Dark Shadows Episode 333 - 10/4/67

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David tries different keys on the basement door in the old house.

Downstairs, Barnabas rises from his coffin.

David finds the correct key, and makes his way downstairs. He finds the open coffin in the basement, which is empty. He walks behind it and Barnabas appears, slamming it shut. Startled, David turns around to face him. Barnabas asks him what he's doing in the house, and why he broke his father's promise about coming to the house. David asks him what the coffin is doing there. Barnabas says he broke his promise, and he must be punished. He grabs him as David calls for help. From upstairs, Julia calls for David, and he breaks free of Barnabas and runs upstairs.

David runs into Julia's arms. Barnabas comes upstairs and says he was going to give David a sound spanking for prowling around in the basement. David begs him not to hurt him, and Barnabas says he'll let his father punish him. David is excited to hear that Barnabas is going to let him go, but first he has to answer some questions. Barnabas asks how he got into the basement, and David reveals he took his aunt's keys. Barnabas is surprised to find there was another set. He asks David for them and he turns them over. Barnabas says David can go only after he promises never to break into the house again. Julia asked what David saw, and Barnabas says his coffin. Julia says he'll run right back to Collinwood and tell everyone. He says they probably won't believe him, but if they do, they'll be in possession of very dangerous knowledge. She asks what he's planning, and he tells her that she'll see.

 

Burke and Dr. Woodard are in the main house talking about David, who is missing. Woodard asks Burke what he thought he was on to when he said he had a theory earlier. Burke says he was wrong, as Willie was the maniac. Woodard asks if he suspected Barnabas Collins, and Burke reluctantly admits that was the case. David comes in and runs into Burke's arms. He tells him he found the secret of the old house. He found an empty coffin in the basement. Burke asks why Barnabas would have a coffin, and David says because he's dead. He says it's just like his dream. Julia walks in and says she found David in the old house, hysterical and imagining things. David says Barnabas was going to kill him, and Julia clarifies that he was going to spank him for breaking into his house, but didn't even do that. David says that Barnabas was going to kill him because he found his coffin. Julia says that he must have seen a trunk or something resembling a coffin. She tells the others that she's been to the basement and there's nothing there.

David accuses her of lying, and tells Burke to go to the old house. Roger walks in and asks what all the commotion is. He tells his father he saw a coffin in the old house. Julia says if a coffin were there, she would have seen it, too. David tells Burke that she's lying. Roger tells hi to apologize. She offers to take him to his room, and he tells her no. He says that she's going to protect Barnabas. He begs Burke to go to the old house and look for the coffin. Roger sends him to his room, and apologizes to Julia. She says David is disturbed. Woodard asks if he is. He suggests that they should go to the old house. Roger tells him that it's absurd. Woodard says that he's not accusing Barnabas of anything, but he wants to give David the benefit of the doubt. Burke says he agrees with Woodard. Roger says he'll have nothing to do with it, and Burke says he doesn't need to. He and Woodard will go on their own. After they leave, Roger asks Julia if she's ever heard such utter nonsense.

Burke and Woodard arrive at the old house. Barnabas answers and asks what he can do for them. They ask if they can speak to him and he invites them in. They say they'd like to see his basement. They explain that David claimed to have seen a coffin there. Barnabas says he's concerned about David, as his fantasies are growing out of hand. Woodard asks him if there's a coffin, and Barnabas denies it. Burke asks to see. Barnabas appears shocked, and tells them he is insulted by their insinuation. He tells them that he's within his rights to tell them to leave. Burke tells him that they won't. Barnabas says he doesn't like invasions of his privacy, and refuses to show them the basement. Burke threatens to come back with a search warrant. Barnabas agrees to show them the basement to end the nonsense once and for all.

They go downstairs and Burke comments how dark it is. Barnabas lights some candles. There are a few trunks in the middle of the room. Burke snoops around. Barnabas asks if they see anything that faintly resembles a coffin. Woodard apologizes to Barnabas, admitting it must have been a figment of David's imagination.

Our thoughts

John: I had to laugh when the ominous music abruptly stopped when Julia called out for David.

Christine: I had to laugh when Burke told Woodard he never knew him to talk in riddles.

John: After all his blustering, it was somewhat surprising that Barnabas just let David walk away after finding his coffin.

Christine: I certainly did not predict that turn of events, which just goes to show that I really don't remember many details from these episodes. It was a nice surprise, since it was more advantageous for him to discredit David rather than do away with him, though it would have been scarier had Barnabas turned David over his knee for the sound spanking he threatened.

John: While it was pretty obvious that the coffin would have been moved from the basement by Barnabas (where's Willie when you really need him!), I was kind of hoping he was luring Burke and Woodard to the basement to do away with them, once and for all. Woodard sticks to character and backs down at the first sign of another explanation, while we get the sense that Burke isn't going to be so quick to dismiss David's accusations.

Christine: Poor David. Everyone will think he's crazy, which is certain to prompt more surly, bad behavior. David knows Barnabas is undead, but does not seem to realize he is a vampire, which may be due to the fact that he's still somewhat of a closeted vampire. Barnabas has not engaged in any on camera biting, and it's not clear how he's taking his meals these days.

Dark Shadows Episode 774 - 6/12/69

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Tim sneaks into the basement of the abandoned house. He lights a candle and looks around. He sees a coffin in he basement. He opens it up and looks inside to find it empty.

Dirk returns to the abandoned house and enters the basement. Tim is surprised to see Dirk, and Dirk asks Tim what he's doing there. He assumes the Collins' sent Tim to find him. Tim is confused, and asks if Dirk is okay. Dirk says he's alright, but Tim shouldn't have come there. He explains he was hiding there, and Tim says he won't tell anyone. Dirk adds that Tim won't be leaving. He points out that Tim obviously saw the coffin, which isn't empty during the day. Tim asks what's in it during the day, and Dirk says that he is. He tells Tim that he will find out his secret soon enough, and he approaches him with bared fangs.

Trask tells Rachel it will be easier if she tells him everything. She says she can't tell him what she doesn't know. He says that his wife is dead, poisoned in a plan by Rachel and Tim. She says that's a lie. Trask demands to know where Tim is. She says she doesn't know, and that she wouldn't tell him if she did. He asks if she'd rather be questioned by the police, and she says that she would. He tells her that she has always occupied a special place in his thoughts, so he's going to allow her to prove her innocence. He says that she cannot leave under any circumstance. If she leaves, he will assume it is to help Tim, in which case he will have her arrested as an accomplice to murder.

Judith arrives at the school, and asks Trask if there's anything she can do for him. He thanks her for expressing condolences. Trask tells her that his wife was his reason for being. Judith puts her hand on his arm and says that she would want him to go on. He describes his wife as the lifeblood of the institution, and Judith reminds him that the school still has him. Judith suggests that he get some rest, and he says he can't until her murderer is brought to justice. Judith asks if he's been caught yet. Trask says that he thinks Rachel knows where Tim is hiding. Judith offers to speak to Rachel. Trask goes to get her.

Rachel makes her way through the woods.

Trask returns and says Rachel is gone, surely off to find Tim. He says that they must be planning to leave Collinsport, but they'll need the help of someone in Collinsport. He asks if anyone in Collinwood might help them, and Judith says Barnabas might. She says she'll go to him and explain what happened, so that he won't help Tim or Rachel. She leaves, and Trask calls Evan. He tells him that everything is going smoothly. Trask thanks Evan for his service, and says that his secret vice will remain a secret.

Judith arrives at the old house and lets herself in. She calls for Barnabas. Dirk comes out, and she asks where he's been. Dirk reminds her that she dismissed him. She demands to know what he told Jamison. He says knowing might damage the Collins family name. She gives him 24 hours to leave the estate, or she'll call the police. He says she won't get a chance to do that. He says that a lot has changed in the last few days. He grabs her, and she tells him to get out of her way. She says he doesn't boss him around any more. He tells her that they are about to change roles. He will be the master, and she will be his servant. She tells him to let her leave, and he can have all the time he needs. He leans in to bite her neck.

Rachel returns to the old house. She looks in the window, sees Judith, and leaves.

Judith sits in a chair, blood dripping from her neck wound.

Trask arrives, saying he came to offer his assistance. He asks if she spoke to Barnabas, and notices that there's a change in her behavior. He asks her what happened. He offers to summon a doctor when he sees the marks on her neck. He asks again what happened, noting that he found similar marks on Charity's neck. She says she can't tell because she's afraid. He says he must find who's responsible, as he's already suffered one loss, and doesn't want to lose her, too.

Judith asks him to take her back to Collinwood. He realized that when he came in, she mentioned Dirk's name. He asks what kind of inhuman animal Dirk is.

Rachel enters the basement of the abandoned house, and finds a coffin. She wonders why it's there. She sees a lit candle, and is sure Tim had been there. She decides to wait for him. She opens the coffin and finds it empty. As she waits, Dirk enters.

Our thoughts

John: Ah, the old empty coffin tease... How many times will we be burned by that cliffhanger?

Christine: Twice in today's episode! I thought Rachel was going to find Tim lounging in there at the end of the episode. I guess we should have started an empty coffin tracker long ago.

John: Dirk was at his creep best today. He actually seemed somewhat restrained in his performance, which made it much more effective. The extra eye make-up didn't hurt.

Christine: I feel somewhat disappointed that he was not his usual over the top self. Like Vampire Tom, he also seems to enjoy the undead lifestyle, biting everyone within fang's reach so far.

John: Ewww! Poor Judith! Do you suppose cozying up to the Collins' matriarch was Trask's plan all along when he coordinated with Evan to have his wife taken out? Of course, being the next Mrs. Trask would still be preferable to being one of Dirk's vampire brides!

Christine: I think both options are equally disagreeable. It is possible Trask got rid of Minerva to set himself up with Judith. If so, it will be interesting to see how long he'll spend in mourning before he puts the moves on her. If that doesn't work out, he may also be setting himself up to blackmail Rachel into a relationship in order to protect Tim. Or maybe he plans to do both.

Episode 180 - 3/3/67

Guthrie apologizes, and offers to put the coffin back. The caretaker tells them to let her rest for another day. Joe then smells flowers; Frank asks if it's Jasmine, which Guthrie equates with Josette. The coffin then opens revealing that it is empty. The caretaker says that the body should be in there. Joe asks if the body could have disintegrated after 200 years, and Guthrie says there would have been some remains in the coffin. He says that Josette wanted them to see inside the coffin. The caretaker kneels at the vault and says she couldn't find rest or peace.

Guthrie asks about Laura Murdoch Radcliffe. The caretaker says it's outside by a maple tree past his shed. The caretaker leaves, and Frank says he knows what Guthrie is thinking. He tells him that he's with them. They begin to leave, and the caretaker asks if they're going to the other grave. He says they must be careful; the dead don't like to be disturbed. They promise to come back to re-inter the coffin.

In the graveyard, Frank, Joe and Guthrie look for the grave. Joe finds it, and says, "now what." He explains they need to dig up the grave and open the coffin. Joe goes to look for shovels, and Frank asks his friend what he expects to find. Guthrie confirms that he expects to find nothing.

The caretaker laments that the men left him alone. He says he'd prefer the company of the living. He says he could have told them things about Laura Murdoch Radcliffe. He recounts how she died by fire, and says there was something else he can't remember. He finds his record book on Radciffe's and opens it.

Joe returns with shovels, and he and Frank get working on the grave. Joe stops and asks if they heard something. The others didn't hear anything.

The caretaker finds the record about Laura Murdoch Radcliffe. He mentions the boy, and turns to see Laura Collins. She says she's looking for Guthrie. He says there were three men, one was named Garner. He asks if they are her friends. Laura sees the open coffin and reaches inside. The caretaker says they came to disturb the dead. He says the coffin was opened and Laura Murdoch Stockbridge was gone. She asks what they wanted, and he says they said they were helping the living. She asks if they said where they were going, and he said they were going to the grave of Laura Murdoch Radcliffe. She asked if they were coming back, and he says yes. She says that in that case, she'll wait. She asks what he was saying he found when she came in. He offers to show her the records of Laura Murdoch Radcliffe, and she takes the book.

The three men stand around the coffin which they have dug up. Joe confirms it has never been opened. The start to open the coffin.

The caretaker says he'll show her friends the Radcliffe records when they return. He says it's strange how two women with the same maiden name died the same way, 100 years apart. Laura tells him that she's not afraid of fire. She speaks of its beauty.

At the grave site, they manage to pry the coffin open. It's also empty.

Laura continues to speak to the caretaker, captivating him. He says he feels strange, and looks up and finds her gone.

The men finish re-interring the Radcliffe coffin. Guthrie then says they need to put the other coffin back.

Back in the crypt, Guthrie apologizes for taking so long. The caretaker says that they just left. Guthrie says they were gone for at least two hours, and asks the caretaker what happened after they left.

He leaves to go rest, and Frank finds the record book open. There's a Collinsport Courier newspaper article in the book, but the ink for a portion of an article is missing. Guthrie says that couldn't happen in a closed book. It would require exposure to light—or a fire.

Our thoughts

John: Wow! One minute Frank is laying down the law, the next he's digging up a coffin!

Christine: He and Joe both seemed to get over their reluctance to break the law pretty quickly.

John: Anyone else think that the crypt, and the caretaker with it, were going up in smoke before this episode was over? Surely Laura now knows that the Hardy Boys (Guthrie, Joe and Frank) are on to her!

Christine: She's probably banking on them not being able to do anything about it. They can't really go to the police and say she's a phoenix, after all.

John: So now WE know there's some precedent relating a child to Laura's prior incarnations, but it looks like our merry band of grave robbers will have to hit the Collinsport Library to find a copy of the disappearing newspaper article.

"I never minded waiting, either. The living all have to wait...for death." -Eagle Hill Cemetery Caretaker

"There's great sadness in fire too, because every fire must die. But the beautiful part is, that another will be kindled, in another place, in another time." -Laura Murdoch Phoenix

Dark Shadows Episode 334 - 10/5/67

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David asks Vicki what's taking Burke and Dr. Woodard so long. He's sure they'll find the coffin in the basement of the old house.

Outside the front of the main house, Burke tells Woodard that even though they didn't find anything in the basement, he doesn't like Barnabas. Woodard says they need to be careful how they break the news to David. Roger lets them in. Woodard tells him that Barnabas wasn't willing or eager to show them the basement, but he did, and there was nothing in the basement. Roger is not at all surprised, and says that unlike his cousin Barnabas, he would not have cooperated with such a ridiculous request. Roger sends them up to tell David the news of what they found—or in this case, didn't find.

Burke and Woodard come in to David's room, and ask Vicki to step out. Woodard tells David they didn't see a coffin in the cellar. David tells them that if they don't believe in him, something terrible is going to happen to him. He says he wishes he could tell them, but he promised he wouldn't. He mentions the mausoleum where Sarah is buried. Burke says they've been to the mausoleum, and there are only three coffins there. David says there is a fourth coffin behind a wall in a secret room. The window bursts open and David hears London Bridge. He tells them Sarah is upset that he told them about the secret room. He says that when he got lost, he was stuck in the secret room with an empty coffin. He hid in the empty coffin when Barnabas and Willie came in, as he was sure they would kill him. Woodard doesn't believe David, who says he'll take them to the mausoleum. Woodard agrees, provided that Roger says it's okay. David asks if he'll be safe, if Barnabas doesn't know they're going. As they go downstairs, the window flies open again.

Woodard asks Roger if they can take David to the mausoleum at Eagle Hill cemetery. Roger forbids it. He says it's ridiculous and insulting. Woodard tells Roger it could ease David's mind. Roger agrees, and tells them that if there's nothing strange in the mausoleum, there will be no further talk about Barnabas. Vicki takes David upstairs to get a jacket. Roger confides in Dr. Woodard that he's concerned about David, and thinks it may be time to talk about psychiatric help for him. After they leave, Roger asks Vicki if she's still planning to marry Burke. She says yes, Burke wants to get married immediately, but she's committed to staying with David as long as necessary.

David, Burke and Woodard enter the mausoleum. Inside, David tells them the secret door opens when pulling the ring in the lion's mouth. Burke asks him to do it, and when he tries, he's unsuccessful. Burke then tries, and is also unable. David says that Barnabas must have come there first and done something to it. Woodard also tries, and also fails to open it. Burke tells David that he must have just imagined it. Woodard says that they're his friends, and asks David to admit there's nothing more than they see. David looks around and finds a flute on one of the coffins. David tells them that Sarah left it so they'd believe him about the secret room. Woodard believes there must be a reason why the flute is there.

Our thoughts

John: I was just wondering about the status of Burke and Vicki, and their house and the upcoming nuptials. Thanks Roger for ensuring we got some sort of update before the audience had forgotten completely about those plot threads.

Christine: I liked how Roger described growing up at Collinwood and being afraid to walk the corridors, imagining that the dead people in the portraits were staring at him with hatred. He claimed he outgrew the fear, but I'm not sure he did.

John: I think it was pretty clear that we'd get in to the mausoleum to find the secret door latch no longer worked. But wouldn't one of the two 'investigators' consider the fact of the size of the mausoleum, and the unaccounted for space on the inside, as compared to the outside? The inner room is almost as big as the outer room, so that should be fairly evident by simply walking around the perimeter of the structure.

Christine: Roger seems to believe that David's mental state is fragile and he is ready to snap. Perhaps he should have gotten him into counseling after he attempted to kill him by sabotaging his car, or after attempting to kill Vicki by locking her in a room in the closed off section of the house, or even after he almost burned to death with his mother, who he saw go up in flames. 

John: Really, Dr. Woodard? A stray flute and you're back to believing David's wild stories? I'm sure Roger will be blown away by that particular piece of evidence...

Christine: He might have considered that the Caretaker had left it there after playing melodies for the dead folks. He does like to prattle on about how he takes care of the dead, after all.

Dark Shadows Episode 570 - 8/30/68

Amazon Prime members can stream today's episode free!

Julia enters a room with a coffin, and asks Tom where he is. Liz follows her in and asks her if it's her coffin. Julia yells at her to leave. Liz leaves Julia. Tom lurks in the shadows behind her. He tells her he's there, and comes to her. She removes her scarf, and he leans in for another bite.

Barnabas and Willie return to the old house, wondering where Tom and Julia must be meeting. Willie suggests that Barnabas may be interested in stopping Tom because of his feelings for Julia. Barnabas admits he needs Julia for the experiment, and Willie counters that he talks about her like a missing secretary. Barnabas finally admits that he cares for Julia more than he appears to. Barnabas recalls how the docks were a good place to find victims when he was a vampire.

There's a knock at the door, and Liz comes in. She tells Barnabas they have an empty coffin ready and waiting for her. She asks Barnabas to hide her. She says she can't talk in front of Willie, and Barnabas sends him away. Liz says he mustn't let Roger send her back to Windcliff. Barnabas is sure Roger would only do things in her best interest. She says he's going to let her be buried alive. She says they'll think she's dead, but she won't be.

Barnabas says she could stay if he thought it for the best. He offers to go back to Windcliff with her, and she says that she begged Julia for help. Barnabas asks where she saw Julia, and Liz says she was with the coffin. Barnabas asks where it is, and Liz describes an empty crypt at the edge of the cemetery.

Barnabas finds the coffin, and Julia lying next to it, unconscious.

Willie comes across Liz in the old house, and she accuses him of spying on her. She tells him not to tell anyone that he's seen her. Barnabas returns home with an unconscious Julia in his arms.  Liz says she's dead, and Barnabas confirms that she's barely alive. He tells Willie to take Liz upstairs to her room, and he does. He pleads with Julia to snap out of her trance. Willie comes back and says they have to get her to the hospital. Barnabas asks what time it is, and then realizes that it's almost dusk. He says he knows where Tom will be at dawn, and he'll be ready for him.

Willie has prepared a stake, and Barnabas tells him to join him. After they leave, Liz enters Josette's room where Julia lies sleeping. She asks why Roger made Julia plot against him, and then suggests that Julia will be buried before she is.

Willie and Barnabas arrive to find the coffin empty. Willie freaks out and runs out. Barnabas picks up the hammer and stake as Tom returns. They struggle, and Barnabas tells him he's wasting his time with the light coming soon. Barnabas screams as Tom leans in to bite him.

Our thoughts

John: Wow. Barnabas finally admits that he has feelings for Julia. Should they start shopping for a china pattern?

Christine: Hot damn! It's a pivotal moment for Barnabas to admit he cares for Julia, and quite amusing that it came as a result of Willie's needling, though I don't think they'll be setting up house anytime soon, since he's got to court her first. He's an old fashioned guy, after all. I would like to record the moment for future reference:

Barnabas: What do you want me to admit, Willie? That I care for Julia more than I appear to? All right, I will admit it. She's been a part of my life for so long, a very important part, and I must find her.

John: Remember back when Willie was afraid of upsetting Barnabas above all else? Nowadays he prods him about his feelings for Julia while the world is watching, and gets freaked out by all the other supernatural events going on around Collinwood.

Christine: Willie was the only one who would have been able to get Barnabas to admit he cares for Julia, and I think his doing so shows that he sees himself as more of a friend than servant to Barnabas.

John: I certainly didn't expect to see Barnabas overpowered by Tom Jennings. Something tells me that come Monday we'll have another episode of bitus-interruptus. Of course, if Tom does bite him, will it matter? As long as Adam is around, I assume Barnabas will remain immune to the vampire curse... won't he?

Christine: I guess we may find out. I'm not quite sure I understand what happened there. Barnabas was choking him until his tongue lolled, and then he was suddenly unable to grasp his throat any longer. Is there some magic afoot? I'm wondering why he didn't just use the silver bullets. I guess that would have been too easy. Vampire Tom is quite a character! Love the way he calls for Joooo-lee-uh.