The Dark Shadows Wiki
Register
Advertisement
944 Gallery
944
Number

929

Timeline

1970

Narrator

Lara Parker

Writer

Violet Wells

Director

Henry Kaplan

Broadcast

February 5, 1970
(Thursday)

Recorded

January 19, 1970
(Monday)

Video

Complete: Disc 97
Collection 19: Disc 1

944 Gallery
We have 27 images of Dark Shadows 944

Chris transforms into the werewolf, Bruno goes hunting to find the beast.

Synopsis

Teaser

The full moon has begun its rise, and Chris Jennings is about to take the most desperate gamble of his life. Alone in his cottage on the great estate, he waits for the moon to change him into a werewolf, hoping he can retain his human intelligence and will long enough to do what must be done to end the curse. For this flower, brought to him by Sabrina Stuart, is the legendary moon poppy, and if he can succeed in eating its blossom, he will shed the hated animal form forever.

At night, the full moon rises and Chris begins to transform into the werewolf. He reaches out for the moon poppy.

Act I

Chris takes the blossom and is about to eat it when he suddenly throws it to the ground and leaves the house.

At the antique shop, Jeb is on the phone with Maggie, pretending to be under his control, but she still hasn't found out where Carolyn is. Jeb gets upset and hangs up on her. Bruno walks in and mocks Jeb about his feelings for Carolyn. In the distance, Jeb hears the howling of the werewolf and becomes increasingly terrified. Jeb explains that the werewolf is the only animal the Leviathans couldn't tame.

Meanwhile, Barnabas and Sabrina discover the crushed flower on the floor. Sabrina is heartbroken, and fears that nothing can ever be done to save Chris. Barnabas tries to comfort her, but she suddenly realizes that she must go to Chris's side. She believes that he will not harm her, as he didn't before. Barnabas tries to reason with her, but she slips away while his back is turned. He runs into the woods after her.

Act II

Jeb is still terrified of the werewolf howling throughout Collinsport. Bruno decides to take matters into his own hands, and informs Jeb he is going to kill the werewolf.

Barnabas returns to Collinwood, having been unsuccessful in trying to find Sabrina. He receives a call from Angelique. She tells him that something has happened and he must come to her house immediately. Barnabas presses her for information, but she refuses to disclose anything over the phone.

The howling stops and Jeb decides to go outside to see if Bruno has killed the werewolf, but Barnabas stops him. He again tells Jeb that Carolyn isn't ready yet. Jeb demands information about a werewolf in Collinsport, but Barnabas denies the existence of one. Jeb tells him he is going to kill the werewolf before the werewolf kills him.

In the woods, Sabrina finally finds Chris.

Act III

Sabrina tries to communicate with the werewolf. He approaches her, but Bruno shows up and shoots him. The werewolf runs away, but Bruno is surprised to find Sabrina is more worried about the werewolf than herself.

Barnabas arrives at Angelique's house, and she explains that Elizabeth is starting to recognize her as Cassandra, but just hasn't made the connection yet. Angelique is petrified that her former sister-in-law will soon identify her, and her life as Mrs. Rumson will be over. She reminds Barnabas that Elizabeth is a devoted Leviathan, and Angelique's identity could be devastating to their cause. She begs Barnabas to take Elizabeth and Carolyn back to Collinwood as soon as possible. Barnabas reluctantly agrees to take them away the next morning.

Bruno returns to the antique shop and tells Jeb about his strange encounter with Sabrina. Bruno decides to follow Sabrina, because she can probably lead them to the werewolf. After he leaves, Jeb receives a phone call, telling him where Carolyn is.

Memorable quotes

Dramatis personae

Background information and notes

Production

Story

  • Jeb recites the following poem:
    "Even a man who is pure in heart / and says his prayers by night / may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms / and the moon is full and bright."
    • The poem, contrary to popular belief, was not an ancient legend, but was in fact an invention of screenwriter Curt Siodmak for the 1941 film The Wolf Man, starring Lon Chaney, Jr. as Larry Talbot. The poem is repeated in every subsequent film in which Talbot appears, with the exception of House of Dracula and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and is also quoted in the later film Van Helsing, although most of the subsequent films changed the last line of the poem from the original "and the autumn moon is bright" to "and the moon is full and bright", as did the writer of this episode. The Wolf Man film also features an antique shop, reminiscent of the Todd's antique shop, from which Talbot purchases a silver-headed walking stick decorated with a wolf, not unlike that of Barnabas' wolf's-head cane which has been used in the series as a defense against the werewolf.
  • The idea of a rare plant which only blooms at night being a cure for lycanthropy is taken from the 1935 film Werewolf of London.
  • Jeb reveals that Werewolves are a race as ancient as the Leviathans, and that they nearly hunted them to extinction many times.
  • Collinsport is referred to as a village.
  • There is an airport in Logansport.
  • INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: Barnabas: Submerged too quickly; Sabrina: He's still alive.
  • TIMELINE: Barnabas promises to take Elizabeth and Carolyn away from Angelique tomorrow.

Bloopers and continuity errors

  • When Bruno and the werewolf fight, the edge of the grass "carpet" can be seen revealing the studio floor; and when Sabrina sinks to her knees after the werewolf runs off, the carpet wrinkles up around her.

Gallery (27)

Advertisement