662

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Number	653
Timeline	1796
Narrator	Thayer David
Writer	Gordon Russell
Director	Dan Curtis
Broadcast	January 7, 1969 (Tuesday)
Recorded	December 30, 1968 (Monday)
Video	Complete: Disc 69 Collection 12: Disc 1

We have 31 images of Dark Shadows 662

Back in 1796, Barnabas plans to change the course of history by saving Victoria.

Synopsis[]

The night holds many terrors for those who live at Collinwood. On this night, Barnabas Collins will experience a kind of terror he has never known before...for he has successfully transcended the barriers of time and space and returned to the 18th century to relive and attempt to change one twenty-four-hour period in history.

Barnabas finds himself returned to the past. Ben Stokes arrives and Barnabas questions him to make sure that he has returned on the night he intended. His questions worry Ben, but Barnabas assures him that he is quite well. He asks Ben to tell his father that he has gone to Bangor in pursuit of Forbes. Ben tells him his father will go after him, and Barnabas says this is exactly what he wishes. He then leaves Ben and searches for Nathan Forbes.

Forbes is drinking at the Eagle, and is startled when Barnabas appears to him. Barnabas again delivers the news of his mother's suicide and places the blame on him. Forbes fires his pistol at Barnabas, but again it has no effect. Barnabas changes what he says to Forbes, he says that he will meet him at 9 o'clock, and if he will do as he instructs, he may let him live.

Victoria is alone, asleep in her cell when Barnabas arrives. When she awakes, she mistakes him for the Barnabas of 1795 rather than the Barnabas she knows from her own time, not realising the two are one and the same. She states that she thought he was dead, and Barnabas evasively answers that many people thought that, but he had only been put under a spell by Angelique; and now that he has recovered, he has come to save her. Quiet and accepting of her fate, she tells him that the situation is complicated, as she has fallen in love with someone else who is also sentenced to hang. Barnabas surprises her by stating that he already knows all about Peter Bradford, and plans to help her anyway.

Victoria tells him that she returned to her time in the future for awhile, but came back because she couldn't live without Peter. Barnabas promises her that before the sun rises, she and Peter will both be free.

Nathan arrives at Collinwood, frantic with fear. As Joshua has left the house in pursuit of Barnabas, it is Ben who tells Nathan of Barnabas's curse. Nathan believes him and wonders how he can save himself. Ben tells him that he can be of no help. Nathan accuses him of helping a murderer, and Ben recounts the time he tried to stop Barnabas. He tells Nathan of the one way a vampire can be destroyed.

Nathan again takes the crossbow and waits for Barnabas to enter. However, when the clock chimes nine the door opens, but Barnabas does not come in. Instead he hides himself from Forbes, and attacks him from behind.

Memorable quotes[]

Barnabas: I'm going to change the course of history.

Ben: Change the course of history? Mr. Barnabas, I don't understand a word you're sayin'.

Barnabas: I don't suppose you'd understand even if I explained it to you.

Barnabas: And one other thing - Forbes will be back here within the hour.

Ben: How do you know that?

Barnabas: Never mind; I just know. And when he gets to the... the house, make sure he goes into the den. Do you understand?

Ben: I understand. I just hope you know what you're doing.

Barnabas: I have returned.

Victoria: No, it's impossible. You're...you're dead!

Victoria: That's why I was willing to come back here and relive this time--so that I could be with the man I love...in death.

Barnabas: Wouldn't you rather be with him in life?

Ben: (to Nathan) Have you got something up your sleeve?

Dramatis personae[]

← Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins →
← Joel Crothers as Nathan Forbes →
← Thayer David as Ben Stokes →
Carolyn Groves → as ← Victoria Winters →

Background information and notes[]

Production[]

First appearance of Carolyn Groves as Victoria Winters (although she previously appeared in a photograph).
Thayer David announces over the opening title sequence, "Today, the part of Victoria Winters will be played by Carolyn Groves.”
On the Dark Shadows: The Complete Original Series DVD box set, between the previous episode, at chapter 6 it then jumps to chapter 7, which plays part of the title sequence followed by the picture of Collinwood. It then changes to chapter 8, and this episode begins as normal with a reprise and again the title sequence and picture of Collinwood, making for a total of 11 chapters, despite only 10 episodes. [Addendum: This point is confusing. Greater clarity would help. Don't know what is meant by "chapters," and the grammar of the first sentence isn't clear. Also unclear what you mean by "11 chapters despite only 10 episodes." Perhaps you are trying to explain what happened in the original broadcast of 661, which is what is on the "The Complete Original Series" DVD. Episode 661 as originally telecast skipped the opening titles after the teaser. Instead, the titles were inserted near the end of the closing credit roll, after Dan Curtis' series creator/executive producer credit. On the original release of Collection 12, the opening titles appear in their customary place after the teaser. In the Complete Original Series, they appear at the end of the episode.]
The closing credits fade out and then fade back into the final "Dan Curtis Productions" logo and copyright date.

Story[]

The scene between Nathan and Ben originally occurred between Nathan and Joshua Collins in 459. Apparently, Louis Edmonds was unavailable for this taping, so his lines from the earlier episode were revised slightly and given to Thayer David.
INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: Nathan: (recalls Ben's words regarding the wooden stake).
TIMELINE: The opening narration mentions that Barnabas will attempt to change a 24-hour period in history. Barnabas arrives back in 1796 the night Barnabas killed Nathan. Barnabas arranges to meet Nathan at 9pm (as before in 459). 8:50pm: Nathan arrives at Collinwood. 9pm: Barnabas arrives at Collinwood.

Bloopers and continuity errors[]

As Barnabas gives instructions to Ben about when Forbes returns to Collinwood, clanking noises can be heard from off-stage.
When Nathan comes into Collinwood in a panic, one of the front doors opens again after he enters. As Nathan talks to Ben in the foyer, the front door is closed by an unseen stagehand. Later, when Barnabas enters Collinwood, the same door does not completely close.