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00:16Good evening.
00:18Tonight, I'm going to tell you another strange and unusual story of the unexplainable which
00:26lies behind the veil.
00:30Tonight's story was developed from a report contained in the files of the Gloucester Historical
00:35Society.
00:38Like many others which I've come across in the course of my research, it involves happenings
00:44of which we've long been aware, but for which there are no satisfactory explanations.
00:52Captain John Elwood of Gloucester, Massachusetts, had been a long time at sea, but his first
00:59thoughts were not of his wife and his home.
01:02If they had been, perhaps none of this would have happened.
01:08Captain John Elwood of Gloucester, Massachusetts, has been a long time at sea, but it's been a long time at
01:09sea, but it's been a long time at sea, but it's been a long time at sea.
01:34Captain John Elwood of Gloucester
01:37Captain John Elwood of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Islands, New items first and months first.
01:43their wives are waiting for them on the board. Indeed. The way they're behaving, you'd think
01:47we were months overdue instead of just two weeks. They've likely heard of our trouble
01:51with the snakes, sir. Happy to see us alive. Well, just the same, they'll grab their member
01:56of the ears and march them off to the paymaster before they start to kiss them. Ah, sir,
02:00some. There are all kinds among them. Is Mrs. Elwood out there? Oh, no, sir. The captain's
02:06wife is too well-bred to show her emotions in public. Indeed. I want you to do something
02:11for me, Mr. Logan. I have to go to the company's office to make my report. Will you see that
02:16my gear's taken straight to my house? I'll do it myself, sir. That's very kind of you.
02:21Tell Mrs. Elwood that I'm fine and be with her presently. Aye, aye, sir.
02:30Just put it anywhere here, Mr. Logan.
02:35I do appreciate your coming. I was so worried, what with the hurricane and reports of the
02:40plague? Oh, it wasn't the plague, ma'am. Oh? Well, just a lot of poisonous snakes that
02:45came aboard while we were in Florida. There was talk that some of the men died. Aye, two
02:50seamen. Three others were bitten, but we saved them. It must have been a terrible experience.
02:55We were finding snakes, ma'am, all over the ship two weeks after leaving the wharf. Did
03:01the captain say how long he'd be? No, ma'am. Just said to tell you that he'd be along
03:08presently. Well, I'd best be getting his dinner. Yes, ma'am.
03:14Good to be back, Barney. This place is more like home to me than my own house. Hey, we missed
03:38you, John. What's been happening while I was away?
03:41Good to be back, Barney. This place is more like home to me than my own house. Hey, we missed
03:41you, John. What's been happening while I was away?
03:41Oh, now, let me see. The Clarowell foundered two weeks ago off the coast. Nobody lost. The, uh, the packet
03:49from England was late again, as usual.
03:54Eh, I think that's about all. Things have been fairly quiet.
03:59Say, uh, how about those snakes, John? Uh, when are you going to tell us about them?
04:06Soon as I get something to wash the salt out of my throat.
04:09Oh, yes.
04:14Bessie!
04:15Coming!
04:16Coming!
04:25And all of a sudden, there they were, slithering up the lines and the gangplanks like so many fiends of
04:31hell.
04:32There's hundreds of them, somebody yelled.
04:34See that they pay their passage before they come aboard, I said.
04:40Hi there, my pretty.
04:43You're the one I've missed the most since I went away.
04:46You are to be ashamed, taken such liberties, and you were married, man.
04:50Well, if I weren't married, would you still object?
04:52Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lie.
05:04Afternoon, Mrs. Elwood.
05:06Good afternoon.
05:08I'd, uh, like a bottle of that Spanish wine that Captain Elwood favors.
05:13I think he'd enjoy it with his dinner.
05:16Be supper, more than likely, ma'am.
05:19Club's having dinner in his honor.
05:21But I'll get it for you.
05:40Nobody would have been hurt, but some of the fools tried stamping on the snakes with their bare feet.
05:50Excuse me, gentlemen.
06:01Are you by any chance spying on me?
06:04Oh, no, John.
06:06I only came...
06:07I know why you came.
06:09Go home and expect me when you see me.
06:33You may charge the spoilage to me, Captain Barney.
06:36My apologies, gentlemen.
06:40Shall we go home now, dear?
06:47You humiliate me in front of my friends.
06:50You spy on me.
06:52I'll never do it again.
06:54But I wasn't spying, I swear it.
06:57I only wanted to get a bottle of wine for your dinner.
07:00On the table.
07:01Was that part of your affection?
07:04I don't know what came over me.
07:08John, all the time you were gone, I missed you so.
07:11I prayed for you.
07:14And when you turned your back on me, I wanted to strike out and hurt you as I was hurt.
07:22I'm so ashamed.
07:24Well, you should be.
07:26I'm sick of your explanations, sick of your apologies.
07:30I'm sick of you, Ruth.
07:34No, John.
07:36Leave me something.
07:37Ever since I married you, I've been trapped.
07:39And for what?
07:41The price of a ship that went to the bottom three months after I bought her.
07:47You needn't have said that.
07:50I knew why you married me.
07:52I knew my father's money made up for the fact that you didn't think I was gay and amusing like
07:58the other girls were.
07:59I knew my friends were laughing at me because they knew why you married me.
08:06But it made no difference.
08:09I loved you.
08:11I still love you.
08:12Oh, you're talking nonsense.
08:14No, John.
08:15Please hear me out.
08:17Let it alone, woman.
08:18You're digging up things till the best forgotten.
08:21No, I...
08:22I couldn't bear it if it were only the money.
08:26There had to be something else.
08:29John.
08:31Maybe it's not too late.
08:33Maybe we could start all over.
08:35Oh, Ruth.
08:37John.
08:39I'm drying up into a bitter old woman.
08:42Help me.
08:45Please.
08:51I'll unpack your things.
09:03What's the matter?
09:05Oh, sleep.
09:07It ain't get me.
09:08What?
09:10Oh.
09:12Oh.
09:15Oh.
09:16Oh.
09:18Oh.
09:33John.
09:33It's all right, Ruth.
09:35The snake is.
09:37He's dead.
09:37I killed him.
09:39Oh, I've taken care of your hand and the doctor will be here soon.
09:42I don't think we'll need him, though.
09:44Well, I'm sure I got all the poison out.
09:47You saved my life.
09:49Well, there wasn't much else I could do.
09:53You could have let me die.
09:56Why didn't you?
09:58Don't be foolish.
10:01But you could have.
10:03And if you had, you'd be free.
10:06No more arguments.
10:08No more trouble.
10:10You could do as you pleased.
10:13But you didn't.
10:15You saved my life.
10:18Oh, John.
10:20Maybe we can start all over.
10:24Maybe.
10:29Try to get some rest, Ruth.
10:33I'll get you something warm to drink.
10:44It's a lucky thing you were home, John.
10:47Snake bite's a terrible way to die.
10:50Well, she's much better now.
10:51And the doctor says for the little rest she'll be just as good as new.
10:54Hey, you're thankful for that.
10:55I'll wager.
10:56Oh, I can't wait to sail again.
10:58Always more trouble ashore than when you're at sea.
11:00And I can't make any money just sitting here, much as I like it.
11:04Speaking of money, here's something that'll make you sit up and take notice.
11:08The widow Smith got a letter from London this morning.
11:11Seems an uncle died and left her 20,000 pounds.
11:1820,000 pounds?
11:21Eh?
11:21He'd be a lucky man that gets her.
11:24He could buy any ship in the harbor with that.
11:29Too bad you're already married, John.
11:32You know, I always had a sneaking suspicion that she was partial to you.
11:38Well, drink up and let's have another one.
11:41On the house.
11:44Hey, you're not still thinking of that money, are you?
11:48It won't do you any good.
11:50You got one wife too many.
11:52Come on, have another drink.
11:53Oh, thank you, Barney.
11:54I don't think I will.
11:55I'm going to get back to Ruth.
12:11Ruth.
12:13Yes, dear?
12:15I've been thinking over what you said.
12:17Maybe what happened this afternoon is a sign for both of us.
12:21We will make a fresh start.
12:23Oh.
12:24By Harry, I'm going to take you with me on the next voyage.
12:27I'll fix it all up with the owners in the morning.
12:31Oh, John, I love you for the thought.
12:34Are you sure you want me to come along?
12:36Why, of course I do.
12:38Oh, I've been very selfish about the whole thing.
12:41Seeing new places, doing new things.
12:44You've just been left alone here in this old house.
12:46No wonder you were unhappy.
12:48Oh, no, it's not that at all.
12:50I love our house.
12:52Well, you want to come with me, don't you?
12:54Yes, of course I do.
12:56But I warn you, I'm not very good on both.
13:00Huh?
13:02I get sick.
13:04Oh, nonsense.
13:06A couple of days at sea and you'll be just like a regular old sailor.
13:10Besides, I want you to come.
13:14John, you won't be sorry.
13:17From now on, things will be different.
13:20Yes.
13:22From now on, things will be different.
13:39Have the carpenter repair the after-deck ladder before somebody breaks his neck.
13:43Aye, sir.
13:51How are you feeling, Ruth?
13:52I'm much better, John.
13:54Good.
13:55I'm better.
13:56Good.
13:57The cook's made you some more of his specialty.
14:00Another calm day like this and you'll be completely well.
14:04I didn't mean to be such a burden to you, John.
14:07You've been very patient with me.
14:09Ah, nonsense.
14:09I should have brought you before.
14:13You've no idea what a comfort you've been.
14:15No idea how lonely a captain's life is.
14:18Oh, I should like to be with you as often as you'll let me.
14:22So you shall, my dear.
14:24Don't let your tea get cold.
14:30You know, I dozed for a while and I had the strangest dream.
14:35I hope it was a good one.
14:37Oh, yes.
14:39I dreamt this was our old ship.
14:42And instead of cotton, there was money in the hole.
14:45Oh, I couldn't improve on that myself.
14:48Oh, we were so happy in the days when we had money, John.
14:52I find I'm thinking of them more and more since we left home.
14:57But when I'm well, things will be different, John.
15:00You'll see.
15:01Yes, yes.
15:02Yours.
15:03You're not very well.
15:05You'd better come and lie down.
15:07Yes.
15:07Yes.
15:08I didn't mean to get sick, John.
15:10All right.
15:12I didn't want to get sick.
15:14I'm such a burden to you.
15:17I should have stayed home.
15:20I should have stayed at home.
15:22Try to get some sleep.
15:33You asked me to see you after my wife, sir.
15:35Yes, I did, Mr. Logan.
15:37Frankly, I'm very worried about my wife's illness.
15:41You've always been handy around the sick.
15:44Well, frankly, I thought maybe two heads be better than one.
15:48Yes, sir.
15:50I wondered if you'd take a look at Mrs. Elwood, too.
15:54I'd be glad to do anything for the missus, sir, if I can.
15:58Good.
16:16First, I thought it was cholera.
16:18No, sir.
16:20It's like nothing I've ever seen.
16:23Well, if she's not better in a few days, we'll lay a course for St. Augustine.
16:27Aye, sir.
16:28And you'll enter a full report in the log, won't you?
16:35I will, Captain.
16:36I do hope she's better, sir.
16:38Thank you, Mr. Logan.
16:39I do hope she's better.
16:55I do hope she's better.
17:11How close are we to St. Augustine, John?
17:14We hit some rough weather during the night.
17:16Slowed the sun.
17:18Rough weather?
17:19I didn't even feel it.
17:21You were unconscious, I'm afraid.
17:27We must get there soon, John.
17:30We will, dear.
17:31We will.
17:33Now try to get some rest.
17:35I have to go up on the bridge.
17:55Captain Elwood.
18:03Sir, we're way off our course to St. Augustine.
18:05If we don't turn now, we'll...
18:06I'm well aware of our position, Mr. Logan.
18:09My order stands.
18:10We stay on course for Jamaica.
18:11But I looked at Mrs. Elwood yesterday, sir.
18:15She won't last that long.
18:17My wife and this ship are my responsibilities.
18:21She'll be alive when we get to Jamaica, I warrant it.
18:25As you say, sir.
18:36Get back in there.
18:38Liar.
18:40You brought me dead.
18:42Mr. Logan.
18:43Mr. Logan.
18:45You've had enough poison to kill two people.
18:47You might as well know it now.
18:49I wanted you dead, and now you will be.
18:52You're an evil man, John Elwood.
18:55And you'll be repaid with evil.
18:58Evil.
19:15John, you can't spend the rest of your life in mourning.
19:18You've got too many good years ahead of you.
19:20I miss her, Barney.
19:22Oh, of course you do.
19:23It's only natural.
19:24But you've got to start thinking of yourself.
19:28Ruth wouldn't want you to become a hermit.
19:30It's lonely without her.
19:32But at your age, that can't last forever.
19:37The widow Smith has been visiting you, hasn't she?
19:41Yes, she's been very kind.
19:42She knows what it means to lose someone you love.
19:46She's a fine woman, John.
19:48I think she's got her eye on you.
19:52Oh, nonsense, Barney.
19:53I'd never think...
19:54Oh, I give you a year.
19:56Nobody expects you to wait longer.
20:01John, it's time you got out of the house.
20:03Now.
20:04Think so?
20:05I do.
20:07We're having supper tonight in honor of a new member.
20:10Your old first mate, Logan.
20:12You've got to come, John.
20:14He'll be expecting you.
20:15Oh, I don't know.
20:18I'm giving you orders.
20:22Now stop acting like a lost puppy.
20:24All right, Barney, if you say so.
20:26I do.
20:27Sincerely.
20:29Now it's time for me to get back to the club.
20:41My Captain, Logan.
20:43Congratulations and welcome to the club.
20:46Thank you, Captain.
20:51I haven't seen you since the inquest.
20:54I feel I owe you an apology.
20:56You were right and I was wrong.
20:58I should have changed course for St. Augustine when you wanted me to.
21:03It makes no difference.
21:05Now.
21:06But it might have.
21:07And you were trying so hard to help her, you almost gave me the impression at times that
21:15you thought I wanted her to die.
21:18Gentlemen.
21:19Gentlemen.
21:20The food is on the table, gentlemen.
21:23Gentlemen.
21:28Gentlemen.
21:31Clumsy wench.
21:33I didn't do it, sir.
21:34I didn't.
21:35I didn't.
21:36You're the only one in this room.
21:38I didn't touch it, sir.
21:39I swear I didn't touch it.
21:42Look.
21:44It's exactly the same as when Mrs. Elwood did it.
21:48Swallowed a ghost, sir.
21:50Swallowed a ghost that did it, sir.
21:52Stop that nonsense.
21:56A thousand pardons, Captain.
21:59Give us ten minutes and in the meantime, the drinks are on the house.
22:12Now, get out, both of you.
22:26You may come in now, gentlemen.
22:33T'was the girl did it, gentlemen.
22:39Saints' preservers.
22:42T'was her ghost.
22:44Her ghost.
22:45No.
22:46No.
22:47You fools.
22:48Are you frightened by a superstitious servant girl?
22:51Oh, Barney, Logan, help me.
22:52I'll show you.
22:53It's nothing.
23:02You're behind this, Logan.
23:05You're trying to trick me.
23:07Trick you into what, Captain?
23:10You think I killed her.
23:12You're trying to trick me into saying that I did.
23:17No.
23:18I didn't.
23:19I swear I didn't.
23:20I didn't.
23:20I swear I didn't.
23:22Captain Elwood, I think you'd better leave.
23:34Aye, he finally got a ship, if you could call it that.
23:38No other master would sail her around the harbor.
23:41She leaked like a sieve and her crew.
23:44Oh, well, I wouldn't sail with them across a mill pond.
23:49But it was all Elwood could get, so he took her.
23:53Captain Barney.
23:54Gentlemen, have you heard?
23:56It's the Cobraley.
23:57The Cobra.
23:58That's Elwood's ship.
23:59Aye, her crew has just been brought into the harbor.
24:01What happened?
24:03Nobody knows.
24:04They say that the weather was fair and the sea was calm.
24:08And suddenly she just broke up.
24:11But her crew was safe.
24:14Aye.
24:15All of them.
24:15All except Captain Elwood.
24:21It's retribution.
24:24The devil has claimed his own.
24:28Gentlemen, the food is on the table.
24:40The law demands an eye for an eye.
24:43He who takes a life must be prepared to forfeit his own.
24:48But the law is man-made.
24:50And when there is no proof, the law is helpless.
24:55Captain Elwood never came to trial.
24:57Nevertheless, he was found guilty and executed.
25:02Who was his executioner?
25:04We may never know.
25:06But an unseen force that can overturn a heavy table
25:10is not to be reckoned with lightly.
25:14Please join me again for another journey
25:17into the world of the unexplainable
25:20which lies behind the veil.
25:23Good night.
25:27Good night.
25:29Good night.
25:36Good night.
25:40Good night.
25:49THE END
26:12THE END