Well-meaning governess Vicki has been rescued from her ordeal as prisoner of the homicidal fugitive Matthew. Now Matthew is dead, Vicki is home, and dashing action hero Burke is having a truce with his sworn enemies, the ancient and esteemed Collins family, during which they try to figure out what the heck just happened.
Vicki is very clear that she saw the ghost of Josette Collins and that a bunch of other ghosts came and scared Matthew to death. The others aren’t quite willing to accept that, but they don’t have any other explanations.
Vicki tells reclusive matriarch Liz that she saw a resemblance to her own face in the ghost of Josette. The show has been hinting pretty heavily that Vicki is Liz’ illegitimate daughter, and Liz reacts to Vicki’s speculation that Josette might be one of her ancestors with a visible shock. She scrambles to cover that feeling and in her most demure voice (which, since she is played by Joan Bennett, is the most demure voice ever heard) says that if she were that would make her a Collins, “and that hardly seems likely.” She also says that Vicki does not resemble the portrait of Josette Collins.
Vicki says that if you look closely at the portrait, there is a resemblance. And so there is. The eyes are the right distance apart, the nose and mouth are about right, and the coloring is the same. The cheeks and chin are a little different, but considering that it is an oil painting rather than a photograph, it is possible that Alexandra Moltke Isles could have sat for it.
Shortly before Matthew took her prisoner, Vicki had told Burke that because he was her employers’ enemy, she could never speak to him again. That’s gone out the window now. Burke visits her in her bedroom, and they have a nice chat. Liz tells Burke that he can bring nothing but trouble to Vicki and flighty heiress Carolyn, to whom she refers as “the girls” and between whom she pointedly draws no distinctions. Not only is the prospect of a Vicki/ Burke relationship back in the cards, but Liz’ denial that Vicki is her daughter and Carolyn’s half-sister is getting thinner and thinner.
Acilius on Dark Shadows 