704

Series	Original
Episode Number	704
Tape Date
Original Airdate	1969-3-6
Production Number	704
Narrator	Joan Bennett
Year	1897
Closing Still	Drawing room
Written by	Gordon Russell
Directed by	Lela Swift
Home Video	MP5094

Barnabas Collins formally introduces himself to the Collins Family, and arranges to stay in the Old House. Meanwhile, Quentin is determined to learn the dark family secret.

Synopsis

The great house at Collinwood stands deserted. The living have sought refuge elsewhere, leaving a spirit to roam the cold empty house alone. For some, this night will seem an eternity. Barnabas Collins remains in a deep trance. He has employed the mysterious powers of the I-Ching, and gone through the door to the infinite, hoping to find and defeat the spirit that haunts Collinwood. But beyond the door, he has been transported back in time to the year 1897 – a time of intrigue and terror for all who live at Collinwood.

Quentin questions the validity of Barnabas' story. Suspicious of his true motives, Quentin pulls a sword from the wall and holds it at Barnabas' throat. He gives him five minutes to tell Quentin exactly who he is, or else he will run him through. Barnabas insists that he represents the English branch of the Collins family, but Quentin is steadfast. Judith enters the room and commands Quentin to put the sword down.

Tempers cool down, and Judith welcomes Barnabas into the family. Barnabas inquires about the Old House and requests the use of it during his stay in Collinsport. He asks if he may walk over to the house to inspect it.

Judith tries to telephone her brother, Edward, in Boston. Quentin stops her from placing the call.

On the path towards the Old House, Barnabas runs into Beth Chavez. Barnabas recognizes Beth as a spirit that haunts Collinwood in 1969. Knowing little of her actual identity, he mistakenly assumes that she is a member of the Collins family. Beth corrects him, indicating that she is merely a servant.

Beth returns to Collinwood and runs into Quentin. Quentin accuses Beth of spending time with her "gentleman friend". Beth snubs Quentin, and storms off towards the anterior of the building.

Barnabas heads into Collinsport, where he finds a woman named Sophie Baker wandering the docks. Having parted company with a drunken friend, Sophie is looking for some fun. The hunger for blood begins to overwhelm Barnabas and he tries to resist giving in. Sophie keeps clinging to him however, and he finally relents, biting Sophie in the neck.

Back at Collinwood, Quentin stops Beth as she is bringing a tray of food to Edith's room. Quentin notices that the tray contains more food than Edith could possibly eat, and begins to suspect Beth’s true motives.

Meanwhile, Judith watches over Edith. She tells her that Edward has yet to return from Boston. Beth brings Edith's food inside, and warns Judith that Quentin has been asking a lot of questions. Judith tells her that they need to start being "more careful" with how they handle things. Edith hears none of this mysterious exchange between the two women. Judith and Beth leave for another part of the house.

Later, Quentin enters Edith's room. He grasps her about the shoulders and demands for her to tell him the family secret.

Memorable Quotes

Barnabas Collins: Any man who would put a sword at another man's throat moments after they met is hardly the sort of person that relatives would want to meet.

Quentin Collins: I mean... you are going to die tonight. But before you do, you are going to tell me the secret!

Timeline

This episode takes place in the year 1897.

Appearances

Dramatis Personae

Previous Episode			Character (Actor)			Next Episode
703			Judith Collins (Joan Bennett)			705
703			Beth Chavez (Terry Crawford)			709
703			Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid)			705
701			Edith Collins (Isabella Hoopes)			705
703			Quentin Collins (David Selby)			705
—			Sophie Baker (K.C. Townsend)			—

Locales

Previous Episode			Location			Next Episode
703			Collinwood			—
703			Drawing room			—
703			Foyer			—
701			Edith's room			705
703			Old House			705
—			Collinsport docks			—

Other Items

Previous Episode			Item			Next Episode
703			Barnabas' wolf's-head cane			705

Credits

Cast

Starring Joan Bennett as Judith Collins

Barnabas Collins... Jonathan Frid

Quentin Collins... David Selby

Beth Chavez... Terry Crawford

Edith Collins... Isabella Hoopes

Sophie Barnes... K.C. Townsend

Crew

Produced by Robert Costello

Directed by Lela Swift

Story created and developed by Art Wallace

Written by Gordon Russell

Scenic design by Sy Tomashoff

Music composed by Robert Cobert

Music supervisor - Sybil Weinberger

Costume desing by Mostoller

Associate director - Ken McEwen

Assistant to the producer - Harriet Rohr

Technical director - J.J. Lupatkin

Lighting director - Everett Melosh

Audio by Tom McCue and Leonard Hirshfield

Sound effects by Terry Ross

Video by Rudy Piccirillo and Ross Skipper

Series created by Dan Curtis – executive producer

Dan Curtis Productions, inc. copyright © 1969

Notes

• This episode is available on Volume 93 of the Dark Shadows VHS collection; and Disk 1 of Volume 13 of the DVD Collectors series.

• The opening narration for this episode (with but a few small alterations) is the same as the one used in episode 703.

• This is one of the few episodes where Ohrbach's is not listed as fashion designer.

• Barnabas makes reference to a mysterious "third child" in this episode.

• In this episode, Quentin implies that Beth is involved with another man. No other reference to this mysterious courter is made throughout the series. Quentin's suspicion is likely derived from Beth's frequent absences at strange hours. This is attributed to her nightly visits to the Tower Room, where she feeds and looks after the crazed Jenny Collins. Jenny Collins will not be introduced until episode 716.

Bloopers and Changes

• The woman that Barnabas meets in Collinsport is named Sophie Baker. However, in the closing credits her name is listed as Sophie Barnes.

• Jonathan Frid stammers over his lines several times through the course of this episode. His uneven dialogue during the Sophie Baker scene could be attributed to his character's attempt to resist his vampiric bloodlust.

References

Blue Whale; Boston; Captain Strathmore; Charlie; Edward Collins; Family secret; Jamison Collins; Jenny Collins; Pride of Jamestown; Joshua Collins; Nora Collins

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