Dark Shadows Episode 1091 8/31/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV! 

Julia hears Maggie return to Collinwood. She nearly collapses going up the stairs, and Julia notices bite marks on her neck. She helps her into the drawing room and tells her that she can help her. Maggie starts to speak of the woods, and Julia tells her not to talk. She says to herself that she should have known that it would happen. Hallie comes downstairs and asks what happened to Maggie. Julia yells at her to go back up to her room. Hallie asks why it had to happen to Maggie, saying she hasn't done anything wrong, before running upstairs. Julia helps Maggie up to her room.

At the old house, Barnabas is reading a book when Julia arrives. He asks her what's wrong, and she says he knows very well. He asks if it's the children, and she asks him why he did it to Maggie. Barnabas is confused. She tells him he can't possibly get away with it, and he demands her to tell him what happened to Maggie. She says he can't possibly get away with his attack on Maggie tonight. He asks if she's absolutely sure he was attacked by a vampire. Julia says she saw marks only he could have made on her neck. He swears he didn't do it. She asks how he can deny it, and he says he can deny it because he didn't to it.

He tells Julia that he never lied to her. He says there must be someone nearby with the same curse he has. She says they surely would have known if there was another vampire around. He points out that Maggie was with Sebastian, who is new to Collinsport. Julia reminds him that she has seen Sebastian during the day. She says she wants to believe him. As a rooster crows, he tells her to stay with Maggie, and he'll find out whoever is responsible tonight.

Hallie tells David what she saw. She says Julia told Elizabeth that Maggie was attacked by a wild animal, but she thinks Gerard is responsible. David says she should go to Maggie to find out what she can. Hallie asks him to promise her that he won't try to contact Gerard. He tells her to go to Maggie. After she's gone, David realizes that it may be dangerous, but for Maggie's sake, he has to try to contact Gerard.

Hallie asks Maggie how she's feeling, and she says she'll be alright. She tells Hallie that she and David need to keep up their lessons. She tells Hallie that she's good, and Hallie responds that sometimes she does things that she shouldn't, and is worried Maggie was hurt because of her. Maggie says she was attacked in the woods, and it has nothing to do with anyone else. Julia comes in and tells Hallie that Maggie needs her rest. After she leaves, Maggie tells Julia that she doesn't need to stay with her all the time. Julia says she has nothing else to do. Maggie mockingly states that she thought she and Barnabas needed to search for clues to the catastrophe. Julia asks if she thinks the safety of the children is unimportant, and Maggie apologetically agrees.

In the playroom, standing before the spinning carousel, David begs for Gerard to appear to him. It stops, and David feels a presence in the room. He calls to Gerard. He turns and sees Carrie. He asks her to speak to him if she can. He says he has a question for Gerard, but she might be able to answer. He asks if Gerard is the one who attacked Maggie. Carrie smiles, and then shakes her head no. David says Julia must have been right, and it must have been an animal. He then asks Carrie what is going to happen to Hallie and him. He asks if she'll tell him and she nods. He goes to get Hallie. Carrie approaches the Carousel and it begins to spin again.

Julia tells Barnabas that all the symptoms are there. He asks if she implied to Maggie that he may have been responsible. She confirms that she did not. She does tell him that she was certain that he was responsible. He tells her to take him to Maggie, which will prove to her that he's not responsible. He adds that they need to find the unknown source before any more harm is done.

David asks Maggie if Hallie told her where she was going. Maggie says she doesn't remember. Julia and Barnabas come in and ask David what he's doing. He says he was checking on Maggie. He asks if they've seen Hallie, and they say no. He says to tell her he's looking for her if they do, and leaves. Barnabas asks about Maggie, who remains distant, even to him. Julia asks him to step outside. She says she knows now that he isn't the one who attacked her. He laments the agony that he himself has inflicted on so many. They hear dogs howling, and Barnabas says he's out there. He says he'll search the grounds, and asks Julia to guard her. She says she has a crucifix. He says when he finds whoever is responsible, he'll drive the stake himself.

He leaves, and she goes back into Maggie's room. She gets up and puts on her robe. She starts out of her room, hearing the dogs outside. Julia realizes that she's being summoned, and decides that she'll let Maggie lead her to the one responsible. She grabs her crucifix.

Our thoughts: 

John: Oh come on guys! They were right there, and couldn't make the final connection. I'm going all in saying that the one who attacked Maggie is none other than Roxanne — vampiress! Which starts to make sense of her relationship with Sebastian, and lack of one with Barnabas. And any doubt was removed as soon as Barnabas proclaimed that he would be the one to drive the stake... since we all know he'll be hard pressed to kill off his latest love interest.

Christine: Yup! And Julia seems destined to make the discovery. Will she be conflicted in telling Barnabas that his parallel paramour is the vampire in question, knowing he'll be unable to drive the stake as promised, and fearing he may have found his match made in hell?

John: It's almost funny when Maggie has to play mean. It's so against her nature, it should be obvious to everyone around her that she's under some kind of spell. When she called Vicky a jerk after she first arrived in Collinwood, that was more playful, even if she was completely serious.

Christine: Even the bite of a vampire can't completely erase her good nature.

John: Is it just me, or is Hallie getting a little too whiney? You would think if she was this freaked out, she'd break down and tell Barnabas and Julia everything she knows...

Christine: The kids can't tell anybody because Daphne and Gerard won't let them. All I can think is that maybe it's time for that Jan Brady hairstyle to make a comeback. Join the Hallie hair challenge and give yourself some side curls! I hope we can expect to check off another item from the Catastro-tracker by Friday!

Dark Shadows Before I Die Catastro-tracker

❎ The picnic

❎ The night of the sun and moon

 ▢ The murder

❎ The unfinished horoscope

 ▢ The night Carolyn sang her song

❎ Rose Cottage

Dark Shadows Episode 1090 8/28/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV! 

David enters the tower room with a candle. He looks around for a green flag. He finds it, and goes to the window. He opens it and waves the flag, calling to Gerard that he's following his instructions.

In the graveyard, the earth begins to rise.

Before waving it a third time, David drops the flag and calls to Gerard. He says he did what he thought he wanted him to do. He apologizes, and says he doesn't know what the note means. He asks what would happen if he waved the flag a third time. Julia bursts in and asks who he was talking to. He says he was talking to himself, and she calls him a liar. He says there's no one there. She prevents him from leaving. She asks him what he expected to find. She accuses him of taking a note from one of her books, and finds it in his hand. She says she read it before she put it in the book. She says she didn't know what it meant, but assumes that he does.

She sees the flag, and says he knew he'd find it there. He says he was just curious. She tells him that by not telling her what's happening, he's in more danger. She demands that he tell her what's happening right now. She asks him what he knows about the Java Queen. She points out that Gerard, who wrote the note, was the captain of the ship. She says that he is evil, and she knows he has seen him. She threatens to tell his aunt, and he says he doesn't care, and leaves the tower room.

Maggie is sitting by the fire when Barnabas arrives at Collinwood. He asks her what's troubling her. She says she should have talked to him about the children. She says that something has happened, but she doesn't know what. She says they've become cold and distant. She says she's felt a presence in the house that has frightened her. They embrace, and he looks at her neck.

Julia interrupts them. He says Maggie has noticed a change in the children. Julia says she just had an unpleasant scene with David in the tower room. She asks Maggie to check on him. Once she's gone, she says she arrived just in time. She says Maggie became his victim once before. He assures her that he's in complete control, and Maggie is perfectly safe.

The next morning, Julia tells Maggie that she needs her to check in on David. Maggie goes into the drawing room, and David comes in to find something. She says they need to talk, and he tells her he has to go somewhere, but he'll be back in time for his lessons.

David arrives at Shaw's place, and asks him to do his horoscope. Shaw asks him if something has happened. David offers him $40, and Shaw tells him to put his money away. David asks if he's afraid of what it might tell him, and Shaw says no. He asks David for some time to think it over, and sends him home. Shaw realizes that David will die unless someone does something soon. He decides to tell Elizabeth everything.

Maggie answers the door when Shaw arrives at Collinwood. He explains that he's there to see Elizabeth. She says she's out until late in the afternoon. Maggie introduces herself to him. She says Mrs. Stoddard told her about him, and his resemblance to Jeb Hawkes. He says that no one told him how lovely she is. They flirt, and he invites her to dinner. She says she's inclined to say yes.

Back at Shaw's, he works on David's horoscope when Roxanne comes in. She asks why he went out today, and where he went. He says he went to buy some materials. She tells him he's being defensive. He tells her that he's going out. She says in the future he should exercise more caution. He leaves, but Roxanne follows him.

Barnabas is shocked to hear from Julia that Maggie is having dinner with Shaw. Julia says she doesn't understand why it upsets him. Barnabas says Shaw is either a charlatan or a liar, and he can't be trusted. She asks if that's all that troubles him. They see Maggie and Shaw return from dinner. She bids him goodnight, and smiles. Barnabas asks her if she had a chance to talk with David, and she says she had no more luck than they did.

Shaw returns home, and Roxanne asks him if he enjoyed himself. He says yes. She then asks if Maggie enjoyed herself, too. He says he should have known she'd be too curious. She says she just happened to see them at the Collinsport Inn, and he doesn't believe her. She asks if he plans to see her again, and he says he does.

Barnabas tells Maggie that they must continue to watch David. She offers to walk him as far as the gate, and once they're gone, Julia sits down with her books.

An hour later, Julia hears Maggie return. She nearly collapses going up the stairs, and Julia notices bite marks on her neck.

Our thoughts: 

John: Julia doesn't know why Barnabas is upset to find out that Maggie is having dinner with another man? Oh come now! She's probably loving the fact that he's getting a taste of his own medicine!

Christine: Exactly! She was taunting him when she said that. It was a lovely moment.

John: Interesting that they chose to use a new visual transition to establish the passage of the time when Julia in alone in the drawing room. Of course looking at it with a 2020 viewpoint, it's a particularly cheesy wipe!

Christine: It's always nice to see when the show gets a new piece of technology to play around with. What do you suppose is going on with Roxanne and Sebastian's relationship? They appear to be living together, but he dates other chicks. Welcome to the free-wheeling seventies!

John: So things just got real. Obviously, we're expected to believe that Barnabas is responsible for Maggie's bite (he being the only outed vampire in present day 1970). But he also made a point of telling Julia that he was in control. Which would mean that another vampire is stalking Collinwood! Who could it be? Where's Karl Kolchak when you need him!

Christine: I don't know that I believe Barnabas is in control, but that was a really grotesque bite! He generally doesn't leave gaping holes in his victims like that. Someone really drilled down on her neck. Roxanne seems to be the likely culprit, which might explain her domineering relationship with Shaw. Will we see the show's first cute vampire couple hookup soon?  We may be getting closer to ticking off another clue on the Catastro-tracker.

Dark Shadows Before I Die Catastro-tracker

❎ The picnic

❎ The night of the sun and moon

 ▢ The murder

❎ The unfinished horoscope

 ▢ The night Carolyn sang her song

❎ Rose Cottage

Dark Shadows Episode 1089 8/27/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV! 

Elizabeth comes downstairs, calling to Julia that they must get the children out of Collinwood tonight. When she swings the drawing room doors open, she comes face to face with the ghost of Gerard. She asks who he is and what he's doing in the house. He reaches towards her and she tells him to stay away, but he just closes the door behind her.

Hallie tells David to quit thinking about it. He wonders why they haven't seen any of the ghosts in the past few days. He says there's a reason. Hallie asks if it's because they haven't been to the playroom, and he says if they wanted them to do that, they would have. Hallie asks if they're really free. He says they can find out. He says if you stand on someone's grave at midnight, you can tell if their spirit is at rest. He says he's going to stand on Gerard's grave tonight. She says she doesn't want to come with him, but she won't let him go alone.

Gerard reaches out and touches Elizabeth's face. She appears to be in a trance, and says she understands everything, and the children will not leave the house.

As she says she knows what must be done, Julia approaches the drawing room and enters. She asks Elizabeth who she was talking to. She says she startled her. She explains that she was on the phone with her lawyer. Julia doesn't believe her, sensing evil in the room. Elizabeth says the idea of spirits in the house is the figment of someone's imagination. She says her horoscope has convinced her that they are not on the brink of a catastrophe. Julia asks about yesterday's message, and Elizabeth says it has no meaning. Julia recommends removing the children, and Elizabeth assures her that they are safe.

Julia says she found information on a ship called the Java Queen, like the model David found in the attic. She says the real ship was shipwrecked near Collinsport on this day in 1840. Elizabeth says it's a fascinating coincidence, and leaves the room. Julia is sure that it's more. She doesn't notice as David and Hallie sneak out the front door. Julia continues reading about the Java Queen, and how the crew perished but the unknown captain was believed to survive. He vowed to unite his evil followers in death to kill and plunder once more.

David and Hallie arrive at Gerard's grave. Hallie says she wants to get over it and go home. He says it's not midnight yet. David points out a locked off area where criminals and misfits were buried hundreds of years ago. He says their souls had no place to go. Hallie says it's almost twelve. He points out that it's 10 seconds away. Lightning crashes and Hallie asks if they can go. They see the ghost of Gerard standing nearby, staring at them. He approaches them with his arms outstretched, and they run away.

Back at Collinwood, Hallie says that now they know. They sneak in the front door, seen by Julia. She asks them what they were doing outside. He says they were just walking. She points out that no one goes for a walk near one in the morning. He threatens to tell his aunt, and he begs her not to. She tells them to join her in the drawing room to tell her about it. He says they were talking in his room, and then David wanted to show Hallie a constellation. Julia doesn't buy it. David begs her not to tell his aunt. Julia tells Hallie that she thinks they know more than they admit. She says they're on the same side, and she won't tell Mrs. Stoddard. David takes a note from the book Julia was reading. She sends them upstairs. Julia is sure they know more than they're telling, and doesn't know how to get them to admit it.

As she starts upstairs, she sees Elizabeth at the top of the stairs, placing the bust that almost killed her in 1995. She asks Julia if she likes it. Julia asks what made her decide to place it there, and explains that she was almost crushed by it in the future. Elizabeth doesn't get the relevance. Julia tries to explain that the bust was there in the future because she just placed it there. Elizabeth tells her that she and Barnabas need to forget about 1995.

David reads the note from Julia's book. He says it was signed with the letter G, which he assumed was Gerard. It speaks of watching for a green flag in the window at Collinwood as a sign. David says they must do something to please Gerard. He says he'll go to the tower room and if he finds a green flag, he'll wave it three times.

David enters the tower room with a candle. He looks around for a green flag. He finds it, and goes to the window. He opens it and waves the flag two times, calling to Gerard that he's following his instructions.

In the graveyard, the earth begins to move.

Our thoughts: 

John: Still no words from Gerard, but he was able to possess Elizabeth. That can't bode well for anyone in the house. Do you think he'll be snarling all the time in 1840? Or just when he's not talking?

Christine: I really think you need to give up on the notion that you're ever going to hear Gerard the angry ghost speak. If Gerard was the pirate we're being led to believe he was, then I expect lots of snarling and maybe a few ARGHs in 1840. If we're lucky, maybe he'll delight us with an "ARGH, matey!"

John: It's pretty silly to believe that David found a note from Gerard in one of Julia's books before she would have had a chance to read and interpret it. The writers should have planted it in the Java Queen model.

Christine: Yes, that would be silly, except the note wasn't in Julia's book while she was holding it.  I think we are supposed to assume that Gerard snuck it in the book purposefully so David would find it and wave the green flag to wake his dead army.

John: The zombies are coming back to Collinwood! Too bad they won't be rising from the ocean, Zombies of Mora Tau-style... Will they bring about the death of the children and the destruction of Collinwood? Where's Quentin? And do you think Barnabas will be back in time to stop them? Or is he going to miss out on all the fun?

Christine: Barnabas who? I think David's garish blue vest has aligned him with evil, since he seemed so eager to do something to please Gerard. How cute that David held Hallie's hand for the first time while standing on Gerard's grave.

Dark Shadows Before I Die Catastro-tracker

❎ The picnic

❎ The night of the sun and moon

 ▢ The murder

❎ The unfinished horoscope

 ▢ The night Carolyn sang her song

❎ Rose Cottage

Dark Shadows Episode 1088 8/26/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV! 

At the stroke of midnight, Quentin goes to Daphne's room. He looks for her, bu doesn't see her. He calls for her to appear. Gerard sneaks up behind him with a rope.

Outside the door, Julia hears Quentin and comes into the room. He's alone. He accuses her of following him. He explains that as he was going to his bedroom, he heard a noise inside the room. Julia senses evil in the room. He asks Quentin if it was the man's room, and he asks her if he was a servant. She asks how he knows it's a servants room. He says they should go, and she says that since he heard a noise, she thinks they should stay. They argue, and Julia tries to convince him how insidious Gerard is. Quentin asks if Gerard was in love with the woman he's enthralled with. Julia asks him why he's asking. He says so he'll know for the future, and leaves. Neither of them notice Gerard's rope on the floor.

The next morning, Elizabeth reviews her horoscope, which says an enemy becomes a friend today. Julia tells her that might be important. Elizabeth says it might turn out like a loved one meeting a stranger. She calls Shaw and asks him to come over to clarify her chart. He tells her that he's booked for the day. She presses him, and he offers to make time later that evening. She hangs up and tells Julia she can't believe his waiting room is so jammed with people that he can't come until tonight.

Shaw dreads returning to Collinwood.

Quentin returns to Daphne's room. He finds the rope on the floor, and wonders if it was there before. He wonders about Daphne and Gerard. He calls to her, but decides Gerard won't let her come to him.

Roxanne tells Shaw he has 15 minutes to get to Collinwood. He points out that she wants him to go. He says his instincts are to stay there with her, and she says that would be foolish. He says everything they have done is foolish. He wonders why he lied to Elizabeth, and create a fictitious horoscope. Roxanne says he can't stop what's going to happen there. He says he can warn them, and she points out that Barnabas already has. He says that Elizabeth will listen to him. Roxanne offers to go with him, to help him if she can. He says it's always easier when she's around.

Elizabeth points out that Quentin seems depressed. He bristles at her claim and goes upstairs. Shaw And Roxanne arrive. Julia lets them in and tells Roxanne how much she looks like the Roxanne she knew. Shaw introduces her as his assistant, and Elizabeth asks them to let her meet with Shaw alone. Roxanne tells Julia that Barnabas had her confused with that Roxanne.

Shaw says he can't tell her the name of the enemy mentioned in her horoscope. He admits to having a second sight, and sits down and tells her not to interrupt him.

Julia asks Roxanne if she thinks something wrong, and she says Shaw just gives too much of himself sometimes.

Shaw tells Elizabeth he sees a room that hasn't been used in over a century. He says there's a figurine of a woman and a child on a desk. He says she's a teacher. He then says, "Don't ever go in that room." Elizabeth asks him about the enemy, and Shaw warns her that the enemy might not be among the living.

Julia tells Elizabeth that it's the room in the West Wing that she and Quentin were in. He tells them that Shaw said they are not to enter that room. Quentin says that Julia and Barnabas are so anxious to have the disaster happen — and they shouldn't go where they're told not to. Julia says Elizabeth shouldn't go, but they can. Quentin asks Elizabeth to promise not to go into the room. Julia tells her that she will not go into the room, and Elizabeth says she sounds like her when she's talking to David. She goes upstairs. Julia tells Quentin that he must go to Shaw and find out everything that he knows.

Elizabeth goes to the room in the West Wing and stands outside the door. She steps inside and gasps when she sees the figurine that Shaw described. She smells lilacs, and is overcome by cold. She doesn't notice the ghost of Gerard standing behind her.

Shaw says he never should have told Elizabeth about the room. He says he'll never go back to Collinwood, or return any of her calls. Roxanne admonishes him, saying Collinwood seemed so perfect. He says that a disaster is coming and he can see it coming, but the people there don't know.

Elizabeth calls to anyone in the room, and Quentin interrupts her. He tells her to come with him, and she says that she smells lilacs, felt a chill, and knows that someone is watching them now. She says that her horoscope is wrong and something terrible is going to happen. She goes downstairs to find Julia. Before leaving, Quentin says to the room, "I told you we had very little time."

Elizabeth comes downstairs, calling to Julia that they must get the children out of Collinwood tonight. When she swings the drawing room doors open, she comes face to face with the ghost of Gerard.

Our thoughts: 

John: Poor Julia is left to do all the heavy lifting with Quentin while Barnabas is off vacationing somewhere. I can't even understand why Quentin refuses to fess up about Daphne and her room, considering it's well established that he's infatuated with her.

Christine: I think we're supposed to believe that, like the children, he is being manipulated by Daphne, and is unable to tell anyone about her.

John: I'm a bit torn about Shaw's having developed a conscience since arriving on the scene. It's hard to believe that a grifter would suddenly feel bad about the people he's taking advantage of. And since we've gotten no indication that Roxanne has some unearthly powers over him, she just comes across as a manipulative woman. In which case she'd actually be better off setting her sights on Barnabas, so she could have an honest-to-goodness vampire under her alluring spell.

Christine: You make it sound as though being a manipulative woman is somehow worse than having supernatural powers that enable her to manipulate him. Poor Sebastian does not seem to have much going on in his datebook.

John: You go Elizabeth! Taking the bull by the horns, ignoring all warnings, and now she's going to face off with Gerard. Will this be the event that finally leads him to speak? And where is Julia?

Christine: I'm guessing that Julia went to check on Barnabas to see if his coffin lid is jammed.  I'm going to be very surprised if we hear Gerard's ghost speak. Ghosts who speak on this show are less menacing.

Dark Shadows Before I Die Catastro-tracker

❎ The picnic

❎ The night of the sun and moon

 ▢ The murder

❎ The unfinished horoscope

 ▢ The night Carolyn sang her song

❎ Rose Cottage