Fear reigns at Collinwood in the present time; as Judah Zachary, an evil warlock from the 17th century on a mission to destroy the Collins family line, is close to realizing his centuries long goal. Two men have sought to avert his evil reign when they found themselves transported to year 1677, by way of a mysterious stairway through time. Hoping they arrived at a time when they could distract the young man from his meeting with a coven of witches that would teach him the ways of witchcraft, Professor Stokes and Desmond Collins are unaware that what Judah's journal didn't record was his earlier meeting with one who would dispatch the group of sorcerers to Collinsport to begin with. Now, Judah has already become entwined in the dark underworld, and all hope of turning him back, is past. On this night, the two men contemplate their return to the present, to derive a new plan to defeat Judah Zachary, before it is forever, too late...
Scene opens on the inside of the bunkhouse located near Collins House. The door opens and Professor Stokes, Desmond Collins, and Brutus Collins enter. Desmond walks to the table and places his hat on the table and then turns back to the other two men and says, "I was surprised so few showed up for Silas' burial. Didn't he have any friends in Collinsport?" Brutus then replied, "Very few. Many held him in contempt. Mine own father was the closest thing to a friend he had. Jedediah Thorne was also good unto him as well." Stokes rubbed his bottom lip and said, "Who was the well dressed young man standing near the Reverend? He bore a resemblance to Silas." Brutus nodded and replied, "His son, Philip. Silas wast not always as thou knew him. After the death of his wife, he took heavily to drink. His son endured his drunkenness for a season, but after many efforts to comfort him in vain, he turned away from him. Philip is quite successful. He doth own the clothing mill in town. McGruder House doth adjoin the Collins lands. I did hear him say he will sell all and move the business to nearby Rockport. He did enquire of Amadeus if he wished to purchase the McGruder lands. It hath a fine house thereon should he marry someday. If he doth not, I may enquire for myself." Stokes gave Desmond a knowing glance and then said to Brutus, "Brutus, Desmond and I hath failed in our mission to keep Judah Zachary from the practice of witchcraft. We believe our only hope now, is to return 1971 and seek another means of defeating him there. We plan to return to the place where we arrived here and hope that the stairway will appear. If it does, you will see us no more. I trust you will never speak of the things we have told you." Brutus looked at them somewhat sadly and said, "I wouldst join thee! Oh, not unto thy time, but this wonder of the staircase I do wish to behold with mine own eyes! It is an unspeakable wonder I must witness!" Desmond shot a concerned look at Stokes, who returned a reassuring one and then turned to Brutus and said, "I suppose seeing it would cause no harm." Desmond then said, "Well I guess we should be going." Stokes pulled the pocket watch out as Desmond opened the door and stepped outside. Seeing it was near 8 PM, He nodded as he returned it to his pocket, three rowdy workers rushed in the door past Stokes, nearly knocking him down. He regained his footing and Brutus called out to the three, "Thou savages, hast thou no shame?" Stokes then said, "There is no harm done, Brutus, We must be going." They turned and left closing the door behind them.
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Laura sat in the living room reading from a book when a knock came at the door. She looked up at the door wondering who would be calling. She laid the book down and arose from her seat. She reached the door and opened it to reveal Judah standing there. "Judah! What doth bring thee here at this hour? Thou must be at the docks in the morning!" Judah simply asked, "Please let me in Laura, I must speak with thee." Laura stood wondering what could be so urgent that Judah would risk rising late for work. She stepped aside and Judah entered the house. She closed the door behind him and awaited an explanation. Judah then looked at her and quietly said, "I hath come to ask for thee to become my wife. This night! We can mount the wagon and be at the church in half an hour!" Laura looked distressed and asked, "But Judah, why dost thou hurry so?" Judah reached out and took her hands in his and said, "I shalt depart from Collinsport in a few days. I wish to take my new wife with me. We shall make a new life away from this village! A life unlike any we couldst ever make here. Our destinies are written in the stars, my beloved. Please say that thou wilt join me. A new world is ours! All we need do is take it." Laura turned away in confusion and Judah looked dismayed that she did not readily respond as he had hoped. She walked a few steps away from him and his mouth opened as if he were about to say something, but was not sure just what he wanted to say. Laura's head dropped and her heart beat wildly within her breast as she was so caught unaware by this sudden decision. Judah stepped closer to her and said, "Is something amiss, my dear? We hath spoken of this often." His words struck something inside her, and she turned to him with a resolute look and replied, "No Judah! It is not WE that hath spoken of it! It is thee that hath spoken of it! I hath told thee continually that I do not wish to leave my home. Collinsport IS mine home, Judah! I hath waited and hoped that thou wouldst wish to remain here. I hath no desire to wander the far ends of the earth seeking I know not what!" Judah looked at her incredously and said, "But Collinsport is the domain of Isaac Collins! Thou wouldst remain here under his dominion? Thou wouldst give thy future unto the Collins Empire?" Laura turned to him in frustration and replied, "Thou art greatly deceived, Judah! Why must thou see evil where none exists? Dost thou envy the Collins so much? Why dost thou believe that simply because Isaac Collins founded the town that he seekest to enslave all who are part of it? I hath never seen but kindness from the Collins family! It is clear that thou wast made to wander, but I am not!" She then pulled the ring from her hand and presented it to him and declared, "I can no longer be pledged to thee Judah Zachary." Judah stood looking at the ring in dismay as Laura walked to the door and opened it. "It is late!" she said as she stood holding the door for him to leave. Judah stared at the ring with a look of sorrow. The sorrow then began to transform into a kind of boiling anger. He turned and went to door pausing outside just long enough to give her an angry look, and then he turned and left. Laura stood still holding the door open as her face dropped in sorrow. She had not meant to hurt Judah, but reasoned that it was unavoidable. She then sighs and slowly closes the door. She then falls back on the closed door pondering the events which had just transpired.
Stokes, Desmond and Brutus walk through the woods trying to find the place where the staircase should appear. Stokes then spoke, "It must be somewhere nearby!" Desmond stopped and looked about for a moment. He then said, "It is that direction, about 50 yards." Stokes realized Desmond knew his way through these woods far better than he did, even if they were somewhat different than they wee in 1841. Desmond then took the lead, heading off in the direction he had indicated. Stokes and Brutus exchanged glances and followed. Minutes passed as they trudged on through the north woods. They came to a spot and Desmond stopped and looked about again and then turned to the others. "This is it. This is where Collinwood will stand in 1841." Brutus cocked his head and thought about what he had just heard. "Collinwood; what a magnificent name it is! It hath a rather regal sound to it!" Stokes points to the ground and nodded as he said, "Of course, there are wagon tracks here in the dirt. Apparently it's the place where Silas parked and awaited the appearance of the staircase himself." Brutus then said, "It is a pity that the one time Silas's strange tales happened to be true that none believed him." Stokes nodded slightly and said, "Quite fortunate on the other hand, since any who should venture up the staircase could endanger the way history should unfold. No, I think that though Silas suffered greatly for what he saw, it is far better that none know of its existence." Brutus looked about the area and at the trees and asked, "And so a great house will stand here in the year 1840, and it will be the home to the Collins family in that time?" Desmond then replied, "It will be built much earlier actually; a joint venture between two Collins brothers, Jeremiah and Joshua. They will start it in 1790, and it will be five years in the building." Stokes then interjected, "It's not that we don't trust you Brutus, but the less you know about the future, the better. You could unknowing alter the way things should unfold with that knowledge." Brutus nodded and said, "I understand. I cannot but be fascinated with the wonder of it all. I gave no thought to the future before meeting the two of you. Perhaps the future of mine own lifetime, where I would journey, what I might accomplish in life, but the thought of future generations occurred not to me." Desmond then paced impatiently and said, "Why doesn't that bloody staircase appear!" Stokes and Brutus turned to look at him when just behind him a ghostly figure appeared. Brutus eyes widened and he gasped, "Silas McGruder!" The ghost of Silas McGruder looked more sober than Brutus had seen Silas in years while he was alive. Then the ghost spoke, "I know who thou art, and why thou art here!" Stokes and Desmond look at each other in shock and then back at the apparition before them. "Thou didst make me forget that we were all in this place before, but now I remember." Stokes walked toward the ghost and said, "In your present plane, then you must understand why it was necessary!" Silas stood looking at Stokes and said, "Aye, and I know that thou hast come to cleanse the town of the sorcery for which I was accused. I know also who is indeed the sorcerer. I know that he didst betray me to cover his own evil deeds." Stokes then replied, "Then you also know that we have failed to stop him from the practice of witchcraft, and must return up the stairway to defeat him in our world?" Silas' face remained somber as he said, "Thou shalt not ascend the staircase this night! I hath seen the one that I before thought was an angel. She hath sent me unto thee. Thy work is not complete. There is more that thou must do. The stairs will not appear here again until thou hast done what thou must!" Stokes walked right up to the apparition and asked, "What is it that we must do, Silas? Tell me!" Silas then replied, "The task thou must perform is not known to me, but to her only. Thou wilt know this night what thou must do. I must depart now unto my rest. God be with thee." Stokes then said, "Tell me, how will I..." The ghost of Silas McGruder then slowly faded away just as he had earlier appeared. Stokes countenance fell as he realized he could learn no more. Stokes then turned again to his companions. Brutus stood wide eyed at the incredible event he had just witnessed. Desmond looked at Stokes and asked, "What do you think he meant that we would know this night what we must do?" Stokes turned away from him baffled and said, "I don't know Desmond, I don't know." (Dramatic music rolls out.)
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Judah Zachary enters the front door of his home and slams it behind him in disgust. He proceeds in anger to the center of the room as he fumes over his sudden loss. His mother, Drusilla enters the room just as his face twists into a look of rage. He turns suddenly and hurls the ring into the empty fireplace. Drusilla Zachary looks at her son, quite taken aback at this display of violence. "What troubleth thee, my son?" she asked in a surprised tone. Judah, quite unaware his fit of rage had been witnessed, sighed and hung his head. "It is Laura." He said quietly. A knowing look crossed Drusilla's face as she said, "She hath refused to be thy bride. Well, no great loss, I say! I hath told thee oftentimes she was not for thee! She remaineth a child in heart and mind. Thou art deserving of much more than the likes of such!" Judah walked over and simply stared at the mortar between the bricks of the hearth for a moment in disbelief that this should happen. He then looked at his mother almost as if questioning her as he said, "I didst tell her I shalt depart this village soon and did ask her to be wed to me this night. She withstood me! She saith plainly that she wilt not leave this village and that I shouldst go!" Drusilla joined him at the fireplace. She bent over and retrieved the ring from the ashes and said, "This ring wast mine, Judah. It wast mine own mother's, and hers as well. It hath passed through eight generations of my family. One day it shall be worn by the woman thou shalt take to thy wife. Until then, I shalt return it to its place until such day is upon us." Judah looked disgusted and paced away from the fireplace and said, "Keep it if thou must! I shalt not have need of it! I want none other but Laura!" Drusilla's eyes narrowed and she said, "She is familiar unto thee. There will be others. One day thou shalt meet one like unto thyself that doth share thy dreams. All doth say there shall not be another in the pains of rejection, but the heart doth heal, and doth love yet again." Judah snarled and said, "I think not!" Drusilla replied, "Of course thou seest it not! The time is not yet! When it doth come, thou shalt remember my words!" Judah walked to window and aimlessly looked out over the village. "I doth despise the very sight of this place!" he said in disgust. Drusilla then remembered his earlier statement and asked, "Thou sayest thou art leaving. Where art thou bound?" Judah's eyes shifted as he remembered Dawson's admonition to not reveal his destination. He fumbled and then turned saying, "Boston, I think. There art many things one can do in such a place, and it is there I shalt find my own place!" He then turned to see his mother's reaction. She looked back at him and said, "Well, I doth hope thou shalt not forget thy aging mother in all thy success. I hath not many years left. Thou wilt return again before I die, wilt thou not?" Judah softened a bit and gave his mother an embrace and said, "Yes Mother, I wilt not forget thee." As he embraced her, his eyes fell upon the window. The transparent figure of Silas McGruder stood giving him a penetrating look. He gasped and pulled free of his mother and she turned to him quite confused and said, "What it is it Judah?" She saw him looking paralyzed as he glared at the window. She turned to see what had him so captivated. There was nothing there. "Didst thou see it, Mother! Drusilla looked curiously back at Judah and said, "I saw nothing at all. Thou art very tired, Judah. Thou shouldst take thy rest." Judah looked once again at the window, and himself saw nothing. "Indeed, that it must be." He kissed her on the cheek and then said, "Good night, Mother." He left the room to go to bed. Drusilla turned again to the window for another look but saw exactly what she had seen before. She turns to look at the door Judah had departed through. Her gaze lingers on the door as music fades out.
Laura stood looking out to sea. Her mind pondered the events which had occurred earlier. "Tis a beautiful sight, is it not?" a voice behind her said as she turned about, stunned and taken by surprise. She looked into the face of the kind man who had addressed her. "I am Brutus Collins." He said bowing to her. "Ah yet another Collins; Thou must be brother to Amadeus!" Brutus smiled and said, "Indeed I am, but thou hast me at a disadvantage." Laura managed a smile and said, "I am Laura Martin." Brutus registered recognition of the name and replied, "Thou art engaged to Judah Zachary. Yes I have heard of thee." Laura turned back looking over the sea once more and as her eyes lowered, she quietly said, "I am no longer pledged unto him." Brutus eyes looked sympathetically at her and as he said, "I am sorry. I meant not to cause thee disconsolation." She turned around again and said, "No, it was thee who hath caused it. Only this night did I know we were not meant to be." Brutus then said, "Indeed it is not my concern, but if thou dost wish to speak of it, I hath been told I am a good listener." Laura sighed and said, "There is nothing to tell. Judah hath intent to depart Collinsport, and my place is here. I doth love this town and I shalt die here. If Judah must roam, then we simply are not to be." Brutus looked concerned and said, "Thou maketh it to sound as if he shalt depart on the morrow!" Looking down, she quietly said, "No. Not on the morrow, but soon. He sought to be wed this night and to take me with him. It was then I knew I could no longer be his." Brutus proceeded with care not to cause suspicion and asked, "He did not say when nor where?" Laura looked up at him and said, "No. If I were one to travel, I should wish to know to where I was bound. He careth not enough to say where I wast to follow. That I cannot abide." She wrapped her arms about herself and Brutus said, "Thou camest without a wrap. Thou shalt take ill from the chill off the sea. Come, I will take thee home." Realizing he was probably quite correct, she nodded agreement. They walk away as the camera lingers on the waves crashing to shore.
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Professor Stokes lies sleeping in the bunkhouse. He moans slightly and does a full turn on the bed to face the opposite direction. (Dream music sequence begins and a haze forms clouding out his face. Swirling lights then begin) He sees his own pocket watch swinging slowly back and forth before his eyes. The watch reads 1:15. The watch fades away after several swings. Then a wall fades into sight. There is a calendar on the wall. The camera slowly pulls in on the calendar. Suddenly a hand appears and with what appears to be a chunk of coal, draws a circle about Friday the 16th. The camera lingers on the image for a moment then begins a slow dolly backward. Standing beside the calendar was a woman dressed in a white robe. A white hood covers her head. "What does it mean? You must tell me what it means!" he said to her as she slowly stepped toward him. Her robed hand rose and touched his left temple. He looked confused for a moment and then as if he wondered why he was doing it, he began to speak, "At the appointed day and the appointed hour; There shall come a shift in the balance of power. The signs are misleading, indeed it so, but will ultimately bring the defeat of thy foe!" No sooner had he finished, the hand withdrew from his temple leaving him pondering what the mumbo jumbo meant. "You give me a riddle to solve?" The figure remained still "I believe I understand. There are certain rules by which the game must be played." The figure slowly nodded in the affirmative. Stokes rubbed his thick bottom lip pondering all that he had seen. He then looked at the woman and said, "Who are you? What is your part in all this?" The woman turned to her left away from view. Stokes turns and faces her as her arms slowly raise and grasp the sides of her hood. Stokes faces the camera and the woman faces away from it. He looks into the face and his eyes widen and he gasps, "Good Lord!" He steps to his left again with his mouth open. She lowers the hood again and places a finger to her lips to indicate he should tell no one. Then slowly the figure disappears from sight. (Swirling lights begin again as dream music rises.) A haze appears once more and lingers momentarily then fades away revealing the face of the sleeping Stokes. As the haze completely disappears, his eyes snap open and he springs up in bed. (Three sets of three dramatic notes, followed by one sustained note sounds.)
Brutus Collins.
JONATHAN FRID
Professor Stokes.
THAYER DAVID
Desmond Collins.
JOHN KARLEN
Drusilla Zachary.
CLARICE BLACKBURN
Laura Martin.
DIANA MILLAY
Judah Zachary.
CHRISTOPHER PENNOCK
Ghost of Silas McGruder.
MICHAEL STROKA
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 July 8, 1971