Dark Shadows Episode 1145 11/13/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV

Trask says he thinks they should move ahead faster. Gerard says they must not move too fast until they can prove the witchcraft is being practiced. He tells Trask that Quentin invited him to Collinwood this evening, and Trask tells him to watch him closely. Gerard pretends to get something in his eye and asks Trask for a handkerchief. He tells him that he'll return it tomorrow. 

Quentin shows Gerard his staircase. He tells him that by going up the stairs, he can travel through time. Gerard asks if he's serious. Quentin says he's been working on it for years. Gerard asks if he has the theory written down, and he says he does. He offers to go and get it, and Gerard asks him to do so. After Quentin is gone, Gerard uses the handkerchief and a totem to send a dream to Trask, a dream in which he will see an act of witchcraft.

Trask sleeps in a chair by the fireplace. He begins to dream. He sees Quentin carrying the body of Lorna, with the mark of the Devil on her forehead. Trask tells him he will have to answer to the almighty. Quentin tells him to look at his ring, because he's next. Trask bolts up from his sleep.

Quentin returns and hands Gerard a journal. He tells him to flip to page 47. He does, and starts reading. Quentin says he needs a few more days to finish it when Samantha bursts in. She's surprised to see Gerard. She tells him that she'll talk to him after Gerard leaves the house. She leaves, and Quentin says they should not let her ruin their friendship.

Samantha answers a knock at the door. It's Trask. He warns her that she must leave Collinwood immediately. She asks if he's lost his mind. He says the truth about Quentin has been revealed to him in a dream. He explains that Quentin is in league with the Devil, and adds that he was responsible for Lorna's death, and possibly Roxanne's. She says that she's always been troubled by the work he does in his laboratory. She tells him that even if he's right, she can't leave Collinwood. Trask tells her that he will keep her informed. Quentin walks in, and Trask excuses himself. She complains about Gerard being allowed in the house. He says he decides who comes and goes. She asks if her father and brother are still welcome. She admonishes him for stealing Joanna from Randall, and asks if he's seen her again. He explains that he'll never see her again, because she's dead. She asks if Randall knows, and he says he doesn't think so. She says she's sorry, and he doesn't believe her. 

Daniel can't believe the talk of witchcraft in Collinwood. Samantha tells her Trask was in a terrible state. Daniel calls him a pompous imbecile. Samanthat brings up Quentin's staircase, and Daniel asks whay she means. She explains that Quentin is building a staircase to travel through time. She tells Daniel he should consider changing his will to favor Tad. He says he needs time to think.

Gerard tells Trask he never should have gone to Samantha because of a dream. Gerard asks why he did it. Trask says that he understands how her mind works. He's sure she has already told Daniel. Gerard returns Trask's handkerchief.

Daniel confronts Quentin, asking if he's practicing witchcraft in the house. Quentin asks who planted this suggestion, and Daniel says it was Samantha. Quentin says Trask put her up to it. Daniel asks him again, and Quentin assures him he is not practicing witchcraft. Daniel asks about his staircase, and Quentin tells him it's a harmless experiment, a metaphysical attempt to expand man's horizons. He bids his father goodnight, and runs into Samantha on the staircase. He tells her that he will strangle her if she ever tries to undermine his relationship with his father again. 

Daniel asks Gerard for his advice. Gerard points out that he's best friends with Quentin, and would defend him to the death. Daniel asks if Trask's allegations are unfounded. Gerard says he'd need to see more evidence to even consider it. Daniel asks about the staircase, and Gerard says it's completely harmless. He tells Daniel he should check it out for himself.

Gerard shows Daniel the staircase. Gerard explains that the theory is by ascending the staircase, you would either go forward or backward in time. Daniel starts up the stairs. From the staircase, he sees Lorna being strangled by Quentin. He yells at him to stop, and then clutches his chest.

Our thoughts: 

John: Try Insta-Dream™to send a dream (or nightmare) of your choosing to your intended target! All you need is a personal item of theirs (not included), and you'll be manipulating their actions in no time! No dolls necessary!

 

Christine: Unfortunately, you need to purchase the upgrade package to receive a dream with any substance, though it seemed unnecessary for Judard to send a dream when he could have just implanted a vision as he did with Daniel.

 

John: Quentin's documentation on how to on build a staircase through time isn't exactly a master's thesis. I guess I should just be thankful that the writers are not dwelling on trying to explain something that's so ridiculous on its very face.

 

Christine: I'm thinking the Stairway Into Time deserves an Andrew Lloyd Weber style musical production.  It was just two weeks ago that Quentin offhandedly mentioned his crazy idea to build a time traveling stairway to Barnabas, and now he's suddenly got the whole thing already built! How did he find time to do that when he's been chasing down dead Joanna's notes?

Quentin's blueprints for "Proposed Stairway into Time" as seen in Episode 1085.

John: Gerard (Judah Zachery) is certainly playing all of the players in Collinwood like a fiddle. Of course it sure seems like he's going to a lot of trouble to hatch a complex revenge plot. It really wouldn't be that hard for him to exact his revenge and stop the Collins bloodline in its tracks... of course we can't have that!

 

Christine: I'm surprised Judard did not show more interest in Quentin's time traveling stairway, considering that he could use it to go back in time and serve revenge to Amadeus Collins himself. The Pesky Fly returned to annoy Lamar and Samantha today. Have you noticed that the fly tends to show up whenever the witches are up to no good? Perhaps it's really Diabolos acting as the proverbial fly on the wall to ensure his followers are creating maximum chaos and distress. 

 

What the heck is Naomi's portrait doing at Trask's house? 

Dark Shadows Episode 1142 11/10/70

You can stream today's episode free on TubiTV

Gerard wakes to knocking on his door. The scene plays out as it did in his dream. Gerard cringes at the sight of the case he tossed over Widow's Hill. The man comes in and asks if he really thought he could get rid of it. The man claims to be Zachery's servant. He tells Gerard to look at it as he removes the cover. The head of Judah Zachery stares at him. 

He hears the voice say that he has chosen to live through Gerard, and tells him to put on the mask. Zachery's servant hands Gerard the mask. He takes it and puts it on. The head closes its eyes. The servant says it is done, and removes the mask from Gerard. Zachery, possessing Gerard, tells him to take the mask away, and guard it well. He asks how many are in their coven, and the man says there are six of the thirteen. Zachery asks what happened to the others. The man says when the trial was over, they turned to the other faith. The servant reminds him that Gerard Stiles body may die; he is not immortal. Zachery reminds him that he said he would punish all those responsible for his beheading, including Miranda. He adds that she will not be the first. He says there were three judges at his trial, and of them, only one family survives — that of Amadeus Collins. He says that the man's head on the block this time will be Quentin's.

Quentin tells Trask that Samantha can't believe Roxanne is dead. He sympathizes with Trask, knowing he was fond of Roxanne. Trask says bleeding to death is an odd way to die in this day and age. He adds that Julia may not have been the right one to treat Roxanne — since she has her brother Barnabas to protect. Quentin tells him he's being ridiculous. He assures him that Barnabas did nothing to her. Trask says he's sure that Barnabas caused her to die. Quentin asks how he did it, and Trask says he doesn't know. He says that evil men deal with dark forces. Quentin tells him that  he doesn't want to hear another word about Barnabas. Trask tells Quentin that the Devil himself has friends who try to shield him, too.

   

Gerard stands over Roxanne's coffin. Gerard walks in and points out she looks lovely. Gerard says there is a great beauty in death. Trask finds that a strange thing to say. Gerard says he misunderstood him. Trask tells Gerard he's upset he failed to bring him info on Barnabas. Gerard says he will still help him. Trask says there is sorcery in their streets and it must be ferreted out. Gerard assures him that he will help him with no additional cost. 

Lorna Bell, a schoolmate of Roxanne's arrives to pay her respects. Trask and Gerard step out and Trask tells him that woman does not move in polite society. Gerard asks if she has relatives locally, and Trask says no, before leaving to deal with flowers. Gerard goes back in and introduces himself to Lorna. He invites her to take part in something. She says she has never taken part of anything in Collinsport. She doesn't know what he's talking about, but she flirts with Gerard. He says it's a private memorial service, to which Trask was not invited. He adds that he'd like to take her home afterwards, and she replies that she'd prefer that to the memorial. He tells her it's a secret just as Quentin comes in and recognizes Lorna Bell. Gerard steps out, and Trask returns. Lorna tells Quentin she will see him later. He's not sure what she means, and when Trask isn't listening, she says the memorial services for Roxanne. 

Zachery's servant, Mr. Dawson, brings Lorna to a room with an altar. She asks where Gerard is, and he says he'll go get him. She sees a figure standing in the shadows, who turns, wearing the bejeweled mask. She screams and tries to get out of the room. Dawson comes back in and tells her she should be honored to have been chosen. He says she is their offering to celebrate the return of Judah Zachery, the Devil's son. Dawson holds Lorna as the masked figure raises a knife.

Gerard tells Trask that he came as soon as he got his message. Trask says he has proof of the black arts. Trask says Lorna was murdered, discovered by a Mr. Dawson in an empty field. The body is unmarked except for proof that there are devil worshippers among them. He shows Gerard the body, which has  a symbol drawn on her forehead. He tells Gerard that she had left with Quentin. 

Quentin finds out that Lorna is dead, and doesn't appear to be surprised. Trask says he didn't tell the constable that she had left with Quentin. Quentin says that's good, because they didn't leave together. Trask adds that he also didn't tell the constable that he heard her tell Quentin that she would meet him later. Quentin says that he didn't know what she meant by that. Trask says he's waiting until he has conclusive evidence. He interrogates Quentin, who asks if he's suggesting that he murdered her. Trask says he knows that Quentin is practicing black magic, since she was found with the mark of Satan on her forehead — the same mark on the ring Quentin is wearing.

Our thoughts: 

John: Did we get a new funeral dirge from Robert Cobert today? That kind of music certainly plays to his strengths as a composer.

 

Christine: It certainly set the right tone for the scene, though we would expect no less of Trask than to have a nice send off for his former fiancé.

 

John: Funny that it just as easily could have been fast-talking Gerard hitting on Lorna, as Zachery-possessed Gerard. The problem I have with how things played out is that he went to such great lengths to confirm that Lorna had no connections in town, and that Trask wouldn't be aware of his plot, that he should have given up on her as soon as Quentin showed up and recognized her.

 
Christine: It actually served his purpose well that Quentin knew her, since he seems to be framing him for her Satanic sacrifice.

John: If Lorna was dispatched without a mark on her body (save the sharpie-drawn mark of Satan on her forehead), what do you suppose Zachery was waving the knife for?

 

Christine: It was for dramatic effect, of course. Has Quentin always worn a ring with the mark of Satan, or is it a new piece of jewelry he picked up expressly to be framed for witchcraft?