SOUND:

(A SCREAM)

ANNOUNCER:

The story you are about to hear is true, but -- (ON ECHO) STRAANGE!

(MUSIC: ... BIG, WEIRD, SUSPEND OUT FOR)

 

MARIA:

(DOUBLE ESPERANZ) Senor Vasco, come quick - look at your little son, Miguel!

VASCO:

(DOUBLE CARLOS) Do not say he too is ill! His mother, my sainted wife -- she had died in his birth. If he too dies, what have I to live for?

MARIA:

No, no, Senor. He is well and healthy. But look - here on the back of his neck.

VASCO:

The back of the neck? ... A birthmark, old woman.

MARIA:

It is shaped like a crescent moon, Senor. I am indeed an old woman -- old enough to have seen this mark before. It is the mark of the werewolf!

VASCO:

The werewolf?

MARIA:

The vampire, Senor Vasco -- those who live on human blood!

(MUSIC: ... HIT THEME)

 

ANNOUNCER:

ABC RADIO NETWORK presents STRANGE! ... True stories of the supernatural, with your narrator -- famous author, lecturer, and expert on strange and weird events, Walter Gibson.

(MUSIC: ... OUT)

 

GIBSON:

Thank you, __________________ The time was the late nineteenth century - the place, Portugal... And the story - that of a small baby marked at birth to be a victim of the mysterious werewolf!

(MUSIC: ... SNEAK UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

Portugal is a land of contrasts -- the flashing blue Mediterranean on one side, the dark, angry Atlantic on the other ... High sharp mountains cut across pleasant, warm valleys -- and the people are that way too: angry, proud, warm, cold ... And when Vasco was given a son, he too had a conflict of emotions -- deep sorrow over the death of his wife, and joy that he had a son and heir.

MARIA:

Forget your sorrow, my nephew. Think more of the future.

VASCO:

It is not easy to forget, Donna Maria.

MARIA:

You must -- for the future holds many problems.

VASCO:

For Miguel? You speak of that birthmark again?

MARIA:

You do not believe me?

VASCO:

No! And I will not listen! This talk of werewolves -- of being marked as a victim of vampires! Who has ever seen such a thing?

MARIA:

I have.

VASCO:

You - with your own eyes?

MARIA:

Well, no --

VASCO:

Ah! You have heard, that is all! Stories around the village - tavern stories. There is no more truth in them than in a bag of wind.

MARIA:

Dom Vasco, you must be serious! You must take steps to protect your son.

VASCO:

He shall be protected.

MARIA:

I mean more - more! Against the evil of the werewolf. If you do not, I will!

(MUSIC: ... HIT AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

Dom Vasco stormed away from his old aunt in a fury! All this talk of werewolves - of his son being marked! Dom Vasco did not believe in black magic ... But the old woman, Maria, was certain that the crescent birthmark held an evil portent for the baby, Miguel. So furtively, when she thought no one could see her, she gathered mystic herbs and drugs to protect against evil ... Or at least, she thought no one observed her.

(MUSIC: ... UP AND OUT)

 

(NIGHT BACKGROUND - BABY CRYING)

 

MARIA:

So ... So, little probicito -- little one ... Maria will watch over you. Be not alarmed.

CARLOS:

Donna Maria!

MARIA:

(A GASP)

(BABY STOPS)

 

MARIA:

Who is -- por Dios! You, Carlos! Have you nothing better to do than wander through the hacienda in the middle of the night?

CARLOS:

And you, Donna - have you nothing better than to disturb the rest of the little one?

MARIA:

His rest is disturbed by you, not by me.

CARLOS:

This is not so. I heard him crying, I came to see -- and what do I find?

MARIA:

You find nothing.

CARLOS:

What were you doing with him?

MARIA:

Nothing.

CARLOS:

Your hand was on the back of his neck. And now it is concealed behind your back. What is it you hold?

MARIA:

Nothing, I tell you -- Oh!

(OVERLAP SUDDEN GRAB)

 

MARIA:

(EFFORT) Let go of me!

CARLOS:

(EFFORT) Give it to me!

MARIA:

(EFFORT) You are only a servant - how dare you!

CARLOS:

(EFFORT) I am a faithful servant of Dom Vasco! It is for him -- (WRENCHES IT AWAY) Ah!

MARIA:

(PANTING) You fool! It is but ointment.

CARLOS:

So?

MARIA:

So. I rub it on the small one's neck -- you, you will tell Dom Vasco?

CARLOS:

Yes, Donna Maria. I will tell him.

(MUSIC: ... IN AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

Carlos took the small jar of ointment to his master, Dom Vasco, who became enraged. The very next morning Donna Maria was brought to his room.

(MUSIC: ... UP AND OUT)

 

MARIA:

You will do what?

VASCO:

You heard me, Donna Maria - you are doing harm to Miguel.

MARIA:

I protect him from harm.

VASCO:

With this, eh?

(SLIDE JAR ON TABLE)

 

MARIA:

Yes, with that! Vasco, it is wolfbane.

VASCO:

Wolfbane.

MARIA:

Yes -- it is a protection against werewolves and -

VASCO:

(EFFORT)

(SMASH JAR ON FLOOR)

 

MARIA:

(GASP) What have you done! Oh --

VASCO:

Leave it, touch it not. I shall have one of the servants clean it up.

MARIA:

I shall get more.

VASCO:

Woman, did you not hear what I told you when first I spoke?

MARIA:

Yes ... But I cannot believe --

VASCO:

Then I will say it again. You no longer look after Miguel!

MARIA:

But he is my charge.

VASCO:

No longer! I shall get a younger woman to be his nurse.

MARIA:

No!

VASCO:

A younger woman who does not believe in old wives tales. Wolfbane - werewolves! Out - out of my sight.

MUSIC:

... BRIDGE AND SLIDE OUT BEHIND)

VASCO:

And your name, Senorita? It is --

ESPERANZ:

Esperanz, Senor.

VASCO:

Esperanz. A fine name.

ESPERANZ:

And I have had much experience with little ones.

VASCO:

So? ... Yet you are so young yourself. And quite beautiful.

ESPERANZ:

Thank you, senor.

VASCO:

(QUICKLY) But the important question is - Miguel.

ESPERANZ:

Senor, I shall care for him like my own. (FEW STEPS) This is he - the little one?

VASCO:

(FADE ON) Yes.

ESPERANZ:

Oh, senor, look! Look, he smiles at me, he smiles.

VASCO:

Yes, so he does.

ESPERANZ:

I shall care for him like my own - like my very own.

(MUSIC: ... HIT AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

So Esperanz was hired ... And Dom Vasco was overjoyed... she and the small baby seemed to get along perfectly .. A month went by -- and then one night, when Dom Vasco was walking in the garden --

(OUTDOOR BACKGROUND)

 

MARIA:

Dom Vasco.

VASCO:

Eh? ... Oh, it is you, Donna Maria. Good evening.

MARIA:

(FADE IN) You are no longer angry?

VASCO:

Angry? Oh, that ... No, No, Donna Maria, what is past is past.

MARIA:

Then I can speak with you?

VASCO:

But of course ... What is it you wish to speak of?

MARIA:

I - I do not wish you to become mad.

VASCO:

Mad? ... Speak, woman.

MARIA:

It is of this Esperanz.

VASCO:

Oh?

MARIA:

She is very beautiful. And you are with her very often, so - (HASTY) But this is of course your own concern.

VASCO:

Yes, it is.

MARIA:

Yet - have you noticed?

VASCO:

Noticed what?

MARIA:

Have you noticed her eyes?

VASCO:

And if I have, Donna Maria?

MARIA:

No, no ... I mean ... her eyes at night.

VASCO:

I have seen her eyes at night.

MARIA:

In the black of night, Senor? Not like this when there is a moon? But when it is pitch black? Senor my nephew, only last evening I went into the room of your son Miguel -- (HASTY) I am old, I could not sleep ... She was there. At first I saw nothing. Then all at once, the eyes! In the dark!

VASCO:

(BEAT) What are you trying to say?

MARIA:

For a moment they were the eyes of -- (SHE STOPS)

VASCO:

Well?

MARIA:

The eyes of a -- (AS SHE STOPS)

(OFF WOLF HOWL)

 

MARIA:

(GASP)

VASCO:

What is that?

MARIA:

That is what her eyes remind me of.

VASCO:

It was a wolf.

MARIA:

Yes ... But think, Senor my nephew ... A wolf - how long has it been since there has been a wolf in this part of the country?

VASCO:

How long?

MARIA:

There have been none ... But now your son is born with the mark of a crescent moon. And this woman, her eyes -- and now the howl.

VASCO:

Stop it, old woman! It was a wolf.

MARIA:

Yes ... But what kind of wolf?

(MUSIC: ... STAB AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

Dom Vasco refused to believe ... It was too incredible -- and besides, Esperanz was much too beautiful ... But each night, as the moon rose, first a new moon, then a full moon ... each night Dom Vasco awakened and it seemed to him ...

(OFF WOLF CRY)

 

VASCO:

A wolf! The cry of a wolf! Or was it...

(MUSIC: ... STAB AND OUT FOR)

 

ESPERANZ:

Oh, Senor. You are making yourself sick with all these fears.

VASCO:

I find it not easy to sleep, senorita.

ESPERANZ:

So you come to see your son ... Look - look how he sleeps.

VASCO:

Yes, the moon shining on his small face.

ESPERANZ:

So peaceful ... But soon there will be a crescent moon!

VASCO:

What?

ESPERANZ:

Nothing, Senor. Nothing. Only do not believe this nonsense of Donna Maria. (CLOSER) I beg you, senor.

VASCO:

(A BEAT) I find myself believing you, Esperanz.

ESPERANZ:

You do?

VASCO:

Yes. We stand so close together. The moon shines on your face also.

ESPERANZ:

(A SOFT LAUGH) And do I look like a - a monster?

VASCO:

No ... No.

(MUSIC: ... HIT AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

So Dom Vasco's fears were swept away by Esperanz's beauty. For the next few days he no longer had any doubts. Maria was wrong ... A week passed. A night came when the moon was a crescent. And now, once again, Dom Vasco awoke:

(MUSIC: ... OUT)

 

(WOLF CRY, OUT OF MUSIC)

 

VASCO:

Again! And - yet much closer. Much closer, as if --

MARIA:

(OFF) Dom Vasco!

VASCO:

What is that?

(POUND ON DOOR. HALF OFF)

 

MARIA:

Dom Vasco.

VASCO:

Come in!

(DOOR OPEN, FAST STEPS IN.)

 

MARIA:

(BREATHLESS) Dom Vasco, Miguel is gone!

VASCO:

(OUT OF BED) What?

MARIA:

He is gone, gone! And the woman also - Esperanz! They are both -- (BREAK OFF AS)

(WOLF CRY OFF)

 

VASCO:

Por Dios! ...

(FAST STEPS)

 

VASCO:

(CALL) Carlos! ... Carlos, con veya! My gun! My gun!

(MUSIC: ... HIT AND TURBULENT BRIDGE, THEN UNDER FOR)

 

GIBSON:

Outside the hacienda, the moon cast a thin, pale light over the surrounding hills. As Dom Vasco and his servants searched frantically, the trees and the shadows seemed like a giant cobweb -- a web in which he felt caught, in which his infant son was caught.

(OFF WOLF CRY)

 

CARLOS:

Senor! ... It comes from that way ... from the hill.

(MUSIC: ... ACCENT AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

They went toward the hill, quickly - quietly ... Besides the father, Donna Maria went also -- her sharp old eyes alert ... Then, as the top of the hill came in view:

(MUSIC: ... OUT SHARPLY)

 

(STEPS IN)

 

MARIA:

Dom Vasco! (THEY STOP) Look!

VASCO:

A wolf! He stands over -- (GASP)

MARIA:

It is your son. It is Miguel.

VASCO:

Yes ... Carlos ... Carlos, at once - my gun.

(A STEP. TAKE GUN)

 

MARIA:

Be careful, senor. Be most careful.

VASCO:

I wish I were closer.

MARIA: You cannot wait.

VASCO:

No ... Now may the saints be with me. May the saints guide my bullet.

(LONG PAUSE - A SHOT)

 

MARIA:

(BATED) Senor?

(FADING CRY OF WOLF IN PAIN.)

 

VASCO:

He goes. Look, the wolf runs away.

MARIA:

Yes, look - but not a wolf! Not a wolf!

VASCO:

Quickly! To the top! ...

(RUNNING ON BRUSH.)

 

VASCO:

(EFFORT) Miguel! ... Miguel, my son!

(MUSIC: ... HIT AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

When Dom Vasco reached the top of the hill, his son was unmarked and sound asleep.

VASCO:

Thanks be to heaven. I had feared - but what is this - his neck.

MARIA:

Do not be alarmed, Dom Vasco ... Wolfbane...

VASCO:

Wolfbane?

MARIA:

The same.

VASCO:

But I told you --

MARIA:

Yes, and I disobeyed ... It is wolfbane that turns away the werewolf. And in some way I had a feeling that on this night --

VASCO:

Donna Maria ...

MARIA:

Yes?

VASCO:

Why is it we have seen nothing of Esperanz? I thought she would be out here someplace -- that she had too gone after my son to save him ... Why is it she is not here?

(MUSIC: ... STAB AND UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

Dom Vasco found Esperanz when he returned to the hacienda. His son Miguel was put to bed, with Donna Maria to watch over him ... and then -- as he walked past a balcony overlooking the garden - he saw a liquid gleam on the marble -

(MUSIC: OUT)

 

(STEPS STOP. NIGHT BACKGROUND)

 

VASCO:

Blood!

ESPERANZ:

(HALF OFF) Come no closer!

VASCO:

No -- Senorita!

ESPERANZ:

No closer!

(SLOW STEPS ON.)

 

VASCO:

It is your blood ... You are wounded - as was the wolf I shot at on the hill! ... And your eyes -- your eyes glow in the --

ESPERANZ:

(FADING) No closer!

VASCO:

Come back! Werewolf! Come back that I may finish --

(RUSH OF FEET AND STOP)

 

ESPERANZ:

(GOING) No! ... No! ... (DO IT HIGH AND FADING) Noooooo ....

(CRY OF WOLF OFF) (KEY HER LINE INTO IT)

 

(MUSIC: ... CURTAIN...UNDER)

 

GIBSON:

That was all. She was gone -- and Don Vasco never saw her again or heard again the cry of the werewolf. A story taken from an account by Montague Summers, a great British authority on the occult and published in the London New Quarterly Magazine .. The Werewolf of Ponte de Lima!

(MUSIC: ... TAG)

(STANDARD CLOSING)

 

GIBSON:

Tomorrow I'll bring you another story of the supernatural: ___________________ ___________________________ A story true, but strange!

(MUSIC: THEME AND UNDER)

 

ANNOUNCER:

Tune in tomorrow and every weekday evening over most of these stations at this same time for Walter Gibson, your expert on the supernatural. Stories of ghosts - of spirits, werewolves and voodoo. And each story you hear is true, but --

(MUSIC: ... OUT)

 

ANNOUNCER:

(ECHO) STRAAAANGE!

(MUSIC: TAG)

 

ANNOUNCER:

STRANGE, with Walter Gibson, as your expert, was directed by ____________. In the
cast were ___________ and __________. This is ______. STRANGE came to you from New York.

(TWO SECOND PAUSE)

 

THIS IS ABC ... RADIO NETWORK.