Thank you.
Anderson, you say?
Professor Anderson.
Oh, yes! Here it is. I've put you on the top floor.
Nice views of the cathedral up there. Have you stayed here before, sir?
No. I haven't had that pleasure.
Oh, one of the oldest buildings in the town is this.
I can tell you a bit about the history, if you like.
Well, perhaps once I've settled in, hmm?
Right.
Well, let's take you up, then.
No, no. I'm sorry. This is no good.
Too many steps.
Weak knees, I'm afraid.
Perhaps one on a lower floor.
(Porter grunts)
This one to your liking, sir?
No. Not unless there's a desk hiding somewhere.
(Sighs)
You won't get the same views.
I'm not interested in views.
I simply require somewhere to sleep and work.
What about this one? Number 12?
(Key clicks)
You see, now? This is perfect.
Will you be taking supper tonight, Mr Anderson?
I suppose so.
I daresay it's the safest prospect.
Sir, could I ask if you wouldn't mind
settling the bill for your stay in advance?
(Chuckles) Really?
That's most unusual.
I understand, sir, but, you see, the problem is,
from time to time, we've had guests disappear without paying.
Surely not respectable guests?
Oh, I'm afraid so, sir. There was a Mr Entwistle.
He was a college man, just like yourself.
Seemed a nice enough gent, then, buff, gone one night
without settling his bill.
Well, I'm sure I don't intend to disappear.
(Man grunts)
Much obliged, sir.
(Door shuts)
(Clears throat)
- This is quite a hoard. - Yes.
Some of these manuscripts date from the eighth century.
Things were in rather a jumble.
A Cambridge man helped us for a short while.
But we are gradually imposing some order.
Making discoveries, it seems.
Well, that's for you to judge.
So where exactly did these turn up?
They were found hidden in a hole in the wall, would you believe?
(Anderson) Extraordinary.
(Crow squawking)
(Groans)
- Have you found anything significant? - Uh-uh. No.
Usual stuff.
Objections to the prayer book, painted glass, popish ornaments.
Although the complaints against the Bishop Walgrave seem a little unusual.
- Really? - Oh, yes.
They get quite worked up about his house.
"Curious lights, unnatural cries,
"a stranger who comes and goes in the night-time."
I'm surprised I've not come across any record of him before.
He does seem a rather unpopular bishop.
(Sighs)
(Sighs deeply)
(Clears throat)
Nicholas Francken?
(Squeaking)
I'm afraid I have to close up for the night.
(Sighs)
Ah, you must be my neighbour.
- Going down to dinner? - Yes.
Not many guests.
Ah, I really have no idea.
Edward Jenkins.
It can be a bit dull this time of year.
I expect we'll all be dining together.
Marvellous.
(Slurping)
(Jenkins slurps) Mmm.
Mmm...
(Slurps)
Here on business, then?
A scholarly matter.
Cambridge man. My firm does a lot of work with your lot.
Colleges, dons. I daresay you've heard of us.
- I doubt it. I'm from Oxford. - Oh.
The cathedral archivist has turned up some documents
from the Cromwellian era.
- I'm here to authenticate them. - Roundheads, huh?
I'm considered to be rather an authority.
I'm sure.
If you ask me, those Puritans were a grim lot,
dressed all in black, telling everyone what they can and can't do.
I'd sooner have been a Cavalier, me. Far more fun.
(Chuckling)
Well, that's that, then.
Fancy a cigar in the lounge?
Not for me...thank you.
Good night.
(Anderson) 'Nicholas Francken.'
(Raucous laughter)
(Laughter continues)
(Sighs)
Jenkins!
(Raucous laughter)
(Birds tweeting)
(Sighs)
- Good morning. - Good morning.
You're missing 13.
Oh, never mind.
Still interested in the bishop?
Yes.
Do you think he might be mentioned anywhere else in the archive?
You never know.
And how about...Nicholas Francken?
You don't recognise the name?
I can't say I do. Who is he?
I'm not sure...yet.
Another mystery.
I must say, you're a superstitious lot round here.
I thought things might have improved since Cromwell's time.
What makes you say that?
My hotel doesn't list a room Number 13, for one.
Ah, yes.
Yours won't be the only establishment not to have an unlucky Number 13.
(Scoffs) Remarkable'.
If you could point me in the direction of the diocese records,
I'll see if I can track down your much maligned bishop
and his house of ill-repute.
Ah.
Found something?
In the most surprising of places.
A record of the 1647 witch trials,
a testimony of an Ann Mundy.
Aside from confessing to the drowning of children
and the suckling of a giant rat,
she claims to have been taken to a local house
to go before the Devil's emissary.
"A foreign man," she calls him.
"Where he did conjure evil spirits
"and bade me make covenant with the Devil."
Amazing what these poor wretches would say under torture.
Mmm. Yes, I agree.
The house in question...
...belonged to the bishop.
Extraordinary.
I've been looking to see if she puts a name to this Devil's emissary.
(Woman laughs)
Thank you.
(Chuckles)
(Jenkins) Hello.
Er... (Chuckles)
(Woman chuckles)
...it was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life.
(Woman) Really?
- Now, then, I'm going to tell you... - What?
(Whispers) I was telling you before,
I've never had the occasion to go back there again.
You see, and she's still there, you know.
- Married to that old bore. - Oh, dear.
Those really are... remarkable stones in there.
(She chuckles)
- What are they? - Er, sapphires.
Oh... Magnificent.
(She laughs)
(Sighs)
(Groans)
(Woman chuckles)
(Woman continues to chuckle)
(Banging)
(Breathing)
(Creaking)
(Rustling)
(Scraping)
(Echoing laughter)
(Whispering voices)
(Jenkins hums)
(Continues to hum)
(Sighs)
(Breathes deeply)
(Knocking)
(Mumbles)
Actually, I want to have a word with you.
What have you done with my portmanteau?
My case. The large square piece of luggage you carried up?
Hmm?
Well...I didn't see you bring it back in.
Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I...thought it was a different room.
Wait. You didn't think it was..?
(Groans)
Good morning.
Mr Harrington.
I was on my way to see you.
Good,
because I think we need to talk about what exactly was sealed up in that wall.
The parchment signed by Nicholas Francken?
The one I found and put back.
The one that went missing the very next day.
I really have no idea what you're talking about.
It would be a shame if I had to go to the dean.
I was talking to the dean last night.
He's a little concerned about where your enquiries are heading.
I'm sure you are a serious scholar, Mr Anderson,
with no axe to grind against the Church,
but we do think it wise to know exactly what's in our archive
before we open it to prying eyes.
Are you telling me to stay away?
For the time being.
For heaven's sake, man, this is ludicrous'.
I'm an historian!
I'm not trying to prove the bishop was in league with some fiend'.
Surely you don't believe that?
What I believe is not the point.
This is largely a rural community, Mr Anderson.
As you know, superstition is rife.
Half of our flocks still swear by the black shark
and Jack O'Lantern.
The last thing they need is the rumour of a witch house in the town.
You mean... the bishop's house still exists?
Go back to your dreaming spires, professor.
And leave the Church to deal with its own nightmares.
(Anderson) 'The bishop's house still exists?
'"Where he did conjure evil spirits
'"and bade me make covenant with the Devil."'
(Harrington) 'Amazing what these poor wretches would say under torture.
'This is largely a rural community, Mr Anderson.
'Half of our flocks still swear by the black shark and Jack O'Lantern.'
Were you wanting some supper?
No. No, no. I'm...I'm not hungry.
It's quiet tonight.
No Miss Goddard and her mother?
Checked out this afternoon.
What about Jenkins, the lawyer fellow?
(Clears throat)
Feeling unwell.
- Can I get you a drink, sir? - No. No, no. I'm fine.
What I'd like is to hear some of your local history.
You offered to tell me when I first arrived.
Oh...
Well, I-I-I am rather busy, sir.
I am very, very interested.
Well, I...I really only know a few bits and pieces.
Like,
there was a house on this site mentioned in the Domesday Book.
- Was there? That's fascinating. - Oh, yes.
It was in the hands of the Walgrave family for generations.
Changed hands a number of times in the last 200 years or so.
Let me see. There was...
So, so.. Wait a minute. Walgrave family?
That's not Bishop Walgrave, is it?
Yes! That's right!
The parliament men threw him in the tower.
Then they stormed this place,
looking for some foreigner he'd been harbouring.
Er...Francken. That was his name.
And the story goes that he vanished into thin air when they fired at him.
Look, why don't you call up to my room once you've finished your accounts?
I can make a few notes, then.
(Scraping)
Oh'.
(Whispers) Porter'.
(Echoing laughter)
(Whispering voices)
(Whispering continues)
(Woman) 'I confess to the sin
'of murdering and drowning of several children...'
(Whispering voices stop)
(Whispering voices)
(Woman) 'I was under the demon spell that I did suckle a giant rat...
'For it was he Nicholas Francken who bade the Devil rise'
(High-pitched ringing)
(Whispering voices)
(Woman) 'It was he Nicholas Francken who bade the Devil rise'
(Door creaks)
I brought us a little nightcap.
Is anything the matter?
Do you think it's funny, do you?
Mr Anderson?
Playing tricks on outsiders?
Scaring them half to death with your idiot shadows?
I thought you wanted to know about the hotel.
The only thing I want to know about is Room 13'.
Mr Anderson, please!
I've seen it.
I know it's there!
I just don't know how you do it.
You're overtired.
Erm...perhaps a good night's sleep, hey?
(Chuckles)
Oh, well, that would be a fine thing!
Oh, it's the staff, isn't it?
I suppose they found out about my work.
About Nicholas Francken.
You know they creep in here to rearrange my things.
Oh, I don't think so, sir.
Well, then you tell me where my portmanteau's gone'.
It's not the first time!
Oh, it's that porter.
He's a surly fellow. Is he the one in Number 13?
Mr Anderson, for the last time, there is no Number 13'.
(Echoing laughter)
There.
You, you heard it.
Sometimes it's like there's hundreds of them in there.
(Man) It must be Mr Jenkins'. He's drunk again'.
- Mad, more like. - Gentlemen...
Please'. This noise'.
Drink, by all means, but...
Let me sleep'.
(Echo) 'Let me sleep.'
(Man laughing)
(Whispering voices)
I see it.
But I can still hardly believe it.
(Whispering voices)
(Grunts)
(Pants)
- Mr Gunton? - Hmm?
Fetch your man to break it down.
I noticed this room before, but I always put it down to the brandy.
I get a bit carried away sometimes.
I'm not surprised. It's the only way to get any sleep here.
I thought I was seeing things.
Or that someone was playing an elaborate practical joke.
Maybe they are.
Then they've found the perfect pair to make asses of, hmm?
(Scratching)
(Scraping)
(Breathes heavily)
(Man laughs)
No'. No'. No'. Help me'.
(Screams)
(Man laughs malevolently)
Help me'.
(Screams)
No!
(Grunts)
- What's happened? - The thing in 13.
It tried to snatch him.
Thomas...
No!
(Grunts)
You'll let it out!
(Voices extinguished)
(Jenkins) The door.
(Clock chimes)
(Gasps)
(Breathes heavily)
- Jenkins? - Hmm?
- Your foot. - (Groans) My apologies.
(Groans) What time is it?
I've slept the sleep of the dead.
You were quite alive. I could tell by your snoring.
(Jenkins chuckles)
You know, this is the room the landlord originally offered me.
Imagine if you'd taken it.
All the excitement you'd have missed.
(Grunts)
(Floorboards creaking)
They must be taking up the floorboards.
Gunton's determined to find a trace of Number 13.
Don't look so glum.
It might be good for business having a ghost room.
What is it? What have you found?
"G Entwistle"?
The Cambridge man.
The one I thought had gone without paying.