Dark Shadows Episode 929 1/15/70

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Philip mentions that it's dark out, and Megan says it's quiet without Michael. He reminds her that he's dead. They hear footsteps, and Michael comes downstairs saying he's decided not to go through with it.

Philip tells him to get back to his room. Michael argues with him and Megan intervenes. She tells Michael it's too late to change his mind, and he must go back to his room. She says it will be bad for all of them if he is seen again. Michael refuses to return to his room. Philip grabs him and carries him upstairs. The phone rings, and it's Carolyn. She suggests that she and Philip might want to join them at Collinwood for the evening. Megan tells her she'll talk to Philip and call her back.

Philip locks the door behind which the heavy breathing continues. Megan comes upstairs and asks if Michael is alright. She says he's terribly angry with them, and asks what if he tries to leave the room again as he gets bigger and stronger. Philip says he'll put a heavy bolt on the door.

Paul sneaks downstairs to the drawing room. He finds a gun and puts it into his pocket. Carolyn walks in and asks how he's doing. He says he's better, but he hasn't been taking his medicine, because he's allergic to it. He asks her not to tell her mother she saw him downstairs. He then asks her to bring him some food, and not to let anyone know she's doing it. He says they've been sneaking the medicine into his food, and he'll only trust food she brings. He goes back upstairs.

Paul returns to his room and is surprised to find Barnabas there. Barnabas tells him to listen to him, and Paul draws his gun. Barnabas says he's here to help him. Paul refuses to believe him. Barnabas tells him to look at the bed. There's a box on it. Barnabas says it's his clothes that were taken from him, along with enough money to get him out of Collinsport and far away. He says he's helping him escape before any harm comes to him. Paul says he's more concerned about Carolyn, and Barnabas promises to protect her. Paul asks if that means she's no longer part of the plan. Barnabas tells him not to ask questions, but to believe him. He gives Paul an hour to get ready, and says he'll get him out of the house without anyone seeing him. After he leaves, Paul smiles thinking that he fooled him.

Philip finishes putting a new bolt on the door to Michael's room. He then tells Megan that the will go to Collinwood as asked.

Elizabeth smells the contents of an bottle, and then affixes a label to it. Carolyn enters, and her mother tells her she just got some new medicine for her father. Carolyn offers to take it to him. She goes upstairs as the Todd's arrive.

Elizabeth asks if everything went alright after the funeral. Philip says they had a problem with Michael, but they've locked him back in his room. Elizabeth offers a drink to celebrate their deception.

Paul is dressed and counting money. Barnabas tells him to hurry. Carolyn knocks on the door. Barnabas hides and when Carolyn enters she asks why he's dressed. Paul says he has to get out for a few hours. She asks where he's planning to go. He says maybe the Blue Whale. She asks if he's planning to leave Collinwood. He asks if she thinks he's going to run out on her again, and promises he won't desert her again. She says she needs 30 minutes because the Todd's from the antique store just arrived. He agrees to meet her on the terrace in a half hour. She leaves, Barnabas comes out, and he tells Paul to give him 10 minutes to give him a chance to get out.

Elizabeth and the Todd's talk about their pride in being responsible for Michael. Elizabeth says that Barnabas told her the Collins family money and prestige will help. Barnabas enters and closes the door. He says her curiosity seems to be nagging at her. She says she just wants to know what their ambition was. Megan says they're waiting for him, and she asks what they hope to accomplish after he arrives. Megan says they must be prepared to accept whatever is in store for them. Elizabeth says that as part of her old life, Carolyn is very dear to her, and she's worried about what's to become of her. She wants her to share the experience with them, and become one of them. Barnabas recoils and says he's also very concerned about Carolyn's future. Megan asks Barnabas if he's feeling well.

Carolyn joins them in the drawing room. Megan cries crocodile tears. Barnabas is looking in the foyer as Paul sneaks downstairs. He says there's no one there and closes the door.

Paul takes keys from Megan's purse.

Carolyn suggests that Megan and Philip stay the night, but Megan says they must get back to the shop after dinner.

Paul goes to the antique store and gets in using Megan's keys. He searches the shop.

Megan and Philip prepare to leave, and thank Elizabeth.

Paul hears breathing behind the door upstairs in the antique shop. He unlatches the bolt, and unlocks the door with the key. He steps inside and is terrified by what he sees.

Our thoughts

John: So do you think there's a Michael double that got buried (as Julia described seeing), or did they bury and then exhume the one and only? He did seem to be dressed for a special occasion when he came down the stairs...

Christine: I expect that they would follow tradition in Collinsport and bury an empty coffin so that someone could eventually dig it up single handedly within the space of a half hour to determine that the funeral was a sham.

John: When Paul says Carolyn can come with him, and it will be just like old times, what do you think he means? Was he giving her a hint that he meant he was actually going to run out on her again?

Christine: First he would take her money and then run out on her. Unless he meant the old times when she was a baby and he ignored her.

John: As much as I wish we could get a glimpse of what the breathing creature behind the door looks like, I can't imagine they could come up with anything within the show's budget that would live up to expectations. Though maybe it would have been cool if it were Dan Curtis behind the door... :)

Christine: I wonder who got the part of breathing heavily into the microphone. I thought the poor fellow was going to hyperventilate today. Good thing Paul found one of the many guns stored in the drawing room at Collinwood. Let's hope he has it on him and is able to protect himself in tomorrow's episode.

Dark Shadows Episode 928 1/14/70

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Julia tells Megan that Michael's vitals are weak, and she calls to arrange for an ambulance. Megan tells Michael it's what's best, and he passes out. Julia checks his pulse and finds none. She prepares to give him a shot to try and revive him. She tells Megan and Philip that it didn't work, and that Michael is dead.

Julia is downstairs with Philip, filling out a death certificate. She says she doesn't understand, but Philip tells her that his heart failed. Julia asks him about Michael's medical history when Megan comes downstairs. She says she can't lie down as there's too much to be done. She says she wants a quick funeral. Julia says that she wants to have her colleagues examine Michael. Megan says Michael was sick when he was small, but his parents willed him to be well. He lost that when his parents died. She talks about a neighbor in Coleyville who took care of him before they did. Megan says that they tried, and then breaks down. Megan says he died because he didn't want to live any more, and runs upstairs. Philip asks Julia to tell Carolyn and the others what happened, and tell them not to come and see them until Megan is ready.

Michael lies dead on display. Megan watches over him with Philip. He tries to take her away, and she says she needs to be alone with him. Philip leaves her.

Stokes admires a Tate landscape painting when Julia arrives to see him. She explains she was at a funeral. She's pleased to see the painting has arrived. She asks Stokes if he knows where Coleyville is. He says it's about 20 miles away.

While he goes to get her some English biscuits, Julia leaves.

Julia goes to Coleyville to meet the woman Megan says took care of Michael. She talks about how the boy grieved for his parents. She said she wasn't well enough to go to the funeral. She adds that she wasn't well enough to take care of the mischievous boy. Julia thanks her for her time.

After she leaves, Philip comes out from behind a door. He tells the woman that she was very convincing. He gives her an envelope full of cash. The woman starts to ask why, and Philip says no questions—she's to forget everything. She says she has to know if there was really a little boy who died. He tells her to forget it, and leaves. He doesn't see Julia hiding outside the house.

Megan is back to her chipper self in the antique shop when Philip returns. He tells her Julia was there, and left completely convinced.

Stokes demands to know what's going on. Julia apologizes, and says she had somewhere to go. She says she needs his help. Between Barnabas, Paul Stoddard, and the series of blonde, blue-eyed boys with a matching birthmark appear to be related. She says the latest boy died this morning. She says she's disturbed about his death. Every since Barnabas returned, there has been an evil threatening all of them. Stokes says it must be stopped, but asks her how they begin.

Julia says she knew the woman was lying when she saw Philip leave the house. She tells Stokes that she's positive Barnabas could answer the questions. Stokes suggests that she might be able to get something out of Paul. He says he needs to visit the antique shop that specializes in disposable little boys. Julia says that despite the funeral, they're still open today.

Philip goes to close the shop, and Megan tells him not yet. They argue about Michael when Stokes arrives. He asks about Carolyn, and introduces himself. He says he's glad they have more than patchwork quilts and colonial silver. He admires her locket. She says she has it because it's pretty. Stokes selects a small statue, and when Philip hands him his wrapped package, he sees a Leviathan ring on his finger.

Stokes leaves, and Megan says he could be dangerous to them. Philip says he's an intelligent man, and Megan says not quite intelligent enough. She says he's standing across the street watching them. Philip mentions that it's dark out, and Megan says it's quiet without Michael. He reminds her that he's dead. They hear footsteps, and Michael comes downstairs saying he's decided not to go through with it.

Our thoughts

John: What's with the 10 minute lingering shot of Julia brandishing the syringe? And then she seems to declare Michael dead without actually having injected him! Fortunately, she had a stack of death certificates handy.

Christine: I think it was so we could reminisce about all the other times she's brandished a syringe, or possibly so we could wonder how it was going to help with cardiac arrest. Julia has apparently not undergone any CPR training. I was surprised at how quickly Philip's forehead bruise faded after the ringing blow Maggie gave him in the previous episode.

John: In a show with such a large coffin budget, are you telling me that they couldn't afford one for Michael?

Christine: Why bother when he was just going to get back out of it anyway.

John: I'm sorry, it was just a bit too creepy when Stokes mentioned going to the shop specializing in disposable little boys, particularly with the weird look on his face...

Christine: That's not fair. Stokes always has a weird look on his face.

Mustache Man looks over the Tate landscape.

Dark Shadows Episode 927 1/13/70

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

In the secret passages of Collinwood, Philip finds a door and asks if Maggie is inside. He opens the door.

Inside, Maggie raises a candlestick, ready to strike—and swings.

Maggie kneels over Philip's unconscious body, saying she didn't mean it.

Michael exits a secret panel and runs into Julia in the drawing room. She asks how he got in there, and he tells her that David showed her all the secret panels. She asks if David showed him the secret panel in Maggie's room. Michael doesn't answer, and says the secret panels are neat. When pressed, he admits to knowing about the one in Maggie's room. She asks if he knows anything about Maggie's disappearance.

Just then, Maggie rushes in and says she's been in a nightmare. While Julia is distracted, Michael sneaks out of the room. Maggie tells Julia that she spent the night in a maze under the house. She says she was lured there, trapped in a room, and someone was trying to kill her.

She says she thinks it was David's friend. Julia said she suspected him. Maggie explains that she was wrong. She says it was Philip, and she'll never know why because she killed him. Maggie takes Julia to him. Michael hears this and smiles.

Maggie brings Julia to Philip's body.

Megan is straightening up in the antique store when Michael returns. He says she didn't do what she was supposed to do. She says there were reasons, and he tells her the only thing that matters is what he wants. She says that he's dear to her, but she has loved Philip for a long time. Michael tells her that's all over now.  He tells her he wants her to take him to get a new sweater. She asks what he means about it being over. He tells her that they don't have to worry about Philip any more, because he is dead. She says he can't be, and Michael says he deserved to die. She asks if he did it, and he tells her that he had it done. She gather her things and says she's going to Collinwood. Michael throws a tantrum in the shop after she leaves.

Megan arrives at Collinwood, crying and asking to see Philip. Julia consoles her.

Someone enters the antique shop and without looking up, Michael says the shop is closed. Philip asks him how he could have done it. Michael is surprised, and says he doesn't know what he's talking about. Philip asks about his tormenting Maggie, and trying to get her to kill him. Philip says he might have gotten away with it if she had been stronger. Philip says he's going to take care of him. Michael says he can't touch him, because he knows who he is. Philip says he's just a little boy in the house, and Michael says he's not just a boy everywhere in the house.

Philip grabs him so he can't make it to his room, and Megan returns and tells him to let Michael go. She says she'll do what has to be done. Michael runs to her and she comforts him. She sends him up to her room. Michael runs upstairs and Philip asks if she knows what he did to him, and also to Maggie. Megan says Philip shouldn't expect Michael to behave like other children. She reminds him that a little while ago, he was lying in a cradle. She says the time of the Leviathan people is close. She says her way is the Leviathan way, and she will tell him, and Michael, how it must be.

Michael is in Megan's room, pleased that she took his side. He writes his name on the mirror. He's not happy that she was nice to Philip, and thinks she won't be when he's finished with her. She comes in and asks if she cares what he did to Maggie. She says she doesn't. She explains that it's not his time yet, so for his own good... He says he doesn't want to hear it. She says he has to accept it.

Maggie comes to the antique shop and tells Philip she's glad he's not hurt to badly. She apologizes, and says she hadn't been thinking clearly. He tells her that he could have been responsible, since she doesn't really know him. He explains that Michael has been angry at the world after the death of his parents. Maggie says she had no idea.

Michael tells Megan she can't do it to him. He pleads with her, saying she's the only one who loves him, and that he loves. He tells her he wants to run away with her. She says they can't run away together. Michael tells her that she doesn't love him. He says if she does it, he won't love her anymore.

Megan reminds him that he loves Carolyn, and tells him to think about her. He draws a heart around his name on the mirror, and writes Carolyn's name in it. Megan says that proves it, and that there's no choice anymore—it must be done.

Maggie thanks Philip for understanding when Megan runs downstairs and says something terrible has happened to Michael. She calls Julia and tells her he's unconscious. Julia tells her she's on her way. As Philip consoles Megan, Maggie leaves.

Michael tosses and turns. Julie asks Megan what happened. She says he wasn't looking well, so she asked him to lie down in her bedroom. Julia says his vitals are weak, and she calls to arrange for an ambulance. Megan tells Michael it's what's best, and then he passes out. Julia checks his pulse and finds none. She prepares to give him a shot to try and revive him.

Our thoughts

John: Do you think Philip had a metal plate in his head? It sounded like it when Maggie struck him with the candlestick. Whatever the case, it was a good thing she didn't actually kill him.

Christine: She certainly rung his bell! I'm surprised he only got a tiny eyeshadow colored bruise to show for such a cacophonous blow.

John: How exactly did Megan know that Philip was dead at Collinwood? Couldn't Michael have had him killed anywhere in town?

Christine: She must have been listening in on Philip's conversation with Barnabas in yesterday's episode, or she could have assumed that since Philip suspected the kid was up to no good at Collinwood, that that's where she would find his corpse. Incidentally, there's a new afghan in town. The one on Michael's bed has appeared on the show before (Jeff Clark's bed in 602, Chris Jenning's bed in 651), but not as often as the favored multicolored afghan.

John: Michael is annoying because the child actor portraying him is doing such an effective job. I can't imagine not hating that evil kid. Megan, on the other hand, is just annoying. I hope that we'll find Michael has plans for her, because I won't miss her when she's gone...

Christine:  It wouldn't be a soap opera if there weren't some annoying characters on hand to keep you from getting bored. Both Leviathan kids have done a fine job acting like evil little brats. We can only hope the adult Leviathan progeny can live up to the creepiness and nastiness his predecessors established.