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The Horror! (Old Time Radio)
Mad Monkton by The Weird Circle
This time on The Horror, The Weird Circle brings us an adaptation of the Wilkie Collins story, Mad Monkton. This episode originally aired September 22, 1944. Listen to more from The Weird Circle https://traffic.libsyn.com/forcedn/e55e1c7a-e213-4a20-8701-21862bdf1f8a/TheHorror1239.mp3 Download TheHorror1239 | Subscribe | Spotify | Support The Horror If you enjoy The Horror and would like to help support it, visit donate.relicradio.com for more information. Thank [...]
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- [00:06]
Alfred Moncton
Oh, stories. Real stories. And murder too. Turn out your legs. Turn them out. Good evening. Come in, won't you? What's the matter? Surely you're not nervous. For example, I think we are meant to call from out of the past. Stories. Strange and weird. Tales of mystery and terror by radio's masters of the MAA. Stories of the supernatural, the supernormal dramatized fancy. The mystery of the unknown. We tell you this. Frank. Frank. Frank. So if you wish to avoid the excitement tension of these magnets. Play. Ladies, we urge you our latest return. All.
- [01:01]
Narrator
Welcome back to the Horror old fashioned fear. Since 2007@RelicRadio.com we're gonna hear from the Weird Circle this week. A syndicated series of 78 episodes was originally heard July 1943 to March of 1945. It aired over mutual, NBC and ABC stations at one time or another. Our story today is based on one by Wilkie Collins. It's titled Mad Moncton. This one was first heard September 22, 1944.
- [01:43]
Alfred Moncton
Out of the past. Phantoms of a world gone by speak again. The immortal tale Mad Monkton. When in Wincot vault a place waits for one of Monkton's race. When that one forlorn shall lie Graveless under open sky. That shall be a certain sign of the end of Monkton's line from mortal kin. From light of day Monkton's race shall pass away.
- [02:28]
Ada Elmsley
Ada, this is the end. Absolutely the end. Nine o' clock and not a word from him. Oh, Mother, stop fretting. Alfred will come. I know he will. But when? When? The engagement dinner was at seven, if you'll remember. But what difference does it make? Ada Elmsley, I do believe you're still in love with Alfred Moncton. Of course I am. After all the terrible humiliation he's put us to. How could you be? How could any self respecting woman? And to think you broke off your engagement with William Seeley. The nicest boy in the whole county. Oh, what gossip the servants will make. Mother, please. In two minutes it'll be all over the village. Alfred Monkton didn't. Not even a word of apology. I can hear them now. Oh, the humiliation. Mother, please sit down and be quiet. I will not be quiet. I tell you, Ada, I tell you I'm glad. Really glad. I hope you'll never see him again. Mother, how could you say such a thing? Because it's true. You know as well as I do there's something very strange going on in Wincot Abbey. Something nobody understands. You've been listening to village gossip again. I'VE been using my own good eyes and ears. Do you know why? Alfred Monckton keeps himself cooped up in that ancient abbey day after day after day, never receiving anybody, making a hermit of himself. You exaggerate. He's a scholar. He studies most of the time. That's the lamest explanation I ever heard. How you could ever be in love with such an eccentric man is beyond me. And to have him deliberately. Oh, I don't care if he has a million pounds a year. I'll not allow you to marry him. Oh, we've gone over this so many times. If I don't marry him, it'll only be because Alfred doesn't want me himself. Ada, look. A carriage on the drive. Well, it's about time. Is it Mr. Monkton? I don't know. Ada, don't see him. Send him away. Alfred. Look, he's coming in. Alfred. Ada, come back for my sake. Don't see him. Alfred. You did come. Oh, I knew you would.
- [04:18]
Alfred Moncton
Forgive me, Ada. Something has happened. I can't tell you what? I've got to go away.
- [04:22]
Ada Elmsley
Oh, Alfred.
- [04:22]
Alfred Moncton
No, I'll come back. But I can't have you waiting for me. Ada.
- [04:26]
Ada Elmsley
You mean our engagement's broken?
- [04:29]
Alfred Moncton
Yes.
- [04:30]
Ada Elmsley
But.
- [04:31]
Alfred Moncton
But why?
- [04:31]
Ada Elmsley
Why, Alfred?
- [04:32]
Alfred Moncton
I can't tell you now.
- [04:33]
Ada Elmsley
But when will you return?
- [04:35]
Alfred Moncton
I don't know. It may be a long time. Forgive me, Ada. Forget me.
- [04:40]
Ada Elmsley
Oh, no. How could I? How could I do that? Alfred? I'll wait. Time doesn't matter. I'll wait for you.
- [04:47]
Alfred Moncton
I do love you, Ada. I do. Somehow I'll come back again. I promise. Living or dead. Somehow I'll come back to you. Well, William Seeley. Imagine seeing you here in Naples, of all places. And after so long, too. Has it been so long, John? Not many years. Five, I think. Since Eton. It seems long. What have you been doing with yourself? Last I heard, you and Ada Elmsdie were engaged. What happened? Oh, I'm afraid we just broke it off. And I've been wandering over Europe, one place to another. Don't tell me you're suffering from a broken heart, I believe is what they call it. Oh, no. Just wanderlust, I think. At least that's what brought me here. To the garden of the villa Real. And the lucky thing, too. Let's drink a toast, shall we? I say. Oh. Something the matter? Huh? No, no, not really. It's just that that fellow over there. Staring at me as if I were his long lost brother. It's. It's rather unnerving. Well, why say, do you know him? No, I. I don't think so. Do you? Well, only by reputation. He's a character around these parts. Really? What's his name? Monkton, I think. Alfred Moncton. What? Well, I say. Oh, you do know him. Well, only slightly. I. I haven't seen him since I was very young. We lived in the same county.
- [06:06]
Ada Elmsley
Of course.
- [06:07]
Alfred Moncton
I remember now. Moncton has Winket Abbey, I believe. Yes, and also Ada Emsey. Oh, I say. Oh, you mean they're married? No, just engaged. I wonder what he's doing here. Haven't the slightest notion. Oh, look there. He's written a note. He's given it to the waiter. Yes, yes, I noticed. And the waiter's coming to our table. Mr. William Seeley? Yes, the gentleman just leaving. The one over there asked me to give you this. Thank you. You're welcome, sir. I wonder what Moncton wants with you. Well, we'll soon see. Here, let's read it. If you are the William Seeley from Wilkinshire, County England, will you do me the honor of calling at my flat this evening just before midnight? My need of a friend and confidant is urgent, and I shall be ever grateful for your compliance. My address is below Alfred Monckton. Oh, that man gives me the creeps. Are you going? Yes, I think I will. He's tormented with some terrible fear. You can see that on his face. Maybe I can help him for Ada's sake. Still, I. I wonder what it could. You are the William Seely from Wilkinshire? I knew it. Come in, come in. I had no idea you had left England, Monkton, three months ago. Well, thank you a million times for coming tonight. What's the matter? Are you ill? No, no. Please sit down. Will you have some wine? Oh, I'm sorry. I forget. I have no wine here. Wait. Wait a moment. Do you mind sitting in strong light? No, not at all. It's easier for me to talk in strong light. Yeah. Reading lamp, some candles. My hand's shaking. Would you light them for me? Of course. Oh, yeah. Thank you. How's that? It's much better. Light makes me calmer. Celie, can I trust you? I want to tell you why I'm here and what I'm looking for. It's hard to believe, but I'd like to hear you say that. You'll tell nobody the secret. Of course. I promise. Moncton. Thank you. I can trust you. I know I can. Celie, you were engaged to Ada Elmsley once. Yes, but she broke it off soon after she met you, old man. Yes, I know. She told me. I'm sorry, Seely, but we love each other very much. Though I can never marry her. Never. But why? Come, I'll show you. Here, in this room. What is it? There's. There's nothing here. Wait till your eyes grow accustomed to the darkness. Come here a moment. Look. Long box. Why, Monkton? It's. It's an empty coffin. I take it with me wherever I go. Every moment of my life is built around this casket, Seeley, because I'm searching for the body of a dead man. Whose body? Stephen Monkton. My uncle. The coffins for him. Come, let's go back to the light. Sit down. Sit down. I'll tell you all about it. You sure you want to? More than anything in the world. I can't live with this thing much longer. I'm a haunted man. Haunted by fears and a curse. Listen. One evening last February, I was standing alone in one of the deserted rooms of the western turret at Wincot Abbey, looking at the sunset. Suddenly, I felt a sensation stealing over me. I could feel my very soul creeping out of my body. And yet, I wasn't unconscious. For a long time. I stood there by the window. And then I began to see the form take shape. It seemed to creep from the shadows, advancing slowly, faintly luminous, until it stood beside me. What was it? The apparition of Stephen Monkton. His ghost. That was how I knew he was dead. Did you have a strong regard for him? Not at all. I should have been ashamed to feel any tall. He disgraced us wherever he went. Oh. Did you see him frequently? Only three times in my whole life. Then why are you so concerned? You'll know in a moment. From an article in a French newspaper, I found out how he died. My uncle fought a fatal duel with the Count Saint Lo somewhere outside the Neapolitan states. The place of the duel was kept secret. Only the seconds knew where it was fought. Ah. They too are dead. But this I know. Wherever it was, Stephen Monkton was left unburied on the ground where he fell. I must find the place where he lies, Celie. I must. I must. I don't understand, Monkton. Why is it so important to you? Forgive me. I'm sorry I tell the story so badly. Listen, did you never hear of the curious old prophecy about our family that's still preserved among the traditions of Wincot Abbey? Yes, I believe I did. But it's a long time ago. It's been passed along from a remote time. And I myself found the verses of the prophecy that's why I secluded myself looking for it. Where did you find it? On the blank leaf of an abbey manuscript. The verses say, when in wincot vault a place waits for one of Monkton's race, when that one forlorn shall lie graveless under open sky. That shall be a certain sign of the end of Moncton's line from mortal ken. From light of day, Monkton's race shall pass away. You see the terrible thing it says? What does it say, exactly? It says that the last of the Monktons will die when one of us lies unburied. I am the last Monkton. And every member of the family lies in the vault of Wincord Abbey, except one. The prophecy dooms me to death even if I find him. Now you know the story and why I can never marry Ada. But I love her with all my heart, and I shall go back to her someday, dead or alive. Are you afraid of dying because of this superstition? No, not of dying, Siri. I'm afraid of living, of being tormented. If I do live, if I set out tomorrow to look for my uncle's body, where do I go first? Where, Siri? What am I to do? You know how to help me. This misery has made me unable to help myself. I'll help you, Moncton, whatever way I can. It seems to me. Yes? Well, it seems to me logical to suppose that the jewel was fought somewhere near the Neapolitan frontier. So if I were looking for the place, I'd. I'd follow the frontier to the Lonely Mountains, asking every native if he had seen two carriages in the road last February. Surely then you'd come across some clue. You're right, Celie. It's an inspiration. Come with me. Please. Come with me and help me find the dead man, will you, Seeley? All right, Moncton. I'll help you. But tell me one thing. Why did you say you're afraid of living, of being tormented if you do? Because I'm never alone, except when there's strong light in my eyes. What do you mean? I mean his ghost standing beside you now, a death glare in his black eyes for ever since the day he was murdered. Waking or sleeping, day and night, Stephen Monkton's ghost is with me wherever I go, screaming for me to bury the unburied dead. Bury the unburied dead. Alfred Monckton. Bury the unburied dead. It. Celie, would you take the reins for a while? What's the matter, Moncton? You look tired. It's nothing. The search just seems so hopeless. Will we ever find him? Will we ever find him? Oh, you must have patience. It's only been a week, and the frontier hills aren't far from here. How's the coffin? Riding. The canvas covers it well. He's still with us. Always with us. The ghost, you mean? Yes. Just yonder by the roadside, suspended, moving ahead, waiting for his burial. I tell you, Siri, I'd rather die a million times than be companioned by a bleeding ghost. Look, there's an old woman on the road. She might know something. Oh, yes. Stop the wagon. Whoa, there. Excuse me, signora. Do you live here on the frontier?
- [14:55]
Ada Elmsley
Si. Si, senor.
- [14:57]
Alfred Moncton
Do you remember about three months ago seeing two carriages take this road?
- [15:01]
Ada Elmsley
No, senor.
- [15:02]
Alfred Moncton
Then perhaps you heard talk of a duel that was fought me here by two men named Moncton and the Count St. Lou.
- [15:09]
Ada Elmsley
But wait. Now I remember. During February, two richly adorned carriages did pass my house late in the afternoon.
- [15:19]
Alfred Moncton
Which way did they go?
- [15:20]
Ada Elmsley
They were headed for the hills, and very fast.
- [15:23]
Alfred Moncton
Thank you so much. Let's go quickly. Calm yourself. All day you've been tense, and I know you're feverish. All right, I tell you, if we hurry, we can make the hills by sundown. Let me have the rains. Get up there. Get up, Moncton. Don't drive so fast. You'll kill the horses. Look, we're in the foothills. Surely this is the place. This must be. I know, but it's growing dark and the road stretches. Hold on. There, Moncton. Look. What's there on the road? The man with the lantern. He's motioning for us to stop. Whoa.
- [15:57]
Ada Elmsley
Whoa.
- [15:59]
Alfred Moncton
Signore, you take this road at your own risk. Who you? A sentinel from the village of San Bastia. What's the matter with the road? A cave in? Nothing so simple, signore. The road a pass. An ancient monastery fallen into ruins. It is my duty to warn you that the road surrounding it is haunted. Haunted? By what? By which? That scream in the night. The people here will not go near the wood, so frightened are they, Sile. We found the place. We found it. But we must go on, senor. We are not afraid. Thank you for warning us. You go at your own risk then. And the guard to protect you. Get up there. Look, Mon. There in the moonlight. The ruins of a monster. Yes. Hello there. This is the place. C. I know it is. Jump, Tom. Let's search quickly. Moncton, listen to that. You hear him too now? Stephen Monkton, pleading for me to bury the unburied dead. Where's it coming from? Yonder on the Hill. Come. You see? His ghost wavers in the moonlight. Beckons from the doorway of the monastery. Seelie, we found the place at last.
- [17:22]
Ada Elmsley
At last.
- [17:23]
Alfred Moncton
Come on. Here. Here's the dorm. Yes. Here, help me push it in there. Come on. Come on. When I lead the way. Look. The roof has fallen in. Moncton.
- [17:40]
Ada Elmsley
Wait.
- [17:41]
Alfred Moncton
Look yonder. A slab of stone in the moonlight, looking up to the sky. The body of Stephen Monkton. Say, he looks alive. His shirt is wet with blood, so he would remain forever left here, uncovered to the sky. When we place him in the vault at Wincarabi, his body will crumble and he'll be dust again. Come. It's a long way to England. Let us fetch the coffin. There's the ship, Sailie. There's the Flora. Yes, and that looks like her. Captain. Captain King. Hello there. May we see you a moment, sir? Surely. Okay. Always glad to oblige your fellow Englishman. Remember, Seeley, Price is no object. You talk to him. All right. Well, what can I do for you, my lads? They told us at the Consul's office that your ship, the Flora, is sailing for England. Right you are on the way home again. Well, we're rather anxious to get to England ourselves, Captain. Will you take us? We'll pay whatever you ask. Well, now, can always use a few extra shekels. But I say, what's in that box on your wagon? It's. It's an antique statue. A treasure of art, Captain. We're taking it back with us. Well, now, I think we can arrange passage. All right. About £50 for the lot of you. Yes, I think that's agreeable. Fine breeze in the sails tonight, Captain. Right you are, Mr. Seely. She's blowing straight for England. And quick to Mr. Monkton. Coming up for a breath of air. I'm afraid he's not the world's best sailor, Captain. He's staying close in the cabin. Great Scott. What's that? Sounds like the very devil. A whaling in the night. Yes, so it does. Excuse me, Captain. I. I think I'll go below. Jonesy. Hear that whale? Like a blooming banshee. Hi, sir. Find out where it came from. Moncton, your ghost is haunting the ship. I know, Seeley. I heard him, too. But what do we do? You'll find out. There's a dead man in the casket. Those sailors are dangerously superstitious. But what can I do? He screams to be buried in Winter Abbey Sealy. And he'll haunt me till I lay his body there. Oh, but I never, never thought. This way, Mr. Monkton, open the door. Sealy. That's the captain. Come in, Captain. There's something wrong among the men. They're silent and afraid. One of the Maltese voyages. Saying there's a dead body in that packing case there. Is he right? No, Captain, it's only a harmless marble statue. Well, I wish one of you'd contradict the boy then. The men are a parcel of fools who believe in ghosts. There might be trouble if this keeps up. We'll speak to the men, Captain. Fine. They do it soon because another hour will see you through Gibraltar Strait and in the open sea. Good night. Good night. Good night, sir. Seeley, did you hear that? The open sea, then England. But the crew. The captain's right. Mugden. No, no, no, no. Wait. Believe me, it's best to wait. Look, the sun's coming up and the ghost will be silent until nightfall. Then we'll be in sight of England. And it'll be done, Seely. It'll be done. Captain King, how much farther to England? Port's just over the horizon, Mrs. Silly. Now have a take a look at that black cloud. I'm not liking it. You. Me go off there, Take in that s. But what is it? A squall. The likes of which you'll never see again, I'll wager. Blast those demons. Tempers are up because Mr. Mon stubborn silence. Get a move on, you there. You men better get below. Mr. Seeley, we're beginning to row. Seeley, what is it? The ship's in danger. I know it is. I've come to fetch you. Moncton. They're cutting away the form as the ship sprung a leak. Oh, no. I can't leave him here. Oh, what difference does the body make now? The men are already taking to the boats. Come on. No. No, I can't go. I can't. I'd be haunted the rest of my life. I'd rather die, Celie. I'd rather die not. What are you doing? There's no time. Look, we can take him out into one of the boats. I must get into England. I must. No. No. The man was killed, Martin. Ship broke through completely. Save your own city. Mine is gone. When this coffin sinks in the sea, I've got to save. I've got to take it back to Lincoln Abbey. You go. Before it's too late, Seeley. Go from the bottom of the sea, Alfred Moncton. Walk to the land of England and bury the unburied dead. Walk with the brine of a sea in your eyes and the body of an unburied mountain in your arms. Walk to the vault of Winter Abbey. Where peace is and death. Bury the unburied Kate. Alfred Monckton. At Windcord Abbey. At Windker Abbey. And give my ghost eternal peace. Bury the unburied mountain dead. Alarm.
- [23:33]
Ada Elmsley
Alarm.
- [23:34]
Alfred Moncton
Count Female Simpson, lock your doors. The devil from the seas passed through the hamlet of Hammershire. In an hour it walked the Strait of Stimson. Alive.
- [23:43]
Ada Elmsley
Alive.
- [23:54]
Alfred Moncton
Miss Ada. Miss Ada, open the door. It's William Steeley.
- [23:58]
Ada Elmsley
William, what's the matter?
- [24:00]
Alfred Moncton
Come with me quickly. Alfred, Muffin's returned to England. You can help him if you only come quickly.
- [24:04]
Ada Elmsley
Alfred. Oh, what's happened? William, it's nearly dawn. Where is Alfred?
- [24:08]
Alfred Moncton
We were shipwrecked tonight in the Channel. The merchant ship picked up most of the crew, but Alfred was left aboard. I thought he had drowned, but somehow, in some incredible way, he got ashore.
- [24:17]
Ada Elmsley
But where is he now?
- [24:18]
Alfred Moncton
On his way to Wincot Abbey. Oh, please come quickly. We can meet him there. I have a carriage waiting.
- [24:22]
Ada Elmsley
Wait. I'll get a wrap.
- [24:23]
Alfred Moncton
Oh, William.
- [24:24]
Ada Elmsley
I knew Alfred would come back someday. I knew he would.
- [24:36]
Alfred Moncton
Come. He's not on the road. We'll wait for him at the abbey vault.
- [24:40]
Ada Elmsley
Why at the vault?
- [24:42]
Alfred Moncton
Because he was carrying the corpse of Stephen Monkton in his arms. Come now, William.
- [24:46]
Ada Elmsley
Look. The vault door is wide open. He's there. Alfred's there. Alfred. Alfred.
- [24:52]
Alfred Moncton
Ada. Ada, wait.
- [24:54]
Ada Elmsley
Alfred, where are you?
- [24:55]
Alfred Moncton
Ada, Wait a minute. Don't look in there.
- [24:57]
Ada Elmsley
But why, if he's here?
- [24:59]
Alfred Moncton
Come. We'll go in together then. Look. Wet footprints on the floor.
- [25:08]
Ada Elmsley
Alfred. Alfred, where are you? William, Look. Two coffins. Pull from their narrow places, the lids open. What's that mean?
- [25:18]
Alfred Moncton
He said he had come back. Look. The letters on this one say Stephen Monkton. Below the family crest.
- [25:26]
Ada Elmsley
What's that inside it?
- [25:28]
Alfred Moncton
What's left of the corpse. Pile of sea, soaked, clothed and bones.
- [25:33]
Ada Elmsley
Oh, kelp.
- [25:35]
Alfred Moncton
Ada, please.
- [25:36]
Ada Elmsley
Come on. No, no, the other one.
- [25:38]
Alfred Moncton
Don't look any.
- [25:38]
Ada Elmsley
But I must.
- [25:42]
Alfred Moncton
Oh, Alfred.
- [25:45]
Ada Elmsley
Alfred.
- [25:47]
Alfred Moncton
You can't help him now. Ada. I didn't know. I. I thought he was alive. But he was drowned in the channel. Now their ghosts will not walk the earth screaming for a praise of burial. He had to come back to Wincadambi. Even death could not suffer.
- [26:06]
Ada Elmsley
Oh. Oh, why? But why?
- [26:12]
Alfred Moncton
Come away and I'll tell you. Now the last of the mountains is tormented no longer. He rests in peace. Comeda. Look. The sun is coming up. From the time worn pages of the past, we have brought you the story. Mad Monkton Bell keeper. Pull the Bell.
- [27:02]
Narrator
You can find more from the weird circle@ Relicradio.com alongside past episodes of the Horror and all of the Relic Radio podcasts. There's a Shout cast there too, running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lots of old Time Radio. All available for free. Thanks to your support. You'd like to help out, visit donate. Relicradio.com or click on one of the support links. Thanks to those who have thanks for joining me this week. Be back tomorrow with Strange Tales and next Saturday with our next episode of the Horror.