Episode 5: Strange Bones
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Right, nobody move. Sergeant, hit the lights. We've had a report of black magic. Mr Hanks, are you or are you not in the process of summoning the devil? Oh my God, Shelley, did you think, what have I got myself involved in? Yeah, and Dad, he assured the policeman that Mr Hanks had offered to help get rid and we were having a seance, but they weren't having any of it. They took statements from all of us. We were told that the press or someone had tipped them off and it was all over the papers. It even went before Parliament. The local MP had brought it up that black magic was happening in Streatham. This episode, the fallout from the exorcism and allegations are made against Shirley. I'm Danny Robbins and this is the Battersea Poltergeist.
Lord of me, make me yours, you can.
Episode 5, Strange Bones.
Is the Home Secretary aware that my constituent, a man of good character and a spiritualist for over 30 years, justifiably resents the unwarrantable intrusion of the police, who alleged black magic and witchcraft? Is he not, in all the circumstances, entitled to something in the nature of a public apology?
I am not sure that I agree. As the practice of black magic is an offence at common law, the police called to inquire whether there were any grounds for police action. I'm in my shed, which has become kind of my unofficial investigation HQ. I've got stuff stuck all over the walls now. It looks like one of those incident rooms from a police crime drama. I've got lots of headlines here on this wall from the exorcism. And I mean, this was huge. We've got Black Magic said radio message from the Daily Express. Who sent police to seance from the Daily Mail? And Shirley's right. What happened was genuinely talked about in the Houses of Parliament. What you heard there was the actual words of Harry Hanks's local MP protesting about the raid and the Home Secretary defending the police.
So just when you think this case can't get any bigger, it does. You have one of the most senior politicians in the UK commenting on Shirley's poltergeist. But the real question for the Hitchings family is, did the exorcism work? After the dramatic events at Hanks' house, Shirley comes back home to number 63 to recover.
Fancy a cuppa, love? Thanks, Mum.
There's still some press outside, but inside the house, for the first time in weeks... It's quiet.
Maybe it did work. How would you feel if he's gone? Well, good, I suppose. Wouldn't you? Yeah. Of course. It's just odd, isn't it? That silence.
On the family's doorstep is a man in a suit with a camera around his neck. Hello. Is Mr Hitchings home?
No, I'm Mrs Hitchings.
My lucky day. I'm John Knight. It's about your Shirley. He was, I think, a little man with combed down hair. He said that they were going to take me, Shirley, to Fleet Street for an interview and they had a car waiting outside, a show-driven car. Where are we going? Somewhere we can talk. I've taken a real interest in your case.
Who do you work for?
Your mum's got my card.
But I haven't.
We'll explain it all when we get there.
Who's we?
People who can help you, Shirley. With your ghost.
Fire! Harold, the toast is on fire.
Meanwhile, over in Bounds Green, North London, Harold Chibbert has also returned home to the little suburban house he shares with his wife, Lily. Oh dear.
You were supposed to watch it.
Sorry, I got rather lost in my paper. There's an account of the exorcism I attended. You remember? I was nearly arrested.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–7:09
2
What happens after Shirley's exorcism?
7:09–9:10
3
How does the media influence Shirley's story?
9:10–11:02
4
What is the significance of the police involvement in the haunting?
11:02–14:57
5
What new developments occur in Shirley's life?
14:57–19:42
6
How do the journalists investigate Shirley's claims?
19:42–32:14