And now, Mystery Theater. Come in. Welcome. I'm
E .G. Marshall. Won't you join me in the exploration
of the rich resources of your own imagination?
Modern science tells us we live in a world of
waves Beyond the atom the electron the ion substance
itself breaks down into waves my voice is coming
to you now on waves and That as they say is a
long and short of it, but what about thoughts?
Might not they comprise wave patterns too? Patterns
that linger on after the thinkers are dead and
buried. Might not that explain the empty footfall
in the vacant house? The rattle of chains now
rusted and broken. And even the sound of voices
long ago silenced. No, my dear, no, they can't
harm you now. They're all gone. They're all turned
to dust long ago. They'd be after me. You'd not
want to see me swinging in the wind, would you?
No, I wouldn't want to see that. I must have
a swift, able ship. In mercy's name, help! Our
mystery drama, The Strange Voyage of the Lady
D, was written especially for the Mystery Theatre
by Mary Jane Higby and stars Paul Hecht and Augusta
Dabney. The curious adventure that befell the
Stevens family would never have happened if Ellen
had had her way. But Ellen was a realist, her
husband Richard a romantic. And when did realism
ever hold the line against the subtle persuasions
of romance? It all began during a visit to one
of those cruise -ridden, sun -drenched islands
in the Caribbean. A friendly family disagreement
was in progress, an old story. It's been going
on now for six years. It's the one at the end
of the dock, Ellen. There. Isn't she beautiful?
Mm -hmm. Very nice. But you promised her, Richard,
no more boats. Well, not until Suzy's at least
16 years old. We'll never see a bay like this
again. They're practically giving it away. Well,
then there's something wrong with it. It's got
dry rock. Not this ship. Come on. Step aboard
Ellen Richard. Why do you start these things?
You know, we're not in the market for a boat
But this is such a jewel wait till you see the
cabin plenty of headroom a beautiful galley Oh
All right, but just one quick look and be careful
of your dress here. Let me help you There you
are now Just look at this afterdeck. She's all
white oak and cedar and she's a motor sailor
You know, a lot better than an auxiliary engine.
You can run just as well under power as under
sail. There are two 50 -gallon fuel tanks below
deck. Mama, look at this kitchen down here. There's
even an oven. Really? Is there an oven? Of course.
The ship is a real home. Ellen, what do you say
we take a short run? I have the ignition key.
The guy in the boatyard office said I could take
her out. Oh, Richard, I've had it with boats.
And anyway, the question's academic. Even if
we bought it, we couldn't get it back to the
States. We could sail it. Are you out of your
mind? It's hundreds of miles. She has an enormous
cruising range. What with the engine and sail,
we just watch the weather predictions very carefully.
Come on, Susie, we're going to get off now. Richard,
you take the keys back to the boat yard, man.
And I'll get the car and bring it down as far
as I can. I'll pick you up at the gate. Daddy?
Yeah? I want to take a ride in it. Can I tomorrow,
Daddy? Can I? Can I? What, dear? Can we go for
a boat ride tomorrow? I don't know. Depends on
your mother. Oh, I wish we could buy the boat.
Don't you? Daddy? Don't you? Don't I what? Wish
we could buy the boat. Yeah, that part's all
taken care of. I already bought it. The only
problem now is how to break the news to your
mother. I have to admit, this is the life. Look
at that sea. It's like glass. It's too calm.
I don't like the gray mistiness that's settling
over everything. I won't feel good until we sight
land again. That won't be long now. We were clipping
right along when we had the sails up. See, that's
the advantage of a motor sailor. When the wind
died, we could switch right over to power and
still maintain our speed. except for that panicky
half hour when you couldn't get the engine started.
Just a little corrosion around the points. A
bit of sandpaper fixed that. Here, Ellen, why
don't you take over the wheel, huh? I want to
go and look at the chart. Now, the first buoy
we pick up is number 12. From there, we'll see
a light. If we make it before nightfall, you
can take over for a few minutes. Okay, Susie?
I don't like this mist. You know where we are
right now? We are sailing on the Spanish main.
Dispatch me? That's right. These waters were
infested with pirates in the old days. Blackbeard
and Calico Jack. Richard, I think there's a fog
closing in. Look ahead. Yeah. Well, just hold
a steady course. We'll be sighting that buoy
any minute now. Suzie, go below and bring up
my binoculars. There's a good girl. The visibility's
not any too good. We can't be far from port.
Oh, Richard. I hope we're not running into one
of those awful pea soupers. Now don't! Panic
don't get Susie frightened Thanks Can you make
out anything Well, I don't see it yet, but we
will Tell me more about the pirate. Okay. Well
Calico Jack Racker They called him that because
of the fancy clothes. He wore he sailed with
Anne Bonnie. There were girl pirates, too, you
know Sure, Anne Bonny and Mary Reed. And from
all accounts, they were better at it than the
men. The fog's getting awfully thick, Richard.
I've never seen one roll in so fast and the sun's
gone. I'll take over. No, I can hold her on course.
You keep looking for that buoy. We should have
been in port long ago. Well, we lost a little
time trying to start the engine. Are we lost?
Of course not. I think we ought to start sounding
our foghorn. Not yet. Don't you want to hear
what happened to Anne Barney? What happened to
her? The pirates all went to jail. They hanged
poor old Calico Jack. Mary Reed was dying of
a fever and Anne Barney nursed her and then Well,
nobody knows just what did happen In the morning
when the jail keeper opened their cell. He found
the body of Mary Reed, but Anne Barney was gone
She disappeared And was never heard of? Richard!
What? Look! Look what you've done, oh Richard,
how could you? Well, what? What is it? This monkey
wrench is right behind the compass, Richard!
Who put that there? Who? Who was working on the
engine? The wrench will have pulled that compass
so far out of line, heaven knows where we are
now! Sorry, I was so glad to get that motor started.
Oh, Ellen, I'm sorry. Oh, if I ever get my feet
on dry land again. Now, let's keep calm. We are
not lost. Oh, no. We're still right here in the
Atlantic Ocean. I'm sorry, Ellen. How I ever
let you talk me into this expedition. Just try
to keep cool. Daddy? It's all my fault. We're
probably 50 miles off course. Daddy, there's
a big cannon floating over there. What? Where?
There! The boy. It is. Oh, thank heaven. I'll
take the wheel. I want to go right up to it.
We've got to be sure of that number. It should
be 12, right? I see it. I see the number. What
is it? Three. Three? No, it can't be. A three
and an eight. Oh, no. That's what it is. Ellen?
Susie's right. 38. That's impossible. Take the
wheel again, Alice. Just idle here by the buoy.
There's no 38 on this chart. We're way off course.
I have to go below and get the other charts.
Can you still see the buoy, Susie? Sure. It's
right here. Well, keep your eye on it. Don't
let me drift too far away. Darling? Yeah? You're
not smoking down there, are you? Good Lord, no.
You know, I haven't smoked in ten years. I smell
tobacco. So do I. What? Well, let me get at the
engine. Maybe there's a short in the wire. No,
no, it's not like that. It's... it's tobacco.
Did you hear that? What? It sounded like... Somebody
laughed. blow the horn. Ahoy! What ship are you?
The Lady D. We're off course. Can you give us
our bearings? You'd best lay over for the night.
Steer north by east, a quarter east. You'll run
right down the tunnel. Thank you. I still can't
see anything. the ship around. Slowly, Ellen.
That's right. I hope she knows what she's talking
about. And I still smell tobacco. So do I. Was
she that close? Funny. I didn't see a thing.
I didn't hear any motor. Maybe she's sailing.
Now, Susie, how could she be? There's no wind.
And she seemed to get away so fast. Ellen, go
as slow as you can. I'm going forward and keeping
a sharp watch. We don't know what we're heading
into. And I've got her throttled way down. The
most beautiful yet fearful tales that travelers
tell is the Lorelei, the siren who sits on a
rock combing her long golden hair and luring
unwary boatmen to their doom. But a siren who
smokes tobacco? We'll learn more of this unusual
temptress when we return shortly with Act Two.
There's nothing so eerie as the feel of a ship
gone aground. A living, pulsing body beneath
your feet goes suddenly dead. Aboard the Lady
D, only Susie slept that night. Ellen and Richard
kept an anxious vigil, waiting to see what the
dawn would bring. Where were they? How great
was the damage to their boat? On the last question
hung the safety, perhaps the survival of the
ship and her crew. Ellen, come up on deck. You've
got to see this. What, dear? Look at that sunrise.
Isn't it magnificent? Oh, darling. You are the
one man alive who could run a valuable boat aground
in the middle of nowhere. and greet the dawn
like Shelley. Some sort of ship is sure to pass
by. Meantime, this is a great adventure. Well,
the tide runs out. That'll be an adventure. This
boat's gonna roll over on her side. No, she won't.
She's built like a seaskip. They used to pull
them right up on the beach to unload the catch.
So, give us a kiss, Cassandra. Good morning,
darling. I guess I better go ashore and see if
I can find a water supply on our desert island.
Is this really a desert island? I'm afraid so,
sleepyhead. And your father's playing Robinson...
Richard, look. Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, here
comes Friday. Hello. Good morning. Good morning.
Good morning. You are it. What did he say? I
think he said we're early. Early for what? What
island is this? Campbell's Island. Campbell's
Island? Yes, mistress. I am Campbell. Oh, how
do you do, Mr. Campbell? I'm Richard Stevens.
This is my wife. Good morning, mistress. And
my daughter? Welcome. Did you say we were early?
Yes, yes. Usually September come before she bring
a book. Who? The lady who smoke the pipe. A pipe?
Yes, a long clay pipe. You did not see her? No.
We smelled her pipe. Is Campbell's Island...
I mean, is there a town here? How? Campbell,
the only man here. We missed the harbor channel.
Campbell's Island. Have no harbor. The lady said
there was a channel. Oh, yes. Sometimes she say
that. You mean she lied to us? Baby, you want
your boat. Your boat. She nice. Well, why don't
you come aboard? Thank you, sir. Can I give you
a cup of coffee? No, thank you, mistress. Oh,
your wheel. I like a good old fashioned wheel
to steer with. You pay a lot for that. Oh, the
compas. Well, the ship's well -equipped. This
is the ship's belt. Brass. What's close, dear?
You have a radio? Just a receiving set. Now,
Mr. Campbell, about getting off the beach. You're
stuck fast, man. Well, if you have a boat and
a tow line at high tide... No, man. My motor
too small. Just a little outboard. I sail to
the other island. Well, there are other islands
near? Eight hours to sail there. Could they send
out a work boat from another island? Maybe. We
have to fetch them. No wireless on Campbell's
Island. You mean go in your little sailboat?
Oh, no, mistress. You and the child must stay
here. My boat is small. If I try to keep a big
boat, she take it. You mean... The lady with
the pipe. Well, now, she has a boat. She ought
to be willing to... No, man. Mistress Bonnie
have no boat. That's the trouble. She look for
a boat. All the time she look. Bonnie? Did you
say Bonnie? And Bonnie? You know about her? Yes,
but she died 200 years ago. That's what they
say. Do you mean that we were talking to a...
A ghost? Of course not, Suzy, there are no such
things. I talk to a ghost! I talk to a ghost!
Suzy, be sensible, there are no such things as
a ghost. Your boat is stuck fast on Campbell's
Island. What, true? Why, yes, but... If the ghost,
she don't bring you. How you think you got him?
Mr. Campbell and Susie are certainly getting
along together. Look at them striding ahead of
us. He's striding. She's trotting. What a big,
powerful man he is. And his skin, like ebony.
How old do you think he is? I don't know. Forty?
I'm eager to see his boat. I hate to think of
your starting out all alone with him. I have
to go for hell. Yes, but why can't he go by himself?
I don't know. He doesn't seem willing to do that.
Did you notice the way he examined our boat equipment?
Yeah, like he was taking inventory What do they
call those people who lure ships to their doom
by putting out beacon lights wreckers? Yeah,
you think he's a record the thought crossed my
mind But we did hear a woman's voice look there
could be two explanations for that either there
is a woman on this island in spite of what Campbell
says or Or he's a ventriloquist Look look Ellen
look down there It's a castle ruin a Burned -out
ruin how in the world on this desert island.
I know what that is I've seen those burnt mansions
before This was a plantation in the slave days
when the slaves rebelled they burned the house
to the ground Half of it is still standing and
now the house and the island I found a new master
Welcome. You like a drink before lunch? Lunch?
Yes, yes, I give you a nice lunch. You like foie
gras, caviar, potato shrimp, any kind of wine?
Nothing, thank you. A vodka Collins would be
just fine. Vodka Collins. Soon come back. Mama,
Mr. Campbell says there's an ice -cold spring
behind the house and coconuts and pineapples.
Hey, look in the corner there. Cast bronze? And
enormous. A propeller. That's worth a lot of
money. And that wheel, it's huge. Must have come
off a schooner. What does it say on this plate,
Mama? Duchess of the Caribbean. This one says
Rita Choo. This one is Morning Star at S .S.
What's this word? The S .S. Odyssey. Oh, Richard.
Yeah. All of ships. Don't wreckers usually? Murder
their victims and we don't know that he's a wrecker
you like my house. Oh, it's lovely I have good
life man Since I learned to get along with mistress
Bonnie. How did you come here in the first place
in mr? Campbell? I was fisherman hard work. No
money one night she take my boat I Swim to this
island I see all these rich things here on the
beach. So I come back in a new boat. She put
that one on the devil's tomb. What's the devil's
tomb? Big rock. The devil, he put his tomb up
at low tide. Then he pull it down at high tide.
Then up at low tide. He hide it again just below
the water. Along come a sailor man Up come the
thumb right through the bottom of the boat The
devil I think he good friend of mistress Bonnie
Mr. Campbell you say it'll take all day to get
to the nearest boatyard in my boat But they have
work boat much quicker with power They return
here with you in two three hour. Then can we
start tomorrow morning? Yes, man Five o 'clock
to catch the tide. I have things to sell very
dear Better than fish. Oh, yes. Yes better than
fish Feels good to stretch out. Oh, I'm exhausted.
I was certainly glad to get back to our boat.
Yeah I'm afraid I'm too nervous to sleep tonight
Oh, I dread the thought of our separating tomorrow.
When I think of you all by yourself on the sea
with that giant of a man, I'm so frightened.
Why won't he go alone to get help? That would
be perfectly normal, wouldn't it? Unless, unless
there's a price on his head. Richard? Richard?
Oh, Richard, are you... Richard! Oh dear, I'll
never get to sleep. She's an able ship. What?
Who's that? Oversight with you lads! And mine!
Walk on cat's feet! Who's there? See where they
vessel? Who's there? Who are you? Ah, good evening,
lady. I'm just admiring your ship. May I come
aboard? There's somebody with you. I heard you
talking. Aye, but they all ran at the sound of
your voice. Men, a craven lot. Jack Rackham was
insane. But Mary... stood beside me. We held
off the King's men till our pistols were empty
and they boarded and knocked the cutlasses out
of our hands. Ah, Mary died in prison, poor soul.
She was with child. Ah, but that was days ago.
Days? It was more than that. Perhaps. No, thanks.
A fine, soothing thing to sit on a ship's deck
and blow rings at the moon. I've never seen such
perfect smoke rings. Ghosts. Ghosts? Aye, the
ghosts of wedding rings. I should have warned.
Calico Jack thought of that. A captivating man
was jacked with his black, gypsy -wild... And
then? What happened? She's not for sale. You
want to see poor Angy swinging in the wind like
Carico Jackwood? No, I wouldn't want to see that,
but they can't harm you now. They're gone. All
turned to dust long ago. Now put me in iron!
No, my dear, no. I must have a ship. Listen,
I have something worth hundreds of ships. I'll
trade it out for this miserable little craft.
What is it? Rackham and I. We sailed with Blackbeard
once. Blackbeard? The same. Now, come close,
lads. l know where Blackbeard buried his treasure.
Blackbeard's treasure? A great treasure it was.
The booty from three rich Spanish merchants laden
with gold and silver. You have a map? Aren't
you forgetting that you drove us aground last
night? A good storm will set you afloat. Campbell
says the big storms don't come till September.
Aye, but sometimes they do. We'll see to that.
So, it's a bargain. You'll sail with me? No.
No, no, I can't. between us and you're a dream
a figment and when I wake up I'll still be here
but you'll be gone I can't help you because because
you're nothing you're nothing a whistling, pipe
-smoking lady with a cutlass at her belt. But
why did she leave so abruptly? Was she offended
at being called a nothing, a figment? Well, none
of us likes to hear the truth about himself,
least of all a ghost. We'll follow Anne Barney's
ruthless quest for a ship when we return shortly
with Act Three. A spectral lady bent on seizing
a ship or a laughing West Indian intent only
on gathering up the spoils. Ellen doesn't know
which she fears most as she watches the dawn
stretch its rosy fingers across the uncharted
island where the cruiser Lady D lies stranded
in the sand. That was a damn good breakfast,
Ellen. I had a depressing dream last night. Well,
at least I think it was a dream. Yeah and Bonnie
Boarded the lady D and we had a long talk And
I felt sorry for her. She was frightened. That's
scared ghost. Huh? That's a switch. No, well,
she was terrified. Oh darling, I Hate to see
you go off with that awful man in that little
boat Ellen dearest you mustn't worry. I Wish
we could stay together The sea, it's so treacherous.
Campbell's been sailing these waters all his
life. Oh, yes. And he's lost two boats, he told
us. Besides, you're going out in a tiny boat
with a criminal. He's not. He gathers salvage.
That's all we really know about him. Good morning.
Good night. She turn now. Time to go. Toss me
a line. I'll make you fast to our stern. Take
care. I want to go too. So do I but we can't
darling. I don't want to stay here Morning, mr.
Susie. Good morning. I want to go with you daddy,
please Now there isn't room for us all you and
mommy take care of each other Don't go daddy
Mr. Susie you go to my house. You can look at
the books Pretty pictures now when I get into
the boat with mr. Campbell, we're gonna let you
free the line and cast it off Now see how quickly
you can do it Here I go All right cast us off
Be good now, we'll be back before you know it
Aren't you gonna start the motor? No, they tied
you take us out. Then I put up this there. Oh
Not if on Bonnie she don't whistle up the wind.
What? What did you say? No storm. Not if she
don't whistle up the wind. She do that sometimes.
Yes, ma 'am. Susie, we should be getting back
to the Lady D. It's still raining. I thought
it was one of those quick little tropical showers,
but just look out there. The water's all ruffled.
Whitecaps. I'm hungry. Let's go back to the Lady
D. We'll be soaked. I'll tell you what let's
do. Why don't I go back alone and get you raincoat?
No, darling. It doesn't matter if I get wet.
I'm in my bathing suit. No, Susie, no. You always...
You promise you'll come straight back? I promise!
No loitering now! I won't! But a ship can't just
disappear like that, can it? Without leaving
a trace. Of course not, darling. Mr. Wyatt here
has radioed back to the boat yard. They say the
authorities are sending out a helicopter. We'll
hear from it soon, and when we do, we'll go right
to her. This tug is faster than it looks. Oh,
wait. It's terrible. Isn't there anything else
we can do, Mr. Wyatt? I don't know what to say
to you folks. We've been around the island several
times. There's no sign of a ship. My baby. I
should never have let her out of my sight. I
had no idea she'd try to start the engine. Ellen,
darling, don't. We'll find her. She was only
gone from the house just about ten minutes. I
set out right after. I know, I know, dearest.
And then when I got to the beach, the boat was
out a little away from the shore. And Susie was
standing on the deck crying. And the boat was
just drifting away. It went around that point
of land out there. And I ran. the other side
of the island but i never saw it again please
don't cry there was just nothing i could do until
you came back in the dug boat i know we'll find
her was that man camel was here he knows these
waters why didn't he come back with you he dropped
me at the public dock and took off like a shot
the police have had him in for questioning several
times there have been too many wrecks in the
last few years But they never seemed to get anything
out of him So you ran into him too. Yeah, he
told us hey Wait a minute. What did he call it
that rock? The devil's thumb. Yes the submerged
rock yet. Do you know where it is? Mr. Wyatt?
Well, there's only one I know of a very dangerous
spot right in the path of a swift current and
sometimes it's Well, there are shoulders to very
bad play Oh Richard, mr. Wyatt. Yes Yes, of course.
I know about where it lies now. We'll run down
on it best to have a look This is a tugboat swallow
calling coastal police launch Doug swallowed
the police launch Come in, please. Over. Police
launch to Swallow. I read you. Over. That's good.
I can hardly hear you, but it doesn't matter.
We've located the missing cruiser, Lady D. Over.
Is the child okay? Over. Yup. It's a miracle.
The kid was alone on board. She managed to drop
a small anchor onto a submerged sandbar near
the Devil's Thumb. I have the... Boat in tow,
and we're heading back to port. Over. Glad to
hear it. Over. Right. Over and out. Well, Suzy,
you're quite a sailor. But how did you know that
sandbar was there? You couldn't see it. The lady
told me. The lady with the pipe. The lady? She's
not a real lady. She's a ghost. A ghost? Well,
it's hard to explain. We don't believe in such
things, of course, but... She went away for a
while, but when I started to cry, she came back.
A ghost? I'm sure there's some perfectly natural
explanation. She said to put out a long, long
line, so the anchor wouldn't drag. Well, that
was sound advice, but I don't understand. You
see, Mr. Wyatt, I've been telling Susie these
pirate stories. And I had a very vivid dream,
and... She heard us talking about that. You know
how impressionable children are. Excuse me. Do
you smell something burning? Something... something
burning? Yeah. It smells like... like tobacco.
Richard! Mr. Wyatt, don't you think we'd better
get both these boats back into harbor just as
fast as we can? Those were the known facts of
the strange voyage of the Lady D. To this day,
Suzy insists she talked to a ghost. Ellen believes
it was a startling example of the power of the
imagination. And Richard has been reading up
on the dematerialized nature of modern physics.
And he wonders if somewhere in space there exists
a vast psychological viewing screen. picking
up impressions from other times and through which
it was the fate of the Lady D to pass. I'll be
back shortly. And now a brief footnote to the
story you've just heard. Among seafaring men
there is a belief as ancient as the art of navigation
itself that when the wind dies down a sailor
may bring it to life again by the simple act
of whistling. The mystery concerning the fate
of Anne Bonny as well as her life of piracy with
Calico Jack, Mary Read and the nefarious Blackbeard
is not legend. It is thoroughly documented historical
fact. Our cast included Augusta Dabney, Paul
Hecht, Corinore, Margaret Barker, and Dan Occo.
The entire production was under the direction
of Hyman Brown. This is E .G. Marshall inviting
you to return to our Mystery Theater for another
adventure in the macabre. Until next time, pleasant
dreams.