BBC RADIO DRAMA: THE NIGHT HOUSE by Gillian Tindall

The Night House by Gillian Tindall was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1998.
Story:
A young bride moves into a former school and starts sensing its previous tragic events. Tragedy dogs her steps thereafter......

[@rosemundyee6863]

Beautiful. have to listen again.

[@pamelacorbett8774]

Fabulous story, such atmosphere. Thanks so much.

[@celiabuxey6133]

Superb thank you so much

[@minzygreen1167]

Great stuff. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@maevewhite4376]

Enjoyed this very much. Thank you!

[@archphoenixstanton6998]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jwsuicides8095]

Great match up of photo and story!

[@christrinder1255]

Thank you again Arch !!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👍😊

[@joolesmiles4744]

Excellent play, although terribly sad. It made perfect sense to me.

[@royhadley686]

Thank you

[@davidmunday4367]

Been looking for this for years Arch , you are a mind reader ! 🙋‍♂️

[@ruthiepooh86]

We can

[@tobobobo2842]

Heard this play a few times now. Brilliant every time.

[@deegeraghty3421]

Lovely story. Thank you so much Arch.

[@Rosie-tv3ki]

A lovely love story, well that’s how I interpreted it anyway 🤗

[@nonielee5133]

Lovely, most lovely...Thank you!

[@YogZab]

What a control freak of a husband! Appalling character, luckily fictitious in this case.

[@davidland1212]

O

[@EM-lz9kg]

Spoiler warning ⚠️ “ when he calls her good girl 👧🤢 , prevents her seeing anyone but him “

[@liznorth4028]

Thank you!

[@Soundpj]

Thankyou

[@MsDormy]

I liked this story a lot - very atmospheric. It is interesting to read the various listeners’ ideas about what happens at the end. Very intelligent people out there! I just felt a little bit at sea, but I’ll have to give it another listen, and look for clues. Thank you Arch!!

[@MsDormy]

I meant listen for clues!

[@TheWendable]

37:50....."and her sister are 'most good' at being prepared"... I never thought I’d ever hear those 2 words together. 🤣🤣

[@1851johnny]

Good one.👍🏼

[@eerindiraarora6921]

Lovely.

[@Angela-cc1hd]

I found this play quite confusing at times, you really need to concentrate as it switchs from the old diary/text book, back to present day? and the parallels between the people involved past and present😮

[@rosemundyee6863]

I do agreed donot understand the ending, very abrupt. Have to listen to once more.

[@EM-lz9kg]

Could someone explain the ending in notes if it is ok , I have a few theories yet still confused 🤔 : I do feel daft

[@Mike8981]

The second play was most good. Lol😂

[@jwsuicides8095]

Is it just me who didn't get it? Maybe I'm having a stupid day...

[@EM-lz9kg]

The ending is a bit confusing “ spoiler warning ⚠️ did the school girl kill herself over the baby being taken away ? I’m glad Anne got away from controlling appalling husband that prevented her from her music career “ yet it sounded like another accident was about to happen?

[@rosainecalmeyer4428]

Did Charles kill her?

[@klientproby]

@@rosainecalmeyer4428 No he didn't

[@fionaneedham8996]

Anne and Justin are probably the reincarnated souls of James and the girl who took her life after the great sadness she experienced losing her baby and her lover. Anne and Justin now potentially have a second chance of happiness together. At least that’s how I interpret it.

[@rosainecalmeyer4428]

I don’t understand the ending. What happened, please explain if anyone knows

[@adamarlem9863]

Yes, the student Caroline Brown that snuck out,got pregnant by her Jamie. Pregnant,she fell from the top of the fire escape ladder "accident".The story repeats with the young bride who flees with the newspaper reporter Justin-- accomplished what Caroline did not. If this helps? Go back and relisten to the few minutes before Dec4 journal :)

[@joolesmiles4744]

If I may offer an alternative possible explanation - Caroline had her baby, which was taken away from her, and returned to the school. She committed suicide by jumping from the top of the fire escape. Jamie died in service. Ann is the reincarnation of Caroline, and Justin is the reincarnation of Jamie. Their love has transcended death and they are reunited in this life. The crying in the attic that Ann hears; her clairvoyance of the garden; the owner of the 'antiques' shop's beliefs about reincarnation; 'Onward Christian Soldiers' sung at the beginning; the horrible husband who must be left; the coincidental meeting with Justin; Justin being Scottish, like Jamie - it all adds up to a tale of young lovers torn apart, slain, reincarnated and reunited.

[@KattEyl]

I think the ending means the poor girl whose diary she was reading had no options in her unhappy situation but Anne does.

[@scathatch]

The ending is ambiguous. It is up to the listener to decide which outcome. She gets to see her parents......... Justin and her form a healthy relationship.......... Charles finds her and does god knows what........... Justin is a sinister serial murderer............

[@leciabella9461]

Lol

[@patriciabyrne4708]

Charming so glad she left awful husband than you

[@12isaiah]

Thanks for the spoiler

[@jordsupp]

@PatriciaByrne Big spoiler! Perhaps remove/edit your comment.

[@84CORVETTEBILL]

What a dult….. why spoil it

[@joolesmiles4744]

@ those who replied to this comment - perhaps listen to the play before reading the comments.

[@waynemoore1708]

Many thanks Ian

[@arturboras6615]

it is very good

[@arturboras6615]

the material world isn't healthy

[@AliTomaev94GE]

Is there a pdf available of this drama?

[@scathatch]

charles the husband, selfish, dull, controlling.....

[@judykorman7283]

Bit vague the ending but well acted glad she left him in the end

[@patricias5122]

Oooh, please don't give away the ending.

[@84CORVETTEBILL]

@@patricias5122 agreed! People are not smart sometimes

[@hw9066]

So syrupy puppy luv yuck, terrible ghost story. Can't listen anymore 🤢

[@montecristo1769]

With all the praises freely flowing here, thought it would be entertaining and suspenseful. But this drama is slow and weird. Arch has uploaded better ones than this. The ending was particularly bizarre.

[@mogger12345]

I found the ending lame, but might be my loss

[@montecristo1769]

@@mogger12345 You are right. It IS indeed lame. I had the overwhelming feeling of being let down rather badly having invested in it for over 40 minutes.

[@mrk7397]

In my opinion the pre-90s dramas were much better in general. Especially the endings.

[@montecristo1769]

@@mrk7397 Yes. It was a different BBC then, better discernment of quality radio, less agenda-driven programming.

[@jwsuicides8095]

I've just commented that I didn't get the ending. Perhaps I should have said it was a limp ending...but then she is a limp character. It's not for Mr Arch to decide which dramas are "worthy" of uploading - or otherwise. We'll all enjoy different things and it's just great to get the opportunity ti explore them.