Dedicated to the memory of Don Briscoe
Julia Hoffman sat napping in the big arm chair in the drawing room of The Old House. Her head tossed first from one side to the other. The phone on the desk suddenly rand out shrilly and she awoke abruptly. She rose and went to answer it. "Collins residence." She said as she waited for a reply. "Oh yes, Dr. Bertrand. Yes. It looks like we will have to progress at a slower rate than I first thought. No, I'm fine; I was simply shaken up a bit." Barnabas now descended the stairs and entered the room. Julia continued her conversation. "Yes let's drop back two levels and whatever you do, avoid the subject of Roger Collins completely at this point. We will have to progress at a much slower pace than I'd hoped. Thank you for calling Doctor, I'm quite alright. Goodbye." She then turned to Barnabas and said, "That was Doctor Bertrand. I was reviewing Gerald Fenton's case with him." Her eyes then narrowed slightly as she caught site of Barnabas. She walked closer scrutinizing him carefully. Barnabas looked puzzled and said, "What is it, Julia? What's the matter?" Julia took him by the arm and led him to the hallway. "Look in the mirror Barnabas. Your temples are starting to grey and the crow's feet at the corners of your eyes seem deeper. Barnabas looked in the mirror and saw that indeed he was graying and that the small wrinkles did seem harsher than he originally remembered. He gave Julia a puzzled look for a moment and said, "What does it mean, Julia? What does it mean?"
(Three dramatic notes sound)
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Barnabas walked from the mirror in the hallway back to the drawing room not knowing what to think about this new discovery. Julia followed him and said, "We never took into account that with the curse lifted, you would begin to age normally, Barnabas. It's been almost a month since we returned from 1841. It very well could be that if the curse never happened, you would be developing a touch of gray at this time in your life. This isn't like when the experiment went wrong. You aged your full number of years. Maybe we're just over reacting. This could be perfectly normal." Barnabas paced in front of the fireplace considering her words and replied, "I hope you're right, Julia, but where Judah Zachary is concerned, everything unusual occurrence is suspect until his involvement has been discounted." Three resounding knocks sound on the great front door to The Old House. Julia looks at Barnabas as if to ask if he were expecting anyone. His expression of surprise alerted her he was not. Barnabas walked to the door and opened it to reveal Selena Parker standing there smiling. "Good Afternoon, Mr. Collins!" she said as he motioned her to come inside. She raised a finger as if to say, "Wait a minute." She reached over beside the door and lifted two covered paintings and then proceeded inside. Barnabas looked curiously at her and said, "You really didn't have to bring them out, Miss Parker, I was going to send my man, Willie Loomis after them tomorrow afternoon." She sat the paintings down in the drawing room and replied, "I had some papers to deliver not far from here anyway, so Trevor asked if I'd mind dropping these by on the way back. He assured me I would truly enjoy the atmosphere you've created here." She looks all about in wide eyed wonderment at her surroundings and remarked, "He wasn't exaggerating either. This place looks incredible, Mr. Collins." Barnabas managed a slight smile and replied, "Thank you, but do call me Barnabas." Selena's head tilted delightfully as her wide smile seemed to say, "Why thank you!" Realizing Julia was standing there, Barnabas said, "Selena Parker, this is Dr. Julia Hoffman, a good friend and close associate. Julia, this is Selena Parker, Trevor Halliburton's secretary. I purchased a couple of paintings he was disposing of." Julia extended her hand and said, "It's nice to meet you, Miss Parker." Selena then turned back to the paintings. She looked at one of them then turned to Barnabas and said, "It's a bit puzzling to me that Trevor decided to sell these to you, Mr., Coll… uh, I mean, Barnabas." Barnabas looked at her with a curious expression and said, "Why is that, Selena?" Selena pursed her lips and walked toward the bookshelf in the drawing room and replied, "He searched for a long time to find those paintings, and spent a fortune on them. I remember how proud he was when he finally got them and hung them in the waiting room. I always wondered why he didn't put them in his office. Then when he told me yesterday, he was selling them to you, and acted like they were nothing special, I wondered if he was sick and not thinking clearly. I just don't understand. Well, I didn't come out to depress you with all this." She again began looking around the room and said, "Would I be imposing if I asked for a tour of your house, Barnabas? I am just fascinated with this place!" Barnabas smiled and said, "It would be no imposition at all, Selena. Come, we'll start with the upstairs." Barnabas led Selena up the stairs as Julia stood in the drawing room in deep thought.
(Music rises and fades)
Trevor Halliburton, possessed by Judah sat quietly in the chair in the lawyer's office. The door opened and Nicholas Blair stepped inside, "Well, I see you've put the next phase of your attack in motion. Does Selena suspect anything?" Judah looked up and with a sneer replied, "Not a thing! She has delivered the paintings just as I planned and has no idea of the role she will play in my plans." Nicholas sat down across from him and said, "I wouldn't underestimate Barnabas Collins if I were you. He can be quite formidable an opponent, my friend." Judah snarled and said, "I just don't understand why my plan is not going as I expected. Barnabas Collins should be a bent over, wrinkled up old man of 178 years of age right now. My curse on him was to return to him the years he cheated time out of. Why does he still appear as youthful as does? There is someone intervening in my plans, and I will find out who it is. When I do, they will regret the day they ever dared resist Judah Zachary!" Nicholas sat looking puzzled and then replied, "You are certain that Angelique was actually powerless when she died? This seems to be just the type of interfering and meddling she would be involved in; especially when it comes to Barnabas Collins." Judah rose from the chair and walked to the window. "You are again referring to Miranda by that quaint name she took to escape the wrath of my followers. Yes! She was completely mortal and Trask dealt a deadly blow to her. Our meddler must be someone else. I must discover who!" Nicholas rubbed his finger across his chin and said, "Well, it's either someone from this time, or someone else you angered. Now there is no one from this time except myself that has any clue that you are Judah Zachary, so I can only assume it is someone else you've crossed paths with that has an axe to grind with you." Judah turned quickly with a look of total hatred as he faced Nicholas. Nicholas realized his error and quickly said, "I'm sorry, a bad choice of words. I forget you are not familiar with the euphemisms of the time period. I didn't mean anything by it. What I'm saying is this must be someone else that has managed to come to this time as well and knows exactly where you are and what you're doing, and they have supernatural means at their disposal." Judah again sat down and looking with cold calculating evil said, "Know this! Whosoever it may be, they shall not escape the wrath of Judah Zachary!"
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Barnabas and Selena now returned to the drawing room at the Old House. Selena was absolutely awestruck at all she had seen. "It's absolutely captivating! I would so love to live in a place like this! You are so fortunate, Barnabas." She said with the look of a youngster who just spent the day at an amusement park. Barnabas nodded and replied, "Yes, I am fortunate indeed. The house could well have decayed to the point of being unsalvageable, but the elements were kind. Perhaps their way of showing pity on a house that had known so very much sorrow so many years ago." Selena smiled at this eloquent surmising. Then realizing what time it was getting to be, she said, "Well it's getting late and I still have a lot to do at the office before I go home tonight. Thank you so very much for sharing all this magnificent beauty with me, Barnabas! I am simply thrilled I had the opportunity to see it." Barnabas escorted her to the door, and said, "I'm planning a dinner party here Friday night, Selena, I do hope you can come. I would be quite honored at your presence." Julia inside the drawing room turned at the sound of his last statement and a puzzled look crossed her face. Selena looked absolutely ecstatic and replied, "Well, now when you put it that way, I could hardly say no, now could I?" Barnabas displayed one of his very rare wide smiles as he responded, "No, I should think not. Dinner will be at 8 O'clock. I will look forward to your arrival, Selena." Selena grinned and said, "Thank you Barnabas, you're so very kind. I'll see you at 8 Friday" She then turned and departed. Barnabas slowly closed the door with a look of deep satisfaction. He turned to see Julia standing there with a strange look on her face. "You didn't mention you had a dinner party planned, Barnabas." She said with a look of suspicion. Barnabas realizing what prompted this remark then said, "Yes, I was actually thinking about it earlier this morning. I simply forgot to mention it I had so many other things on my mind." Julia, not believing his story for a minute simply replied, "I see." (Sharp music rises and fades)
Hallie Stokes knocked on David Collins' bedroom door. Inside, David is heard
asking who it is. "It's Hallie, David. Can I come in?" He calls back that it
is ok. David sat on the bed holding a 1947 roadster model he had recently
built. Hallie entered and said, "What's the matter, David? You haven't been
out of this room for two days!" David aimlessly fiddled with the model and
said, "I just haven't been feeling very well, Hallie. That's all" Hallie
cocked her head to one side and her eyes grew wide and accusing as she said,
"David Collins! You might fool some people with that story, but not me! Your
father has been home for two days and you haven't even bothered to go down
and se him! Have you, David?" David looked up defensively and sniveled, "I
told you I haven't been feeling well, Hallie." Hallie again cocked her head
and put her hands on her hips and declared, "Well, if you're feeling that
badly, I'm going to have Mrs. Stoddard call the doctor out to see you!"
David quickly dropped the roadster on the bed and jumped up and ran to block
the door and said, "No Hallie, you can't. I'm not sick, I just don't feel
well." Hallie didn't back down and maintained her imposing stance and
declared, "You're avoiding your father, David. You don't fool me! He's your
father David. He needs you right now and you're hiding in your room to keep
from seeing him. That's just awful! I wish I had still had my father. I
would love to be able to spend time with him, but I can't!" David's eyes
dropped to the floor as he said, "But what will I say to him Hallie? I don't
want to see him that way. I don't know how to act. I'm afraid. Afraid I'll
say something dumb! What would you say if it was you, Hallie?" Hallie
softened up a bit at David's honesty and said, "Just say whatever you would
say if he were standing up. He's still the same man, David, and I'm sure he
loves you very much! It's probably deeply hurting him that you haven't been
down to see him. I'll go with you if you want; if it will make it any
easier." David flopped back down on the bed and picked up the model
roadster. "He shrugged hopelessly and said, "I don't know Hallie! I just don't
know!
(Stinging music out)
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Julia Hoffman looks at Barnabas and scoldingly says, "You're intrigued by
her, aren't you Barnabas? I saw that look in your eye while you were
escorting her around. It was the same look you had when you wanted to win
Vicki." Barnabas turned and looked at Julia, and quietly replied, "Yes, I
was quite taken with her. She is a sweet and lovely woman. I want very much
to get to know her better." Julia replied, "But Barnabas, she is a
distraction you don't need right now. You've said yourself how important it
is that we find Judah Zachary. We mustn't let anything stand in our way.
Becoming enamored of a lovely young woman right now is a mistake!" Barnabas
turned to reply when both of them heard the sound of the front door being
ripped open. A tall balding man who appeared to be about 90 years old burst
into the drawing room. "What are you doing now, Barnabas? What are you doing
to me?" Julia looked at the man curiously and her eyes grew wide as she
brought her knuckle to her mouth and bit it. Barnabas' eyes also grew wide
and his mouth dropped open. In total shock, he uttered the name; "Adam"
The man stood glaring at them both as they stood totally speechless.
(Three dramatic notes sound)
Barnabas Collins…
JONATHAN FRID
Julia Hoffman…
GRAYSON HALL
Nicholas Blair…
HUMBERT ALLEN ASTREDO
Selena Parker…
KATE JACKSON
Adam…
ROBERT RODAN
Trevor Halliburton/Judah Zachary…
KEITH PRENTICE
David Collins…
DAVID HENESY
Hallie Stokes…
KATHY CODY
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