The Magnus Protocol 38 - Circling Back

Summary

The Magnus Protocol Episode 38: Circling Back – Detailed Summary

Release Date: April 17, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 38 of The Magnus Protocol, titled "Circling Back," listeners are plunged deeper into the enigmatic world of the Magnus Institute. Hosted by Rusty Quill and featuring voices such as Billy Hindle (Alice Dyer), Anusha Battersby (Gwendolyn Bouchard), and Lowrie Ann Davies (Celia Ripley), this episode intricately weaves together elements of mystery, supernatural phenomena, and personal turmoil. Written by Amber Devereux and Jonathan Sims, the episode masterfully balances character development with the unfolding mystery surrounding the sinister carousel and the elusive Heinrich Unheimlich.

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Plot Overview

1. The Break-In and Initial Investigation ([02:36] - [05:32])

The episode opens with Alice Dyer and Colin executing a clandestine break-in. Colin, frustrated with their landlord's questionable practices, decides to inspect the premises before everything is discarded. Their mission: to retrieve crucial documents related to portals and dimensions.

Notable Quote:

Colin ([02:45]): "I wanted to make sure I checked the place out before the landlord tossed everything."

Despite Alice's skepticism about the significance of some findings, Colin remains convinced of the interconnectedness of their discoveries, linking entities like Freddy and Hilltop to the overarching mystery.

2. Unveiling Freddy and Hilltop Connections ([05:30] - [06:33])

As Alice and Colin sift through their findings, Colin reveals insights into Freddy's origins in Berlin during the late '80s and early '90s. References to a figure named Friedrich, potentially the original programmer, emerge, hinting at deeper layers of the mystery.

Notable Quote:

Colin ([05:49]): "It looks like Freddy was originally made in Berlin. Back in the late '80s, maybe early '90s."

Alice questions the relevance, cautioning against assuming all negative events are tied to the portal, but Colin remains steadfast in his pursuit of answers.

3. The Mysterious Carousel and Alice's Diary Entries ([06:56] - [16:56])

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to Alice's personal diary entries, recounting strange occurrences linked to a toy carousel gifted by a mysterious individual known as Mr. Cat Eyes. These entries delve into supernatural events, such as the carousel lighting up and the pigs on it exhibiting eerie behavior, including oinking in what appears to be German.

Notable Quotes:

Alice Dyer ([03:35]): "I just don't think that whatever is going on with Freddy has anything to do with what happened to Sam."

Alice Dyer ([16:56]): "The carousel lit up while I was asleep and started playing music and the pigs started oinking. I tried to just ignore it, but it was too loud."

These entries not only build tension but also provide crucial clues about the supernatural elements at play, suggesting a connection between the carousel, Freddy, and possibly the portal phenomena.

4. Investigation Intensifies and Heinrich Unheimlich ([17:00] - [23:49])

Post-diary entries, Alice and Colin regroup to discuss their findings. Colin emphasizes the importance of their German contact, Heinrich Unheimlich, believing him to hold the key to unraveling the mysteries they've encountered.

Notable Quote:

Colin ([17:22]): "Exactly."

The conversation reveals that their interaction with Heinrich has been limited, with plans to meet in Berlin unfolding amid escalating tensions. Gwendolyn Bouchard joins the discussion, raising concerns about external threats and the dangers associated with Heinrich.

Notable Quote:

Alice Dyer ([19:25]): "Don't be monster racist. Please, Gwen, this is a good lead."

The episode concludes with Alice reaching out to Star Call Services Group, signaling a strategic move to involve higher authorities or specialized services in their investigation.

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Key Discussions and Insights

• Interconnected Mysteries: The episode intricately links various paranormal elements, suggesting that entities like Freddy and organizations like Hilltop might be part of a larger, interconnected framework involving portals and otherworldly dimensions.

• Supernatural Artefacts: The carousel serves as a pivotal artefact in the narrative, embodying supernatural qualities that bridge the physical and metaphysical realms. Its mysterious behavior and transformation hint at deeper supernatural rules governing the Magnus Institute's archives.

• Cultural and Linguistic Clues: The introduction of German elements, particularly through Heinrich Unheimlich and the carousel's oinking in German, adds a layer of cultural complexity, suggesting international dimensions to the Institute's mysteries.

• Character Dynamics: The tension between Alice's skepticism and Colin's obsession highlights the strains within the investigation team, emphasizing personal motivations and the psychological toll of their work.

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Notable Quotes with Speaker Attribution and Timestamps

1. Colin ([02:45]):

   "I wanted to make sure I checked the place out before the landlord tossed everything."

2. Alice Dyer ([03:35]):

   "I just don't think that whatever is going on with Freddy has anything to do with what happened to Sam."

3. Colin ([05:49]):

   "It looks like Freddy was originally made in Berlin. Back in the late '80s, maybe early '90s."

4. Alice Dyer ([16:56]):

   "The carousel lit up while I was asleep and started playing music and the pigs started oinking. I tried to just ignore it, but it was too loud."

5. Colin ([17:22]):

   "Exactly."

6. Alice Dyer ([19:25]):

   "Don't be monster racist. Please, Gwen, this is a good lead."

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Conclusion

Episode 38 of The Magnus Protocol, "Circling Back," masterfully intertwines personal narratives with overarching supernatural mysteries. Through Alice's unsettling experiences with the carousel and Colin's relentless pursuit of the truth behind Freddy and Heinrich Unheimlich, listeners are drawn deeper into the complex tapestry of the Magnus Institute's enigmatic archives. As the team grapples with internal conflicts and external threats, the stage is set for further revelations and confrontations in the forthcoming seasons of The Magnus Protocol.

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For those eager to delve further into the eerie depths of The Magnus Archives, this episode promises a blend of suspense, mystery, and richly developed characters that continue to elevate the series within the horror fiction podcast genre.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Rusty Quill]

Rusty Quill presents the Magnus Protocol Episode 38 Circling Back.

[Alice Dyer]

Hello?

[Colin]

In here. It's open.

[Alice Dyer]

Yeah, I can see that. Decided to get a head start, did you?

[Colin]

I wanted to make sure I checked the place out before the landlord tossed everything.

[Alice Dyer]

Well, if he wasn't going to before, I'm sure he will after he sees what you did to the door.

[Colin]

It's fine. Colin was always moaning about him as a rent hiking, deposit robbing asshole.

[Alice Dyer]

And you're sure no one noticed you breaking in?

[Colin]

Pretty sure. But hey, more reason for you to help me bag this stuff up quickly.

[Alice Dyer]

I doubt a few bags are going to be enough to carry all this.

[Colin]

Nah, forget the computers. Colin was paranoid enough that there's no way we're getting anything past his security. Besides, he didn't exactly trust technology. By the end.

[Alice Dyer]

Pencil the paper.

[Colin]

Yep.

[Alice Dyer]

Where do we even start?

[Colin]

Notebooks first. Then any loose sheets that look like they might be to do with portals, dimensions, stuff like that. Alice, don't start.

[Alice Dyer]

I just don't think that whatever is going on with Freddy has anything to do with what happened to Sam.

[Colin]

Freddy is. It killed Colin. Hilltop is evil. It took Sam. They're connected.

[Alice Dyer]

Not necessarily. You can't just assume that everything bad is connected to the portal.

[Colin]

Watch me. Look, I know I'm jumping to conclusions, alright. But until we can decode all this gibberish, it's all we have to go on. And it's the only way I can make any of this make sense. So you can have a go with a program or. I've already lost two friends to this thing. I don't want to lose another.

[Alice Dyer]

Lot of alchemical stuff in this one. Formulas, symbols, equations.

[Colin]

Anything you recognize.

[Alice Dyer]

Symbols for lead, zinc, sulfur. I think this one is phosphorus. Don't really see what they could mean here though.

[Colin]

We'll figure it out.

[Alice Dyer]

Of course we will. I assume this is why your casework has stalled. Your cases, your job. According to the system, you haven't even opened one tonight.

[Colin]

Piss off.

[Alice Dyer]

Excuse me?

[Colin]

Sorry. You're right. Piss off. Boss.

[Alice Dyer]

I assume these are Colin's documents?

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Mm.

[Alice Dyer]

And have you found anything?

[Colin]

Well, it looks like Freddy was originally made in Berlin. Back in the late 80s, maybe early 90s. There's a lot of references to someone called Friedrich, who I think might have been the original programmer.

[Alice Dyer]

Is that useful?

[Colin]

Colin certainly thought so. He was trying to find out more from a contact over there. Some guy called Heinrich and. Heimlich.

[Alice Dyer]

I'm sorry? Heinrich Unheimlich?

[Colin]

Yeah. What?

[Alice Dyer]

Alice, do you speak any German?

[Colin]

No, not as such. Why?

[Alice Dyer]

Unheimlick. It means creepy, weird. I don't think it's a real name.

[Colin]

Well, it's what Colin called him, so.

[Alice Dyer]

I see. Well, keep me updated, I guess.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Dear Diary.

[Colin]

God damn it.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Still aren't back from their stupid trip?

[Colin]

Really?

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Friday, 13 March 1992. Dear diary. Berlin is rubbish. There's nothing here but old sad buildings and old sad people. My feet hurt from all the walking and standing around in boring train stations waiting for boring trains to take us to boring walks. And I'm bored. Saturday, 14 March 1992. Dear diary. OK, so maybe Berlin isn't that bad. Actually, today Mum took me to the Musical Instrument Museum near the park. The Tiergarten, which I think means animal garden. Mum told me it used to be a hunting ground for the important people in the city. I kept looking for animals when we were in there, but I think they're all gone. And that made me sad. Mum promised to take me to the zoo later. The Musical Instrument Museum. The Music Instrumenten Museum is so cool. There's so many old instruments and they look so weird. We weren't allowed to play any of them, which doesn't make any sense. But I can't play any instruments anyway, so I guess it's not so bad. Right as we were about to leave, someone came up to Mum holding a box. They had really big eyes that looked like a cat. And they kept touching the box like it was going to run away or something. They started talking to Mum, but I couldn't understand what they were saying. I really, really want to speak German like Mum. I keep asking her to teach me, but she doesn't want to. She thinks I'll get bored. Like when I asked her to teach me to play guitar, which made my fingers hurt. But this is different. Speaking German won't make my fingers hurt. Although I didn't think playing guitar would hurt my fingers either. Doesn't look like it hurts. I like watching Mum speaking German. All those cool sounds. It's so cool. It's like a superpower. People are nicer to us. We get free stuff all the time. Maybe this was what this person was doing, giving us free stuff. Because my mum speaks German. They were talking super quickly, but Mr. Cat Eyes was smiling. Mum looked a bit weirded out, but then also started smiling. Cat Eyes looked at me and I felt weird. They kept talking in German and I looked at Mum, but I could still feel Mr. Cat Eyes looking at me with his big cat eyes. He moved the box towards Mum and she shook her head. I think Mr. Cat Eyes wanted mum to take the box. Mr. Cat Eyes said something and opened the box. It was a small toy carousel. It looked old. I think it was made of wood. It had a green and white big top with white and pink pigs instead of horses, which I thought was funny. Mum looked at it and she looked all weird, like when she sees something really nice in a shop window. Only this time it was different. It was like she was almost a different person. For a second she spoke to me, telling me how pretty it was. Mum said that she thought it was an old toy, maybe from East Berlin, I guess. Maybe it's because East Berlin was also old. She nodded at Mr. Cat Eyes, took the box from him and Mr. Cat Eyes walked away. Mum gave the box to me and said it was a present from the nice German man. I called out danke, but he'd already gone. Mum said I said it wrong, but I think I said it okay. As we were walking past the Brandenburg Gate, which is smaller than in the pictures, I thought I saw an animal in the bushes, but it was Mr. Cat Eyes. He was watching me, hidden in the big green bushes of the Teargarten. Mum took me to a street market afterwards and we ate chips, which were really good. Monday, 16th March 1992. Dear diary, we are back home from Berlin. It feels really, really good to be back home. In my own room, in my own bed. And I can see all my friends again. Mum put the pig carousel Mr. Cat Eyes gave us in Berlin on the table in the kitchen. Mum thought it was pretty, but she also said it was a strange thing to give to someone. It didn't make any sound or light up or anything. The pigs don't even spin around. Then we put it on the windowsill in my room. Mom said I should be careful with it and not to play with it. What's the point of a toy you can't play with? The pigs look different. When I looked at them in Berlin, they were pink and white. But now they're different colours. They're red and black, like they've been in a fire. That's weird, right? Is it because we went on a plane? Do planes make pigs change colors? Is it because they're German pigs and we're not in Germany anymore? I tried asking Mum, but she just looked at me and said I needed to eat less sugar. So now I'm not allowed anything I like. Tuesday, 17 March 1992. Dear diary. Something weird happened last night. I heard a noise which woke me up. It sounded like an old music box. I looked up and saw that the carousel had lit up and it was spinning. As it span, the pigs began oinking, getting louder and louder. They didn't sound like normal pigs though. Like when we went to visit that farm. It was sad and angry. It wasn't fun to listen to. Maybe they were oinking in German. I sat up and watched it, wondering if Mum could hear it. I got up, walked over to the windowsill and picked it up. But as soon as I picked it up, the noises stopped and all the lights went out. So I put it back down on the windowsill and tiptoed back to bed. I asked Mum in the morning if she had heard anything. She said she hadn't, probably because she was snoring. The carousel didn't make any noise during the day. I picked it up, shook it, looked it all over and I couldn't find any lights or anything that made a noise. Mum told me to stop playing with it and leave it alone. She says it's delicate. I asked Mum if we could move it to her room and she said she needed to move some of the other old, boring, dusty Aunt Ick stuff out of her room first. Whatever that means. Wednesday, 18th March 1992. Dear diary. It happened again last Night. The carousel lit up while I was asleep and started playing music and the pigs started oinking. I tried to just ignore it, but it was too loud. I can't believe Mum can't hear it. I went over to the carousel. The pigs mouths had changed. They were more open than before. And they had teeth now. Do pigs have teeth? I don't remember the pigs at the farm having teeth. The pig's teeth were a bright white with red dripping down them. I looked closer and saw the center of the carousel had little pictures of really sad people. It was scary. The pigs kept oinking and spinning with their red and white teeth. And the sad people in the carousel looked at me. I had an idea and went over to my bookshelf to find one of Mum's old phrase books. I couldn't find anything that meant Is anyone there? The closest I could find was who are you? The Hyacinthe? As best I could. Then I asked about where it came from. Komst du aus Deutschland. But maybe I was saying it wrong because nothing seemed to happen for a while. But then it changed. The carousel kept spinning and music kept playing. But the pigs stopped oinking. They started saying something in German. It sounded like a nursery rhyme. I asked sprechen Sie English, the way Mum taught me in case I ever got lost in Berlin. But I don't think it heard me. So instead I went and got my notebook and rainbow pen and wrote down what it was singing. Heinrich un Heimlich wist du mit mir spielen Heinrich un heimlich bist du in den Dielen Heinrich unheimlich obist du insicht Heinrich un Heimlich is mein elten nicht the carousel started shaking and the frills at the top started to twist. Then the center of the carousel started turning red like it was filling from the bottom. And the sad faces looked scared with their hands reaching for the top. Dark red stuff started spilling out of the pigs mouths onto the windowsill and dripping down onto the floor. I picked it up before it made too much mess. And then it stopped. In the morning the pigs were back to normal and the sad people were back. I went to Mum to tell her what had happened, but she was speaking German on the phone. She asked me to wait until she was done, but I kept saying it was urgent. Finally she sighed and put the phone down and I told her what had happened. She didn't believe me and said I was dreaming. I told her about the voices, but Mum said it couldn't have been German because I don't speak German, so I said I would show her what I wrote down. I dragged Mum into my room and showed her the mess and she was so cross. She said I had to tell her what I'd done to it. But I kept telling her that I hadn't done anything and it had just happened. She picked it up and looked it over to see if it was broken or sticky, but it wasn't. I got my notebook. I opened it to the right page and then gave it to Mum. She sat down on my bed and started reading. She was very quiet for a long time. Then she looked at me and I didn't really know what to do. So I just stood there, watching her. I've never seen Mum not know what to say. She always knew what to say. She asked if I wanted to get rid of the carousel. I nodded. She said she would take it to where she sells all the old dusty stuff and I thought that sounded like a good idea. Then she asked if I wanted German lessons. I said yes, but only if she came with me. She said that was fair. I also asked if I could get piano lessons, but she didn't seem to like that idea so much. Mom helped me clean up the mess and now it's all shiny and clean and smells of flowers. She put the carousel back in the box and went out to sell it. She said she wouldn't be long and I could call her on the phone if I got scared. She's been gone a long time. I got hungry so I made myself a ham sandwich. But I think I did it wrong because it tasted wrong. I hope Mum comes back soon.

[Colin]

Right. So I wanted to have a chat in here, away from any nosy PCs.

[Alice Dyer]

You're saying Fred, you responded to the new name Heinrich And Heinrich.

[Colin]

Which tells me it is definitely something I want to investigate.

[Alice Dyer]

And definitely something to discuss a bit more privately.

[Colin]

Exactly.

[Alice Dyer]

You have Colin's notes spread all over your workstation.

[Colin]

Webcam was taped, but I forgot about the mics since we never used them.

[Alice Dyer]

So do we just rip them out?

[Colin]

Not unless you want to be reformatted. Like Colin.

[Alice Dyer]

Allegedly after Colin attacked the system.

[Colin]

Whatever. Look, the point is, I need to go to Berlin. What? Why? Heinrich is Colin's contact. They were scheduled to meet in person.

[Alice Dyer]

When?

[Colin]

Five days from now. I reckon Colin got impatient and went after Freddie.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Too soon.

[Alice Dyer]

That does sound like Colin. And this Heinrich has agreed to meet with you instead?

[Colin]

Not yet.

[Alice Dyer]

You haven't even checked.

[Colin]

Look, if there are any contact details for him in that library of paranoidry Are there? I haven't found them yet.

[Alice Dyer]

This is a long shot, Celia. I agree with Alice, of course.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

You.

[Rusty Quill]

You do?

[Colin]

You do, right? Yes.

[Alice Dyer]

I certainly think it's worth a look. But there's something else, isn't there? You're keeping something back, I can tell.

[Colin]

Oh, well, I think. I think Heinrich on Heimlich might be an external.

[Alice Dyer]

And there it is. What sort?

[Colin]

I don't know. The spooky German sort. It sounds like he mostly scares children. And if automatic translations of sketchy, creepy past it are to be believed, he maybe eats parents. Maybe. I mean, it wasn't entirely clear, but since I'm not a child or a parent, I figured it might be chill.

[Alice Dyer]

No, too dangerous.

[Colin]

Oh, come on. You mean with externals all the time.

[Alice Dyer]

Meaning? I know the risks. Besides, those are properly vetted externals who have signed an agreement with the British government to party.

[Colin]

Don't be monster racist. Please, Gwen, this is a good lead.

[Alice Dyer]

Fine.

[Colin]

Thank you.

[Alice Dyer]

But I'm arranging some security.

[Colin]

That's fair.

[Alice Dyer]

This feels risky.

[Colin]

I'm not the one staying here with the man eating Snoop Bot 5000.

[Alice Dyer]

For the last time, Freddy didn't.

[Colin]

I was talking about you uncapping your expenses. Damn it.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Star Call Services Group. How can I direct your call?

[Alice Dyer]

Yes, hello, this is Gwendolyn Bouchard at the Office of Incident Assessment and Response. I'd like to speak to Mr. Brett Lars, please.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Of course, Ms. Bouchard. May I ask what this is regarding?

[Alice Dyer]

Tell him. Tell him we're ready to give you a trial run.

[Rusty Quill]

The Magnus Protocol is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non commercial share alike 4.0 international license. The series is created by Jonathan Sims and Alexander J. Newell and directed by Alexander J. Newell. This episode was written by Amber Devereux and Jonathan Sims and edited with additional materials by Alexander J. Newell, with vocal edits by Lorianne Davies, soundscaping by Tessa Vroom and mastering by Catherine Rinella, with music by Sam Jones. It featured Billy Hindle as Alice Dyer, Anusha Battersby as Gwen Bouchard, Lowrie Ann Davies as Celia Ripley, with additional voices from Jonathan Sims. The Magnus Protocol is produced by April Sumner with executive producers Alexander J. Newell, Danny McDonough, Lynn C. And Samantha F.G. hamilton, and Associate producers Jordan L. Hawke, Taylor Michaels, Nicole Pillman, Ctista Raven, and Megan. Nice to subscribe View associated materials or join our Patreon visit rustyquill.com Rate and review us online. Tweet us therestyquill Visit us on Facebook or email us via mail rustyquilt.com thanks for listening. Hi, I'm Amber Desvariaux, the writer of the case for this episode. If you enjoyed it and you want to hear more of my work, be sure to check out all my work. At Tin Can Audio we make audio drama series such as fantasy series called Camlin the Tower, which is an experimental audio drama concept album. We also have a collection of queer horror stories called Folklore, which you can also listen to on there. You can listen to all of these by following the link in the show notes below, or you can find everything@tin canaudio.co.uk thank you for listening. To give you an idea of what you can expect, here is a little clip from the trailer for our latest fantasy series, Camlan.

[Colin]

Okay, and who are you calling for today?

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

My mum, Sian Thomas. She was in Aberystwyth. Matthew and Louise Turner in Kirkwall on Orthopa.

[Alice Dyer]

My father, Kai Liu, Ben Ben Jones.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

I saw something on the news, but.

[Alice Dyer]

I see something he's 15 years old.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Anna and Sophie Green in Portsmouth. What's happening in Kowloon? Listen, is this real? I've been seeing news reports about dragons.

[Alice Dyer]

Let me look that up for you.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Where are you calling from today?

[Alice Dyer]

Bristol. Bristol.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

Bristol, Bristol.

[Alice Dyer]

Leicester.

[Gwendolyn Bouchard]

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