Elizabeth, due to Cassandra's spell, believes herself to be Naomi Collins and reenacts the past by taking poison.

Synopsis

It is morning at the great house of Collinwood. A night has passed that will cause many horrifying results for those who live here, for a witch-hunter came back from the dead to right an ancient wrong, and during his exorcism, the devils flew from the witch, and now her husband, innocent and blameless, waits.

Julia and Barnabas find that Reverend Trask's skeleton is back in the wall in the basement. Elizabeth, due to Cassandra's spell, believes that she is Naomi and re-enacts the past by taking poison. Barnabas and Julia find Elizabeth shortly after she has taken the poison.

Memorable quotes

Barnabas: What if she makes a connection between the living dead...

Julia: ...and vampire.

Dramatis personae

• Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard
• Jonathan Frid as Barnabas Collins
• Grayson Hall as Julia Hoffman
• Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins

Background information and notes

Production

• Final episode directed by John Sedwick.
• This episode begins with a still shot of Collinwood, but it takes a few seconds for the audio to start.
• After the scene in the drawing room between Julia, Roger, and Elizabeth, the scene switches to the basement of the Old House. As if he is speaking to Julia, Barnabas speaks a number of lines about Elizabeth's thinking she is Naomi . However, he says these lines in close-up, clearly to give Grayson Hall time to move from the previous drawing room set to this one in the Old House basement.
• Joan Bennett goes on vacation after this episode, returning to the show in episode 569.

Story

• Elizabeth reenacts Naomi Collins' death as seen in 458.
• INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: Elizabeth: Why am I doing this?
• SEDATIVE: Roger took a sleeping pill last night, something he seldom does.
• TIMELINE: Day 214 begins, and will end in 522. 9am at the start of this episode. Roger hasn't seen Cassandra since last night. Victoria saw Cassandra at 9pm last night. 9:30am: Barnabas arrives at Collinwood. Elizabeth, thinking she is Naomi Collins, says Julia, whom Elizabeth thinks is Natalie DuPres, has been living at Collinwood for months. It was four hours ago when Barnabas called out to Angelique in the Old House cellar.

Bloopers and continuity errors

• In the teaser, Julia enters and greets Roger with "Good morning, Rodney" ??? [Sounds to me like "Good morning, Rogey." ]
• The first act occurs at 9:30 a.m., but when Julia lets Barnabas in the front door of Collinwood and when they leave, it appears to be as dark as night outside.
• Early in Act II, someone seems to have forgotten their lines. When Elizabeth (thinking she's Naomi) suggests that Roger and Julia (Joshua and the Countess) are trying to drive her mad, Roger says, "No, Liz." Elizabeth then says, "You think that if you lock me in a room that I'll forget about Barnabas?" Then, no one says anything for several seconds. Finally Roger once again says, "No, Liz." Then there is another long pause before Elizabeth says, "You want to lock me in a room like Millicent."
• Lines seem to be forgotten again at the beginning of Act III. Roger asks Elizabeth to "please try to think clearly." Then there is a hesitation again with no one saying anything, and both Louis Edmonds and Grayson Hall look up at the teleprompter. Then Roger says, "Please" again.
• Jonathan Frid flubs his lines. In speaking to the air, trying to communicate with Angelique, he says, "And for your own reasons, you remain silent. You remain silent for reasons."
• When Elizabeth approaches the tower door in Act IV, there is a large banging sound off-stage. Also, large shadows move on the wall.
• The end credits get stuck at Robert Cobert and stay stuck. They then vanish for about 22 seconds until the Dan Curtis Productions logo appears with an incorrect copyright year of 1966 rather than 1968.

External Links 

Dark Shadows - Episode 520 on the IMDb

Dark Shadows Every Day - Episode 520 - What Dead People Do

The Dark Shadows Daybook - Episode 520

Dark Shadows Commentary- Episode 520: What is it about this family?

Dark Shadows Before I Die- Episode 520: 6/24/68