Angelique politely offers her guests some refreshment before the servants leave for the mainland. Both ladies decline, and Angelique leaves them alone. Carolyn wants to go home, but Elizabeth insists on staying till she's recovered. Carolyn says, I thought we went away because you wanted to leave Collinwood. You’ve changed lately, she adds worriedly. You don’t smile as much as you used to, and something about your eyes is different. With a strange smile, Elizabeth assures her, My concern for you has not changed.

Angelique returns, and the three make small talk. Angelique explains that she met Barnabas "at a party in England during my modeling days." Elizabeth is sure she's met Angelique somewhere before, but Angelique is spared any more improvisation when Sky calls from Logansport. He is expecting three important phone calls, but by the time they’re done, he won’t be able to get a ride home. Angelique agrees to come collect him, apologizes to her guests and leaves.

Carolyn asks why Elizabeth was so inquisitive about Angelique, but Elizabeth insists she didn't mean to be. The phone rings again. Jeb introduces himself--they still haven't met--and says that they need her back in Collinsport urgently. He tells her to pretend she's speaking with Mrs. Johnson. Flattered that her leader is speaking to her personally, Elizabeth agrees. She tells Carolyn she has to sign some papers at home before nine in the morning.

At the shop, Jeb gazes at a black-and-white photo of Carolyn and exults to himself, Sweet Carolyn! Very soon, you will see me as I really am! He enters the upstairs room and shuts the door. The next instant, the strong, heavy breathing starts up.

Carolyn wishes she could go home, too. Always a stickler for propriety, Elizabeth says it would be rude to Angelique if both her guests left without any explanation. I’ll return in an hour or so, she promises. I’ll phone you from Collinwood. [But wait! Little Windward Island is supposed to be fifty miles from Collinwood by car--and ferry!] We see the car’s headlights go on, we hear the engine start and accelerate, we see the headlights sweep the shrubbery in front of the door as Elizabeth departs.

The wind picks up, but something other than the wind seems to be agitating the shrubbery and trees. A huge peal of thunder booms as Carolyn moves from the window and tries to read. But she says to herself, I can’t stop thinking about Jeb Hawkes, even though I barely know him--why? What happened at the antique shop? Why did I faint? Maybe I’m afraid to understand any of it. She pours herself some tea, but drops the cup and saucer when a painting near the fireplace crashes to the floor. Completely startled, she needs a moment to get her breath back. Then she props the painting on a side table against the wall and picks up the broken cup and saucer. Next, the front door flies open, scaring Carolyn even more. She shuts the door, but we can see that something large and heavy seems to be moving through the shrubbery. She tries to compose herself but the phone rings, startling her all over again. She takes a message for Sky from a Mr. Cartwright. While she stares into the fire, we hear footsteps. The front door opens and closes. She calls out but gets no answer--and suddenly, all the lights go out. Carolyn tries the switch but nothing happens, so she runs to the fireplace, which now provides the only light. Then she hears a huge crash from the entryway, as of glass breaking. When she looks at the window, it has been smashed inward, and branches from the oak trees outside protrude into the room. (The leaves are bright green in the timeless Dark Shadows universe, even though this episode aired in February 1970!) Carolyn gives up and runs to her room, gasping for air and whimpering in fear. The lights don’t work here either, and once more footsteps sound through the house. A door opens and closes, so Carolyn cracks her door open to look into the hall. We hear the finale of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique, louder and louder, as Carolyn approaches a pair of louver doors. A silhouette approaches the doors from the other side. As the trombones thunder out the theme, the doors fly open and she is staring at a stranger. It’s Sky Rumson, but she has never met him, so quite naturally she starts screaming.
 
Sky has brought Carolyn to the living room and gives her a brandy. He apologizes for scaring her and tells her that he and Angelique missed connections, and he took a cab instead (instead of the ferry?). He didn’t hear Carolyn calling over the radio. (Is it battery operated? The lights are still out.) As they talk, we can see that something large is hiding in the shrubbery. Carolyn recovers enough to tell Sky about the phone call from Mr. Cartwright. Sky leaves Carolyn alone to make the call. Soon she falls asleep in a chair by the fire. She seems to hear Jeb speaking to her: The night we met, I knew that you were a person in need of a whole new world--a whole new existence--and that I was the person who could give it to you. A spinning mirrored disco ball indicates that Carolyn is dreaming. Jeb repeats, I was the person who could give it to you.

In her dream, Carolyn enters the antique shop and eagerly calls to Jeb. I have so many question to ask! The door to the back room opens, revealing Jeb’s silhouette. Standing nearly motionless, he says, I was wondering if you would come back. She smiles and asks him to come into the light, but he doesn’t move. Do you really want to see me? The way I really am, Carolyn? he asks. She hesitates, realizing there’s some unknown subtext. I don’t understand you, she says. Jeb says, I didn't understand why you ran away. You hid from me. Was it because you didn't like me, despite what you said? I’ve known you for only a short time, Carolyn replies. For much longer than you think, he says, or have you forgotten? I didn’t--the way you used to look at me, the way you used to caress my hand, the warmth of your kiss on my cheek. Carolyn is completely mystified, so Jeb finally walks over (in a new, green sweater--and remember that Adam’s green sweater symbolized love) and shows her the red crescent-shaped mark on his wrist. She gasps in amazement while he reminisces, I was such a cute baby when I was Joseph. Or maybe you remember me better as Alexander. He holds up the mask Alexander pretended to frighten her with. Carolyn seems to be getting nervous now as Jeb continues, Maybe you like me better as Michael. When I was Michael, I think I began to realize how much I really wanted you. I couldn't wait to grow up and become Jeb. You can understand that, can't you? I can’t believe that you and the three children were all the same person, Carolyn says softly. It’s all true, Jeb assures her. Somehow I knew you would come back, and now that you have, you are going to be mine--all mine. Come to me, he says with a smile, but as he reaches for her, she sees that his hands are covered with blood. She screams and backs away, crying, What have you done? The disco ball returns as Jeb calmly repeats his words from the beginning of the dream: When I met you, I knew that you were a person in need of a whole new existence--a whole new life. I was the person who could give it to you.

Carolyn is in her chair by the fireplace, screaming, Oh, Jeb, Jeb, what have you done? Sky hurries to kneel beside her and shake her awake. She explains that she had a frightening dream.

Outside, the heavy breathing seems to emanate from the shrubbery by the front door.

Sky takes Carolyn upstairs to her room and assures her he will be in his study just down the hall. Carolyn thanks him, and they say goodnight. As she sits down on the bed, we can see that the room is very large and luxurious--a perfectly suitable bridal chamber, in fact. The big bed is a four-poster, and the full-length double window is surrounded by heavy drapes.

Downstairs, Sky looks out the broken window and seems to recognize what he sees outside. He opens the front door and steps away with a smile, leaving the door open.

Carolyn is asleep, still dressed but covered with a blanket (just like one of Mrs. Radcliffe’s heroines). The storm outside is still raging.

Downstairs, we can see some tracks leading from the front door into the living room. Are the tracks simply mud? Or are they slime? OR ARE THEY PERHAPS ACID-BURNED HOLES IN THE CARPET?

Carolyn sleeps upstairs until the banging of the window wakes her. She gets up and shuts and latches it. She is about to lie down again when she hears the most dreadful sound of all in this long night of dreadful sounds: heavy breathing, accompanied by the dragging of a chain along the floor. (I thought of Jacob Marley, but why should the creature lug a chain around?) Carolyn is now so frightened that her attempts to call Sky are mere whispers. The breathing sound gets louder and louder as its source approaches. The double doors to the room are thrown open, and Carolyn is bathed in an eerie green light. Finding her voice at last, Carolyn screams again and again at the hideous sight before her.........

Grayson Hall does the VO.

Maggie tries to resist Jeb, but in the end her willpower crumbles and she opens the box. She tells Jeb that somehow she isn't afraid of him anymore, and he says that there's a spirit of peace in the box. He lists the other Leviathan initiates but warns her not to trust them and asks about Barnabas. All Maggie knows is that he wants to keep Carolyn away from Jeb. Jeb gets angry and presses her, but she insists she knows nothing more. Did Barnabas tell you anything about the Leviathans? Jeb asks. I’ve never heard that name before, Maggie says, and this at least is no lie. You will hear about them quite often now, Jeb tells her, but you must not listen to the book. Your loyalty will be to me. Barnabas likes to follow the book--but I don’t. Maggie is really frightened now, but luckily Jeb’s mind is running on the same resentful track as ever. That’s why Barnabas told you to discourage Carolyn from seeing me, he says. I only want to bring Carolyn peace--where is she? I don’t know, Maggie replies. Barnabas didn’t tell me. Jeb thinks for a long moment and actually comes up with another idea. He wants Maggie to keep find out where Carolyn is. Maggie is all for telling Barn that she's now a Leviathan but Jeb nixes that idea. He asks her about Barn and Quentin, but Maggie doesn't know much about Quentin either.

In the foyer, Julia suddenly finds a letter from Maggie, saying that she's gone away for a day or so--evidently she was kept in the mausoleum overnight. But just Julia and Barn are wondering how the note materialized so suddenly, Maggie reappears with the peripatetic little blue suitcase. I’m sorry you were worried, she says, and tells Barnabas she wants to talk to him later. Barnabas is naturally flattered as well as happy to see her safely returned. Showing quite a bit of hamstring for Barnabas to admire, she hurries upstairs with her suitcase, wanting to check on David. She didn’t mention her aunt, Barnabas muses, and I certainly have never seen that suitcase. We have something else to worry about, Julia says somberly--Chris Jennings. The moon will be full tonight.

At the cottage, Chris also frets about tonight. The white-haired Sabrina arrives with the Moon Poppy and tells Chris that she's never betrayed him. His next visitor is Barnabas, who wants him to go back to Windcliff. You haven’t been much help to me since returning from the past, Chris says resentfully. Wouldn’t you want me to try the plant if you had brought it? Barnabas takes this justified criticism on the chin and warns Chris, Once the moon is full, you won’t remember to eat the flower. I’ll make myself remember it, Chris vows. Why don’t you take the flower to Windcliff, Barnabas suggests. If you don’t eat it, at least you’ll be safe until morning. I’m staying here, Chris insists. I will go through this time alone. Barn reports back to Julia, who is just about to phone Chris when Maggie arrives and asks to speak to Barn alone.

Where have you been? Maggie asks Barnabas. I’ve been wanting to talk to you. He is deeply apologetic, saying he was on an errand. Maggie asks Julia to let her and Barnabas talk alone. Julia leaves to talk to Chris. Maggie and Barnabas confer behind closed doors in the drawing room. She says, I know what has been going on, at least part of it. I didn’t go to Portland, she admits. That note-- It was Jeb, wasn’t it? Barnabas asks, rushing to her in alarm. What did he do to you? I’ll kill him! he snarls. No, Barnabas! Maggie says. You must never do anything against him. Maggie tells Barnabas about the mausoleum and the zombified sheriff: He said you were a part of it, she tells Barnabas. No, Maggie, Barnabas says fervently, not now. He asks, Why did Jeb let you go? Maggie explains: He made me open the box. Something was supposed to happen--I don't know what. I did know that if I wanted to get out of there, the only way to do it would be to pretend that something had happened, then to agree with everything that happened afterwards. I did that. I knew you weren’t a part of it. Greatly relieved, Barnabas says, I’m glad you’re back alive! Maggie insists on some explanation. I’ll explain everything, Barnabas promises. When I think of how you might have returned in that dreadful condition! he exclaims, horrified. Now we can fight together. If Jeb thinks that you’re one of them, you can help. Julia returns and reports to Barnabas, Chris insists on staying. This is the most she can say in front of Maggie, but Barnabas understands. Proudly he tells Julia, We have a new ally--someone we need but must protect.

Chris watches for the moon to rise. Soon enough, the pains start and the flower begins to bloom. No, no, no, I won’t do it! I won’t! he says even as he screams with pain. The flower opens completely--a single large, lovely magenta blossom. A hairy paw reaches for it...........

Ed Riley VO. Davenport certainly is a more interesting zombie than most. I think maybe that's the Violet Welles touch.

I'll do anything! Bruno declares, and he does mean anything. He probably thinks there aren't enough people for him to kill.

I can't tell if Pennock got a haircut between episodes.

I honestly don't remember if we actually see Mr. Schofield, although for now he does understand the value of Not Being Seen in the DS Universe. 

Poor David thinks that his broken leg has taught him how to be a good little Leviathan. Talk about abuse.

Meanwhile, Jeb has given Bruno instructions for questioning Maggie. I’ll get the information immediately! Bruno says eagerly. He adds hopefully, I suppose then you’ll want me to kill Maggie. Don’t suppose anything, Jeb says. Bruno points out, After I’ve finished with Maggie, she’ll know that you suspect Barnabas--she’ll be dangerous! Evidently this has finally occurred to Jeb too. (He’s not too bright for the leader of a supposedly superior race!) He tells the delighted Bruno, You can kill Maggie after you’re finished--but make it look like an accident.

David reads something important in The Book and decides he has to tell Jeb about it pronto.

Meanwhile, back at the mausoleum, Davenport doesn't like to see Maggie cry. My wife used to cry, he tells her. Why was that, Sheriff?

At the mausoleum, Bruno pulls a knife on Maggie, and although I was looking forward to the Dancing Lady 3.0, it turns out to be just an ordinary knife. He tries to get her to tell him about Barnabas. I hate little girls who lie, he snarls at her. Maggie insists Barnabas never said anything about a conspiracy. Bruno pounces. I didn’t use that word, he gloats, but Barnabas did. Maggie insists that he didn’t, that Paul Stoddard.... She trails off as she realizes everything Paul said is horribly true. She tries to cover her error in mentioning Paul by saying that he was her friend’s father. You know a lot more than that, Bruno says, and you’re going to tell me, aren’t you? Maggie says nothing, so Bruno puts the blade against her throat again. By this time she’s too terrified for tears but still says nothing. Bruno removes the knife. Please let me go, Maggie pleads. Bruno laughs: Let you go? Listen, when I came here before, I had no reason to kill you. But now, I have every reason in the world! You made me fail! I don't like that. He shouts to Davenport to come back in. I advise you to get used to the icy coldness the sheriff carries around with him, he warns. The same thing that killed the sheriff can kill you--and then you’ll come back just like him. Maggie starts crying. This is your last chance to talk, Bruno warns. I can’t! she sobs. Bruno turns to go. Please don’t leave me with _him_! she pleads. Why not? Bruno says carelessly. You will get used to being like that yourself--very soon.

Somehow David has wheeled himself although into town and to the antique shop. Jeb is so horrified at the idea of a werewolf that he can barely stammer the word out. But he insists that Barnabas is their worst enemy and orders David to watch him.

The ex-sheriff is standing guard over Maggie at the mausoleum when she tries to run for the door one more time. He easily stops her, and as they struggle Jeb arrives and orders the sheriff outside. Jeb walks toward Maggie, carrying the Leviathan box. Why did you do this? she asks. You will understand, Jeb promises. Everything is going to be all right--I will make everything all right. Why are you doing this? she repeats. Oh, you will know, he answers, just as you know who I really am. I do know, Maggie says, but it seems crazy. Say it, he orders her. Slowly she says, You are Michael all grown up. Jeb seems pleased and tells her, I am sorry that I had to frighten you, but you had to be taught a lesson. Now the lesson is finished--except for one more thing. Now you are going to walk out of here and you're going back to Collinwood, and everything is going to be exactly the same, except for one thing. He holds out the box and says, I want you to open the box. She hesitates a long moment, and he repeats, Go on, open the box. Do as I tell you. Open the box. Maggie stares down at the box.........

Good point, MT, about how DS seems to rearrange recent history to suit the current episode. I've always thought Barn had a soft spot for Maggie, maybe because he wants to make up for his early cruelty to her and maybe because she does remind him of Josette. Being a gentleman, he's not pushy about it, but I'm sure everyone who knows him knows that he cares for her. Jeb is mean and nasty enough to take advantage of it. If he can Leviathanize her, it would be a major strike against Barnabas.

I think that when Maggie runs into Jeb in the woods, that's the first time they've met. But she could have heard about him from anyone at Collinwood.

Regarding the car thing, Julia is supposed to take Carolyn to Portland, supposedly to meet a friend of Paul's. Julia's car will have a convenient breakdown on the way back--causing Carolyn to miss her eight-o'clock appointment with Jeb.

Good scenes and good acting in this ep., yes.

That could be true, Magnus.

Magnus, Cousin Barnabas, and Uncle Roger, I like all of your comments! But I would also add that the Bramwell-Catherine encounter resonated all the more powerfully precisely because the writers left it entirely to our imaginations.

I remember that when I first started hearing that people in--ahem!--other parts of the country took all the supernatural stuff seriously, I was absolutely incredulous. What did I know. *sigh*

Right, Uncle Roger! Definitely something to look forward to!

The hamstrings (there are three of them) are the long muscles on the backs of the thighs. Don't know how they got that name, though.

According to DS Wiki, KLS read the voiceover for this episode. The practice seemed to be that whatever actress was actually in the episode read the VO, and Lara wasn't in this one.

Yes, nice scene as Davenport begins his new zombified existence. The actor--Ed Riley--takes a moment, allowing us the chance to wonder what, if anything, is going through Davenport's mind, or what passes for one when you're a zombie. I guess he has enough of a mind that he doesn't want to return to his grave, poor guy.