The Collinsport Weather Report: Episode 85: The Crusader Returns

Friday, October 19, 1966

My name is Victoria Winters. There are sections of Collinwood that have been closed off for more than fifty years, dusty rooms and dark, haunted corridor, rooms that no one ever sees—no one but a tormented boy, a boy who has taught me that a secret hiding place can be more than just a child’s playroom. It can also be a prison.

Vicki asks David to let her out.

“You can’t keep me locked up in here!”

The candle goes out and she relights it.

She yells towards the window, hoping Carolyn or Liz will hear her.

Carolyn wants to know where her raincoat is. Liz says it’s in her room; she was sewing on a loose button.

Carolyn says she apologized to Joe and he told her he has a date for tonight. She’s going to have a big night, with or without Joe. She doesn’t want to hear any lectures.

“Well, you’re going to. Not so long ago, you chased a man all the way to Bangor.”

“All right, I had lunch with Burke.”

“If I were Joe, I would’ve taken a dozen girls out by now.”

“I’m not gonna listen to what you’re saying.” Hands over ears.

“You think your world’s coming to an end because, for once, Joe didn’t jump the minute you snapped your fingers. If you want to know, I’m delighted.”

“I can’t hear a word you’re saying Mother.”

“Yes, you can, and it’s high time you realized the world doesn’t revolve around Carolyn Stoddard.”

“I don’t care what you say—I’m going out, and I’m gonna find someone, and I’m gonna have some fun!”

“Carolyn, don’t be a fool!”

“And I don’t care who it is, maybe it’ll even be Burke Devlin—I don’t care!”

Sam arrives at the Blue Whale. He walks past Burke’s invitation to sit with him and calls Maggie on the pay phone.

He’s worried when she tells him that Joe is coming over for dinner, but promises not to lecture her.

Burke inveigles Sam to sit down and visit with him. He needs company. He promises not to talk about Bill Malloy unless Sam does.

Burke wants to make a big night out of it. Sam thinks he’s drunk. Burke agrees. The first time since he’s come back to Collinsport. “The crusader returns.”

Burke is in a sentimental mood.

“Burke, you can’t come back here like you have, looking for trouble, and expect to find friends.”

Burke wishes they could be friends again. “I wish everybody I used to know and like could be friends.”

“You can’t have it both ways,” Sam tells him.

They drink to amnesia.

Carolyn tells her mother she just wants to get out of the house and listen to music.

Burke wouldn’t have a thing to do with her anyway. “God help me.”

Liz wishes Carolyn would stay home and help her look for Vicki. Carolyn says she’s just gone out.

Liz says she’s afraid something has happened to her—all her coats are in her closet. “Then I suppose she’ll come home with a cold.” (What a good friend Carolyn is!)

“I wish you’d stay home. I’m worried.”

“Tonight, Mother, the only person I intend to worry about is me,” Carolyn says, opening her umbrella. (So, the same as every other night, then?”)

Vicki climbs up to try the window, which has bars (bars?) that won’t budge.

She lies down on the cot and despairs.

Burke says he likes money. Sam says the Collins family has money and what did it get them?

“Ghosts,” Burke says.

“Ghosties and ghoulies and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night. I can sense their presence every time I look at that house up on Widow’s Hill.”

Burke asks if he’s ever seen one. Sam says no. Then how does he know they’re there?

“Because I’m an artist. I have a soul. Sensitivity.”

Burke asks if the “ghosts are out like mad” on a night like tonight.

“In droves. Like—like herds of buffalo, frightening everything in their path.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

“Can’t you just see it, a whole herd of ghosts trampling through the front hall at Collinwood?”

“Who needs a herd? I’d only need one.”

“All right, just one. One to terrify ’em, scare ’em like they deserve to be scared.” More drinks arrive. Burke says there’s one person he wouldn’t want to scare.

“And, uh, who would you spare, Burke, from this crusade of yours?”

“Cheers.”

“Cheers. Vicki Winters. I wouldn’t want to scare her. I like her more than anyone up on that hill.” (Sad news for David.) They drink to friendship. “Too bad old Bill Malloy isn’t here.”

“Hey, you broke your promise.”

“I did?”

“You said you’d never mention his name.”

“Forgive me.”

“I do. Ah, I wish old Bill were here sitting right in this chair now having a little drink with us.”

“Maybe he is,” Burke says. The ghosts are out tonight, after all, like herds of buffalo.

They agree that Bill was murdered. So, why wouldn’t he be out tonight?

They sing Bill’s favorite song, “What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor?”

Carolyn arrives at the Blue Whale and Burke and Sam make much of her.

Burke asks where her boyfriend is and she says she doesn’t have one. Sam kisses her hand.

Then Burke says it would have been nice if she’d brought Vicki. Her bright smile would brighten up this table. She says she guesses they don’t need her and starts to get up.

Sam and Burke persuade her to stay.

Then Sam remembers that he has to get home. Maggie is having a special dinner. She’s having a young man over. Carolyn’s face falls. She guesses he means Joe Haskell.