Lights Out - Old Time Radio Horror
The Dream - Lights Out | 03/23/1938 (Ep083)
Hope you enjoy this episode of Lights Out! Look for an ad-free option soon. We offer an old time radio horror and thriller and other OTR radio stations at theaterofthemind-otr.com - Audio Credit: The Old Time Radio Researchers Group. - All Podcasts @ Spreaker | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
- Duration:
- 34m
- Broadcast on:
- 16 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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After four years of fantasy and imagination, chills and thrills, Lights Out celebrates by bringing to the microphone the internationally known actor whose name has become synonymous with the unusual and fantastic. The national broadcasting company takes pleasure in presenting Boris Karloff in the first of a special series of Lights Out Broadcast. Lights Out Everybody. [Music] Tonight, Lights Out presents another psychological drama, a play in which the principal part is taken not by the character himself, but his thoughts. The voice you are about to hear is that of the thoughts of one dull hall, a tused murderer sitting in a courtroom awaiting the return of a jury, which is to decide whether he is to live or die. And as he waits, the thoughts in his mind see them swirls. He knows that he is not guilty, not guilty, guilty. Father in heaven, why don't I stop thinking those words? Words those jurymen are saying, he's guilty, he's not guilty, he's guilty. No, no, I've got to stop thinking of what's going on in that room. The jurymen, I've got to stop thinking of them. I've got to keep my head clear, I've got to figure things out. When did all this talk? Yes, I remember. That night Wayne and I were sitting in my room talking about dreams. I remember he said, "Oh, come on, Dale, don't expect me to believe that one." Well, I'm certain it telling you the truth. A fellow with the old imagination wasting his time teaching biology to a bunch of co-admit with. No, sir, you should be writing fiction. I assure you, my dear Wayne, I've told you the truth. You're really serious? Of course I have. You actually mean that in all your life you've never had a dream? Never. Not even when you were a child. To my knowledge, I've never had a dream in all my life. Well, how do you like that? I like it very well. I close my eyes, oblivion, and then I wake up. No nightmare hangovers for me, take it. Now, wait a minute, Dale, let me get this straight. You mean you've never even had a dream after, you know, eating a Welsh rib, did it midnight as surrounding a dozen green apples or anything like that? Believe me, Wayne, I've never had a dream of any shape, form, a description in all my life. A dream to me is just a word. Something that happens to other people but not to me. But everyone must dream without perhaps. But it just so happens that my subconscious doesn't work that way. I tell you again, I have never dreamt. Well, what do you know about that? Just unbelievable, I tell you unbelievable. Yes, that's what he said. Unbelievable. It was unbelievable that I'd never dreamt. Then after a while, he went away and left me there. It was early evening. But I remember that somehow claims me I was very tired. I sat down in the easy chair. Oh, I was so tired. I closed my eyes. I slept. And then it happened. A strange murmuring in my head. Yes, that's how it started. A murmuring is if in warning. And then in the darkness around me, strange faces lifting and falling, white faces. Faces without hope. Their eyes full of honor. Their white bloodless lips pleading wordlessly in a way that made the heart to be quiet and pity suddenly. I knew I was asleep and dreaming. Yes, dreaming for the first time in my life. And these faces I'd seen were things out of a dream. And even as I knew that, the dream was gone. Blackness. And yet I knew that I was still asleep. And I had a terrible feeling before boating of a heart to come in that dream. What? How? I didn't know. Well, I wanted to stop creeping. I wanted to open my eyes quickly before. And then I saw her moving slowly toward me out of the darkness that was my dream. But first, a white race like King. And I saw it with a woman. Yes, the body of a woman but the face. Hardening heaven that face. Gross, unclean, thick, bestial brows, wrinkles of scenery. A lecherous writhing of thin crimps and lips that lifted from teeth, bite and pointed. And flex with blood. Yes, a glorious body. And a face from hell. Closer. Closer to me. And then she spoke one word. Yes. That's what she said. Kill. And as she said it, she moved closer. Her hands went out her eyes in my dream. My scream. I awoke. I remember just at that second the clock on the mantel began striking. Five, six, seven. Thankfully I counted each one. Since the hearing of it meant that I was awake for a week out of the horror of that dream. When the clock is stopped shining, I sat there. My one four four. If this deep reading let me never dream again. As a sound. But first I sat still afraid to move. And then I laughed. It was my home. Every day, we rise. Challenging ourselves to work for what we believe in. At U.S. Border Patrol, protecting our borders is more than a job. It's a calling. Agents answer the call. Working together to keep our country and community safe. If you are ready for a new mission, join U.S. Border Patrol and go beyond. Learn more at cbp.gov/careers. Fall into big savings. All in the King Supers app. Get flavorful large avocados for 99 cents each with a digital coupon. Then get tender fresh heritage farm boneless chicken breast for £249 all with your card. Shop these deals at your local King Supers less than five miles away or tap the screen now to download the King Supers app to save big today. King Supers fresh for everyone. Prices and product availability subject to change, restrictions apply. See site for details. My home path still pounding with prices. What I see in my first reason. Oh, why do I sit here thinking of what has been a jury in there? They've got to hang me. Bring him. They've got to hang me. You'll be guilty. It's a hang him. Hang him, hang him, bring him, bring him, bring him, bring him. No, no, I mustn't think of him. Better to keep my thoughts and how it all started. Better to figure things out. Where was I? Oh, yes. Sitting there, listening to the beating of my heart, thinking of the horror of that dream. Then, suddenly, a strange wordless moment I had heard in my dream was whispering in my head again. What place it began, it was gone. How could this be? I was awake. Awake this with no dream. Then, why had I heard that wordless intriguing? That same sound that had come from those miserable white faces that had floated before me while I slept. Why? Why? I heard it. Sound behind me, who? Why, yes. My friend, Wayne, must be he. Come back into the room, standing behind my fair, thinking of it's a sweep. I turned round and said, Wayne, is that you? Yes. I screamed. I screamed so loudly there was blood in my throat. For it was she again, that woman, that woman out of my dream. But this wasn't the dream. She was standing there, I tell you. She was standing there close to me, looking at me, and those lips out of hell had said that one word. I jumped to my feet. No one in the room, no one, I tell you. I was standing there, my head breathing, who washed it. Where did she come from? Back there was no one in the room. Had there been anyone there? I didn't sleep that night. But by morning, yes, by morning, I had it all figured out. Two dreams. That's what it had been, and the second had been more vivid than the first. I took course. I've never dreamed before. So, of course, my first dream is with team reality. How easy it was to quiet the unrest in my mind. Easy to make oneself believe what one wants to believe. And yet, some measure of uncertainty remained with me, and Mary saw it in my face when I had dinner with her that night. Daryl, do you mind if I ask you something? I thought a question, of course not. Is there something wrong? What do you mean by the dinner? Well, you know this is my favorite restaurant. With you, dear, has something gone wrong at the university? Why do you ask that? Don't worry in your eyes. What is it, dear? Oh, it's nothing. It's nothing important. It changed your mind about loving me? Mary. Then tell me what it is, please. All right. It's really nothing to concern yourself over. Just a dream. Dream? Daryl, you dream. Yes. Last night. How marvelous. Now you're normal even when you sleep. That's right, isn't it? I'm back to normal. In here, I thought from the expression on your face that it was something really important. And I suppose in your first dream, you dreamt of a glorious, adaptive woman. No, Mary. Ah? Did you have a nightmare? If you don't mind, let's not talk about it anymore. Shall we have that dessert now? Now, I suggest the hot green apple pie with cheese. Daryl, was it as bad as all that? All of all. Oh, that's cool. Your very first dream and unhappy one. Oh, well, I'm sure that if you dream again, you're more interesting times ahead. But, Daryl, look at the times. A minute or seven, and we promised the Armstrongs we'd pick them off at 7.15. Daryl, what is it? Your face? Do you hear it? Do you what? You do hear it, don't you? The voices. What? Daryl, what are you talking about? Whether people in this restaurant or most will behave. Don, just the way it was before. Daryl, please, if this is a joke, please tell it to me. Daryl, what is it? What are you staring at? What's behind my chair? What's there, Daryl? Tell me what I think of it. Daryl, the table. Why did you throw over the table? Daryl, what is it? What is it? Why did you scream like ever someone could tell? Yes. She wanted to know why I had done it. Screamed, thrown over the table. They all wanted to know. But how could I tell them? Tell them of her. Standing behind Mary's chair. That thing of degradation. And those lips saying, "Till." I went home. Mary thought I was overworked. I don't know. Darling, you've been working so hard. Go home and rest here. That's what we need, right? Rest, rest. What could with rest? I had to reason things out. All my life, I lived with the reason and now this. Rest, Father, I had to know all about it. Now I was certain it was no dream. What I had seen there in the restaurant had been those things of sleep. Hallucination! Yes, that was it. I had been working hard. Too much work with the answer and rest would cure that. Yes, indeed. And so I rested through the next day. It was quite dark when I awoke. The phone rang. It was Mary calling to find out how I felt. Are you sure you're all right, General? Why, yes, Mary, yes. I'm fine, thank you. You stand all right? Your advice was good, dear. Apparently rest was just what I needed. Then go along back to bed. I'll talk to you tomorrow. All right, dear. Thanks for calling. Good-bye, dear. Keep well tonight. I hung up the receiver. And then the clock on the mantle behind me began striking. Always at seven. Always at seven. Always at seven. Yes, that was true. Each time it had been seven when it had happened. And then, with the last time of the clock, I realized it would seven again. Seven? Would I see her again? I stood there back against the wall, waiting. When you need meal time inspiration, it's worth shopping King Supers for thousands of appetizing ingredients that inspire countless mouth-watering meals. And no matter what tasty choice you make, you'll enjoy our everyday low prices, plus extra ways to save, like digital coupons worth over $600 each week and up to $1 off per gallon at the pump with points. So you can get big flavors and big savings, King Supers, fresh for everyone, fuel restrictions apply. We wear our work day by day, stitch by stitch. At Dickies, we believe work is what we're made of. So whether you're gearing up for a new project or looking to add some tried and true work wear to your collection, remember that Dickies has been standing the test of time for a reason. The work wear isn't just about looking good. It's about performing under pressure and lasting through the toughest jobs. Head over to Dickies.com and use the promo code WorkWear20 at checkout to save 20% on your purchase. It's the perfect time to experience the quality and reliability that has made Dickies a trusted name for over a century. So quiet. I could hear the clock ticking away the second. Would it happen again, Miss hallucination of mine? I will, please. I heard no pitiful murmur of voices. Just quiet. So dark in the room, I could see the shadowy emptiness of a chair near the other wall. And then the chair was no longer empty. There was someone in it. I said, who's there? Answer me, who's there? No answer. The strange darkness in the room. Deeper and deeper, I could see nothing. And then through swirling pools of flame, then right. Closer and closer. I stood there, I couldn't move. A ruffling began in my brain. Fear, I tell you. Fear, tearing up my brain. Louder and louder while those winds, circles of white came closer and closer. More than in heaven one wanted. One! And then I knew. It was her eyes, her eyes burning close into mine into the brain of my bounding one thought into me. Why did she say that? Why kill whom? Why should I kill? Why should I kill? If I had known dead. I could have known that. The jury, they're coming back. The verdict, what? No, not yet. Stay around. Or they've got to find me guilty. I've got to hang. I've got to, if I live. Oh, but I mustn't think of that. I must think of what happened. Where was I? Ah, yes. That, that woman, her eyes, bounding that word into me. And then gone again. But this was no dream. Then what? A voice within me whispered. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. Crazy. No, hey, baby! They all was real, real as the best of me. And with that realization. A cold, miserable wind blew around, being brushed at my heart. For if she was reality, somehow I knew that I was lost. So it began. Night after night, the stroke of seven. First, that whaling dirt of those lost souls. And then her rising lips. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. Father in heaven the words began bounding my head to believe in which you wasn't there, I heard them. I did it my room, but I didn't go out. People would see this madness that had come over me. I went nowhere. And soon I knew that they were talking about me. Tell you, I know what come over there. Oh, hides in his room. Won't even talk to me. Something's wrong there. Very very. Please, girl, you got to let me see you. This talking over the moon or dying was wrong, what's wrong? Night after night, the horror of... And the greater horror of... Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. Dear, if you love me, please let me see you. Talk to you. Come over to my house tonight. Oh, please, girl, perhaps I can help you. Please, darling, please. I didn't want to go, but I went that night. Perhaps she could help. Yes. Help me understand the madness of those wailing voices and drifting white faces. Understand the horror of that woman and that mattering world. Mary, so understanding, so gentle, she could help me clear my head of the madness. What, dear, are you here tonight? Mary, help me. You will help me. Dear, are your face so high? Oh, hi. Don't talk to him, say he's in there. I say, Mary, believe me, I'm saying... Of course, yes, of course you are. The threat matters outside of me. Those white drifting faces, moaning at me. You rest, darling. And that woman out of hell. Woman. Her eyes and lips telling me to... The time. The time. What time is it? At seven. Dear, what is it? I've lost track. I've got to get out of here. Dear God, wait! Don't go! Too late. Dear, what is it? Too late. Late. You hear them, don't you, Mary? I'll go call a doctor. Listen to them. Their voices are so loud tonight, listen to Mary. Dear, don't, there's no one here. You hear them, you must hear them. What are they saying? Loud of them, loud of trying to tell me something. Why are you saying you out there? What are you saying? Hear them! Stop! They're gone. Faces, voices gone. Oh, she'll be fine. Oh, please, you're fine, make me... You hear them, Mary? You hear them? No, no, don't help me. You hear them. Loud of them, loud of them, loud of them. They never... They never have to go back like them. They could stop, they never make a stop. Stop it. She never knew what you wanted me. Stop it! Stop it! I'm not standing in a hole! You, you, you, you, you, you... Yes, yes, yes, go away! Go away, I'm still, I'm still, I'm still! No, no! How am I next? Talking, please. They'll know, kill, kill, kill, kill. Mary. Yes. I had killed her. I sweet, gentle little Mary. Killed her with my old man. I opened my hand. Fell to the floor. I went out into the street. People all around me. Huddy, I was in no hurry. What the heck woman had wanted? I had done. I had killed. I walked all night, it didn't matter where. And in the morning, I found myself on the campus of the school, before the very building in which a class was waiting for my lecture. I went in. I walked up on the platform and looked down into their faces. As said to them, ladies and gentlemen, my lecture for today will be on the subject of the selective factor in the evolutionary. I stopped. From over in the air. Those voices again, but it was broad daylight. I've never heard those voices in daylight before. What is they want of me? What would they say if it's as strange as in their political voices? Yes, like a dirge, a dirge of tears and sorrow for someone. For me, yes, for me. And then... Now, laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing and I understood it. For the first time, I understood everything. Yeah, it's fine, baby. That was why I don't know so for waiting a dirge over here. I was fine, fine, forever. I thought that the right of that, the right of that, the right of that, as I wrote those voices of a dirge of a dulce into me. I told you, as we are, don't know. No. No matter what we listen to, I don't know. No matter how you are, what I have, I don't know. No, be less through all its amens. No. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no. But, covered with my ears, with my hands, I read. So, you, I heard, so, I heard, so, I heard, so. Hold me one hope for you, man. One hope, ex-beate your crime. On the gallows. Faithful what you have done. On the gallows and you shall have one hope, man. One hope. So, that was it. My one hope. If I paid society for my crime, she would fail. I would be free of her, that thing, that essence of evil, that sorrow who call men to murders, whom are their souls who be blamed for her for all eternity. Yes, yes, I pay for my crime. I write on, on, back to Mary's house. Yes, I pay her gladly with my life to have the piece of the rest of oblivion. I went back into the house. Yes, Mary was lying there, cold. I lifted her. No, the same hands, but it crushed the life out of her. Lifted her a catheter out into the sun. My eyes are so filled with tears, that I could hardly see where I walked. People began milling about me. He's got a woman in his eye. Well, what are you killing? You mustn't fight it. No, not you, damn. What? Who killed her? I was caught in a car. I met that. I met the who killed idea. Who killed it? I killed it. With my own hands, I killed it. And please, I want to die. [INTERPOSING VOICES] And then the trial. My friends, they wanted to save me. Clever alternatives, sanity commissions, and twists of the law. But I wanted to die. I tell you, I had to die. If they set me free, if I lived and died as most men die, the death they call an actual one, then she would have me. No, no. I was a hangman and I could kill the head. I was a nooseful of my neck. The trapperies by feet, the jailer pulled the switch. By feet, not to get air. But no, frankly, me is my hand. Thank you, Mary. Faith of my rival, I'll be free. Free of that honor with the riding lips and bloodstain teeth. [INTERPOSING VOICES] All in the court. All in the court. The jury. Back coming in. OK, you've got to find me. Couple of them as a jury. Have you reached the verdict? We have, Your Honor. Yours at the court will need the verdict, please. Give me this, your age. Find the defendant. Guilty of murder in the first degree. [INTERPOSING VOICES] Get out of here, you'll never have to be out of hell! Get out of here! [LAUGHTER] Don't ask me for the next election! I'll be free of you! I'll hurt me! You'll stay on you feet! I'll see you, my final! You'll never get-- [GROANING] Oh, what's it mean? What's it mean? Hey, stand back, everybody. The doctor, talk right this way, doctor. Angela, follow me. Stand back, please. It's no use. This man is dead. Heart attacks. Holy. Would you take a look at his face? Yeah. He was looking at the devil himself. [SCREAMING] [LAUGHTER] [LAUGHTER] [SCREAMING] [LAUGHTER] [MUSIC PLAYING] Ladies and gentlemen, you have just heard the first play in a special series commemorating the fourth anniversary of Lights Out and starring Boris Karloff. Next week, Mr. Karloff will appear in another new era drama by Arch Oberler, a play suggested by the Sebelius musical composition, Walt Trist. It is a story of death, and a revenge beyond death. Listen to Lights Out with Boris Karloff. [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] Lights out. Written especially for radio by Arch Oberler. Comes to you each Wednesday evening from our Chicago studios. This is the National Broadcasting Company. Each Wednesday evening from our Chicago studios. This is the National Broadcasting Company. We wear our work day by day, stitch by stitch. At Dickies, we believe work is what we're made of. So whether you're gearing up for a new project or looking to add some tried and true work wear to your collection, remember that Dickies has been standing the test of time for a reason. The work wear isn't just about looking good. It's about performing under pressure and lasting through the toughest jobs. Head over to Dickies.com and use the promo code Workwear20 at checkout to save 20% on your purchase. It's the perfect time to experience the quality and reliability that has made Dickies a trusted name for over a century. Fall into big savings. All in the King Supers app. Get flavorful large avocados for $0.99 each with a digital coupon. Then get tender fresh hair to charm boneless chicken breast for $0.249 all with your card. Shop these deals at your local King Supers less than 5 miles away or tap the screen now to download the King Supers app to save big today. King Supers. Fresh for everyone. Prices and product availability subject to change. Restriction supply. Stay for details. (upbeat music)