Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Moving along with how Scene 111 plays in DC's script:

Continuing with Scene 111, first with yesterday's quote -

Page 51/Scene 111 - Alex: 'Quentin, you're going to laugh at this. I think you're drawn to that room. I think you're being taken over by Angelique.'

- coming up, followed by today's quote -

Page 51/Scene 111 - Quentin: 'You're right. I'm laughing.'

- coming up.

And when it comes to any differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions, at this point we can't compare the script to the film because blah, blah, blah. However, DC has a notations that after the camera switches to a close-up of Alex at the beginning of his lines, it then switches to a close-up of Quentin after Alex says he thinks Quentin is drawn to the tower room. Though, as we've learned from scenes in the shorter versions of the film, we can't necessarily blah, blah, blah, blah.

  As far as "yesterday's quote" goes, it was January 29th's this time around, and "today's quote" is indeed today's, January 30th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

A behind the scenes still related to Scene 111 that's worth revisiting...

Today I decided to share a candid still from behind the scenes of the shooting of Scene 111:

(Click here for a 868X600 version)

This still is shared on page 100 of the DS Companion.

And thanks to that '04 post by ProfStokes I was recently reminded again that Scene 111 doesn't just take place on the railroad bridge, as the script indicates, but features -

..., Quentin and Alex walking and talking about the recent bizarre events, ...

- though I have no memory of that. It's funny that some of the recovered footage is burned into my memory (like the seance sequence), whereas I have really little memory of some of the other stuff...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Continuing with how Scene 111 appears in DC's script:

Picking up Scene 111 after Quentin says he's laughing at Alex' theory about the possibility of him being taken over by Angelique:

111    CONT'D                                         CONT'D    111

And that's when yesterday's quote -

Page 52/Scene 111 - Alex: 'Well don't. Look. The same year Angelique died, Laura drowned and Charles disappeared. The drowning was recorded as an accident. But suppose Charles killed Laura?'

- comes up, followed by the script continuing with:

Quentin looks at him.                     QUENTIN           So?

And that's when today's quote -

Page 52/Scene 111 - Alex: 'Quentin, I think Tracy's in danger.'

- comes up.

And when it comes to any differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions, at this point we can't compare the script to the film because blah, blah, blah. However, DC's notations indicate that the camera would switch to a 2 shot when Alex tells Quentin not to laugh, switch to a close-up of Quentin when he looks at Alex, and switches to a close-up of Alex after Quentin asks "So?" Though, as we've learned from scenes in the shorter versions of the film, we can't necessarily blah, blah, blah, blah.

  As far as "yesterday's quote" goes, it was January 31st's this time around, and "today's quote" is indeed today's, February 1st's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Comments worth revisiting regarding January 31st's and today's quotes:

Special thanks for today's quote.  I have no memory of these lines at all (which is hardly surprising given other lapsus memoriae I have mentioned).  Interesting to learn what Laura's fate was.  "Laura my darling" paid a bitter price for that funeral laughter.

Special thanks for today's quote.

Thank Midnite - she picked June's quotes. 

Interesting to learn what Laura's fate was.  "Laura my darling" paid a bitter price for that funeral laughter.

Not to mention being a voyeur! 

However, even before reading the script, given the way the scene with Tracy in the poolhouse plays, I'd always presumed Charles had drowned Laura. But it is nice to see that confirmed in the script. And as much as I hate it that Scene 111 wasn't in the shorter versions of the films, in some ways it's almost better because then the scene with Tracy in the poolhouse comes as more of a shock because we're not anticipating it due to the parts of Scene 111 about Tracy possibly being in danger, which have yet to come up, but will begin shortly...

Although, maybe it really could be a tossup because perhaps the audience would have worried more about Tracy due to their fear that she could be drowned. Who knows? We can never be sure because only having originally seen versions of the film without Scene 111, we can never really know how we might have felt had it been included originally...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

And here are two stills worth revisiting that were also taken on the railroad bridge:

Also, even though they have no relationship to Scene 111, here are two candid stills taken on the railroad bridge of Lara Parker as Angelique:

(Click here for a 700X1050 version)


(Click here for a 700X1486 version)

Though it certainly seems as if there are very few spots on the Lyndhurst estate where she didn't take stills. 

The second still above was shared on page 23 of the movies soundtrack's booklet...

(ADMIN: Edited to replace the second still with a better quality scan)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Concluding how Scene 111 appears in DC's script:

After Alex warns Quentin that he thinks Tracy is in danger, Scene 111 continues with today's quote -

Page 52/Scene 111 - Quentin: 'Are you trying to tell me I could drown Tracy? I'm not going to listen to anymore of this. I am in complete control of myself. Have you mentioned any of this to Tracy?'

- coming up, followed by the script continuing with:

ALEX Not yet.

And when it comes to any differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions, at this point we can't compare the script to the film because blah, blah, blah. However, DC's notations indicate that the camera switches to a close-up of Quentin after Alex tells him his theory that Tracy is in danger and then things shift to a 2 shot after Quentin asks if Alex has mentioned anything to Tracy. Though, as we've learned from scenes in the shorter versions of the film, we can't necessarily blah, blah, blah, blah.

  And as far as "today's quote" goes, it was February 2nd's this time around.

Wrapping up Scene 111, beginning with today's quote -

Page 52/Scene 111 - Quentin: 'All right. I'll make a deal with you. You keep your crazy theories to yourself and I'll think about it.'

- coming up, followed by the script concluding the scene with:

ALEX Okay.           QUENTIN Let's go back to the house.

And when it comes to any differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions, at this point we can't compare the script to the film because blah, blah, blah. However, DC's final notations for the scene are all related to the dialogue. Rather than Quentin saying "All right" at the outset of today's quote, DC's script has that crossed out and replaced with "Wait a minute" - and the end of today's quote is changed to "I'll think about what you said" - and rather than Alex simply saying "Okay", that's crossed out and expanded to "As long as you stay out of the tower."

And coming up in the next post will be Grayson's script's version of Scene 111...

  And so far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, February 3rd's, this time around.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 111 is scripted in Grayson's script:

It's interesting how Grayson's script's version of Scene 111 is at times very similar to DC's script's version but also different. And in certain instances I actually like bits of the dialogue in the original better than the rewrite. But I'm sure they had their reasons. For one thing, the sections about Tracy being in danger are more heavy handed in the original and, to me, telegraph too much of what's to come, so it was good that those aspects were softened.

So, without further ado, the original version of Scene 111:

111    INT - LIBRARY - DAY                               111        as Quentin listens to Alex, a look of disbelief on        his face.                              ALEX                  Yes, she disappeared.  Now don't                  look at me that way.  I got there                  only seconds after.  And she was                  gone.  Then the whole place fell                  on my head.                              QUENTIN                  What are you trying to tell me?                              ALEX                  I think it was Angelique.                              QUENTIN                  OK, come on.  So you saw a girl --                              ALEX                  No, man, it's true.  That's why I                  was coming here -- to tell you what                  I found out.  Now, obviously, I've                  become a threat to her.        Quentin looks at him, just shaking his head.  Alex        looks at his reference books, puts his hand on them.                              ALEX                  Right from your own library --                  According to these, Angelique                  Collins was married to a man named                  Gabriel -- but was really in love                  with his brother, your favorite                  painter, Charles.  It broke the                  family apart.  Any of this familiar                  to you?                              QUENTIN                  Why should it be?                              ALEX                  Because of those little scenes of                  yours.                              QUENTIN                  Oh, Alex -- they don't mean a thing.                              ALEX                  Yesterday you said you wanted to                  talk about them. 111    CONTD                                     CONTD   111                              QUENTIN                  Well, now I don't.                              ALEX                  Why?  Because of last night?                              QUENTIN                  Alex -- I told you I just thought                  Gerard was a burglar.                              ALEX                  Then why were you screaming, "She's                  mine, brother.  She's mine"?        Quentin just stares at him.  He has no answer.                  I think you were acting out one                  of those daydreams.  You were                  Charles and you thought Gerard                  was Brother Gabriel.  You were                  fighting over...                              QUENTIN                  Angelique, of course.                              ALEX                  Quentin, what were you doing in                  the tower at two in the morning?        TRUCK IN ON CLOSE-UP OF QUENTIN.  He hesitates.        He is not going to tell him about the "dream".                              QUENTIN                  I was working.                              ALEX                  By candlelight?  You spend a lot                  of time in that room.                              QUENTIN                  What in God's name are you trying                  to get at?                              ALEX                  You're going to laugh at it...but                  I think you're drawn to that room.                  I'm afraid you're being taken over                  by Angelique.                              QUENTIN                  You're right.  I am laughing. 111    CONTD                                     CONTD   111                              ALEX                  Well, don't.        TRUCK IN on Quentin.                  There is no doubt that Charles                  despised his wife Samantha.  The                  book says she died of drowning                  and then he disappeared forever.                  But suppose he killed her?        Quentin looks at him as if he is crazy.                              QUENTIN                  I guess according to that logic                  then I'll try to kill Tracy --                  right?                              ALEX                  It's possible.                              QUENTIN                  Well -- but I don't despise Tracy.                              ALEX                  I think you will -- if you can't                  keep from going to that room.                              QUENTIN                  Alex, have you gone all the way.                  Now you're telling me I can't stay                  out of a room.  I have never known                  you to be so wrong before.  No                  matter what happened last night,                  I am in complete control of myself --                              ALEX                  Well, if you are, then humor your                  old buddy and stay away from there.                              QUENTIN                  All right, Alex!  Enough!...I'll                  think about it.  But you do some-                  thing for me --        Alex looks at him.                  Don't give Tracy any of your crazy                  theories.                              ALEX                  You've got a deal.

It's also interesting how "daydreams" is spelled correctly in Alex' dialogue in this version...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

With regard to Scene 111, Darren Gross posted on his Restoration Web site:

A selection of scenes cut from the 129-minute version that have been recovered:

...

On the railroad bridge, Alex tells Quentin the sordid history of Charles, Angelique, Gabriel, and Laura. Though dismissive of Alex's fears, Quentin agrees to stay away from the tower.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

You may or may not have noticed that when it comes to the two Angelique stills whose original post I recently revisited, the notice has been added:

(ADMIN: Edited to replace the second still with a better quality scan)

That's because I was never really pleased with the scan I'd originally posted. It was one that I'd come across on the Internet and back in 2022 I couldn't seem to get a better scan myself - some paper just doesn't always scan well and the paper used for the movies soundtrack's booklet is apparently that sort of paper. But last year I got a new scanner, so I tried scanning it again and things not only turned out much better than they had in 2022, but much better than what I'd originally posted...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 112 is scripted:

And now Scene 112 in its entirety:

CUT TO: 112    INT - FOYER - DAY                                112        A worried Tracy is at the door with Alex.

And that's when today's first quote -

Page 53/Scene 112 - Alex: 'You're right. I'm worried about him. He is changing.'

- comes up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 53/Scene 112 - Tracy: 'But why?'

- coming up, followed in the script by:

Alex opens the door.

End of scene.

And so far as any possible differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions go, we'll probably never know because this scene doesn't appear in any version of the film. And there aren't any notations in DC's script for this scene.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how the beginning of Scene 113 is scripted:

Beginning Scene 113, picking up from Scene 112:

113    EXT - COLLINWOOD - DAY                           113        They walk TOWARD THE CAMERA.

And that's when the first part of today's first quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Alex: 'That's what I'm going to try to find out.'

- comes up, followed by the script continuing with:

He picks up his bike and then, looking up at the     Tower Room,

And that's when the second part of today's first quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Alex: 'Tracy...have you ever been in that room?'

- comes up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Tracy: 'No. Why?'

- coming up.

And so far as any possible differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions go, we'll probably never know because this scene doesn't appear in any version of the film. And there aren't any notations in DC's script for this scene.

  And so far as "today's" quotes go, they were February 5th's this time around.

Continuing with Scene 113, beginning with today's first quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Alex: 'Because I think some of our answers are there.'

- coming up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Tracy: 'How could that be?'

- coming up.

And so far as any possible differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions go, we'll probably never know because this scene doesn't appear in any version of the film.

  And so far as "today's" quotes go, they are indeed today's, February 6th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Two posts worth revisiting related to Scene 113:

Yesterday's and today's graphics -

- have been made using different crops of this still -

- which has been published on page 181 of DS Return To Collinwood...

  As far as "yesterday's" and "today's" graphics go, they were February 5th's and February 6th's graphics.

...this still - which has been published on page 181 of DS Return To Collinwood

But that's not the only place it's been shared because it appeared as August's photo in the Fest's 1999 Movie Calendar -

(Click here for a 916X620 version)

- a version that shows more than the DSRTC version...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

...

... I decided to dig out some of my old issues of ShadowGram, The World of Dark Shadows and Inside The Old House, and when I glanced through issue #34 (August/September, 1989) of ITOH I discovered that I'd completely forgotten that it contains an NoDS fanfic by Kathleen Resch called For Eternity that deals with the aftermath of the 1810 events. It's written from three perspectives and three different years, the first being an 1850s narrative by one of the men who took part in Angelique's hanging, the second being from 1810 and by Charles Collins, and the third being from 1812 and by Sarah Castle. Kathleen delves into several aspects of what transpired in 1810 and afterward that the film doesn't and it's all quite satisfying. And one of the things that's most satisfying is that she gets into Gabriel's life after all the events of 1810 and ultimately what becomes of him. It's all a must read for any NoDS fan.

...

It's a shame that Alex didn't have access to the sources Kathleen cites in her piece because he would have had a lot more interesting info that he could have (privately) shared with Quentin (so as to not ruin upcoming things in the film). And the more I thought about Kathleen's piece, the more I wanted to share it, but I didn't want to have to type it all out. And with that in mind I started to look for some decent OCR software to scan the pages and pull out/save the text for me. I finally found some free software that looked good and used it today to do the first 2 pages, which I'm attaching to this post. Subsequent pages will be attached to future posts until all 9 pages have been shared.

It's a bit of a sidebar but I remember that Marcy Robin had written a pretty piece of fan fiction that appeared in either The World of Dark Shadows or Inside The Old House. It's a sequel to HODS and a prequel to NODS, as Jeff and Maggie return to visit Collinwood as part of Maggie's post Barnabas therapy. They meet Carlotta who is polite to them, informing them that David will not live there again. Carlotta does find them somewhat intriguing but will not let them interfere with what Angelique has planned. It's a pretty nice story and definitely worth being reprinted.

  Thanks for the info - Marcy's story sounds interesting. It would be funny if I have a copy of that too. At this point I don't know because I haven't glanced through all of the issues of TWoDS and ITOH that I dug out...

Unfortunately, after going through all of my TWoDS and ITOH issues, I didn't come across Marcy's story.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the rest of Scene 113 and revisiting Scene 114:

Continuing with Scene 113, beginning with today's first quote: Alex' reply to Tracy asking how can some of the answers they're looking for be in the Tower Room -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Alex: 'I don't know...think you could get in there?'

- coming up, followed by today's second quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Tracy: 'He keeps it locked and I'd rather not try.'

- coming up.

And so far as any possible differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions go, we'll probably never know because blah, blah, blah.

  As far as "today's" quotes, they were February 7th's this time around.

Wrapping up Scene 113 and moving beyond, first with Alex' scripted reaction to Tracy saying she'd rather not try to get into the Tower room:

He thinks for a moment longer.

And that's when the first part of today's quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Alex: 'OK...forget it.'

- comes up, followed by the script continuing with:

He climbs onto his bike and gives her a kiss on the        cheek and as he is about to peddle away:

And that's when the second part of today's quote -

Page 53/Scene 113 - Alex: 'Tracy, I want you to be careful.'

- comes up, followed in the script by:

113    CONTD                                    CONTD   113        She looks at him questioningly.

And that's when the third part of today's quote -

Page 54/Scene 113 - Alex (Contd): 'Just be careful...keep an eye on him and if anything else happens, call me.'

- comes up, followed in the script by:

114    He EXITS THE SHOT.  CAMERA TRUCKS IN ON TRACY.  Then        as she crosses out toward the house, RACK FOCUS TO        CARLOTTA at the stairwell window.

End of sequence.

And so far as any possible differences in the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions go, we'll probably never know because these scenes don't appear blah, blah, blah. And that's really too bad because I can just imagine the expression on Carlotta's face.

However, beginning with tomorrow's quote, the slideshow will be getting back into material that actually does appear in the film...

  And so far as "today's" quotes go, they are indeed today's, February 7th's, this time around.

 

(Attached Page 37 concludes John Morton's narrative and begins Charles Collins...)

[Mysterious Benefactor]

With regard to Scenes 112 - 114, Darren Gross posted on his Restoration Web site:

The following is a list of scenes that are still lost and which are not present in the 129 min version recovered in 1999.

...

INT.FOYER. Alex talks to Tracy, exits. EXT.COLLINWOOD. Tracy tells Alex she’ll look in tower. RACK FOCUS- CARLOTTA watches from stairwell window.

And something that it seems I've continually neglected to mention most of the time is that when it comes to Scene 114 in Grayson's script she made the notation: I don't like them. How much do they know? What are they conspiring?

Well, when it comes to that first entry, it hardly comes as a surprised that Carlotta feels that way toward Alex and Tracy. Though I can just imagine what the expression on her face would have been like had we gotten to see it. But alas...