SCENE 5
[The blackness was almost impenetrable. Slowly, she began to make out shapes, though it was still difficult to see through the gloom. Her arms were raised over her head, aching from the strain. She tried to lower them, but was stopped short. It was then she felt the metallic coldness of chains around her wrist. She realized she was a prisoner, felt cold stone against her back. Carolyn strained against her bonds for a moment, but knew it was hopeless. A slight noise from nearby alerted her to another presence in the room. "Hello?" she called out. "Who's there?"]
[A voice answered her. A voice she recognized. "Carolyn? Is that you?"]
["Vicki?" She squinted in the direction of the voice, trying to see the other woman, but it was hopeless. "Vicki, help me! I'm trapped here!"]
[The response was disappointing. "So am I. I'm chained to the wall and can't move." Her voice became plaintive. "What is going on? Why are we here? I don't understand any of this!"]
["I don't know," Carolyn answered truthfully. "But we've got to find a way out of here." Once again she pulled against the chains, but they still held her fast.]
[Another familiar voice rang out from the darkness. "There ain't no way out. We're trapped here forever."]
[Vicki and Carolyn recognized their companion in darkness at the same time. "Willie?" they said together, in surprise. Vicki asked the obvious question. "What are you doing here?"]
["Don't you know?" he asked, unable to believe they couldn't remember.]
[Vicki answered quickly with a negative, but Carolyn hesitated. She kept feeling that there was something she knew, but it was just out of reach. Try as she might, she just couldn't bring it into focus. After a few seconds, she also said no.]
["Well..." he trailed off, quickly resuming again. "I don't know either."]
[Carolyn got the distinct impression that Willie was hiding something, but something happened that made her forget all about him. Her arms, weary from exhaustion, suddenly dropped to her sides. It was as if the chains binding her had suddenly disappeared. She almost fell forward, but was able to keep her balance. Puzzled, she rubbed her wrists, trying to remove the numbness that remained. Then, with the sound of creaking metal, a door opened. Light spilled into the dark room, and Carolyn could see for the first time that Vicki and Willie were also free of their chains. A white mist covered the floor of the dungeon, slowly dissipating as it rolled out of the newly-opened doorway. Slowly, and without words, the three left the room of their captivity.]
[They found themselves in a long hallway, dimly lit by torches set into the wall. They looked at each other, but speaking was unnecessary. They knew which way they had to go, as if they were being guided by some unseen force. Tendrils of leftover mist swirled around their feet as they silently walked down the passage.]
[The corridor ended at a large iron door, flanked by two more torches. The trio stood in front of it for just a moment, when the clank of a lock being released filled their ears, and the door swung slowly open by itself, flooding them in a blinding light. They all squinted into it, shielding their eyes, for they were unaccustomed to this sort of illumination. Victoria was the first to recover. She relaxed and stared into the open doorway as if the light had hypnotized her. Slowly she moved forward, crossing the threshold.]
[She found herself in an open field. The light she had seen was the sun, shining brilliantly in a cloudless sky. The scent of wildflowers and cut grass perfumed the air. Vicki inhaled deeply, and the wind caught her raven hair, blowing it sideways. Soon Carolyn appeared at her side, her blonde hair in sharp contrast to Victoria's midnight black. The two women looked at each other and smiled, falling into a joyous embrace.]
[Looking back, they saw Willie still standing in the doorway. "Willie, come join us!" Victoria called out to him.]
His voice wavered as he answered her. "I can't go out there. I'm scared."]
[Carolyn shook her head, feeling the wind in her hair. "Come on, Willie! There's nothing to be frightened of!" She turned and held her hand out to him. Vicki did the same.]
[Willie cringed in the portal, one step between darkness and light. Then, hesitantly, he took a step toward the outside. And another. And another. Soon, he was smiling and embracing the other two.]
[Finally they let go and looked at each other. They still smiled, but sorrow showed in their eyes, for they knew they would be going the rest of the way alone. With one last look, the three walked in separate directions, each on their own path, free at last.]
SCENE 6
The entryway of Dr. Lang's house was deserted, so when the sharp knock came on the door, it echoed throughout the room. The demanding sound soon achieved its desired response as Dr. Lang came down the stairs to answer the door. As soon as he had opened the door partway, Julia pushed her way in. Without even looking at the man, she said, "Where is Barnabas Collins?"
Dr. Lang, surprised at first, quickly recovered. "And it's a pleasure to meet you too. I'm Dr. Eric Lang. You are...?"
She looked at him in annoyance. "Dr. Julia Hoffman. Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, where is Barnabas Collins?"
Eric considered the austere, imperious woman standing before him. "My assistant is doing an examination of Mr. Collins right now. He is still unconscious. Perhaps you would like to see Miss Winters first. She's doing quite well, and I'm sure she would appreciate a visitor."
Julia regarded him with suspicion. Why was he trying to keep her away from Barnabas? Was he all right, or had the doctor in his ignorance destroyed him forever? But maybe she could get some information from Vicki. She had not forgotten her strange behavior of the previous evening. Also, Lang would be suspicious if she pushed too hard to see Barnabas. He must be suspicious enough if he examined the vampire. "That would be just fine, Doctor. If you would take me to her room, I'd be happy to look in on her."
He bowed slightly, sweeping his arms toward the stairs. "This way, Dr. Hoffman." He led her up the stairs and down the hall to Victoria's room. Preceding the lady doctor into the room, Dr. Lang saw Vicki rousing from sleep. "Hello, Miss Winters. I hope I didn't wake you. How are you feeling?"
Victoria blinked away the sleep from her eyes. "Good morning, Dr. Lang. I'm feeling wonderful." She stretched. "Actually, I haven't felt this good in a long time."
"I'm glad to hear that. You have a visitor." He stepped aside so she could see Julia standing behind him.
Vicki sat up. "Dr. Hoffman. It's so good to see you."
Julia stepped over to the bedside. "Hello, Vicki. Seems like you had quite an adventure last night." She picked up Vicki's arm to take her pulse. If Dr. Lang was insulted by her examination of his patient, it didn't show. In fact, he seemed to be watching intently, as if interested in her findings. Julia continued, "What were you doing out last night, anyway?"
Vicki grew puzzled, trying to remember. "I still have no idea. Last night is a complete blur. I remember being in the car, driving, then seeing Peter Bradford in the road, then waking up here. But not much besides that."
Julia frowned. "Peter Bradford?" She glanced at Lang, unsure of what Vicki had told him. "You mean the young man you told me about? But Vicki, you know you couldn't have seen him."
Dr. Lang interrupted. "Actually, it was my assistant she must have seen. He witnessed the accident and brought them here. As you can see, Miss Winters did sustain some head trauma in the accident. But it was so minor, I find it difficult to attribute the amnesia to it."
Looking at the bruises Lang mentioned, Julia said, "Yes, I would have to agree." A thought occurred to her. "There must be some other reason." Julia almost casually brushed Vicki's long hair out of the way. She was slightly surprised, yet relieved to see that she had revealed the white, unbroken skin of Victoria's throat.
It was only then that Dr. Lang relaxed. He even smiled, for his scrutiny had been justified, his suspicions confirmed. This Dr. Hoffman knew.
Julia quickly and efficiently finished up her examination. "Vicki, you seem to have sustained no permanent damage from your accident. If not for your amnesia, I would say you are as good as new."
Lang confirmed her diagnosis. "Yes, I would like to keep her one more night, just for observation. She does have a concussion, after all. Maybe we can discover the reason for this memory loss."
VIcki jumped in. "Must I? I feel fine. I just want to go home."
Julia turned to her. "Dr. Lang is correct, Vicki. The concussion, the amnesia, it all means you should stay here. It's only one more evening. You'll be back at Collinwood soon enough." But Julia could not be distracted long from her true purpose. She turned back to Lang. "Now, I would like to see Barnabas Collins."
Dr. Lang was not ready to give in to her just yet. He wanted more information. "My assistant should be finished with his examination in just a few minutes. Why don't you come to my office until then. I have some questions for you."
Annoyed by his stallings, she tried to force the issue. "Doctor, I really would like to see Mr. Collins-"
He cut her off. "Doctor, I think we really must talk first. Please, come with me." He went to the door and opened it for her.
Her annoyance became anger, but she was too aware of Vicki's presence to continue at this time. She strode past him and out into the hallway.
