Podcast Summary

Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: Beyond Midnight – "The Evil Face"

Release Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Harold’s Old Time Radio
Original Story By: Michael McCabe

Overview

This episode of "Harold's Old Time Radio" features the chilling radio drama "Beyond Midnight – The Evil Face," a tale from the golden age of radio horror and suspense. The story explores themes of obsession, forbidden curiosity, and the supernatural, set against the atmospheric backdrop of an old hotel in Rouen, France. The episode delves into a mysterious legend—one that intertwines tragic love, vanity, and the inescapable lure of the unknown.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

1. Introducing Crutchley and the Mystery

• Crutchley, a genial yet forgettable man, suddenly becomes the focus when his name is mentioned among old friends. His recent absence and transformation (notably his now white hair) prompt speculation and concern ([00:46]–[01:41]).
  • Crutchley had been living quietly in Norfolk; rumors suggest a nervous breakdown.
  • “For the last year or two he's been living very quietly with his people in Norfolk. …I heard from him only the other day…” – Crutchley ([01:15])
• His friend begins to unfold the sinister tale of what drove Crutchley to the edge.

2. Arrival at the Hotel Davino

• Crutchley, a writer enthralled by the story of Joan of Arc, travels to Rouen and stays at the obscure Hotel Davino ([03:36]–[05:32]).
• He selects a quiet, somewhat gloomy room overlooking a walled garden—drawn by its silence and old-world charm, despite a lack of sunlight.

3. First Encounter: The Woman in the Garden

• Crutchley becomes aware of a mysterious woman sitting in extreme despair on a garden bench each night, her face perpetually turned away and covered ([05:48]–[08:28]).
• He's deeply unsettled, unable to shake his curiosity and compulsion to see her face.
  • “With a faint unreasonable thrill and a slight tingling of the nostrils, he realized that someone was sitting there. It's a woman… her attitude was one of extreme dejection, of abject and complete despair.” – Narrator/Crutchley ([07:34])

4. Staff Reactions and Warnings

• The hotel staff, especially the chambermaid and head waiter Pierre, react uneasily when Crutchley questions them ([09:52]–[10:49]).
  • Chambermaid silently crosses herself; staff deny any woman sitting in the garden.
  • The head waiter cryptically suggests Crutchley should change rooms to the sunnier front, hinting that “monsieur is one who sees” ([12:25]–[13:56]).
  • “Besides, I think monsieur is one who sees.” – Pierre ([13:56])

5. The Pull of the Supernatural

• Crutchley becomes obsessed, waiting each night for the woman’s appearance.
• On one midnight, as he’s compelled to confront her, Pierre attempts to physically stop him from entering the garden ([15:34]–[16:40]).
  • “The devil? Bien, monsieur. I think perhaps he has something to do with it. You will please have the goodness to return to your room.” – Pierre ([16:08])
• Pierre insists that the garden is “not good at night” and reveals the doors are locked, warning Crutchley ("Monsieur Bon Dieu has sent me to save you." – Pierre [16:59]).

6. Pierre Reveals the Legend

• In Crutchley’s room, Pierre tells the tragic backstory of the veiled woman ([17:43]–[23:07]):

  • She was once beautiful, making many men fall in love with her, but lacked virtue; her true love was denied her due to social class.
  • After many affairs and a disfiguring accident, all her admirers left, and her last hope, Le Brun, recoiled at her unveiled face, breaking her final spirit.
  • She drank poison in despair and died in the very garden Crutchley now watches.
  • Now her tortured spirit is said to draw in those "able to see her" so she can destroy them too.

  Notable Quote:

  • “She had been so lovely, and now she have nothing left except just the eyes... And her lovers, they no longer love. ...She’s a thing of evil… Now she still use it to destroy. But otherwise she have some great evil power which draw those who can see her.” – Pierre ([21:03], [23:42])

7. Crutchley’s Fate

• Despite Pierre’s warnings, Crutchley finds himself compelled to return, feeling the irresistible draw toward the ghostly woman ([24:24]–[25:51]).

  • “He was drawn like a moth to a candle flame. …Madam, please look at me.” – Narrator ([25:04])

• He finally confronts her face—a sight so terrifying and indescribable, it destroys his sanity ([25:57]–[26:39]).

  • “There weren't any features left in her face. But it wasn't just that. To something much worse, much more subtle. …He couldn't tell me.” – Crutchley ([26:39])

• Afterward, Crutchley survives but is forever changed: his nerves shattered, hair turned white, and he cannot bear to be touched or to hear laughter ([27:14]).

  Notable Quote:

  • “He can’t bear to be touched or to hear anybody laugh.” – Crutchley ([27:14])

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Crutchley’s Obsession:
  • “He had a definite and urgent temptation to go out and look at her…to use force if necessary…” ([08:28])
• Pierre’s Warning:
  • “Monsieur wishes very much to see her face. Monsieur must not see it. There was one who look five year ago and another perhaps seven, eight. The first he may die after two, three days. The other he is still mad. That is why I come to save you, Monsieur.” ([18:04])
• The Supernatural Pull:
  • “He didn't realize that she was drawing him, Drawing him to her.” ([25:04])
• The Inexplicable Horror:
  • “There weren't any features left in her face. But it wasn't just that. To something much worse, much more subtle.” ([26:39])

Key Timestamps

• [00:46] – Introduction of Crutchley and his disappearance
• [05:32] – Crutchley chooses the room overlooking the garden
• [07:34] – He first notices the woman in the garden at night
• [10:49] – Staff deny the woman's existence; make the sign of the cross
• [13:56] – Pierre hints Crutchley is "one who sees"
• [16:08] – Pierre forcefully warns against going into the garden
• [18:04] – Pierre recounts the fates of previous men who saw the woman's face
• [21:03] – Pierre tells the tragic history of the veiled woman
• [23:42] – Pierre explains her evil, supernatural power
• [25:04] – Crutchley succumbs to the pull and confronts the ghost
• [26:39] – The horrific, indescribable sight destroys Crutchley's sanity
• [27:14] – Aftermath: Crutchley’s lasting trauma

Tone & Style

The episode unfolds in a classic Gothic-horror style, with atmospheric tension, mounting dread, and a tone blending eerie calm with flashes of terror. The language is vivid and suggestive, focusing on psychological horror and the unseen, with characters conveying emotion through both dialogue and narration.

Conclusion

"Beyond Midnight – The Evil Face" offers a compelling blend of supernatural horror and psychological drama. Through Crutchley's ill-fated curiosity, the story warns listeners about the dangers of irresistible allure and the perils of gazing into mysteries best left untouched. The episode remains a standout for fans of old-time radio, pairing classic storytelling techniques with chilling, universal themes.