← 25 → Timeline 1967 Narrator Victoria Winters Writer Art Wallace Director Lela Swift Airdate July 29, 1966 Tapedate July 15, 1966 Home Video VHS: CS V5 DVD: TB C1D3 We have 2 images of Dark Shadows #25

Elizabeth refuses to tell Roger her reasons for hiring Victoria. Victoria finds the bleeder valve in David's room.

Synopsis Edit

My name is Victoria Winters. The tension at Collinwood had almost made me forget the purpose for which I had come. But now a letter has arrived—a letter that once again has raised a spectre of my past, a letter that intrudes upon the present and hightens the growing fears of a nine-year-old boy.

David attempts to read Vicki's letter; Roger scolds him. David talks about going to jail and tells Roger that he was afraid there was something in it about his being sent away. Vicki implies David's guilt to Liz, but Liz brushes it off. Roger tells Vicki that David attempted to snatch her letter. Vicki is shocked that Liz and Roger haven't spoken about the letter yet. David talks to Vicki about the Letter and how grownups always stick together. Vicki needles David subtly. David says he didn't fix Roger's brakes; Vicki says she didn’t accuse him. Roger suspects Burke of sending the detective; Liz says they must stick to the story that Vicki was just randomly hired, lest Vicki start poking through doors and such. Roger flatly asks why, in fact, was Vicki engaged to care for David. How did Liz know about a girl who was a total stranger when Liz hasn’t left the house in 18 years? Liz reminds Roger that he told her about Vicki; Roger laughs. Liz explains her lies and orders Roger to adhere to them and prepare for uncheckable answering of Vicki's questions. Roger seems to agree, but Roger still wants to know the real truth. When Liz keeps it clamped, Roger threatens not to comply; Liz threatens to kick him to the curb if he doesn't. David finally gets a history answer right. David wants Vicki to believe her, and says he doesn't lie. Roger asks if Vicki still has the letter because he'd like to discuss it with her. Roger tells Vicki that Burke hired the detective (they think) and just wants to mess up the Collins Family even though looking into Vicki's past doesn’t hurt the family at all. Vicki remembers her first meeting with Roger and his reaction to Liz's "story." Roger says a woman in New York who was a mysterious anonymous donor to the Hammond Foundling Home is the one who turned him on to her. He tells her to waste the letter; he gets peeved that Burke's not been arrested. Vicki finds her letter is missing and finds the Bleeder Valve in David's drawer when she looks for the Letter.

Memorable quotes Edit

Dramatis personae Edit

• ← Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard →
• ← Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins →
• ← David Henesy as David Collins →
• ← Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters →

Background information and notes Edit

• Beginning with this episode, Jonas Carter is consistently referred to as the Sheriff rather than Constable.

• The Collinsport Fly appears both upstairs in David's room and later flies around Joan Bennett's head in the Drawing room.

Bloopers and continuity errors Edit

• The Collinsport Fly can be seen buzzing around Elizabeth's head, along with a companion.
• Roger refers to Wilbur Strake as a lawyer; Strake is a private investigator.
• There is a long pause during the credits before the music starts playing.

End credits announcementsEdit

• 'Where The Action Is' made it's debut one year ago with top recording stars performing where the fun is. Come along for a real good time next, here on ABC.
• Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis production.