At sunset, Barnabas rises from his coffin. Ben comes downstairs and tells him that Vicki's trial will be over soon, and she'll be convicted. Barnabas says he thought Trask was unable to sway the judge. Ben says that was true until Abigail died. Trask claimed Abigail was murdered by the witch. He says they both know that's not true, and Vicki doesn't deserve to hang for something Barnabas did.
Barnabas asks what proof Trask has that Vicki killed Abigail. Ben says he got Forbes to testify against Vicki, and he lied through his teeth. Barnabas says that something must be done to help Vicki. He tells Ben that he's the only one who can go into the courtroom and tell the whole truth. He must tell how Angelique was the witch who terrorized his family. Ben says she'll prevent him from testifying. He also says that he fears Joshua will send him back to jail. He says as soon as Trask tells the court he's a convict, they won't believe anything he says. Barnabas tells him he must put aside his fears and doubts, and testify on Vicki's behalf. Ben leaves Barnabas alone and angry in the basement.
The trial resumes, and Peter moves to have Nathan Forbes' testimony be stricken from the record based on Naomi's testimony that he lied. His motion is denied. Trask rests the prosecution's case. Peter starts to say that he's not prepared, and Ben walks in. Peter calls Ben to the stand, and he is sworn in. Peter asks him if he was one of the people to protect Vicki. Ben explains that he did, because Vicki is not a witch. Peter asks him how he knows, and Ben says that he knows who the real witch was. He says the witch put a spell on him to prevent him from speaking the truth. Peter asks who the real witch is, and Ben he says Angelique Collins was the witch. He claims she forced him to help her. He had to get a lock of Jeremiah's hair to make a potion to put him under, along with Josette, so that they would be unfaithful to Barnabas.
Peter claims that Angelique had everything to gain, and Vicki had nothing to gain. He asks that the case be dismissed. The judge says they cannot entertain such a motion until the witness has been cross-examined. Trask asks Ben where they can find Angelique. Ben says he doesn't know. Trask asks how he got out from under her spell, and Ben starts to say it must have happened after she... went away. Trask asks where she went. And when she left. Ben says it was the day after Barnabas left for England. Trask confirms that was more than a month ago, and claims that Ben's testimony is all lies. Trask points out that acts of witchcraft have intensified in the past month, AFTER Ben says Angelique left.
Outside the courtroom, Angelique appears.
Ben begins to tell the court of all the things Angelique did, when she appears in the doorway. He tells the courtroom that she's dead, claiming that he buried her in the cemetery. Ben is sent out of the courtroom.
Peter speaks to Vicki privately, and says that she realizes Ben was right, and Angelique must be the witch. He reluctantly agrees to let her testify.
Angelique is sworn in. Trask asks Angelique's opinion of Vicki. She says she always treated her with courtesy and kindness. He asks if she and Barnabas lived alone in the old house, and she says that Vicki lived there, because her husband believed she wasn't a witch. Trask asks her about the day he was called in to exorcise spirits from the old house. She does, describing how Vicki screamed about a fire in her room, and then ran out of the house. Trask asks if there was any evidence of fire in her room, and she confirms there was not. Peter asks no questions, and asks for more time. The judge recesses the court until Monday morning. If Peter does not find additional witnesses before then, they will issue a verdict.
Outside the courtroom, Angelique disappears as the participants leave, and then reappears to laugh after they're gone.
Our thoughts
John: At what point was Vicki's trial going well? Must have been a conversation Ben and Barnabas had offscreen.
Christine: It may not have been going well, but was not going poorly when there was no real evidence to convict her. It took a downturn when Lt. Forbes' lies lent some credence to the accusation.
John: WHAT? Naomi testified, and we didn't even get to see it? What a time for Joan Bennett to have a day off!
Christine: It was pretty disappointing to have her testimony happen off-screen after all the build up from her decision to finally disobey Joshua and testify against his wishes. I guess if they had included her testimony, we would have missed out on the dramatic Forbes-Bradford fight sequence. I would have preferred a Joan Bennett court appearance.
John: That's it, Bradford needs to give up his aspirations of being a lawyer and stick to mopping up jail cells. To not even bother to question the ghost of the dead witch who's all but doomed his client is unforgivable. Unless Barnabas makes a surprise appearance 'from England', someone had better get the hangman on the horn.
Christine: I hope we'll get to find out how Angelique went from floating head to corporeal form.
Yep, Angelique is now more powerful than she ever was, no longer a mortal woman (no spoilers) with powers of witchcraft, she's now become a demonic spirit that can manifest to anything it wants. She can be a floating head or corporeal.
ReplyDeleteAngelique is basically Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with prettier eyes, a creepy laugh, and a rockin' body. "If you strike me down, Darth, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine."
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