Horror grips those who live in the great house of Collinwood, as a shocking revelation comes light. A deranged and maniacal enemy who is bent on the utter destruction of the family, has caused everyone living there to be terrified with horrifying dreams, but on this dark afternoon, he has unleashed and even darker horror...
The face on the old grandfather clock shows 5:30. Camera focuses on the
front door. It opens and Julia Hoffman enters looking exhausted and relieved
to be home. She hangs her wrap in the hallway and enters the drawing room.
She finds Liz sitting there looking anxious. "Good evening, Mrs. Stoddard.
Is everything alright?" Liz looked up and then stood with an exasperated
expression and said, "Good evening Julia. No, I'm afraid in your absence the
children have taken ill. We don't know what the matter is." Julia looked
troubled and asked "I'll be happy to check them out." Liz replied, "Thank
you, Julia, but Dr. Simpson has been here already." Julia nodded and asked,
"What was his prognosis?" Liz sighed and said, "He said he had to perform
some tests on some cultures he'd taken. We're waiting for the results now."
Maggie enters the drawing room and reports, "The children are sleeping
soundly now. Has the doctor phoned yet?" Liz replied, "No, I was just
telling Julia we were waiting for the call." Julia then enquired, "What type
of symptoms are the children displaying?" Maggie then said, "Fever, chills,
swollen lymph glands, and headaches." Julia thought for a moment and said,
"Hmm, those symptoms could apply to any number of things." Liz replied, "Dr.
Simpson said much the same thing." She stepped out into the foyer to look at
the clock. At that moment the phone rang. She walked over to the foyer
table. Maggie and Julia leave the drawing room to join her. "Hello!" she
said with anticipation. "Yes, Dr. Simpson, we've been expecting your call!"
There is a pause as she listens. "Oh nooo!" she declares with a look of
horror. "Yes, I understand, thank you for calling Dr. Simpson." She hung up
the phone and stood looking almost as if in a trance. Julia and Maggie
exchanged puzzled looks and walked over to her. "Mrs. Stoddard, what did the
doctor say?" Liz looked at her with a horrified blank stare and said, "Dr
Simpson has been put in isolation. The police are on their way out to
Collinwood!" Maggie's mouth opened in surprised and she asked, "The police?"
Liz then declared, "Collinwood is being placed under quarantine. No one may
come or go!" Julia pressed further and asked, "Mrs. Stoddard, He must have
told you why quarantine has been imposed!" Still looking dazed, she
exclaimed, "David and Hallie have contracted Bubonic Plague"
Looks of sheer horror fill all three women's faces. (Three sets of three
rapid notes sound, then one dramatically sustained note. Camera fades to
black)
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Liz, Julia, and Maggie still stand horrified at the terrible news. Liz swoons and Julia and Maggie each take one of her arms and lead her into the drawing room to get her off her feet. "I still con't believe it! How could such a horrible thing happen?" Liz asked in disbelief. Julia, knowing Liz would not believe her explanation, turned away with a knowing look. Her lips pursed tightly and her eyes showed anger. Then Liz surprised her by saying, "Do you concur with Eliot Stokes that a warlock's curse is responsible for all the dreadful things that are happening at Collinwood?" Julia turned letting her surprise be seen. Then her face became staunch as she declared, "Yes, Mrs. Stoddard! As a matter of fact, I agree wholeheartedly. I realize you haven't experienced many of the supernatural happenings that have occurred, and I realize all too well the desire to find a rational way to explain the unusual. I assure you Liz, these happenings are real!" Liz looked a bit hesitant, as if trying to make sense of it all. "You really ought to listen to her, Mrs. Stoddard!" a voice said from the drawing room doors. Liz looked up suddenly and Julia spun around shocked at the sound of that voice; the voice of Trevor Halliburton. He strolled into the drawing room with a wickedly evil look on his face. He walked slowly and deliberately over to the telephone and grabbed the cord and gave it a sharp yank, pulling the cord from the wall. "Trevor! What is the meaning of this?" Liz demanded. Halliburton slowly walked toward her with a cruel, evil look and said, "I think it's time introductions were in order. The good doctor is absolutely correct. The face you see is that of the lawyer, Halliburton. His body belongs to me now! You thought you disposed of me centuries ago, yet I remain... Judah Zachary has returned to exact the revenge I swore upon you so very long ago!" Liz stood utterly shocked and horrified at what she was hearing. Julia has been slowly inching toward the drawing room doors. Still facing Liz, with his back to Julia, he says, "Don't be foolish, doctor! Do you really think I would leave the foyer telephone active? You will also find the one in the kitchen quite unusable as well." He turns then to face Julia and snarls, "Sit down, Dr. Hoffman! You too, Miss Evans. We have much to talk about." Trevor looks absolutely deranged as horrifying music builds to a climax.
Quentin Collins enters his room in a Boston hotel. He tosses the suit jacket on the back of a chair by the door. He walks over to the dresser and pours a plastic glass full of brandy. He takes a sip and then loosens his tie. He walks over to the phone by the bed and picks up the receiver. He dials and waits. The sound of it ringing is heard. He takes another sip of the brandy and continues listening to the ringing. His expression becomes one of curiosity as he wonders why there is no answer. After several rings, he finally hangs up the phone and his thoughts are heard aloud, "I wonder why no one answered. Maybe they've all gone out for the evening. Well, I can always try again later." He lies back on the bed locking his fingers behind his head on the pillow. In a moment he drifts off to sleep. (Soft music plays out.)
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(Dramatic music rolls as Judah struts triumphantly in front of the three women seated before him. "I have waited for this moment for what seems an eternity!" He says as paces before the fireplace. "Oh, not to say, there haven't been a few setbacks along the way; your brother, the mouse, for example. He should be dead now! If Fenton hadn't been such a poor marksman, he would be! Ah, but it really makes no difference. You see, I know for a fact that young David showed your brother the bird, as he did to you all. So he too is no doubt infected with the malady." Liz scowled, "And just how is showing someone a pet bird supposed to infect them with a disease? It's ludicrous!" Trevor shook his head and made a tsking sound with his tongue and remarked, "Perhaps the good doctor would care to explain it to you!" Julia looked at Liz and said, "Fleas. Bubonic Plague is typically carried in the saliva and other body fluids of rats that have ingested the virus. Fleas and other parasites contract the disease when they feed on the infected rat. They then pass it on through their bite when they attack other living things." Maggie's eyes grew wide as she reached up and touched the spot on her neck where she felt what seemed like a pin prick when she was in David's bedroom. Trevor seemed to chuckle and said, "That's right, Miss Evans. You've contracted the disease. Unfortunate indeed, seeing you are not a Collins, but that's the price you pay for befriending the enemies of Judah Zachary. I believe they call it, collateral damage, and acceptable casualties of war. Guilt by association! You should have been more careful who you chose as associates." "You're a monster!" Liz declared as she glared at him. Trevor laughed out loud and said, "Come down off your high horse! You're infected every bit as much as she is! Death by plague is agonizing and painful! I will delight in watching you ALL suffer and die!" Julia looked at him coldly and said, "Trevor Halliburton's body is equally human. You've sentenced your host body to the same fate as everyone else!" He again laughed out loud and said, "Do you think me an utter fool, doctor? I ingested the antidote to the toxin long before I ever introduced it into the house. I'm certain that the local health officials will be bringing a similar antidote here soon for all to have administered. Too bad it will be of no use to you. You see, they'll not take the chance of spreading the infection. So they'll leave it at the front door and stand a good distance away. I of course, will bring it into the house, but it will be of no benefit to you." Now, get up! All of you! We're all going to go upstairs! We simply cannot have any of you trying to defeat my plans by calling out when they arrive. Move!" The three women reluctantly rise their feet. He pulls a pistol from his jacket pocket and points it toward the door in a herding motion. Slowly, they all exit the drawing room.
The abandoned room where Adam had stayed is dark. The door opens and Trevor forces his prisoners into the room. "You will light the candles on that table, Doctor!" Julia finds matches on the table and lights the candles, thus illuminating the room. He then closes the door behind him and points the gun at Liz, "Sit down in that chair! Miss Evans, you'll find several lengths of rope in that dresser drawer over there. You will securely tie Mrs. Stoddard to the chair. Don't get any ideas about leaving the bonds loose, I will be checking them myself!" Maggie opens the dresser drawer and withdraws the ropes. She looks at Trevor with a sorrowful expression. He raises the gun and says, "Oh I realize you find the entire matter distasteful, but you will tie her up as I've instructed." He then points the gun at Liz and looks at Maggie and growls, "NOW!" Maggie hesitantly ties Liz's hands behind her back. "Oh come now Miss Evans, You will also tie her about the waist as well. We can't have her up walking about now!" Maggie follows his instructions and then stands. "Now it's your turn!" he says pointing the gun at the empty chair beside Liz. She sits down beside Liz and looks at Trevor hatefully. Liz looks at him with equal hatred and declares, "You won't get away with this! We'll be missed. Someone will come looking for us!" Trevor laughs and says, "Oh will they now? Now let's see, a wheelchair bound cripple who cannot get upstairs! It's highly unlikely he will be your gallant rescuer! Quentin is away in Boston, and when he does return, the deputies will see to it he doesn't violate the quarantine, so he will be of little help as well. Then there's our old man, Barnabas. He should be getting about to weak to even stand on his own two feet much longer!" Liz looks at Julia with a quizzing expression when Julia gasps at the possibility Trevor may betray Barnabas' long kept secret. "Let's see, who does that leave? Mrs. Johnson? Oh no, you see, I just finished locking her in the basement before I came to the drawing room. Well, that leaves two sick, bedridden children! Hmm, they may live through the night, they may not! Either way, I hardly think either of them could muster the strength to leave their rooms, let alone institute a search of the entire house. So you see, my dear lady, it would appear all hope is gone!" Liz scowled out in anger, "What have you done to Carolyn?" Trevor then grins, "Ah yes, there is Dear Carolyn to contend with! But she is so devoted to Halliburton, he can tell her anything and make her believe it, and since I control what Halliburton says, well, there went your last avenue of hope! You may as well resign yourself to the fact that you are going to remain here alone until the disease overtakes you, and you die an excruciating and horrible death!" Julia has now finished tying Maggie. Trevor points the gun toward Julia and waves it indicating he wants her to move away from Liz and Maggie. She steps to one side and he double checks their bonds. He smiles, "Very good! Now doctor lets go!" Julia recoiled and demanded, "Where are you taking me?" Trevor opens the door and puts the gun into her back and pushes her out the door. He turns back to Liz and Maggie with a smirk and says, "You'll notice I didn't have you gagged! Please do cry out for help! No one will hear you, of course, but it will give me great pleasure to hear you crying out in vain!" Liz glared at him with a look that could kill as he closes the door. The two women exchange looks of hopelessness as dramatic music rises and camera fades to black.
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Quentin awakes from his nap and looks at the clock on the wall. "8:30 PM" his thoughts are heard. "I'll try to call Maggie again. Surely they'll be back home by now." He again dials the phone and listens as it rings again with no answer. His expression grows more and more troubled. He finally hangs up the phone and pours another brandy. As he sips it his mind pours over why not one person is available. "Mrs. Johnson just returned from her trip, Roger can get to the phone if no one else is around, I don't like it. I don't like it all!" He picks the phone up again and dials once. "Yes, Operator, get me the airport!" He waits patiently. "Yes, this is Quentin Collins. When is the next flight to Bangor? 9:20? Thank you!" He hangs up the receiver, and grabs his jacket and suitcase and rushes out of the room.
Elizabeth Stoddard.
JOAN BENNETT
Julia Hoffman.
GRAYSON HALL
Maggie Evans.
KATHRYN LEIGH SCOTT
Quentin Collins.
DAVID SELBY
Trevor Halliburton/ Judah Zachary.
KEITH PRENTICE
Written and Directed by RUSS WILLIAMS
Story Developed and Created by ART WALLACE
Produced By PETER MINER
Associate Producer GEORGE DiCENZO
Miss Scott's Fashions Courtesy of JUNIOR SOPHISTICATES
Fashions courtesy of ORBACH'S
Music composed by ROBERT COBERT
Scenic Design SY TOMASHOFF
Music Supervisor SYBIL WEINBERGER
Costume Design MOSTOLLER
Make up VINCENT LOSCALZO
Associate Producer KEN McEWEN
Assistant to the producer HARRIET ROHR
Unit Manager PATRICK PLEVEN
Technical Director J.J. LUPATKIN
Lighting Director MEL HANDELSMAN
Audio FRANK BAILEY HENRY PLIMACK
Sound Effects ED BLAINEY
Video RUDY PICCIRILLO ROSS SKIPPER
Series created by DAN CURTIS Executive Producer
Had this been an actual episode, the air date would have been June 10, 1971