Episode 74: Speak of angels and they shall appear

Dark Shadows revolves around the unearthing of the long-buried secrets of the ancient and wealthy Collins family. In today’s episode, the members of the family are so spectacularly indiscreet that we might wonder how any of them could keep a secret buried from one commercial break to the next, let alone store up enough to keep them busy for 1225 episodes.

Dashing action hero Burke Devlin unlocks the door to his hotel suite and finds problem child David Collins waiting for him inside. David cheerfully explains how he made his way past the locked door. When Burke tells him that what he has done is illegal, David replies that “Nothing is against the law unless you get caught.” Startled to hear a nine year old express so nihilistic a world view, Burke asked where he heard such a thing. David says he heard it from Burke. Burke says that he doesn’t remember saying it, and that if he did say it he was wrong. David asks Burke if he’s ever killed anyone. “Not that I remember,” he replies- not exactly a reassuring statement, considering that he just told David about something he doesn’t remember. And of course returning viewers will recall that Burke went to prison for a fatal hit-and-run that took place when he was drunk and blacked out.

David goes on to tell Burke everything he knows, or thinks he knows, about the death of beloved local man Bill Malloy. He tells him that he has derived most of his information from voices he hears when he is alone in his room at night. He can’t keep this to himself, even though he expects it to discredit him in Burke’s eyes. He looks forlornly out the window as he struggles with telling Burke:

There is a knock. At Burke’s suggestion, David hides in the kitchen. Burke opens the door and finds David’s cousin, flighty heiress Carolyn. Carolyn is upset with Burke, thinking that Burke is dating well-meaning governess Vicki and that he has yet another girlfriend hidden somewhere in the suite. Burke is relaxed. Carolyn’s obvious jealousy amuses him, and her denials of it amuse him even more. When Carolyn discovers that Burke’s guest is not a girlfriend, but David, their flustered reactions to each other amuse him most of all. Burke puts a glass of fruit juice* in Carolyn’s hand; she holds it, but refuses to take a drink. Eventually Burke’s good cheer wins out, and the three of them are all laughing together.

The tension doesn’t dissipate completely, however, until after Carolyn has brought up a point we haven’t heard about for several weeks. Burke had given Carolyn an engraved pen. Roger had insisted she give it back to Burke. He took it from her with the intention of returning it to Burke the night Bill Malloy died. He mentioned it to Burke that night, but found that the pen wasn’t on him. The whole matter was forgotten until Carolyn raises it here.

Meanwhile, at the great house of Collinwood, reclusive matriarch Liz and her brother, high-born ne’er-do-well Roger, have heard the news that the coroner ruled Bill Malloy’s death an accident. After weeks of attention from the sheriff in connection with a possible homicide, Roger is elated at this verdict. He is so unrestrained in his jubilation that his sister looks at him with renewed suspicion. When she tells him in so many words that it did occur to her that he might have killed Bill, he responds very lightly, saying that she must be relieved she doesn’t have to think about that any more. He insists she drink a toast with him. He puts a glass of brandy in her hand. She holds it, but refuses to take a drink. She tells him that his son David has run off and is probably with Burke. Roger responds that “Today, on this glorious day of days, neither David nor Burke exist for me!” He then goes fluttering off, taking his celebration into the world outside. He almost dances as he puts his hat on:

Carolyn and David are still in Burke’s hotel suite. She makes a telephone call, and comes back with news she is excited to share. Her mother Liz has told her of the coroner’s verdict. Burke, who has responded to everything else with an urbane and chipper demeanor, bursts out in rage, demanding that Carolyn take David and get out of his room. When she complies, we see him looking out his window. Seen from the outside, ex-convict Burke looks like a prisoner dolefully peering through the bars of his cell.

Burke goes to the sheriff’s office to rage some more, Carolyn and David go back to the house to chat with Liz. The big idea is that the Malloy case is now closed. Everyone except Burke is happy about that; he vows he won’t accept it. The audience is in suspense. The show has built the case up so much for the last several weeks that it would seem ridiculous simply to move on. However, there was a previous mystery story, the investigation into Roger’s near-fatal car accident, and the family managed to hush that up. So regular viewers might wonder if this one will end equally abruptly.

*The “Burke Devlin Special,” previously prepared for David on his first visit to Burke’s quarters in episode 29, at the height of the story about the investigation into Roger’s accident.