1 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: You were listening to Strawberry Spring, based on a short 2 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: story by Stephen King. M M, watch out, I know, Henry, 3 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: it's just hard to see through the fog. Where are 4 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: those lights coming from? There? Right in my mirror? I 5 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: can barely see Mom, Look out over here. This one's 6 00:00:52,000 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: still alive. Grab the stretcher, give me Patty Angry two three. 7 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: We had one boy here. It looks like fourteen to 8 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: sixteen years of age. Car accident. He suffered lacerations on 9 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: his face and blunt force trauma to his head. Hurry up, 10 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: we're losing him. He's having a seizure. How much longer 11 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: I don't know. And this soap five maybe ten minutes, 12 00:01:26,160 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: I don't know. Just step on it. He's awake, doctor, Henry. 13 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: Can you hear me, he's moving. Don't try to speak. 14 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: I tried to sit up, but my head was splitting. 15 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 1: I could hear people running around the room, but somehow 16 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: I remained calm, like I was a drift at sea, Henry, 17 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: just not if you can hear me. I barely had 18 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: the strength to move, let alone talk. Everything was a blur, 19 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: but room came into focus just long enough for me 20 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: to see my arms bandaged. My right leg was broken. 21 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: I had no idea how serious my injuries were. Nurse 22 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:12,519 Speaker 1: and give him something for the pain. He's gonna need 23 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: to rest. I couldn't stay away long enough to follow 24 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: what was going on. I passed out. He's going to sleep. Awhile, nurse, 25 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,080 Speaker 1: please make a note in his chart. He was able 26 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 1: to follow some basic command. I drifted in and out 27 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: of consciousness. Shadows and light passed over me one morning, 28 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 1: or it could have been night, I don't remember. I 29 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 1: heard the door open. I wasn't sure at first, but 30 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: there was the silhouette of a man watching me. He 31 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: wandered into the room and hovered about me like some 32 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 1: kind of spirit. Dead said you. The shape just stood 33 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: there staring down at me. It must have been my 34 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 1: imagination because it looked like it was crying. Whoever, whatever 35 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: that was, held my hand for a moment as I 36 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: drifted back into the black. Abyss, Good morning, Henry. How 37 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: are you feeling today? Hi? Dr Howard, I'm okay. How 38 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: are your headaches? They seem to be going away good. 39 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna take a look at your eyes. This 40 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: might be a little bright. Can you follow the light 41 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: for me? Without moving your head good, and everything looks okay. 42 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: The doctor had come to see me regularly over what 43 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 1: I think was a few days. It's hard to tell, 44 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: but there was something about this time that didn't feel right. 45 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: I could see from the look on his face something 46 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: was wrong, but for whatever reason, I couldn't figure out 47 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 1: what it was. It was blank, expressionless. Henry, has anyone 48 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: had a chance to talk to you about what's happened? No? 49 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: I know. We were in a car accident, but that's it. 50 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: Are my mother and brother, Okay, Henry, this isn't going 51 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: to be easy to hear. But my mother and brother 52 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: were not okay. In fact, they were dead. Their problems 53 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: were over mine. On the other hand, we're just beginning. Hello, 54 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: it's this thing on am I coming through? This is 55 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: Kevin Hartigan. I'm fourteen years old and I live in 56 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: the New Sharon Home for Boys. I had been staying 57 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 1: in the New Sharon Home for Boys for about a year. 58 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,960 Speaker 1: I shared a room with a few other teenagers. We 59 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: were all orphans. It was okay, I guess. We read 60 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: comic books in the wreck room. There was a TV 61 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: that we could watch The Lone Ranger on, so that 62 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: was good. In spite of there being a few dozen 63 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 1: other boys around my age, though I never really made 64 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: what I would call friends with anyone. Kevin was an 65 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 1: orphan there at the same time. I guess it was 66 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: the closest thing I had to a friend. Hey, Henry, huh, 67 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: headmaster's office. He told me to send you in on 68 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 1: my way out, So that's what I'm doing. I knew 69 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: the drill by now. I'd head down the hallway, listen 70 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: to what he has to say, then go back to 71 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: my room. But it wasn't his fault. He was just 72 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 1: doing his job. Come in, Henry, take a seat. You 73 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: wanted to see me, I did. I'm not sure if 74 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: you heard yet, but we have a family coming here 75 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 1: tomorrow and they're looking to adopt. I know this won't 76 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: be an issue for you, but I have to remind 77 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: everybody to be on their best behavior. You are representing 78 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 1: the New Sharon Home for Boys, Yes, sir, the New 79 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: Sharon Home for Boys. We called it the New Prison 80 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: Home for Strays. I was fifteen years old by then, 81 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: even I knew no one wanted to adopt a teenager. 82 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,159 Speaker 1: They wanted the younger kids, the ones they could rays 83 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: and mold. Into reflections of themselves. By fifteen, it was 84 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:07,279 Speaker 1: too late. I was who I was. My record or 85 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: personal history did not work in my favor. The accident 86 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: was referred to as a traumatic event, which is another 87 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: way of saying bad luck. It was what it was, 88 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: and we are who we are. That didn't stop the 89 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 1: headmaster from trying to convince me I had a shot. Henry, 90 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: my boy, don't get discouraged. Have I ever told you 91 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:33,679 Speaker 1: about William Bell? I'm not I'm not sure, sir. William 92 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: Bell was a lot like you. He lost both his 93 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 1: parents in a car accident, had no next of kin. 94 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: If I recall, he was brought in when he was 95 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: thirteen years old. He was afraid of his own shadow. 96 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,719 Speaker 1: If I'm not mistaken. He was eventually adopted and moved 97 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: to Maine. It's a beautiful state, but it can get 98 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:54,600 Speaker 1: cold in the winter. He rose above his own adversity 99 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: and chose not to let it get the best of him. 100 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: I'll be damned if he didn't make the most of himself. 101 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: How did he do that, sir? By going to his 102 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: classes and getting good grades, And sure enough, one day, 103 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 1: it might have been on his seventeenth birthday, he was 104 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: adopted by a couple from Syracuse. I thought she said Maine, right, Maine. 105 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: I may have mixed up where he moved to. But 106 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: what I'm trying to say is don't give up hope. 107 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: The family coming in today could be the right fit 108 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 1: for you, and you might be the right fit for them. 109 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: Either way. My point is be patient and good things 110 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: will happen for you. You're young, you have your whole 111 00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: life ahead of you. Yes, sir, good boy, put her there. 112 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: I shook his hand. I wanted to believe him, but 113 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 1: all I could think was William Bell spent four years 114 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 1: of his life waiting for someone to adopt him. I 115 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: know he was just trying to be positive. I always 116 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: wondered if there really was a William Bell, or that's 117 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: just the kind of name that circulates among people that 118 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: run these institutions. You've got a powerful grip there, Henry. 119 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: Now do me a favor and send in Weston when 120 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 1: you get back to your room. I never knew of 121 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: the headmaster genuinely thought someone would adopted me, or if 122 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 1: he was just trying to keep my hopes. Who knows, 123 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: maybe his hopes up to he seems sad for most 124 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: of us in there. He knew the truth. Saying that 125 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: out loud just made it real. What do you guys 126 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: think anyone got a shot? Maybe if you're under ten. Otherwise, 127 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: no way. What are you doing over there trying to 128 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:38,559 Speaker 1: tie my necktie? Yeah it looks great if you're making 129 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: a noose and you give me a hand. I never 130 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: learned how to time with your dad never showed you. No, 131 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: he went to Korea. He died before he ever had 132 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 1: a chance. Sorry, here I'll show you. This is how 133 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 1: my dad taught me. Picture in your house, a cat 134 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: and a mouse. As the cat naps, the mouse scurries passed, 135 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 1: cat awaits, and a chase takes place. Cat jumps, with 136 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: dinner in sight, around the chair, not once, but twice. 137 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: As the mouse highs, the cat looks inside wiggle ism 138 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: might boardcat is stuck tight. Hey that's pretty good. Thanks, Yeah, 139 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,840 Speaker 1: no problem, But you still don't have a shot. I 140 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: sat in the waiting area, lined with wood paneled walls, 141 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 1: staring straight ahead. The longer I looked at the wood grain, 142 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: the more I thought I saw images embedded in it. 143 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: One by one, my fellow orphans and I sat on 144 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: the bench as each one of us entered the Headmaster's office. 145 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: We slipped down the bench, one seed closer to going 146 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: to a new home. We sat, We waited. We were 147 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: all quiet. It's not that we couldn't talk to each other, 148 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: but there wasn't anything to say. Everyone knew what was 149 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: going on inside that office. Judgment day. Finally the headmaster 150 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 1: opened the door. Henry, come on in and meet Mr 151 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,599 Speaker 1: and Mrs Current. I got up and started walking. It 152 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: was about a fifteen foot walk. I knew that because 153 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: the square tiles on the floor were one foot each. 154 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:13,120 Speaker 1: I counted as I walked, mostly trying to call my nerves. 155 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 1: Two three. It might as well have been a mile. 156 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: I've read that prisoners on death row, I think the 157 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: last walk to the electric chair feels like a mile. 158 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: This could have felt longer. It didn't matter though. An 159 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: hour and a half waiting in the hallway and I 160 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: finally got my chance. Would it be a stay of 161 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: execution or not? That was the question. M hm, Henry, 162 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: please meet the Currents. This was the first time I 163 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,320 Speaker 1: had met a family that was looking to adopt. I'll 164 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: never forget it. She wore a yellow dress with her 165 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: hair pinned up. He had broke cream and his hair 166 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: that smell is impossible to forget, strong and citruous. I 167 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 1: instantly thought of my father. He used to wear it, 168 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: and when I give him a hug, a scent when 169 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,080 Speaker 1: right up my nose. He had a tie on. And 170 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,480 Speaker 1: I guess they were as nervous as I was, because 171 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: he made some small talk. Nice to meet you. It's 172 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:30,320 Speaker 1: a pleasure to meet you too, Henry, Hey, nice tie. 173 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 1: I hated him already. We both knew it was a 174 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 1: shitty tie to make matters worse. It wasn't even tied well. 175 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: I could tell they were an East Coast type of family, 176 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: probably came from money. There were the types that tried 177 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,280 Speaker 1: really hard to have a baby, but it never really 178 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: happened for them. How long have you been here at 179 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,719 Speaker 1: the Boys Home? About a year and a half. I 180 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 1: came here right after my family, like many of the 181 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: boys here in the home, Henry's family had an accident, 182 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: and we were fortunate enough to have him join the 183 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: rest of our fine, upstanding young men. As I was saying, 184 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 1: right after my family died, Mrs Karrent had a sadness 185 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,240 Speaker 1: in her eyes that reminded me of my own mother. 186 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: When I looked at her, I felt like she had 187 00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: already given up on having a baby. Adoption was her 188 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: only hope, and even though she was polite, I could 189 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: tell I was not going to be offering her the 190 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: hope she was looking for. I didn't think any of 191 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: the boys at the home wood. She needed to find 192 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 1: some young girl from a nice family that got in 193 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: trouble and couldn't deal with the scandal, send her to 194 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: her grandparents for the school year, and come home good 195 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 1: as new, minus a baby. So tell us about yourself. Um, okay, 196 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 1: I like comic books and listening to the radio. I'm 197 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: pretty good at school. What classes do you like? English? Really? Yeah? 198 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: One day. I hope to be a writer. That's good. 199 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:03,080 Speaker 1: It's good to have something to work towards. Henry's being modest. 200 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: He's one of our best students here. Thank you, sir. 201 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,520 Speaker 1: After that, we made some more small talk, and fifteen 202 00:13:10,559 --> 00:13:17,679 Speaker 1: minutes later I went back to being an orphan. I 203 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:19,880 Speaker 1: didn't know what meeting them would be like, but I 204 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:24,199 Speaker 1: was pretty sure I didn't pass the audition. After leaving 205 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,000 Speaker 1: the Currents, I figured i'd take a walk about the grounds. 206 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:30,760 Speaker 1: Being an orphan is hard enough, but the Boy's Home 207 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,080 Speaker 1: was crowded. Sometimes the only way to get any space 208 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,080 Speaker 1: was to go outside. I thought about Mrs Curran. Even 209 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: though I didn't have any illusions about getting adopted, I 210 00:13:41,080 --> 00:13:43,120 Speaker 1: wondered what it would be like if shows my mother 211 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: hearing about teenagers getting adopted. It was like a fairy tale, 212 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: like Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. It just wasn't really. 213 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: The only thing you have in this world is which 214 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 1: you can see, touch, taste and feel. Walking around was 215 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: the only thing that felt real to me. It's the 216 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,840 Speaker 1: first time I realized it helped me clear my head. 217 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: It still does. As my feet crushed the dried leaves 218 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: on the ground, I saw something moved behind the trees. 219 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: At first I thought it was a shadow, but then 220 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: I saw what I thought was a man who seemed 221 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: to be watching him. I moved towards him, but he 222 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 1: ducked behind a hedge of vines and facing streets. I 223 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: sped up. I was running after him before I knew it. 224 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: The man was fast. He was more of a shadow 225 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: of figure that I couldn't make out. I stopped to 226 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: catch my breath, and for a split second his face turned. 227 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 1: I guessed he looked just like my father. I saw 228 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: my breath in the cold air and started to run 229 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: after him again. This time I was faster, passing one 230 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: tree after another until I caught up. It was only 231 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 1: a shadow. It was March and the spring colors were bright. 232 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 1: The sun blinded me and my head started to pound. 233 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: The world started to spend. I lost consciousness and fell back. Hey, 234 00:15:14,120 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: there's someone over here behind the statute because some lights 235 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: over here. Jesus, it's another body. This one's a guy 236 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 1: Christ He's alive. Yeah, help him up? Where am i? Hey? Kid, 237 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: joined the middle of a quiet You want to explain 238 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: what you're doing here? I was. I was walking to 239 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: my girlfriend's apartment when I got dizzy and passed out. 240 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 1: What were you doing out after Curkfield? It wasn't after 241 00:15:44,240 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: curfew when I started walking. Look, I don't know how 242 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,000 Speaker 1: long I was out for. What time is it? It's 243 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 1: just after I love him? Do you have any I 244 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: d here? I'm Henry Dennon. Captain Spencer won't want to, 245 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: but he can vouch for me. One of them walked 246 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,520 Speaker 1: back to their patrol car and called it in the 247 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: other stayed with me, shining a flashlight in my face. 248 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,920 Speaker 1: Do you mind turning that away. It's pretty bright. How 249 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 1: about you stay quiet until you check out. I looked around. 250 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: That's when I realized I passed down the middle of 251 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 1: the quad, right behind a statue of Deborah Sampson, a 252 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,960 Speaker 1: Massachusetts woman who disguised herselves as a man to serve 253 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:27,040 Speaker 1: in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Just for 254 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: a moment, I could have sworn she came to life, 255 00:16:30,280 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: musket in hand. She aimed the barrel at me and 256 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: looked like she was about to shoot. I wondered if 257 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: the cops didn't miss their chance. They have a man 258 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: dressed as a woman. Maybe then they could have caused 259 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: radio jack. If he checks out, we're gonna let him go. 260 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,520 Speaker 1: Thank you, officers. Don't thank me, pal, You're lucky to 261 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: Captain knows you. If it was up to me, I 262 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,560 Speaker 1: would have clubbed you over the head and dragged you 263 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: into the station. Do yourself a favor and goes straight 264 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:03,640 Speaker 1: to your girlfriend's place. If we find you out again 265 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,439 Speaker 1: after curfew, you're getting arrested. I don't care who you know. 266 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 1: Got it got it good? I get the hell out. 267 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 1: Are Hey, Henry Waite up? I thought that was you? 268 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: What are you doing out here at this hour? I 269 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: can ask you the same. I'm just finishing the lace 270 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 1: shift at the station, late shift. I thought you were 271 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: the morning guy, morning, noon, night. I'm here whenever you 272 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: need to hear me. Hey, what's going on with the 273 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: cops back there? They're giving you a hard time? Kind 274 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: of but not really, thankfully, Captain Spencer vouch for me. Well, 275 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:50,960 Speaker 1: that's good. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right, 276 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,640 Speaker 1: something like that. You know, I'm not sure if you're 277 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: turned around, but this isn't the way back to the dorms. 278 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: I'm on my way to Rachel's. I'll never understand what 279 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 1: she's sees in you. You're a lucky guy. I've never 280 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: been able to keep a long term relationship. Something always 281 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: gets in the way, like what I'm not quite sure, 282 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: but maybe one day you'll help me figure it out. Maybe. 283 00:18:15,960 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: Until then, this is where I go left and you 284 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: go right. I gotta crash you on the morning shift. 285 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: Like I said, morning, noon, and night. If you're listening, 286 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:33,000 Speaker 1: I'm there for you, you know, keep you company on 287 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: these long foggy nights. You know how, I know you're 288 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 1: perfect for radio, know how He's spewing an endless dream 289 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:52,280 Speaker 1: of bullshit. You have no idea. So after Captain spends 290 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,360 Speaker 1: her vouch for me, they let me go, and here 291 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:58,879 Speaker 1: I am. Thank god they didn't arrest you. Keep telling 292 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: you it's for seat coming up here after curfew. No 293 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:03,920 Speaker 1: I know, but by the time I finished at the 294 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:07,439 Speaker 1: papers late. Plus, I don't want you to be here alone. 295 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:09,719 Speaker 1: If you don't have to be here, what does bring 296 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: me help Jack caught you out, then i'd be the 297 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: first guy that kills. So far, I think I'm safe. Well, 298 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 1: you're here now, that's all that matters. Let's try to 299 00:19:22,320 --> 00:19:27,920 Speaker 1: get some sleep. Tomorrow is another day. I laid down 300 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:32,440 Speaker 1: next to Rachel. There was just enough moonlight creeping into 301 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: the room to remind me how beautiful she was, especially 302 00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 1: when she was sleeping. I closed my eyes and shut 303 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:43,080 Speaker 1: out the light. The only rest I could get was 304 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:47,160 Speaker 1: when I was in complete darkness. But Rachel was wrong 305 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:52,239 Speaker 1: about one thing. Tomorrow wouldn't be just another day for 306 00:19:52,320 --> 00:20:06,160 Speaker 1: Hannah Gray. Can we hear anything now about the weather, 307 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,719 Speaker 1: like what like when is this ship gonna let up? 308 00:20:10,560 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: I can tell you right now if we have a 309 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,520 Speaker 1: snowballs chance in helly catching this guy it ain't gonna 310 00:20:15,560 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: be in the middle of this flock, that's for sure. Yeah, 311 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: at least it's quiet out here, other than your irish yest, 312 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: not like a hair of the crickets. Fuck is that ice? 313 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 1: And mean with your flashlight? Would you funk? Don't move? 314 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: Don't move? What do you mean? Don't move? Help me up? 315 00:20:38,280 --> 00:20:44,280 Speaker 1: Would you? What is that on me? Is that it's blood? 316 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: That night they found Hannah Gray's head. It was split 317 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 1: in two, with one half on the north side of 318 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 1: the quad and the other half on the south side. 319 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,320 Speaker 1: The kill was so precise her glasses were cut right 320 00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: down the middle. Another night had passed, another girl was dead. 321 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,480 Speaker 1: Spring heel Jack was like a spark on the horizon. 322 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: You could see it just long enough to know you 323 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:11,400 Speaker 1: can't catch it. I sat next to Anne. We were 324 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 1: both sobering up finding ahead. We'll do that to you. 325 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: Oh do you think we'll have to wait here? Beats me? 326 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: You probably until they get all the paperwork done. You know, 327 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: if you told me I'd be coming back to New 328 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: Sharon in nineteen seventy six to investigate spring heeled Jack, 329 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,960 Speaker 1: I wouldn't have believed you. I get that if you 330 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:36,520 Speaker 1: told me while I was back here, you and I 331 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 1: would make amends. I would have told you you're crazy. 332 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,359 Speaker 1: I get that too, Henry. If you would have told 333 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:44,919 Speaker 1: me we'd find the head of a victim in the 334 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,359 Speaker 1: same exact spot where Chelseie Spencer's head was found, I'd 335 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: tell you that spring heel Jack was back yes, and 336 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 1: closed her eyes. It was all too much for her. 337 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:58,160 Speaker 1: I think she was able to block it out when 338 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:03,520 Speaker 1: she moved away. The murder the book me coming back 339 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: here resolve too much. As for me. I sat next 340 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: to her on the bench in the hall. She leaned 341 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: her head on my shoulder, as much out of affection 342 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: as exhaustion, or maybe she was just drunk. I watched 343 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:22,639 Speaker 1: everyone run back and forth, one by one. They'd hurry 344 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:26,480 Speaker 1: into Chief Spencer's office. They'd exited just as fast as 345 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,160 Speaker 1: they entered. We waited, just like at the Boy's home. 346 00:22:30,760 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: Sit and wait your turn. Your time will come. Just 347 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: be patient. But what if I didn't want to be 348 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: patient anymore? What if my time had come and gone? 349 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: Dat right? Asses in here now, Jesus Christ, let's go. 350 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: Why am I nervous? We didn't do anything wrong. Some 351 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:57,399 Speaker 1: authority figures you never outgrow What is this? Is this 352 00:22:57,480 --> 00:23:00,239 Speaker 1: some kind of sick joke? What do you mean? You 353 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,480 Speaker 1: know what I mean? He placed her in the same 354 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:08,199 Speaker 1: exact spot as check. You know where she was, And 355 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,359 Speaker 1: now we have a new victim. Her parents were already contacted. 356 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: They're identifying her right now. Jesus, Jesus is right. Do 357 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: you know how hard it was to make that call? 358 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: Do you? I can only imagine. I'm sorry you had 359 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: to be the one to do it. Yeah, well so 360 00:23:26,359 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 1: am I. But this stops now. I have John Dancy 361 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:32,720 Speaker 1: and custody right down the hall. You found him. It 362 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,920 Speaker 1: wasn't hard. He's been living with his mother just outside 363 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: of town. You should see him, strung out on dope. 364 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 1: He looks like every other junkie, rejected. Do you really 365 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: think he's spring Hill jock. We looked at every suspect 366 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:50,160 Speaker 1: at the time, he had access, he knew the campus, 367 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: and after he found a carman girl, we never suspected him. 368 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: What about Mma, Laura? We might pick him up again too, 369 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 1: for questioning. I've had a theory for a long time. 370 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 1: What if they were in on it together. I'm a 371 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: Laura is in jail. Dancy goes out and kills gives 372 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: him the perfect alibi. Have you ever heard such a thing. 373 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:15,679 Speaker 1: If I'm Laura and Dancy was somehow orchestrate multiple murders 374 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: across this long of a time span, it would be unprecedented. 375 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:23,440 Speaker 1: It would explain a lot two different people. One can 376 00:24:23,520 --> 00:24:28,719 Speaker 1: lead a normal life while one kills and vice versa. Hello, 377 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 1: are you sure? How long? All right? Just give me 378 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: a minute, would you? Are you okay? What is it here? 379 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: We're all gonna need this drink up. What's going on? 380 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:52,480 Speaker 1: The girl's parents, they're in the hallway. They want to 381 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: come in and talk to me about the case. Don't 382 00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 1: even think about it. You two are mixed up in 383 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: this case more than any two people on earth. You 384 00:24:59,680 --> 00:25:04,239 Speaker 1: think gonna face these parents alone? You've got another thing coming. Now, 385 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: sit down and follow my lead. Don't say anything you 386 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:15,400 Speaker 1: don't need to. Hi, Please come in, Chief Spencer. Thank 387 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,679 Speaker 1: you for seeing us. We understand you lost your own 388 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:25,280 Speaker 1: daughter to this this animal. Yeah, I did eight years 389 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: ago this month. It can't be. This is crazy. After 390 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: all these years, they look exactly the same. We need 391 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:38,520 Speaker 1: to know what you're doing to find the rest of her. 392 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,640 Speaker 1: Believe me, we have every available man on the job 393 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:45,120 Speaker 1: spring Hill. Jack has a history of leaving the remains 394 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: somewhere on campus, so we will find her, but are 395 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,240 Speaker 1: you going to catch him? We're going to do everything 396 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: we can. If I can introduce you, this is Anne Bray, 397 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,640 Speaker 1: she's here from the Globe to help with the investigation. 398 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,760 Speaker 1: I'm so sorry for your loss. And this is Henry Denton. 399 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,800 Speaker 1: They were both students doing the first wave of killings. 400 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 1: Henry actually wrote the book on them. You should know. 401 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:14,679 Speaker 1: I have a suspect and custody right now, and I 402 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: intend on getting a confession out of him in any 403 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 1: accomplices he may have. They don't remember me. How could 404 00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: they nineteen sixty one and was fifteen years ago. I 405 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 1: sat right across from them in the headmaster's office. She 406 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:33,199 Speaker 1: has more grain now, but her hair is basically the 407 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: same style. His hairs were seating, but the brille cream. 408 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: I'd know that scent anywhere. I was right about what 409 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,240 Speaker 1: I knew back then. They didn't want to adopt the 410 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:50,440 Speaker 1: teenage boy. They wanted a baby. They found on Marcia. 411 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 1: She was two at the time. Now she was seventeen 412 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:57,480 Speaker 1: years old. They don't remember me, but I remember that 413 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:01,440 Speaker 1: I didn't feel it at the time. I bet the rejection. 414 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:06,160 Speaker 1: I can feel it now, emotional memory all coming back. 415 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: Mr and Mrs Curran. I'm sorry to meet you under 416 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: these circumstances. You seem so familiar. Have we met? Do 417 00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:23,359 Speaker 1: I tell them who I am, that I was a 418 00:27:23,480 --> 00:27:27,320 Speaker 1: scared teenager in an orphanage, just looking for a home. 419 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,360 Speaker 1: Do I tell them I wanted parents? Do I tell 420 00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: them how sorry I am for their loss? Or do 421 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 1: I just avert my eyes and sympathize for them? Maybe 422 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 1: the answer is all of the above. M yeh did it? 423 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 1: Strawberry Spring Executive produced by Lee Metzker, Jared Gootstat and 424 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:09,240 Speaker 1: Philip Alberstadt, starring Garrett Headland, My Lot, Ventimilia Horizon, Guardiola, 425 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:13,399 Speaker 1: Sydney Sweeney, Ken Marino, Al Madrigal and Breck Passenger. Audio 426 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:17,280 Speaker 1: up in house production by Georgana Black, Franzheim and Laura Ramadan, 427 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 1: Edited by Carry Caulfield, Eric and Jeremiah Zimmerman. Sound design 428 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,679 Speaker 1: and mixed by Jeremiah Zimmerman, scored by Jeff Peters. Songs 429 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:27,960 Speaker 1: and music by Jared Gutstat and Jesse Siebenberg. Strawberry Spring 430 00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: is published in Stephen King's Short story collection night Shift, 431 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,359 Speaker 1: available in paperback and ebro from Anchor Books, and as 432 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,000 Speaker 1: an audio book from Penguin Random House Audio. For the 433 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: fullest of production credits, please visit audio up dot com. 434 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: You can find more podcasts from I heart Radio on 435 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,400 Speaker 1: the i Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 436 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 1: listen to podcasts.