We're in for a Bad Spell

 is the third episode of the second season and the thirty-ninth episode of the Bewitched series. The episode was completed by June 4, 1965.

Summary
A Salem Witch Trials judge's descendant, Adam Newlarkin, is doomed to be branded a common thief, unless Samantha, Darrin and Aunt Clara can find a way to lift a three-hundred year-old spell.

Plot
Adam Newlarkin, an old army friend of Darrin's, is staying with Darrin and Samantha temporarily until he finds a job as he has just moved to the city. When Adam seems to be inflicted by a barrage of strange occurrences while at the Stephens' house, Samantha believes that he and/or one of his ancestors has been hexed by a spell, especially as Samantha learns Adam and his family are long time residents of Salem. Aunt Clara does some checking for Samantha, and confirms Samantha's suspicion. They also learn that from the hex, Adam will be charged with a criminal offense of stealing a large sum of money unless they can remove the hex by five o'clock in the afternoon the following day. The problem becomes how Darrin, Samantha and Aunt Clara can get Adam to do the triumvirate of unusual tasks required within one day for the hex to be neutralized.

General

 * When Aunt Clara is researching the Book of Spellees, she finds Adam Newlarkin listed between the New York Mets and Richard Nixon.
 * The episode was later remade in Season Six as Samantha's Secret Spell.

Casting

 * Agnes Moorehead did not appear and received credit only.
 * This is Richard X. Slattery's first of nine appearances on Bewitched.

Bloopers and Continuity Errors

 * The lamp in the living room shifts position during the final fadeout scene.

Cast

 * Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens
 * Dick York as Darrin Stephens
 * Bartlett Robinson as Mr. Abercrombie
 * Richard X. Slattery as Detective Lieutenant Pearson
 * Arthur Peterson as Albert Harding
 * William Tregoe as Mr. Peterson
 * William Redfield as Adam Newlarkin
 * Marion Lorne as Aunt Clara