Episode 1367

Aired: Tuesday September 21, 1971

After a replay of Monday's close, Nicholas walks through the woods with his gun drawn, looking for Willie. He hears some footsteps approaching and ducks behind a tree. When he sees it's Harrison, he hides the gun in his pocket and steps out into the path. "Good evening," Nicholas says, catching Harrison by surprise. Harrison asks Nicholas what he's doing "wandering the woods" and Nicholas replies "One could ask you the same thing." Harrison answers "I was looking for someone." Nicholas raises an eyebrow and says "Oh? Just who were you looking for?" Harrison answers "You don't know her." Nicholas, relieved that Harrison isn't looking for Willie, answers "Her? Who might this young lady be?" Harrison walks away answering "It has nothing to do with you." Nicholas moves in front of Harrison and says "Perhaps we have some other business to discuss." Harrison frowns and says "What kind of business could we possibly have?" Nicholas smiles and says "I think we can help each other, Harrison. I'm very good at helping people." Harrison, wondering what this means, asks "What makes you think I need help?" Nicholas answers "I can help you with a great many things. With Angelique, perhaps. With something mundane like money." Harrison sneers and starts to walk away "You cannot buy me, Blair." Nicholas snaps "I would offer you power, but it seems you already have a great deal of that. A certain type of power I happen to be very interested in. I'm sure that rings true, doesn't it Harrison?" Harrison stops and faces Nicholas as Nicholas continues "Yes, Harrison. Your ring. I must know its secrets." Harrison covers his ring with his other hand.

"This ring is nothing more than a family heirloom," Harrison answers. Nicholas laughs and says "Nothing more? I'm sure Vicky Winters would think its very much more, if she knew the truth." Harrison turns away as Nicholas continues "Yes, but there's no need for her to know, is there? After all, you did her quite a service. You reached through time and snatched her from certain death, even if it was for your own purposes." Harrison angrily snaps "What do you want, Blair? Why don't you just spit it out already." Nicholas answers "I only want for us to be friends, Harrison. Maybe even partners. For our mutual benefit, I assure you." Harrison answers "Somehow, I doubt that. Good night" before he walks away. Back at Collinwood, Julia arrives and hangs her coat up. She walks over to Barnabas' portrait and looks at it a moment, thinking what to do about Maggie. Suddenly, Willie comes bursting through the front door, still crazed and laughing uncontrollably. Julia backs away from him and yells "Willie! What's wrong? What is it?" Willie keeps laughing and only says "It's here....it's here! He's brought it here!" Julia asks "What's here? What are you talking about?" Willie says "You don't know? How can you not know? You're always so smart.....you know all sorts of things.... why don't you know? Well, everyone's gonna know soon!" Willie starts laughing again and approaches Julia menacingly. She backs away and then runs into the drawing room, closing the doors. She tries to get to the phone, but Willie smacks the doors open and continues to yell about how "everyone will know" soon. He takes one of the fencing foils from the wall and starts to approach Julia with it. She yells "Willie! Stop!" but he keeps giggling and coming closer.

Willie gets closer and closer when Harrison comes through the front door. He hears Julia yelling and runs into the drawing room. He yells "Loomis! What do you think you're doing?" just as Willie turns and lunges at him with the foil. Harrison steps out of the way as Julia yells for him to be careful. Willie lunges again, but Harrison smashes him hard on the back sending him to the floor. Harrison steps on the foil, and Willie lets it go after struggling. Willie gets up, still giggling and ranting, as Harrison picks up the foil and waves Julia behind him. Julia says she'll call the police, and Willie says "Police won't do no good! He's already dead! D'ya hear me? He's already dead!!!" Julia and Harrison wonder what this means as Willie opens the windows and jumps out into the night. Harrison asks Julia if she is all right, and she says she is, though she's shocked at Willie's behavior. Harrison says he's not surprised, considering what he's seen of Willie. Julia shakes her head and says "Willie has changed a great deal. Something was clearly wrong with him. He wasn't responding to anything we said. It was like his mind was in another world..." Harrison snaps "Assuming he has a mind at all" as he puts the foil back on the wall. Harrison offers Julia a brandy to calm her down, but Julia says she'd rather go upstairs and lie down. Harrison leads her out into the foyer as they hear a pounding on the door. Julia gets scared, but Harrison says "I'll see to it. If it's Loomis, don't worry, I can protect you." Harrison opens the door, and it's Nicholas, who invites himself in. "I think I would have preferred Loomis," Harrison says. Nicholas asks "What?" nervously, and Harrison answers "Willie seems to have lost his mind. I just chased him off from attacking Doctor Hoffman." Nicholas feigns surprise and says "Really? What happened to him?" Julia says "We don't know. He ran off into the woods." Nicholas says "Perhaps I should go after him. I'd hate to see him in trouble with the police again." Harrison sneers "Aren't you suddenly the concerned citizen?" Nicholas answers "You don't like me very much, do you Mr. Collins?" Harrison answers "You have a gift for understatement. Excuse me, I'll help Dr. Hoffman upstairs." Julia stops Harrison and asks Nicholas what he wants. Nicholas says he's only here to see Roger, "the one person in the family who still considers me a friend." Julia says she hasn't seen him, and starts to go upstairs with Harrison. Harrison asks her how Maggie is, and Julia tries to shush him, to his confusion. Overhearing, Nicholas says "Maggie? Maggie Evans?" Julia tries to start up the stairs and ignore Nicholas, but Nicholas stops her. "Are you taking care of Maggie Evans?" he says. Julia glares at him and says "Stay away from her, Blair. The last thing she needs in her life right now is you." Harrison says to Julia "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...." Julia answers "It's all right, you had no idea. But be careful what you say in front of Nicholas Blair, Harrison. Be very careful." Julia goes upstairs, leaving Harrison and Nicholas behind.

Nicholas looks at Barnabas' portrait and then turns to Harrison. "So... Julia is caring for Maggie Evans up at Windcliff.... that is interesting to know." Harrison replies "So, did this Maggie Evans become partners with you in the past?" Nicholas laughs a little and answers "No, not in the sense you are thinking. But I can tell you this: I can most assuredly do more for that girl than Doctor Hoffman can." Harrison answers "Just like you can do more for me, right?" Nicholas nods and says "I know for a fact that you don't like Barnabas Collins. Honestly Harrison, neither do I. That's where we have something in common." Harrison is now interested, and asks "What have you got against Barnabas?" Nicholas answers "That's not important for you to know. Suffice to say that I can help you, shall we say, move him to the side as you pursue Angelique." Harrison answers "Why should you care about this? Do you want me to find happiness with Angelique, or are you more interested in seeing Barnabas miserable? Oh, and let's not forget that Angelique may have something to say about this. They are married, I would assume she's in love with Barnabas." Nicholas answers "I can take care of that....but only for a price." Harrison clutches his ring, and then turns to Nicholas. "Perhaps it's Angelique's happiness that concerns me most," he says. "And if she's truly happy with Barnabas, then perhaps none of us have any business trying to destroy him. I don't want to know what you have in mind. Excuse me, I shall see to Doctor Hoffman and then I'd better call the police about Loomis." Nicholas grabs Harrison's arm and answers "If you really care about Angelique's happiness, you will want to deal with me, and deal with me very carefully." Harrison smiles and throws Nicholas' grip off. "Somehow I think you'll want to deal with me very carefully, considering I have something you want very badly. I'm surprised at you anyway. If you're so determined to settle a score with Barnabas Collins, perhaps you should bargain with someone he trusts instead of someone he dislikes as much as me. Goodnight, Blair. Please let yourself out." Harrison goes upstairs as Nicholas paces a moment. He looks at Barnabas' portrait and thinks to himself "You shall be destroyed, Barnabas.... I now have the means of your destruction at hand...." Nicholas looks upstairs and thinks a moment more. "Maggie Evans at Windcliff....under the care of Julia Hoffman....." Nicholas looks at Barnabas' portrait again and smiles "Who do you trust more than Dr. Julia Hoffman?" he says to the picture before snickering darkly.