Tarzan 32-09-12 (01) Tarzan's First Birthday

Summary

Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio – Tarzan 32-09-12 (01) Tarzan's First Birthday

Release Date: February 20, 2025
Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode Title: Tarzan's First Birthday

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1. Introduction

The episode begins with a vivid introduction by the Narrator, setting the stage for the story of Tarzan, the legendary character from Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous books. The tale chronicles the life of Tarzan, born to Lord and Lady Greystoke after their English ship is marooned in the jungles of West Africa.

Notable Quote:
Narrator [00:00]: "Tarzan of the Apes, a character of Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous book in reality is the son of a titled English couple, Lord and Lady Greystoke, who were put ashore by a mutinous crew in the jungles of West Africa."

2. Setting the Scene

The narrative paints a vivid picture of the Greystokes' hut nestled within the dense, mysterious jungle. The sounds of the wild—lion roars, hyena laughs, and rustling leaves—create an atmosphere of both wonder and peril. On the night of their son Tarzan's first birthday, the couple grapples with the eerie sounds surrounding them.

Notable Quotes:
Narrator [00:06]: "The jungle, dark, mysterious, teeming with great sinister shapes, mocking with dreadful quiet through the night."
John Greystoke [01:14]: "Nothing short of a herd of elephants could force its way in here. I confess a bit of pride. This place is built like a vault."

3. Characters’ Inner Thoughts and Interactions

Alice Greystoke, the lady of the house, expresses her anxiety about their prolonged stay in the jungle and the constant threat it poses. She fears that the jungle's dangers might never relent, leading to a sense of hopelessness after two years without rescue.

Notable Quotes:
Alice Greystoke [01:25]: "Sometimes I don't think I can stand it a moment longer. It's the night. They're dreadful. There, there. That's what I mean."
Alice Greystoke [04:00]: "It's like a terrible threat hanging over. Listen to the jungle now."

John Greystoke, on the other hand, attempts to reassure Alice, maintaining a sense of optimism despite the surrounding dangers. He praises the strength of their hut and the resilience of their son, Tarzan.

Notable Quotes:
John Greystoke [02:00]: "Now, Alice, get hold of yourself. You can't let go this way."
John Greystoke [04:19]: "Any day now we'll wake up and find a boat in the bay. And you and I and the little chap there will go sailing back to England."

4. The Threat Emerges

The tranquility of the night is disrupted by the ominous cries of the jungle's inhabitants. The narration intensifies as the threat of a crazed bull ape named Olap becomes imminent. This creature embodies the unpredictable dangers lurking in the wilderness, showcasing the constant peril the Greystokes face.

Notable Quotes:
Narrator [05:17]: "A brutish creature of terrible strength and awful temper. The ape has suddenly gone mad... Bolat has gone into one of his terrible races."
John Greystoke [07:31]: "That bull ape is certainly doing a lot of boasting tonight."

5. Climactic Encounter

As the night progresses, tension mounts leading to a dramatic confrontation. Olap, the derelict bull ape, attacks the Greystokes' hut, symbolizing the ever-present threat of the wild. John bravely confronts Olap, wielding his axe in a desperate attempt to protect his family. The scene culminates in a fierce battle, highlighting the raw power and unpredictability of the jungle.

Notable Quotes:
John Greystoke [08:07]: "Where's the axe?"
Narrator [08:50]: "A huge ape comes to the clearing. It is Olap, the crazed derelict of the jungle... Slowly, noiselessly, the 350 pounds of stifled rage moves across the clearing."

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Conclusion

Tarzan's First Birthday immerses listeners in the perilous yet awe-inspiring world of the jungles of West Africa. Through the dynamic interplay between narration and character dialogue, the episode captures the essence of survival, fear, and the relentless spirit of the Greystoke family. As the climax unfolds with Olap's attack, the foundation is laid for Tarzan's legendary journey ahead.

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Note: This summary is based on the provided transcript segments. Listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode for a complete and immersive experience.

Transcript

[Narrator]

Tarzan of the Apes, a character of.

[John Greystoke]

Edgar Riceborough's famous book in reality is.

[Narrator]

The son of a titled English couple, Lord and Lady Greystoke, who were put ashore by a mutinous crew in the jungles of West Africa. The maroon couple were left with tools and firearms, and Tarzan's mother and father built the little hut in which Tarzan is born. A year afterwards, it's the night of their little son's first birthday. Lord and Lady Greystoke are sitting in their rude but strongly built home. Around them lies the jungle, dark, mysterious, teeming with great sinister shapes, mocking with dreadful quiet through the night. The roar of a lion tells that the mighty monarch of the forest has made its kill. And from farther away can be heard the hideous laughing cry of the hyenas, echoing the lion's thunderous roar. The wind rustles the leaves of the trees outside both a startled.

[Alice Greystoke]

What's that, John?

[John Greystoke]

Yes, yes, I heard it too. Oh, it's only the wind and the trees, dear.

[Alice Greystoke]

It gave me rather a start.

[John Greystoke]

It did me too, for a moment. Silly, as though honored. Nothing short of a herd of elephants could force its way in here. I confess a bit of pride. This place is built like a vault.

[Alice Greystoke]

Oh, John, I know we're safe enough, but sometimes I don't think I can stand it a moment longer. It's the night. They're dreadful. There, there. That's what I mean. All night long the jungle seems to threaten us. And those hyenas. Oh, that hideous cry of theirs. It's like the laugh of a maniac. They seem to be jeering at us. Although someday. Someday.

[John Greystoke]

Now, Alice, get hold of yourself. You can't let go this way. You'll go, Ma. You have to hold tight. Fear for him.

[Alice Greystoke]

For him. He's a year old today, John.

[John Greystoke]

Yes, a year old. And as sound as a nut. Sleeps through gunshots and everything.

[Alice Greystoke]

He's a darling, isn't he, John? And a picture of you.

[John Greystoke]

Nothing of the sort. He looks exactly like you. Oh, yes, he does, dear. Why, he has your eyes. And that sweet little smile of his. Why, that's exactly like you. You can't get tight. I'll pop the bag of in the la.

[Alice Greystoke]

John. He'll burn the door down. I know he will. Look at the bar.

[John Greystoke]

Turn down that lamp. So if I can get a bead on the bag of. Through here.

[Alice Greystoke]

All right. There. Don't get your face too close to the ladies. He made sight.

[John Greystoke]

Brute. There, there.

[Narrator]

See? Through here.

[John Greystoke]

He's a big brute.

[Alice Greystoke]

I don't want to look Him, John.

[John Greystoke]

Look him there, dear.

[Narrator]

Hold steady.

[John Greystoke]

We'll have a lion skin.

[Narrator]

Wrap the baby in.

[Alice Greystoke]

Hurry your hurry. Every time he close the door it kills terribly.

[John Greystoke]

Lord, he must be hungry to come up this way.

[Alice Greystoke]

Oh, design, it's terrible for those horrible teeth.

[John Greystoke]

Turn away from my arm and put that one right down his throat. Another one will settle him. There, that finishes the liar. It's all over, dear. Why, he's in scared of the dawn. Now, don't be frightened.

[Alice Greystoke]

Oh, John, I'm sorry to go to pieces this way, really I am. But you know, the last few days I've had a terrible premonition that something would happen. It's all silly, I know, but. Oh, I can't escape this dreadful feeling.

[John Greystoke]

You're just nervous, that's all. Why, any day now we'll wake up and find a boat in the bay. And you and I and the little chap there will go sailing back to England.

[Alice Greystoke]

It's been two years now and there's been no boat. Two terrible years, John.

[John Greystoke]

Why, Aliza, I can't understand this in you at all. Oh, buck up, my girl. Don't let it get you this way.

[Alice Greystoke]

Oh, I'm sorry, John. It's like a terrible threat hanging over. Listen to the jungle now.

[John Greystoke]

Why, there isn't a sound.

[Alice Greystoke]

No, that shock quieted them for a little while. But the silences are the worst of all. The silence means that something awful and dreadful is passing through the jungle.

[Narrator]

There.

[John Greystoke]

Your silence is broken. Voyage a panther.

[Alice Greystoke]

Oh, Johnny, I hate to show the white feather like this. And I shan't do it again. Now, there, that's a promise.

[John Greystoke]

White feather. Oh, my rot. You've been marvelous, Alice. This infernal jungle is bound to get you once in a while. Come on, kiss me. Forget it.

[Alice Greystoke]

Lively, Sir John. Which one of our neighbors is that?

[John Greystoke]

A boy?

[Alice Greystoke]

The apes I hate worst of all. They're so human and yet so far from human. Those long powerful arms, their awkward gait and the terrific speed in which they swing and leap from branch to branch.

[John Greystoke]

They are master beggars.

[Alice Greystoke]

That one you shot yesterday. Oh, those nasty close set eyes and yellow fangs.

[John Greystoke]

Come on now, forget it.

[Narrator]

Again the cry of a huge bull ape. A brutish creature of terrible strength and awful temper. The ape has suddenly gone mad. Raging, foaming mad with that peculiar madness which suddenly seizes bull apes and quickly passes. He's running rampant among his people, the younger and later raptors scampering to the highest branches. Kayla. A young female comes into the clearing. Her baby is clinging to her neck. She doesn't know. She doesn't know that Bolat has gone into one of his terrible races. Bolat sighs her. The others yell horse sight of warning. She's burning down on her. She leaps from branch to branch. She has her by the ankle. She breaks loose up the tree. She goes full out behind her. She makes it horrifically to another tree. She makes it. The Torah tears her baby's grip loose from its mother's neck. It falls. Falls to the ground with a thud ball. That's roaring. Grows fainter, fainter as he hurls his powerful body through the trees.

[John Greystoke]

That bull ape is certainly doing a lot of boasting tonight.

[Alice Greystoke]

He sounds very close, John.

[John Greystoke]

Oh, he's miles away. Those bull apes have tremendous lung power.

[Alice Greystoke]

Beastly sound John. It's getting a little cold. I think perhaps we'd better build a small fire. Baby sneezed this morning.

[John Greystoke]

All right. I want to go off and drag that lion into the shed anyway before the hyenas get up the skin.

[Alice Greystoke]

John. Have you noticed how deathly still the jungle has suddenly become just a law.

[John Greystoke]

Where's the axe?

[Alice Greystoke]

Over there in the corner. Just a few sticks will do, John. Just enough to keep the chill off.

[John Greystoke]

Right. O be back in a second.

[Alice Greystoke]

Aren't you going to take your rifle?

[John Greystoke]

You are hardly needed. Just going out to the shed. I'll leave the door open. The light will keep any animals away.

[Alice Greystoke]

All right.

[John Greystoke]

You know, every time I open the latch on this door, I'm impressed with myself. Well, it's quite an invention, Alice.

[Alice Greystoke]

Yes, dear, I have admired it before. Now run along and get the wood.

[John Greystoke]

All right.

[Narrator]

The sound of Greystoke's axe echoes through the strangely silent jungle. Greystoke doesn't notice the fearful tenseness of the silence. The jungle is cringing. Cringing away from a monstrous shadow which moves ominously through the hushed and fearful night. A huge ape comes to the clearing. It is Olap, the crazed derelict of the jungle. He halts. His insane bloodshot eyes catch sight of the unsuspecting Greystoke. They gleam hatred from beneath his shaggy brows. He pares his fangs as though in a horrid snarl. But no sound comes from his great throat. Slowly, noiselessly, the 350 pounds of stifled rage moves across the clearing. Bolt upright, his mighty arms dangling loose at his side. A shadow falls across the log which Greystoke his chopping. He looks up into the beastly snarling face of the brute. The ape makes a lunge at Dresso. Aaron has closed the door. Graystoke raises his axe, brings it down with terrific force. The a touches the axe in his terrible hands and flings it from him. With barret fangs he leaps his grace.