Episode 10: An Underground Society

Margaret and Lombroso are invited to a secret society meeting, while Frances makes some discoveries of her own.

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: An Underground Society

SCENE 1

MARGARET:                    So here we are. Jesus, Margaret, what are you doing? This whole thing is getting out of hand (sighs). Right.

[Sound of phonograph, scratchy, etc]

MARGARET:                    All notes here as before – definitely a lot safer than writing anything down for those soldiers to find.

So let me see. Notes for this article. Is this even an article anymore? I think Frances has the right idea with novel length writing.

One. Murder in Phoenix Par….No, stop. Number 1. There is life after death. That seems more important. I’ve barely had time to even take this in. I mean I believe in God, I’m a good(ish) Catholic. I certainly believe there’s an afterlife but this is confirmation. This is, this is…everything. I think Lombroso and Fran are so wrapped up in this they don’t fully appreciate how big it is. Or they do, but they’ve had longer to digest it. I mean, I’m still not sure I’m fully on board, but if the army has arrested a woman because she created a spirit that killed a man…that makes things pretty real, doesn’t it?

So what about mam? Can I…talk to her? (getting upset) Is she there, on the other side or, how does this even work?? Jesus…

Oh look, there will be time for all of this. In the meantime, what do I do? Submit a story about a ghost killing Redgrave, get laughed out of the office, and go home? Or somehow get it published and implicate a Lord and Field Marshall and go the way of Joe and get “shot while trying to escape”?

But what about Áine? Wait, wait…

• What about Áine. Did they let her go? I need to find out
• What about Kate Carey? Where is she? Lombroso can check that out.
• What about Joe? There needs to be some justice for the poor man.
• What about Fran? And me? (changing tone, serious). Jesus, I’m worried, I don’t want to see her hurt, and she’s not going to drop this if I don’t want to. Her and her stupid loyalty! Look, we can talk to this “Psi” man for now but, I don’t know. (frustrated) Aaah. I don’t know!

Oh, it’s after 5. I better get ready if I’m going to find out about Áine, and get to Molesworth St on time. How are you supposed to dress for a meeting of a secretive society of, what did he say, “supernaturalists”? Ugh, go, go, go, how do I stop th…

(Stops phonograph)

SCENE 2

                                         [FX; cold, windy evening sounds]

MARGARET:                    Cold, cold, cold, cold.Come on, Frances, what are you doing? (blowing on hands)                                         

LOMBROSO:                    Ms Malone!What are you doing out here in the cold?

MARGARET:                    Evening, Professor. I’mwaiting for Ms Hunter. I take it the mysterious PSI man found you too?            

LOMBROSO:                    Yes. I am quite intrigued, I have to admit. It’s freezing here, shall we knock and see if we can wait for Ms Hunter inside the door?

MARGARET:                    Yes, I suppose so.

                                         [FX: walk up some steps]

                                         Is this it? He said number 39 but this says “Peterson & Sons Insurance”…oh

LOMBROSO:                    What?

MARGARET:                    P.S.I

LOMBROSO:                    Ah. Very subtle, gentlemen

                                         [Knock on heavy door]

DOORMAN:                     Good evening, Sir. Madam. I’m afraid the offices of Peterson & Sons are closed. Did you have an appointment?

MARGARET:                    Eh….yes. With “Palladino”?

DOORMAN:                     Ah, very good, Madam. Welcome to the society. Please, if you can both follow me…

MARGARET:                    Oh, we are waiting for someone.

DOORMAN:                     Oh, of course. Well, if you’d like to wait in the hall here, I can keep a look out for your friend. What does he look like?

MARGARET:                    She. Quite tall, light brown hair. If I had to guess, I’d say she’ll be wearing a very elaborate-looking navy blue hat. We’ll wait over here.

                                         [FX: Footsteps on echoey tiled floor]

LOMBROSO:                    How was your afternoon?             

MARGARET:                    Productive. I got some work done. And I called to Áine O’Dwyer’s house. Or at least, I walked as close as I needed to and no closer, to see through her kitchen window that she’s home. Which is a relief.

LOMBROSO:                    Ah, this is the lady who witnessed the murder?

MARGARET:                    Yes, and then got taken by Grimshaw’s men. Thank god, they’ve let her go.

LOMBROSO:                    I’m afraid my afternoon was not as successful. Ms Carey is not at her father’s. Never was. Nobody has seen her since she went to meet me at the hotel. Grimshaw and Godley are lying. They have her.

MARGARET:                    Oh no!

LOMBROSO:                    I know, we need to get her out of that barracks. I’m hoping this… organisation can be of some help.

FRANCOIS:                      Ms Malone, Professor Lombroso. Thank you for coming!                        

LOMBROSO:                    Not at all, Sir. I don’t believe I got your name?

FRANCOIS:                      Francois Leroux

MARGARET:                    Very nice to meet you, Mr Leroux.

LOMBROSO:                    We are eager to compare notes, as you say.

FRANCOIS:                      Well, shall we?Oh, where is Ms Hunter?

MARGARET:                    She should be along shortly.

FRANCOIS:                      Ah, of course. Well, I am required downstairs. You could come with me and I can ask the doorman here to look out for Ms Hunter and let you know as soon as she’s at the door, if you like? The society members are waiting…

MARGARET:                    Eh, yes, that would be fine I suppose.                         

LOMBROSO:                    Yes,va bene

FRANCOIS:                      Excellent! Please excuse the, eh, unorthodox entrance. We are, alas, necessarily secretive about our meetings.

                                         [FX: Pulls up heavy trap door]             

                                         Please, follow me. Down here. Watch your step

MARGARET:                    Ooh, they really are an underground society!

FRANCOIS:                      Oh, and watch your…

LOMBROSO:                    Maledizione!

FRANCOIS:                      …head on the way through there.

                                         Now, here we are

[FX: Opens door, and chattering gets louder]

MARGARET:                    Oh, this is very fancy!

FRANCOIS:                      Yes, this is one of our biggest annual gatherings so we’ve pulled out a few stops.Please, help yourself to adrink. If you’ll allow me a few minutes I have some people I need to talk to and then I will introduce you to some of our members.

LOMBROSO:                    Yes, of course. You are very kind, thank you

MARGARET:                    I don’t know what I was expecting, but not a reception with (takes drink) mm, oh, very nice wine. There are so many people here!

LOMBROSO:                    Yes, I’ll admit, it’s a larger affair than I had imagined. So heartening to see the Spiritualist community coming together like this.

MARGARET:                    So I’ve been meaning to ask. You are fully committed to this, yes?

LOMBROSO:                   To what?

MARGARET:                    Well, to all of this – spiritualism, life after death, communicating with the dead

LOMBROSO:                   Yes, absolutely. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I’ve participated in scientific studies, I’ve corresponded with great men of science who are as convinced as I am – Oliver Lodge, William Crookes, Alfred Russel Wallace. These are rigorous scientific thinkers, not charlatans trying to make a quick penny from hoax séances.   

MARGARET:                    I see. But, I mean, most people don’t believe in this. If you are all so sure, how have you not convinced the world?

LOMBROSO:                   Well exactly!The truth is there to see, if people would simply take the time to carefully consider the facts. But great scientific breakthroughs can take time to be accepted, people are not always ready to accept the truth. Look at how Darwin’s theories were first received, for example.     

MARGARET:                    You have to admit, though, this is very difficult to just…accept

LOMBROSO:                   Of course it’s difficult to accept! (Getting more worked up) but it’s this wilful ignorance of the facts, this refusal to believe clear, irrevocable truth, the conservatism that frustrates me, people like my wife who, per Dio … sorry, that’s not, sometimes I….

MARGARET:                    Your wife’s not a…believer

LOMBROSO:                   (sighs). My wife is a wonderful woman, but her faith is very strong. She sees spiritualism as contrary to Jewish teaching. She refuses to even consider that a spirit world might exist, or at least one not accessed through her faith.

MARGARET:                    That must be hard for you. For you both.

LOMBROSO:                   Yes. It is. I tried to show her how she could perhaps talk to her sister who passed recently. But it only made her more upset. I don’t know. I…the events of the last few days have me so caught up in all this I haven’t even thought of her, we… look, I barely know you, I don’t know why I…

MARGARET:                    Don’t worry, people like talking to me. I think it’s why I became a journalist. People seem to like unburdening themselves on me, it can be very useful!

LOMBROSO:                    (Laughing) Well, I’m afraid I misjudged you, and Ms Hunter, at our initial meeting. What about you – you are not married? No children?

MARGARET:                    No. No children.

LOMBROSO:                    I have two daughters. I see a lot of them in you and Ms Hunter, in fact. Clever, confident, headstrong!

MARGARET:                    Well, thank you

LOMBROSO:                   Speaking of Ms Hunter, where is she?

MARGARET:                    She must have got delayed with Dr Henthorn. She went to see if he had any contacts who knew a bit more about this society. I’m sure she’ll be along any minute now…

FRANCOIS:                      Professor, Ms Malone. Apologies for abandoning you. I have some time now if you’d like to join me over here we could talk for a few moments?

LOMBROSO:                    Of course.

MARGARET:                    So, what exactly does this society do, Mr Leroux? And you said that you knew about Lord Grimshaw?

FRANCOIS:                      Yes, all too well unfortunately. But let me explain. Psi is an organisation of psychical researchers and devoted spiritualists. We are, by necessity, a little more secretive than other organisations of this nature as we have had occasion to explore the further reaches of the spirit world. Aspects of the other side that have not always been safe to visit.

LOMBROSO:                    Fascinating.

MARGARET:                    Whatdo you mean the “further reaches”

FRANCOIS:                      Well, mediums have, for many years now, been successful in communicating with the dead, but typically for very short periods of time and in a limited capacity. We have never managed to materialise ectoplasmic forms with the ability to interact fully with this world. Nor have we managed to lift the veil on the other plane, to somehow glimpse what lies beyond.

Well, at least not until recently.

MARGARET:                    What did you do?

FRANCOIS:                      A few months ago, one of our research groups managed precisely this. One of our scientists succeeded, with the aid of a carefully administered mix of chemicals, in entering a trance-like state and he viewed another plane of being.

LOMBROSO:                    But this is magnificent. What happened?

FRANCOIS:                      Well, this is the issue. The “journey” came at great personal cost for Dr McComish.

MARGARET:                    What do you mean?

FRANCOIS:                      He has been suffering from bouts of amnesia, confusion, excruciating headaches.  

MARGARET:                    Oh god!

FRANCOIS:                      Yes, awful. We have suspended all research in this area until we can establish more. We are passionate about exploring the truth of the world, but have no wish to put our researchers in such grave danger.

MARGARET:                    I would hope not.

FRANCOIS:                      The same caution, unfortunately, cannot be said of Grimshaw and his men.

LOMBROSO:                    What do you mean?

FRANCOIS:                      Grimshaw, I assume you know by now, is fully aware of the reality of spiritualism.

LOMBROSO:                    Yes, we suspected this.

FRANCOIS:                      And what do you think a man like that – a committed imperialist, a military commander known for his ruthlessness – would do with knowledge like this?

MARGARET:                    Ah.

FRANCOIS:                      Exactly. He has been attempting to weaponize the power of the spirit world for the glory of the British Empire. His men have been performing experiments on mediums – almost all women, as we know the best mediums are. These are innocent women who’ve simply been leading séances, helping people to connect with their loved ones. They don’t pose any threat to anyone.

We hadn’t been able to track any of the disappeared mediums until three weeks ago, when we found one of the bodies through a tip off. Christ, it was awful! They had attempted some type of brain surgery on her, and she had clearly been tortured.

LOMBROSO:                    My god!

FRANCOIS:                      They are, we suspect, trying to achieve what we have – but rather than slow, careful experiments by willing volunteers, they are trying to take shortcuts, mutilating mediums, cutting them open to see how their brains work, like frogs on a dissection table.

MARGARET:                    Jesus Christ! And Ms Carey! They have her!

FRANCOIS:                      Yes, which is why I came to you. We need your help to get her away from Grimshaw. We don’t know if he knows it was Kate that created the pithecanthropus. But it won’t be long.

LOMBROSO:                    What? How do you know about the pithecanthropus?!

FRANCOIS:                      Because I was there, Professor. As was Dr Reddy over there. And (looking around) Ms Dunlop there, in the white dress.

LOMBROSO:                    Wait, you were…you’re the “Francois” Ms Carey mentioned. You were attacked?!

FRANCOIS:                      Yes, it got me here, right across the chest. But it was fairly superficial. I was very lucky.

MARGARET:                    So Ms Carey is a member of your society?

FRANCOIS:                      Ms Malone, Kate Carey is the current president of our society.

LOMBROSO:                    What!? I….

FRANCOIS:                      She was not sure initially about the idea but we’d had so much success with animal forms. Dr Reddy is an anthropologist and suggested we try an early form of man as the next step in the evolutionary chain. 

LOMBROSO:                   She wanted to create it?!

FRANCOIS:                      Yes. I’m afraid, Professor, she may have slightly downplayed some of this in your initial meeting, but we didn’t know how far we could trust you. I hope you understand.

And the murder, let me be clear, was a terrible accident, not what we had intended at all.  Stupid and dangerous now, we realise, but the creature was supposed to dematerialise within a half hour, as all the others had. We only realised the horrible truth ourselves when we saw the newspaper story and did a little investigating.

MARGARET:                    So what are you all doing here if the president of your society is in prison?!

FRANCOIS:                      Shhh. Ms Malone, if you can keep your voice down a little! This is the biggest night of the year, when all our members come together, and many contribute significant sums of money to the organisation.

We don’t need to cause unnecessary alarm. Everyone who needs to know, knows about the situation. There is a group in the next room, in fact, putting together a plan. But we need all the information we can get, and we need to be careful. We can’t be sure Grimshaw doesn’t have someone here reporting back to him. He is not to be underestimated.

                                         [fx: ding ding of fork on glass]

FRANCOIS:                      You’ll have to excuse me, I’m required to give a short speech. Can we take this up in a few moments?

MARGARET:                    Wait, hold on, you’re saying Ms Carey knew that….

                                         [background: “Mr Leroux will now say a few words…”]

FRANCOIS:                      Please, I won’t be long and I promise we can continue this conversation…

                                         [Fade out]

SCENE 3

[FX: Frances’ footsteps in an echoey, wooden room]

HENTHORN:                    Frances!

FRANCES:                        Benjamin, hello again. It’s very quiet in here, where is everyone?

HENTHORN:                    Yes, the Fellow’s Bar doesn’t actually open for another hour but I’m meeting the provost here for a drink shortly anyway, and you said you needed to talk somewhere quiet?

FRANCES:                        Yes, of course. Thank you for meeting me on such short notice, and for your help with the room earlier.

HENTHORN:                    Not at all! I missed chatting to you at the Friday séances when you left London.

FRANCES:                        Yes, they were great evenings, weren’t they? But listen, I don’t have a huge amount of time and I wanted to ask you something.

HENTHORN:                    Yes. You said this was a sensitive matter?

FRANCES:                        Well, yes.Have you ever come across the Psychical Society of Ireland – PSI? You’ve always been so much more connected to that world than I have.

HENTHORN:                    No, I… who are they?

FRANCES:                        Well, I’m supposed to meet with them tonight and I wanted to find out a little bit more about them.

HENTHORN:                    Oh, I see. Are you getting back into psychical research?

FRANCES:                        No, I…it’s a long story. I’m just helping out my friend with a story – Ms Malone, whom you met earlier. She’s a journalist. I know you haven’t been in Dublin long, but have you been in touch with many spiritualists here?

HENTHORN:                    A few, mostly contacts of friends from London. There is some wonderful research being conducted here, fascinating recent breakthroughs.

FRANCES:                        And you’ve never heard of PSI? They seem a little, I don’t know, more secretive than the Institute in London.

HENTHORN:                    I see. You’re not getting mixed up in something you shouldn’t, are you, Frances? Where are you meeting?

FRANCES:                        Not far, just on Molesworth St.

HENTHORN:                    Which building?

FRANCES:                        Oh, I can’t recall now.Anyway, I just want to see if…

HENTHORN:                    No, no, I’m just thinking perhaps I could come with you, meet some of these people? You couldn’t attend alone.

FRANCES:                        I’m not. Ms Malone and Professor Lombroso are coming too.

HENTHORN:                    I see. Andwhat has this Professor got to do with all this? I’d love to meet him properly.

FRANCES:                        Again, it’s a very long story and I don’t have much time now.

HENTHORN:                    You can tell me this evening. Let me come with you.

FRANCES:                        But you said you had drinks with the provost?

HENTHORN:                    Hmm? Oh, yes, well I can cancel.

FRANCES:                        Cancel drinks with the provost at the last minute? Is that a good career move?

HENTHORN:                    Oh, it’ll be fine. It’s decided, I’ll come with you. What time are we meeting this chap?

FRANCES:                        Who?

HENTHORN:                    The man from PSI

FRANCES:                        (pause) I…didn’t say there was a man.

HENTHORN:                    What? No, you said a man invited you to a PSI meeting and did I know who they were.

FRANCES:                        No. I didn’t. Benjamin, why are you so interested in coming?

HENTHORN:                    Frances, you know me, a secret spiritualist society! Of course I want to come!

FRANCES:                        Look, thanks for your help, Benjamin, really. I need to get going. I’ll, eh, I’ll meet you again soon.

                                         [FX: chair sound as she’s getting up to leave]

HENTHORN:                    (change in tone, firm) Sit down, Frances

FRANCES:                        (scared)Benjamin, what’s going on? I need to go…

HENTHORN:                    (firmer still) Sit down.

FRANCES:                        Ow! Let go of me! I’m leaving! Waiter? Hello?!

HENTHORN:                    There’s nobody here, Frances

FRANCES:                        I’m leaving, Benjamin!

                                         [FX: door opens]

GRIMSHAW:                   Good evening, Ms Hunter

FRANCES:                        Who are you? Benjamin, what’s going on?

GRIMSHAW:                   We haven’t had the pleasure, Ms Hunter. Lord Grimshaw.             

FRANCES:                        Oh, I….what’s….what’s going on?

HENTHORN:                    Sorry Frances. I know Lord Grimshaw from London – he contacted me when one of his men spotted Professor Lombroso near the library and, well, I told him what I knew. This Lombroso man is dangerous, Frances! Lord Grimshaw asked me to get the address of the meeting and his men would go. I didn’t want you to get hurt!

GRIMSHAW:                   Which you failed to do. Where is the meeting, Ms Hunter?

FRANCES:                        Are you serious? I’m not telling you!

GRIMSHAW:                   Not to worry, my men will find it. We have the street. We obviously made a mistake letting you and that journalist friend of yours leave the barracks. Sergeant, take your men and find this meeting on Molesworth Street. Colonel Godley and I will join you shortly and we’ll proceed from there.

Henthorn, I’ve never liked you. You failed at the one task I asked of you, and, frankly, you know far more than I would rather you did. Colonel, can you show Ms Hunter here what will happen if she doesn’t cooperate?

HENTHORN:                    What? No, what are you doing?

                                         [FX: strangling sound, chairs kicked over, etc]

FRANCES:                        What are you doing? Stop it! Help!!

HENTHORN:                    (choking)No, no please!

FRANCES:                        (Screams)

GRIMSHAW:                   Ms Hunter, we need to talk. My men are outside. You can go with them quietly, or Colonel Godley here can forcibly remove you. Your choice.

FRANCES:                        (mumbling) Quietly

GRIMSHAW:                   Good choice. Colonel, clean this up, make it look accidental, you know what to do. I’ll see you on Molesworth St.

Ms Hunter, this way.