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| ← 344 → | |
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| Number |
340 |
| Timeline | |
| Narrator | |
| Writer | |
| Director | |
| Broadcast |
October 19, 1967 |
| Recorded |
October 13, 1967 |
| Video | |
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| We have 4 images of Dark Shadows 344 | |
Burke prepares to leave on a business trip to South America.
Synopsis
Teaser
- The nighttime mists that shrouded Collinwood have lifted in the morning sun. But no light of sun or stars can disperse the sadness that pervades the land around. A man beloved by all the town has been buried. But the grief over his death did not follow him into the grave. And, on this day of death, a mysterious melancholy seems to have been borne in the heart of a young boy.
Sarah Collins plays London Bridge on her flute in an effort to cheer up David Collins, whom she has told about Dave Woodard's death. She has a feeling Woodard died terribly but refuses to tell David more. Sarah disappears, and David urgently begs her to return.
Act I
Later that morning, Elizabeth Collins Stoddard checks on her nephew and is astounded that he already knows of Woodard's death. David's attitude disturbs her greatly. He insists Woodard's death was terrible and never should have happened. As far as David is concerned, nothing matters anymore. He thinks Woodard died because he was the only person who believed him.
Act II
Downstairs in the Drawing room, Elizabeth relates David's worrying behavior to Carolyn Stoddard and Victoria Winters. Carolyn offers to talk with her cousin. Victoria wonders if Dr. Fisher should be called again. Elizabeth considers it as she cannot understand how David could be have fallen into such a deep state of despair.
In David's room, Carolyn brings him lunch and she, too, is taken aback by David's behavior. She confides that at age nine, a little boy called Randy was her friend. They played together every day until her tenth birthday. She never saw him again afterward, and, to this day, is unsure whether he really existed or was a figment of her imagination. David insists Sarah is real, and Carolyn believes him. At that moment, they both hear the mournful tune of London Bridge filling the room. David has a feeling an accident will occur very far away, very soon. Nothing can be done to prevent it.
Act III
Later, Elizabeth talks with Victoria and Burke Devlin about her offer of giving them the West Wing to live in. Again, Victoria pleads with her fiance to accept. Elizabeth relates David's strange and frightening attitude toward Woodard's death. Burke agrees to mull over Elizabeth's offer while he's away in Brazil on a business trip. He and Victoria start to leave for a walk on the grounds. But David rushes downstairs to tell Burke goodbye. He thanks Burke for being his friend and expresses how much he will miss the older man. David behaves as if he's never going to see Burke again, which rattles Elizabeth and Victoria. Burke promises to take David on a fishing trip when he returns from Brazil. But David only despairs that events are already set in motion, and nothing can change it.
Act IV
Night is falling, and the fog rolls in from the sea. Victoria and Burke return from their walk and, having witnessed firsthand David's attitude, Burke agrees to living in the West Wing. Victoria's joy is short-lived, however, as she begins to worry over Burke's impending absence. She startles as she hears the Widows' wail, which reminds her of the legend of the women who lost loved ones on Widows' Hill. Burke tries to convince her it is only the wind, but the wailing sound persists as he takes her back inside Collinwood.
Memorable quotes
Dramatis personae
- Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard
- Anthony George as Burke Devlin
- Nancy Barrett as Carolyn Stoddard
- David Henesy as David Collins
- Sharon Smyth as Sarah Collins
- Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters
Background information and notes
Production
- This episode was recorded out of broadcast sequence. The previous episode to be recorded was 342.
- The color videotape master of this episode is lost. However, a poor quality monochrome kinescope film copy does exist.
- Nancy Barrett returns to the cast after an absence of 30 episodes.
- Final appearance of character Burke Devlin.
- Sharon Smyth is credited simply as "Sarah" rather than as "Sarah Collins."
Story
- GHOSTWATCH: Sarah's ghost appears to David. Later, Carolyn and David hear Sarah's flute playing London Bridge.
- TIMELINE: Day 128 begins, and will end in 345. It was a "few days" ago when Dave Woodard died, (occurred in 341).
Bloopers and continuity errors
- The camera zooms out of focus and back into focus near the end of Act III.
- A boom microphone swings into view on the Collinwood terrace set during Act IV.
- In the teaser, while the camera is focused on David, you can hear Sharon Smyth's footsteps as she leaves the set.