-- Naomi.

- Perhaps - perhaps you did see a light.

- Who would go up there? No one goes to the tower.

- Well, perhaps one of the servants went up there

to do something.

I don't know.

But Naomi, it insanity to think that Barnabas is alive

and hidden in a room in the tower

just because you saw a light there,

you got to get a hold on to yourself.

- But I've heard his voice.

- You heard his voice?

- Yes,

when I was standing outside the door at the Old House,

I heard a voice just like someone crying out in pain.

I know that voice anywhere. It was Barnabas.

- Naomi, look at me.

- Why?

- Barnabas is dead.

Sarah is dead.

As difficult as it is, you must accept it.

- Are you saying I'm imagining things?

- My dear, the mind can play strange tricks

you must believe that.

You must. It's for your own sake.

- It's possible I imagined it.

- You did.

- But I did not imagine I heard voices.

You weren't alone at the Old House.

- No, I was not.

- Who was with you?

- A woman named Bathia Mapes. - Who?

- Oh, you don't know her.

- I had never seen her before tonight.

She is a woman who claims she has certain powers.

- Powers?

- Yes. The powers to exorcise a curse.

- What?

- I'm beginning to believe things

that I didn't think possible before.

I'm beginning to believe that perhaps this family

has been under the curse.

- You believe that?

- Yes, reluctantly but I do believe it.

- But you've never believed in the supernatural.

You've always scoffed at it.

- Well, I'm past that now.

Too much has happened that can't be explained otherwise.

- You are convinced Miss Winters is a witch

and that she has placed a curse in this house?

- No.

I believe that the witch is Angelique.

- Angelique?

- Stokes accused her of being a witch at Miss Winters' trial.

He was even able to explain how she

accomplished this witchcraft.

- But you didn't believe it at that time.

You said he was lying or insane.

- Well, I changed my mind.

- I've decided that he was telling the truth. - Why?

- What happened to change your mind?

- Nothing happened.

I - I nearly though it over

and realized that Stokes was making a good bit of sense,

and I wanted to take the curse off this house

so I summoned Bathia Mapes.

She attempted to exorcise the Old House

and clean the air of the evil that potentially could left

but unfortunately her attempts failed.

- Why did you keep all this such a secret from me?

- I do not understand the powers of darkness

and I did not want you to be touched by them.

- "The powers of darkness."

Did you use those words?

It's so odd.

- It is indecent to admit

but I've been wrong about a number of things.

- You mean about Miss Winters?

- Yes.

- But you do mean that? You must try to help her.

- I'm going to try.

- What are you going to do?

- I'm going to talk to Judge Hanley,

tell him I think she is innocent.

- Will he listen to you?

- Why, don't be absurd.

Of course, he will listen. He must.

- Well then, you must see him as soon as possible.

The execution has been set for dusk tomorrow evening.

- Yes, I know.

- I can't get over how you changed, Joshua.

- People do change, Naomi.

- You don't,

and I don't know why you have now

but I am convinced that there is a good deal

you are keeping from me.

- Naomi, I've told you all you need to know.

Believe that for my sake as well as for your own.

- Peter.

- Oh. Are you all right?

- Yes, now.

I thought I'd never see you again.

- How could you think that?

- Because you were gone so long.

It's seemed like a hundred years.

- Well, I'm here now.

- What happened in Salem?

Did you find Trask?

- Vicki.

- You didn't find him?

- No.

- But they said that he was going to Salem

when he left Collinsport.

- That's what the innkeeper told me

but when I got to Salem nobody knew anything about him.

The last they'd heard of him he was still in Collinsport.

- Where do you suppose he went?

- I don't know.

I stopped at several inns on the way back here

but I couldn't find anyone who'd seen or heard of Trask.

What could have happened to him?

- I don't know.

You know, Vicki, it's -

it's as if he had vanished off the face of the earth.

- But why would he leave a note saying that I'm innocent

and then just disappear?

- I don't know. I don't know.

- What are we going to do?

- We have to find Trask.

- And if we can't?

- Look, we'll figure out something.

- It's hopeless, Peter.

You know that as well as I do.

- Don't say that and don't think it.

- Peter.

- Mr. Collins.

- What are you doing here, Mr. Collins?

- I...

- Yes?

- I've come to apologize to Miss Winters.

- Apologize?

- I was wrong about you.

I've come to realize that you were innocent

of the charges that were leveled against you.

- But you were always so convinced that I was guilty.

- I've changed my mind.

- Why, Mr. Collins? Why?

- I've thought over Stokes's testimony

and I've decided he was telling the truth.

- You thought it over.

- I don't believe any further explanation is necessary.

I'm here to help Miss Winters, if I can.

- How?

- I've sent for Judge Hanley. He'll be here in a few minutes.

- I'm going to ask him to re-open the trial. - Peter.

- On what grounds?

- On the grounds that my sister Abigail

who instigated the proceedings against Miss Winters

was an unreliable witness.

- You're willing to say that?

- Yes.

I was fond of my sister but she had her failings.

She was wrong about Miss Winters.

- I don't know what made you change your mind

but I'm very grateful.

- Then you will accept my apology?

- Of course.

- I'm meeting Judge Hanley in the waiting room.

I suggest you join us there.

- All right.

- Mr. Collins, thank you.

Thank you.

- I will do all I can for you.

I only hope that it is enough.

- Peter, do you really think that the judge

will listen to him?

- If they'll listen to anyone,

they'll listen to Joshua Collins.

- Do you really think that?

- Vicki, before he came in here, we were helpless.

I thought only a miracle could save you.

You know this could be it, this could be the miracle.

♪♪

- I came as soon as I got your message.

Your servant said it was urgent.

- It is. It is about Miss Winters.

- Hmm. What about her?

- I have decided that she is innocent.

I would like to request the stay of execution

and to be followed by a new trial.

- Why?

Has some new evidence come to light?

- Well, no, not evidence exactly.

- Well, then, why are you making this request, Mr. Collins?

- Well, I've told you,

I now believe that Miss Winters is innocent.

- That was not your opinion at the time of the trial.

- Yes, but since the trial I've had time to think,

to reflect,

to examine things in our relationship which has

- convinced me that she is not capable of witchcraft. - What thing?

- Well, for one thing, my late daughter was very fond of her.

When she was ill, Miss Winters was very concerned

and tried to help her.

Now, surely, that is not a behavior of a witch.

- Mrs. Collins said substantially

the same thing in court.

The court listened to her testimony and considered it.

- Well, surely, my opinion will count to something.

- Your opinion counts for a great deal.

If you had been willing to testify

as a character witness for Miss Winters,

you might have swayed the judgment of the jury.

But now, unless you have something new to add

to the evidence already presented

I am afraid I can't help.

- I do.

- What is it?

- It is about my late sister, Abigail.

- What about Miss Collins?

- Abigail and Trask were the ones who charged

- Miss Winters of witchcraft. - Yes.

- When my sister made this charge,

she was not in her right mind.

- You mean she was insane. - No, of course not!

- Then what do you mean?

- Well, I mean, Abigail was a fanatic.

She was always seeing the devil somewhere.

She acted like this long before

Miss Winters came to Collinwood.

So, her opinions on the subject would not be reliable.

- But Trask was able to prove to the satisfaction of the court

that Miss Collins chargers were based in fact.

- Trask is a fraud and charlatan!

He used my sister to further his own ambitions.

- He even admitted that Miss Winters was innocent.

Judge, you saw the note.

- I saw a note that - that

seemed to be in the handwriting of Trask,

but without Trask to elaborate and explain it,

I have to discount it.

- You seem determined to send that girl to gallows!

You don't seem to care whether she is innocent or guilty!

- I can sure you I care a great deal.

If I thought she was innocent,

I would do everything in my power

- stop the execution. - She is innocent.

- Oh, Mr. Collins, that's merely your opinion

and you know that an opinion is not evidence.

- Stokes named the witch at the trial.

He named Angelique.

- He even described the witchcraft that he witnessed.

- Oh, you know as well as I do

that the court had to discount that testimony.

The man was mentally unbalanced when he testified.

- What can I say to you?

What can I say to you to stop this execution?

- There's only thing that can do it.

- How?

- By producing a new witness.

- A - a witness?

- Someone who knew Angelique Collins,

someone who can offer proof.

Absolute proof that she practiced acts of witchcraft.

- There is no other way to stop the execution?

- No.

- I see.

- And I assume you cannot produce such a witness.

- I--

- Yes, Mr. Collins.

- I wish I could.

- But you are unable to.

- Yes.

- Then I am afraid I can't help you.

The sentence of the court will have to be carried out.

Victoria Winters must hang.

♪♪

- He wouldn't listen?

- No.

- Oh, Peter.

- It is pointless to say that I am sorry,

but I did all I could.

I could do no more.

- I know.

- Good bye.

- Good bye.

- We still have a few hours.

That miracle could still happen.

- It might.

- You'll have to leave now.

- In a minute.

- Sorry, but you have to go.

- Yes, Peter, you have to.

- But I can't.

I can't. I love you.

- Peter, please,

you'll only make it worse for me.

- Vicki, I love you,

and I always will.

Remember that.

- Come on.

What are you doing?

- Give me those keys.

- You can't get away with it.

- You're going to take me back into that cell,

and if you make a move or you shout for help,

I'm going to k*ll you. Do you understand?

- Yes.

- Inside and stand over there.

- Peter, you can't do this.

- I'm not going to let them hang you.

- But-- - Just do as I say.

- Now, I'm going to gag him.

Now, I want you to hold the g*n.

If he moves, you sh**t him.

Do you understand?

- Yes.

[g*n shot] [gasps]

- Vicki!

Vicki.

[distant crowd murmuring]

Oh, Vicki.

Vicki, they heard us.

We have to get out of here.

Can you walk?

- I think so.

- Look. Lean on me.

[distant crowd murmuring]

[knocking]

♪♪

[eerie theme music] ♪♪