The search for Mary Agnes had begun, and although they would never find her they would look high and low from the great estate all the way back to her home in New Hampshire, where her ailing parents grieved long the sorrow of their eternal loss. No one ever believed what Claire babbled on about what with the sheer nonsense of a giant hand and that the box was an evil force! She was eventually sent away to a nearby asylum that had recently opened for the care of the insane. The idea of an institution was a new one, and although a harsh structured environment it was better than having her own family lock her away in the Tower room. Such finery was reserved for the upper classes.

The great lady, Edith Collins, along with her grand-daughter, Judith and grandson, Edward were returning home after their excursion in Europe. They were to bring with them an entire family of German peasants who would be set up as servants of various stations upon arriving at the great house. There was a grandfather, his son and the son's wife, and their 6 children ranging in ages from twenty-three to just eight years old. There was also a maiden aunt and a half a dozen fine bred dogs, dachshud. Edith had tried to secure the services of another larger family in the province of Transylvania. They would have worked for less and she was eager to save as much money as possible. But upon meeting the elderly matron of Collinwood the Father and mother and eldest daughter began crossing themselves and mumbling words of protection, and even going so far as to visibly make hand gestures that were told later to be protection against the evil eye! Edith was heard to remark until the end of her days, "Those vulgar Transylvanians! Why we could have ALL been MURDERED in our very beds!"

Eliza was in the kitchen going over an enormous list of chores with Mirabelle, while her mother Annabelle was cooking away furiously. There were other lesser servants bustling about at the direct orders of these three women. Mostly kitchen wenches like Lily who was a mere slip of a girl at the tender age of twelve. Jensen came into the area asking where was Dirk, that he needed his assistance immediately. Eliza responded curtly to her spouse. "Since Dirk is employed mainly in the stables, my husband, you might try by looking in them!" She had been none too kind before the misfortunate incident which left their only daughter a blithering idiot. Now, afterwards, she was downright intolerable.

Jensen found Dirk walking one of the mares out on the track behind the stables of the estate. He instructed him to put away the beast and proceed to the foyer of the great house as soon as possible. When Dirk asked him why Jensen responded, "I am NOT accustomed to being questioned by servants who serve the family in a lower capacity than I myself! Report to the front hall immediately and brook no delay!" Jenson majestically strode off leaving Dirk disgruntled at best, but obedient nonetheless.

Carl Collins was climbing the grandfather clock in the foyer of the great house. He had been expelled from yet another boarding school and this time he had done a criminal action! Word of his misdeed had spread like wildfire and now no self respecting institution of learning would accept his application, so he had been returned to his people. Jensen had soundly instructed him to remain sitting on his trunk in the front room, but Carl thought much better of scaling an irreplaceble family heirloom.

When Jensen burst back into the area he startled Carl with a cry of dismay and the boy fell backwards and unto the hard stone floor! Dirk came in just at this precise moment and was angered beyond belief when Jensen told him, ordered him to take the boy in hand until his grandmother arrives! "I am not gonna be some bloody babysitter to some snot-nosed brat!" Carl howled in mortal pain for he had struck the stone floor hard! Neither man made a move in his general direction, but Eliza appeared from the doorway under the stairs to attend the young Master. Dirk stood with his arms folded and he brought himself up to his full height as he stared back in sheer defiance.

"You will do as you are TOLD! Or you will be finding yourself other employment situations, sir!" Jensen had had enough of this disagreeable young man, and what with all his sorrows and stress he showed no fear as he stood his ground against this younger, stronger man. He was in charge of this house and the servants under it's roof, and he was not about to be bullied about by a glorified stable-boy!

Magda was on her way to Collinwood as she made her careful way through the forest which divided it from the Old House. She had all but been banished from the great house, although no actual words or reprimands had been handed down to her. She was being given a heave-ho by the very people who were supposed to be protecting the Collins family! What fools they all were. They had no idea of the terrible danger each and every one of them was in as long as that box remained in that house. She had to get rid of it! But, how?

Virginia Semple was looking for the children. Their father, Edward Collins would be arriving at any moment, and Laura Collins had instructed Virginia to see to the care and grooming of Nora and Jamison. Although it was not her job to perform the maid's duties Virginia was wary of the ladies reqest and complied without complaint. When she came upon the two of them outside of their Uncle Quentin Collins' doorway she scolded them both for running off when needed. They just continued pressing their ears to the door and listening to something.

Virginia demanded to know what they were about, and Nora spoke up first in her soft sweet way. "We are hearing the pretty music. It is so pretty." Virginia was puzzled at Nora's sing-song reply. She cautiosly moved closer to the door herself, and, there it was! How curious! She could just hear a ringing sound like a tiny bell was being pealed. And when her hand touched the surface of the wood of the door she drew back alarmed! She reached back and laid her fingertips on the door once more, and, yes, she could feel a slight but steady vibration that matched the tonal quality of the bell.

If it was the last thing that she ever did she had to go into that room and see what this was all about. All else was forgotten. The children, her duties, and the family. Her whole life was behind that door, as would soon be her death!

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.