252

Carolyn tries to dissuade Elizabeth from marrying Jason, and one of Elizabeth's verbal insults gives Carolyn a plan.
== Synopsis ==
Teaser
: My name is Victoria Winters. There has been an announcement at Collinwood, an announcement that has shocked all those who live here and filled them with disbelief. But there is one who will not accept this news and is determined to do something about it.
Carolyn enters the drawing room and overhears Elizabeth talking on the telephone speaking to Frank Garner, finalizing her divorce from Paul Stoddard. Carolyn starts a fight with Elizabeth; Elizabeth tells her the matter is settled.
Act I
Carolyn tells Elizabeth that she would like to see her married, but she still does not believe that she is marrying Jason of her own free will. Elizabeth reminds her that she thought the answer was in the basement yesterday, but was "proven" wrong. Carolyn, aghast, apologizes, but presses the issue. She points out that Elizabeth has never given any indication she even likes Jason. Elizabeth tries to end the argument several times, finally telling Carolyn that she should not try to run her life when she hasn't done so well with her own. Carolyn is visibly stunned and tells her she will do something with her life and storms out.
Act II
Later that afternoon, Victoria and Roger discuss David's poor marks in History in the drawing room. Victoria thinks he is on par with boys his age and points out his high marks in English and arithmetic, but Roger asks her to lean on History a bit more. Carolyn enters announcing that she has had a fight with her mother about the impending marriage, which Roger agrees is a poor choice. She says she's glad she had the chat, even though it was confusing rather than enlightening. She calls her mother "the classic picture of a woman about to make a fool of herself". Victoria, of course, takes Elizabeth's side and points out that she made the announcement right after they returned from the trip to the basement and that they must have all seemed like they were her enemies except Jason. Roger agrees they blew it. Carolyn tells them Elizabeth said she loves McGuire, they all cannot believe she actually said it. Victoria points out Jason's attractiveness and charm. Carolyn tells them that Elizabeth accused her of wasting her life and maybe she was right. She has obviously formed a plan. She goes to the telephone and says she is going to find love too. She calls someone named Buzz and tells him she saw him on his motorcycle and she wonders if the gas tank is full.
Act III
At The Blue Whale, Joe and Victoria talk over a drink, Joe saying he saw Carolyn with a motorcycle gang. Victoria says Carolyn is trying to get back at her mother. They turn their focus to Jason and Victoria says that Elizabeth and McGuire have a bond, but no one knows what it is. A roar of motorcycles is heard outside and Carolyn enters with Buzz. They order stingers and Carolyn pays for them, although they have obviously had enough. Carolyn spots Joe and Victoria and pulls Buzz over to meet them. Victoria and Joe seem less than impressed. But Carolyn seems quite happy with the afternoon. She tries to get Victoria to join them for a ride, but she refuses. She kisses Buzz passionately.
Act IV
Later, at Collinwood, Buzz brings Carolyn home and they agree to meet tomorrow. Carolyn asks Buzz what he thinks of her, and they kiss at the front door. Buzz knows he is being used, but is enjoying himself. She brings him inside and starts to get very loud, but Buzz does not want to start trouble. They go to the drawing room for a drink and she turns on a radio and pours them a brandy as they start dancing to the music. Elizabeth comes down and tells them it is 3am and orders Buzz to leave. Carolyn tells Buzz about her mother's impending marriage, making it obvious that she is trying to shame Elizabeth. Elizabeth storms out in tears as Carolyn shouts the name "Mrs. McGuire" over and over.
== Memorable quotes ==
: Elizabeth: I am going to marry Jason McGuire. And there is nothing you or anybody else can do about it!
: Carolyn: Mother, I'd like nothing more than to see you married, happy, whatever it is that will give you a full life. You should have everything you've been deprived of all these years. But why him?
: Elizabeth: Because he is the man I choose.
: Carolyn: That's not true. He chose you!
----
: Carolyn: I want to know what those endearing qualities are that make you think he is the perfect husband for you...and the ideal stepfather for me.
: Elizabeth: Why do you hate him so?!
: Carolyn: Because he's sly and deceitful. And he has that ever-present smile on his face – that leering, smirking smile. It's a mask. But there's something else, something even more important.
: Elizabeth: What is it?
: Carolyn: I've never seen you display even one ounce of genuine fondness or affection for him. I don't believe you feel anything for him at all.
----
: Carolyn: Do you love him? Mother, if you don't answer me, I'll take it to mean that you don't and that he's forcing you. Do you love him?!
: Elizabeth: Yes! Yes, I love him!
: Carolyn: I don't believe you.
: Elizabeth: You've got to believe me! I'm tired of everybody trying to live my own life for me, and I don't see you doing much with your life!
: Carolyn: Oh, I'll do something about my life. You can bet on that!
----
: Roger: Each individual reserves the right to ruin his or her life as quietly or flamboyantly as he chooses.
----
: Buzz:  People live in this place? 
: Carolyn:  Not really. It’s the kind of place people exist in.
----
: Carolyn [as Elizabeth enters the drawing room]: Hey, it’s Mommy! . . . I want you to meet my man. A real man. His name is Buzz.
: Buzz: Hiya, Mommy.
== Dramatis personae ==
* ← Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard →
* ← Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins →
* ← Joel Crothers as Joe Haskell →
* ← Nancy Barrett as Carolyn Stoddard →
* ← Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters →
* Michael Hadge as Buzz Hackett →
* Bob O'Connell as Bob Rooney
* Audrey Campbell as Blue Whale Customer (uncredited)
== Background information and notes ==
=== Production ===
* This episode was recorded out of broadcast sequence. The previous episode to be recorded was 249.
* First appearance of actor Michael Hadge as the character Buzz Hackett.
* Joel Crothers' character of Joe Haskell replaced Mitchell Ryan's character of Burke Devlin when Ryan failed to show up to record this episode.
* New music is heard at the Blue Whale.
* Carolyn wears pants in this episode, one of the few times a woman does so early in the series.
* Carolyn plays music on a transistor radio that is sitting on liquor cabinet when she is drinking with Buzz in the drawing room. This radio has not been seen before, and radios (and television sets especially) are rarely seen on the show.
* This is the fourth episode since Barnabas' introduction in 210 not to contribute to the vampire storyline instead focusing solely on the blackmail storyline.
=== Story ===
* TIMELINE: Day 81 takes place. Day 82 begins, and will end in 253. 2:50am: Buzz and Carolyn return to Collinwood.
== Bloopers and continuity errors ==
* In the opening scene, Joan Bennett stammers while on the phone.
* While on the phone with her lawyer, she mentions the name of "Frank" twice, but it was Richard Garner who had recently dropped in to consult her on divorce proceedings against Paul Stoddard (246). Though it was previously stated that Frank Garner had a greater familiarity with divorce laws than his father (136), the character has long since been written out of the show and hasn't been heard from in some time (180).
* In yesterday's episode, Vicki told Barnabas that the Sheriff has placed a curfew in Collinsport. Yet in this episode, everyone seems to be at the Blue Whale.
* Buzz is wearing sunglasses when he comes into the Blue Whale although it's evening and has been driving a motorcycle. Likewise, when he drops Carolyn off at Collinwood at 3:00 a.m., he takes off the sunglasses he's been wearing while driving the motorcycle.
* Joan Bennett cannot get the upstairs door to open in the final scene; it appears to be stuck fast.
* It is stated to have been yesterday when Carolyn, Roger, and Victoria visited the locked room in the basement. However the on-screen passage of time since then would suggest it has been two days.
== End credits announcements ==
* Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.
==External links ==
Dark Shadows - Episode 252 on the IMDb
Dark Shadows Every Day - Episode 252 - How to Ruin Your Life
The Dark Shadows Daybook - Episode 252
Dark Shadows Commentary- Episode 252: I know we swing, and that's all I have to know
Dark Shadows Before I Die- Episode 252: 6/13/67
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