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June 5, 1967 |
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| We have 2 images of Dark Shadows 252 | |
Carolyn tries to dissuade Elizabeth from marrying Jason, and one of Elizabeth's verbal insults gives Carolyn a plan.
Synopsis
Teaser
- My name is Victoria Winters. There has been an announcement at Collinwood, an announcement that has shocked all those who live here and filled them with disbelief. But there is one who will not accept this news, and is determined to do something about it.”
Carolyn enters the Drawing room and overhears Elizabeth talking on the telephone speaking to Frank Garner, finalizing her divorce from Paul Stoddard and starts a fight with her, telling her how inappropriate Jason McGuire is to marry her. Elizabeth tells her the matter is settled.
Act I
Carolyn tells Elizabeth that she would like to see her married, but she still does not believe that she is marrying Jason of her own free will. Elizabeth reminds her that she thought the answer was in the Basement yesterday, but was "proven" wrong. Carolyn, aghast, apologizes, but presses the issue. She points out that Elizabeth has never given any indication she even likes Jason. Elizabeth tries to end the argument several times, finally telling Carolyn that she should not try to run her life when she hasn't done so well with her own. Carolyn is visibly stunned and tells her she will do something with her life and storms out.
Act II
Later that afternoon, Victoria and Roger discuss David's poor marks in History in the drawing room. Victoria thinks he is a on par with boys his age and points out his high marks in English and arithmetic, but Roger asks her to lean on History a bit more. Carolyn enters announcing that she has had a fight with her mother on the subject of her marriage, which Roger agrees is a poor choice. She says she's glad she had the chat, even though it was confusing rather than enlightening. She calls her mother "the classic picture of a woman about to make a fool of herself". Victoria, of course, takes Elizabeth's side and points out that she made the announcement right after they returned from the trip to the basement and that they must have all seemed like they were her enemies except Jason. Roger agrees they blew it. Carolyn tells them Liz said she loves McGuire, they all cannot believe she actually said it. Victoria points out Jason's attractiveness and charm. Carolyn tells them that Elizabeth accused her of wasting her life and maybe she was right. She has obviously formed a plan. She goes to the telephone and says she is going to find love too. She calls someone named Buzz and tells him she saw him on his motorcycle and she wonders if the gas tank is full.
Act III
At The Blue Whale, Joe and Vicky talk over a drink, Joe saying he saw Carolyn with a motorcycle gang. Vicky says Carolyn is trying to get back at her mother. They turn their focus to Jason and Vicky says that Liz and McGuire have a bond, but no one knows what it is. A roar of motorcycles is heard outside and Carolyn enters with Buzz. They order stingers and Carolyn pays for them, although they have obviously had enough. Carolyn spots Joe and Vicky and pulls Buzz over to meet them. Vicky and Joe seem less than impressed. But Carolyn seems quite happy with the afternoon. She tries to get Vicky to join them for a ride, but she refuses. She kisses Buzz passionately.
Act IV
Later, at Collinwood, Buzz brings Carolyn home and they agree to meet tomorrow. Carolyn asks Buzz what he thinks of her, and they kiss at the front door. Buzz knows he is being used, but is enjoying himself. She brings him inside and starts to get very loud, but Buzz does not want to start trouble. They go to the drawing room for a drink and she turns on a radio and pours them a brandy as they start dancing to the music. Elizabeth comes down and tells them it is 3am and orders Buzz to leave. Carolyn tells Buzz about her mother's impending marriage, making it obvious that she is trying to shame Elizabeth. Elizabeth storms out in tears as Carolyn shouts the name "Mrs. McGuire" over and over.
Memorable quotes
- Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: "I am going to marry Jason McGuire. And there is nothing you or anybody else can do about it!"
- Carolyn Stoddard: "Mother, I'd like nothing more than to see you married, happy, whatever it is that will give you a full life. You should have everything you've been deprived of all these years. But why him?"
- Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: "Because he is the man I choose."
- Carolyn Stoddard: "That's not true. He chose you!"
- Carolyn Stoddard: "I want to know what those endearing qualities are that make you think he is the perfect husband for you. And the ideal stepfather for me."
- Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: "Why do you hate him so!"
- Carolyn Stoddard: "Because he's sly and deceitful. And he has that ever-present smile on his face – That leering smirking smile. Its a mask. But there's something else, something even more important."
- Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: "What is it?"
- Carolyn Stoddard: "I've never seen you display even one ounce of genuine fondness or affection for him. I don't believe you feel anything for him at all."
- Carolyn Stoddard: "Do you love him? Mother, if you don't answer me I'll take it to mean that you don't, and he's forcing you. Do you love him!"
- Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: "Yes! Yes, I love him! You've got to believe me! I'm tired of everybody trying to live my life for me, and I don't see you doing much about your life!"
- Carolyn Stoddard: "Oh, I'll do something about my life. You can bet on that!"
- Roger Collins: "Each individual reserves the right to ruin his or her life as quietly or flamboyantly as he chooses."
Dramatis personae
- ← Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard →
- ← Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins →
- ← Joel Crothers as Joe Haskell →
- ← Nancy Barrett as Carolyn Stoddard →
- Michael Hadge as Buzz Hackett →
- Bob O'Connell as Bob Rooney
- Audrey Campbell as Blue Whale Customer (uncredited)
- ← and Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters →
Background information and notes
- First appearance of Michael Hadge as Buzz Hackett.
- Joel Crothers' character of Joe Haskell replaced Mitchell Ryan's character of Burke Devlin when Ryan failed to show up to record this episode.
- When Liz disapproves of Buzz as a boyfriend for Carolyn, saying she could not do any worse, a drunken Carolyn says if she can, she will. Carolyn will, in fact, go on to date a golem (Adam), a werewolf (Chris Jennings), and eventually marry an demon/Leviathan (Jeb Hawkes).
Bloopers and continuity errors
- Joan Bennett cannot get the upstairs door to open in the final scene; it appears to be stuck fast.