Dark Shadows Episode 934 1/22/70

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Quentin tells Amanda to look ahead. She starts back the other way, and he calls her to come to him. She does, and as she reaches the edge, she falls, grabbing the top of the rope bridge. He grabs her hand and is able to pull her back up. They hug, and then she tells him that they've lost because they touched. He tells her to follow him, and she is buried under falling debris.

Amanda calls to Quentin as he lies passed out on the ground. He comes to and gets up, wishing it were all a dream. He realizes that Amanda is gone as the cave is gone.

The sheriff covers Paul's body and asks Julia if she notified the family. He says he doesn't know what to say other than he was destroyed horribly in the room he died in.

 
He says he'll give Paul's coat to someone who can investigate what's on it.

He leaves, and Stokes tells Julia that they should mention Barnabas' involvement. The sheriff comes back in and says they'll arrange an autopsy to see if that helps them identify Paul's killer. Julia says whatever killed Paul moved fiercely and quickly.

Megan goes upstairs to see if he's back yet. She tells Philip that he had to silence Paul. Philip asks what will happen when they see him wandering the countryside. Megan says he's faster and more clever than anyone after him.

Philip tells her that he'll get back, but someone will see him and follow him back. They'll find a killer in a dark, boarded up room. Philip says that it can't stay there anymore. They hear the heavy breathing, and Megan is excited he's back.

Philip says that she had better pray that no one saw him. Philip reiterates that he has to get out, if he can take care of himself. Megan calls him a coward. He says he may be a coward, but someone may come for him at any second.

Julia tells the sheriff what Paul's last words were. The sheriff repeats them. "Monster... room upstairs... dark boards... basement room... breathing... always breathing." He asks if Julia's sure that's what he said, and she says it is. The sheriff asks if she has any idea where the room might be. She says she saw him come out of the antique shop. The sheriff dismisses that, and then says Megan called him about Paul.

He says he thought it was because of Carolyn. Julia says she has to tell Carolyn, and they agree to say he died of a heart attack. Julia says they've got to find out what happened. The phone rings, and Stokes hands it to the sheriff. The sheriff says the chemist couldn't identify the substance on the jacket, and he's sending it to Bangor because it's unlike anything he's seen in his life. The sheriff recalls that Megan was frantic when she called him.

Megan tells Philip that he won't go. She adds that he was contemptuous. He asks if she locked him in and she says there's no point, as no lock will hold him. Philip says he doesn't know how they got into this, but now is the time to get out, and they have to leave while they can escape with their lives.

She says she can't leave it, and Philip says he's going with or without her. She begs him not to walk out on her when the phone rings. She answers, and sounds very excited.

She says that Elizabeth confirmed that they found Paul Stoddard dead of a heart attack, and that he never spoke to anyone. She smiles and tells Philip there's no reason to run away now.

Philip stands with his face reflecting in the mirror. Megan comes downstairs and says he's calm now and the window is fixed. She adds that there's no reason for Philip to be frightened of him. She says she's going to walk over to Collinwood, and will pretend to console her 'good friend' Carolyn. She tells him to stay, and says there's nothing to worry about. She adds that she told him not to hurt him.

The sheriff says the search warrant will be ready in an hour. Julia asks to join him. He says it could be dangerous, and that he doesn't know what to believe. They leave Professor Stokes behind, looking befuddled.

Philip starts upstairs when there's a knock on the door. It's the sheriff with Julia. He says he has a warrant to search the premises. He says someone mentioned their shop in his dying words. Philip asks who, and the sheriff says Paul Stoddard. Philip asks if he's dead, and the sheriff confirms that he's very dead. Philip says Paul was disturbed, and doesn't want to let them look around.

The sheriff asks Philip to lead the way, and they go upstairs. The sheriff asks whose room is at the top of the stairs, and Philip says it was the room of the child who died. He swears that there's nothing in there, and asks them not to defile it. The sheriff tells him that they're definitely going into the room at the top of the stairs. He draws his pistol, opens the door, and walks into a brightly lit room.

Our thoughts

John: I wish we got to hear Julia telling the sheriff Paul's last words. "Yes sheriff, I remember his last words exactly. They were, 'Monster. Room upstairs. Dark boards. Basement room. Breathing. Always breathing.' Oh, and 'Megan and Philip Todd's Antique Shop and Leviathan Breeding Ground.' Yep, I'm sure that's everything."

Christine: Whatever happened to "the enemies of Leviathan must not die by the hand of Leviathan" that David read from the Leviathan text in Episode 918? Let's hope Paul Stoddard's spirit will return to war with them, as predicted in the big book of Leviathan quotes.

John: I like how the sheriff suggests lying to Carolyn about Paul's cause of death, and how Julia's right on board with that. I wish we could have seen Elizabeth take a celebratory drink when she heard the news. And when the sheriff told her that Paul definitely didn't have any last words. In fact, he definitely didn't tell anyone, "Monster. Room upstairs. Dark boards. Basement room. Breathing. Always breathing."

Christine: I wonder if Julia suggested he not share that information with her, just as they conspired to lie to Carolyn about the cause of death.

John: It was beginning to look like no one in Collinwood understands how search warrants work. The sheriff presents it, and Philip basically tells him no. It looked like the sheriff wasn't going to press the issue, and almost begged Philip to help them out. Of course, Philip didn't give a very convincing performance when suggesting that they definitely didn't need to go into the room upstairs that belonged to the kid who recently died under mysterious circumstances—a kid who had several uncomfortable encounters with the newly deceased Paul Stoddard. Yeah, best not to defile that room. Of course there's a good chance that by tomorrow, it will be defiled with the remains of the sheriff...

Christine: I have a feeling that Megan has helped whisk away any trace of the Leviathan child. Has Quentin lost Amanda for good, or will he find a way to trick Death into giving her back?

Dark Shadows Episode 933 1/21/70

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Quentin picks up two candles and goes to the door. Olivia appears behind him. She reaches out to touch his shoulder, but he turns and tells her to stop. She does, and he says he nearly lost her. He asks if she was told not to touch him and she says no. He tells her that they cannot touch one another, no matter what. She doesn't understand. He tells her that he loves her, and that when it's all over, he's going to hold her tight. He hands her one of the candles.

Megan tells Philip that she called the sheriff. He asks what she found out, and before she can reply, he says, "Nothing!" He goes upstairs. After he's gone, Megan thinks that Paul might be dead, in which case they won't have to worry about him. Philip calls her upstairs.

Stokes tells Paul that he must try to tell him what happened. He assures Paul that he is safe.

Philip tells Megan the room upstairs is empty. It appears Michael broke out a window.

Quentin leads Amanda through a forest. There's a skeleton on a wall. Amanda gets caught in a huge spiderweb and can't get out. She calls Quentin for help. He sees a giant spider approaching her. He tells her to stay still. He picks up a rock and crushes the spider. He breaks her free of the web. He takes off his coat and has her hold one sleeve while he holds the other.

Philip says he's going to get Barnabas. Megan says Barnabas will try to bring him back, and he doesn't want to come back. She says he's gone to find Paul Stoddard. Philip says that will make matters worse. Megan says that they aren't smart enough to find Paul, but he can. She tells Philip that he will not contact Barnabas.

Amanda follows Quentin over some rocks. She stumbles, twisting her ankle, but is able to continue. He assures her that they haven't come all this way to lose each other.

Stokes tells Paul to describe what happened to him as if it happened to someone else. Stokes leaves the room, and Paul gets up and goes to the phone. He dials the police. Stokes interrupts him, saying that he can talk. Stokes runs into the bedroom and closes the door behind him. Stokes tells him that since he can speak, he may be able to help him. Stokes picks up the phone and calls Julia.

Quentin and Amanda arrive at a rope bridge. She tells him they can't cross it. She says it's a trap. Quentin tells her that they can make it the rest of the way. He says if the bridge can hold him, it can hold her. He starts across, and tells her that he'll take her in his arms on the other side. He crosses the bridge.

Julia arrives and Stokes says that maybe she can do something with Paul. She talks to Paul through the door. He tells them to leave her alone. She says they want to help him. He says he will only talk to the police. Julia pucks up the phone and pretends to speak to the police. They hear a racket from behind the door. Paul bursts out of the room, further disheveled.

Quentin makes it across the bridge, and beckons Amanda to do the same. She starts across, and once halfway she looks over the edge.

Stokes comes out of the room and says it's a shambles. Julia asks who else was in the room, and Stokes says there was a smell and some slime. Julia tells Stokes that Paul is dead.

Quentin tells Amanda to look ahead. She starts back the other way, and he calls her to come to him. She does, and as she reaches the edge, she falls, grabbing the top of the rope bridge.

Our thoughts

John: Awesome Skeleton sighting on my birthday! I still can't make sense of where Amanda and Quentin are supposed to be. Are they outdoors? In an underground lair? Purgatory? Perhaps the Bellboy could have come in handy after all, to answer a few of these questions.

Christine: I think they are moving into a land of both shadow and substance. Surely you must have recognized the wonky skull of the skeletal bride from Angelique's Dream Curse, who also once posed as Reverend Trask's skeleton! Now we see where your fascination with skeletons began!

John: Awesome Giant Spider sighting on my birthday! Granted, it was a low-rent Halloween decoration, but at least it looked mildly menacing when onscreen, as opposed to when its shadow appeared, looking more like something cut out of construction paper. I'm curious if the 'rules' of contact are based on skin-to-skin touching, because it sure looked to me like Quentin touched Amanda when breaking her free of the spiderweb.

Christine: It was quite the delightful moment when the spider died with a squeaky whimper and Quentin declared, "Well that takes care of him!"

John: No! Paul Stoddard died on my birthday! Now that's a real bummer. I had high hopes that he was going to play a larger role in the eventual conclusion of the Leviathans storyline. And now we have slime to add to the things left behind when the Michael/Leviathan creature is around. I wonder if Julia might finally let Stokes in on some of what has been going on in Collinwood...

Christine: It certainly is a shame that Paul Stoddard didn't get to help bring down the Leviathan clan and earn back a little respect after attempting to extort Liz, abandoning Carolyn when she was a baby, and ultimately giving her up to the Leviathans.

Dark Shadows Episode 932 1/20/70

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Julia, Grant and Amanda go into a room where Julia says there's a portrait of Quentin by Charles Delaware Tate. Grant asks her if it looks like him. She says she hasn't seen it. She says the professor has removed a landscape painted over it. Julia asks him to look at the portrait. He agrees. Julia uncovers it, and upon seeing it, Amanda screams. She runs out of the room, leaving Quentin to look at it. It's of a withered, 100 year-old, sore-ridden Quentin Collins. Quentin turns away from it.

Outside, Olivia wonders if that's how Quentin would look if not for the portrait. She wonders if she too should look the same. She turns to go back to him and finds Mr. Best waiting for her. She says she still has five minutes, and Quentin may remember her. She asks him to let her go back to see if Quentin knows her.

Julia tells Quentin if the painting means nothing to him, he can look at it. He agrees to examine it more closely. He says he remembers the day the portrait was painted. He says the portrait is as he truly is. He's surprised she can still look at him. He calls her Julia, and says that's what he called her when they first met. He remembers Amanda, and then that Olivia is Amanda.

Mr. Best says she must come with him, and promises her that it shall not be unpleasant. She says she'll never see Quentin again, and he tells her she doesn't know that. She pleads for one moment with Quentin.

Julia asks if he still loves Amanda, and he says he always has. Julia says he must tell her, or she will die tonight. He runs outside.

Quentin calls for Amanda, and finds her handkerchief on the ground.

Mr. Best leads Amanda into his waiting room, and she asks him not to close the door. He says no one can leave by that door, they can only enter. He asks her if the place is pleasant, and she asks if this is what death is. He describes it as a passing through place, a hotel. He tells her he has others to meet, and she asks him not to leave her. He says it has been so long since anyone begged him to stay, but he must not fall prey to human emotions. He leaves through the door.

Amanda tries to get out the same door, but cannot open it. A bellboy appears with a key and says he can let her out. She takes the key, but it doesn't work in the lock. He says he's fooled a lot with that trick. He confirms she can't get out by that door. She asks if there's another way. He says there is.

She offers him a trinket, but he says it's of no value to him. He remembers her from 70 years ago. He says she was lucky to be let go back then. He says he's there to show her to her room. She cries as he tells her that he'll give her a nice room.

In Amanda's room, Quentin realizes that he'll never see her again. He asks Julia why she didn't tell him who she was. She asks if it would have helped, since he didn't know who he was. He tells Julia that Amanda asked him if he loved her, and realizes that if he had said yes, it might have saved her. Julia tells him that he has to start thinking about... when he interrupts her and tells her to leave him alone. Quentin takes a letter opener to his throat and says he will be with her again when Mr. Best enters and tells him to stop. He explains that while it was Amanda's time, it's not his. Quentin goes to attack him, but is unable to. Mr. Best says he is impervious to attack. He's surprised to find that Quentin loves her. Quentin asks him to make a wager with him for her life. Best tells him he knows that he's alive thanks to Count Petofi. He asks Quentin if he would stay with Amanda. Quentin says he would, and asks Best if he'll do it.

Best returns to his 'hotel' with Quentin. Quentin asks if he'll have to stay there forever, and Best says only if he can't get out. Best leads him to a door. Quentin opens it. Thunder and lightning flashes. Best tells him that the door is the way out. He says it's seldom used, but every now and then he gives someone who impresses him a chance to escape. He says it takes courage and cunning. Quentin asks what's out there—if it's a trap. Best says it's many traps, and asks him if he wants to try. Quentin says yes, with Amanda.

Best tells him that if they touch each other, she will be lost to him forever. If they both reach the outside world, they will be together for eternity. He adds that if he loses his way, he will be lost, too. He offers Quentin candles, and bids him good luck. Quentin picks up the candles and goes to the door. He opens it, and Olivia appears behind him. She reaches out to touch his shoulder.

Our thoughts

John: I was pleased to be right about the portrait, but it's probably more telling about the writers' lack of imagination then any grand insight I have. That said, even I wasn't expecting quite so derivative of the portrait from the 1945 film The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Christine: It could have been a lack of imagination on the part of the writers, but I prefer to consider it a tribute to an enduring tale and a great movie moment.

The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)

John: It seemed to me that Death's Bellhop showed up on set of the wrong show. What was with that accent? It was telling that his credit was presented on a blank background cut into the credits over the set we're used to...

Christine: I think it was trying to be a cockney accent, and I'm still trying to work out why Death has a bellboy to begin with. The fact that he got an afterthought end title rates him higher than some other folks who have appeared without any credit at all. We will be seeing this lad again later this summer.

John: Ah, Mr. Best is a sporting man. That always makes for good drama. But couldn't they have done a bit more to setup what it was Quentin would need to do to 'escape' his hotel? This is even more frustrating than the lack of a visible Leviathan creature. Though it would be funny if tomorrow's episode starts with Amanda touching Quentin's shoulder and being whisked away into the abyss... Looking forward to seeing that one, since it's my official birthday episode of Dark Shadows!

Christine: Once again, we are expected to employ our imaginations to make up for the lack of detail provided. Hopefully you'll get something exciting in the episode that aired the day you were born. Since the leap year has still got us out of sync, we'll have to wish you a Happy Birthday today!