Dark Shadows Episode 636 - 12/2/68

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Adam spins dials, and then goes to Eve's skeleton. He tells Vicki that Barnabas will suffer. Barnabas comes downstairs with a gun drawn on Adam, and tells him to turn off the machine. Adam says if he dies, Barnabas will revert to what he was. Barnabas says he's lying. Julia says Adam must have heard Lang's tape. Adam says he doesn't know what Barnabas is, but he knows he doesn't want him to die. Adam tells him to watch what happens to Vicki when he pulls the switch, and when he starts to do it, Barnabas shoots him in the back.

Julia turns off the switch and offers to help Adam, who runs upstairs. Barnabas checks on Vicki. Julia says she'll be fine, but tells him that Adam will get away. He demands that she check on Vicki rather than worry about Adam. She checks her pulse and says it's slow, but she'll be fine. He says they have to get her back to Collinwood. She asks if she should then find Willie to bring a coffin into the room for him at sunrise? Or should they go searching for Adam? He tells her that he made his decision when he fired the shot, and tells her to help him with Vicki.

Adam breaks into Stokes' house. The phone rings and he picks it up. He hears Jeff Clark on the other end, but doesn't respond to him. He hangs up, and grabs a letter opener when he hears a door shut. Stokes enters, and he sees Adam needs help. He tries to call for help, and Adam stops him, telling him not to call Julia. Stokes calls a friend and asks him to come treat a gunshot wound discretely. Stokes explains that he'll help him whether he likes it or not. He helps Adam to his room.

Julia watches over Vicki in her bedroom when Barnabas enters. Julia asks if he told Carolyn that he shot Adam. He says he did as Vicki wakes, asking where Adam is. She begs for Barnabas to stay with her until morning. Julia says that he can't, but she will.

Stokes has fixed Adam up with another shirt. He apologizes for failing to finish teaching Adam. They talk about love, and Adam says he'll never have it.

Jeff Clark arrives at Stokes' house, and Adam tells him not to let him in. Stokes sends Adam to his bedroom, and lets Jeff in. He shows Jeff some herbs, and tries to dissuade him from taking them. Jeff says that he now knows he was once Peter Bradford, but he needs to know more about how he came forward in time. Jeff eats a leaf and Stokes tells him he needs to follow a ritual. He explains when and how Jeff should eat the leaves, and then begins an incantation to allow Jeff to see his past. Stokes questions Jeff about his past, and hears details of Peter Bradford's life. He explains he came forward in time to see Vicki. He then says he's going back, and tries to stop it, saying he needs to see her again. He calls to Vicki.

Vicki hears Jeff's call and gets up and runs out of her room.

Jeff pictures the noose ready for Vicki. He begs for a chance to talk to her when she runs into the room. Jeff doesn't see her. Vicki tries to get his attention, telling him his love brought him to her, and her love will keep him with her. She screams at him to say he'll stay. He gets up and says he will, kissing her. She says they'll be married tonight.

Our thoughts

John: It's funny how the lab switch also controls the music that's playing. As soon as Julia flips the switch, Bob Cobert's music ends abruptly with the lab sound effects.

Christine: That was pretty amusing.

John: A new outfit for Adam! And all it took was getting shot. Sadly, this was the last we'll see of Adam. Frankly, I think he deserved a bigger exit than Stokes sending him to his room.

Christine: I agree it was not a satisfying way to exit a character we've spent 78 episodes getting to know, and seems problematic with his fate still connected to Barnabas' affliction. If Stokes should send him away for cosmetic surgery and he dies on the operating table, could Barnabas be caught out of the coffin at an inopportune time?

John: I guess they didn't want to spend as much time or effort to send Jeff back in time as they did for Eve. Of course today's episode felt like it was designed to tie up a bunch of loose ends so they could move forward with new storylines.

Christine: I thought it was interesting to find out that Professor Stokes is not only a purveyor of rare herbs, but is also on a first name basis with a surgeon who specializes in treating bullet wounds discreetly. I wonder what other rackets he's involved in. It was quite a dramatic ending with Jeff Clark taking his first magic carpet ride as Vicki shows up in her granny nightgown to bring him down. It inspired him to clutch her head instead of his own for a change. How did Jeff Clark get out of jail anyway? Did he escape or was he cleared of charges?