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381
Number

376

Timeline

1795

Narrator

Lara Parker

Writer

Gordon Russell

Director

Lela Swift

Broadcast

December 11, 1967
(Monday)

Recorded

December 5, 1967
(Tuesday)

Video

Complete: Disc 41
Collection 5: Disc 1

381 Gallery
We have 6 images of Dark Shadows 381

Josette and Jeremiah are both missing, along with their luggage.

Synopsis[]

Teaser

A séance was held in the great house of Collinwood, a séance which sent Victoria Winters back on an uncertain and frightening journey to the past, back to the Collins family who lived in the year 1795. On this night, those within the Collins mansion will suffer the shock of discovering that deceit and betrayal are guests in the house.

Josette du Prés has gone missing, and her father André questions Angelique Bouchard about her mistress' state of mind earlier that evening. But Angelique feigns ignorance. A devastated Barnabas Collins has sent Reverend Brooks back to the village. Ben Stokes rushes into the house and reports that both Josette and Jeremiah Collins' horses are missing from the stable.

Act I

Barnabas learns that André suspected Jeremiah might be missing along with Josette, and the girl's father goes upstairs to search Jeremiah's room. Angelique offers Ben a secret, triumphant smile. Ben expresses his sorrow for the surprising turn of events to Barnabas. Barnabas asks about Countess Natalie du Prés' whereabouts, and Angelique tells him Natalie has retired to her room to recover from the shock of Josette's disappearance. Then, Barnabas orders Ben and Angelique to say nothing of what has happened tonight. There might be a simple explanation to Josette's actions. Ben glares at Angelique before Barnabas dismisses the servants to their respective rooms. André returns, and he informs Barnabas that Jeremiah was not in his room and that, like Josette, his luggage is gone. Barnabas explodes at the Frenchman's assumption that Jeremiah and Josette have left together. He believes that the fact his uncle and fiancée have gone missing at the same time is nothing more than a coincidence. He goes to his room to retrieve his pistols, and then to search for Josette in the forest.

Act II

Later, Ben steals himself away to Angelique's room but the witch has no need of him. He angrily lectures Angelique, who calls him "stupid" and enrages the former convict. Ben moves to strangle her, but he slumps dejectedly knowing he cannot harm Angelique. She has further surprises in store for Barnabas, and is anxious for him to learn that Josette and Jeremiah have indeed run off together. Humiliated and dejected, Barnabas will be sure to turn to her for comfort. Ben reckons it would be easy if Angelique simply placed Barnabas under one of her spells, but she refuses to win his love in that way. Upon learning that Barnabas has gone into the woods alone, Ben panics at the thought of possible danger. But Angelique assures her unwilling servant that she is watching over Barnabas.

Act III

Searching the forest, Barnabas calls out for Josette. He hears someone approaching, but they will not answer him. Another man's voice is heard, laughing and mocking Barnabas. Suddenly a strange figure appears, telling Barnabas that he is Jeremiah and that Josette has left to marry him. The man continues to taunt Barnabas, calling him a fool for allowing Josette to deceive him. Barnabas fires his pistol, and the apparition fades away laughing. André, having decided that Barnabas should not be searching alone, finds him and learns about the hateful figure Barnabas encountered. Unable to see due to the darkness, André convinces Barnabas to return to the house with him. As they start their return, Barnabas hears a woman's voice (Angelique's) beckoning him toward the road to Collinsport. Barnabas heeds the call, with André reluctantly following.

Act IV

Reaching the road, Barnabas discovers Josette's wedding veil snagged on a tree. Meanwhile Angelique, gazing into the fire, tells Ben that Barnabas has found the wedding veil she has placed for him to find. Shortly, she and Ben will go downstairs and find how much Barnabas has changed. Ben doesn't want to see his master tormented. However, Angelique insists on showing Ben that the course of true love can be altered. When he continues to mock her, Angelique threatens to transform Ben into a moth and have him burn in the fireplace. She reminds him to treat her with proper respect. André and Barnabas, with the torn wedding veil in hand, return to the house. Barnabas still refuses to believe there is a connection between Jeremiah and Josette's disappearances. He wonders if Josette might have been abducted. Ben enters, and Barnabas wonders why he was not available to help him search. Ben lies, explaining he was busy with chores. Barnabas bids him goodnight and, as Ben leaves, Angelique comes downstairs. André suggests Barnabas retire for the evening and rest. However, Barnabas prefers to stay up and wait. After André leaves, Angelique attempts to comfort Barnabas. Barnabas declares his love for Josette, and tells Angelique he will always do so no matter what happens. This devastates Angelique.

Memorable quotes[]

Barnabas: Surely you don't believe that Jeremiah had anything to do with Josette's disappearance.

Angelique: You were supposed to knock before you come into a room. Have you no manners, Ben?
Ben (sarcastically): None, "milady"!

Ben: You got 'em all dancing like puppets on strings, haven't ya?
Angelique: I told you. I always get what I want.
Ben: I used to think the master of this house was the meanest person I ever met. But I was wrong. Next to you, Mr. Joshua Collins is a saint.

Ben: All you have to do is use one of them evil spells of yours.
Angelique: On Barnabas?
Ben: You used them on others. Why not on him? It'd make it real simple for ya.
Angelique: That's exactly the reason why I would never put Barnabas under any spell to gain his love. Oh, I could have him that way, yes. But he would not be truly mine. No. No, he must turn to me of his own free will.

Ben (to Angelique): I believe you can do anything. And the meaner it is, the better you can do it.

Barnabas (to Angelique, regarding Josette): In spite of what I've been through, I still love her. No matter what has happened, or what will happen, I will always love her.

Dramatis personae[]

Background information and notes[]

Production[]

  • This is the first episode not to feature a character that originated in the series bible.
  • The episode opens with a particularly dirty and scratched still image of Collinwood.

Story[]

Bloopers and continuity errors[]

  • In Act I, a bit of dialogue between Ben and Barnabas is a non sequitur: Ben: "Mr. Barnabas, I'm sorry 'bout what happened." Barnabas: "I don't know what happened, Ben." [Addendum: I see nothing wrong with this exchange. Ben knows what happened and expresses his sorrow the only way he can. Barnabas replies honestly -- he doesn't know yet what's happened.]
  • In Act I, David Ford can be briefly seen at the top of the Old House stairs as Ben and Angelique head toward the staircase after being dismissed by Barnabas.
  • It is inconceivable that Joshua would have tolerated Ben using the front door instead of the servant's entrance, yet Ben habitually does go in and out through the front door.
  • When Barnabas starts to hear the voice of the false Jeremiah and shouts "Who are you?", his second pistol. still tucked into his belt. starts to slip out of his belt, and Jonathan Frid has to put his hand on it to prevent it from falling to the ground.
  • When Barnabas tells Andre about the "Jeremiah" figure he saw in the woods, he says Josette's name incorrectly, something like "Dozhette."
  • When Barnabas and Andre are in the woods, David Ford speaks his line too soon while the voice of Angelique is still saying "You will see. You will see." Then Jonathan Frid mispronounces Collinsport and "Collinport."
  • Angelique tells Ben that Josette's wedding veil that Barnabas finds is "torn and spattered with mud," but it does not appear so when Barnabas holds it. What is more, Barnabas had not yet seen Josette's wedding veil, yet he is the one who identifies it as belonging to her. How did he know for certain it was hers?

External Links []

Dark Shadows - Episode 381 on the IMDb

Dark Shadows Everyday - Episode 381 - Runaway Bride

Dark Shadows Commentary- Episode 381: Of his own will

Dark Shadows Before I Die- Episode 381: 12/11/67

References[]

  1. Dark Shadows Almanac (2000), page 53.
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