Cryptic Canticles presents Dracula

Jonathan Harker seizes upon a chance to pay some visiting Szgany workers to send letters home- one to his employer, Peter Hawkins, and a coded shorthand letter to Mina. However, these workers turn them over to the Count, who opens them. He sends on the letter to Hawkins, but destroys the illegible letter to Mina. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Arthur Holmwood accepts Quincey’s invitation and hints at having news to tell. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

John Seward picks up the pieces from his rejected proposal to Lucy Westenra by returning to work. He begins to study one of his inmates, R.M, Renfield. Quincy Morris invites his dear friend Arthur Holmwood to an evening of drinking and revelry with himself and John Seward. He cautions him not to gloat excessively about winning Lucy’s hand. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Lucy Westenra writes to Mina Murray that she has just become engaged to Arthur Holmwood, but not before she rejected two heart-breaking proposals, one from John Seward, and the other from a Texan friend, Quincey Morris. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

The Count convinces Jonathan Harker to write and postdate letters that say he has left the Castle Dracula and arrived safely in Bistritz. Jonathan obliges, but fears that these letters portend his doom. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Jonathan Harker investigates the room wherein he saw the three supernatural women two days prior, but finds that the door has been secured from the inside, and forcibly shut against his entry. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Having fallen asleep in a strange room in the Count’s Castle, Jonathan Harker awakes to the sight of three ethereal ladies watching him. Pretending to be asleep, Jonathan waits while one of them presses her lips to his neck before the Count appears in a rage driving the women away from him. The Count produces a bag containing a human baby, which the women fall upon as their prey before disappearing. Jonathan faints in horror and awakes in his own room. Small details about his clothing and possessions suggest to him that the incident with the malicious women was not a dream. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Jonathan observes the Count climbing down the wall from his window several more times, and notices that the Castle is built on an outcropping so it is only accessible from one side. Once the Count was out of the castle, Jonathan goes exploring and finds the the front door was locked, and the key missing so he might not escape. He discovers a door which appeared to be locked, but which gave under pressure. The view from the window is breathtaking, and the furniture suggested that he stumbled into a disused ladies’ boudoir. Jonathan marvels at how untouched the castle is from Nineteenth century modernity. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Lucy Westenra writes to Mina Murray about the latest gossip. She is spending a lot of time with Arthur Holmwood, and her mother thinks him a fine fellow. Arthur introduced her to a man named Dr. John Seward, owner of his own lunatic asylum, who Lucy thinks is remarkably resolute. She feels that Seward is trying to read her, but she evades him. Lucy reveals that she is in love with Arthur Holmwood, and hopes for a bright future with him. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com

Jonathan Harker continues to be a guest of the Count. The Count begins to ask questions about how business is conducted in London, and whether he might employ multiple solicitors so that the whole of his business isn’t known by one man. He then asks Jonathan to write to his loved ones and tell them that he will be staying with the Count for a full month. Jonathan understands that protest is futile, so he does as he is asked. He notices that the Count is conducting business of his own, and has left a pile of letters on the table, whose destinations Jonathan notes. The Count returns and tells Jonathan that should he explore the castle, he must not fall asleep anywhere except in the rooms that are known to him. Whist exploring the Castle, Jonathan is alarmed to see the Count climb out his bedroom window and scurry down the exterior wall, head first, as a lizard climbs. Follow us on Twitter.com/CryptiCanticles, Facebook.com/DraculaRadioPlay, and at crypticcanticles.com