Melting the ice: Frankenstein episode 10

This is a podcast from BBC Learning  English dot com. For more information,  

visit our website. Frankenstein, episode ten. The Creature finds Viktor Frankenstein again.

Hello I'm Captain Walton. Something unexpected  

happened on my way here to the Arctic. I still can't make sense of it. I and my crew found  

this poor man on the ice. He was half dead when we rescued him. He said his name was  

Viktor Frankenstein. He was a good man but a very sad one. He told us a very strange story  

about a monster he created. And this monster was responsible for many deaths. He said he wished to  

warn me about the dangers of science but I think what he wanted was to get that story off of his  

chest. We took care of him but unfortunately he died. Poor man. What a crazy story! 

Captain, I have some good news.

Yes, sailor. 

There's a change in the wind. It's warmer. The ice is disappearing and we are going to be able  

to continue our trip to the North Pole.

That is really good news. Thank you. 

I thought you needed some cheering up. It's sad what happened to th at poor man, Frankenstein,  

who died earlier, isn't it? We gave him  blankets, hot soup, but he was already very weak. 

Yes. Yes, I know. What else could we have done?

Do you think that story he told us is true?  

About the monster? I remember the big shadow we saw far away, in the middle of the ice,

before we rescued Frankenstein.

Yes, it was moving very quickly

before it disappeared. But maybe it was  something else. How can we be sure?

All we've been able to see for weeks is this ice!

Yes. I guess so. Well sir, let me go back

to preparing the ship to continue our journey.

What's... what's that? Someone's crying.  

The sound is coming from the cabin where Frankenstein's body is. Let me see what this is... 

Oh, who... who are you? You're so big, and...

Ugly. You mean ugly. 

You must be the Creature! His story was true!

Yes. He built me and brought me to life...

to a very sad life. Now he's gone. I found him dead.

Well, at least... at least he's in peace now.

He was carrying great pain in his heart.  But why are you holding his body and crying?

I thought you wanted to kill him?

I came to tell him I'm so very sorry. 

Sorry?! Is it true? Maybe you're crying  because you can't hurt him any more.

You caused him so many problems! All those deaths...

And what good has it done?

I wanted to be kind, and have love and friendship. But all I got was hatred. People feared me,

they attacked me. And I hated them and attacked them in return. Now I hate myself.

And so what are you going to do?

Only death can end my suffering. I'll  go north, build a fire and throw myself  into the flames. Then it will be over. 

But are... are you sure? Does it have to be this way?

That's the only way. My body will  be blown to the sea by the wind  

and my spirit will finally be free. Goodbye, Frankenstein. Goodbye, sir. Don't follow me. 

There goes the Creature running fast across the ice. What a powerful being and how sorry

he was! Ah, he's disappeared now... Poor creature. In the future we might know him

as Frankenstein. That was the name of  his creator. He, or... it, didn't even  

get a name. It's just called the Creature.  A Creature which will never be seen again.