Episode 132 - 12/27/66

David tells his aunt that he's sure he saw his mother, and she explains it was only a dream. After she leaves him, he gets up and looks out the window. He calls out, asking if anyone is out there.

Roger, Liz, Vicki and David have breakfast. David asks to go play, and his aunt tells him to finish his lessons first. He and Vicki go upstairs. Liz says it was a strange coincidence that David had a dream about his mother the night she showed up at Collinwood. Roger suggests that Liz doesn't want David to see his mother, as she wants to take her place in his life. She denies it, but he says she wants the heir apparent under her wing. Liz thinks Laura's not capable of caring for David. Roger asks if she seemed unbalanced when they saw her last night, and Liz agrees she does not. She claims that Roger wants to unload his son. She says she'll fight to keep David in Collinwood.

Upstairs, David works on his math lessons. He asks Vicki why she doesn't hate him. She says that she doesn't, because he told Burke Devlin where to find her. David says he thinks she's nicer than he did when she first came to Collinwood. He asks her if she wants her mother to come back, and she says yes. He says he's not sure if he wants his mother to come back.

Roger asks what Liz will do when Laura returns to see David. She says she's worried about the effect it will have on David.

David tells Vicki he had a scary dream last night. He says he doesn't feel well because he didn't sleep much last night. She tells him to lie down for a while, and they can resume his lessons later. She tucks him into his bed to rest, and as soon as she's gone, he's up and at the window. He calls to his mother.

Liz works on paperwork while Roger brings in firewood. He brings up how Liz never liked Laura, and considered a gold-digger. He says her own mate was not exactly ideal. Roger suggests that they tell David his mother is in town, so that he can prepare. Vicki comes down and says she's concerned about David. Roger asks Vicki to bring David down. He tells Vicki his wife is back in town and wants to see David. She goes to get him.

David continues calling to his mother from his bedroom window. Vicki walks in on him. She asks if he was talking to someone and he denies it. He asks to go out and play. She says his father and aunt want to talk to him. She sends him down, and closes his bedroom window.

Liz tells Roger she'll tell David since he's tactless sometime. David comes down and she asks how he's feeling. David says he knows that his mother is here. He says he's known since last night when he saw her in his dreams. He then asks if he can go upstairs, and they let him. Roger says he must have overheard them talking about her. Liz says he described where she sat, and what she was wearing. Roger dismisses it.

David is back at his window, calling to his mother.

Our thoughts

John: We finally get to see our first sit-down family meal at Collinwood! And Roger is dressed down for the first time in 132 episodes. And despite that, they managed to keep Mrs. Johnson off the payroll for this episode.

Christine: Roger attempts to assert his fatherly authority by telling David to eat his runny eggs. Could it be he's ready to accept David as his own?

John: I'll bet Roger misses Matthew now that he's got to lug firewood around. Mrs. Johnson is a tough old broad. I wonder if she would have done it had she been in today's episode.

Christine: I wonder how long before Liz hires another groundskeeper.

John: I love how Liz so casually describes Roger as tactless, and he doesn't even flinch!

Christine: Remember the first time we saw David talking to his mother out the window? It was back in Episode 15 right before Roger's car accident when he says, "He's going to die, mother. He's going to die." It seems he's had a longstanding psychic connection with his mother.

Episode 131 - PRE-EMPTED 12/26/66

No episode aired 50 years ago today due to a pre-emption for a post Christmas football game.

Merry Christmas from Collinwood!

Episode 130 - 12/23/66

Roger tries again to call Laura at the Inn, but she's still not there. Mrs. Johnson comes downstairs and eavesdrops on Liz and Roger talking about Laura, and how she's staying at the same place as Burke.

Mrs. Johnson visits Burke Devlin in his hotel room to tell him about what's troubling the Collins clan. She realizes that he doesn't know. She tells him that Laura Collins has returned to town. Burke is speechless. She says they think Burke brought her back. He says he tried several years ago, but that she was in a sanatorium, and in no state to leave. Mrs. Johnson tells him that she's staying at the Inn, and he calls down to the front desk to confirm. He does discover she's checked in under her maiden name. Burke says his trouble began with her, and will end with her.

Burke knocks on the door to Laura's room at the Inn. No one answers, so he leaves.

Outside the Collins mansion, David swings in a swing set. Laura approaches and watches him.

Mrs. Johnson prepares David's bed, and she suggests that he may soon be getting the discipline he needs. She starts to cover him up with blankets, and he says he can do it himself. She says someday soon there might be someone else to tuck him in. As she gets ready to leave, David says he felt like he was being watched earlier today; by a woman behind a bush. She tells him to go to sleep and leaves him. He hops out of bed and opens the window she closed so he can hear the howling wind.

Roger tries calling Laura again. Mrs. Johnson comes downstairs and confirms she put David to bed. In the drawing room, Liz asks if Roger will tell David about his mother. She says they need to prepare him.

Upstairs, David tosses and turns in his bed.

There's a knock at the front door, and Mrs. Johnson lets Laura in. Roger comes into the foyer and sees his wife. The exchange pleasantries, and Roger sends Mrs. Johnson away. Roger tells her she looks well, and she says she's hardly at her best. She asks about David, and says she's very anxious to see him. She says she expects Roger never expected to see her again. He says neither the house or those within it have changed. He brings her into the drawing room to see Liz. Liz invites her to join her by the fire, and Laura kneels down very close to it.

David's tossing and turning continues.

Roger offers her a drink, and she confirms she doesn't drink anymore. She tells Liz she's been moving around after getting out of the sanatorium. She says she's found a place out west to settle down. She tells Roger she has no intention in wallowing in the past. She figured out what she wanted—David.

David calls out to his mother in his sleep.

Roger asks what she means when she says she wants David. She says David can give her love. Roger asks where they stand. Legally, they're still married, and Roger says he's responsible for her. She says she won't oppose a divorce. She says she wants complete custody of David.

David continues to call out to his mother in his sleep.

Liz asks what she means, and Roger suggests she wants to take him away from Collinwood. Laura agrees. She says she needs David's love, and she will get it from him. She asks Roger if he wants David more than she does. Liz says they need time, and that the choice must be David's. She prepares to leave, and asks that they call her at the Inn as soon as they make a decision.

David bolts out of bed.

After seeing Laura out, he asks Liz what she thinks. She says she doesn't know what to believe.

David appears to sleepwalk downstairs. Roger tells him to go upstairs, and David ignores him. The front doors fly open and David runs outside calling for his mother. Liz and Roger bring him back into the house as he describes a dream where he saw his mother.

Our thoughts

John: Ah, Mrs. Johnson, Collinwood's resident Deep Throat. You get the sense that she'd be in the spying business even if Burke wasn't slipping her some cash. I particularly like how she can't help herself as she drops hints to David about things to come.

Christine: It seems an unusual task for a housekeeper to tuck a kid into bed. I can understand why Roger doesn't do it, but why isn't Liz up to the task? Where's Vicki? Visiting Frank Garner in Bangor?

John: While the events of 10 years ago aren't brought up specifically, Laura's confirmation that she no longer drinks speaks volumes.

Christine: Sam mentioned in yesterday's episode that she started drinking after her marriage to Roger because she felt guilty about the accident, which is what led to her being placed in the sanitarium. I believe her mentioning that she no longer drinks was a way to communicate that she is well and able to care for her son.

John: We know that Roger doesn't want David. I'm surprised he didn't run upstairs and get him to send him on his way with his mother that night.

Christine: Roger may be okay with letting David go, but Liz certainly won't be.

Bob Lloyd has wished us a happy holiday season nearly every day this week except today, so we'll have to do it for him. Happy holidays from those of us here at Dark Shadows Before I Die.

Episode 129 - 12/22/66

Roger is shocked to hear that his wife Laura has returned. Sam says that he saw her at the Collinsport Inn. Roger says he hasn't heard from her since Phoenix. Sam tells him this could be the end for both of them.

Sam says Roger's in bigger trouble than he is, since he wasn't driving the car 10 years ago. Sam implies that perhaps Burke arranged for Laura to return. Sam says Laura's been asking Maggie questions about the Collins family. Roger asks why she had to come back, and Sam says perhaps to get revenge for all her unhappy years. Sam asks Roger if Laura knows that Sam saw the accident. Roger doesn't think so, but doesn't recall. Roger says Laura may know that he paid for Sam's silence.

Joe brings Maggie home and she offers him a nightcap. Joe says he can tell something's bothering her, and that she doesn't want to talk about it. She says that some woman has her dad in a flap. Maggie says the woman is odd, and she can't understand the connection to her father. Joe suggests she's making something out of nothing. Maggie hopes Joe is right, but is terribly worried about her father.

Roger returns to Collinwood. He fixes himself a drink as Liz enters. He tells her Sam Evans asked him to meet at The Blue Whale earlier. Roger tells her that they are going to have a visitor—Laura is back. Roger calls the Collinsport Inn and confirms that Laura is registered under her maiden name. Liz asks what she could want; she gets a generous check every month. Liz asks if he thinks she wants to see David. Roger doesn't care if she does. Liz would prefer he did not. She suggests that Roger is afraid of Laura, and she'd like to know why. She says he just had a chance to talk to her but avoided it. Roger snaps at Liz for badgering him, and she goes off to bed.

Sam returns home, fixes himself a drink, and Joe leaves. Sam tells Maggie he needs to paint and when she suggests he should go to bed, he tells her to stop nagging him. She gives up and goes to bed. Sam lights a cigarette, looks in to the flame, and then goes to his canvas and begins sketching.

In the morning, Roger tries to reach Laura at the Inn, but she's not there.

Maggie tries to wake Sam who's asleep on the couch. She sees his new work-in-progress and asks about it. Sam looks at it and doesn't recall starting it. Maggie says it looks like a woman standing in fire. It gives her the creeps. She says she can't imagine what was going on in his head. Sam turns the painting and it shows a woman looking a lot like Laura surrounded by flames.

Our thoughts

John: Wow, we learned a lot of details about the accident through today's discussion between Roger and Sam: 1) Roger was driving, 2) Sam witnessed the accident, and 3) as we suspected, Roger paid him off. And Laura may or may not know all of that.

Christine: We also learned that Laura felt guilty about the accident and started drinking after she married Roger, which led to her being in an institution.

John: I love how Liz calls Roger out for being afraid of Laura. Once again, she picks up on the fact that he's afraid, and all but suggests that Laura has something on Roger (although at this point, you start to wonder who doesn't have something on Roger). Perhaps tomorrow we'll see Laura reunited with Burke. 

Christine: Will she see Burke or Roger first? Hopefully one or both of them tomorrow.

John: Okay, so they're really hammering home the Phoenix. Laura talks about death and rebirth (not to mention having been IN Phoenix), all the longing looks into flames, and now Sam doing his rendition. Anyone want to bet how long we have to wait to see Laura Collins go up in smoke?

From yesterday's playful pat on the butt to a chuck on the chin today. Joe's smooth maneuvers.

Episode 128 - 12/21/66

Maggie pours Joe a cup of coffee, and he tells her the coroner confirmed Matthew died of a heart attack. Maggie doesn't buy it, saying based on what she heard, Matthew died of fright. Joe teases her, and Maggie says that she believes Vicki when she says she saw the ghost of Josette Collins. She says all Joe believes in is fish, and Carolyn Stoddard. He slaps her on the butt. Sam arrives and asks to speak with Maggie privately.

He asks if she knows who the woman they met yesterday was. Maggie says she doesn't know, and that she hasn't seen her since. Sam tells her to find out who the woman is. Maggie asks why, and Sam refuses to explain why. He asks Maggie to go through the details again, and Maggie brings up her telling the story of the phoenix. That causes Sam to pause. He abruptly leaves.

Joe asks Maggie what's up with her father. She says he's on his way to the Blue Whale to solve all his problems. Joe offers to keep an eye on him, and leaves as well. After he does, the mysterious woman enters and orders a coffee. Maggie asks if she heard about Matthew Morgan being found dead of a heart attack. Maggie suggests he died of fright after seeing the ghost of Josette Collins. The woman licks her lips and holds her hand to her head like she has a headache. Maggie asks if it was good seeing her family again, and the woman confirms she hasn't seen them yet. She says it won't just be a surprise, it will be a shock. The woman lights a cigarette and stares into the burning flame. Maggie asks if she may have seen her before, and the woman says Maggie would have been a teen the last time she was in town. Maggie finally introduces herself, but the woman leaves without telling Maggie her name.

In The Blue Whale, Sam spills his drink on the bar. Joe is next to him, listening to his drunken ramblings. Joe asks Sam what's bothering him. Maggie arrives to join them. Sam asks Joe if he can talk to Maggie alone. Maggie says she tried to get information from the woman, but had no luck. Sam implies that he thinks he knows who she is. He storms out, convinced he has to find out who she is himself. Joe offers to give Maggie a ride home.

Sam shows up at the hotel, and in the empty lobby, reviews the registration book. He appears to tear out a page, and then goes to the phone booth. He sees the woman arrive and go upstairs, and then he calls the Collins house.

Roger answers the phone. Sam tells Roger to meet him at The Blue Whale, explaining the worst possible thing that could happen has happened. Roger grabs his hat and coat, and heads out.

Sam throws back another shot. Roger arrives, and tells Sam he doesn't like to get phone calls like Sam's. Roger asks if Sam is going to tell him why he called him there before he passes out. Sam asks Roger what's the worst possible thing that could happen to him. Roger answers Sam becoming his social equal. Roger threatens to leave, and Sam grabs his arm. He says he saw someone that neither of them ever expected to see again. Sam asks who is the person who could ruin Roger's life, as well as Sam's. Roger says there's only one person - and Sam say's he's right—his wife Laura is back in town.

Our thoughts

John: Boy, Joe's getting awfully touchy-feely with Maggie now that he's done with Carolyn. Or perhaps the pat on the butt was an acceptable interaction with waitresses in 1966.

Christine: I thought Joe Haskell was such a nice young man, but I'm revising my opinion of him. It was inappropriate behavior considering the current state of their relationship. He further insults her by calling her a "brassy dame" while copping a feel. Maggie needs to don her blonde wig and deck him across the chops.

John: Sam is a pain in the ass (more than Joe's slap). He wants things from Maggie and never tells her why. Speaking of which, why hasn't she read Sam's letter in the safe yet?

Christine: Sam has gone back to bingeing on alcohol at the same rate he was when Bill Malloy was alive, so it would seem the arrival of Laura Collins has got him worried about the incident from ten years ago once again.

John: Okay, they've done a good job setting up the Laura Collins storyline as Matthew's wraps up. It will be interesting to see how this affects the other characters—particularly Burke Devlin.

Christine: I'm more interested in seeing what happens when she meets up with her dear husband, Roger. I wonder why the legend of the phoenix keeps coming up.