Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Dark Shadows Episode 337 - 10/10/67

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Dr. Woodard shows up at the Radcliffe mausoleum, and confronts the caretaker. He asks him about the curse on the Collins tomb that he mentioned when they ran into him at Eagle Hill cemetery. He asks to see the family journal describing the curse. He tells Woodard that it doesn't explain why the curse was placed on the tomb. He explains it will take time to gather the records, and Woodard tells him he'll wait. Less than a minute later, they're looking through a book together.


Roger bumps into Barnabas as he's leaving Collinwood. Barnabas says he spoke to Liz about David, who had gotten him to calm down. Roger says he thinks he's found a place in Boston to send David.


The caretaker reads an entry on Sarah Collins. Woodard says he's not interested in Sarah. He wants to know about her brother Barnabas. The caretaker mentions the resemblance of Barnabas and his ancestor.


He says he thought he was the original Barnabas come back to life when he saw him in the cemetery. Woodard finds an entry that describes Barnabas' father having the family crypt built the day Barnabas left for England. Woodard says he doesn't believe Barnabas Collins ever left Collinwood.


Liz tells Roger that she will not allow David to be sent to a military school. Roger says it's his decision, and Liz threatens him to go ahead and try. Roger backs down.


Dr. Woodard arrives at the house and asks to see David. Roger offers him a drink, and he declines, saying he has work to do later. Roger invites him into the drawing room, and Woodard stops to admire the portrait of Barnabas. Roger asks what he wants to see David about. He says he told David he'd stop by to see him. Roger and Liz leave David with Woodard. He tells David that he met Sarah, and he knows that whatever frightened him is real. He tells David he's sure Barnabas sealed the secret room. He says he's going to do some more investigation before telling anyone what he found. David asks if he thinks Barnabas is dead. Woodard says he's not sure, but he does believe the coffin in the secret room is Barnabas'. He tells David not to tell anyone about their talk. David is concerned about Woodard, but he tells him not to worry about him.


Woodard goes to the old house to see Barnabas. He says that David is much healthier than others think. Barnabas asks if the doctor still gives credence to David's stories. Woodard asks if Barnabas has given him any reason to hate him. Barnabas says no. He says there seems to be no motivation why David would make up these stories. Woodard says that the psychiatrist mentioned that David might be bothered by the fact that Barnabas resembles his ancestor. Barnabas tells Woodard he's fed up with being investigated. Woodard tells him that he saw Barnabas' sister Sarah tonight. Barnabas says he doesn't have a sister. Woodard says perhaps she said ancestor. Barnabas asks him to leave.


Our thoughts

John: No! Our Eagle Hill cemetery caretaker has been replaced, too! The new guy lacks all the doddering charisma of the original caretaker.

Christine: Our original Caretaker, Daniel Keyes, also wouldn't cross the picket line, so now we have two bumbling newbies talking over each other.


John: How much more evidence does Woodard need to mount his case against Barnabas Collins—VAMPIRE! He's gathered all the data, but hasn't said the word.

Christine: Maybe he thinks he's some kind of zombie.

John: When Woodard tells David not to tell anyone about their talk, he's all but sealed his death warrant. And clearly he overestimates his own prowess as he goes right up to Barnabas and calls him out for being the one true Barnabas. One has to wonder how far from the old house he'll get before Barnabas or his minions swoop down and do away with the good Dr.

Christine: Just when I was getting to appreciate new Dr. Woodard for his range of facial expressions, and the cute way he says Barnabeese. The situation is reminiscent of the time Dr. Guthrie confronted Laura Murdoch Collins about being undead in Episode 184, and we know how that turned out. New Dr. Woodard even looks like Dr. Guthrie. I wonder if Barnabas will apply his trademark throat throttle, or if he'll decide it's about time to sink his teeth into a jugular.



Double whoops! Boom mic and edge of set.

An awkward silence between Barnabas and Woodard. Who missed the cue?
 
It appears that the camera operator also didn't cross the picket line.

1 comment:

Grant said...

That Woodard and Barnabas scene reminds me of the Peter Cushing and George Pastell scene in THE MUMMY, because Cushing knows Pastell is part of the supernatural things he's a target of, but he goes there and baits the man anyway. It's one of the best scenes in the film, but (like the police detective in the film) you wonder what he was thinking when he did it.