WEBVTT 00:00:00.970 --> 00:00:21.449 The CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents... Come 00:00:21.449 --> 00:00:29.010 in. Welcome. I'm E .G. Marshall. A triptych is 00:00:29.010 --> 00:00:32.090 defined in Webster's unabridged dictionary as 00:00:32.090 --> 00:00:36.009 a picture or carving in three parts, side by 00:00:36.009 --> 00:00:39.710 side, especially an altarpiece consisting of 00:00:39.710 --> 00:00:43.189 a central panel and two flanking panels that 00:00:43.189 --> 00:00:46.549 fold over it. Thus by definition it represents 00:00:46.549 --> 00:00:50.289 a sacred figure, and usually three aspects of 00:00:50.289 --> 00:00:53.939 that figure. This story concerns a triptych that 00:00:53.939 --> 00:00:57.420 represents a wholly profane and baleful figure 00:00:57.420 --> 00:01:00.899 in all its different aspects. You still think 00:01:00.899 --> 00:01:03.240 I'm a candidate for the Nuthouse, Joan? Oh, Walt, 00:01:03.259 --> 00:01:06.480 don't talk like that. By this weekend, we should 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.480 know who that woman is. If she is just your sweet 00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:12.459 old great aunt, I'll crawl on my belly and apologize. 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.700 But if she's what I think she is, and she means 00:01:15.700 --> 00:01:19.739 any harm to you or Kip, so help me. I'll murder 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:32.010 her first. Our mystery drama, Triptych for a 00:01:32.010 --> 00:01:34.670 Witch, was written especially for the Mystery 00:01:34.670 --> 00:01:38.510 Theatre by Ian Martin and stars Margaret Hamilton. 00:01:39.609 --> 00:01:55.859 I'll be back shortly with Act One. In many cultures 00:01:55.859 --> 00:01:59.319 the aged had a function and were treated with 00:01:59.319 --> 00:02:02.819 reverence and respect. Less and less this is 00:02:02.819 --> 00:02:06.819 true of the Occidental cultures. I enter no discussion 00:02:06.819 --> 00:02:10.060 of whether this is right or wrong. Frequently 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:13.060 the elderly would prefer to be left alone to 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:16.500 pursue their own destinies. And yet when the 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:20.360 moment comes and some very ancient relative is 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:24.729 left alone, particularly a woman, Some atavistic 00:02:24.729 --> 00:02:29.169 instinct, or is it just plain guilt, drives many 00:02:29.169 --> 00:02:33.189 of us to open at least our homes, if not wholly 00:02:33.189 --> 00:02:36.789 our hearts, to them. This is the story of two 00:02:36.789 --> 00:02:40.090 such people. But may heaven protect you from 00:02:40.090 --> 00:02:43.729 the strange and awful experience they unwittingly 00:02:43.729 --> 00:02:52.629 laid themselves open to. Well, Joan. As the governor 00:02:52.629 --> 00:02:55.069 of North Carolina said to that other guy, this 00:02:55.069 --> 00:02:58.689 is just about it. Did I know my great -grandfather 00:02:58.689 --> 00:03:00.849 was going to get married again just before he 00:03:00.849 --> 00:03:03.349 died? Here I thought I was marrying an orphan. 00:03:04.009 --> 00:03:06.150 Now I find out you tricked me. Oh, I just forgot 00:03:06.150 --> 00:03:09.789 about Charlie. He's 60 years older than me. I 00:03:09.789 --> 00:03:12.810 didn't even know he was still alive. But she 00:03:12.810 --> 00:03:15.830 wrote such a sweet letter. There isn't anyone 00:03:15.830 --> 00:03:18.689 else who's family. So at least I can do his help 00:03:18.689 --> 00:03:21.090 out poor old Charlie's widow till she... finds 00:03:21.090 --> 00:03:24.629 out what she's going to do. Okay, no sweat. How 00:03:24.629 --> 00:03:28.370 old is old Charlie's widow, anyway? Search me. 00:03:28.930 --> 00:03:31.490 Just before our wedding, when mother died, she 00:03:31.490 --> 00:03:34.509 mentioned out of the blue that my great -grandfather 00:03:34.509 --> 00:03:38.389 had suddenly married at the age of 82. Then you 00:03:38.389 --> 00:03:40.849 came into my life, and every other thought I 00:03:40.849 --> 00:03:43.189 ever had went out the window. Well, that's why 00:03:43.189 --> 00:03:45.550 I'm so jealous of anyone horning in. Old Charlie 00:03:45.550 --> 00:03:48.319 had a real eye for the ladies. The first three 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:50.659 times he married, only one of them wasn't young 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:53.120 enough to be his daughter. This one might turn 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:54.979 out to be young enough to be his granddaughter. 00:03:56.419 --> 00:03:58.919 Well, I guess we're about to find out. Like you 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:06.120 said, this is it, for better or for worse. The 00:04:06.120 --> 00:04:08.680 times you look back and would like to have bitten 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:11.479 your tongue for some crazy thing you blurt out. 00:04:12.259 --> 00:04:15.080 Not that I knew right away. Matter of fact, when 00:04:15.080 --> 00:04:17.750 we first spotted her... The old gal didn't look 00:04:17.750 --> 00:04:20.589 so bad. Oh, she was no spring chicken. She was 00:04:20.589 --> 00:04:23.329 old all right. With a little round face like 00:04:23.329 --> 00:04:25.689 a withered apple that still had red cheeks and 00:04:25.689 --> 00:04:28.230 sharp blue eyes that glittered like agates and 00:04:28.230 --> 00:04:30.430 didn't miss a trick darting out from the shadows 00:04:30.430 --> 00:04:34.629 of a wide brimmed hat with a conical crown. It 00:04:34.629 --> 00:04:36.970 looked a little like it might have been left 00:04:36.970 --> 00:04:42.629 over from Halloween. But for all her age, she 00:04:42.629 --> 00:04:46.189 was spry. skipping along like a sandpiper with 00:04:46.189 --> 00:04:49.670 a pet carrier in one hand and a carpet bag in 00:04:49.670 --> 00:04:54.350 the other. Joan? I'm her. Your great -grandfather's 00:04:54.350 --> 00:04:57.269 Hester. And this must be Walter. Oh, hello, dear. 00:04:57.930 --> 00:05:01.209 How did you know us? Know you anywhere. Spitting 00:05:01.209 --> 00:05:03.509 image of Charlie. Only prettier. Ah, yeah. Let 00:05:03.509 --> 00:05:05.189 me take those heavy things from you. Oh, then. 00:05:05.269 --> 00:05:07.589 Thanks. No problem. You can have the bag. I'll 00:05:07.589 --> 00:05:10.509 hang on. The Smokey. He likes to stay real close. 00:05:10.970 --> 00:05:15.040 Smokey? My cat. Oh. Shh. You're almost home again. 00:05:15.399 --> 00:05:17.079 Just want to get Captain Jack out of my pocket 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:20.100 before he stirs up a reel. Some of the words 00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:25.259 in there. It talks. Of course it talks. He's 00:05:25.259 --> 00:05:28.160 a parrot. Well, a kind of parrot. Half moon, 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:30.259 they're called. You don't mind about smoking, 00:05:30.439 --> 00:05:32.480 Captain Jack. There won't be any trouble. Of 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:36.160 course we don't mind. We're just a little surprised, 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:40.410 that's all. Doesn't that... bird need a cage 00:05:40.410 --> 00:05:43.449 can't abide them he sits on my shoulder or a 00:05:43.449 --> 00:05:46.069 perch I have for him in the carpet bag he won't 00:05:46.069 --> 00:05:48.970 fly away can't flight feathers are clipped not 00:05:48.970 --> 00:05:51.930 that he would anyways you mean you brought that 00:05:51.930 --> 00:05:54.129 bird all the way from Minnesota in your coat 00:05:54.129 --> 00:05:57.550 pocket course he sleeps there oh I take him out 00:05:57.550 --> 00:06:00.829 when we change planes he was complaining he doesn't 00:06:00.829 --> 00:06:05.350 really like to fly oh that's a switch well shall 00:06:05.350 --> 00:06:09.939 we Get this show on the road. It's all kind of 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:13.540 comical to begin with. I mean, here I was, 23, 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.199 a rookie cop, just off probation after hitching 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:19.040 the Navy. And already I was married, had a kid. 00:06:19.699 --> 00:06:23.279 And now I just inherited an aged great -grandmother. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.519 Plus a cat and a talking parrot. Who needs it? 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:30.139 I started off easy, play it cool, just like Joan 00:06:30.139 --> 00:06:33.100 and me agreed. No ties, except for getting married. 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:36.689 What's outside of that? Just hang loose, enjoy 00:06:36.689 --> 00:06:40.209 being young, keep all the options open. And before 00:06:40.209 --> 00:06:45.949 you know it, we're trapped. Where are we? Will 00:06:45.949 --> 00:06:48.709 you climb off the ceiling, honey? What do you 00:06:48.709 --> 00:06:51.550 want of me? It's crazy. The whole thing is crazy. 00:06:52.029 --> 00:06:54.509 Aunt Hester, a cat that bites, and I'm not giving 00:06:54.509 --> 00:06:56.790 you any line, but I think that half -baked parrot 00:06:56.790 --> 00:07:00.110 is on something. You know, that's funny. You 00:07:00.110 --> 00:07:02.170 know, you really object to her being here, don't 00:07:02.170 --> 00:07:04.509 you? Oh, what about our vacation on the Cape? 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:07.759 Are we gonna have to lug her there? Not on a 00:07:07.759 --> 00:07:11.639 bet. It's just us alone. Thanks to your sister 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:13.779 Rosie, who's going to take our child and heir 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:17.439 off our hands for two weeks. You see? Relatives 00:07:17.439 --> 00:07:20.720 can be of some use. In time of dire distress. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:24.300 Well, if anything happened to Rosie, Aunt Hester 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:27.899 could probably... Well, we decided that was the 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:30.519 best name for her. Everything else was sort of 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.920 clumsy. Anyway, as I was saying... Aunt Hester 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:36.139 could always fill in this babysitter. Now, I 00:07:36.139 --> 00:07:37.959 wouldn't leave Kip alone here in the apartment 00:07:37.959 --> 00:07:40.300 with an old witch like that. Don't call her a 00:07:40.300 --> 00:07:45.720 witch. She's a sweet old lady. Oh. You have something 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:49.680 special against Aunt Hester? Oh, no, baby. Oh, 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:52.279 what could I have against? Well, like you said, 00:07:53.100 --> 00:08:01.339 a nice sweet old lady. But for once... And I 00:08:01.339 --> 00:08:03.720 guess the first time, I wasn't telling the wife 00:08:03.720 --> 00:08:07.680 I loved the truth. On the surface, everything 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:10.360 was nice about Aunt Hester. Even that spiteful 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:13.360 cat and the cockamamie bird. But the vibes were 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:16.279 wrong somewhere. Maybe it's the reason I became 00:08:16.279 --> 00:08:19.560 a cop. I got this special thing about people. 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:22.300 All I gotta do is meet someone. Within a minute, 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:26.779 some buzzer goes off. Wrong guy, right guy. It's 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:32.700 never failed me yet. Of course, Rosie, I understand. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:38.360 No, we couldn't take a chance at Cib's age. Oh, 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:44.379 please don't worry. We'll work it out. Is something 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:47.360 wrong, Joe dear? Oh, well, nothing earth -shaking, 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.419 I guess. It's just that our vacation's messed 00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:53.620 up. Oh, what's the matter? Oh, Rosie's oldest 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:57.059 child has just come down with measles. That changes 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:00.960 all our plans, doesn't it? Oh, not yours. We'll 00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:02.960 see you off back to Duluth at the end of the 00:09:02.960 --> 00:09:04.940 week. I'd be happy to put things off and stay 00:09:04.940 --> 00:09:07.700 here until you've had your vacation. Oh, I couldn't 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:12.860 do that. Cape would be too much for you. Unless... 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:15.559 Unless what? Oh, unless you wanted to come along 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:18.080 with us to the Cape. It's lovely there, and then 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:19.799 Walt and I could have our cake and eat it too. 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:22.980 If you're sure Walt wouldn't mind, I'd be happy 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:29.429 to. How could I object or complain? It seemed 00:09:29.429 --> 00:09:32.490 that perfect solution. Then why was I ridden 00:09:32.490 --> 00:09:35.529 with doubts and fears that I concealed from Joan? 00:09:36.549 --> 00:09:39.110 They only began to take shape when we finally 00:09:39.110 --> 00:09:42.769 did go to the Cape. The cabin was right on the 00:09:42.769 --> 00:09:45.230 beach, up on a sand dune facing the Atlantic. 00:09:45.870 --> 00:09:47.769 Joan and I had lots of time to swim and surf 00:09:47.769 --> 00:09:50.789 while Aunt Hester kept an eye on Kip. But every 00:09:50.789 --> 00:09:53.570 so often Joan would have mother's guilt feelings 00:09:53.570 --> 00:09:55.490 and decide that this particular morning would 00:09:55.490 --> 00:09:58.120 be just for Kip and her. And on one of these 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:00.399 mornings I had gone beach combing, and on the 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:02.860 way back had stopped for a rest, half covered 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:08.740 by sea grapes, and had fallen asleep. Of a sudden, 00:10:09.259 --> 00:10:12.080 some imminent time clock woke me, and I was looking 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:14.419 towards the beach, where I saw Smokey the Cat 00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:17.500 prowling and pawing in the receding tide, as 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:20.720 if he were harvesting. Up to my feet, my eyes, 00:10:20.740 --> 00:10:23.639 even after sleep, were still partially sun blinded, 00:10:23.940 --> 00:10:27.299 and headed down to the water. As I came nearer, 00:10:27.740 --> 00:10:31.039 that cat looked around and, seeing me, suddenly 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:34.500 billowed out to Aunt Hester's plumpness. Barefoot 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:37.360 and barelegged, her skirts kiked up to her knees. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:42.320 Aunt Hester! Why, hello, Walt. What on earth 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:45.840 are you doing here? Me? Oh, just gathering some 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:51.000 seaweed. Why? Well, funniest thing. From a distance, 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:54.289 I... Well, it seems silly to say it, but... You 00:10:54.289 --> 00:10:58.830 look like Smokey. My cat? For the land's sake. 00:10:59.210 --> 00:11:02.370 How would a cat go near seawater? You look pretty 00:11:02.370 --> 00:11:05.149 sunburned. Maybe you got a little too much sun. 00:11:05.289 --> 00:11:10.070 You feel all right? Yes, I guess so. What do 00:11:10.070 --> 00:11:14.190 you want the seaweed for? One of my little secrets. 00:11:14.909 --> 00:11:17.470 Maybe we better get on back up to the house and 00:11:17.470 --> 00:11:19.570 let you and your pretty Joan go picnicking while 00:11:19.570 --> 00:11:22.570 you got the chance. The chance? You know what 00:11:22.570 --> 00:11:27.409 I mean. Summer's growing short. Not much time 00:11:27.409 --> 00:11:34.730 left. An innocent enough remark, surely. It was 00:11:34.730 --> 00:11:37.350 growing short, and soon we'd have to get back 00:11:37.350 --> 00:11:40.629 to the city. But why did it have some sort of 00:11:40.629 --> 00:11:44.129 eerie significance to me? Why did I feel a long 00:11:44.129 --> 00:11:46.889 run of cold fingers down my back, the uneasy 00:11:46.889 --> 00:11:50.169 queasy feeling a cop gets every time he has to 00:11:50.169 --> 00:11:54.710 draw a gun to protect himself? Sorry the weather 00:11:54.710 --> 00:11:57.009 turned sour on us Joan. We'll be back to show 00:11:57.009 --> 00:11:58.909 before the squall. Oh, I don't care about the 00:11:58.909 --> 00:12:01.370 weather We've gotten duck before and thought 00:12:01.370 --> 00:12:03.789 it lots of fun. Don't you want to get home me 00:12:03.789 --> 00:12:07.870 sure? How about you? Oh? Yeah, well where else 00:12:07.870 --> 00:12:10.710 I don't know You don't seem to like your home 00:12:10.710 --> 00:12:14.950 much since my aunt Hester came around Okay, you 00:12:14.950 --> 00:12:17.610 want to lay the cards on the table. I don't and 00:12:17.610 --> 00:12:21.309 why not I don't know to tell you I used to read 00:12:21.309 --> 00:12:24.460 books about The hackles rising on someone's neck. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:27.539 I never knew exactly what it meant. I do now. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:29.980 How could you? You have to have feathers like 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:33.139 a bird or hair like an animal. I feel as if I 00:12:33.139 --> 00:12:37.679 do. Like Smokey or Captain Jack. The unholy three. 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.940 And now when she puts that hat on, she looks 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:42.860 just like a witch. Oh, wow. How can you say something 00:12:42.860 --> 00:12:45.399 like that about somebody as sweet and helpful 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:48.659 as Aunt Hester? I don't know. It just doesn't 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:51.559 make any sense. Except... Like this afternoon, 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:56.419 the cat. I mean, she. I mean, well, what would 00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:59.720 Aunt Hester be doing gathering seaweed? Oh, that. 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:02.759 Well, maybe you haven't noticed, but the impossible 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:05.679 has happened. In spite of vitamins, health pills, 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:08.080 everything we take, I've been catching a cold. 00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:11.100 Aunt Hester says she has an old -fashioned remedy 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:14.679 for it. Hemiopathic. A tea made from seaweed. 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:18.159 Joan. What? I want you to promise me something. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:22.259 Don't take any of that tea. I want a promise. 00:13:22.980 --> 00:13:26.120 On your love for me, don't touch that tea. All 00:13:26.120 --> 00:13:28.980 right, all right. Don't blow your cool. I'm with 00:13:28.980 --> 00:13:37.000 you. You're the man that calls the turn. If Joan 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:41.759 was puzzled at me, so was I at myself. What was 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:45.200 it? This subconscious fear that slowly was invading 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:49.230 me. What was I afraid of? A little old lady and 00:13:49.230 --> 00:13:51.929 a cat and a bird she tended as carefully as our 00:13:51.929 --> 00:13:55.889 child. But some wild alarm bell was ringing deep 00:13:55.889 --> 00:13:58.649 in the pit of my stomach. And my police training 00:13:58.649 --> 00:14:02.070 reacted instinctively. That night, through the 00:14:02.070 --> 00:14:04.149 precinct station, I put some queries on the wires. 00:14:04.809 --> 00:14:07.850 And I picked up a sample of the seaweed and air 00:14:07.850 --> 00:14:14.600 mailed it to the police lab. The police confirmed 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.179 Charles Herod Higbee died when his house burned 00:14:17.179 --> 00:14:20.600 down on date named. Also killed in fire was his 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:24.279 wife less than 12 months. Esther Combs Higbee, 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:28.740 Nate Channing. Both buried Sunnyside Garden Cemetery. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:31.659 No known relatives. Funeral expenses covered 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:39.480 by estate. No residue. My ESP working again. 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:43.110 This time when I least wanted it. If Jones and 00:14:43.110 --> 00:14:46.169 Hester was dead, who was this stranger in our 00:14:46.169 --> 00:14:50.909 home? What did she want? And then, the clincher. 00:14:53.789 --> 00:14:57.669 Hello? Walt, it's Jake. Hi, Jake. What have you 00:14:57.669 --> 00:15:00.070 got? On this junk you mailed me for analysis. 00:15:00.330 --> 00:15:02.629 Yeah, the seaweed. Well, that's what it is, all 00:15:02.629 --> 00:15:04.889 right. Seaweed. Nothing but a simple fungus. 00:15:05.289 --> 00:15:07.690 Is it poisonous? Absolutely not. Wouldn't harm 00:15:07.690 --> 00:15:11.529 a fly. Unless, of course... Unless what, of course? 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.279 It's kind of nutty, you know, but it's a special 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:16.759 fungus, in a way. Now, come on, Jake, let me 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:19.679 have it. I feel kind of silly, Walt. I mean, 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:22.960 it's only because, ever since Maud died, I'm 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:26.259 kind of a, well, like Dickens, an old antiquarian, 00:15:26.299 --> 00:15:29.919 and I read up on offbeat subjects. Like what? 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:33.120 Well, this particular seaweed. In the Middle 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.539 Ages and all like that, it was like, you know... 00:15:40.779 --> 00:15:43.639 the mess around with black magic. I mean, kind 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:46.679 of crazy even to mention it, but since it worries 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:50.100 you so much, there's no chance you got a witch 00:15:50.100 --> 00:15:56.159 somewhere in your house, is there? The first 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:00.139 side panel of the triptych. Hester Higby, from 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:04.580 Walt's point of view. A hazy picture, not yet 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:09.000 formed, but an icy fear gripping at his vitals. 00:16:09.559 --> 00:16:14.330 Truth? or fancy. That will have to wait Joan's 00:16:14.330 --> 00:16:17.570 evaluation, at least, and events beyond that. 00:16:18.250 --> 00:16:35.850 I'll return shortly. Of course, nobody believes 00:16:35.850 --> 00:16:40.879 in witches anymore. And yet... It's a little 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:45.620 like superstitions. Nobody believes in them. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:50.159 And yet, do many of us like to have a black cat 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:53.899 cross our path? If you're like most people, do 00:16:53.899 --> 00:16:57.679 you try to avoid walking under a ladder, except 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:00.679 for sheer bravado? On the other hand, there are 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:04.359 people who are so healthy in mind and body, so 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:07.700 open -hearted and so generous, and who, without 00:17:07.700 --> 00:17:11.809 being Pollyanna, do... Look by habit on the best 00:17:11.809 --> 00:17:15.509 side of everything. People like Joan Madden. 00:17:20.150 --> 00:17:23.009 I should have known not to give into my old -fashioned 00:17:23.009 --> 00:17:26.369 sentimentality. Ever since I could walk, I've 00:17:26.369 --> 00:17:29.289 been a sucker for every stray dog and lost kitten. 00:17:29.849 --> 00:17:32.509 It wasn't fair to Walt. I knew he didn't want 00:17:32.509 --> 00:17:35.460 to take on any extra burdens. And it was stupid 00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:37.960 not to remember that he was just really only 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:40.500 getting his nerves back in shape after that freaked 00:17:40.500 --> 00:17:43.960 out war he got stuck in. But Great Grandpa's 00:17:43.960 --> 00:17:47.640 letter was so sweet and so sad. I just didn't 00:17:47.640 --> 00:17:50.759 have the heart to refuse his dying request. So 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:52.920 I had to tell Aunt Hester to come and stay with 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:55.619 us. I just never figured that Walt would get 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:59.240 hurt. Just give me a straight answer, Joan. Have 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:01.059 you laid off that seaweed gun she's been trying 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:05.920 to feed you? Of course I have. It's... It's yeah 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:08.900 Well, anyway, I I don't need anything without 00:18:08.900 --> 00:18:12.380 researching it first You know you talk as though 00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:15.839 she might try to poison me. I Don't know what 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:19.019 she's up to. Well, why should she be up to anything? 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:22.019 Because she isn't who she's supposed to be. We 00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:25.940 don't know that Joan Bill Cox got on the telex 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:28.200 to the Duluth Police Department and sent me a 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:31.240 copy of the teletype. He got in reply Your great 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:34.339 grandfather's wife got incinerated with him when 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:37.200 his house burned down. No, she didn't. Joan, 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:40.200 let's not kid around. I got this through police 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:42.380 channels. So even the police can make a mistake, 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:44.920 just like you. What's that supposed to mean? 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:47.079 Well, I mean, you haven't given Aunt Hester a 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:50.339 chance to tell her side of the story. Okay. Let's 00:18:50.339 --> 00:19:00.230 do that little thing right now. Now let me get 00:19:00.230 --> 00:19:02.930 this straight, Aunt Hester, or whoever you are. 00:19:03.210 --> 00:19:05.049 You weren't in the house when it burned down? 00:19:05.529 --> 00:19:07.910 Then sakes, Walter, of course not. How could 00:19:07.910 --> 00:19:10.990 I be here if I haven't been? Oh dear. What's 00:19:10.990 --> 00:19:13.329 the matter? I think I dropped a stitch. Let me 00:19:13.329 --> 00:19:15.750 see now. And look, if you weren't in the house, 00:19:16.069 --> 00:19:19.970 where were you? I don't think I want to say. 00:19:20.529 --> 00:19:24.009 Why not? It's sort of important. I suppose it 00:19:24.009 --> 00:19:29.200 could be made to be. Dear me. He was such a good 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:32.819 man and kind but weak weak and terribly careless. 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:37.359 Oh Oh, it's beginning to get dark. Isn't it? 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:40.759 I'll turn on some lights Oh, no. No first the 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:43.859 windows the drapes and the shutters. Sorry. I 00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:50.660 forgot There There you see you like that better 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:56.720 ever so much The night must always be shut out 00:19:57.450 --> 00:20:00.849 Especially here. You can put the lights on now 00:20:00.849 --> 00:20:03.829 if you want. I'm still waiting for an answer. 00:20:04.029 --> 00:20:08.230 From me? Oh yes, about the house burning down. 00:20:08.809 --> 00:20:11.609 Oh dear. I hoped I wouldn't have to go into this, 00:20:12.089 --> 00:20:14.690 but now Walter, don't look so grim. It's all 00:20:14.690 --> 00:20:18.470 perfectly logical, if terribly unpleasant. I'm 00:20:18.470 --> 00:20:20.349 afraid when Charlie wrote that note about me, 00:20:20.410 --> 00:20:23.630 he wasn't quite telling the truth. He did say 00:20:23.630 --> 00:20:27.230 he had lupus erythematosus disseminatus, didn't 00:20:27.230 --> 00:20:31.029 he? Yes. We didn't know what it was. That's the 00:20:31.029 --> 00:20:34.829 bad kind. Terminal. Only it wasn't true. He was 00:20:34.829 --> 00:20:39.049 just trying to cover up. Cover up what? Well, 00:20:39.049 --> 00:20:41.569 that even though I loved him, I'd had to take 00:20:41.569 --> 00:20:45.289 Smokey and Captain Jack and leave him. Why? Oh, 00:20:45.289 --> 00:20:48.569 my. I guess I can't pull any punches. You see, 00:20:48.849 --> 00:20:52.740 Charlie was a chaser. Chaser he was woman crazy. 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:56.740 It has gotten so bad. I I'd had to move out Little 00:20:56.740 --> 00:21:00.960 did I realize how lucky I'd had or I would have 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:04.819 been burned up in that house Are you trying to 00:21:04.819 --> 00:21:09.980 tell me that a man of 82 was still I? Why I mean 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:12.579 was still messing around with other women you 00:21:12.579 --> 00:21:16.140 better believe it son and He had another woman 00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:18.240 with him when the house burned down? I'm sorry 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.779 to blacken his name for you, Joanie, but that's 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:23.920 about the size of it. Oh, the times I used to 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.440 warn him about smoking those cigars in bed. Wait 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.579 a minute, wait a minute. You don't actually expect 00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:31.539 me to believe all this stuff. Why not, when it's 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:34.160 the truth? Because it doesn't hold water. I mean, 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:36.819 what about this other woman? She must have friends 00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:39.460 or relatives or something. You can't just leave 00:21:39.460 --> 00:21:40.859 them wondering what's happened to her. Well, 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.599 what good would it do them to know that she'd 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:45.140 been burned to a crisp? Besides, Darlene was 00:21:45.140 --> 00:21:48.859 a drifter and a deadbeat. She was also a professional. 00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:52.380 Nobody will miss her. Well, but, Aunt Hester, 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:56.819 what about the estate and... Well, there wasn't 00:21:56.819 --> 00:22:00.009 any estate. What money we had was mine. Yes, 00:22:00.009 --> 00:22:02.009 but the house, the insurance... He didn't own 00:22:02.009 --> 00:22:04.609 it. Charlie had no insurance. Yes, but you've 00:22:04.609 --> 00:22:06.690 thrown away your identity. You can't even get 00:22:06.690 --> 00:22:08.250 Social Security or anything. Well, I won't be 00:22:08.250 --> 00:22:12.150 needing any of it. You see, I'm the one who hasn't 00:22:12.150 --> 00:22:15.690 much longer to live. The pains have begun already. 00:22:16.470 --> 00:22:18.490 I'll be all right, though. The doctor said it 00:22:18.490 --> 00:22:22.250 would be quick. If you'll just keep a roof over 00:22:22.250 --> 00:22:25.589 my head till... till the dark angel comes to 00:22:25.589 --> 00:22:32.410 pull me in his wings. Poor Walt. His face was 00:22:32.410 --> 00:22:35.670 a study. I felt almost as sorry for him as I 00:22:35.670 --> 00:22:38.710 did for poor Aunt Hester. But I managed to get 00:22:38.710 --> 00:22:40.329 him out of the room and out of the house for 00:22:40.329 --> 00:22:44.309 a long walk on the beach. And just as well. Because 00:22:44.309 --> 00:22:47.809 we had what amounted to our first quarrel. And 00:22:47.809 --> 00:22:51.559 the way he carried on really scared me. And I'm 00:22:51.559 --> 00:22:54.559 telling you, she's a fake. She's lying through 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:56.180 her teeth, and I want her out of this house. 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:59.559 No, darling, please calm down. You know, I can't 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:01.720 just throw my poor old aunt who's sick out of... 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.339 Don't you listen to what I'm trying to tell you. 00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:05.819 She's not your poor old aunt. All right, dear, 00:23:05.819 --> 00:23:09.680 all right. Don't get yourself so upset. And even 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:11.819 if she isn't, she's a sweet old lady with nowhere 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:13.859 to go. I know where she can go as far as I'm 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:16.019 concerned. And as far as I'm concerned, it's 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:18.000 right where she belongs, the old witch. Well, 00:23:18.039 --> 00:23:20.960 that's silly. There's no such thing as a witch. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:23.640 Yes, there is. I'm going to tell you something 00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:27.359 about that sweet old lady of yours. I think she 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:30.119 burned the house down. What? And by me, the only 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:32.160 reason she took a play in here was to make things 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:34.380 look good. She could just as easily have made 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:37.579 it on a broomstick. Darling, please. Now, look, 00:23:37.640 --> 00:23:41.559 I want you to try and relax. It's just like it 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:44.500 was after you came back from overseas. Maybe 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:47.079 we ought to call Dr. Paul Damon. I don't need 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:50.079 Dr. Damon. All I need is the evidence of my own 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:52.680 eyes and ears and my police instincts. What do 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:55.519 you mean, evidence of your eyes and ears? I told 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:58.279 you. Right down about there, on those rocks, 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:00.640 that's where I saw the cat pawing about in the 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:03.960 water. And then all of a sudden, the cat changed 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:07.380 into Aunt Hester. Walt, you've been asleep. That 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:10.680 was just a, uh, well, a hallucination. I don't 00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:15.220 hallucinate. Well, not anymore anyways. And it 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:17.680 isn't only that. But she talks to that bird, 00:24:17.920 --> 00:24:21.380 Captain Jack, all the time. And sometimes there's 00:24:21.380 --> 00:24:24.700 a third voice, like the cat, and he talks back. 00:24:25.019 --> 00:24:29.440 I hear them. Don't you? No. So now you think 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:31.960 I'm hearing things, too? Oh, darling, Captain 00:24:31.960 --> 00:24:35.319 Jack says a few little words, but how could a 00:24:35.319 --> 00:24:38.619 cat talk? Because they're not just a cat and 00:24:38.619 --> 00:24:42.160 a bird, any more than she's your Aunt Hester, 00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:44.980 or even human. I tell you, she's a witch. and 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:48.400 the other two are her familiars. Her what? I 00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:50.339 went to the library and read up on it. There 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:52.660 were two kinds of minor spirits that witches 00:24:52.660 --> 00:24:57.339 had, or have, called familiars. One was a divining 00:24:57.339 --> 00:24:59.920 familiar, and the other was a domestic one. Well, 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:05.940 honey, look at me. Now, you can't honestly believe 00:25:05.940 --> 00:25:11.420 all this bilge. Suppose I do. Then I think you're 00:25:11.420 --> 00:25:14.690 sick, and you ought to see a doctor. Listen, 00:25:14.690 --> 00:25:16.470 I just want that woman out of the house and out 00:25:16.470 --> 00:25:18.789 of our lives. Don't ask me to do that to the 00:25:18.789 --> 00:25:22.589 poor old thing. What could she want from me? 00:25:23.430 --> 00:25:27.529 How could she hurt me? I don't know. You can 00:25:27.529 --> 00:25:29.109 see from the way she treats Kip how harmless 00:25:29.109 --> 00:25:31.970 and well -meaning she is. Kip? Oh, good Lord. 00:25:32.549 --> 00:25:34.650 Maybe that's what she's after, the baby, and 00:25:34.650 --> 00:25:41.910 we left her alone with him. Oh, you like to scare 00:25:41.910 --> 00:25:44.680 me to death, the two of you. Running like that 00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:46.779 and bursting into the house, I thought you'd 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:50.019 wake up poor little Kip. Look at him, having 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:52.220 a little afternoon nap with Smokey in his arms 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:54.440 and Captain Jack perched on the edge of the crib 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:59.359 keeping warm. Fire bells and all's clear! Oh 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:02.960 dear, when the sun goes down my old bones have 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:06.059 an ache. And I look at you, Joan, darling, and 00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:09.240 think to myself, what a wonderful thing it is 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:12.299 to have a young, healthy body at one's command. 00:26:14.329 --> 00:26:19.170 How much you may belong to be just as you are 00:26:19.170 --> 00:26:27.869 now But where are you going law I'm going into 00:26:27.869 --> 00:26:30.089 town to nail this thing down once and for all 00:26:30.089 --> 00:26:33.170 how I can use the police Teletype And I'm gonna 00:26:33.170 --> 00:26:35.410 get a court order from the Duluth Police Department 00:26:35.410 --> 00:26:37.609 to exhume the remains of whoever died in that 00:26:37.609 --> 00:26:40.670 fire Once and for all, I mean to find out just 00:26:40.670 --> 00:26:43.230 who and what it is we have living in our house. 00:26:43.970 --> 00:26:45.890 And, darling, I want a promise from you. What? 00:26:46.130 --> 00:26:48.150 Don't you leave Kip alone for one minute while 00:26:48.150 --> 00:26:51.430 I'm gone. Walt, you're not really serious about 00:26:51.430 --> 00:26:54.509 this. I was never more serious in my life. Because 00:26:54.509 --> 00:26:57.049 if that woman represents a threat to you or our 00:26:57.049 --> 00:27:00.730 future, I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to wipe 00:27:00.730 --> 00:27:05.930 her off the face of the earth. And that's the 00:27:05.930 --> 00:27:09.109 reason, just as soon as Walt was gone, I called 00:27:09.109 --> 00:27:12.750 Dr. Damon. Because the way I saw it, what was 00:27:12.750 --> 00:27:15.809 wrong around our house was my poor husband. He 00:27:15.809 --> 00:27:18.210 was back in a tailspin just like after the war. 00:27:18.769 --> 00:27:22.009 He was round the bend. Somehow I had to find 00:27:22.009 --> 00:27:31.390 a way to bring him back. The second panel of 00:27:31.390 --> 00:27:36.000 the Triptych. Is Joan right? Has she reasoned 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:39.519 to be worried about Walt? Or is she perhaps worrying 00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:42.980 about the wrong person, shutting her eyes to 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:46.599 the real danger? Is Aunt Hester what she seems 00:27:46.599 --> 00:27:50.740 to Joan, or what Walt is convinced she is? And 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:54.880 if, wild as it seems, she were a witch, what 00:27:54.880 --> 00:27:58.400 is it she's after? I'll return shortly with Act 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:19.160 3. for the central panel. The sum and substance 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:22.880 of the two side portraits we have examined. The 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:26.980 real truths about Hester Madden. But first, a 00:28:26.980 --> 00:28:30.420 harried phone call from Joan to Dr. Damon, monitored 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:34.279 unaware by either of the principals by that sweet 00:28:34.279 --> 00:28:38.940 old lady Hester on a convenient extension. I'm 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:44.759 sorry to bother you, doctor, but I am... Walt 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:48.599 had found himself. Can you get him back to town 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:52.900 to see me? Oh, I doubt it. Well, I have a free 00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:56.200 weekend. I might take advantage of this opportunity 00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:58.440 to run down to the cave. I don't know if we can 00:28:58.440 --> 00:29:02.079 put you up. No need. I have a little summer cabin 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:05.680 and all -ins. I could just drop in on your work 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:09.660 casually and check out Walt. Oh, if you only 00:29:09.660 --> 00:29:13.079 could. Oh, you know me, Paul. I don't flip... 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:16.420 Well, this whole thing has got me really strung 00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:20.980 out. Okay. I'll be there. Count on me. Just give 00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:25.140 me directions. May you roast in hell forever, 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:28.940 Dr. Damon, if you try to cross my path, psychiatrist. 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:32.599 Ah! Roast him in hell! Roast him in hell! Quiet! 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:36.740 How much time do I still have? Not much. The 00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:42.359 moon is full this weekend. And your houses will 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:46.390 be here. In conjunction, time to make the change 00:29:46.390 --> 00:29:49.990 to her. Now can I, Smokey, if she's not prepared? 00:29:50.529 --> 00:29:54.009 Give me the dried seaweed. I'll make sure it's 00:29:54.009 --> 00:29:56.789 dropped in the salad she mixes for dinner. I'd 00:29:56.789 --> 00:29:59.869 better handle that. No, no good. He wouldn't 00:29:59.869 --> 00:30:03.329 let you near her, even if she would. Damn and 00:30:03.329 --> 00:30:06.490 double damn him. May the torch of Hecate singe 00:30:06.490 --> 00:30:09.839 his eyes. Her spear ripped through his vitals, 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:12.880 and her hounds run him down and tear him to pieces. 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:15.660 If it weren't for him, it all would have been 00:30:15.660 --> 00:30:18.740 so easy. Maybe it would be better to move as 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:22.019 soon as possible, even right now while he isn't 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:26.640 here. No! That would be taking too much of a 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:32.440 chance for all of us. She's right! We exist only 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:35.740 as long as you do. Why should I care about you? 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:38.400 You're only projections of me that I can snuff 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:42.539 out like a candle if I wanted to. And be all 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:47.559 alone without your familiars to understand and 00:30:47.559 --> 00:30:53.119 serve you. And if you did send us to eternal 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:57.619 nothingness, our voices would still carry to 00:30:57.619 --> 00:31:01.539 tell them the truth. That you did not die as 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:04.839 you want them to think. He would come back to 00:31:04.839 --> 00:31:09.579 reclaim you for his own. No! No! You wouldn't 00:31:09.579 --> 00:31:14.140 do that to me. As long as you don't do anything 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:21.880 to us. My true name is Meregeist. And I am the 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:25.160 oldest order of witches. The witches of the sea. 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:29.059 I was born before the world began. And my span 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:32.599 of allotted years were seven thousand and seven. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:36.640 But when at last my time came to return, and 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:39.160 mingled with the nameless droplet among the uncounted 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:42.339 of the great oceans, I could not bring myself 00:31:42.339 --> 00:31:46.380 to obey the law. To escape my avenging sisters 00:31:46.380 --> 00:31:49.619 of the sea, I had to find an earthly body to 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:53.140 house my spirit. I called on all the ancient 00:31:53.140 --> 00:31:58.640 arts, magic, divination, astrology, enchantment 00:31:58.640 --> 00:32:02.990 to find a young girl. whose sign was my sign, 00:32:03.250 --> 00:32:05.569 whose birth date reflected the conjunction of 00:32:05.569 --> 00:32:08.990 our houses, the ascendancy of whose planets and 00:32:08.990 --> 00:32:13.170 stars matched my own. Every two generations, 00:32:13.609 --> 00:32:16.250 as the body I have possessed begins to disintegrate 00:32:16.250 --> 00:32:21.589 with age, I have found, countless times, a new 00:32:21.589 --> 00:32:25.509 one to possess. The alternative is too hideous 00:32:25.509 --> 00:32:29.730 to contemplate. I need the body of Joan Madden. 00:32:30.109 --> 00:32:33.789 And nothing shall stop me from invading it and 00:32:33.789 --> 00:32:45.670 making it my own. And nothing shall stop you, 00:32:45.769 --> 00:32:50.849 me guy. Don't call me by that name. Or give me 00:32:50.849 --> 00:32:54.910 a star. How can I afford to wait? Divine me now, 00:32:55.230 --> 00:32:58.210 Alebka. What is the man Walter Madden doing? 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:02.480 He is arranging for an order to exhume the bodies. 00:33:03.180 --> 00:33:05.619 To examine the one of the women who died in the 00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:08.980 fire. You don't want me to see any further? As 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:13.279 far as you can. The skull was not destroyed. 00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:16.819 They will find where you struck her and killed 00:33:16.819 --> 00:33:20.680 her. And by the teeth, they will know her as 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:23.980 someone other than you. They will look further 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:28.250 and find the fire was set by someone. And they 00:33:28.250 --> 00:33:32.849 will start to look for you! I knew it! My Grif, 00:33:32.990 --> 00:33:36.630 what is the girl doing now? I'm guarding her 00:33:36.630 --> 00:33:42.829 child because her husband told her to. He is 00:33:42.829 --> 00:33:47.710 most afraid, you mean, the boy harm. Does she 00:33:47.710 --> 00:33:51.849 still trust me? She is not even thinking of you. 00:33:52.210 --> 00:33:56.930 She worries about her husband, that he is losing... 00:33:56.890 --> 00:34:02.369 control of his mind as he did once before. She 00:34:02.369 --> 00:34:05.269 does not think that I am a witch. She doesn't 00:34:05.269 --> 00:34:09.710 believe such things exist. So much the better. 00:34:10.309 --> 00:34:13.329 Let us do everything to make her think he has 00:34:13.329 --> 00:34:23.630 gone mad. Who is it? It's Aunt Hester dear. Oh, 00:34:23.650 --> 00:34:29.960 just a minute. Is anything wrong? Well, I know, 00:34:30.179 --> 00:34:33.440 dear. That's what I was going to ask you. Kip's 00:34:33.440 --> 00:34:37.519 asleep. Everything all right? Of course. Why 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:40.599 shouldn't it be? Oh, no reason. Except it isn't 00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:43.760 like you to shut yourself away. I thought maybe 00:34:43.760 --> 00:34:46.579 you or Kip might not be feeling well. No, no, 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:49.739 no. It's just this cold. I guess I'm just not 00:34:49.739 --> 00:34:52.019 used to feeling out of sorts. And if you have 00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.960 a cold, you shouldn't be sitting locked up in 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:56.659 the same room with a boy. You'll give it to him. 00:34:56.889 --> 00:34:59.190 Oh, I never thought of that. I've just made a 00:34:59.190 --> 00:35:01.969 nice cup of tea. Why don't you come and join 00:35:01.969 --> 00:35:10.530 me? Following her downstairs, I could feel the 00:35:10.530 --> 00:35:13.710 saliva thicken in my mouth with envy. I was never 00:35:13.710 --> 00:35:16.769 more conscious of arthritic joints, the sagging 00:35:16.769 --> 00:35:19.530 flesh, the muscles that barely had vitality enough 00:35:19.530 --> 00:35:22.630 to respond to the message of the brain. There 00:35:22.630 --> 00:35:25.489 in front of me was that shining hair with a natural 00:35:25.489 --> 00:35:29.010 curl. The live muscles rippling just under the 00:35:29.010 --> 00:35:32.469 skin. The easy, jaunty step that had no fear 00:35:32.469 --> 00:35:36.130 of the treachery of steps to the old and feeble. 00:35:36.590 --> 00:35:38.650 Just as we reached the bottom of the stairs, 00:35:39.150 --> 00:35:41.409 the front door was thrown open hurriedly and 00:35:41.409 --> 00:35:45.030 Walt came in. Joan, you all right? Of course. 00:35:45.469 --> 00:35:46.949 Aunt Hester and I were just about to have a cup 00:35:46.949 --> 00:35:49.489 of tea. Will you join us? Where's Kip? I left 00:35:49.489 --> 00:35:52.469 him upstairs. He's asleep. Maybe since it won't 00:35:52.469 --> 00:35:54.269 be too long till dinner you'd rather have a drink, 00:35:54.289 --> 00:35:57.739 huh? No, I... I want to talk to you. Why don't 00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:59.800 you let me attend to dinner, dear? Why don't 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.940 you just go in the back, Aunt Hester, and stay 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:04.719 in your room? What? Just let me handle things. 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:07.840 Of course. I'll go right now. I wouldn't want 00:36:07.840 --> 00:36:10.719 to be in the way. All right, Smokey, you'll get 00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:13.119 your dinner. But we're all going to have to wait. 00:36:13.460 --> 00:36:17.460 Walter just isn't feeling himself tonight. Put 00:36:17.460 --> 00:36:20.860 him in Section 8! Put him in Section 8! What 00:36:20.860 --> 00:36:24.199 was he saying? What's Section 8? Service lingo 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:27.440 for the Nuthouse. The loony bin? You still think 00:36:27.440 --> 00:36:30.280 I'm a candidate? Walt, don't talk like that. 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:33.980 Just leave me alone. By this weekend, we should 00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:36.619 know the truth about who that woman is. If she 00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:39.559 is your sweet old great grandmother, I'll apologize. 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:42.760 But if she's what I think she is, if she means 00:36:42.760 --> 00:36:46.500 any harm to you or Kip, so help me. I'll murder 00:36:46.500 --> 00:37:00.110 her. What time is it now? Nine on to eight bells. 00:37:00.650 --> 00:37:03.849 Midnight and high tide. Then we must act before 00:37:03.849 --> 00:37:07.130 them. How to get Joan alone. How to subdue her 00:37:07.130 --> 00:37:10.530 so I can have the power to take possession. Someone's 00:37:10.530 --> 00:37:16.789 at the door. Wait. Walter is answering and Joan 00:37:16.789 --> 00:37:19.530 is in the kitchen alone. This may be our chance. 00:37:19.730 --> 00:37:23.130 Shh! I want to hear what they're saying. Paul 00:37:23.130 --> 00:37:26.099 Damon! What are you doing? Come in, come out 00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:28.880 of that terrible weather. Come in the living 00:37:28.880 --> 00:37:31.320 room. Joan's in the kitchen. She'll be right 00:37:31.320 --> 00:37:33.820 out. What brings you here? Did Joan send for 00:37:33.820 --> 00:37:36.840 you? Never mind that now. Come on, don't try 00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:39.440 to sidestep. I suppose she thinks I'm blacking 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:42.599 out again. If you'd shut up for a moment. No 00:37:42.599 --> 00:37:44.940 matter what brought me here, the weather is all 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:47.179 that matters now. I've been listening to the 00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:50.280 radio driving up. Blackwater Dunes here is headed 00:37:50.280 --> 00:37:52.820 for the highest tide in history. There's more 00:37:52.820 --> 00:37:54.940 danger to you and your family from the elements 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:58.739 outside than any foreign element you fear may 00:37:58.739 --> 00:38:01.460 be loose inside. Shh, watch it. Let me close 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:03.960 the door before we talk any further. They're 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:08.340 in the living room. And your prey is in the kitchen. 00:38:08.780 --> 00:38:14.699 It's now or never. Come. Yes, Aunt Esther. What 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:18.860 is it? What? Are you looking at me like that? 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:22.179 In the name of the born, the swan that discreateth 00:38:22.179 --> 00:38:26.079 the night and the day. In the name of Iabash, 00:38:26.500 --> 00:38:30.960 in the name of Ptah and Chem, I abjure thee not 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:34.679 to move. Oh, my God, protect me. What was right? 00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:40.420 Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! 00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:40.860 Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! 00:38:40.860 --> 00:38:40.980 Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.079 Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! Agress! 00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:52.130 Agress! feet away until she fell, mere guys. 00:38:53.250 --> 00:38:58.050 Now, while she is stunned and helpless, may I? 00:38:59.510 --> 00:39:05.050 Too late! The sea is coming for me! What's going 00:39:05.050 --> 00:39:07.530 on here? Anessa, what are you doing? Grab her, 00:39:07.570 --> 00:39:10.090 quickly! Don't let her lips touch Jones! Leave 00:39:10.090 --> 00:39:13.329 her alone! Don't touch my wife! Oh, good Lord, 00:39:13.449 --> 00:39:17.130 what is it? She... Anessa, do me a favor. Just 00:39:17.130 --> 00:39:25.190 stay with me. I followed six of her. Fetch Kip 00:39:25.190 --> 00:39:45.550 and run before the sea swamps us all. I never 00:39:45.550 --> 00:39:48.809 saw a tide like that. Came in like a... giant 00:39:48.809 --> 00:39:51.969 hand and swept everything away. You all right, 00:39:52.150 --> 00:39:55.329 Joan? I think so. Oh, thank the Lord you came 00:39:55.329 --> 00:39:58.389 in time, Paul. Even if it was for the wrong reason. 00:39:58.829 --> 00:40:00.809 What does that mean? Joan thought you needed 00:40:00.809 --> 00:40:04.849 psychiatric help. I can't blame her. Anyone who 00:40:04.849 --> 00:40:07.769 wanders the labyrinths of the mind has to be 00:40:07.769 --> 00:40:10.650 familiar with ghosts and witches and everything 00:40:10.650 --> 00:40:14.750 that haunts our dreams. Waking and sleeping. 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:18.059 There is a phenomenon I know from all my reading 00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:22.340 that never ceases to haunt me. Even me who has 00:40:22.340 --> 00:40:25.260 to deal with the fragmentation of personality 00:40:25.260 --> 00:40:28.860 so much. Fragmentation? You mean what happened 00:40:28.860 --> 00:40:32.239 when I tried to grab Hester or whatever she was? 00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:37.099 I'll never forget that sight. Little black rusty 00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:40.610 woman. who broke up into countless numbers of 00:40:40.610 --> 00:40:44.130 other little rusty women in black dresses. All 00:40:44.130 --> 00:40:47.690 mirror images running in every direction at once. 00:40:48.329 --> 00:40:52.289 Projection of image. The magic secret of only 00:40:52.289 --> 00:40:57.590 one kind of witch. The sea witch. All as her 00:40:57.590 --> 00:41:01.130 Celtic heritage and beyond. Perhaps as old as 00:41:01.130 --> 00:41:05.369 time. That's what Joan was saved from. Becoming 00:41:05.369 --> 00:41:08.909 another of those Faceless bodies she possessed 00:41:08.909 --> 00:41:12.710 and used up. You mean it was Joan she wanted? 00:41:14.010 --> 00:41:16.909 That she's still in danger? Not anymore. What 00:41:16.909 --> 00:41:20.409 do you mean? Look at where your house used to 00:41:20.409 --> 00:41:25.070 stand. Wiped out by a cataclysmic tide that reached 00:41:25.070 --> 00:41:29.809 from the sea like a monstrous god hand. You and 00:41:29.809 --> 00:41:35.630 Joan are safe now. The sea has reclaimed its 00:41:35.630 --> 00:41:43.199 hold. It was the great German poet Goethe who 00:41:43.199 --> 00:41:46.559 wrote of a mystic goddess who came from the sea, 00:41:47.300 --> 00:41:52.320 Mergeist, which means simply sea ghost. The sea 00:41:52.320 --> 00:41:56.780 ebbs and surges, timeless and inexorable, but 00:41:56.780 --> 00:42:00.039 what it sucks away in the undertow does not always 00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:05.130 return with a succeeding wave. Eventually, it 00:42:05.130 --> 00:42:09.670 swallows up what it wills. And no hand, natural 00:42:09.670 --> 00:42:14.429 or supernatural, can stay it. In the end, the 00:42:14.429 --> 00:42:35.309 sea always wins. I'll be back shortly. in Macbeth, 00:42:35.590 --> 00:42:39.010 who said of the end of the Thane of Cawdor, I 00:42:39.010 --> 00:42:44.150 saw him die. Nothing in his life became him like 00:42:44.150 --> 00:42:47.949 believing it. The context of the remark, of course, 00:42:48.070 --> 00:42:51.329 was somewhat different. He meant it as a tribute. 00:42:52.250 --> 00:42:56.190 Hester, or Mergeist's death, was a long delayed 00:42:56.190 --> 00:43:00.889 blessing for Joan Madden and all the world. No 00:43:00.889 --> 00:43:04.190 young girl listening to this story. born under 00:43:04.190 --> 00:43:07.329 the sign of Virgo, can help but sleep easier 00:43:07.329 --> 00:43:11.750 tonight and other nights. Our cast included Margaret 00:43:11.750 --> 00:43:15.449 Hamilton, Christopher Tabori, Evie Juster, and 00:43:15.449 --> 00:43:18.389 Gilbert Mack. The entire production was under 00:43:18.389 --> 00:43:25.289 the direction of Hyman Brown. And now, a preview 00:43:25.289 --> 00:43:28.190 of our next tale. What happened to what I gave 00:43:28.190 --> 00:43:30.610 you the loaner? Well, it was paid to the old 00:43:30.610 --> 00:43:33.750 lair the night he died. But he never gave me 00:43:33.750 --> 00:43:36.809 a receipt and the money just vanished into thin 00:43:36.809 --> 00:43:41.289 air. Will you have the gall to ask me for money 00:43:41.289 --> 00:43:44.610 when you've thrown away what I gave you already? 00:43:45.510 --> 00:43:50.369 Here sits Stainstinson, false friend, thief, 00:43:50.590 --> 00:43:54.050 braggart, beggar and bankrupt. Thou laird in 00:43:54.050 --> 00:43:56.900 his offices and after him... So help me hold 00:43:56.900 --> 00:43:59.719 him till they catch him, for I have claim on 00:43:59.719 --> 00:44:03.219 his horse before any. Stand back, all of you, 00:44:03.599 --> 00:44:06.119 or any man that approaches me near, I'll run 00:44:06.119 --> 00:44:09.539 him through. For I'm a desperate man this night, 00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:12.619 and to save my heart and home and my family, 00:44:13.219 --> 00:44:17.320 I'll ride the wind with the witches abroad, even 00:44:17.320 --> 00:44:21.579 if it blows me all the way to hell itself. This 00:44:21.579 --> 00:44:24.420 is E .G. Marshall inviting you to return to our 00:44:24.420 --> 00:44:27.579 mystery theater. for another adventure in the 00:44:27.579 --> 00:44:33.639 macabre. Until next time, pleasant dreams.