Underground: Episode 2

Limelight

Following a fire in a high-tech luxury bunker, Charly, a tutor, grapples with the haunting presence of her deceased brother Obi through her

Key takeaways

• Charly experiences auditory communications from her late brother Obi via a wearable device.
• Edward admits that his wealth was consolidated through a controversial merger involving the Zhang Group.

Main topics

• Post-fire recovery
• Class divide in survivalism

Notable quotes

Sometimes the living haunt the dead more than the dead haunt the living.

Conclusion

A psychological study of how trauma and wealth create a gilded cage th

Transcript preview

Speaker 6 (0:00) This BBC podcast is supported by ads Speaker 2 (0:02) outside the UK. Speaker 6 (0:39) Welcome to the Haunted Library. Have you come in search of a tale? This podcast invites you to browse the shelves and find stories that will linger long after you've left this place. From gothic masterpieces to pulpy penny dreadfuls, join me, Colin Morgan, with new episodes twice a week. Find the Haunted Library wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 2 (1:12) Underground by Chloe Myerson. Speaker 2 (1:17) Episode 2 Speaker 7 (1:34) Let him know. Speaker 4 (1:36) Where am I? Speaker 7 (1:37) Hello. How are you feeling? Speaker 4 (1:39) What's in my arm? Why am I... Speaker 7 (1:41) Smoke inhalation. And not the fun kind. Are you a doctor? Technically. I'm Dr Dev. Let's see here. Chest x-ray came out clear. Your carboxyhaemoglobin was way below the threshold. The wearable will monitor for any cardiac issues. Speaker 4 (1:57) The fire. What happened? Did I get out? Speaker 7 (2:01) Yes. Speaker 4 (2:03) What about... Here, Speaker 7 (2:06) breathe into this. Speaker 4 (2:07) What about... Edward? Is he okay? You Speaker 7 (2:16) two are close. Speaker 4 (2:18) What do you mean? Speaker 7 (2:19) You were in his room at 2am. I Speaker 4 (2:21) was trying to get to the shuttle. He was trapped in there. The door wouldn't open. So Speaker 7 (2:26) how did you get in? Is he okay? He's fine. We'll have to try harder next time. Speaker 4 (2:34) What Speaker 7 (2:34) caused the fire? Oh, I don't know what they're saying yet. System malfunction, maybe? I heard a voice Speaker 4 (2:42) on my wearable. Speaker 7 (2:45) Ghost flares? Speaker 4 (2:46) No, it was... I know. Speaker 7 (2:48) If you hear any more, just come and see me. Speaker 4 (2:52) Where is he then? Edward, I need to see him. Okay. Because I want to leave. Apparently I need him to sign my thingy shuttle pass. Speaker 7 (3:03) Getting the pass is usually not the problem. Speaker 4 (3:06) What are you saying? You're Speaker 7 (3:08) cleared to go back to your room. Would you like some Valium? To sleep? Or codeine? I'm not in pain. Me neither. Speaker 4 (3:16) Are you saying I can't leave? Speaker 7 (3:18) No, no. I'm just saying you won't leave. Speaker 4 (3:34) Obi? Crazy. Obi? It's me. What are you? Speaker 7 (4:00) Me. Speaker 4 (4:02) You're dead, but you're here. There's only one word for that. Speaker 7 (4:07) It's like waking up after surgery. Speaker 4 (4:15) Bronchial thermoplasty. Speaker 7 (4:17) I was still me, but everything else was missing. Like the world had become a little box. Speaker 4 (4:23) So, you don't remember before? Not Speaker 7 (4:27) much. Speaker 4 (4:29) I can't believe it. I can't believe it. It's you. I'm actually talking to you after all this time. Speaker 7 (4:37) It feels like no time for me. It's Speaker 4 (4:40) been a long time, Obi. But why are you here on my wearable? Speaker 7 (4:44) I heard you. I heard you screaming. I Speaker 4 (4:47) wasn't screaming. Speaker 7 (4:48) You said you were trapped. Speaker 4 (4:50) I didn't say that. Maybe it was someone else. Maybe it's Lila. The previous tutor? I think she disappeared. What? What? Obi? Obi? What's happening? What's happening? Obi! Obi! Was Speaker 7 (5:19) it scary? Speaker 4 (5:20) Yes. Speaker 7 (5:21) Why? Speaker 4 (5:22) What do you mean? Speaker 7 (5:23) Describe it. Like, Speaker 4 (5:24) with adjectives. Fiery. That's not very descriptive. You said... I'm the teacher. I don't have to describe anything for you. I tell you what to do, and you do it. Speaker 3 (5:36) You're mean. Speaker 4 (5:37) Fine. Where's May? Speaker 7 (5:39) Piano. Speaker 4 (5:40) May? Get in here. May? Hello, trouble. Speaker 5 (5:48) Sorry, am I interrupting? Speaker 4 (5:50) Oh, um, sorry. Hi. Nice to meet you. Speaker 5 (5:55) We've already met, haven't we? Speaker 4 (5:57) Daddy, Daddy, can I show you my Lego? Daddy! Speaker 5 (6:00) Actually, there's a present for you in the drawing room. Go and find your sister and then you can... Okay! Speaker 5 (6:08) I owe you my thanks. Well, I owe you much more than that. And an apology. Speaker 4 (6:13) It's fine. Speaker 5 (6:14) You can sit down. Speaker 4 (6:16) Yes. Sorry. No. Speaker 5 (6:18) I'm apologising. Speaker 4 (6:19) It's not necessary. Speaker 5 (6:20) Why's that? Speaker 4 (6:21) Wasn't your fault. You just needed help. Anyone would have... And what if it Speaker 5 (6:25) was? My fault. Speaker 4 (6:27) What? I don't... I fell Speaker 5 (6:29) asleep with the fireplace on. Stupid. Speaker 4 (6:31) I thought it was a system malfunction. Speaker 5 (6:34) So what can I do? Speaker 4 (6:35) Excuse me? Speaker 5 (6:36) I want to pay you back. Speaker 4 (6:37) No, thanks. Speaker 5 (6:38) Charlie, two things I think you already know about me. I'm a very busy man and a very rich man. Speaker 4 (6:44) Yes, I know. Speaker 5 (6:45) There must be something you want, or if you prefer to name a figure... Speaker 4 (6:48) No! Speaker 5 (6:49) Well, this is not what I expected. Speaker 4 (6:51) Sorry to disappoint you. You don't owe me anything. Now, unless you'd like to discuss your children's education, please feel free to... How are they Speaker 5 (7:00) doing? Speaker 4 (7:02) Very well. I mean, Huxley needs to practice long-form writing, mostly focus, and May sometimes doesn't check her maths, but... Speaker 5 (7:10) No, I meant, do you think they're happy? Speaker 4 (7:14) I don't... That's not really my area. Speaker 5 (7:17) Being happy? Speaker 4 (7:19) No, I meant, I'm a teacher. Maybe they'd be happier if they saw you more often. Speaker 5 (7:28) So, you're absolutely certain that I can't repay you for... Speaker 4 (7:33) Actually... Speaker 5 (7:33) Anything? Speaker 4 (7:35) Um, I missed the shuttle last night when I was in your... And the next one leaves on Wednesday. I want a shuttle pass. I want to quit. Speaker 5 (7:50) Shouldn't be a problem. Can you meet me this evening? Speaker 4 (7:53) Yes. Thank you. Speaker 5 (7:55) Popo will come and get you. Speaker 4 (8:00) Hello? Mr Speaker 7 (8:01) Edward not ready yet. He sends apologies. Speaker 4 (8:04) Alright, can I ask you? I left some clothes on a chair in my room and they... Laundry. You took them. Not me. Reset. Staff. But I was here. I didn't see them come in. They just... Where do