Subj: Collinwood 2001 Year One Part Five
Date: 3/9/01 8:27:44 PM Central Standard Time
From: N.E. Collins

"You have reached The House of Styles, Jon, the incredible fashion connector, at your service."

The receptionist listened to a request being made on the phone and raised his eyebrows in disbelief. "Today? You want to make a new appointment today? Oh, dear. Not gonna happen. Not with the opening of The Purple Cow tonight. There's just no way I could fit you in, honey."

Pause. "Well, you might try the Barber College over at Bangor cuz most everyone here locally is booked."

Another pause and then Jon gets a bit annoyed. "Now, don't take that attitude with me, missy! It's not my fault that you waited until the last minute to look FABulous, y'know!"

Jon halfway listened to the other person rattle off some sort of apology and then proceeded. "I am SURE you are sorry, dear. We can get so UGLY when we don't feel pretty ourselves, and I will be SURE to let you know if there is a cancellation."

He hangs up the phone and speaks to it. "Next week."

Jon sighs and chuckles as Maggie Evans triumphantly enters the establishment and santers boldly up to his desk.

"Wait until you've seen what I've done now!" Maggie says excitedly.

Jon is all ears. "I can HARDLY wait."

Maggie removes her dark scarf and voila! She is a platinum blonde.

Jon jokingly sheilds his eyes. "Miss Evans, if you don't stop doing that to your hair you won't have ANY left! For all I know you are bald now, and that's just some Jean Harlow wig that you sent away for and recut."

Maggie laughed. "Oh, Jon, you are TERRIBLE! Just AWFUL! Why do I let you talk to me like this?"

"Because I always give you good clients. In fact, you have a new one this morning. The big lady herself set up the appointment."

Maggie's interest was peaked. "She did? Is SHE coming?"

Jon shook his head. "No, but she is sending her over with you-know-who?"

Maggie face sunk. "I'm not doing her too, am I?"

Jon shuddered and spoke. "Oh, no. Not after that last time. No, Suzie will be attending to the princess. Now, chop-chop, sweetie! The day is a-wasting and you know how Amanda is on a busy day like this!"

Maggie gathered her things together and made for her station. "When ISN'T she like herself on ANY day?"

The two of them laugh good naturedly as Carolyn Stoddard walked through the front door followed more a more timid Victoria Winters. Maggie saw them and ducked quickly through a nearby curtain.

Jon reached under his console and pushed an unseen buzzer. Then he sprang from his seat and approached the two young women. "Miss Stoddard, it says here in my book that YOU have an appointment this morning, but that can't be right. Just LOOK at you! Why, you're too PRETTY to touch, my dear. But if you'd go outside and roll around in the dirt for a while I am SURE we could fix you right up!"

Carolyn smiled like the Chesire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. "Vicky, you cannot believe a single word this man says, but you won't be able to RESIST wanting to. Victoria Winters, may I present Jon Fellrath?"

Vicky smiled meekly. "How do you do?"

Jon took her hand and gave it a small peck. "I do well, m'lady and it is my pleasure to serve you this lovely day. And, hark!" Jon dramatically puts one hand to his left ear and raises both eyebrows. "I believe I hear Madame herself coming to greet you!"

A bejewled hand draws back a curtain of bangled beads and in steps a most lively lady! "Buenos dias, Senoritas! Como esta?"

Carolyn giggles and claps her hands as Amanda Styles gracefully enters the foyer of her own beauty parlor, The House of Styles. "I am Amanda Woodward Styles, but you MUST call me Styles ONly. I answer to none else."

She gingerly takes Vicky hand and gives it a quick subtle shake. She gives her a looking over and then she turns to Jon for his approval. "Miss Winters will be seeing Miss Evans today."

Carolyn stops smiling and frowns openly. "She's not seeing me too, is she?"

"Oh, no, no, no, Miss Stoddard! You will be attended by Suzee today."

Carolyn's frown fades, but her smile does not return. "Good. After that last time, well, it WAS the last time that girl would get her hands on me. Hmph!"

Styles laughs nervously, but Jon doesn't miss a trick. "SUZEE! Your 10 o'clock is here, darling. Miss Stoddard, this way please."

Jon takes Carolyn's arm and leads her through a curtained doorway leaving Vicky standing there with Styles.

Vicky asks, "Did something bad happen the last time Carolyn was here?"

Styles takes on an affected tone. "Quite, but it had NOTHING to do with hair care. No, it was a conflict of...personalities. Be assured, Miss Winters that all my girls, Miss Evans included, do quality workmanship. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if you will...I will conduct you to your chair, sweet." And with that Styles took Vicky by the arm and escorted her to her cubicle.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.