A monument is fallen at the great estate of Collinwood. The Old Collins Mansion known affectionately by all who entered its hallowed halls as The Old House, has been gutted by fire. The Master of the house is the only one who does not know that his beloved home place lies in ruins. Meanwhile at the Collinwood Estate, his friends and family await his return to break the horrible news to him...
Willie Loomis stands looking forlornly at the floor in the drawing room. Elizabeth Stoddard faces Julia Hoffman and says, "How terrible. I know how much that house means to Barnabas. I remember when he first came here how he wouldn't even stay here until it was restored to a livable condition." Julia quietly nodded and Willie nervously made circular motions with the toe of his shoe. "Did Quentin say where he was going?" Elizabeth asked. Willie hid his eyes away from her view and Julia feeling suddenly pressed to provide a reasonable answer, grasped for a moment then said, "He uh, went into Collinsport to see if he could find Barnabas." With his face turned from view, Willie displayed a look of relief that Julia had thought quickly. "Yeah, that makes sense, she'll buy that." He thought. At that moment the front door to Collinwood opened. Barnabas, being half supported by Selena Parker was almost doubled over and coughing. "We were driving along the beach and he suddenly started clutching his throat and coughing like this. He said there is a doctor here." Julia rushed to his side loosening his collar. "Oh yes, It was Doctor Hoffman I believe." Selena said remembering her brief meeting before. Barnabas cringed and struggled for breath. Julia wiped his brow and asked Willie to run to her room and get her medical bag. Wondering why he hadn't thought of that before he nodded and ran up the steps.
(Place Commercials Here)
Julia Hoffman tends to Barnabas as Selena stands by holding his hand. Julia hides the disdain she feels for the situation and applies the stethoscope to Barnabas' chest listening carefully. Liz approaches Selena and says, "Thank you for bringing him Miss? I don't believe we've met." Selena releases Barnabas hand and extends it to Liz and said. "Selena Parker. You must be Mrs. Stoddard. I think Barnabas has told me about almost everyone. You look exactly as I imagined." Liz smiled and replied. It's nice to meet you, Selena. Dr. Hoffman, is he going to be alright? Julia tucked the stethoscope back into her bag and said, "Yes. He appears to be in perfect condition with the exception of the unexplained cough." she said shooting a knowing glance to Willie who was pacing in the foyer. She then turned to Willie and looked deliberately at him as she tried to impart a secret message to him. "Willie, maybe you should go into town and try to locate Quentin to let him know Barnabas made it back here." Willie looked confused for half a second and then realized she was trying to add validity to her earlier explanation. "Sure." He said. He then turned and departed the house. Liz turned to Barnabas and said, "Barnabas, I'm afraid we have some terrible news." Barnabas sat up straight and looked back and forth between Liz and Julia expectantly. Julia swallowed hard and said, "Barnabas, the Old House burned tonight. You won't be able to return there tonight." Liz added, I've had Mrs. Johnson ready a room for you you'll need a place to stay." Barnabas forced himself to stand gasping in disbelief at the news he had just heard. He reached for his cane and said, "I must go there." Julia protested saying, "Barnabas, you really should rest tonight. You can go in the morning." Barnabas was resolute. Nothing would stop him from going to see his beloved Old House. Though he was sure they were telling him the truth, he simply must witness it for himself. He turned to Liz and said, "Thank you Elizabeth. I will return, but I must go there. I don't expect you to understand." Liz tilted her head and said, "Believe it or not I DO understand. Go ahead. Go and see it for yourself. Your room will be waiting when you return. I do hope you all will excuse me, but I am very tired. I'm going up to bed. I'll see you in the morning." Barnabas thanked her once again and she ascended the stairs and went to her room. Selena who had been looking on with empathy was almost in tears. "I want to go with you, Barnabas." Barnabas nodded and the three of them left the house.
(Camera pans the ruins of the house from the drawing room. The front door stands open.) Barnabas enters the doorway with Selena. Julia follows a moment after. He stands looking in sorrow at the ruins of his beloved home. The lower part of the bannister was lying on the foyer floor, wallpaper hung in burnt shreds on the staircase walls, smoke wafted up from various smoldering pieces of wallboard and furniture. From behind the French doors, Willie appeared. "Looks bad, Barnabas. The first flooh hardly got hut. It'll take a lotta wuk, but we can fix it up again just like we did befoah. I'll help ya Barnabas." Barnabas looked fondly at his friend, Willie. He was moved by Willie's gracious offer. He nodded and said, "We'll see Willie, we'll see." Julia stood nervously in the foyer wishing Selena was not here. She had much to tell Barnabas, but with Selena here, how could she. Turning she spotted something shiny on the stairs. She turned and began carefully one by one stepping on each one to see if they would hold. Halfway up she stopped and reached down among ashes and burnt wood and picked up the shiny object. It was a small gold plate. On it was inscribed, Quentin Collins- 1897. Her eyes closed as she tightly clutched it in her hands. She sighed deeply now seeing what she already suspected. The portrait of Quentin had burned in the fire. Her thoughts sounded, "Why are the remains of the portrait HERE? On the stairs? Quentin's portrait was stored away safely in the attic. How did it get out here?" A knock came on the doorway as uniformed man came inside. "Are you Barnabas Collins?" he said. Barnabas turned to see who had entered. "Mr. Collins. I'm Blake Rogers, the fire chief. I think you should know. We found a body in the house. Burned beyond all recognition. Who was here?" Barnabas looked puzzled at him and said, "No one was supposed to be here. Miss Parker and I were in town. My hired man, Willie had the night off, and Dr. Hoffman here was up at Collinwood." Rogers scratched his head and replied, "Then I guess we have to assume the man was attempting to rob the place. He and his accomplice." Barnabas eyes widened in shock. "You said you found only one body? Why do you think he had an accomplice?" Rogers paced around among the burned shards scattered on the drawing room floor and said, "First, we found the front door was forced. The man we found upstairs died alright, but it wasn't the fire that killed him. His windpipe had been crushed. My guess is the two of them broke in here to rob you. Then they got in a fight over how to divide the spoils, and one of them killed the other and set fire to the place to get rid of the evidence. He took off with all the goods for himself. The dead man was wearing this." He reached into his pocket and withdrew a ring. It bore a serpents head in its center. Selena's eyes grew wide and she turned away. Barnabas caught her reaction but the fire chief did not. "Yes, they must have stolen it from my room. The ring belongs to me." He said to keep Selena from having to answer any questions. Selena, turned away wondering why he said the ring belonged to him. "Well, I can return it to you after the investigation is completed. For now, we'll need to hold it as evidence until the matter is cleared up. I hope you understand." He said matter of factly. "I understand completely." Barnabas said handing the ring back to Rogers. He turned to leave, but hesitated for a moment, looked around the structure, and said, "A pity. A grand old house. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore. Good night Mr. Collins." He turned and left the house. Julia and Barnabas both looked at Selena, who only stood looking shocked.
(Three dramatic notes sound)
(Place Commercials Here)
(Six notes in sets of two sound. Each growing progressively higher in tone with the last one being sustained and fading) Barnabas walks right up next to Selena and says, "That ring! You recognized it?" He asked curiously. Selena had an expression as if she really couldn't believe what she had seen. She turned to Barnabas and said, "It couldn't be the same one. It just couldn't!" Julia drew nearer and said, "The same as what, Selena?" Selena paced the room as if trying to make some sense out of the whole matter. She then turned and said, "That ring looks just like the one that Nick wears!" Julia then asked, "And just who is Nick, Selena?" Continuing to pace in disbelief, she turned and said, "Mr. Bentine. Trevor's partner. It can't be the same one! It just can't!" Julia then placed a hand on Selena's shoulder and said, "I'm sure you're right. You look tired. My car is at the gate. We should take her home Barnabas, she's had a shock." Barnabas nodded and took Selena's arm and said, "The good doctor may be right. Come. We'll take you home." Selena then nodded and left the house with them. (Music rises and fades.)
The old Collins mausoleum stands at the backside of Eagle Hill Cemetery. From the outside it appears deceptive. It is built with the back against a stone embankment. From the outside, no one would guess that behind that false wall exists a secret room built into the hillside hidden by the rock wall. A full moon shines brightly on its face, glistening on the iron bars that close the outside world from the secrets that it has concealed time and time again. Inside, this night, behind the false outer wall, sounds as if from a trapped animal, seep through the thick granite. Inside a strange creature, half man, half beast, rambles about with hairy hands groping the walls seeking a means of escape. Cruel growls emanate from the animal as he aimlessly covers the same territory over and over seeking desperately to free itself from its imprisonment. Angrily he claws at the secret panel that could release him from his confinement. Long claws scratch to no avail. This peculiar beast wears the clothes of a man. They are torn and tattered. His eyes are piercing. Utterly exhausted from his fruitless efforts, he retreats to one side of the room and falls limp to floor and sleeps.
Barnabas Collins and Julia Hoffman enter a bedroom located on the second
floor at Collinwood. Barnabas sits in a chair beside the bed, his hands
folded over his cane. "Why Julia? Why? Who would want to destroy the Old
House? Who was that man that died in the house?" Julia's eyes dropped and
her lips tightened. "Barnabas. You remember the reaction Selena had when she
saw that ring?" she asked quietly. Barnabas looked at her as if to say,
"Please continue." Taking a breath she looked at him intently and said,
"Barnabas. I've seen that ring before too!" Barnabas sat upright now in
anticipation and asked, "Where Julia?" After a short dramatic pause, she
looked right into his eyes and said, "On the hand of Nicholas Blair"
Barnabas' eyes grew wide in disbelief.
(Three dramatic notes sound)
(Place Commercials Here)
"Nicholas Blair?" Barnabas said in total disbelief. "Julia, we have not seen any trace of Nicholas Blair in almost 2 years. He was killed by Jeb Hawkes!" Julia paced the room a moment then turned to face Barnabas. "Selena said the man she had seen wearing a ring that looked like that was called Nick Bentine." Barnabas thought for a moment. "Nick Bentine, Nicholas Blair!" he uttered as realization struck him. "But why would he be here, Julia? Why?" Slightly frustrated that he wasn't quite keeping up with her she sighed and said, "Summoned here by Judah Zachary!" He rose puzzled at this new information. "We must tell Stokes of this new development!" he said with resolve. "Yes." She said in agreement, and then paused as she dreaded to say the rest of what was on her mind. "Barnabas. As a professional in matters of the psychological, I have to tell you that I believe your involvement with Selena is clouding your reasoning. You aren't thinking clearly. You're distracted." Barnabas then becoming defensive said, "More of your jealous ravings. I cannot subscribe to your assessment of the matter. I intend to continue seeing Selena. I will discuss it no further!" With resignation, Julia dropped the matter and then said, "There's something else you need to know, Barnabas. Quentin is at the mausoleum tonight." Barnabas looked at her curiously. She withdrew the gold plate from her purse and handed it to him. His eyes grew wide and his mouth gaped in horror as he realized what this meant. (Sharp music rises to crescendo)
Elizabeth Stoddard.
JOAN BENNETT
Barnabas Collins.
JONATHAN FRID
Julia Hoffman.
GRAYSON HALL
Willie Loomis.
JOHN KARLEN
Selena Parker.
KATE JACKSON
Blake Rogers.
VINCE O'BRIEN
Stunt Coordinator ALEX STEVENS
Written and 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