Barnabas tells Lang he was tempted to harm Vicki, and the doctor says he'll start an immediate transfusion. He also says he hopes that Barnabas will take him up on his offer. He says he plans to free Barnabas of his curse. He says he can give him the physical appearance of Jeff Clark. He suggests it would help him win Vicki back. Barnabas doesn't know what to make of Lang's proposal, and says he cannot consign his future to him without understanding his plan. Lang assures him he will learn of his plan very soon, and he can begin a new life.
Julia is on the phone with the sheriff, and explains Liz is currently resting. Barnabas comes in and asks about Liz. She explains she gave her a sedative as she was so upset over Roger's disappearance. She tells Barnabas that the sheriff says Roger checked into the Collinsport Inn. He stayed in all day and checked out early this evening. She says he took Vicki's painting that had a strange effect on him. She says Vicki knows who the painting is, and so he must, too. Barnabas tells her it is a painting of Angelique Collins, who he was once married to, and who is responsible for putting the curse on him. She realizes Angelique was a witch. Barnabas says he's more frightened than anyone. Julia shows Barnabas the head mirror Mrs. Johnson found in Roger's room. Barnabas realizes how Angelique harmed Lang. He tells Julia to come with him to Lang's house before it is too late.
In his office, Dr. Lang writes in his journal when there's a knock at the door. It's Roger Collins, who says he must see him at once. He explains that the office is closed, but allows Roger to come in. He puts his journal away and asks Roger what's on his mind. Roger asks if he believes in prophecies. He explains that he was instructed to come, but he does not know by whom. He asks Lang if he thinks he's crazy. Roger says that he heard a strange voice telling him to see a doctor immediately, or he would die of a stroke before dawn. Lang says he's certain that Roger believes he heard the voice, but asks why he didn't consult his family doctor. Roger says he was out of town. Lang asks him if he ever had heart trouble, and Roger says there have been many sudden deaths in his family of varied causes, but he has not had heart trouble. Roger admires Lang's harpoon collection.
Lang says he'd like to start the EKG, and Roger presses him to talk about his harpoon hobby. Roger asks to examine one, and Lang shows it to him, describing it as used on a whaling ship in the mid 19th century. Roger asks to examine it, and Lang hands it over. While he looks at it, he tells Lang to prepare his equipment. Lang does, and Roger approaches him, harpoon raised. There's a knock at the door, which is enough to interrupt Roger's action.
He falls back into a chair. Lang gets the door and finds Barnabas and Dr. Hoffman outside. Julia comes in and asks Roger if he's alright. He asks her what he's doing there, and she offers to take him back to Collinwood. She escorts him out, and Lang asks Barnabas what's going on. Barnabas picks up the harpoon and tells Lang that Roger came to kill him.
Lang doesn't believe it. He says they only met once before. He says Roger may be eccentric, but he's not insane. Barnabas explains that he had no choice in the matter. He points out the change in Roger after they arrived. He tells Lang that Roger was possessed by Angelique. Lang asks how she could possess a man across centuries. Lang says he's a man of science. He asks Lang about his headache the other day. Lang dismisses that. Barnabas hands him his head mirror and tells him that Roger stole it from him, and through black magic it was used to make him suffer. He says Angelique will continue to drive Roger to kill him. Julia returns, saying she was driving Roger to Collinwood, and he jumped out at an intersection.
Roger drops by to see Professor Stokes, with a painting under his arm. He asks if he's still interested in purchasing it. Stokes says he would be delighted, but doesn't have time to negotiate a price. Roger says he can send Vicki whatever price he feels is fair.
He says that he and Vicki feel superstitious about the painting, and would just as soon leave it with him. Roger unwraps it, and is shocked to see that the painting is now a blank canvas.
Returning to Collinwood, Julia and Barnabas enter the drawing room and are shocked to find the portrait of Angelique is back.
Our thoughts
John: I love how Lang claims to be a man of science. Sure, a man of science who cured a vampire, and is building his own Frankenstein monster, but unwilling to believe in witchcraft or any other unexplained phenomena.
Christine: He may be forced to reconsider his disbelief if Angelique continues to target him. He should at least learn not to turn his back on a sick man who shows up after hours for urgent care and then demands to talk about his harpoon collection.
John: Roger jumped out of a moving car! How come we didn't get to see that! That would have been awesome.
Christine: Julia said he jumped out at an intersection, so I assume the car was probably stopped. I can't imagine Roger would be so reckless to leap from a moving vehicle, even while possessed.
John: Darn paintings in Collinwood. Always changing, appearing, disappearing... how long until Angelique leaps off the canvas into 1968?
Christine: Hopefully soon! Do you think that could be a portrait of Ben Stokes on the wall in Professor Stokes' office?
1 comment:
This was the first episode of Barnabas and Julia together as sleuths (like Mulder and Scully)
apparently they have buried the hatchet and Julia isn't fearful for her life anymore. I guess being human does that to a guy.
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