The Cutting Room Floor

Page Fifteen: Return To Collinwood

As Night of Dark Shadows now unfolds, Quentin and Tracy never confront the fact that he tried to drown her in the old ruined swimming pool. However, immediately after Gerard's death at the railroad footbridge, the original script called for the following scene to occur:

Night of Dark Shadows

Script Excerpt

EXT - RIVER ROAD - NIGHT
Quentin and Tracy are alone together for the first time since the drowning. Alex and Claire can be seen in the B.G. waiting for them. Tracy still sobs as he holds her, comforting her.
QUENTIN
I'm sorry, Trace. I'm sorry for everything that's happened.
Holding her, he kisses her eyes, her lips as they try to comfort each other.
TRACY
Oh, please, Quentin...please don't go back in that house.
He looks at her, trying to find a way to explain it.
QUENTIN
(softly)
Tracy, try to understand the way I feel. I have such a tenuous hold on myself that --
TRACY
(interrupting)
But you're all right now. You're all right.
QUENTIN
But I don't know how long I'll stay this way. There's only one way to end it. We've got to go back in there and face it down --
She nods. HOLD ON THIS as the two of them cross toward Alex and Claire.
TRACY
What about Carlotta?
As Alex and Claire cross to meet them.
ALEX
I don't think we'll find her.
They all start up toward the house.

But as Night of Dark Shadows was edited for release, after Gerard's death, instead of this previous scene being played out, the audience sees Carlotta watching from the tower room window as the Collins and Jenkins couples try to get back into Collinwood. To set up a reason for their return, unscripted voiceover dialogue was added of Quentin saying "Alex ... you know there's only one way we're going to end all of this ... we've got to get back in there ... and find Carlotta ... because she's the one who's keeping the spirit alive." The action then shifts to Tracy and Quentin appearing to search Collinwood's basement for Carlotta. However, that is not the search's motive within the original script's context, as can be seen in this following excerpt:

Night of Dark Shadows

Script Excerpt

(red text - included in film / white text - deleted from film)

INT - TOWER ROOM - NIGHT
The room is in darkness and through the window, as if someone is watching, the four of them can be seen approaching the house. Then RACK FOCUS to Carlotta in the EXTREME F.G. as she stands there looking down at them. As they EXIT THE SHOT below, Carlotta turns away in thought. TIGHTEN TO CARLOTTA'S EXTREME CLOSE-UP.
EXT - COLLINWOOD PORTICO - NIGHT
as Quentin, Tracy, Alex and Claire stand near the front door, getting ready to go in. Alex is about to open the front door, when Quentin stops him.
QUENTIN
Alex, all the way up here I've been thinking --
ALEX
About what?
QUENTIN
One of those dreams that I had...I think it's important...
Alex looks at him.
QUENTIN
Gabriel and two men locked Charles Collins in a small dark room. The thing that was so terrifying about it was that when I woke up I felt I was choking to death...I couldn't breathe.
TRACY
I remember that!
QUENTIN
There was something else about that room, too. Because when they threw me in, my head hit some kind of a wooden object. Before I could see what it was they slammed the door and bolted it. Then I heard that sound.
ALEX
What sound?
QUENTIN
That's it, I don't know. I can't even describe it. But I do know I've heard it before.
ALEX
O.K. What do we look for?
QUENTIN
The door was a heavy iron door --
INT - FOYER - NIGHT
as they ENTER, the house is in darkness. Quentin crosses to switch on a lamp. It doesn't work. Alex tries another. It doesn't work either.
ALEX
Perfect. No lights.
TRACY
There are candles in there.
INT - CORRIDOR - NIGHT
as the four of them proceed down the hall toward the stairway, each holds a candelabra. They stop at the foot of the stairs. As Quentin looks up:
QUENTIN
I have a terrible feeling that if I relax my will for just one second, it'll be all over...
GROUP - HIGH ANGLE
ALEX
We'll go up there, Quentin. You and Tracy stay as far away from that tower room as possible.
Quentin nods. As Alex and Claire start up the stairs, Quentin and Tracy EXIT THE SHOT toward the basement.
CUT TO:
INT - BASEMENT - NIGHT
as Quentin and Tracy come TOWARD CAMERA...
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As Night of Dark Shadows now unfolds, Quentin and Tracy never confront the fact that he tried to drown her in the old ruined swimming pool. However, immediately after Gerard's death at the railroad footbridge, the original script called for the following scene to occur:
Night of Dark Shadows Script Excerpt EXT - RIVER ROAD - NIGHT Quentin and Tracy are alone together for the first time since the drowning. Alex and Claire can be seen in the B.G. waiting for them. Tracy still sobs as he holds her, comforting her. QUENTIN I'm sorry, Trace. I'm sorry for everything that's happened. Holding her, he kisses her eyes, her lips as they try to comfort each other. TRACY Oh, please, Quentin...please don't go back in that house. He looks at her, trying to find a way to explain it. QUENTIN (softly) Tracy, try to understand the way I feel. I have such a tenuous hold on myself that -- TRACY (interrupting) But you're all right now. You're all right. QUENTIN But I don't know how long I'll stay this way. There's only one way to end it. We've got to go back in there and face it down -- She nods. HOLD ON THIS as the two of them cross toward Alex and Claire. TRACY What about Carlotta? As Alex and Claire cross to meet them. ALEX I don't think we'll find her. They all start up toward the house.
But as Night of Dark Shadows was edited for release, after Gerard's death, instead of this previous scene being played out, the audience sees Carlotta watching from the tower room window as the Collins and Jenkins couples try to get back into Collinwood. To set up a reason for their return, unscripted voiceover dialogue was added of Quentin saying "Alex ... you know there's only one way we're going to end all of this ... we've got to get back in there ... and find Carlotta ... because she's the one who's keeping the spirit alive." The action then shifts to Tracy and Quentin appearing to search Collinwood's basement for Carlotta. However, that is not the search's motive within the original script's context, as can be seen in this following excerpt:
Night of Dark Shadows Script Excerpt (red text - included in film / white text - deleted from film) INT - TOWER ROOM - NIGHT The room is in darkness and through the window, as if someone is watching, the four of them can be seen approaching the house. Then RACK FOCUS to Carlotta in the EXTREME F.G. as she stands there looking down at them. As they EXIT THE SHOT below, Carlotta turns away in thought. TIGHTEN TO CARLOTTA'S EXTREME CLOSE-UP. EXT - COLLINWOOD PORTICO - NIGHT as Quentin, Tracy, Alex and Claire stand near the front door, getting ready to go in. Alex is about to open the front door, when Quentin stops him. QUENTIN Alex, all the way up here I've been thinking -- ALEX About what? QUENTIN One of those dreams that I had...I think it's important... Alex looks at him. QUENTIN Gabriel and two men locked Charles Collins in a small dark room. The thing that was so terrifying about it was that when I woke up I felt I was choking to death...I couldn't breathe. TRACY I remember that! QUENTIN There was something else about that room, too. Because when they threw me in, my head hit some kind of a wooden object. Before I could see what it was they slammed the door and bolted it. Then I heard that sound. ALEX What sound? QUENTIN That's it, I don't know. I can't even describe it. But I do know I've heard it before. ALEX O.K. What do we look for? QUENTIN The door was a heavy iron door -- INT - FOYER - NIGHT as they ENTER, the house is in darkness. Quentin crosses to switch on a lamp. It doesn't work. Alex tries another. It doesn't work either. ALEX Perfect. No lights. TRACY There are candles in there. INT - CORRIDOR - NIGHT as the four of them proceed down the hall toward the stairway, each holds a candelabra. They stop at the foot of the stairs. As Quentin looks up: QUENTIN I have a terrible feeling that if I relax my will for just one second, it'll be all over... GROUP - HIGH ANGLE ALEX We'll go up there, Quentin. You and Tracy stay as far away from that tower room as possible. Quentin nods. As Alex and Claire start up the stairs, Quentin and Tracy EXIT THE SHOT toward the basement. CUT TO: INT - BASEMENT - NIGHT as Quentin and Tracy come TOWARD CAMERA...