Dark Shadows Episode 385 - 12/15/67

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The Countess paces downstairs when Nathan comes down. She asks how Jeremiah is doing, and Nathan says he's still unconscious, hovering between life and death. She says someone in the house wanted him dead. He says that's nonsense. There's a knock at the door. Nathan lets in Reverend Trask, and offers to take him upstairs to see Jeremiah.

The Countess tells him that the Reverend is here to see Abigail, to help find and destroy the witch in the house. Nathan asks the Countess under whose authority the Reverend was brought to the house, and Trask tells him by the authority invested in him by the almighty. Nathan asks what church he's part of. Trask says he's there to deal with a witch, and asks them to tell Miss Collins that he has arrived. The Countess goes upstairs to do so.

Vicki looks at the family album when there's a knock at the door. She hides the book and answers the door. Nathan jumps in and says he needs to get her out of the house. He says he didn't realize how seriously Abigail and the Countess were about the witchcraft business. He says they called for a witch hunter. She says she's not a witch, and has nothing to hide. He wishes her luck.

Trask asks Abigail and the Countess if they have evidence of witchcraft being performed in the house. He asks for tangible evidence of the act of sorcery. Abigail describes how Joshua disappeared, and a black cat replaced him. She says that a week later, she saw the cat disappear, replaced by her brother. He asks to interview Victoria Winters.

Barnabas comes downstairs just in time to hear that.

Barnabas asks what's going on. Trask introduces himself. Barnabas tells Abigail the girl is no more of a witch than he is.

Trask tells him the devil can appear in the guise of innocence and purity. Barnabas asks for evidence. Abigail says he was the victim of black magic. He denies that. She asks for a logical  investigation. Trask asks how he recovered from his affliction. Barnabas says it went away as quickly as it came. The Countess brings up Josette, and the pitchfork that appeared on her hand. Trask asks who she's referring to. Barnabas explains that Josette ran off with his uncle and married him. He says it was not the result of witchcraft—it was a defect in her character. The Countess reminds Barnabas that on the day she arrived, she warned him there was an evil woman in the house. Barnabas tells Trask he's hearing from two women with vivid imaginations. He reminds his aunt that she is not the mistress of the house, and she tells him that his father gave her free reign to resolve this. She offers to take Trask to see Vicki.

Trask questions Vicki, asking where she was when Barnabas began choking. She says no, and he tells her there's no reason to lie. Abigail says the Reverend knows how to deal with people like her. She says she knew he was coming to ask questions, and he asks how she knew. He grabs her and she pushes him away.

He says the signs of possession are unmistakable, and asks her how long she has been in league with the devil.

She denies it, and tells him to leave her alone. He forcibly sits her down, and asks Abigail for her clothes.

She refuses to says where they came from.  He says she cannot hide her evil ways from him. He says Satan possesses her. He tells her to pray for her salvation. She punches him, and says if anyone is possessed by the devil, he is.

He slaps her, and she calls for help.

Abigail ties a gag in her mouth. Trask says he must remove her from the house. The Countess is not comfortable with his taking her. He says he'll take her to the woods, prove she is a witch, and exorcise the evil spirits from her body. She then asks how he'll prove she is a witch, and he tells her he has his ways.

The Countess asks where he's taken her, and Abigail says not to question his wisdom. She says he was unnecessarily violent. Abigail asks if she thinks Vicki is innocent. She said she'd feel better if she knew what he was planning to do to prove her guilt.

Trask has Vicki tied to a tree. He gives her one last chance to confess and receive salvation. She tells him that he's insane. He tells her she'll be tied to the tree overnight. He says if she's guilty of witchcraft, the tree will be dead in the morning.

He walks away and she pleads not to be left alone. He comes back and tries to cast out evil spirits.

As he leaves, he tells her no one will hear her screams.

Our thoughts
                                                               
John: I love how the Countess tells Nathan to answer the front door, as she knows better than to wait for the servants. Which is a polite way of saying they couldn't afford having more actors on any given day.

Christine: Where's Riggs when you need him?

John: Reverend Trask is here! I expect he's going to be an excellent addition to the cast. He seems like he'd be more fun to play than Tony Peterson!

Christine: Double the manhandling and abuse! He's so bad, he's good! He's so good, he's evil! Jerry Lacy seems to be thoroughly enjoying the role. Vicki Winters took a fair amount of mistreatment from him, though she deserved it for disregarding the history of the Salem Witch Trials, thinking she could stick around and face the Witchfinder without consequence.

John: Perhaps even better than Barnabas' bitch-slapping of Jeremiah is Vicki's bitch-slapping of Trask. Unfortunately for her, she doesn't seem to realize that men in 1795 will only find one explanation for a woman being so outspoken—demonic possession.

Christine: I think it's still a commonly held belief that outspoken women are witches. And please stop saying bitch-slapping. Vicki is not playing smart at all. She left her brain back in 1967. How frustrating for Alexandra Moltke.

John: Additions to our 1795 scorecard:

Present Day/1795

• Tony Peterson/Reverend Trask