SBR 1.32: Ding Dong

"'An incessant string of messages inspires a long awaited return to the Spirit Box Radio Studio...'"

Events of Note

 * Sam's laptop gets taken over.
 * Anna tells Sam what her childhood was like.
 * Kitty returns to the studio, entering somehow through the trapdoor.

Summary
Sam begins the episode by telling the listeners that he couldn't find any information on last week's mystery caller, but that he'd lined up a couple of topical forum posts to discuss. When they go to read the posts however, they find that their laptop screen is just white. It starts displaying a message, telling Sam that he is important. Sam begs it to stop, and the phone rings. It is distorted and crackly, but Sam can hear Kitty on the line. She quickly fades away, and the voices of Indi, Bliss, and Ingra take her place. They imply that they are stuck in the house, much like Kitty.

Sam finds this distressing, and starts to panic. At this point, Anna turns up, doing her best to comfort Sam despite also being incredibly panicked. She reveals that she has been sat outside in her car every week as Sam broadcasts. She says that, despite being a brilliant lawyer, her fiancé Guy is a terrible listener, especially regarding emotional topics. She confesses that he barely knows anything about the family, only that the relationships were strained.

The two of them talk about Sam memories and their relationship, and Anna realises on air just how bad Sam's memory loss is. She reinstates her dislike of Oliver, and Sam reminds her that it doesn't matter anymore anyway, given that he's gone. Sam asks Anna to tell them what growing up with M was like, and she obliges.

Anna talks about the beach where Marie's tarot tent was set up when they were very young. She explains that Marie rarely remembered to buy them meals, so she and Kitty would often have to scavenge or shoplift. Marie seemed to be ever-disappointed in the two of them, as if they would never amount to want she wanted. Anna tells of Marie coming home from one of her fields trips pregnant. Anna found this strange, but what was worse was the night that Marie gave birth. There was thunder and lightning, and M gave birth at home, denying any offer of professional help. Anna admits that it might be the warping of a child's memory, but she felt like there was blood covering the room and M.

When Sam was an infant, Marie took great interest and doted on him, giving them far more attention than Anna or Kitty ever received. As Sam grew, anything he asked for would be given. Marie would take Sam to places like hospitals, and seemed extremely proud of them. Then, one night, Marie demanded that they all get in the car, Anna and Kitty still in their pyjamas, and Marie just started driving, constantly telling Anna that 'it was fine'. When they arrived, the left the car to find a florist's shop. Oliver seemed horrified by whatever Marie's arrival meant. He offered Anna and Kitty food, and when Marie returned from talking to Oliver, Sam had a small cloth bag around his neck. After that, M would sometimes lock Sam in their room, despite their screams and pleas to get out.

Anna begins to talk about the night of Sam's seventh birthday before being interrupted by a knocking sound. They move the chair, and Kitty emerges from the trapdoor in the studio. She's in bad shape, and Sam hurriedly bids the listeners farewell.

Characters Featured

 * Sam Enfield
 * Kitty Enfield
 * Anna Enfield
 * Indi
 * Bliss
 * Ingra
 * Oliver Boleyn (mentioned)
 * Mystery (mentioned)
 * Madame Marie (mentioned)

Trivia

 * Madame Marie is the fucking worst.