The drawing room is so quiet the sound of a pin dropping to the floor
could be heard as Tony Peterson opens Elizabeth's last will and
testament. Suddenly the doors to the drawing room fly open! Willie
Loomis charges into the room. "Barnabas!" Stunned by the audacious
interruption Barnabas rises. "Willie! what do you think you are doing?"
Willie looks around the room his face showing shock and dismay. "I-I'm
sorry everyone but I have ta speak ta Barnabas... a-and Vickie, Please."
Barnabas is quickly at Willie's side. Catching his breath Willie tells
Barnabas the news. Barnabas turns to Vickie, then to Tony Peterson. "
I'm afraid you must postpone the reading of the will... something has
happened." Tony casts a disappointed expression. "would there be
relevant cause for this Mr.Collins?" Barnabas looks to Carolyn. "Yes I
believe there is." Vickie begins to worry.
Standing up Vickie moves towards Barnabas. "What is it Barnabas?" As
Vickie draws near Barnabas takes her by the hand. "I'm afraid I have bad
news.. some one was hurt when your house caught fire today." Vickie
gasps. "Who Barnabas? was it Elliott?" the room again is quiet.
Barnabas nods his head. Vickie responds. "NO! " Barnabas places his arm
around her shoulders. "Elliott wasn't alone, there was another man there
also, he was killed in the fire, Elliott was found just outside badly
burned and is in the hospital burn unit, he is in grave condition."
Without thinking Vickie leaves the room. Barnabas knows what she is
thinking, he looks to Carolyn. "Please excuse us." Turning back
Barnabas follows Vickie. Willie stands looking at everyone. "So what's
going on here?" everyone looks at Willie.
Getting into his car Barnabas sees Vickie waiting inside, her seat belt
buckled. No one speaks during the drive to the hospital.
Arriving at the emergency entrance Vickie asks the nurse at the desk.
"Please where's Professor T.Elliott Stokes?" The nurse looks in her
book and points. "He's in the burn unit ICU, his doctor is with him."
Vickie rushes away. Barnabas thanks the nurse. "Who is Professor Stokes'
doctor? The nurse replies. "I believe its Doctor Julia Hoffman"
Barnabas cringes. "Thank you." He says, then walks down the hall.
Vickie walks into the room, she sees Elliott's body wrapped in so many
bandages, some still seeping with blood, Elliott's face is covered in a
morbid kind of mask. The sound of a monitor beeps the rhythm of his
heart, his breathing is assisted with a machine. Going to him Vickie
wants to touch him, when she hears a woman's voice. "Don't touch him,
he's very hurt, besides he wouldn't feel you anyway." Vickie looks and
sees Julia standing by the door. She looks down to the floor. "What
happened?" Julia looks at Vickie then back to Elliott. " He went back
home to get some of his books and things he needed before we were to
leave Collinsport forever." Vickie looked at Julia, she could see her
tear stained face, she had been crying for a long time. "Did he start
the fire?" Julia looks at her in shock. "Of course not! There was a
burglar in the house, they fought... for some reason the thug had
emergency road flares with him, after fighting he lit one and threw it
at Elliott, that is what caused the fire, Elliott wouldn't let him get
out of the house... he was so angry that some one would break into his
house and try to rob his family. The house burned around them, the
other man was hit by a falling beam, then Elliott fell out of a window
breaking the glass, he was so badly burned." Julia looks at Elliott
with loving affection. "I'm afraid he's dying."
Vickie steps back, she covers her ears. "No! oh Elliott, I'm so
sorry." Julia wipes a tear from her eye. Turning to leave she sees
Barnabas standing by the door. They look at each other in silence.
Barnabas takes a few steps into the room, he stands before Julia... she
looks up at him as if about to say something then changes her mind, she
quietly walks out. Barnabas turns to Vickie. "Come Vickie." He brings
her closer to the bed where her husband lie dying. They stand in
silence listening to the monitor. Vickie leans against Barnabas who
takes her into his strong loving arms.
Suddenly they hear a gasp, with his last breath Elliott whispers.. "J u
l i a....." the monitor then blares a single sound, the sound that
Elliott's heart had stopped. Vickie quickly embraces Barnabas, they
hold each other. Looking up Vickie says though her tears. "Barnabas,
your crying." Moving his hand to his cheek, Barnabas utters. "Yes, I
suppose I am."
TO BE CONTINUED
The Ghost of Sarah Collins (1784-1795)
Sister to Barnabas Collins
"That evil is wicked is well understood,
the wicked are punished so you must be good."
(Sarah to Barnabas)
(All Characters are property of Dan Curtis)
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