Abyss: Episode One

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Hello, it's Ray Winston. I'm here to tell you about my podcast on BBC Radio 4, history's toughest heroes. I've got stories about the pioneers, the rebels, the outcasts who define tough. And that was the first time anybody ever ran a car up that fast with no tires on. It almost feels like your eyeballs are going to come out of your head.

Tough enough for you? Subscribe to history's toughest heroes wherever you get your podcast. A Vivint home is a smarter home. Vivint lets you keep an eye on your kids from anywhere, so it's a smarter way to care. Because Vivint adjusts your thermostat when it knows you're out, it's a smarter way to save. When Vivint guards your packages from Prowlers, it's a smarter way to protect. And when you can lock the doors and dim the lights for movie night with a single tap,

Well, that's a smarter way to live. To get the smarter home system that just gets you, go to Vivint.com or call 1-855-4-VIVINT. Live intelligently. BBC Sounds music, radio, podcasts.

This has always been a story with an ending. To understand the ending, we need to know where the story began. It started from nothing. From nowhere. 13.8 billion years ago, there was nothing but heat and density. The universe was smaller than the size of an electron. Then it expanded to roughly the size it is now in a fraction of a second. It's still expanding today. At the beginning, all the most simple elements formed.

Gravity pulled some of the elements together, and these became stars and planets. The Earth formed four and a half billion years ago. A billion years later... stromatolites appeared on Earth, structures with microorganisms and cyanobacteria, the first forms of life. Life evolved and diversified until all of nature, all living creatures became present. Some animals on earth developed consciousness. Human consciousness developed quickly.

We considered ourselves sophisticated when we reached a point where we were able to ask certain questions. What does it all mean? Why? Who am I? We've waited for answers to the questions, but none have arrived. We wonder if answers will come with the ending. In the cosmic scheme, my life, with its problems, complexities... tragedies is tiny but i want answers all the same what does it all mean why who am i

A plane, a brain, an embryo, a building. They're all tracks leading to an ending. This is about the future. Your future. and it began with an explosion in space.

Episode 1 by Matthew Brighton. After my diagnosis, we moved from the chaos of London to Cardiff, where I studied. Helen Chauvin? Sorry? I'm Yvonne Bishop. We were at uni together. Remember me? Yvonne! Yes, of course. Well, I'm Helen Ash now. I'm Yvonne Beetz. Didn't we say we'd never get married? Oh, God, we did, yes. Oh, it's really nice to see you. Oh, this is Cleopatra. Me and Scott thought it was a good name for about ten minutes four years ago. Is this...

Your little... Oh, yes, this is Francis. Say hello to Yvonne, Francis. Hello, Yvonne. Hello, little star. Nice to meet you. So how are you, Helen? Not bad. How about you? We just got back from a week in Greece. Lovely weather. I'm not fat. I'm expecting our second. Well, I am a bit fat.

I work at a nursery, Scott's an accountant. Oh, if you're looking for financial advice... I'll bear my mind. Listen, I'm so sorry. I have to... Hang on, I find you this card. What have you been doing? I'm a GP now. Oh, wow. I knew you'd be a success. I'm really not a success. And I have... I bet you are. Here it is. Tell me stuff. You don't want to know. Oh, I do. Have you had a brilliant life? Well, it was going all right.

But there was a plane crash. I was first attender and it changed everything. I met my estranged father, Florian, a brilliant surgeon who was killed in front of me. And since then I've been involved in a series of dark international conspiracies concerning corrupt medical organisations. It's... it's been difficult. You look really well. I have a level 4 glioblastoma brain tumour. Nine months left to live. If this is a joke, it's not very funny.

It was really nice bumping into you, Yvonne. Cleopatra's a lovely name. Ah, but... Sorry, I have to organise a babysitter. Oh, are you going out? It's Saturday night. I'm getting pissed.

It's a paradox. In certain circumstances, utter despair is enjoyable. It's having nothing to lose. Four double vodkas in a tall glass. No ice. Thanks. Some people meditate to live in the present tense. I don't need to meditate. I like the lightness of getting wasted alone. I like a drink, a dance, and... Can I get you another pint of vodka? Sex. Keep up. Down here. Behind the bins. Come here then.

Physical intimacy with a brain tumour is not as mind-blowing as you might imagine. And relax. Can I have your phone number? No. I'm bored of being a cancer patient. We can buy you time with therapy. What's the point? You zap me with radiation and the extra time you buy me will be poisoned. There's the slimmest of slim chances... Don't pretend there's hope.

All I'm interested in is pain management. You can change your mind at any time. When's the NHS going to abolish death? There are practical things I have to address, but right now, I'm dancing. My body is spinning and my head is spinning and the city is spinning and the world seems to make so much sense. In my memory, at this moment, on this Saturday night...

A vision enters my head. Perhaps I've drunk myself into a heightened reality, but what I see on the dance floor is a stormy sea. And a ship. Here to what you drink, babe? She's dabbing MDMA into her gums. I've had just the right amount, actually. Bloody hell. Feel my heart. Yeah, you're tachycardic. Taking that stuff is putting pressure on your heart muscle. What? Doesn't matter. Actually, it does. Go to A&E, get it checked. Don't die tonight, babe. Cassie? I need to go to the hospital!

I'm holding the universe together. There's a gap between everyone else and me. I'm watching the cogs turn. That's when I see him. He's at the bar. Old, grey, dark brown eyes. It looks like him. But it's not him. It can't be. And then he's gone. It looked like him. It looked like Florian, my dead father. Florian! He's gone, or he was never there.

It wasn't him. It couldn't be him. It's time to go home. And that's when I get the email. I open my laptop. The email is empty. No words. But there's a link to a video. What the hell? A short clip of a ship. It's in trouble in stormy waters. Oh, God. Did the vision of the ship I had before really happen in the club, or did it happen later? Why was I sent this? I stare at the email address it came from. Dad? The email is from my dead father.

I go back to the bar where I saw the old man. Everywhere is closing now. The rain has cleared the streets. I carry my father inside me. Is he haunting me? The ship is painted green and pink. It glows unreal as waves strike relentlessly. The hull rising and falling so fast. A blue ring of buoys on the rail swing out of time. The waves crash. It's violent and strange. It scares me because the ship is sinking. Where am I going?

It's me. Freddy. I've been looking for you all night. Bars I've been in. What are you doing here? You're drenched. Why were you trying to find me? You didn't think I'd let you do this on your own, did you? I'm afraid they are. I'm not feeling. I know. I see you. Some people don't just look at you. The ones who matter see you. Drink it black, you drunk mess. Shut up.

Could have caught your death out there. I've already caught it, thanks. Can you ask me the sugar? Using cancer as an excuse to eat unhealthily, that's shoddy. Actually, my tumour fancies a Toblerone too. Don't push it. How did you find out? Mark at work. He said he was sorry about the news. He didn't know what he was talking about. Well, I don't want sympathy, so don't start. You're not getting it. You told me the tests were fine.

You have a baby on the way. A wife. I can't stop bloody crying. I've been crying in front of strangers. Oh, I'm sorry. Have I been selfish? I thought we were close. You wanted out, Freddy. You wanted out. I let you out. You wanted out. I made a mistake. How long? They said 12 months. Nine now. I've wasted three. I haven't. What are we going to do? You are going to go home. Nope. Not an option. I'm fine. Yeah. I'm fine. There must be something I can do.

Take up taxidermy. Keep me in the spare room. All right, smart arse. I like it when you call me names. It hurts. What's the point in talking about this? Why not? Are you in denial? Yeah. You're afraid? You're afraid. Has Frances done anything amazing recently? She's working on a cure. Obviously. Right, I'm exhausted. I need a cab. I'll take you. I can barely get up. I'm around me. Here we go. Absolutely stink. What have you been doing tonight? Having a night out. Who were you looking for?

Florian's dead. I know. You saw his dead body. I know. Dead man can't visit clubs or send emails. I know. What kind of a ship was it? I don't know. How many more times will I sit beside Freddy in his car discussing things we don't understand? A finite number. I'd like to see this video. You okay? He's in his name. It's a generic account. Could be from anyone. Probably from a sicko.

I should send them a photo of my arse. No message. No title. Just the link. Yeah. I see. Right. Okay. It's gone. What? The link's dead. Just click it. I have. It's been taken down. I just watched it. It was probably dodgy viral advertising for a cruise holiday or something. What an old ship sinking in a storm. Hang on, you watched it after getting back? Yeah. Off your face, and now it's gone. If it sunk today, there could be people in the water. Helen... Helen...

You're really pale. You look shite. Yes, sir. I think it's time to be sick. He puts me to bed. He was painted pink and green. Blue boys around a rail. He went down flat.

In the darkness I disappear into my unconsciousness. At the beginning there was nothing but heat and density. I'm on the deck of the ship, holding onto the rail, and everything is getting heavier and heavier. Pick my hand, young lady. Dad, I'm going down. The water? The sea becomes a giant whirlpool, a hole at the center. The ship is moving in decreasing circles until we reach the edge of the abyss.

After the Big Bang, when the universe was still very young, some stars collapsed. In their place, primordial black holes formed. In a black hole... Gravity is so strong that nothing can escape the density.

I will like your eggs in the morning. I like mine in the case. Morning. Morning. Morning, Mummy. Oh, you do look busy. Morning, little one. You smell sick. Where's Amber? I haven't paid her. I gave her the envelope with her name on it. Oh, well done. There's coffee. Frances asked for Marmite on toast. Do you want some? She hates Marmite. She's joking with you. Oh, a little monster. What do you really want?

Give it here, I'll take the Marmite. Any more emesis? I didn't need the bucket, so that was a win. Remember after Florian died and we got his notebook? Yeah, I think so. It had a... It had a Latin phrase in it, linked to a med research document. Vita... Vita sine fine. Life without end. Yeah, that's it. And that was the research title. Linked to brain research.

Did we ever find out the specific nature of the research? I still have it, actually. The document's in Mandarin. Well, can we get a translation? Probably, but why? I don't know. I think the video was taken from the shore. From... Clifftop. Okay. As the ship sank, I got a brief glimpse of the person holding the camera. Who were they? All I saw is a yellow raincoat and red leather gloves. Male or female? I don't know. Have you been using my laptop? Yeah.

I have. Look. The email originated in the UK. I had a hunch the ship was in UK waters too. Been doing some research. What have you found? I don't know what to make of this. I found a news item on YouTube. Look. The video opens on a 50-year-old man with a weathered, soft face, blue eyes and wild grey hair. He speaks to camera with the sea behind him. The caption reads, Eddie Hines.

Dabri Bay. Well, when the storm hit, I went down to my skiff to make sure she was safe in the mooring. That's when it caught my eye, across the water, beyond the bay. No one wants to be out in heaven. weather. As soon as I saw it I knew she was in trouble. I used my Monarch for a good look. It was a vessel 60 plus meters in length, 10 plus wide. Conditions were deteriorating.

and it wasn't winning. I called the guard's office immediately, like anyone would have done. I don't know how many were on the ship, but it rocked and rolled for... Five minutes and when the waves got as big as Monroe's I swear I heard screams. Then it went down fast. Off a brutal. Flash of green and pink. It didn't go bow or stern up, it sunk lateral, fast into the waves. The last I saw of it, the boys around the taffrail floated for half a second and then disappeared.

The sea swallowed our whole. It was a sorry thing. My heart was out to that crew. But that ship dropped hard. That's what I saw. But according to this, it never happened. To what? Look at this, here. Hoax call from troubled resident puts lifeboat crew in danger. It wasn't a hoax. It says no vessel has been reported missing. There's no evidence of any SOS call, no radar trace, and no one else saw a thing.

The police say the ship never existed. I saw the video. Could that have been an entirely different incident? I mean, it's tenuous. Am I connecting things that don't connect? I don't know. You've got to physically... abnormal brain, but it's strange though. Wait, wait, don't turn it off. Why? Look, in the crowd behind Eddie Hines, there's a figure. There. My god. What? It's a woman. We can't see her face. But she's wearing a yellow raincoat and red gloves. You think that's the person you saw?

Well, it can't be a coincidence. Francis? Fancy a little trip up north, Francis? Okay. You can't be sure. You don't know anything about this. What else am I supposed to do? But your condition- Look, I'm not asking you to come with me. Are you coming or not? No. I'd have to speak to Rebecca. Please, I'll let you drive. Are you really doing this? An email from a dead father A ship that may not exist A person in yellow and red

And a woman with cancer living on the edge of a black hole. What is there to lose? All set? Yeah. Let's go. So what did Rebecca say? She didn't think you going up there all on your own was a good idea. It's fine, as long as it's only a day or so. And when should you? That's touching distance. I've been doing a lot of research into pregnancy. I've got a great handle on women's bodies now. Oh, God. Poor Rebecca. I can't wait for this kid to arrive. Uncle Freddy's going to be a daddy, Francis.

We move from south to north and the hours pass. We enter Scotland and keep going as the panorama widens and the sky gets higher. We drive until we're almost at the edge of the world. Dabri Bay, home of Eddie Hines. The village is small but not quaint. There's space and light, it's barren and flat. I feel a sense of absence here. It's a landscape of loneliness and melancholy. I like it. The sea water is a vast pattern of light and shadows.

Filled with secrets. See that? TV van. Reporters. The story is still alive then. A broadcast van is outside the village pub. We pull up alongside and park. Right. What's the plan? We need Eddie Hines' address. I'll try in there. Get info. I can do it. It's a pub. It's a Gaelic thing, you know. The Irish and Scots have an understanding. Also, people tend to like me when they meet me because I'm friendly. Get on with it, then.

I'll say I'm from CNN or the FBI or something. I'm at my best undercover. Well, if you want to be convincing, just tell them you're an idiot. Good idea. Go on, be quick. Twenty minutes later, he's back, with beer on his breath. It's family friendly in there. So... We should have a few later. I've booked us rooms. What did you find out? Eddie Hines is not a popular fella. There's a 19-year-old kid from the lifeboat crew in hospital and he's not expected to make it.

Eddie's copying the blame. Where did you get that from? Who did you speak to? That pub staff wouldn't tell me a thing. Well, you clearly had a beer with someone. I got in with the crew covering the story. Pretended I was a journo. No? I had to ingratiate myself.

The lads are sinking a few pints while they're waiting for news of the police investigation, so I followed suit. And do we have an address ready or not? It's not far from here, but he won't talk to the press. We're not the press. It takes some convincing of that. He only speaks to the police under jurors. We have an advantage over the press and the police. What's that? We believe him.

This is a nice house. Would you like me to do the talking? No. And for God's sake, try not to breathe on anyone. A figure approaches the glass of the door. Is that Eddie? Go away, please. I'm not interested. I'm Dr Helen Ash. I don't need a doctor. I've come a long way to see you, Eddie. What's the matter with you people? I'm here with my friend and my little girl, Frances. I just want to talk. Hi, Eddie.

Leave me alone. I've had enough. I think you've been treated unfairly, Eddie. I believe you and I believe your side of the story. Oh, I've heard that one before. Wait, please, listen. A lower window opens and the barrel of a shotgun appears. Hey, whoa. Gory. No. Behind the barrel is a neat young woman.

With the gun in one hand, she uses the other to film us on her phone. You be careful with that thing, Lucy. Don't get us into trouble. And they're the ones in trouble, no me. We're not here to do any harm. Don't think I won't use this against you, trespasser. You keep control, Lucy. Oh, I am, Daddy. I just want to see. Jesus Christ. That was a warning. The next one connects. We're going. Hang on. We're going, Helen.

It's OK, Francis. Lucy's just playing. I have ten. Nine. Eight. Listen, I believe you saw that ship, Eddie, because I saw it too. Lucy, stop! Steady, go! Five. Helen, come on. We're staying in the pub. Change your mind and talk to me. Look, if you're going to kill someone, kill me. I'm already dying. And I saw that ship. And I can prove it. One.

We're gone. We're gone. No sweat. We're out of here. Aye, stay away. That went beautifully. Shut up. It's over. Night in the pub. Head home first thing. There's nothing else we can do. I know, I'm not finished here. Great. Let's go back and get shot. No, something is wrong in all this.

A pint of heavy. Get myself a gin and ginger. Orange juice for you, Frances? Shut up, Freddy. Where'd you get that from, I wonder? Look, I just asked a barmaid about the woman in the yellow coat. And what'd she say? Daytrippers come and go. Could be anyone. Okay? Oh dear. What? Behind you. There's someone at the window.

You have proof that the ship exists? There's video. But I need to speak to your father. Well, are you really sick or is that a lie? I tell her frankly about my condition. She listens without emotion. You've no idea what we've been through. Lucy, Mummy. This is Lucy, darling. Say hello. Hi, Lucy. Say hi back, Lucy, or it just makes you look rude. Hello, Frances. You've got a big gun. You must love your dad very much. Since my mum date, I've had problems.

And he looks after you. His health isn't so good. Look, the police are threatening to lock him up, but that's not what freaked him out. What freaked him out? He had some visit out. Put the fear of God into him. Who was it? Someone from the authorities. What, the police? I couldn't get any sense from him.

I could give him a health check if you like. If he's stressed out, he might need help. She nods but says nothing. I tell Lucy about my personal connection to the ship. About the email from my dead dad. But you don't have the video. No, it was deleted. Then what's the use? I think the woman in the yellow coat has it. But I need to be sure it's the same one. I think... Between us, we can figure out what happened and why. She stares at me. Do you think he'll speak with me? No.

She said she'd send me a text when she'd spoken to him. We sit in the car looking across the water. I stare at the exact spot where the ship went down. Was the video taken from up there? Yeah, I think so. Well, we need a good lens. And those others, there. They look like small naval vessels. The Navy? Are they searching? Possibly. If the authorities think this is a hoax, then why are they so interested? I mean... Is that Lucy?

Yep, we're in. When we arrive at Eddie's house, the glass in the front door is shattered. What happened to the door? Nothing. Friends of the Coast Guard? I don't know. When you see people in trouble in water, you call the guard. No one can blame you for that, can they? Eddie's house is modest. It's decorated with photographs of seascapes and marine vessels. What have you got to tell me? Lucy said you've been stressed. Aye. Well, who wouldn't be? Lucy is sitting silently in the corner, staring.

Because of the investigation. If it's not the police, it's the kids throwing stones. If it's not the kids, it's the press. If it's not the press, it's... Well... Who? Who else? Just say your piece, then go. Can I listen to your heart and check your BP? Oh, I'm strong. Even strong people need a check. You agree, Daddy? Oh, I will just do it then. I check his heart.

Still picking, aye? A little too quickly. Oh, I'm sure, because a bloody doctor's listening to it. Put your hand through here, please. think that your dead dad emailed you. Someone did, in his name. But I saw the video all the same. And what did you see? I describe the boat, the green and pink paintwork, the boys tied along the rail, and how it went down, flat. Well, maybe you saw it. Maybe I didn't. Freddie, would you and Lucy take Francis outside for a bit?

Sure. Come on, Freddy. Daddy? That's fine. They go out and it's just me and Eddie. Oh, don't look at me like that. Your blood pressure is much too high. Are you getting pain? I'm not old. Doesn't matter. This really needs to be checked at a hospital. Oh, I'm all right. Who's been here, Eddie? Listen to me. I know what fear looks like. Who came here? I didn't see a ship. What? I made it all up. You saw it? I'm a bad man.

I saw nothing. Who came here? No one. We can help each other, Eddie. It's time you left. Was she wearing a yellow waterproof coat? You don't know what you're talking about. I made it all up. She broke your window, didn't she? What else did she do? Look, you know how it feels when your life doesn't matter, don't you? Oh, yes, but it does matter. I don't care what anyone does to me. Maybe not.

But you do care about your daughter. We're not talking about her. We're not talking about this anymore. Did they threaten to hurt her? There was no ship. There was no sinking. They told you to say it doesn't exist. I saw nothing. Don't. Don't tell it. Don't tell anyone. Please don't tell anyone. Okay, okay. Hold it together. Take it easy. Listen to me. Easy, easy. Take control. Nice and calm. In and out. I'll look after her. Because she needs me. Who's the woman in the yellow coat?

Who did the ship belong to, Eddie? Ship? Ship doesn't exist. No, no. Eddie, Eddie. Can you hear me? Eddie, it's okay. Keep your eyes open. Look at me. Eddie, look at me. Stay awake now. Can you raise your arms? Okay, I can see you. Hello, I need lambing urgently. I'm with someone who's having a stroke. I'm here, Eddie. Concentrate on your breathing. That's it. Nice and slow. Dubry Bay, 2B Long Lane. I'm a medic. I think it's a stress hemorrhagic stroke.

Hi, systolic BP. I'm with him. Freddy? Eyes open. Eyes open. Come on, Eddie. Look at me. Concentrate on breathing. Wide, wide awake. Look at me, Eddie. That's it. That's it. Eyes on me. Dad! What's happened? Is it a struggle? What did you do to him? Dad! His eyes stare through me. When the ambulance arrives, Lucy goes with him. You did all the right things. You couldn't see that coming. It's not uncommon at his age. Oh, I tipped him over the edge.

Lucy, how is he? I'm sending you a video. Okay. Get the bastard sent at this. Lucy, hello? What's she say? She's sending a video. What video? We sit in the car, cup our hands around my phone and watch the video It's shaky camera phone footage taken from Lucy's bedroom window. It shows a woman in a yellow coat with red gloves knocking on the door. We recognise the woman immediately.

Do you know what this means? That everything is connected. Peluso. Yellowcoat is Valerie Peluso. The notorious Valerie Peluso. Senior officer of the government health department charged with investigating medical malpractice. What's she even doing here? Peluso is corrupt. Last time we saw her she was interrogating us in a police cell. She was pregnant.

with triplets. What now? I should have had them. The spawn of Satan. What is she doing up here? Does the ship link to bootings? Bootings links to Mayflower. Jesus. What are we into? Wait, if she's investigating the ship, does that mean it exists or it doesn't? It exists. I don't feel safe. Me neither. Me neither. We all stare out at the sea.

Come on, sweetheart. Let's go and find some shells on the beach, shall we? The waves snap onto the beach, sunlight on the surf. We walk on the coastal path down the slope to the water's edge. I just got an email about Florian's brain research. They sent the headlines. So? Listen to this. Research concerns primary and metastatic pathological growths beyond malignancy stage four.

for long-term treatment, effective dissection, and aim for plausible complete cure. He was... He was looking for a cure for head cancer. Yeah. I don't know.

The universe began with density and heat and an explosion in space. This is how the ending of the story begins, Francis. With a ship that disappeared. One day you can make sense of these recordings. I'm sorry I can't be with you. But this is about the future. Your future. The ending has answers. What's that over there? What is that? The tide is pushing it back and forth in the sand. Easy. Careful. Got it? Yeah. what I think it is. Severed at the wrist. It's a human hand.

In Tracks, Abyss by Matthew Brighton. Helen was played by Olivia Poulet. Freddie by Jonathan Forbes. Eddie by Mark Bonnar. Lucy by Kieran Sonja-Sawar. The Cancer Specialist by Finlay Robertson, Yvonne by Betris Jones and Frances by Juno Robinson. It was a BBC Cymru Wales production directed by James Robinson. If you'd like to hear more from Trax, just go to BBC Sounds. A new podcast from BBC Radio 4. Children of the Stones. Village is the sort of place people get murdered in in old TV shows.

A village surrounded by an ancient stone circle. The stones are thirsty. A village with an impossible secret. The stones are changing people. I look them straight in the eye and I see what's there. Which is... Bliss. Subscribe to Children of the Stones on BBC Sounds. She's coming. Happy day. to tell you about my podcast on BBC Radio 4, History's Toughest Heroes. I've got stories about the pioneers, the rebels, the outcasts who define tough.

And that was the first time anybody ever ran a car up that fast with no tires on. It almost feels like your eyeballs are going to come out of your head. Tough enough for you? Subscribe to history's toughest heroes wherever. you get your podcast. When Vivint Smart Security gives you a smarter way to protect and its smart thermostats give you a smarter way to save, well, that's a smarter way to live. Get the smarter home system that just gets you. at Vivint.com.