An old familiar face graces the halls of Collinwood. For his own home has been destroyed. It is another casualty in a centuries old battle between the forces of evil that wage a relentless war on the Collins family. He was to live in this house many years ago, but he chose another path in another life long ago. This night, his friend has told him of the return of yet another enemy from the not so distant past, and the return of an awful curse they both thought was only a horrible memory...
"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)
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Barnabas Collins looked at the charred gold plate which had been affixed to the bottom of the portrait of Quentin Collins. "So the portrait was destroyed in the fire, and the curse of the werewolf is on Quentin once again." Barnabas said sorrowfully. Julia quietly nodded then said, "I found it on the steps while we were looking around the Old House earlier." Barnabas registered shock at her last statement and said, "On the stairs? The portrait was in the attic at the Old House. Why would it be on the stairs?" Pacing around the room, she replied, "I wondered the same thing. I can only guess the thieves left it on the stairs while they raided Josette's room." Barnabas thought on this a moment and said, "The portrait would be of value to no one except the family. If they did think it valuable, why did the escaping thief leave it behind to be burned? It doesn't make sense, Julia!" Shaking her head, Julia replied, "I- I don't know, Barnabas." He pondered another moment and then said, "And why did I begin choking in the car with Selena? Julia, I was suffocating as if I were engulfed in smoke! Yes! I distinctly remember feeling as if I were breathing in smoke. My chest burned inside with heat as if I myself were in a burning room." All Julia could do was shake her head as she too tried to understand it. A knock came on the bedroom door. "Come in." Barnabas said as he watched to see who would enter. The door opened and Willie Loomis stepped inside. "Good evening, Willie." Barnabas said as he waited for Willie to say why he was here. "Mrs. Johnson got me all set up in a room downstaihs. Professah Stokes called. He hud whut happened. He wants ya to call him." He said as Barnabas listened. "Did he say what he wanted, Willie?" Barnabas asked. Willie shrugged saying, "I don't think so. Mrs. Johnson ansahed the phone. She asked me to give ya the message." Julia's eyes widened and she quickly approached Barnabas. "Barnabas, I think you should make that call to Professor Stokes, now." Barnabas didn't quite understand why he was compelled to do as she asked, but he had seen that particular look of urgency and seen that look on Julia's face too many times in the past to dismiss it. "Thank you, Willie. I'll return his call right away." Willie nodded acknowledgement and left, Barnabas and Julia left the room at the same time.
Professor T. Eliot Stokes paced the living room of his home with a very concerned look on his face. He sipped on a drink then glanced impatiently at his watch. He went over to a small wet bar and refilled his drink and took yet another sip then paced once again. He sat down in his arm chair and picked up the Rockport newspaper and began trying to read, but could not give his full attention to it. Suddenly the phone on the table nearby rang. He rose and walked over and lifted receiver and said, "Hello, this is Timothy Stokes. Yes, Barnabas, thank you for returning my call. I heard what happened to the Old House. My deepest regrets. I was wondering if you have heard from Adam. He was going over to get the remainder of his belongings this evening and He hasn't arrived back here yet. I'm quite concerned since his destination was to your house, and then the news of what transpired there. I see. A half an hour? Of course. Yes, I'll meet you there. Goodbye Barnabas. Professor Stokes grabbed a hat from the hall tree by the door and quickly departed.
The front door to Collinwood opens. Carolyn Stoddard and Trevor Halliburton step inside as Barnabas and Julia emerge from the drawing room. "Ah Good evening Mr. Collins." Trevor said upon seeing Barnabas. "Good evening Mr. Halliburton." He replied. Carolyn finished hanging her coat in the entryway and said, "Trevor and I were about to have a drink. Won't you join us?" Julia then said, "Perhaps another time Carolyn. Barnabas and I have to meet with Professor Stokes shortly." Carolyn's face registered surprise as she said, "At this hour?" "Yes Carolyn, I'm afraid something urgent has come up which requires our immediate attention. We can discuss it with you when we return." Julia replied. A puzzled look crossed Carolyn's face as she wondered why they would return to Collinwood after such a late meeting. It was already 1 AM. Julia, seeing her confusion said, "Carolyn. The Old House burned tonight. A man was killed in the fire." Halliburton suddenly turned away as a look of shock crossed his face. Judah realized the only one who was to be in that house was Nicholas. Quickly recovering, he turned back and said, "That's terrible! Is there anything I can do, Mr. Collins?" Barnabas nodded in the negative and replied, "Thank you, no Mr. Halliburton. Come Julia, we mustn't keep Professor Stokes waiting." Quickly they departed and once again Judah wonders about the body that had been found. (Dramatic crescendo)
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Professor Stokes stands at the bottom of the stairs surveying the horrid sight of this once splendid looking old manor as it now looked barely habitable. Barnabas and Julia enter the open doorway. Stokes turns and says, "Ah there you are. I just barely arrived myself. A shocking sight, I must say. You indicated on the phone a certain urgency. Do you know of Adam's whereabouts?" Barnabas nodded that he did not. Julia then spoke. "I don't know where he is, but I'm fairly certain he was here tonight." Barnabas looked questioningly at her and Stokes listened with interest to see what more she had to say. "The fire broke out around 8:30..." she said and then paused, Stokes then filled the pause nodding, "Considering the time he left my house, it would have put him here about that time." Julia continued, "Barnabas, what time did you begin choking in Selena's car?" Barnabas paused a moment and then said, "Yes, it was about 8:30." Julia then said, "You said it was if you were choking on smoke and breathing in intense heat." Stokes face twisted into a puzzled expression as he tried to follow her line of thought. "Professor, do you remember when I thought Barnabas was dead, and I buried him in the woods near here, how Adam began to suffocate from the lack of oxygen?" Stokes lips pursed and his eyes widened slightly as he recalled the incident. "When you and I dug Barnabas up and found him to be still alive, Adam recovered." She said watching him to see if he remembered. "Yes, something to do with the strange connection the two of them share as result of Dr. Lang's experiment." He mused thoughtfully. "Don't you see it, Barnabas? Adam was here in the middle of the fire. Choking and breathing smoke and hot air. You experienced the same thing he was going through because of the connection you share with him." Julia questioned. Barnabas paced a moment, and then said, "So you think the body that was found in Josette's room was Adam?" Julia hesitated, and then said, "No, I still believe that the body was that of Nicholas Blair." Stokes, who had been musingly stroking his lower lip as he concentrated, suddenly withdrew the finger as his eyes widened and his eyebrows rose. "Nicholas Blair?" Julia's eyes fluttered and she replied, "Yes. Nicholas Blair. You see Professor, we learned tonight that Judah Zachary must have summoned Nicholas Blair from whatever consignment he was in to help him with whatever he is planning. Somehow that plan involved him being here tonight. Adam must have come in and surprised him." Stokes meticulous mind was gathering the pieces and assimilating them at rapid speed. Barnabas then interjected, "The last time Adam saw Nicholas Blair, Nicholas was trying to kill him. But his dark master deprived him of his powers and he fled the house. I followed him and saw him begging for mercy just before he was consumed in flames. Adam never saw him again after that. If he found Nicholas here tonight, revenge would have been his immediate reaction." Julia then said, "Do you realize what this means, Barnabas?" Barnabas looked at Julia nodding and said, "Yes, the theory that robbers quarreling over their stolen cache is now disproved. Adam found Nicholas in the house, attacked him, a struggle ensued, and caused the fire." Julia nodded and added, "Adam crushed Nicholas' throat and left him to burn in the fire." Barnabas nodded eagerly as the flow of the entire sequence of events became clear to him. "Somehow, Adam managed to escape." Julia looked troubled and said, "I'm not so sure." Stokes looked at her as if he had a burning question to ask when in the distance a clanging sound is heard. The three of them look at each other and then realize the sound came from the basement. They rush to the basement door and head down the stairs. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs they look around. Another banging sound is heard around the corner. Barnabas peered through the closed cell door. Curled up in a fetal position in one corner he sees a very frightened Adam.
(Three dramatic notes sound)
"Oh Trevor, This is terrible" Carolyn said as she stood in front of the fireplace. "The Old House was simply magnificent after Barnabas had it restored. He spent a fortune and Willie worked so hard to bring that place back to life again. You should have seen it!" Trevor walked over close to her and said, "Actually I did see it. Mr. Collins and I engaged in a business transaction right in his drawing room. It truly was a masterpiece. It's a shame to hear about what happened. Fire seems to deprive all of us of things we truly treasure." He said in a sad tone of voice. Carolyn then remembered his telling of his own tragic tale involving a fire taking the life of his fiancé years before. Feigning sorrow, Judah, in control of Trevor dropped his head looking as if grieving over his long lost love. Carolyn seeing his grief was moved to compassion and said, "Oh Trevor, I'm sorry to have brought back those tragic memories." She threw her arms around him to comfort him. He wrapped his arms around her. His face hidden from her view, he smirked as he reeled her in hook, line and sinker. (Sharp stinging music out)
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Julia Hoffman hovered over Adam. "He has severe burns on his hands and face. He must have managed to get down here below the fire and smoke. The fire doesn't seem to have touched the basement. Professor, you'll find some burn ointment and bandages in a cupboard out there. Bring them to me, please." Stokes nodded and went to find the items she had asked for. Barnabas knelt in front of Adam who was still balled up in the corner covering his face with his hands. "Can you speak, Adam?" Adam simply remained in the same position saying nothing. Only whining childlike crying sounds came forth. "He's in shock Barnabas. He won't be able to answer any questions for a while." Stokes returned with the bandages and ointment. Julia took them and started to treat Adam's burns. He recoiled at her touch. Frustrated, Julia sat wanting to help him, but understood that her touch caused pain to him. Stokes approached with a glass of water. He knelt before Adam and said softly. "Adam. It's me. Professor Stokes. I'm not going to hurt you. I know you must be very thirsty. Here. Take this water. It will make you feel better." Adam was comforted to hear the voice of his friend. He slowly lowered the burned hands from his face and looked at Stokes. He looked at the water, then at Stokes again. Stokes offered the glass to him gently as a father would to his child. Adam took the glass and cooled his parched dry throat with the cool liquid. "That's it. Just relax Adam. I won't let anyone hurt you. Adam looked again at his friend and managed a warm smile. His eyelids wavered. He blinked a few times and became unconscious. Stokes then rose to see Barnabas and Julia looking at him in disbelief. Julia's mouth opened wide to ask him how he managed that when he said, "I anticipated difficulty. When I was gathering the bandages and ointment, I also saw a supply of sleeping powder in another drawer. You should be able to treat him now without a struggle." Julia smiled at Stokes and then said, "We need to get him over on the cot." Barnabas and Stokes then each took one of Adam's arms and lifted him and dragged him over to the cot. They lay him upon it and Julia began tending his burns.
Trevor Halliburton rushed into his office and threw the coat he had been wearing on the sofa. "Did Blair burn in that fire at the Old House? What could have happened? I sent him there to steal a portrait. Did he set fire to the place as some sort of revenge against Collins? Did he get himself caught in the flames in the process? No. He isn't that inept. I must know what happened!" Judah's unspoken thoughts rang in his head as he was compelled to discover what went wrong. He opened the desk drawer and withdrew the three candles he kept hidden in the back and arranged them on the desk and lit them. He sat behind the desk and closed his eyes and raised his hands. "I call from the flames the one who is my aide. I call upon Nicholas Blair to appear before me. Return from the torments, for I have need of the knowledge you possess. Come! Appear to me now." A haze appears on the other side of the desk, and then materializes into the transparent image of Nicholas Blair. Judah looked troubled that only a spirit stood before him. "The master will not release me again. I failed once too many times and he will not let me return." Nicholas voice echoed through the room. "What happened? You were supposed to get the portrait of Quentin Collins and bring it back here?" Judah asked. "I was intercepted. Someone discovered me as I was leaving. An enemy, I did not have my powers to protect me. We fought. He was much larger and stronger. He strangled me and I could not break free." He once again echoed throughout the room. "Collins is not that much larger than you. How could he overpower you so easily?" Judah enquired. The ghost of Nicholas replied, "Barnabas Collins was not my killer. It was the artificial life form I told you of named Adam. I must go now. I can never return. I am consigned to the darkness of the pit forever." With that, the image vanished. Judah sat thinking of all he had just heard and said, "So the creature that drains Collins afflictions has returned! That is why my curse upon him has failed. I will find this Adam, and destroy him!"
(Three dramatic notes sound)
Barnabas Collins.
JONATHAN FRID
Julia Hoffman.
GRAYSON HALL
Carolyn Stoddard.
NANCY BARRETT
Professor Stokes.
THAYER DAVID
Willie Loomis.
JOHN KARLEN
Ghost of Nicholas Blair.
HUMBERT ALLEN ASTREDO
Adam.
ROBERT RODAN
Judah Zachary/Trevor Halliburton.
KEITH PRENTICE
Written and Directed by RUSS WILLIAMS
Story Developed and Created by ART WALLACE
Produced By PETER MINER
Associate Producer GEORGE DiCENZO
Fashions courtesy of ORBACH'S
Music composed by ROBERT COBERT
Series created by DAN CURTIS Executive Producer