Collinwood stands as a monument. It is a monument to the longevity of a family in a struggle against great evil and incredible odds. A curse imposed upon them nearly 3 centuries past has left its mark upon them. The evil has disrupted the family through many generations. The one who imposed this curse remains to this day, determined to complete the treachery he began so very long ago.
Judah Zachary sat behind Trevor Halliburton's desk talking on the phone. "I
see, I appreciate you calling me to let me know. Yes, I expected he would do
that very thing. I was quite counting on it actually. Come by my office
tomorrow afternoon, Selena will have a little something for you on her desk
when you arrive. Thank you again, Sidney, Goodbye." Zachary leaned back in
the chair with his fingers locked behind his head and a twisted grin on his
face. "Well Mr. Fenton. So you are out spreading the word that you have the
Collins' at a disadvantage. Very good. Very good indeed. Just keep right on.
Things are falling right into place exactly according to plan." He picked up
a letter opener from the desk and eyed it with a gleam on his countenance.
"The destruction of the Collins family is at hand!" His eyes now wide, he
plunged the point of the letter opener into the top of the desk and laughed
hideously.
(Three dramatic notes sound)
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As Judah sat looking at the letter opener wedged into the top of the desk, a
knock came on his door. Taken by surprise, he quickly pulled the letter
opener out of the desk and pulled some papers over the hole left by his
little tirade. He then said, "Come in" The door opened to reveal Tony
Peterson. "Mr. Halliburton, My name is Tony Peterson. I represent Roger
Collins. I've made several attempts to arrange a meeting with you to discuss
the matter. You seem to be a difficult man to pin down." Tony said. Judah
was taken aback at Tony's sudden arrival. He had stepped in while Selena was
away from her desk, so he had no way of avoiding the confrontation. Judah
quickly regained his composure and replied, "Ah yes, I have been meaning to
sit down with you," he said rising from his chair. Then he continued," My
apologies for causing you to make this trip." He said, turning to face Tony.
He then added, "You see I have already told Mr. Fenton that there is no
case. But I'm afraid the poor man is quite deluded. He is still convinced
that we will be taking the Collins' to the cleaners, so to speak. I can't
quite seem to make him seem to understand it's over!" Tony sat in the chair,
his arms folded across his chest, his finger scratching his chin. "I see,"
he said thoughtfully "There is one thing that puzzles me," he added. Judah,
who was now facing the window overlooking the street, looked momentarily
concerned. He than turned facing Tony once again and replied, "Oh, and that
is?" Tony then replied, "How it ever went this far. I know your work
Halliburton, you're a better lawyer than to make a blunder like this." He
said, looking now to Halliburton as he awaited his reply. Trevor now facing
the window once again replied, "Yes, you're right of course." He then turned
again facing Tony and than said," I have had some recent difficulties
involving my family in Albany, it has had me quite distracted and I am
afraid I haven't been my usual ,clear thinking, self." He said, "I'm just
sorry that I didn't realize the futility of the whole thing before getting
everyone all worked up over nothing. I do hope you will forgive my
foolishness." He said to Tony feigning a look of sorrow, Tony now stood and
extended his hand to Trevor and said, "I understand completely, think
nothing of it, the Collins will be relieved when I explain it to them."
Trevor than said, "You don't know how much I appreciate that, "he said. He
then sat back down behind the desk and added, "I too will offer my apologies
to them in the next day or so. Would you please let them know to expect me?"
he asked.
"Sure thing, well I guess I will be on my way then." He said as he walked
toward the door. He then turned and added, "I appreciate you clearing
everything up for me, Thank you Mr. Halliburton." Trevor then nodded and
said, "My pleasure, Mr. Peterson." With that Tony left, closing the door
behind him. Judah sat looking quite pleased with his deception. He picked
up the telephone and dialed a number and waited. A voice at the other end of
the line said, "Hello?" Judah then said, "Hello Gerald. I have a little job
for you"
(Sharp twinging music rises and fades.)
Dust and cobwebs were plenty in the old Collinsport courthouse. It had been
closed down for decades after the new courthouse had been built in the 1930's.
Barnabas, Stokes, and Julia followed the deputy through the corridor down to
the old evidence lockup section. A large wooden cabinet that half resembled
an armoire, and half resembled a huge double door locker stood against one
wall. The deputy made his way to it and inserted what looked like a skeleton
key into the rusty old lock. He had to jiggle it several times before the
rusty old tumblers gave way. "Some of this stuff has been in here for over a
hundred years." He said as the doors swung open. Stokes sifted through the
dusty and mildewed contents of the locker. The deputy stood by the door
allowing them free access since nothing of real value was considered to have
been left behind when things had been moved to the new courthouse so very
long ago. An assortment of musty leather wallets, inexpensive costume
jewelry, a broken knife, and other items were on the top shelf.
The second shelf was filled with an assortment of dried and yellowed papers.
Julia and Barnabas watched with anticipation as Stokes rummaged through the
old locker. "Deputy, would it be alright if we looked through some of the
old desk drawers also?" Barnabas asked. The deputy replied, "Sure, nothin'
in 'em that would be sensitive to any cases on the dockets nowadays."
Barnabas and Julia looked through drawers and a closet in the room and
looked at each other with the same expression of defeat. Stokes then closed
the doors to the old evidence locker with a sigh. "It would appear our
search has been for naught," he said as he replaced his monocle in his
breast pocket. They thanked the deputy for his assistance and left the room.
From outside the room, the sound of the door being locked again can be
heard. Against one wall stands an ancient old evidence locker. Once upon a
time, decades ago, two deputies had tried to move the locker without
emptying it first. The weight of it was too great, and one leg snapped off
about two inches from the floor. The locker no longer sat level. They
searched to find something they could slide under the broken leg to level
it. They found it. Holding up the right rear corner of the locker is a book.
Its spine reads: "Journal of Judah Zachary"
(Three dramatic notes sound)
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Joe Haskell and Roger Collins sat at a table in the corner at the Blue Whale over drinks. "I really appreciate all you helped me, Mr. Collins. I don't know what I would have done if it hadn't been for your help." Joe said with a look of gratitude on his face. "I have a really decent one room just down the street, and I did just like you said and got a few more sets of clothes. It really feels good to be back doing something useful again." Roger smiled and replied, "Good help is hard to find nowadays, Haskell. Having you back at your old position has been of a great benefit to the business as it has been to you. You know I haven't had a drink in here for some time. It really hasn't changed very much." He said as he held up his finger to signal for a refill. Joe twirled his glass and then hesitantly said, "I understand that Maggie has found a new interest?" Roger immediately knew what he was referring to and replied, "You must mean Cousin Quentin. Yes Haskell. They have been seeing quite a lot of each other. You're still a young man, Haskell. I know you cared very much for Maggie. I do hope you can find a way to remember the good times you had, but find yourself another nice girl here in the village." Joe swallowed the rest of the drink and said, "I don't know Mr. Collins, a girl like Maggie only happens once in a lifetime. I guess only time will tell what I'll do, but…" suddenly the front door opened. Gerald Fenton stepped into the Blue Whale. He immediately turned to face Roger and shouted loudly, "Die Collins! Die!" Fenton raised a revolver to shoulder height and fired repeatedly. Roger's eyes widened as the first bullet pierced his chest. Joe jumped from the table and ran toward Fenton. The gun was now empty, but Fenton continued squeezing the trigger as if he thought he had an endless supply of rounds in the chamber. His eyes were crazed as Haskell pinned him to wall and yelled, "Somebody get an ambulance!" Roger Collins laid still and bleeding on the floor. (Long dramatic strains of music rises then reach a climactic crescendo)
Three knocks came on the door at Collinwood. Elizabeth Collins Stoddard emerged from the doorway at the top of the foyer stairs. She made her way down the stairs and opened the door. Tony Peterson removed his hat and said, "Good afternoon Mrs. Stoddard." Liz opened the door wide and said, "Come in Tony." Tony placed his hat and overcoat on the hooks in the entryway and followed Liz to the drawing room. He sat his briefcase on the coffee table and said, "I finally managed to pin down Trevor Halliburton. You'll be happy to know that he's dropped the Fenton case. I told you there was nothing to worry about." Liz looked puzzled and said, "You also said he was far too wise to even begin a case such as this, did he say why he pursued it in the first place?" Tony sat down on the sofa and began opening the briefcase and replied, "It seems he's had some family problems out west weighing heavily on his mind, and wasn't thinking too clearly. He seems to have snapped out of it, and realized what a waste of time it was. He did say that Fenton can't accept the fact though, is apparently still pestering him about it." Elizabeth frowned and said, "We agreed not to prefer charges against him if he would leave town quietly. I suppose our next move should be to prosecute him." Tony paused for a moment, and then said, "I can start the ball rolling first thing in the morning, if that's what you want?" Liz thought for a moment and then said, "I think that would probably be for the best." Tony now withdrew a manila folder from the briefcase and said, "Now, about this Richmond matter, I've gone over the proposal and…" The telephone rang and Liz said, "Pardon me for just a moment Tony, Mrs. Johnson has gone into town, I'll need to answer that." Tony nodded, and she stepped out to use the phone in the foyer. Tony laid the folder on the table and started to open it when he heard Liz say, "Oh No! When did it happen?" He rose to his feet and wondered whether he should go to see what was wrong. "I'll be right there!" he heard her say as the phone was hurriedly returned to the cradle. She appeared in the doorway white as a ghost. Tony asked, "Is anything wrong, Mrs. Stoddard?" Liz looked faint as she said, "That was Joe Haskell. Roger has been shot!" Tony took her by the arm and said, "Come, I'll take you into town. The car is just outside." They opened the doors and went out closing them behind them.
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Elizabeth Stoddard…
JOAN BENNETT
Barnabas Collins…
JONATHAN FRID
Roger Collins…
LOUIS EDMONDS
Julia Hoffman…
GRAYSON HALL
Professor Stokes…
THAYER DAVID
Tony Peterson…
JERRY LACY
Gerald Fenton…
MICHAEL STROKA
Joe Haskell…
CHRIS BERNAU
Judah Zachary/Trevor Halliburton KEITH PRENTICE
Deputy…
JORDAN KEAN
Written By RUSS WILLIAMS
Directed By RUSS WILLIAMS
Story Developed and Created by ART WALLACE
Fashions courtesy of ORBACH'S
Music composed by ROBERT COBERT
Series created by DAN CURTIS Executive Producer