Barnabas

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

To Maggie, Barnabas replies, "No. That gown has never been worn by anyone, until now. That is, so I gather, from accounts of the tragedy. How perfectly it suits you. One might imagine that it has been waiting for you, all these years."

On hearing Victoria's reply, he becomes noticeably agitated. "Can it be that there are truly specters in this house? " He seizes her arm in a firm grip. "You must tell me! What do you know of Josette's spirit? Have you seen her? Have there been any other manifestations witnessed hereabouts?"

Doctor Hoffman places a restraining hand upon him. "You must not allow yourself to become overly excited." She turns to the others. "His condition is very delicate."

"That is so," Barnabas confesses. "I believe I will need another treatment soon, Doctor. Forgive me, my friends."

The party winds down with inconsequential talk. As the guests make the way home, Willie takes an opportunity to speak to Maggie quietly, in a respectful manner not at all in keeping with their few previous encounters.

"You be careful. Don't go walkin' around alone at night or nothin' like that."

[Mr. Handy]

"Barnabas seems very excitable," Victoria says to Maggie.

[SunlessNick]

"You be careful. Don't go walkin' around alone at night or nothin' like that."

"I will," Maggie replies with a smile.

"Barnabas seems very excitable," Victoria says to Maggie.

"Yeah he sure did. Did he hurt you? It looked like he was about to shake you. I guess a Collins had to be mad one way or another."

[Mr. Handy]

"Oh, I'm fine," says VIctoria. "His grip was firm, but he didn't hurt me. It's like he's in love with Josette, and not just his ancestor."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

A couple of days later, Willie shows up at the diner, picking up some food to go. There are black and blue marks on his face and arms. When asked about them, he says "I fell. Gotta be more careful."

David claims to have seen Sarah near the Old House, along with "some really old guy, about a million years old." As usual, his relatives dismiss this as his typical nonsense.

[SunlessNick]

"Oh, I'm fine," says VIctoria. "His grip was firm, but he didn't hurt me. It's like he's in love with Josette, and not just his ancestor."

"It really is!" Maggie agrees.

She smiles sympathetically at Willie's story, not really believing him, but not wanting to embarrass him. She gives him a little extra on the house.

[Mr. Handy]

"I believe you," says Victoria to David. "I've seen Sarah myself once, but not the old guy. Did they say or do anything?"

[SunlessNick]

After her shift, Maggie makes sure her father is ok and fed and so on. Once she has some time to herself, she sets the music box going. Barnabas's seeming obsssion with this Josette creeps her out a little, especially given the resemblance in their portraits, but he did give her the gift, and it'd be churlish not to listen to it.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I believe you," says Victoria to David. "I've seen Sarah myself once, but not the old guy. Did they say or do anything?"

Pleased to be believed at last, David responds eagerly.

"She's always singing this old song, you know, about London Bridge and stuff. This old guy was in the woods, just after dark, walking toward the mansion, like he was coming from the Old House. Then Sarah popped up out of nowhere, the way she does, and the old guy stopped dead in his tracks. They said something I didn't hear to each other, then the old guy fell to his knees. I guess he felt pretty sad. I didn't hang around after that. Something about the guy, with all those wrinkles all over his face and hands, and that big bald head with a couple of white hairs, gave me the creeps."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After her shift, Maggie makes sure her father is ok and fed and so on. Once she has some time to herself, she sets the music box going. Barnabas's seeming obsssion with this Josette creeps her out a little, especially given the resemblance in their portraits, but he did give her the gift, and it'd be churlish not to listen to it.

The music box plays a gentle, tinkling memory. It brings thoughts of other times and other places. Of an island under a tropical sun, of a voyage on a sailing ship, of a cold, rocky land where a lonely house broods near a high cliff overlooking the sea. The effect is hypnotic, almost as if one could slip away into those other worlds.

[SunlessNick]

It's not like Maggie doesn't like her life - she's got a job, good friends, and is popular around town - but it's not a secure life, for her or her father, the way they're always short of money. And it's not really glamorous. The daydreams the music gives her are pretty appealing - she gives into the tempation to listen to it some more.

[Mr. Handy]

"I heard her sing London Bridge too," says Victoria. "She also acted like she already knew me, but I had never met her before."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

It's not like Maggie doesn't like her life - she's got a job, good friends, and is popular around town - but it's not a secure life, for her or her father, the way they're always short of money. And it's not really glamorous. The daydreams the music gives her are pretty appealing - she gives into the tempation to listen to it some more.

One day, while Maggie is idly humming the music box's melody at work, Doctor Hoffman walks into the diner. Hearing the tune, she approaches.

"You might want to reconsider accepting such a valuable gift," she says. "Barnabas is given to extravagant gestures, particularly when his treatments are not having their desired effect. By the way, here's my card. Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any medical advice."

Julia Hoffman, MD

Specialist in psychiatry, hypnotherapy, and hematology
Director of Windcliff Sanitarium

It is common knowledge that Windcliff Sanitarium is located about one hundred miles north of Collinsport, in an isolated, rural area. Given Doctor Hoffman's current residence in the Old House, there would seem to be no easy way to contact her except by paying a visit.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I heard her sing London Bridge too," says Victoria. "She also acted like she already knew me, but I had never met her before."

"Yeah, she's kinda weird, "David admits. "Won't tell me where she comes from or anything like that. That old guy seemed pretty upset to see her. I guess he's scared of GHOSTS," he concludes, shouting at Victoria, making a goofy face, and giggling.

Some time later, Elizabeth expresses concern for her daughter's health. Carolyn seems languid and distracted, and wears a turtleneck sweater despite the warm weather. "I'm fine," she responds to any inquiries. She hasn't gone out with Joe Haskell for quite some time, and instead prefers to go to bed early.

[SunlessNick]

"You might want to reconsider accepting such a valuable gift," she says. "Barnabas is given to extravagant gestures, particularly when his treatments are not having their desired effect. By the way, here's my card. Feel free to get in touch with me if you need any medical advice."

Julia Hoffman, MD

Specialist in psychiatry, hypnotherapy, and hematology
Director of Windcliff Sanitarium

Maggie thinks, Isn't that last one about blood? - but too late to ask - an odd pairing with being a shrink, though.

Is Sam still drinking less than he used to?

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe I should take a look at you," Victoria suggests to Carolyn. "The symptoms sound like anemia. It can cause problems if it's not treated."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Maggie thinks, Isn't that last one about blood? - but too late to ask - an odd pairing with being a shrink, though.

Still shaken by the unexplained reduction of the painting of Laura to ashes, Maggie's father is spending more time at the Blue Whale with his favorite brand of Scotch.

"I can handle my booze," he insists.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Maybe I should take a look at you," Victoria suggests to Carolyn. "The symptoms sound like anemia. It can cause problems if it's not treated."

With a snide tone, Carolyn retorts "Where did you get your medical degree, Miss Know-It-All? I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

Although Carolyn can be a bit self-centered, it's not normal for her to be openly rude.

[Mr. Handy]

"All right, I was just trying to help," says Victoria. "I'm not a doctor. As a governess, I just know a little about everything. Maybe you should see a doctor though. I wonder if Dr. Hoffman would be interested."

[SunlessNick]

"I burned the painting," Maggie says to her father in a the hopes of alleviating his reaction with an explanation. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't have. But Laura was bad news. She tried to hurt her son, and me. We're better off without her, or it."

On a day she has off, after making sure he has a lunch ready, Maggie decides to pay a visit to Doctor Hoffman. She wants to ask, hypothetically - "I have a friend I'm worried about, but I don't want to get her in trouble" - whether the doctor can use hypnosis to cure an addiction.

Spoiler:

She says "her" because she figures Dr Hoffman will see through the friend line, and would rather she think Maggie is talking about herself than Sam. Assuming she doesn't see through that too.