399 - January 4, 1968

[bunniefuu]

[Victoria narrating] - A séance has been held in the great house of Collinwood,

a séance which has suspended time and space

and sent one girl on an uncertain

and frightening journey into the past

back to the year .

There, each of the Collins ancestors resembles

a present-day member of the Collins family

but the names and relationships have changed

and Victoria Winters finds herself a stranger

in a sea of familiar faces.

Here in this bizarre world,

one woman with powers beyond those immortal men

conspires to destroy her.

- No, Ben!

Don't say it!

They've caught Ben.

He hasn't completed my mission.

He almost said my name

but he didn't say one word before I could stop him.

One word which no one must ever associate with my name,

witch.

♪♪

Here is one name

which I have made ready to receive the word,

witch.

And what is that name?

Answer me?

[spirit voice] - Victoria.

Victoria Winters.

- Yes.

Victoria Winters.

And now, let me hear her voice calling,

calling a little girl.

[Victoria] - Sarah?

Sarah, can you hear me?

Sarah?

- Miss Winters?

- Yes. It's Miss Winters.

- But where are you?

I don't see you anywhere.

- Come to the old house.

Come to the old house.

- But I'm not supposed to.

- Come.

Come to the old house.

Come.

- Miss Winters, was that you?

Miss Winters?

- Come.

Come.

- Yes, come.

Come.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

- Of course, I heard Ben. I'm not deaf.

- What are you going to do about it? - I've already done it.

- But you've done nothing. - I've had him locked up.

- But I told you this is more than a case of simple theft.

- Oh, Abigail, please, spare me your superstitious prattling.

I've had a difficult enough days as it is.

- It is not prattling and it is not superstition.

Ben very specifically said --

- I know, he was sent by a witch.

- That's right, a witch,

and you intend to do nothing?

- My dear sister,

if you are so anxious to indulge

in your incessant hysteria,

you would realize as much as I do

that he was prepared to say anything to save himself.

- It's very well for you to try to dismiss it.

You were not the one who was obviously threatened.

- Nobody was threatened.

- He was found in my room

trying to steal something that belonged to me,

a little piece of black ribbon

that I use to tie up my hair at night.

- He probably picked it up to get it out of his way

while he was looking some valuables.

- Joshua, I am too frightened to try to argue with you,

but something as personal as that ribbon

is exactly what is needed when - when --

- When what?

- When a spell is to be cast. - Oh, come, Abigail.

- Joshua! I beg you, please, help me.

I'm in danger.

Please, before it's too late.

- Well, exactly, what do you want me to do?

Rouse the whole countryside because a confirmed thief

has been caught stealing a hair ribbon from my sister?

Why, it's too ridiculous to even think about.

- That's not necessary and you know it.

We know where she is, the witch.

We know where to look for her.

We can do it ourselves.

- Well, I'm not sure I understand you.

- Ben came from the old house. - No!

Not a member of this family is going to set foot

in my son's house.

I've made that clear once and for all.

- Yes, and that's exactly why she's taken refuge there.

She thinks people will look for her there,

but we must.

- The old house must be searched! - I say no, Abigail

- That girl must be found! - No!

- For the safety of us all!

- I have sworn that no one will go near there.

- There is no choice. The danger is too great.

- It would mean that I would see my son again.

- Sarah!

Where are you going?

- To see my governess.

- Your governess?

Whom do you mean?

- My governess, Miss Winters.

- You know Miss Winters has gone away.

- I know. But she called me.

- What do you mean she called you?

- I heard her voice while I was playing.

She told me to come to her.

- Sarah, go to your room.

- But Miss Winter's called me.

- Did she tell you where to come to her?

- Yes.

- Where?

- If I tell you, you won't like it.

- I think the wind was playing a trick on your imagination.

- Now, I want you to go -- - No, Joshua, wait.

You heard her voice calling you,

telling you to come to her.

- Yes.

- You didn't see her.

You only heard her voice.

- Yes.

- And did she tell you to come to the old house?

- If I tell you, you'll be angry.

- It was the old house, wasn't it?

Wasn't it?!

- Yes, it was.

- Sarah, go back to your room.

- But Miss Winters wants me to see her.

- Sarah!

- No, Joshua.

Let the child go to the old house

but let us follow her there.

- I don't want her to go there.

- You think some harm may come to her.

You keep saying that there is no danger

but too much has happened to be completely ignored.

Here is our chance to track that danger down.

Here is the chance we've been waiting for.

Run along, child.

Go find your governess.

- May I, Father?

- Of course, you may.

Run. Find her.

Find Miss Winters.

Come Joshua.

♪♪

[birds chirping]

- Angelique?

What on Earth are you doing?

- Oh! You startled me.

I didn't hear you come in.

- What --

what are you doing with candles at this time of the day?

- I was snuffing them out. Isn't that obvious?

- But why light them when it's daytime?

- If you've been in here a few moments before,

you would have seen.

- Seen what?

- Well, it wasn't a very pleasant lady-like spectacle.

- What are you talking about?

- A few moments ago,

your wife was crawling around

on her hands and knees like a cat.

- What do you mean?

- I lost my brooch.

It rolled into the corner and so I lit the candles

to find it which I did and I was snuffing them out.

Why? What did you think?

- Nothing but it did seem a bit odd.

- For a moment I was frantic.

I treasure it so.

A gift from the mother of my loving husband.

- Miss Winters?

Miss Winters?

- Sarah?

- Hello, Barnabas.

- What are you doing here, darling?

- I came to find Miss Winters.

- Miss Winters?

- Yes, Miss Winters.

- Father.

- Oh!

Oh, please come in, all of you.

What a pleasant surprise.

- Please come in, if - if you like.

- Thank you.

- Won't you all sit down?

- No, thank you.

- Well, at least you can allow me

to make us all a cup of tea.

- We did not come for tea.

Where is she?

- You've come looking for someone?

- Sarah, tell him whom you came to find.

- I came to find Miss Winters.

- But Sarah, you know that she has gone far away from here.

- I know, but I heard her calling me.

- You heard her?

- Yes.

I didn't see her but I heard her.

- But Sarah, that's impossible.

- How do you know?

Sarah, tell your brother exactly what you heard.

- I heard Miss Winters calling me,

telling me to come to her.

- And where would that be? - Here at the old house.

Is she here?

- I'm afraid not.

- I cannot find that answer satisfactory.

- I'm afraid you will have to.

- Nor can your father.

- Please, don't force me to remind you

that this house is mine now and no one else's.

- I'm well aware of that.

Therefore, it is with your permission, I'm sure,

that we will be allowed to thoroughly search this house.

- Under no circumstances will that permission be granted.

- Why?

- Because she is not here.

- And even she were here -- - You would protect her.

You know what she is as well as I do.

- She is poor frightened hunted girl.

- Hmph!

And she is here, isn't she?

- No.

- How can you be so obstinate when we're all in danger,

all of us, including your sister, Sarah?

And especially Sarah, it was she who was called for,

for what terrible purpose we dare not imagine.

But tell him Sarah, tell him again --

Sarah?!

- Sarah?

Sarah!

♪♪

- Where is she? Where could she have gone?

Joshua, I'm so frightened for us all.

- She has probably wandered off somewhere.

Sarah?

Sarah!

- I'm sure you will allow us to look for my daughter

if not for Miss Winters.

- Yes, of course, but you know as well as I do

that there's nothing to be worried about.

- Isn't there?

When Sarah is the second person today

to tell us that the witch was here.

- Sarah said nothing about a witch.

The word as usual is yours exclusively.

- Is it?

Joshua, tell him.

Tell him the last word that Ben said.

- Last word, what do you mean?

- Tell him what Ben said before he was struck dumbed.

- We can't go into that now. We've got to look for Sarah.

- I know but what happened to Ben?

- He was found in my room stealing

but not ordinary stealing.

He confessed completely whom it was for.

He said the word, "witch."

"Witch."

So now, hurry.

Hurry and find Miss Winters and Sarah

before it is too late.

- But I heard you.

You told me to come to you.

- You couldn't have. I've been here all the time.

- But it was your voice. I know it.

I'm so glad you asked you for me.

I've missed you.

- Are you all right?

- Yes.

But why are you living here?

Why don't you come live with me

and we can have our lessons?

- I can't explain that.

- So much nobody can explain.

- I know.

- Will you come with me now?

- I can't.

- Please. It's so lonesome.

I never see my brother and I never see you.

- I know it must be hard for you

but I can't come, Sarah.

- It's because of my Aunt Abigail, isn't it?

- I don't think we should talk about it.

- Maybe I shouldn't have told you we're here.

- You told them that I'm here?

- I told her that you called me

and told me to come to you.

I couldn't help it. She scares me.

- She'll be coming here.

- She is in the drawing room with my father and my brother.

- No.

I've got to get away from here.

- Do you want to know a place?

- What are you talking about?

- A place to hide where no one can find you,

not my Aunt Abigail or even my brother.

- Where?

- Upstairs in the attic.

There is a little room no one remembers about it.

- All right. Let's go.

No. Wait.

First, you go outside and see if there's anyone in the hall.

- Don't be afraid.

No one's there but they're coming.

Let's go.

- All right. Now, I - I want you to promise me one thing.

- What is it?

- No matter what happens,

you mustn't tell anyone that you've seen me

especially your Aunt Abigail and your father.

Do you promise?

- I promise.

- Let's go before they come.

[Joshua] - Sarah, come here, child.

- Sarah.

Where are you?

♪♪

You know what happens to little girls who tell lies

especially to their elders, don't you?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Very well, now.

You know, don't you, that there are powers,

furious, terrible powers

that lie and wait for a little girl who tells a lie

and you know that, don't you?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Very well, I will ask you one last time.

Did you see Miss Winters?

- No, ma'am.

- Did you see her in this room or in any part of this house?

- No, ma'am.

- Very well,

I hope for your sake that you're telling the truth.

I shudder to think

what happens to little girls who tell lies.

♪♪

- Well, I hope you are convinced that Miss Winters isn't here.

- I apologize for the intrusion.

- And it's obvious as well that Sarah is in no kind of danger.

- Well, thank heaven for that.

- But did you really believe she was.

It isn't like you to share Aunt Abigail's hysteria.

- I know.

But my children are very precious to me.

I can't bear to think that any of them could come to harm

or disgrace.

- The child denies everything.

There is only one thing to do.

- Yes. Believe her.

- I'm telling the truth.

I didn't see Miss Winters.

- The Reverend Trask must be sent for immediately.

- Trask?

- No matter what the child says

I believe the witch is in this very house.

- But you searched yourself.

- You don't think she has powers to hide herself?

- You're being more ridiculous than ever.

- There is only one way to find her

and drive her out of this house.

- Barnabas is right.

The girl is obviously not here.

- Yes, she is but not for long.

The rite of exorcism will drive her out.

- Exorcism. - Oh no, Abigail.

- We have no choice.

We must ask the Reverend Trask to perform the task

as quickly as possible for the sake of us all.

- I forbid it. I absolutely forbid it.

- Joshua, speak to your son.

- Barnabas, please,

you know as well as I do

that if the girl is not here and if she isn't a witch,

nothing will happen.

So please, Barnabas, allow this man to come here

and perform his mumbo jumbo

so that we can keep peace in this family.

- I don't want that fraud in this house.

- Fraud! That righteous man!

- Barnabas, please, I know my wishes

are not especially honored in this house,

but I'm sure you'll share with me the eagerness

to get these distractions over and done with

once and for all.

- Your father is right, Barnabas.

A man can do no harm even if he is in the house

and actually we can't object, not really.

- Very well, although it's against all my principles.

- It will save us all.

- Thank you, Barnabas.

Good bye.

Now come along, child.

- Can't I stay?

- No. You better come home with us.

- May I come back some other time?

- May she?

- I think it would be best not to.

- Come along.

- That wasn't a kind way to treat you

especially after you gave in to him.

- Please.

I prefer to be alone.

- Are you going to let them go through with it,

with the exorcism?

- Yes.

♪♪

- What a surprise it will be for all of them

especially for that fraud who calls himself a reverend.

Won't they all be surprised

when they find someone who acts very much like a witch,

and won't they all be pleased

to find who she is?

[spirit voice] - Victoria.

Victoria Winters.

- Yes, Victoria Winters.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪