In the old house, Barnabas wonders who Adam could have found to provide the life force when there's a knock at the door. Barnabas opens it, and a woman who identifies herself as Leona Eltridge, saying Adam asked her to come. Adam enters and tells Barnabas that she will provide the life force for his mate. He asks if Julia is there, and he says he doesn't know where she is. Adam says he must find her so they can complete the experiment tonight. Adam starts to take Leona upstairs to rest. Barnabas asks her who she is, where she came from, and why she agreed to participate in the experiment. Adam tells him his questions are not important, and demands that he find Julia. After Adam goes upstairs, Julia and Stokes arrive at the old house. Barnabas tells her that since she's been gone, many things have happened that he can't explain.
Adam brings Leona into Josette's room. She lies down on the bed. Adam asks her who she is, and she says she's a good friend of Nicholas. She tells Adam that no one must know they only met tonight, nor that Nicholas Blair has anything to do with it. He agrees to keep the promise.
Julia tells Barnabas it isn't possible, reiterating that Carolyn was dead. He says he spoke to her, and she offered to proceed with the experiment. Adam said that he would provide a new life force, and he showed up at the old house with Leona Eltridge. Stokes asks how to spell her name, and Barnabas says he doesn't know. Adam comes downstairs and tells Julia that this time, the experiment must succeed and his mate must life. Julia goes downstairs to prepare for the experiment, and Stokes asks if he can speak to Leona. Barnabas suggests that he's afraid for her to speak to anyone. Stokes says that perhaps the woman wouldn't object to his speaking to her for a few moments.
In Josette's room, Leona lies on the bed, staring into the distance. She thinks that if the experiment succeeds, she will destroy all these people. Adam comes back in and says there's a man, Professor Stokes, that wants to speak to her. She says Nicholas told her about him, and she'd be happy to speak to him. She tells Adam he'll believe every word she says, and tells Adam to send him in.
He brings in Stokes and leaves them alone. Stokes introduces himself and sits down. He says she's a bit of a mystery to them, and asks how she met Adam and became involved in all this. She says she knew of the experiment through Dr. Lang. She says they were in love, and she wants it to succeed. He suggests that she must love him if she's willing to risk her life for his experiment. She explains that she's got an incurable disease. She says she's going to die a painful death soon, and removes her scarf. Stokes asks how she found Adam. She says she's willing to answer his questions, but she'd like to sleep for a while. He says she's cleared up most of the mystery. He leaves her alone and Adam returns. He asks if Stokes believed her, and she says he did, and the others will, too.
Barnabas asks Stokes if he believes her story, and he says there's something curious about her. He says there's something about the way she spells her name, and then excuses himself.
Julia toys with the master switch in the basement. Barnabas comes downstairs to check on her.
Later in the lab, Julia tells Barnabas she doesn't trust the woman's story. Barnabas says they don't have a choice. Adam comes downstairs with Leona, who is now wearing a gown. She gets up on the operating table. Barnabas tells Adam if the experiment is a success, his mate will come to life without knowledge and experience. He asks who will take care of that, and Adam says that he will. Julia goes to give Leona a shot for the pain, and she says she doesn't want it. Julia tells her what to expect as the experiment starts.
Julia asks Barnabas to monitor Leona's pulse, and tells Adam to get out of the way. He says he'll stay by his mate so he can see when she comes to life. Julia throws the master switch. The lights dim and she flips a few more switches. Julia asks about her pulse, and Barnabas says it's weaker. Leona screams. Barnabas tells her there's no pulse. Adam asks what's wrong. Julia checks the mate. She walks to the master switch and turns it off. She says Leona is dead. They hear a moaning under the sheet of Adam's mate. He slowly removes the bandages and says her eyes are open. He exclaims that, "she is alive!"
Our thoughts
John: I can't believe that anyone would believe Leona's tall tale, and expect that Barnabas would insist on knowing more, or at least vetting her story, before proceeding.
Christine: I think they all just want to get it over with, much like the rest of us.
John: Isn't it a bit odd that people would just sit down and use Josette's hairbrush? Haven't Maggie, Vicki, and now Leona all done that at one time or another?
Christine: I don't think it's too odd. It makes sense that she'd want to look nice before dying on the operating table.
John: So now we are to believe that the provider of the life force's looks were also transferred in the experiment? Shouldn't this make Adam even more upset about not using Carolyn? I'm sure it was cheaper that hiring two actresses. Although I wonder if there's ever been a person in the bandages on the operating table. Maybe the resident Dark Shadows hand model?
Christine: It is actually a different actress. Today is Erica Fitz's last appearance as Leona. I'm surprised they didn't bring her back in another role. She seemed to hold her own quite nicely. Eve is played by Marie Wallace. I thought it was interesting that they put so much eye makeup on her before bandaging her up. I guess they really wanted Adam to be pleased with her appearance when he unwrapped her.
Along with Nancy Barrett, Erica Fitz seems like one of the few people on Dark Shadows to have a really trendy look about her. She looks a little like Carol Wayne on The Tonight Show, or a few of the Laugh-In actresses.
ReplyDeleteMarie Wallace makes her debut, playing the first of three memorable roles on the show.
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