David Collins
From The Dark Shadows Wiki
David Collins (born 1956) was the son of Roger and Laura Collins. In 1970, he was the youngest and last of the Collins name.
Contents |
[edit] Early Childhood
David was born in 1956, nearly eight months into his parents' marriage. Roger often wondered if the boy was really Burke Devlin's son, as Burke and Laura dated before their marriage. This created resentment and animosity in Roger, towards David. Roger's hate and frequent threats that David belonged in an institution, gave the boy no choice but to reciprocate his father's feelings. David often heard his parents fighting about Burke, but didn't know who he was (2, 10, 32).
Laura eventually fell ill and was committed to a hospital, much to David's horror (6, 31).
[edit] Collinwood
David and his father moved to Collinwood to live with his Aunt Elizabeth and Cousin Carolyn in 1967 (10, 31). Shortly afterwards, Elizabeth hired Victoria Winters, an orphan from New York, to tutor him, but he rejected the idea and thought she was meant to replace his mother (1, 6).
Angered by another claim by Roger that he was going to send him away, David removed the bleeder valve from the master brake cylinder on Roger's car, causing him to crash on the way down Widow's Hill (15). Roger survived the crash and went on to blame the incident on Burke Devlin, who'd recently returned to town (16). Vicki later found the valve in David's dresser drawer and confronted him with it, but he ended up stealing it back from her before the evidence could be shown to Elizabeth and hitchhiked into town to see Burke (25, 26, 29). While in Burke's room, David hid the valve in the couch, but later regretted the act when he found Burke to be a good friend. Burke drove David home and presented the valve to Roger, lying about how he got it. The family knew that David had caused the crash, but Elizabeth covered it up from the police, claiming it was the caretaker Matthew's fault (29-32).
[edit] Life
David enjoyed reading Mechano Magazine (14).
[edit] Paternity
The issue of David’s paternity was first raised on-screen by Roger in Episode 32. When Laura Collins came back to town, she told Burke that David was exactly the kind of son they could have had (133), but later wanted to leave the issue ‘unsaid’ (147). Roger also brought the issue up with Laura in Episode 139.
The issue is essentially unresolved, as Laura was most likely playing Burke and Roger against each other as she was with her loyalty in the manslaughter trial while biding her time to take David away with her. However, as far as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard is concerned, David is the last Collins (32).
[edit] Sarah Collins
David befriended Sarah Collins on the grounds of Collinwood (256). She told him about a secret hiding place, which turned out to be the secret room in the Collins Family Mausoleum (305). At first she did not show him how to get out, leaving David trapped for several days (310-315) before he escaped, only to rush into the arms of Barnabas, who was waiting outside (315). This led David to become terrified of Barnabas, and he did not pay attention to Sarah's warning to stay away from the Old House.
