408 - January 17, 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,

as she is being forced to witness the first moments

of the Collins tragedy

that was to reach across the centuries.

- Oh, Barnabas. - Josette.

- Oh... - Where is Josette?

I heard her voice. I called to her.

- I'm here. I'm here.

- I called to her. Where is she?

- Barnabas.

- Josette. Josette.

Where are you? - Barnabas.

- Josette. - Barnabas.

- Josette.

- I'm here. I am Josette.

- No.

Josette is far away by now.

- Yes, I'm here. It's me. Don't you recognize me?

- Here?

You mustn't be here.

You must go away from me.

- What's - what's happened to you?

- Oh. Soon, I will die.

- No!

- Please.

You must go away immediately.

You don't know what danger harbors over me. - Barnabas,

you said there was a witch.

Who is it? Tell me. I must know.

- Leave, go away. Now.

- Barnabas, don't you understand?

You're the one who is in danger.

Tell me who this witch is.

- It's... It's...

- Oh, Barnabas.

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪

- You should not have disturbed him.

- You said he wasn't here. That he'd had gone away.

- Darling, can you hear me?

- Hmm...

- He must have rest.

- What's happened to him?

- Then he is here?

- Natalie, he said he dying.

- But what are those marks on his neck?

- You should not be here, either of you.

- He is obviously very ill.

- I know.

- Then, why haven't you told us?

- Because I wanted to protect him.

- Protect him?

- You must leave at once, both of you,

and you must not come back.

- What do you mean you wanted to protect him?

- Come away from the bed.

I don't want him to hear.

- He can't be dying.

- I insist on knowing what's happening.

- There is only one thing that could have happened.

That's why you must leave.

- He said something about witchcraft. - Witchcraft?

- He was about to tell me more when his strength failed.

- You know there is no such thing as witchcraft.

- Look at him.

- Don't you know what it is?

What it could be?

- Witchcraft...

- Something far worse I'm afraid.

- What?

- The plague.

- The plague? - Oh.

- I'm certain that's what it is.

It struck so suddenly.

That's why I'm telling you, you're not safe here.

You must go away both of you immediately.

And what is the doctor said?

Is - is he convinced that's what it is?

- No one else must see him. Not even a doctor.

- You mean, a doctor hasn't been here? - No.

- But that's - you're mad.

A doctor should have been notified immediately.

- Oh, no, please.

But I insist a doctor see him at once.

- Don't you understand?

If it is the plague, what they will do to him?

- What will they do?

- They will send him away alone to die.

- But he must be seen by a doctor.

- No, please.

I have some knowledge of medicine.

- This is no time for amateur remedies.

- But if it's the plague,

their doctors will have no remedies.

Oh, please, don't you see?

If it's - if he stays here,

at least I will be able to take care of him.

At least, he will have a chance.

- Perhaps, you're right.

- Of course, I am right.

Please.

He is my husband.

I am the only one who can help him now.

- But a doctor must be brought in.

I insistent upon it.

- But if he sends him away --

- Have you forgotten that I may have some influence?

- No one else must see him.

No one else must know.

- I'm sorry, but this is clearly a matter of life and death.

We cannot take a chance that he will die.

I will go for the doctor myself.

- No, please.

The doctor won't be able to do anything.

He won't know what it is.

- How can you be so sure?

- Well, I --

Surely, you can see that this is no common malady.

- Precisely why I'm going to find a doctor immediately.

- Josette...

- Those terrible gashes.

What could they be?

- It should not be of such concern to you.

- You forget --

Barnabas was my friend.

- I am forgetting nothing.

And I must insist that you leave here immediately

for you own protection, of course.

- I know it appears unseeingly,

but you must allow me to wait

until I hear what the doctor said.

- Your presence here can accomplish nothing.

Surely, you realize at a time like this,

Barnabas wants to be alone with his wife.

- Yes. I can appreciate that completely.

But you will forgive me if I'll wait in the drawing room

until after the doctor has been here.

- Josette... - Oh.

- You're only disturbing him.

He must rest.

- Then, I will be waiting in the drawing room.

And if that offends you, Angelique,

I must beg your forgiveness.

- You will beg more than forgiveness

before I am finished with you.

♪♪

- Well, at least, he's responsive to the --

the sedative I gave him.

He's sleeping soundly at - at the moment anyway.

- And what are your conclusions, Doctor?

- Forgive me, Countess, but surely,

this is a matter that is between the doctor and myself.

- In a little while, you will be grateful for my intrusion.

Well, Doctor, what are your conclusions?

- I doubt if they can be considered conclusions.

- What do you mean?

- Frankly, I'm at a loss to explain fully his condition.

- Well, how much can you explain?

- Only this much.

Obviously, he's been bitten by a rodent,

a rat, probably, always a hazard in a port town.

- Oh, well then, that explains the - the gashes.

- Yes.

I must add that those bites are extremely fierce

which could mean -- - What?

- Well, I must preface this with my own uncertainty.

- I don't care about your prefaces.

I want the facts.

- Most likely, the animal or rats or whatever,

it was crazed.

- What does that mean?

- That it had some horrible disease itself.

- The plague. - That is my educated surmise.

- No.

- And now, this disease has communicated itself

to Barnabas.

- I'm afraid, Countess, it's - that is probably the case.

- Then, I trust you will prescribe the proper remedies?

- Well, surely, Countess, you understand

that much lies beyond the experience and --

and education in my imperfect science.

- Then, there is no known remedy? - Remedy?

The ailment itself is unidentifiable.

- But surely, there's something -- - Very little, very little.

- Exactly, what does that mean?

- Josette, I thought you were to wait downstairs.

- I heard all of you talking

and I had to find out as soon as possible.

I heard what you were saying, Doctor.

Does that mean there's very little hope?

- I'd be dishonest to pretend that there's any hope at all.

- Oh.

He said he was dying?

I refuse to believe that.

- The only direct action I could take

is to see that he is removed immediately.

- To a hospital?

- Dear lady, you know better than that.

Remove from this house, from this community.

- Doctor, I think it would be wise

if you would leave him here in the care

of Mrs. Collins and his family.

- With all respect, Countess, you know that's impossible.

- But you have not surely diagnosed the malady

is the plague -- - No, no, but the citizens should be warned.

- But you would create panic in the community

on such slender evidence.

- Mr. Collins' condition cannot be defined

as "slender evidence."

The situation is most grave.

- Before you begin cry "plague",

you should have more evidence.

This could be an isolated case,

and it could remain isolated, here at Collinwood.

- Well, I - I'm not sure my ethics could allow such a risk.

- And what would happen to your reputation

as a man of good and solid judgment,

if you were to create havoc and terror

in the town for no reason?

- Please.

The countess is right.

And I can assure you, I would allow no one else

near my husband.

- And he would be isolated here

as well as he could be anywhere else.

- I am not inexperienced in the ways of medicine.

All I ask is a little time.

- I agree with Mrs. Collins

and I am sure the entire Collins family

will concur and be grateful for your cooperation.

- I acknowledge the uncertainly of my diagnosis.

- Surely, banishment and probably death

should be based on stronger evidence.

- You may be right.

- Time. We must have time.

And he will be well again.

- I must warn against optimism.

- All I ask is - is that you say nothing to anyone

at the - for the moment.

And I repeat, my gratitude.

- Well, the good of my client is gratitude enough, Countess.

If he could get better care here --

Well, if my diagnosis is uncertain --

- Then you will say and do nothing?

- Not for the moment. - Oh.

- If you'll excuse me.

- I would like to accompany you to the door.

- An honor, Countess.

- You have heard what the doctor said.

My husband should be as isolated as possible.

- Time. At least, now, we have time.

- We?

- Barnabas told me himself there was witchcraft here.

He was almost able to name the witch.

- But surely, you realize in his delirium --

- No, it was not delirium.

- But the doctor has just told --

- It does not matter what the doctor has said.

I never believed it before or now,

but there is witchcraft here. - Oh?

- And I think I know who the witch is.

- You - you do?

- Yes.

Barnabas tried to - to warn me,

to warn me of all this danger.

Now, I must do everything I can to protect him.

And what do you intend to do?

- I would prefer not to go out now,

but I shall return.

And then, I hope I will have the means to save him.

♪♪

[thunder rumbling]

- The doctor said there was no hope whatsoever?

- Yes, but we know better than that, don't we?

- I don't understand.

- Exactly, what is it that you want?

And I will do everything I can to make certain that you get it.

- What are you talking about?

- That I will do everything in my power to save Barnabas.

Just tell me what I must do.

- I don't understand a word you're saying.

- Raise the spell,

allow him to live, I beg you.

- You think I'm a witch, don't you?

- If you can save Barnabas, perhaps I can save you.

- But how can I save him?

- Release him from your powers.

- I have no power.

- Please.

Save him. And yourself.

- How can I make you understand that I'm not a witch?

- Your denials are no longer necessary only your help.

Within an hour after his cure,

you will be safely escorted out of Collinsport.

I'll make arrangements somehow.

You'll have my promise.

- But I can't help.

Don't you understand that?

I can't help because I'm not a witch.

I'm not.

- Please, Ms. Winters.

If you want to destroy someone, destroy me.

Life is meaningless now. I have no hope.

- But there's nothing that I can do.

Now, wait. There is something.

- Please, I beg you.

He's dying.

- It's not for Mr. Collins.

For you.

- I don't need the help.

Barnabas must be saved.

- You must leave here.

Go away at once.

You're in terrible danger.

- That's what Barnabas told me.

- I don't know if one can change the past,

but you must go away from here now.

- Why?

- Because a - a terrible fate awaits you here.

- What do you mean?

- A terrible death.

- Death? - And it will be soon.

- You are a witch. - No, I'm not.

- Then, how could you say these things if you weren't?

- Oh, I - I - I could explain, but you wouldn't believe me.

But in my room,

there's a book that I brought with me

when I came here.

It's a history of the Collins family.

- What good could that do me?

- You must find and read it.

It tells what lies ahead.

And perhaps, by some miracle, knowing it would change it.

- This is witchcraft. - No.

I'm only trying to help you,

please, find it and read it

and leave Collinwood now.

♪♪

[thunder rumbling]

- Barnabas,

Barnabas, can you hear me?

- Yes.

- Then, listen well.

You almost told Josette about me, didn't you?

- No. - You don't need to deny it.

That's not important.

But what I'm about to say is extremely important.

The countess has told your family about your illness.

- Something terrible is happening to me.

- They will insist on seeing you.

- Yes.

I must see them.

I must talk to them.

I must warn them.

Warn Josette.

- No.

No, that is what you must not do.

That is what I want to tell you.

- I must save Josette.

- Her destruction is certain

the moment she learns the truth about me.

If you want to protect her, you must tell her nothing.

Is that clear?

She must be told nothing.

One word and Josette is doomed.

- Josette.

- Is that clear?

- Yes.

Never tell her.

I must never tell her.

Anything to save her.

Never tell her.

Save her.

Save her.

[thunder rumbling]

- The book has to be here some place

or Ms. Winters was lying to me.

- Her story is so incredible!

When I met Ms. Winters,

I thought she was so unimaginative.

But now, this story of coming from another century --

- She said the th century.

- That there's a book in this room which proves it.

- Why would she tell me unless there is one?

Natalie --

"Collins Family in America."

- Well, well, open it.

Are you afraid?

- Look, .

That's when it was published.

- In Bangor, Maine.

But Bangor is in Massachusetts.

- Oh, Natalie.

That's my portrait.

But it just arrived here from Paris last week.

How could it --

- I - I don't know.

- "Josette duPrés-Collins, wife of Jeremiah Collins.

She was born in Martinique."

She has to be a witch. She has to be.

"Was born in Martinique,

came to Collinsport in and --"

- Well, what is it?

- I'd never do that.

Never!

- Never do what?

- "Died by her own hand

in the winter of that same year, ."

♪♪

[eerie music] ♪♪