Joe Haskell Gets Out Of Wyndcliffe
A Funny Short Story By Lalinda
December 18, 2003

JOE HASKELL GETS OUT OF WYNDCLIFFE

Scene: Wyndcliffe fifty years later. Barnabas and Julia are coming down the hall as the nurse comes out leading Joe by the hand.

Barnabas: Julia, let me help you, my dear. Here, use my cane. Since Willie left me it's pretty damn useless.

Julia: Thank you, dear Barnabas. Isn't this an exciting day? Finally, after all these years, Joe gets to be released from Wyndcliffe...

Barnabas (smiling): Yes, and he has us to thank for it.

Julia (batting her eyes): Us? Oh, really! Barnabas, you know it was all my doing...

Barnabas (clearing his throat): Ahem! My dear, Julia. It has been thirty years since you have been young enough to do anything to help anyone. Even yourself!

Julia (brandishing the cane): I can use this as well as anyone, Barnabas Collins! Don't tempt me to break it over your head.

Barnabas (laughing): Julia, you make me laugh, even after all these years.

Nurse (smiling): Hello, Dr. Hoffman. Mr. Collins. Are you ready to take Mr. Haskell home?

Barnabas and Julia look at each other.

Julia: Home! Oh my! Barnabas, where are we going to take him? He hasn't any home. Not anymore.

Barnabas: Of course he does. He can use the cottage now that Chris and Sabrina aren't there anymore.

Julia: Did you clear that with Liz?

Barnabas: Of course I did. The poor dear agrees to whatever I ask of her anymore. Come, Joe. We are taking you home.

Joe (leaning on his walking stick): Thank you, Barnabas. You are being so kind to me.

Barnabas: And why shouldn't I be? After all, I feel some obligation to Chris and Tom's cousin...and dear Amy's...

Joe (with tears in his eyes): And you say the last words Amy said before she died were, Help Joe get well? How sweet of her. I always did love Amy.

Julia: Yes, Joe. She loved you, too.

Barnabas: Shall we go?

Suddenly Joe stares at Barnabas.

Barnabas: Is something wrong, Joe?

Joe (starting to laugh): Is there something wrong? Is there something wrong you ask! I should say so...The vampire and the werewolf...There was more than one vampire...You Barnabas are a vampire too!

Julia (reaching to slap Joe) throws herself off balance and Barnabas reaches out to keep her from falling.

Joe: Barnabas Collins is the vampire! Barnabas Collins is the vampire!

Barnabas: Quick Julia! Give him a seditive. Put him back in the strait jacket!

Nurse: Oh dear! He's had a relapse. I am so sorry.

Julia: Where's my little black bag, Barnabas?

Barnabas: Oh no!

Nurse: What is it?

Barnabas: The little black bag of seditives has been thrown over Widow's Hill!

Julia: Why? What are you talking about, Barnabas?

Barnabas: Remember, Julia? When you were diagnosed with dementia, you had to give up your practice and we had a ceremony and threw the bag and all your seditives over the cliff of Widow's hill and you promised never to use them again.

Joe (laughing): Julia's in love with the vampire! Julia's in love with the vampire.

Nurse (soothingly): Come, Mr. Haskell. We have a nice room for you and you'll never have to leave it again.

The end.

Lalinda