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Leanne:

Wasting Company Time presents Tell No Tales, season two. Episode Nine: Second Chance.

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[SFX: Recording begins. Classical music playing.]

LEO

Audio diary of Leo Quinn… scientist. I’ve just popped into the labs to collect some notes. Honestly, I’m still trying to avoid Frank. He’s adamant that he’s not going to ask me whether or not I want him to continue experimenting on the spirits, but it still doesn’t feel right. I’m convinced that if I asked him, and really meant it, he would stop. But I’m worried about whether or not I’m… capable… of meaning it.

I’m not even sure I’ve got it in me to interview another spirit today. I’m just going to go and investigate the area of a recently removed spirit. I think if I can get some data of how the spirit plane reacts to the recent removal of a ghost, I could get some insights into the… I suppose… fabric of the plane. It’s not something that’s often studied. Once the spirit’s removed, there isn’t much need to study what’s left behind. But maybe it’ll help.

God, I wish I had Julia’s help with this. I’m techy, but she knows this kind of stuff, this was her thing. She’s so good with the theoretical conceptual stuff when it comes to how the spirit plane works. The thing is, I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to be studying at this point. Frank seems pretty set on the idea that the problems with the spirit plane are caused by over-population. So now, I don’t know what he wants from me.

Am I supposed to be proving his theory? Or finding a solution? Because if it’s the former, I honestly have no idea how to go about doing that. It seems a sensible theory, especially given the readings we got in Orkney, but that was such a unique case, I don’t know if we could find anything else that replicates those conditions. And if it’s the latter? Well, I mean, I already have a solution for him, but he’s not going to like it. The solution is to find a way to move on the spirits in the warehouse.

It’s obvious that something else is going on there. I all but confirmed that Mortui Non Morden were able to, in some sense of the term, move spirits on. That was clear from my interview with Eveline Weaver. So why can’t Frank? And I’m becoming increasingly convinced that he genuinely can’t. He’s obviously invested in finding a solution to the spirit plane crumbling, if there was a solution that was easily done, he’d have done it by now. And, well, I can’t ask him what he wants me to do about it, because that would defeat the whole object of avoiding him.

So. This is what I’m doing for now. Science for Science’s sake. There’s a fairly recent case of a spirit that was removed from a building in Camden that should be easily accessible, so I’ll go, get some EMF readings. There is some specialised Better Place equipment I can take with me, the kind of stuff they use to survey hauntings before sending out dispatchers, so I’ll take that if I can figure out how to use it. It’ll keep me busy, at least, while I figure out what I’ll say to Frank next time I see him.

[SFX: Recording ends]

[SFX: Recording begins, birds tweeting, lightly lapping water, occasional quiet chatter and footsteps]

LEO

Is it too much to ask for like. A single night off? Just one night where nothing happens? I’m on Regent’s canal, I’ve already collected the data from the recently removed spirit in Camden, and I thought I’d just take a nice long walk home via the canal, I’m still working my way through the Renée Lionheart audiobooks, I had hoped it would just be a nice, chill way to unwind. But nooooo, because there’s no unwinding for Leo Quinn. There’s only spirits. Around every goddamn corner.

I’ll be honest, it spooked me a bit. A lot, actually. Y’know, feeling the spirit without any warning. But when I started hyperventilating, whoever it is did something kind of sweet. They kind of guided me towards a bench? It’s hard to explain, I didn’t even know the bench was there, just up ahead, but I felt this sort of tug towards it. So, uh, I mean… I’m assuming they’re being helpful. And I have the recorder on me. So it’d be rude not to interview them, I suppose. Alright. Just a quick chat, and then home.

[SFX: Recorder clicks on]

Hi there. I mean, I’m sure you just heard me talking to myself, but just in case, my name’s Leo. I didn’t seek you out, but it just so happens I have this recorder that can pick up spirits’ voices. So, why not chat?

FLO

Sounds like fate to me! Although, I am… sorry to sneak up on you. It’s not like I can be anywhere else but here, but still. Didn’t mean to spook you, I’m sorry.

LEO

No, no it’s okay, don’t be sorry for just existing. My ghost-related trauma is a me problem. You helped me to a bench, showed me you were friendly, that’s all anyone can ask for. Er… can I ask who I’m speaking to, though?

FLO

Oh! Of course, I’m being so rude, my name’s Flo. Florence, technically, but I always really liked the name Flo. I was always too nervous to ask anyone to use it, and then I died! So, if I get to introduce myself one last time in the afterlife, then let’s go with Flo. Though, I suppose I’ve already ruined it by going on to explain that I used to be called Florence. So. No worries, if you’d rather just call me that (NERVOUS LAUGH).

LEO

No, that’s ok! Flo’s such a pretty name! I changed my name too, a while back. It’s scary, asking people to use a new name. It somehow feels like an imposition, though I had plenty of people eager to reassure me it was absolutely not. You can ask people to call you whatever you want. If they’re good people, they’ll do it.

FLO

(UNSURE) Okay. (SLIGHTLY MORE CONFIDENT) Okay, yes. Then yes, please call me Flo (GIDDY LAUGH).

LEO

Will do, pleased to meet you, Flo. Can I ask why you’re here, on the canal?

FLO

Oh, I used to come here all the time. It’s peaceful, isn’t it? Or, I suppose it was less peaceful for you when I interrupted. Sorry again about that… um… you should stay long enough to see the sunset from here, it should be soon.

LEO

How come you were here so often?

FLO

I liked to walk. Well, no, I liked to run, but I always got too self-conscious. And I hated the gym, seemed like there was always someone waiting for whatever machine I was using and I couldn’t stand the thought that I was being an annoyance. But walking was safe. And it wasn’t too bad, you get to see so much when you walk. I walked around most of London, when I was alive. When I’d get down, and I was too embarrassed to reach out to someone to talk about it, walking helped. So I saw so many side-streets and little nooks and hidden gems, but I’d come back here most days. I’d get a coffee and sit on this bench and just… breathe.

LEO

Yeah, I can see that about this place. It’s quiet, quiet enough to feel not quite like London any more.

FLO

Exactly, but not so quiet it felt remote or isolated. I do sometimes see women jogging here at night, though, and that makes me really really nervous. I’m always on high-alert in case I need to use some creepy supernatural powers to scare off potential attackers. (SHUDDERS AUDIBLY)

LEO

(TERRIFIED BUT TRYING TO STAY POLITE) What, uh… what creepy supernatural powers do you have?

FLO

(CHEERFULLY) Oh, none. At least none that I know of. I didn’t know about the bench thing, until you said it just a moment ago. I hadn’t thought it was a power, per se. I just saw that you were struggling and wanted to help you find a place to sit. I suppose that want just manifested somehow. I can make the sunsets prettier too, I think. Though, maybe they’re just prettier now that I’m dead. You know… you’d think they’d get less beautiful, after being here so long. But no. It’s still breathtaking, every time.

LEO

How long have you been here?

FLO

Some time now. It’s hard to tell. A few years, maybe? Or a decade even. Maybe more. A long time. I’ve been without a body long enough to finally feel comfortable in my own skin. So, I imagine that’s a looooong time.

LEO

I’m sorry it took so long.

FLO

It’s okay, really. Being a ghost has been wonderful. I mean- it’s, it’s just me here. There’s nobody to impress, nobody to stress about. It’s (STAMMERS) like a second chance. A chance to finish up, get better, whatever you want to call it. I spent so long being afraid, being… well, small. But now that I’m out here, I get to be as loud as I like, so… I mean, I’m still working on it, but it’s something.

LEO

I’d never thought about it like that. A second chance.

FLO

Yeah, it took me a while to see it that way. It isn’t quite the second chance I’d hoped for, I’ll never get another shot at living my life. But I do get a shot at being myself. Oh, look at that. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

LEO

Oh my god. It’s gorgeous. How did that happen so fast?

FLO

It always does. The sun just gets lower in the sky, nothing special or breathtaking about it, but one second it’s just creeping farther down, then the next… there’s just a particular spot, and when the sun reaches it, its reflection hits the water, and on days like this, there’s an explosion of colour and it’s gone almost as fast.

LEO

It is definitely you doing this. I’ve never seen a sunset like this before. I have a strong feeling that if I was even a few hundred metres down the path, it wouldn’t look like this.

FLO

Oh, really? Well, I’m glad I can do something nice then. Take a moment, if you need to. Just enjoy it.

[SFX: Long pause, just the sound of birds, lapping water, a duck or two. Leo takes a few deep breaths. After a few moments, Leo’s phone begins to vibrate]

LEO

Oh, god. (STAMMERS) Okay, um, after that conversation, Flo, I think I need to take this. Sorry.

FLO

(SOFTLY) Bye.

[SFX: Recorder clicks off]

LEO

(DEEP BREATH, THEN ON THE EXHALE) Okay…

[SFX: Phone stops ringing, fabric rustle as Leo raises phone to their ear]

Riley. Hi.

[SFX: Ambience fades out]

[SFX: Rapid footsteps echoing off tile, classical music playing from another room]

LEO

(BREATHLESS) Frank? Frank! Which lab are you in?

FRANK

(DISTANTLY) Over here, Leonardo.

[SFX: More footsteps, music becomes clearer]

(CLOSER) Glad to see you back in the labs. Though you seem to have arrived with some purpose.

LEO

Yes. I’ve… I’ve had some conversations today that… well, they put my priorities back in order. I need you to stop.

FRANK

(NOT FOLLOWING) You need me to… stop?

LEO

Yes. Yes. You- uh… you’ve got to stop experimenting on the spirits. Whatever that means for Noah, you’ve just… you’ve got to stop.

FRANK

Leonardo…

LEO

No. It’s… people matter, Frank. The people you’re hurting, I hate myself for forgetting it, however briefly, it’s so easy to imagine them as abstract concepts, some means to an end, but everyone you’ve experimented on is a person who died. They died, they were given a second chance, then you snatched that away when you plucked them out of the warehouse at random to figure out the tether problem. I can’t be complicit in that.

FRANK

I already assured you, I did not need you to be complicit-

LEO

It doesn’t matter, because I knew if I told you to stop, you would. I was still complicit. So will you? Stop?

FRANK

(LONG PAUSE, THEN SIGH) Yes, Leonardo. If you feel so strongly about this-

LEO

I do.

FRANK

Then yes, I will stop. Not entirely. But I will not put any spirits in harm’s way. Your discovery the other night, about the emotional aspect of a spirit’s tether, it has allowed me to make significant headway. I do believe this is something I can solve. It will take longer, if I am restricted in my ability to experiment, but it should not hinder me significantly. However, I refuse to allow you to trial whatever mobile tethering technology I develop without testing it.

LEO

No, I already told you-

FRANK

No, Leonardo, listen to me. You tell me you do not wish to be complicit. I understand. So understand me when I tell you this. If this technology is imperfect, and it significantly harms your brother’s spirit in any way upon use, I will not allow myself to be complicit in that.

LEO

I… Why? Why do you care?

FRANK

Because I care for you, Leonardo. As I have attempted to tell you multiple times and you do not seem to understand. Perhaps you think me too callous to be capable of any… kind of… paternal affection, but be that as it may, it remains true. You remind me of myself, when I was your age, except you are better. And, much to my own misfortune, you make me strive to do better myself. So, as I said. I will cease my current experiments. Because you have told me to. Because, despite my deepest wishes that it were not the case, I would like to be better for you. But I am not so changed that I have become entirely selfless, and so I will not risk harm to somebody I care about. I will trial the technology before I allow you to use it on your brother. I will do so as safely as possible, but I will do so nonetheless, and I will not be taking into account your opinion on this matter.

LEO

(SOFTLY) Frank. I… (PAUSE) Okay. Okay, I can work with that. As long as you promise you’ll do it safely. With minimal risk to any more spirits.

FRANK

As much as is possible.

LEO

Okay. I… I honestly think I trust your word on this one.

FRANK

(SARCASTICALLY) At long last, they trust my word.

LEO

I’m serious, Frank. Thank you.

FRANK

(MUCH MORE WARMLY) You have nothing to thank me for, Leo.

LEO

(AWKWARD PAUSE) Right. So. It’s been a rough few weeks. Is, uh, is the offer of risotto still on the table?

FRANK

Uhh.. it can be? I will need more truffle.

LEO

Jesus Christ, of course you cook with truffle.

FRANK

And what is so absurd about that?

LEO

It’s rich people food, Frank!

FRANK

It may have escaped your notice, but I am, in fact, quite wealthy…

[SFX: Dialogue begins to fade out]

LEO

Oh, really? I would never have guessed, you’re soooo down to earth…

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Leanne:

This episode of Tell No Tales was written and produced by Leanne Egan. In it, you heard the voices of Leanne Egan as Leo, Georgia McCall as Flo, and Asher Amor-Train as Frank. If you enjoyed this episode, we’d love it if you’d let someone know. It doesn’t have to be us, but it would be a nice ego boost if it was. You can find us on Twitter or Tumblr @tellnotalespod and as always, links and information about transcripts can be found in the show notes. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our season two crowdfund, but with special thanks this episode to getsuandhoshi for your incredibly generous support of this season. Tell No Tales is distributed by Wasting Company Time Productions, under a Creative Commons attribution non-commercial share-alike 4.0 international license. Thank you for listening, and remember: the dead don’t bite.

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