THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES #92 - Nothing Beside Remains
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- Опубликовано: 19 июн 2024
- MAG092 - Case #0172804-B - Barnabas Bennett
Statement as given in a short letter to Jonah Magnus in 1824.
The Magnus Archives tells the tale of a debt to the Lukas family and how failure to pay left them cut off from their associates.
Content Notes: Gun violence, police brutality
Starring: Elias Bouchard - Ben Meredith; The Archivist - Jonathan Sims; Martin Blackwood - Alexander J Newall; Alice “Daisy” Tonner - Fay Roberts; Basira Hussain - Frank Voss; Tim Stoker - Mike LeBeau; Melanie King - Lydia Nicholas; Additional voices - Hannah Brankin, Alexander J Newall
Writer: Jonathan Sims
Director: Alexander J Newall
Editors: Alexander J Newall, Elizabeth Moffatt, Brock Winstead
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Развлечения
Everyone’s like “TMA but it’s a workplace comedy” as if Elias taking John through his return-to-work process after framing him for murder isn’t comedy gold.
+
This😂😂😂
thatd literally be a plot in "its always sunny in philadelphia" 😭😭
The real hero here is Rosie who seemed to have avoided all this paranormal bullshit so far.
I headcanon her as someone who know's whats up but is just wanting no fuckin part of it.
Rosie is the unsung hero of this show. It’s amazing all the paranormal bullshit she has to put up with. lol
huh
@@koschei4716 wow! spot on!
@@koschei4716 I like to think she’s not officially employed there so there’s no weird binding thing with her. Sis is just here for her coin, no bullshit please Elias.
I just love how you can always hear the clock ticking when you're in Elias's office, so you know where you are. It's a small detail that I just noticed.
i never noticed. nice touch tbh
oh
oh I didn't hear that
I always thought it was one of those swinging ball machines
the clock seems quite appropriate given what we find out about him later
I’d likely catch it if I weren’t at work while listening. I work in an optometry lab and the equipment is extremely loud so I can already barely make out the words said lmao
I love how Elias went from "Bad boss because he's clueless and doesn't give a damn" to "Bad boss because he knows EVERYTHING and doesn't give a damn".
10/10 very punchable. Can't wait for Daisy to clothesline him with a chair.
That sounds absolutely MAGICAL
am i really the only one that likes him damn
@@nooneimportant7736 I'm a big fan.
@@nooneimportant7736 nah hes a 100/100 antagonist. he kills witouth remorse for his own ego but not entirely without reason. and those are the best type of villains
Honestly, Elias NEVER struck me as clueless. The statement in Dreamer with Gertrude dying in the Archives with all the tendrils engulfing her was enough for me to be sus of the Institute as a whole, and whatever was going on with the institute, Elias would have to know about it in some capacity. When he came in to warn Jon about not bothering the Lucas’ that basically sealed it to me that he had some sinister secrets.
Martin's "JON'S HERE!!!!!!111!!!! :DDD"
little man was just happy his crush was back....
Finally reunited with the love of his life
This is kinda creepy when you think that Martin is Alexander J. Newel
HE WAS SO HAPPY PLS
@@alilweeb7684 why is that creepy?
Welcome to part 2 of Martin Blackwood being painfully oblivious to police brutality and corruption
Main reason I hc him as white tbh, there’s no other excuse for that line
He's so naïve, my precious idiot baby
@@lorek33perandfriends47 💀💀
@@lorek33perandfriends47 all the characters skin colours are unconfirmed, every character could be black for all we know, people just usually imagine characters being of specific skin colours
@@hircenedaelentheir point is that only a white person would be blissfully unaware of the violence and corruption of the police. POC grow up being taught that the police are not our friends or our protectors. white people are told that they are.
”This is insane!”
”You get used to it.”
That deadpan response always gets a chuckle out of me
Came here to say this. Too good.
Elias is... weirdly nice to Jon at the end there.
Elias: Yeah, I framed you for two murders and am currently controlling your every move watching you shower and such.
Also Elias: You're doing great sweetie, I'll help you learn the ropes. Here are all your friends and your job back. And of course you're still human, but y'know what? I would still love you if you weren't.
Elias is quickly becoming one of my favourite characters, and the fact that I'm not concerned by that is concerning.
Edit: that humourless laughter at "I've had a hell of a week", oh man.
elias is the sometimes nice wise-advice-giving wine aunt
He's gaslighting, gatekeeping, and girlbossing,
“I would still love you if you weren’t” got me wheezing 😭😂
Seriously! Doesn't anyone else think that's the strangest thing??? Either Ben Merridith is so nice that he fails to play mean characters or Elias is secretly very sweet.
I'd love a boss like him. So what if he's evil? He's SO SUPPORTIVE
Tim's comments throughout the whole exposition scene are hilarious. In love with, "don't do it", "yup, that sounds about right" and "you get used to it".
"don't do it" ... "aaaand she did it."
he's just... so done with everything
"You'll get used to it'
-the guy who is the furthest away from used to it in the room.
@@ZeroOhClock this is always the case actually
Bro, I was thinking the same thing.
"Elias, am I still human?" D':
His voice break me so much 😢
It wasn’t until I plugged my headphones in that I noticed when Jon try’s to compel Elias it gets static/ crackly! He really was using his powers!
Unholy babble fish, you were right!
What exactly are his powers though
@@clanso7887 He compels people to talk; To say thing they normally would keep to themselves.
Saber Toothless
He asks a question, and you answer him. Pretty lame.
@@DrMDHyde Asking questions and getting their truthful answer can get you quite far
I now actually have a modicum of respect for Elias. He's a bastard. But at least he's honest about it.
And he's competent about it.
I know, he even made sure the staff knew the truth as well.
"Now that we're all gathered here, let me confess my latest sins of note and why I did it. Now we've got our archivist back and a new employee.
Jon, you're back to work paperwork will be in the mail. Basira, welcome aboard.
Daisy, you're an independent contractor for the library now. We'll be in touch."
I saw people in the fandom really liked Micheal and I get that, but Elias... Elias is a Scary Bastard and I love him
You know, up until the season finale of season 4 I really enjoyed Elias's character as a fun antagonist and bastard. Now I hate him haha
He is a fantastic villain! 100% punchable, but incredibly intimidating and cunning, always like 1000 steps ahead at all times.
I hate him, because of all he’s done, but I love that I hate him, if that makes sense. He’s literally a character you love to hate. 😈
I love both of them so much
YESSS SAME i love him i mean cmon how could you not
I think the chill competence with which he does everything is TERRIFYING. He's got to be one of the scariest characters. Him and Mike are so freaky with how normal they seem.
can't wait for all this tension to be resolved in the beach episode
as long as they don't start digging ⛏️
@@boxkida4825 DIG
@@scintillantflea4698 DIG
@@boxkida4825 DIG
@@bluecloud5543 DIG
Back to a very awkward status quo...?
Like- "Hey boss! How's the hand and the new cosmic powers??? Boy I do hope we don't die! :D"
This made me laugh out loud
I read this in Tim's voice
@@leoboyd7175 he would do this.
When you see all the characters together you know some shit's about to go down
more like hear
it just feels like *"dude! we're getting the band back together!"*
For real!
Elias. Did you kill Gertrude Robinson? And Leitner?
[Static noises got louder]
Nice catch. I didn't notice until you pointed it out but yep, it's there.
I think it was Jon's power trying to manifest itself upon Elias, but he is surely used to it and more resistant to it then all others
I actually love Elias. That fact that he's sorta been the puppet master casually bringing everything together as he wants it is absolutely excellent
The magnus institute has such predatory hiring procedures. Imagine skimming the papers you were signing for work and it was literally "You die if we file for bankruptcy ;)"
WAIT I JUST REALIZED. SO ELIAS SAID THAT JON CAN ONLY MANAGE ONE READING PER WEEK. AND THE EPISODES ARE RELEASED ONE PER WEEK. WERE BASICALLY LISTENING TO THIS UNIVERSES TAPES IN REAL TIME
oh shit you right
not only that, but I'm pretty sure the seasonal hiatus is real time too
And yet he pulled off at least 4 live statements back to back during worm quarantine. Which I doubt lasted a month. If he's 'starving' for statements, he can take a lot more.
I don't know if I finished this episode or if this episode finished me
tru feelings
*muffled sobbing*
I finished to this episode, 7:06
@VincentTFarmer what do you mean by that.
the episode where martin learns acab
What they said: ACAB
What they mean: I don't like being punished when I rob a store or commit arson.
@@harrymason4300 dude, stop being politically naive and make dumb statements like this in the goddamn youtube comments of a horror-comedy podcast. Like, for your mental wellbeing, and the wellbeing of those around you, it's not healthy lmao.
@@murky8268 She brought it up first. If you don't like free speech go back to Reddit or Tumblr.
@@harrymason4300 I get free speech. I'm just saying you probably need help dude, this is sad.
@@murky8268 nah I just like mocking fools. Flat Earthers, Anti-vaxxers, Commies, Nazis etc.
"My thirst for Elias is growing slowly and i absolutely hate it": A title.
a chronicle co-authored by you, me, and a lot of other people in these comments
Elias could step on me and i would thank him
Elias is to me what Daisy is to people whose parents didn't hug them enough. I want that man to body me.
i found the No Context TMA on twitter, and in the bio had this episode and the timestamp (7:06 for youtube, 7:37 for spotify, ya welcome) and i fucking lost it when i heard what it was, i didn't realise how thirsty everyone was for elias until then and it hit me like that copper hit elias
@@fruitygarlic3601Explains why I thirst for Daisy like she thirsts for blood...
Oh so THIS is where the Elias thirst came from
ahaha...haha...
I thought it started last time he read daisy to filth?
@@Sheena000 It is, indeed, a total power move, to repeat someone subconscious secret back at him.
Tim's resigned bitterness is lowkey cracking me up
My god, hearing Elias get effected by Jon, and sorta playing it off but obviously effected was very cool. So many awesome moments.
There's just something about Elias that scares me more than other scary things in this podcast
He's a gaslighter
It's the identity as a real character innit
@@milfmacronabsolutely and the fact that he was a conniving bastard the whole time
Elias: Yeah if I die you go with me
Everyone: WHAT 😨
Tim: sounds about right 😐
Dudes just accepting everything as it is
What I take from this: Elias is a cunning bastard, Martin with "JON IS HERE" :D, the Stranger wants to transform earth into a barbie world, Tim's dead pan comments, Melanie regretting her decisions, and Basira trying to save her girlfriend's ass. A normal day at the institute :)))
lmao at ''barbie world''. And YESSS Tim's dead-pan is so good.
The barbie world killed me xD
Oh yes, just another wednesday
The joy in Martin’s voice when he said thar ❤❤❤
"I'll send you a return to work form, but dont worry about the doctors note."
- Elias "bureaucracy is more important than spooky magic" Bouchard.
"watch the only person u care about die, ur last connection to humanity"
🥺🥺🥺 i......if anything happens to basira and daisy ill burn the archives down myself!!!
Would that kill Basira?
Daisy is awful but Basira is great
@@afraidoftrees8360 i think both are great tbh
Ok Gertrude
Im so sorry.
I love how when elias confesses to the murders (and when jon tells the gang about sasha) there's collective "oh god"s and "ugh"s between the group
I love Martins: "John DO something!"
I mean what is he supposed to do? All he ever managed is getting attacked by everyone around him and through some luck or divine intervention surviving. He is the most useless person to stop anything or anyone.
martin will just never stop believing in jon
@@broblerone413 Now this... will make me cry later
You did not have to roast my boy like that
"ELiAs hErE is AbOuT tO CoNfEsS hIs CrImEzzzzz. 🤪😜😁"
Edit: I realized it was John saying this but in the moment I got confused and thought Elias was referring to himself in third person and having a mental breakdown in the heat of the moment being confronted by everyone but realized this was not in character and it's really Jon who's obviously the one having a breakdown here.
Their voices are so similar. the way you first heard it sounds so funny
okay but the way jon delivers that line IS very camp lol
Okay, but I really like Elias. He may be a murderer and all seeing eye man, but god dammit he’s such a sly bastard I love it
Elizabeth Keyser Oh yeah, 100%
@Elizabeth Keyser actually no for some reason I still like him and I hate it. Like, I want him to die, but also he's hilarious.
“JON’S HERE!!”
When you're only a quarter into the season and most of the characters are featured in the description, you know shit is about to go down.
Martin is such a sweet little cinnamon roll.
Edit: it's nice to have some of my personal theories confirmed. Jon is compelled to witness things. Also hoo boy you could practically hear the capital "A" clang into place when Jon said "I'm the Archivist".
Tim’s ‘what’ after Jon says Elias is going to confess his crimes is hilarious
Elias really did go from 0 to 100000 this season huh?
"Our world is made of choices Jon, and very rarely do we truly know what any of them mean, but we make them nonetheless."
oddly insightful coming from elias
I don't think it's odd considering literally all he does is see things
Alright, I need to congratulates you. This is incredible. I love how "The Eye" and the Institut seems to be working. Well, it sucks, obviously, but... it rang so close to me? I mean, I want to know too. We, as a audience, want to know more. And we keep coming back. In a way, we are stuck in it, too. That parrallel is just genious.
And personnaly, I have always been like this, too curious, more a watcher than a "doer". In the first episodes of the show, I felt like I could work there. Or be a student doing a phd there. So... yeah. I would have ended up like Jonh and the others.
I love how knowledge is used as the base of horror. Not just the monsters, the entities, just... the fact that you needed to know, to search for answers, and now you're here.
Started from the bottom now we're... Yeah at season three.
Nah bro, I wanna be a fire lesbian 😂
7:09 if anybody is looking for ELIAS: [PLEASURED EXHALATION]
Absolute favourite moment in this episode.
the dialogue in this is... top notch. love that we're leaning harder on eldritch horror right now, or at least it feels like it. makes sense the stranger and the eye wouldn't get along. I wonder if we're gonna get any statements detailing an encounter with the horrors of the eye, though, I guess it's not likely to encounter or interact with anything. Elias saying that Jon only heard one a week makes me chuckle nervously a bit, as someone who's gotten to... 60-70 statements in the past three days. whoops
HAVE U SLEpT AT ALL?
Observer Effect. Crusader. Schwartzwald.
There's been several statements before this about the eye
70 statements in 3 days? those are rookie numbers kid.(jokes aside im all about the same. this shit is adicting as FUCK)
Yeah the Eye is a more passive horror, but there have been statements about it
I still dont know if i like Elias or not, but he got a great voice and is bossy, so its hot af
not elias getting turned on by jon trying to compel him
Keep it professional Elias like come on man!
"I'll send you a return to work form, dont worry about the drs note."
I didn't realize Jon worked in retail.
did he literally just call police bc hes about to be Murdered and then go "well. still have time to commit another statement to tape" i am cackling
You know what I really admire about Elias as an antagonist is that he can be sitting down while you are lording over him with a gun in his face, and still he has the unceasing advantage.
When I pictured Elias giving Daisy's statement, I pictured him staring off into the distance, never once emoting, never shaking, never ceasing. When I pictured him here giving the statement, he's not looking down at a paper, he's still just staring ahead, knowing it entirely already. He could be taunting, he could be mocking, he could be rubbing it in everyone's face that he's not to be stopped, but he's not. He's only just there, knowing and presenting the truth and the lies. He is absolutely untouchable. He is a sink of knowledge and some kind of power, but the sink is flat on the top. We have no idea how far it goes down
Elias creeps the hell out of me.
Update: I'm now caught up and it's so much worse. 🤗
"Jonah Magnus did leave him in that place, Jon. He got the letter. And was on good terms with Mordecai Lucas. He could have saved him. But he did not."
that feel when listening from the future and hearing Elias read this
;O_O
HUGE SPOILERS
The "his bones are still in my office" like damn that was not subtle at all. And the way he's addressing Jon in this tape, like he Knows he'll listen to it later. He wanted Jon to understand his motivations from the start. DAMN relistening to this show is a treat.
Martin has so much faith in the police it makes me remember this was made before 2020.
He's probably just an oblivious white dude😂 not to mention he's in the closet too so he wouldn't have experienced any police brutality on that part either
He's probably just an oblivious white dude😂 not to mention he's in the closet too so he wouldn't have experienced any police brutality on that part either
This episode was amazing, also Daisy caring for Basira? Cute shit
she always did actually, the sutle ways she talked about her always showed she really cared for barista
@@alilweeb7684barista 😂☕️
"That's...that's quite nice actually. Tingly, but sort of freeing."
Stay focused, people. We must stay focused.
Tim is really climbing my favourite character’s list.
"Should I or the Institute be destroyed, you will all unfortunately follow suit."
"Yep, that sounds about right."
Tim isn't even surprised, a edlritch being could into the Institute and Tim would be like 'Another day at the job.'
The true horror that seems to be unfolding to me is how humans are as equally monstrous as any of the eldritch gods lurking at the edges of this reality. And Elias absolutely reeks of one. Originally, I felt that it is even less excusable because he is/was human as opposed to an eldritch being, but then I remembered that "monster" and "human" were never mutually exclusive things, and that is terrifying.
That pen click after the phone call. Elias literally had a “when they all come to accuse me” checklist.
So the Stranger's plan is Bill's plan from Gravity Falls?
The Unknowing: It’s Weirdmageddon, but now with 150% less perceivable reality! What a deal! 😃
I THOUGHT THE EXACT SAME THING LMAO
"i got some kids i got to turn into corspes"- Unknow
The clock in the background is a real nice touch to this one
That statement hits so differently re-listening to the series after hearing the ending.
"bones you can still find in my office, if you know where to look" is my favorite, little subtle line in the series
I headcanon Elias with anime evil guy glasses
Ed: and he doesn't have poor eyesight, he wears them just because he's stylish bad guy
god elias and jon sound so similar it always trips me up
It's personally hard for me to distinguish sometimes tbh. For a moment i thought Jon was calling the police to arrest Elias, which was really odd before he stated his name.
Ben Meredith modeled his Elias voice on a parody of first-season Jon’s voice, per one of the commentary episodes.
Elias: strike me down, and your journey to the dark side is complete!
Jon’s scratchy voice from being strangled and nearly having his throat sliced gets me
Martin has so much faith going "Jon do something!" As if Jon has any power here, or knows what to do
Just imagine the absolute horror of having your mind twisted into what isn’t human anymore and being addicted to reading and recording statements that do nothing but bring you intense fear
Thats John’s new life
You know, when I first learned about the TMA fandom I was always confused by how different fan artists had such wildly varying interpretations of the characters, but Mahtin is always a chubby white guy. Then I got to this episode and it all comes together.
wait explain further
martin this entire season: mama im in love in a criminal~
First time listener, so maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I love Elias.
Elias is the best character imo uwu
eyyy same but i’ve seen a lot of people’s comments about them catching up on the series and how now, they hate him....? aw man i’m scared
For me he is the best worst guy. I love to hate him. Which is to say he's a great character.
First time listener here, and I think he is a pretty good antagonist
"Rabid dogs mad with the Hunt" I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE
I was looking if someone else noticed it.
I felt the sight of everyone’s face when Martin said Police don’t do that! I don’t know if I should laugh or just pat Martin on the shoulder with an “Oh buddy…”
This is gonna be some great working environment xD
Ooooooh!!! That's what the sound byte of Sasha asking who it was and screaming in #39 was about!!! I did wonder...
"never hurt anyone... So to speak" I died xD
*looks at burned hand* ARE U SURE BOUT THAT?!
~Spoilers~
Does Jonah really just keep all his old "dear friends" with him in his office? This man.
Well, now we know for sure that the Archieve have an inhumane working environment
Tim: That sounds about right 🙄 MOOD
Alright!!! Some exposition!!!!!!
Melanie's "Bloody hell!!" killed me.
It lives in my mind rent free
is it just me who thinks Elias is pretty hot just from the voice and the fact that he, well, KNOWS things
I mean
that matter-of-fact tone sjkdfhjsfh
I feel this episode is especially relevent during all the protests against police brutality.
This radiates big
*does a horrible mistake*
*Elias materialises behind him*
"See? NOW you're not human."
*screams in agony*
vibes and I'm not sure if I hate it or love it
The ticking of the clock in the beginning of the episode was the most anxiety inducing thing in the world holy shit
This episode has changed the way I view Elias. I at first thought he was some evil mastermind out to discover some hidden secret and gain power. Now I see him as a man who knows more than any human could comprehend, doing everything he can to stop this "Stranger", disregarding any emotional toll he causes his underlings. He may still be a mastermind, but he might not be the villain I originally thought him to be... I really like where this is going. I can't wait to find out more!
Elias is just such a fascinating character-.....
7:56
"elias here is about to confess his crimes"
"...what"
"oh... good?"
Help i have fallen in the elias thirst pit and cant get up. Calling the police in advance on daisy??? Leaving tapes for future jon like a weirdly friendly mentor? Hires people on the spot in a soulbinding contract but still cares about return-to-work forms and probably provides good benefits????
TI N G L Y???
1000/10 would sell my soul
Elias is such a piece of shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit I love him, you can literally see the bastard smile he wore during all this briefing !
"It tried to kill Jon, then Leitner killed it, and I killed Leitner" so casual I swear he has become my favorite character in the span of ten episodes
The Dance will be such a treat.
a little dance, as a treat
"I'll send you a return to work form" EXCUSE YOU! You frame his ass for murder and you're making him do PaPeRwOrk!!???
We are so close to catching up!
I love the reference to Shelley's Ozymandias in the title!
I was really happy when I realized that it was probably intentional, with the references to Egypt and Ramses II.
[CLICK]
[SOUND OF TELEPHONE BEING HANDLED - THREE KEYPRESSES, THEN IT RINGS]
OPERATOR
999, what’s your emergency?
ELIAS
Police, please.
OFFICER
Hello.
ELIAS
Yes, I’m calling to report a crime in progress.
OFFICER
Sir, are you in any immediate personal danger?
ELIAS
Ah, y-yes, not immediately, but I will be shortly.
OFFICER
Sir, where are you calling from? I need -
ELIAS
Could I speak to your Chief Inspector, please? Tell her Elias Bouchard is calling. Of the Magnus Institute.
OFFICER
Oh, er… Sure.
ELIAS
Thank you.
[SOUND OF PEN ON PAPER WHILST WAITING]
CHIEF
Chief Inspector Kaugery.
ELIAS
Ah, yes, er, good afternoon. Er, sorry to bother you. I believe you’re looking for Detective Alice Tonner?
CHIEF
Do you know where she is?
ELIAS
I do, yes. Er, she should be here in about fifteen minutes.
CHIEF
I’ll send some officers over immediately
ELIAS
That would be wonderful. Much appreciated.
[PUTS PHONE DOWN]
[FINISHES WRITING, COVERS PEN AND PLACES IT DOWN]
[STEADYING BREATH]
Statement of Barnabas Bennett, as given in a short letter to Jonah Magnus. April 9th, 1824.
ELIAS (STATEMENT)
My dear Jonah,
You must help me. If anyone is still here, it is you. I know your work brings you into contact with all sorts of fantastical terrors, so perhaps you might have it within your power to save me from this place. And it was you who warned me not to cross Mordechai Lukas. Advice that I have, I’m afraid, disregarded.
It was a small enough thing, as I believed. A trifling debt I fell behind on. And when he met me in that garden, quiet as it always is with him, he demanded repayment. Well, I took it poorly, and laughed at his insistence. “Bring it before the courts,” I told him. After all, what judge would find in his favour over mine? He simply regarded me silently for many minutes, staring with such a cast to his face that I could feel my resolution beginning to falter. “You shall pay me,” he said at last, “in kind.” Then he walked away.
Let me tell you, Jonah, I believed myself profoundly lucky that day as my hansom deposited me on the steps of my townhouse, a mood only slightly shaken by the impression that, as the cab pulled away, it seemed to have no driver that I could discern.
I am lucky, Jonah, but only insofar as that I never married. Never fathered children. Never let anyone get closer than my brother. The pangs of loneliness I feel are no more acute than my general longing for the company of my fellow man. I have no-one whose absence truly pains me.
And yet here, in this empty world, I cannot but spend these nights, these dreadful, silent nights, huddled and frozen in some terrible fear I find myself unable to name. I almost think I hear the mocking joy of my friends, but there is nobody here, and never shall be again. I try to read, to lose myself in something that is not the absence of humanity. How is it that the books speak to me of my isolation more acutely than the silence? For every treatise I read on this world and its workings, the more I know I am to spend my time left in it without comfort or reprieve. With every tale of love or society I feel more keenly the absence of both.
I went to Egypt once with the Royal Society, to the temple of Ramses the Second in Abu Simbel. The place was remarkable, of course, but what sticks so keenly in my mind is the journey. Two days earlier, on the road from Aswan, I found myself separated from my fellow travellers. I do not not how it happened, but I spent two hours alone there, under the blazing sun, staring across the vast empty expanses of that ancient country. I revelled in the silence, then, embraced the loneliness like an old friend. But now that friend has devoured me, and I shall not emerge from its jaws. Not without your help.
And you must help me, Jonah. If anyone knows of what might break me from this dreadful place, it is you. I know that what is done by those I cannot see might be felt here - I have found glasses broken and pages torn that were not so the night before. It is my hope that if I leave a letter here, in your institute, you might find it, you might be able to save me. I have no other hope.
Please, Jonah, if you have any compassion within your heart, you will not leave me in this place.
Your loyal servant,
Barnabas.
ELIAS
Jonah Magnus did leave him in that place, John. He got the letter, oh yes, and was on good terms with Mordechai Lukas. He could have interceded, perhaps even saved him, but he did not. And it was not out of malice, or because he lacked affection for Barnabas Bennett: he retrieved those bones sadly enough when the time came. Bones that you can still find in my office, if you know where to look. No, it was because he was curious. Because he had to know, to watch and see it all.
That’s what this place is, John, never forget it. You may believe yourself to have friends, to have confidantes, but in the end, all they are is something for you to watch, to know, and ultimately to discard. This, at least, Gertrude understood.
[SIGHS CONTENTEDLY]
Let us begin.
[FOOTSTEPS ECHO AND THE DOOR OPENS]
MARTIN
Uh, sorry to interrupt, er, J-John’s here! And he’s - well he’s - He seems - He seems angry.
Um, [splutters] I actually think he’s brought a coup -
DAISY
Bouchard.
BASIRA
Easy.
ARCHIVIST
Hello, Elias.
ELIAS
Goodness, John. Whatever happened to your hand? And your neck?
DAISY
[Satisfied smirk] That one was me.
ELIAS
You look a mess.
ARCHIVIST
[Chuckles] I’ve had a hell of a week.
ELIAS
Martin, would you be so good as to fetch Melanie and Tim. I think it would be worth their time to be here.
MARTIN
Er. R-Right. Okay. I’ll just… what, go then?
[FOOTSTEPS, THEN DOOR CLOSES]
DAISY
Okay. Let’s do this.
BASIRA
Er, John? Do you… You want to get this on tape?
ELIAS
No need, Basira. I’ve already got one running.
Now, you have something to ask me?
BASIRA
Go for it.
DAISY
Before I strangle the grinning bastard.
ARCHIVIST
Elias. Did you kill Gertrude Robinson? And Leitner?
ELIAS
[PLEASURED EXHALATION]
That’s… That’s quite nice, actually. Tingly… but sort of freeing. [Chuckle] You know, even Gertrude never properly tried to compel me. I always wondered -
BASIRA
Just answer the question.
DAISY
Or don’t.
ELIAS
Oh, no need to worry about that. I just feel it’s only fair to wait for your colleagues, John. They’ll want to hear this too. Uh, it’s also very important to me, in a personal capacity, that you understand I’m answering you of my own free will.
ARCHIVIST
[Angry] I don’t care!
ELIAS
I know, but I do. There’s so much of this place, of ourselves, twisted by forces far beyond us. I just wanted you to know -
[DOOR OPENS]
MARTIN
Uh, okay, okay, so I’ve got everyone, but I’m honestly kind of lost as to what’s happening.
TIM
[Speaking over Martin] Yeah, I…
Oh, Christ, what is it now?
MELANIE
Er, yeah, same question, please.
ARCHIVIST
[Snarling] Elias here is about to confess his crimes.
TIM
What?
MELANIE
Oh.
Good?
MARTIN
Is, is that like, er…
ELIAS
Yes, I was just saying to John. It’s very important to me you understand that no action I have taken has been controlled. I have done everything because I wished to.
DAISY
Get to the point.
ELIAS
[Sighs] Of course, Detective. So. For the avoidance of any doubt. I killed Gertrude Robinson because she intended to destroy the Archives. And I killed Jurgen Leitner because he was… an unnecessary complication. Likely to tell John too much, too early.
MELANIE
Bloody hell!
TIM
Oh, no.
MARTIN
So-So-S-Sorry, that guy was Jurgen Leitner?
ELIAS
It was.
BASIRA
Daisy, where do I know that name from?
DAISY
Oh, the Yousuf case. An Introduction to Higher Anatomy.
BASIRA
Ah… Oh, god! And you killed him? You sure we shouldn’t be giving him a medal?
ARCHIVIST
Very sure.
MARTIN
And Sasha? Did you kill her too?
ARCHIVIST
Sasha died almost a year ago, Martin.
MARTIN
Wh-What?
TIM
Oh, god.
ARCHIVIST
When Prentiss attacked, something else, it… it… it replaced her. I still don’t know how, but -
TIM
Goddamn it! This is… [dejected, exasperated sigh]
MARTIN
[Splutters incomprehensibly] It wasn’t… Sasha?
ELIAS
He’s right, Martin. The thing you remember as Sasha was nothing like her. It toyed with your memory. If I showed you a picture of the real Sasha now, you’d have no idea who it was.
MARTIN
So that thing we saw…?
ELIAS
Precisely. It finally tried to kill John. Then Leitner killed it. Then I killed Leitner. And I believe that brings us up to date. More or less.
ARCHIVIST
What about Michael?
ELIAS
What about him? An irritant. Interfering because he’s bored, and he resents us. He has no purpose -
DAISY
Right. That’s enough for me. Even got it on tape.
Everyone get back.
[SOUNDS OF CONSTERNATION AS DAISY DRAWS A GUN]
MARTIN
What?
BASIRA
Daisy, wait.
DAISY
Out the way.
MELANIE
Now hang, hang on, I thought you were about to arrest him.
DAISY
Get out the way!
MARTIN
John, do something!
[INTERCOM BUZZES AND ELIAS CHUCKLES]
DAISY
Don’t.
ELIAS
…
Excuse me.
[RINGING THAT CEASES UPON KEYPRESS]
Yes?
ROSIE (INTERCOM)
Elias, there are some police officers here to see you?
ELIAS
Ah, yes, thank you Rosie. Er, could you ask them to wait a minute or two?
ROSIE (INTERCOM)
Yep, will do.
ELIAS
There. That should make it even easier for you. Right, Detective? I know you were planning to kill me, but surely an arrest is a consolation prize?
[DAISY’S QUIVERING FRUSTRATION IS AUDIBLE]
BASIRA
Daisy?
ELIAS
Oh, didn’t she tell you why she hadn’t gone back to the station?
Allow me. She rightly suspected that I held evidence of various murders she had committed, and that I sent this to her superiors.
DAISY
…
ELIAS
She’s quite the killer, your partner. All in the public good, of course. And she was correct, I spent some time acquiring that evidence. Or creating it. And while your superiors don’t much care about the killings, the fact there is proof… They’re not happy. And they want you brought in.
DAISY
Heh. So I kill you, and go to jail. I’ll take that deal.
ELIAS
For someone who used to be a detective, you’re remarkably reluctant to think things through. You think you’re the only police officer eager to do violence and call it justice? No, there are plenty of other rabid dogs out there, mad with the hunt. And some of them have signed a Section 31. There are plenty of others your superiors can call on to clean up this mess.
BASIRA
Er… they wouldn’t.
DAISY
Yeah. They would.
ELIAS
And anyone close enough to be implicated. They will kill Basira.
MARTIN
Okay, wai-wai-wai-wait, that’s the police that you’re talking about! Okay, they… they wouldn’t…
Would they?
DAISY
I’m sorry, Basira.
BASIRA
Yeah.
ELIAS
If the officers down there take you away…
Oh, but perhaps I was wrong when I called them. Maybe it was a false alarm.
DAISY
What do you want?
ELIAS
Collateral.
[PAPER IS PUSHED ACROSS THE DESK]
DAISY
That… What?
ELIAS
A contract of employment. For Basira.
BASIRA
Uh?
MARTIN
What?
ARCHIVIST
Oh, no…
ELIAS
Sign it, and I’ll send your ex-colleagues on their way.
DAISY
Basira, I…
TIM
Don’t do it.
BASIRA
There.
ARCHIVIST
Oh damn it.
ELIAS
Hmm.
[PUSHES BUTTON]
False alarm, Rosie. Could you apologise to the officers for me, and thank them for their time.
ROSIE (INTERCOM)
Oh. Um. Alright…
DAISY
So… what, you’re her boss now? Is that supposed to stop me?
ELIAS
Yes.
MELANIE
Um, I mean, she’s still got a gun?
ELIAS
Ah, of course. Er, sometimes I forget how new you all are to this.
Basira is now tied to the Institute. All of you are. Like fingers on a hand. And I am the beating heart of it. Should I, or the Institute, be destroyed, you will all, unfortunately, follow suit.
MELANIE
Wait, what?
TIM
Yup, that sounds about right.
Thanks!(○ﾟε^○)
You're welcome :)
Petra Iván thank youuu
Barnabas Bennett...my lad,,,,,my poor babey boi.
me, an elias simp: i hope this doesn't awaken anything in me
elias IS hot and i hate it SO MUCH
if the title is a reference to "Ozymandias" by Percy B. Shelley then i am one very happy gal
Elias is such an interesting and compelling villain. Love how cold and intelligent he is
Tim sounds so done. Like nothing will ever surprise him