Seethrough takes place in the world we know, but at the frontiers of things we do not
yet understand. It is built around a scientific researcher named Richard Strong and his
handicapped daughter, Sally, a promising young musician whose ability to play the cello
was snatched from her in a ski lift accident which also killed her mother when she was
seven years old. Richard works at the Uri Geller Kinetic I.T. Research Centre attached to
Quebec University. He is involved in research exploring ways the human mind can interact
with computers and issue commands on the basis of thought alone. One of his projects
involved developing speech recognition software for one of the laboratory's sponsors, the
Farlow Foundation. This body, with headquarters in Ireland, promotes the work of Catherine
Farlow, a woman who has enjoyed extraordinary success for her writings in the field of
popular psychology and self-improvement. She also has the reputation of being able to heal
the sick. However, this can only take place during a lunar eclipse. Catherine Farlow is
also blind.
Richard is told that members of the Farlow Foundation are to visit the laboratory to
brief the team about a new research project. But Richard's boss warns him against trying
to bring his daughter into contact with Catherine Farlow, since the Foundation insists on
only working with people driven by anything other than professional interest.
The project involves monitoring Catherine Farlow's mental processes during the next
lunar eclipse during which she will attempt to heal 12 carefully selected patients (we
also find out that one of the selection criteria involves being able to make a 100,000 $
"donation" to the Foundation!).
The research team arrives at the Farlow Foundation headquarters, a rambling mansion set
in extensive grounds, a few days before the eclipse. The "ceremony" is to take
place at the nearby Newgrange prehistoric "passage tomb" site - an ancient
ritualistic centre that predates the pyramids and is highly charged with so-far
unexplained telluric and cosmic forces.
Throughout the lead-up to the event, we are constantly reminded of the approaching
planetary alignment as the moon moves steadily towards the point at which it will pass
into the shadow of the earth. Excitement builds in the "camp" around the site as
the sick are wheeled towards the ancient standing stones guarding the entrance to the
"passage tomb".
Despite his boss's interdiction, Richard manages to be with Sally himself during the
"ceremony". As the moment arrives, and Catherine appears, with a long, black
dress and her intensely dark glasses, excitement rises to a fever pitch. She reaches out
to touch those who are so eagerly awaiting her healing hands when a scuffle takes place
and, in order to stop herself from falling, she grabs hold of Richard - at which Catherine
receives an enormous shock, as she starts crying out "I can see, I can see..."
