Cryptic Canticles presents Dracula

Episode Synopsis: At sunset, when Mina is temporarily freed from the vampire affliction that binds her tongue, she gathers the men and asks that should the time come that she turns completely into a vampire, they must promise to kill her the way they did Lucy. All the men agree, except Jonathan, who cannot bring himself to do so. To wrap up the meeting, Mina requests that Jonathan read to her the...

Episode Synopsis: Mina awakens at sunrise and calls for Van Helsing. Rather than request for hypnosis, she explains that she must accompany them on their journey. She believes she will be safer in the care of the many men, and that she can still be useful while under hypnosis. Van Helsing agrees and goes to make the travel plans. The other men compose their wills and put their affairs in order in...

Episode Synopsis: Van Helsing explains the details of their trip to the dock. They met the owner of a ship called the Czarina Catherine which took on a box of dirt, and dealt with a tall, thin man who had very specific desires for the placement of the dirt. He only boarded the ship to check the location of his box when the tide was at it’s fullest, and although no one saw him exit the boat, the lo...

Episode Synopsis: Mina awakens early and calls for Van Helsing to hypnotize her, as she believes she may provide some insight that she is free to disclose. Under hypnosis, Mina reveals the location of the Count, inside his last remaining crate, on a boat that is weighing anchor. Van Helsing revels in the new development that the Count is fleeing England, but reminds all that they must catch him re...

Episode Synopsis: Dr. Seward hurries down to see Renfield, whom Simmons the attendant had said met with some terrible accident. When Seward arrives, he sends for Van Helsing, for it is apparent that Renfield has experienced trauma that would have been impossible to inflict upon himself. Van Helsing arrives, followed quickly by Arthur and Quincey. Van Helsing explains that they must operate on Renf...

Episode Synopsis: Mina is concerned about how worn out and emotional she has felt lately. She visits with Renfield, by request, and he wishes her well. Mina asks Dr. Seward to mix her a sleeping remedy so she might get a better rest, but wonders if sedating herself is wise. Jonathan receives Smollet’s letter containing Sam Bloxam’s address, and, after some confusion as to spelling, eventually find...

Episode Synopsis: As the men are preparing to investigate Carfax Manor, they receive the message that Renfield desperately wants to speak to Dr. Seward. The other men ask to come along, as Seward's journal entries about Renfield had piqued their interest in meeting the man. Renfield is extremely eloquent as he greets all in attendance, demonstrating a working knowledge of their backgrounds. He ask...

Episode Synopsis: Jonathan Harker arrives to stay with Mina and the rest of the men as guests in Seward’s asylum. He and Mina set to work ordering and organizing all of their separate accounts into a single chronological narrative. While working, Mina discovers that Renfield’s behavior coincides with the movements of the Count. Seward goes to visit Renfield, and finds him lucid, and discussing arr...

Episode Synopsis: Arthur and Quincey meet with Seward and Van Helsing in complete confusion as to why they had been summoned. At once, Van Helsing asks that the two men assent to committing themselves to Van Helsing's wishes, intent unknown. Quincey agrees immediately, but Arthur is more wary. He reluctantly agrees to hear what the professor has in mind. Before Van Helsing can go too far into the...

Episode Synopsis: After a night’s rest, Dr. Seward decides that Van Helsing’s theories, which he had been so ready to believe the night before, must be mere folly. He worries that Van Helsing might be losing his mind, and that he is such a clever man, he could easily fool them all, should he be behind this spectacle. Seward resolves to keep a keen eye on Van Helsing when he meets him tonight to wa...

Episode Synopsis: Dr. Seward and Van Helsing visit the graveyard again in the afternoon once a group of mourners has cleared out from a noon service. Upon opening the coffin, Seward is shocked to see Lucy’s body lying inside, looking more radiant than ever. Van Helsing pushes back her lips, revealing her teeth, sharper than before. Seward fumbles for a logical explanation, but can find none. Van H...

Episode Synopsis: Van Helsing is amazed to see that Jonathan has made a full recovery.  Jonathan tells him that since Mina revealed Van Helsing’s assessment in the truth of Jonathan’s journal, his confidence in his own senses has completely returned and he is a new man.  Van Helsing cannot help but praise Mina to her husband, detailing how clever, resourceful, and compassionate she is. Jonathan re...

Episode Synopsis: A reporter for the Westminster Gazette writes about children who have gone missing while playing on Hampstead Heath, and have been found later, sometimes the next day, with wounds on their throats. All of these children have given the excuse that they had been lured away by “The Bloofer Lady”. Whether this is true, or an excuse that the other children picked up after the first oc...

Episode Synopsis: Mina is deeply disturbed by what she reads in Jonathan’s travel journal. She wonders how much of it could be true, for there is a certain continuity that would explain the appearance of that man Jonathan spotted the other day. To be safe, Mina decides to transcribe Jonathan’s Journal on her typewriter in case they should need to consult someone. Van Helsing writes to Mina asking...

Episode Synopsis: Mina is rejoiced that, since Mr. Hawkins has passed, Jonathan has taken up the mantle of responsibility excellently. He told her that he would be out late, and would be unable to return for lunch, so Mina has decided to take the opportunity to read Jonathan’s travel Journal. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Episode Synopsis: Following the funeral of Mr. Hawkins, Mina and Jonathan take a walk through Hyde Park Corner. Jonathan undergoes a sort of trance as he sees a man intently watching a pretty woman, following her when she leaves. Jonathan proclaims that the man is the count, who has grown young again. Mina leads him away, and he falls asleep, awaking without memory of the encounter. Mina determine...

Episode Synopsis: The doctor that Seward had placed in charge of the asylum in his absence, Dr. Patrick Hennessy, writes to Seward describing an unfortunate incident regarding Renfield. Renfield had been witnessed shouting obscenities at some workmen who were retrieving some heavy wooden boxes from the neighboring Carfax Estate. When the men were preparing to leave, Renfield escaped from his room...

Episode Synopsis: It is clear to all that Lucy is dying. Seward and Van Helsing never leave her side, while Quincey Morris patrols the halls. Lucy slips in and out of sleep, where she appears to be at peace, but her teeth protrude ominously from her receding gums. She eventually asks for Arthur, and Quincey picks him up at the railway station. Lucy rallies for Arthur's sake, and he puts on a brave...

Episode Synopsis: A reporter for the Pall Mall Gazette investigates the case of a wolf that has escaped from the local zoo. She interviews Mr. Bilder, the zookeeper, to ask if he recalled anything suspicious surrounding the events. Mr. Bilder lays down some personal philosophy comparing the actions of humans and animals, and shares a few jokes with his wife before describing a man who had the anim...

Episode Synopsis: Lucy remembers the pain of the last several weeks as though a bad dream. She gratefully rejoices in her comfort falling asleep without the need of supervision, despite the sound of angry flapping against her window. Professor Van Helsing, having need to return to Amsterdam, sends a telegram to Dr. Seward instructing him to visit upon Lucy to keep vigil or at least check to see th...

Episode Synopsis: Dr. Seward and Professor Van Helsing arrive at Lucy’s house in bright spirits to discover in horror that Lucy’s mother, with the best of intentions, had removed the protective garlic from Lucy’s bedroom. Sure enough, Lucy is weak and in need of another blood transfusion. This time, it is Professor Van Helsing who donates his blood to revive her. After instructing Mrs. Westenra no...

Episode Synopsis: Lucy expresses extreme gratitude for Professor Van Helsing and all those who have fixed their efforts towards her recovery. She takes comfort in the garlic, despite the oddness of the ritual, and no longer dreads sleep. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Episode Synopsis: Professor Van Helsing insists upon adorning Lucy’s bedroom with bundles of garlic flowers, which he also prescribes her to wear as a necklace while she sleeps. Lucy and Dr. Seward think this ritual comical, but oblige. Van Helsing feels confident that this condition will produce positive results. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at cryp...

Episode Synopsis: When Dr. Seward arrives to spend his second consecutive night keeping vigil, Lucy insists that he rest in the adjoining room instead of staying awake. Lucy writes in her journal how fortunate she is to be blessed with such devoted friends. Her thoughts turn to Arthur as she settles down to sleep. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at cryp...

Episode Synopsis: Whilst sitting up with Lucy for the night, Dr. Seward notices that Lucy repeatedly tries to stave off sleep. When asked her why, she responds that sleep is not a repose for her, but a horror. Seward explains that he will protect her from bad dreams, and Lucy obligingly falls asleep. At dawn, Seward leaves Lucy in the care of a maid, and returns to his duties at the asylum. Before...