Bryar Lane - Episode 18

Welcome to the final episode of Briar Lane. I don't know what to say. This story is... Unbelievable? Well, yes, but... I promise you, it is as real as the chair you are sitting on. I don't doubt it, really, I don't. Not at all. So for all of these years, every story you wrote about Sprig and the Pixies, they were all true. Oh, no. Not at all. The story I just told you, how I met Sprig in Briar Lane, is all true. Everything else, all of the books over the years were inspired by her. And Sam, of course, Sam loved my books. Sam is no longer with us, is she? No. She was taken from us at much too young an age. Right, I'm sorry. It was a... an automobile accident. Yes. Forty-four years ago. Almost to the day, in fact. And the church bell? Silent for the last sixty years. Passed a bid well, never touched the rope again. Not even for Sunday mass. Not after what he had seen. He did that for Nora. And I also think for Sprig and what she meant to Nora. Maybe a little bit for me. His grandson is the pastor now. He passed the church on to him. A family calling? One that skipped a generation, yes. And your father? He never returned to India. He remained with us. We found a new home, close to the one which we had lost. And you returned to Briar Lane? After my grandmother had passed, I've lived in her house ever since. It's quiet, peaceful, and allows me plenty of time to write. I walk the paths, tend to the garden, and watch the fireflies at night. It's a good life. And Sprig? Is she still with us? Oh, I have a feeling Sprig will always be with us. Even were we to never see her again. She'll still be there, knocking upon some other little girl's window and leading her to Nora's resting place. Or mine, for that matter. Yes, from now that is. Yes, quite many years. Are you working on another book? No, I'm not, I'm afraid. I think my stories have all been told. Except for this one. And now it has, and it is in your hands to tell. I hope your readers will enjoy it. I can't, I, well, I can't thank you enough for this. And are you? I'm passing a bit of the torch to you now, you know. Perhaps we can silence a few more bells. Not literally mind you, but perhaps we can quell disbelief and bring others around. Convince them, if only for a moment or two, to look out of their windows at night, or to stand at the edge of the forest, and to watch. For the fireflies? Yes, for the fireflies. Hi, this is Rick, the writer and producer of Briar Lane. Briar Lane stars Lorraine Ansel as Millie, Jennifer Dixon as Millicent, and David Ault as the journalist. If you'd like to find out more about the show, you can do so at modernaudiodrama.com. There you will find ways to support and subscribe to our other shows. Thank you very much for listening, and please take care of yourself. [music] Good night, Sprague.