SBR 1.7: Whistler

"'Sam returns to the studio for the first time in the New Year to ask the question, do the ghosts believe in you?'"

Events of Note

 * Sam states that they've been able to get the Crystal Ball to change colours.
 * There is another anonymous voicemail, consisting of someone whistling Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Summary
Sam begins the episode by regaling the listeners with his quiet Christmas plans, and how they have been spending time in the studio. They read the augury forecast, which was found in the thumb of Sam's winter gloves.

Sam moves onto the stack of letters that he found in the P.O. box this week. They start with a question from Gloria, who is doubting Sam's credentials to run the show. In response, Sam explains the mechanics of ghosts, how a person's inherent arcane energy can be preserved, much like a corpse in a peat bog, but with emotional trauma as the bog.

He then checks in with the Recording Machine, who confesses that they had been lying about the number of voicemails left. There are two extra messages, one of which was an assumed spam call that Sam negates, and the other is the sound of wind and someone whistling Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Sam is confused, and opts to move onto the tarot readings for the New Year.

Sam does readings for Steven and Cora, before moving onto the just longer letter sent by Barbara from Stamford. Barbara describes the rose bushes in her back garden, usually cared for by her husband. Both of them are now struggling medically and cannot care for the roses, so Barbara consulted a professional gardener to see about getting them removed. When her husband learnt of this, he exploded, yelling furiously at her - an act which was very out of character for him. The only other time in their marriage that Barbara has seen him act this way was when she cleared out the cellar and found a box of strange belongings. Her husband lied about where they originated from, changing his story multiple times.

The gardener remarked to Barbara that the rose bushes were incredibly healthy, and that her husband must have been giving them a lot of high quality fertiliser, as the plant doesn't usually grow well in the area. This was odd, given that the husband hadn't tended to the bushes in many weeks. The peculiarity of this struck Barbara, and she thought to check the box of objects in the cellar. She finds some new objects in the box, and links some of the items to the disappearance of a local woman a few years ago. At the same time of the disappearance, her husband had decided to plant a new rose bush.

Sam is taken aback by the story, interpreting the tarot to say that Barbara should pull up the rose bushes, but also should have a safe place to go to in case she finds more than just roots. Sam seems tired from the tarot readings, and promises to post the rest of them on the forums. He bids the listeners goodnight and a happy New Year.

Characters Featured

 * Sam Enfield
 * Madame Marie (mentioned)
 * The Recording Machine

Listeners writing in/mentioned:


 * Gloria from Norwich, regarding her doubts of Sam's credentials
 * Steven from the Cotswolds, tarot request regarding whether he should retire in 2021
 * Cora from Sevenoaks, tarot request regarding whether she should try and get into drama school in 2021
 * Barbara from Stamford Bridge, tarot request regarding the rose bushes planted by her husband

Augury Forecast
See all Augury Forecasts

2021 will be a year.

2021 will be a year, with months, days, and hours, of the kind to which we have all grown accustomed.

Studying the stars reveals that yes, there are still stars.

2021 will be a year in which things happen.

''I will not see 2021. You will, Sam Enfield. And so will you, faithful listener.''

''Yes, you. You only paying half attention as you listen to this. You will exist in 2021.''

''2021. The year. The year that is coming.''