276

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Timeline	1967
Writer	Ron Sproat
Director	Lela Swift
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Synopsis

Teaser

Collinwood is a legend for those who know it. The Great House represents a heritage of fabulous wealth. There have been many men driven by avarice who have wished to plunder its walls. Such a man has attempted to seize a large part of the Collins fortune, but through his own avarice has failed. Now in another house on the Great Estate, he is engaged in a last, desperate plot to satisfy his greed. And, in doing so, he is courting his own destruction.

Jason has forced Willie to lead him down into the Old House cellar, which holds Barnabas' jewel chest. In an attempt to prevent McGuire from opening the coffin housed in the middle of the room, Willie grabs a handful of priceless gems Barnabas instructed him to sell from inside a nearby table. But it is not enough for McGuire. Despite Willie's protests to the contrary, Jason believes the remainder of the jewels are sealed up inside the coffin, which he is determined to open. Willie backs away as McGuire lifts the lid... Barnabas' hand shoots out and throttles Jason's neck!

Act I

Barnabas has strangled McGuire to death, and Willie mourns the loss of his former friend. The vampire questions his servant about Jason's presence in the house, and is angered to learn of recent events. Barnabas grabs Willie by the throat, threatening to kill him if he ever betrays his secret again. Then he turns his attention to McGuire's corpse, which must be disposed of in a manner that will not raise suspicions. He decides that Jason will be buried in the secret room of the Collins Family Mausoleum. However, Willie balks at the idea of touching McGuire's dead body. Before they arrived in Collinsport, he and Jason had been good friends. Barnabas confesses that he once had a young and innocent friend who died many years ago, and he mourned her death for a long time. Willie, taken aback, sees Barnabas in a new light. The vampire quickly changes the subject, and forces Willie to help him carry McGuire out of the cellar. After they leave, Sarah appears and picks up McGuire's cap, which was left behind on the floor.

Act II

At Windcliff Sanitarium, Dr. Woodard is consulting with Dr. Julia Hoffman and wonders if Maggie has been shown the sketch Sam drew of Sarah. Julia believes it is too soon, and that Maggie might suffer a setback. But Woodard is willing to take that chance. He is certain that the best way to help Maggie is to discover the identity of the "maniac" who kidnapped her, and that the little girl in the sketch will lead them to the answer. Against Julia's wishes, he insists on Maggie being shown the sketch. At that moment, Nurse Jackson escorts Maggie into Julia's office. Although she says she is feeling fine, Maggie appears to be a little frightened and she does not remember Woodard. He encourages her to take a good, long look at the sketch, and after a long moment Maggie gasps out Sarah's name.

Act III

Woodard assails Maggie with questions, which only results in pushing the troubled girl over the edge. She begins to repeat the riddle Sarah told her, then becomes hysterical as she sings London Bridge. Julia, infuriated with Woodard, calls Nurse Jackson to take Maggie back to her room and administer a sedative. She rails at Woodard for setting back the progress she has made with Maggie. But he is insistent that Maggie regaining her memory and finding Sarah will break the entire case wide open.

Act IV

Meanwhile, Barnabas and Willie have wrapped Jason's corpse in sacking and are carrying him to the Collins Family Mausoleum. They proceed into the secret room hidden behind Naomi Collins' tomb. Time passes... Willie finishes burying McGuire, and he is anxious to leave. He and Barnabas emerge from the room, then seal it shut once more. Barnabas is disgusted at having been forced to defile his family's tomb with the body of Jason McGuire. The melancholy vampire remembers his family: Joshua Collins, his father, who could have brought him peace but instead chained Barnabas in his coffin; Naomi Collins, his mother, a very quiet, gentle woman; Sarah Collins, his sister, who died at the age of nine. Again, Willie is surprised to see this side of Barnabas. After the pair leave the tomb, Sarah, cradling her doll, appears inside it.

Memorable quotes

• Barnabas Collins (to Willie): "You really are appallingly sentimental."

• Barnabas Collins: "Goodbye, McGuire. You might have lived, but your greed destroyed you."

Dramatis personae

• Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins
• Dennis Patrick as Jason McGuire
• John Karlen as Willie Loomis
• Grayson Hall as Dr. Julia Hoffman
• Robert Gerringer as Dr. Woodard
• Kathryn Leigh Scott as Maggie Evans
• Sharon Smyth as Sarah Collins

Background information and notes

• Final appearance of Jason McGuire. Dennis Patrick only appears in the reprise of 275's cliffhanger; an extra fills in for him as Jason's corpse (which is partially hidden).
• Barnabas states that Sarah died before he ever knew Josette. This would ultimately be retroactively contradicted (or "retconned") in later episodes.

Continuity and mistakes

• It's been established that Barnabas has superhuman strength, yet he requires Willie's help to carry Jason's body out of the basement.

• At the end of the previous episode, the box of jewels Jason seeks is sitting on the table just inside the window when he breaks in. Yet at the start of the next episode, the box is gone.