Dark Shadows Episode 495 - 5/17/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Barnabas brings Adam food. Adam stands up, and Barnabas tells him to sit. He says when he sits down, he will get his supper. Adam speaks his name, and Barnabas is surprised and quite pleased.

Barnabas says he has so much to learn. Adam stops laughing, and Barnabas continues speaking with him, to teach him. He points to his supper and says, "food." Adam repeats the word, and tries to eat his soup with a spoon. Barnabas asks him where he learned that, and when Adam hesitates, he tells him not to stop. After a few attempts, he is able to eat the soup with the spoon.

He picks up the bowl and starts drinking from it. He stops, puts it down, and places a napkin on his lap. Barnabas asks him if Julia taught him that. Adam finishes his food, and when Barnabas gets up and takes his tray, Adam is upset. Barnabas tells him that he will see him tomorrow, and tells him to sleep. Barnabas leaves, and Adam sits on the floor, crying, while pulling at the chain that tethers him to the wall. He pulls it free, and then goes to work on the cell door. He removes it with little effort, and makes his way upstairs, calling for Barnabas.

Adam makes his way outside, and calls for Barnabas, dragging his chain behind him.

David comes downstairs and shows his father the new knife that Cassandra bought him. Roger asks if he likes her now, and he says yes, she would have bought him anything he wanted. Roger is glad they are getting along better, and David says he always liked her.

There's a knock at the door, and David lets Barnabas in. He shows his knife to Barnabas, whose reply is, "good." He asks Roger if Julia is there, and Roger says no. He does mention that Liz had gone to the old house to see him, and he says he'll go meet her. Before he leaves, Roger asks Barnabas why he treats his wife so poorly. He says if he cannot act civilly with Cassandra, he will no longer be welcome in the house. Barnabas asks if he's consulted with Liz on this.

Liz runs into Adam in the woods, and asks who he is. Adam cannot speak. She explains he is on private property. Adam says Barnabas, and she asks if he's looking for him. He holds up his chain and Liz assumes he escaped from somewhere and runs away.

Barnabas says he hates to leave with ill feelings between them, and he says he will work to resolve any issues he has with Cassandra. Liz bursts in and says there's a giant halfway to the old house. She says he has a shackle around his ankle with a broken chain. Liz says he called Barnabas' name. Roger realizes that David is out there, and he grabs his gun. He and Barnabas leave to confront the trespasser.

David stabs his knife into the earth when Adam sees him. David starts to hum, and Adam comes out, laughing. David asks him who he is, and if he likes the song, too.

David is impressed with how tall he is. David asks if he doesn't speak English, and says he likes people who don't talk too much. David shows how he's trying to get his knife to stand up straight in the ground when he throws it. Adam grabs David's hand with the knife. He picks David up and then drops him, causing him to twist his ankle. Adam feels bad, picking him up, and David tells him to put him down. Roger and Barnabas approach. Roger draws his gun and tells him to put him down.

Barnabas says he will take care of it. He tells Adam to put David on the ground, and Adam does. Roger asks how he got him to do that. Barnabas calls for David to come. David comes to him and Roger shoots Adam. Adam runs away, and Roger pursues him. David and Barnabas follow.

Adam finds his way back downstairs into his cell. He clutches his shoulder where he was shot.

Our thoughts

John: I think the rattling chains hanging from the ceiling in Adam's cell are just for ambiance.

Christine: I thought they might be there for some type of enrichment. I don't know how they expect Adam to speak or learn in such an unstimulating, austere environment with little interaction. I loved the way Barnabas was showing him how to eat soup with a spoon.

John: Barnabas should have been concerned that now that Adam can speak, that he might call out from the basement.

Christine: It was a surprise to hear that Harry Johnson is still residing at Collinwood. He's remained out of sight since his only appearance in Episode 471, and who knows when that Harry Johnson will emerge again. Meanwhile, Cassandra is out buying David a knife, making him forget that he dislikes her, and complaining to Roger that Barnabas is being mean to her. Has this sculpture always been part of the foyer clock? I don't believe I've noticed it before.

John: Well, things got out of hand much more quickly than expected. Adam got out, met the rest of the family, got shot, and managed to make it back home without being followed? Roger isn't much of a tracker, apparently, and Barnabas has got a lot of explaining to do next week!

Christine: It was truly amazing that they were not hot on his heels when all they needed to do was track him by all the bushes he knocked over. Can't wait to hear Barnabas explain why he's had cousin Adam chained up and why he is unable to speak. Let's hope this terrifying ordeal has tuckered out little David so that he can have the dream on Monday.

Dark Shadows Before I Die Round Robin Nightmare tracker:

1. Wide-eyed skull
2. Guillotine
3. Lang's Headless creation
4. Skeletal bride 
5. Educational Bat-footage