Sheriff Patterson questions Roger about Bill's death.

Synopsis

My name is Victoria Winters. Death has come to Collinwood forcing the hidden secrets of the past closer to the light. Secrets that might provide answers for a man whose probing has but one goal: the truth.

After admiring the portrait of Benjamin Collins, the Sheriff tells Roger he has more questions to augment that which he learned this morning. George wants Elizabeth's help. Victoria comes home but is going out to dinner. The Sheriff lays things out for Roger, who lies. Elizabeth stonewalls. David tells Victoria that his father is going to be arrested for Malloy's murder, and when she questions him, he says Roger will probably kill her, too, and she deserves it! David has used a three-pronged investigative attack, the Widows, his crystal ball, and tidal charts, to determine the extent of his father's guilt. He gives the Sheriff his tidal charts. Elizabeth again interrogates Roger and doesn't believe his lies. Roger sarcastically tells half-truths and half-lies to Elizabeth, which David overhears. Roger lies about Victoria's dinner with Sam not bothering him.

Memorable quotes

Dramatis personae

• ← Joan Bennett as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard →
• ← Louis Edmonds as Roger Collins →
• ← Dana Elcar as George Patterson →
• ← David Henesy as David Collins →
• ← Alexandra Moltke as Victoria Winters →

Background information and notes

Production

• On August 31, a memo was sent to producer Robert Costello from Bernardine McKenna, ABC Editor, Department of Broadcast Standards and Practices, with the following comment: "Episode #59, Act IV, Page 42, Line 9 - Please delete 'damned' from Roger's line 'you're damned right it isn't true', as this use constitutes profanity."

Story

• The large portrait on the left of the Collinwood foyer is of Benjamin Collins, Roger's great-uncle.
• TIMELINE: Bill's body was in the sea for nearly two days; he 'fell' in at 10:45pm. It was that morning when Elizabeth last spoke with the sheriff.

Bloopers and continuity errors

• As the opening narration starts, we see the image of Collinwood move about.
• Sheriff Patterson is questioning Roger and Elizabeth in the drawing room. As he sits in a chair and opens his notepad a huge shadow--possibly a mic boom or a hand--can be seen on the brocade chair at the sheriff's right.
• When questioning Roger, Sheriff Patterson refers to Bill Malloy's housekeeper as "he," but we already know that his housekeeper is Mrs. Johnson. [All references to 'he' reference Bill Malloy. The Sheriff says "his housekeeper said he got home at twenty after" and "Bill's housekeeper said he received a phone call at about ten thirty."]
• Actor Dana Elcar flubs "alfice" instead of "office" as he questions Roger about when he left the house.
• Just before Sheriff Patterson stands to leave the drawing room actor Louis Edmonds says 'uniquivocably," rather than the standard usage, "unequivocally."
• After Sheriff Patterson leaves Elizabeth recounts the day that the infamous 11 p.m. meeting was scheduled (between Roger, Bill, Burke and Sam). While she is talking to Roger, she discusses Sam and says that he (Sam) was in your office with you (Roger) and Mr. Evans at Bill's request. She was presumably supposed to mention Burke Devlin.
• As David eavesdrops, a camera can be seen on the right.
• As David eavesdrops, the doorknob of the drawing room door turns slightly even though David is not touching it. (David is leaning against the door, so possibly he was pushing it open and a stagehand inside was latching the door or making sure it was latched.)

End credit announcement

• Stay tuned for Where the Action Is, next here on ABC.
• Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis production.

External Links 

Dark Shadows - Episode 59 on the IMDb

The Collinsport Historical Society - Dark Shadows Diary - Episode 59

Dark Shadows Commentary- Episode 59: He sort of talked me out of it

Dark Shadows Before I Die- Episode 59: 9/15/66