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 February 1915
Scene 1 of 4
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A cheerful parting
Robert must be off to discuss the new sheds and building work with Geoffrey, but he misses Joyce when away
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A deal is struck
As the two men finalise their business, news comes in of a drunken factory worker climbing incomplete scaffolding
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A drunk on the scaffolding
The men discuss how to get Danny down, or at least minimise damage if he falls
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Talking Danny down
Inevitably, the drunken Danny suffers a terrible fall from the scaffolding
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19th February 1915
Scene 1 of 4
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Luke meets his father
Robert seems unhappy to find his son reporting on the court cases
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Quiet heroism
Robert doesn't even want his wife to know about his heroism as she has the temperance hotel on her hands
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Luke and the female cleaners
Interviewing Esther, Luke finds himself telling her about himself - the polio that kept him out of the war, his father
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At home with the Lyles
Joyce opposes plans to punish women found drinking: Luke is clearly very much in his parents' shadow.
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27th February 1915
Scene 1 of 8
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A pleasant awakening
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
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Life at the O'Leary's
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
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Violet's plan
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
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Bad news in the pub
Robert rushes out on hearing that the Bible depot has burned, fearful that his other wife, Joyce,is the woman caught in the fire
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Robert reacts strangely
Robert's behaviour is mystifying to Violet
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Robert's secret
Robert has been living a double life with both Violet and Joyce - who was burned in the Bible fire
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Joyce's sickbed
Joyce asks Robert where he was "working away" when she was injured in the fire
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Luke confronts Robert
The full facts of Robert's unusual life remain concealed for now.
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4th March 1915
Scene 1 of 7
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The rent collection
Builder Robert lets properties to locals and to Yemeni immigrants, many of whom share beds in shifts
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The sick child
The doctor knows Joyce from the Temperance Hotel, Robert lets Davy fall behind on the rent after he has paid the doctor
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Malooga for dinner
As they break bread given to Robert by a Yemeni tenant, Joyce hints that her kindly husband could be more hard-nosed
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Robert surprised
Esther tells her father that Hannah has fallen seriously ill
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Robert faces a crisis
Taking the cue from the doctor who tended Davy's child, Robert tries to lower Hannah's temperature
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Dr Robinson awoken
Robert describes Hannah to Dr Robinson as the daughter of a friend killed in the war
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Dr Amy suspects tuberculosis
Seeing his second family, Dr Amy Robinson has divined Robert's situation
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6th March 1915
Scene 1 of 4
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Life as a scavenger
Mary joins Esther and the female 'scavengers' in street cleaning. The two young women compare notes on their family lives; Hannah has recovered
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Lifting bins at dawn
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
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Mother and daughter confidences
Talk of trust and of men who hurt women sits oddly with what we - but not the women - know about Robert
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Luke takes offence
It turns out Luke saw Esther embracing his (and her) father on the street, leading to much confusion
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10th March 1915
Scene 1 of 3
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Robert's deception exposed
Robert realises that the jig is up and asks Luke for the chance to tell Violet himself of his deception
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Dutch courage
In the Ballarat, Duncan tries to save Robert from himself, but Robert considers himself beyond redemption
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Drama atop a crane
Josseff offers Robert a helping hand, only to see him hit by a careening carriage: a gathering crowd misunderstands Josseff's intentions
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11th March 1915
Scene 1 of 7
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Luke in a bad mood
Luke believes his father has lost his nerve about confessing his bigamy, not realising Robert is dead
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A dressing down for Luke
Luke's editor suggests he learns to spell and punctuate properly before getting any grand ideas about reporting
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A bitter irony
Luke investigates an accidental death without realising the victim is his father, Robert
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A horrific realisation
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Joyce must be told
Luke tells Joyce her husband, his father, is dead
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More revelations about Robert
At the undertakers', Luke tells his mother about Robert's second family
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A difficult task
Luke is about to tell Esther that her father is dead, and that he is her half brother
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19th March 1915
Scene 1 of 5
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The aftermath of Robert's death
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
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Joyce on the warpath
Joyce mistakes Esther for her husband Robert's lover, rather than his daughter
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The bigamist's wives meet
An unbalanced Joyce takes out her fury about her dead husband on his second wife and daughters
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Joyce turns vengeful
Joyce wants her husband's second wife and family thrown out of their house and onto the streets
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Pastor Surtees intercedes
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
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23rd March 1915
Scene 1 of 6
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Joyce is distraught
Luke tries to find a way forward in life and to jolt his mother out of her gloom and her hatred of Violet
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Luke mends fences
Luke blames himself for his father's death but he and Esther realise they have to make their mothers see sense
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A move towards a rapprochement
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
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Calling for back rent
Not realising Davy was Marion disguised, Luke and Esther mistake her for his fancy woman
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Josseff tells his tale
Josseff tells Robert's children that their father was proud of them and loved both of their mothers
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The wives reconciled
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
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