Episode 60 - 9/16/66

Vicki and Maggie arrive at the Evans home for dinner. Maggie goes to find her dad while Vicki looks at his paintings. Vicki finds a portrait that she thinks looks like her. Vicki asks if Maggie knows who it is. She doesn't, but says her father might when he gets home.

Burke arrives to see the Sheriff. He asks what Roger and Sam said. He says he wants the person responsible for Bill's death held accountable, and if the Sheriff doesn't do something about it, he will.

Maggie and Vicki relax while they wait for their dinner to cook. Maggie asks if Vicki ever saw a ghost at Collinwood. She describes the shadow she saw the night of the thunderstorm. Maggie starts to talk about Burke Devlin's trial 10 years ago when her Dad arrives. Maggie sends him to get washed up.

Burke says he won't leave until he gets some kind of answer. He sees the map where they think Bill entered the water—which the Sheriff explains was drawn by David Collins. Burke presses the Sheriff, who says that someone is lying. The Sheriff says both Roger and Sam said Burke was lying. The Sheriff tells Burke if he tries to take the law into his own hands he'll lock him in a cell and throw away the key.

Sam asks how he can help Vicki. She asks who the model was in the painting that looks like her. He says it's about 25 years old. He says she was a local girl, Betty Hanscomb. Maggie says wasn't Hansen the name of the guy that Burke killed. Maggie asks her Dad to tell Vicki about the accident. Vicki is very interested to hear the details. Sam said Burke was driving, he hit someone and kept going, was tried and convicted. Maggie says Roger Collins and his wife were with him. Sam explains she wasn't his wife yet. Laura was Burke's girl, he introduced her to Roger, and they ended up together. Sam said they were drinking, and Burke insisted on driving. A man was hit and killed, but the car didn't stop. Burke denied he was driving, but Sam says he was drunk. Roger and Laura both testified that Burke was driving.

The Sheriff calls Sam and asks if Burke has come to see him tonight. He encourages Sam to call if Burke is any trouble.

As they're sitting down for dinner, Burke Devlin arrives and asks if they have room for one more.

Our thoughts

John: It took 60 episodes, but we finally know the story of what happened 10 years ago. And we know enough to figure out the real story of what happened. The only thing we don't know is how Sam figures into the story.

Christine: We also don't know how Roger was able to get Burke's girl to testify against him and hook up with Roger. It is a mystery as to why she would throw Burke over for Roger. I understand the woman is ill...

John: A bit of a coincidence for Vicki to stumble across a painting that looks something like her at the Evan's house. I hope Sam's quick story of Betty Hanscomb's demise proves not to be the only mention we hear of her. For Vicki's sake, anyway.

Christine: According to Sam, Betty Hanscomb died before Vicki was born and had no relatives other than her parents, so she can't be Vicki's mother unless Sam has some reason to lie and throw Vicki off track. He did state that he "knew a great deal" about Betty Hanscomb in those days--implying knowing in the biblical sense. Could Vicki and Maggie be sisters?!

John: While I appreciate the Sheriff not wanting to jump to conclusions, it sure seems like Burke's story warrants further investigation. And again, I think anyone would see that Sam is the one to squeeze for the truth. Of course, that's probably what Burke has in mind over dinner.

The Sheriff investigates his sandwich.

It looks a bit like Vicki, especially around the nose and mouth, though truly it looks exactly like Alexandra Moltke.

Episode 68 - 9/28/66

Roger is on the phone in his office when Carolyn stops in to see him. She says she came to town to talk to Burke Devlin, and wanted to confront him about the accusations he's been making about her uncle. She tells him that Burke actually thinks Roger killed Bill Malloy. She asks if he did kill him, even accidentally. Roger denies it, and Carolyn is comforted by his denial. Carolyn asks why Burke would say all these things. Roger says testifying against Burke was the hardest thing he did. Carolyn says she'll happily provide an alibi for him if needed. She suggests that he treat Vicki nicer as well.

David hides from Vicki in the drawing room. He left the Collins history book open on the ground. She calls and he comes out. He starts talking about Augusta, and how he heard his parents argue about Burke Devlin.

The Sheriff arrives to see Roger.  He explains that Burke won't be pressing charges against Matthew. When Roger says he doesn't know what the Sheriff is talking about, the Sheriff implies that he expected Roger might. Roger explains that if he were going to hire someone to kill Burke, he would have hired someone capable of finishing the job. The Sheriff asks if he has anyone in mind, and Roger says he would likely do it himself.

Vicki says David must be mistaken. She says she doesn't want David to repeat what he said. David says Burke is his only friend. Vicki explains that Burke might not think highly of her right now. David says she's got a big mouth, and Vicki attempts to grab him. He yells at her, and throws furniture around when his father walks in. David says Vicki was trying to hurt him. David runs upstairs. Roger says he hasn't made things easy for Vicki, and it's bothering him. David sneaks back down and eavesdrops on them. Roger invites Vicki to dinner, and she accepts. She mentions David saying that he and his wife argued about Burke. Roger says it's true, but that he won't discuss his and Laura's history with her.

Vicki goes upstairs, and David asks his father about Vicki. He says he's always being blamed for things he didn't do. Roger plays along, and suggests that Vicki probably makes up lies about David to cover her own faults. David asks him to fire her, but his father says his aunt wouldn't have that.

Carolyn returns home, moping. Vicki asks her what happened. She's upset that Joe wasn't available to take her to lunch. She says Joe's a square, and she hopes she never sees him again. The phone rings and it's Joe. He invites her to dinner and she's giddy.

Roger asks David if he'd rather be rid of him or Ms. Winters.

Our thoughts

John: This episode was shot a week in advance, so yesterday's must have been scheduled around someone's availability. During the slate recording, we get to see Louis Edmonds at his desk going over his lines, and then hiding his script.

Christine: Maybe they had to reschedule taping because of casting for Mrs. Johnson. I wonder if it could also be possible something got messed up with the episode they taped that would force them to come in on the weekend to reshoot. I guess we'll never know. We get some recycled location footage of Roger out on the docks that we last saw in Episode 54.

John: Vicki wears her hair up for the first time, in full-on schoolteacher mode. Next thing you know, Roger is asking her out on a date. Of course then he talks to David about getting rid of her, so who knows what's going on.

Christine: Carolyn gave him the idea when she suggests he be nice to Miss Winters and he remarks that it may be "a good idea to charm Miss Winters." As you said in the Episode 62 post, "As long as she stays, he's at risk," and what better way to get rid of her than to encourage David to do it. Since David has a tendency towards choosing solutions that involve death or dismemberment, this is not a wise course of action. Incidentally, I think she's got her hair up to try and look more like the portrait Sam painted of Betty Hanscomb.

John: Carolyn is schizophrenic. One second she's ready to be rid of Joe the square; the next she's going to get dressed up to have dinner with him. The poor bastard doesn't stand a chance.

Christine: No, poor Joe doesn't stand a chance. Hopefully his prospects will improve soon. I'd like to recognize David Henesy's entertaining portrayal of a pychopathic brat in today's episode. It may have been overexaggerated, but he looked like he was having a lot of fun. Alexandra Moltke had good reason to appear truly frightened in those scenes. I thought she was going to be injured.

David goes on a rampage.

Kitten stands by her Uncle Roger, as expected.

Dark Shadows Episode 274 - 7/13/67

Jason makes his way through the woods to the old house.

Barnabas comes downstairs, and Willie tells him he was upstairs for a long time. Barnabas waxes poetic about time, and tells Willie the room upstairs cannot be vacant long. He tells him that he's already selected his next Josette. Willie says that Maggie Evans failed. Barnabas says he was too hasty. Maggie didn't possess Josette's tender qualities. He says he has made his next selection with great care. He tells Willie to grab his jewel chest so he can select a gift.

Jason approaches the house and peers in the window at Barnabas when Willie brings him the jewel chest. Barnabas fondles the pearls in the chest, and says the entire contents of the chest wouldn't buy the one he wants. He tells Willie that he's pleased he seems to be improving. He says he thought he might help Maggie escape.

Outside, it appears that Jason can hear them.

Willie realizes that Vicki is Barnabas' next target for Josette.

Jason is surprised to hear the conversation.

Willie walks through the woods when Jason taps him on the shoulder. He tells him he'll be moving on. Willie asks if he's getting married, and Jason said he had a change of plans. Willie says he knows him too well, and that his plans must have backfired. Jason asks Willie if he'd like to come along with him. Willie says he'd like to but he's doing alright here. Jason says he needs Willie to do him a favor. He needs a little to tide him over. He tells Willie to grab two handfuls from the chest of jewelry in the old house. Willie says he doesn't know what Jason is talking about, and Jason says he saw it himself. Jason then brings up Maggie Evans, poor thing, and what's about to happen to Vicki Winters. Jason tells Willie he knows what to do, and Willie agrees. He tells Jason he'll meet him tomorrow at noon, and Jason tells him to come to The Blue Whale then.

In The Blue Whale, Jason drinks at the bar when Vicki comes in. She asks the bartender if Carolyn has been in. He shakes his head when Jason comes forward and asks to talk to Vicki. She says she'd rather not, and that she's still looking for Carolyn. Vicki says Carolyn doesn't yet know the truth about her mother. Vicki tells Jason she ruined the life of a wonderful woman, who has been trapped for the last 18 years. Jason tells her she's living in a fantasy world. He asks her who she is, and where does she come from. He says he knows that she doesn't know the answers to those questions. He says he was around 18 years ago, and maybe he does know the answers. She asks what he knows, and he says whatever he knows he'll take with him when he leaves. She storms out of the bar.

Jason is sitting at a table in the bar when Willie shows up. Jason tells him to sit down for a farewell drink. They take a drink of the beers the bartender brings them, and Jason asks Willie what he's got. Willie says he's got what Jason wants. He asks to see it, and Willie gives him a single brooch. He says it's all he could manage, and Jason is angry with him. He tells Willie he can't let him down like that, and Willie reiterates that the one piece is all that he's getting.

Back at the old house, Jason breaks a window and sneaks in. He sees the jewelry box right where Willie had left it.

Our thoughts

John: Will the real Josette, please stand up? You'd think Barnabas might be more open to trying traditional dating techniques.

Christine: Barnabas has a fondness for young girls. I don't think traditional dating techniques would work out for him. Also, he seems to be really hung up on Josette, which makes it funny that the first thing he did when he got to the Old House was to assert she had no power there. He's a complicated vampire.

John: So Jason implies that he knows Vicki's history. Something tells me that mystery isn't going to be solved before Jason meets his final fate, which I have a hunch is fast approaching.

Christine: How would Jason know about Vicki's history unless Paul Stoddard were involved? Could this mean that Vicki is the illegitimate daughter of Paul Stoddard and Betty Hanscomb?

John: I had expected Willie to lure Jason back to Barnabas on purpose, but it seems like he was trying to help out his friend one last time. And this time, I'm guessing Jason's greed will get the best of him.

Christine: Hope to see Jason's comeuppance tomorrow!

"The sun sets and the sun rises, but only night could become eternal, the blackness that is always." -Barnabas

Dark Shadows Episode 241 - 5/29/67

David sneaks into the old house looking for the ghost of Josette. He hears a music box playing, and sees a woman coming down the stairs in a bridal gown with a veil. She speaks to David, asking his name, and then telling him she's been away to a place of death, but now she's come back. She had to come back. Maggie asks him where she is. He says she's in her house.

They discuss her music box, and then he points out that this is more than she's ever talked to him before. She says she's forgotten something, and David asks if she'll speak to him again. He says he used to call to her portrait, but she didn't always respond. She asks about the painting. He says it used to be above the fireplace, and now it's in her bedroom. He tells her he cried when it was taken down, but he's happier knowing where it is.

He shows her the portrait of Barnabas, and says it's being painted by Mr. Evans. Maggie recognizes the name. He then tells her the painting is Barnabas, and she repeats his name. She seems frightened. David asks why. There's a knock at the door and David hears Vicki and his father outside.

He turns around and finds that he's alone. David calls to Josette. From outside, Roger demands that he open the door. David opens the door and says hello to them. Roger asks where Barnabas is. Vicki says they heard David talking to someone. Roger asks if he came looking for Josette's ghost, and asks if he's seen her. David says no. Vicki seems to sense (or smell) something, and asks him if Josette had been in the room. The door opens and Barnabas enters.

Roger explains that David returned for another visit. Barnabas says his fondness for the house is insatiable. He asks if he came to visit him, or to find someone else. He says he wanted to see Josette again. Barnabas asks if he did, and David quickly says no. He asks David if he went upstairs, and David tells him no. Roger apologizes again, and ensures Barnabas it won't happen again. He sees the portrait, and says it's coming right along. Barnabas explains that Sam Evans isn't presently able to work on it. Roger comments that the resemblance to the portrait in the main house is uncanny. They excuse themselves, and Barnabas bids them goodnight. After they leave, he heads upstairs.

In her room with her music box playing, with her veil now lifted, Maggie looks at the portrait of Josette, and then looks into the mirror. Barnabas' hand closes the music box. He asks if she saw the people in the house. He reiterates that no one is to see her. She repeats after him. He says they wouldn't understand that she is Josette, and might call her Maggie Evans. She connects to Evans. Barnabas repeats that her name is Josette Collins. He says she's always been Josette Collins, no matter what anyone says. Maggie repeatedly says, "I am Josette Collins,"' and Barnabas opens her music box, resuming the melody.

The sheriff arrives at the old house and introduces himself to Barnabas, and he is invited in. He mentions that he heard that he had visited previously. They discuss Willie, and the sheriff asks about Willie's whereabouts when Maggie Evans disappeared. Barnabas confirms that Willie was on an errand to Bangor. The sheriff asks about the prior night Maggie disappeared. Barnabas explains that Willie was only gone long enough to get to the Evans house and back. As he's showing the sheriff out, Josette's music box begins playing upstairs. Barnabas makes an excuse that he had just winded it before coming downstairs.

Roger admonishes David, and asks Vicki to have David write the word 'honest' and its definition 50 times tomorrow. As they go upstairs, Vicki asks what he saw. She said she smelled Jasmine, and wants to know if he saw Josette. He says he did, and that they talked a lot. Vicki is surprised they had a conversation. David mentioned the music box, and says she was very different this time. He says she then disappeared. He gets her to promise not to tell anyone.

There's a knock at the door, and Vicki lets the sheriff in. He explains he was on the property, and thought he'd update she and Roger on the search. He explains that things aren't any better now that Barnabas has provided an alibi for Willie. He admits that it's possible that Maggie is dead.

In the old house, Maggie comes downstairs and calls out, "little boy, I need you."

Our thoughts

John: Granted, she had the veil on, but don't you think David knew Maggie well enough to recognize her? Perhaps since he's expecting to see Josette, he doesn't notice that Maggie looks nothing like the portrait. At least nowhere near as close as Vicki and and the portrait of Betty Hanscomb.

Christine: It is pretty weak for David to act oblivious to who she really is. He should be able to recognize her as the nice lady who gave him a free sundae.

John: Vicki could see through David's lies, and even if Roger could not, I'd think that Barnabas would be sharp enough to notice. Things can't keep up this way for long, or David is bound to go missing, too.

Christine: I wonder why Barnabas doesn't just lock the door to the Old House, especially now that he's kidnapped Maggie Evans. He should at least put his servant in charge of guarding her when he's not around.

John: Do you think Barnabas is drugging Maggie? It's one thing for her to be caught up in a trance in his presence, but you'd think seeing David, or hearing her name, might snap her back to reality.

Christine: Perhaps the music box is acting as a hypnotic influence. Or his bites have transmitted some vampire toxin into her bloodstream that makes her forget who she is. Either way, we haven't been provided with much evidence for why Maggie is acting like she's brain dead and not attempting to break free.