170

The ghost of Josette speaks through Victoria during the seance.
== Synopsis ==
Teaser
: My name is Victoria Winters. This night at Collinwood may prove to be the most terrifying, for this is the night that the living will try to contact the dead. Preparations are underway for that moment, the moment that one world will reach out to the other: the seance.
Victoria and Carolyn have misgivings about continuing with the séance; Carolyn feels they can't hesitate now or they may never learn what's wrong with Elizabeth. Victoria has an awful feeling that something is going to happen to her.
Act I
The girls talk about Josette's ghost; Victoria thinks it's odd that she's seen Josette since she's not a member of the Collins family. Carolyn agrees. Victoria believes she has some kind of sensitivity where Josette is concerned. Mrs. Johnson disapproves of the séance; Victoria asks her to stay with David during the ceremony, about which Mrs. Johnson doesn't want to think about. She is not to budge from the room. Roger comes in and rudely points out that Josette will probably be shy because of David's and Victoria's theory she only appears to one person at a time. He's giving Guthrie the benefit of the doubt so that when the séance fails, he can throw him out into the storm.
Act II
Guthrie arrives, tracking in mud, with a tape recorder. He tells Mrs. Johnson that he wants to tape the séance while she makes his coffee. Mrs. Johnson is reluctant to say how she feels; she is upset how her voice sounds on the tape recorder. Mrs. Johnson tells Guthrie that his actions are unnatural; the dead should be allowed to rest. Guthrie thinks they'll learn something about life as well. Mrs. Johnson goes upstairs to sit with David as Victoria comes in. Guthrie is sure Josette will tell them something too startling to believe.
Act III
Roger has his wry at the ready; Carolyn's warnings don't frighten Guthrie. Everyone's ready. Guthrie wants to contact Josette; he says one of them might become a medium or she might appear. Roger's sarcasm nearly gets him kicked out of the room. They make a circle which he instructs must be unbroken. He instructs the group to repeat "Josette Collins" over and over in their minds. Guthrie calls to Josette; Victoria begins to act strangely. Guthrie announces that contact is being made. Victoria/Josette begins moaning. Guthrie announces a presence is getting closer; the doors fly open and a veiled figure causes Carolyn to scream and the circle to be broken. It's Laura.
Act IV
Laura claims she didn't mean to interrupt. She announces she's changed her mind about participating in the séance. Victoria explains the sensations she felt; Guthrie announces that this means Josette is eager to talk to them. Guthrie tries to compel Victoria to continue the séance; she's uncertain but agrees fairly quickly. Guthrie asks Laura to take part in the séance; Roger has dropped his skepticism and agrees to re-participate. Again they form an unbroken circle and concentrate on Josette. Guthrie calls to Josette; Laura eyes Victoria as she begins to act strangely once more. At the Old House, Josette's portrait begins to glow and her ghost steps out of it. Victoria begins moaning again and Carolyn smells jasmine. Victoria speaks in French, which Carolyn says Victoria doesn't know. Guthrie deduces that Josette is speaking through her. Laura exerts her power over Victoria as, in French, the governess begins to name the person, the stranger, dead but not dead... Victoria screams and faints.
== Memorable quotes ==
: Roger: Josette may be the sugar baby, I wonder if she'll make it over in all this storm.
----
: Roger: Oh, what an incredible bore this [the seance] promises to be.
: Victoria: Well, then, why are you here?
: Roger: Because I'm going to give Guthrie the full benefit of the doubt. And then when his face is red with failure, I'm going to toss him out into the storm.
----
: Dr. Guthrie (testing the tape recorder): Would you like to say something, Mrs. Johnson?
: Mrs. Johnson: I'd like to say something, all right...but I won't.
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: Carolyn (to Dr. Guthrie before the seance): Good luck to you. Good luck to all of us on this...occasion.
: Roger (coming into the room): Well, I hear someone toasting, but I don't see anyone drinking.
----
: Josette (through Vicki): Il...il...il y a danger ici. Il y a des pierre des millières de tombeaux vide. Il y a une morte qui ñ'est pas morte -- elle marche dans le monde. Il y a une qui dorment sans sommeil, sans réveille. Il y a un petit garçon innocent qui est en danger sérieuse. Il y a avait des feux -- des feux -- pendant les siècles. Il y aura un autre feu prochainement. Les flammes toucheront le ciel. Les flammes consommait touse. Il y a une présence endiablé -- il y a quelqu'une qui va détruire. Cette personne š'appelle...cette personne š'appelle...cette personne -- !!
:[Translation: There...there...there is danger here. There are thousands of empty tombstones. There is a dead woman who is not dead -- she walks in the world. There is one who sleeps without sleep, without waking. There is an innocent little boy who is in serious danger. There were fires -- fires -- for centuries. There will be another fire soon. The flames will touch the sky. The flames consumed all. There is a devilish presence -- there is someone who will destroy. This person is called...this person is called...this person -- !!]
== Dramatis personae ==
* ← Clarice Blackburn as Sarah Johnson →
* ← Nancy Barrett as Carolyn Stoddard →
* ← Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins →
* ← John Lasell as Peter Guthrie →
* ← Diana Millay as Laura Collins →
* ← Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters →
* Kathryn Leigh Scott as Josette Collins (uncredited)
== Background information and notes ==
=== Production ===
* The footage of Josette emerging from her portrait is reused from episode 70.
* There are no actor or crew credits for this episode.
* The overhead shots of the seance are done with a mirror, so the image is reversed from how the participants are actually sitting.
=== Story ===
* GHOSTWATCH: Josette's ghost descends from her portrait in the Old House. Dr. Guthrie, Victoria, Carolyn, Roger and Laura attempt to contact Josette. Victoria goes into a trance. Josette speaks through Victoria in French. 
* This is the first seance depicted in "Dark Shadows." 
== Bloopers and continuity errors ==
* During the first séance as Victoria starts to moan she tilts her head to her left and the shadow of a boom microphone is on the side of her face. The operator tries to quickly move it out of the shot.
* Preparing for the séance, actor John Lasell is turning off the lights in the drawing room; a small object falls from overhead, narrowly missing him. The object lands near the actor with a metallic clatter. It is visible as a white blur, just before Lasell approaches the tape recorder. 
== End credits announcement ==
*See "The Scorpio Letters," a chilling story of blackmail and international intrigue on the Sunday Night Movie on ABC.
==External Links ==
Dark Shadows - Episode 170 on the IMDb
Dark Shadows Commentary- Episode 170: Member of the family
Dark Shadows Before I Die- Episode 170: 2/17/67
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