The Way We Haunt Now
- Episode Eight – The Hunt
- Link to PDF transcript
- For more information: www.hauntnowpod.com
- Twitter: @HauntNowPod
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Episode Eight – The Hunt
SCENE 45
SFX: Ghostly whoosh as Mary returns to the ghost house; rustling as she moves deeper into the house; ghost house ambiance (floor boards creaking, a spooky breeze, and windchimes) in background throughout scene…
MARY: (calling, softly) Lota? Josie? I’m back…
SFX: Mary turns a doorknob and the door creaks loudly as it swings open.
MARY: Oh, good. You’re here.
LOTA: What is it?
JOSIE: What did you find out?
MARY: First, where’s Frankie? How is she?
JOSIE: She’s resting. She had an eventful day.
LOTA: I… May have accidentally made her realize that her family all died while she was in that phonograph cylinder.
MARY: (Sighs) You didn’t.
JOSIE: But she’s taking it fairly well. She just needed a quiet moment.
LOTA: Yeah. I think she’s going to be fine.
MARY: I think she might. (Laughs) Oh, gods, I think she actually might.
LOTA: So, good news then?
MARY: Maggie and Kate say it’s possible to avert a poltergeist binding. At least, it’s happened once before. It’s hard. But we were right to bring her here and encourage her to stay away from Eulalie and the apartment. If she’d gone to the apartment… Well, they say they’d never heard of a binding being undone once it’s completed.
JOSIE: But she’s here, and she’s stayed away. So what do we do next?
MARY: Keep on keeping on. The further away we can convince her to go, the better.
LOTA: She said something about wanting to find out if anyone in her family is out there haunting…
MARY: That will be perfect. We’ll just have to find someone to go with her, but there are plenty of road ghosts who’d be up for that sort of thing.
JOSIE: Should we go tell her? She seemed like she could really use some good news.
MARY: Yes, let’s.
SFX: Power wheelchair joystick clicks, motor whirs as Lota leaves accompanied by ghostly whooshing as Mary and Josie leave.
SFX: Theme music (simple guitar with spectral oohs and ohs and occasional cymbal crashes) fades in…
COURTNEY: (V.O.) The Way We Haunt Now, Episode Eight: The Hunt
SFX: Theme music fades out…
SCENE 46
SFX: Heart monitor flatlining in the background…
FRANKIE: (whispering) Come on, Eulalie.
DOCTOR: (in background) Damn, we’re losing her. Get me the bloody defibrillator!
SFX: Doctor saying “clear,” defibrillator discharging, doctor swearing as flatlining continues.
FRANKIE: Come on. I know I put you here, but I was wrong.
SFX: Doctor saying “clear,” defibrillator discharging, doctor swearing as flatlining continues.
FRANKIE: I was wrong to haunt you like that.
SFX: Doctor saying “clear,” defibrillator discharging, doctor swearing as flatlining continues.
FRANKIE: And I need you to live so that I can make it up to you. I need you to live so that I can prove I’m not…
SFX: Doctor saying “clear,” defibrillator discharging, doctor swearing as flatlining continues.
FRANKIE: Even if… Even if you can’t forgive me. Even if I can’t make this right. I just need you to live. Please.
SFX: Hospital monitors go out of flatline, start beeping steadily again.
DOCTOR: (in background) She’s stable, but I don’t think it’s going to last. What’s the ETA on her next of kin’s arrival?
ALICIA: (in background) She’s on her way. I’ll check in again.
DOCTOR: (in background) Good. The sooner the better. (Pause) The family needs a chance to say goodbye.
SFX: Frankie starts to hyperventilate, phonograph crackling fades in; a sudden whoosh as Frankie is involuntarily pulled back to the apartment.
FRANKIE: Where am–– Oh. Oh, no.
SFX: poltergeist sounds fade in…
FRANKIE: The apartment. I have to get out of here.
SFX: ghostly whoosh as Frankie tries to leave and a jolting “bang” signalling she’s stuck – repeated three times.
FRANKIE: (Getting scared) Why can’t I leave? (Yelling at apartment) Why won’t you let me leave? (Moaning) Oh, why won’t you let me leave?
SFX: Sniffing
FRANKIE: And why do I smell…rosemary?
SCENE 47
SFX: Crackling phonograph fades into the sound of rain; Typing and outgoing text message sound.
CAS: Is everything in position?
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
MYRTLE: Yep. I’ve mic’ed the perimeter.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
DANNY: Cameras are also a go.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
NICK: Yessir. I’ve circled the lot with salt and rosemary.
SFX: Typing and outgoing text message sound.
CAS: Good. Get comfy, we could be waiting awhile.
SFX: Pause. Then, EMF equipment starts beeping. Goes haywire throughout scene.
SFX: Typing and outgoing text message sound.
CAS: Holy shit. Something’s really here.
SFX: Typing and outgoing text message sound.
CAS: Whatever it is, it’s lighting things up. Nick, have you found a way in?
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
NICK: Window over the kitchen sink is open. I just gotta get the screen off and we’re good to go.
SFX: Typing and outgoing text message sound.
CAS: Do it. We’re going in.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
DANNY: Let’s exorcise a poltergeist.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
NICK: Yippee-ki-yay.
SFX: Typing and outgoing text message sound.
CAS: After we get some hard evidence.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
MYRTLE: Only if it deserves to be exorcised, right? It could be a good poltergeist.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
DANNY: Good one, Myrtle.
SCENE 48
SFX: Mary knocking; ghost house ambiance (floor boards creaking, a spooky breeze, and windchimes) in background throughout scene…
MARY: Frankie? Can we come in? We have good news!
SFX: Pause. Knocks again, more insistently.
MARY: Frankie? Hello?
LOTA: (whispering) Are you sure she’s in there, Josie?
JOSIE: (whispering) It’s where she said she was going. (Hollering) Hey, Frankie, you in there?
SFX: More knocking.
MARY: I don’t like this. (Louder) We’re coming in.
SFX: Doorknob rattles, door creaks, footsteps and power wheelchair joystick and motor whirring…
MARY: She’s not here. Search the house. Hurry, there’s no time to lose.
SFX: Ghostly whooshing and wheelchair moving away, ghostly whooshes and wheelchair signalling everyone’s return.
JOSIE: She’s not in the house.
LOTA: Do you think she’d…
MARY: Go back to the apartment? The pull must be strong. Even if she didn’t mean to, she could end up there unintentionally.
LOTA: I’ll go and check it out. Someone should check the hospital.
MARY: And someone should stay here, just in case she shows up…
JOSIE: I’ll check the hospital, then.
MARY: Be careful, everyone. Remember there are ghost hunters hanging around. If Frankie’s back at the apartment…
LOTA: She’ll be sending up a signal.
MARY: Hurry, both of you.
SFX: Ghostly whooshing and power wheelchair moving away. Wheelchair returns…
LOTA: (breathless) I couldn’t get into the apartment. There are humans milling around and the whole place has been circled with salt and rosemary. But it’s lit up from the inside like nobody’s business. She’s there.
MARY: Shit.
LOTA: We’re going to need human intervention.
SFX: Ghostly whoosh signals Josie’s return…
MARY: And where are we going to find humans who somehow already know about us so that we don’t break the rules and get ourselves in a world of trouble?
JOSIE: I may know where to find one…if we can get her to wake up.
MARY: Eulalie. Of course. (Huffs) Let’s go talk a woman out of a coma, then. No big deal.
LOTA: Hurry. Those people… They knew what they were doing. We don’t have much time.
SCENE 49
SFX: Deep breathing, heart monitors and poltergeist sounds in the background, but low.
FRANKIE: Deep breaths, Frankie old girl. You died once. How bad can the second time be?
SFX: Frankie continues taking deep breaths.
FRANKIE: And anyway, your friends will realize you’re gone soon and do… Something. Don’t think about the rosemary. Don’t think about the humans outside or their weird beepy machines.
SFX: A window is forced open and dishes clatter in the kitchen.
FRANKIE: Don’t think about Eulalie…
SFX: The sounds of the ghost hunters jumping to the floor and walking closer.
FRANKIE: Maybe… (Ragged breath) Maybe they can be reasoned with? It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?
SFX: EMF equipment starts beeping.
CAS: (OFF) Okay, viewers. We’re inside. The EMF in here is off the charts. There’s definitely something here. Only time will tell if it’s a poltergeist or some other spirit.
DANNY: (OFF) But we’re pretty sure it’s a poltergeist.
NICK: (OFF) And we’re ready to rumble.
MYRTLE: (OFF) Or, listen to its story and let it be. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?!
CAS: (OFF) Listen, for now, let’s just split up and figure out where the signal’s strongest.
NICK: (OFF) Aye, aye cap’n.
SFX: Footsteps scattering. Some away, some toward Frankie.
FRANKIE: Stay calm. (Deep breathing)
SFX: Footsteps approaching.
MYRTLE: (OFF) Fuck it’s cold in here.
DANNY: (OFF – but a bit closer) Sort of to be expected.
MYRTLE: (OFF – but a bit closer) I guess. I just––
SFX: Footsteps arrive and stop.
MYRTLE: Are you seeing this, Danny? There at the end of the hall.
DANNY: Yup. Keep your distance, we don’t know how it will react. (Muttering to herself) Well, we do. It’ll be violent. It’s just a matter of when.
SFX: Myrtle takes a couple of steps.
MYRTLE: Hello, there.
FRANKIE: Oh. You can see me? (Half to herself) Well, in that case. (Deep breath) Please, put down that … rectangle. I suspect it’s some sort of photographic device and I’m not supposed to leave any traces.
SFX: Frankie’s phonograph recording begins “playing” while she’s speaking.
MYRTLE: Is she… Reading me a poem?
FRANKIE: Can’t you hear me?
DANNY: Sure sounds like a poem.
MYRTLE: Weird. Our viewers are gonna eat this up.
FRANKIE: LISTEN TO ME! I DON’T WANT TO HURT ANYONE. CAN’T YOU PLEASE LEAVE ME ALONE? I JUST WANT TO MAKE AMENDS. I’M NOT… (Whispering) I’m not here to hurt anyone. Not again.
SFX: phone vibrates as an incoming text is received
MYRTLE: (Speaking over Frankie) Cas says the rest of the apartment is pretty clear of EMF. I’m going to tell him to head this way.
DANNY: Good. The sooner we take care of this the better.
SFX: Typing and outgoing text message sound.
FRANKIE: Take care of? You don’t understand. I don’t need to be destroyed. I’m not a threat to anyone.
SFX: Phonograph crackling and poltergeist sounds get louder, footsteps approach.
NICK: (OFF) Fe, fi, fo, fum
MYRTLE: Cut it out, Nick. We’re in here. She’s in here. And she’s been reciting some sort of poem.
SFX: Typing on phone sounds.
MYRTLE: It’s…actually a poem? Like, it was legit published in the 1800s.
SFX: More footsteps approach with beeping EMF equipment.
DANNY: I guess there’s a first time for everything.
CAS: (approaching) The ghost herself doesn’t appear to be from the 1800s, by the look of it. Unless they had skinny jeans in the 1800s. Strange.
NICK: Poem? Jeans? Who cares. We’re here to destroy this thing.
CAS: Right. (Claps) We should get set up. This is where the signal is strongest, so we’ll perform the exorcism here.
FRANKIE: You don’t need to do this. PLEASE, listen to me.
APARTMENT: (whispers, bouncing and refracting) listen
FRANKIE: I’m trying to make up for the haunting I did when I first… Woke up. Really. And I have friends who are helping me. And I know that doesn’t make everything magically better, but do you really have to do this?
APARTMENT: (whispers, bouncing and refracting) helping
MYRTLE: Mics are set up.
DANNY: Cameras, too.
FRANKIE: I don’t want to die again.
APARTMENT: (whispers, bouncing and refracting) don’t
FRANKIE: Who’s… Is someone else there?
APARTMENT: (whispers, bouncing and refracting) home
SFX: Poltergeist and EMF beeping fade out…
SCENE 50
SFX: Beeping hospital monitor fades in…
MARY: (tinny) I know it’s not fair to ask. I know you’ve had a hard time lately, and you must be so tired and so scared. But you’re the only one who can help our friend, Frankie. She’s the one who haunted you. She… She thought she was doing her duty. And she’s sorry. And now she’s at the mercy of a bunch of ghost hunters who are going to destroy her before she has a chance to figure out what to do with her afterlife. How to be a better person.
LOTA: (tinny) Please wake up, Eulalie.
JOSIE: (tinny) Please, help us help our friend.
PARKER: (Crying) I got here as soon as I could, sis. They say… They say I should take this chance to say goodbye. That you probably won’t wake up. But they don’t know you like I do. They don’t know how hard you can fight, when you really want to. Please, Eulie. Please wake up.
SFX: Hospital monitors continue beeping. After a long pause, Eulalie takes a gasping breath.
EULALIE: Parker?
CREDITS
SFX: Theme music (simple guitar with spectral oohs and ohs and occasional cymbal crashes) fades in
COURTNEY: (V.O.) This episode of The Way We Haunt Now is written, directed, and produced by Courtney Floyd with voice acting (in order of appearance) by:
KIRA: Kira Apple as Mary Bangs
BECCA: Becca Marcus as Lota
GEORGIA: Georgia Mckenzie as Josie
ELEANOR: Eleanor Grey as Frankie
CAIT: Cait Gallagher as the Doctor
JESSICA: Jessica Winston as Alicia
BRAD: Brad Colbroock as Cas Bromley
TAL: Tal Minear as Myrtle
LINDSAY: Lindsay Zana as Danny
PAUL: Paul H. Rollins as Nick
MARNIE: Marnie Warner as Parker
COURTNEY: Courtney Floyd as Eulalie
VARIOUS: Dan Gold, Stephanie, Jeff Goldman, Ali Hylton, Paul as The Apartment
COURTNEY: Whether you’re new to the spirit world or simply a ghost in need of some entertainment, you can visit www.hauntnowpod.com for more episodes as well as information about our cast and crew, content warnings, transcripts, and links to our social media.
SFX: Theme music fades out
COURTNEY: Remember to haunt responsibly!