- The Way We Haunt Now
- Episode Twenty – The Decision
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Episode Twenty – The Decision
by
Courtney Floyd and Georgia Mckenzie
COURTNEY
All episodes of The Way We Haunt Now deal thematically with death and dying. Many contain mild horror elements. This episode contains discussion of the pandemic, and deaths related to and caused by COVID-19. Take care, listeners. Oh, and also? This episode, and therefore season, ends on a cliffhanger. Keep listening after the credits for a sneak peek of what some of our characters will be up to in season three.
SCENE 73
BACKGROUND SFX: Eulalie’s apartment room tone; the AC running in the background.
SFX: Parker’s phone blowing up with text messages; her notification is a chime. These notifications continue coming in under the scene.
FRANKIE
Are those more (said oddly) text messages?
PARKER
Umm… Yes.
FRANKIE
(resigned)
They’re for me, aren’t they?
PARKER
You don’t have to read them or respond, Frankie. It’s just that everyone’s worried about you, and they all have an opinion about what you should do, and––
FRANKIE
––and they want you to share those opinions with me.
PARKER
Yeah. But I’m very comfortable ignoring text messages. It’s practically a superpower.
FRANKIE
I see. And that doesn’t… upset the social balance?
PARKER
I mean, not really? We’re a lot less formal about communication these days. Anyway, I want you to know that I support your decision. Whatever you decide.
(hesitantly)
And, if you decide to stay, I’m going to stay, too. (faster) I’ve already applied for a transfer to the university here, and I could take over Eulalie’s lease, and you and I––
FRANKIE
(trying not to sound panicked, but failing)
And what if I don’t stay?
PARKER
Oh. Um… Huh. I don’t know. I-I guess I just assumed you were leaning towards, um… (takes a deep breath) I don’t know.
FRANKIE
Great. Well. I… I need some time to think about this. Alone.
SFX: Whooshing sound as Frankie leaves.
PARKER
Great job, Parker. Masterfully done.
SFX: Parker’s phone gets another couple of messages
PARKER
Ugggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Enough with the messages already.
BACKGROUND SFX: Theme music (simple guitar with spectral oohs and ohs and occasional cymbal crashes) fades in…
TAL
This is The Way We Haunt Now Episode Twenty: The Decision
BACKGROUND SFX: Theme fades out…
SCENE 74
SFX: Sounds of ghosts materializing. Lota’s wheelchair becomes distinct along with Mary’s measured steps.
BACKGROUND SFX: Ghosts chattering, their words indistinct.
LOTA
Time for round 2.
MARY
And I am so thankful you organized orientations into groups. There are more ghosts every day.
LOTA
…Yes. Every day.
MARY
I’m sorry I said that. (brighter) We’ll concentrate on one task at a time, shall we?
LOTA
Never thought I’d be so grateful for work to do. Speaking of which, what’s on today’s agenda?
MARY
We’ve covered traveling, so on to the rest of the basics, collecting supplies and…hmmm.
LOTA
Oh, I know that “hmm.” You have an idea about something.
MARY
We have two big problems. Helping these ghosts get settled into a safe afterlife and freeing Frankie.
LOTA
Frankie? So you think… Well, with all these new ghosts… (flustered and confused) But, but what about… hunh. Hmmmm.
MARY
Someone in here could be the answer to our poltergeist problem. We just have to find the right one.
LOTA
Uh, Mary, before we go ahead with it though, I want to make sure they know exactly what they’re getting into.
MARY
I understand what you’re saying, but none of us know what we’re getting into. It’s never been tried before.
LOTA
Still, promise me you’ll do your best to… explain as much as we can.
MARY
I can’t explain all the dangers when we’re trying something that hasn’t been done before. I’ll––
YLENA
Miss Mary?
MARY
Wha––Oh, just Mary, Ylena. How can I help you?
YLENA
Everyone is here now.
MARY
Ah, okay. We might as well get this meeting started then.
SFX: Lota’s chair and Mary’s footfalls as they walk to the front of the room.
MARY
(clears her throat)
Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we’re going to discuss haunting––finding your home.
SFX: Transition noise, similar to the music from the Veil, but much shorter.
SCENE 75
BACKGROUND SFX: Chatter and noise of a new ghost support meeting wrapping up. The conversations Josie and Lota are having sound like they’re in the background.
JOSIE
So tell me, Ylena, have you considered what you’d like to wear to your sister’s wedding?
YLENA
I had this dress… I suppose I’ll be wearing this hospital gown, now, though.
JOSIE
Not necessarily. Let’s talk…
GHOST 1
Miss Lota? Over here!!
GHOST 4
We’ve got a question!
SFX: Lota’s power wheelchair.
LOTA
It’s just Lota. No titles necessary.
GHOST 1
Got it, got it.
LOTA
What can I help with?
GHOST 4
We were wondering… how did you… um…
GHOST 1
What my friend is trying to say is we love Asha and we were wondering if there are other ghost pets?
GHOST 4
And can we give them homes like you do? I mean, I’m more of a cat person. But I’d really love to give a spectral kitty a home.
LOTA
Oh! This is gonna be a fun! Come with me!
SFX: Lota’s power wheelchair as they move away. Aaron and Henry sound louder, like they’re closest to us in the room.
AARON
Thanks again for heading to my grandma’s with me. It’s a relief just to know she’s okay. I mean, not okay okay, but you know…
HENRY
I know. And, any time.
AARON
I was thinking, maybe, we could visit my dorm next? I––
MARY
(clears throat)
Aaron? Might I have a word?
AARON
Uhh, sure?
MARY
Privately?
AARON
I… ah…
HENRY
Don’t worry, man. I’ll be right over here.
SFX: Henry’s cane clicks as he takes a few steps away.
MARY
Thank you. (pauses) Good. Now, Aaron, I have a proposal for you…
AARON
…a proposal?!
MARY
I heard you were in college, just before…
AARON
Yeah.
MARY
(as if he hasn’t even answered)
…And that got me wondering. What if I could help you get set up to haunt your classes, in exchange for your assistance with a problem of mine?
AARON
…maybe, I guess?
SFX: Henry’s cane clicks rapidly as he hurries back over to interject
HENRY
Uh uh uh, now, wait just a second. Why does he need your help to haunt his classes? Seems to me all he’s gotta do is a bit of whoosh ploink (in imitation of ghost manifesting sounds) and voila. He’s in a classroom, haunting.
MARY
(annoyed)
Well, yes. But––
HENRY
But what? Seems to me you’re more worried about your friend––yes, I heard about all that business––than you are the needs of this young man. Seems to me everyone’s always talking about how great you are, but when it comes right down to it you’re always going to protect your own––
MARY
But. (pointed pause) Your young friend here is fading. See it? Right around the edges, there?
AARON
(panicked)
Fading?!!
HENRY
(unwillingly)
Well, now that you mention it…
MARY
(gently, to Aaron)
You’re fading. Maybe because you didn’t have enough unfinished business to tether you here indefinitely, maybe because you’ve been resolving it with Henry. What I’m offering you is time. To think about what you want. And, if what you want is to stay, to find a way to make that happen. My friends and I will help you with that.
(to both of them, a little bit more sternly)
And yes, I was hoping to help a friend of mine in the process. I’m only human. Or, well, only a ghost. Maybe it’s wrong of me. Maybe I should have let the afterlife take its course. But I prefer to think that the calculated decision is also the most beneficial, for everyone. It’s elegant, really.
HENRY
Aaron, do I need to warn you about making bargains with mysterious and powerful beings?
AARON
No, sir.
HENRY
Just because she makes a good case, don’t mean she has the only solution.
AARON
I know.
HENRY
Okay, then.
AARON
And I want to hear what she has to say.
MARY
All right. It’s a long story. Big and weird and complicated, you might say. But I’ll try to keep it brief…
SCENE 76
BACKGROUND SFX: Eulalie’s apartment room tone; the television’s playing in the background, mostly indistinct.
FRANKIE
I don’t know what to do. Honestly. I should want to leave, shouldn’t I? I’m here against my will. I was tricked into staying. I’ve only ever wanted my freedom. To travel. To have the sort of adventures I’ve only heard about secondhand from my brothers. And, now, to see if any remnants of my family are left…
I should want to leave. Part of me wants to leave. But part of me… I’ve found a sort of freedom here, haven’t I? To become more myself. To explore ideas and art and music and poetry and (said oddly) television in a way I never could with mama hovering over me.
SFX: Death’s Cookery theme in the background.
FRANKIE
I’ve found friends. Maybe some of them don’t think that a sedimentary consciousness like an apartment can be a friend after it’s entrapped your spirit. Maybe they’re right. Maybe it can’t. But…
(sighs)
I don’t know what to do. I should. But I don’t. I just… I don’t. Why can’t anything be simple?
SFX: In the background, the TV cuts off. There’s a subtle creaking sound, like a house shifting, and crashing.
THE APARTMENT
simple. stay.
FRANKIE
Cardea, what have we talked about?!!
THE APARTMENT
sneaking. bad.
FRANKIE
Right. And of course it seems simple to you––you’ve only ever wanted the same thing.
THE APARTMENT
friend.
FRANKIE
(sighs)
Yes, well. We’ll still be friends whatever I decide, I promise.
SFX: The hint of a poltergeist rumble begins.
THE APARTMENT
you. signed.
FRANKIE
(harshly)
Under duress, if you recall. And if I do leave, it will be perfectly within the bounds of our contract.
(whispered to herself)
Even Mary couldn’t find a clean way out after months of searching. Maybe I don’t entirely want to leave because I don’t want to get my hopes up that it will last.
SCENE 77
BACKGROUND SFX: Alicia’s apartment room tone, a subtle fan.
SFX: Eulalie shifts on the couch.
EULALIE
(groans)
SO. MUCH. GRADING!
ALICIA
Do you want to take a break?
SFX: Eulalie typing.
EULALIE
Mhmm. But I really, really shouldn’t. I need to give feedback on at least five more essays to stay on schedule.
ALICIA
We need to talk.
SFX: Eulalie stops typing
EULALIE
If this is about the other day, I know I owe you an apology. I disappeared, and you were out half the night searching for me, and then I made bad decisions while sloppy drunk and I’ve just been too ashamed to––
ALICIA
––It’s not about that. Well, it sort of is. You were missing and it terrified me, Eulalie.
SFX: Alicia shifts on the couch
ALICIA
(takes a cautious breath)
…it made me realize something.
EULALIE
(uncertain)
Oh yeah?
ALICIA
It made me realize that I want you here with me. Well, not here.
(rapidly)
My residency is ending and I got a really good job offer and I’m going to take it and I want you to come with me.
SFX: Alicia lets out a really big sigh at getting it all out.
EULALIE
(surprised)
Oh! (pause) Where?
ALICIA
(still talking fast)
Missoula, Montana. I know, it’s a lot. It’s too soon. I shouldn’t have––
EULALIE
No! No, I’m glad you asked. I just… I need a bit to process. Is that okay?
ALICIA
Of course. Absolutely. (clears throat) I… I’d better get ready for my shift.
SFX: Alicia walks rapidly to the bathroom and shuts the door.
SCENE 78
SFX: Still in Alicia’s apartment Eulalie dials Parker’s number. It rings a few times before Parker picks up.
PARKER
(on phone)
Eulalie?
EULALIE
Parker, she asked me to move with her. To Montana.
PARKER
(on phone)
Really??!! That’s. Wow! (pause) Um, what did you say??
EULALIE
(groans)
I very awkwardly said I need some time to process.
PARKER
(on phone)
Not the answer she was hoping for, obviously. But it’s totally reasonable, Eulie. It’s a huge decision. (a little salty) I mean, I can’t even talk about you maybe going back home with me without you rattling on about the life you’re building here and needing space to be okay and not okay and––
EULALIE
––yeah, yeah. I get it. But this would be different. This would be a chance for a fresh start.
PARKER
(on phone)
With a very cute doctor. So, you’re gonna do it?
EULALIE
I don’t know. You’re here, now. And I have friends.
PARKER
(on phone)
One, you left me behind before. And no, that’s not a guilt trip, it’s a statement of fact. I’m a grown person and you don’t need to factor me into your major life decisions. Not much, anyway. And two, your friends here are all dead, sis.
EULALIE
That’s not––
PARKER
(on phone)
––it is true, and you know it. Your entire social group consists of ghosts.
EULALIE
Still. Doesn’t it seem too fast? We’ve only known each other for a few months.
PARKER
(on phone)
Very intense months.
EULALIE
True. (pause) But I am factoring you in whether you want me to or not. You moved here for me. And you haven’t shown any signs of going back home. If I leave, are you going to go back?
PARKER
(guilty silence)
EULALIE
Parker???
PARKER
(on phone)
I… applied to transfer to the university here and I’ve been meaning to ask about subleasing your place because––
EULALIE
––you did what?
PARKER
(on phone)
I got in!
EULALIE
Oh my god, sis, congratulations!!!! I’m so proud of you.
PARKER
(on phone)
So can I? Sublease your place?
EULALIE
Shouldn’t you, I don’t know, find some living roommates?
PARKER
(on phone)
I mean, I probably will. As long as they’re cool with ghosts and talking apartments. It will be like an exclusive, spooky sorority.
EULALIE
(sighs)
Fine. Yes. You can sublease my place. I don’t know why I’ve been holding out the hope of moving back in there, anyway.
PARKER
(on phone)
Seriously?! Oh, thank you!!
EULALIE
Anything for my favorite sister.
PARKER
(on phone)
Only sister.
SCENE 79
BACKGROUND SFX: The AC of Alicia’s apartment, faint traffic sounds in the background.
SFX: Keys rattle from outside and the apartment door opens with a creak. Alicia trudges in, sighs, and shuts the door. Footsteps.
ALICIA
Eulalie? I tried to get home early for that video call… (falters, because she’s confused)… thing…
SFX: Romantic music starts to play faintly from the other room. Alicia walks toward it.
ALICIA
(muttering)
…is she back there watching rom coms?
SFX: Alicia slowly opens her bedroom door. Music gets louder, clearer.
ALICIA
(gasps and laughs)
EULALIE
Surprise!!
ALICIA
(talking a little loudly because of the music)
…are you… (takes a breath) Eulalie, are you wearing a map? Or am I hallucinating?
EULALIE
(talking a little loudly because of the music)
It is a map.
(voice drops, seductively; but now it’s a little hard to hear)
And you should come closer, because something’s written on the other side.
ALICIA
What?
EULALIE
(shouting a bit)
I said––You know what, let me turn this down first.
SFX: The map rustles as Eulalie moves to turn the music down.
EULALIE
(drops voice seductively again)
I said, it is a map and you should come closer and read it.
ALICIA
(as if speaking softly into Eulalie’s ear)
Ooooh. And what does it say?
EULALIE
It says I got all twisted up in my own head, and I’m sorry. And it says I would follow you anywhere…and then I got carried away and mapped the route from here to Missoula, so it says that, too.
ALICIA
Eulalie.
EULALIE
Yes?
ALICIA
You’re really coming with me?
EULALIE
Yes.
ALICIA
You realize it’s… Montana. Right?
EULALIE
(laughs)
Take the win, doctor.
ALICIA
Mmm, I’m going to take it all right.
SFX: Giggling ensues…We fade out of everything except the romantic music, and then that is cut off by the sound of ghosts trying to get through Alicia’s wards.
BACKGROUND SFX: Romantic music and rain.
EULALIE
(yelps)
ALICIA
What? No! Nononono. Bad timing!
EULALIE
(groans)
Mary’s group discussion. You don’t think we could just… pretend we didn’t notice they showed up?
ALICA
(sighing)
Probably not.
BACKGROUND SFX: The music is turned off.
EULALIE
(huffs)
Okay. Fine. You ready?
ALICIA
Almost. Just-just let me––
SFX: Clothes rustle as Alicia and Eulalie make themselves presentable.
ALICIA
That’s better. Just one more thing. You’ve got some wild hair. (laughs) There.
EULALIE
(clears her throat)
Okay. Let me…
SFX: Emergency alert notification sounds on Eulalie’s phone.
EULALIE
Wait. (pause while reading) What? We’re under a stay-at-home order because all the pneumonia you’ve been treating isn’t only pneumonia?!!
ALICIA
(groans)
I thought this might be coming.
EULALIE
But your new job.
ALICIA
We’ll figure it out.
EULALIE
And… quarantine. Do I need to move out? I don’t want you to have to worry about me and everything else.
ALICIA
Hey. We’ll figure it out. I promise. Now, let’s let your ghost friends in before Mary decides to add to our list of problems.
SFX: Whoosh transition sound.
SCENE 80
BACKGROUND SFX: Eulalie’s apartment tone. The Apartment is rumbling in the background.
PARKER
––Will you leave her alone?! She has a right to make her own decisions!
MARY
(over video)
––She’s not in her right mind to make her own decisions!
EULALIE
(over video)
Parker, why are you making such a fuss about this? The whole goal of you moving in was to help us get Frankie out.
PARKER
No, the whole goal was to help Frankie. If this is what she wants, this is what she wants.
THE APARTMENT
don’t. leave.
ALICIA
(over video)
We’re dealing with a poltergeist here, though, so that does makes a difference.
LOTA
(over video)
No, Alicia’s right, we can’t be sure that we’re even talking to Frankie. So, how are we supposed to know what she wants to support?!
JOSIE
(over video)
Although, aside from the rumbling and the general unpleasantness of this conversation, nobody in the Apartment seems to be under duress at the moment.
MARY
(over video)
I have a subleaser ready and waiting. But they won’t wait forever. We can’t ask them to wait forever. Frankie, it’s now or it might be never.
THE APARTMENT
stay.
PARKER
Oh, low blow, head ghost in charge.
EULALIE
(over video)
Parker.
PARKER
Eulalie.
ALICIA
(over video)
Are we… doing anyone any good by shouting about this, though? I mean, I’m all for rescuing innocent ghosts. And I know how dangerous poltergeists can be. But, really, if she doesn’t want to be rescued––
THE APARTMENT
friend. stay.
FRANKIE
Enough.
SFX: Stunned silence.
FRANKIE
I am not under duress or suffering some sort of mind control. I am and always have been perfectly capable of making my own decisions. This spectacle, touching as it might have been if any of you had bothered to listen to me, has gone on long enough.
I’ve made my decision.
CREDITS
BACKGROUND SFX: Long version of the theme (simple guitar with spectral oohs and ohs and occasional cymbal crashes) fades in…
COURTNEY:
This episode of The Way We Haunt Now was written by Courtney Floyd and Georgia Mckenzie with sound design by Brad Colbroock, and voice acting, in order of appearance, by:
ELEANOR GREY
Eleanor Grey as Frankie
MARNIE
Marnie Warner as Parker
BECCA
Becca Marcus as Lota
KIRA
Kira Apple as Mary
MARITZA
Maritza Rodriguez as Ylena
DANNY
Danny Spiller as Aaron
DAVID
David S. Dear as Henry
ALI
Ali Hylton—
JEFF
Jeff Goldman—
KIRSTY
Kirsty Woolven—
MEGAN
Megan Gwen Davies—
NATALIE
Natalie Hunter—
ALL APARTMENT VOICES
—as The Apartment
COURTNEY
Courtney Floyd as Eulalie
JESS
Jessica Winston as Alicia
ARIANE
Ariane Marchese as Assorted Ghosts
IVAN
Ivan Divino as Assorted Ghosts
GEORGIA
Georgia Mckenzie as Josie
TAL
Tal Minear as Myrtle
LINDSAY
Lindsay Zana as Danny
BRAD
Brad Colbroock as Cas Bromley
PAUL
Paul H. Rollins as Nick Castlewaight
BACKGROUND SFX: Theme music fades out…
SCENE 81
BACKGROUND SFX: Eerie music builds up slowly under the scene.
SFX: Smartphone typing…
MYRTLE
So, fill me in. We’re not on the Eugene case anymore?
SFX: Message sending sound; phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
DANNY
I mean, we’re not not on it.
SFX: Phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
CAS
We’ve got bigger spectral fish to fry.
SFX: Smartphone typing…
MYRTLE
This string of poltergeists?
SFX: Message sending sound; phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
CAS
Right.
SFX: Phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
NICK
And you’re never gonna guess where.
SFX: Smartphone typing…
MYRTLE
(hesitantly)
Medford?
SFX: Message sending sound; phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
NICK
What? No. Portland.
SFX: Phone notification as Myrtle gets a text; Smartphone typing…
MYRTLE
Here. Right in our literal backyard.
SFX: Message sending sound; phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
CAS
Here.
SFX: Phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
DANNY
And, so far, we’ve identified at least five of them.
SFX: Smartphone typing…
MYRTLE
Five?!
SFX: Message sending sound; phone notification as Myrtle gets a text.
CAS
It’s entirely unprecedented. I’d say unnatural, but that’s just the definition of supernatural things anyway. Still, it’s almost like, they’re being… produced? That’s impossible though, isn’t it?
BACKGROUND SFX: Eerie music fades out…
COURTNEYAnd that is a wrap for season two! Thank you so much for listening, sharing, interacting with us on social media, and contributing to our crowdfunding campaign. Speaking of which…did you know that you can still get your hands on some of the fabulous perks that we offered during our crowdfunding campaign? You can! Because I opened crowdfunding back up in a sort of non-traditional way today. During our campaign last summer, we fell short of our goal, so we are still working to cover the costs of season two, and now planning forward for season three, which we’re hoping to begin production on in a few months. So if you would like to help pay for season two, support season three, and get your hands on some cool stuff, here’s how you do it. You can make a one-time contribution on our Ko-fi page to get a single perk – or more, depending on what you choose! – or you can choose to make recurring contributions to our Pinecast tip jar that unlock extra audio content right here in your podcatcher. There are links for both in the shownotes, so if you’re interested in helping us keep haunting, please take a look at those. As always, haunt responsibly.