Vickie walks to the portrait of the first Barnabas Collins. Gazing at it
she
asks herself. "I wonder what he would do if he were in this time."
Vickie
focuses on the portraits eyes, feeling almost transfixed upon their
expression. Slowly turning Vickie walks to the drawing room doors, the
room
is empty... Mrs. Johnson passes her going in. "I see everyone has gone,
and
left me with cleaning up." Vickie knew Mrs. Johnson didn't really mean it
the way she said it. "Would you like me to help you?" Mrs. Johnson turns
to
her. "I'd appreciate the help but you've been though a lot, you need to
rest
and think about what your going to do, where your going to live, and how
those kids are going to grow up without their daddy." Vickie stared at
Mrs.
Johnson. "I haven't told them yet, I don't know how, I don't want to, not
yet." Turning back, Mrs. Johnson begins to clean up. "It won't get any
easier the longer you wait to give sad news to anyone, those children need
to know what's happened to their father." Realizing her words she stops.
Looking at Vickie. "Its not up to me what you do, I should know better
than
to say anything... I'm sorry." After picking up a few things she leaves
the
room, Vickie stands in the doorway, feeling all alone, filled with
emptiness and sorrow.
Knowing now that Barnabas will not return, Vickie starts up the stairs,
thinking that perhaps a short nap will help her feel a little better, then
maybe she will work up the nerve to make that call to Elliott's family and
tell them the unfortunate news. Before Vickie reached the door at the top
of the landing the phone rings. Vickie watches as Mrs. Johnson enters the
foyer to answers the phone. "Hello, Collins residence... who is calling
please." She listens. "Yes Mrs.Victoria Stokes is here, please wait."
Placing the receiver on the table Mrs. Johnson looks up to the landing.
"Oh
Vickie there's someone on the phone for you, they sound upset." Vickie
starts down the stairs, Mrs. Johnson leaves the foyer. Touching the phone
to her ear Vickie feels sure she knows who it is without asking. "Hello?"
Yes it was, Vickie looks down at her shoes. "Yes Hanna, its true Elliott
is
gone, I've left his funeral plans with the local mortician in Collinsport,
Elliott had specifically requested that he be buried on Eagle Hill
Cemetery." after a long pause Vickie asks. "Do the children know? did you
tell them?" Half hoping she told them Vickie's heart fell after her
sister
in law told her that the children were not yet aware. "Very well, I will
be
going there in a few days after everything here is settled, they just read
the will and there are some legal papers I need to sign as well as
finalize
the funeral... yes the children will attend... no Hanna, all of Elliott's
children will see their father for the last time, that is if they want to,
no I won't force any of them Hanna... oh is she there? yes the children
like
her very much, please Hanna don't leave them alone with her... I can't
explain right now... Thank you, I will be seeing you in a few days, if
you
need to speak to me I will be staying here in Collinwood... yes, tell
Julia
hello for me... bye." hanging up the phone Vickie was slightly put out
that
Julia informed Elliott's family before she could.
Going back up the stairs Vickie walks though the empty halls, hearing
nothing but silence, until passing Carolyn's room, as she passed the door
Vickie could hear voices, placing her ear close to the door she listens,
hearing the voice of Carolyn, then she recognized Maggie's voice, "They
must
be having a little girl talk... but then Vickie's eyes shot wide open.
Vickie couldn't believe her ears, there was a third voice, someone else
was
in the room with Maggie and Carolyn. Taking a big chance that the door
would
not fly open Vickie bent down to the key hole, squinting one eye she peeks
inside. Covering her mouth Vickie was shocked at what she witnessed. She
rushes to her old room, closing the door. Sitting on the bed Vickie
smiles.
"My goodness, I would never have thought that Carolyn and Maggie, but with
Tony Peterson!... well good for them!"
Looking around,Vickie notices that the room had been cleaned, everything
was as it once was. Going to the wardrobe Vickie looks to see what is
inside, there she sees the trench coat she once used when she first came
to
Collinwood. Taking it out Vickie leaves the room, changing her mind about
taking a nap. Going down the stairs Vickie walks out of Collinwood. The
early evening air is nice but a bit windy, putting on the coat Vickie
feels
like taking a walk to Widows Hill, after which she thought about placing a
few wild flowers on Josette's grave. Walking past the Old House Vickie
wanted to go and ask Barnabas why he had left without a word, but thought
he
would tell her when he was ready. Continuing her walk Vickie began to
feel
as if she were being watched.. looking around she only saw the falling
leaves. The woods around Collinwood always held a fascination for Vickie,
she guessed it was because she grew up in the city, living here close to
nature was so different to her she loved it right away... but for now
Vickie
kept feeling she was being watched.
Reaching Widows Hill Vickie remembers her first visit, when she met Roger
Collins, then Sam Evans, how time and people have changed. Vickie watches
as the sun sets beyond the horizon. In the twilight of the day Vickie
walks
towards Eagle Hill cemetery, picking wild flowers as she walks.
Approaching
Josette's grave she does not feel the eyes upon her. Kneeling beside the
grave of the woman she knew briefly Vickie clears away the dead leaves and
debris tossed by the wind. Placing the flowers atop the grave. "There I
know its been a while since anyone has visited you but at least your not
forgotten." Vickie whispers a little prayer.
With night approaching Vickie starts back for Collinwood... she hurries
when
she hears thunder in the distance. As Collinwood comes into view, Vickie
falls to the ground. Hearing the sound of some one or something running
around her Vickie calls out. "Who's there! leave me alone!" Standing up
Vickie runs towards Collinwood. Reaching the doors, she hurries inside,
leaning against the doors after closing them. The house is dark. Going
into the drawing room Vickie turns on the light.
Sitting by the fireplace Vickie couldn't help but feel lonely. "Why did
Barnabas leave the way he did, I don't understand." From the foyer the old
clock chimes the hour. Rising to her feet Vickie fought the temptation to
go to the Old House, opting instead to go to her room. Standing in the
foyer
a quick gust of wind blows the doors open, a shadowed figure stands before
her, an arm points to her, then a flash of lightening causes Vickie to
blink
her eyes and the mysterious figure is gone. Frightened she closes the
doors
locking them back again.
Vickie prepares for bed, again realizing she has no night clothes,
undressing down to her slip, she turns down the covers and lies down. As
Vickie is about to turn out her light they go out all by themselves... the
storm had reached Collinwood, the rain begins to fall, the sound of the
wind
whistles by her window. Vickie remembers her first year living in
Collinwood
and how scared she was at her first New England storm.
Pulling the covers up Vickie tries to go to sleep, unable to fall asleep,
for thinking of Barnabas, getting out of bed and reaching for the night
stand candle, she lights it then goes to the window, pulling the curtain
aside Vickie whispers. "Barnabas, where are you."
Suddenly her bedroom door is kicked in.. a shadowed figure stands at its
entrance. Vickie sees something in his hands... without warning the figure
hurries to her screaming in a high pitched voice. "You must die Victoria!
I'm going to kill you!" Vickie gets away from the window barely missing
the
dark object that swung at her... "Who are you! get away from me!" Vickie
tries to get out of the room but is blocked. The intruder again lunges
forward! Vickie gets a second chance and runs out of the room... "Help!
Please!" Running down the stairs and out of the house Vickie doesn't
notice
or feel the rain or wind blowing all about her, Vickie is unaware she is
running towards Widows Hill.
Running for dear life Vickie's feet were being cut and bruised by the
jagged
rocky ground, but is too scared to stop.. the intruder is not far behind.
Reaching Widows Hill she has no where else to go, turning around she stops
almost out of breath. "Barnabas! I need you, please come help me."
Falling
to the ground near the edge of the cliff Vickie waits for her attacker to
appear. Soon the shadowed figure appears wearing a dark cloak. Raising
her
arms up in defense Vickie cries. "Please don't! why do you want to hurt
me!"
Stopping before her the stranger removes the hood. Seeing who it is
Vickie
shouts... "Julia!" Lowing the large ax Julia opens her eyes wide.
Because
of Elliott's death, Julia had gone mad. "Yes Vickie it's me! I've loved
Elliott a lot longer than you have, I've loved him since we were in
collage
together.. why did he marry you! why did I let him go! now I'll never have
him! and you will pay the price for his death!" Raising the ax Julia is
about to bring it down when she is knocked over by a strong gust of wind.
Vickie watches as out of the air a figure appears... "Leave my child
alone!"
Julia looks up, she doesn't understand but feels afraid, trying to crawl
towards Vickie the figure again pushes her away, trying to see who it is
Julia shouts. "Who are you." Vickie looks on in astonishment when the
ghost of Bill Malloy appears before the mad doctor Hoffman. "Victoria is
my
long lost daughter." As the ghost speaks, he walks towards the homicidal
woman, Julia backs away from him, Vickie sees that Julia is too close to
the
edge of the cliff, she calls out but can't be heard. In her madness Julia
swings the ax towards Bill Malloy, as the weapon passes though him she is
terrified! Julia screams then stumbles off Widows Hill falling to her
death.
At that moment Barnabas breaks thought a large hedge. "Vickie!" He goes to
her and takes her into his arms. "Vickie, please forgive me, I didn't mean
to hurt you.. I was... Vickie stops Barnabas from speaking. "I
understand."
The ghost of Bill Malloy walks towards the couple. Barnabas is shocked to
see the ghost, covering Vickie to protect her. The look on Bill Malloy's
face is one of peace and sorrow. "I'm sorry, I never knew you were born
little one." As his ghost looks on, another ghost appears beside him...
it
is the ghost of Elizabeth. Bill turns to her, they smile at each other.
Barnabas and Vickie watch as Elizabeth and Bill embrace each other, they
both smile at Vickie who begins to cry. Barnabas removes his coat, he
helps
Vickie put it on. Turning towards each other, Elizabeth and Bill begin to
rise into the night sky, Vickie looks on as they swirl around in the night
fading into a soft mist.
After Barnabas takes Vickie to the Old House he sits with her on the
settee,
after making her a strong pot of tea and scones. Vickie holds Elizabeth's
journal, and the photo album... Barnabas puts the tea and scones on the
nearby table. As he pours her cup Vickie tells him. "I read the rest of
my mother's journal, she mentioned in it that she loved some one very
much,
but was forced to marry Paul Stoddard after he took her by force, and
thought he had made her pregnant with me.. later Paul found out I wasn't
his
and had me taken away, my mother became pregnant when she gave her most
precious gift to her first true love, Mr. Malloy, I met him a few times
but
never thought.. I mean I never imagined... I mean, Barnabas, does my being
a
Collins mean you and I... " Barnabas softly presses his fingers to
Vickie's
lips. "I'm sure we will be just fine." Vickie puts her head on his
shoulder.
"I'm glad." That night Barnabas and Vickie sleep together in the master
bedroom, consummating their love and their future lives together.
The next day the sheriff recovered Julia's dead body, ruling that her
death
was an accidental suicide. Barnabas, Vickie and all who knew her mourned
her
tragic demise. The good doctor was buried not far from where Elliott was
laid to rest.
Victoria along with Barnabas who was of enormous support traveled by train
to bring the children home... it was Barnabas who stood beside Victoria
and
the children.
While waiting for Sea View Terrace to become livable Vickie and her
children
lived in the Old House.
After about a year and with the blessing of her children who learned to
love
Barnabas as a second father married Vickie in the drawing room of the Old
House.
Sea View Terrace was later rented out as a school for girls, which
Vickie's
daughters attended.
After two years of wedded bliss Victoria gave birth to their first and
only
son, naming him
Barnabas II.
Barnabas adopted the children who went on to live wonderful prosperous
lives. Barnabas' son grew up to take his father's place in the family
business.
Barnabas and Vickie lived happily ever after.
THE END
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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