Beyond the Dark Productions - ‘The Road of Shadows’ - Season 1 | Original audio drama
Mike Farron for Mr. Simpkins
Mr. Simpkins is a thoughtful and conscientious librarian in the small town of Colton. He is amiable and likes to chat with anyone who is interested in a conversation. He is in his late 60s and is starting to get a little forgetful, and this is exacerbated by the fact that he is also a hoarder. The library has begun to fill with clutter and is not organised particularly well. However, Mr. Simpkins loves his work and shows up every day to make sure the library is open, despite the fact that not many people in town bother to stop by.
Mr. Simpkins lives by himself in a messy and rundown house and he has begun to fill several rooms there with books that no longer fit inside the cramped confines of the library.
In his early years, Mr. Simpkins had a long career as a police officer in Colton. He was always regarded as one of the more friendly and approachable members of the force during his years there. Even to this day he still likes to visit the station now and again to reminisce with the deputies about his younger days.
(Admonishing himself after there is an accident in the library due to poor lighting) “Ah... I should really get some more natural light down here. So dingy. The mould’s terrible for the books, too, but I can’t be bothered trying to move all this stuff to a new place.”
(Telling visitors about a former resident of the town - a man who had a strange fascination with the occult) “Oh, just a local who developed a fascination with all things macabre. Asked me to bring in all kinds of books on the occult and what-not. Had his own private collection, too, some of which he ended up donating to the library when he left. Come to think of it, that might be where that book of yours originated.”
(Dismissive, self-deprecating after he has been paid a compliment on how he runs the library) “Agh, I appreciate that, coming from a fellow librarian, but it’s in need of a good overhaul, that place. Too much junk. Like this house, I suppose. One day soon when I die, someone will have the task of cleaning out all my old rubbish here. I’ve been a terrible hoarder over the years, and well... I don’t envy the poor soul who has to do it. Might save time to just burn the whole place to the ground!” (He laughs, then remembers something else and changes topic) “Oh, that reminds me - I had something for you.”
