Dark Shadows Episode 319 - 9/14/67

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Sam is worrying when Maggie returns home. He asks where she was, and she explains she just went out for fresh air. Sam tells her that something happened, and shows her a newspaper headline reading ANOTHER GIRL ATTACKED. He tells her she has to be more careful than ever.

There's a knock at the door, and Sam heroically offers to get the door. He opens it without asking who it is, but it's only Dr. Woodard. He tells Maggie that he treated the girl and she'll be all right. He says she had some scratches on her neck and lost a little blood. He asks her if he can speak to her father alone. She leaves to make coffee, and Woodard tells Sam that the attacker is far from ordinary. He tells Sam he's got a risky plan. He wants to set a trap for the maniac. He wants to tell the townspeople that Maggie is getting her memory back, as a means to lure him out of hiding. Sam is angry that he would ask him to risk his daughter's life, and he refuses.

Barnabas reads the newspaper headline and tosses his copy into the fireplace. Willie comes in and asks why he did it. He says the police are asking questions all around town. Barnabas tells Willie that he doesn't have to explain himself. Willie tells Barnabas that he did it because he was scared. Scared of Sarah, and scared of losing his power. Barnabas barks at Willie to be quiet. Barnabas sends Willie into town to find out what's being said.

As he works with her, Maggie tells Woodard that she still doesn't remember anything. She asks what he talked to her father over. He says he had a plan to lure her attacker out of hiding, but Sam said no. She asks for the details, and he explains he wants to let people believe she's getting her memory back. She says she wants to help, and she'll persuade her father, so she can stop living in fear. He leaves, and she picks up the phone to make a call.

The sheriff arrives at Maggie's and says she thinks there's a flaw in her plan. Sam walks in and asks what the sheriff is there for. Maggie says she told him about Woodard's plan. Sam says he forbids it. She asks the sheriff to convince Sam. He says that if Sam told people she was getting her memory back, it would be an obvious trap, since he wouldn't willingly risk her life. Maggie says it wouldn't be true if he were drunk. The sheriff says he could attempt to keep him from talking to make it seem true. She pleads for her father to help her. Sam asks if the sheriff can guarantee her safety, and reluctantly agrees to go along with the plan.

Willie is in The Blue Whale when Sam and the sheriff enter. Sam appears to be drunk. The bartender asks if there's any news on the attack. Sam blurts out that it will all be fine soon enough. The bartender quizzes them about what he means, and the sheriff tries to shush Sam.

The bartender asks if Maggie is starting to remember things, and the sheriff asks him to forget everything Sam said. They retire to a table to congratulate each other on their ruse.

Willie tells Barnabas what he heard, saying they hinted at Maggie's memory returning. Barnabas says Dr Hoffman will have to prevent that from happening.

Our thoughts

John: ANOTHER GIRL ATTACKED is probably the most ridiculous newspaper headline I've ever seen. And when Maggie asks if the girl got a good look at her attacker, Sam says yes, and then described him as just a dark figure. So she got a real good look alright.

Christine: POLICE BAFFLED makes a great subheadline to a ridiculous headline. Willie has some interesting thoughts on why Barnabas went back to attacking young girls in town, but may have hit the nail on the head when he suggested that Barnabas was afraid he couldn't live as a normal man. 

John: How fitting that Sam couldn't turn down an opportunity to play drunk! I'm just surprised he didn't actually drink.

Christine: I think he snuck in a few tipples to enhance the act. I love when Sam said, "Bobarooney, give me a...a double martooni on the rocks, huh?"

John: Wow! The bartender speaks! A Dark Shadows first?

Christine: Bartender Bob Rooney first spoke to Carolyn in Episode 270, suggesting she'd had enough to drink and should go home, though the amount of dialogue he had today should have merited an end credit. Here's to you, Bartender Bobarooney!