The Horror! (Old Time Radio)

Episode: A True Ghost Story by Beyond Midnight
Date: October 25, 2025
Podcast Host: RelicRadio.com

Brief Overview

This episode of The Horror! features the chilling “A True Ghost Story” from the South African radio series Beyond Midnight. First aired on April 18th, 1969, the episode recounts a "true" haunting experienced during a golden summer in 1921 England. Through a mixture of atmospheric narration, dialogue, and supernatural tension, this tale explores grief, trauma, and the persistence of the past in everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Story Breakdown

Setting the Stage: The Summer of 1921 (03:01–06:02)

• The narrator, a young man of 21, seeks solitude in the countryside to write a novel.
• He arrives in the village of Crome Stratford, opting for private lodging at Sevastopol Terrace—"four red brick cottages without elegance of any sort."
• He is introduced to Mrs. Wayne, the widow owner, and her companion Mrs. Jennison.

Quote:
"It was good to be 21 at Crome Stratford in the sun that summer." — Narrator [04:07]

An Eerie Unease Settles In (06:05–08:43)

• The guest quickly develops an inexplicable fear, especially when left alone in the house.
• He feels an unnerving presence whenever he is on the stairs or upstairs alone.

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." — Narrator [06:44]

The Backstory: A Tragedy Unfolds (08:43–12:54)

• The narrator learns that Mrs. Wayne’s husband, depicted in a photograph above the mantelpiece, hanged himself in the house after returning from the war.
• Mrs. Jennison suggests the trauma of post-war adjustment drove him to despair.
• The photograph of Sidney Wayne becomes a sinister focal point.

Quote:
"He used to brood a lot... Sometimes I stared at the photograph of Sidney Wayne and then at Mrs. Jennison. Do you mean he killed himself because he was spoiled? ... Killed him in action, you might say." — Mrs. Jennison & Narrator [11:28–11:54]

Supernatural Manifestations & Confessions (14:46–15:16, 15:16–18:43)

• The photograph of Sidney Wayne inexplicably falls from the wall—an omen intensifying the narrator's anxiety.
• Seeking solace by the sea, the narrator tells a stranger his story. She asserts that the spirit is restless, trying to deliver a message, and that the narrator may be its only hope.

Quote:
"You must take it and let the poor ghost free." — Stranger by the sea [17:57]

The Climactic Night: Terror & Release (18:48–26:19)

• The narrator attempts to confront his fear, staying alone in the kitchen where the tragedy occurred. He drifts into a half-sleep and witnesses the apparition of a hanging form.
• The next morning, Mrs. Wayne discovers a mysterious letter addressed to "Meg" in the narrator’s handwriting—though he has no memory of writing it, and the handwriting is not his own.
• Mrs. Wayne, deeply moved and distressed, reveals that “Meg” was her husband’s pet name for her. She believes her husband's spirit has finally made contact and can now rest.

Quote:
"She held out to me a letter. The envelope and note paper were mine. It was addressed to someone called Meg. 'How did you know he called me Meg?'" — Mrs. Wayne [24:43]

Quote:
"And now he's gone. Forever." — Mrs. Wayne [26:14–26:19]

Resolution: Acceptance and Catharsis (26:19–End)

• Mrs. Wayne expresses closure and sorrow, but also relief; the haunting influence has lifted with this final communication.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The feeling of dread:
  “I became certain that I was being followed by something down the stairs...” — Narrator [08:21]

• War’s enduring impact:
  “He used to brood a lot... Whatever makes you like life had gone out of it.” — Mrs. Jennison [11:28]

• Supernatural explanation:
  “That poor spirit was given to his terrible deed by distress... He’s trying to tell her that, and he can't leave the house until he has done with it.” — Stranger [17:14]

• The spectral letter:
  “How did you know he called me Meg?” — Mrs. Wayne [24:43]

Important Timestamps

• [03:01] — Idyllic summer in Taunton and the narrator’s arrival in Crome Stratford.
• [06:44] — The narrator describes a growing, unexplained fear.
• [09:38] — Mrs. Wayne’s premonition and backstory of Sidney Wayne’s death.
• [14:46] — The photograph of Sidney Wayne falls, escalating supernatural tension.
• [16:21] — Narrator shares his story with the seaside stranger.
• [18:43] — The stranger explains the “unfinished business” of the ghost.
• [21:46] — The narrator endures a terrifying vision while alone in the kitchen.
• [24:43] — Mrs. Wayne discovers the spectral letter to “Meg.”
• [26:14–26:19] — Mrs. Wayne acknowledges the spirit’s departure.

Tone & Style

The episode is scripted in atmospheric, emotive language, weaving a sense of unease and melancholy throughout. The performances are marked by understated emotion, dignified sadness, and sudden spikes of terror. The psychological depth is as pronounced as the supernatural elements, making for a haunting, reflective experience.

Conclusion

“A True Ghost Story” captivates with its slow-burn dread, exploring the way grief and unresolved emotions can haunt both people and places. Through subtle sound design and careful character dialogue, the Beyond Midnight episode asks whether a spirit’s unrest might simply stem from its need to say one last thing. This classic narrative impresses with its evocative themes, psychological resonance, and memorable denouement, making it a standout entry in the anthology of old-time radio horror.