Before a shocked audience, a shell-shocked Elizabeth remembers the fateful night 18 years ago that lead to the death of Paul Stoddard, and of the deal she struck with Jason to conceal the murder.

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Jonathan Frid

Mitchell Ryan

Grayson Hall

Nancy Barrett

Joan Bennett

David Henesy

Joel Crothers

Kathryn Leigh Scott

Louis Edmonds

John Karlen

Sharon Smyth

Clarice Blackburn

David Ford

Alexandra Isles

Dennis Patrick

John Sedwick

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Now that Laura is "dead", Elizabeth awakens from her coma and immediately wants to return to Collinwood.  Victoria talks to David about his experience, but the only thing he remembers is the fishing shack. Victoria tells him that his mother had to leave town without him.  After David leaves, Burke comes into the drawing room with Vickie and shows her Laura's locket, which he found in the ashes of the shack.

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Sam receives an offer of professional exhibition of his paintings, but needs to regain some of his earlier works which are now owned by Roger. A stranger makes an appearance at the Blue Whale.

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Elizabeth returns to Collinwood and is frantic to regain the key to the locked room in the mansion's basement. Victoria later sees Elizabeth leave the mysterious room.

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Elizabeth makes Victoria vow to keep her visit to the locked room a secret. Meanwhile, a stranger arrives at Collinwood asking to see Elizabeth.

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The stranger reveals himself to be an old acquaintance of Elizabeth's, Jason McGuire. Despite her protestations, Jason insists that he will be staying at Collinwood until further notice.

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Elizabeth refuses to let her brother have the key to the locked room in the basement. Roger is later disarmed to discover Jason snooping about in the basement.

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Maggie releases that the paintings were sold to Roger as a cover for a bribe. Elizabeth stops Roger from gaining access to the locked room in the basement.

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Jason McGuire meets with his friend Willie Loomis at the Blue Whale. A broken Sam admits to Burke the truth of his involvement in providing Roger with an alibi for the car accident.

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Burke and Sam confront Roger, who finally breaks down and confesses he was responsible for killing the man who Burke went to prison for. Jason makes another attempt to get into the locked room in the basement, but David catches him. Victoria and Carolyn start to suspect Jason and think he must have some kind of hold over Elizabeth. Jason tries to get into the locked room again, but Elizabeth catches him. She tells him to leave Collinwood immediately, but Jason points out to her that she killed Paul Stoddard 18 years ago and he helped her bury him.

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Roger is forced to confess that it was him that drove the car that killed a man 10 years earlier, not Burke. Elizabeth is distraught to learn the truth and Roger is left devastated.

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Joe almost comes to blows with Willie Loomis at the Blue Whale after lewd comments are made to Maggie. Willie later joins Jason as a guest at Collinwood, in spite of Elizabeth's protestations.

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Victoria finds herself the disgusted victim of Willie's lecherous advances and is especially concerned by the way in which Elizabeth seems unable to intervene.

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Carolyn is appalled by Willie's advances and uses a gun to scare him off. Both she and Victoria are disturbed by his antisocial behaviour and propensity for violence.

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Willie becomes intrigued by the portrait of Barnabas Collins that hangs in the Collinwood foyer and the jewellery it depicts. Carolyn pressures Elizabeth for answers on the new arrivals.

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Burke offers his support to Elizabeth if she needs help to combat the hold Jason has over her. However, though obviously distressed, Elizabeth refuses to acknowledge that she is being blackmailed.

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Burke and Willie come to blows in the Blue Whale, when Willie threatens him with a knife. After the fight, Willie tells Jason he will only leave town if he is given money to do so.

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Willie continues to be fascinated by the portrait of Barnabas and decides to do some research. After he learns that the Collins family were buried with their jewels, he begins to form a plan.

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Willie visits the Eagle Hill cemetery and encounters the elderly caretaker, and claims to be a Collins family relative. Entering the family crypt, he is terrified to hear a mysterious heartbeat.

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Everyone at Collinwood now believes that Will will soon be leaving town. Meanwhile, Willie Loomis attempts to open the tomb of Naomi Collins, hoping to find some of her jewlery buried with her. He finds a secret room. Inside it, he finds a coffin. Thinking that there might be jewels inside it, he opens the coffin. A hand comes out of the coffin and grabs his throat.

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Elizabeth is disturbed by Willie's disappearence. While she did want him to leave, he did not take any of his belongings or the money Elizabeth offered him with him. Jason, looking for Willie, finds out from the caretaker that Willie had broken into the Collins Mausoleum the night before. At Collinwood, Mrs. Johnson opens the door and finds a man who asks for Elizabeth. Mrs. Johnson goes to tell Elizabeth, but first asks the man's name. He tells her his name is Barnabas Collins - the name of the man in the portrait that is hanging in the foyer at that moment.

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Barnabas tells Elizabeth that he is from England, and is the only surviving member of the English branch. When asked, he tells her that he is thinking of possibly settling down in Collinsport. Barnabas visits the Old Hous and finds David Collins playing there. After David leaves the Old House, Barnabas begins to talk to the portrait of Josette Collins.

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Jason tries to get more money out of Elizabeth, which upsets her because she still does not know whether Willie Loomis has left town. At the Blue Whale, Burke tells Carolyn that he is sorry for using her to hurt her family. Carolyn thinks that Jason is holding something against her mother. Jason warns Carolyn that if she doesn't stop asking questions her mother will get into trouble.

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Barnabas meets Victoria at the Old House. He tells Victoria about the history of the Old House. Roger and Carolyn meet Barnabas at the Collinwood. They are both astonished by how much he looks like the original Barnabas Collins.

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Joe tells Burke and Maggie that a calf was found drained of blood. Willie, visibly shaken/shaking, shows up at the Blue Whale, Burke plans to kick him out, but Willie apologizes for his behavior the other evening. Jason questions Willie tries to give him the money to leave town, but evades the questions and tells Jason he will be staying. Jason notices blood on Willie's sleeve.

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Jason drags Willie back to Collinwood to apologize and then leave. Willie passes out after looking at the portrait of Barnabas. Jason convinces Elizabeth that Willie is sick and let him stay at Collinwood until he is better. Jason discovers a wound on Willie's wrist.

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Carolyn and Victoria are confused by Willie's recent illness and behavior. Carolyn tries to find out what trouble her mother is in. Willie attempts to leave, but Jason stops him. After dark Willie hears the sound of a heartbeat and knows that something is calling him. Jason sees Willie sneak out of the house and follows him to the graveyard. Willie enters the secret room in the Collins Mausoleum, and Jason is unable to find him.

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After searching for Willie, Jason leaves the cemetery, and Barnabas emerges. Barnabas asks Elizabeth if he can move into the Old House, she says she will have to think about it. Barnabas meets Jason who remarks on the resemblance to the portrait. Roger encourages Elizabeth to let Barnabas move into the Old House. Barnabas goes to the Collins Mausoleum after leaving Collinwood.

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Willie, weak after being out all night, returns to Collinwood. Jason believes Willie has been out grave robbing. Roger attempts to kick out Willie but is too weak to go. The sheriff tells Roger that animals are being "drained" of blood. Dr. Woodard finds that Willie is suffering from a massive loss of blood.

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Willie starts to feel a better and decides to leave. Willie tries to tell Elizabeth something but she doesn't want to hear it. Elizabeth agrees to let Barnabas live in the Old House. Barnabas goes to the Old House and Willie joins him.

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Barnabas visits the coffee shop and talks with Maggie. Barnabas leaves his cane behind. Joe arrives to pickup Maggie and she notices the cane, they decide to return it to Barnabas. Willie asks Barnabas what his plans are for Maggie, he knows that Barnabas has "plans" for her. Later Maggie feels as if someone is watching her.

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Victoria goes to the Old House and finds Willie is now working for Barnabas, Willie is eager for Victoria to leave. Barnabas commissions Sam Evans to paint his portrait; Barnabas is insistent that he work only at night. Sam paints all night as sunrise approaches Barnabas disappears.

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Victoria tells Elizabeth that Willie is now working for Barnabas. Elizabeth goes to the Old House to speak to Barnabas and David follows her (against her wishes). David is disturbed by all the changes that have been made to the Old House. Burke asks Elizabeth has sold some land to raise cash, he suspects that Jason McGuire has something to do with it. David goes back to the Old House and is locked in, with the sound of howling dogs outside.

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David asks Barnabas if he can have the portrait of Josette, Barnabas tells him it belongs to the Old House, but he can still visit it. Elizabeth asks Barnabas to fire Willie, but he convinces her that Willie will cause no problems. Jason believes Willie is up to something now that he is working for Barnabas. Maggie, disturbed by the recent attacks of women in town, dreams that she is dead in a coffin.

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Maggie is disturbed by the dream she had; Joe takes her to the Blue Whale. Later Sam and Barnabas show up, Maggie tries to avoid Barnabas. Burke shows up and meets Barnabas. When Maggie leaves Barnabas wishes her "sweet dreams". After Maggie goes to sleep Barnabas creeps into her room.

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Maggie is edgy and tired after last night, although she is weak she insists on going to work. In the coffee shop Maggie passes out. As night falls, Maggie starts to feel better. Sam works on Barnabas' portrait; later Barnabas steps out for some "air" to visit Maggie.

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Jason manages to get Elizabeth to give him a job at the Collins cannery. As a result everyone wonders what hold Jason has over Elizabeth. Carolyn finds out that Paul Stoddard's belongings are stored in the locked room in the basement and becomes determined to find the key.

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Maggie becomes increasing sick; Sam calls the doctor despite Maggie's protests. Victoria tells Burke that Jason is now working for the Collins cannery. Dr. Woodard tells Sam and Joe that Maggie is suffering from a loss of blood. Following sunset Maggie kicks Joe out, who was looking after her. Victoria notices that Maggie's symptoms are the same as Willie's were. Sam finds Maggie has disappeared.

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Following Maggie's disappearance everyone searches for her. Willie finds out from Victoria that Maggie has disappeared; Later Willie (anonymously) tells Victoria that Maggie can be found at the graveyard on Eagle Hill. Maggie meets Barnabas, however he and Willie are forced to leave her behind when Burke and Victoria arrive and find Maggie. Barnabas and Willie hide in the secret room in the Collins Mausoleum. Barnabas beats Willie for betraying him. After getting Maggie home everyone discovers the fang marks on her neck.

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Dr. Woodard examines Maggie and orders a blood transfusion. Maggie struggles as they give her the transfusion. Sam watches over Maggie as she sleeps, but he dozes off. Sam awakes as Maggie gets out of bed and leaves the house.

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Maggie appears to be feeling better, but then her mood changes and demands that Joe leave. Joe gets Victoria to watch over Maggie. Jason questions Willie about Maggie's disappearance. Willie warns Jason to stop asking questions for his own good. Victoria watches over Maggie, then the lighting flashes and in the doorway there is a figure of a man.

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A violent storm rages and the power goes out. Later Barnabas shows up and tells Victoria and Carolyn the story of Josette Collins and how she jumped from Widow's hill. Victoria tells Barnabas how someone called with a tip that Maggie could be found in the cemetery. Jason tells Barnabas that Willie is up to something. Barnabas returns to the Old House screaming for Willie.

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Barnabas beats Willie and accuses him of tipping off Victoria that Maggie could be found at Eagle Hill Cemetery. Barnabas also warns Willie to get Jason McGuire to stop asking questions. Dr. Woodard examines Maggie again and is still puzzled by her illness. Victoria watches over Maggie. Sam works on Barnabas' portrait and Barnabas steps out for some night air. Maggie becomes agitated and wants Victoria to leave. Victoria goes to call for help, the door slams behind her and the sound of vicious dogs can be heard.

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Maggie is found unconscious and the wounds on her neck have been re-opened. Dr. Woodard moves Maggie to the hospital. The nurse watches over Maggie as she sleeps, Maggie appears to get worse, the nurse examines her then goes to get the doctor. When they both return Maggie is gone and the window is wide open. The nurse tells Dr. Woodard that there was every indication that Maggie was dead.

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Maggie is missing, Dr. Woodard thinks she may be dead. Burke and Joe go to the Old House to question Willie, however he is not there and Barnabas vouches for his whereabouts. After they leave Maggie comes out of an adjoining room. Barnabas gives Maggie Josette's music box and tells her she will be Josette.

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The sheriff questions Willie about the night someone called to report that Maggie was seen at Eagle Hill Cemetery. The sheriff suspects the strange things happening in Collinsport are somehow related to Willie. Jason questions Willie, he is afraid Willie is attracting too much attention; Jason warns Willie to leave town.

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Victoria and Carolyn visit the Old House to see the restoration work Willie and Barnabas have done. Willie tries to get them to leave. Barnabas plans to have dinner with Josette(Maggie).

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Barnabas dines with Maggie(aka Josette). Sam goes to the Old House to tell Barnabas that he cannot work on the portrait while his daughter is missing. Maggie overhears her father and Joe downstairs, she cries out and attempts to get away.

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David sneaks down to the Old House to search for Josette, Barnabas catches and tells him that he should not trespass. Roger tells Barnabas that Dr. Woodard has some blood samples from Maggie that might be of some help finding her. David sneaks back to Old House and sees Maggie(but thinks she is Josette).

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David speaks with Maggie, thinking she is Josette. Roger, Victoria and Barnabas find David and lecture him again about trespassing. Barnabas reminds Maggie that she is Josette. Barnabas provides an alibi for Willie to the sheriff. Maggie calls out for David.

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Dr. Woodard is puzzled by what he finds in samples of Maggie's blood. Roger suspects Elizabeth is paying money to Jason because he has something on her. Elizabeth tells Jason she cannot give him any more money as it is starting to attract attention; Jason agrees. Someone breaks into Dr. Woodard's office and steals the samples of Maggie's blood.

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Dr. Woodard wants to get a sample of Willie's blood as his symptoms resembled those of Maggie. Jason starts to become suspicious of Barnabas Collins. Jason tells Elizabeth that she should marry him.

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Jason tries to blackmail Elizabeth into marrying him, Elizabeth refuses and rather go to jail for Paul Stoddard's murder. Elizabeth tries to tell Carolyn, however she refused to listen. Elizabeth agrees to marry Jason.

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Dr. Woodard takes a sample of Willie's blood, however Barnabas switches slides while distracting him. Dr. Woodard is unable to find anything unusual in the blood sample.

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Elizabeth starts divorce proceeding against Paul Stoddard so she can marry Jason. Carolyn becomes determined to get into the locked room in the basement to see what Jason has on her mother. Elizabeth will not give Carolyn the key, but Jason agrees to help her get it.

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Sam goes to the Old House to work on portrait of Barnabas, however Willie tells Sam to take the portrait with him. Sam leaves behind his pipe and Maggie finds it. Later Maggie sneaks away and Sam sees her through the window of his cottage while working.

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Barnabas finds Maggie and punishes her for escaping by putting her in his coffin. The sheriff searches for Maggie however they start to believe that Sam must have only seen her in his imagination. Willie let Maggie out of the coffin and locks her in Josette's room.

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Carolyn, Roger, and Victoria plan to break into the locked room in the basement. Jason convinces Elizabeth to let them into the room; when she does they find nothing. Elizabeth announces that she is going to marry Jason.

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Barnabas plans to make Maggie his bride, she pretends to be Josette. Maggie finds that Willie has made coffin intended for her. Maggie tries to stake Barnabas, but he rises from his coffin before she has the chance.

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Willie makes an impassioned plea for Maggie's life which placates Barnabas. Locking Maggie in a basement cell, Barnabas vows that she will become Josette, regardless of her attempts to resist.

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Carolyn and Elizabeth continue to argue about plans for the impending wedding. Seemingly to spite her mother, Carolyn begins a relationship with Buzz Hackett, an uncouth hippy motorcyclist.

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Maggie offers Willie her ring as a bribe to help her escape. When it becomes lost and makes its way back to Collinwood, its inscription quickly becomes a liability until Barnabas swiftly intervenes.

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Jason's plans to marry Elizabeth continue to develop apace as he announces a date in two week's time. Carolyn smugly informs her mother that she will marry Buzz on the same day.

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Barnabas learns from Sam that the police now think Maggie to be dead and takes glee in revealing this news to his rebellious prisoner. Maggie is puzzled to later see a little girl playing outside her cell.

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Maggie fails to make sense of the little girl Sarah's cryptic clues. Later, while playing outside the Old House, David encounters a dispondent Sarah, who claims to be lost.

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Elizabeth engages Jason to prevent Carolyn from going ahead with her plan to marry Buzz, but his bribe is met with disinterest. Carolyn is now convinced she can prevent Elizabeth marrying.

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Maggie is intrigued by the appearance of Sarah in her cell and talks with her at length. Willie later tries to convince Maggie that no one could have visited her, but Maggie finds Sarah's doll.

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After Victoria hears Elizabeth sobbing, she confronts her and demands to know why. A distraught Elizabeth confides in Victoria that she murdered her husband Paul and that Jason knows.

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Sarah tells Maggie a cryptic riddle which offers her an escape route. Uncovering a secret passage in her cell, Maggie disappears into the darkness, stalked by a malevolent Barnabas.

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Maggie manages to escape to the beach and is discovered by Sam. Woodard remains concerned for Maggie's safety and decides to announce her death, while she is sent away for treatment.

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Victoria and Carolyn are devastated to learn the news of Maggie's death. Elizabeth is troubled by Carolyn's developing relationship with Buzz Hackett and asks Victoria to be witness at her wedding.

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Sam and Joe struggle with their consciences, but ultimately decide that they cannot risk Maggie's safety by confiding in Victoria. Carolyn continues to victimise Elizabeth.

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Jason revels in his new status as head of the household. After Roger confides his worries about Jason, Barnabas tells Willie that Jason may fall foul of his intervention if this continues.

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Maggie undergoes therapy with the aloof Dr Julia Hoffman, who continues to try and restore her personality from the childlike state of her trauma. Joe and Sam are sceptical of this approach.

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Elizabeth is tormented by dreams of the three widows and seems troubled and preoccupied as the wedding approaches. Later, Mrs Johnson prevents her from jumping from Widows' Hill.

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Victoria continues to fear for Elizabeth's state of mind. Later, David shows Victoria the family Bible, containing the death dates of the whole family. Elizabeth fills in a date for her death.

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Now determined to commit suicide, Elizabeth says her goodbyes to David and Carolyn and prepares to jump from Widows' Hill, haunted by the wails of its ghosts.

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Victoria intercepts Elizabeth at Widows' Hill and prevents her from jumping to her death. Burke's attempts to confront Jason with proof of his crimes have little effect.

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Jason gives Carolyn an ultimatum to leave Collinwood. At her wedding, Elizabeth breaks down and reveals to the shocked congregation that she killed Paul Stoddard with Jason as her accomplice.

As Elizabeth ponders that her future holds, the police are summoned to investigate her claims. Excavating the locked room in the basement, a trunk they uncover an old trunk.

When the trunk is discovered to be empty, Jason is forced to admit that Paul was not killed by Elizabeth and that he engineered Paul's disappearance. Elizabeth refuses to allow Jason to be arrested.

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His blackmail plan defeated, a humiliated Jason is ordered to leave town by the Sheriff. Spying on Willie and Barnabas exchanging jewels, Jason decides to break into the Old House and steal.

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Jason demands that Willie gives him access to Barnabas' valuables, in spite of Willie's protestations that he is in danger. Convinced that the jewels are hidden in Barnabas' coffin, Jason opens it and is strangled.

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Dark Shadows is an American gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966, to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements. It was unprecedented in daytime television when ghosts were introduced about six months after it began.

The series became hugely popular when vampire Barnabas Collins appeared a year into its run. Dark Shadows also featured werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. A small company of actors each played many roles; indeed, as actors came and went, some characters were played by more than one actor. Major writers besides Art Wallace included Malcolm Marmorstein, Sam Hall, Gordon Russell, and Violet Welles.

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Seasons12

Season 3 Episodes83

Cast15

Crew1

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