Milligan and Hecubus appear to discourse their usual updates and introduction.

Doctor Hoffman is surprised to find Amy Jennings accompanied by Carolyn Stoddard as Carolyn explains how she did. As the three consider what to do with Amy, David shows up to be introduced. Amy and David leave Doctor Hoffman and Carolyn Stoddard to their own wonderings about the creature seen in the woods previously.

Venturing into what Amy and David are up to, we find Amy transfixed by the lightning and David wondering how she isn’t scared of that. The talk eventually leads to wondering what’s in The West Wing. (Of course!)

After a familiar scenario at The Addams Family, a conversation begins between Peter Bradford and Gomez Addams. Unique revelations are discovered. Peter has a favour to ask.

As Maggie approaches The Old House she encounters the ghost of Sarah Collins who needs to find some time to herself. Maggie nods to her need and they pass each other at the door. Maggie calls out for Barnabas to explain to him what she suspects about her high school chum, Chris Jennings. Many plans and much romance ensue.

Our Maggie Evans of the present must venture back to The Great House of Collinwood only to encounter her old classmate, Chris Jennings, much sooner than she expected. And we listen to their conversation of re-acquaintance… in progress!

Captain Daniel Gregg comes across our dear ghost of Sarah Collins to reassure her of her uncertainties as they reflect between the odd considerations they share in common. Sarah is concerned about the new friendship her cousin, David, is growing with Amy Jennings, and where her own place is in everything now.

Meanwhile we must return to how Chris Jennings is responding to Maggie Evans’ point-blank question of him being cursed with lycanthropy. And our first born Jennings twin will dance around the answer as one would expect!

Carolyn Stoddard is wondering what is “bothering” Maggie Evans, and surely she discovers it all! How Maggie IS Josette, what they have in common from their high school days, and even the undisclosed discoveries of lycanthropy in comparison to “that time of the month” for both of them sidling up to Chris Jennings’ issues: It’s all rather personal.

As David and Amy plan their exploration of the West Wing, Chris enters and Amy is elated to re-meet with her brother, until he reveals he might be having Amy stay in a home apart from him. (Yes, let’s all just say it, “Jerk!”)

One more endless-argument-about-nothing later, Carolyn and Maggie convince Chris Jennings to join Carolyn for a drink at The Blue Whale and meet with Tony Peterson there.

As Carolyn and Chris reach The Blue Whale, Tony Peterson approaches them and many gestures in reacquainting are shared. Discussion in how to take care of Amy takes place. No surprise; a clock chiming changes the subject. Chris leaves in haste as the barmaid goes to check her reflection.

However Chris might try to prevent his own personal curse from harming anyone, he is, of course, not successful.

Another oceanside chat for people who enjoy them. Apparently quite a few people enjoy them!

I get started talking about a pen friend and a phone friend, good stuff and various reasons things in communications have been clogged.

General pep-talk about the current upbringing in kids to the previous upbringing I experienced with pretty crappy distractions that weren’t as bad as now, but still pretty bad.

I make it very clear here that I never wanted a parasocial relationship with my listeners. I wanted a social one. And? I still do!

However much the technology changed to alter anyone's sociability? It didn’t change mine!

Why letter writing is very, very, important, even now. How the friends I’ve finally made in this have rewarded me with great company. (The whole reason I began this series.)

A little study time with a DS episode, a wee, wee bit of Magda... and then: “*Spoiler*”: The phases of Quentin Collins, very basic: 1969; Evil Ghost (dead), 1897; Playboy (alive), Killed (dead), Zombie (dead/alive), Not Zombie (alive), Werewolf Curse (still alive), Magic Portrait takes curse and then he is immortal (indefinitely alive). Then fun chat about Kitty Soames.

More on the topic of the non-canon romance, Julia/Barnabas phenomenon. Very calmly expressed. As well as my experience with healthy rejections and unhealthy reactions over the years. (A little more Jo March too.)

Sprinkled in this are thoughts on a new "hero" of mine: Tim Wu. (I'm just not sure where all I mention him, pardon.)

I wrap up with sober thoughts over more concentration on maintaining the help, pulling away from commercial sites, and focusing more on personal life, correspondence and friendship.

[ADULT CONTENT]

Again, “Explicit” while being fairly clean in all my description.

This entry is the third podcast about the marriage novel, and exploring the chapters of it; eleven through sixteen, as I add to what we are all going through via the tech obsessions.

This audio program goes through, step-by step, discussing what occurs in each chapter, my personal struggles, and the wonderful discussion from readers.

Chapters discussed are as follows:

Chapter Eleven – “A Tender Retreat” (Maggie facing old haunts as Josette with her kidnapping.) [+ comments]

Chapter Twelve – “Willie Wounds” (Shared time between Willie and Maggie.) [+ comments]

Chapter Thirteen– “Healing Part One: Shackled” (Barnabas is the one shackled and Maggie is the one who has enforced it. [+ comments]

Chapter Fourteen – Healing Part Two: Punishment (As Barnabas endures the worst discomfort and pain, Maggie can be in all comfort while they discuss their past about her kidnapping.) [+ comments]

Chapter Fifteen – Healing Part Three: Redemption (After all the physical pain there is one emotional point that Barnabas would be vulnerable to that only Maggie, as Josette, would understand.) [+ comments]

Background music (which I would love to know that you purchased) for this podcast is:

“Les mémoires blessées” – Dark Sanctuary (2004)
“Therasia” – Sephiroth (2005)
“Missing You” – Imperia (2006)
“Once Upon A December” – Sally Harmon (1998)

Personal current events, we re-observe recent troubles compared to the old ones that maintain their hold on us.

Finishing the demo for 22 and what came from that for Doctor Hoffman and Professor Stokes' romance. (Delving into the relationship they may once have had as Magda and Sandor.) Plenty of fun.

Reminder: Daytime Dramas are *not* built on resolution. (Which is why The Pit is built the way that it is.) Continuing on with what is coming up in Pit 22.

Switching over to where we are in our 4th Doctor “Doctor Who” viewing with “Underworld” (1978) Getting bored of villains and who I explain that to. The defeatist response to kids wanting to solve problems and how extensively unhelpful that response (from grown-ups) has been.

Viewing early Laura Collins episodes of “Dark Shadows” and how, in those episodes, Sam Evans has clouds of mystery.

Doing what I can to explain my personal calm in this time of crisis. (I already watched droves of crisis no one else could see for years.) More love for John Karlen and his personal choices that so dearly resonate with me continually. For those who have lost their ability of voice: I still am concerned for you above and beyond any “haters”. You still matter to me.

Thank you to all who are helping me and for those I am helping? You’re welcome.

Beginning with my understanding of what is happening to most listeners of this podcast program. Why direct communication is important and the examples of mishearing what I’m saying. My concern for our current sense of isolation and how I was told, “You saw all this coming.” Pointers of how to use the narrative site. Discussion over the previous web-log and what folks have been viewing. (Fun stuff.)

Why “Dark Shadows” is a TV show that constantly reminds you that it IS a TV show. :) Then off we go into technical aspects of Pit episode 21 and further spoilers for that. (Bill Malloy’s ghost as an ‘Honourary Widow’.) Blue Whale bits, West Wing bits, Old House bits. Focus on Maggie Evans as Josette duPres; How I understood why that was probable. (Sailor Moon comes up in this and reincarnation research.) With Andre and Josette returned: Barnabas easily feels far less alone. <3

A tad of Bewitched. More West Wing, and more about Roger Collins = The Perfect Fifth Wheel. Continuing on to the rough draft of Pit 22: ‘The Endless Night At Collinwood’. Further developments for Maggie Evans as the reincarnation of Josette. (More fun stuff.) A little Sarah and Barnabas. Active details with Carolyn and Maggie. Victoria/Peter and Addams Family goodies. Ways that Willie Loomis is able to digest what’s happening overall. Moving on to yet another séance and why Magda’s presence creates further union in Dr. Hoffman and Prof. Stokes' romance.

My concern for everyone possibly depending on commercial social sites during isolation, while I maintain my ability to carry on without them. Hopefully what I say here will do more good than harm. (Without direct communication we can only speculate.) Why the chips fell where they did years ago: Criticizing to emptiness to rewards-for-hate. Why the like-button, and all it’s ‘offspring’, gives growth to the negative and depletes the positive.

How I keep working to re-grow the articulate response in the positive. Directions on how to use thepitofultimatedarkshadows.wordpress.com for that. If this show makes you feel better? Don’t turn away from it. Return to it, like I did.

I hope this show has helped to welcome you back to your old preferences and let you know that you do have the ability to choose for yourself, however lost that became.

For anyone who wanted another explanatory ramble: You got it! Technical problems in both story and audio building of new Pit radio drama episodes.

The convincing spell of social media (of course!) with the double-whammy of a belief non-canon pairings actually happened on the (DS) show. Much comparison to “Little Women” is involved. How Captain Daniel Gregg may also feel about a “kudos” or “like” button. Sharing mutual concern between myself and other fans of “The Ghost And Mrs. Muir”.

More pride for John Karlen staying away from The Internet along with pen pals helping me break the social media addiction: “Good job!”

Why hate a character for not reciprocating another, such as Jo March or Barnabas Collins? (It’s like blaming Christopher Columbus for the misinformation someone else told you about him.) Updates on the marriage novel and a little banter about the characters of Barnabas Collins and Josette duPres. (Please pardon Munsters references here… or… don’t! ;)

Tips and memories about social media of olde. Know the difference between a waste-of-time and saving-time and know the difference between canon pairing and non-canon pairing. Working out what is coming up with Dr. Julia Hoffman and Professor Stokes in the radio drama episodes 21 and 22.

Gratitude and great appreciation for pen pals; both maintained and adrift. “We pulled through. We made it!” Bless you all!

And now, finally, back to the story… (I’ve been building this podcast since March 2019, so bare with me.) After mention of the dedication we get to what happens during Episode 15 in ‘The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows’, the annotated version, of course.

The hilarious gin-rummy game between Nicholas Blair and Vampire Angelique, continuing on to the scene with Roger Collins, V’Angelique and Lily Munster. Next, Grandmama Addams and Morticia’s foray into Victoria Winters’ memories of Reverend Trask. Later, we cut from Josette’s room to a Willie and Sarah scene to David’s surprise and back again as Wadsworth enters, which leads to The Great House, Elizabeth’s announcement(s), and Barnabas meeting Lily Munster. (Is Lily’s vampire side helping out too cheesy or corny? Late 20th Century: Yes. Early 21st Century: No.)

How the Willie and Wadsworth scene reveals why Willie Loomis has been affected by the nurturing touch of Professor Stokes and others.

Barnabas, at last, encounters the ghost of Caleb Collins. Why Barnabas IS “So Mr. Darcy” and other “Pride and Prejudice” influences. The importance of Maggie/Josette that Caleb understands, leading us to the ending in which Tom Jennings meets Vampire Angelique that night, and why the song fits.

My feelings about Heather O’Rourke and inviting her admirers to reach out and discuss her short time among us.

Then we wrap up with one of my lectures about better manners to which many listeners will likely fall asleep.

Just a little something I wanted to put out there prior to my release of the Retrospective in Episode 15.

For Terry Jones and John Karlen: I don’t know who I would be if it weren’t for you…

And frankly? I *don’t want* to know who I would be without either of you!

This is for you, for us, and for me.

Thank you and fare thee well.

Love,

Daryl

A few updates to pen friends. A dainty cautionary and word-to-the-wise about certain topic omissions, then… onto the fun! Spoiler ideas for upcoming Pit episodes blending DS 640-647 into The Pit. (Funny bit about solving a spill being faster than endlessly fretting over it.)

Why we shall be getting more of Dr. Hoffman in future shows and less Barnabas. (And how we will get more Barnabas later.) More of Sarah’s Ghost being very useful. (Thank you, Captain Daniel Gregg!)

The love for DS which surpasses social media, thankfully! On to education as well: The technology went too fast or us to humanly compensate with it! “The Four Arguments For The Elimination of Television” suggestion.

How heckles create lines. The misuse of “critiquing”. Why I care more about the sentimental motivators far beyond (automatic) haters. Always remember: You are using computers.

Fun talk about Dark Shadows (2012) and Michelle Pfeiffer in the “Dark Shadows: Visual Companion” book. Reasons I felt using the word “closet” was completely acceptable. (Also why I cannot stand useless guilt: Barnabas Collins.)

And a very Merry Solstice to our old heroine: Saramonster! ! ! <3
Background music/clips:

Ebonshire – Nox Arcana

Face To Face – Siouxsie & The Banshees

Hurray For Santa Claus – The Fleshtones

Addressing the closet-fans, now that I have a better way of describing the situation. Why one podcast is missing and how to return it. Deleting my tumblr account and the moral support I received from a friend in ever having used it. (Who to thank for my use of Reddit.) My aversion to commercial sites and preference for smaller groups. The unreliability of commercial social media: “They sure know how to get ya’.”

Working on Pit 21, as well as watching more Dark Shadows. Finding ideas for the future “saving” of Madame Findley, and all the fun that goes into that. (Roger Collins always brings in hilarious ideas.)

Wonderful experiences with pen friends and fancy postage. Enjoying the mundane over the tragedy of “everyone” needing to be a “critic”. How nonsensical the criticism and “need” for it gets. Reasons why I and others weren’t affected by any of the non-canon ideas that come from groups of Dark Shadows fans. The hazard of allowing foul behaviour to take-over and what the approval of it leads toward.

The highs and lows of pen pal zines and letter-writing: Let us not mix our non-profit hobbies with commercial ventures. It leads to peril and upset. How, in searching for the non-conformists, I kept finding those who went along with the new status-quo. More fun with our friend, Seamus, being a new listener, which helps me a lot. More reasons that the Q & A came into being and works so well.

Offering of “Bloody Mary’s Delight” for Halloween. (Sorry I couldn’t do a reading this year for that.)

More invitations for fans of The Pit of Ultimate Dark Shadows, or me, or both, to come out of the closet.