Nightfall - CBC 80-07-04 (01) Love and the Lonely One

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Nightfall - CBC 80-07-04 (01) Love and the Lonely One"

Introduction

In this enthralling episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled "Nightfall - CBC 80-07-04 (01) Love and the Lonely One," listeners are transported back to the Golden Age of Radio. Hosted by Harold's Old Time Radio, the show presents a compelling radio drama that delves into themes of love, loneliness, and the supernatural. Released on February 9, 2025, this episode showcases the talents of young Montreal writer John Graham, whose first play serves as a poignant tribute to the complexities of the human heart.

Plot Overview

The story unfolds with George and Freddy, two medical students embroiled in a dubious scheme to steal a cadaver for their anatomy class. Under the guidance of Dr. Rob, they navigate the ethical and logistical challenges of their plan. George is exuberant and seemingly unbothered by the moral implications, while Freddy exhibits apprehension and moral conflict.

As the duo attempts to dispose of the body, they encounter unforeseen complications, including mysterious occurrences that suggest the corpse may not be entirely inert. Freddy's interactions with Sally, a mysterious and alluring figure, introduce an eerie supernatural element to the narrative. Sally's presence blurs the lines between reality and the metaphysical, culminating in a haunting exploration of Freddy's fears and desires.

Character Dynamics

• George: Portrayed as bold and dismissive of consequences, George is the instigator of the corpse theft. His carefree attitude often clashes with Freddy's more cautious nature. For instance, at [03:01], George encourages Freddy to embrace revenge against Sally, showcasing his impulsive personality.

  George: "Come on, Freddy. Enjoy your revenge." ([03:40])

• Freddy: Struggling with guilt and fear, Freddy serves as the moral compass of the story. His internal conflict is evident when he questions the morality of their actions.

  Freddy: "You realize that? What? We're committing a felony." ([01:53])

• Sally: Initially introduced as a distant admirer, Sally embodies the supernatural allure that captivates Freddy. Her interactions with him reveal her manipulative and enigmatic nature.

  Sally: "I couldn't wait any longer. It can't be. It can't be." ([19:57])

• Dr. Rob: Representing authority and skepticism, Dr. Rob oversees the anatomy class with a stern demeanor. His interaction with George highlights the tension between the students' rebellious actions and institutional expectations.

  Dr. Rob: "What's going on there?" ([22:30])

Key Themes and Insights

1. Ethical Dilemmas in Academia: The theft of the cadaver underscores the lengths students might go to for academic success, raising questions about morality and integrity in educational settings.

2. Supernatural and Psychological Horror: Sally's enigmatic presence introduces elements of the supernatural, reflecting Freddy's psychological turmoil and fears surrounding death and loneliness.

3. Friendship and Betrayal: The dynamic between George and Freddy explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the potential for betrayal when faced with moral conflicts.

4. Love and Loneliness: The title "Love and the Lonely One" encapsulates Freddy's search for connection amidst isolation, ultimately leading him into a haunting entanglement with Sally.

Notable Quotes

• Freddy on Moral Conflict:

  "You realize that? What? We're committing a felony." ([01:53])

• George on Dismissive Attitude:

  "Come on, Freddy. Enjoy your revenge." ([03:40])

• Sally's Enigmatic Allure:

  "Don't be afraid, Fred. We belong together. You know we do." ([18:39])

• Dr. Rob's Authority:

  "I see we're one short today, George. Two weeks to midterm exams and your partner doesn't think it's worthwhile attending anatomy lab?" ([22:06])

Conclusion

"Nightfall - CBC 80-07-04 (01) Love and the Lonely One" is a masterfully crafted episode that intertwines dark humor, ethical quandaries, and supernatural elements to create a captivating narrative. John Graham's storytelling immerses listeners in a world where the boundaries between life and death, reality and illusion, are fluid and fraught with tension. Through its well-developed characters and thought-provoking themes, the episode invites audiences to reflect on the nature of love, the depths of loneliness, and the consequences of our actions.

Whether you're a long-time fan of Old Time Radio dramas or a newcomer seeking an engaging and emotionally resonant story, this episode of Harold's Old Time Radio promises to deliver a memorable listening experience that echoes the timeless allure of the Golden Age of Radio.

Transcript

[George]

In the dream you are falling Lost in the listening distance as dark locks in nightfall. Good evening. We begin tonight with the first play by a young Montreal writer, John Graham. It stands by itself as a tribute to the eccentricities of the human heart. He calls it Love and the Lonely One.

[Dr. Rob]

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Anatomy 4. I realize this is the first time most of you will cut into a cadaver. But take it from me, you'll get used to it. I will remember my first such model patient. I christened him Henry. Now, when you all become doctors a few years from now, you'll find some of your patients very temperamental. And not my Henry. The more I cut him, the wider he.

[Sally]

Grinstead.

[Freddy]

You realize that? What? We're committing a felony.

[George]

What?

[Freddy]

George, if they find out we stole this thing, they'll kick us out of school so fast.

[George]

Kick us out of med school? Come on, Freddy, hang loose. It's only a stiff. They'll. They'll blame it on the engineers.

[Freddy]

You think?

[George]

Sure.

[Dr. Rob]

Oh.

[George]

Hey, careful. We're almost there. Tiger.

[Freddy]

Sorry.

[George]

Quiet. I got the whole damn sorority.

[Freddy]

I can't walk backwards.

[George]

We'll turn around. Oh, God, look at her. Here, let me take the feet. Look at her mouth. Reminds you what tomorrow morning's gonna taste like.

[Freddy]

George, are you sure we want to do this? What the hell broad stood?

[George]

Yeah, didn't he? So what's the problem? I'm dropping off a valentine.

[Freddy]

Valentine? The corpse of a dried up old lady. Huh?

[George]

But you're forgetting my pink ribbons. And look, I remember a card. A card? Yeah. You're the guy who reads poetry, aren't you?

[Freddy]

I even looked it up.

[George]

Here, read it.

[Freddy]

Dear Sally, the grave's a fine and private place. But none, I think, do their embrace. I'm beginning to think this is sick.

[Sally]

Sick?

[George]

I'll tell you what sick is. It's listening to you moan every time anybody brings up that hose bag's name.

[Freddy]

You know, Sally's not like that. Really?

[George]

Yeah, she's a real pain in the ass. How many times she stand you up this week?

[Freddy]

Well, I don't know.

[George]

Come on, Freddy. Where's your pride? You want to sit around feeling sorry for yourself and you want to get even with her. Now, come on, Freddy. Enjoy your revenge. Well, come on. Grab the arms. Let's get this stiff up these stairs before somebody comes. Okay. Okay, let's do one more step.

[Sally]

All right.

[George]

Just over here against door. Prop the whole bag up. So she just sort of drops in when they open the door. Perfect.

[Freddy]

Yeah.

[George]

Great. Now let's get the hell out of here. Hey, I could just see those sorority airheads scraping their heads off. Okay, this is it. Now when I hit that doorbell, we get out of here and fast.

[Freddy]

You ready?

[George]

Funny. Hey, Freddy, you with me?

[Freddy]

Huh? What you say?

[George]

Are you ready?

[Freddy]

Oh.

[Sally]

Oh.

[Freddy]

Oh, yeah.

[George]

Hey, what are you staring at the corpse for? Fred, Are you with me? For price sake? They'll be here in a second. Let's move it.

[Freddy]

Huh? Oh. Oh, yeah. Here.

[George]

And here. Behind. Jeez, Freddy, you had me scared.

[Freddy]

Sorry. I think you'd seen us.

[George]

What were you staring at in space or something?

[Freddy]

I don't know. I. I saw her in the light. Her mouth was green and she was smiling at me. Hey, George, I hear Dr. Rob really lit into you on the wards this morning.

[George]

Yeah, so he gets your ass in a sling every now and then.

[Freddy]

Sometimes I wonder why we're doing this. Huh? Neuroanatomy. Midterm in two weeks.

[George]

It's a. All right. Anyhow, I'm going skiing if it kills me. And if you knew what was good for you, you'd come too.

[Freddy]

No way. I can't spare the time.

[George]

You can. Look out.

[Freddy]

Wow.

[George]

Cardiac arrest team.

[Freddy]

They'll get us next time, but they save lives.

[George]

Don't count on it. See you back at the range.

[Freddy]

Yeah, see you later.

[Sally]

You.

[Nurse]

Come here.

[Freddy]

Doctor, get in here. I'm just on wards. Ma'am, I really don't think.

[Nurse]

Got two hands, haven't you? Grab those electrodes. Nurse, the syringe. Just hold the electrodes on his chest.

[Freddy]

This got it.

[Nurse]

Right. Stand back. Hit the switch.

[Freddy]

He moved.

[Nurse]

Think cut Would move if you ran that charge through. How's the scan? Glad you've had it. Try it once more.

[Sally]

Stand back.

[Nurse]

Hit the switch. Nothing. That's it. Wrap it up.

[Freddy]

Just leave him here.

[Nurse]

Up to the orders now.

[Freddy]

You're. You're not going to try it again?

[Sally]

Again?

[Nurse]

He had a hole in his heart. You could drive a trip. He was living on borrowed time. Look at him. What color is his face?

[Freddy]

He's purple.

[Sally]

Dark purple.

[Nurse]

Lack of oxygen. Even if we did get his heart going, the brain damage would be massive at this point. Excuse me, there's a four year old in emergency. Nurse, get me the file, please.

[Freddy]

So fast, as though nothing happened. Phew. Nurse. Nurse. Nurse. Oh, well, hello. Too south.

[Sally]

Hello, Fred.

[Freddy]

Who's this?

[Sally]

A distant admirer.

[Freddy]

Who? What do you want?

[Sally]

Sure took a lot of nerve to pull off a stunt like that last night.

[Freddy]

What stunt?

[Sally]

Oh, you wicked, wicked man.

[Freddy]

I don't know what you're talking about?

[Sally]

I like wicked men. I scare a lot of men. But I bet I wouldn't scare you, eh, sport?

[Freddy]

Are you a friend of Sally's?

[Sally]

Sally? Why don't you throw over that silly girl and find yourself a woman?

[Freddy]

What are you getting at?

[Sally]

Well, would you like to talk it over?

[Freddy]

Is this some kind of joke?

[Sally]

Oh, I certainly hope not.

[Freddy]

Well, maybe. I mean, sure. Okay.

[Sally]

How about tonight where you've dropped off the valentine? Last night?

[Freddy]

Yeah, okay. Sure, sure. See you later. Oh, by the way, how did you know where to reach me?

[Sally]

Oh, a friend told me.

[Freddy]

Who? What friend?

[Sally]

The one right beside you until tonight.

[Freddy]

Beside me? But there's nobody beside me except. Except the corpse. It.

[Sally]

Hi eSports. Step on in.

[Freddy]

You bet.

[Sally]

What's the matter? You staying cool with Coolidge or just trying to think up something nice to say?

[Freddy]

You. You sure look great.

[Sally]

What other way is there? Something tells me we're gonna get along swell. Like some champagne?

[Freddy]

Champagne. Sure thing. I really like your dress. Sort of like a flapper out of the twenties. And the music. Nostalgia's really the thing these days, isn't it?

[Sally]

Bottoms up. Here's to better behavior.

[Freddy]

Champagne. What are we celebrating?

[Sally]

A happy prohibition and a short one.

[Freddy]

Prohibition. By the way, where is everybody?

[Sally]

All the little butterflies flew too close to the flame.

[Freddy]

What? What's that?

[Sally]

The banks. On holidays, darling? Forever. And all their daddies had told them to come home and work for a living.

[Freddy]

No banks. Oh, the crash. And you're dressed to crash yourself.

[Sally]

Almost had you there.

[Freddy]

Hey, before I forget, how did you know where I was this afternoon? And what's your name?

[Sally]

Any leave a lady a little mistress, will you? You'll find out soon enough.

[Freddy]

Find out what?

[Sally]

Oh, don't be so serious, sport. Come on. The lady wants to dance.

[Freddy]

I don't dance very well.

[Sally]

The Charleston's easy.

[Freddy]

Watch the Charleston. Are you kidding?

[Sally]

No. Like this. Don't be shy.

[Freddy]

Okay. How's this, huh? How am I doing?

[Sally]

You're doing great, fred, just great. 23 to do.

[Freddy]

Kalamazoo or bus? This is fun.

[Sally]

It's the berries. Especially with the bubbly. More?

[Freddy]

I don't know. Oh, why not? Thanks. It's kind of strange here, you know. I mean, where is everybody? I mean, really.

[Sally]

What's the matter, sport? Lonely?

[Freddy]

No, I.

[Sally]

So distant. Hello.

[Freddy]

Hi. I don't know. I mean, I don't know you or anything.

[Sally]

What do you want to know?

[Freddy]

Anything. Where do you come from? Your hopes, your dreams, anything?

[Sally]

Hopes and dreams these days.

[Freddy]

Yeah.

[Sally]

Watch out. I might tell you the truth.

[Freddy]

I'm not afraid.

[Sally]

What do you want most of all? I want to distract handsome young men until they don't know whether they're coming or going.

[Freddy]

Well, nobody ever.

[Sally]

Ever what?

[Freddy]

Never mind.

[Sally]

Maybe we should get a little more private. Of course. Silly man. Wait here. I'll go in and get ready.

[Freddy]

Hey, easy, easy.

[Sally]

I'll only be a minute and then you'll get to see me as I really am. I mean, that's what you want, isn't it?

[Freddy]

Are you ready?

[Sally]

I'm turning out the light. You can come in now.

[Freddy]

Oh, here we are. You know, it's kind of funny. You just sort of know. Know what I mean? When you meet someone special, you kind of feel. Well, right from the start.

[Sally]

Right from the start what?

[Freddy]

It was the same old woman, I tell you. The same corpse right in my arms. Christ, I can still smell the formalda they give you. That's so funny.

[George]

Hey, I told you those sorority girls had a sense of humor, didn't I? We stole a body. They stole a body. Everybody's in the bodies.

[Freddy]

Well, no one was in the house.

[George]

Oh, sure. Thank Tiger. Sure, it was.

[Freddy]

It was like she came back to life, but younger, as a flapper. I guess that that's when she was our age.

[George]

Oh, wise up, Fred. Believe me, those airheads were in the next room laughing their guts out.

[Freddy]

Yeah, I guess so, but I didn't hear them.

[George]

Anyway, thanks for the news, Tiger. About time to turn in for the night, huh?

[Freddy]

Yeah, maybe if I could get some sleep.

[George]

Well, I should head. Night.

[Freddy]

Night. Oh, hold it. What?

[George]

Just make sure you're al weekend. 7 inches and snow's gonna stop tonight. You see? You won't change your mind? Gonna be fantasy city up there.

[Freddy]

No, I better stay here, get some studying done. Come on.

[George]

It'll be the last good skiing weekend of the winter. Slopes and strokes for all. And you don't even have to ski.

[Freddy]

Well, thanks anyway.

[George]

Better be going. There's Janie. See you in a couple of days.

[Freddy]

Yeah, see you later. Peace and quiet. Thank God. Oh, hello.

[Sally]

Hello, sport. Or should I call you Tiger? You left in quite a hurry last night.

[Freddy]

Who is it?

[Sally]

Oh, it wasn't really that surprising, was it? Why don't we get together?

[Freddy]

Look, I don't know who you are, and I'm sorry, but I.

[Sally]

You know who I am, Fred.

[Freddy]

This has gone far enough.

[Sally]

Don't be afraid, Fred. We belong together. You know we do.

[Freddy]

No. Oh, my God. My God. I'll take the phone off the hook. That's what I'll Just take it off the hook. I know who you are. Almost 2:00. Feels like two days. Why can't I get some sleep?

[George]

Oh, no.

[Freddy]

No.

[Sally]

Red. I couldn't wait any longer.

[Freddy]

It can't be. It can't be.

[Sally]

And you know it's better when you wait.

[Freddy]

Go away. Please.

[Sally]

I can't. You took me from my bed. You can't send me back now. When you wake the dead, we come to stay. Or at least I do.

[Freddy]

I didn't know. I didn't know.

[Sally]

How can we know in the beginning?

[Freddy]

How can we? How can we?

[Sally]

Don't be shy. I promise I'll be good for you. No more loneliness. No more fear.

[Freddy]

No loneliness. No fear.

[Sally]

The door, Fred, the door.

[Freddy]

I'm coming. I'm coming. Hi. You're. You're not wearing any clothes. Aren't you cold?

[Sally]

Of course not. I've never felt so warm. Come on, Fred. Time to go.

[Freddy]

Where to?

[Sally]

My bed.

[Freddy]

The grave's a fine and private place.

[Sally]

But some, I think, do their embrace.

[Dr. Rob]

I see we're one short today, George. Two weeks to midterm exams and your partner doesn't think it's worthwhile attending anatomy lab?

[George]

Fred's never missed one before, sir. I'm sure there's a good reason.

[Dr. Rob]

I hope so, for his sake. All right, let's get going, then. Get out the cadaver.

[George]

Right.

[Dr. Rob]

What's going on there?

[Freddy]

God.

[Dr. Rob]

Out. Everybody out. Class dismissed. Please. Somebody call the police. Close the police.

[Sally]

Sir.

[Freddy]

Sir.

[Dr. Rob]

I said close that door. Well, what are you waiting for?

[Freddy]

They look so happy. Sir.

[Sally]

It.