Dark Shadows Episode 248 - 6/7/67

Sam tells Burke that he saw Maggie right outside his window. He says he couldn't have imagined it.

Maggie wanders through the mist at Eagle Hill Cemetery. Barnabas appears and she comes to him. He clutches her throat.

Sam starts to head out, and Burke tells him the sheriff will be there any minute. The sheriff arrives and tells Sam they've got a bunch of men searching for Maggie. Same describes what he saw, and the sheriff asks Burke if he saw Maggie. He says he didn't, but he believes Sam did. The sheriff asks how she looked, and Sam says she had a pale, ghostly pallor. The sheriff asked if she was wearing the gown from the hospital, and Sam describes her as wearing a long, white gown. The sheriff then asks if Sam had been drinking before he saw her.

Barnabas leads Maggie into the Collins family crypt. He opens the secret panel and she tries to run away. He grabs her and says that since she tried to leave him, she has to be punished. He reiterates that she is Josette, and she will be the bride of Barnabas Collins through all eternity. He says she looks lovely in the moonlight, making it very difficult for him to punish her. He says he won't punish her tonight, but if she ever tries to leave him again... He goes to close the secret door, and she pulls out the pipe. He asks her what she has and she screams. He says that he must punish her, and takes her into the secret room in the crypt.

Maggie wakes to find herself lying in an open coffin. She screams as Barnabas closes her in the coffin.

The next morning, Willie arrives to let Maggie out of the coffin. He calls her Josette and says that he's come for her. He leads her out of the crypt. He tells her not to be afraid, as Barnabas will be gone for a while.

Willie leads Maggie back to her room. She hysterically describes how Barnabas closed her into a coffin. Willie tells her that running away was a bad mistake. He says she just has to be Josette Collins, and she says she's not. Willie brings her the music box and opens it. She seems to find it soothing.

The sheriff returns to the Evans' house, and tells Sam they haven't found anything. He asks if they checked the cemetery. The sheriff says they thought they had a lead by Eagle Hill, but it was just a large dog. Sam thinks the sheriff believes he imagined seeing Maggie. Sam asks Burke if he thinks he did. Sam resigns himself to the fact that it must have been his imagination.

Maggie sits up from bed and opens the music box. As the music plays, she repeatedly says she's Josette Collins. She sits down in front of the mirror, smells her perfume, and begins to brush her hair. She touches the mirror and says that she's Maggie Evans. She screams for help.

Our thoughts

John: I guess the only way out of this bad dream has Maggie completely forgetting the events of her kidnapping... or dying in the process.

Christine: Or she could destroy Barnabas, though I guess we know that's not going to happen.

John: Nice POV shot of Barnabas closing the coffin on Maggie. Oddly enough, she doesn't seem too traumatized when Willie gets her the next morning.

Christine: She seemed to have a delayed reaction. How is it she avoided suffocating after being closed up in the coffin all night? I was under the impression that she was not undead yet.

John: It's not completely clear what triggers Maggie to lapse in and out of the Josette fantasy, but it doesn't look good for Barnabas.

Christine: It seemed the trauma of being locked up in the coffin only made her fight harder to resist the suggestion that she's Josette.

Dark Shadows Episode 247 - 6/6/67

Sam tries to work on a painting, but gives up and pours himself a drink. The sheriff arrives to see him, though with no news on Maggie. He tells Sam that they're beginning to feel that Maggie might be dead. Sam refuses to accept that. There's another knock at the door, and Burke arrives. The sheriff heads out, and Sam tells Burke the police think she's dead. Burke doesn't believe it. He tells Sam that he knows she'll be found. Burke offers to buy Sam dinner. Sam says he can't go out, but ultimately agrees he could work on the portrait of Barnabas Collins.

Sam arrives at the old house, and Willie greets him. He says he'd like to work on the painting. Willie tries to send Sam away, but Sam is persistent. Willie suggests that Sam take the painting home, and offers to carry the easel so Sam doesn't have to make two trips. Sam leaves a pipe behind on a table.

Maggie comes downstairs and walks through the old house in a trance. She notices the pipe and picks it up. She holds it close to her chest, and then returns upstairs.

Sam and Willie come back in, and can't find the pipe anywhere. Sam asks Willie to let him know if he finds it, describing it as a good old friend.

Maggie comes back downstairs where Willie is working. He tells her she's not supposed to come downstairs unless she's told to. She says she doesn't want to be up there. He asks if she had been down before, and if she took anything from the room. He tells her she has to do as she's told. She asks him who she is, and he says she's Josette. She says she thinks that she's someone else. He reiterates that she's Josette, and she says she can't be. He tells her to go back upstairs, as Barnabas will be back soon. She repeats Barnabas' name several times, and then flees back upstairs.

Willie makes his way down to the basement, where Barnabas' coffin lies. The coffin creaks open and Barnabas asks what he wants. He says Sam Evans came by, and that he gave him the painting to work on from home. Barnabas says it would not be good for anyone to find their guest, or to find Barnabas in the basement. He explains that he is very vulnerable there, and then makes his way upstairs.

Maggie comes back downstairs, and we hear her thoughts that she is someone else. She clutches the pipe, and thinks it belongs to someone she has to find. She opens the front door and leaves.

Burke stops in to see Sam working on the portrait of Barnabas. Burke brought him a ham and swiss sandwich for dinner.

Barnabas tells Willie he has to keep an eye out for David. He asks how Josette is, and Willie tells him she came downstairs. He says he may need to lock her in her room. Willie says he keeps telling her she's Josette, but she doesn't always believe it. He sends Willie upstairs to fetch her, and he screams her name when he cannot find her. Willie runs back downstairs and notices the front door is open. The two run out to find her.

While Sam and Burke chat, Sam sees Maggie outside his window. They run outside, but she's nowhere to be seen.

Our thoughts

John: We're treated to a new location at the old house! The basement! And for the first time, we see Barnabas in his coffin! Great stuff!

Christine: He has a nice cobwebby lair. If anyone was unsure about Barnabas being a vampire, all doubt was removed today. What was up with the bell tolling 19 times when Willie was approaching the coffin? Did Stephen King have something to do with Dark Shadows? He was only 19 when this episode aired. Hmm...

John: I don't think we've ever seen Barnabas move as fast as he did when they ran out the door after they discovered Maggie was missing.

Christine: The jig is up! Or is it?

John: How could Maggie just disappear from right outside the window so quickly? Sadly, I assume it will be soon written off as a figment of Sam's imagination. Unless of course, she dropped the pipe...

Christine: I guess his screaming frightened her away. More like it will be written off as an alcohol induced hallucination. It should give Sam renewed hope that Maggie is still alive.

Dark Shadows Episode 246 - 6/5/67

Mr. Garner arrives to see Liz, and she escorts him into the drawing room. Vicki and Carolyn discuss what the visit must be about in the foyer. Carolyn is sure trouble is coming.

Liz asks for legal advice. She asks if she's still legally married to Paul. He says she is, and he agrees it's high time for her to get a divorce. Garner says he can see to it that the divorce is completed within 90 days. He then asks why she's thinking about that after so many years. He asks if she's considering getting married again, when Jason walks in. Jason introduces himself to Richard Garner. He asks if he's here to discuss Liz' divorce, and Liz tells him it's none of his business. Garner leaves, and Jason is happy she's moving forward with the divorce so she can marry him. She protests, and he tells her they're going to get married, and they're going to be very happy.

Roger finds Liz in the drawing room and offers her a drink. He tells her that it was a busy day in the office. Roger helped out with so many secretaries out due to the attacks. He also mentions that Jason was not in, but he also adds that he's about as useful as David. Liz asks if Maggie has been found, and Roger says there's still no clues. Liz tells Roger she's proceeding with a divorce, and he's very pleased. He says she'll be free and clear of the scoundrel if he ever reappears, and she says she doesn't think he will. Roger commiserates with her, saying neither were very successful in marriage. Roger points out that she'd never consider remarrying, and she says she might, if she found the right man.

Roger points out she hasn't seen anyone outside the house in 18 years. He asks if she's hinting at something when Jason enters. He asks for some brandy, and Roger tells him he normally makes himself at home. Jason says he considers himself part of the family, and Roger says that while Liz may see him that way, he does not. Jason implies there may be more to it, but Liz denies as much when Roger presses her.

Carolyn asks Vicki to join her on a trip into town, so she doesn't have to go alone. Vicki agrees to join her. Carolyn wonders if Maggie will ever be found. Roger enters and tells the girls that either Liz has taken a  leave of her senses, or he has. Roger points out she's talking to Garner about a divorce, and that she's also talking about marrying again. Carolyn asks who she could get married to. Roger asks who has insinuated his way into the house and family business. The girls refuse to believe it, and Roger says Jason hinted very strongly that he would be a member of the family very soon. Carolyn doesn't want to believe she would go through with it, no matter what he has over her. She says they need to find out what she has over her, and expose him. Roger thinks it must have something to do with the basement, and Carolyn agrees. She says she's looked everywhere for the key, without any luck. Roger says she didn't find it because her mother wears it around her neck. Carolyn says she'll steal the key or break in, in order to find out what's in that room.

Liz is angry that Jason insinuated they were getting married. Jason asks her about the look on Carolyn's face when she finds out she murdered her father. Carolyn interrupts them and asks for the key to the room in the basement. Liz says she doesn't know where it is, and Carolyn says it's on the chain around her neck. Carolyn tells her mother that she thinks what's in the basement is what Jason has over her. Liz says that it's just things of her father's, and Carolyn refuses to believe her. She says she'll break into the room if she has to, in order to free her from Jason. Liz storms out, and Jason asks why she makes so much trouble for her mother. Jason tells her he thinks she should get into the room in the basement. He tells her he'll get her the key. He tells her to give him a few days. He says her mother is anxious for her to accept him.

Our thoughts

John: Liz accepting an offer for a brandy from Roger is indicative of just how dire things have become in Collinwood.

Christine: Vicki didn't ask about Frank Garner after his dad showed up at the house. It's like the guy never even existed.

John: Though she still denies it, the word is out about Liz considering marrying Jason. I wonder if David will be more accepting of the possibility of having an Uncle Jason...

Christine: This may be the first time the characters have been able to put two and two together. David had better dust off his crystal ball to see if his aunt should tie the knot with Jason.

John: Carolyn throws down the gauntlet about the basement, and right in front of Jason. It doesn't look like Liz is going to keep what's in that room a secret much longer.

Christine: It's about time someone forced the issue. Carolyn is good for something after all. Still, I wonder why Paul Stoddard's moldy bones have been stashed away in the basement instead of being buried out in the woods or tucked away in one of the many rooms in the sealed off portion of the house where nobody ventures.

"A few years in prison is preferable to a lifetime with you." -Liz

Dark Shadows Episode 245 - 6/2/67

Barnabas comes downstairs and tells Willie that as he's a Collins', it means he's a man of his word. He tells Willie that he has to go see the doctor.

In the doctor's office, Burke asks if Willie is really coming in to provide a blood sample. The doctor confirms that Barnabas promised he would. Burke asks if Maggie's disease could be caused by a wild animal. The doctor reminds Burke that a wolf didn't steal the blood samples from his office. And he tells Burke that he doesn't think Willie is responsible for these events.

Barnabas serves the doctor a drink, and calls for Willie. When Willie appears, Barnabas reminds him that he may be helping Maggie Evans. As the doctor begins to draw blood, Barnabas waxes poetic about blood. The doctor compliments Barnabas on the drink. Barnabas then asks if he can see the slide. He asks if the doctor hopes to find similar results between Maggie and Willie's blood. The doctor asks if Barnabas can keep Willie around the house until he has the results of the blood work.  As the doctor is leaving, Barnabas tells him to be careful with the madman out. Barnabas says that whoever he is, he must be both more than a man, and less than a man. He goes on to say that he loathes the man very, very deeply.

At The Blue Whale, Burke asks Vicki to dance, but she declines.  She starts to talk about Maggie, and when Burke stops her, she agrees to dance. As soon as they start to dance, Vicki says maybe Burke should take her home. He tells her the doctor might stop by with more news on Maggie. Vicki says she hears a dog howling, but Burke did not. She then references the dogs she heard the night Maggie was attacked. She asks him to play more music; good and loud. Burke opts for soft and soothing, and they continue dancing. They pause when they hear a dog howling outside.

Back in his office, the doctor examines the slide with Willie's blood. A dog howls outside.

Willie begs Barnabas to let him leave. He tells Barnabas that after the doctor looks at the slide, they'll be back to get him. Barnabas asks what he'll tell them if they do come back to get him. He asks if Willie will betray him. Willie assures him he'll say nothing, and Barnabas is unconvinced. Barnabas points out that Willie betrayed him before, and then pushes Willie to the ground. Willie says he doesn't understand Barnabas. Barnabas says that he won't be less loyal to  Willie, that Willie is to him. He pulls out a slide with Willie's blood. Willie realizes that Barnabas switched the slides. He's excited that Barnabas is protecting him. Barnabas says that he protected Willie this time, and he may or may not in the future.

Back in The Blue Whale, the doctor tells Burke and Vicki that Willie's blood didn't provide much additional information. The doctor says that it was as if Maggie was accepting something inhuman into her blood. Outside, the dogs continue to howl.

Our thoughts

John: Maggie's got her hair up again, meaning this is another special date. I guess things just didn't work out with Frank Garner.

Christine: That relationship sure fizzled out after Frank Garner went on the grave digging expedition with Joe and Peter Guthrie to exhume Laura Murdoch Radcliffe when we last saw him back in Episode 180. It could have something to do with Burke stepping in to put the moves on Vicki in Episode 189.
 
John: Everyone is still circling the drain regarding Maggie's condition, however the v-word remains noticeably absent.

Christine: That's because they don't seem to know anything about vampire lore in Collinsport. It's a very sheltered fishing village that's remained unexposed to classic horror literature. We get our first clue that Barnabas is not happy being a vampire when he tells Dr. Woodard how much he loathes the madman on the loose.

John: While it's no surprise Barnabas swapped slides on the doc, am I the only one who thinks it would be tough to create a matching one without having seen the original? I guess maybe they all look alike.

Christine: One delicate little blood flower painted on a slide looks the same as any other, apparently. It's just a little disconcerting to hear Dr. Woodard describe some of the most beautiful sights he's seen. I guess he doesn't get out much, though he does seem to enjoy a tipple of Collinport's time honored medicine.

"Now, unknown to yourself, you may have some very...tragic...malady." -Barnabas

"After all, blood is the life force. It reaches in to the deepest recesses of both the heart and the brain.  It is the familiar of our complete being. To surrender even one drop of it is to suggest a partial surrender of one's utmost self." -Barnabas

"It's like a delicate little flower painted on glass." -Barnabas

"I guess some of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen in my life have been microscopic views of hideous malignancies." -Dr. Woodard

Dark Shadows Episode 244 - 6/1/67

Jason tells Liz that getting married is the only solution to her problem. She laughs at him, and tells him that's absurd. He reiterates that he's serious.

She says that it's inconceivable because she detests him. He points out that she'd like to forget the man who helped her 18 years ago. He reminds her that he can blackmail her. She tells him that he's evil. He describes the scene of Liz in the drawing room standing over Paul Stoddard's bloody, dead body. He explains that he knows Paul was the evil one. Liz says that Roger knows what's going on, and she can't transfer any more money to him. Jason suggests that if they are married, she wouldn't need to transfer money to him. Jason explains that the alternative is for her to call the sheriff. Liz takes the phone and begins to dial the sheriff. Jason tells her that she should at least tell Carolyn what she did before calling the sheriff. He offers to fetch her, and Liz tells him to go ahead. 

Carolyn is reading in Roger's office when Jason enters. He tells her that her mother wishes to speak to her. Before she goes, he suggests that she be diplomatic when she speaks with her. She tells him that she doesn't understand what he's trying to tell her, and leaves to see her mother.

Carolyn joins her mother in the drawing room, and says that she needs to tell her something. She tries to explain why she lives the way she does. Carolyn says it sounds like a confession, and Liz tells her that's exactly what it is. She tells Carolyn about her father, and her life 18 years ago. She says Paul kept her off-balance, but that he never loved her. Liz says he never loved Carolyn, either. Carolyn says she doesn't want to hear about it, and runs out of the room.

Carolyn runs into Roger's study where Jason is. He says it appears to have gone badly. He asks if Liz told her about her father. Carolyn says her mother told her that her father was a horrible person, and then she stopped her. She asks Jason if her father ever talked about her, and Jason says he did so incessantly. Jason says her father loved her even more than he loved her mother.

Jason joins Liz, who says she couldn't tell Carolyn. He says that they'll need to make plans for the future.

Our thoughts

John: Nice to find out where Paul shuffled off this mortal coil. Now if we can ever get all the details of what happened that night 18 years ago.

Christine: According to Liz, Paul Stoddard was a terrible man and neglectful father, who never even held Carolyn. Apparently, the writers forgot the original narrative that Paul Stoddard left six months prior to Carolyn's birth. I wonder why the ghost of Paul Stoddard has never materialized in the drawing room where he died.

John: Once again, Liz is on the verge of calling Jason's bluff. She even starts to tell Carolyn the truth about her father, but can't get out the important details before she runs out on her.

Christine: Liz would rather confess to murder than marry Jason McGuire. She should consider that it's likely Carolyn would also prefer her mother to be a murderess than Mrs. Collins Stoddard McGuire. She will probably not be delighted to hear that Jason is going to be her stepdad.

John: I'm still amazed that Liz seems to forget that Jason has nearly as much to lose as she does if the truth comes out about Paul Stoddard.

Christine: It's a huge flaw in the storyline. Still, if she acted as we expected, we wouldn't get to enjoy the ludicrous prospect of her having to endure marrying Jason. We can only imagine what he'll demand next. Perhaps he'll ask her to provide him an heir.