Afraid To Live, Afraid To Die by The CBS Radio Mystery Theater

Strange Tales (Old Time Radio)

A young woman named Ellen Muir arrives at the imposing Malvern Grange to work as a domestic servant under her Aunt Hester. As she navigates

Key takeaways

• Ellen Muir witnesses a spectral vision of Madam Lytton holding a specific key.
• A secret door is discovered behind a bureau in an alcove, leading to a long-forgotten room.

Main topics

• Supernatural hauntings
• Family secrets and inheritance

Notable quotes

Conscience does make cowards of us all.

Conclusion

A chilling tale that demonstrates how the pursuit of wealth through vi

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) Radio.com presents tales of the strange and bizarre, the weird and the wicked. Stories not necessarily of the supernatural, but of the unnatural. Now for Strange Tales, featuring radio drama at its most mysterious and unusual. Speaker 2 (0:56) Welcome back to Strange Tales, weird stories from the golden age of radio every Sunday at relicradio.com. We're going to hear from the CBS Radio Mystery Theater this week. A series that debuted in 1974, aired until 1982, produced 1,399 episodes. The one we'll hear today is from April 23, 1975. It's titled Afraid to Live, Afraid to Die. Speaker 4 (1:37) This is WBBM Chicago, News Radio 78. We're running just a little bit late tonight because of the severe weather in and around the area. It's 1034 now, and you know what's next. The Speaker 6 (1:49) CBS Radio Mystery Theater presents... Welcome. I'm E.G. Marshall. Thus, conscience does make cowards of us all. A quote, naturally, and almost as naturally from Shakespeare. On the other hand, like proverbs, quotes tend to contradict themselves. It was Oliver Goldsmith who said, Conscience is a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent, it seldom has justice enough to accuse. That contradiction is what this story is all about. Speaker 1 (2:48) What are you doing in that closet? Why, Aunt Hester, I was just trying to make myself at home. Never poke your nose into anything in this house that isn't your business. I didn't mean to. What's that you have in your hand? Speaker 8 (3:01) It's so queer. All leather and steel and buckles and things. Speaker 1 (3:06) I don't know what it is. Nor is it your business to. While you stay here, don't you ever meddle with anything that doesn't belong to you. That's the first and last thing you have to learn about Malvern Grange. Speaker 6 (3:28) Our mystery drama, Afraid to Live, Afraid to Die, was written especially for the Mystery Theater by Ian Martin and stars Jada Rowland and Ann Petoniak. It is sponsored in part by Buick Motor Division and Anheuser-Busch Incorporated, Brewers of Budweiser. I'll be back shortly with Act One. Speaker 7 (3:57) I'm free after all. Yeah. Freedom spirit. Speaker 4 (4:16) urge hits. You know you have to hit the road. So with Buick Skylark SR firmly in hand, you do just that. Quickly, confidently, you're on your way. Skylark SR's touring car cockpit. Its bold stance and spirited V6 engine make exhilarating excursions a daily occurrence. Find out at your Buick dealer now. Speaker 7 (4:37) Inside you're free. Inside you're free. Living free. Speaker 4 (4:51) Here's another money saver from Dominic's amazing total savings policy. Save over 50 % on American-made Jamestown PermaStone dishes. Classic white dinnerware that's perfect for any decor. It's durable, dishwasher safe, freezer safe, ovenproof, and stain resistant. And now at Dominic's, you can get an entire service for practically pennies. This week's feature is a coffee cup specially priced for just 29 cents with every $3 purchase. It's a beautiful bargain just for buying the groceries you need from Dominic's with a new total savings policy. Start your set today. Speaker 6 (5:38) She's an old lady now, and an old friend in my family, and she is a remarkable woman. She's more sedentary than in past years, since she's in her 90s, but she is still slim, and her white hair frames a shrewd and kindly face. Speaker 7 (5:56) She Speaker 6 (5:57) never married, and for most of her years was a baby nurse. Only the last quarter of her life has she taken to being companion to other elderly and lonesome ladies. except for one other time, near the beginning of her life. And this is Ellen Muir's story about that haunting and terrifying experience. Long Speaker 8 (6:24) as I was then, I had this strange feeling about Malvern Grange. When I first saw it, dark and shadowed at the end of a long drive. Lined by the great shade trees, it made an eerie black tunnel. On that otherwise bright, moonlit night, it was the very picture of the haunted house. And fat, wheezy, old Joe Wellman driving me by trap from the railroad station didn't help me to feel much easier in my mind. Speaker 5 (7:04) Well, hello there, Missy. I reckon you'd be Hester Malcolm's niece she's expecting. Yes, Speaker 8 (7:11) sir. Speaker 5 (7:11) Helen Mule, right? That's me. I'm Joe Wellman. Pleased to meet you. Jack of all trades. Gardener, groom, handyman, and general bodyguard to all them lonesome women out to the Grange. Miss, sir, all the luggage you got? Yes, sir. Oh, oh, no, I can carry it. Why, bless you, little one. Ain't no weight at all, even for an old geezer like me. Now, come on. I got a horse and trap waiting to drive you off to the Grange. Yes, sir, you sure don't take after Esther. You're a right pretty little thing. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue? Speaker 8 (7:49) No, sir. Speaker 5 (7:50) I didn't say anything out of line, did I? Speaker 8 (7:53) Other than that, I just didn't know what to answer. Ellen, Speaker 5 (7:58) I want you to meet Jenny. She's a filly just like yourself. Speaker 8 (8:02) Hello, Jenny. Speaker 5 (8:04) What Speaker 8 (8:04) a soft nose she has. All Speaker 5 (8:06) right, there. Your bag's aboard. It's getting on to twilight and we'd best be on our way. It's a long drive, so up you go. Speaker 5 (8:14) Did you get anything to eat on the way down the train? Speaker 8 (8:17) Oh, no, sir. Speaker 5 (8:18) Wasn't there a dining car? Speaker 8 (8:20) Oh, yes, Mr. Wellman, but I didn't have enough money. Speaker 5 (8:22) Well, right beside you on the seat, there's a bag of apples there. Hey! Speaker 8 (8:27) I don't want to take your apples. Speaker 5 (8:30) Oh, bless you, little miss. I brought you those from the Golden Lion, where I was having a pint while waiting for the train. So just fire away. Speaker 8 (8:38) That was very kind of you. To tell you the truth, I am... Powerful hungry. Speaker 5 (8:43) Well, those will keep you going until you get to the grains. Only don't fill up all the way, because I know your aunt has to rest tea and a currant cake all waiting for you time you get home. Now, what'd I say wrong? Speaker 8 (8:58) Nothing wrong. Speaker 5 (9:00) Home. That was it, wasn't it? You're homesick. Speaker 8 (9:05) Kind of. I've never been away. Away from home? Speaker 5 (9:10) Not much of a one you're coming to with that. What do you mean? Well, it's a gloomy old place for a bright young lady like you stuck off in nowheres with a bunch of old clucking hands and... Speaker 8 (9:27) Anne's very nice. She came to see us once. Oh, Speaker 5 (9:29) aye, Miss Mildred's all right if you don't cross her. Her heart may be kind enough, but a word is short and her word is law. And don't you ever forget it. Speaker 8 (9:39) You mentioned her. Who is... is her? I Speaker 5 (9:45) don't know. Speaker 5 (9:47) But something else again. You won't need to watch her and see she's possessed by old Nick himself. She's more than half a ghost. Ghost? A ghost, yes. She's near a hundred, you know. All wizened up and wrinkled like a witch with long pointy nails and hands that are all skin and bone. And the madam? Madam Linton? Who else? God knows how she's lived this long. But the good Lord also knows we all hope and pray she'll live to be 150. Our jobs depend on it. When she goes, we go. And so does Marvin Grange. But Speaker 8 (10:29) there's a grandson. Doesn't he live there? Speaker 5 (10:31) Dr. Lytton. Sakes alive. No, he can't abide the place. He lives and practices in the city. Oh, here it is dark enough for the moon to be the only light and me scaring the living daylights out of you. I'm sorry. Oh, that's... That's all right, Mr. Speaker 8 (10:49) Wilmer. Speaker 5 (10:50) I didn't mean to, Miss Mueller. I just wanted to prepare you for your visit. Speaker 8 (10:55) Well, this isn't a visit. I've come here to work. Speaker 5 (10:58) A little thing like you. Speaker 8 (11:00) I'm strong. And I can cook and clean as good as any. And things haven't been so good with my pa. My sister Becky is old enough now to help Ma out with the six young ones and also... Well, I had to hire out. And my aunt needed help. That's why I'm here. Speaker 5 (11:17) Well, I see you can talk up well enough when you're of a mind to. Speaker 8 (11:22) Mainly when I'm nervous, sort of. And it does sound a bit scary. Speaker 5 (11:26) Well, we won't talk on us anymore. So I must say, it's a queer household, right enough. Much Speaker 8 (11:46) further? Almost there. Speaker 8 (11:50) What's the house like? Speaker 5 (11:51) Oh, I bless you, it's a great black and white house it is with black beams running up and down and across and the gables looking out quite as a sheet. Except like now when the moon is out and it throws the shadows of the trees on them and you can count the leaves' shadows dancing in the wind across the stucco till they look like... The crabs cuddling across the sand. Only upsy-donsy like you. But here, you might see for yourself. Here's the drive. You Speaker 8 (12:30) might know, as we drove up the drive. The trees were so big that four people spreading their arms and touching fingers could scarce reach round. And it was like a long, great black tunnel there beneath them, with a big house crouching at the end, as huge as a giant, or an ogre in some old fairy tale. I wanted to jump out and run away just as fast as my legs would carry me. Speaker 1 (13:01) Oh, here you are at last, Ellen. I'm sorry if I'm late, Aunt Hester. Well, you're not late, child. It's just been an anxious wait. You've come a long journey. Joe, take the bag up to the first room by the head of the stairs. Yes, Miss Mildred. See you tomorrow, little missy. Oh, Speaker 8 (13:16) yes, Mr. Wilman. And thanks for the ride and the conversation. I'm sure. Speaker 1 (13:20) He is a hired man, Ellen. Call him Joe. We must all keep our place around here. But, Aunt Hester... Do as I say. Now, first... Speaker