Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Beyond Midnight 69-04-18 (24) – "A True Ghost Story"

Date: October 17, 2025
Summary Format: Detailed breakdown of the dramatic radio story as aired, with key themes, memorable scenes, quotes, and timestamps.

Episode Overview

In this episode, Harold’s Old Time Radio presents "A True Ghost Story," an eerie, atmospheric tale from the "Beyond Midnight" series. The story is set in sun-drenched England in 1921 and follows a young aspiring writer as he rents a room in a small town, only to find himself engulfed by inexplicable dread and supernatural happenings. The episode explores themes of loss, unresolved grief, and the persistence of spirits, delivered in the narrative-driven, immersive style characteristic of golden-age radio dramas.

Key Discussion Points and Story Progression

1. Arrival in Crome Stratford and Setting the Scene

• 00:33–03:44
  • The narrator (B) recalls the magical summer of 1921 and his decision to visit the unfamiliar town of Crome Stratford for a writing retreat.
  • Descriptions evoke nostalgia and a sense of peacefulness, quickly contrasted with the oncoming unease.
  • Quote: “There is not much point in inventing ghost stories. Anyone can do it. It’s rather like playing a game whose rules one has made up without telling anyone else what they are.” (00:33, B)
• 03:46–04:53
  • After advice from the stationmaster, the young man finds accommodation at Mrs. Wayne’s house in Sevastopol Terrace, described as “the most ordinary and mediocre dwellings.”

2. Settling In & Growing Unease

• 05:01–06:58
  • Inside, the house is filled with character, lived-in comfort, and small emotional details—like the photograph of Mrs. Wayne's deceased husband displayed above the mantelpiece.
  • Initially, the narrator enjoys life with the two ladies, Mrs. Wayne and Mrs. Jennison, though he writes nothing of his intended novel.
  • Anxiety creeps in: the protagonist becomes inexplicably afraid when left alone in the house, especially after going upstairs.
    • Quote: “I began to be afraid of something. Afraid in a way that I’d never experienced before, or for that matter, since this time.” (05:01, B)

3. Ghostly Sensations and Unease Deepening

• 07:48–08:18
  • The fear intensifies when the protagonist senses an unseen presence following him through the empty house, particularly in the absence of the ladies.

4. Revelation of the Past and Premonitions

• 09:06–11:22
  • Over Sunday tea, an awkward conversation unfolds about premonitions and Mrs. Wayne’s late husband, Sidney.
  • Mrs. Jennison reveals that Mrs. Wayne had a premonition on the day her husband died—he had hanged himself post-war, unable to settle into civilian life.
    • Quote: “Do you mean he killed himself because he was bored?” (11:00, B)
    • Mrs. Jennison: “No. Say, lost...Killed him in action, you might say.” (11:11, C)
• The unsettling photograph and these new revelations amplify the narrator’s discomfort.

5. Poltergeist Activity

• 13:58–14:44
  • Sidney's photograph suddenly falls from its place, the broken frame symbolizing a break in routine and suggesting supernatural disturbance.
    • Mrs. Wayne, unfazed by the damage, decides to store the photo away: “I never really liked that photograph. I only put it up there to please Sidney.” (14:26, C)

6. Seeking Answers at the Seaside

• 15:49–17:33
  • Attempting to escape his anxiety, the narrator visits Lowestoft, where a mysterious woman (C) approaches him and, after hearing his story, explains that the ghost is trying to communicate and seeks forgiveness for his actions in life.
    • Quote: “That poor spirit was driven to his terrible deed by...distress that was very real to him...Afterwards...he saw how wrong he had been...” (16:33–17:03, C)
    • “He’s in touch with you to be his messenger. You know that now. But you’re refusing the message...You must take it and set the poor ghost free.” (17:06–17:18, C)
  • She urges the narrator to face his fear, stay in the house alone, and let the ghost’s message come through.

7. Climactic Supernatural Encounter

• 19:36–21:13
  • Back in the house, the narrator feels peace but drifts into a trance-like state. Suddenly, he sees a vision: the hanging figure of Sidney Wayne.
  • He awakens in terror as Mrs. Wayne returns, oblivious to his ordeal.

8. Resolution and Emotional Release

• 22:04–25:28
  • The next morning, Mrs. Wayne, visibly shaken, hands the narrator a letter he apparently wrote subconsciously—a message addressed to “Manx,” Sidney’s affectionate name for her, asking for forgiveness.
    • Quote: “How did you know? He called me Manx.” (24:11, C)
    • “Max, dear. Forgive me. Forgive me.” (24:46, B)
    • Mrs. Wayne recognizes the handwriting as Sidney’s, though she did not tell the narrator about the pet name.
  • The implication: the ghost finally conveyed his message and finds release, having received forgiveness.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Making peace with the dead:
  “Maybe you are his only chance.” (26:03, C)
• The narrator’s reluctant empathy:
  “I can’t do that. I won’t.” (17:33, B)
• Spiritualist interpretation:
  “In the clear vision death brings with it, he saw how wrong he had been.” (16:59, B)
• Emotional weight of the ending:
  Mrs. Wayne’s reaction upon receiving the ghost’s message: “She held out to me a letter...Her face...was as pale as death...She had a terrible dignity of sadness, a piercing accusation like an angel with a sword and a dreadful quietness.” (22:55–24:17, B)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:33 – Narrator introduces the story’s “true” nature and 1921 setting
• 05:01 – Onset of inexplicable fear at Sebastopol Terrace
• 09:06 – Mrs. Wayne’s tragic backstory is revealed
• 13:58 – Supernatural event: Sidney’s photograph falls
• 15:49 – The seaside encounter; guidance from the mysterious woman
• 19:36 – Climax: the narrator’s ghostly vision in the kitchen
• 24:11 – The revelation: Mrs. Wayne receives her husband's apology through the narrator

Tone and Storytelling Style

The episode’s language is reflective, atmospheric, and at times somber, effectively evoking the quiet, haunted landscapes both literal and emotional. The dialogue is direct, but thick with subtext and emotion, reflective of the period and the slow-building psychological tension of classic radio horror. The mood is one of nostalgia tainted by melancholy, fear, and, ultimately, a bittersweet sense of closure.

Summary for New Listeners

"A True Ghost Story" from "Beyond Midnight" captures the lonely fear of encountering the supernatural and the emotional weight of unfinished business. Set in a sunlit English summer, the story gradually shifts from warmth and comfort to ghostly dread before resolving in catharsis. This classic radio narrative is less about overt shocks and more about the underlying sadness of both the living and the dead, and how peace can be made when the truth is finally spoken. If you appreciate atmospheric, character-driven ghost stories with psychological depth, this episode is a fine example of golden-age radio drama at its best.