Harold's Old Time Radio — "Haunted" (80-06-21) Little Girl Lost

Date: October 15, 2025
Episode Theme:
An eerie drama about grief, the supernatural, and the complexities of family relationships, "Little Girl Lost" centers on Mrs. Grove, her fraught relationship with her son Herbert, daughter-in-law Sally, and granddaughter Janet. After Mrs. Grove’s husband dies, her insistence on speaking with his spirit unsettles the household, leading to tragic events and a haunting conclusion that blurs the line between the living and the dead.

Episode Structure & Key Segments

Introduction to the Family Tensions

[01:43-05:47]

• Characters introduced: Mrs. Grove, her son Herbert, daughter-in-law Sally, granddaughter Janet, and Dr. Raven.
• Mrs. Grove's odd behavior: She talks to her deceased husband, John, arousing concern.
• Dr. Raven's assessment: Recognizes the grief but sees no immediate harm, noting, “It’s not unusual for someone recently bereaved… Mrs. Grove is open about it, which isn’t a bad thing, really.” (05:02)

Janet and Mrs. Grove’s Bond

[06:13-11:16]

• Janet’s acceptance: Janet is unfazed by her grandmother’s conversations with the dead.
• Mrs. Grove finds solace in Janet, who listens nonjudgmentally:

  “At his funeral, I was saying to him in my mind, goodbye, my darling. And he gave that little chuckle which I knew so well. He said in reply, ‘Did you really think you got rid of me as easily as this? Not on your life.’” – Mrs. Grove (09:31)

• Lightness amid darkness: Janet jokes, “Oh, I wish I had a dead husband to talk to. Much more fun than washing and getting meals ready all the time.” (10:12)

The Family’s Rising Anxiety

[11:43-13:13]

• Sally and Herbert’s fear: Sally confides, “My mother-in-law is gaining too much influence over my daughter. They laugh together. It’s the laughter that frightens me most.” (12:01)
• Sally’s frustration: “We should never have sent her to that damn clinic. All she needed to keep her happy was a harmless ghost.” (17:15)

An Eerie Pact and Mrs. Grove’s Demise

[15:10-21:52]

• Mrs. Grove and Janet’s secret: Mrs. Grove entrusts Janet with her psychiatric medication, hoarding the pills.
• Mrs. Grove dies suddenly; ambiguity surrounds her death—was it a natural end, or suicide by overdose?

  “Dr. Raven said…there’s reason to believe that your mother died from an overdose of those tablets the psychiatric clinic gave her.” – Herbert (16:41)

• Guilt and denial: Sally and Herbert accuse each other, only to discover Janet was unwittingly involved, having obeyed Gran’s wishes but withheld half the pills, torn between love and fear.

  “You loved her so much that you couldn’t refuse to do what she wished. But at the same time, you hoped that if she didn’t take enough, her plan might fail.” – Sally (21:46)

Secrets, Regrets, and the Supernatural Finale

[22:26–28:36]

• Sally’s confession: As a child, she aided her mother in her bid for freedom, feeling guilt afterwards.
• The haunting intensifies: After a family holiday, Janet claims to hear Gran and John’s voices when they return home. She runs inside; the front door, supposedly locked, is somehow open. Janet vanishes inexplicably, leaving the family distraught.

  “Janet, where are you? … She can’t vanish… No. Not vanished... She’s lost.” – Sally and Herbert (26:39-27:34)

• Closing note: The episode ends affirming the uncertainty between the supernatural and psychological, as the family is left with their loss and unanswered questions.

Notable Quotes and Emotional Beats

• Mrs. Grove on Grief:
  “So I am. But I still talk to my husband. Sally doesn’t understand… They think I imagine it.” (03:16)
• Janet’s Innocent Acceptance:
  “Why shouldn’t you talk to your husband?” (09:17)
• Sally’s Resignation:
  “All she needed to keep her happy was a harmless ghost.” (17:15)
• Janet’s Heartbreak:
  “She’s gone away and left me, and it’s all my fault.” (21:52)
• Haunting Ambiguity:
  “Janet. You haven’t got a front door key. Janet, come back!... She kind of disappeared. Not like that.” (26:11-27:07)

Memorable and Pivotal Moments

• [05:15] – Sally confides how Mrs. Grove’s presence is oppressive but also hints at deeper family wounds.
• [09:31] – Mrs. Grove’s funeral anecdote with John’s “reply” reveals her grief and delusions.
• [11:16] – Sally’s realization that Janet is being drawn into Mrs. Grove’s world.
• [16:41] – Dr. Raven’s suggestion that Mrs. Grove died from an overdose, moving the family to guilt and suspicion.
• [21:46] – Sally’s bittersweet understanding of Janet’s actions: a child’s love weaponized by an adult’s despair.
• [26:01-27:31] – Janet seems to merge with the supernatural, culminating in her unexplained disappearance.

Episode Tone

• Atmospheric, somber, and unsettling. The tension derives more from psychological unease—grief, estrangement, guilt—than from explicit supernatural events.
• The finale blurs reality and the supernatural, leaving listeners with a sense of unresolved loss and ambiguity.

Summary Takeaway

"Little Girl Lost" delivers a poignant, chilling story about how the past haunts the present, the danger of unresolved grief, and the ways in which familial bonds can be both a comfort and a curse. Its strength lies in subtle emotional complexity, drawing listeners into the world of a family undone by what may be ghosts—or simply the enduring power of memory and loss.