Episode 3: A Gathering of Spiritualists
Lombroso attends a séance. Frances and Margaret’s visit to Dublin Zoo is not quite the day out they’d planned. Chief Inspector Burton pays a visit to the morgue.
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
Margaret Malone
Frances Hunter
Prof Lombroso
Chief Inspector Burton
Dr Ryan
Kate Carey
Lord Grimshaw
Bill
Beatrice & Eve
Elizabeth
Additional Voices
Margaret Mc Auliffe
Amy O’Dwyer
Donncha O’Dea
Darragh Smith
James Ward
Margaret Mc Auliffe
Donncha O’Dea
Darragh Smith
Amy O’Dwyer
Special Guest Star, Margot Reid!
All Actors Above
Dramaturgy & Script Support from Peter Dunne
Artwork & Design by Matt Mahon
Marketing & Promotional Support from Claudia Grandez & Hilary Barry
Transcript: A Gathering of Spiritualists
SCENE 1
[FX: Chatting, drinks, etc, hushed as Lombroso enters the room]
CAREY: Ladies and Gentlemen, our distinguished guest has arrived. Please allow me to present Professor Cesare Lombroso, joining us all the way from Italy.
LOMBROSO: Thank you, Ms Carey. Gentlemen, Ladies, I am honoured. I have heard from colleagues across Europe of the great strides you are making here. Please, don’t allow me to delay proceedings.
CAREY: Yes, of course. Professor, take a seat here in our séance circle. I can feel the tone of the room is perfect just now so perhaps we’ll begin? We can do full introductions afterwards.
LOMBROSO: Yes, of course. Very nice to meet you all.
(Lombroso sitting down general “hello/good evening / pleased to meet you”)
CAREY: Now you know Beatrice Scott, our medium and, unbeknownst to the rest of us, late night transport coordinator! (light laughs from guests)
LOMBROSO: Oh and, excuse me, sir, I’m…let me just… I’m in your way.
CAREY: Sorry, yes, this is Mr McCullough, our photographer. He has his equipment set up here to attempt some spirit photography. The last time Beatrice connected with her spirit guide – Eve, is her name – there was a very distinct presence. We are hoping to capture it this time on Mr McCullough’s camera here.
LOMBROSO: Ah, of course. Excellent. With so many non-believers, there can never be enough solid documentation of the spirit world.
CAREY: Absolutely.Now, let me just close thisdoorand blow out the candles over here.(blows)
Let us begin. Beatrice, when you’re ready. Let’s see if Eve is ready for us.
[hushed nervous and excited chatter. “Do you think it’ll work as well this time? / Oh, I hope we can talk to Frankie again / Is she in the trance now?”]
[FX: gentle wind, getting stronger]
BEATRICE: I can feel something…Yes….Yes, Eve is coming.
[Guests are excited: She’s here! Eve is here!]
B. (EVE): (Beatrice’s voice has changed [post-production effect] and she is now speaking as the spirit guide “Eve”)
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. You’ve called me back once more from the other side.
CAREY: Eve, this is Kate Carey, it’s so nice to hear your voice again. I believe you know everyone here, except for our special guest, Professor Lombroso.
We would love to show him what you are capable of. Last month you were so kindly able to assist us in speaking to the spirit of Patrick’s mother. He’s here and he would love to speak to his mother again if you could…
B. (EVE): Yes, of course. Let me see what I can do. I cannot guarantee it but…
[FX: More hushed chatter, etc before a hum starts to build. It gets louder and multiple voices are heard before resolving into an elderly voice]
MOTHER: Patrick? Is that you, dear?
PATRICK: Mam?! Mam, yes it’s me!
MOTHER: OhPatrick, my dear, how are you? How’s your sister?
PATRICK: We’re good, all good. It’s so wonderful to hear your voice again!
MOTHER: Patrick? I can’t hear you, what’s… Patrick?
[FX: hum gets louder and drowns out the voice]
PATRICK: Yes? Can you hear me, mam? (worried, to others) What’s happening?
[FX: Hum continues and distorts and resolves into a different voice]
VOICE: Aiutila! Professore! Professore, può aiutarla!
B. (HERSELF): What…what’s happening? Did you contact Eve? I can’t feel her anymore, is…aah!
B. (EVE): No, I’m here, I’m here but I can’t seem to….
VOICE: Gretta! Può aiutarla!
B. (HERSELF): Stop! What’s happening? What’s…(screams)!
[FX: Sound of glass breaking. Bang. Photographer exclaims: “My camera!”]
Several guests gasp, chatter, “oh my god, what’s going on?” etc]
CAREY: Eve? Beatrice! She’s collapsed. Someone, help me get her off the floor!
(To Beatrice)Beatrice!? Beatrice, don’t worry, dear, let me help you over here.
(nervous, to group) Don’t worry everyone, this has happened before, Beatrice will be fine in a little while. But I’m afraid we won’t get Eve back this evening.
[FX: General chat, disappointment, etc]
PATRICK: And, Ms Carey, you wouldn’t be able to, perhaps continue things yourself, or..?
CAREY: (angry) No, Patrick, we discussed this! (catching herself) Sorry, sorry, that was rude of me, I don’t know what’s come over me. No, I’m afraid I won’t be leading any séances for a…while. Now, shall we retire inside? Patrick, can you stay with Beatrice and make sure she’s recovered?
[FX: Movement of chairs, opening and closing of doors, people file into next room. Then, general background chatter]
LOMBROSO: Ms Carey,I can take a look at her if you like?
CAREY: Ohno, please Professor, Patrick is a pharmacist. Beatrice is in capable hands.
[FX: they move inside, change in room sound]
LOMBROSO: Has this happened before, Ms Carey? A medium collapsing like this?
CAREY: Not quite as dramatically as tonight, perhaps, but yes, it has happened once or twice before (pause) Although, obviously this was…Professor, what did she say? Was she speaking Italian?
LOMBROSO: Yes
CAREY: To you?
LOMBROSO: It would appear so. She said “Professor, you can help… I think, Gretta?”
CAREY: Who?
LOMBROSO: Gretta?I don’t know, I was hoping you might.
CAREY: No, no idea.That’s all she said?
LOMBROSO: Yes, she just repeated it. That’s it. Sounded like perhaps there was more but, that was it, I don’t really know what to make of it.
CAREY: Oh, Professor, I’m so sorry this session was cut so short, and in such terrible circumstances. Beatrice is a very promising medium; I’ve been mentoring her for quite some time now. I’m sure you were looking forward to the evening.
LOMBROSO: Not at all, Ms Carey, please don’t apologise. The spirit world is fascinating but we all know how unpredictable it can be.
CAREY: Yes,I certainly know what you mean.
LOMBROSO And, if I’m honest, Ms Carey it’s you whose renown as a medium has travelled all the way to Italy.
CAREY: You are very kind.
LOMBROSO: I had thought the plan was for a second séance tonight, after Ms Scott’s?
CAREY: (very blunt) Yes, well I’m afraid the plan was changed.
LOMBROSO: Ah.
CAREY: Apologies, that was very blunt. I’m afraid my nerves are a little shot, some… events yesterday have meant I’m…anyway, my abilities have been a little off this weekend, so I decided to postpone the event.
LOMBROSO: No need to explain, Ms Carey, of course. Perhaps another time before I return to Italy, you might…?
CAREY: Eh, yes, perhaps. (quickly changing the subject) But let me introduce you to everyone. Please, over here…
LOMBROSO: Hello, very nice to meet you….
[FX: Party noise fades up, Lombroso talks guests, fades out]
SCENE 2
[FX: Zoo ambient sound, people milling around];
MARGARET: (shouting)Frances! FRANCES! Over here!
FRANCES: (shouting)Hello, Margaret! Wait, I’ll come over to you!
(Closer) Good morning. What a lovely day, the snow has really cleared up. And the place is so busy! Where’s Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH: Up here Frances! Hi! Hi, Aunty Margie!
FRANCES: (confused) What?
ELIZABETH: Up here, look, I’m on an elephant!!
FRANCES: (to self)Oh god! (to her) Hi, Lizzie! You’re so high! (Turning) Margaret, is that safe!?
MARGARET: Of course! She begged me to go on it and, look, she’s safe up there with the attendant, he knows what he’s doing. (to Elizabeth) Hi Lizzie! (to Frances) She’s nearly finished anyway.
FRANCES: (not convinced)All right, she’s your niece, so you can explain it to her mother when she falls off and breaks her leg.
[FX: Background commotion. “Sorry, sorry, excuse me, madam I need to get through”]
MARGARET: Oh hush, she’s grand! (pause) Hey, what’s all that about over there?
FRANCES: (counting) …Two,three, four, five, six men in a hurry through the zoo on a Sunday morning!? Probably not off to see the penguins. Who would you say they are?
MARGARET I’m not sure, but it’s definitely a bit odd, isn’t it? (pause) Oh, look! Well, well, if it isn’t Chief Inspector Augustus Burton!
FRANCES: How in god’s name do you know who he is?
MARGARET: Do you not remember that story I covered last yearaboutGráinne Burton, she was unwittingly caught up that legal scandal…?
FRANCES: Eh…
MARGARET: Really?I spent a month on it! You read my piece.
FRANCES: Eh… Margaret it’s just you write for a lot of papers and…
MARGARET: Seriously?! How do you not remember this? It was that big scandal with Sarah Curtin, the Supreme Court judge’s wife?
FRANCES: Yes!! I remember. That was the one I wanted you to headline: “Curtin’s Hurtin’ Burton!”
MARGARET: Ugh. Yes
FRANCES: What a headline!
MARGARET: And that’s when I reminded you that I don’t write the headlines.
FRANCES: You were just jealous you didn’t come up with it.
MARGARET: Anyway! Gráinne Burton is Augustus Burton’s wife. I interviewed her in their house for the story and the Chief Inspector was there. So that’s how I know what he looks l….
FRANCES: (interrupting her)They’ve gone.
MARGARET: What?
FRANCES: Burton and his men. Look, they’ve gone into that building over there.
MARGARET: Hmm, I need to find out what’s going on! That’s Society House. Those men are obviously all detectives. C’mon, let’s have a look….
FRANCES: Margaret!Are you forgetting something?
MARGARET: What? Ohgod,Lizzie! Look, she’s nearly finished on the elephant ride. Maybe you could keep an eye on her for a few minutes?
FRANCES: Margaret! This trip was your treat for Lizzie!
MARGARET: Ten minutes. Let me just find out if it’s anything important. This could be a great story!
FRANCES: I know, but we’re…. oh I don’t know why I’m even trying – yes, I can mind Lizzie, go, go on, find out what Augustus Burton is up to.
MARGARET: Thanks, Fran, you’re the best! [shouting up to Lizzie] I’ll be back in a few minutes, Lizzie! Stay with Fran here, I just need to look at something over here.
FRANCES: Do you like it up there, Lizzie? I think I’d be too scared!
ELIZABETH: Nope, I’m not scared at all!
[FX: elephant sounds]
SCENE 3
[FX: Zoo ambient sound but quieter – coming through a window]
LOMBROSO: Gentlemen, it is an honour to be speaking here this morning at this very special meeting of the Royal Zoological Society. Some of you may have been at my talk in the Rotunda yesterday evening, but today’s presentation will explore things in a more rigorous, academic fashion.
The criminal, the insane man and, as we hear all around us in these fine zoological gardens, the primate: chimpanzee, monkey, baboon, orangutan.
There is much to be learned about human behaviour from the primatologist, and much that can be recognised as linking the ape and the criminal man, especially as they relate to the…(fades under commotion)
[FX: movement of people in their seats, a few “shhhs”]
BURTON: (hushed) Sorry, sorry, excuse me, I’m just looking for someone.
WOMAN: (hushed) What’s going on here? (indignant) This is a meeting of the Royal Zoological Society, what is…
BURTON: (hushed) I’m very sorry, madam. Chief Inspector Burton, Metropolitan Police. This is Detective Office Bradley. We urgently need to speak to someone at this meeting.
LOMBROSO: (continuing his speech) Now, it has long been my…my aim to….. to…. I’m sorry, sir, are you taking a seat?
BURTON: Apologies, sir, don’t mind me.
BURTON: (quietly, to the woman) Actually, madam, perhaps you can help me. We are looking for a Professor Lombroso. Could you point him out to me?
WOMAN: You’re serious? Professor Lombroso?
BURTON: Yes, I…
LOMBROSO: And so, to continue, the primary…, eh, the…I’m sorry, sir, can you please take a seat. I have been invited here by the Royal Society, this is an important scientific address.
BURTON: My apologies, sir, gentlemen. I’m afraid this is a matter of some urgency. I had thought I could do this quietly but perhaps it would be easier if a Professor Lombroso – I think I’m pronouncing that right – if you could identify yourself. I’m afraid I need to speak to you urgently.
LOMBROSO: What?!
BURTON: I’m very sorry, sir, I just need to….(dawning realisation) ah. You’re Professor Lombroso?
LOMBROSO: (annoyed) Yes, I ‘m Professor Lombroso!
BURTON: Right, ahem. Perhaps, gentlemen, we could take a very short refreshment break while I talk to the Professor. I’m very sorry for all this commotion, but this is an urgent police inquiry. I see now this going to cause somewhat more of a disturbance than I had planned.
(quietly to Bradley) Bradley, find whoever is in charge here and reassure everyone this will be very brief. We could really do without a mob of irate zoologists right now.
BRADLEY: Yes, sir
[FX: Door closes and sounds of room fade. Burton and Lombroso are now in a quiet room]
BURTON: Sir, I’ll be brief. My name is Chief Inspector Augustus Burton.
LOMBROSO: (annoyed) This had better be good, Chief Inspector. I am the guest of honour at this gathering, giving a keynote address, and this is quite frankly outrageous.
BURTON: Again, apologies, but this can’t wait. Word has come from my superiors. In fact, from their superiors that you, and a Dr Ryan, could assist me in my investigation. Is Dr Ryan here too?
LOMBROSO: Yes, he’s inside. What investigation?
BURTON: Last night, there was a particularly gruesome murder not far from here. We have reason to believe the murderer may have been either a vicious animal or a particularly crazed individual.
Dr Ryan is, I am reliably informed, something of an expert in tiger and other wild animal attacks from his many years in the colonies. Prof Lombroso, I’m afraid I know somewhat less about your areas of expertise, but I was informed you may be able to assist us if the evidence was leaning towards this being a frenzied attack perhaps by an insane man.
LOMBROSO: I see. Well, yes, I am a criminal anthropologist with expertise in criminal man and the insane. If you need insight into a violent and mentally unbalanced individual, I can certainly provide that.
BURTON: Excellent.And, sir, please be assured that normally I would not march into a scientific meeting like this – normally I would tend to studiously avoid scientific meetings of this type – but this is not coming from me. This is coming from my Superintendent and, in turn, directly from Field Marshall Lord Grimshaw who is, as I am very well aware, the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in Ireland. But who is also, I have more recently been informed, the President of the Royal Zoological Society.
LOMBROSO: Well, yes, of course.
BURTON: I was informed your expertise and, perhaps more importantly, your discretion were very much to be relied upon. And so here we are.
LOMBROSO: I see. I can fetch Dr Ryan now, but I know he has worked with Lord Grimshaw on a number of projects for these zoological gardens, so I’m certain he will be most willing to help.
BURTON: And I can take it that you are too?
LOMBROSO: Certo, yes, Dr Ryan and the Society have been most gracious hosts so, yes, I can assist you. Who has been murdered, may I ask?
BURTON: Right now that information is a little bit…sensitive. May I suggest we meet at the entrance to the city morgue, on Lower Marlborough Street, at 5pm this evening? There’s no need to disrupt this meeting further. If you can explain the details to Dr Ryan after your talk, I can meet you both there. He’ll know where it is.
LOMBROSO: The city morgue, 5pm. Of course.
BURTON: Excellent. And Professor, I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that the utmost discretion is required here.
[FX: Door opening and noise of other back in main room. Lombroso walks back in, talking to himself]
LOMBROSO: (to himself)Molto strano, molto strano…
SCENE 4
[FX: Door bell, footsteps, door opens]
BILL: Ah,Ms Malone, good evening. Please go straight into the drawing room, Ms Hunter is expecting you.
MARGARET: Good evening, Bill. Thank you(walks to drawing room)
[FX: Interior drawing room, sound of fire lit]
Hello, Frances
FRANCES: You made it. You got Lizzie back home safely, I take it? How is she?
MARGARET: Ah she’s fine, just an upset tummy, I think all the treats we gave her didn’t help.
FRANCES: Poor thing. So listen….
MARGARET: Sorry, Frances, what in god’s name are you doing?
FRANCES: What do you mean?
MARGARET: You know what I mean – why are you on the floor?
FRANCES: Oh, it’s how you play the tabla.
MARGARET: The…?
FRANCES: Tabla. Remember I told you Diarmuid had got me that Indian drum from his tea merchant friend. This is it! Well, them, it’s two drums. This one [sound] and this one [sound]
MARGARET: So you’re over the bodhrán, then?
FRANCES: Not over it, I’ve just progressed in a new direction. This is much more fascinating; it has its own language! You see I was talking to Zakir – that’s Diarmuid’s friend – and well, it seems there is a word for each sound. He promised to come and show me properly but you have a “dun” and a “na” and a…“takada”, I think? [FX: playing the sound as she says each word]
MARGARET: Frances
FRANCES: And a… well I don’t know many of them yet really, but…
MARGARET: FRANCES!
FRANCES: Hmm?
MARGARET: I think you are going insane.
FRANCES: Better insane than bored.
MARGARET: Well, you’ll never be bored with all your fads, that’s for sure.
FRANCES: This is not a fad! Well, it might be a fad, but there’s so much in this. A whole system of thought and generations of…
MARGARET: Frances! (banging one of the drums) [sound]
FRANCES: (Laughing) What?!
MARGARET: Can we focus for a second. The zoo? With Lizzie feeling sick we didn’t even get to talk afterwards.
FRANCES: Yes, of course, sorry. What happened? Did you find out anything?
MARGARET: Not much, but something is happening. There seemed to be lots of commotion at Society House. And guess what? It was Lombroso, from last night! Do you remember in the speech he said he would be giving some royal society talk today? Well, that was it, it seems.
FRANCES: Oh
MARGARET: I hung around and overheard a few people and it gets better. It seems Lombroso himself and some other doctor named Ryan got pulled out of the meeting by Burton. I’m not sure why but the men I overheard seemed to think Burton needed their help.
FRANCES: Oh, now that is intriguing!
MARGARET: I know! Something big has obviously happened if it’s the G-Division detectives getting involved – and a Chief Inspector doesn’t do petty crime. Anyway, I remembered I knew one of the girls on the ticket desk from way back, so I went over and had a quick chat to her and it seems the rumour is that there was a murder at the zoo last night!
FRANCES: What?!
MARGARET: Yes, one of the other girls working at the desk last night – Áine is her name apparently – she was supposed to be working today but was given the day off.
FRANCES: So, who was murdered?
MARGARET: Nobody seems to know, but it has to be someone important. This is a story, Frances, something big!
FRANCES: So what next?
MARGARET: Well,I got Áine’s address – she’s in the Liberties, not too far from me – so I thought I might just call to her house.
FRANCES: When?
MARGARET: Eh…now?
FRANCES: Now?!
MARGARET: Why not? This is going to move fast. We need to find out what’s going on while we’re still one step ahead of the competition.
FRANCES: Who’s the competition?
MARGARET: I don’t know, the other stubborn journalist and her novelist sidekick who stumbled upon a secret murder.
FRANCES: Novelist sidekick?!
MARGARET: You’re right, I apologise. Award-winning novelist sidekick.
FRANCES: Talented, university-educated, award-winning novelist heroine. And her beautiful, journalist lover.
MARGARET: (laughing)Shh, Bill is just outside!
FRANCES: Oh, he knows.
MARGARET: Well we don’t know he knows. But thank you for calling me beautiful. Now (kisses her) I’d better go!
FRANCES: Oh, I forgot to tell you!
MARGARET: Yes?
FRANCES: Remember when you were off snooping around in the zoo, and I was selflessly looking after your niece?
MARGARET: (mock unimpressed) Mm-hmm
FRANCES: Well, I saw Ignatius Williams coming out of the meeting. I’ve met him before, he’s a GP, his practice is just off Grafton St. I thought I’d make an urgent appointment and see what I can find out.
MARGARET: (laughing) Frances, that’s….
FRANCES: What?
MARGARET: No, it’s just so detective-like, I love it!
FRANCES: Thank you.Now, I’ll have Bill organise a cab. And while we wait, I can just try out (playing the tabla) a few [fx: tabla sounds]more patterns on this…
MARGARET: My god!
SCENE 5
[FX: Echoey room, cold. Walking down corridor, footsteps]
[FX: Footsteps, moving of sheet]
RYAN: Good god!
LOMBROSO: (simultaneously) Per Giove!
RYAN: You weren’t exaggerating, Chief Inspector. I’ve seen plenty of bodies in my time but this is…this is horrific.
BURTON: What do you think? The coroner is due to investigate further in the morning but I don’t need an expert to tell me he’s been brutally beaten – his arm is broken and, ugh, I am now realising the bone has come out the other side there. And obviously his throat’s half ripped out.
What I want to know, doctors, is if this looks more like a person or an animal. Because, as I’m sure you’ll appreciate, they are two very different cases for me.
[FX: moving around, examining body]
RYAN: Chief Inspector, while I’m not a pathologist I have examined many victims of animal attacks over the years and if this was an animal it was a large one, certainly, to overpower this man. He’s, what, 6 feet tall? And very well-built. (examining further) The cuts don’t seem like claws, they’re not particularly deep – unlikely to be a tiger or large feline. More like nails than claws – a monkey, perhaps, or a larger primate? Let’s see, can we move him a little here
[FX: body moved, squelching sound]
BURTON: Oh my god, that’s…(getting queasy)
RYAN: Yes, there’s very little left of his neck, is there? This wound to the jugular is consistent with an animal attack but again, I would say primate, or perhaps canine, more so than feline? There are not many animals in Dublin Zoo that could do this. Orangutan perhaps?
BURTON: My men haven’t found anything amiss with any of the animals.Could it be a person?
RYAN: It could be, I suppose. I can’t see anything inconsistent with a human as such. It’s just the intensity of the attack. Look at all the scratch marks, the cuts – one right across his eye here – and they could be bite markson his shoulderthere. If it was a person, he was in a rage, a frenzy.
BURTON: Hmm. Professor Lombroso?
LOMBROSO: My expertise is not in zoology but I can say I have treated and tested the criminally insane in my time in both asylums and prisons. I have met a few who could do something like this – degenerate men, reverting to a primitive state when overtaken with rage. It’s certainly not impossible that this was a murder.
BURTON: I see.
RYAN: I can’t help but notice that what’s left of this gentleman’s clothes are extremely well tailored. Who is he?
BURTON: It’s James Redgrave, Lord Redgrave’s son. Hence the urgency on all of this. The Chief Secretary was in late last night to identify the body and everything is being kept quiet for now, given the…political sensitivity.
RYAN: Dear God. Another Phoenix Park murder. what is wrong with this country?
LOMBROSO: This has happened before?
BURTON: Yes. Back in ’82, the new Chief Secretary at the time, Lord Cavendish, was murdered in the Phoenix Park. I’m not sure what the equivalent might be in Italy, but the Chief Secretary here is perhaps like the governor of Ireland, one of the most powerful men in the country.
LOMBROSO: I see.
BURTON: This was whenGladstone was Prime Minister and Cavendish was a close friend so you can imagine the uproar. And it was vicious stuff – Cavendish and another senior official were ambushed by radical republicans and repeatedly stabbed with surgical blades.I was only a detective then but it was a massive investigation…
GRIMSHAW: (from across the room) Indeed it was.
BURTON: Oh! Lord Grimshaw! Good evening. I didn’t know you were coming.
GRIMSHAW: Change of plans, Chief Inspector. Dr Ryan, a pleasure to see you again. We haven’t spoken since you so generously helped rectify that bloody disaster of a delivery of those two tigers from India.
RYAN: Of course, a pleasure to see you again. And, please, let me introduce Professor Cesare Lombroso, who has so generously agreed to assist with this case. Professor, may I introduce Field Marshall Lord Decimus Grimshaw, President of the Royal Zoological Society
LOMBROSO: Lord Grimshaw,a pleasure.
GRIMSHAW: I’m so glad I caught you here, to be able to thank you in person for your help, Professor. I am unfortunately in something of a hurry but I had hoped to speak to the Chief Inspector in private, if I may?
LOMBROSO: Of course.
RYAN: Yes, I had hoped to ask the professor about some unusual markings here. (pause). Professor, do you see this mark here, along the sternum, do you think….. (Fade out)
[FX: Grimshaw & Burton walk to another room. Close the door]
GRIMSHAW: Christ, Burton,what the hell is going on!? I was here last night with the Chief Secretary who, may I remind you, is a very close friend of mine. The man could barely hold it together, looking at his son like that. This is a disgrace, the body looks like it was attacked by bloody cannibals, and we can’t even work out if it was person or an animal? Which is it??
BURTON: We don’t know yet, sir.
GRIMSHAW: Well, you’d damn well better get to the bottom of this. The Lord Lieutenant has asked me to report to him personally. I’ve already talked to your Superintendent, as you know. He has assured me you are the man for the job and are handling it.
BURTON: I am, sir, but we need some more time to….
GRIMSHAW: If this is a republican group, or if some group of bloody Irish-Americans is involved in financing an operation, I swear to God I will bring in the army and I will start executing people myself. The Prime Minister’s Office has telegrammed me. They want assurances this will all be resolved before crucial upcoming talks with the Irish Parliamentary Party.
BURTON: And the talks are…
GRIMSHAW: In a week, Burton. One week. Unless we find a lion wandering down Sackville Street in the next twenty-four hours then I’m going to assume this was murder. And if that’s the case we need to find the murderer, and we need to make sure this was the work of a madman, acting alone. (getting angrier) And this all needs to go away before the public learns the gruesome details of what happened to the son of the most powerful man in this godforsaken country!
(regaining his composure)So, are you the man for the job?
BURTON: Absolutely.
GRIMSHAW: Good. Get your most trusted men on this. Do it discretely and find out what happened. Arrangements have been made and you are to report back directly to me. Do this well, Burton, and I can put in a good word with the Chief Commissioner for that upcoming Superintendent job.
BURTON: That would be much appreciated.
GRIMSHAW: Or, you could screw this up and you’ll find me a very unforgiving man. Is that clear?
BURTON: Very clear.
GRIMSHAW: Excellent.I have every confidence in you, Chief Inspector. Good evening.