"I'm going to do everything in my power to help you." - Frank Garner
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| Frank Garner | |
|---|---|
| Production Information | |
| Portrayed by | |
| First appearance | |
| Last appearance | |
| Episode count |
17 |
| Biographical Information | |
| Name |
Frank Garner |
| Profession |
Lawyer, Junior partner of Garner & Garner |
| Family members |
Richard Garner (Father) |
| We have 3 images of Dark Shadows Frank Garner | |
Frank Garner was the junior partner of the law firm Garner and Garner, which Elizabeth Collins Stoddard used to conduct her legal affairs (92). He was the son of Richard Garner (92). He developed a romantic interest in Victoria Winters and began seeing her (92, 94, 95).
Early Life[]
Frank studied a semester of law in France. He rented a room and recalled that his landlord owned countless cats.
Meeting Victoria Winters[]
Frank met Victoria Winters when she visited Garner and Garner in the autumn of 1966, and offered to help her find more information about B. Hanscombe, the former butler at Collinwood, in the law firm's records. He was immediately taken with Vicki, stating that if he'd had teachers who looked like she did, he would still be in school. He was unaware that his father was secretly helping Elizabeth Collins Stoddard hinder Vicki's efforts (92, 94).
Frank and Vicki had dinner together at the Bangor Pine Hotel, where he questioned her about why she wanted to search for her parents, admitting he would be doing the same if he were in Vicki’s position. He promised to do everything he could to help her, even conceding that he was doing so for the selfish reason of seeing Vicki again. When Frank suggested that his father was being pessimistic about their chances of success, Richard reminded his son that Elizabeth was their actual client (94). Frank was shocked when Vicki said she had seen the ghost of Bill Malloy, and suggested that she had most likely dreamed the encounter. When Frank found out that Vicki was not dating Burke Devlin, he asked to see her again. He promised to start searching through Garner and Garner's extensive records in the morning, but did caution Vicki that it could take time to sort through them, for the documents in storage dated back as far as 1879 (95).
Mystery of Bill Malloy's Killer[]
Frank came to Collinsport to assist his father in representing Roger Collins after Vicki and Burke informed Sheriff George Patterson of circumstantial evidence that linked Roger to Lookout Point on the night of Bill Malloy's death. Frank was upset at the news that Vicki had been nearly run down on the road, and was shocked that Roger Collins had an alibi for the incident. Frank was present while Sheriff Patterson questioned Sam Evans, whose answers led Frank to rush to Collinwood to see if Vicki thought Sam might have a reason to kill her. Vicki told him about recent accusations Burke had made, as well as a conversation she'd had with Sam about Bill Malloy's death. Frank began to think that Sam's angry reaction to Vicki not answering his questions could mean that Sam could be the person who tried to kill her. He returned to the sheriff's office and demanded Patterson bring Sam back in for additional questioning because he may have thought Vicki had found out the truth about Roger Collins' manslaughter trial, and that Sam was involved in covering it up. Richard Garner opposed the idea because they were representing Roger, but Frank would not let the matter go (107).
Frank came back to Collinwood and was concerned that Vicki had gone to the Old House to search for David Collins and had not yet returned. He and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard went there to look for her and found a broken urn that had come from the roof. Frank suggests calling the sheriff, but Elizabeth instead phones Matthew Morgan's cottage to see if Vicki may have stopped there. Neither Frank nor Elizabeth realized that Matthew was holding Vicki prisoner in the cottage, and that he'd confessed to Bill Malloy's murder (108). Frank fretted for Vicki, thinking that whoever had made attempts on her life must be responsible for her disappearance now. He questioned Elizabeth about who might have benefitted from Malloy's death and tells her that Roger's manslaughter case may be a factor. They ruled out Roger and Sam, who are still in police custody. Frank learned that Malloy had planned to do something that would hurt the Collins family, and he asked Elizabeth if she knew anyone who would kill to protect her (111). A short time later, Frank was suggesting that the sheriff's men search some nearby caves when Elizabeth came in the front door with Vicki, having freed her from Matthew. Frank held Vicki while Elizabeth explained Matthew's actions and role in Malloy's death, and then took Vicki out for a steak dinner to comfort her. He invited Vicki to Bangor for the weekend, both to relax and research B. Hanscombe, and both were soon comforted by news that Matthew's car had been spotted fifty miles from Collinsport (112).
Vicki did not travel to Bangor, for Matthew returned to the estate and held Vicki captive in the secret room in the Old House parlor. Frank telephoned Collinwood when Vicki did not arrive on the bus as planned. He told Elizabeth Collins Stoddard that he would wait for the next bus to arrive, but Elizabeth commented that Frank still appeared to be worried (116).
The Phoenix[]
Frank also represented Roger Collins and Laura Collins when they decided to divorce (136). He later contacted Peter Guthrie to investigate Elizabeth's mysterious condition (159). He then assisted Guthrie and Joe Haskell as they opened the coffin of Laura Murdoch Stockbridge (179, 180).
Appearances[]
92, 94, 95, 107, 108, 111, 112, 136, 144, 148, 152, 153, 154, 157, 159, 169, 174, 179, 180