Malevolent

DC al Coda

8 min
Jan 31, 20264 months ago
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Summary

This episode of the fictional podcast 'Malevolent' concludes a story arc with Arthur Lester and John Doe returning to their office as private investigators. The episode focuses on personal reconciliation, character development, and closure through letters and poetry, culminating in the recitation of Rudyard Kipling's 'If—' as a thematic anchor for the characters' journeys.

Insights
  • Narrative closure through correspondence allows characters to process growth and redemption without direct confrontation
  • Poetry serves as a bridge for emotional understanding between characters with different communication styles and backgrounds
  • Professional partnerships require clear role definition and mutual respect, as evidenced by the discussion of adding John Doe's name to the office sign
  • Survival and recovery of secondary characters creates narrative continuity and reinforces themes of resilience
Topics
Character redemption and personal growthPrivate investigation and detective workPoetry and literary references in storytellingFather-son relationships and family reconciliationProfessional partnerships and business namingNarrative closure and epistolary storytellingThemes of resilience and perseveranceWorkplace dynamics and role clarity
People
Arthur Lester
Protagonist private investigator who receives letters and reflects on personal growth and relationships throughout th...
John Doe
Arthur's business partner and fellow private investigator whose name is being added to the office door sign
Daniel
Arthur's father who writes a letter expressing his journey toward understanding purpose and redemption through Arthur...
Oscar
A kindly priest mentioned in Daniel's letter as someone Arthur has given great purpose to
Rudyard Kipling
Author of the poem 'If—' which is recited and serves as thematic anchor for character development
Quotes
"If your ego can take the hit. So long as my name's still first."
Arthur Lester and John Doe
"I've had the distinct pleasure over the past few weeks of getting to know you. Not as the man I called son, nor husband to my daughter, nor father to my grandchild, but rather through the eyes of a kindly priest named Oscar."
Daniel (via letter)
"If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run. Yours is the earth, and everything in it. And which is more. You'll be a man, my son."
Arthur Lester (reciting Kipling)
"I'm tired of playing Aaron girl. You need a secretary someone you can actually pay to do this stuff."
John Doe
Full Transcript
Prime Video offers the best in entertainment. This should be fun. Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista go completely down in the hilarious new action film The Wrecking Crew. Inbegrepen by Prime. Yeah, I'm pumped. Find the new Game of Thrones series A Night of the Seven Kingdoms. Based on the bestseller of George R.R. Martin. Look by being a member of HBO Max. So be brave, be just. So whatever you want to find, Prime Video. Here you look at everything. Abonnement is revised. In-house conferencing is 18+. The basic beliefs. That's all I'm dreaming of. And you call it madness. Ah, but I call it love Hello? Hello there, friend. John? Arthur. We're here. Back in the office. The window is open. A soft breeze gently glides over your desk. It's like... It's like we never laugh. True to his word. A gnarled otep that keeps its word. Who would have thought? And the window is fixed. Oh, I can smell the fresh air. It feels... It feels good. Your piano is still here? Oh. And you know, I kind of feel like playing again. Well, I can imagine why. But first, I've been waiting to do this for a longer time. Hey, after you. Ah. My old desk Well I suppose we need a new sign on the door It says Arthur Lester private investigator Well, we'll want to add John Doe, won't we? If your ego can take the hit. So long as my name's still first. I don't remember these on your desk. What? There's a glass bell jar with, uh... Oh? With a piece of a jawbone in it. A jawbone? A twisted joke from the manager. And there's this. A small piano. A small piano? There, yeah. Oh. Oh. It's a music box. A music box? I wonder who it's from. We'll turn it over. Huh. It says, From Luna and Tom and the patrons of the waylay. for Blackstone. I suppose some of them survived. I suppose they did. Well. Well. There's a letter here. From Daniel. Daniel? Do you mind if we... Sure. It says, Dear Arthur, I've had the distinct pleasure over the past few weeks of getting to know you. Not as the man I called son, nor husband to my daughter, nor father to my grandchild, but rather through the eyes of a kindly priest named Oscar. Someone from whom claims you have given great purpose to. It is difficult for me to admit that I am not the man I dreamt of being. like many I seem to have lost my way though I am working to carve a new path and in a way I believe I have found a new purpose in life for myself I am not a poet like your father was nor am I the creative type as you seem to be But I think I now finally have begun to understand that poem you recommended me when we first met Thank you, Arthur. And please, come visit again soon. Dad. Poem? The first time I met him. I was a bit under the microscope. I mentioned Bella and I bonded over a shared love of poetry. Something he didn't quite grasp. And so I recommended one of my favorites. I can imagine which. No. No, not Invictus. No? Well, I'd love to hear. Now? Is there a better time? I suppose not. And I suppose, given everything that's happened, it feels strangely apt. Please. Assuming you can remember it. By heart. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you but make allowance for their doubting too if you can wait and not be tired by waiting or being lied about don't deal in lies or being hated don't give way to hating and yet don't look too good nor talk too wise if you can dream and not make dreams your master if you can think and not make thoughts your aim. If you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same. If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken, twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. Or watch the things you gave your life to broken And stoop And build them up with worn out tools If you can make one heap of all your winnings. And risk it all on one turn of pitch and toss. And lose. And start again at your beginnings. And never breathe a word about your loss. If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew. to serve their turn long after they are gone. And so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them, hold on. If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue or walk with kings nor lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you. If all men count with you, but none too much. If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run. Yours is the earth, and everything in it. And which is more. You'll be a man, my son. it's beautiful yeah well I didn't write this one either I kind of figured alright well selfishly I think I'd love a bath and maybe a meal well if we're being selfish I've been waiting for a movie for quite a long time Arthur Arthur the door someone is unlocking it oh good you're back I don't want to be getting your mail and watering your plants every time you go to New York to visit your friends or see Grandpa I don't mind letting a hand it just I'm tired of playing Aaron girl okay you need a secretary someone you can actually pay to do this stuff I do you want a cup of tea you look like you've seen a ghost dad for all what