The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Washington Irving
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The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Washington Irving Characters: Storyteller Ichabod Crane Children Visitor/Man Van Ripper Bella Van Tassel Katrina Van Tassel Brom Bones / GHOST Townspeople Storyteller: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, as we bring you radio’s most dramatic story ... on its most soul-shattering ride ... on this, its anniversary. [MUSIC] [THEME and under} Storyteller: You'll be accompanied by a headless horseman, a woman in white, and every moaning and groaning ghost of the eastern seaboard. As you may have guessed, our story this eveming is Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow. [MUSIC] THEME OUT Storyteller: Are you ready ? We're going to the one spot in these United States which is a collector's item for lovers of good nightmares .... [MUSIC] STING transition to BED Storyteller: Its name is Sleepy Hollow. It's a small Glen on the east bank of the Hudson River. Not far from Tarrytown, one of the quietest places in the world. But on dark nights it changes. You can hear strange music and voices in the air. The stars fall and meteors shoot across this valley ... more than in any Page 1 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 other part of the country. Listen. [MUSIC] CREEPY [SFX] [VOICE GHOST] Storyteller: Maybe that's the wind ... maybe not. But folks from Tarrytown will tell you it's a British major ... Andre by name ... who was caught by the Americans with the wrong papers in his boots, on the wrong side of the track. He's there even today, Andre is. All bloody with a great rent in his uniform. He hangs from a tulip tree in Sleepy Hollow. MUSIC STING [SFX] GHOST SCREECH – UP and BACKGROUND Storyteller; Oh that? It might be the sound ‘a the brook as it eddies past that rock. Or it might be the woman in white who perished a century ago in the snow in the dark in the Hollow... Sleepy Hollow. If you visit there some night when the sky is black? It's near a graven rock that you'll find her. [SFX] [GHOST SCREECH] And if you listen well you'll hear her soft voice wailing in the darkness. But the most famous of all the legends of Sleepy Hollow concerns a Hessian soldier who for three pounds ten a month came to this quiet valley to fight for King George the Third. [SFX]: LOW THUNDER-LIKE RUMBLE That sound? Well, maybe it's thunder. Maybe. Or it could be an ancient echo of a cannonball, a blast which hit that Hessian trooper in the days of the great revolution ... [SFX] HORSE GALLOP and UNDER and carried away his ...his head. Page 2 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 MUSIC GALLOPING, CRECENDO Storyteller: And anybody who's been within a hundred miles of this famous hollow ... will tell you that the Hessian trooper ... the Headless Horseman ... rides in search of his head ! MUSIC CRECENDO and OUT [MUSIC] TRANSITION - TO THE SCHOOLHOUSE Storyteller: Not far from Sleepy Hollow [SFX: BELL TOLLS] stands a schoolhouse ... and early in our country's history ... it had a schoolmaster name of Ichabod Crane. Ichabod: Alright children. Repeat after me. A penny saved is a penny earned. Children: A penny saved is a penny earned. Ichabod: Very good. Very Good. Next, a stitch in time saves nine. Children: A stitch in time saves nine. Ichabod: Excellent! Now ... honesty is the best policy. Student #1: Why ? Why is honesty the best policy? Ichabod: Why young man, why indeed! Because the honest man sleeps at night ... with no ghost to haunt him. Now let us have this maxim ... all together now ... Unison: Honesty is the best policy. Ichabod: That was very good, Very good. Now if you’ll turn to ... Student #2: Hey, give me that ! Ichabod: Ah-ha. [SFX]: SMACK Page 3 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 Student:2: Ow !! Students: [React, laughing.] Ichabod: No spitballs in my classroom! You'll remember that, boy, and I think for the longest day you live. Now, class, we will ... [SFX] KNOCK ON DOOR Ichabod Yes, yes, who is it? Visitor: [OFF]’ Uh, Ichabod? Can I see you, Ichabod? Ichabod: Yes, yes. Children, I'm stepping out for the moment. You will turn to page 74 in your Book of Maxims and begin to memorize the first three on the page. Children: [COMMOTION] Ichabod: In ... silence. [SFX]: [FOOTSTEPS, DOOR OPEN, DOOR CLOSE] Ichabod: You’d be the hired man over the Van Tassels, aren’t you? Has Miss Katrina sent me a love message? Man: Uh ... Miss Katrina and her mama sent me over to tell you that you are supposed to come over to their house tonight. Ichabod: They do? I mean ... I am? Man; They’re holding a quiltin’ frolic. Ichabod: Oh, how lovely ! How perfectly lovely! Who else is invited? Man: Well let’s see ... there’d be the Muellers ... and Crosses and Mr. van Ripper and the Brown lady ... Ichabod: Anyone else? Any other ...ahem ... men? Man: If you mean Mr. Brom Bones ... is he coming? Page 4 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 Ichabod: Yes, is Brom Bones coming too ? Man; Yeah, he'll be there sure. Showed him dressin his horse a little while ago. Sure looks good on that horse, don’t he? He’s the handsomest fella ... Ichabod: That's enough. I know all about Brom Bones. Katrina and her Bella want to see us both together. That's so they can perceive how much more desirable I would be for a husband and son-in-law than Brom Bones. Yes that's it. That's exactly it. Man: Uh ... starts early. Right at sundown. Miss [GOES OFF] Katrina said you shouldn't be late. Ichabod: Oh, I'll be there on time ... in plenty of time, and ahead of Brom Bones too. MUSIC: TRANSITION – TO VAN RIPPER’S BARN Ichabod: Mr. van Ripper van Ripper Eh? Oh, you startled me, Ichabod. Ichabod: I'm sorry. van Ripper” What do you want, you scarecrow ? Whatever you want, the answer’s no. Ichabod: But Mr. Van Ripper ... I’m going to a quilting frolick this evening ... van Ripper: Where? Ichabod: At Mr. Van Tassel’s farm. van Ripper: And the old boy invited YOU? Ichabod: Yes, yes... Van Ripper: Must be crazier than I thought. Page 5 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 Ichabod: I fancy he invited me for his daughter, Katrina van Tassel. Van Ripper: And he has gone crazy. Ichabod: And th .. Th ... The ... There’s one favor I’d ask of you Mr. Van Ripper. I’ll be returning rather late this evening, and Van Tassel’s quite far and I should like to borrow a... horse? Van Ripper: Oh, you would ... Ichabod: Yes. Van Ripper: Well, my first answer would be NO. But if I lend you a horse, there is a possibility that you might fall out of the saddle and break your neck. Ichabod Oh, no. ... Van Ripper: Which would end the plague of Ichabod Crane in the whole countryside. And so, for the possible betterment of the community ... I will lend you a horse, Ichabod. Ichabod; You will? VanRipper Uh- huh. Ichabod: Well, that’s very generous of you. Uh, Mister van Ripper, which horse am I to use? The large roam with the white face ? The grey mare? Van Ripper Oh, no. I have a much better horse in mind for you, Ichabod. Ichabod: [Chuckles] Van Ripper Gunpowder is the horse for you. Ichabod: Heh, heh. Gunpowder? Van Ripper That’s right. Ichabod: Well ... he’s slightly swayback, isn’t he? Page 6 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 Van Ripper Oh, no. Better for speed. Ichabod: And a little blind? Van Ripper Sharp ears, that horse !! Ichabod: Doesn’t he limp? Van Ripper Best for riding in hilly country. Knows his way around. Ichabod: Oh, yes. But perhaps you could let me have a different horse? Van Ripper You mean you don’t want to accept Gunpowder?? Ichabod: No, no !! Certainly not, indeed ! No, no. Van Ripper Well, then it’s all settled. You ride Gunpowder. Ichabod: Yes. I ride Gunpowder. [MUSIC] [HORSE-SOUNDING THEME WITH CLIPPETY-CLOP RHYTHM] [[SFX]: HORSE HOOVES under, in SYNCH WITH MUSIC Ichabod: Ah, it’s a beautiful afternoon, Gunpowder. A beautiful afternoon ... Oh, tonight. Between the Van Tassels I will dance and eat and you know what it is? Of course. You're just a horse. Tonight, Gunpowder, I'm going to kiss Katrina. [SFX]: BIRD CHIRPS SOFTLY I am I definitely going to enjoy a kiss tonight. Oh, Katrina and I will be Merry. Merry, merry, Katrina and I will be married before the winter’s up ... and Katrina and I will be married ... and I will be rich !! Ha, ha. Very nice. Rich. Ha, Ha ! [SFX]: HOOVES OUT [MUSIC] [HORSEY MUSIC - TRANSITION TO VAN TASSEL’S] Page 7 of 20 -- October 5, 2018 CROWD: [Laughter, COMMOTION] Bella Van Tassel Ha, ha! Welcome everyone ! Welcome one and all !! Everyone have a good time! Townspersons Ham and smoked beef? And cakes ! And ginger cakes and honey cakes! And apple pie ! And punkin pie !! Townspersons: Ha, ha Bella Van Tassel Oh, help yourself, friends. Help yourself ! Ah, yes ! Katrina Oh, Mother ... [ CROWD OUT] [CLOSE MIKE] Has everyone arrived? Are all the guests here? Bella Van Tassel Oh, well .. I guess, yes. Yes, yes. I believe so. Oh, you mean ... Katrina: He wouldn’t be late. Especially for the food. Ichabod: Why good evening, Misses Van Tassel. And a sweet good evening to you, Katrina ... Katrina: Oh, Ichabod. You dearest man.