Dark Shadows Episode 243 - 5/31/67

The doctor knocks on the door of the old house. Willie answers the door. He asks Willie how he's feeling, and asks to examine his wounds to ensure they're healing properly. He says he'd also like to get a sample of his blood.

Willie declines, and tells the doctor to go away. He tries to close the door but the doctor blocks it. He forces his way in. Willie says he feels fine. The doctor says he has another patient, Maggie Evans, and he wants to be sure they're not suffering from the same thing. Willie says he doesn't want or need an examination, and tells the doctor to go away.

He hears something, and asks what time it is. The doctor says it's 6:30, and Willie tells him he has to leave. Willie says it will be dark soon.

Barnabas interrupts them, and the doctor introduces himself. The doctor tells Barnabas why he wants to examine Willie, and Barnabas tells him to let the doctor do his work. Willie refuses, and asks to go to his room. Barnabas allows it, and apologizes to the doctor. He suggests that Willie might be afraid of doctors. The doctor asks Barnabas to try and persuade him to come see him. Barnabas says he will, but adds that he can't force Willie to do anything against his will.

Jason arrives at Collinwood and presents Liz with a bouquet of violets. She asks why, and he says he remembered that she likes them.

He mentions how she brought up a problem yesterday when there's a knock at the door. Liz gets it and lets the doctor in. He asks if Jason is present. Jason calls him into the drawing room and invites him to sit down. The doctor asks if Jason tended Willie when he was sick. He asks to confirm that Willie was weak during the day, and regained his strength at night. Jason confirms that, and asks why he's asking. The doctor says that Maggie Evans' symptoms were identical. He thinks Willie might have the same problem. He adds that Maggie's blood samples were stolen from his office. Jason asks why, and the doctor explains that he has no idea. He asks Jason to try and convince Willie to be examined. Jason says they're not close friends any longer. He suggests that he might have more luck with Barnabas. The doctor says he spoke to him, and Barnabas says he can't force Willie to do anything. Liz says she'll talk to Barnabas.

Jason goes to the old house, where Barnabas answers. He asks for Willie, and Barnabas explains he sent him on an errand. Jason asks to speak to Barnabas about Willie. They review the doctor's concerns. Barnabas says he promised the doctor that he would talk to Willie. Jason says that Barnabas is the only one he's ever seen Willie take orders from. He then asks how they met. Barnabas reiterates his story about Willie finding him on the side of the road, and helping him fix a flat tire. Jason says that it's quite a coincidence that Willie, with a strange interest in the Collins' family history, would end up working for Barnabas. Jason asks Barnabas if he knows about Willie being at the cemetery at Eagle's Hill.  Jason explains how he saw the Collins' family crypt there.

Jason returns home to the main house, and asks how well Liz knows Barnabas, and she tells him she doesn't want to talk about her cousin with him. Jason says he's not asking for any more money. Liz says the only solution is for Jason to leave. He says he has another idea, and tells her they are going to get married.

Our thoughts

John: Everyone knows that Willie will do whatever Barnabas asks of him. That said, it will be interesting to see how Barnabas' allowing Willie to avoid submitting to the doctor's examination will affect his own credibility. 

Christine: If Liz asks him to make Willie do it, he'll have to agree. After all, he's staying rent free on the property. If that's the case, will he risk further suspicion by stealing Willie's samples also? It's interesting that the notion of vampirism having an epidemiological basis is being raised.

John: I'm beginning to wonder how long until the V-word is mentioned in Collinwood. And now that Barnabas has Maggie on tap, does that mean Willie isn't out catching goats for him any more?

Christine: Perhaps it will be mentioned soon after our blood expert, Dr. Hoffman, arrives on scene. Willie seems too busy making runs to Bangor for draperies and whatnot to be able to secure livestock for Barnabas any more, but he must be having more than Maggie fluids for meals or she'd be drained by now.

John: Holy smokes. Could Jason possibly get away with blackmailing Liz to marry him?

Christine: He's gotten every other outrageous thing he's demanded. I think Liz is about to become a June bride. Prepare for Collinwood to be turned upside down.

Dark Shadows Episode 242 - 5/30/67

Burke Devlin stops in to see the doctor. He says Sam Evans is about to go over the edge. He says the only way to save Sam is to find Maggie. He asks the doctor if he has anything he can tell Sam about his investigations into Maggie's blood work to take his mind off her disappearance. The doctor says he's going to get Hoffman, one of the best men in the field, to come look at his slides. He can't explain what's going on with Maggie's blood, and is confident that Hoffman will be able to.

Liz is upset that Peterson asked Roger about her financial matters. She says she's not going to explain things to Roger. Roger tells Liz he's not prying for the sake of prying. Liz says she hasn't been feeling herself lately, and Roger attributes it to the arrival of Jason McGuire. He suggests that the money she's withdrawing is being paid to Jason. Roger says that he knows how she feels, bringing up the car accident. He brings up the key to the basement she wears around her neck. He asks her if the secret she's being blackmailed over is in the basement. Liz denies everything. Roger tells her he just wants to know what's happening so he can support her. She begs him to leave her alone.

Liz finds Jason in the drawing room, drinking. She explains that the situation cannot continue. He says she's upset that he hasn't been in the office, and tells her not to worry, he's been working on public relations. She tells him that's not the issue at all. She says she cannot transfer any more funds to a Swiss bank account, under any circumstances. Jason ignores Liz. She tells him that he'll get no more money from her, and nothing that he says or does will change that. Jason says he'll resign himself to that.

Liz tells Roger she straightened out the accounts with Peterson. She apologizes for how she acted previously. He asks if she can tell him what's going on, and she says she can't.

Burke and the doctor examine his office, which has been ransacked. He explains that his slides have been stolen, along with the sample of Maggie's blood. The doctor says this is confirmation that Maggie was taken. He shows Burke the bars on his window which were torn open by a madman. 

Our thoughts

John: I was excited to hear a reference to Dr. Hoffman, and surprised that HE is being referred to the top MAN in HIS field. I will be extremely interested over the next few weeks to see how Dr. Julia Hoffman is finally introduced

Christine: Clearly Dr. Hoffman was originally intended to be a male character. Thankfully that's not how it turned out or we would have missed out on the pleasure of having Grayson Hall join the cast. Looking forward to her arrival.

John: Someone should explain to Burke the difference between a microphone and a microscope.

Christine: It's a wonder Liz didn't learn from Roger's experience with being unable to keep a terrible secret and decide to confide in him. It's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. It's nice to see the siblings band together. It appears that Jason survived his experience being surrounded by howling dogs in the woods.

John: I think the writers dropped the ball when it came time to resolve the cliffhanger with Jason, and are hoping we wouldn't notice. I would have assumed Willie would have been the one to steal the blood from the doctor's office, but he couldn't tear open the bars on the window. That would establish the break in as the handiwork of Barnabas. But it raises the question, how would he have known the doctor had Maggie's blood samples let alone that he was calling in an expert to review the evidence.

Christine: Why are there bars on the window to Dr. Woodard's office in the first place? That seems odd. You'd think Barnabas would just steal the blood samples and go, rather than taking the time to trash the doctor's office. Perhaps the smell of blood made him lose control. I seem to remember someone telling Barnabas in a previous episode that Dr. Woodard had discovered something in Maggie's blood, but I haven't been able to track that down, so maybe I'm imagining that happened.

Dark Shadows Episode 241 - 5/29/67

David sneaks into the old house looking for the ghost of Josette. He hears a music box playing, and sees a woman coming down the stairs in a bridal gown with a veil. She speaks to David, asking his name, and then telling him she's been away to a place of death, but now she's come back. She had to come back. Maggie asks him where she is. He says she's in her house.

They discuss her music box, and then he points out that this is more than she's ever talked to him before. She says she's forgotten something, and David asks if she'll speak to him again. He says he used to call to her portrait, but she didn't always respond. She asks about the painting. He says it used to be above the fireplace, and now it's in her bedroom. He tells her he cried when it was taken down, but he's happier knowing where it is.

He shows her the portrait of Barnabas, and says it's being painted by Mr. Evans. Maggie recognizes the name. He then tells her the painting is Barnabas, and she repeats his name. She seems frightened. David asks why. There's a knock at the door and David hears Vicki and his father outside.

He turns around and finds that he's alone. David calls to Josette. From outside, Roger demands that he open the door. David opens the door and says hello to them. Roger asks where Barnabas is. Vicki says they heard David talking to someone. Roger asks if he came looking for Josette's ghost, and asks if he's seen her. David says no. Vicki seems to sense (or smell) something, and asks him if Josette had been in the room. The door opens and Barnabas enters.

Roger explains that David returned for another visit. Barnabas says his fondness for the house is insatiable. He asks if he came to visit him, or to find someone else. He says he wanted to see Josette again. Barnabas asks if he did, and David quickly says no. He asks David if he went upstairs, and David tells him no. Roger apologizes again, and ensures Barnabas it won't happen again. He sees the portrait, and says it's coming right along. Barnabas explains that Sam Evans isn't presently able to work on it. Roger comments that the resemblance to the portrait in the main house is uncanny. They excuse themselves, and Barnabas bids them goodnight. After they leave, he heads upstairs.

In her room with her music box playing, with her veil now lifted, Maggie looks at the portrait of Josette, and then looks into the mirror. Barnabas' hand closes the music box. He asks if she saw the people in the house. He reiterates that no one is to see her. She repeats after him. He says they wouldn't understand that she is Josette, and might call her Maggie Evans. She connects to Evans. Barnabas repeats that her name is Josette Collins. He says she's always been Josette Collins, no matter what anyone says. Maggie repeatedly says, "I am Josette Collins,"' and Barnabas opens her music box, resuming the melody.

The sheriff arrives at the old house and introduces himself to Barnabas, and he is invited in. He mentions that he heard that he had visited previously. They discuss Willie, and the sheriff asks about Willie's whereabouts when Maggie Evans disappeared. Barnabas confirms that Willie was on an errand to Bangor. The sheriff asks about the prior night Maggie disappeared. Barnabas explains that Willie was only gone long enough to get to the Evans house and back. As he's showing the sheriff out, Josette's music box begins playing upstairs. Barnabas makes an excuse that he had just winded it before coming downstairs.

Roger admonishes David, and asks Vicki to have David write the word 'honest' and its definition 50 times tomorrow. As they go upstairs, Vicki asks what he saw. She said she smelled Jasmine, and wants to know if he saw Josette. He says he did, and that they talked a lot. Vicki is surprised they had a conversation. David mentioned the music box, and says she was very different this time. He says she then disappeared. He gets her to promise not to tell anyone.

There's a knock at the door, and Vicki lets the sheriff in. He explains he was on the property, and thought he'd update she and Roger on the search. He explains that things aren't any better now that Barnabas has provided an alibi for Willie. He admits that it's possible that Maggie is dead.

In the old house, Maggie comes downstairs and calls out, "little boy, I need you."

Our thoughts

John: Granted, she had the veil on, but don't you think David knew Maggie well enough to recognize her? Perhaps since he's expecting to see Josette, he doesn't notice that Maggie looks nothing like the portrait. At least nowhere near as close as Vicki and and the portrait of Betty Hanscomb.

Christine: It is pretty weak for David to act oblivious to who she really is. He should be able to recognize her as the nice lady who gave him a free sundae.

John: Vicki could see through David's lies, and even if Roger could not, I'd think that Barnabas would be sharp enough to notice. Things can't keep up this way for long, or David is bound to go missing, too.

Christine: I wonder why Barnabas doesn't just lock the door to the Old House, especially now that he's kidnapped Maggie Evans. He should at least put his servant in charge of guarding her when he's not around.

John: Do you think Barnabas is drugging Maggie? It's one thing for her to be caught up in a trance in his presence, but you'd think seeing David, or hearing her name, might snap her back to reality.

Christine: Perhaps the music box is acting as a hypnotic influence. Or his bites have transmitted some vampire toxin into her bloodstream that makes her forget who she is. Either way, we haven't been provided with much evidence for why Maggie is acting like she's brain dead and not attempting to break free.

Dark Shadows Episode 240 - 5/26/67

Roger Collins reads the article about Maggie's disappearance when David announces that she's been found. Roger asks him what he's talking about, and Vicki clarifies he's referring to Josette—specifically her portrait in the old house. Vicki sends him out to play, but admonishes him not to bother his cousin Barnabas at the old house.

David knocks on the door of the old house. He tries to get in but the door is locked. He peers into the window and sees a woman in a wedding dress. He calls for Josette to let him in, not realizing that it's Maggie who he is seeing. As he goes to leave, the front door opens, so he enters. He calls for Josette, and looks for her but cannot find her.

David makes his way upstairs, and enters Josette's bedroom. He sees the portrait and speaks to it. He asks why she seems so far away when he just saw her downstairs. Barnabas enters and asks him what he's doing there. He asks if someone was here with him. David says that he was talking to Josette; more specifically to her portrait. He said he saw her downstairs a few minutes ago, but she disappeared. Barnabas suggests that means he imagined it. David says he saw her through the window.

Barnabas sits him down and asks if he has a habit of peering through others windows. Barnabas says that he's very fond of David, but asks him to forget that he thinks he saw Josette. David said that she must have been downstairs, as she opened the door. Barnabas explains that the house is very old, and the doors and windows are capricious. Barnabas asks David to stand in front of the portrait and look at it. A long and careful look. Barnabas asks him if he still feels Josette is somewhere nearby, and David admits that he does not. Barnabas tells him that she's gone, and David is upset by that.

Roger admonishes David for snooping around the old house, and tells him to apologize to his cousin. Barnabas says that an apology is not necessary, and that he thinks he's confirmed for David that Josette isn't there to be found. Vicki sends David upstairs while Barnabas and Roger retire to the drawing room.

Barnabas declines an invitation for a brandy. Roger says he wants to reiterate the apology, and that he'll talk to David to ensure it doesn't happen again. Barnabas thanks him, and requests that he does impress upon David that he shouldn't come around the old house. He explains how much he likes his privacy.

Roger blames the situation on Maggie Evans' disappearance. He says that from that, David has a renewed interest in finding the portrait of Josette. Barnabas agrees that it's quite interesting. Roger explains that there are no clues into Maggie's disappearance. Barnabas says he's sure she's still alive. Roger says that the doctor has some samples of her blood, and he has some suspicion that the blood samples might help him verify them. Barnabas asks about the suspicions, and Roger says he doesn't have more detail. Barnabas confirms the name of the doctor who has Maggie's blood samples.

Upstairs, David tells Vicki that something about Josette was different. Vicki tells him to stop it, and that he will not be going to the old house again. He talks back and she threatens to involve his father to be more strict with him. He goes downstairs, but as soon as Vicki is gone, he confirms that his father and cousin are still talking, and then heads out of the house.

Vicki tells Roger that David didn't have his dinner. Roger blames David's behavior on Vicki's lack of discipline. She says she's sure he's gone to the old house. Roger says that's exactly what he means. He just forbid David to go to the old house. He also suggests that David's fascination about Josette may be spurred on by Vicki's concern for Maggie Evans, and he asks her to try and hide her emotions. Vicki explains to Roger that she's frightened, and he apologizes for his behavior. Roger offers to go find David, and she says that's not necessary. He tells her he'll go with her.

David enters the old house and looks for Josette. He hears her music box and sees her come down the stairs. She's in the shadows so he cannot see her face.

Our thoughts

John: Roger! David! I'd almost forgotten what they look like! Of course they're both back to their old form. David disobeying orders, and Roger berating Vicki for her mishandling of him.

Christine: We last saw David in Episode 224 and Roger in Episode 228, so it has been a few weeks. I like how Roger blames Vicki's lenience for David's misbehavior when he is the little miscreant's father, who should be assuming responsibility for him.

John: For a minute, it looked like Barnabas may have taken a more angry tone with David. I don't know if he can ever convince David not to be interested in Josette.

Christine: So, Barnabas exorcises the real Josette and has Maggie assume her identity, because the real Josette would not want to have anything to do with him. If her spirit were still present in the Old House, she would not be pleased with Barnabas using Maggie as replacement, and would likely interfere with his aberrant plan.

John: How long until David realizes that Josette is in fact Maggie?

Christine: Considering that Kathryn Leigh Scott does not portray 'Josette' in this episode, it may take him awhile. Dorrie Kavanaugh appears as the "Woman in White" in this episode and Episode 238. She also appeared as the woman in Maggie's dream back in Episodes 224 and 225/226. David should at least recognize that she's more corporeal than he's seen her before. Incidentally, I wonder if Jason McGuire ever made it back to the house after being surrounded by howling dogs in Episode 237. We have yet to learn his fate.

Dark Shadows Episode 239 - 5/25/67

Sam is pacing at The Blue Whale when Joe arrives. He's distraught wondering where Maggie could be.

In the old house, Maggie comes downstairs to meet Barnabas. He leads her to a table where he sits across from her. He asks Willie to light the candles, and tells him Josette is ready to dine. Willie asks why he calls her that, and Barnabas says that is her name, and the only thing he should call her. Barnabas tells her she's lovely by candlelight. He comments on the music box she brought with her. He tells her she's very fond of it because he gave it to her. He explains that she had to hide it because there were those against their love. He tells her she'll soon be his bride, and he asks her to play the music for him. They toast to 'forever.'

Sam throws back a drink and asks Joe to call the sheriff's office. Joe explains that he just spoke to them. Joe tries to get him to think of something else. He asks about the portrait of Barnabas, and Sam says he plans to tell him he can't work on it—at least until he finds out about Maggie. Joe offers to drive him up to the house, and they head out.

Barnabas tells Maggie she should never be frightened of him. He says she was frightened of him once before, when she ran off to Widow's Hill. He asks her to tell him that she knows how happy they'll be, and she does. He's quite pleased. He takes her hand and she withdraws. He reminds her not to be frightened, and asks if she wants to be his bride. She says yes. A knock at the door interrupts them. Willie comes out and Barnabas tells him to tell whoever it is that he can't be disturbed.

Willie opens the door to Sam and Joe. They ask for Barnabas and he tells them he can't be disturbed. Sam tells him it will just take a minute and he tells them to wait outside.

Willie tells Barnabas that Sam and Joe are outside, and want to see him. Maggie appears to recognize the names. Barnabas says he should speak with them so as to not arouse suspicion. He sends Maggie upstairs with Willie. Once they're upstairs, Barnabas answers the door. He apologizes for keeping them waiting, and invites them in.

Barnabas asks if there's any word on Maggie, and Sam says no. He tells Barnabas he needs to stop working on the portrait temporarily, and Barnabas says not to worry. He was planning to suspend their sessions, as he's been increasingly busy. Sam starts to take the portrait, saying he might be able to work on it from home, and Barnabas stops him, telling him to leave the painting, but take the paints if he wishes.

Upstairs in her room, Maggie wanders aimlessly. Willie leads her to a chair to sit down, and says Barnabas will be there soon.

Sam asks Joe to take his paints, and tells Barnabas he can commission another artist if he'd like. Barnabas confirms that Sam is the artist for him.

Upstairs, Maggie hears Joe's voice. And then Sam's. She gets up, and almost in a daze, says she heard voices. Willie tells her she didn't hear anything. She asks where she is and he says she's in her room. She says she doesn't recognize it, and she wants to leave. Willie tells her she'll be in big trouble if she tries to leave. He sits her back down, and tells her to forget about the voices.

Sam points out that they must have come at a bad time, having interrupted his dinner setting for two.

Maggie says she heard her pop's voice, and Joe's, and they were calling her. Willie says something terrible will happen if she leaves the room.

Sam thanks Barnabas for his patience with the portrait.

Maggie tries to get away from Willie and bumps into a tray.

Downstairs, they hear the noise, and Barnabas explains Willie is somewhat clumsy. As they hear a car drive off, Maggie goes to the window crying for her pop and Joe.

Barnabas slowly makes his way upstairs.

On the drive home, Sam points out a woman on the road, disappointed when they realize it's not Maggie.

Willie tells Maggie he hopes Barnabas didn't hear her. Barnabas enters, and he sends Willie away. Willie claims he knocked the tray over, and asks Barnabas not to hurt her. Barnabas commands him to leave, and he does. Barnabas asks why she called out, and why she tried to leave him. He tells her she mustn't try to leave him, and that she'll never leave him. He approaches her, and she screams.

Our thoughts

John: So what's the vampire protocol about eating? Does Barnabas want to sit down for dinner just for the appearance of normalcy? Or does he actually eat food other than the blood of goats/Willie/Maggie and other random Collinsport girls?

Christine: He says that they always dined by candlelight in front of a fire, so I believe he is obsessively recreating his past life with Josette. We found out that Barnabas taught Josette to speak English when she was 18. She was apparently a woman of good taste who had silversmiths make candlesticks of her own design for her dowry. We also learned that not everyone approved of their love, so Josette had to keep the gift of the music box a secret.

John: I love how Sam tells Joe he'd rather know Maggie was dead. Yikes. Do you really mean that, Sam?

Christine: He said he'd rather know that she was dead than not know anything at all. I think he was just inadequately trying to describe the torture of not knowing her fate.

John: Willie seems to think that Barnabas would treat Maggie the same way he treats him. I can't see Barnabas beating her with his cane, but that would certainly color our perception of him. I guess we'll find out in time just what he's capable of.

Christine: I think it's a fair assumption for him to make, and was very gallant of him to try and take the blame for the noise she made in order to spare her any retribution. Barnabas loves her as Josette, but may not treat her so kindly if she doesn't play the role he expects from her, or tries to leave him. I think we can already imagine why the original Josette threw herself off the cliff at Widow's Hill. He's a rather possessive sort of fellow.