6th Feb 1915 · 23rd Mar 1915 Podcast Storyline
Robert's Secret
98 min Play story
Robert Lyle is a popular Tyneside builder and landlord with a loving family but a dark secret
6th Feb 1915 · 23rd Mar 1915 Podcast Storyline
98 min Play story
Robert Lyle is a popular Tyneside builder and landlord with a loving family but a dark secret
Scene 1 of 4
Robert must be off to discuss the new sheds and building work with Geoffrey, but he misses Joyce when away
As the two men finalise their business, news comes in of a drunken factory worker climbing incomplete scaffolding
The men discuss how to get Danny down, or at least minimise damage if he falls
Inevitably, the drunken Danny suffers a terrible fall from the scaffolding
Scene 1 of 4
Robert seems unhappy to find his son reporting on the court cases
Robert doesn't even want his wife to know about his heroism as she has the temperance hotel on her hands
Interviewing Esther, Luke finds himself telling her about himself - the polio that kept him out of the war, his father
Joyce opposes plans to punish women found drinking: Luke is clearly very much in his parents' shadow.
Scene 1 of 8
Having previously met Robert with his first family, Joyce and Luke, we now realise he is also husband to Violet and father to Esther and Hannah
The O'Leary's are an affectionate bunch, though Robert's second wife and daughters bemoan that his building work takes him away so much
Violet suggests Robert looks for a job at Marshall's now entrance requirements have dropped, and thanks heaven she only had daughters, not soldier sons
Robert rushes out on hearing that the Bible depot has burned, fearful that his other wife, Joyce,is the woman caught in the fire
Robert's behaviour is mystifying to Violet
Robert has been living a double life with both Violet and Joyce - who was burned in the Bible fire
Joyce asks Robert where he was "working away" when she was injured in the fire
The full facts of Robert's unusual life remain concealed for now.
Scene 1 of 7
Builder Robert lets properties to locals and to Yemeni immigrants, many of whom share beds in shifts
The doctor knows Joyce from the Temperance Hotel, Robert lets Davy fall behind on the rent after he has paid the doctor
As they break bread given to Robert by a Yemeni tenant, Joyce hints that her kindly husband could be more hard-nosed
Esther tells her father that Hannah has fallen seriously ill
Taking the cue from the doctor who tended Davy's child, Robert tries to lower Hannah's temperature
Robert describes Hannah to Dr Robinson as the daughter of a friend killed in the war
Seeing his second family, Dr Amy Robinson has divined Robert's situation
Scene 1 of 4
Mary joins Esther and the female 'scavengers' in street cleaning. The two young women compare notes on their family lives; Hannah has recovered
We learn Esther is walking out with Luke, but when she sees her father in Tynemouth, it looks like his deception is tightening to entrap him
Talk of trust and of men who hurt women sits oddly with what we - but not the women - know about Robert
It turns out Luke saw Esther embracing his (and her) father on the street, leading to much confusion
Scene 1 of 3
Robert realises that the jig is up and asks Luke for the chance to tell Violet himself of his deception
In the Ballarat, Duncan tries to save Robert from himself, but Robert considers himself beyond redemption
Josseff offers Robert a helping hand, only to see him hit by a careening carriage: a gathering crowd misunderstands Josseff's intentions
Scene 1 of 7
Luke believes his father has lost his nerve about confessing his bigamy, not realising Robert is dead
Luke's editor suggests he learns to spell and punctuate properly before getting any grand ideas about reporting
Luke investigates an accidental death without realising the victim is his father, Robert
Luke tells Joyce her husband, his father, is dead
At the undertakers', Luke tells his mother about Robert's second family
Luke is about to tell Esther that her father is dead, and that he is her half brother
Scene 1 of 5
Luke tries to soften the effect of his father's deception on his mother, but she is furious, and her faith does not help her
Joyce mistakes Esther for her husband Robert's lover, rather than his daughter
An unbalanced Joyce takes out her fury about her dead husband on his second wife and daughters
Joyce wants her husband's second wife and family thrown out of their house and onto the streets
Pastor Surtees fails to calm Joyce's anger, but Luke brings a bombshell: Violet was Robert's first wife so Joyce's marriage is invalid and Luke himself illegitimate
Scene 1 of 6
Luke tries to find a way forward in life and to jolt his mother out of her gloom and her hatred of Violet
Luke blames himself for his father's death but he and Esther realise they have to make their mothers see sense
Joyce repents her jealous anger and Violet also apologises - the two sit down to try and find a way out of the mess they are in
Not realising Davy was Marion disguised, Luke and Esther mistake her for his fancy woman
Josseff tells Robert's children that their father was proud of them and loved both of their mothers
Violet has a plan for the funeral and will let Joyce keep her house: teetotal Joyce is overwhelmed, unaware Violet's tea is spiked with alcohol