Happy 50th Anniversary, Night of Dark Shadows

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how a good bit of Scene 51 is scripted:

Setting up the new scene:

51     INT - PANTRY - DAY                                51        Gerard is filling a thermos of coffee from the        electric urn.  Carlotta enters. 51     CONTD                                     CONTD   51

And that's when today's quote -

Page 18/Scene 51 - Gerard: 'Do you know what happened last night? [She does not answer.] Do you?'

- comes up.

And there are still no differences between the way DC's and Grayson Hall's scripts are written up to this point. However, once again Grayson's script has extensive notes for this scene, and once again we'll get into all of them as the scene unfolds. But for now, the first notations are that with this scene there's a big transition from the previous scene - here for Carlotta it's all about power and intent and desperation - and Carlotta's not answering Gerard's question at first is her way of angrily giving it to him.

And as for anything that's different with the dialogue, the only thing is that Gerard asks "Do you?" much more forcefully than the script might indicate.

And as for what's different when it comes to the directions and descriptions, Gerard fills his thermos from a pot of coffee, not from an electric urn - and Grayson adds the notation to her script that Carlotta enters "with tray + coffee".

And finally I do have to say that I love the expression on Carlotta's face in today's capture, and here's a closer look:

  And so far as "today's quote" goes, it was September 18th this time around.

Continuing with Scene 51, beginning with today's first quote -

Page 18/Scene 51 - Carlotta: 'Everything has changed now. You must accept-'

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

Page 18/Scene 51 - Gerard (interrupting): 'I was good enough before he came, now...'

- coming up.

And while there are still no differences between the way DC's and Grayson Hall's scripts are written up to this point, for this section the next notations in Grayson's script say "other side" (and I'm not quite sure what that means), "no pretense", and "authoritative".

And as for what's different with the dialogue, Carlotta actually says "Everything has changed now. You must accept that" - and Gerard, with a pronounced and unscripted stutter, actually replies with "I was good enough until he came around. Now..." And what's unfortunate about all this is that as the film currently stands, the audience doesn't have the vaguest clue as to what they're talking about. Not that everything would be clear with Scenes 41 through 44 in the film because there would still be quite a bit of mystery - but at least the audience would know that Quentin was drawn to the tower room, Gerard is aware of that because while he was outside the night before he saw Quentin pass by the tower room windows, and for some reason as yet unknown, Gerard reacted to that sight with blazing hatred.

And as for what's different with the directions and descriptions, Gerard doesn't actually cut Carlotta off.

  And as far as "today's" quotes go, they are indeed today's, September 19th's, this time around.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the start of the subtitles/closed captioning for Scene 51:

...

The closed captioning reflects Gerard's stuttered delivery of his first line -

- whereas the subtitles do not -

- and after Gerard demands, "Do you?!" Carlotta explains that everything has changed and he must accept it - however, his somewhat stuttered comeback is, "I was good enough until he came around, Now..." - but for some reason the subtitles have -

- and the closed captioning completely drops the "Now..." part -

More to come...

...

 

[Uncle Roger]

I found it interesting that a variation of the Carlotta/Gerard scene occurs between Mrs. Johnson and Willie in an early episode of the NBC Dark Shadows. The aunt/nephew relationship is the same but that's about it. Perhaps it was a foreshadowing of a potential later storyline. Perhaps not. But interesting just the same.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the wrap up of Scene 51...

...beginning with today's quote -

Page 18/Scene 51 - Carlotta (snapping at him): 'Go to the stables. He will be down to ride soon. [Gerard is about to object.] I've told you things are different now.'

- coming up, followed by the script explaining:

She just looks at him.  Finally, he turns and        slams his way out of the room.

And there are still no differences between the way DC's and Grayson Hall's scripts are written up to this point. However, Grayson's script notation for this part says "On the edge of violence. Losing temper."

And as for anything that's different with the dialogue, Carlotta actually says "Now listen! I want you to go to the stables. He'll be there soon to ride. I've told you that everything was different now."

And as for what's different when it comes to the directions and descriptions, Gerard doesn't attempt to object in the middle of Carlotta's lines - and Gerard doesn't so much slam his way out of the room as he grabs his thermos and the cover and leaves - however, in an unscripted action, Carlotta carries the tray over to the counter and slams it down in anger and frustration. And I love her body language -

- because there's no doubt as to who's in charge.

  And so far as "today's quote" goes, it is indeed today's, September 20th's, this time around.

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the wrap up of the subtitles/closed captioning for Scene 51:

...

Both the subtitles and the closed captioning acknowledge that Carlotta cuts off Gerard with an unscripted -

- and after Carlotta orders Gerard to go to the stables because Quentin will be there soon to ride, she reiterates, "I've told you that everything was different now." - however, both the subtitles and the closed captioning have -

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting some comments about Carlotta and her wardrobe:

Carlotta was the real Mistress of Collinwood.  That becomes crystal clear in a much later scene with Tracy.

I love all the scenes in the film between Carlotta and Tracy, particularly the one to which I believe you're referring! 

...

Carlotta certainly has an ... interesting ... wardrobe for a housekeeper!

And I've always wondered how close she came to damaging the silver and/or the countertop ... 😁

Carlotta certainly has an ... interesting ... wardrobe for a housekeeper!

I can't remember where, but I seem to recall reading something (official - not just a post on the Internet) that said Grayson picked out or at least helped to pick out all of Carlotta's clothes.

And I've always wondered how close she came to damaging the silver and/or the countertop ... 😁

Let's hope not. But yeah, she does slam that try down forcefully...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Some more posts worth revisiting:

How often do I say that no matter how many times you see something there may still be new things to notice? Well, here's yet another example because I never noticed until this time around how elegant the lighting in Collinwood's (Lyndhurst's) Pantry isn't:

I mean, a bare bulb? Not even a shade of any sort? Could they spare the expense? Not to mention why in heaven's name do they need the room to be lighted by the unrestrained glare of a bare bulb?

Though one likely reason why I've finally noticed it is that the wider DVD/Blu-ray transfer shows much more of the light fixture than the VHS/Laser did:

But why it took me all these years since the DVD/Blu-ray was released is anyone's guess. Well, except considering the main focus of my attention is usually on Gerard and Carlotta - plus before the fixture comes into view Gerard exits the room from the opposite side of where the light fixture hangs. All that plus the fixture is only on screen for about 2 seconds. (And actually, I wonder why DC even moved the camera because it's not like the move was necessary to show either Gerard exiting or Carlotta moving to the counter. But then ours is not to try to fathom DC's thinking...) Though in my defense this time around was the first time I broke the scene down into frames, which is something that makes it easier to pick the best frames for the subtitles and closed captioning, especially when it comes to the VHS/Laser because if the camera is moving, that part of a shot is likely to be blurred when it comes to that transfer.

...

Wow, what an amazing detail, MB! I literally LOL'd even before I got to your words below the photo! 😄😆

Wow, what an amazing detail, MB! I literally LOL'd even before I got to your words below the photo! 😄😆

Yeah, it is funny in an I can't believe they (meaning Lyndhurst) left the light like that way - but it was also tacky. Who knows what the reason was? 

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 52 is scripted:

...

52     EXT - STABLES - DAY                               52        The two dogs are playing in the stable yard as        Quentin ENTERS under the archway.  Suddenly the        dogs become hostile.  Quentin stops, frowns,        then keeps walking.  The dogs wait for a moment        and then start slowly for him.  They are snarling        viciously as Gerard appears in the doorway.

And that's when yesterday's quote -

Page 18/Scene 52 - Gerard: 'Inside, boys! Inside!'

- comes up, followed by the script explaining:

The dogs hesitate for a moment but then turn        and run inside.  Quentin crosses to the door.

And that's when today's quote -

Page 18/Scene 52 - Quentin: 'I'd keep them chained if I were you.'

- comes up, followed by the script continuing with:

Gerard does not agree or disagree but just starts        inside.                  You're Gerard Stiles. 52     CONTD                                     CONTD   52                              GERARD                  That's right.        Quentin starts into the stable.                              QUENTIN                  I'm Mr. Collins.

End of scene. However, ... everything is so different in the film - and it's probably easiest to deal with the differences with the dialogue, the directions, and the descriptions all at once.

So, unlike how the script says that we see the dogs playing and when Quentin arrives, they become vicious and slowly make a move toward Quentin before Gerard stops them, as can be seen in the following capture, in the film Scene 52 starts off with shots of Gerard repairing brickwork -

- and as Gerard does this, off camera we hear Quentin call out "Stiles" and then introduce himself with "I'm Mr. Collins - and it isn't until the next camera shot that we see that Gerard is up on some scaffolding repairing brickwork near the roof of a part of the stable building, the dogs are quietly standing near the base of the ladder, and Quentin has just entered the stable yard, as can all be seen in the next capture -

- and after that point Gerard actually replies with "Yeah. Yeah, I know. I, uh...", and then with a nod of his head toward the stable itself, Gerard adds "I got your horse ready for ya" before he moves to the ladder, he begins to climb down, and Quentin walks over to the bottom of the ladder as the dogs simply look over at him as he approaches, turn their attention to Gerard coming down the ladder and reaching the bottom by jumping down the last few steps, and then growl just the slightest bit as Gerard turns to Quentin and then turns to lead Quentin to the stable. And that's it - nothing really happening with the dogs at all. And there's probably a really good reason for that, as well as why Gerard is actually seen doing brickwork rather than simply appearing at the doorway to the stable. But I'm going to hold off getting into all that until after we reach Scenes 105 & 106 in the script...

And there are still no differences between the way DC's and Grayson Hall's scripts are written up to this point.

  And as far as "yesterday's quote" goes, it was indeed yesterday's, September 21st's, this time around, and "today's quote" is indeed today's, September 22nd.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Some questions and trivia related to Scene 52:

Hmmm - I wonder which is 'Flash Weiner' -

- and which is 'Boy Powers'? We'll probably never know...

...

I've probably mentioned this before but Art Haggerty popped up in Deborah Harry's music video for Liar Liar. She's a gangster and her associates are Haggerty and Al Lewis. Haggerty comes off as menacing but really shouldn't dance. And, since it's tied in to the movie Married To The Mob, there's a brief glimpse of Michele Pfeiffer as well.

Perhaps it's best, then, that Strack's henchman was never called on to dance. 

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting unscripted dialogue from Scene 52:

Given how Scene 52 is so different in the film from the way it's scripted, there's quite a bit unscripted dialogue to feature, starting with how Quentin first calls out -

"Styles."

- when he arrives and sees Gerard doing brickwork - (and when I saw that both the closed captioning and the subtitles spell Gerard's last name with a "y" (Styles) rather than with an "i" (Stiles) -

- I thought that it was funny that they'd both made a mistake, well, until I checked the end credits  -

- and saw that unlike the daytime show, and more importantly, the script, it is indeed spelled "Styles" (though at least that's not as bad as the "Todd Blake/Todd Jennings" of hoDS!)) - and after which Quentin identifies himself with -

"I'm Mr. Collins."

- (which is scripted under different circumstances) and to which Gerard replies -

"Yeah. Yeah, I know. I, uh... I got your horse ready for ya."

...

(ADMIN: Edited to replace TV video screen capture)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the subtitles/closed captioning for Scene 52:

Starting to deal with the subtitles and the closed captioning for the mostly unscripted dialogue for Scene 52:

Both the subtitles and the closed captioning acknowledge that the scene actually begins with Quentin calling out to Gerard -

- and then both the subtitles and the closed captioning acknowledge that Quentin introduces himself, which is scripted to end the scene, but actually comes up next -

More to come...

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Wrapping up revisiting the subtitles/closed captioning with the next batch of unscripted dialogue for Scene 52:

...

After Quentin introduces himself, the closed captioning shows that Gerard begins to respond by saying -

 - as do the subtitles -

- though in his stuttering the subtitles also show that Gerard begins his next sentence with an "I" that the closed captioning -

 - doesn't acknowledge.

End of dialogue for the scene.

...

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 53 is scripted:

...

53     INT - STABLE - DAY                                53        There are four horses in their stalls.  Gerard        stands looking at them as Quentin crosses to him.

And that's when yesterday's first quote -

Page 19/Scene 53 - Gerard: 'You ride well?'

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

Page 19/Scene 53 - Quentin: 'I used to. When I was a kid. But it's been a long time. You better give me an easy one.'

- coming up, followed by the script continuing with:

Gerard takes a saddle from the rack and crosses to        a large black stallion.  He begins to saddle him        up.  Suddenly, he is friendly.                              GERARD                  You ought to be able to handle                  this one.        Quentin crosses to the horse and looks him over.                              QUENTIN                  Good-looking.

And that's when today's quote -

Page 19/Scene 53 - Gerard: 'His name's Ulysses. Just give him his head and you'll think you're in a rocking chair.'

- comes up, followed by the script continuing with:

QUENTIN                  I'll do my best.        He puts his foot in the stirrup and swings up        into the saddle.  He adjusts the reins and is        about to start forward.                              GERARD                  I saw your wife today.        Quentin looks down at him. 53     CONTD                                     CONTD   53                              QUENTIN                  Yes.        A long pause.                              GERARD                  She rides, doesn't she?                              QUENTIN                  She does.  But she won't today.                  I'll be back in a few hours.        He spurs the horse forward.  HOLD ON Gerard as        Quentin EXITS THE SHOT.

End of scene. Though, as I said yesterday, the first half of the scene doesn't appear in the film as it stands now. However, if I understand things correctly, some version of the first half does appear in DC's original cut. But what's in the film at this point begins with Quentin putting his foot in the stirrup.

And obviously in the first half of the scene we don't know what the differences, if any, might be in the dialogue. However, as Quentin mounts the horse, he actually appears to say an unscripted "Good-looking, Phillips", which would seem to indicate that the horse's name has been changed in the film (quite possibly to the horse's real name), and after he's mounted, he actually tells the horse "Come on" as he's about to start off before Gerard speaks - and after Gerard asks if Quentin's wife rides, Quentin asks an unscripted "What did you say?" - to which Gerard asks with a stutter "I said she, she rides, doesn't she?" - to which Quentin actually responds with "Yes, she does", and then after telling the horse "Come on", he tells Gerard, "But not today", with nothing about being back in a few hours.

And as with the dialogue, we have no way of knowing what differences there might be when it comes to the directions and descriptions in the first half of the scene. However, so far as what is in the film, everything plays basically as scripted, although, it all takes place outside in the stable yard, not inside the stable - and when Gerard hears that Quentin's wife rides, he gets a smile on his face and then a look as if he'll be up to something.

And there are still no differences between the way DC's and Grayson Hall's scripts are written up to this point. However, in DC's script he has a notation in the first half of the scene that indicates that when Gerard is saddling the horse the saddle would be seen in the foreground as the camera shot then moves to Gerard in close-up.

  And so far as "yesterday's" quotes go, they were indeed yesterday's, September 23rd's, this time around, and "today's quote" is indeed today's, September 24th.

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting how Scene 53 is also different in the film from the way it's scripted -

- and there's also quite a bit unscripted dialogue to feature, starting with unlike how Quentin is scripted to cross to the horse Gerard has picked for him, look him over, remark, "Good-looking, " and then put his foot in the stirrup and swing up into the saddle, what actually happens is Quentin says directly to the horse -

"Good-looking, Phillips,"

- as he puts his foot in the stirrup - and after he's mounted, Quentin actually tells the horse -

"Come on."

- as he's about to start off before Gerard says he saw Quentin's wife and asks if she rides to which Quentin asks an unscripted -

"What did you say?"

- and Gerard replies with an unscripted -

"I said, 'She, she rides, doesn't she?'"

- and after Quentin says she does, he throws in an unscripted -

"Come on."

- which for some reason the closed captioning doesn't acknowledge as Quentin begins to turn the horse before he finishes the scripted dialogue that she's not riding today, and then he rides off.

It's interesting that David Selby had never ridden a horse because nowhere is that apparent on film - the instruction Grayson Hall gave him must have been quite good.

And I love the smile Gerard exhibits after Quentin confirms that his wife rides - Gerard knows that obviously means that she's going to show up at the stables one day, though sadly that scene didn't make it into the film.

...

(ADMIN: Edited to replace TV video screen capture)

 

[Mysterious Benefactor]

Revisiting the start of the subtitles/closed captioning for the unscripted dialogue for the beginning of Scene 53 as it currently stands:

...

As Quentin inserts his foot in a stirrup, he actually says an unscripted, "Good-looking, Phllips," to the horse - however, both the subtitles and the closed captioning have -

 - and after Quentin is mounted and the horse moves a bit, Quentin tells him -

- which the closed captioning acknowledges, but the subtitles do not - and he tells the horse -

 - as he's about to start off, and which both the subtitles and the closed captioning acknowledge correctly.

More to come...

...

And an interesting thing about the "Whoa" that Quentin says soon after he mounts the horse is that I can't even hear him say it on the Blu-ray or the Amazon version of the film, which is the reason it's not included in the above post regarding the unscripted dialogue, but it is definitely heard on the VHS and Laser versions. And the reason why I can't hear it on the Blu-ray/Amazon version is most probably because the horse's snort, which he does as soon as Quentin mounts him, seems so much louder than on the VHS/Laser. But then we know only too well that these different versions of the film do indeed have different sound mixes.