A Christmas Inheritance 02: A Game of Bear

### Players

Joseph Chance as Edward Caister, Dominic Allen as Sidney Wagner, Dan Wheeler as Rev. Peregrine McCutcheon

### Podcast Link

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-w65t2-11538a4

## Synopsis (Spoiler Warning)

We pick up from the end of the previous episode, and see the characters arrive at Warham Hall; the lights of the house see to all be off, but soon enough an old, wiry man approaches with a lantern and introduces himself as William Purdue. He seems rather surprised at their presence, but welcomes them nonetheless- however he is also shushed by Peregrine in an attempt to hear a robin sing. Sidney joins in and rolls a 01 on his listen. In the meantime, Edward continues his conversation with William, who remarks upon the departure of Peter Ainsworth just an hour ago. The characters wonder how he managed to get to Cambridge with the dead tree they'd encountered blocking the road.

The issue is soon waved aside, and the characters enter the house, with William helping them carry their luggage (he is of course told by Sidney to pay special attention to the hat box); as they enter, Edward inquires about the children they encountered during their journey, but William assures him they are not to be worried about. William apologizes for the lack of staff, but says Mr Ainsworth sent them all home for the holidays, and that as groundskeeper he'll be perfectly capable of serving them until the rest of the servants return. Sidney interjects, asking if it would be possible for him to interview William in the interest of psychical research, and when the man hesitates with his response, Edward impresses upon William how Sidney and Peregrine "are to be treated as my brothers"; the older man acquiesces. He also informs Edward that Peter left some legal papers in the study for him to take a look at.

Soon, each character is shown to his room (Edward and Sidney's are neighboring, while Peregrine's is separated and has a view), and before they retire momentarily, they request that William prepare a drink for them in the library. While the rooms seem clean and well prepared, they don't appear to be lived in. Once alone, Sidney changes his hat to a capuchon and attempts some self-hypnosis, Edward reflects upon his "red letter day" (and the subsequent 1387 acres it has brought him), and Peregrine listens out for the song of a robin. Once he hears it, however, it suddenly stops, and Edward joins him in the room to ask him if he also saw the moon-faced, red-haired man on the way to the house. Because of this, the etymology of his name is discussed, and Danann suggests that the name they heard might be spelled as Leif, not Leaf. In his room, Sidney hears a woman calling out the name Samuel from the front of the house, to which he asks if he can help her, and also notices that she's searching the grounds accompanied by a number of children; she replies that her son, Samuel, has gone missing after playing a game with the other children in proximity of the house. With the intention of hypnotizing the volunteer, Sidney asks which child feels most brave, and once a boy by the name of Michael steps forwards he quickly makes his way downstairs. As he descends, Peregrine and Edward wonder what on earth their friend is up to.

Once he arrives at the front door, Sidney encounters William who says he'll sort out the issue, but Sidney insists and they both walk out to meet the woman, Judith Martins, and the children. As they consider joining Sidney, Edward and Peregrine look at the scene from a window, and Peregrine in particular also spots a brazier in front of what seems to be a greco-roman temple across the lawn; once the decision is made, Edward walks straight downstairs while the Reverend feels a sudden need to consult his Bible. As he reads a particular passage from 2 Kings, it's soon apparent that the reason for this necessity was that he heard the children yell "go up you baldhead!". Outside, in the meantime, Sidney attempts to hypnotize Michael but Judith interrupts him, immediately gets snapped at for it and is rendered even more upset; William tries to comfort her, and Peregrine also arrives, while thanks to an extreme success in hypnosis, the boy tells Sidney the events leading up to Samuel's disappearance. He says that him and the other children had ended up playing "Bear" near Warham Hall, where they weren't supposed to go, and when Sidney inquires about the game he simply explains it as copying a bear, who "gets you if you don't turn in time"; an "old grizzly" is mentioned, and the episode ends with Michael crying as he describes how Samuel was apparently snatched up and folded in half.

## Important NPCs

* William Purdue
* Judith Martins
* Michael
* Samuel Martins

## Quotes

* "I would say about half the time I'm charming and half the time I'm obnoxious." (Dom, as Sidney) "And it's the same half of the time." (Dan)

## Trivia

1. ↑ This name is probably inspired by that of Henry Purdue, the main character of M. R. James' *The Game of Bear*.
2. ↑ This name is probably inspired by that of George Martin, the main character of M. R. James' *Martin's Close*.
3. ↑ The Bible passage Peregrine recalls is 2 Kings, chapter 2 verses 23-24: ***23** He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” **24** And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.* (listed here as it appears on the podcast in the English Standard Version).
4. ↑ This game is also present in *The Game of Bear*.