Episode 1253

Aired Wednesday April 14, 1971

After a replay of Tuesday's closing scene and the titles, we see that Quentin is preparing to go on a date with Daphne, who has arrived at Collinwood. David comes downstairs asking if Quentin wants a rematch at chess before he sees Daphne. Quentin introduces her to David, who seems to find her familiar. She mentions that she had been to the house before, but David says he was visiting Hallie Stokes at school that night. Quentin identifies with his strange sense of knowing her, but not knowing how.

Sebastian has returned to the old house. Barnabas asks him if he found anything useful among Roxanne's belongings, and he abruptly lies "nothing." "Not even anything that could be of use to an expert like Anderson?" Barnabas asks, and Sebastian repeats "No, definitely not." Barnabas seems a little suspicious of Sebastian and is about to inquire further when there is a knock at the door - and it is Anderson.

Anderson enters, says good evening, and takes a long look at the house. He recognizes that it has been restored quite accurately, and compliments Barnabas on his knowledge of the house. Barnabas offers him a sherry (of course) and begins to discuss why Anderson is there. Anderson remarks that while he has studied vampirism extensively, he has always viewed it more as folklore than as history, and that most of the cases he has come across turned out to be criminally insane murderers who were "quite indeed alive" rather than the "undead." Barnabas tells him that there are indeed such things as the undead, and that he has a real vampire, trapped and imprisoned. Anderson is intrigued.

Anderson is skeptical of Barnabas' statement, but Barnabas says it is the truth. Anderson asks if the vampire is "sealed in his coffin, immobilized by a silver cross" and Barnabas answers, "Yes, she is." "A woman..." says Anderson as he paces and thinks. "Where is she?" Barnabas tells him he will show him "in due time." "If you have her trapped, why haven't you destroyed her, Mr. Collins?" asks Anderson. "Certainly you know the scale of the evil you are dealing with." Barnabas looks remorseful for a moment and answers "Evil perhaps, but I cannot think of her as the monster you describe, rather as a suffering human plagued with an unholy affliction." Anderson remarks how sentimental Barnabas is, and asks him what he wants to do. "Is there any way to communicate with her without freeing her?" Barnabas asks. Anderson thinks a moment, and suggests the only way may be to hold a seance to contact her spirit from within her trance. Barnabas agrees, and asks Sebastian to help out. He looks at Anderson and then agrees that it will take place tomorrow evening.