Audio: Affairs of the Mind

from Kyla Brettle, 01.11.08

The tools of my trade are a very quick mind, video cameras, long range lenses - we use to use bugs but we're not allowed to any more. Got three fast cars with tinted windows - all registered under different names - perfectly legal - You'd never know I was watching.

Steve Murray is a private detective who specialises in dirty linen; he's been doing marital surveillance jobs for fifteen years. His work takes him deep into the suburban heart of the middle class to unravel the lies between husbands and wives.

Murray's clients are mostly women who feel hurt, betrayed, jealous and vengeful. Ninety-nine percent of them are right in thinking their partner is having an affair and all are prepared to pay over $1500 to be told what they don't want to hear.

My famous quote is tell me your problem and I'll fix it. I'm a detective-slash-counsellor. Women love crying on my shoulder - I reckon I could have married 10 more times, some of the birds I get in here. They feel cheated, they feel that there is something wrong with them - and I'm like their knight in shining armour.

AFFAIRS OF THE MIND is a personal and confronting story exploring the nature of jealousy and the perimeters of infidelity. In an observational style we follow Steve Murray through a marital investigation and track his client's transition from doubt to certainty. Along the way we examine why Steve Murray himself is drawn to this line of work and what his client is really getting for her money.

Featuring:
Steve Murray and the Toorak Detective Agency.
The Client.

Credits:
Producer: Kyla Brettle
Sound Engineer: Richard Girvan
Supervising Producer: Matthew Leonard
Executive Producer: Tony MacGregor
Final Audio Mix by Richard Girvan at ABC Southbank Studios Melbourne, Australia.

Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Radio National, Radio Eye.

All music used in the program is derived from ABC Archives.

A warm thank you to Brent Clough and Patrick Coen.

© ABC Radio National and Kyla Brettle 2001

Photograph by James Braund

Kyla Brettle was awarded 'Best New Artist' for AFFAIRS OF THE MIND at the Third Coast International Audio Festival 2002.

Broadcasts:

ABC Radio National, Radio Eye, Jul 2001

ABC Radio National, The Night Air 'Audio Noir', May 2002

ABC Radio National, Radio Eye, Nov 2002

Radio New Zealand and National Radio RPM, Jun 2003

Chicago Public Radio, Re:Sound 'The Kyla Brettle Show', May 2008

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Tags

• Music & Audio
• Documentary

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