A Little Bit of Soul

Richard Shorkinghorn leads a project on progeria in chickens, hoping his findings could affect human aging. He actively pursues funding to continue the work, but his applications are rejected. The setback sets the stage for his next move.

Grace Michael signals financial backing and hints at political connections through her husband. Richard accepts an invitation to spend a weekend at their country estate. The prospect of secure funding shifts his outlook.

Kate Haslett, Richard's former assistant and ex-girlfriend, appears as a fellow guest competing for funding. The presence of an old rival intensifies the dynamics among the guests. Ambitions collide amid the estate's opulence.

During a drunken dinner, Godfrey confesses his lack of understanding in economics. Grace makes a clumsy attempt to seduce Richard, highlighting power and attraction under the surface. The mood grows tense as personal and professional lines blur.

Sue Harrington's apparent suicide unsettles the guests, and she is not seen again. The hosts reveal their Satanist leanings amidst the upheaval. They decide to award Richard and Kate a substantial grant and set the stage for their alliance.

The hosts acknowledge their Satanist beliefs and provide a million-dollar grant to Richard and Kate. The couple's collaboration intensifies, and the air hums with occult overtones. The grant deepens the bond between them.

Richard and Kate marry soon after receiving the grant, uniting both personally and professionally. Their partnership cements a controversial alliance with their hosts, blurring the lines between science, money, and occult influence. The marriage ties their fates more closely to the estate's power structure.

The couple's research yields a virus capable of influencing aging, a breakthrough that Grace resents. Richard refuses to divulge the virus details to the grantors. The discovery raises ethical questions about ownership and use.

Grace proceeds with a demonic ritual designed to sacrifice Richard and Kate. The ominous act underscores the dangerous power struggle surrounding the research. The situation becomes life-threatening.

Dr. Sommerville, a Satanist who was once Kate's fortune-teller, intervenes to rescue Richard and Kate from the ritual. The rescue changes the balance of power at the estate. The incident reveals deeper occult networks at play.

Godfrey, now Prime Minister, hands police evidence accusing Richard of murdering Sue Harrington. The political machinery becomes entangled with the case, threatening Richard's freedom. The accusation triggers a high-stakes investigation.

In court, defence lawyer Peter Duncan questions Godfrey on economics, rattling him. Godfrey's responses devolve into nihilism and demonism, culminating in a confession that he was the murderer. The revelation shifts the focus away from Richard.

Richard and Kate choose privacy over publication and open a small pharmacy. They dispense limited unlabelled bottles to a select clientele, keeping the science away from the public eye. The couple's future remains clandestine and morally ambiguous.