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492 Gallery
492
Number

486

Timeline

1968

Narrator

Clarice Blackburn

Writer

Gordon Russell

Director

John Sedwick

Broadcast

May 14, 1968
(Tuesday)

Recorded

May 8, 1968
(Wednesday)

Video

Complete: Disc 52
Collection 7: Disc 4

492 Gallery
We have 11 images of Dark Shadows 492

Mrs. Johnson is the next to experience the terror of Angelique's dream curse.

Synopsis

Teaser

In the course of this night, inside the great house at Collinwood, a child has fallen victim to the powers of a witch. And in another house, with the coming of the dawn, a bizarre experiment has reached a terrifying climax.

Locked in the laboratory, Adam goes on a rampage as Barnabas goes downstairs to get Dr. Lang's gun.

Act I

Barnabas and Julia return and hear nothing through the door. They open the door to the lab and find it a mess. They find Adam asleep on the floor in a fetal position. Barnabas wants to kill him, but Julia won't let him. After bringing him to life, they have a responsibility to him, to teach him.

Act II

Julia gives Adam an increased dosage of the sedative, so he will sleep for at least 24 hours. She says they have to take him to the Old House and lock him in the cellar until they can teach him how to behave.

At Collinwood, Mrs. Johnson is watching David. Cassandra comes in and suggests to Mrs. Johnson that she get some sleep while she watches him. She refuses, so Cassandra decides to lift the curse from David so Mrs. Johnson won't have a reason to keep watch over him. Cassandra also tells David that he will not remember what he saw in the gazebo. David falls asleep.

Act III

When David wakes, he speaks Mrs. Johnson's name. Cassandra suggests to Mrs. Johnson that she can now get some sleep, but she says she is afraid to. Cassandra does her best to get Mrs. Johnson to relax, offering her some broth.

Act IV

Eventually Mrs. Johnson falls asleep and has the dream. This time the beckoner is David. The dream proceeds as it has four times before (though this time, the door with the headless body isn't there). The last door Mrs. Johnson opens is filled with giant bats.

Memorable quotes

David: Through sight and sound and faceless terror, through endless corridors by trial and error, ahead a blazing light does burn, and one door leads to the point of return.

Dramatis personae

Background information and notes

Production

  • The camera lingers quite a while on the last door in order to give Clarice Blackburn enough time to return to her place in the drawing room.
  • Sets used this episode: Dr. Lang's laboratory, Collinwood drawing room, and the Dream room.

Story

  • DREAM SEQUENCE: Mrs. Johnson experiences the dream curse. She is the fifth victim. She opens four doors revealing a skull, a guillotine, a skeleton bride, and bats. The beckoner is David.
    • The dream curse is supposed to go one step further for each person who has the dream, but when Mrs. Johnson has the dream, the headless creation is missing, the guillotine is in its place and the bats are behind the door where the guillotine originally was. There are only ever four doors, and instead of going one step further with each person, some of the items are replaced by different ones.
  • SEDATIVE: Julia gives Adam another sedative with an increased dosage so that it will last for at least 24 hours.

Bloopers and continuity errors

  • It is stated to have been the day before yesterday when David lost his voice. However, the on-screen passage of time would suggest it was yesterday when it occurred. Also, Mrs. Johnson hasn't slept in two nights. Again, it was only yesterday when she began suffering the effects of the dream curse, meaning only one night has passed since Julia told Mrs. Johnson in 490.
  • The rolling credits are uneven.
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