Collinwood; in the year 1971. It is a house of mystery; a house of intrigue; and a house of tragedy. For David Collins, Hallie Stokes, and Maggie Evans have fallen victim to the vengeful curse of the warlock, Judah Zachary. In a remote part of the great house, (Fade into close-up of Michael Stroka.) one from a century long past, has made his way into the present by a strange and mysterious staircase that reaches through time and space. (Fade into the staircase in the East wing.) He also was a near victim of the warlock, but has barely escaped the wrath of Judah, by retreating back through the stairway (Fade in the staircase in the woods.) to his own era. In a remote part of the woods on the Great Collins Estate, on the site where Collinwood will one day be built, this mysterious staircase delivers to the year 1677, one with a tale he plans to carry to the people of the village. A tale which could bring great harm to all those who live in both centuries...
The camera reveals the door at the top of the staircase in the woods up close. It suddenly bursts open and a very frightened Silas McGruder emerges. He quickly slams the door shut and then falls back against it struggling for breath. He pants briefly seeking to catch his breath. He then slowly dismounts the stairs still breathing in a staggered fashion. When he reaches the bottom he then turns to look at the stairs. As he does, they vanish. The camera pulls in tight on his face as he says, "Everyone thinketh Silas McGruder mad. They shalt think me mad no longer. For now I hath the proof!" (Low dramatic music begins.) He reaches into his pocket and withdraws the lighter. He opens the top of it and flips the striker. The flame bursts from the opening. This time he is careful not to drop it. He grins triumphantly as his head nods up and down. Music builds in intensity and climaxes in five ascending dramatic notes.
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Voiceover Announcer: The role of Brutus Collins will be played today by Patrick O'Neal.
Scene opens on the inside of the bunkhouse on the Collins Estate. The door opens and Stokes enters, followed by Desmond and then Brutus. "We thank thee for providing us with work in the village, Brutus. We hath need of a way to provide for that which we hath lost." Stokes said as Brutus closed the bunkhouse door behind them. "I say unto thee, that is we also who shalt benefit, for we needeth more counters on the docks. Many hath the strong back, but few are strong of mind and canst tally the goods that arriveth." Brutus replied. Desmond nodded and said, "Perhaps we shalt also find the one named Judah Zachary in the village as well!" Brutus turned to him and replied, "I canst tell thee where thou canst find him. He worketh the south docks. But from what Amadeus saith of him, he doth not sound as one that wouldst be thine friend. He quarreleth on the docks with those he laboureth with." Amadeus had need to send he and another away to consider their acts. They returneth the day after and didst that for which they were hired. Perhaps thou wouldst do well to forget that one. I fear no good wouldst come from meeting his acquaintance." Stokes looked troubled at this news, then turned away from Brutus' sight as a look of relief crossed his face that now they at least knew where Judah could be found. He then turned again to face Brutus and replied, "Thou speakest truth, dear Brutus. We shalt send unto him the greeting to which we bound ourselves, and be done with him." Brutus nodded and said, "That seemeth to be best. On the morrow, the St. Lucius shalt set sail for the Orient. Skins and furs shalt be her cargo. They shalt barter for spices and trinkets whilst she is away. She shalt be gone many months. It wouldst be wise that we sleep early, for the morning shalt come early friends." The door burst open and Silas McGruder entered the room breathlessly. "Amadeus thinketh me the fool, Brutus! I saith unto him that a stairway unto heaven openeth in the woods, and he heedeth me not.." (Stokes and Desmond exchange shocked glances at this revelation.) I mine own self hath traveled to the mansion beyond the skies. Many strange wonders await there. Wonders more than I canst speak of. Thou touchest the walls and light cometh from the ceilings of this great mansion!" Brutus laughed aloud at him and said, "Silas, thy breath and thy clothing betrayeth thee. Thou wast filled with drink and didst have the wild dream of these wonders of which thou speakest." Silas looked at him slyly and replied, "Canst a dream produce such as this?" He reached into his pockets and dropped the contents on the wooden table. Brutus looked strangely at the curious looking objects as Stokes and Desmond shared looks of horror at what might be revealed. (Dramatic music rolls out.)
Judah Zachary disgustedly entered the front room of the house he shared with his mother. Drusilla Zachary sat spinning flax on a spinning wheel and looked up at him with curiosity and said, "Why art thou troubled, my son." Judah stormed over to a cupboard and threw open the door. He took a cup and sat it down roughly on the table and grabbed a bottle of liquor from a shelf. He poured the cup full, and then sat the bottle on the table. He quickly downed the drink and then said, "Tis not enough that Amadeus Collins shameth me among the workers. Now he shameth me unto Laura as well!" A cold scowl crosses Drusilla's face as she replies, "The high and exalted Collins' excel at such! They cometh and taketh unto themselves all that they see, and all which follow after must beg for the crumbs that falleth from their table. What hath he done unto thee, Judah?" he turns away from her and paces the room looking at nothing as he replied, "We taketh a carriage unto the country. As we returneth unto the village, a wheel breaketh off the wagon. I laboured to mend it when he rideth by and saith he wouldst aid me." Drusilla smirked and said, "I doth hope thou allowest him. I wouldst delight in seeing a Collins dirty their hands!" Judah then turned and looked full in her face and declared, "I laboured near an hour to mend the wheel. He cometh and in minutes hath lessened me in her eyes! I wast sickened to hear her bestowing thanksgiving upon him for that which he had done. In shame I did ride unto the village. Laura wast gracious, but in her heart, I know she must think me half the man that he be." As Isaac Collins did unto thy father! He cometh unto this land and taketh it all unto himself, then any who wouldst have any must buy from him. Ten years did your father work to pay for this house. He died of the scurvy on one of the Collins ships. They didst not even bring back his body unto me to bury. They cast his body into the sea. Oh Isaac Collins thought him self the gallant one forgiving the last year of the debt. Had thy father not been on that ship, he wouldst be with us now. So I hath no love for the Collins name. Judah angrily poured another drink and recklessly drained it as he had the first one. "Amadeus Collins shalt not entwine himself in mine affairs again!" Drusilla rose from the wheel and replied, "And just what wilt thou do unto him? He and his family doth own the town all that dwell therein. The townspeople doth lick the boots of the mighty Collins'. Thou wouldst find thyself in stocks, and perhaps they wouldst even stone thee if thou liftest a hand against any named Collins." Judah turned and looked at her with a look of determination and said, "I know not yet. But I shalt not suffer Amadeus Collins to shame me again!" (Three dramatic notes sound.)
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Camera opens on Brutus looking curiously at the woman's compact. He shakes his head in confusion and said, "I know not where thou findest these oddities, Silas, but I canst not believe they hath been brought from Heaven. None that journey there, returneth hither." Silas quickly picked up the lighter from the table and said, "Hast thou ever seen on this world, a firebox?" he flips open the lid and flicks the small wheel and a flame again erupted from the top of the lighter. Brutus examined it with great curiosity. He reached out his hand and Silas presented him with the still burning lighter. He placed his other hand on the lid and in a testing manner, flipped it closed. He then reopened it to find the flame extinguished. He turned to look at Stokes and Desmond and asked, "Hast thou ever seen the like of such things?" Without waiting for an answer he turned again to Silas and said, "On the morrow thou shalt return these items from whoever thou hast stolen them from. Thou shalt return to the North wood and do thy work. We hath had enough of this foolishness!" Silas eyes dropped in defeat that he had not succeeded in convincing them with his new found evidence. He went to his bunk then looked over his shoulder at the others still talking. "I shalt have a carriage waiting at the gate when morning cometh. Sleep well my friends." Brutus said as he reached for the door handle. "NO! Thou shalt not declare me the fool!" Silas declared wide eyed. The three turned and saw he had a musket trained on Brutus. He moved slowly forward watching them all carefully. He pointed it back and forth at each of them as he said, "Thou shalt see that I speak the truth. We shall take the wagon now. I shall take thee to the place, and thou shalt behold with thine own eyes that I speak the truth! Go!" Hesitantly, Brutus, Stokes, and Desmond exit the bunkhouse as Silas goads with the pistol. (Dramatic drumbeats roll out.) Camera reveals the woods on the Collins estate. The rustlings of leaves are heard. A moment later, Desmond appears in the clearing followed by Stokes, and then Brutus. Silas then appears still holding the musket. Brutus looks about at the trees and says, "Is this the place?" Silas then circles about them not turning his back on them as he says, "Indeed! It is the place!" Brutus looked about again and mockingly said, "Where is thy 'Stairway Unto Heaven', dear Silas?" Desmond looked at Stokes, who returned his look of grave concern. "The stairway cometh, and then it goeth. We shall wait here until it doth appear." Silas replied. The other three exchange glances which are not missed by Silas, who in animated fashion begins pointing the musket wildly among them again and said, "I am not the fool thou thinkest me to be! I hath seen the staircase! I hath ascended it unto a world unlike any thou hast ever seen, and I shalt insure that thou shalt see it also!" Stokes stepped forward and Silas looked at him suspiciously and aimed the gun at him. "Thou wilt stand back!" he shouted, but Stokes did not move. "I believest thee Silas! I believest thou hast ascended it just as thou sayest!" Desmond looked at Stokes in horror as wondered what Stokes was about to reveal. Brutus also looked at him as if he had taken leave of his senses. "I believest it, because I too hath ascended the staircase!" Silas looks wide eyed at Stokes as he stands with lip protruding and a mischievous looking grin on his face. (Three dramatic notes sound.)
Judah is seen sleeping in his bed. (Dream music sequence begins.) Judah's head turns side to side as he moans. (Swirling lights block out Judah's face.) The sounds of someone laughing echoes as lights continue swirling. "Why dost thou laugh?" Judah calls out in his dream. The laughing voice does not reply, but laughs that much more. "Laugh not at me! Hearest thou me?" A female voice is heard almost giggling at him. As the laughing continues he hears his mother's voice echoing over the laughter. "The Collins' owneth the town and all that dwell therein. " The woman's uncontrollable giggling increases. "The townspeople licketh the boots of those that be named Collins." His mother's voice is heard echoing again. A husky male voice is heard laughing uncontrollably. "Thou shalt be stoned if thou touchest one hair on Amadeus Collins' head" Drusilla's voice echoes still. The female voice is now giggling to the point of being completely annoying. "STOP IT! STOP IT, I SAY!" Judah screamed out loudly. He awakes as a result, and realizes he screamed out not only in the dream, but in reality as well. He springs up in his bed, a cold sweat pouring off his face. His eyes are wide in horror. (Three sets of three dramatic notes sound, followed by one long dramatic sustained note.)
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Silas McGruder eyes Professor Stokes suspiciously. Stokes then repeats his earlier statement, "Did you hear me, Silas? I said I have also been up that staircase!" A strange look crosses Brutus' face as he notices the change in Stokes speech. Silas the looked at him in disbelief and said, "Thou sayest that only to betray me." Stokes slowly moved his hand toward his pocket. Silas watched carefully and pointed the gun threateningly as warning. Stokes then said, "I also have an item from the mansion in the sky, Silas." He withdrew a gold pocket watch from his pocket. Brutus looked curiously at the item and then at Desmond, who sensed he was being looked at, but kept his attention on Stokes to avoid the prying look. "Look at it, Silas. Look at it closely! Do you see the sparkling of the jewels? Keep looking at them. The jewels will change colors as you watch them. Do you see the jewels, Silas?" Stokes could see that Silas, being already influenced by alcohol, succumbed easily to the hypnotic trance. Stokes motioned to Desmond to approach and pointed at Silas' pockets. Desmond realized what Stokes wanted and removed all the 20th century items from Silas' pockets. "Now Silas McGruder, you will sleep. When you awaken, you will not remember your encounter with me, Darius, or Brutus. Do you understand, Silas?" His eyes glazed, Silas nodded that he did understand. "Very well, Silas! Now you will sleep... sleep... sleep." Silas eyes became heavy. He lay down on the ground and was out as soon as his head touched the ground. Brutus head turned back and forth in disbelief as he whispered, "It is witchery! He hath bewitched him! What manner of men be ye? I hath heard of those that are diviners and sorcerers that hath come to these shores" Stokes approached him and said, "No Brutus, we are not sorcerers. What you witnessed is purely the work of science." Brutus continued to look at him strangely and said, "Even the manner in which thou speakest hath changed!" He withdrew his own musket and pointed at them both and said, "Thou shalt tell me what manner of men ye are, or I shalt kill thee now!" (Five ascending dramatic notes sound.)
Professor Stokes.
THAYER DAVID
Drusilla Zachary.
CLARICE BLACKBURN
Desmond/Darius Collins.
JOHN KARLEN
Judah Zachary.
CHRISTOPHER PENNOCK
Silas McGruder.
MICHAEL STROKA
Special Thanks to PATRICK O'NEAL As Brutus Collins
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
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 24, 1971