Episode 8: Our Way of Thinking (Interlude)

Burton learns some disturbing details about Col Godley’s investigations.

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

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CAST

Dramaturgy & Script Support from Peter Dunne

Artwork & Design by Matt Mahon

Marketing & Promotional Support from Claudia Grandez & Hilary Barry

Transcript: Our Way of Thinking

[FX: Men marching by. Orders being shouted, etc]

[FX: sound of single rifle firing]

BURTON:                             Goodevening. Colonel Godley? I’m Chief Inspector Augustus Burton. We were to meet here, I believe?

GODLEY:                              Ah, yes, Chief Inspector. A pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard good things [fires gun]

BURTON:                             Very nice to meet you (pause) A little dark for the firing range, no?

GODLEY:                              I’m afraid I disagree.Do you know how I got this medal here?

BURTON:                             No, please…

GODLEY:                              Ambushed in Afghanistan, just outside Kandahar. Back in my early army days. I was with my commanding officer and a lieutenant, and all three of us were attacked, out of nowhere. A single Afghan had seen us coming and been lying in wait. He shot us all before we could run for cover, ran down and grabbed a satchel with some extremely sensitive documents, meant for our General. The others were dead, but I’d been shot in the leg and collapsed to the ground. The Afghan was six, maybe seven hundred yards from me at that point, and it was dusk. I could barely make him out. But I had my rifle and I took the shot. Killed him outright, and got the documents back.

BURTON:                             Impressive.

GODLEY:                              A lucky shot, you might say, but I’d practiced with that rifle, shooting in all sorts of conditions. And it paid off. So, Chief Inspector, one should practice one’s skills, in all conditions. [FX: Fires gun]

BURTON:                             I’ll, eh, bear that in mind (pause). So, I’ve been brought up to speed on the…revelations, I suppose. And on the work your unit is doing.

GODLEY:                              Yes, I was told you were going to liaise with us on this matter of the Phoenix Park murder.

BURTON:                             You are looking for mediums?

GODLEY:                              Yes, my men work on surveillance and, when required, the capture of targets.

BURTON:                             Women?

GODLEY:                              Yes, women for the most part. And those aiding them. You understand this is a very select group of people, those who can truly access the other world? They present a grave danger to the Empire.

BURTON:                             Do they?I thought for the most part they were simply communicating with the dead, bringing comfort to people who have lost loved ones.

GODLEY:                              Well perhaps, but we don’t know what else they are doing. This is too important to leave unexamined.

BURTON:                             And what happens to the targets when you…examine them?

GODLEY:                              Well, that is mostly beyond my remit. Dr Raymond and our team of scientists lead things from there. They are questioned, assessed.

We try, where we can, to bring them around to our way of thinking, to offer them the opportunity to work for Her Majesty’s government in some cases. They could be extremely valuable military assets and we would hope they would be happy to serve the Empire. Not all of them, unfortunately, are willing to accept the terms.

BURTON:                             And what happens then?

GODLEY:                              Well you understand, I’m sure, that they can hardly be trusted not to reveal the existence of our unit. And so they are detained, and handed over to our scientific research team for…experimentation. [FX: Fires gun]

BURTON:                             I see.

GODLEY:                              Do you have an issue with this, Chief Inspector? I was informed you were a man who has what it takes to get the job done.

BURTON:                             (not convinced, but not wanting to show it) No, not at all. I simply wanted to get a full understanding of your operation so as to best assist you. I’ve promised Lord Grimshaw to help in any way I can, so this has been very useful, thank you.

GODLEY:                              Excellent. Well, I look forward to working with you. I’m afraid I have another matter to attend to now, but the rest of the unit are in the mess across the way. The Lieutenant here will bring you across.

After that, I’ll have him fetch you and I have a task for you. We have some detainees in the barracks whom I would like you to question. I’ll fill you in on the details.

BURTON:                             Excellent, I’ll go and meet the unit.