Subj: Out of the Past, 9
Date: 11/14/01 8:44:25 PM Central Standard Time
From:R J Jamison

Barnabas descended the stairs of the Old House and observed Willie hanging up the telephone. Barnabas had heard it ring but ignored it. He knew this was going to be his usual response to the telephone. He had already planned to only answer it if he was alone in the house. If either Julia or Willie was in the house, they could answer the irritating invention. Barnabas had found the contraption remarkable when he first awoke from his imprisonment but the novelty had soon worn off. And now that it was in his house and people were calling for the most trivial matters, he was beginning to hate it. It had only been in the house for a few months. “Who was it Willie?”

“Roger called, he has to cancel your plans. There’s been some major equipment failure at the cannery. He has to make arrangements for purchasing some new stuff.” Willie delivered the message and then retreated into some room in the house to continue his daily chores. He called back. “But he says you aren’t to do anything without him!”

Barnabas stood near the phone. He stared down at it absently. If his plans were indeed canceled, he was uncertain what to do with the next several hours. He looked about the room. He had too many empty hours these days. There was no one to save, no plot to undo, no destruction to prevent. There was only his life to live and he looked about uncertain exactly what that meant any longer. There was no book he wished to read or walk he wanted to undertake. He wanted company. He was tired of his own thoughts. Reluctantly Barnabas reached for the telephone. He glanced over at the number written on the message pad near it. He asked the operator to assist him in traveling the long distance. After several rings, the familiar voice he wanted caressed his imagination. “Julia. . .is it convenient? . . . I was here thinking of you and it occurred to me that I could do more than just wish you were here. . . Yes, I am in a particular mood, we’ve had a few interesting days at Collinwood. . .No! No! nothing to be alarmed about. . . how quickly we fall back into those old patterns. . .I myself too easily took some interesting coincidences and wove them into a fanciful conspiracy. . .oh, while I was going through some furnishings at Collinwood, Elizabeth found some jewelry and tarot cards. . .yes, tarot cards. They belonged to a woman who had lived at Collinwood back in 1929. . . .” Barnabas related several details of the past few days and how he had created the story of another vampire at Collinwood. Julia laughed as he explained the marred photograph, the party girl who liked to sleep all day, the appearance of the party girl’s relatives and his conclusion that she had been a vampire. “And it is most likely a case of an indiscrete affair and its progeny . . .yes, Roger has not mentioned his suspicions to Elizabeth. . .she was quite fond of the woman. . .We met the son in the café the other day. . he was quite curious. . . indicated. . .” Barnabas paused. He remembered Jeannot Roussin’s peculiar remarks of the other day. “Julia!” Barnabas stood abruptly. “I don’t think I was wrong! No, I must follow up on this. . .I didn’t tell you and I had forgotten the most alarming thing. . .Roussin hummed a melody as he left the café. . .it was the music from Josette’s music box! Julia, how could he have known that music unless my original assumptions were correct? No, no, I’m not jumping to conclusions. . .Julia, I must go to Collinwood and ask Elizabeth some more questions about this Louisa Roussin. . . “ Barnabas looked about the room anxiously. He listened to the voice at the other end of the telephone line several thousand miles away. He closed his eyes to try and shut out the thoughts that were flooding his mind. He heard Julia’s patient attempts to calm him. She knew him so well. She was the one person best suited to deal with him. He knew she was aware of his thoughts and where they were going. She said it plainly. “I do not know Julia. How could he know the music? He must somehow have known someone from the past. . .” Barnabas heard the question he did not want to answer. Julia remained quiet for several moments. “Elizabeth described Louisa as fun and full of life but also haughty and with a peculiar accent. . . it could be so many women. . .the jewelry is familiar and the tarot cards, Julia. . .I know those tarot cards. . .” Barnabas readied himself for another Collinwood confrontation. “Come home when you can my dear. I will call you again after I return from Collinwood. Hopefully, I am just overreacting. Yes, yes. I will call you as soon as I learn anything.” Barnabas hung up the phone. He turned to his own portrait above the mantle. ‘Has she come back to you? How could she have survived? How? And why wouldn’t Angelique have taunted me with her survival if that is what has happened?’ Barnabas pressed his palms together. He had yearned for this for many years and now, he did not want it. He had finally said goodbye to Josette. He did not want her any longer. He now associated her with more terrible things than good. He had a good woman in his life. She had stood by him in the worst of circumstances. She had never doubted him and had loved him when reason should have told her not to. He was not about to abandon her or their future. Barnabas gripped himself for the worst. Josette had somehow survived in time and was coming back to Collinwood.

"That is most amusing!” Roger smiled tightly and attempted to laugh at a remark made by Jeannot Roussin. They stood warily observing one another in the Drawing Room at Collinwood. Carolyn and David milled about the room as well.

“You have a lovely accent but I can not place it.” Carolyn handed Jeannot a glass of sherry.

“I have lived in the States for over twenty years. Before that my wife and I resided in South Africa.” Jeannot’s eyes appraised Carolyn.

“But it you don’t quite sound South African.” Roger added.

“I was born in southern France.” Jeannot’s answer was clipped. He ended the interrogation.

“Did you like South Africa?” David picked at a plate of hors d'oeuvres.

“It had its pleasantries and its tribulations.” Jeannot looked toward the closed Drawing Room doors. “My wife is taking her time in the powder room.”

“Most women do.” Roger raised his glass in a toast.

“I look forward to meeting her, Mother has spoken of nothing since we found those things in that room in the West Wing. It was kismet that you then arrived.” Carolyn delivered the remarks lightly but she eyed Jeannot. She knew, she sensed, their arrival was no coincidence but she did not perceive any ill intention from the man standing before her.

Elizabeth stood in the foyer on the other side of the closed Drawing Room doors. She waited impatiently for Louisa to finish her toilette. The familiarity of Louisa was nearly driving her insane. She knew that Roger or Carolyn could pinpoint it as soon as they saw her. Elizabeth wrung her hands. She had invited the Roussins willingly but had been filled with trepidation since doing so. Louisa’s strange words constantly repeated in her head. Sometimes we do what we must in order to survive. Elizabeth’s thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the front door. “Barnabas, good evening.”

“Elizabeth,” Barnabas set aside his cane and overcoat. “I came to speak with Roger about an urgent matter.”

“I’m afraid we have guests for dinner.” Elizabeth recalled that Louisa had wanted to meet Barnabas and tour the Old House. “You should join us, it completely slipped my mind, I intended to call you.”

“That is quite alright dear cousin, I can return after your guests have gone.” Barnabas turned toward the door.

“No, really Barnabas, Louisa wishes to meet you.” Elizabeth noted the slow and calculated way that Barnabas turned to face her.

“Louisa?” His words barely escaped his mouth. Elizabeth laughed nervously. “Yes, Louisa, my childhood friend whom I’ve been talking about the last few days. Her two children are here in Collinsport visiting. Her daughter is also named Louisa. Isn’t
that a coincidence? ”

“It certainly is.” Barnabas twisted to replace his cane and coat on the coat rack. “Quite a coincidence.”

“Barnabas, you should be the last person in Collinwood to believe in coincidences.” A voice from out of the past assaulted Barnabas’s ears. He knew the timber, the accent, the arrogance of that voice. He also remembered it in joy and fun. His last memory was of the voice filled with fear. He was immobile. He did not want to turn and see the face he knew was there.

“Can you not face me after all these years, Mon Cher?” Barnabas turned to see the woman standing next to Elizabeth. Her face was as he remembered it. Only her clothing and accessories were of this century, chosen from the finest cloth and designers. She was still royalty living out of the past.

“Natalie?”

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.