RADIO - READING SERIES

Originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra

Written by HP Lovecraft 
Abridged by Paul Kent 
Read by Richard Coyle 
Music by Jon Nicholls 
Produced & Directed by Neil Gardner 

(c) A Ladbroke Radio production for BBC Radio 4 Extra

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In episode one, Robert Olmstead begins by describing in detail the events surrounding his initial interest in the New England town of Innsmouth (antiquarian and architectural). While he waits for the bus that will take him to the much-hated town, he busies himself in the neighbouring town of Newburyport by gathering information from local townsfolk; all of it with superstitious overtones.

Part two of the story details Robert Olmstead's journey into Innsmouth, described in great detail as a crumbling, mostly deserted town full of dilapidated structures and people who look just a bit odd and who tend to walk with a distinct shambling gait. Only one person in town appears normal, a young clerk at the local grocery store who comes from neighbouring Arkham. The narrator gathers much information from the clerk, including a map of the town and the name of a local who might be a good source of information: a man named Zadok Allen, known to open up about the town when plied with drink.

In part three of the tale Robert Olmstead listens to local drunk Zadok Allen who is very old, has seen much in the town and goes on at length, telling a tale of fish-frog men known as Deep Ones who live beneath the sea. It seems they bring prosperity in the form of fish as well as fantastically wrought gold jewellery to those who offer them human sacrifice. These fish-frog men are amphibious and willing to come to land to mate with humans, creating deformed offspring who can live forever. When hard times befell Innsmouth, Obed Marsh and some followers did what they could to call up the fish-frog men in their New England town. When the story is over, the narrator is unnerved but thinks it a product of a fertile imagination.

In part four of the tale Robert Olmstead is forced to spend the night in town, after being told that the bus in which he came to Innsmouth is experiencing engine trouble. While attempting to sleep, he hears noises at his door. Wasting no time, he attempts to escape out a window and through the streets, at times imitating the peculiar walk of the Innsmouth locals. Eventually he makes his way to some train tracks where he hears a great many creatures heading towards him up the road from the town and shoreline.

In the fifth and final part of the story Robert Olmstead hides from the hideous-sounding crowd in a railway cutting and resolves to close his eyes, having at this point come to accept the idea that Zadok's story is true. He cannot keep them closed, however, and upon seeing the fish-frog creatures in full light for the first time, faints in his hiding spot. He late wakes up unharmed and quickly walks to the next town. Over the years that pass, he begins doing research into his family tree, discovering some disturbing information along the way. Eventually it becomes clear that he is a descendant of Obed Marsh himself and nightmares accompany the narrator's realisation that he is changing into one of the creatures!