401 - January 8, 1968

[bunniefuu]

[Victoria narrating] - A séance has been held in the great house at 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.

There are those who believe that she has practiced witchcraft

and would destroy her.

But onemember of the Collins family is besieged by doubts.

- Ben,

Ben!

- Mr. Barnabas. What are you doing here?

- I have to talk to you.

- I thought your father told you never to set foot

in this house again. - He did.

But I've bribed one of the servants to let me in

and give me the keys to your cell.

- What for?

- I have a question to give you

and I want you to answer truthfully.

- What is it?

- What were you doing in my Aunt Abigail's room?

- You bribed your way in here to ask me that?

- I must have the answer.

You said that you were sent there by the witch.

What did you mean?

- Nothin'.

- Well, you must have meant something.

- I couldn't think of an excuse for being there,

so I said that.

- So, you only went to my Aunt Abigail's room to rob her?

- Yes. - I don't believe you.

You were sent there by the witch.

Who is the witch?

- Mr. Barnabas -- - If there is a witch,

it has to be one of two people.

- Who?

- A girl we know very little about, Victoria Winters --

- Or?

- Angelique, my wife!

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

- How can you suspect your own wife?

- Because of something that happened.

- What was it? - Never mind.

You're not answering my question.

Who sent you to my Aunt Abigail's room?

- Nobody sent me.

- Then, what were you doing there?

- I sneaked into Ms. Abigail's room to rob her.

- I've already told you I don't believe you.

- Why not? Everybody else does.

- What does my Aunt Abigail got that you would want to steal?

She has no jewelry.

She believes that worldly goods are temptation of the devil.

- She has money.

I know she's got some hidden around there somewhere.

- Nonsense. She's the poorest member of our family.

- Why don't you tell me the truth?

Are you afraid? - No.

- Yes, you are afraid.

You are afraid of the person who's controlling you,

who is forcing you to do things against your will.

- There's no such a person.

- You're lying, Ben.

- Mr. Barnabas, you - you don't even believe in witches.

You told me so yourself.

- I used to be a rational man,

but things have been happening here

that do not have a rational explanation.

I'm beginning to believe in the forces of evil.

There are forces here that we cannot even comprehend

and you have somehow got involved.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Ben, I'm sure there's more that you know

that you aren't telling me. - I don't.

- Is Ms. Winters a witch? - I don't know.

- Because if she isn't, she's in danger.

- What do you mean?

- Trask has found her.

He's taking her somewhere and I don't know where.

- You were protecting her.

You - you were keeping her safe.

- But she's not safe now.

And to be as his ways, she'll be destroyed.

- Destroyed?

- Is she innocent? You must tell me.

- I - I don't know anything.

- I hope you are telling me the truth, Ben.

Because if you are holding something from me that you know,

you will be responsible for her death.

- I can't tell you anything because I --

I don't know anything.

Now - now, please, Mr. Barnabas,

go away and leave me be.

- Ben, we've been friends for a long time. - What about it?

- And I've never known you to lie to me.

- I've never wanted to lie to you.

- Are you lying to me now? - Please.

- If you are lying to me,

is it because of some knowledge

that might be dangerous to me?

Now, tell me, Ben. - Go away!

- Please, Ben. You got to tell me.

- Let go!

- You got to tell me the truth --

- I said, let go of me! Let go!

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to do it but I had to.

[door locking]

♪♪

[door unlocking]

- Riggs?

- No, it's not Riggs.

- Father.

- I couldn't believe my ears

when Riggs told me that you were locked in the cell.

I thought he had taken leave of his senses.

- I asked Riggs not to bother you.

- You asked Riggs to keep your presence in my house a secret.

In addition to being disloyal,

you seem bent on defying my every wish.

What have I done to prompt this behavior?

- I am not defying you, Father.

- Then, what other reason have you got

to helping Ben escape?

- I did not help Ben escape.

He hit me over the head and knocked me unconscious.

- What were you doing here in the first place?

I have expressly forbidden you to enter this house.

- I had to talk to Ben.

I cannot tell you why, but it was very important.

- What business do you have with a common thief?

- I am not certain Ben is a thief, Father.

- That's nonsense, he was found in Abigail's room

and he offered no sensible explanation

for what he was doing there.

- He did offer an explanation.

He was sent there by - by the witch.

- I do not consider that a sensible explanation.

- But what if he's telling the truth, Father?

- Ah, you sound like Abigail.

- Well, we cannot ignore the things that have been happening

in this house, things that none of us can explain.

- What are you suggesting?

Do you actually believe in voodoo and witches

and black magic?

I gave you credit for more intelligence.

- You yourself, Father, were missing for days.

Were you able to offer an explanation for your being away?

Where were you?

Did you - that you didn't even know what have happened to you.

- No, that's true.

- Then, how can you ignore the possibility of the supernatural?

- Well, if there was a witch in this house,

as you all seem to believe, she has been caught.

- I presume you're referring to Ms. Winters.

- Of course. Trask has sent over to the authorities.

- Where is she now?

- She's in prison in Collinsport.

Now, we have no -- nothing more to do with her.

She's out of our hands all together.

- Father!

Do you seriously believe that Ms. Winters is a witch?

- I'm not sure of anything.

I just know that this family has been seized by

some kind of madness and I want an end put to it.

- But if you're not convinced that she is a witch,

why did you let Trask turn her over to the authorities?

You know, he's a charlatan.

You know - you know it as well as I do.

- Well, what about it?

- Are you willing to let a poor girl be sentenced to --

to prison or even death on the word of a charlatan?

- Ms. Winters has done nothing but brought trouble here

since she first arrived.

I'm glad she's out of this house.

For all I know, Trask is right. She is a witch.

- You don't believe that.

- I believe she's a troublemaker and I'm glad she's gone.

That's all I know. That's all I need to know.

- So, you don't care whether she's guilty or innocent?

- Her guilt or innocence is up to the authorities.

- Father, you are the most influential man

in this community.

- You could help her if you really wanted to.

- Victoria Winters is a stranger to me and she'll remain so.

I owe her nothing.

- Do you really mean that? - Of course, I mean it.

I mean everything I say.

Now, good night, sir!

♪♪

- Mr. Collins!

- Hello, Ms. Winters.

- Oh, I'm so glad to see you!

- Are you all right?

- Yes.

- You look so pale.

- I'm frightened.

I don't know what's gonna happen to me.

They're talking about a trial.

- Please, sit down.

I'll - I'll will do everything I can to help you.

- I'm very grateful for that.

- Did Trask harm you?

- No.

He just brought me here, but he kept saying,

"I've caught the witch! I've caught the witch!"

And - and that the penalty for witchcraft is death by fire.

I can't help but be frightened.

- I understand.

But there's something that you must do for me.

- What?

- You must tell me everything that happened last night

after I left your room.

Everything you will remember in your own words.

- Well, I - I was tired and I was afraid.

So, I - I laid down on the bed.

I began to cry.

- And then?

- After a while, I heard Trask's voice coming from outside.

- What was he saying?

- Something about the power of light

and the consuming fire of goodness.

- Fire?

He mentioned the word fire?

- Yes, and --

and I looked up and a fire had started in my room.

- And then, you ran out?

- Yes, I - I ran out of the house and --

that's when he caught me and called me a witch.

- I heard you shouting fire, I rushed to your room,

but I saw nothing burning.

- What?

- There was no fire.

There was no evidence of fire.

No ashes. Nothing.

- But there was fire. The whole room was burning!

- I saw no evidence of fire.

- I know what you're thinking.

You're thinking that I left my room

because that man made me leave because I'm a witch.

- I don't want to believe that.

- But you do.

I suppose I can't blame you.

I - I know that what happened last night was very strange

and my story about coming from a different time

is even stranger, but it's true.

It's all true. I swear it is.

- All right, Ms. Winters.

- You still don't believe me?

- I don't know what to believe.

I only know that you say you saw fire

and I never saw any evidence of fire.

- Now that I think about it,

there was something very strange about that fire.

When it started,

I tried to put it out with a comforter on my bed.

My - my hands actually went into the flames,

but I wasn't burned.

There was a coldness.

In fact, there was a time when --

when the flames were all around my hands.

And strange as it may seem,

I felt as though I were touching a cake of ice.

- What did you say?

- There was no heat from the fire.

There was nothing but a -- a sensation of coldness.

- But you mentioned the word fire and ice.

Fire like ice.

- Well, I don't know.

That may have been my imagination.

Everything happened so quickly.

- Heart of fire,

fire burning in the heart of ice.

- What?

- Never mind.

- Oh, Mr. Collins.

I know that you have every reason to believe

that what they're saying about me is true but --

I know that you are not a witch.

I had my doubts for a time,

but those doubts I have no longer.

I know you are innocent

and I will do everything I can to help you.

Goodbye, Ms. Winters,

and please, don't worry.

Remember what I said,

I will do everything I can to help you.

- Well, I do feel better knowing that you believe me.

Goodbye, Mr. Collins.

♪♪

[thinking] "Heart of fire,

fire that burns in the heart of ice."

Those were the words Angelique was when she was in her room

just before Ms. Winters shouted Fire.

And then Angelique lied about being in her room.

Why was she saying those words?

Why would she lie?

Unless... I don't want to believe it.

And yet, only one man knows the truth.

Ben.

I've got to find him!

Somehow, I've got to find him.

♪♪

[wind whistling]

- Who is it?

Who's there?

There's nothing out there?

Nobody can find me here.

As soon as it gets light enough,

I will get out of here and go where nobody never find me.

Where nobody can ever catch up with me.

Not even her.

Not even the witch.

- Mr. Barnabas! - Don't be afraid, Ben.

No one's with me. I'm alone.

- I -- - Don't be afraid.

I won't tell anyone you're here.

You're - you're safe.

- How did you know where to find me?

- Well, I just guessed that you'd be here.

No one ever comes here.

I was the one who told you about this place,

remember?

- I - I didn't mean to hurt you, but I was scared.

I - I had to get away.

- I understand.

But I haven't come here to stop you from running away.

- You haven't? - No.

I came here to tell you that you're safe.

- Safe?

- Safe from the witch, Ben.

She's been caught.

- She has?

- Yes

and she's going to be burned at the stake or hung.

So, you no longer have anything to worry about.

- Who are you talking about?

- Well, Victoria Winters, of course.

- They are sure she is the witch?

- Everyone knows it now.

- How?

- Well -- - Has she confessed?

- She didn't have to confess.

The evidence was overwhelming.

She'll be burned or -- or hung?

- Yes, probably.

- What a terrible way to die.

- But witches must be destroyed, Ben.

Of course, she will have to suffer.

But she must be destroyed.

When you came in my cell, you --

you weren't so sure she was the witch.

You thought -- - I know.

I had some strange notion that,

perhaps, Angelique could be the witch.

You don't know how happy I am that I am wrong.

- Then you're sure you were wrong?

- I'm certain of it now.

- Why?

- Because of you, Ben. - Me?

- You're my friend, I trust you.

If Angelique had been the witch,

I'm sure you would have warned me somehow.

- What makes you think I would?

- Because I know you well enough to know

that you wouldn't put me and my family in danger.

- What do you mean?

- Well, supposing that Angelique had been the witch,

she's my wife. If she were a witch,

I would be in danger for the rest of my life.

And so would Sarah.

And my mother and my father.

And you wouldn't want anything to happen to them.

You're too loyal, Ben.

- No, I wouldn't want anything to happen to you or --

or your mother or - or Ms. Sarah.

- And nothing will happen to us, now, we're safe.

And you're going to be safe, too,

after you leave here.

- Mr. Barnabas? - Yes.

- Supposing - just - just supposing

I didn't know who the witch was and I --

I couldn't do anything about it.

- What do you mean?

- Well, supposing she had a power over me

and could stop me from saying a name.

- You mean, supposing she had control over your

power of speech?

- Aye.

Then, I couldn't tell you who the witch was,

but I - I'd still be loyal, wouldn't I?

- I'm sure you'd find a way of warning me.

- How?

- I've been teaching you to write.

You could write her name. - Write it?

- Why don't you do it now?

- Write her name?

- Write her name in the dust.

V. V for Victoria.

- No! No! - Why not, Ben?

- I - I know who the witch is, but I --

I can't write a name.

- Don't be afraid, Ben.

Here.

On this barrel, name the witch.

Make her initial in the dust.

V?

A. A for Angelique.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪