Episode 4: Pithecanthropus

Margaret receives some unwanted guests, while Frances goes undercover at a doctor’s surgery. Lombroso uncovers far more to Kate Carey’s séances than he ever suspected.

The Greatest Matter was written & directed by Conor Reid

It was Recorded at The Podcast Studios, Dublin and produced by Hilary Barry

Editing, Sound Design, and Original Music by Conor Reid

The show is a HeadStuff Podcast. For more on the network, all the great shows, and details on how you can support the podcast, go to HeadStuffPodcasts.com

CAST

Dramaturgy & Script Support from Peter Dunne

Artwork & Design by Matt Mahon

Marketing & Promotional Support from Claudia Grandez & Hilary Barry

Transcript: Pithecanthropus

SCENE 1

	[FX: Tea, cutlery sounds]
ÁINE:	Now, you’re sure you won’t have any more tea?
MARGARET: ÁINE	No, really thank you. You’ve been so generous with your time, Ms O’Dwyer, and inviting me into your home like this.   Oh, please, call me Áine.
FRANCES:	Of course, well thank you Áine, truly. It can’t be easy to have seen something so horrifying.
ÁINE:	Oh I know, I know. That poor man, God rest his soul.
MARGARET:	(pause) And so that was it. There was nothing else you saw?
ÁINE:	No, not really. I told the detectives at the zoo what I just told you. And then the same again to the other detectives in the castle this morning. In some ways I do hope it was an animal that killed him, because what sort of world are we living in if it was a man that did that to another person (pause)   I mean unless that drunk fellow was…
MARGARET:	Was what?
ÁINE:	Oh, look, this is stupid, but when I was waiting for the bus to go home there were two lads arguing. They’d a few pints on them but one of them was telling his friend that he’d been attacked by a ghost in the park.
MARGARET:	(sceptical) A ghost?
ÁINE:	Ah, I told you it was stupid.
MARGARET:	No, no, sorry, please go on.
ÁINE:	Well, he said this very odd-looking man, covered in blood, had run straight into him in the park, that there was a strange glow or a light or something coming off him. I don’t know, I didn’t see any glow or anything but I just thought of the man who we saw running from the zoo.
MARGARET:	(still sceptical) You think…he was a ghost?
ÁINE: MARGARET:	Oh, I don’t know, it’s just what the man said. Well, look, personally the supernatural wouldn’t be my first conclusion with all of this, but I have a friend who would be very annoyed if I didn’t at least consider all the angles. So, did the two men say anything else – you said they were arguing?
ÁINE:               MARGARET:   ÁINE:         MARGARET:     ÁINE:	Yes, well the man’s friend didn’t believe him, said he’d probably had a few too many, and was wondering why he really had blood on his coat, had he been in a fight or something. Then the friend asked him what this supposed ghost looked like and the man couldn’t really say what was strange about him – he said there was something wrong with his appearance – “downright detestable”, I remember was what he said. I don’t know, his friend clearly just thought he was making it up or something   And you didn’t mention this to the police?   Well, no. It was after the detective talked to me in the zoo. And then they had so many questions this morning but this didn’t come up and, I don’t know, at the time I just thought it was two drunk lads arguing about a ghost. It didn’t seem important, now I don’t know…   And, sorry Áine, what did this man look like, the one who claimed to have seen the…ghostly figure   Well, he was quite tall, dark hair, shaggy-looking beard. Kind of large ears actually, I remember thinking at the time. I don’t know what else, oh I suppose he was in his 40s maybe?   [FX sound of door opening, man walks in]
SIMON:	Áine, I’m home, did you hear th…. Oh, good evening. I don’t believe we’ve met?
ÁINE:	Simon, this is Ms Malone, a journalist. We have a mutual friend at the zoo. She just wanted to know a little about last night and I thought…
SIMON:	Áine, the police told us not to talk to anyone.
ÁINE:	I know, well, I was only….
SIMON:	Ms…Malone, was it? I’m very sorry but I’m going to have ask you to leave. The detectives were very clear about this.
MARGARET:	Oh of course, I was just leaving. And don’t worry your names won’t appear in anything.
SIMON	(annoyed) They had better not, or you’ll be hearing from me. Let me see you to the door.
MARGARET	Yes, of course. Áine, thank you, good evening.
SIMON	(firm) Let’s go.
	[FX: Door closes]

SCENE 2

MARGARET (in the room)	Right, let me see… how do I play this back again? I need to…eh, oh, here.
MARGARET (room)	[FX: Margaret trying to operate a phonograph, before sound of her own voice plays back (scratchy, phonograph sound)   Hello? Hello-o? Oh, I think it’s working. This is exciting! Hello? Hello, this is Margaret   It worked! Oh, I sound funny!
MARGARET (on the phonograph)	Well, it is Monday morning. Early. And this is me taking notes on my latest story. Maybe. I don’t know how this is going to be a story yet, unless I… No, focus!.   So, here’s what Frances and I know about recent events:   Man brutally murdered. Who? We don’t know. Young, well-dressed and, we can assume, somebody important given all this commotion.   Who killed him? Maybe a wild animal. Probably the man who was seen running from the zoo. Or – Frances, you’ll note I am including theory number 3 – a glowing, quote “downright detestable” ghost.   Or the man who ran from the zoo was a ghost? Or a man, Margaret, he was a man. Dammit Frances is getting to me!   So, we don’t know who exactly was killed, or why or by whom.   But we do know that a meeting in the Zoological Society was interrupted to consult this Professor Lombroso (I wonder how we can talk to him?) We know the Chief Superintendent of G-Division is personally involved. So it must be high profile and, given this is G-Division, there’s a very good chance this is political – some sort of republican assassination maybe? There’s been nothing in the papers. Clearly the dead man was important and it is being hushed up. So there is a story here.   So where to next? Fran is going to pay this GP, Dr Williams, a visit this morning and see what he knows. She’s also been sending out letters to all her contacts, following up leads – she’s turning into a proper detective. I’m so proud of her!   Eh…I think that’s it for now.   [FX: Click as recording stops]
MARGARET	Well that is so much more fun than writing out notes!
(room)	[FX: heavy handed knock on the door]
DET BRADLEY	(From outside) Ms Malone, open the door! Ms Malone? Open the door, now please.
MARGARET	What? I’m coming!
DET BRADLEY	Open the door now!
MARGARET	Yes, I’m coming, I’m coming, hang on!   [FX: door unlocks and opens]
BRADLEY	Good morning, Ms Malone, my name is Detective Officer Bradley, I’ve been authorised to search this house in conjunction with a police investigation. (to other officers) See what you can find, lads.
	[FX: noise, furniture knocked over, officers searching the house]
MARGARET	What are you doing? Hey, stop! What are you looking for?
BRADLEY	Ms Malone, this is a very serious police matter. We were informed you’ve been interviewing an Áine O’Dwyer?
MARGARET	What? Yes, Áine, she’s, she’s…a friend.
BRADLEY	Ms Malone, we know you were talking to her about an incident at the zoo. (to officers) Search everywhere. O’Callaghan, Look inside the presses over there!
MARGARET	What? This is ridiculous, I have done nothing wrong!
BRADLEY MARGARET	You can take that up with my superiors, Ms Malone. In the meantime, we are going to be confiscating your notebooks here, and all of these papers, and I’m going to need you to unlock this drawer here…   Wait! Put that down, that was a present! Ugh! Hold on, stop …. [FX soldiers, moving things, etc fade out]

SCENE 3

[FX: Knock at door]

GRIMSHAW                       Enter!

[FX: Opening of door, etc. Crackle of fire in background]

GRIMSHAW                       Ah,Chief Inspector Burton, I believe you have an update for me?

BURTON                              Yes, sir. I met with some of my informants after our discussion at the morgue yesterday. I think we can rule out anything political. There’s nothing from anyone – none of the usual bluster you’d hear after something like this. If this had political motivations, they are unusually well hidden.

GRIMSHAW                       I see. So you have no leads?

BURTON                              No, not quite. I put the word out with my network for anyone with any details about goings on in the Phoenix Park over the weekend. One of my informants – a reliable one – he says there was a big row up in Nancy Hands pub. Two men were arguing about something and one had blood all over his coat. What emerged was that the man with the bloody coat claimed to have been trampled by a man running through the park, covered in blood. He was claiming that’s how he had the blood all over him.

GRIMSHAW                       Have you got a name?

BURTON                              Better than that, he’s well known to the police. Joe O’Callaghan – he’s a petty criminal, arrested a half dozen times. Small time, but he got caught up with a bigger case last year and he came to my attention.

GRIMSHAW                       Excellent, and where is he?

BURTON                              My men are looking for him now, we should have him very soon and I’ll question him.

GRIMSHAW                       Chief Inspector we are running out of time. This man, he’s a criminal – a born criminal, as this Lombroso fellow would have it, yes?

BURTON                              Well, I’m not sure if I’d personally call him that but yes, he’s been involved in petty crime for some time – he has arrests for theft, vagrancy, that sort of thing.

GRIMSHAW                       Indeed.So, what seems more likely: the man with a criminal record, covered in blood, running from the scene of the crime is our culprit. Or, he “bumped into” the real criminal and conveniently got blood on his coat?

BURTON                              Yes, sir, of course, there is plenty to be suspicious about. My only hesitation is that I’ve interrogated this man before, I know his past. There’s no assault or violence in any of crimes. He got caught up with a more serious armed robbery last year but he was peripheral.

GRIMSHAW                       (impatient) Yes, yes

BURTON                              So I will be questioning him most thoroughly but, in my opinion, he’s not the murdering type, especially not a brutal crime like this one.It seems to me that…

GRIMSHAW                       (interrupting) Chief Inspector, this case needs to be closed. You have concluded yourself this is not a political act. It was a lone man, a lunatic, a criminal type most likely in some drunken frenzy. Probably saw Redgrave and tried to rob him. I don’t know, and frankly I don’t really care. We need a name we can send to London so the Prime Minister can move on with more important things than more bloody Irish murders.

BURTON                              Well, once I question the man I’ll be able to see if…

GRIMSHAW                       No, I don’t think I’m making myself clear. Once we catch this man, we have our murderer. He was at the scene. He was covered in blood. He was overheard talking about it, and witnesses in the zoo saw a man run from the area.

                                                You arrested him and, at some point, the murderer tried to escape. You tried to stop him but were left with no choice, and he was shot.

BURTON                              Sir, I…

GRIMSHAW                       Shot while trying to escape, Burton.

BURTON                              I see.

GRIMSHAW                       And the Chief Inspector who captured this terrible criminal – this lower-class degenerate who would no doubt have been hanged for his next crime anyway – was highly commended. Indeed, this renowned detective was recommended for promotion.

BURTON                              (resigned)Yes, sir.I’llget it done

GRIMSHAW                       I have no doubt you will. You are dismissed. I need to inform the Prime Minister’s office of this most fortunate news.

BURTON                              Sir

                                                [FX: footsteps, door closes]

SCENE 4

[FX: Doctor’s reception area. Light chatter, receptionist talking to patient]

WILLIAMS	Who’s next there, please?
FRANCES WILLIAMS	I believe I am. Good morning, Dr Williams   Excellent, if you can follow me….(recognising her) oh, Ms Hunter.   [FX: Walking through to doctor’s office. Closes door on busier waiting room area]
	It’s very nice to meet you again. Please, take a seat (pause). So, what brings you here so early on a Monday morning?
FRANCES WILLIAMS FRANCES	Oh, just some shortness of breath. My own GP is sick himself and I was nearby and knew you worked here, so I thought I’d chance a last-minute appointment. I hope that’s not a problem?   Of course not, we’re quiet this morning anyway. How are you feeling?   I’ve been finding it very hard to catch my breath. I’m not sleeping well, and, eh, I seem to be perspiring a little more than usual.
WILLIAMS	I see. Well, if you’ll allow me, I’m just going to listen to your breathing with this device here.   Mmm, hmm. Very good. And breath in again. And out   [FX breathing sounds]
FRANCES	Oh, I was talking to a doctor acquaintance of mine who was at a meeting yesterday in In Dublin Zoo. He said he was seated next to you?
WILLIAMS	Ah, that must be Dr O’Donohue – you know him?
FRANCES	Dr O’Donohue, eh, I do, yes. He said the most extraordinary thing happened at the meeting – some DMP officers barged in and caused a racket…?
WILLIAMS	Oh, you heard? Yes, looking for the expertise of Dr Ryan and our esteemed guest, Professor Lombroso.
FRANCES	Expertise in what?
WILLIAMS	Well pathology, I suppose, or criminal anthropology in Professor Lombroso’s case – it seems someone was murdered in the most gruesome fashion.
FRANCES	Oh dear!
WILLIAMS	Yes, it …well, violent murder is certainly not a suitable topic of discussion for a lady, especially as you are displaying some mild symptoms of neurasthenia.
FRANCES	Oh, of course, of course (pause) He’s a fascinating man, this Lombroso, isn’t he? I was actually at his talk on Saturday evening in the Rotunda.
WILLIAMS	You have an interest in this area? Of course, you do a bit of writing, don’t you?
FRANCES WILLIAMS FRANCES	(unimpressed) Yes, I’m a professional novelist.   That’s nice.   Yes. Anyway, I find it all quite fascinating – the “criminal man”.
WILLIAMS	He’s quite the scholar, Lombroso. A brilliant mind. Truly brilliant (pause) Such a pity about this spiritualism business.
FRANCES	Spiritualism?
WILLIAMS	Oh, yes, rumours are that the Professor is the latest convert to this nonsense. It’s mortifying to see such prominent, well-educated men of science fall victim to these charlatans: William Crookes, Alfred Russel Wallace, eminent scientists for god’s sake.
FRANCES	You don’t believe any of these mediums, I take it?
WILLIAMS	Of course not. Nonsense! Women looking for attention, and money if they can get it. Lombroso’s talk at the Royal Society was first rate, groundbreaking stuff.  And now I’ve heard he’s attending séances in Dublin with some society women. Shocking, if it’s true.
FRANCES	Yes. Shocking.
WILLIAMS	You must excuse me, I don’t know how we got onto this subject. Now, Ms Hunter, breathe in again.   Hmm, yes. I can’t find anything wrong with your breathing. With the perspiration and sleeplessness it is most likely your nerves. A tonic should help, and plenty of rest. Stay at home, don’t exert yourself mentally. In your state I’d stay away from the newspapers and any of those sensational crime stories everyone seems to be reading these days. They are very likely to overstimulate your constitution.   You can make arrangements with the nurse as you leave.
FRANCES	Thank you, doctor. I will of course stay well away from any sensational stories.
WILLIAMS	Excellent. Oh, and give my regards to Dr O’Donohue.
FRANCES	Who?
WILLIAMS	Dr O’Donohue. How did you say you knew him again?
FRANCES	Oh Dr O’Donohue. Yes, eh, we… have a mutual acquaintance. (flustered) I will give you his regards…him your regards. I’d better run, Doctor, thank you again!
	[FX: Fade out]

SCENE 5

[FX: Hotel lobby sounds]

RECEPTIONIST                   Good evening. Welcome back, sir.

LOMBROSO                        Good evening.

RECEPTIONIST                   The bar is open if you’d like a drink, or if you require anything in your room, please don’t hesitate to ask.

LOMBROSO                        Yes, thank you. I’ll take a drink in the bar.

RECEPTIONIST                   Very good. And a message arrived for you. Let me just…. Here you are

LOMBROSO                        Thank you. [fx: opens letter]Oh, from Ms Carey

(Reads aloud to self – we hear in voice of Carey. Lombroso reads first line and it switches to Carey)

Dear Professor,

Thank you again for visiting my house on Saturday night. I’m aware I might have seemed a little out of sorts but I had a lot on my mind. Something happened on Friday and I needed some time to think it through. I appreciate you are a busy man but if you happened to have time this evening or tomorrow evening – any time at all at your convenience – and could call to my house again, I have something of great importance I wish to share with you.

Yours,

Kate Carey

(to receptionist). Excuse me, I need to organise a cab to this address, right away.

RECEPTIONIST                   Let me see…oh yes, that’s just down the river, won’t take long. I’ll arrange that for you now.

LOMBROSO                        Thank you. I’ll take that drink while I wait.

SCENE 6

[FX: Horse & cab pulls up. Sounds of street]

LOMBROSO:                       This is it, yes, right here. Thank you.

[FX: walks to door, knocks.]

                                                Good evening, Ms Carey.

CAREY:                                 Professor, you came! Please, please come in.

[FX: Door closes, sound changes as moving inside]

CAREY:                                 Please, take a seat. Can I get you something to drink – wine, perhaps?

LOMBROSO:                      Eh,no,just a glass of water please.

CAREY:                                 Of course (from other room)I suppose you’re wondering why I asked you here so urgently?

LOMBROSO:                      Well, yes. You said something had happened on Friday?

CAREY:                                 Yes.

(coming back to the room). Here you are.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure who to trust, but after meeting you on Friday, and making some more inquiries, I am confident you are both a great advocate for our cause and, more importantly, someone to trusted absolutely.

LOMBROSO:                       I’m glad to hear that

CAREY:                                 So, on Friday(taking a deep breath)

LOMBROSO:                      Please. Take your time.

CAREY:                                 Well, you have heard of my séances. I’m not one to boast of my achievements, but so many people have told me that I am the most remarkable medium they have ever encountered. It’s a gift I don’t fully understand, but spirits seem to interact with me so…seamlessly. You and I, we know the truth of the spirit world, despite the naysayers.

I’ve helped so many people communicate with their loved ones, but my mediumship, it’s more… physical than other mediums I’ve come across. The dead, they are truly there in the room, their ectoplasmic forms materialise for minutes, sometimes longer, before fading away.

LOMBROSO:                       A truly wonderful gift.

CAREY:                                 Well, on Friday evening I led a séance for a very small group – just four, eh… acquaintances of mine. Everything went as planned, until I tried to summon a particular spirit – the details aren’t important – but you know how these things work, Professor, the spirit world is unpredictable, you don’t always make contact with those you plan to.

LOMBROSO:                      Yes, yes, of course.

CAREY:                                 Well, this time it was not just that someone else appeared, it was something else. And not only that, but I was completely disconnected. I was no longer a medium, channelling a spirit, I was returned to the room, fully conscious of the…thing that had materialised. Oh, it was horrible, Professor! Some kind of beast, it was fierce looking, not quite a man, like an ape, maybe, but not exactly. One of the guests, he knows these things, he said afterwards it might be a picanthropus, I think?

LOMBROSO:                      A pithecanthropus?

CAREY:                                 Yes, that was it.

LOMBROSO:                      Fascinating. A type of early man.

CAREY:                                 Well, whatever it was, it…he was confused and angry, and he did not want to talk to us. I don’t know if he could talk. He just grunted, snarled at us, and walked around the room. We were all terrified, we all just stood there.

LOMBROSO:                      And it materialised like your other spirits, it took shape out of ectoplasm?

CAREY:                                 Yes, but this is the horrifying part, Professor. It was a spirit but it seemed to be able to interact with our world far more than any spirit I’ve ever called to this plane. One of our party was so scared she screamed and he flew at her. Another friend – Francois – he tried to intervene but the…brute ran at him and slashed him across the chest. He had these long, disgusting nails. He was terrifyingly strong, knocked Francois half across the room. Poor Francois cried out in pain and, before we knew it, the creature had run out the door and down the street.

LOMBROSO:                      Mio Dio! And then what happened?

CAREY:                                 Well, we checked on Francois, who was thankfully not too badly injured, and then I shut and bolted the front door as fast as I could.

LOMBROSO:                      And had the spirit not begun to dematerialise at this point?

CAREY:                                 No! That’s what was so strange. It was still sprit-like, it still looked like any other spirits I’ve summoned, but it was so much more…active and aggressive. It was still fully formed as it ran out the door. I’ve never seen anything like it. And I don’t know if this “ape-man” is still out there! I don’t feel any connection to him, that perhaps he has dematerialised by now, but I don’t know for sure. And I don’t want to summon anybody else until this is resolved.

LOMBROSO:                      This isquite serious, and I can understand your hesitancy in trusting anyone with this, Ms Carey. This could be hugely damaging to the cause.

CAREY:                                 Yes, of course.

LOMBROSO:                      Do you have someone to stay here with you?

CAREY:                                 Yes, my brother has been staying with me since Friday.

LOMBROSO:                      And what about the guests at the séance?

CAREY:                                 Well, they were understandably shocked. I asked them to say nothing to anyone. And I’ve cancelled all my upcoming séances. I went ahead with Beatrice’s one as you were the guest of honour and it had been so long in the planning.

LOMBROSO:                       I see. Well, it’s probably wise to say nothing about this to anyone for now.

CAREY:                                 Yes, I agree.

LOMBROSO:                       And your séance guests, you’ve said this to them?

CAREY:                                 Yes. I’d rather not go into details, but I can count on their discretion.

LOMBROSO:                      I see.Well, honestly Ms Carey, I don’t know what to say. This is both horrifying and – if I may – utterly fascinating.

CAREY:                                 At this point I simply want to find out if there is anyone who can explain this, or help me. (getting upset) The spirit world is my life, Professor, and I’m terrified to return in case of what might happen!

LOMBROSO:                       Of course. If you’ll allow me some time to contact one or two experts who may be able to shed some light on this, I can let you know as soon as I have some theories. Until then, do you feel this spirit might return? Do you feel he’s still on our plane?

CAREY:                                 Honestly,I just don’t know for sure.

LOMBROSO:                      Va bene, well, it’s very late and I don’t want to keep you. Could we perhaps meet tomorrow evening once I’ve had time to think? I’m staying at the Gresham Hotel, on Sackville Street. Could you call there at 8pm tomorrow and we can discuss this further? 

CAREY:                                 Yes, of course. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on all this.

LOMBROSO:                      Excellent, until tomorrow then.

Oh, and one more thing. This street, I can see the trees beyond there – is that …?

CAREY:                                 The park, yes. The Phoenix Park.

LOMBROSO                        And there’s an entrance near here?

CAREY:                                 Yes, just up the road, are you going in that direction?

LOMBROSO:                      No, no, just a thought, I’ll catch a cab on the main road out here. Thank you, Ms Carey. Good night