Dark Shadows Episode 290 - 8/4/67

Julia makes her way to the basement of the old house where she finds a coffin. She lifts the lid to see Barnabas sleeping inside of it. She backs away from him.

Doctor Woodard tells Julia she doesn't believe her. He wants an explanation and she refuses to give him one. He threatens to take Maggie away from her. She asks why he thinks she's not treating Maggie, and he says she's 100 miles away from her. She says he's angry he hasn't gotten a day to day report. She says she hasn't had any success yet in her time at Collinwood. She uses that as an excuse why she hasn't been giving him reports. He calls her out, asking if she's lying to keep him out of the way. He says she always knows what she's doing and where she's going. She tells him she's very bored. She then confirms he'll let Maggie stay at Windcliff.

As Woodard leaves, Barnabas arrives. He says he didn't know she and Dr. Woodard were old friends. She asks if he's reconsidered cooperating with her. Vicki says she's glad he's going to talk to her. He asks how she has been enjoying the books. She tells him she's confused about the past and the present. She says she hope he won't be offended, but she says she needs to give Josette's music box back to him. He explains the music can't hurt her, and that he'd be hurt if she gives it back. He tells her she should allow it to become more familiar.

Barnabas apologizes to Julia for his behavior the other day. She asks if he can tell her about his namesake and his sister, Sarah. He reiterates that he'd rather not discuss it. She says his ancestor is most fascinating. He asks what she discovered, and she says she offered to tell him everything she knew if he would do the same. He offers to speak to her tomorrow at the old house. She suggests morning, then afternoon. He tells her he can meet in the evening. As they exit the drawing room, she mentions that she can't believe how much he resembles the portrait in the foyer.

In her bedroom, Julia opens the window. Vicki knocks on her door and she comes in to talk for a few minutes. She says she's concerned about getting trapped in the past. She hears dogs howling, and she mentions how she heard them on the night Maggie disappeared. She leaves to go back to her own bed

A few hours later, Barnabas approaches Julia's bed. From behind him, she bids Barnabas a good evening, and tells him she's been waiting for him for a very long time.

Our thoughts

John: Julia is once again playing Woodard like a fiddle. You'd think by now he'd pick up on this, but no, he's wrapped around her finger.

Christine: I like how it was set up to have us think that Julia was telling Dr. Woodard what she found out about Barnabas, by opening the scene having him say he didn't believe her. It leads us to wonder about Dr. Hoffman's unusual reaction to discovering a vampire, and motivation for keeping that knowledge to herself.

John: Were they building a new set during today's shoot? It sounded like Willie was remodeling on the main house while Vicki and Barnabas were chatting...

Christine: Somebody had better go see what David is up to in his room. All that noise is making Barnabas even more tongue tied than usual.

John: Julia may have laid a perfect trap to catch Barnabas, but I don't know if she's got anything to protect herself from him. I guess we'll find out next week!

Christine: She seems to have some reason for feeling confident that Barnabas will not kill her. I enjoyed their conversation in today's episode, with Julia practically giving away that she knows what he is. Vicki's statement that she's afraid she'll get so far in the past she won't be able to get back may foreshadow events to come.

The portrait of Isaac Collins in now hanging in Julia's room. Maybe it's like a Hogwarts portrait that allows him to move from room to room through the other portraits. It could explain why he's never in the same place.

Dark Shadows Episode 289 - 8/3/67

The storm keeps Vicki up at night. She listens to her music box when Carolyn comes in. They look outside where Vicki thinks she sees someone near a tree.

Outside the house, Barnabas lurks in the shadows.

Vicki suggests that they go to sleep in the hope of the storm being gone in the morning. Carolyn returns to her room and Vicki gets into bed. After she falls asleep, Barnabas appears in the room. He makes his way to her bed and leans over her. He once again backs away. He walks over to Josette's music box and opens it, leaving it playing as he leaves through the window he entered. Vicki wakes to the sound of the music box and shuts it. There's a knock at her door. It's Carolyn again, this time saying the power has gone out. She tells Carolyn that she thinks someone was in the room with her, and that she was in some kind of danger when something intervened.

Vicki and Carolyn make their way downstairs by candlelight. They find Julia in the drawing room, reviewing the family books by candlelight. She says Mrs. Johnson has some coffee brewing. Carolyn goes to get more cups, and Julia asks Vicki if she has any insights on Josette. Vicki does her best Barnabas Collins and describes Josette in great detail. She asks Vicki why she's so interested in her, and Vicki explains that Josette made several contacts through her. She says talking to Barnabas about Josette didn't hurt. She asks if it was his idea that she would wear Josette's dress to the party. Vicki confirms it. Julia asks what she's holding, and Vicki shows her Josette's music box. She tells her Barnabas gave it to her. She plays it for Julia, describing the tinkling sound it makes, which triggers a memory for Julia. Vicki tells her she plays it over and over because she loves it. Vicki also describes how Josette always wore Jasmine perfume. This triggers another memory for Julia. She says it's almost as if Barnabas is trying to recreate Josette.

Vicki is offended by her insinuations. She goes upstairs as Carolyn comes back. Carolyn says she might be upset about the music box, as she thought someone had been in her room. Julia asks Carolyn if Vicki has an inclination for the supernatural. The power comes back on, so Carolyn goes up to bed. Julia stays downstairs to finish her coffee. Once Carolyn is gone, she sneaks out the front door.

At the old house, Barnabas stares out at the main house. Willie comes in and points out that it's almost dawn. Barnabas tells Willie he wishes that he could make the night eternal, but that's a power he'll never have. Outside, Julia approaches the old house and peers in the window. Barnabas sends Willie to Portland to pick up some things. He tells Willie that he wants him to watch over the house. He doesn't want the Hoffman woman coming in. He says it's time for him to go downstairs, and that Willie should leave now.

After Willie leaves, Julia waits for the sun to rise and tries to sneak into the house. She tries the door and a few windows before she finds an open one. She works her way downstairs to where Barnabas' coffin lies. She lifts the lid and sees Barnabas lying inside.

Our thoughts

John: So in Collinwood they drink coffee when they can't sleep, get up when the power is off, and go back to bed once it comes back on. Maybe they're all vampires...

Christine: It's a topsy-turvy household. How is it that Vicki didn't wake up immediately when Barnabas opened the music box? I wouldn't think she'd be sleeping that deeply after seeing someone lurking outside her window on a stormy night.

John: Well that was quick. Julia has pissed off Vicki. So much for her being Julia's number one fan.

Christine: What does Vicki think Julia is insinuating when she says Barnabas is trying to recreate Josette? That he wants Vicki to participate in a perverted role-playing fantasy involving one of the ancestors? Well, he does, and Vicki must be upset because she knows it's true. It looks like Julia has the evidence she needs to connect Maggie to Barnabas. What will she do with it?

John: Damn! Julia certainly wastes no time breaking into the old house and making her way to Barnabas in his coffin! Not to mention her first to do so without quivering in fear, or getting grabbed by the throat!

Christine: And it's not even Friday! She looks excited to see that she was right about him, and her lack of fear makes is fascinating to watch, since it's not the typical reaction most characters have when finding a vampire in his coffin.

Dark Shadows Episode 288 - 8/2/67

David finds Vicki daydreaming in the drawing room. He said it was like she was someone else, and it frightened him. She says she knows he likes to imagine scary things, but he shouldn't try to scare her. Julia enters, and Vicki introduces David to her. He offers to tell her about his ancestors. Julia asks about private printed histories, and Vicki goes to get them.

David quizzes her to see if he'll be included, and asks if she'd like to see their family album. He pulls the book out and they start flipping through it. They arrive at Sarah Collins, and David is surprised he hasn't heard of her. He does say she looks just like a girl he plays with sometimes near the old house. He says that's the only place he's ever seen her. And that her name is Sarah, too. Julia finds it a curious coincidence. David asks Julia if she thinks Sarah is a ghost.

Vicki returns and discourages David from talking about ghosts. Vicki gives Julia the books she was asking about. Julia shows Vicki the portrait of Sarah Collins. She says it looked like a sketch she saw when they were investigating Maggie Evans disappearance, though she explains that won't mean anything to Julia. She tells Julia she has a date and has to leave, and before she does, she asks Vicki about the restoration of the old house. She says that there are no mirrors in the old house where she thought they would have been historically. Vicki says the only mirror she found in the old house is in Josette's room. Julia asks if she can borrow a book so she can show Barnabas some of the portraits.

At The Blue Whale, Vicki and Burke talk about Julia. He says he's never heard of her, and says he wishes she wasn't involved in her. He says Josette has become a reality to her, and the other night she saw a little girl at the top of the stairs. He asks why she would further feed her imagination with the history of the Collins family. She explains that it happened again. She says she woke up the other night and heard a little girl singing. When she lit a candle the room was empty. She says maybe it was spending the night in Josette's room. Burke is surprised to hear she spent the night in the house with Willie and Barnabas, and asks her to promise she won't go back there again. She refuses. She says she feels safe there, as if she belongs there. Burke isn't happy to hear it it.

Julia arrives at the old house with the book of portraits. Barnabas says he didn't expect to see her so soon. She asks if she can show him a family album. He asks why, and she says she was hoping to get some answers. He initially says no, and then agrees to give her a few minutes of his time. She opens the book to the portrait of his namesake. She points out the uncanny resemblance they share. He takes the book as she talks through the people in portraits, leading up to Sarah. While he looks at the book, she opens a compact and looks into the mirror, noticing that Barnabas cannot be seen. He asks what she's doing, and she says she's just checking her make-up. She apologizes for wasting his time, and leaves. Barnabas has a concerned look on his face after she's gone.

Back at the main house, Julia returns the book saying she learned a great deal in her visit with Barnabas—everything that she needed to know.

Our thoughts

John: How does Julia already know so much Collins family history? Again, she's really done a deep dive in search of information to help her treat Maggie...

Christine: She's certainly thorough. Burke has become quite unpleasant with his permanent scowl. He really needs to lighten up a little, though Vicki didn't appear to have any trouble standing up to his bossy demand that she promise never to return to the Old House.

John: How is it that a) opening up the book of family history in the middle gets right to the people Julia is interested in, and b) David is so familiar with the book, and yet does not know about Sarah Collins....

Christine: It looked like it was bookmarked. I also don't understand how David didn't know about Sarah or never saw her picture in the family album before. Are we supposed to think that her page mysteriously appeared where it did not exist before? After he recognized her as his new playmate, it's odd that he didn't consider that his friend might be the ghost of Sarah Collins.

John: I guess I was wrong. Julia had already pegged Barnabas as a vampire, and proved it using the old 'take a look at these family portraits while I get a glimpse of you in the mirror' trick. So now that she knows, what is she going to do? And more importantly, does this bring an abrupt end to Vicki's research project?

Christine: It seems Dr. Hoffman is getting some inspiration from Van Helsing. This is a momentous occasion to have someone who is not a victim discover that Barnabas is a vampire. It's odd that she didn't seem alarmed by her discovery and was almost gleeful about it when she returned to Collinwood.

Dark Shadows Episode 287 - 8/1/67

Barnabas enters Josette's room and hovers over Vicki's sleeping body. He looks back at Josette's portrait, leans in, fangs bared, and hesitates. He backs away from Vicki, glancing at the portrait one last time before leaving the room.

Willie escorts Vicki downstairs. He offers her breakfast and asks if anything disturbed her during the night. She says she didn't see or hear anything, and that she had a wonderful night. She says she did have a feeling that someone was in the room, but she wasn't afraid, because it was a dream. She then asks him if it was a dream, and asks if he was in her room. He gets defensive, saying he wouldn't do anything to hurt her. She says she felt safer in Josette's room than anywhere else in her life.

In the main house, Liz is meeting with Julia Hoffman. Liz acknowledges that she agreed to meet, but says it's not a good time because she's very disturbed. She mentions the horrible things around Collinsport, and Julia references Maggie. Liz says that Vicki didn't sleep in her room, as Vicki enters. She apologizes that she upset Liz. Liz says if she knew she was with Barnabas, she wouldn't have worried. Julia is particularly interested in that. Liz says she's not interested in cooperating with Julia. Hoffman says that the public is fascinated with the Collins family. Vicki says if people knew the truth, they wouldn't make up stories. Vicki uses Josette as an example. She says people only know of her death. Julia confirms the research would not go into the living family members. Julia says she's hoping to get Liz and Barnabas to cooperate. Vicki says she mentioned it to Barnabas, and he was also reluctant. Julia says she plans to speak to Barnabas next. Liz says Barnabas may decide to help her, but she will not. She leaves, and Vicki says she was sure that she would say yes. Julia suggests that Vicki talk to her again. Julia says she thinks her work is very important.

Later, Vicki speaks to Liz, and encourages her to give Julia a chance. Liz accuses her of being romantic again.

Vicki speaks of her peaceful night in Josette's room. Liz says that Julia's research would be detached, and not so romantic. Based on that, it might be good to have her work with Ms. Hoffman. Liz says she'll agree to cooperate with Julia, for Vicki.

Julia stops by the old house and forces her way in. Willie says she can't stay, but she ignores him. She wonders how Barnabas managed to restore the house to period. It's as if he lived through the time.

Willie continues to try and get rid of her when Barnabas arrives. He sends Willie away. They discuss Julia's interest in the family history. He says her work is interesting, but he is not interested in cooperating. He appreciates her interest, but feels no obligation to answer her questions. Julia says that she's done some research of her own, and might have some information about his family history that would interest him. He assures her that he knows much more than she ever could. She tells him to let her know if he changes his mind, and leaves. Barnabas is clearly perplexed.

Our thoughts

John: We have apparently witnessed the birth of the reluctant vampire. Is Willie going to have to go after fresh livestock again? At this point, it's hard to imagine Barnabas going after other young girls in Collinsport.

Christine: He's got to be a little unnerved about Julia digging into the Collins family past, since part of that history may reveal his unnatural ailment and subsequent incarceration in his coffin.

John: I'm curious what Julia is referring to. Is it possible she's figured out that there's no lineage connecting the Collins family to England? Surely she doesn't have enough data to put together that he's a vampire... yet.

Christine: I think she's bluffing to find a way in. She may not know he's a vampire, but is probably putting together the clues that he has detailed knowledge of the past that goes beyond what can be gleaned from books, and that he's only available during the daytime, which may lead her to suspect his true nature.

John: Julia is a great strong character, perhaps the strongest yet to go up against Barnabas. That said, it seems a bit excessive to go undercover at the depth she's proposing purely to treat Maggie. Even if she didn't have other patients, spending time digging up family history with Vicki isn't a straight path to getting the details that potentially link Barnabas to Maggie...

Christine: As noted before, her methods are quite unorthodox, however, she is on to Barnabas and seems to be getting closer to the truth.

Dark Shadows Episode 286 - 7/31/67

Barnabas tells Vicki she can't go out in the storm. He says he can send Willie to the main house to tell them she's alright. He asks her to forgive him for being delighted, and reiterates how the house was built for nights like this. He says he'll do his best to entertain her, and if necessary she can rest in Josette's room. Vicki looks upstairs, smiling. She asks if he'd mind if she stayed in Josette's room. He says of course not. She claims a closeness to Josette, as she doesn't know her own ancestors. Barnabas tells Vicki all the ways she's like Josette. She says he talks about her as if he knew her. He says she was the most fascinating of his ancestors.

Vicki asks who was chasing Josette when she threw herself off the cliff. Barnabas says it was her lover, Jeremiah Collins. Vicki is surprised that her husband was chasing her. Barnabas says he can't defend everything Jeremiah did. Vicki excuses herself to go upstairs. Barnabas says the storm may have lessened, and he offers to escort her back. She says the storm seems to be pretty severe and asks to stay. Barnabas is of course, accommodating, and Vicki makes her way to Josette's room.

Vicki lights a few candles in Josette's room. She then blows them out and gets into Josette's bed.

Barnabas is downstairs thinking of Vicki when Willie enters. He asks if everything's okay, and asks if someone is in the house. He found a ball in the basement near the coffin. Barnabas asks if Willie let David sneak into the house. Willie says there's no way. Barnabas agrees that if David found the coffin, they would have heard by now. Willie says there was the girl. He says Maggie talked about seeing a girl. Barnabas says he'll check downstairs. Willie tells him he thinks there's someone else in the house besides them. Barnabas tells him to wait there, while he checks.

While Vicki sleeps, a girl sings London Bridge. Vicki wakes and asks who's there. She looks around the room, but sees no one.

Willie is startled when Vicki comes downstairs. He asks what she's doing there, and she asks if Barnabas said she was staying in Josette's room during the storm. He asks if they'll be worried about her in the main house. Willie tells her he'll loan her a coat and escort her home. She says she likes the idea of spending the night in Josette's room. She says she's surprised to find him so thoughtful. He tells her she's making a mistake, and Barnabas enters, asking why he said that. He says people might get the wrong idea. Vicki assures him his concern is unwarranted. Barnabas asks what brought her downstairs. She said she woke when she heard a little girl singing London Bridge. Barnabas says it must have been her imagination. He asks if she's frightened to return to Josette's room, and she says she is not. She bids them goodnight and returns upstairs.

Willie asks Barnabas who the little girl is. He denies there's a little girl, blaming it on Vicki's imagination. Willie asks about the ball he found. Barnabas asks Willie if he was warning Vicki when he came in. Willie admits that he was. He tells Barnabas he can kill him—he just doesn't want to see Vicki hurt. Barnabas chooses to do nothing, and Willie is quite surprised he's not getting punished. Barnabas sends him to his room.

Barnabas enters Josette's room and hovers over Vicki's sleeping body.

Our thoughts

John: Vicki may buy his story about Jeremiah Collins, but I think the rest of us are pretty sure that it was Barnabas who chased Josette off the cliff.

Christine: In the original telling, Barnabas said, "Her eyes were wide with terror as the lover held her tightly, lips pressed against her throat. Soon she grew limp, and he released her." He also said, "Her lover descended to the bottom of Widows Hill and found her body broken, lifeless, bloodless." Unless Jeremiah was also a vampire, the lover was most likely Barnabas.

John: Funny how the guys running sound effects for the thunder and lightning didn't seem to be in sync with the cast's description of the storm. Barnabas says it's lessening right after a particularly loud thunderclap.
 

Christine: It seemed odd that he would say the storm was letting up and offer to walk her back to Collinwood, until Willie put things in perspective by calling Barnabas out for having a thing for Vicki that makes him not want to harm her. Perhaps he knew he wouldn't be able to resist having a little midnight Vicki snack, and thought he should get her out of temptation's way.

John: Barnabas tells Willie to talk to him, and then better yet, not to talk to him. It's been a good few weeks of flubbed lines from Barnabas!

Christine: Sarah is really inconsiderate to be singing her favorite song while Vicki is trying to sleep. Barnabas seemed irritated when she reported the little girl's singing she heard. Is he worried that Sarah might divulge his secret? So, Vicki unknowingly places herself at the mercy of a vampire. Will she be wearing a brand new scarf tomorrow?