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Messages - ROBINV

1006
Current Talk '02 I / Re: The List of Rules - IS NOTHING SACRED???
« on: February 18, 2002, 12:22:25 PM »
Posted by ROBINV on February 18, 2002 at 06:22:25:
In Reply to: The List of Rules - IS NOTHING SACRED??? (repost) posted by RingoCollins on February 17, 2002 at 14:30:27:

Ringo, you must be disciplined immediately. Meet me in Josette's room for your punishment.

I do hope you like a little pleasure with your pain
. . .

Love, Robin

1007
Current Talk '02 I / Re: Reminder: No DS on President's Day
« on: February 17, 2002, 05:12:28 PM »
Originally posted by ROBINV on February 17, 2002 at 11:12:28:

Thanks for the info, Midnite. I was going to check Sci Fi's schedule today, but you've saved me the trouble. I wouldn't want to post Robservations on a day when they didn't show DS.

Love, Robin

1008
Current Talk '02 I / Re: Jerry Lacy
« on: February 15, 2002, 08:06:58 AM »
Posted by ROBINV on February 15, 2002 at 02:06:58:
In Reply to: Jerry Lacy posted by Waylon Smithers on February 14, 2002 at 20:29:57:

I always felt Tony was the best boyfriend for Carolyn. She needed someone who wasn't fazed by her wealth, who could stand up for himself. Tony didn't put up with any crap from Carolyn, and I think she actually liked that about him. Their relationship is fun to watch, but of course, it's ruined by first Barnabas, [spoiler]then Cassandra.[/spoiler]

Love, Robin

1009
359 - (Nancy Barrett) - Morning at Collinwood. . .a fog has blown in from the sea, and it clings to the ground, and the trees make familiar shapes strange and frightening. From the window, everything looks unreal. And in our lives a similar mist seems to have spread--and who can tell what is true and what is not.

Mrs. Johnson comes into Julia's room to find her frantically trying to pull down the drapes. She wants to make the room lighter, she says, very tense. She didn't sleep at all, and confesses she thought she saw Dr. Woodard in front of her window. Mrs. J doesn't help matters by going on and on about what a wonderful man Woodard was;
Julia snaps at her. Mrs. Johnson says they've all noticed how on edge Julia's been since Dr. Woodard's funeral. While she's talking to Mrs. Johnson, Julia hears Dave's voice again: "You know better--I trusted you, why did you do it?" Julia talks back to the voice, which only she can hear, denying, then begs Mrs. Johnson to help her.

Tony and Carolyn, post-dinner-date, walk out on the terrace. He's uncomfortable, expecting Roger to come out and order him off the place. Carolyn says she had a feeling she should come home, and he teases her about the Cinderella story. She tells him she enjoyed dinner, and wonders if he's changed his mind about her being rich, spoiled, silly and impossible. She runs her hand up his shoulder provocatively, and he kisses her forehead and urges her to keep trying.
They share two REAL kisses, passionate, good ones (Vicki, Burke, take note). A dog howls and Carolyn abruptly pulls back. What happened, he demands, disappointed. She asks him to lunch the following day, dismissing him, but he wants to finish THIS date. She says she's worried about Julia and he says he's worried about Carolyn. He orders her to "Come here," apparently hoping to return to making out, but she pleads a headache and tells him to go--she's got things to do. He accuses her of sounding like Julia, which insults her, and then comments that it's unhealthy living at Collinwood. By the way, he says, stung by the change in her attitude, he's busy for lunch tomorrow.

Nervous, Julia enters her room. She locked it, so no one could have gotten in. No ghosts, she chides herself. The curtains are down, only the white sheers remain. She wonders what Mrs. Johnson must have thought, then says she should just return to her old life at Windcliff and forget Barnabas! She is horrified to spot Dave Woodard's lab coat lying on her bedroom floor,
and when she picks it up, a rat runs out from under it. Julia tries to bolt from her room and finds herself locked in. She pounds on the door, trying the knob, and Mrs. Johnson opens the door easily from the other side. Julia, wild-eyed, tells Mrs. Johnson she saw a rat in her room under the white coat on the floor. There are no rats, insists the housekeeper, and when she goes to check out what Julia said, finds the coat gone, too. She promises to get some rat pellets, but it's clear she doesn't believe Julia about the rat or the coat. When Carolyn comes up, Julia orders her to tell Barnabas to stop--she can fight back! She knows his weaknesses as well as he knows hers, and will act against him. The line between love and hate is a thin line, Julia tells Carolyn, and she is fast learning just how thin it is.

Old House - Barnabas and Carolyn discuss their concern about Julia's threat and his lack of protection during the day. There's a knock at the door and Barnabas orders Carolyn out of the room. She hides behind the double doors, listening. Barnabas cordially invites Julia in, offers her a seat and some port. To hell with the social amenities, she insists, she knows he's responsible for what's been happening to her. She knows he's capable of anything and he has frightened her more than she's ever been frightened before. When he pretends ignorance, she tells him about the apparition and the voice. He saw it, too, he says--Woodard accused him of killing him. You did, Julia says. Barnabas is upset: "Do you have to remind me, too?" he asks sadly. He tells her he's begun to develop a conscience, and calls her Julia, which, of course, softens her immediately. He felt himself changing the previous night, a spiritual, rather than physical, experience. They shared dreams, plans, he reminds her, his voice gentle. He was so depressed over the failure of the experiments! He realizes that Josette is dead, he can't recreate her anymore than he could summon a ghost! (Ha ha) Julia, although you can see she desperately wants to believe this kinder, gentler Barnabas, accuses him of lying--Dave didn't come to see him, nor does she believe he is willing to give up his dream to recreate Josette! Does Julia want him to suffer this guilt alone? Asks Barnabas sincerely. He doesn't want her to be alone, and owes her so many apologies. She offered him the best of herself, he knows that. He begs her to help him--he cares for and needs her.
Julia, a woman in love, listens to this and believes it because she wants to so badly. Carolyn, overhearing, is dismayed. Barnabas tells Julia he wants her to come to the Old House the following evening so they can sort all this out. She says the only thing she fears is that he'll change back to the SOB he was. He kisses her hand and she leaves, her face as luminous as a bride's. Carolyn comes out of her hiding place and chides Barnabas for being very cruel--Julia loves him! Barnabas tells Carolyn she's very, very tired and orders her to come to him. She does, staring intently into his eyes. "Yes, yes, I am tired," she agrees, in full trance mode, and moves into his arms.

Hard to decide in what way Barnabas was crueler to Julia--when he sent Dr. Woodard's ghost to torment her or when he convinced the love-besotted woman he cares for her. Either way, he was a pure SOB!


360 - (KLS) - A cold, penetrating wind blows in from the sea, and the autumn landscape surrounding Collinwood is bleak and desolate. For one who has left Collinwood on a desperate mission, this promises to be a day of terror--and a night on which an alarming discovery will be made.

Although Tony Peterson is in a big hurry to get to court, Julia tells him someone could die if he refuses to help her immediately, so he agrees. She wants to see her notebook, she says, to reassure herself it's all right.
She's behaving just the slightest bit loony, but Tony complies and opens the safe; however, when he can't find it immediately, she accuses him of being in on the conspiracy, of stealing the notebook from her. He's so insulted that when he does find it and she checks the lock to make sure it hasn't been tampered with, he tells her to take the blasted thing with her, if she doesn't trust him. She has to work hard to convince him she does trust him, and he reluctantly takes it and puts it back in his safe, clearly thinking she's got some missing attic insulation. It occurs to her that perhaps Sarah can help/protect her, and she rushes from Tony's office leaving him perplexed and probably questioning about her sanity.

Joe and Maggie are sharing a kiss at the cottage when Julia knocks at the door. She asks Maggie if she can borrow the doll Sarah left with her for protection, but Maggie says it disappeared a few weeks ago and she hasn't seen it since. Julia, talking aimlessly about how important it is that she see Sarah--she's desperate--is disappointed. Joe and Maggie notice how upset Julia is and offer to help, but she won't tell them why she's so desperately seeking Sarah. Maggie explains that, as far as seeing Sarah is concerned, the little girl kind of popped up when she sensed she needed her. Julia decides to go to the Collins mausoleum, where Sarah's grave is.
Maggie wants to send Joe along with Julia, since it's getting dark, but Julia refuses, thanks them and leaves. Both Joe and Maggie think the doctor is behaving strangely, and Joe suggests that Dr. Woodard didn't trust Julia--perhaps with good cause. Maggie feels differently, sorry for Julia, and thinks she may be in danger, all alone, with no one to help her.

Mausoleum - Julia runs into the caretaker who gives her the usual warnings about trafficking with the dead, blah blah blah.
Julia questions him about Sarah, but he insists only the dead are there, not the living (clearly not getting that Sarah is a ghost). Julia, and only Julia, hears the sound of Sarah's flute, and calls to the ghost girl. The music stops. Julia wonders why only she heard the music, which the caretaker, of course, says is a warning, and Julia is in danger there. Although he urges her to leave, Julia enters the tomb, calling for Sarah. A storm has begun, and there is a loud crash of thunder.

Maggie, in the protective circle of Joe's arms, tells him she has a creepy feeling about Julia and wonders if it means new trouble. She feels danger waiting, reaching out to touch all of them.

Julia walks around the coffins, asking Sarah to appear to her. She's wondering if the ghost girl can't or won't show up when she feels a terrible chill. She's thinking about leaving when Sarah pops up. Julia is hopeful, glad to see her, but the little girl offers no comfort. When Julia asks her if she can trust Barnabas, and if Sarah will protect her from him, as she has David and Maggie, Sarah gets mean--Julia helped kill Dr. Woodard! She LIKED Dr. Woodard!
Julia denies doing anything, insisting Barnabas did it, and forced her to help. Sarah claims not to understand, and while poor Julia is still begging the ghost to protect her from Barnabas, she fades away. "Sarah?" says Julia plaintively, but she's alone in the mausoleum.

On my MPI tape, prior to the next episode, we see a black and white promo of the upcoming 1795 storyline. Beginning Friday, we will travel to the past with Victoria Winters and learn the story of this man (Barnabas) and the secret of the chained coffin!

NOTES: I wonder why Julia believed Sarah would help her? We know the little girl liked Dr. Woodard and is probably furious at her brother and Julia for killing her. And why Julia would believe Sarah has any inkling about her brother's trustworthiness is another puzzler. Surely Julia knows Barnabas is NOT to be trusted at this point, and has it in for her. I guess being in love with him is clouding her judgment. Pity, too.

Love, Robin

1010
Calendar Events / Announcements '02 I / Re: ShadowGram Update #76
« on: February 14, 2002, 08:07:57 AM »
Originally posted by ROBINV on February 14, 2002 at 02:07:57:
In Reply to: ShadowGram Update #76 posted by Tim on February 13, 2002 at 23:06:43:

This is truly a shame. I hope something positive happens in the future.

I wonder what script was submitted and rejected?

RobinV

1011
Current Talk '02 I / Re: Aunt Catherine
« on: February 13, 2002, 07:05:01 PM »
Originally posted by ROBINV on February 13, 2002 at 13:05:01:

I very much doubt that if Roger and Liz had a sister, that they wouldn't have mentioned her more than this once. I originally figured it was Paul Stoddard's sister, but now I'm inclined to go with (b), Nora Collins daughter.

Love, Robin

1012
357 - (Nancy Barrett) - The sounds of thunder shake the great walls of Collinwood and echo across the land. But inside, there is a moment's peace as in the eye of a hurricane. But soon to be broken, for Collinwood is a house with many secrets demanding to be known, and the secrets tie enemies together, as well as tear friends apart. While the ancient clock ticks on, knowing that time has its secrets, too.

Seeking Julia's notebook, Carolyn starts opening the grandfather clock. Julia tries to forestall her by remarking that ever since she learned about Barnabas, she's been wishing she had someone to share the secret with. Dr. Woodard knew, Carolyn reminds her--and he's dead. A knock at the door interrupts the tense scene, and Carolyn answers the door to Tony Peterson, a good-looking man who says he's looking for Roger Collins. Carolyn heads upstairs to find Roger and Julia tells the man to wait in the drawing room. Julia starts to take the notebook from the clock, but Roger comes downstairs and interrupts her efforts. Julia giggles, nervous, almost hysterical.

Drawing room - Tony Peterson tells Roger he's a lawyer, representing a cannery employee who was hurt in an accident.

Julia nervously paces the foyer.

Tony makes it clear to Roger that he doesn't like the Collins family and not only wants to seek decent restitution for his client, he wants to make trouble for the family as well.
Carolyn, standing at the top of the stairs, catches Julia removing the notebook from the clock. Tony storms from the drawing room. Outside, a dog howls. Carolyn gazes predatorially at Julia, who, desperate,
begs Tony for a ride into town. Carolyn tries to stop them, with no success, and they leave together. The clock strikes the quarter hour, and Roger comes out and tells Carolyn that Tony is an angry young man. He asks his niece to play a game of chess with him, but Carolyn says she must run an errand for Barnabas. Sourly, Roger comments that Barnabas seems able to get everyone to do anything he wants--"I wish I knew his secret," he says. No you don't, Carolyn assures him--"he just needs more help than anyone." Her face shows tremendous concern, and Roger asks if everything is all right. She tells him everything is fine and leaves.

Tony's office - A dog howls in the distance as Julia paces the floor. Tony tells Julia he doesn't like the Collins family and envies them their wealth. I want what they have, he insists. You wouldn't if you knew, says Julia. "If you've never had money," says Tony, "you never know how it will hit the blood.
His comment, too close to home, rattles Julia. He notices how scared she is and tries to get her to talk, but she's hesitant. She notices he has a safe, takes out the notebook and reveals to Tony that there's a man who wants this notebook very badly. She refuses to give him details, but does say this man will kill her tonight if she leaves this office with the notebook still on her person. Tony guesses the man is Roger, but Julia tells him that's incorrect. She begins to break down, her fear overcoming her. I can't go to the police, she says, trembling--lock it up in the safe. Tony finally agrees, and she makes him swear that he won't read the contents. She locks the book and keeps the key. (flimsy) You'll hear many lies about me and the contents of that notebook, she warns him--if I die, I want that notebook taken to the police. She then leaves, assuring him she'll take a taxi back to Collinwood. Moments after Julia has gone, Carolyn shows up, and notices that Tony is holding the notebook in his hand. I've come to apologize for my Uncle Roger's behavior, she says silkily, but Tony tells her that scene was his own fault. Carolyn flirts with the lawyer outrageously, working to convince him that Julia is paranoid, thinks people are after her, is unhappy and unlucky in love. (strike three, you're out!)
He walks to the safe with the notebook, ready to put it away. He grabs Carolyn and demands to know why she's here.

NOTES: Frankly, I loved Tony Peterson. He was brash, fun and forthright, and I felt he was the best possible boyfriend for Carolyn. Forget the rest, he was the best!

Can you feel Julia's desperation here? She's hunted by both Barnabas and Carolyn, and knows that if she can't hide that notebook overnight, she's doomed. Tony was the only possible ally, so she latched onto him fiercely and begged for his help. It's weird to see Julia, such a normally self-possessed woman, turning to quivering jelly under Barnabas' threats and Carolyn's fervent assistance to her vampire cousin.

What's going to happen to Julia now? Will Carolyn "vamp" the notebook out of his hands, or will he keep his promise to Julia? He seems like a promise-keeper to me, but Carolyn is damned attractive, and who's to say his little head won't be overpowered by the other one?


358 -- (Grayson Hall) - A light still burns in the great house of Collinwood. A light, perhaps, to keep away the fears which destroy the peacefulness of those sleeping there. But all do not sleep. For some, night is as day. For evil keeps no set business hours. And plans devised before dawn can bring horror and death at dusk.

Old House drawing room - Barnabas is not pleased to learn that Julia brought her notebook to Tony Peterson, and advances threateningly on Carolyn when he thinks this young man might know all about him. Carolyn convinces her cousin that the notebook was locked and placed in the safe without being read by Tony. Besides, she told Tony that Julia is crazy. It's nearing dawn, so Barnabas' plan to go to Tony's office to retrieve the notebook must fall completely to Carolyn. He questions her about the young lawyer, whom she describes as violent, rude, and yes, she admits, handsome. That should make the job easier, grins Barnabas.
Then a new possibility hits him--make the world think Julia is paranoid and crazy for real! He comes up with what he says the cheaper tabloids (how does he even know about them?) call macabre mementos--the burnt hypodermic needle and empty serum bottle Julia used to help kill Dr. Woodard.

Carolyn and Tony have a drink together at the Blue Whale. He's having a hard time overcoming his first impression of her, his aversion to her rich girl status.
He suggests she needs a job, that she shouldn't be tracking down strange guys, etc. He does agree that she's really pretty, but when he invites her to join him for a business trip/ride to Deer Point, followed by dinner, she refuses, and he accuses her of stuffing the toy (him) back in the box. He wonders if she'd "play" with him if Julia weren't his client, but she says she has to go hang with her cousin. Call me after 11 PM, she invites, making it apparent she finds him very attractive.

It's 6 PM. Carolyn greets Julia at the door, warns her Barnabas will get her notebook (and her little dog, too?). Julia coldly dismisses Carolyn, who reminds her cocktails are in half an hour.

In her bedroom, Julia is terrified when she finds the hypo and bottle, along with the metal case they came in, on her desk. She clutches her throat and wonders where these macabre mementos came from. She burned the needle, didn't she? Is it Dave? No, decides Julia, it's a trick to scare her--Barnabas retrieved the needle from the fireplace and had Carolyn leave the items in her room! She pushes them back in the metal box and marches out of her room.
Tony calls Carolyn from Deer Point to tell her he won't be calling her at 11--but he would like to see her for dinner the following night. She accepts, but Julia interrupts the call and even grabs the phone from Carolyn and hangs up the receiver. Julia shows the blonde the items she found in her room and accuses her of putting them there. Why do they upset you? Carolyn asks (I don't think she really knows, does she)? Leave me alone, Julia demands, verging in hysteria. It's bad enough that I remember. "Control yourself, Julia!" Carolyn taunts. "You haven't even changed your clothes for dinner. You stay with us, you live by our rules!"

Carolyn goes to the Old House and finds Barnabas engaged in a strange ritual with a tray on the desk. She gleefully reports Julia was too upset to even come down for dinner. He assures Carolyn there will be no rest for Dr. Hoffman the rest of this night, and tells her about an Indian in Barbados he once knew, a man who taught Barnabas the secrets of enormous power. This man spoke to the gods and was jailed and sentenced to death as a warlock ("a male witch, my poor, uneducated child," adds Barnabas). The Indian escaped before they could execute him, but he whispered the secret magic number of the universe (to Barnabas, I guess) before he disappeared. This gives Barnabas the ability to plant a germ in someone's mind, where the disease will spread. Barnabas urges a disbelieving Carolyn to watch and witness the magic. He holds up the tray he was preparing and mutters an incantation in what sounds like gibberish. There's a whooshing sound and, before Carolyn's stunned gaze, Barnabas disappears! Scared, she stares around--where did he go?

Julia tosses in bed, unable to sleep. She hears the same whooshing sound Carolyn did, and sees a dark figure silhouetted in front of her window. She hears Dave Woodard's voice--"Why did you kill me? I thought we were friends, Julia." She denies it, insisting that Barnabas killed him, but the voice continues--he'll never let her forget it!
Julia, kneeling, falls face down on the bed, seemingly in a faint. Outside her window, a bat hovers, squeaking in what is probably triumph.

NOTES: That was so good! What magical powers does Barnabas possess? Does Carolyn actually know that Julia and Barnabas murdered Woodard? I don't think so. Barnabas is going after Julia with all guns blazing. Will she succumb?

Will Carolyn fall in love with Tony? He seems the perfect man to tame her, but there's that poor man/rich girl roadblock. Can they overcome it?

How else is Barnabas going to torture Julia?

Love, Robin

1013
355 - (Clarice Blackburn) - We go through another night in the great house of Collinwood, unaware that there are those among us who are playing a most dangerous game-a game that will eventually end with someone's death.

Carolyn watches impatiently as Barnabas contemplates Julia's fate for betraying him. He wonders how the doctor thought she could get away with it, and asks Carolyn why she did it. Because she's jealous, Carolyn says. Julia will be sorry for not heeding his warning about her jealousy, Barnabas says--he'll permanently dispose of Dr. Hoffman. While she seemed pleased at this prospect in the previous show, Carolyn is upset to hear this--killing Julia would be wrong! No, because she's obstructing his plans for Vicki, Barnabas says. Carolyn suggests Barnabas talk to Julia, scare her off, but Barn says Julia, while professional and sensible, is nevertheless as emotionally as foolish as most women. (ooh, nasty!)
He wants Carolyn's help, he says, but Carolyn insists she can't. Be sensible, Barnabas orders his cousin, you have no choice. He orders her to look at him, and she does. He'll do the actual killing, but he needs Carolyn to get hold of Julia's incriminating red notebook before he does the deed. She asks why he allowed her to keep such notes, and he remarks, sadly, that he was as interested in the possibility of a cure as Julia was--but no longer. He describes where Julia kept the notebook and tells her to get Julia out of the house and get that notebook. Carolyn seems hapless and scared, no longer the confident Mata Hari she was before. Julia is a threat to him re: Vicki, and he wants Carolyn to bring him those notes. He insists that Carolyn not allow emotions to get in the way and hinder his plans--don't feel sorry for Julia. Carolyn swears her loyalty to him, and he kisses her hand. "I'll be waiting for you," Barnabas says.

When Carolyn returns home, Mrs. Johnson remarks that Carolyn missed dinner, how pale she looks, and worries she's getting sick. Julia's in her room, reveals Mrs. Johnson. Maggie stops by and Carolyn coolly tells her that Vicki's gone to Boston. Maggie was away visiting relatives, and was upset to come home and learn of Burke's disappearance. Carolyn coldly says she doubts Burke is coming back and that Vicki should accept it. Maggie remarks that this doesn't sound like Carolyn at all--has Carolyn been ill?--why does she keep touching her scarf?. This pisses off Carolyn, who says it's her favorite scarf, but if touching it upsets Maggie, hell, she'll stop. Maggie comments that seeing Carolyn touch her scarf that way gives her an uncomfortable feeling. A dog howls, and Maggie says she feels frightened.
Carolyn says there's no reason to be frightened and Maggie, hearing the dog howling, shivers as she leaves.

Carolyn greets Julia coming downstairs. Wasn't she working in her room? Julia seems annoyed that Carolyn is still watching her. The dog howls, and Carolyn tells Julia it means Barnabas is upset about something and getting ready to take action. Carolyn suggests it's Barnabas trying to tell her something, then homes in on a way to get Julia out--yes, Barnabas wants to see you! Why didn't she tell her before, demands Julia (this is pathetic), and rushes out the door as fast as she can, but Carolyn thought, given their relationship, Julia would know it instinctively. LOL!

Carolyn goes to Julia's room, stands on a chair, then on the bed, looks on top of the armoire (the chair didn't get the tiny actress up high enough), but doesn't see the strongbox. When Julia arrives quickly at the Old House, she says she got there as soon as she got Carolyn's message--what did he need to see her about? Barnabas falls in with Carolyn's excuse, but not quickly enough, and Julia instantly realizes he WAS surprised at her showing up. What are they up to? she wonders. She curtly tells Barnabas she must return to Collinwood and her research, but he does his damndest to cover up his surprise and pulls out all the stops--he calls her Julia, (she notes the change from "doctor," as he called her when she arrived), admits to her he was wrong about the experiment and wants to continue it--tonight, her way. She says they have to wait until tomorrow; the injection takes a long time to prepare. He bars her exit, and the reason for this delay suddenly dawns on Julia. "Your little helper won't find it," says Julia, "but if something happens to me, someone else will--and soon. Now let me go, Barnabas!"
Slowly, reluctantly, he walks away from the door. "Very well, you may go," he says, sounding defeated.

Carolyn, hearing dogs howl, frantically searches Julia's dresser and desk drawers. She does find the locked strongbox and jimmies it open, but it's empty, to her dismay. Julia confronts Carolyn in mid-search, and although the younger woman tries to claim she's looking for an aspirin, Julia knows the truth. Julia threatens to tell Liz that Carolyn was searching her room, and Carolyn counters by promising to tell her mother that Julia is a doctor.
"Get out!" orders Julia, and Carolyn, smiling, complies. Julia examines the strongbox and realizes Carolyn broke into it, which can mean only one thing--Barnabas is planning to kill her!

NOTES: Without the notebook, does Julia have more time to survive and perhaps figure a way out of this pickle? Barnabas and Carolyn make strong, scary allies! I wonder what Liz would have said if Carolyn revealed that Julia is actually a doctor and has been lying to all of them?


356 - (Nancy Barrett) - A cover of darkness has fallen over the great house at Collinwood, but it cannot conceal the fear that one person feels at this moment-for she has discovered that her life is in grave danger.

Julia stands on the landing in Collinwood's foyer, clutching her notebook. She heads downstairs to gaze at Barnabas' portrait, ruminating that she knows he plans to kill her. There's no way she can keep it in her room; she must find someplace to hide it overnight until she can stow it away in the bank tomorrow. Julia stands in the drawing room, pondering where she can hide the notebook where Carolyn can't find it. She searches everywhere for a suitable hiding place, finding nothing to her liking.
As she's heading toward the kitchen, the grandfather clock in the foyer strikes, and Julia decides to hide her notebook inside the trusty clock.

Carolyn goes to the Old House and tells Barnabas she searched Julia's room, and not only did she fail to find the notebook, Julia caught her searching her room, and she was forced to make up a poor excuse for being there. Julia knows we're searching for the book, and now she's hidden it, laments Barnabas, unhappy at this turn of events.
Watch Julia every second, he warns Carolyn, and surreptitiously-- and find that notebook tonight! You're in danger during the day, his cousin reminds him, so he adds to her tasks protecting him from Julia during the day. Julia's jealousy is going to interfere with my plans for Vicki, complains Barnabas, and as soon as we have the notebook, Dr. Hoffman will be destroyed!

Julia paces back and forth between foyer and drawing room in Collinwood. Liz joins her, and they both have a drink of sherry. Julia's nervousness is obvious, and she tells Liz that she will be leaving Collinwood within a week (ha!) Carolyn overhears this, enters the drawing room and is very nasty to Julia,
questioning her reasons for visiting the Old House in such a cold manner that after Julia exits, Liz asks her daughter why she's being so suddenly hostile to Julia. Stay here and apologize for being rude to my guest, demands Liz, and Carolyn, defiant, plops herself down by the fireplace to wait.

Barnabas gazes out the Old House window. Julia comes to see him. I know you plan to kill me as soon as you get my notes, she tells him, but I've turned hidden it away from Collinwood and ordered it turned over to the authorities if anything happens to me. I WILL get that notebook, he assures her, and do away with you!
Her face shows terror.

Back at Collinwood, Liz and Carolyn await Julia's return. Julia comes in and Carolyn, prodded by her mother, proffers an apology, which Julia graciously accepts. Liz thanks Julia and leaves. Carolyn sarcastically comments about Julia's easy acceptance of her apology. "I understand," says Julia, "it just meant that you won't be rude to me in front of your mother." When Julia attempts to bring Carolyn over to her side, the blonde warns her that Barnabas told her Julia would attempt to employ that very tactic. They exchange threats, and Carolyn calls Julia's bluff on her promise to tell her mother everything. At that moment, Carolyn notices that the clock isn't striking the hour.

NOTES: Many years ago, during DS' first run, I started keeping a log of every show on lined notebook paper. I wrote synopses of the show, brief at first, then becoming more detailed with each succeeding day. This was the first episode I synopsized, in black pen, in script, and I still have those synopses. I kept 1795 in blue pen, 1897 in red, and present day in black.

Poor Julia! Barnabas and Carolyn are both ganging up on her now, and she knows the only thing that stands between her and death is that notebook. Once Barnabas gets it, she's a dead woman. I had to laugh over Julia telling Liz she'll be leaving in a week. We know that she lasted a good deal longer than that!

Now that Carolyn has probably figured out where the notebook is, who will get to itit first?

Love, Robin

1014
Robservations / #0353/0354: Robservations 02/12/02: Carolyn Stoddard, Spy
« on: February 11, 2002, 06:46:31 PM »
353 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A brilliant afternoon sun shines over Collinwood, and the shadows of the night have disappeared-but terror still stalks the great house, for one girl has fallen under the spell of the supernatural, and forces of evil possess her-forces bent on death and destruction.

Carolyn, fingering the scarf covering her throat, contemplates how, although Vicki was once her friend, her only friend now is Cousin Barnabas. Vicki listens to Carolyn, muses Carolyn, and she's going to make sure she comes to Barnabas willingly--and stay with him forever. When Vicki finds Carolyn studying the portrait, she comments on how vague her friend is behaving. When Vicki suggests they see a movie, Carolyn comes up with an alternative--go see Barnabas at the Old House and start working on the West Wing project! Vicki is reluctant; she doesn't want to impose. When Carolyn encourages her, Vicki says perhaps. Julia comes in from a walk to town and back and greets the girls, and Carolyn remarks how fond Julia is of taking long walks. Funny, Vicki says, she dreamed she took a walk with Julia to an old house, but in the dream, Vicki didn't want to go in despite Julia's insistence on it. When Vicki leaves to check David, Carolyn mentions what an odd coincidence, Vicki dreaming about taking a walk--but strangely, she doesn't remember taking a walk for real with Julia.
Julia thinks Carolyn is being hostile towards her, but the blonde assures her they're on the same side. "She suspects me," Julia thinks to herself. If Carolyn learns the truth, she'll tell Barnabas, so she'd better watch out--watch and fear.

On the terrace, Carolyn is thrilled that the sun is setting. She hears Barnabas calling her but is forestalled by Joe, who now wants to take her to the mausoleum to check out the secret room. No, Carolyn says, acting like a space alien, it was all in disturbed David's imagination,
and she never really saw Sarah, etc., etc. She thanks him and says she's going for a walk; he offers to join her, but she suggests he go inside and see Vicki. He agrees, but you can tell he finds Carolyn's behavior very odd.

Carolyn goes to the Old House and tells Barnabas about her discussion with Joe, but when he insists she make sure Joe never suspects anything, she assures him she'll take care of it. She also tells a distraught Barnabas about Vicki's reluctance to see him, which spurs him to go immediately to Collinwood to see what's up.

At Collinwood, Joe tells Vicki that Carolyn seemed weird, remote--she wanted to get rid of him. Perhaps it's her worry about David, they decide. Barnabas comes to the door and Vicki lets him in, but it's apparent she isn't that happy to see him. Joe leaves for a date with Maggie, and Vicki almost seems prepared to beg him not to leave her alone with Barn. Barnabas offers to finance a private search party for Burke, which draws words of gratitude from Vicki, who turns him down because she believes the authorities are doing everything they can to find him. Barnabas wants her to be happy, anything she wants, all she needs to do is ask. He takes her hand, but Vicki, repelled, pulls it out of his grasp, then instantly apologizes for doing so. He suggests perhaps she'd rather be alone, and while her lips deny it, her eyes say something else: LEAVE!!!! Barnabas turns to look at Vicki as he's leaving, and she won't even turn around to look at him.
Later, Carolyn finds Vicki staring out the window. Vicki, ashamed of her actions, tells Carolyn about Barnabas' generous offer, then how she pulled her hand from his. It was cold and clammy, says Vicki, like the hand of a dead man. She unaccountably felt frightened in his presence, and can't understand why. This clearly upsets Carolyn.

Back at the Old House, Barnabas asks Julia why Vicki recoiled from him. Burke? suggests Julia. She's still in love with him. Barnabas can't understand--she was never afraid of him before. Perhaps she senses Barnabas' interest, says Julia, and isn't ready to accept it? Barnabas curtly comments that he's heard enough, he's weary of Julia's company. When Carolyn comes in, he rudely dismisses Julia, who is pissed at being thus dismissed. Carolyn tells Barn that Vicki IS afraid of him, although she doesn't know why. Carolyn, citing the walk with Julia that Vicki doesn't remember, thinks Julia is somehow involved, and Barnabas, his face dark with anger, orders Carolyn to watch Julia.
If she's doing anything to undermine his efforts with Vicki, she's signed her own certificate, he vows. Carolyn smiles.

NOTES: Three women-Carolyn, who is under Barnabas' power; Julia, who'd love to be; Vicki, who has been hypnotized and now fears Barnabas in the deepest portion of her brain. Barnabas is all set to kill Julia if he learns she's fiddled with Vicki's head, and we KNOW she has-how long before Barnabas knows, now that he's set Carolyn on Julia's trail? Carolyn is determined to do whatever is necessary for her master, and she thinks it would be great if Barnabas took revenge on Julia for betraying him. Cold vampire, cold victim, where will all this end?


354 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A cluster of pale stars shine over Collinwood, like cold, unblinking eyes in the darkness, watching the earth below. At Collinwood, there is one girl who is trusted implicitly by all of us, but unknown to us, she has fallen prey to the supernatural. She watches and waits, and everything she learns becomes the knowledge of one who, at any moment, is prepared to wreak destruction.

Carolyn, who, according to the intro is trusted implicitly by all, has been bugging Julia by following her everywhere. Julia asks the blonde spy if it's necessary, and Carolyn assures her she's free to go anywhere she wants.
Sarcastically, Julia thanks her, and heads up to her room, where hopefully, she'll have some privacy.

Roger and Liz come in the inform Carolyn that David and, reluctantly, Vicki, are going to Boston for a vacation. Roger remarks that he feels sorry for Vicki in the Burke situation; he must be dead. Carolyn is pleased that David is going, which surprises Liz, who thought she'd object. When Roger suggests, and Liz agrees, that Carolyn go to Boston, too, for parties, clothes-buying and all the things she usually adores, she vehemently objects.
She can't go--rather, she doesn't want to. She leaves them quickly, and Roger muses to Liz how strangely Carolyn's been behaving--he saw her watching the sunset with a blank, vacant expression on her face that frightened him. They both express hope that Carolyn's all right.

Julia finds Vicki preparing a bouquet of lovely yellow flowers; she's planning to take them over to Barnabas to apologize for yanking her hand out of his grasp the day before. Why did you do that? asks Julia, knowing full well why. Vicki explains she doesn't know--Barnabas has always been there when she needs him. Carolyn pops in and announces that she's going shopping for a loooong time.

Julia closes the doors after Carolyn departs, but the latter sneaks back into the house and listens in. She gets quite an earful, too, as Julia again uses the chandelier crystal to hypnotize Vicki, then leads her out of the house, Carolyn quietly in pursuit. Julia brings Vicki to "Maggie's cell" in the Old House basement, which now contains only the coffin Willie had crafted for Maggie. Julia tells the tranced-out, protesting Vicki that the coffin is intended for HER--Barnabas plans to make her what he is, then make her his bride. Vicki protests that she doesn't WANT to be his bride,
and Julia again reinforces the only way she can avoid it--recoil when he touches her, behave frightened of him when he's in her presence--resist his will. Vicki vows to do just that. Carolyn scurries away from her post around the corner just as they exit. Her lips are compressed in a tight line; she knows all now, and can't wait to give the skinny to Barnabas.

Vicki and Julia return to Collinwood, where the latter snaps her fingers, bringing the younger woman out of the trance. When Julia suggests to Vicki that she come with her to the Old House to show Barnabas the crystals and bring the flowers, Vicki hesitates, then says she doesn't have time. She asks Julia to drop off the flowers, and say goodbye to Barnabas for her. Liz comes in and says the arrangements for David and Vicki to take the bus to Boston are all set. Vicki remarks that she's glad to be going, surprising Liz, and bringing a smug smile to Julia's face.

Carolyn goes to the Old House and reports to Barnabas what Julia's been up to with Vicki. He's stunned that "Hoffman," as he calls her, has finally turned against him and done such a foolhardy act. He's further angry to learn this wasn't the first time Julia hypnotized Vicki--she actually showed him Barnabas in his coffin! Now Barn knows why Vicki's been behaving so strangely! He hasn't decided what to do, but damage control is necessary as far as Vicki is concerned. "Are you planning to kill her?" asks Carolyn eagerly, looking overjoyed at the prospect.
"Perhaps she'll meet a worse fate--much worse," predicts Barnabas.

NOTES: Now Barnabas knows for sure that Julia is working hard to undermine his relationship with the woman he loves-he even knows she showed Barnabas, in his vampire-slumber state, to Vicki! He speaks of Julia meeting a worse fate-what could he possibly have in mind? The mind trembles to contemplate it.

Love, Robin

1015
Current Talk '02 I / Re: Barnabas Collins
« on: February 11, 2002, 08:15:10 AM »
Posted by ROBINV on February 11, 2002 at 02:15:10:
In Reply to: Re: Barnabas Collins posted by RingoCollins on February 10, 2002 at 23:26:17:

Ringo, you're deliciously certifiable! Don't ever change.

If you really want to know what happened to Barnabas at the end of the series:

[spoiler]Barnabas returns from 1840 to 1971, along with Julia and Prof. Stokes, to find that they successfully changed history and prevented the destruction of Collinwood Barnabas and Julia had seen in 1995.

Whether Barnabas is a vampire or not at the end has always been argued amongst fans. Angelique cured him in 1840, but his curse in 1970 was caused by Jeb Hawkes, the Leviathan leader, and no one is sure if THAT vampire curse is gone or not. Believe me, it's been rich fodder for speculative fan fiction.[/spoiler]

Love, Robin

1016
Current Talk '02 I / DS' Most Touching Moments
« on: February 10, 2002, 04:41:11 PM »
Originally posted by ROBINV on the Dark Shadows: General Discussion Forum on February 10, 2002 at 10:41:11:

I really enjoyed reading everyone else's, and once I started pondering mine, I found they just started pouring out like a stuck geyer!

Here, in no particular order, and with gigantic SPOILERS, are mine:

[spoiler]
  • 1967 - Sarah finally shows herself to her brother, Barnabas, only to tell him that he won't see her again until he learns to be good. When she disappears right before his eyes, he cries.
  • 1995 - Julia, possessed by Gerard, nearly gets Barnabas staked by the Collinsport sheriff, but when she tearfully tells him to return to 1970 without her, he tells her, "Never without you." It's the closest he comes to telling her what she wants to hear.
  • 1840 - Angelique removes Barnabas' vampire curse in the nick of time, preventing Gerard from finding and destroying him. Terrified that his now-human status places him in mortal danger, she asks him to hold her, and he does so.
  • 1968 - While I know Adam annoyed many people, his first appearance as a giant-sized baby, trying incoherently to communicate with "Mama" Julia and "Papa" Barnabas, was very touching. All he wanted was love, the big SOB, and all he received was pain. Some of his scenes with Carolyn were wondrous to watch, as she taught him to communicate, but his love for her went unrequited, and that made me sad for him, too.
  • 1970 - Remembering Philip and Megan Todd before the Leviathans got their claws into them--a nice, normal couple in love overtaken by evil forces, both dead before their time. Some of their bantering scenes together were charming.
  • 1968 - Maggie and Joe's farewell at the Blue Whale - Aside from the Todds, the pair with the highest hope for happiness, IMHO. Once vampire Angelique and warlock Nicholas blew into their lives, totlly destroying the love Maggie and Joe had for each other, they were doomed. Both ended up at Windcliff. Their sad, poignant goodbye at the Blue Whale is one of DS' saddest scenes for me.
  • 1795 - Sarah dies on Barnabas' arms, after telling him she loves him. Naomi commits suicide, unable to deal with what her son has become, and she tells him she loves him, too. And saddest of all, Joshua, knowing he must destroy his vampire son, finds himself unable to do it and instead imprisons him for centuries. Barnabas and Joshua's goodbye in the study is so painful to watch, I can't help closing my eyes. Joshua loved his son in his own way, and that love is palpable between them in that final scene.
  • 1841PT - Catherine tells Bramwell she's going to have his child. He tenderly tells her he's always wished for them to have a baby together. This moment is marred because each is married to someone else, and it's so tangled, they despair about how it will all end.
  • 1967 - A man in love, Willie goes to the Evans cottage to warn Maggie that Barnabas is going to kill her. The trigger-happy Collinsport Police Department fills him with bullets and asks questions after. Julia and Barnabas assure that Willie appears to be guilty and he's sent to Windcliff. A sad life and an undeserving fate for a guy who changed a lot for the better.
  • 1966 - Liz and Carolyn share a moment together after her aborted wedding to Jason McGuire. Having learned the shocking truth about her father's murder, Carolyn takes off for an all night walk. When she returns, she has decided to stand by her mother, but there's no longer any need, since Paul is still alive. They talk in Liz' bedroom, and Carolyn and her mother reaffirm their love for each other.
  • 1970 - After Paul Stoddard's violent death, Carolyn tells some harsh home truths to her family about their hypocrisy in the foyer.
  • 1897 - Quentin learns that he's fathered twins, but that his baby son has already died. Realizing that "another Quentin Collins" is gone, he laments his life. He decides to bring his daughter, Lenore, back to Collinwood, but when he thinks about bringing her up there, and what a terrible place it is, he choosed instead to make an unselfish sacrifice and allow her to remain with her foster mother.
  • 1897 - Jenny was a very poignant and sad character in just about all her scenes. Another victim of the Collins family, all she wanted was love, too--but all she got was madness.
  • 1897 - Beth's demise - She loved Quentin, and in his own way, he loved her, but she ended up accidentally falling over Widows' Hill. Another Collins victim, and one of the very saddest cases.
  • 1968 - Barnabas, cured of vampirism by Dr. Lang, goes out onto the terrace of his hospital room and sees the sun for the first time--and gazes at his reflection in a mirror at long last. Four-hanky scenes, and amongst my favorites.
  • 1966 - David watches his phoenix mother burn to death before his eyes, sobbing, "Mother, Mother!" over and over. Kid may have been psychotic and murderous, but he loved his mommy, and all he really wanted was love, too.
  • 1795 - Josette begs Barnabas to be whatever it is he is, not knowing what she's asking for. With reluctance, hating himself, he bites her for the first time. The pain on his face is horrible.
  • 1970 - Carolyn marries Jeb Hawkes in a simple wedding, wishing wistfully that it could have been a fancier ceremony, something more Collins-like. She realizes that marrying the guy you love is what's most important.
  • 1971 - last episode - Barnabas, Julia and Eliot, time travelers, return to 1971 to find they've saved the world again. Roger's making a speech and all's right with the world--and they fade into oblivion; we never see them again.
  • 1970PT - Julia shows up in time to prevent Hoffman from staking Barnabas. While some hoped he'd plant a big kiss on her for saving him, their muted joy at seeing each other is nevertheless good to see.
  • 1967 - Under Barnabas' vampire control, Willie wonders to Jason what's going to happen to him. Not knowing what's happened to his friend, Jason can only stare at him, perplexed, and tell Willie that's entirely up to him. Willie knows that's not at all true, and the pain on his face hurts my heart.
[/spoiler]

That's a few, and I'm sure I'll come up with more.

Love, Robin

1017
351 - (Joan Bennett) - Tonight the sky over Collinwood glistens with stars and the moon is full-and yet the night is not peaceful. At the Old House on the Collinwood estate, an act of violence will occur before this night is over-an act of violence that will cast another deadly shadow over all our lives.

(Murky black and white) - Carolyn returns to consciousness while Julia is tying a scarf around her throat to hide the telltale bite marks. Acting like a young bride on the morning after her wedding,
Carolyn tells Julia she knows where she is and what happened to her-and she WANTS to be here, it's where she belongs. Julia explains that Barnabas needed Carolyn to turn back the years, but they don't know yet if it worked. Carolyn wants to see him, now--he might need her. We see a pair of feet heading upstairs, and they draw out the suspense for a few more moments. Carolyn sits up, hoping she didn't fail him--she never wants that! Julia looks up as if praying (and probably wishing she were lying in that bed instead). The door opens and there stands the restored, handsome Barnabas, smiling broadly.

Roger is pouring a drink in Collinwood's drawing room when Liz comes in, fretting over where Carolyn is. She explains to her brother that Carolyn seems very concerned about David, claims to have seen Sarah, and is considering that the other wild tales David has told might be true, too.

Julia says she didn't expect such a swift transformation, and Barnabas chides her--it's not the first time she underestimated his powers (let him cure himself if he's so smart), Dr. Hoffman. And thus Carolyn knows Julia is a blood specialist and psychologist, which comes as a surprise. Now Carolyn will know all the secrets, says Barnabas benevolently, because she'll be a part of them. Barnabas orders Julia to leave him alone with Carolyn and sits on the bed with his cousin. She tells him she feels relaxed and promises that if he wants her to keep Barnabas and Julia's secrets, she will. She'll do whatever he wants!
He's pleased to hear this. Now, he has some tasks for her-make sure everyone continues to think David is imagining everything about him, and help him turn Vicki into his Josette. He plans to bring Josette, who committed suicide, back through Vicki, and the latter must come to Barnabas willingly. Carolyn promises to make it so. "What about me?" Carolyn asks. What will their relationship be? Since they're the same blood, says Barnabas, she won't be a mere servant, like Willie, but if she serves him well, he'll give her the gift of eternal life. Carolyn smiles. That sounds great! He sends her back to Collinwood with a kiss on her hand and warns her to watch for questions about the changes in her. She responds obediently and he says he has every confidence in her.

After Carolyn leaves, Julia sourly notes how pleased he is with himself. Carolyn will be invaluable, Barnabas smirks, and he is sure she won't betray them--she couldn't if she tried! He should have enlisted her services before. Julia tells him she's prepared an injection, and he's incredulous that she thinks he would even consider allowing her to continue with the experiments. Despite her pointing out that the failure was his own fault, and her insistence that her timetable would not elicit the same results, she can't guarantee that he won't age, so he refuses to go on with the experiment.
It's only wasted their time, which Julia vehemently denies. Does he want to live in his present state? she demands, and he tells her he prefers that to aging the way he did. She reminds him that this eternal life thing is a myth, he could be discovered. He's avoided it so far, he reminds her. She asks him to consider going ahead with the experiment on a conditional basis, but he flatly refuses. By the way, they won't have much time for each other anymore, either, he says coldly. He has to begin work on Vicki. "No more use for me," she says, hurt. He's grateful to her. Julia points out that he still needs her--to protect him during the day, since Carolyn won't be able to do so without arousing suspicion. He feels he can't ask a professional woman to do that (and you know he knows how she feels, to subjugate herself this way), and, in a delicious voice, tells him she's not applying for a job as his maid--she wants to help him. Well, OK, he agrees, until such time as he finds a permanent servant. (OUCH!). That's so cold!

At 2:30 AM, Carolyn returns home and apologizes for worrying Liz and Uncle Roger.
She was walking, and thinking about David, she says. Liz finds Carolyn's hands ice cold, and when the young woman wanders upstairs, Liz comments to Roger that something happened to Carolyn--she's behaving like a stranger in her own house.

At 5:45 AM, Carolyn glides downstairs and stands before Barnabas' portrait in the foyer. She removes the scarf around her neck and, smiling, caresses the punctures her cousin left on her throat.

NOTES: Some of DS' best work, by far, and again, everyone turned in solid gold performances. Carolyn turns sultry, Julia, petulant and hurt, and Barnabas treats her like crap, this time with mind games in lieu of hands around her throat. He really is playing her like a fish on a hook, drawing out the torture. Now that he's dashed her hope of a Nobel Prize for her work on him, he's also treating her like a servant, even though he insists he wouldn't ask a professional woman to do such menial chores. I loved it when she told him she wasn't applying for a job as his maid!


352 - (Alexandra Moltke) - Soon the sun will rise once again over the great house of Collinwood, and when it does, we will not know that Carolyn Stoddard is no longer one of us-for she has fallen under the spell of the supernatural.

Carolyn resolves to take care of Vicki and David for cousin Barnabas, and heads into David's room at the ungodly hour of 6 AM and wakes him up. Essentially, she denies ever having seen or spoken to Sarah, putting it down to her imagination, and tells him if he doesn't straighten up and admit everything about Sarah and Barnabas came from HIS imagination, he'll be sent away to a home for disturbed children. Barnabas very kindly let her tour his house, she assures him, and there's nothing to be frightened of there. She wants to help him, but he must help himself first and admit it's all in his imagination.
Needless to say, David is shaken by this talk, and even mentions that Barnabas might have done something to her--which she denies.

The rivalry between Julia and Carolyn over who is more helpful to Barnabas is fully engaged. Carolyn tells Julia she "saw" to David and describes what she did--threaten him with banishment. Carolyn now wants to talk to Vicki and fire up that situation, but Julia claims to "already be working on it." Carolyn coolly suggests to Julia that she help Barnabas medically while she sees to his romantic requirements. While they both claim to be anxious to help Barnabas, Julia proves her intentions are exactly opposite after Carolyn exits the drawing room. She shows Vicki two chandelier crystals and asks her to compare them,
then hypnotizes Vicki again. Carolyn spots them leaving Collinwood.

Julia leads Vicki back to the Old House again, this time into Josette's room, where she reveals Barnabas' scheme to turn her into Josette Collins--and his bride. Vicki insists she doesn't want to be Barnabas' bride. Julia reminds Vicki that she's seen Barnabas in his coffin and reveals why--he's undead. Barnabas also has the ability to force his will on others, and he will use it on Vicki--she must resist! Vicki isn't sure she can, but Julia promises she won't forget Barn's plans for her, at least not in her subconscious. As they leave to return to Collinwood, we see a shot of Josette's portrait.

Carolyn enters the drawing room. Vicki is there, thinking about Burke--she's sure if SHE were the one missing in the jungle, Burke would personally go searching for her. Carolyn points out that is impossible, then asks Vicki about her walk with Julia.
She didn't take a walk with Julia, says a puzzled Vicki. Carolyn ponders this--Vicki lied to her! Why? Does she suspect something has changed about her? What is she hiding? Vicki isn't a liar, normally, but whatever this is, it's not good for Barnabas or Vicki. When Julia comes in, Carolyn mentions her walk with Vicki. Julia, looking uncertain, says she hopes Carolyn isn't watching her, then says she and Vicki did take a quick walk outside for some fresh air--but Vicki is so distracted, she probably forgot.
Does Carolyn approve? Julia asks. It's not for me to approve or disapprove, counters Carolyn. Damn right, agrees Julia, and leaves the room huffily.

Carolyn stares at Barnabas' portrait.

NOTES: Something of a letdown after the last couple of exciting eps, but one wonders if Julia really thinks she's going to get away with this, especially given that Carolyn is under Barnabas' power and spying on her. Julia is really taking reckless chances with her life, but perhaps, given Dave's death and her part in it, losing her shot at curing a vampire, plus Barnabas' assertion that he doesn't think of her romantically might have made her not care about her own safety anymore-she just vengefully wants to ruin Barnabas' plans.

Love, Robin

1018
Posted by ROBINV on February 09, 2002 at 14:30:55:
In Reply to: OT: Thirty EIGHT years ago tonight!! posted by RingoCollins on February 09, 2002 at 09:02:43:

I love you, Ringo. Just wanted to say that.

On this date all those years ago tonight, I was 10 years old. I watched Ed Sullivan with my mother and brother, Steve. The latter was a staunch classical music buff, both in listening and playing (piano), that he scoffed at this weird-looking foursome and pronounced them something that would never catch on.

LOL!

He was wrong, of course, and even he eventually became a fan (I still remember listening to the White Album with him, and both of us loving every song on it). I was too young to form a crush on any of the Fab Four, but I thought they were cute, and loved their music right from the start. I still remember an older girl telling me that I was too young for Paul McCartney to love (implying that she was old enough), and I retorted, "And YOU'RE too ugly!"

Only two out of four left now. That's sad. I so admire Paul McCartney for his concern for the firefighters and how he's reached out to help victims of 9/11.

It's become a scarier world in 38 years, Ringo, and I'm glad to know people like you to help make them less so.

Love, Robin

1019
349 - (Alexandra Moltke) - A single star is visible over Collinwood, seeming like a cold, lonely light that exists in a void unto itself. Few men can know such isolation, but there is one who has, one who has hoped his isolation might be ended, only to have that hope destroyed. And desperation and terror will follow in its wake.

Saw Dick Smith's fantastic makeup work on the ancient Barnabas today. The man definitely has/had a great talent (I don't know if he's still alive).

Julia, panicked, rushes upstairs. Barnabas follows. His face is withered, aged, ugly. The dosage he insisted on was too powerful, Julia claims. Seeing his hideous face mirrored in her eyes, he grabs her throat, then touches his aged face with ancient hands. "Oh, no!" he screams. He accuses Julia of doing this to him, revenge for spurning her feelings. She denies it. It's his own fault. He blames her, too, for not realizing that, if he became human, he could very well become his true age. She screwed up, missed the obvious! He must revert back to being a vampire, he says. No, Julia insists, he'll go on destroying and she'll be partially responsible. Yes, he grimly agrees. He orders her to go to Collinwood, break his date with Vicki and tell her he has to leave town.
She sarcastically calls that a "bitter pill to swallow" for him and opens the door to leave, but Vicki is there, and has overheard the last part of what Barnabas said! Quickly, while Julia keeps Vicki at the door, Barnabas arranges one of the high-backed chairs so he can sit in it and speak to Vicki without being seen. He explains to her that he's going away on business and isn't feeling well. He doesn't want her coming too close to him, or she might catch it. She says it doesn't seem like a good idea to go away when he's under the weather, but between Barnabas and Julia, they manage to send Vicki on her way back to Collinwood, looking uncertain. Barnabas miserably buries his face in his hands. He'd have been loathsome to Vicki, he laments, to which Julia curtly replies, "In HER eyes." He's saddened to learn from Julia that he's changed so drastically, even his own relatives wouldn't recognize him. He mocks her for her noble experiments and says he won't forgive her for dashing his hopes. (Hey, if I were Julia, I'd have hightailed it out of Collinsport by now!) Vicki can be yours, Julia says, a vicious light in her eyes. Use her to revert! Why not? Barnabas says he wants Vicki to come to him willingly, as Josette, but Julia cruelly reminds him that might not ever happen. He must be more realistic, get Vicki any way he can! She can be under his power! (You know this is jealousy talking, but why she wants to see Vicki harmed seems beyond nasty to me, especially given that she was so seemingly concerned about her safety in the past.) Barnabas is not happy that Julia is undermining his romantic plans for Vicki with her suggestion and says he just can't use Vicki, but Julia gets in his face, cunning and manipulative. She knows he's very tempted-GO FOR IT!

Carolyn knocks on Vicki's door and tells her she's going to meet Joe at the Blue Whale. Vicki, after saying she is sure Burke is still alive,
tells Carolyn about Barnabas' plans to go away and says she's wishes he didn't have to leave--she's going to miss him--he's been such a good, kind, reliable, strong friend.

Meanwhile, Julia continues to urge Barnabas to take Vicki's blood, Vicki's youth! Barn refuses again. Think it over, advises Julia craftily. "You'd be a fool not to get her now, tonight!"

Carolyn and Joe share a table and drinks at the Blue Whale. She tells him of her Sarah sighting, and explains that she believes it possible that he's telling the truth about everything else, too. Joe reminds her that Dave and Burke checked out David's amazing stories, and he believes the kid just has a wild imagination.
She coaxes him to come with her to Eagle Hill to seek out the secret room, but Joe refuses. He advises her to forget it, after all, does she really think her cousin is a sinister person? No, Carolyn says, but she doesn't seem so sure anymore...

Carolyn tells Vicki she has some doubts about Cousin Barnabas. Vicki assures Carolyn that Barnabas doesn't deserve her doubts, and looks troubled as Carolyn heads off to bed.

Barnabas ponders Julia's suggestions about Vicki and decides to go for it. He appears as a bat outside Vicki's window, then the aged Barnabas materializes in her bedroom.
He stares at the sleeping Vicki, thinking how lovely and innocent she is--he can't do it! Carolyn, hearing a sound, knocks at Vicki's door, then opens it, waking Vicki up. The two young women spot a bat hovering outside Vicki's window, squeaking and flapping. "A giant bat!" gasps Carolyn.

NOTES: Fabulous makeup, and all involved gave great performances. Tomorrow, tune in for one of DARK SHADOWS' most frightening scenes!


350 - (Grayson Hall) - A cold piercing night wind whistles around Collinwood, and its chill somehow seems to penetrate the walls of the great house-for this promises to be a night of danger-one girl may learn a terrifying secret tonight, and that knowledge could cost her her life.

How chilling can you get? Not much more so than the ending of today's second episode! Brrrrr!

David comes downstairs and again offers the toy soldier to Carolyn. She's happy to see him out of his room, a rarity these days, it seems, but assures him she doesn't need it. Over her shoulder, David spots the ancient Barnabas standing outside the window, but when he points him out to Carolyn, he's gone when she turns to look. Liz comes in and David tells her about the man--he was over 100 years old! Carolyn says she didn't see him, and Liz talks gently to David, as though handling an insane person. No one believes him anymore, laments David, and he can't prevent the bad things from happening, either. Liz and Carolyn suggest to David he saw a trick of the light, not a person, and, dejected, he goes back to his room.

Liz brings up sending David away again; it might put an end to these fantasies. Carolyn confesses to her mother that SHE saw and spoke with Sarah; if the little ghost girl is real, why not. . .the other stuff? Liz is upset to think her own daughter is having delusions, too, and asks her if she REALLY thinks Barnabas has a coffin in his basement, etc.
Carolyn admits she doesn't know about that, or about a connection between Sarah and Barnabas, but. . . David overhears Liz tell Carolyn she thinks he's mentally disturbed and must be sent away. David clutches the balustrade and hangs his head in defeat.

Barnabas returns to the Old House, where Julia is waiting for him. He went for a walk, he says, taunting her about the "success" of her noble experiment. He has to take someone's blood, he says, so he'll go attack a stranger later. Does he want it that way, Julia asks. There might be someone who'll do it willingly, accept and submit. And who might that be, Barnabas wants to know. Me, Julia offers. Take mine. He is stunned at her offer: "Why, Julia?" Her face shows delight as she murmurs, "That's the first time you've called me that." She says the offer is on the table, and she won't give him a reason.
He brings over a candle, tells her to look at his face, then grabs her hand and presses it over his aged flesh. Don't I repel you? he demands. No, she assures him--she knows what he was and will be again. He reminds her that if he does take her blood, she will no longer control her own will, and Julia smiles as though he were telling her she's the most beautiful woman in the world. She wants it--she wants him to take her blood-damn it, just TAKE her! He calls her doctor, and Julia says never to do it again. That's the whole problem, explains Barnabas, he might need her services as a doctor, other needs beyond the experiment, and while he appreciates the offer, he refuses. Is that the real reason he refused, she demands, clearly hurt and sad. She goes downstairs to her lab.

Carolyn is examining the toy soldier when David comes in and asks her if she thinks he's crazy, as Aunt Liz does. She knows he didn't imagine Sarah, Carolyn says, so perhaps all this stuff about Barnabas. . .David becomes alarmed and demands his cousin forget everything he said about Barnabas--he made it all up! Nearly hysterical, he begs her to promise not to go to the Old House. She promises, but after sending him up to bed, she proves she's his relative and heads right to the Old House (leaving the solider/protection on the hallway table). She finds the front door open (WHY?), the upstairs empty, then finds the basement door open, too (with Willie gone, doesn't anyone see to security anymore?)

She finds a coffin and is shocked. WHY is it here? What is it doing here?
She finds it empty, another puzzle. The coffin suddenly slams closed--it's Julia, demanding to know why Carolyn is there. Carolyn starts firing questions at her about the coffin, but Julia tries desperately to get Carolyn to leave--before it's too late. Barnabas' voice drifts over them: "It's already too late!" He reveals to the disbelieving Carolyn that he's her Cousin Barnabas, but she can't understand why his face is so old. "I won't be old much longer . . .scream all you want, no one will hear you. . .don't be afraid, my dear," he says, drawing her long, blonde hair away from her throat, "You know I'd never do anything to hurt my own flesh and blood!"
His fangs appear and Carolyn screams in terror as Barnabas sinks his fangs into her throat and drinks her youth-giving blood.

NOTES: This scene did give me nightmares all those years ago. It was very scary to me, yet in a perverse way, very erotic, too.

We don't see Julia's reaction, but one can only imagine the horror, jealousy and disbelief on her face as she witnesses the man she loves attacking a victim she knows right before her eyes.

Love, Robin

1020
347 - (Alexandra Moltke) - Deepest night lies over all of Collinwood, and sleep has given quiet rest to all who live there-but there is a house where night and sleep are not companions, and the dark hours are the hours of action.

Old House lab - Julia reiterates that speeding up the treatments goes against her best judgment and her principles. Barnabas insists she gave THOSE up a long time ago. Barnabas sits in the chair that resembles an electric chair. Julia turns on the equipment, then begins to slowly drop the dry ice into the bubbling vat. Julia fiddles with the controls and brings the treatment to an end, then unstraps Barnabas from the chair. At first, he feels numbness, then that goes away. Thrilled, excited, he feels himself changing, the humanity rushing through his blood. Julia, more cautious, is concerned. Rashly, he's all set to watch the sun rise, but she advises against it--it could destroy him. She wants him to sit down so she can conduct some tests, but he's too enervated. Only when Julia, exasperated, says, "Go ahead, destroy yourself!" does he calm down. He decides he'll wait until tomorrow for that sunrise, and he's going to watch it with Vicki--the sun will rise on the two of them--together! Julia nearly looks apoplectic from jealousy.

Collinwood, drawing room - Carolyn tells Vicki she's concerned about all these late nights she's been having, waiting by the phone for word of Burke. Carolyn goes for coffee, which gives Julia the opportunity to bring out a crystal, supposedly from the chandelier in the West Wing, to show Vicki.
She hypnotizes the young girl with the swirling crystal held over a lamp, then takes Vicki on a little walk to the Old House. Vicki is surprised to see a coffin down there, and frightened when Julia orders her to open it. When Vicki does, she turns away at the sight of the green-faced Barnabas slumbering inside.
"You will never forget and never remember" this incident, intones Julia. Julia leads Vicki back to Collinwood and awakens her. Carolyn, forced to make the coffee herself because Mrs. Johnson was sick, comes in at that moment with a tray laden with coffee cups. She tells them to enjoy the coffee themselves, she has to help her mother. (That coffee must have taken a looooong time to allow Julia her trip to and from the Old House.) Vicki asks Julia if she can look at the crystal again, and starts to mention that she wants to show it to Barnabas-but the name seems to make her uncomfortable. "If the crystal will make Barnabas happy, by all means," says Julia, smiling smugly.

When Barnabas comes to see Vicki a short while later, she seems to flinch in his presence, not wanting to be there with him. Vicki, uneasy, shows him the crystal Julia found--she wants the three of them to see if it matches the West Wing chandelier. Barnabas brings up her unpleasant association with Widows' Hill and suggests that they form some new, happy memories of the cliff. Why don't they watch the sunrise over Widows' Hill, that very morning?
Vicki doesn't answer at first, then says, sure, why not, dawn is her favorite time of day. Mine, too, says Barn (LOL!) She notices that something's wrong with his hand, and when he looks at it, he's horrified. He injured it, he says hastily, getting up to leave. He rushes out, muttering they'll have to postpone their date to watch the sunrise, leaving her in mid sentence. "Barnabas," she murmurs.

Barnabas is filled with bitter irony for Julia when he hastens into the lab, where she's sitting in the experiment chair. "Look closely," he commands her, holding out his ugly, aging hand. "The hand of a very, very old man."
Julia gazes at his hand and gasps in horror.

NOTES: Tomorrow we'll see a fantastic makeup job, and soon Carolyn will. . .help her cousin in ways she probably never imagined.

Barnabas' cruelty towards Julia continues to escalate, and he KNOWS she cares about him and is using it as a club against him. As for her, such daring it foolhardy. It's almost like she wants him to kill her, and perhaps at this moment in time, having helped murder Dave and feeling the pangs of unrequited love, perhaps she does.


348 - (Joan Bennett) - Dawn has not yet come to Collinwood. The earth hovers between night and day as though terrified to bring into being the days and nights that lie ahead. But time is indifferent to terror, and the earth obeys the primeval commands, creating nights and days-creating a moment when fear no longer stalks, but stops to strike.

In Carolyn's pretty bedroom, where she lay asleep, false lashes and make-up perfect, wearing a lovely pastel nightie, David came in to touch her, conducting a death check. Startled to see him, she screams when he touches her. Although she denies that anyone is trying to hurt her, it appears David had a premonition about her safety, and he gives her the toy soldier Sarah gave him for protection, and begs her to take it.

When Liz comes in, Carolyn basically shushes all her questions and sends David to bed after thanking and kissing him. They agree that David has gotten worse, and Carolyn insists her mother see that, for his own good, David must be sent away. Love isn't always enough, says Carolyn gently. Both women are clearly distraught over David's distance. Holding the soldier, Carolyn sadly comments she wishes she had some protection to offer David.

Barnabas sits in the lab chair, gazing somberly at his disfigured hand. Julia reminds him it's almost coffin time and that watching-the-sunrise thing would be unwise. He speaks of how slowly times passes for most men, but not for him--"it's a rushing, howling wind, withering me in one relentless blast." He's sitting there, watching time work him over.

Julia expresses hope that it's a temporary reaction, and blames him for rushing the treatment. He grabs her hands, then her throat, warning her to be careful, and she is clearly grossed out by his touch. Fearing he will reach his true age, then turn to dust, Barnabas tells her to fix it--his powers go beyond the grave, and her choice is either to give him life or face worse than death herself. He sure does know how to threaten a person! He offers his good hand to Julia to show she is in agreement, and she accepts, it slowly, cringing, but he covers it with his withered hand just to freak her out, I'm sure.

Carolyn, dusting her room, is holding the soldier when she hears Sarah's flute--then the ghost girl herself appears! Sarah begs them not to send David away; she'll be lonely! She comes right out and tells Carolyn she's a ghost.
Carolyn muses that if David is telling the truth about HER, then. . .she starts to ask about Barnabas, but Liz interrupts by knocking at the door, sending Sarah fleeing wherever it is that ghosts go at such times. Carolyn tells her mother she was talking to herself, but reverses her opinion about sending David away. She wants to check something out, and she can't say what it is, but asks Liz to not send David away for a day or two, and to trust her, for David's sake.
When she hears Sarah's lilting flute music filling the air, Carolyn decides she made the right decision.

Carolyn goes to David's room to return the soldier and is surprised when, after she reveals she saw Sarah, he becomes very upset.
He didn't WANT her to see Sarah! Dr. Woodard did, and he died! Carolyn suggests he might be telling the truth about the rest. Dr. Woodard believed him, and now he's dead, says David, so he doesn't want Carolyn to believe him, hell, no! He lied about everything, even Sarah! Carolyn hugs him tightly and promises she'll help him.

Julia, preparing a treatment she hopes will reverse the aging, tells Barnabas she has given him her life, done everything she could to help him. He thinks this sounds like a farewell, and he assures her farewells aren't possible. She wishes him only good, which he cruelly disputes--her interests were selfish! He's ready, and suggests she be equally prepared. She sets the equipment in motion and begins feeding dry ice into the vat. She checks Barnabas, then fiddles with the dials.
When she turns around to look at him, she gasps in horror. We see him only from the back, but his hair has gone snow-white!

NOTES: So much happened in this episode, with Barnabas' terrible threats and David's fear for his cousin's safety amongst the paramount concerns. David is so terrified, he now is claiming he lied about everything, just to prevent harm from coming to Carolyn.

Love, Robin