April 25, 2024 • 28 mins
Please enjoy The Head a great episode of the legendaryHaywood Sanitarium - A Classic Old Time radio Show.
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(00:12):
Researchers, Edition number fourteen. KatieDermital Brilliant Fuel Researchers, eleven fifty four
PM on Thursday, April thirty,nineteen ninety two. I've been observing the
ritual for about twenty minutes now.The colts gathered in the clearing about one
hundred and fifty meters square. I'mobserving from a point about steen years Stag
(00:33):
and the surrounding jungles of the selfclearing itself. Our remain in this position
as long as I feel on safetyDiscovery. Cristans are dancing around a large
funfayre in a semi circle, leavingcounter clockwise. The dances analogous to several
other standards Spring Fertility, dance tothe common the Creole region rituals, and
make a note of self for references. Saint Clouds billion four otherwise appears to
(00:55):
be around the milk ritual, saysan old man with white face painted an
old military uniform in a tombag bringsthe central altar located just west of the
fire, fears to be a boxof some sort of wraps of coarse cloth.
It's bringing out of the wrappings,but in the box wouldn't it looks
(01:15):
like joking as they don't speaking thecircle the altar to the north thing his
back is to me get the oldpart to get on their ways. And
I can't see a planet saying sitingtwist, I said you stick in the
repertoire a talking skuld The old manis hold to get by the hair,
and it's bellowing like a map ata bit of venture over the man to
(01:38):
say more. Look at that oldman, though, there's something about it
that reminds me old man could geta better book. Ah. There are
(02:09):
some areas of the human mind,and indeed of the world we live in,
that were never meant for investigation.There are always those who delve into
the darker worlds of knowledge, andmany pay with their sanitym for their interests.
(02:29):
Some of these unfortunates are taken inby the Hayward Foundation, an organization
that studies paranormal experiences and their effectson humanity. It is cases such as
these that are sent to a restoredmansion in a small coastal town in Maine,
a center for the care and studyof the insane. Since the nineteen
(02:53):
twenties, this place has been knownas the Hayward Sanitarium. Like me to
warm up that cup for you now, doctor, Oh, thank you,
missus Delmore. What mind as Ido? Are you all set to begin
working up at the sanitarium? MI suppose I am. I guess it's
(03:14):
never really easy starting over again asa new place. I do want to
thank you for letting me stay thebed and breakfast while they're remodeling my house.
Well, think nothing of it.There really won't be any more guests
till the tourist season opens. Infact, the state the old Hammond Place
was in, it just might beuntil then that you can move in anyhow.
Oh, it certainly looked charming onthe relators of board in Boston.
(03:37):
I guess they left a few thingsout of the description. I'm sure they
did well. From what you toldme, You're being transferred here put you
in quite a pinch to get anyplace you could find. Well. Actually,
I offered to take the lead doctorBailey's post. I really felt the
need to get out of the citywhen my wife passed away. The Foundation
was very understanding and assigning me tothe center here in Maine. Well,
(03:58):
I guess I'm just one of thefolks around here who will never really understand
what they do. And honestly,I don't care for all of them being
up there. But as long asthe locks are good and tight, I
got nothing to complain about. What'sListen to me talk. I'm sure you'll
like it here. New Bristol isone of the finest places to live on
the whole seaboard. Well, Isuppose I should get going first day and
(04:19):
all. I guess I want tomake a good impression with the old gents
to run the place. Well,i'll see you tonight, missus Domo.
Goodbye bye, No doctor best ofblack Well, good mor excuse me?
(05:02):
Is it all right to park here? Well? Visitor parkins off yonder to
there? Oh, I'm not avisitor. I'm doctor Richard Atwater, the
new staff psychologist. I'm replacing doctorBailey. I called ahead to say I
would arrive today. Of course,plump slip my mind, I reckoned.
I'm too many visitors at this place. Anyway, I'm Chester. I take
care of the grounds and do anyfixing as it comes up. I suppose
(05:25):
that's while the others park, youmight as well park there too. Well,
Chester, it's a pleasure to makeyour acquaintance. I'm going to head
up. Are you doctor Richard Atwater? Yes, yes, I am good.
The staft's waiting to meet you.All right. That's quite a caretaker
you got there. He looks likehe stepped right off the pages and Captain's
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courageous Chester. Yeah, you mightsay that he's an original, the only
staff member who's left from when theHaywards lived here. His grandfather planted that
elm tree. He's pruning. He'sa great old guy, but he'll talk
your ear off if you give methe chance. I'm sure he's got lots
of stories. Who might you be. I'm Hallie Brooks. I'm pleased to
meet you, Miss Brooks. It'sdoctor Brooks. Oh are you a psychiatrist,
(06:09):
Doctor Brooks? No, No,I'm one of the field researchers assigned
to the Sanitarium PhD in sociology.Currently, I'm working in superstition and the
paranormal experience. I wasn't aware thatthere was anything more here than clinical research
for the various patients. There's afew of us up here. When they
built the center in Boston, itbecame the hub of foundation activity, but
the original archives are still kept upstairs. You have to be here to get
(06:31):
access to the early research library.Morning Charles. Hello, doctor Brooks.
This is doctor Atwater, the transferfrom Boston for doctor Bailey. Yes,
I see, this is your securitybadge, Doctor Atwater. You should be
sure to ware around the institution.Thank you. Chobs. Are Doctor Atwater's
keys ready yet? Have the officekeys? But the ward keys aren't ready
(06:53):
yet. Doctor Robert said he wouldhave them tomorrow. There's a new arrival
in the maximum Security Awards. Iimagine he's goot a scene in school.
I guess you'll have to rely onthe orderlies to get you around the war,
Doctor Atwater, I don't have accessdownstairs. Well, I wasn't planning
on anything more than just looking aroundtoday. I'll get the keys myself tomorrow,
if he'll just tell me who totalk to. Robert Elliott's in charge
(07:14):
of the orderlies. He's the onehere. We have to sign the day
sheet. We thank you, doctorBrooks, and welcome to the Sanitarium,
Doctor Atwater. Oh thank you,Charles. It was a pleasure meeting me
this way. So how do youlike me in Bristol so far? Oh?
Fine, fine? Now I've beenhere a two days trying to get
settled. I'm having a few problemswith the house I thought. I don't
think anyone's lived there since the Mayflowersput into four right. I guess you'll
(07:39):
have to get used to not havingall the convenience of the city life,
especially here. I'm sure you'll findeverything a bit more primitive. Well,
I've had my film of Boston.How's your family taking the move? Actually,
my wife passed away recently and mydaughter is with my parents until I
can send for it. Oh,I'm very sorry to hear that. Acus.
(08:03):
This is Doctor Atwater. Hello,they're inside. In any case,
I am expecting Atwater any minute now, and I will expect you all to
treat him with respect, to befitting our new tool probation. I still
think it's damn strange sending young ladhere to the Hayward Retirement Home for aged
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scholars. Gentlemen, Doctor Atwater,Ah, Doctor Atwater. I have been
greatly looking forward to our meeting.I have brought us a car Hauptmann,
the administrator of this facility. Oh, it's a very great honor to meet
you, sir. I've read yourtreatise on chemical Imbalances as a major cause
of catatonic schizophrenia. Who I hopeyou found my humble efforts worthy of your
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time. Doctor. Now, permitme to introduce the rest of my staff.
Here on my right is the notedexpert on corrective neurosurgery and our chief
of surgery, Doctor Malcolm E.Cloud. Doctor that's Wow, Pleasure.
Doctor. On my left is ourarchimist Claude to maintain you please to meet
you, sir, pleasure. Andby the window are the other two senior
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staff members, Doctors Chancellor and Fox, who you will be working with in
the wards. Gentlemen, Doctor Brookswill show you to your office so that
you can get settled in. Iam sure that you are anxious to orient
yourself here. Doctor Brooks is alsograciously volunteered to assist you is meeting the
rest of the staff, and Iam sure that you are aware that one
(09:31):
of our most important functions here,one of your most important functions will be
to interview monitor the field researchers afterexpedition. Yes, sir, my old
supervisor gave me the full details ofmy duties. I must take over the
care of doctor Bailey's patients and ofthe psychological evaluations of field operators and coordinate
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with doctor McLeod on the medical careof all the patients here at the sanitary
exactly. I believe your work withsweet disorders and dreaming should be more helpful,
and dealing with are more difficultifications.I agree, But since you seem
to already understand your duties here,I will not keep you any longer.
Doctor. You will find the filesfor your cases in doctor Bailey's that is
(10:18):
your office. Feel free to callupon me any time for assistance, and
I will meet with you later tosee how you are doing well. Doctor.
Shall we go, of course?Goodbye, gentlemen, goodbye? Now,
gentlemen, come in. I justthought i'd see how you're getting along.
(10:50):
Can move Delia? No, yes, you can see that? Really
much to it? Just a fewthings I see. Is this a picture
of your daughter? Yes, itlooks a lot like your wife. Uh.
Hey, you brought this computer upfrom the city. Huh. I
don't think half the conjures up herehave even seen a laptop. Are you
starting in on the cases tomorrow?Ah? Yes, I'm trying to orient
(11:11):
myself around Bailey's files right now soI can get a feel for what's going
on. You shouldn't have to worryabout the research staff for a while.
Those are still out in the fieldand those of us who are here just
doing bookwork. Bailey gave everyone ashrink a few months ago. Anyway,
I take it you're not fond ofconsoling after field research. Not at all.
It's an insult to our character tothink that we aren't stable enough to
(11:33):
withstand pressures in the field. Oh, I don't know. Some of the
research done around here involves some prettyintense things that really should be talked out.
No one is psychologically and vulnerable toall Toronto. Well, take this
case in this file I was lookingat when you came in. This individual
was once employed by the Foundation andhis breakdown is most definitely related to an
(11:54):
experience in the field. Oh youmean Dermott, Yes, Dermot O'Brien do
you know him very well? Weworked together at the Center in London,
but never on the same project oranything. But what was he like then?
He seemed very wild, like hewas always rushing around trying to accomplish
something. He was a very funnyguy sometimes when he was in a talkative
mood. I see, while accordingto his file, he was almost remanded
(12:18):
to a clinic several times, butthe excellent quality of his work led the
supervisors to overlook his temperament. Perhapsif he had been treated sooner, he
wouldn't be in the shape that heis now. Well. I don't see
how you could expect someone who grewup in the middle of a war zone
like Belfast to be stable anyway.I heard he was involved with the IRA
before coming to the Foundation. Itsays here he lived in Belfast for then
(12:39):
uncle Shamless until he was about seventeen. Then went to Trinity College in Dublin,
where he took degrees in religious studiesand philosophy. He graduated well in
the top ten percentile of his classmates. You know, if I remember correctly,
he mentioned spending some time in Angolaresearching African religions, and that was
right before he joined the Foundation.I think there are several gaps in this
(13:03):
record. I wonder what he wasdoing that he didn't want the Foundation to
know about. Will you be seeinghim so well, hopefully first thing tomorrow
morning. He sounds like a veryinteresting case. Well, be careful and
total. He can be quite violentat times. He never went into the
field unarmed. And there are thosewho questioned his scholarly method. If you
get my meaning, doctor not sureeverything will be fine? Well, I
(13:28):
suppose I should read some more ofthese files before I go home for the
day. I'll see you later then, Yeah, first see him. Yeah,
we have O'Brien in the consultation room. He seems to be pretty calm
today. Oh, friends, Robert, why don't you wait here? Would
you rather I was inside with you? No? I didn't expect any trouble.
(13:48):
Okay, So here's my new headdoctor, come to see how I'm
going any further on the bend.Good morning to you, mister O'Brien.
I'd just like to take some timeto get acquainted with you. We'll be
spending so much time together. What'sto know? I'm a bothered lunatic?
Isn't that what my file says?Your file does say that your last case
went rather badly. It says thatafter your retrieval from Haiti, your next
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assignment was a routine research expedition toDunwich crossing Massachusetts. Something about the witch
trials, wasn't it. Yeah,that's right, boy, I wouldn't say
it was routine. Mm m.You've burned down a church, killed one
person, and seriously wounded a statetrooper before you were arrested. Well,
I'll not deny that I did thosethings, nor will I say I was
(14:33):
completely saint at the time. ButI have no regrets. Why not because
I was trying to save the damnedtown and myself. Of course, there
was a great evil in that church. It says in the file that there
was evidence that you were tortured inHaiti after you were captured by a cult.
Do you think that has anything todo with what you saw in the
church. No, I saw whatI saw. Well, why don't you
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tell me what happened in your ownwords? Then? All right? Then
it's like this. After I gotback from Haiti, the Foundation wanted to
give me a nice quiet project toease meet back into the job. It
was supposed to be a routine recordgunter and assignment on the witch Charles in
Massachusetts, in particular record stealing withthe seventeenth century warlock named Elias Devin.
(15:16):
So I hopped onto a train fromBoston to a little town called Dunwich,
crossing MM Prosser's stop. That ablessing today? Thanks you not start a
(15:41):
hotel in this town. That wouldbe the donewich In sir, just at
this road out, thanks again,you're welcome. It's the party in five
minutes for tim its mob. Itwas a wet five minute walk to the
so called inn. It was reallyan old motel. It took a while
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to get a hold of the clerk. Christ talk about the sticks. All
right, all right, pull yourbridges, I'm coming. I'm coming.
I need a room. Sign here, this is the number four to run
(16:23):
back. That'll be thirty bucks checkout. Some noon I moved in and
went to bed more. Let's rideaway. The next morning, I had
breakfast at the local diner and wentto the library to start working. The
stacks didn't have anything besides the usualstuff, so I asked the library for
some assistance into the archives. Ohcan I help you, young man?
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I hope so, sir. I'mtrying to find some records dealing with the
witch trials in this area. Itried the stacks, but I haven't found
anything like what I'm looking for.Do you have anything of the rare books
collection? I can see, andI'm afraid of everything we have is on
the show, sir, Well,where would I look to find any records
dealing with a man named Elias Devon. My research on him has led me
here, Elias Devon, we don'thave anything like that. Try town hall.
(17:14):
Thank you, sir, who've beenmost helpful. I headed into the
town hall that afternoon. I couldn'tshake the feeling the old librarian was covering
up something or just giving me abrush off. Oh, sir, I'm
afraid that the specific kind of recordsthat you're looking for aren't here. But
the librarian referred to me here,saying all the primary records from the founding
of the town had moved to thehall here. That's true, sir,
(17:37):
But the particular documents that you're interestedin were lost in a fire all back
about eighteen forty, I suppose,when the old town hall was lost in
that big blaze that swept through town. Well, I reckon. They try
to save as much as they could, But what can you do? Oh
yeah, well, good day,sir, Good day, young Fanna.
(18:02):
This sounds like it was a deadend. What did you do next?
Well, faith man, I didthe only thing I could do. I
went for to buy It. Turnsout that all wasn't lost though. That
was where I met Rachel Ah,that would be the organist to mention here.
Uh. Yes, I was havinga cup of tea thincause I had
run out of options at the foundationhad set me up the Primrose Path.
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The young lass was working the tillstarted talking to me. I was at
the counter, and I guess shewas kind of curious about me being a
stranger, and all good, youthink, sir, Will you be wanting
another cup of tea? I supposeso, unless you got anything stronger behind
that shelf there. Oh no,sir, you won't find anything like that
in this town. We don't geta lot of tourists up the story.
Do you mind I buy us whatyou're doing in these story? So I
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was trying to find some information ofthe tone records. I imagine no one's
been real helpful. Well, I'venever known a small town to take kindly
outsider's poking around. I guess not. I've left her all my life,
and that's the way it is.I suppose that when everybody knows everybody,
you get kind of it's easy aboutstrangers coming in. They're right about that,
But folks usual are not quite thisshy. Hey, you're from Boston.
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Armship. Most recently, did youthink there would be any work for
a musicians. I'm playing organ forthe church now, but I'm thinking about
moving up there. Well, I'mnot a musician, so I wouldn't know
about that. I saw that churchdown the road. Is that where you
play? Yeah, that's the one. It's actually an old Puritan meeting house,
one of the few buildings to survivethe Great fire. It must be
a monument or something. You shouldgo look at it before you leave town.
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They really have kept it up.We kept up at the small tuck,
and she got around to mentioning shewas actually going to that church when
she got off work to practice forthe next service. It took some convincing,
but I managed to invite myself along. I told her I'd really like
to hear her play, but Iwas actually interested in getting out of the
church records. If what she saidwas correct, the church was more likely
to have the information I was lookingfor concerning Devin. She was right about
(19:52):
the church itself certainly looked like thePuritians it built it. It was remarkably
well kept. I was afraid ithad been rebuilt. Heard me that regular
restoration had taken place, most ofit was original. I sat and listened
for a while, as long asI had to before I slipped out to
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look for the church as archives.The preacher's ax didn't have much more than
anywhere else, and not to confirmmy suspicions that there were those in town
trying to keep me away from whatI was looking for, either out of
fear or shame, or just plainstubbornness. And then what happened? Well,
I exhausted the records and the annexranther quickly, but they just didn't
go back far enough. I beganto think that the earliest records were lost,
(20:37):
and the church switched to nominations.Then I saw the door. What
door was that? A heavy olddoor with rod hinges. It was on
the back wall with if all bookshelvesthat had obscured it from my sight when
I first came into the room.It was locked a heavy pad luck and
half had been affixed to it.Thinking the lock was in an obstacle except
for a legal one, I listenedto see if was still occupied before I
(21:00):
ventured to open it. Feeling notefor a discovery, I went ahead.
Dank Are nearly pulled me over asI opened it up. I felt along
the wall for a light switch.Steel stone, amazingly was wet with condensation.
I only searched a bit before realizingthis was the church's original foundation and
it hadn't been wired for electricity.I improvised a lights horse and headed down
(21:22):
the stairs, testing each step carefully. At the bottom of the stairs was
a hurricane lamp, and after Icleared the cobwebs away, I found it
had some oil left and lid it. And that was when I got my
first look at the place. Therewere old wooden trunks that held some musty
hmdals in one corner. The anotherwas a dusty shakeup table and chair.
(21:44):
Some boxes held old choir robes thathad definitely seen better days. I'd say
it'd been years since any man steppedfoot down here. There is one trunk
that was locked. I thought itstrange. A lock was so arrusted and
nearly crumbled in my hand. Uponopening it, I discovered several covered leather
bound volumes. Oh, yes,it seem not all the records had been
lost. I took them to theirtable and sat down. I resumed the
(22:07):
find of Rousseletopol. It was badIn the third volume, Elias Devon,
convicted of commerce with the devil,found guilty and sentenced to be burned at
the stake I'd read on. Itappeared he had been a very wealthy father
in the area. It prospered wellas it barely stressed a living from the
rocky soil. Plagued by blights andmisfortune. His jealous neighbors finally had him
(22:29):
arrested for witchcraft and speedily tried andconvicted him, And on the eve of
the scheduled burning, he escaped thehelp of the jailer's daughter. I had
found the girl some days later ina wooded hollow dead. Her body had
been horribly mutilated, as if insome Satanic ritual, And though the ensuing
man had covered two counties, EliasDevon was never seen again, alive or
dead. It was all there,deeds, records, genealogies, depositions,
(22:52):
Emily piece. I needed more,handwritten dated November first, sixty eighty three.
I turned the yellow page is oneby one, searching for more,
until I found the head staring atme, gloating. Someone made a wood
cut of the thing, black inkagainst yellow parchment, his hair like pulled
like flame atop a high burrows,brown underneath its eyes, hollow, fennalized,
(23:17):
filled with moaning, that modering burninginto my mind, suggesting following the
will thoughts, that smearing smile crackingacross tight lips and step It was laughing
at me, can't screaming. Itwas some holy marth, you gots you
calls Ryan, You're not just goingto be here. Something was blocking the
only way out, cut him off, my escape from the head. Some
(23:38):
dark visire with outstretched arms trying tograb me, hol me, take me
with it. For whatever hell itcame from. It was screaming at me.
Well, my head continuous feel subductive, whitneys. I couldn't breathe couldn't
moves it. My heart felt likeit was bursting. I had to get
out of there, had to fleefrom the head and his minion. Are
(23:59):
you all right? Should I callit? Doctor? The doctor? She
dressed closer and closer, push'd mebackwards towards the hand. I couldn't think
of anything else to do. Icouldn't think it. All I did.
What I had to do is thatwhen you shot the girl. Yes,
(24:19):
all of a sudden it was quiet. Rachel's body lay before me, bloody.
I suddenly realized my mistake and bentover to see if I could do
anything. But she was dead.Wasn't she nice? She was? I
saw what I had done to herand slumped against the wall. Her blood
slowly ebbed from her body, pullingon the stone floor. I tried to
(24:42):
get myself together. My first instinctwas the run. I was certain the
gun shouted and attracted attention. Idecided to go upstairs. I turned around
to get the book, but thehead it was still there, grinnin even
more malicious laughing heart her sound frombehind me the gun. She was getting
up off the floor. But whenI killed her, I know I did.
(25:03):
The clerks began to work towards me, still trying to do the next,
bitting me. I threw the lampat the pool, anything to stop
that way with the flames, thebarns with the pages moving on quickly to
the table to consume the entire room, and told us why the burn in
hell? She was still coming.Nothing stuck to me when looking at her
feet slowly coming from me. Can'tyou see me here in the flames?
(25:26):
That burning things? Because the roomdidn't win? Oh Jane, up there
everywhere the plains of the burning eighties. There's no way out. Send let
me go. You got it here? You go right now? Were you
(25:51):
all right? Doctor? Why didyou let me come in with you?
He's not yet, he Robert,I'm fine, Or mister Ryan, a
clinical doses at stores in a placea man of the Dorn wasn't unto least
calmer? Who hates three? Ifanything happened an actor? But Perle,
(26:17):
my first session with German O'Brien hasleft me with much to pon her.
I can't understand the decision to sendO'Brien had done much crossing so soon after
his experience in Haiti. Why wouldthe Foundation reassign an individual who had suffered
such obvious physical and mental torture withoutallowing any significant recovery period. The possibility
(26:40):
exists that Durmot's current mental state isdue to the scars left from the hady
experience. But I can't help butwonder if there isn't something more. What
was the head he kept referring to? He began to loose control at the
point in the session when he recalledit. Is it possible that looking at
that simple picture was the catalyst forthe whole episode. Curiously, the Foundation
(27:04):
database contains no records of a researchassignment on Elias Devitt dictation dants you have
been committed to Hayward's Sanitarium, Written, directed, and produced by Matthew Balco
(27:26):
and David Johnson. Executive producer TonyBrewer. Sound designed by John Webber.
Engineering and fully team led by JohnWebber and Richard Fish, including Tim Arnett,
Scott England, Dan mcdeviitt, DougBlack, Dan Zadruga, and John
Young, featuring Mike Kelleher, TomHollokey, Alexandra Alkerhide, Richard Fish,
Jim Fields, Brandy Bacco, SharonWeickman, Warren Lewis, mels Berner,
(27:48):
Joel Marsh, John Vallmer, MarkShand and Karen Atkins. Studio facilities provided
by Loadstone Productions and Razor Digital Copyrightnineteen ninety two. Hayward Sanitarium is made
possible by grants from Loadstone Productions atRaiser Digital and the generosity of its cast
and crew. Heyward Sanitarium is aLast Minutes production
Researchers, Edition number fourteen. KatieDermital Brilliant Fuel Researchers, eleven fifty four
PM on Thursday, April thirty,nineteen ninety two. I've been observing the
ritual for about twenty minutes now.The colts gathered in the clearing about one
hundred and fifty meters square. I'mobserving from a point about steen years Stag
(00:33):
and the surrounding jungles of the selfclearing itself. Our remain in this position
as long as I feel on safetyDiscovery. Cristans are dancing around a large
funfayre in a semi circle, leavingcounter clockwise. The dances analogous to several
other standards Spring Fertility, dance tothe common the Creole region rituals, and
make a note of self for references. Saint Clouds billion four otherwise appears to
(00:55):
be around the milk ritual, saysan old man with white face painted an
old military uniform in a tombag bringsthe central altar located just west of the
fire, fears to be a boxof some sort of wraps of coarse cloth.
It's bringing out of the wrappings,but in the box wouldn't it looks
(01:15):
like joking as they don't speaking thecircle the altar to the north thing his
back is to me get the oldpart to get on their ways. And
I can't see a planet saying sitingtwist, I said you stick in the
repertoire a talking skuld The old manis hold to get by the hair,
and it's bellowing like a map ata bit of venture over the man to
(01:38):
say more. Look at that oldman, though, there's something about it
that reminds me old man could geta better book. Ah. There are
(02:09):
some areas of the human mind,and indeed of the world we live in,
that were never meant for investigation.There are always those who delve into
the darker worlds of knowledge, andmany pay with their sanitym for their interests.
(02:29):
Some of these unfortunates are taken inby the Hayward Foundation, an organization
that studies paranormal experiences and their effectson humanity. It is cases such as
these that are sent to a restoredmansion in a small coastal town in Maine,
a center for the care and studyof the insane. Since the nineteen
(02:53):
twenties, this place has been knownas the Hayward Sanitarium. Like me to
warm up that cup for you now, doctor, Oh, thank you,
missus Delmore. What mind as Ido? Are you all set to begin
working up at the sanitarium? MI suppose I am. I guess it's
(03:14):
never really easy starting over again asa new place. I do want to
thank you for letting me stay thebed and breakfast while they're remodeling my house.
Well, think nothing of it.There really won't be any more guests
till the tourist season opens. Infact, the state the old Hammond Place
was in, it just might beuntil then that you can move in anyhow.
Oh, it certainly looked charming onthe relators of board in Boston.
(03:37):
I guess they left a few thingsout of the description. I'm sure they
did well. From what you toldme, You're being transferred here put you
in quite a pinch to get anyplace you could find. Well. Actually,
I offered to take the lead doctorBailey's post. I really felt the
need to get out of the citywhen my wife passed away. The Foundation
was very understanding and assigning me tothe center here in Maine. Well,
(03:58):
I guess I'm just one of thefolks around here who will never really understand
what they do. And honestly,I don't care for all of them being
up there. But as long asthe locks are good and tight, I
got nothing to complain about. What'sListen to me talk. I'm sure you'll
like it here. New Bristol isone of the finest places to live on
the whole seaboard. Well, Isuppose I should get going first day and
(04:19):
all. I guess I want tomake a good impression with the old gents
to run the place. Well,i'll see you tonight, missus Domo.
Goodbye bye, No doctor best ofblack Well, good mor excuse me?
(05:02):
Is it all right to park here? Well? Visitor parkins off yonder to
there? Oh, I'm not avisitor. I'm doctor Richard Atwater, the
new staff psychologist. I'm replacing doctorBailey. I called ahead to say I
would arrive today. Of course,plump slip my mind, I reckoned.
I'm too many visitors at this place. Anyway, I'm Chester. I take
care of the grounds and do anyfixing as it comes up. I suppose
(05:25):
that's while the others park, youmight as well park there too. Well,
Chester, it's a pleasure to makeyour acquaintance. I'm going to head
up. Are you doctor Richard Atwater? Yes, yes, I am good.
The staft's waiting to meet you.All right. That's quite a caretaker
you got there. He looks likehe stepped right off the pages and Captain's
(05:47):
courageous Chester. Yeah, you mightsay that he's an original, the only
staff member who's left from when theHaywards lived here. His grandfather planted that
elm tree. He's pruning. He'sa great old guy, but he'll talk
your ear off if you give methe chance. I'm sure he's got lots
of stories. Who might you be. I'm Hallie Brooks. I'm pleased to
meet you, Miss Brooks. It'sdoctor Brooks. Oh are you a psychiatrist,
(06:09):
Doctor Brooks? No, No,I'm one of the field researchers assigned
to the Sanitarium PhD in sociology.Currently, I'm working in superstition and the
paranormal experience. I wasn't aware thatthere was anything more here than clinical research
for the various patients. There's afew of us up here. When they
built the center in Boston, itbecame the hub of foundation activity, but
the original archives are still kept upstairs. You have to be here to get
(06:31):
access to the early research library.Morning Charles. Hello, doctor Brooks.
This is doctor Atwater, the transferfrom Boston for doctor Bailey. Yes,
I see, this is your securitybadge, Doctor Atwater. You should be
sure to ware around the institution.Thank you. Chobs. Are Doctor Atwater's
keys ready yet? Have the officekeys? But the ward keys aren't ready
(06:53):
yet. Doctor Robert said he wouldhave them tomorrow. There's a new arrival
in the maximum Security Awards. Iimagine he's goot a scene in school.
I guess you'll have to rely onthe orderlies to get you around the war,
Doctor Atwater, I don't have accessdownstairs. Well, I wasn't planning
on anything more than just looking aroundtoday. I'll get the keys myself tomorrow,
if he'll just tell me who totalk to. Robert Elliott's in charge
(07:14):
of the orderlies. He's the onehere. We have to sign the day
sheet. We thank you, doctorBrooks, and welcome to the Sanitarium,
Doctor Atwater. Oh thank you,Charles. It was a pleasure meeting me
this way. So how do youlike me in Bristol so far? Oh?
Fine, fine? Now I've beenhere a two days trying to get
settled. I'm having a few problemswith the house I thought. I don't
think anyone's lived there since the Mayflowersput into four right. I guess you'll
(07:39):
have to get used to not havingall the convenience of the city life,
especially here. I'm sure you'll findeverything a bit more primitive. Well,
I've had my film of Boston.How's your family taking the move? Actually,
my wife passed away recently and mydaughter is with my parents until I
can send for it. Oh,I'm very sorry to hear that. Acus.
(08:03):
This is Doctor Atwater. Hello,they're inside. In any case,
I am expecting Atwater any minute now, and I will expect you all to
treat him with respect, to befitting our new tool probation. I still
think it's damn strange sending young ladhere to the Hayward Retirement Home for aged
(08:24):
scholars. Gentlemen, Doctor Atwater,Ah, Doctor Atwater. I have been
greatly looking forward to our meeting.I have brought us a car Hauptmann,
the administrator of this facility. Oh, it's a very great honor to meet
you, sir. I've read yourtreatise on chemical Imbalances as a major cause
of catatonic schizophrenia. Who I hopeyou found my humble efforts worthy of your
(08:46):
time. Doctor. Now, permitme to introduce the rest of my staff.
Here on my right is the notedexpert on corrective neurosurgery and our chief
of surgery, Doctor Malcolm E.Cloud. Doctor that's Wow, Pleasure.
Doctor. On my left is ourarchimist Claude to maintain you please to meet
you, sir, pleasure. Andby the window are the other two senior
(09:09):
staff members, Doctors Chancellor and Fox, who you will be working with in
the wards. Gentlemen, Doctor Brookswill show you to your office so that
you can get settled in. Iam sure that you are anxious to orient
yourself here. Doctor Brooks is alsograciously volunteered to assist you is meeting the
rest of the staff, and Iam sure that you are aware that one
(09:31):
of our most important functions here,one of your most important functions will be
to interview monitor the field researchers afterexpedition. Yes, sir, my old
supervisor gave me the full details ofmy duties. I must take over the
care of doctor Bailey's patients and ofthe psychological evaluations of field operators and coordinate
(09:54):
with doctor McLeod on the medical careof all the patients here at the sanitary
exactly. I believe your work withsweet disorders and dreaming should be more helpful,
and dealing with are more difficultifications.I agree, But since you seem
to already understand your duties here,I will not keep you any longer.
Doctor. You will find the filesfor your cases in doctor Bailey's that is
(10:18):
your office. Feel free to callupon me any time for assistance, and
I will meet with you later tosee how you are doing well. Doctor.
Shall we go, of course?Goodbye, gentlemen, goodbye? Now,
gentlemen, come in. I justthought i'd see how you're getting along.
(10:50):
Can move Delia? No, yes, you can see that? Really
much to it? Just a fewthings I see. Is this a picture
of your daughter? Yes, itlooks a lot like your wife. Uh.
Hey, you brought this computer upfrom the city. Huh. I
don't think half the conjures up herehave even seen a laptop. Are you
starting in on the cases tomorrow?Ah? Yes, I'm trying to orient
(11:11):
myself around Bailey's files right now soI can get a feel for what's going
on. You shouldn't have to worryabout the research staff for a while.
Those are still out in the fieldand those of us who are here just
doing bookwork. Bailey gave everyone ashrink a few months ago. Anyway,
I take it you're not fond ofconsoling after field research. Not at all.
It's an insult to our character tothink that we aren't stable enough to
(11:33):
withstand pressures in the field. Oh, I don't know. Some of the
research done around here involves some prettyintense things that really should be talked out.
No one is psychologically and vulnerable toall Toronto. Well, take this
case in this file I was lookingat when you came in. This individual
was once employed by the Foundation andhis breakdown is most definitely related to an
(11:54):
experience in the field. Oh youmean Dermott, Yes, Dermot O'Brien do
you know him very well? Weworked together at the Center in London,
but never on the same project oranything. But what was he like then?
He seemed very wild, like hewas always rushing around trying to accomplish
something. He was a very funnyguy sometimes when he was in a talkative
mood. I see, while accordingto his file, he was almost remanded
(12:18):
to a clinic several times, butthe excellent quality of his work led the
supervisors to overlook his temperament. Perhapsif he had been treated sooner, he
wouldn't be in the shape that heis now. Well. I don't see
how you could expect someone who grewup in the middle of a war zone
like Belfast to be stable anyway.I heard he was involved with the IRA
before coming to the Foundation. Itsays here he lived in Belfast for then
(12:39):
uncle Shamless until he was about seventeen. Then went to Trinity College in Dublin,
where he took degrees in religious studiesand philosophy. He graduated well in
the top ten percentile of his classmates. You know, if I remember correctly,
he mentioned spending some time in Angolaresearching African religions, and that was
right before he joined the Foundation.I think there are several gaps in this
(13:03):
record. I wonder what he wasdoing that he didn't want the Foundation to
know about. Will you be seeinghim so well, hopefully first thing tomorrow
morning. He sounds like a veryinteresting case. Well, be careful and
total. He can be quite violentat times. He never went into the
field unarmed. And there are thosewho questioned his scholarly method. If you
get my meaning, doctor not sureeverything will be fine? Well, I
(13:28):
suppose I should read some more ofthese files before I go home for the
day. I'll see you later then, Yeah, first see him. Yeah,
we have O'Brien in the consultation room. He seems to be pretty calm
today. Oh, friends, Robert, why don't you wait here? Would
you rather I was inside with you? No? I didn't expect any trouble.
(13:48):
Okay, So here's my new headdoctor, come to see how I'm
going any further on the bend.Good morning to you, mister O'Brien.
I'd just like to take some timeto get acquainted with you. We'll be
spending so much time together. What'sto know? I'm a bothered lunatic?
Isn't that what my file says?Your file does say that your last case
went rather badly. It says thatafter your retrieval from Haiti, your next
(14:11):
assignment was a routine research expedition toDunwich crossing Massachusetts. Something about the witch
trials, wasn't it. Yeah,that's right, boy, I wouldn't say
it was routine. Mm m.You've burned down a church, killed one
person, and seriously wounded a statetrooper before you were arrested. Well,
I'll not deny that I did thosethings, nor will I say I was
(14:33):
completely saint at the time. ButI have no regrets. Why not because
I was trying to save the damnedtown and myself. Of course, there
was a great evil in that church. It says in the file that there
was evidence that you were tortured inHaiti after you were captured by a cult.
Do you think that has anything todo with what you saw in the
church. No, I saw whatI saw. Well, why don't you
(14:56):
tell me what happened in your ownwords? Then? All right? Then
it's like this. After I gotback from Haiti, the Foundation wanted to
give me a nice quiet project toease meet back into the job. It
was supposed to be a routine recordgunter and assignment on the witch Charles in
Massachusetts, in particular record stealing withthe seventeenth century warlock named Elias Devin.
(15:16):
So I hopped onto a train fromBoston to a little town called Dunwich,
crossing MM Prosser's stop. That ablessing today? Thanks you not start a
(15:41):
hotel in this town. That wouldbe the donewich In sir, just at
this road out, thanks again,you're welcome. It's the party in five
minutes for tim its mob. Itwas a wet five minute walk to the
so called inn. It was reallyan old motel. It took a while
(16:02):
to get a hold of the clerk. Christ talk about the sticks. All
right, all right, pull yourbridges, I'm coming. I'm coming.
I need a room. Sign here, this is the number four to run
(16:23):
back. That'll be thirty bucks checkout. Some noon I moved in and
went to bed more. Let's rideaway. The next morning, I had
breakfast at the local diner and wentto the library to start working. The
stacks didn't have anything besides the usualstuff, so I asked the library for
some assistance into the archives. Ohcan I help you, young man?
(16:48):
I hope so, sir. I'mtrying to find some records dealing with the
witch trials in this area. Itried the stacks, but I haven't found
anything like what I'm looking for.Do you have anything of the rare books
collection? I can see, andI'm afraid of everything we have is on
the show, sir, Well,where would I look to find any records
dealing with a man named Elias Devon. My research on him has led me
here, Elias Devon, we don'thave anything like that. Try town hall.
(17:14):
Thank you, sir, who've beenmost helpful. I headed into the
town hall that afternoon. I couldn'tshake the feeling the old librarian was covering
up something or just giving me abrush off. Oh, sir, I'm
afraid that the specific kind of recordsthat you're looking for aren't here. But
the librarian referred to me here,saying all the primary records from the founding
of the town had moved to thehall here. That's true, sir,
(17:37):
But the particular documents that you're interestedin were lost in a fire all back
about eighteen forty, I suppose,when the old town hall was lost in
that big blaze that swept through town. Well, I reckon. They try
to save as much as they could, But what can you do? Oh
yeah, well, good day,sir, Good day, young Fanna.
(18:02):
This sounds like it was a deadend. What did you do next?
Well, faith man, I didthe only thing I could do. I
went for to buy It. Turnsout that all wasn't lost though. That
was where I met Rachel Ah,that would be the organist to mention here.
Uh. Yes, I was havinga cup of tea thincause I had
run out of options at the foundationhad set me up the Primrose Path.
(18:22):
The young lass was working the tillstarted talking to me. I was at
the counter, and I guess shewas kind of curious about me being a
stranger, and all good, youthink, sir, Will you be wanting
another cup of tea? I supposeso, unless you got anything stronger behind
that shelf there. Oh no,sir, you won't find anything like that
in this town. We don't geta lot of tourists up the story.
Do you mind I buy us whatyou're doing in these story? So I
(18:45):
was trying to find some information ofthe tone records. I imagine no one's
been real helpful. Well, I'venever known a small town to take kindly
outsider's poking around. I guess not. I've left her all my life,
and that's the way it is.I suppose that when everybody knows everybody,
you get kind of it's easy aboutstrangers coming in. They're right about that,
But folks usual are not quite thisshy. Hey, you're from Boston.
(19:06):
Armship. Most recently, did youthink there would be any work for
a musicians. I'm playing organ forthe church now, but I'm thinking about
moving up there. Well, I'mnot a musician, so I wouldn't know
about that. I saw that churchdown the road. Is that where you
play? Yeah, that's the one. It's actually an old Puritan meeting house,
one of the few buildings to survivethe Great fire. It must be
a monument or something. You shouldgo look at it before you leave town.
(19:29):
They really have kept it up.We kept up at the small tuck,
and she got around to mentioning shewas actually going to that church when
she got off work to practice forthe next service. It took some convincing,
but I managed to invite myself along. I told her I'd really like
to hear her play, but Iwas actually interested in getting out of the
church records. If what she saidwas correct, the church was more likely
to have the information I was lookingfor concerning Devin. She was right about
(19:52):
the church itself certainly looked like thePuritians it built it. It was remarkably
well kept. I was afraid ithad been rebuilt. Heard me that regular
restoration had taken place, most ofit was original. I sat and listened
for a while, as long asI had to before I slipped out to
(20:14):
look for the church as archives.The preacher's ax didn't have much more than
anywhere else, and not to confirmmy suspicions that there were those in town
trying to keep me away from whatI was looking for, either out of
fear or shame, or just plainstubbornness. And then what happened? Well,
I exhausted the records and the annexranther quickly, but they just didn't
go back far enough. I beganto think that the earliest records were lost,
(20:37):
and the church switched to nominations.Then I saw the door. What
door was that? A heavy olddoor with rod hinges. It was on
the back wall with if all bookshelvesthat had obscured it from my sight when
I first came into the room.It was locked a heavy pad luck and
half had been affixed to it.Thinking the lock was in an obstacle except
for a legal one, I listenedto see if was still occupied before I
(21:00):
ventured to open it. Feeling notefor a discovery, I went ahead.
Dank Are nearly pulled me over asI opened it up. I felt along
the wall for a light switch.Steel stone, amazingly was wet with condensation.
I only searched a bit before realizingthis was the church's original foundation and
it hadn't been wired for electricity.I improvised a lights horse and headed down
(21:22):
the stairs, testing each step carefully. At the bottom of the stairs was
a hurricane lamp, and after Icleared the cobwebs away, I found it
had some oil left and lid it. And that was when I got my
first look at the place. Therewere old wooden trunks that held some musty
hmdals in one corner. The anotherwas a dusty shakeup table and chair.
(21:44):
Some boxes held old choir robes thathad definitely seen better days. I'd say
it'd been years since any man steppedfoot down here. There is one trunk
that was locked. I thought itstrange. A lock was so arrusted and
nearly crumbled in my hand. Uponopening it, I discovered several covered leather
bound volumes. Oh, yes,it seem not all the records had been
lost. I took them to theirtable and sat down. I resumed the
(22:07):
find of Rousseletopol. It was badIn the third volume, Elias Devon,
convicted of commerce with the devil,found guilty and sentenced to be burned at
the stake I'd read on. Itappeared he had been a very wealthy father
in the area. It prospered wellas it barely stressed a living from the
rocky soil. Plagued by blights andmisfortune. His jealous neighbors finally had him
(22:29):
arrested for witchcraft and speedily tried andconvicted him, And on the eve of
the scheduled burning, he escaped thehelp of the jailer's daughter. I had
found the girl some days later ina wooded hollow dead. Her body had
been horribly mutilated, as if insome Satanic ritual, And though the ensuing
man had covered two counties, EliasDevon was never seen again, alive or
dead. It was all there,deeds, records, genealogies, depositions,
(22:52):
Emily piece. I needed more,handwritten dated November first, sixty eighty three.
I turned the yellow page is oneby one, searching for more,
until I found the head staring atme, gloating. Someone made a wood
cut of the thing, black inkagainst yellow parchment, his hair like pulled
like flame atop a high burrows,brown underneath its eyes, hollow, fennalized,
(23:17):
filled with moaning, that modering burninginto my mind, suggesting following the
will thoughts, that smearing smile crackingacross tight lips and step It was laughing
at me, can't screaming. Itwas some holy marth, you gots you
calls Ryan, You're not just goingto be here. Something was blocking the
only way out, cut him off, my escape from the head. Some
(23:38):
dark visire with outstretched arms trying tograb me, hol me, take me
with it. For whatever hell itcame from. It was screaming at me.
Well, my head continuous feel subductive, whitneys. I couldn't breathe couldn't
moves it. My heart felt likeit was bursting. I had to get
out of there, had to fleefrom the head and his minion. Are
(23:59):
you all right? Should I callit? Doctor? The doctor? She
dressed closer and closer, push'd mebackwards towards the hand. I couldn't think
of anything else to do. Icouldn't think it. All I did.
What I had to do is thatwhen you shot the girl. Yes,
(24:19):
all of a sudden it was quiet. Rachel's body lay before me, bloody.
I suddenly realized my mistake and bentover to see if I could do
anything. But she was dead.Wasn't she nice? She was? I
saw what I had done to herand slumped against the wall. Her blood
slowly ebbed from her body, pullingon the stone floor. I tried to
(24:42):
get myself together. My first instinctwas the run. I was certain the
gun shouted and attracted attention. Idecided to go upstairs. I turned around
to get the book, but thehead it was still there, grinnin even
more malicious laughing heart her sound frombehind me the gun. She was getting
up off the floor. But whenI killed her, I know I did.
(25:03):
The clerks began to work towards me, still trying to do the next,
bitting me. I threw the lampat the pool, anything to stop
that way with the flames, thebarns with the pages moving on quickly to
the table to consume the entire room, and told us why the burn in
hell? She was still coming.Nothing stuck to me when looking at her
feet slowly coming from me. Can'tyou see me here in the flames?
(25:26):
That burning things? Because the roomdidn't win? Oh Jane, up there
everywhere the plains of the burning eighties. There's no way out. Send let
me go. You got it here? You go right now? Were you
(25:51):
all right? Doctor? Why didyou let me come in with you?
He's not yet, he Robert,I'm fine, Or mister Ryan, a
clinical doses at stores in a placea man of the Dorn wasn't unto least
calmer? Who hates three? Ifanything happened an actor? But Perle,
(26:17):
my first session with German O'Brien hasleft me with much to pon her.
I can't understand the decision to sendO'Brien had done much crossing so soon after
his experience in Haiti. Why wouldthe Foundation reassign an individual who had suffered
such obvious physical and mental torture withoutallowing any significant recovery period. The possibility
(26:40):
exists that Durmot's current mental state isdue to the scars left from the hady
experience. But I can't help butwonder if there isn't something more. What
was the head he kept referring to? He began to loose control at the
point in the session when he recalledit. Is it possible that looking at
that simple picture was the catalyst forthe whole episode. Curiously, the Foundation
(27:04):
database contains no records of a researchassignment on Elias Devitt dictation dants you have
been committed to Hayward's Sanitarium, Written, directed, and produced by Matthew Balco
(27:26):
and David Johnson. Executive producer TonyBrewer. Sound designed by John Webber.
Engineering and fully team led by JohnWebber and Richard Fish, including Tim Arnett,
Scott England, Dan mcdeviitt, DougBlack, Dan Zadruga, and John
Young, featuring Mike Kelleher, TomHollokey, Alexandra Alkerhide, Richard Fish,
Jim Fields, Brandy Bacco, SharonWeickman, Warren Lewis, mels Berner,
(27:48):
Joel Marsh, John Vallmer, MarkShand and Karen Atkins. Studio facilities provided
by Loadstone Productions and Razor Digital Copyrightnineteen ninety two. Hayward Sanitarium is made
possible by grants from Loadstone Productions atRaiser Digital and the generosity of its cast
and crew. Heyward Sanitarium is aLast Minutes production
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