270 - July 7, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[narrating] - My name is Victoria Winters.

Soon the sun will set on Collinwood

and the night, in its inexorable journey across the land,

will plunge the ancient house into darkness,

a darkness of the spirit,

a darkness of the mind,

a darkness of the will.

And it will seem at times

that light and truth have been banished forever,

leaving behind the desperation and fear

of people who do not know what the darkness holds.

♪♪

- Very soon you're going to regret being here.

You're going to regret being here very much.

♪♪

♪♪

[announcer] - The part of Burke Devlin has been played by Anthony George.

- Pick up that book.

I said pick up that book!

- Let go of me.

- I will when you agree to pick up that book.

Now hand it to me.

Well, did you find it interesting reading?

- I didn't read any of it. I have to go.

- I suppose you think it's a diary,

a chronicle of my every act for the last years.

- Maybe.

- I suppose you expected to, uh, find something in here

that would prevent me from marrying your mother this evening.

- I don't know if it's written in that book, Jason,

but I know it exists. - Oh?

And if it does exist, do you think I'm fool enough to write it down?

Come on now, Carolyn.

You must give me credit for more intelligence than that.

- I don't give you credit for being anything but a fake.

- Now that, I'm afraid, is a major mistake.

Because, as you now know, I am only all too real.

And for an example, my marriage to your mother this evening

will be quite real.

- No, it won't be

because you'll be forcing her into it.

- And the fact that she will be Mrs. Jason McGuire

will also be quite real.

- Don't make me sick.

- And my prerogative says her husband will also be quite real

and I intend to exercise them to the fullest.

- We'll see about that. - Ah, yes, we will.

Would you like a little sampling of it right now?

- What do you mean?

- Well now, I expected you to be married today

to the worthy Mr. Buzz.

- It's no business of yours whether I do or don't.

- Ah, but it is, Carolyn. - I fail to see how.

- Because I expect you to get married

and leave Collinwood.

- Are you telling me to leave my own house?

- I'm telling you to leave my house.

- Yours? - Exactly.

- This house belongs to my mother!

- This house belongs to Mrs. McGuire,

and I am Mr. McGuire.

And I'm telling you in so many words to get out.

Now is that clear enough?

- I will not be thrown out of my own house.

- I'm afraid it's a little bit late

for you to have a voice in the decision.

- We'll see about that.

- Now, just how long did you think you could push me around?

Hmm?

Ever since I got here, I've had nothing out of you,

nothing but insults and insinuations.

- And all of it deserved.

- I've done my best to get along with you.

- The only way we can get along is for you to leave!

- Yes, for one of us to leave and I'm afraid you're elected.

Now I want you out of this house tonight.

- Tonight? - Yes.

Don't make the mistake of not taking me seriously.

- What will you do if I don't go?

- Why then, I'll ask Mrs. McGuire

to make the request personally.

- She'd never do it. - No?

You thought she'd never allow me into Collinwood, didn't you?

Yet I'm here.

And then you thought she'd never marry me, didn't you?

But she is. [chuckles]

You think she won't ask you to leave?

Don't be ridiculous?

- I know she wouldn't.

- Because of her love and loyalty to me,

she can deny me nothing.

- Love?!

- Yes.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I must straighten out my things

and then I must dress.

Because I'm getting married, you know.

- Jason, that will never happen.

- Stick around for a few hours.

Oh, meanwhile, you might utilize the time

to pack up your own things.

And now will you excuse me? I do need a moment...

alone...

so that I can contemplate

the happiness I have to look forward to.

Oh, and Carolyn?

By the way, no doubt the wedding will be

too moving for words.

So I'll say it now.

- Say what?

- Good-bye.

♪♪

[seagulls squawking]

[upbeat music plays] ♪♪

- Where is everybody?

Don't they know this is an international holiday?

This evening, Mrs. Elizabeth Collins's Stoddard,

of Collinsport,

is going to marry Mr. Jason McGuire,

of nowhere.

Why isn't everybody out celebrating?

- Why don't you go home, Miss Stoddard?

Don't you think you've had enough to drink?

- Home? What's that?

Finally, there's somebody.

Oh, it's you.

- What are you doing here?

- Waiting for my husband.

- Oh, no.

Don't tell me you've married that creep.

- Not yet.

But stick around.

- Come on, I'm gonna get you out of here.

- That's what you think.

And don't argue with me. I'm not in the mood for it.

- Okay.

- Hey, where are you going?

Keep me a little company, can't you?

- Not unless I can take you somewhere else

and get you some coffee.

- I told you I can't leave.

I'm an about-to-be bride

waiting for my about-to-be groom.

- So you're really gonna do it, huh?

- I said I would, didn't I?

- Yeah, but I wasn't sure I believed you.

- My mother didn't believe me either.

Has she got another thing coming.

He thinks he can get rid of me.

- What did you say?

- Nothing.

- Okay, have it your way.

- She probably thinks the same thing, too.

- What?

I said she wants to get rid of me!

- Who? - My mother.

- Three seconds ago, you said she didn't, uh,

think you'd go through with it.

- Don't confuse me.

But they both think they can get me out.

- Carolyn, I thought you were the one that wanted out.

- How can she do this to me?!

He's probably really the one that's making her do it.

If it weren't for him, none of this would be happening.

- Carolyn, you got to try not to get so mad at everything.

- Mad? Who's mad?

Unless you mean crazy mad.

I think that's where I'll go for my honeymoon.

I think I'll go crazy.

Let me have another. - You don't need another one.

- Don't tell me what I need!

I am not gonna let him do this to me.

I am not!

- Look, Carolyn, if it's McGuire you're talking about,

there's nothing you can do.

- Isn't there?

- As a matter of fact, your marrying that creep Buzz

is probably satisfying McGuire more than anything else.

- Maybe I won't marry Buzz after all.

- You mean that?

- Maybe there's something else I can do.

- Wait a minute. I'll go with you.

- No, no, I'm all right. - You're not all right.

- Yes, I am.

For the first time in a long time.

- I don't know where you're going,

but I'm taking you there.

- All right. To Collinwood, please.

I hear they're having a wedding.

♪♪

- Is there anything else that I can do?

- There's nothing else to do.

Oh, wait, on the bureau, there's a handkerchief.

May I have it, please?

- It's lovely.

- It was my grandmother's.

She had it at her wedding.

She gave it to my mother and my mother gave it to me.

Put it away. - You don't want it?

- It's only supposed to be used for weddings.

And this can hardly be called a wedding.

- I understand.

- I had it the day I married Paul Stoddard.

I was so happy. I loved him so much.

At least I thought I did.

The life we were going to have together.

I was so happy, Vicki.

But that wasn't much of a wedding either.

Or rather, much of a marriage.

- Don't think about it.

- Oh, I wish I didn't have any thoughts at all.

I wish my mind were a blank,

free of thought, free of feeling,

just empty.

- It doesn't work that way.

Unless one tries to think of something,

the more it seems to take over.

- I know. I know.

Maybe I'll just go mad

and that'll be the answer to everything.

- Please don't say that. - [sighs]

Oh, it would be a mercy, wouldn't it?

Just no mind at all, nothingness.

- Please, Mrs. Stoddard.

- Don't worry. I don't deserve it-- mercy.

- It's still not too late

to call off the wedding, you know.

- It was too late the day I met Paul.

It was too late the day I married him.

It was too late the day I k*lled him.

Put the handkerchief away.

Or maybe I should throw it away.

- Throw it away?

- Who will use it now?

Carolyn at her wedding?

- Maybe someday someone will.

- Oh, Vicki, where is she?

- I don't know.

- She's not going to marry that... man, is she?

- I-- I don't know. - [sighs]

Isn't it enough that I ruined my life?

Why did I have to ruin hers?

- The marriage can be annulled.

- It's not that easy.

It's not that easy to be free.

It was that way with Paul.

I was never free of him.

Even when I found out the kind of a man he was,

I was never free.

Never for one minute of one night or one day.

Oh, why didn't you let me die?

- I couldn't do that.

- You go downstairs now.

- I'd rather wait and go with you.

- Please, I want to be alone for a few minutes.

- All right.

♪♪

- I find it a curious invitation.

- It's a curious wedding.

- It should give you a great deal of satisfaction.

- Why do you say that?

- It is not a secret

that this isn't a particularly felicitous occasion

for the Collins family.

- And you think I'm here to revel in it, huh?

- Well, aren't you? - No

He's here because I invited him.

Glad you accepted.

Join me, Mr. Devlin? Roger?

- No, thank you.

- Well now, gentlemen,

this is supposed to be a joyous occasion.

Well, whatever you say.

I wonder what's keeping the judge.

I hope he won't be late.

- Am I early?

- Carolyn, I thought you'd gone out.

- I'm back.

- Well, your mother would be happy to see you,

as, of course, I am.

- I didn't know there would be anyone outside the family.

- Mr. Devlin is here because I invited him.

He seems to persist in the notion

the wedding will not take place.

And I thought this was one way of convincing him.

- I certainly hope so.

[knocking]

- Ah, the judge. That means we can start on time.

I'm sure you will have other plans later on.

- Yes, I have plans.

- Good evening.

Well, I see we're almost all assembled.

Ah, Roger.

- How are you, Judge? - Fine, fine, thank you.

We haven't seen you at the club lately.

And this must be the groom. - Yes.

- A pleasure, Mr. McGuire.

- How do you do, sir? - How do you do?

Devlin, I didn't expect to see you.

- Oh, I stray from the straight and narrow

every once in a while.

- Ah, yes.

Hello, Carolyn. - Hello.

- How pretty you have grown.

- Thank you.

- Well, uh, where is the bride?

Where is my dear Elizabeth?

- She'll be right down.

- Now you must be Miss Winters.

- Yes, how do you do? - Fine, thank you.

And I must not leave

without getting your signature as witness.

We want this to be legal, don't we?

- Yes.

- Can I offer you a drink, Judge? - Oh, thank you...

- Carolyn.

- Well, don't look so surprised, Vicki.

You don't think I'd miss my mother's wedding.

- No, of course not.

- [clears throat]

Uh, Vicki, are you sure that Liz doesn't want you

to help her with something?

- She wanted me to tell everyone that she'd be down in a minute.

[Judge] - And what a beautiful bride she will be.

I remember when she married Paul Stoddard.

In this very room.

People gasped when she came through the door.

She was so beautiful.

And she still is.

Oh, there was a fine crowd here that day.

And not a murmur among them

as they stood looking toward the door,

waiting.

Elizabeth.

[Elizabeth] - I'm sorry if I've kept you all waiting.

[Jason] - Nearly for years, my dear,

and it was worth every one of them.

Don't you think so, Judge?

- I thought so for years.

- Carolyn. - Hello, Mother.

- I'm so glad you could be here.

- I... knew you would be.

- Burke, I see you decided to come.

- Yes.

[Elizabeth] - We may as well start.

[Jason] - Yes, I think we may as well.

You'll join me, Elizabeth.

Uh, uh, Judge, where do you want us to stand?

- Well, since this is an informal wedding,

we will eliminate the preliminaries.

If you two will stand in front of me, here.

- Come, dear.

[Elizabeth] - Vicki, come stand by me?

- I'll ask the usual questions

and you'll give the usual answers.

Then, Jason, you'll slip on the ring

and after a few minutes it'll all be over.

[Jason] - Ah, no,

it'll be the beginning of our happiness.

[Elizabeth] - Happiness.

- Now, if you will just join hands.

Do you, Elizabeth Stoddard,

take this man, Jason McGuire,

to be your lawful husband,

to have and to hold from this day forward,

in sickness and in health, until death do you part?

- Death?

- Answer "I do," dear.

- Answer?

[Judge] - Say simply "I do."

- I-- I...

[Jason] - Liz?

- I-- no! - Liz?

- No, no, I can't. - Leave her alone.

- Wait. Elizabeth, what is it?

- I k*lled Paul Stoddard.

And that man was my accomplice.

♪♪

♪♪

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