473 - April 17, 1968

[bunniefuu]

At the great house of Collinwood,

Victoria Winters has returned from her strange

and haunting adventures in the past,

but the terrible events she lived through in

are beginning to change not only her life,

but the lives of those around her,

and the changes are like a devil's game:

one man escapes an ancient curse,

another disappears,

and a painting he took with him has mysteriously returned,

though he has not.

Whose luggage is that, Vicki? It looks like Roger's.

- It is. - Oh, then, he's home?

- Did he say where he'd been? - No, he's not home.

Well, he must be.

He would have brought his luggage.

I saw him leave.

He took no luggage with him, only the painting.

And now, the painting is back.

You can see for yourself.

He's been here.

If he had been here,

he would have come to you or someone.

I should think so, but pictures don't just reappear

and luggage doesn't pack itself.

I want to talk to Mrs. Johnson.

I already have.

She is just as mystified as we are.

She swears that last night,

when she went in there to turn off the lights,

that painting was not on the easel and I believe her.

Of course, I believe her, too,

but maybe, he came in late after we'd gone to bed.

But someone would have heard him drive up

or go up to his room.

I don't understand it.

What does it mean? There must be some explanation.

Why must it mean anything?

We both know that something is happening here,

something that has no explanation.

♪♪

[eerie theme music] ♪♪

I don't understand it at all, Elizabeth.

Roger hasn't been himself lately.

I know that.

I told you I tried to get him to see the doctor

the day we came to visit you at the hospital.

His disappearance is most unlike him.

- Have you informed the police? - Oh, yes.

Now, I asked them to be as discreet as possible.

I explained he might just be away on a trip.

Well, that may have been a mistake.

Perhaps, we should have him listed as a missing person.

Well, obviously, he's not.

He's been here, or the picture wouldn't be here.

Picture. Yes.

I can't bear to think of him wandering around.

That can't be true or we have had heard.

- I hope he'd come to you. - But he didn't.

Well, he must be seeing someone.

Roger is not given to being alone in that ridiculous story

the police told Dr. Hoffman about his having

checked out of the Collinsport Inn.

Why would he check in? It doesn't make sense.

Elizabeth, you're upsetting yourself.

And may I suggest that you go upstairs and rest.

There is nothing that we can figure out anyway.

Now, let Vicki and me do your worrying for you.

All right. I'll call the yard.

Maybe, they have heard something.

- Excuse me. - Of course.

Barnabas, why do these things keep happening?

One mistake can multiply into a thousand.

- You must dispose of this portrait, you know? - What?

Vicki, do you trust me?

You know I do.

I try to remember that just as I try to remember

that I must not reproach you

for the reasons you've given not to marry me.

I must not give you reasons for avoiding me.

You know I would never do that.

I hope not.

You know, I'm convinced that this portrait

has something to do with Roger's behavior.

But how can that be?

We can't answer those questions.

Where would we end?

How did you manage to be spirited off

to the th century?

How was it that we survived the accident?

There have been so many,

so many things that we cannot understand.

I know.

I tried to tell Mrs. Stoddard.

For example, Roger's change began

when you brought that portrait into this house.

- Really? - Now, think.

He wouldn't let you sell it to Professor Stokes.

Yes, that's true.

Roger has never been that fond of paintings.

This picture has a very special meaning for him,

a deeply disturbing force.

I didn't want to say it when Elizabeth was here,

but Julia and I saw him last night.

- Where? - At Dr. Lang's.

- Is he sick? - I don't know.

Perhaps, he is, but in a way that Dr. Lang cannot treat.

He was most peculiar.

And that's all I want to say.

When Julia started to drive him home,

but he jumped out of the car and he disappeared.

We've got to do something.

We must begin by getting rid of that.

Barnabas, you know something I don't.

Well, perhaps, I have a greater intuition

of what is wrong than you.

But Angelique died

well over a hundred and years ago.

- Yes, she was a witch but-- - Do witches ever die?

You think she's still has powers?

Yes.

Well, then, I must call Professor Stokes and -

and tell him if he still wants the painting,

he must come here and pick it up.

I called the yards.

His secretary said he had an important meeting scheduled

for yesterday and this morning.

Liz!

Where is everyone?

- My dear sister-- - Roger, you're back. We've been so worried.

Oh, well, I think explanations are so absurd, don't you?

Vicki, ask Mrs. Johnson

- to bring in some champagne, will you? - Champagne?

Yes, my dear sister, we have much to celebrate.

- What? - In a moment, you will see.

Here we are.

Now, if I may,

I would like you all to meet my wife.

♪♪

- Your wife, Roger? - Yes.

Quite a surprise, isn't it?

Even for me but a pleasant one.

Cassandra dear, this is my sister,

Elizabeth Stoddard.

Mrs. Stoddard,

I know how amazed you must be.

So, am I.

I only hope that you're as happy as I am.

Well, I'm sure I will be as soon as I get my breath.

And this is my cousin, Barnabas Collins.

How do you do, Mrs. Collins?

I hope we shall be good friends, Mr. Collins.

Roger has told me how - how fond he is of you.

And this is my son's governess,

- our good friend, Victoria Winters. - How do you do?

I'm so anxious to meet David. I'm so sorry he's in Boston.

Well, I do so hope he likes me.

Of course, it will be quite a shock to him

as it obviously is to all of you.

Where were you married?

In Rockport at the city hall.

You should have come here, Roger.

We wanted to get married as quickly as possible.

He's so impatient.

It wasn't at all the marriage

that I always dreamed I would have.

Mr. Collins, is there something wrong?

No, no, nothing. If you'll excuse me.

- Oh, you're not deserting us, Barnabas. - Oh, no, please.

Oh, please, wait for a toast

because we will be leaving right after.

Leaving? Where are you going?

Roger insists that we have a honeymoon

in the West Indies.

Which island are you visiting?

Oh, I don't know for sure, Martinique, possibly.

- Have you been there before? - No.

But I'm sure I shall like it.

Yes.

I understand that it has changed considerably

in recent years.

Vicki, she is beautiful, yes,

but you've been doing nothing but staring at her.

You've forgotten about the champagne.

Yes, you're right.

Excuse me. I'll get it right away.

Roger, you're not planning on leaving immediately?

Yes, we only came here

just to tell you the news and to get my luggage.

But we have much to talk about.

I understand your feelings perfectly, Mrs. Stoddard.

Elizabeth, please.

- I begged him to call. - And I wish he had.

But he's so determined, as you know.

You all know him so much better than I do.

I envy you so.

I think perhaps you know him better than any of us.

Well, how - how courtly of you, Mr. Collins.

Thank you.

An evening with Barnabas is like reading a history book.

- More fascinating, I hope. - I believe that.

Well, I hope not too fascinating, my dear.

Barnabas is a bachelor.

- You never married? - Oh, you will get his story soon enough.

In a month, you'll know it all.

But where is that champagne?

We want to be in Boston by evening.

Roger, we must talk business before you leave.

- Oh, it can wait, I'm sure. - No, it can't.

There are certain things that I have--

- Will you excuse us? - Of course.

I had to know certain things about the yard

- and there are some papers you must sign. - Then very well.

When, the champagne comes, let me know.

I won't be very good business today, my dear.

I love this room.

You've never been here before?

No, of course not, how could I've been?

I don't know,

I just thought that you might, that's all.

No.

But I've always dreamed of living in a house like this.

Well, now, your dream has come true.

Incredible, isn't it?

Yes, incredible. That's the word.

Almost too incredible to believe.

Now, what is this business?

My question first.

- What is this marriage? - Oh, don't be tiresome, Liz.

I'm not being tiresome. I'm not going to allow you--

I have already done it, Liz.

I know you have, Roger,

and I want an explanation and now.

♪♪

I don't think I owe you an explanation.

Would you owe me one if you decided to remarry?

I most certainly would

and your wife has not been reported officially dead.

But she is dead.

Legally, you are still married.

A technicality, dear Elizabeth.

One I would hate to use.

- Well, I wouldn't advise you to try. - Well, I may have to.

As far as I'm concerned, we are legally married.

There would be no harm in our living together

since any court decision would undoubtedly be in our favor.

And if it wasn't?

Elizabeth, I love her.

- Do you have any idea of what that means? - Of course.

It means that I would be willing to go through

- any scandal to be with her. - Your marriage will cause scandal enough.

And so, that's what worries you.

No, it isn't. You know it isn't.

I worry about you, you my brother.

Why haven't we met this girl before?

- I've only just met her myself. - When?

Yet it seems like I've known her all my life.

- When did you meet her, Roger? - Oh, it's immaterial.

It is not. Where did you meet her?

- At Rockport. - How?

Stop treating me as though I were Carolyn!

Your behavior is younger than Carolyn's.

I've been very lonely.

And a stranger can stop that?

- She is not a stranger to me. - She has to be.

No, Liz, you only understand rules.

As far as you are concerned,

I should have met an already approved widow,

one with - with whom I would have spent months

sipping tea and having dinner,

and then finally, we got to know each other so well

that we got bored to death with each other.

And then, we would marry.

Well, I don't want that. I want what I've got.

- Did you think of David? - Of course, I thought of my son.

He needs his mother.

Well, you didn't give him a chance to get to know her.

But he will get a chance to know her.

If I was as young as you accused me of being,

then there would perhaps be time for me

to go through the usual amenities, but there's not.

What have you in common with her?

Oh, there's no point in discussing this with you.

- You must. - You're obviously hostile.

I am not, I'm sensible.

Well, they're often the same thing.

Roger, you haven't answered one of my questions.

I don't know any more about your - your wife

than I did when we walked into this room.

Well, why bother telling you, you're obviously against it.

I mostly certainly am not if she can make you happy.

You were very rude to her just now.

Well, I was in a state of shock.

- I had no warning. - Well, I didn't of it as necessary.

I tell you what is necessary, Roger.

For you to tell your wife that you haven't been well.

- Well, that would be a lie. - No, it would not.

I've never felt better in my life.

And you must enter a hospital for some tests.

What are you suggesting?

I'm suggesting that for the past week,

your behavior has been so irrational.

Oh, so now, I'm insane

simply because I'm trying to take a chance at happiness.

Are you so embittered yourself that you--

- Roger, that has nothing to do with me. - Or me.

Yes, it has.

- Now, I'll try to explain it to her as gently as I can. - I forbid it.

- Roger-- - I forbid it, Liz.

If you go ahead with this,

I will leave this house with her

and I will never return!

♪♪

So many lovely things.

Oh, I do wish Roger weren't so eager for a honeymoon trip.

Why, this place is as foreign to me

as Martinique would be.

Even more foreign, perhaps.

What do you mean?

A perfect likeness of you.

That is not a portrait of me.

- Oh, I don't believe you. - Well, look at the clothes.

They suit you so.

Were you in costume when it was painted?

He is an ancestor of mine.

How unusual the likeness.

So you said.

- Now, if you'll excuse me. - Oh, you mustn't go.

We'll see each other again soon.

Inevitably.

Yes, inevitably.

Has Barnabas left?

Yes, but he will be back.

Oh - oh, you brought the champagne.

Do you think I should go in and interrupt them?

Roger asked me to,

but I don't want to do anything wrong.

You're going to have to help me in so many ways.

- I'm sure that's not true. - Oh, yes, it is.

Well, just meeting Mrs. Stoddard and -

and Barnabas has made me see

that I have many things to learn.

And to think only yesterday I knew nothing of any of this,

- but there I was at Professor Stokes' house and-- - Professor Stokes?

Is that where you met Roger?

Yes, I had just transferred to the college.

Professor Stokes is my faculty advisor.

Was.

You see, all of this is so new to me.

Why are you looking at me so closely?

Forgive me, I wasn't aware that I was.

You were.

I'm so upset that David isn't here.

I'm very good with children.

Perhaps, you'd like to see some snapshots of him.

Oh, I'd love it. Does he look like Roger?

No.

Actually, he's the image of an ancestor of his,

Daniel.

But you don't know anything about him yet.

No.

I'll see if I can find a picture of Daniel as well.

On your way back, would you knock at the door

and tell Roger it's getting late?

They won't mind if you do it.

And, well, you know, I miss him so.

♪♪

[eerie theme music] ♪♪