Dark Shadows Episode 1198 1/27/71

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In the drawing room, Barnabas tells Angelique that he knows how he feels. Trask bursts in and calls out, "Die, witch!" before shooting her. Barnabas wrestles the gun away from Trask and says he should have killed him before. He drops him to the ground and calls to Julia. 

Angelique asks him to hold her, telling him she's dying. He tells her that he loves her. She dies in his arms. 

Trask starts to get up, and Barnabas grabs him. Trask runs upstairs and Barnabas follows him. He finds his way into a room and grabs a letter opener. He stabs Barnabas with it, but Barnabas sticks it in his belly. Trask wanders into the room in the East Wing and is transported into parallel time. Barnabas sees him, and then watches as he disappears when the room reverts to being empty.

Barnabas comes downstairs and picks up Trask's gun. He lays it on a table and kneels beside Angelique's dead body. He tells her that he was so often blinded by his fury, yet beneath his rage was a love as strong as hers.  

Julia comes in, and he tells her that Angelique is dead. He says Trask killed her before she knew that he loved her. He explains that she was his only love, and she never knew. She asks what happened, and he says Trask attacked him, and has disappeared into parallel time.

Desmond wonders where Leticia is. Flora says she doesn't know. She's just pleased that he is free. She chides herself for falling for Gerard's charm. She says that at least he brought them Leticia. Leticia returns and she and Desmond embrace and kiss. Flora leaves them. He asks where she has been, and she says she's been walking on the beach. He tells her that they're leaving Collinsport to get married in New York.

Barnabas tells Julia and Stokes that the police believed his story. He adds that Angelique is to be buried in the family mausoleum. Stokes says they must return to their own time. Barnabas asks how, and Stokes says they must ascend Quentin's staircase. He says they must return to Collinwood in their time to know if they've succeeded. He says it's 1971 there now. Barnabas wonders about what their visit has done to Collinwood in 1971. Desmond walks in and asks if they've gone mad, saying 1971 is 130 years from now. Julia explains that they came from the future. Stokes says they came down Quentin's staircase. He says they must be destroyed. Barnabas tells them they must leave him there. They're adamant that he must return with them. Desmond says that if Barnabas is staying for Valerie's funeral, he and Leticia can stay. Barnabas agrees to trying to ascend the stairs. 

Desmond is amazed to hear about the room in the East Wing, after hearing about the stairs. Barnabas says he must stop Trask if he tries to escape from parallel time. Desmond assures them that if he escapes, he will deal with him. He says he will tell no one the secret but Leticia and Quentin. They say their goodbyes. He asks how he will know if they made it, and Barnabas says he must assume that they have. As they ascend the stairs, Julia asks what they should do if they return to Collinwood in ruins. At the top of the stairs, Stokes opens the door and the three step through into disco lights. 

Barnabas, Julia and Stokes exit the stairwell. Collinwood is still standing, and Julia assumes they changed everything.

Two hours later, Barnabas dressed in 1971 fashions, Barnabas says they haven't seen a single person in the whole house. Stokes points out the refrigerator was full of food. Julia says there are no signs of the ghosts of Gerard and Daphne. Elizabeth walks in and tells them they're all late for opening of the historical center. She tells them to hurry. She says she returned to get Roger's speech. Julia asks if David and Hallie are there, and Elizabeth confirms it. Barnabas asks about Quentin and Carolyn, and she says they are there as well. She finds Roger's speech, and invites them to go with her. She mentions to Stokes that she found a journal from one of her ancestors, Flora Collins, in the West Wing that she's giving to the historical society tonight. Barnabas tells Julia that the ghosts of Gerard and Daphne never came there. He says the stairway is likely no more; destroyed by Desmond. 

Desmond chops at the staircase, wondering if Barnabas, Julia and Stokes made it back to their own time.

Leticia calls to Desmond. He comes upstairs and she says she was worried about him. He tells her to come with her to the East Wing. 

Leticia can't believe that Valerie is dead, and Trask is in another band of time. He tells her to wait until she hears the rest. He opens the door to an empty room. He stops her before she enters, and it suddenly changes. They see Trask, stabbed, calling for help. Leticia says that he's dead. She then sees Julia enter and call to Flora. Flora arrives and says it finally happened. What they've dreaded. Julia shuts the doors Desmond and Leticia are watching from. Flora says first poor Stella, and now this stranger. Julia goes back to the door and looks for anyone. She sees no one. She tells Flora they must get rid of the body. 

Melanie is looking for Julia. She calls to her mother. Flora appears and Melanie tells her that her father is dying. Julia says that the lottery will happen again before the week is over.

Our thoughts:  

John: While tending to her wound, Barnabas was applying compressions to Angelique's chest like he was ringing a bell to call a servant!

 

Christine: It's interesting that Barnabas has finally realized that he loves Angelique. Think of all the trouble he could have saved the family if he'd admitted it much sooner. 

                                                                                                                           

John: So for all intents and purposes, it looks like on this day we saw the 'finale' of Dark Shadows. Chronologically speaking, anyway. And lest anyone think that 1840 parallel time would continue with any relevance to the show, Trask has up and died, and his body already disposed of. At this point, I'm doubting we'll even see any more of our time band in 1840.

 
Christine: At least we know there are two happy couples, the kids will survive, and Flora will go on to flourish as a novelist. Perhaps she'll go exploring in the east wing and get the inspiration to pen "The Collins Lottery." 

John: I guess it's now safe to assume we'll ride out the remainder of the show's run watching this other soap opera play out. This is the way the world ends, not with a bang, but a whimper.

 

Christine: It is disappointing to be whisked away to a parallel past without spending some time with the present day Collins family. 

Dark Shadows Episode 1177 12/29/70

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Julia continues to search Quentin's lab when she hears footsteps. She realizes that someone's coming down the stairs. She sees Professor Stokes, and smiles. He comes downstairs and says he's half as amazed as she was. He says what he read in Flora's journal must be true. Julia asks where he found it. He says it was in the ruins of Collinwood. He read that Barnabas disappeared, and his body was never found. He asks how long Barnabas has been missing, and she says it's been a week. He says they must change the course of history and find him. She asks how he knew about the staircase, and Stokes explains that Barnabas told him about it. He says he was waiting in the playroom for 36 hours when the doorway appeared. She says he hopes he doesn't regret it, and he says it's an adventure. He asks if Gerard is there, and she says he's the master of Collinwood. She explains that Quentin and Desmond have been accused of being warlocks, and they believe Gerard is responsible. She says she'll introduce him as a professor friend from Pennsylvania. She'll say he hasn't met Barnabas, but has corresponded with him, and came due to an old invitation from him. He asks if Gerard suspects her and Barnabas, and she says that he does. 

Gerard calls from outside, demanding that she unlock the door. She does, and he asks if she's alone. She says she was reading aloud. He looks around, and asks if she's sure no one else is there. He pulls back the curtain, revealing the staircase. No one is there. She says she was ensuring there was no more incriminating evidence against Quentin or Desmond. He asks why she locked the door, and she explains that she didn't want to be disturbed. They head upstairs together. 

Gerard asks Julia if she'll see Quentin today. She says she may not have time. She tells Gerard that she just got a letter, and a friend is arriving from Pennsylvania. Professor Stokes. He asks if he's related to Carrie, and she says he is Ben Stokes' nephew. Gerard says he's surprised he didn't come to Ben's funeral. He goes to tell the servants to prepare Ben's room as Angelique comes in. They go into the drawing room, and Julia tells her a friend has arrived from 1970 to help them. He points out that in the future, he introduced Angelique to Collinwood. Julia says that he won't understand how they're married, and make up a story about Angelique traveling through time because she has an obsession about Barnabas. 

Stokes wonders about the obsession about Barnabas. He says he's afraid of doing the wrong thing, or saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. He says seeing Gerard in Quentin's lab made him feel quite vulnerable. She says that when she arrived in 1840, Ben Stokes helped her like she's now helping him. Stokes asks if Daphne came with Gerard, and Julia goes into great detail about Quentin's wife Samantha being in love with Gerard, and their getting married on the day that Quentin and Tad showed up after having been thought lost at sea. She then describes all of the twists and turns in Collinwood soap opera history circa 1840. She says they may have been wrong to blame everything on Gerard. He asks who is to blame, and she says Judah Zachery. She's surprised to see that Stokes recognizes the warlock's name. He reminds her that occult history is his academic specialty. He says he was beheaded, and his severed head had strange powers. Julia says Desmond found it, and it possessed him, then Leticia, then her. She says Quentin is accused of being possessed by it, though she's sure Gerard is. He asks what evidence the state has against Quentin. Julia lists the circumstantial evidence, including the series of dead bodies he was discovered with. Stokes asks what Barnabas' involvement is. Julia says Gerard and Trask are trying to involve him, and Barnabas disappeared when he was going to testify on Quentin's behalf. Julia tells him how to plan his arrival at Collinwood. Stokes asks about Daphne, and Julia says she's in love with Quentin, not Gerard. 

Julia is sleeping in the drawing room when she dreams that she's hearing Roxanne's voice. She gets up and sees her ghost, telling her that Barnabas is dying, and she must follow her. Julia does. Outside of a brick building, Roxanne tells Julia to hurry, and then Angelique wakes her. Julia says she was taking her to Barnabas, and Angelique has ruined it! Angelique says it's a sign, if she said he's alive. She asks if they know the place. Julia says Stokes will be there any moment, and Angelique asks her which is more important. Julia agrees that Barnabas is, and they leave together. 

Stokes arrives at Collinwood, and Gerard lets him in. Gerard introduces himself, and asks if his journey from Baltimore was successful. Stokes corrects him, saying Philadelphia. Gerard says he's surprised he didn't ask for Barnabas. Stokes asks if he's there, saying he looks forward to meeting him. Gerard explains that Barnabas is missing, and there may be foul play involved. He asks Stokes if he can tell him about Julia.

Julia and Angelique arrive in at the location from her dream. She says this is the room Roxanne led her to, and she knows Barnabas is here somewhere. She calls for Roxanne to help. Angelique joins her in calling, and says they will wait. 

Downstairs in the basement of Trask's Memorial Chapel, Roxanne waits outside the brick wall wondering why Julia hasn't come, when he has so little time.

Our thoughts: 

John: Eliot Stokes steps right out of the Disco in Saturday Night Fever into 1840! What impeccable timing to arrive while Julia happens to be in Quentin's lab!

 

Christine: Thank goodness he wasn't wearing the platform shoes and Angels Flight pants I was expecting! I can't help but wonder how he would know Barnabas if, according to what he read in Flora's journal, Barnabas disappeared and was never heard from again. Wouldn't that mean that they never had the chance to meet? 

 

John: Here we go again. At her first opportunity, Julia starts making up stories about Stokes, giving Gerard plenty of ammunition to use against him. And while I loved Julia's ridiculously detailed explanation about everything going on in 1840, it becomes quite clear to viewers how little any of it makes sense. Stokes is dead-on when he describes it as a complicated crossword puzzle.

 
Christine: That was a nice little recap for those just tuning in and wondering what the heck is going on, though it would seem unnecessary. Isn't it just us die-hard fans left watching at this point? 

John: Roxanne is one lazy ghost. She'll come to Julia in a dream, but not bother to step outside to drag her downstairs to where Barnabas is bricked in. Of course, I can't wait to see how a ghost, a witch, and a 1970s doctor are going to break down a brick wall!

 

Christine: Maybe Roxanne has a little bit of an attitude after Angelique poked her doll, resurrecting the vampire curse on her, and then fed Julia to her, though I guess she wouldn't take that out on Barnabas. Perhaps the fog obscured her ghostly vision and kept her from knowing where they were.

Dark Shadows Episode 1114 10/1/70

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After Barnabas tosses the I Ching wands, Stokes says it's the 49th hexagram. Stokes tells him to visualize a door with that hexagram, and concentrate on it until the door opens. Barnabas does. He says it's opening. Stokes tells him to rise and go through the door. Barnabas sees a tombstone showing that Julia died on October 6, 1840. He says it can't be. Barnabas says he can't get through. Stokes shakes him. He asks if he could see anything. Barnabas says he saw a tombstone with Julia Hoffman Collins, with the date three days in the future.

Barnabas and Stokes go to the cemetery and find Julia's tombstone. Stokes asks about the name, and Barnabas says she must have been impersonating a member of the family. Stokes asks how he can get back in time to save her, and Barnabas says he doesn't know, but he must try. Julia calls to Barnabas.

In 1840, Julia is calling for Barnabas in a mirror when Roxanne Drew, Samantha's sister comes in and introduces herself. She asks if Julia always speaks to inanimate objects. Julia sees that Roxanne is accompanied by a man who looks like a Trask. Roxanne introduces him as Lamar Trask. Roxanne asks her to guess what profession he's in. Julia says she's not good at guessing. She says he's an undertaker. Roxanne asks her if Samantha is home, and Julia says she's not. Trask says they'll wait on the terrace. Julia is surprised that Roxanne is so different than the one she met in 1970. She wishes she knew when she would be cursed, and by whom, so she could help her.

Trask points out that Roxanne doesn't think highly of his profession. He makes a case for the importance of the Trask chapel. He says there is little time left before her father returns, and feels he's entitled to an answer. She says he's not entitled to the answer that he and her father want to hear. She says the answer is no. She talks about the day when she will meet a charming stranger who will love her as she wants to be loved. She says they are destined to meet, not realizing that Barnabas was watching her. She asks Trask if he's quiet because the man she described couldn't be him. 

Julia comes out onto the terrace to tell them Samantha has arrived. She tells Trask that she knows the way, and leaves him with Julia. Julia offers him a glass of wine, and he says drink is the curse of mankind. She asks if he's related to reverend Trask. He says that was his father. He asks what she knows of him. She says her father, Barnabas, spoke of him. He says his father disappeared the same year her father went to England, and no one knows what happened to him. She asks if he was involved in some trial. He says he helped bring a witch to justice. Trask says he thinks his father was the victim of foul play, a victim of the evil spirits involved in the house. He vows to find out, someday.

Roxanne comes downstairs and goes into the drawing room. She tells Trask she's ready to be taken home. He asks if Samantha took her side against him as her future husband. He tells her she should come to her senses and comply with the agreement her father made with him. Barnabas watches them from outside. Roxanne tells Trask that she is not a parcel of real estate, and tells him to return to Collinsport and bury someone. Trask leaves, and Julia comes in. Roxanne says she's happy to be rid of him.  She explains that her father will be furious, at least until he finds another husband for her. She leaves, and Julia goes upstairs.

On the terrace, Roxanne hears someone. Barnabas comes out and tells her not to be afraid. He asks her not to be afraid. He says he was just about to go inside and surprise the family. He asks who she is, and she introduces herself as Roxanne Drew. She asks if he's planning to stay at Collinwood, and he says he hopes so. Roxanne says he's an amazing man, and he asks if he may see her again. He explains that he thinks they are destined to be together forever. She says he's a most unusual man. He asks if he may call her at home. She explains that her father is out of town for a few days, and while she has a guest in the house, he may call upon her anytime he wishes. He kisses her hand, and she goes on her way. He realizes that he must stay away from her. 

Roxanne is upset that he didn't visit her tonight. She wonders if he's the one she's always felt that she was destined to meet, or just a stranger. She knows she'll see him again if he stays at Collinwood. She turns to see Barnabas in her room. He tells her not to be frightened, or to make a sound. He says he couldn't resist coming to her. He says that he is the stranger she spoke of, and he will love her as no one has. He leans in to bite her neck. 

Our thoughts: 

John: My wife wants to know how Julia could come to be called Julia Hoffman Collins. Do they somehow think Hoffman is her middle name? It wasn't hyphenated, not that that would have been common in 1840! Funny too that Barnabas points out that October 6th is three days away, considering today is October 1st, until you realize that in three days of the show, it will be Tuesday, October 6th!

Christine: Knowing Julia, she probably accidentally introduced herself as Julia Hoffman to someone and then quickly recovered by adding in the Collins family name. Since she wasn't around too long before she died, whoever was in charge of ordering the tombstone must have assumed it was her middle name. What do you suppose is the significance of her being buried next to Minerva Trask? 

John: I was more and more convinced by my Terminator time-travel-paradox theory suggesting that Barnabas would be the one to turn Roxanne into a vampire, and here he's gone and done it! I guess Julia can't really be jealous, because this Barnabas hasn't spent enough time with her to know how she feels about him. 

Christine: 1840 Barnabas is not the one she's in love with, anyway. I don't think Roxanne will be a vampire just yet. I think it takes at least 3 bites on this show to turn someone. There may be time to save her yet.

John: Nice to have a Trask back on the show — another welcome familiar face —and an undertaker, no less! The biggest question in 1840 is now how the dual-Barnabas situation is going to be resolved...

Christine: I predict we may be seeing one of our skeleton friends soon if Lamar discovers what happened to his dear old daddy. Perhaps that is how the dual-Barnabas situation will be resolved. It is quite interesting that Reverend Trask had a son after giving the impression of being extremely pious and celibate. 

Dark Shadows Episode 1113 9/30/70

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Gerard tells Julia that he has something that belongs to her, and she starts to say "My ... " and follows up with, "word." He says he found it in the playroom two nights ago, and found its mate on her dresser when he delivered her luggage. He points out that it can't be a coincidence. He asks who she is, and what she wants in Collinwood. She asks what gives him the right to question her. He says that Gabiel found it, and he could ask her. He asks if she was the woman Daniel claimed to see in the room, and she reiterates that she arrived today. He says when he saw the earring, he had a feeling it belonged to a woman who didn't dress as a woman normally would. She asks him if he was a psychic. He says not professionally. She explains that she found the other earring on the bureau in the room. He tells her that the mystery will be solved, and soon. Ben arrives, and she says she'd like to hear more stories about their father. Gerard excuses himself and goes upstairs.

Julia tells Ben that Gerard suspects something. Ben says he can't find Barnabas' coffin, and there were attacks in the village last night. Attacks like those they haven't seen in Collinwood since 1797. Ben says there's one place he'd be sure to go, and he'll see if he can find Barnabas there.

Barnabas goes into Josette's room in the old house. He speaks to her portrait, explaining to her that he must begin a new life, and telling her goodbye. He takes her portrait off the wall, and turns it to face the fireplace. He turns to see Ben in the room with him. Barnabas says he returned to the room for the last time. He will make an existence without Josette. Barnabas tells Ben he will not involve him this time. Ben pleads for him to talk with Julia from 1970. Barnabas says he does not share Ben's naivete. He says that she let Barnabas out of his coffin in 1967. He tells him he's not safe, and Barnabas says that word has no meaning for him. 

Gerard tells Leticia that Flora has written asking him to come see her at Rose Cottage. She calls him a heartbreaker, and he promises not to break hers. He tells her he made a new life for her bringing her to Collinwood. She says he gave her to Flora like she was a present. Gerard tells her that she's going to be famous — she'll be in a book. He tells her there's money to be made there, and they're not leaving until they get it. Julia enters, and Gerard introduces her to Leticia. Leticia says she needs to work on Flora's horoscope. 

Gerard leaves, and Julia asks her if she lives at Collinwood. She explains that she lives in Rose Cottage with Flora. Julia asks her about her ability to see the future. She says perhaps. Julia asks if she could see 1970, and Leticia says that she can only see a day or two into the future. Julia asks her to try. Leticia does, and says she smells smoke. She describes dust, and then stops. Julia wonders if that means Collinwood was destroyed. She can't understand what happened to Barnabas.

In 1970, Barnabas is sitting by the fire in the old house. Stokes comes to see him, and says he's sorry that Barnabas wasn't well enough to attend the funeral. Stokes says he shouldn't have gone to Europe, but he thought he had time to bring back the one man who could exorcise Gerard. He mourns the dead — Elizabeth, David, Daphne, Hallie... Barnabas says the creatures Gerard summoned from the grave prevented him from following Julia onto the stairs. He says he needs to find out where Julia went, and how to get there. Stokes says that if the stairs brought them from 1995, that must be where Julia is now. Barnabas says he's sure the stairs lead to the past, where this all began. He says the family journals mentioned Quentin building a time-traveling staircase in 1840. Stokes says he assumes Barnabas will try to use the I Ching again. 

Carolyn comes in, and mentions her mother is away with David and Hallie. She says she'll spend the weekend at the beach house. Barnabas says they can decide that later. She then asks him what happened to Collinwood, and who the men were who set fire to it. She then says that was just a dream — a nightmare. She says she's going to go upstairs to pack a bag. She goes upstairs and Stokes says she must get to Windcliff. Stokes asks about the 'other' problem, and asks where he is. Barnabas says he's upstairs.

In Josette's room, Quentin prepares to put his head in a noose. Carolyn comes in and screams for Barnabas. Quentin says he must join Daphne. Barnabas and Stokes run in and Quentin attacks Stokes, blaming him for Daphne's death. Barnabas sends Carolyn away. Quentin says the children were dead, and Daphne died in his arms. He said he could have saved them. Barnabas tries to calm him, and Quentin says he won't return to Collinwood. Barnabas tells Stokes to take Quentin to Windcliff.

Barnabas picks up his I Ching wands. Stokes tells him Quentin will be better off at Windcliff. Barnabas says he'll be as lost as he is now in 1995. Barnabas asks Stokes to take care of Carolyn. Stokes reminds him if the I Ching works, someone must stay in the old house to protect his body. Barnabas says Willie Loomis will. Stokes goes to get Carolyn to take her to the beach house. Barnabas goes into the secret room and tells Roxanne (through her coffin), that she'll be safe. He says he's going to go back in time to try and change her fate. 

Barnabas tosses the I Ching wands. Stokes says it's the 49th hexagram. Stokes tells him to visualize a door with that hexagram, and concentrate on it until the door opens. Barnabas does. He says it's opening. Stokes tells him to rise and go through the door. Barnabas sees a tombstone showing that Julia died on October 6, 1840. He says it can't be.

Our thoughts: 

John: While it was cool to pop back to 1970 (one last time?), I'm a little disappointed that they ignored some of the major questions, like: how did Barnabas escape the clutches of Gerard's zombies? Where's Gerard now, since we know come 1995 he'll still be hanging around the place? How did Elizabeth die, because as far as we know, she wasn't there the night of the destruction (and wasn't she with Roger, meaning that he too should be dead)? While it's obvious the writers could, through the 1840 sequences, alter the future to save all who died in 1970, it certainly seems more likely that they saw the writing on the wall and knew that the end was near for them to basically leave present day in what appears to be an irrecoverable mess.

Christine: Barnabas escaped because he is undead, and therefore cannot be killed by zombies. I imagine Gerard is still lurking about Collinwood with his zombie friends. I was also surprised to hear that Elizabeth died. I thought that was a very lazy and unacceptable piece of writing for such an instrumental character. I don't know if the writers knew the end was near, but they may have sensed Dan Curtis was exhausted and challenged to squeeze out new storylines. It could be that returning to the past was meant to be Barnabas and Julia's only way of altering history to prevent the destruction of Collinwood.

John: So despite all of their efforts, it looks like 1995 will play out just as it was when B&J dropped in; making their attempts to change the future a complete and utter failure. In retrospect, one has to wonder why Gerard chose to hold off on exacting his revenge on Collinwood (for reasons as yet to be determined) for 130 years... Why wait so long? Perhaps before we're through, we'll get a scene where Gerard declares that in 130 years, he'll get his revenge! And what are the chances we ever hear more about the mysterious European who could have exorcised Gerard... perhaps a descendant of Count Petofi?

Christine: After all Quentin has gone through in his lifetime, it's difficult to believe that these catastrophic events, while traumatic, would cause him to completely break from reality. 

John: Damn! Barnabas makes it clear that he isn't even going back in time to save Julia — he's going to save his new girlfriend, Roxanne! Of course, he's feeling guilty now that he sees Julia is on deck to die, but really, whether she lives or dies, as long as he can get his hands on Roxanne, he'll likely be happy in 1840!

Christine: That's not what I heard him say at all. He told Stokes he was determined to risk using the I Ching to find his way back to save Julia, as well as change history to prevent the destruction of Collinwood. Granted, he also wants to prevent Roxanne from becoming a vampire, though that may be hard to do if it turns out he is the one responsible for that happening. It was quite unexpected to hear 1840 Barnabas say goodbye to Josette and assert he must begin a new life without her, when all other Barnabas reincarnations professed undying love and obsession for her. Incidentally, it is always amazing to see that Barnabas tosses the desired 49th hexagram of change on the first try every time. 

 

49th hexagram again! What luck!

Dark Shadows Episode 1084 8/20/70

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In the West Wing, David and Hallie see the dolls they threw in the fire are back in Rose Cottage. Hallie tells him that they're still under the control of the spirits, and there's nothing they can do. She says they know they tried to break the spell, and Daphne is going to be angry with them. He asks if she thinks Daphne will try to punish them. She says something terrible is going to happen to them. They hear the carousel music, but notice that it isn't moving.

Stokes tells Julia that they need to involve Shaw. Stokes points out that she and Barnabas have accomplished nothing since returning. He recaps the clues—the lunar eclipse, the picnic, and the unfinished horoscope—and says that nothing has happened, but there are only three clues remaining. Julia says that it can't hurt to see Shaw. She asks what to tell him. Stokes says  they should tell him everything, including parallel time and the future. Julia says that if he could only enlighten them on the clue of the night Rose Cottage was destroyed...

David searches for the source of the music. Hallie tells him it's coming from within Rose Cottage. Suddenly, they see the lights go on in the dollhouse. He says they must be dreaming.

He looks inside and says there's a live man inside. Hallie looks and doesn't see anyone. David says that he's gone, but he was there. Hallie believes him. David says they should write down everything they've seen and heard in the playroom.

Stokes tells Julia to relax, explaining that Shaw will come as soon as he can. She tells him she'd feel relaxed if she didn't feel Gerard's spirit in the house. She says the feeling is not as bad as it was in the future, and Stokes says that Gerard must not yet be ready to strike.

David tells her that they need to write down what they experienced, as it's the only way people will know what happened to them.

Shaw arrives at Collinwood, and Stokes invites him into the drawing room. He introduces him to Julia. Shaw asks about the emergency. Stokes says that Julia has been to the future. Shaw is intrigued.

David writes out the details of what they observed. He reads back the part about wanting to tell everyone about Rose Cottage.

Julia finishes her story of how she and Barnabas traveled through time. Shaw says he has no reason not to believe her, but he doesn't know if he can help them. Julia asks Shaw if he can confirm whether there are active spirits in the house. He says he can try. Julia says she's most interested in the clue regarding Rose Cottage, and asks him to try and determine it's location. He reminds them that he's not all-powerful. She asks him to concentrate on Rose Cottage, and he agrees. He has a vision of the playroom, and the dollhouse. He says he doesn't think he can help them. She asks what he saw. He says he saw a room, but it wasn't a clear vision. Julia asks if he'll talk to the children, and he agrees.

David finishes up their story, noting the lights going on in the dollhouse, and his seeing the man inside. They're interrupted by a knock on the door. Stokes asks them to come downstairs to meet someone.

Julia hears music that she and Barnabas heard in 1995. She comes into the drawing room with tea, where Sebastian is playing the piano. She asks him what he's playing, and he says it's something he just made up. She tells him that she doesn't believe him. She says she's familiar with the tune. She says they heard it in 1995. She tells him that he heard it when he was concentrating on the room. He denies it. She accuses him of hearing or seeing more than he's told them. She adds that she thinks he truly has special skills, but only uses them for monetary gain. Offended, Shaw storms off. Stokes comes downstairs with the kids, and Julia sends them back upstairs.

David says he has to add one more thing to their notes, but the notebook has disappeared. He says that maybe Daphne took it, and Hallie says that Daphne can't read what they wrote.

Stokes says he thinks Shaw can still be of help to them, if they can get him on their side.

David and Hallie return to the playroom. She tells him they have to be careful what they say, and though they can look around, they can't say anything about the notebook. They open the door and see Tad and Carrie reading from it.

Our thoughts: 

John: Thank you Professor Stokes for pointing out what we all have been saying. Barnabas and Julia have been bumbling about since returning from 1995, and haven't managed to figure anything out. Of course, Barnabas picked a hell of a time to go on vacation. Julia almost seems intent on sabotaging Stokes' plans to figure things out. You'd think that she might bite her tongue before berating a stranger who seemed willing to believe her seemingly ridiculous tale of time traveling...

Christine: It was good to hear Stokes acknowledge their lack of effort, though he also hasn't done much to press the kids for more information, or to at least suggest that they keep better tabs on them. Perhaps he was under the impression that their governess was actually doing her job. 

John: I assume Gerard was the little man David saw in Rose Cottage. I hope that when we finally do get his backstory, it will have been worth all of the effort we've gone through to get it.

Christine: I don't know if it will. Did we ever really find out why Quentin was such an angry spirit that he nearly led David to his death? 

John: I think I'm beginning to root for the deaths of David and Hallie. Or a long afterlife in the confines of Rose Cottage. Actually, Rose Cottage would have been a cool spin-off show, focusing on life in the doll house!

Christine: Honestly, I can't figure out why those kids are hanging out in the playroom where there is a scary dollhouse that can illuminate itself, especially when Hallie keeps saying that she's certain something terrible is going to happen to them. I just hope we might get to see the little man in the dollhouse.

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