Dark Shadows Episode 433 - 2/21/68

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In the courtroom, Trask describes finding Abigail's dead body in the woods last night. He says the look on her face was as if she had confronted evil itself. He then goes on to say that the one person in the courtroom who would like to see her dead is the witch on trial—Victoria Winters. Peter asks the court to strike Trask's reference as irrelevant. He says the medical record states Abigail died of heart failure. The court allows Bradford's objection to stand. Trask asks the court if he finds it odd that Abigail Collins died so suddenly. The judge says he does, but without a witness or sufficient evidence he can't add a murder charge against Miss Winters. Bradford says that if Vicki was going to kill Abigail, wouldn't she have done it before she testified and not after? Trask requests a recess to find a witness.

After the others left the courtroom, Peter and Vicki discuss her feelings for Abigail. He says Trask seems convinced that he can find a witness. Peter wonders if he's convinced Ben to testify against Vicki. She says Ben hated Abigail. Peter asks if he hated her enough to kill her, and Vicki says no. Peter says they need a witness to prove Vicki didn't hate Abigail enough to kill her.

Back in the jail, Peter tells Vicki that he found Nathan Forbes, and asks why she didn't tell him about the Lieutenant sooner. She says she didn't think it was important. Forbes shows up and Vicki thanks him. Peter asks him if he knew Abigail Collins is dead. He asks if she was murdered, and Peter tells him that she died of a heart attack. He adds that Trask claims she was murdered by Vicki. Peter asks Nathan to testify on Vicki's behalf as a character witness. He wants him to confirm Abigail was the first to accuse Vicki of being a witch, and despite that persecution, Vicki never said or did anything to suggest she would kill Abigail Collins. He agrees, but reluctantly. He says for personal reasons, he's not on good terms with the Collins family, so his testimony might be viewed as less than objective. Trask enters, sees Forbes, and Peter tells him he can have the room in a few minutes. Peter says Forbes need only tell the truth.

Outside, Trask listens at the door.

The trial resumes, and Trask calls Miss Winters to the stand. Peter objects, and the judge says they will protect the witnesses rights. Trask asks Vicki if Abigail first recognized her as a witch. Peter objects, and the judge admonishes Trask. Vicki says she was the first to accuse her, and Trask asks if she hated her. Vicki says no, and when he asks if she loved her, she says no. Trask says that then she must have hated her. He asks if she ever said she'd be glad to see Abigail Collins dead. She says no. He produces a bracelet, which Vicki identifies as her own. He admits it as evidence and says it shows signs of the zodiac. He asks her where she got it, and Vicki says she can't tell him. Trask says it was given to her by Satan himself. Trask says it was found on the body of Abigail Collins last night.

Peter objects, and says that Abigail had it for some time before she died. Trask calls Nathan Forbes to testify.

Peter suggests to the court that Forbes must have been pressured to testify for Trask. The court allows Trask to proceed. He asks about Abigail's views of Vicki as a witch. He asks if he and Miss Winters discussed that, and her feelings for Abigail. He says that she made not secret that she hated Abigail. He says yes, and Vicki shouts out that's not true. Nathan says he had a long conversation with Vicki, in which she called Abigail a religious fanatic, and if anyone deserved to be dead and buried, it was Abigail Collins. Trask asks if she also said she had the ability to strike Abigail Collins dead, she would, and Nathan agrees.

Peter cross examines Nathan, and asks if he befriended Vicki after she became a witch. He agrees. Peter then asks if he saw Trask take Vicki to the woods and tie her to a tree. Trask objects. Peter asks if he released Vicki from the tree. Nathan says yes, at the insistence of Barnabas Collins. He then asks if he gave her shelter in the old house, and food. Nathan says yes. Peter asks if he did so because he was sure she was not a witch, and Nathan says no. Peter says he did all this for her, knowing she was a witch.

Nathan said he was convinced witchcraft was being practiced at Collinwood, and he had no choice. Barnabas considered she wasn't a witch, and he says he did so in order to retain his relationship. Vicki screams at Nathan, asking why he is lying.

Our thoughts

John: Who said Vicki hated Abigail? I mean, everyone did, but it's presumptuous to say that Vicki specifically did.

Christine: I wonder what would cause Nathan to lie for Trask in court. He's never been a Trask fan. Surely there must be something in it for him.

John: Bradford offers an alternative suggestion to when Vicki would have killed Abigail. Nice move, counselor. Wouldn't it be easier to disprove someone else's claim that she hated Abigail enough to kill her, than to find someone to prove she didn't?

Christine: Most lawyers don't hug on their clients in the courtroom, which would be inappropriate now, let alone in 1795, and I'm surprised Trask didn't pounce on that as more evidence of Vicki's evil ways. Trask is really going heavy on the eyeliner today. Perhaps he put the extra effort in for his big day in court.

John: I love the shocking music that plays when Forbes enters the courtroom. Too bad Peter forgot to bring up Nathan's statement of concern about falling out of favor with the Collins family. It sure will be interesting if Vicki's fate is dependent on a vampire testifying on her behalf...

Christine: I'm sure you'll appreciate knowing that was Cue 157: Dramatic Curtain. I think it was the first time we heard that jarring cue. I like the shadow that crowns Vicki on the courtroom wall, and then Trask as he smirks over his victory in the courtroom.