Episode 1419

Aired: Thursday December 2, 1971

Thayer David's voiceover: "It is a day of mourning for the family at the great house of Collinwood. For in this strange and mysterious world of parallel time in the year 1897, Catherine Collins, matriarch of the family, has died. But for one member of the family and their co-conspirator, the death was not a shock, nor anything to be mourned. And now, their plot to steal the family fortune will turn the feeling of sadness among the Collins family to a feeling of sheer terror...."

The family returns from Catherine's funeral. Quentin comes in, followed by Edward, then Valery, Roderick, then Benjamin, then Kitty, then Rachel, then Jamison, and finally Harrison. Edward heads for the drawing room and pours himself a drink. "A nice service, " he says. "And now I think I'll need this to prepare myself for what Mr. Trask will enlighten us with." Quentin says "Are you predicting the same thing I am, dear Edward?" Edward scoffs that Quentin isn't taking anything seriously, and Valery asserts that she's tired of the family fighting, "especially at a time like this." Edward sneers at what a "happy family" they supposedly are, looking at Rachel. Jamison sighs and leaves the room. Rachel says "Can't you see how you affect him?" Edward turns away as she runs after Jamison. Valery says that before Gregory returns to read them the will, "I've been thinking we should make a pact. A bargain to avoid further fighting. I think that no matter who gets what in the will, we should all make sure to take care of each other." Edward sneers that "Why don't we all hold hands and sing a hymn?" Rachel tells Edward to "shut up" and Quentin says "I agree. Considering we all think Valery is the one who will inherit this house, I think she's made a decent a generous suggestion. Don't you think so, Benjamin?" Benjamin says nothing and only looks out the window. Kitty says "Don't mind him... he's been like this ever since she died."

After the titles, Roderick has taken Valery aside and tells her that her offer was "quite noble, but you don't know what is going to happen." Valery tells her father that "everyone's behavior has been making me ill. I just want all of this fighting to be over." Trask returns to the house carrying his briefcase. He enters the drawing room and asks if everyone is there. Edward says "Everyone who matters is. Can we please get on with this?" Trask says "If that's what you wish, and moves to the head of the room. Valery moves closer to him, and then he finally notices her. Harrison glares at Trask and Stokes notices. Trask takes an envelope out of his briefcase and tears it open, removing the paper. "As executor of this last will and testament of Catherine Harridge Collins, I should first tell you how much I will miss your grandmother. She was a great lady." Quentin takes a drink and says "I'm touched." Trask starts to read the will. "I, Catherine Harridge Collins, being of sound mind and body, do hereby bequeath the estate of Collinwood and control thereof apportioned in the following manner. Though they may not always get along, all of my grandchildren: Edward, Benjamin, Quentin and Valery shall always be allowed to live at Collinwood, as shall any families they shall have themselves." He smiles at Valery on that last line before continuing. "But Collinwood would be nothing without a grand mistress of the great house, one who would see to keeping the family together. For that reason, I bequeath control of the entire estate to Valery Stokes." Edward scoffs "I knew it! I knew it all along! She did it just to spite me!" Quentin snaps "Oh Edward, stop thinking that the world revolves around you and you alone. It's not like any of us didn't see this one coming," he adds, looking at Trask. Valery steps between them and says "What I said earlier about a pact to look after each other still goes, even more so now that I have heard it was grandmother's wish as well." Quentin toasts Valery and says "So far, that's what grandmother's wish seems to be." Trask asks "What do you mean?" Quentin says "Trask, you might want to know that before she died, dear Grandmother Catherine told me she had hidden another will somewhere in this house, with express language in it to negate any later will put together when she was ill." Trask shouts "That can't be true!" Quentin says "Why not? Because it interferes with your plans?" Valery shouts "Stop it! Stop it!" and then asks "Quentin, is that true? Did she tell you that?" Quentin says yes, "I don't know if she was playing games or not, but I haven't found any other will yet." Valery says "Well, if you do.... then it may indeed be her true will. In the meantime, however, we will abide by this one. And we will abide each other."

Stokes and Valery are in the drawing room along with Benjamin and Kitty. He asks her how it feels to be mistress of Collinwood, and she answers that it's not what she expected. He closes the doors and tells her that he also shares the "concerns" of the family that Trask, knowing of the contents of the will, may not have the best intentions in mind with her. She answers that "perhaps if Quentin is right about the other will, and it has a different result, everyone will see that his motivations are honest." Stokes grimly says "Or not." Valery says she's tired of talking about it all, and asks her father why she's been spending so much time with Gladstone and Carl lately. He answers that he's helping Gladstone investigate some strange deaths around the village. Kitty perks up and asks "Do you mean that murderer who leaves his victims mutilated?" Stokes answers "No, Mr. Gladstone has not asked my help on that case, though he certainly told me about it. This one involves something much more mysterious. Somehow young men are being drained of their youth and left to die by something or someone with supernatural powers." Kitty says "You don't really believe in such things, do you?" Stokes counters "Young lady, I've seen things I cannot explain any other way. And I intend to solve this particular mystery." Valery says "All this talk of death... I need some fresh air." Stokes says "Perhaps I'll join you. A walk around the grounds as you inspect your estate, eh?" He and Valery leave the room, and once they are gone, Kitty turns to Benjamin and says "A nice old man.... but he may turn into a problem for us." Benjamin says "Yes, I agree. I may need to deal with that." Kitty smiles.

Trask is walking outside when he hears a "psst" and turns to see Alice. He tells her that it's not a good idea for them to be seen together "now that the will has been read." Alice asks "How much longer will I have to wait?" Trask turns away from her and says "They're already suspicious enough. If anything were to happen to Valery now, it would be all too obvious. I told you this before. We will need much more time." Alice frowns and says that he only wants more time to be with Valery "before finishing our plan" because she's so beautiful. Trask says that isn't true, and that he always remains "loyal to his first and true love." He shoos her away and starts to head back to the house when he runs into Harrison. Trask says hello and tries to walk by, but Harrison stops him. "You should know that I'm quite fond of Valery," Harrison says. "How can you care more for her than I do?" Trask snaps. "I am her husband. She has chosen me." Harrison smiles and says "Well then, I guess I should congratulate you then. But I won't. I'm an honest man, Mr. Trask, so when I tell you that I don't think your motives are pure, I mean it." Trask snarls "And I am an honest man too, Mr, Collins. Remember that you are only a distant relative and a guest of the mistress of the mansion. Which means my wife can throw you out anytime she wants." Trask storms by Harrison as he shrugs off the threat.

Quentin is in his room with a drink in hand when Harrison comes in. Harrison asks him what he's been doing all day, and Quentin answers "Thinking. Thinking about my grandmother and what she said to me about that secret will." Harrison says "Perhaps she was only playing games with you, dreaming out loud. Who knows what her mental state was?" Quentin says "I've thought of that. But I can't help feeling there was some truth to what she said. After hearing all that stuff about raising a family, the will we heard sounded out of place." Harrison says "Do you think Trask forged it in his favor?" Quentin answers "Dear cousin, I must admit the thought had crossed my mind. And it may have crossed grandmother's as well, but I'll have to find that other will to prove it." Harrison asks "What did she tell you about it? Did she tell you anything?" Quentin says "Only that it was hidden. And, oh yes, she said it was 'all about love.' Can you stomach that? After all the fighting she caused she talks about love. I'm starting to wonder if she loved any of us... I think the only one she ever really loved was....:" Quentin stops a moment and looks thoughtful. Harrison asks him what is it, and Quentin suddenly puts down his drink and runs out of the room, Harrison shouting after him "Quentin! Quentin!" We cut to Quentin entering the parallel time room, Harrison just behind him. Quentin quickly moves to the painting of Bramwell on the wall and calls to Harrison "Get over here, quickly! Help me take this down!" The two of them remove the huge portrait from it's space on the wall and lean it against a sofa. On the back, there is an envelope taped to it which Quentin removes. "The only one she ever really loved was grandfather," he says, opening the envelope. He takes out a sheet of paper where we see "Last Will And Testament" written at the top.