Dark Shadows Episode 1069 7/30/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV.com! 

Julia says that nothing but terrible things have happened in Collinwood. Barnabas accuses her of being against their hearing from Carolyn. She says that she is too frightened to go in to the drawing room. Barnabas goes in alone and finds Carolyn sitting at the desk. He says that her talking to him means so much to him. He touches her shoulder and she falls to the floor, dead.

He calls to Julia, who stands in the foyer, transfixed by Gerard at the top of the stairs. He asks what she's staring at, and she says nothing. He tells her to come examine the body. They return to the drawing room and there's no sign of Carolyn's body. He finds a note on the desk. He reads from it: "The night of the sun and the moon, the night Rose Cottage was destroyed, the unfinished horoscope, the night I sang my song, the picnic, the murder..." He tells Julia they're all clues. She says the note is incoherent. He says they are all significant things she wanted to tell them.

He tells her to call the sheriff, and she says they aren't supposed to be in the house. Barnabas says he's sure Carolyn is in the house. Julia says the sheriff will ask too many questions. He asks her what's wrong with her. She's disagreeing with everything he says. He demands that she go find a telephone and call the sheriff. He says he will look for Carolyn alone. She sees Gerard upstairs, and when Barnabas turns to look, she pulls him back and tells him to be careful.

Barnabas searches Collinwood looking for Carolyn's body. He wonders why the evil spirit would take it. He says if he can get back to his time, he might be able to save her from this death. He goes to the secret panel in the drawing room and opens it. He is confronted by the mysterious man. Barnabas demands that he give him Carolyn's body. He hears Julia, and before she enters, the man disappears. Julia comes in and Barnabas says he intends to keep Carolyn's body. Barnabas says that the man can't harm him. He says he's going upstairs, and asks her to bring the sheriff when he arrives. He asks her again what is wrong, and she laments being out of their own time. He assures her that they can stop the cause of everything that has happened, and heads upstairs. Julia silently calls to Gerard, and asks if he had to kill Carolyn.

Barnabas tries to enter the playroom, but the door is locked. Julia comes upstairs with the sheriff. The Sheriff says he has some questions. Barnabas says they'll have to wait. The sheriff says if they were in the foyer, no one could get a body out of the drawing room. Barnabas tells the sheriff to try the playroom door, and when he does, it opens right up. They go inside, and are shocked to see Carolyn's body lying on a table.

Barnabas asks who put the flowers in her hand. The sheriff says she's lovely. Barnabas asks him what caused the change in her 25 years ago, and the sheriff says he doesn't know. Barnabas asks for his help. He asks if he's ever heard of a Gerard. He doesn't recall. Barnabas says he saw a spirit in the house earlier tonight. He shouts that Gerard will not go unpunished. The sheriff says he needs to be more logical than that when he finds out how she died. Barnabas says he's going to have the house exorcised tomorrow. The sheriff has no objections. He leaves, and tells them that no one is to touch the body. Barnabas tells Julia to join him at Stokes', and she says she's going to stay with Carolyn's body.

After Barnabas and the sheriff leave, Gerard appears. She tells him to leave the house before there is an exorcism. He looks at her, and she asks him what she must do. He smiles.

The sheriff questtons Quentin at the old house. He says Carolyn died of heart failure. Quentin says Barnabas made the man kill her. The sheriff asks Quentin what he's talking about. Quentin says that he'll kill him, too. The sheriff asks if he's referring to Gerard. Quentin says not to mention his name. The sheriff asks why they didn't tell him Carolyn had died, and where Barnabas and Julia are. Quentin says he doesn't remember, and then says he remembers being found in the woods. He starts to call for Elizabeth. Quentin says they made him go to Collinwood, and he saw him. Quentin says he's got to find Carolyn.

Julia walks in and Quentin tells her not to come near him. She asks the sheriff to hold him so she can give hi a sedative. He does, and Julia tells him that it's for the best. She gives him a shot and tells him to sit down. Quentin says it doesn't matter, because he always wins. He says he wants to go far away, and Julia says that might be a good idea. She tells the sheriff that Quentin has been in the sanitarium, and Quentin asks him if he'll take him back there. The sheriff agrees. Quentin goes upstairs to pack. The sheriff asks Julia if Quentin believes that Gerard exists. He asks Julia why she didn't tell Quentin about Carolyn. She says that she didn't come home last night. He asks about Barnabas, and where he is. She looks outside and sees Gerard in the window. Julia tells the sheriff to return just before dusk, after he returns Quentin to the sanitarium, and she will help him.

Barnabas opens his coffin, and is met by the sheriff with a cross. He screams as the sheriff tells him that he knows all about him!

Our thoughts

John: I wonder how much time was spent coming up with the random fragments of 'clues' explaining what happened at Collinwood, and whether those will truly amount to anything as time goes by. I can only imagine someone in Carolyn's mental state would have had a harder time creating those fragments than just writing down whatever it was truly happened 25 years ago...

Christine: I think it's likely she was thinking in fragments, but even if she weren't, she couldn't write down what happened in a straightforward manner or this storyline would have wrapped up sooner rather than later.

John: The sheriff is so close to being right. No one could get a body out of the drawing room through the foyer without someone in the foyer noticing. But he overlooks the opportunity for the body to be removed through any one of the opening windows (let alone the secret passage).

Christine: With Quentin's departure to the sanitarium, the last of the Collins family members have been removed, leaving only Barnabas and his possessed sidekick to carry the show with a cast of ghosts. We'll see if Stokes can survive the exorcism attempt or if he becomes another casualty.

John: Ah, if only the sheriff had come armed with a stake! All would finally be over for Barnabas, and they could finally etch an end-date of 1995 on his tombstone. But alas, he'll surely worm his way out of trouble once more, likely to turn the tables on the sheriff himself!

Christine: Clearly he must realize by now that Julia is possessed by Gerard. What will Barnabas do without his trusty gal pal at his side and how will he rescue her? Anything could happen in tomorrow's episode. Let's hope it does not disappoint!

Dark Shadows Episode 1068 7/29/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV.com! 

Barnabas smells lilacs. He asks for the spirit who is present to appear to him. A woman materializes and he asks her to speak to him. She disappears, and he begs her to come back. He finds a note that says, "She will die!" He calls to Julia. She runs downstairs and he shows her the note. He says a woman in 19th century clothes appeared and left it for him. He says the reference could be to Carolyn. Julia agrees that must be true. Barnabas says that she and the evil spirit appeared in 19th century clothes, but the childrens' were from 1970.

Quentin runs downstairs and asks where she went. Barnabas asks if he saw her, and he references the scent of lilacs. Barnabas asks who she is, and he tells her she's Daphne. Barnabas asks who Daphne is, and Quentin returns the question. He says that maybe Carolyn knows. He tells Barnabas that he wants to see her again, and calls out to Daphne. Julia explains that she's gone, and he says everyone is gone.

Gerard walks into a room where Daphne is and stands behind a tree branch. She approaches him.

Barnabas and Julia return to Collinwood. She tells him there's no one in the family history named Daphne. She tells him to go ahead while she waits in the foyer. Gerard stands at the top of the stairs, smiling.

Barnabas lights a candle and searches for the Collins family history book, which happens to be sitting on the floor in the middle of the room, facing the camera. He picks it up and flips through it. He looks around as if he's hearing sounds, and then as we hear banging at a shutter, the family history is pulled from his hands. He looks around the room at banging doors.

Julia calls to Barnabas and says that she saw him. He asks if it was the evil spirit, and she says it was David, and tells him he was upstairs. Barnabas goes to investigate and sees no one. He tells her to join him in the drawing room. They hear a sound. Barnabas tells her he's convinced that the family history is important, and he searches the room for it. Julia smiles, and asks if someone could have taken it. He smells lilacs and calls to Daphne. Julia says she's gone. Barnabas finds the book and says she could have left it. He flips it open and says it doesn't matter now, as the relevant pages have been torn out. He says that Daphne tore the pages out so they would never know. Julia smiles, and says it's a terrible pity. As they leave, she suggests it's time to give up. He sends Julia to the old house so he can go see Carolyn alone. Before she leaves, Julia looks up and sees Gerard standing at the top of the stairs.

Carolyn looks at photo albums, trying to remember her family. She identifies her mother, and her uncle Roger, and someone she thinks is her cousin Quentin. Barnabas interrupts her, and she asks how he got in. He says he needs her help. He asks her who Daphne is. She says she doesn't know. He says he saw her ghost, and David and a young girl, and an evil man. She says she doesn't know. He asks her to identify someone in a picture. He says it's a woman with courage and spirit. She can't remember who it is. He tells her that the photo is of her. He then asks her to identify the others, and she is able. He tells her that she can help them. 

He says that Quentin told him that she could tell him who Daphne is. He begs her to help him. She shows him the portrait of Barnabas, and asks where he is now. Barnabas assures her that he is there, and he does want to help her. She says they've all gone—he mother, uncle Roger and David are all gone. She asks about the girl in the photo again, and he tells her that it's her. She laughs. He backs out of the house. After he's gone, she remembers that it is her in the photo.

Julia says he should have known Carolyn wouldn't tell him the truth. He asks her to say that again. She does. He says she almost sounds pleased. She says he's being ridiculous. She writes it off as a natural exasperation. She tells him they're both tired. Barnabas asks her where Daphne's note is, and she asks why he wants it. He says he may want to give it to Stokes for an exorcism. She says she doesn't know where it is, and offers to look for it.

Daphne holds the note, and Gerard extends his hand to her. She gives it to him and he tears it up.

Carolyn arrives at the old house looking for Barnabas. Quentin tells her he went to visit Professor Stokes. Carolyn asks if she remembers him, and he does. They hug, and she says he's home. He asks what has happened to her. He says they've changed her. She says she came to tell Barnabas that she hasn't changed. Quentin says something terrible has happened to them, and asks why he can't remember. He asks her to help him. He says she loved him; that she loved all of them. She says everything will be all right. She says he must take a note to Barnabas for her. He says he'll do it for her. She tells him that they're going to be alright. He laughs. She leaves, and he realizes that he just saw Carolyn. 

He opens the letter she gave him and reads it. It says she'll wait for him at Collinwood, and when he arrives she'll tell him all that she remembers. He goes to throw it in the fire, and Barnabas stops him. He asks if it's a note from Daphne, and he says it's from Carolyn. Barnabas takes it from him and reads it. He asks why Quentin was going to destroy it, and he says that no one must know. Julia comes in and says she can't find Daphne's note. He says it doesn't matter, and tells her to come with him to Collinwood. Alone in the old house, Quentin asks that no one tell anyone.

Julia is too frightened to go in to the drawing room. Barnabas finds Carolyn and says it means so much to him that she's going to tell him everything she knows. He touches her shoulder and she falls to the floor, dead.

Our thoughts

John: So Barnabas has yet to professes his unique and undying love for the new ghost in town, Daphne. Will today be the day? Tomorrow? Can it possibly wait until he inevitably runs into her in the past?

Christine: I think it will have to wait until she's got a corporeal body for him to kidnap and hold. I love how he goes up the stairs and says he can't see anyone when Gerard is so clearly standing in his favorite place at the top of the landing.

John: So is it just me, or did someone have the family history re-bound since 1970? And do you think they crossed out the volume number on the cover once someone realized that the Collins clan was all but dead and gone by 1995?

Christine: I believe the Volume One was crossed out so Barnabas would not see that the destroyed copy he picked up was actually Volume Two. Perhaps this means there's a chance he'll find Volume One and discover what he was looking for in the family history book.

John: Well, I have to give the writers credit. Today's was one of the better 'kill the character right before they give up the goods' scenes... Do you think Carolyn was able to write anything down before she died?

Christine: No doubt she has written some poetic clue for Barnabas to try and piece together or he wouldn't have found her in such a ludicrous position for a dead person to maintain. 

Dark Shadows Episode 1065 7/24/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV.com! 

Julia and Barnabas follow Carolyn as she makes her way into a room upstairs in the ruins of Collinwood. Barnabas says he doesn't ever remember seeing the room. They hear music, and Carolyn laughing. Barnabas opens the door. They go into a playroom and Carolyn tells them to get out. Julia asks him if he saw them, and he says that he did, but he wasn't sure what it was. She says it was like two people, but they disappeared. He points out that this room isn't in ruins like the rest of the house. Carolyn tells them to go away.

Julia asks her what they saw, and she says they saw nothing. Barnabas asks if it was the same spirit they saw downstairs. Julia asks her whose voices they heard. Carolyn says she was talking to herself. Carolyn says she was asking how long until everyone comes back. She asks if they know when everyone will be back. Julia says that they also want to know where everyone is. Carolyn asks how they found the room, and Julia says they followed her. She tells them they must leave, and Barnabas says he won't leave without her. Carolyn threatens to call the sheriff. Barnabas asks her to come find them at the old house house if she changes her mind.

After they're gone, she says he wouldn't like it if she changed her mind, and speaks to someone named Tad, who appears to have disappeared, upsetting Carolyn further.

Old man Stokes reads a letter stating that Quentin Collins condition has worsened. Barnabas and Julia visit old man Stokes, and he says he has nothing to tell them. Stokes asks them why they didn't leave. Barnabas says they were at Collinwood earlier, and Stokes says their lives are in danger. Barnabas says they saw the face of a man in the window—after something almost killed Julia. They ask who the man is. Stokes says many people claim to see things at Collinwood; it doesn't mean they exist. Julia reads the letter about Quentin. Stokes grabs it from her.

Barnabas asks where Quentin is, and Stokes hands him the letter. Barnabas is shocked to hear Quentin is in a mental institution, and Stokes points out that like them, he hasn't aged in 25 years. Barnabas says they must go and see him. Stokes says he just got word that Quentin escaped yesterday. Barnabas asks why everyone is too frightened to speak. He begs Stokes to tell them what he knows.

Stokes says he knows very little. Julia doesn't understand. Stokes says that he was traveling when it all happened. He returned to find Collinwood in ruins. After he returned he heard rumors of strange happening. He attempted an exorcism and almost paid for it with his life. He says he saw the ghost, and was surrounded by an overwhelming sense of evil. He says he turned and ran, and never went back. He says the rest of the family vanished; possibly buried somewhere in the house. He says Quentin was found wandering in the woods; incoherent, and Carolyn was cowering in the tower room. Both gone mad. He believes that Carolyn is the only one that knows what really happened, and the secret is buried in the darkest corner of her mind. Barnabas tells Stokes that he's going to help them, and he says he's willing to try. They leave him, and Carolyn enters. She accuses him of telling them about the room. He assures her that he didn't. He asks her to sit down so he can talk to her.

Back at Collinwood, Julia and Barnabas return to the playroom. He wonders why it isn't also in ruins. Julia finds a birthday card to 'Tad' from 'Carrie.' He wonders who those people are.

Back at the old house, Julia asks if he thinks Stokes was telling the truth, and he says he was. He says he'd like to speak to Quentin. Barnabas says Quentin's portrait must be intact, since he hasn't grown old. They hear something upstairs, and go to investigate.

Carolyn tells Stokes there won't be another birthday party for another year, and asks if she'll have to wait that long to see Tad again. Stokes asks her to remember what happened back in 1970. He says they've been friends for a long time, and she says he has new friends now. He explains that Julia and Barnabas are trying to help. She says they spoiled the party.

Barnabas and Julia go into an upstairs room at the old house, where they find the withered and decayed portrait of Quentin. Quentin comes in with a knife, saying, "Let me kill him." and is stopped by Barnabas before he can destroy the portrait.

Quentin says he deserves to die. Quentin asks who they are, and Barnabas asks if he recognizes them. Quentin says that they can't be; says it's one of the attendant's tricks. They take Quentin downstairs.

Stokes says Carolyn has said everyone will come back to Collinwood, and asks if she knows where everyone went. He asks if their coming back depends on her. He suggests that if she could remember that night in 1970, Collinwood could change to what it was. He asks her to try and remember. She tells him there are times when she thinks she remembers, but she can never put all the fragments together. He offers to take her home.

Quentin says he doesn't understand how they got there, or why they look the same. Quentin says he accepts that. He says he has failed in what he came to do. Barnabas says they need his help, and asks what happened 25 years ago. Quentin says he should have prevented it, but he didn't, and he deserves to die. Barnabas asks what he was doing in the woods that night, and Quentin says he doesn't know. Barnabas asks Quentin about the playroom in Collinwood, and he denies knowing. Barnabas says it wasn't there in 1970, and Quentin says that it was. Barnabas asks Quentin to take them there. Julia says that may not be wise. Quentin says if going will help prove it to them, then he'll go.

The three return to Collinwood, and listen outside the playroom door, where they hear music playing. Quentin doesn't want to go in, and Barnabas tells him that they must. They open the door, and Quentin says no before running out. Barnabas and Julia step inside and see David.

Our thoughts

John: Wait - Stokes returned to Collinwood in 1970 to find it in ruins and rubble like it looks today? That would seem even more shocking than it happening over 25 years. And yet he never figured out what happened? A man of mystics and science, not the least bit curious?

Christine: He may not be telling them the whole story. I wonder how long before we learn the whole story.

John: I have to admit, I had forgotten that Quentin's lack of aging would be tied to his portrait, looking particularly ghoulish today. But what I couldn't immediately recall is whether the portrait is any different in 1995 than it was when we last saw it? One would think it should be significantly different...

Today's episode

Episode 932

Christine: It looks the same as it did in Episode 932. I suppose it should look even more decrepit, but why mess with such a perfectly gruesome portrait? Quite a few portraits were on display today, with the Mustache Man appearing in his usual spot at Eliot Stokes' place and a new portrait hanging outside the play room. Incidentally, I wonder if Stokes keeps that large platter of grapes on hand for whenever Carolyn drops in. She either really loves grapes or hasn't eaten in a while.

John: David! Or David's ghost, as the case may be. Possibly turning the tables after months of Quentin's ghost hanging around the living David. I hope that when we go back to 1970, someone will explain where we left things off when we were last there, because I'm so confused I'm having a heck of a time remembering! Will we be ignoring werewolf curses, and the like? I guess we'll find out soon enough... we can't hang around in 1995 forever... or can we?

Christine: I'm not sure we'll ever find our way back to 1970 the way things are going. The handy thing about this blog is you can easily refresh your memory of where we left off before our parallel adventure with just one click. Head on over to Episode 980 to revisit our last day in 1970 when Barnabas killed Sky because he had killed Jeb after trying to kill Carolyn. It's no wonder Collinwood fell apart after all that. It's possible Dan Curtis was hoping to stay away long enough that viewers would forget all about the Leviathans.

Dark Shadows Episode 1064 7/23/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV.com! 

Barnabas and Julia hear the music playing again in the ruins of Collinwood. He tells Julia that music is seldom used to frighten someone, so he's going to go upstairs to force whatever it is out.

He tells her to wait in the foyer, and he goes upstairs. Barnabas yells for her to watch out as a bust topples over from the upstairs railing. She runs out of the house and Barnabas follows her. She tells him that they meant to kill her. They look back into the house and see a strange man in the window.

Back at the old house, Barnabas decides the man they saw was the one who tried to kill her. He says his clothes suggest that he's a ghost from the past. Julia says there was more than hatred in his look; the very essence of evil. Barnabas says his powers protect him, making him immune to such evil. Julia says there's a force of evil and corruption in Collinwood. Barnabas asks if he's the only force at Collinwood. He reminds her of the music. Julia says she can't believe there's another presence there. He tells her to rest, and he goes to speak to Carolyn about the ghost. Julia says she's not brave enough to stay there alone.

Carolyn brushes her hair while Mrs. Johnson watches. She gives the brush to Mrs. Johnson and says she used to brush her hair when she was little. Mrs. Johnson tells her that she mustn't return to Collinwood; that she doesn't belong there. Carolyn tells her that she's wrong.

She says that she is a Collins, and Mrs. Johnson was only ever a servant. She says today is his birthday, and she should take him a present. She looks around for something to take him. She asks Mrs. Johnson who's getting the house ready for when everyone comes back; her mother, Quentin, and uncle Roger... Mrs. Johnson tells her that they're never coming back. Carolyn says they'll celebrate with a picnic at the gazebo. She looks at a photo from an album with Quentin and Maggie. Mrs. Johnson takes it and asks where she got it. She says it's the first time that they saw him. Carolyn says it's only a shadow, and Mrs. Johnson says a shadow that fell over all of their lives.

Mrs. Johnson asks Carolyn why she won't admit seeing him. She responds that she's too busy. There's a knock at the door. It's Barnabas and Julia. She tells them to go away. She asks Mrs. Johnson to make them go away. Julia says someone at Collinwood just tried to kill her. Carolyn says there are no murderers at Collinwood, just intruders. Barnabas says it was a ghost, and asks who it is. Mrs. Johnson runs out.

Barnabas presses Carolyn. Julia says if they knew what happened, they might be able to save everyone. Carolyn asks them to leave. Julia asks who the evil spirit controlling Collinwood is. Barnabas says she isn't going to tell them anything. Carolyn warns them that they had better leave Collinsport. They leave her, and she tells them to never come back again. She takes a party dress out of a trunk.

Mrs. Johnson is in the old house when Barnabas and Julia return. She asks if Carolyn told them anything, and he explains that she did not. Julia says that they can prevent what happened at Collinwood if they know. Barnabas points out that they haven't changed in 25 years, and Julia adds that when they get back to 1970, they can change things. Julia reminds her that she's been around long enough to know that there are things beyond their understanding.

Mrs. Johnson says when it all began there was a spirit of joy in Collinwood. She says that one night the house was still. She could hear the waves hitting the rocks, and as she was leaving the house, she walked outside the children's playroom. She looks outside the old house and sees the ghost. She screams that she won't tell, and runs out of the house.

Julia tells Barnabas that he was there, and that they have to find Mrs. Johnson to protect her. They leave the old house, and don't see the ghost standing outside the front door.

Mrs. Johnson makes her way through the woods. A hand grabs her shoulder, and she looks up to see the ghost.

Julia says they have got to find her, and Barnabas says that they have. They see Mrs. Johnson leaning against a tree. They duck into the shadows as Carolyn appears and tells Mr. Johnson that she shouldn't be there. She tells her to take her hand, but Mrs. Johnson doesn't respond. Carolyn tries to help her, begging her to take her hand. Barnabas says she can't help her now. Carolyn accuses Barnabas of killing Mrs. Johnson, and runs off. Barnabas says that whatever story Mrs. Johnson had to tell, they will never know. He says they must go to the sheriff.

Julia and Barnabas arrive at the ruins of Collinwood. She asks what Mrs. Johnson meant by the 'children's old room.' She says she heard something, and they duck into the drawing room. They watch Carolyn enter and go upstairs. They follow her as she makes her way into a room in the hall. Barnabas says he doesn't ever remember seeing the room. They hear music, and Carolyn laughing. Barnabas opens the door.

Our thoughts

John: If you just saw a ghost in the window of Collinwood, would you really just walk away? Haven't Barnabas and Julia got enough combined experience with the supernatural to at least confront the ghost to ask who he is?

Christine: Perhaps they were reticent after he nearly brained Julia with a statue.

John: I was both looking forward to a big exposition scene from Mrs. Johnson, filling us in on the events of the past 25 years, while at the same time disappointed that we might find out by way of her telling us, as opposed to flashbacks with those involved. I guess I can be thankful that story hour with Mrs. Johnson was interrupted by the ghost; a ghost which we now know is not tied to Collinwood...

Christine: Déjà vu! It's not the first time Clarice Blackburn has died leaning against a tree and challenged not to blink while dead. Barnabas' sister Abigail died the same way in Episode 432.

Episode 432

Today's episode

John: After having just experienced parallel time, why is it that Barnabas and Julia are so sure that they're in the future of their own time band? Isn't it equally, if not more likely, that they're in an alternate future?

Christine: It is entirely possible that many parallel worlds are connected to that room, though it's understandable that the existence of multiple time bands would be beyond their imagination. There has to be some explanation for the play room that did not exist in the their time.