Original subtitles

My name is Gilbert Power.

When I started this podcast,

I didn't expect to solve anything.

I didn't expect it to change my life.

But most of all...

...I didn't expect Dove.

Krtek?

It's Dove.

Jesus.

How long have you been holed up in here?

Krtek?

Krtek?

Hiya. Is this Dave's Halloween party?

Em...

Thanks, mate.

I've been investigating this story for 18 months. No way I'm stopping now.

Dove, your key informant just hung himself.

- Which is why I need... - You work for The Guardian, okay?

We say to keep your head down, stay home, and let the police do their job.

No, I... I need to work. I have to...

I need this, Damien.

It's out of my hands.

I'm comin' back in.

I am your editor, and I'm telling you,

there is no way you're coming into the office.

I've been staring at my bedroom wall for two days. I'm not running away.

And I'm supposed to be in a meeting right now

explaining this shit show to the board.

Tell them the truth. I've nothing to hide.

- I'm trying to protect you. - I don't need protecting.

You need to get out of town.

No.

- No, I've done nothing wrong. - Okay.

I have to put you on something else, temporarily.

Ireland?

No way.

Why the fuck would I go back there?

- Have you heard of Gilbert Power? - Who?

- He's a podcaster we're working with. - Oh Christ, Damien.

We need you out of sight.

And he needs someone who knows the lay of the land.

No way. No, I haven't been back in fuckin' years.

He's won a Peabody Award. He's a big deal, okay?

We're partnering with him on a true crime series.

True crime podcasts aren't journalism. They're necrophilia.

True crime is big business for us.

I'm an investigative journalist.

I will work on a true crime podcast over my dead body.

Yeah. Yeah, good idea, Dove.

That's exactly what we need, another body.

Bodies? I'm not interested in bodies.

I'm about empathy.

And people talk about true crime being sensationalist.

But you know what's really sensational?

Just listening to people tell their story. There's nothing more interesting.

- Yeah. Totally. - Right?

The best stories are always mysteries.

And there's only one true mystery.

The human heart.

Wow.

People will listen to that, will they?

Wait, Dove? Are you Dove?

Oh my God. It's so nice to meet you.

But, uh, so Damien was telling me all about you.

L-Like what?

Uh... Good stuff.

Yeah, good stuff.

Um, do you know our researcher Emmy?

I'm Emmy Sizergh. I work in the digital department.

We've actually met a couple of times.

No, I don't think so.

Oh.

Um, so I've organized everything.

Accommodation is sorted, interviews lined up. I've got maps.

I've hired a driver for the week. "Sean O'Shea."

How Irish is that?

I've actually been trying to learn Irish,

which is a really difficult, um... difficult... difficult language.

Hey. Hey.

This is gonna be so much fun.

Look at us. The dream team.

Bodkin has no idea what's about to hit it.

Hmm.

I'm just so excited to be here.

I mean, look at this green. It's so green. I love it.

It's, like, exactly the green I imagined. You know?

Um, so I've prepared a quick itinerary.

We'll drop our bags at the guest house,

then go to Ailbhe's Hollow, where the "Sam-hain" Festival was held.

- Then I found a nice pub for dinner. - "Sow-in."

- Uh, excuse me? - Uh, "sow-in."

It's... it's pronounced "sow-in."

Oh. Sorry.

"Sow-in."

"Sow-in."

"Sow-in."

So, ye lads here for the festival next week?

No. But... But, yes.

We're here to investigate the Samhain mystery.

That old thing?

Jaysus. l wasn't even born when that happened.

Oh, but it's so fascinating.

I mean, a small town mystery,

unsolved for 25 years.

Three unconnected people go missing on the Irish Night of the Dead.

And now the town is reviving the Samhain Festival?

I mean, it's a great story lens for a podcast.

Right, yeah. And... and people will listen to that, they will?

Oh, people love true crime.

They love small towns, and they love Ireland.

It's a four-quadrant story.

And, eh, in the podcast, will you... will you mention me?

Yeah, maybe. If you're part of the story.

Savage!

And, eh,

where are you from, then?

London.

No, no, no. I mean, uh... I mean, where are you from originally?

You sound like a Dubliner. Are you a Dub?

Sure.

I'm, eh... I'm from Romania meself.

Oh my God.

Oh my God!

Can you believe this?

Oh, wow.

You know, I've always thought that Ireland

was the most beautiful country in the world.

Smile. You're on video.

Oh, this is perfect.

I mean, the air is so clean.

It just feels so nourishing.

Ah, nice. Nice. And you're all working together now?

Oh, yeah. Dove and I work for The Guardian.

We're teaming up with Gilbert for the podcast.

He's the producer. I'm just the researcher.

You do this sort of thing often, do you?

Actually, it's my first time out in the field.

It's, like, so exciting.

"Exciting"?

Wouldn't be the word I'd use.

But, you know, I'm sure we could work something out.

Yeah.

Hey, Sean, who's that?

Oh, Shitpants?

Uh, I'm sorry. "Shitpants"?

No.

- That's just what people call him. - Oh.

He went off to Silicon Valley, came back with a load of cash.

- Oh. - That's his server farm there.

- A server farm? - Yeah.

Ireland's the tech capital of Europe, you know?

- Oh. That's amazing. - Yeah.

Uh, but w-w-wait.

But that... There's still, like, small, quaint stuff here too, right?

Whatever you want, boss, I'll get it for you.

Okay, good.

Sound.

Nice sunglasses.

Fuck off.

Dove, did you just tell that girl to fuck off?

Yeah, you should try it sometime, Gilbert.

It's very nourishing.

Sean! Sean!

- Barry. - Sean.

Cathal.

- Who's your friends? - Ye lads on your holidays?

Oh, no, we're here for work. We're, uh, making a podcast.

- A podcast? - In Bodkin?

Mm-hmm.

And you do that for a job, making podcasts?

Sure.

And you've come from America to do a podcast in Bodkin.

- And people will listen to it? - Yeah.

Some show about the lads that went missing in Samhain.

About that auld thing?

Oh. Did you live here when it happened?

Oh, yes.

But, you know... it could have been anything.

They were probably caught by a rogue wave.

A... a rogue wave?

My aunt got caught by one.

- Came up to her neck. - Hmm.

And of course, if they were messing with the stones up in the Hollow...

The stones?

Are you touched?

Stones?

Fairies, Gilbert.

He's talking about fuckin' fairies.

Listen, lads, be well, yeah?

- Huh. - Stay out of trouble, Barry, yeah?

Hope it keeps fine for ye.

Yeah, hope it keeps fine for you too.

- Hello. - Hello.

Hi, Mrs. O'Shea. I'm Emmy Sizergh.

I called you earlier. We're staying with you this week.

Right.

Okay. Come on. In you come.

So, you're from America, then?

Chicago originally.

Oh, Chicago.

I had a couple here from Chicago a few years ago.

What was their name?

Roger.

He was Roger, yeah.

And...

I want to say Beth.

Roger and Beth.

Do you know them?

I... I don't, uh, think so. Yeah. Hmm.

Well, Chicago, I believe it's lovely.

Apart from all the crime, obviously.

Well, yeah. Sure. Mm-hmm.

You know, we get four seasons in one day here.

Four seasons in one day?

I love it.

- Have you got a good coat? - Well, I have this one.

Yeah, but do you have a good one?

Now, I'm sure you'll be wanting...

- Jaysus. - ...a cup of tea.

I just made a pot.

We actually can't hang about, so...

Sure, but have a cup of tea.

I know for a fact you can't get decent tea in America.

Do you own a dog, Mrs. O'Shea?

A dog? No.

Now, about that tea.

I have to warn you, we don't put cream in our beverages here.

Cream is a treat.

I know what you Americans are like, with your cholesterol.

I used to be a nurse, you know.

Would you like me to take your blood pressure?

Oh, uh, I think I'm good.

Gilbert, we need to dash if we're gonna make it to Ailbhe's Hollow on time.

Ailbhe's Hollow?

Yeah, we're making a podcast

about the people who disappeared at Samhain.

A podcast? And will people listen to it?

Yes. Why does everybody ask that?

Oh, Mrs. O'Shea?

Ugh. Love.

Would you look at that?

I'd lose my own head if it wasn't screwed on.

Are you okay, Mrs. O'Shea?

Mrs. O'Shea?

We should go.

So this is Ailbhe's Hollow.

These stones are very atmospheric.

- You can feel how old it is. - Um...

So, uh, every year, on October 31st,

the town would gather here for the Samhain Festival.

But it was that night, 25 years ago, after the festivities ended,

they discovered that three people had disappeared.

- So cool. - Hmm.

So cool.

- Hi. - Hi.

- How are ye? I'm Darragh. - Oh. We spoke on the phone.

- I'm Emmy. - Lovely to meet you.

- Hi. Gilbert. - Darragh owns all this land.

Yeah. Take your time and have a look around there.

But don't stray too far.

I've a melancholy bullock in the next field.

So right here is where the town used to have the Samhain Festival?

Yeah, every year, the whole town would march up.

It'd be a big party.

To be honest, these days, it's mostly used for a sneaky ride.

So it gets plenty of use.

So, people ride horses here?

A handsome fellow like you will work it out quick enough.

I'll leave you to it.

"Ride" means sex.

Oh.

- Yeah. - Hmm.

How's it going with Gilbert? Everyone says he's a genius.

He thinks Ireland is some kind of Disneyland.

Why not take a leaf out of his book, treat it like a holiday?

You'll have a great time with him and Emmy.

Eh, have you met them?

They're very... upbeat. It's like they're in a cult.

Podcasters are journalists, same as you.

Long before trick-or-treating,

before the costumes, before horror films,

Halloween had another name.

"Samhain."

So cool.

I have a real story back home, an important one.

I've got no clue how to make a podcast. What the hell am I doing here?

You're protecting your career

and the paper.

We need to be careful.

I've got to go, Damien. I'm off to enjoy my incredible holiday.

So the missing woman is Fiona Doyle. She was a schoolteacher.

Okay. Uh, does she have any family in town?

Her parents are deceased, no siblings I can find.

- But she does have a cousin here. Bridgit. - Oh, great. We'll start there.

Now, the man who disappeared is a different story.

His name was Malachy O'Connor, but I can't find much more info than that.

And the boy, there's literally no information about him.

I can't even find his name. It's like he never even existed.

Oh my God.

- Over there. Over there. - Hmm?

There's a nun. A nun in a pub.

Love this country.

Okay, anyway.

So what I'm hoping will really elevate this podcast

is the whole mystical Samhain angle, right?

It's very atmospheric.

And I wanna try to find, like, you know, lots of...

lots of Irish folk stories and myths, you know?

And we should definitely try and find more people talking about fairies.

Jesus. Gilbert, it's not literal.

No one actually believes there are tricksy little people around causing mischief.

It's just... a way of not thinking about the things you don't wanna think about.

Three people disappeared, Gilbert.

If you wanna get to the truth,

I wouldn't waste your time in a tourist trap of a pub like this.

We need to find the real Bodkin.

Sean, let's go.

Right, boys. Pleasure doing business as always, yeah?

Better.

What can I get you?

Three Guinness.

Hi there.

This is a proper old man's boozer.

It's a traditional pub.

It's lovely.

We took the plunge, dropped everything.

Quit our jobs, bought a van.

We were planning on driving across Europe,

but we can't quite bring ourselves to leave West Cork.

- We love it here. - Well, what's not to love?

So, this podcast,

are you doing that thing where you say it's about one thing,

but it's actually about something else?

Easy, darling.

- What? - No, no, no, she's right.

Uh, it's a convention, but it's not my thing.

How are you gonna solve it?

It's not really about solving it.

It just has all the elements of an amazing story.

Podcasting is very competitive, and true crime really pops the market.

And it doesn't hurt to be in such a beautiful place.

Gilbert, Bodkin might have a nice waterfront,

but I guarantee you, bad things happen here just like everywhere else.

♪ When you're far away ♪

♪ From the home That you'll soon be leaving ♪

♪ 'Tis many the time ♪

♪ By night by and by day ♪

♪ That your heart Will be sorely grieving ♪

♪ For the stranger's land May be bright and fair ♪

♪ And rich in its treasures golden ♪

♪ You'll pine, I know ♪

♪ For the long, long ago ♪

♪ And the heart ♪

♪ That is never olden ♪

- Jaysus. - Oh, that was good.

Good man, Teddy.

Oh my God.

Yeah, just so you know, that's not normal.

Right, we're not all singing

and doing fuckin' Riverdance all the time, yeah?

Fuck this.

Hey. Excuse me.

Hey.

That was, uh, amazing.

Don't mind Teddy. He's gone back to sea.

I'm after hearin' we've an American podcaster in town.

Yes, sir.

But actually, I'm Irish. Yeah. Gilbert Power.

Uh-huh. Seamus Gallagher.

- Ah, you're Irish, are ya? - Mm-hmm.

You don't say.

I do say.

Yeah, my great-grandfather was Michael Power, from Cork.

Michael Power?

Um, yes, sir.

- From Cork, you say? - Yeah.

Well, now,

that would make us mortal enemies.

- What? - Your great-grandfather was a thief.

And he stole five acres of land from my great-grandfather.

Now I'm gonna have to ask you to leave before things get ugly.

Uh...

Okay, um...

First of all, I'm sorry. I didn't...

I mean, that was generations before...

I'm only messin' with ya.

Gilbert Power.

Come on, now. I'm buying you a drink.

- I'll introduce you to the lads. - Oh my God.

Do you think I could get him to sign a release form?

No?

Okay.

Spare a smokie?

I quit.

Too bad.

I hear you're interested in the lads that went missing on Samhain.

I know what happened to them.

Oh yeah?

But I shouldn't really say.

They were attacked.

Attacked?

By horses.

You should never trust a horse.

I once saw a horse run seven times around a field,

and then it turned into a woman.

Right.

She was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.

Horses,

they'll only break your heart.

Fucking hell.

Ah! Get in here! Come on! Get in here!

Whoo!

Ah!

I know! I'm trying! I'm trying!

Wait, why is nobody else drinking?

Oh Christ. What is it now?

There's a reason I left this fuckin' country.

Who gives a flying fuck what happened here 20 years ago?

There's only one mystery in Bodkin. It's why anyone would fuckin' stay.

Dove,

help Gilbert with his podcast or find yourself another job.

Am I understood?

Do not call me again.

Oh, hi, hon.

Yeah, yeah. It's a... it's a great time.

Oh. Hmm.

Hmm.

Well, that's, uh...

that's weird.

Uh... Uh...

Yeah, well, you know, don't... don't worry about it.

It's not a problem. That... It's...

You know, I just gotta... uh, move some money around.

Amber, it's... it's n-nothing to worry about.

Amber.

Amber, fuck! Yeah, I will take... care of it, okay?

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

It's your boy, Sean. Actually, it's your boy Sean's phone.

So leave me...

Hey.

Hey.

You don't look so good, Gilbert.

I ju... just need some Tylenol and coffee and I'll be fine.

Have you seen Dove?

Mm-mm.

- Oh. Thank you. - Now.

Hey.

I suppose you'll be wanting some breakfast.

Please. Thank you.

Gilbert?

- Hmm? - I can't get through to Sean.

It's annoying. His car is outside, but he's not picking up.

Tylenol, coffee, Sean.

Morning!

Uh. Um, out of curiosity, do you drive?

- What? - Do you drive?

No.

Okay. Cool.

Where's Sean?

He's gone AWOL.

What's the deal with Sean?

- Deal? - Yeah, where'd you find him?

Online. I think he just does odd jobs and taxis people around.

It's your boy, Sean.

Actually, it's your boy Sean's phone...

Okay, so, guys, we've got to get going.

We've got an interview lined up with the Garda who investigated.

- And then I think Gilbert wanted... - Where does Sean live?

Um...

It's...

Oh, "27 Portola Road."

- We should start there. - Why?

Just a hunch.

Okay. But, um, as I said, we do need to get going, and...

Oh, you can do your own thing, Sizergh.

I actually just prefer to be called Emmy.

Emmy's a very twee name. Like you're a Brontë sister or something.

Why be an "Emmy" when you can be a "Sizergh"?

Okay.

Also, I think this whole true crime thing is morally bankrupt.

- Okay, yeah. - It's just a distraction.

That's what true crime podcasts are, like a public hanging.

There's a story here that actually matters.

I think Sean knows something about it.

We should probably stick together though, right?

No.

Oh, thank you.

It's your boy, Sean.

- Actually, it's your... - I'm not hungry.

Portola... Road.

Fuck's sake.

So first, we'll try the cousin, Bridgit.

See if she'll talk to us about the missing woman.

- Fiona. Yeah. - Right, yes.

And then, um...

Sergeant Ruairi Power was the local Garda when the disappearances happened.

- Apparently, he's still working. - His name is Power.

- Uh, yes, Sergeant Ruairi Power. - It'd be cool if we were related.

Mm.

- I think it's a pretty common name here. - Hmm.

Distant cousins, maybe.

Maybe.

Do you know where Portola Road is?

Portola Road? I wouldn't be starting here.

Uh... I need directions.

So you must be one of the podcasters.

- I just need to find Portola Road. - So sad.

She was a lovely girl, Fiona. Used to teach up at the school.

Course, that closed down long ago. Cuts.

You practically have to drive into Skibbereen now

to find a decent primary school.

Directions? Portola Road, please.

Oh, I didn't leave my house for three weeks after that Samhain.

I was terrified.

It was probably some sick murderer, I've no doubt.

I watch a lot of these documentaries.

These killers plan these things out,

lie in wait for the perfect timing.

Sixteen. This should be where Bridgit lives.

Okay, great.

You know, the thing to remember about these initial conversations

is that you need to be very delicate, okay?

- Yeah? - Hi there. Are you, uh, Bridgit Pierce?

- You the podcasters? - Yes. Yes, we are.

Okay.

Does that happen a lot?

Occupational hazard.

She might come around though as we spend more time in town.

So... the guard?

- Yeah. - Yeah.

So what's the plan for the interview?

- Police officers can be tricky. - Uh, sure.

It's good to be, uh, very deferential.

They're not used to being the ones answering questions.

Sure, yeah.

Um, I tend to just feel my way through.

You know, depending on how it's going, I might take a small risk or two.

It's important to keep your eyes open and look for opportunities,

but really, we're just, you know, trying to establish a rapport

so we can follow up later if we need to.

Risk, rapport, opportunity.

Hang on. I just wanna write this down.

Is it raining? I can't tell.

I think it's just sort of a wet breeze.

It's always raining in Ireland.

Even when you think it's dry, it's still raining.

Only very, very small drops.

Hmm.

We're looking for Sergeant Power.

This way.

Um... All right.

Hello?

Sean?

Sean!

Sean, are you there, boy?

Is it all sorted?

We can't just afford any more fuck-ups, yeah?

You there, Sean?

It's your boy, Sean. Actually, it's your boy Sean's phone.

Fuckin' eejit.

No. I get it.

It all sounds like a big mystery.

But truth be told, there isn't much to tell.

Samhain is just a bit of fun.

You know, it's why you wear costumes on Halloween?

- Really? - Oh yeah.

Because in Samhain, you had to wear a disguise,

otherwise, the spirits of your dead relatives would find you.

Well, wouldn't that be nice, I mean, to see your family again?

No.

Because if they liked you, they'd stick around,

and no one wants that.

And if they didn't like you...

...well...

best to disguise yourself.

- Milk? - Oh, no.

- Sugar? - No. Thank you. Thank you.

Well, look, that's so fascinating.

You don't think there's much of a story here?

This is rural Ireland.

It's not quite what you're used to back in America,

where you're swimming in crime.

I mean, we've never even had a serial killer in Ireland.

Well, there was the Vanishing Triangle disappearances in the '90s.

Six women gone without a trace.

Just because you've never prosecuted a serial killer doesn't mean you haven't...

...had one.

This is a small town.

Things get blown out of proportion. Rumors spread quickly.

But why cancel the festival?

Those lads disappeared, and the festival got the blame.

If you ask me, they probably just left and didn't tell anyone.

A bit of Samhain high jinks.

That's all.

Okay. Okay. Hmm.

You know, uh, Sergeant, you and I have the same last name.

My name is Gilbert Power.

You don't say.

I do say.

Well, how about that.

We might even be related.

Yeah, maybe.

Huh?

Tell me about this thing you're making.

- A podcast, is it? - Yes, sir.

- And people will listen to it? - Hm, I hope so.

How about a little Irish twist?

Oh, I... I shouldn't. I overdid it a little bit last night.

Go on. Hair of the dog.

Thank you.

For luck.

So I guess I'm just curious about your background.

How do you get started in these things anyway?

Well, I worked in public radio for a long time, and...

And you an assistant?

Well, I'm... I'm a researcher.

An assistant researcher, huh? How about that.

Hmm.

Slainte.

Slainte.

Do you know, we've never even had a serial killer in Ireland?

We're a naturally good people.

♪ Oh never, oh never ♪

- ♪ Oh never again ♪ - Okay.

- Up, up. - ♪ If I live to a hundred ♪

♪ Or a hundred and ten ♪

♪ I fell to the ground And I couldn't get up ♪

♪ After drinkin' a quart Of the Johnny Jump Up ♪

Jesus.

We should roll him on his side.

So he doesn't drown in his own sick.

- Yeah. - Yeah. Good idea.

You all right there, Sergeant Power?

This is really bleak.

♪ Tell them I'm not crazy Tell them I'm not mad ♪

♪ Sure it was only a sup Of the cider I had ♪

Emmy?

Emmy?

- Yeah? - Yeah, we should head.

Yeah.

Fucking podcast.

You have a strange method to making a podcast.

I'm just taking a break, out on a stroll.

I just live up the road there.

Small cottage,

with the red door.

Yeah?

No need to be sneaking around after me.

I'm just a curious person.

This is a quiet town with good people.

And you want to dredge up all this Samhain nonsense. For why?

For a podcast?

I've heard they're popular.

And what if we don't want a podcast made about our town?

Did you ever think about that?

You know, I read all sorts of things in the newspapers.

You know the weather's gonna kill us all?

So you'd think you'd have something more important to do

than to come down here and rile us all up.

Have we met before?

- Huh? - It's just...

I feel like I know you from somewhere.

I'm a fisherman from Bodkin. Fuckin' famous, me.

Let the past go.

It's done nothing to you.

What's that?

A folder. I found it in Sergeant Power's house.

What?

When you were putting him down, I looked around his office and found this.

It's from the year of the Samhain disappearances.

Emmy, what the hell?

I mean, this is theft.

- We need to take it back. - You said to look for opportunities. I...

No, I meant in the interview. Opportunities for questions.

I didn't mean to steal his property.

But it was just lying there.

Imagine what might be in here. Imagine if we can solve this.

No. We're not detectives. We're not here to solve this.

We're here to tell a story.

Oh Jesus, Emmy.

The fuck?

Listen up.

Things could go very badly for you

if you keep snooping into things that don't concern you.

- What? - Drop the podcast bullshit.

Go home before you get really hurt.

Oh my God. That's Sean's car.

I came to Bodkin to tell a story.

A bit of fun, something to listen to on your drive home.

I didn't understand then how much power a story actually has.

But stories can change us.

Stories can kill.

Fuck off, wolf.

♪ Vampire ♪

♪ You feed on the life of a pure heart ♪

♪ Vampire, you suck the life of goodness ♪

♪ Vampire, you feed on the life Of a pure heart ♪

♪ Vampire, you suck the life of goodness ♪

♪ Turn the light on ♪

♪ Let the light shine bright ♪

♪ Turn the light on ♪

♪ Let the light shine bright ♪

♪ You got to feel yourself and let go ♪

♪ You got to know you reap what you sow ♪

♪ You've got to feel something At some time ♪

♪ Check the writings on the wall And look to the sign ♪

♪ You're spending all your money On gear that never work ♪

♪ You're wasting all your energy And everywhere it hurts ♪

♪ God, it really hurts ♪

♪ Yes, it really hurts ♪

♪ You got to know yourself ♪

♪ Vampire ♪

♪ You feed on the life of a pure heart ♪

♪ Vampire, you suck the life of goodness ♪

♪ Yes ♪

♪ Vampire ♪

♪ You feed on the life of a pure heart ♪

♪ Vampire, you suck the life of goodness ♪