Original Airdate: January 18, 1974

Episode 0013 "A Ring of Roses"

Original Story by S.J. Wilson, Directed by Himan Brown, Host: E.G. Marshall

Our tale is a blood-freezing story inspired by a nursery rhyme, a sweet, simple song. Ring a ring of roses, a pocketful of poses. Achoo! Achoo! We all fall down. It sounds young and innocent, doesn't it? But it is very old and very sinister. For the ring-a-ring of roses were the splotches that first appeared on the faces of those afflicted during the Black Plague. The pocketful of poses were the herbs that were carried, hopefully to ward off the fatal disease. The sneezing sounds, achoo, achoo, were the sounds of the final spasms. And we all fall down was, well, you can guess.

Science has brought most plagues under control, but not so those other epidemics of the past. Those that plague us with their unseen, unknown, and unexpected terrors. Such is the tale of terror you are about to hear. Draw close to the guttering candle, for you will receive no warmth fStarring: rom a ring of roses.

Glynnis O'Connor, George Petrie, Sydney Walker, Elspeth Eric, Hollan Taylor, Carol Hilliard