302 - August 22, 1967

[bunniefuu]

[Victoria narrating] - The stillness of another night has fallen over Collinwood.

But the stillness is deceiving,

for in the old house on the Collinwood estate

a strange alliance has been formed,

an alliance between the living and the dead.

- I'll be giving you your injection in about minutes.

- Well, Doctor, I was beginning to think

that you weren't going to come out of your little playroom

for the rest of the evening.

- The injections take time to prepare,

and must be prepared with caution.

Don't you realize that one mistake could mean your life?

- Wrong, Doctor...

one mistake could mean your life.

- You haven't put that album down all evening.

It isn't as though you hadn't seen it before.

- I like looking at the family album,

especially this-- this last few weeks.

I've particularly liked, and been fascinated by,

the portrait of Jeremiah Collins.

- Why?

- Because he bears an uncanny resemblance to Burke Devlin.

I loathe the sight of both men.

And now, if only Burke Devlin

could be as dead as Jeremiah Collins,

I think I'd be a most contented man.

♪♪

♪♪

- We've agreed, for the sake of these experiments,

that you are not to harm anyone.

That includes Mr. Devlin.

The risk would be too great.

- I merely wished he were dead.

I didn't say that I was actually going to k*ll him.

- But you'd like to, wouldn't you?

- I'd relish the opportunity.

- Just don't make the opportunity.

- Doctor, I'll be a lot easier to get on with

if you don't start giving orders.

I find it a most unattractive habit in a woman.

- Oh? You seem rather sensitive today.

What's bothering you?

- Nothing.

- You have been unusually preoccupied

with that album for the past few days.

- I find browsing through the family album

a relaxing exercise.

- I doubt that.

And I don't think you're doing it

just to look at the pictures.

I think there is something else that's disturbing you,

something about your family.

- Doctor, you're beginning to annoy me.

- In fact, I think it has to do

with a specific member of your family.

Could it be a child, Barnabas?

Could it be your sister, Sarah?

- Don't be absurd.

Little Sarah has been dead for almost years.

- So have you, Barnabas,

but you've come back. Why can't she?

- What a ridiculous question.

Sarah was dead when she was years old.

She was the soul of innocence.

She hadn't been afflicted by the same problem I had.

- I find it very egotistical of you to think

that only your kind can come back from death.

[chuckling]

Haven't you ever heard of ghosts, Barnabas?

Or does the thought of a ghost frighten you?

- Doctor, you are beginning to wear on my patience.

- On the contrary, you are wearing on mine.

[sighing]

The first experiments a few days ago were very successful.

The initial injection created a dramatic change

in the structure of your blood cells.

But there is some emotional disturbance

that you have been having that has been very detrimental

to our experiments.

- I haven't the vaguest idea of what you are talking about.

- I am talking about the possibility

of the failure of these experiments!

Oh!

Now, neither of us are fools, Barnabas!

We both know that there has been talk

of a little girl having been seen in these woods.

There was a little girl that helped Maggie

to escape from you.

The description of this little girl

could very well be your sister, Sarah.

Now, if Sarah has indeed returned,

we must find her before she destroys our plans.

- There is no "if" about it.

She has come back.

- How do you know that?

- Because she made contact with me the other evening.

- How?

- What difference does it make?

What matters is that she is here...

and I don't know why.

- Did you-- did you actually see her?

- No.

- Well, then how do you know that it was her?

- Because I heard her singing.

I'd know that voice anywhere.

- Where were you when you heard her singing?

- Never mind.

- Where were you, Barnabas?

- It doesn't matter where I was.

The important thing is that I heard her, that's all.

- Oh.

I think where you were might very well

have something to do with why Sarah tried to contact you.

Where were you, Barnabas?

- In Maggie Evans's room.

I went to visit her to make certain

that she knew as little as you said she did.

- Maggie's room...

You-- you couldn't take my word for it?

- Frankly, no.

I had to convince myself

that Maggie Evans was no longer a threat to me.

I discovered that I had good reason to.

- Do you mean to say that Sarah

actually stopped you from k*lling Maggie?

- I told you...

I heard the song that she used to sing,

and I began looking for her.

- Well, why didn't you k*ll Maggie first

and then look for her?

- I... don't know.

- I think you do.

- Doctor... it's time for the injection.

- The injection can wait.

[sighing]

I want to know why a little girl of can--

can make you react this way.

What special powers has little Sarah?

- I don't think you would understand, doctor.

- Try me.

- Sarah was... an exquisite child.

She was the sum of everything

that made living on this earth worthwhile.

Her innocence...

her simple beauty...

elevated her.

And the holiness of her heart's affections were pure and gentle.

I loved her in a way that I have loved no other human being.

But... I don't understand what's happening now.

By what process has she come back...

and why?

- Has it occurred to you that

perhaps it was you who brought her back?

- That is ridiculous.

- It isn't as ridiculous as it sounds.

It is altogether possible

that you could have willed her to come back...

unconsciously, of course.

- But, why?

- Maybe because she symbolizes

that side of yourself that you have lost.

- I wish I were able to see her and talk to her.

- Mm, I think we ought to

think of ways of making that possibility come true.

Well... we can go downstairs now.

It's time to give you that injection.

♪♪

- Hello, Vicki.

- Oh, Mrs. Stoddard...

I thought you were going to bed early tonight.

- I found out that I wasn't that tired.

What about you?

Haven't you got a date with Burke?

- Yes. He-- he should be here any minute.

- Have you made any decision about his proposal?

- That's what I was thinking about when you came in.

- And?

- I haven't decided yet.

- Well, don't let me, or anyone else,

rush you or influence you.

It is a very important decision.

Take your time and make it carefully.

[door opening]

[door closing]

- Oh, good evening, Mrs. Stoddard.

- Good evening, Miss Hoffman.

You must be very dedicated to your work.

- Why do you say that?

- Well, you devote every day to it

and most of all-- most of your evenings.

- I think your cousin Barnabas is partly responsible for that.

The man's knowledge of the past is--

is endless and fascinating.

Once I start talking to him, I find it difficult to stop.

- Hello, Miss Hoffman. - Hello.

- If you'll excuse me, Burke should be here any minute,

and I promised him I would meet him out on the terrace.

- Oh, we may see you later.

Barnabas is going to come by and take me into Collinsport.

- Oh. Well, I hope I do see you.

Good night. - Good night.

- Good night.

She is a lovely girl. - Yes.

Well, Miss Hoffman...

I'm interested in knowing what kind of progress

you're making with your research.

- Hmm.

As a matter of fact, I want to discuss that with you.

I was going through some of Barnabas's books in the library,

trying to find out something about one of your ancestors

who remains a mystery to me.

- Who is that? - Sarah Collins.

Can you tell me anything about her?

- I'm afraid I can't.

I know that Sarah died when she was a little girl,

but that's about all.

- Hmm. Well, there may be something

in the main library here at the house.

- Why is Sarah's life so important to your research?

- Oh, it isn't all that vital.

We historians sometimes tend to get sidetracked

by some curiosity about unimportant things.

- I'm glad we are having this talk, Miss Hoffman.

We have never really discussed your work in detail,

and I'm interested in knowing more about it.

- Oh, I think you might find it easier to understand

if you were to read the book.

Of course, you will be the first person to read it

before it is published.

- Well, I'll look forward to that.

What other books have you written?

- Oh...

my books have mainly been of interest to scholars.

I don't think you would ever have heard of them.

- Miss Hoffman, I didn't leave Collinwood for years.

In that time, I did a great deal of reading.

I might surprise you.

- Hmm, you already have.

I must confess that I had heard you were something of a recluse.

I certainly was not prepared for the generous

and gracious person that you are.

- Thank you.

- Those years...

must have been a great emotional drain.

- Yes, they were.

- But you survived,

and you have made a new life for yourself,

and I think that's admirable.

- If you are as nimble with the written word

as you are with the spoken word, Miss Hoffman,

you must be a very interesting writer.

- Why do you say that?

- Well, when we started this conversation,

you were the subject.

And, abruptly, I became the subject.

I find that very interesting.

♪♪

- The setting couldn't be more perfect.

A warm summer evening,

a terrace overlooking a garden,

a sky full of moonlight, and a man...

and woman... in love.

- And you...

Mr. Devlin... are late.

- I'm sorry.

I got hung up in town with Blair.

- Is there any time, day or night,

when you won't work?

I think this is something I should know

before I give you my answer.

- Well, I have never been a -to- guy.

If I had to live the same routine day in and day out,

I'd go stir crazy.

- But isn't every marriage supposed to settle down

into some sort of a routine?

- Well, yes, but the routine depends

on the two people involved.

Now, I'll admit you'll find me an unpredictable character,

uh, occasionally temperamental,

sometimes maybe even a little unreasonable.

But I can promise you one thing--

you'll never be bored with me.

There won't be one dull moment in our lives.

- You sound as though you have my mind all made up for me.

- Well I'm a-- I'm a little impatient

when it comes to waiting for anything.

A habit I developed in business.

- Well, what sort of business

did you have to see Mr. Blair about at this hour?

- Oh... nothing earth-shaking.

He was just getting some information for me from London.

- Information about what? - Hey, hey, hey,

we are getting off the subject, aren't we?

Which was supposed to be you and me, remember? Hmm?

- But Burke, do you realize how little I know about you?

All I know is how I feel about you.

But I don't really know you...

what you've done, where you've been,

or how you got to where you are today.

- It isn't really necessary to know all those things.

- But I think it is.

I think that I should know everything

about the man who's asking to marry me.

- Vicki, I didn't propose to you so that we might be able

to go back and discover the past together.

I can offer you love,

and as much security as any woman could want...

and, I hope, as much happiness.

But I can only do it in terms of the future, not the past.

The past has already been lived.

There is nothing we can do to change it.

So let's forget it, shall we?

Oh... look, I'm sorry.

I-- I'm sorry if I am rushing you.

Of course you-- you have a perfect right

to take all the time you think you need.

- Burke. - What?

- Yes. - Yes, what?

- Yes, I'll marry you...

impatience, temperament, and all!

- Oh, Vicki!

Hey, what was all that talk about not knowing me?

- Well I-- I said I know the way I feel about you,

and that's what's important, isn't it?

- Yes, it is.

- Any doubts I have had the past few days,

well, they-- they have had to do with me.

But I think I know what I want.

I've made up my mind.

- You'll never be sorry, Vicki...

believe me.

- Good evening, Elizabeth. - How are you, Barnabas?

- Well, thanks to Miss Hoffman,

I have never felt better.

- Miss Hoffman? - Yes.

She has been filling my evenings

with very pleasant and stimulating conversation.

I only hope her research keeps her with us

for a good long time.

- Thank you.

- Miss Hoffman, my cousin may be

rather shy and retiring at times,

but there are those who think he has the monopoly

on old world charm.

[door opening]

[door closing]

- Mrs. Stoddard, I--

I have something I want to tell you.

- What is it, Vicki?

- Oh, would you like to be alone with Mrs. Stoddard?

- No, no, I-- I want everybody to hear.

Burke and I are going to be married.

- Vicki, that's wonderful!

I couldn't be happier for you.

- Have you set the date yet?

- No, we-- we just got around to settling the question.

[Burke chuckling]

- Oh, I hope you'll be very happy, Vicki.

- Thank you. I know that I will.

- Come over tomorrow night. You could have a wonderful...

- Jeremiah!

♪♪

- We've been ignoring the lucky man.

Congratulations, Burke.

I think you're both very lucky.

- Thank you, Liz.

- Barnabas, you-- you haven't said a word.

- You know, of course, that I am in favor of anything

that would bring you happiness.

- I know... and I do appreciate it.

- Well, now, I trust that you will excuse me.

I promised Miss Hoffman that I would take her into town,

and it is getting late. - Of course.

- Good night, Vicki. Congratulations, Mr. Devlin.

- Thank you. - Good night, Mrs. Stoddard.

- Good night, Miss Hoffman. - Good night, Vicki.

Good night, Elizabeth. - Barnabas.

- Mr. Devlin. - Good night.

[door opening] [door closing]

- Sometimes I don't understand Barnabas at all.

He was in such good spirits when he arrived.

And when he left, he seemed... rather depressed.

- The thought of that lovely girl being married to someone

as crass and vulgar as Burke Devlin is appalling.

- But she is in love with him. Don't you understand that?

- It's not a question of understanding.

I don't believe it.

- Well, don't delude yourself.

- Doctor, how much longer will our experiments take,

and what are the chances of complete success?

- Well, just a few more weeks,

and the chances of success

depend completely upon your cooperation.

- Very well, then.

You have my complete cooperation.

- What brought this on?

- When you are successful,

I will then turn my attention toward...

bringing Vicki to the kind of love

that Burke Devlin could never give her...

and the marriage that was just announced will never take place.

♪♪

♪♪

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