A Discovery of Witches

Once the world was full of wonders

but it belongs to humans now.

We creatures have all but disappeared...

demons, vampires and witches...

hiding in plain sight

fearful of discovery

ill at ease, even with each other.

But, as my father used to say

in every ending...

there is a new beginning.

Hi, Fred. - Good morning.

Good morning.

No, stop!

Please, join me in welcoming back to Oxford...

this year's visiting research fellow.

As many of you know, she took her DPhil in the history of science here.

And after publishing two prize-winning books

she was awarded tenure at Yale

one of the youngest ever to have been awarded that distinction.

We are delighted to have her back amongst us.

Dr Diana Bishop.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

Alchemy.

In the 17th century, alchemy was at the very heart of the study of nature

and a precursor to modern chemistry...

..and death. All parts of the natural world, be they animate or inanimate

were believed to experience these stages.

Although these images were often interpreted as allegory

they actually represent the chemical processes...

With access to the Bodleian Library's collection

of unique manuscripts owned by Elias Ashmole

the 17th-century antiquarian, astrologer and alchemist

I will continue to explore the role that alchemy had

in 17th-century thought

and how it influenced great scientists such as Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle.

Thank you.

Very stimulating. - Thank you.

There's an opening coming up soon in the faculty.

I'm drawing up a shortlist of candidates. Would it interest you?

Er, yes.

We'll need to evaluate all your work.

The talk that you just gave today - I assume it's ready to be published?

It is, it is. It's almost finished.

Well, I'd need it by late October. - Absolutely.

I look forward to reading it. - Thank you.

Diana, that was brilliant.

Gillian Chamberlain at a lecture for alchemy? What a lovely surprise.

It's been, what, four years since I've seen you?

Almost six, actually. Can't believe it.

When did you arrive? - Over a week ago.

I've been practically living in the library. I haven't even unpacked.

It is so good to see you.

It's like...

No, it's like coming home, nothing's changed.

Tell me about it.

I'm not regular faculty, that's all.

Still no vacancies for a classical historian.

I'm sorry.

If there is anything I can do. - It'll happen.

Otherwise, Oxford's still great.

The coven's pretty active. We're meeting tonight for the equinox.

You'll know loads of us if you wanted to come.

I'm still not comfortable around magic.

Not after what happened to my parents.

I still find it...

I just find it difficult.

Do you not use your powers at all?

I am a walking disaster on that front.

My powers are so unpredictable.

This morning, it happened by accident in public.

I mean, no one saw, but they could have.

You should speak to Sylvia about that.

She's the head of coven now. She might be able to help you.

It's OK. I'm used to it.

I hear your lecture impressed a few people yesterday.

So, now you've got to get that paper finished, right?

What do you need?

Ashmole 37, 92, 183 and 782. - 782.

No problem. Be with you shortly.

Thanks.

Hey!

Hey. - How's it going?

Oh, just the usual, you know.

There you go, the Ashmole manuscripts.

Thank you.

Right, so, I'm out by the call desk.

Maybe we could have a coffee later? - Yeah, great.

Awesome. See you. - OK, bye.

Christ! Someone needs to fix the lights.

Is it happening to you? - Yes.

Our blood...

it's reacting to something.

Sorry, sorry.

Dr Bishop?

- I'm such an idiot, I... - Just need to check the fuses again.

We close at 5.00.

Dad.

Dad?

Dad?

Diana!

What happened in there?

Did you feel it? I don't think the humans did.

That Ashmole manuscript, there was something weird about it.

Did you see anything unusual?

Diana, are you all right?

Diana?

Where are you going?

So I presume I'm seeing you tonight.

No. - Come on.

No. - James, look, I've found a new place.

I've just been on a 12-hour shift. I'm going home to crash.

Last week was a mistake and I admit last week was a mistake.

That's what you said last week. - Tuesday's better than the weekend.

You can get a booth, it stays open till 3:00am...

3:00am, midweek? Are you off your rocker?

And I'm pretty sure the DJ plays almost exclusively '90s R&B.

See, when I'm not on shift, I'm in bed by 12.

How come you never look tired? - I'm not a lightweight like you.

A-huh.

Have a good sleep.

Five-a-side next week! - If you're awake.

No!

James, mate!

Hang in there, James.

No.

Matthew, have you been here all night?

She's a witch, Miriam, a powerful one if her family's anything to go by.

Who is?

The academic I overheard outside the Bodleian.

She's a direct descendant of Bridget Bishop

the first woman to be executed at the Salem witch trials.

You think what happened yesterday was witchcraft?

I don't know, but she'd just taken out an alchemical manuscript.

An Ashmole manuscript.

Come on, Matthew

it's not possible.

What, that she's found Ashmole 782? Why?

Because you've been looking for that book for over 100 years.

Longer.

Ever since I began to believe that it could help us understand our origins.

It's missing.

It's always been missing. How could this witch have found it?

Perhaps it wasn't missing.

Perhaps it was waiting.

Dad.

Next up on Radio 4

it's Rebecca Ali with Woman's Hour.

Hello.

Hey. Er, it's me.

Hey. You alright?

It's five o'clock in the morning, Diana.

I know. I know. I'm sorry.

Something's happened.

- You all right, honey? - I was in the Bod studying.

I took out a manuscript.

But it was bewitched or something.

Was it a grimoire? - It was an Ashmole manuscript.

There were alchemical illustrations. - Uh-huh, what else?

Er...

Moving under the pages.

I couldn't read it.

Definitely sounds like it was bewitched.

How did you unravel the spell? Did you say any words?

There was no witchcraft involved, Sarah.

How many times? You know I refuse to practise.

I couldn't wait to get rid of it.

I returned it. - What?

Diana, we've always told you...

if you ever come across something magical...

you should always, always, try to understand it!

Honey, what is happening? - It's Diana.

She's discovered some magical book.

That is not even why I called. It's...

It's what happened afterwards.

I think... I think I saw Dad.

What do you mean, you saw your dad? - He was just as I remembered him.

What do you think it means?

Well, honey, we're not gonna know now, are we?

You've given it back. Really, Diana, it's time you faced what you are

a witch!

We've been over this, Sarah. I'm an historian, that's what I am.

Oxford might offer me a professorship.

Oh, honey! That is wonderful news, Diana.

Well, I don't have it yet.

I have to get a paper written.

Wai t! Wai t! You can't just hide in your work.

You saw your father. This is important.

If the book is bewitched, there's no telling how you unlocked the spell.

You have to take the book out again. Work out what's going on.

That may be what you would do, Sarah, but I'm not you.

I called for your advice, not another lecture.

Well, you know how she feels about all this.

Give her time to cool off, honey, and try again.

You say the car took off at speed.

Are you sure that registration number's right?

Positive.

I have very good eyesight.

You say you left the hospital at 5:30.

But you didn't call the incident in until 6:15.

- I was giving him CPR. - For over half an hour?