Subj: Christmas 1940 -- 1
Date: 12/2/00 2:15:45 PM Central Standard Time
From: Donna Eubanks

My name is Victoria. It is Christmastime, in the year 1940. I am married to a wonderful man named Mark. We have two very beautiful children, a daughter and a son. We live in a small town in Massachusetts. Our children are very excited, because Santa is coming. I am still searching for the perfect gift for my darling husband, Mark.

Mark and I were married five years ago, in a small little church in this town. He told me I looked like a beautiful princess that day, and to this day, I love him just as much, if not more than when we said our wedding vows.

Our daughter, Victoria Marie, is four years old. Mark says she looks just like me. Our son, is little Mark. I think he looks exactly like his daddy. He is two years old.

*********

Mark holds his wife, Vicki in his arms. He smiles a handsome smile, as he brushes her long, dark hair from her neck, and kisses her lips and neck.

"What do you want for Christmas this year, angel?" "I'm still waiting for a wish list from you, you know." "There is only one week until Christmas." Mark tells her.

Vicki looks at Mark, with love in her eyes, as she tells him, "I already have everything I ever wanted, Mark." "I have you, and our Vicki and little Mark." "I don't need anything else, baby." "Oh, I am so very happy to be married to you,
my darling man." Vicki tells him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She kisses her husband passionately on his lips.

"Oh honey, when you do that, I want to pick you up and make wild and passionate love to you!" Mark says with a wicked grin.

"Oh, I would like that so much, my darling; but I have to go to pick up little Vicki at ballet practice." She says with a heartfelt sigh.

Mark continues to ask Vicki what she would like for Christmas. "You must tell me, you know, or you will get nothing this year." Mark tells her, still grinning.

Vicki looks into her husbands eyes, and smiles. Her blue eyes seem to sparkle magically. "'Well, my darling, there is one thing I would like, but I could never have it for Christmas." "I would like to have another baby, Mark. Maybe little
Vicki would have a baby sister, or Mark a baby brother to play with,"she says, smiling at Mark.

Mark picks Vicki up in his strong arms, and twirls her around in the air. "I think it would be so wonderful, angel, if we had another baby, too!" "I would just love to have another baby girl, who looks exactly like you, Vicki." Mark confesses, as he kisses her tenderly on her lips.

Suddenly, Vicki notices the time. "Oh, it is getting late." "It's time for me to pick up little Vicki." She tells Mark.

"I'll go and get her." Mark tells her. "It's starting to snow and the roads are getting slippery."

"Oh Mark, I was really hoping you would finish working on your story today." She says, batting her pretty blue eyes.

"Oh all right, angel, if it means that much to you, I will; but you be very, VERY careful driving." Mark warns her, giving her a big hug. "Yes, of course I will, baby." "We will be back very soon, I promise." She kisses Mark on the lips, and
leaves the house, to pick up their little girl.

Vicki gets into the family car, and turning the ignition on, begins the short drive to pick up little Vicki. As Vicki is driving, she notices the road is a little slippery, but not too bad. "I will just drive a little slower, and I should be fine."
"I can't wait to see little Vicki dance today." "She really is so good at ballet." "We are both so proud of our little girl," she thinks to herself, smiling.

As Vicki starts to go around a sharp curve, the car begins to slide out of control, for the road is a sheet of ice under the new fallen snow. Frantically, Vicki tries to control the car and stay on the road; but the car continues to slide sideways, crashing through the guardrail and down a steep embankment. The car continues on its reckless journey, finally stopping after hitting several pine trees. Vicki hits her head on the windshield. She has an obvious laceration on her forehead, and it is bleeding profusely.

Vicki, shaking her head to clear her blurry vision, puts her hand to her head, and sees her blood on her hand. "I-I've got to get out of here and get help" "My little girl is waiting for me." Vicky says as she becomes very dizzy.

She opens the car door, and attempts to stand up. She stands for a moment, and then falls to the ground in the snow. In a weak and feeble voice, she calls to him for help. "Mark, please come and help me, baby." "I am hurt and I need you!" "Little Vicki needs you too!" Vicki cries, and then she passes out in the snow, as the snow continues to fall around her.

Suddenly, back at home, Mark can hear Vicki's voice, calling to him in his mind, for help. Her voice is very clear to him. His blood runs cold as he realizes the woman he has loved and adored for so long, is now in very grave danger!

Also at that moment in time, little Mark runs to his daddy, and cries out to him. "Mommie, hurt!!" he says to his daddy. The little toddler looks at Mark with big brown eyes. His eyes are filled with tears. He reaches with outstretched arms for his daddy.

Suddenly, there is a knock on the door. Mark quickly goes to the door, and opens it hastily. There is a beautiful blonde, with long hair and hazel eyes at his door, and she is holding little Vicki's hand. She is dressed in a long, white dress.

"Who are you, and why do have my daughter?!" Mark demands to know.

"Please, let me explain. May I come in, Mark?" The blonde woman enters the house, with little Vicki. "My name is Claudia, and I have come to help you."

'How do you know my name?" Mark asks her in wonder. "Please Mark, you must listen to me. What I have to say is very, very important."

Mark looks at the woman. Her face wears a serious, yet kind expression. He can see that she is very beautiful. He begins to get chills running up and down his spine as he realizes this woman must have bad news of Vicki.

"Mark, I am a witch, but a good witch. I use my powers only for goodness." she tells him with compassion. "You need to come with me." "I will take you to her." Claudia tells him. "There has been an auto accident, and she is badly
injured."

"Oh my God! I must go to her right now!" Mark says frantically. "But I don't understand?" "You say you are a witch?!" Mark says in disbelief and wonder.

"Yes, Mark, but you must not fear me." "I am here to help at this time." "I want you to know that," Claudia tells him.

The front door opens once again. A beautiful woman with long dark hair and blue eyes walks into the room. She is dressed in the same type of long, white dress as the witch. There is a strange bright light that surrounds her. She is followed by a young man, about twenty-five years old.

Mark looks at this woman in awe. Who can she be? "Is she a witch, too?" he wonders.

The dark haired woman walks to Mark, as if she can read his thoughts. "No, Mark. I am an angel of God. "Claudia and I have been sent to help you and your wife at this time."" But time is growing very short." "We must go quickly to
save her before it is too late," the angel says.

"What is your name?" Mark asks her. He is thinking she is very beautiful. Both of these women, witch and angel, are very beautiful.

"My name is Donamarie." she tells him, touching his hand. "Please, we must go now to her while there is still time." she tells him, looking into his dark eyes, and squeezing his hand.

"Yes, take me to her now," Mark replies. "Nothing must happen to my Vicki. "I cannot lose her!" Mark says, throwing on his coat.

"I'll stay here with the boy." the young man says. "My name is Willie, and yes, I am an angel, too." he says with a grin.

"Come, we must go now," Claudia says, we must hurry!

Donamarie tells him, "Mark, take our hands, and think very, very hard about Vicki." "You will be transported there to her, along with us," Donamarie tells him.

Mark takes Claudia by the hand, and with his other hand, holds the hand of Donamarie. He holds their hands very tight, and closes his eyes, thinking of his sweet Vicki, and how they must save her from death.

It takes but a moment, and they are soon at the accident scene. Mark begins to run down the steep embankment to his one true love, Vicki. He hopes it is not too late.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.