May 26, 2020 • 31 mins
"These are the notes of Doctor Albright..."
Light House is a production of iHeartRadio and Bamfer Productions.
Chapter 6 features the voices of John McCormick, Paulina Logan, BJ Grip, Aly Trasher, and Alyssa Rose
It was written and directed by Jeff Heimbuch, audio engineered and scored by Kori Celeste, assistant engineered by Alex Gona, and executive produced by Holly Frey
Questions? Comments? Email us at themaninthehatiswatching@gmail.com
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Lighthouse is a production of I Heart Radio and bamfor Productions.
M M. This is Dr Albright. The data is August
(00:23):
the time christ I don't even know what time it is.
These are my final notes for patient three eight to
file zero three two one to seven. It's been two
weeks since I started my initial observations, and things have
declined in that time. I've tried my best to remain
(00:46):
impartial to the proceedings and only insert my professional opinion
when needed. But this case is different than anything I've
encountered before, leaving me with many, many sleepless nights. When
I became a doctor, I took an oath, one that
made me swear to help those in need. And I
(01:08):
can't help but feel like I failed here, that that
that we did something wrong, that this will be a
stain on my soul for the rest of my life.
Every time I closed my eyes, I can see her,
I can hear her, her her screams or please for help.
Did we make the right decision? I thought so at first,
(01:31):
but now I don't know. God, Please forgive me for
what we did to that poor girl. She was so young,
And please God, never let me have to step foot
in Lighthouse Ever Again Lighthouse Chapter six interview with parents
(02:39):
Robert and Dorothy august Am is this is this really necessary? Doctor?
We will need to have a full report along with
my recommendation during observation before the hospital makes a decision
based on what you described over the phone. It is
a terrible ordeal which you were stuck in, and I
want to make sure that I understand exactly what you
(02:59):
and your family have gone through. I'm just not sure
how any of this will help with our lease, anything
to help our little girls. Fine, how did it begin?
I don't know the exact moment, unfortunately, just that one
day she was different, so unhappy, outbursts of anger, mostly
more so than a normal child. Yes, we have two
(03:22):
more boys, good boys. And did they ever Oh no,
they never would like that. This is different. We thought
maybe it was something that came with having a girl.
We recommended her every time, but still she persisted, and
then it got worse in what way? She got violent,
which she has never done before. What did she do?
(03:46):
She pushed her brother. Surely it's normal for her siblings
to fight with each other through a wall a wall.
Now the wall in question was in the spare bedroom,
the one under renovation, so the integrity of it wasn't
fully up to code. But for her to push him
like that, she could have really hurt him. They were
playing and they got out of hand and she just
(04:06):
lost control. She pushed him and then jumped on top
of him and scratched his face. Was he seriously injured, No, thankfully,
just the scratches, nothing too deep. Are there other instances?
She pushed a girl on the playground. The teacher said
she watched it happen and said it was very unusual
behavior for her. Said she usually saw the two girls
(04:27):
giggling together, but now the other one just stays far away.
She was suspended for two days. I hope you don't
mind my saying, but she got the belt for that one.
And at breakfast the other morning, she didn't like her eggs,
so she threw her plate at the wall, shattered it
into a million pieces. If I was an inch over
to the left, it would have hit me in the head.
What did she say about it? That's the thing. She
(04:48):
doesn't remember it, any of it, throwing the plate, not
just the plate, the school friend and the wall too.
She claimed she doesn't remember a thing. No, I thought
she was just saying that to avoid getting in trouble,
but seeing the way she carried on about it, she
was scared. She genuinely didn't know what she was getting
in trouble. For that's what clute is in that something
(05:10):
might be war. Don't you want to play with a doctor?
Offer long saying things things that scare us, like it's
nothing to be concerned with. But the content of what
she is saying was disturbing, such as how she's going
(05:31):
to drown her brother or stab another one with her
sewing scissors. I don't think she means or even knows
what she's saying. But we took the scissors away and
started locking up any sharp utensils. I see anything else, well,
there are the people orthy there's no point in hiding it, Roberts.
It wasn't real. It was to her, and please, every
(05:54):
bit helps. Every detail is important. That's the only way
I can make a full assessment. She sees things, sees
things in the house. Does she describe these things she sees?
She sees people? Are they people she knows recognizes? Where
in the house? Does she see them all over everywhere? Really?
(06:14):
Has she described them? Who are they? Sometimes? We catch
bits and pieces now and again. There's a little boy
whom she describe in cold, whose teeth are always setting.
There's also a young woman she sees the kitchen, and
someone else she calls the boulder man bowler man. She
claims she sees a man and he's always wearing a
bowler hat. But none of that was real. She's just
(06:38):
seeing things. Have either of you seen any of these people? Know?
But every child has imaginary friends. What do you mean, yes,
you've seen something that she has. Once when I was
in the garden with her, we were planting some flowers
when she suddenly looked up and pointed towards the tree
line and asked if I could see him? See who
(06:59):
the boulder man? I saw something. He was there, and
then he just wasn't. I thought maybe my eyes were
playing tricks on me, because it was like nothing was
ever there at all. Why didn't you tell me this?
Because I didn't think it mattered, just some shadows strick
(07:22):
of the light, But then everything else started happening. Did
you recognize him? No, I didn't get a good book.
Jesus Christ Dorothy, he asked to know everything. I can't
believe you never told me. Tell him about the photos.
What photos, Dorothy? Tell him? Robert, alright, fine, I've taken
some photos of the family altogether. I have my own
(07:43):
equipment and I can develop them downstairs in the basement.
Converted a side room into my photo lab. Now I
could show you later and show you some of the photos.
At first, I thought maybe it was just a blemish
or miss firem camer What was in the photos? Her face?
It seems to be covered by something by what It's
(08:05):
like a shadow covering her face, hovering over her. And
you've seen this in more than one photo, yes, all
of them over the past few months. And your other
two nothing nothing in their photos. No, have they seen anything.
It would be helpful to speak to them as well,
just in case. Yes, of course. What happened next? Well,
(08:27):
after the wall incident with Robert Jr. August time is
twelve p m. Robert, it's nice to meet you. Do
you prefer Robert or Bob? Is fine, sir, Bob? It
is then you have great manners. Bob. How old are you?
(08:50):
I'm and how old were you when your sister was born?
I was seven. That is quite an age difference between you, Yes, sir,
and the oldest. So that means I look out for them,
both your sister and your brother. You mean, yes, sir,
Do you feel like you have to look out for
them often? No, sir, just the normal kids stuff, making
sure they don't get in trouble. Do you know why
(09:11):
I'm here talking to you about, right it is? Tell
me about your sister. I understand she harmed you not
too long ago, just a few scratches, kids stuff. Your
parents tell me she pushed you through a wall. Yeah,
I was hoping they didn't tell you that part. Why
is that she's only eight, a kid, and she bested me.
(09:35):
I didn't want my friends to rag on me. I
assure you your secret is safe with me. I just
want to know about what happened and see if I
can help make some recommendations for what's best for her.
We were just messing around. She was being annoying, but
I guess that's her job because she's my little sister.
So I took her bear, her stuffed animal. Yes, sir,
I took it into the other bedroom, that the one
(09:56):
we're supposed to stay out of because they're rebuilding it
and there's a lot of sharp obs x in there.
And I pretended like I was going to drive a
nail through it if she didn't stop, and she got upset.
I assume I wasn't gonna actually heard it. Honest, I
know she loves that teddy Bear. She takes it with
her everywhere. I just wanted her to leave me be.
Then what happened. She was crying and pleading with me,
(10:17):
and then she just stopped. She got really still and
just stared at me. But you promised not to tell again,
you can trust me. Well, there was something wrong with
her eyes. What do you mean? They just got all
black and scary. And I thought I thought I heard
(10:38):
someone whispering under her breath. No, it sounded like a
bunch of other people were there, But but there wasn't.
It was just us. What were they saying? I don't know.
It was hard to make out, but it was real scary.
And Madeline moved her head like she was listening to anything.
(11:09):
To you. No, but she tilted her eyes back to
me and gave me a really creepy smile. Right before
she jumped on me. I thought she pushed you, well,
sort of, but she jumped with such force that it
pushed us both backward. I toppled over some lumber and
went straight through the wall into the hallway, and she
(11:31):
attacked you again. She did. She began to scratch my
face and just started laughing. I put my hands up
to protect myself and tried to get her off me,
but she was just so strong. I couldn't believe it.
It was like she was in a trance or something,
and I kept yelling for help until my dad came
and pulled her off me. She started crying. She just
(11:52):
snapped out of the days and didn't remember anything. I see,
But you were unharmed. A few cuts and bruises and scratches.
Is this the first time she's lashed out at you
like this, yes, sir. I mean she's been acting strangely
since we moved in a few months ago, but nothing
like this. Strangely how your parents said that sometimes she
(12:13):
sees people, yes, sir, but she talks to them too.
I catch her sometimes I'll walk past her room she's
having a lively conversation within air, or into the kitchen
and she's setting the table talking with someone. But any
time I've asked her about it, she just says it
was nothing, and there's nothing there, No nothing, but I
(12:34):
can hear the whispers sometimes too. Talking at nine twelve am,
Patient three two files zero three to one to seven,
Interview five. How are you today, Madeleine goreat how are you?
(12:58):
I'm doing well. Do you wake my picture? It's very nice?
Did you just draw it? I did you know what
it is? It looks like the lighthouse, but from a
long time ago. I see the light is on. No,
that's from last night. Last night I sat growing again, Madeleine,
you know that's not true. The lighthouse hasn't been operational
(13:21):
in years. You don't have to pretend with me, Madeleine.
It's been a few days since you and I first
started speaking, But today I want to talk to you
about the incident from last night. Do you remember the
day before the day it was? But do you remember
what happened during dinner time at the table? I don't
(13:43):
remember what we have for dinner. Your mother invited me
to stay for dinner so I can observe you all
as a family. I sat across from you, and you
sat in between your brothers. I remember bread, Yes, there
was fresh bread in the basket. Your mother made it.
But do you remember what happened with the bread. Your
mother did not want you to spoil your dinner and
told you that you couldn't have any more. And then
(14:05):
and then I didn't have any more, no, Madeleine. And
then your brother took the basket away, and you took
your knife and you cut him. I cut him, Yes,
you cut him right across his palm. Do you remember
a little Why did you do that? I don't know.
Did somebody tell you to do that, Madeleine? You can
(14:27):
tell me. He said it wouldn't hurt him. Who said?
He said that it was only for pretend, and it
was to convince them mommy to give me what I want.
Who told you this, Madeleine? He said, I can't come
play in the dark with them until I do these
things that I keep doing them, but I don't remember.
Calm down, it's all right. He doesn't like you. He
(14:48):
wants you to go away. He wants you to stop
asking me questions, Madeleine, listened to me. Whomever is telling
you this, they are not real. Do you understand? It's
your subconscious mind and sometimes it does not have your
best intentions at heart. He is real. They are real.
They are my friend, Madeleine. Madeleine, what are you doing?
(15:12):
He said, you have to go away. Now, what's that noise?
He said, you are interfering. Please sit down. He wants
me to come play with him. And if I don't
make you go away, I will never be able to
Madeleine stop this now, Madeline stop. Lighthouse will return after
(15:41):
these messages and now back to Lighthouse. It is now August.
(16:04):
It has been a few days since what happened, and
I I still don't know how to explain it. What
I saw was just not possible. I think my time
in this house has somehow affected my judgment and and
clouded my medical training because I saw I saw something
in that room with us. Something was there whispering into
(16:27):
her ear. I can still hardly believe it, and my
mind refuses to even consider the possibilities or ramifications of
what that means. I have avoided seeing her the past
few days, but I'm due back in a few hours
to speak with the middle child, who you may be
holding the key to answer some of those what are
(16:50):
you doing? You're off of me? Out of it? Stop crazy.
If the floorboard creaking didn't wait me up, I'd be dead.
She would have stabbed me right in the heart, Hubert,
please calm down. Don't tell me to calm down. Did
you see what she did? She tried to kill me.
I thought you said the sharp utensils were locked up.
(17:11):
It was a pair of pruning shears. Can you believe it?
She tried to murder me. Stop at Dorothy, just stop
it with her, with our little girl, all right, you
have to do something about this. There is something inside
of her. That thing is not my Madeleine. You hear me,
it's not. I don't know what it is, but it's
not her If you don't do something to help her soon,
(17:33):
so help me with them. That's all I want money.
You don't know what you're saying as me. I hate you,
he says, you're not my real family. There, Madeline, do
you know what you tried to do last night? Yes?
And I would do it and get it and get
it and get to get away from you. Let me
(17:55):
go door for you again. As she is sitting in
with my interview with Henry. Yes, sorry, Henry and your twelve.
It's okay, Henry, you can talk to him. Yes, what
can you tell me about your sister? She's my best friend.
(18:16):
They are very close. You love your sister, I can tell.
I want you to know that I'm trying to help her.
All of us are. Do you understand that? Yes? Does
your sister tell you about her friends, the ones she
sees they live in the house with us. Have you
seen them as well? Go on? Now? Sometimes do they
talk to you also? I don't want them to. They
(18:36):
scare me. It's okay. Sometimes the unknown is scary even
to me. Does she tell you what they say to
her sometimes? And what does she tell you? One of
them tells her to do bad things, bad things to you,
to your family. I don't know just And does she
do them sometimes? Like with your hand the other night
(18:58):
and with what she did to your father last night?
I guess how is your hand? By the way, it's
going to scar, but it's getting better. I help them
change the bandages twice a day. Does it hurt? I'm
sorry to hear that. I'm sure we'll stop soon enough, though, Henry,
do you know why she does these things? Why they
tell her to do them? I don't know why they
tell her, but I know why she does them. Why
(19:21):
because she wants to go live with them? And do
you know where the dark is? Do you want to
live with them in the dark. I'm glad to hear that, Henry.
You want to help your sister, don't you? Yes, good,
because we need your help to help out Madeline. Okay, Abigail.
Her name is Abigail. Her middle name is Abigail. For
(19:43):
some reason, Henry and Madeline have a game where they
call each other by their names. She calls him Michael
and he calls her Abigail. They've been doing it for years,
one of those things siblings do. I suppose is she
going to be okay? You're not going to take her away?
Are you well? Henry? Growing boy? So I'm sure you
understand how serious this is your sister is. She's not
(20:05):
well okay, and her outbursts keep getting worse and worse,
and we're afraid she's going to hurt someone, even herself.
Considering what happened last night, I may need to recommend
she go away for a bit, but only so we
can figure out how to treat her. Do you understand
I'm going to ask you something that is very important though, Okay, okay,
(20:25):
is there something that we're missing, something that maybe we
don't know or haven't heard, that can possibly help us.
I don't think, So take a moment to think about it, okay,
if anything comes to mind. Well, I heard her say
once that you love mom. Probert's Madeline. She's gone. What
do you mean gone? She's not here. I was watching her, honest,
(20:46):
But then one minute she was there and the next
she was gone. With your father, I don't know where
did you see her last? Well, we were in the
study and she was reading, and then she was gone. Man,
Then h m hmmm. Lighthouse will return after a word
(21:20):
from our sponsors. And now lighthouse continues August, still no
sign of the girl. Her disappearance has taken a toll
(21:44):
on her mother, and while there is still tension in
the household, it's of a different kind. No longer does
the threat of bodily harm at her hands hang over them,
but the thought of their little girl gone missing and
not returning has replaced it. Robert the father, has secluded
himself from the rest of the family, it seems, and
has been coping with the bottle. The two boys, while
upset as well, are doing all they can. A few
(22:06):
times they've helped me comb over every inch of the
house and its grounds to look for her. But a
last and no avail. The police think that it was
an intruder, but the family, well, hm, it's been four days.
That's a long time to be missing, and I'm beginning
to do any more. I don't know where she can be,
(22:33):
and I'm afraid that she's gone, gone forever. I understand,
and I am very sorry. In my experience, these cases
can go either way, but often the patient gets nervous
at the thought of being taken away and tries to
avoid the inevitable. But she's just a little girl. I
understand that, Mrs Hollis, But children are very resilient. You've
seen what has been going on. Tell me what you think.
(22:56):
I don't think it's appropriate for me, please, doctor. In
my professional opinion, I think that's personal. I I think
this is a very unique case, unlike anything I've ever
seen before. And to be honest, I'm unsure if modern
medicine is what's needed here. There seems to be something
(23:17):
else at play here. She's not our little girl, Dorothy,
Mr Hollis, tell her what you really think, doctor. Don't
bullshit me, because I know you see it too. Mr Hollis.
You're drunk. I think you should perhaps lay down and
get some rest. But don't you understand the two of you.
You saw what she did, what she was doing, what
(23:40):
she tried to do. She's gone, Dorothy, that that thing
is not our daughter. What you're saying, oh, I know,
I know. No amount of doctors. We're going to fix
what was in her, whatever it is was. Don't worry.
I did did what Mr Hollis Robert, do you know
(24:03):
something about Madeline's whereabouts? Did you not hear what I said?
That ain't Madeleine? Where is Roberts? So care of it, Dorothy.
It's the care of the thing and made sure it'll
never hurt this family again. What did you do? Robert?
Where is the girl? He's gone away? Where is she
(24:23):
in the dark room? Oh god, Robert, it's soule A, Dorothy,
She's gone, She's gone. What did you do to her?
You monster? I'm a monster. I am. Something was inside her,
something it was telling her to kill the family. I
had no choice. I had to stop it. What did
(24:48):
you do? I knew I had to stop it. I mean,
christ you know what she's tried to do to me?
So I planned it to end it. She loves that
god to and Teddy bear of hers, so I was
gonna take it and lure her into the basement with
it in my workspace, the dark room, and when she
(25:09):
was in there, all alone, defenseless, so is I'm gonna
kill her. Just wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze,
squeeze until she couldn't breathe anymore, until she stopped moving.
It's tried, my god, I tried. But as I was
(25:31):
doing it, I looked to do her eyes and I
saw her, I saw her, my little girl. I just
I couldn't let her go, and she she dropped to
the floor, and I hoped, I hoped she would get up,
(25:54):
but she who's already too far gone too It is okay.
They couldn't finish when it's start, and they couldn't fix
right had already done. So I left or there. I
closed the door, locked her in its just let nates
are run. It's course you you killed her. I've protected
(26:20):
my family September three time is it doesn't matter. This
is the final entry about patient three to file zero
three to one to five seven. It's been less than
(26:43):
a week since, but I've tried to block the events
of that evening out of my head. It's it's difficult
for me to come to terms with it, but I
feel as if I can finally put into words onto
this recording, and perhaps getting it off my chest will
be of some relief, one final act of retribution. Perhaps.
(27:04):
After Robert admitted his transgression and Dorothy discovered the body
of their young daughter in the dark room, I along
with Robert, joined her. Seeing her there, her small body broken,
clutching to her beloved teddy bear, nearly broke me, but
I held it together as best I could, as Dorothy
(27:24):
was breaking down enough for everyone. This poor child, who
knows how long she suffered lying there in the dark,
anguishing over the end before death took her. How How
could this child, this poor sweet child, be a vessel
for such evil? Because that is what happened in Lighthouse.
(27:47):
It harbors an evil something I cannot explain with medical science,
something that defies all explanation. Robert, for all his faults,
was I hate to say this, but he was right.
Madeleine was just going to get worse, keep having outbursts
until eventually she would have killed someone, maybe even me.
(28:11):
Though he may have taken it too far, It was
too late, the deed was already done. But now there
was the issue of what to do with her, her
her body. So Robert and I, God help us, we
decided to take matters into our own hands. The girl
was already reported, were searching for her everywhere, but to
(28:34):
invite them into the home again, to let them see
this terrible tragedy, it would have been too much for
Dorothy to bear. So we we buried her there in
the basement, in the dark room, forever, sealing her in
the place where she took her final agonizing breath. As
(28:57):
we dug deeper and deeper, I felt every bone in
my body crying out against my actions, going against every
oath I swore to uphold. But this needed to be done.
Whatever had taken hold of her, whatever still remained, it
needed to be buried forever, never to be let loose again.
(29:19):
We hoped to God that the whole was deep enough,
close to the bowels of hell, from where would never return.
And as the last patch of dirt was returned to
its place, I realized that in a strange way, Madeline
did get her wish. She was finally living amongst her
friends in the darkness. I am so sorry, so very
(29:43):
sorry for what I have done. Ah I cannot live
with this immense guilt, and I hope that we have
made the right choice. Please forgive me and my soul
for my actions. This is Dr Malcolm Albright MHM, and
this is my final entry. I'm sorry, m H m H.
(30:52):
Lighthouse is a production of I Heart Radio and Bamford Productions.
Chapter six featured the voices of John McCormick, Paulina Logan,
b J Gripp, Ali Trasher, and Alyssa Rose. Written and
directed by Jeff Heimbuck audio engineering, an original musical score
by Corey Celeste. Production assistants by Alex Gona. Executive produced
(31:17):
by Holly Fry. Questions comments, you can reach us at
the Man in the Hat is Watching at gmail dot com.
Thank you for listening.
Lighthouse is a production of I Heart Radio and bamfor Productions.
M M. This is Dr Albright. The data is August
(00:23):
the time christ I don't even know what time it is.
These are my final notes for patient three eight to
file zero three two one to seven. It's been two
weeks since I started my initial observations, and things have
declined in that time. I've tried my best to remain
(00:46):
impartial to the proceedings and only insert my professional opinion
when needed. But this case is different than anything I've
encountered before, leaving me with many, many sleepless nights. When
I became a doctor, I took an oath, one that
made me swear to help those in need. And I
(01:08):
can't help but feel like I failed here, that that
that we did something wrong, that this will be a
stain on my soul for the rest of my life.
Every time I closed my eyes, I can see her,
I can hear her, her her screams or please for help.
Did we make the right decision? I thought so at first,
(01:31):
but now I don't know. God, Please forgive me for
what we did to that poor girl. She was so young,
And please God, never let me have to step foot
in Lighthouse Ever Again Lighthouse Chapter six interview with parents
(02:39):
Robert and Dorothy august Am is this is this really necessary? Doctor?
We will need to have a full report along with
my recommendation during observation before the hospital makes a decision
based on what you described over the phone. It is
a terrible ordeal which you were stuck in, and I
want to make sure that I understand exactly what you
(02:59):
and your family have gone through. I'm just not sure
how any of this will help with our lease, anything
to help our little girls. Fine, how did it begin?
I don't know the exact moment, unfortunately, just that one
day she was different, so unhappy, outbursts of anger, mostly
more so than a normal child. Yes, we have two
(03:22):
more boys, good boys. And did they ever Oh no,
they never would like that. This is different. We thought
maybe it was something that came with having a girl.
We recommended her every time, but still she persisted, and
then it got worse in what way? She got violent,
which she has never done before. What did she do?
(03:46):
She pushed her brother. Surely it's normal for her siblings
to fight with each other through a wall a wall.
Now the wall in question was in the spare bedroom,
the one under renovation, so the integrity of it wasn't
fully up to code. But for her to push him
like that, she could have really hurt him. They were
playing and they got out of hand and she just
(04:06):
lost control. She pushed him and then jumped on top
of him and scratched his face. Was he seriously injured, No, thankfully,
just the scratches, nothing too deep. Are there other instances?
She pushed a girl on the playground. The teacher said
she watched it happen and said it was very unusual
behavior for her. Said she usually saw the two girls
(04:27):
giggling together, but now the other one just stays far away.
She was suspended for two days. I hope you don't
mind my saying, but she got the belt for that one.
And at breakfast the other morning, she didn't like her eggs,
so she threw her plate at the wall, shattered it
into a million pieces. If I was an inch over
to the left, it would have hit me in the head.
What did she say about it? That's the thing. She
(04:48):
doesn't remember it, any of it, throwing the plate, not
just the plate, the school friend and the wall too.
She claimed she doesn't remember a thing. No, I thought
she was just saying that to avoid getting in trouble,
but seeing the way she carried on about it, she
was scared. She genuinely didn't know what she was getting
in trouble. For that's what clute is in that something
(05:10):
might be war. Don't you want to play with a doctor?
Offer long saying things things that scare us, like it's
nothing to be concerned with. But the content of what
she is saying was disturbing, such as how she's going
(05:31):
to drown her brother or stab another one with her
sewing scissors. I don't think she means or even knows
what she's saying. But we took the scissors away and
started locking up any sharp utensils. I see anything else, well,
there are the people orthy there's no point in hiding it, Roberts.
It wasn't real. It was to her, and please, every
(05:54):
bit helps. Every detail is important. That's the only way
I can make a full assessment. She sees things, sees
things in the house. Does she describe these things she sees?
She sees people? Are they people she knows recognizes? Where
in the house? Does she see them all over everywhere? Really?
(06:14):
Has she described them? Who are they? Sometimes? We catch
bits and pieces now and again. There's a little boy
whom she describe in cold, whose teeth are always setting.
There's also a young woman she sees the kitchen, and
someone else she calls the boulder man bowler man. She
claims she sees a man and he's always wearing a
bowler hat. But none of that was real. She's just
(06:38):
seeing things. Have either of you seen any of these people? Know?
But every child has imaginary friends. What do you mean, yes,
you've seen something that she has. Once when I was
in the garden with her, we were planting some flowers
when she suddenly looked up and pointed towards the tree
line and asked if I could see him? See who
(06:59):
the boulder man? I saw something. He was there, and
then he just wasn't. I thought maybe my eyes were
playing tricks on me, because it was like nothing was
ever there at all. Why didn't you tell me this?
Because I didn't think it mattered, just some shadows strick
(07:22):
of the light, But then everything else started happening. Did
you recognize him? No, I didn't get a good book.
Jesus Christ Dorothy, he asked to know everything. I can't
believe you never told me. Tell him about the photos.
What photos, Dorothy? Tell him? Robert, alright, fine, I've taken
some photos of the family altogether. I have my own
(07:43):
equipment and I can develop them downstairs in the basement.
Converted a side room into my photo lab. Now I
could show you later and show you some of the photos.
At first, I thought maybe it was just a blemish
or miss firem camer What was in the photos? Her face?
It seems to be covered by something by what It's
(08:05):
like a shadow covering her face, hovering over her. And
you've seen this in more than one photo, yes, all
of them over the past few months. And your other
two nothing nothing in their photos. No, have they seen anything.
It would be helpful to speak to them as well,
just in case. Yes, of course. What happened next? Well,
(08:27):
after the wall incident with Robert Jr. August time is
twelve p m. Robert, it's nice to meet you. Do
you prefer Robert or Bob? Is fine, sir, Bob? It
is then you have great manners. Bob. How old are you?
(08:50):
I'm and how old were you when your sister was born?
I was seven. That is quite an age difference between you, Yes, sir,
and the oldest. So that means I look out for them,
both your sister and your brother. You mean, yes, sir,
Do you feel like you have to look out for
them often? No, sir, just the normal kids stuff, making
sure they don't get in trouble. Do you know why
(09:11):
I'm here talking to you about, right it is? Tell
me about your sister. I understand she harmed you not
too long ago, just a few scratches, kids stuff. Your
parents tell me she pushed you through a wall. Yeah,
I was hoping they didn't tell you that part. Why
is that she's only eight, a kid, and she bested me.
(09:35):
I didn't want my friends to rag on me. I
assure you your secret is safe with me. I just
want to know about what happened and see if I
can help make some recommendations for what's best for her.
We were just messing around. She was being annoying, but
I guess that's her job because she's my little sister.
So I took her bear, her stuffed animal. Yes, sir,
I took it into the other bedroom, that the one
(09:56):
we're supposed to stay out of because they're rebuilding it
and there's a lot of sharp obs x in there.
And I pretended like I was going to drive a
nail through it if she didn't stop, and she got upset.
I assume I wasn't gonna actually heard it. Honest, I
know she loves that teddy Bear. She takes it with
her everywhere. I just wanted her to leave me be.
Then what happened. She was crying and pleading with me,
(10:17):
and then she just stopped. She got really still and
just stared at me. But you promised not to tell again,
you can trust me. Well, there was something wrong with
her eyes. What do you mean? They just got all
black and scary. And I thought I thought I heard
(10:38):
someone whispering under her breath. No, it sounded like a
bunch of other people were there, But but there wasn't.
It was just us. What were they saying? I don't know.
It was hard to make out, but it was real scary.
And Madeline moved her head like she was listening to anything.
(11:09):
To you. No, but she tilted her eyes back to
me and gave me a really creepy smile. Right before
she jumped on me. I thought she pushed you, well,
sort of, but she jumped with such force that it
pushed us both backward. I toppled over some lumber and
went straight through the wall into the hallway, and she
(11:31):
attacked you again. She did. She began to scratch my
face and just started laughing. I put my hands up
to protect myself and tried to get her off me,
but she was just so strong. I couldn't believe it.
It was like she was in a trance or something,
and I kept yelling for help until my dad came
and pulled her off me. She started crying. She just
(11:52):
snapped out of the days and didn't remember anything. I see,
But you were unharmed. A few cuts and bruises and scratches.
Is this the first time she's lashed out at you
like this, yes, sir. I mean she's been acting strangely
since we moved in a few months ago, but nothing
like this. Strangely how your parents said that sometimes she
(12:13):
sees people, yes, sir, but she talks to them too.
I catch her sometimes I'll walk past her room she's
having a lively conversation within air, or into the kitchen
and she's setting the table talking with someone. But any
time I've asked her about it, she just says it
was nothing, and there's nothing there, No nothing, but I
(12:34):
can hear the whispers sometimes too. Talking at nine twelve am,
Patient three two files zero three to one to seven,
Interview five. How are you today, Madeleine goreat how are you?
(12:58):
I'm doing well. Do you wake my picture? It's very nice?
Did you just draw it? I did you know what
it is? It looks like the lighthouse, but from a
long time ago. I see the light is on. No,
that's from last night. Last night I sat growing again, Madeleine,
you know that's not true. The lighthouse hasn't been operational
(13:21):
in years. You don't have to pretend with me, Madeleine.
It's been a few days since you and I first
started speaking, But today I want to talk to you
about the incident from last night. Do you remember the
day before the day it was? But do you remember
what happened during dinner time at the table? I don't
(13:43):
remember what we have for dinner. Your mother invited me
to stay for dinner so I can observe you all
as a family. I sat across from you, and you
sat in between your brothers. I remember bread, Yes, there
was fresh bread in the basket. Your mother made it.
But do you remember what happened with the bread. Your
mother did not want you to spoil your dinner and
told you that you couldn't have any more. And then
(14:05):
and then I didn't have any more, no, Madeleine. And
then your brother took the basket away, and you took
your knife and you cut him. I cut him, Yes,
you cut him right across his palm. Do you remember
a little Why did you do that? I don't know.
Did somebody tell you to do that, Madeleine? You can
(14:27):
tell me. He said it wouldn't hurt him. Who said?
He said that it was only for pretend, and it
was to convince them mommy to give me what I want.
Who told you this, Madeleine? He said, I can't come
play in the dark with them until I do these
things that I keep doing them, but I don't remember.
Calm down, it's all right. He doesn't like you. He
(14:48):
wants you to go away. He wants you to stop
asking me questions, Madeleine, listened to me. Whomever is telling
you this, they are not real. Do you understand? It's
your subconscious mind and sometimes it does not have your
best intentions at heart. He is real. They are real.
They are my friend, Madeleine. Madeleine, what are you doing?
(15:12):
He said, you have to go away. Now, what's that noise?
He said, you are interfering. Please sit down. He wants
me to come play with him. And if I don't
make you go away, I will never be able to
Madeleine stop this now, Madeline stop. Lighthouse will return after
(15:41):
these messages and now back to Lighthouse. It is now August.
(16:04):
It has been a few days since what happened, and
I I still don't know how to explain it. What
I saw was just not possible. I think my time
in this house has somehow affected my judgment and and
clouded my medical training because I saw I saw something
in that room with us. Something was there whispering into
(16:27):
her ear. I can still hardly believe it, and my
mind refuses to even consider the possibilities or ramifications of
what that means. I have avoided seeing her the past
few days, but I'm due back in a few hours
to speak with the middle child, who you may be
holding the key to answer some of those what are
(16:50):
you doing? You're off of me? Out of it? Stop crazy.
If the floorboard creaking didn't wait me up, I'd be dead.
She would have stabbed me right in the heart, Hubert,
please calm down. Don't tell me to calm down. Did
you see what she did? She tried to kill me.
I thought you said the sharp utensils were locked up.
(17:11):
It was a pair of pruning shears. Can you believe it?
She tried to murder me. Stop at Dorothy, just stop
it with her, with our little girl, all right, you
have to do something about this. There is something inside
of her. That thing is not my Madeleine. You hear me,
it's not. I don't know what it is, but it's
not her If you don't do something to help her soon,
(17:33):
so help me with them. That's all I want money.
You don't know what you're saying as me. I hate you,
he says, you're not my real family. There, Madeline, do
you know what you tried to do last night? Yes?
And I would do it and get it and get
it and get to get away from you. Let me
(17:55):
go door for you again. As she is sitting in
with my interview with Henry. Yes, sorry, Henry and your twelve.
It's okay, Henry, you can talk to him. Yes, what
can you tell me about your sister? She's my best friend.
(18:16):
They are very close. You love your sister, I can tell.
I want you to know that I'm trying to help her.
All of us are. Do you understand that? Yes? Does
your sister tell you about her friends, the ones she
sees they live in the house with us. Have you
seen them as well? Go on? Now? Sometimes do they
talk to you also? I don't want them to. They
(18:36):
scare me. It's okay. Sometimes the unknown is scary even
to me. Does she tell you what they say to
her sometimes? And what does she tell you? One of
them tells her to do bad things, bad things to you,
to your family. I don't know just And does she
do them sometimes? Like with your hand the other night
(18:58):
and with what she did to your father last night?
I guess how is your hand? By the way, it's
going to scar, but it's getting better. I help them
change the bandages twice a day. Does it hurt? I'm
sorry to hear that. I'm sure we'll stop soon enough, though, Henry,
do you know why she does these things? Why they
tell her to do them? I don't know why they
tell her, but I know why she does them. Why
(19:21):
because she wants to go live with them? And do
you know where the dark is? Do you want to
live with them in the dark. I'm glad to hear that, Henry.
You want to help your sister, don't you? Yes, good,
because we need your help to help out Madeline. Okay, Abigail.
Her name is Abigail. Her middle name is Abigail. For
(19:43):
some reason, Henry and Madeline have a game where they
call each other by their names. She calls him Michael
and he calls her Abigail. They've been doing it for years,
one of those things siblings do. I suppose is she
going to be okay? You're not going to take her away?
Are you well? Henry? Growing boy? So I'm sure you
understand how serious this is your sister is. She's not
(20:05):
well okay, and her outbursts keep getting worse and worse,
and we're afraid she's going to hurt someone, even herself.
Considering what happened last night, I may need to recommend
she go away for a bit, but only so we
can figure out how to treat her. Do you understand
I'm going to ask you something that is very important though, Okay, okay,
(20:25):
is there something that we're missing, something that maybe we
don't know or haven't heard, that can possibly help us.
I don't think, So take a moment to think about it, okay,
if anything comes to mind. Well, I heard her say
once that you love mom. Probert's Madeline. She's gone. What
do you mean gone? She's not here. I was watching her, honest,
(20:46):
But then one minute she was there and the next
she was gone. With your father, I don't know where
did you see her last? Well, we were in the
study and she was reading, and then she was gone. Man,
Then h m hmmm. Lighthouse will return after a word
(21:20):
from our sponsors. And now lighthouse continues August, still no
sign of the girl. Her disappearance has taken a toll
(21:44):
on her mother, and while there is still tension in
the household, it's of a different kind. No longer does
the threat of bodily harm at her hands hang over them,
but the thought of their little girl gone missing and
not returning has replaced it. Robert the father, has secluded
himself from the rest of the family, it seems, and
has been coping with the bottle. The two boys, while
upset as well, are doing all they can. A few
(22:06):
times they've helped me comb over every inch of the
house and its grounds to look for her. But a
last and no avail. The police think that it was
an intruder, but the family, well, hm, it's been four days.
That's a long time to be missing, and I'm beginning
to do any more. I don't know where she can be,
(22:33):
and I'm afraid that she's gone, gone forever. I understand,
and I am very sorry. In my experience, these cases
can go either way, but often the patient gets nervous
at the thought of being taken away and tries to
avoid the inevitable. But she's just a little girl. I
understand that, Mrs Hollis, But children are very resilient. You've
seen what has been going on. Tell me what you think.
(22:56):
I don't think it's appropriate for me, please, doctor. In
my professional opinion, I think that's personal. I I think
this is a very unique case, unlike anything I've ever
seen before. And to be honest, I'm unsure if modern
medicine is what's needed here. There seems to be something
(23:17):
else at play here. She's not our little girl, Dorothy,
Mr Hollis, tell her what you really think, doctor. Don't
bullshit me, because I know you see it too. Mr Hollis.
You're drunk. I think you should perhaps lay down and
get some rest. But don't you understand the two of you.
You saw what she did, what she was doing, what
(23:40):
she tried to do. She's gone, Dorothy, that that thing
is not our daughter. What you're saying, oh, I know,
I know. No amount of doctors. We're going to fix
what was in her, whatever it is was. Don't worry.
I did did what Mr Hollis Robert, do you know
(24:03):
something about Madeline's whereabouts? Did you not hear what I said?
That ain't Madeleine? Where is Roberts? So care of it, Dorothy.
It's the care of the thing and made sure it'll
never hurt this family again. What did you do? Robert?
Where is the girl? He's gone away? Where is she
(24:23):
in the dark room? Oh god, Robert, it's soule A, Dorothy,
She's gone, She's gone. What did you do to her?
You monster? I'm a monster. I am. Something was inside her,
something it was telling her to kill the family. I
had no choice. I had to stop it. What did
(24:48):
you do? I knew I had to stop it. I mean,
christ you know what she's tried to do to me?
So I planned it to end it. She loves that
god to and Teddy bear of hers, so I was
gonna take it and lure her into the basement with
it in my workspace, the dark room, and when she
(25:09):
was in there, all alone, defenseless, so is I'm gonna
kill her. Just wrap my hands around her throat and squeeze,
squeeze until she couldn't breathe anymore, until she stopped moving.
It's tried, my god, I tried. But as I was
(25:31):
doing it, I looked to do her eyes and I
saw her, I saw her, my little girl. I just
I couldn't let her go, and she she dropped to
the floor, and I hoped, I hoped she would get up,
(25:54):
but she who's already too far gone too It is okay.
They couldn't finish when it's start, and they couldn't fix
right had already done. So I left or there. I
closed the door, locked her in its just let nates
are run. It's course you you killed her. I've protected
(26:20):
my family September three time is it doesn't matter. This
is the final entry about patient three to file zero
three to one to five seven. It's been less than
(26:43):
a week since, but I've tried to block the events
of that evening out of my head. It's it's difficult
for me to come to terms with it, but I
feel as if I can finally put into words onto
this recording, and perhaps getting it off my chest will
be of some relief, one final act of retribution. Perhaps.
(27:04):
After Robert admitted his transgression and Dorothy discovered the body
of their young daughter in the dark room, I along
with Robert, joined her. Seeing her there, her small body broken,
clutching to her beloved teddy bear, nearly broke me, but
I held it together as best I could, as Dorothy
(27:24):
was breaking down enough for everyone. This poor child, who
knows how long she suffered lying there in the dark,
anguishing over the end before death took her. How How
could this child, this poor sweet child, be a vessel
for such evil? Because that is what happened in Lighthouse.
(27:47):
It harbors an evil something I cannot explain with medical science,
something that defies all explanation. Robert, for all his faults,
was I hate to say this, but he was right.
Madeleine was just going to get worse, keep having outbursts
until eventually she would have killed someone, maybe even me.
(28:11):
Though he may have taken it too far, It was
too late, the deed was already done. But now there
was the issue of what to do with her, her
her body. So Robert and I, God help us, we
decided to take matters into our own hands. The girl
was already reported, were searching for her everywhere, but to
(28:34):
invite them into the home again, to let them see
this terrible tragedy, it would have been too much for
Dorothy to bear. So we we buried her there in
the basement, in the dark room, forever, sealing her in
the place where she took her final agonizing breath. As
(28:57):
we dug deeper and deeper, I felt every bone in
my body crying out against my actions, going against every
oath I swore to uphold. But this needed to be done.
Whatever had taken hold of her, whatever still remained, it
needed to be buried forever, never to be let loose again.
(29:19):
We hoped to God that the whole was deep enough,
close to the bowels of hell, from where would never return.
And as the last patch of dirt was returned to
its place, I realized that in a strange way, Madeline
did get her wish. She was finally living amongst her
friends in the darkness. I am so sorry, so very
(29:43):
sorry for what I have done. Ah I cannot live
with this immense guilt, and I hope that we have
made the right choice. Please forgive me and my soul
for my actions. This is Dr Malcolm Albright MHM, and
this is my final entry. I'm sorry, m H m H.
(30:52):
Lighthouse is a production of I Heart Radio and Bamford Productions.
Chapter six featured the voices of John McCormick, Paulina Logan,
b J Gripp, Ali Trasher, and Alyssa Rose. Written and
directed by Jeff Heimbuck audio engineering, an original musical score
by Corey Celeste. Production assistants by Alex Gona. Executive produced
(31:17):
by Holly Fry. Questions comments, you can reach us at
the Man in the Hat is Watching at gmail dot com.
Thank you for listening.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.