Episode Transcripts

Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7

“EXTRAORDINARY CLAIMS”

SCENE 1

THEME RISES AND FADES INTO THE SOUND OF EMPTINESS, SPACE, BUT
WITH THE SENSE THAT WE ARE MOVING. AS WE APPROACH EARTH, THE
SOUND OF A RADIO TUNING BETWEEN AM SIGNALS: SNIPPETS OF
SONGS, FRAGMENTS OF CONVERSATION.
THE RADIO NOISE FADES OUT ONTO A HOSPITAL – THE PEDIATRIC
HOSPICE FLOOR. THE SOUNDS OF INTENSIVE CARE MACHINERY, BUT
SUBDUED. THIS IS A PLACE OF REST AND AN ATTEMPT AT PEACE AN
NORMALCY FOR ITS YOUNG PATIENTS
FOOTSTEPS ACROSS A HARD TILE FLOOR. THIS IS EVE. SHE STOPS BY
THE NURSES’ STATION BEFORE MAKING HER FINAL STOP FOR THE
EVENING.

RACHEL
About time. You clocking out, Eve?

EVE
One more stop.

EVE WALKS OFF DOWN THE HALL. AS SHE WALKS, SHE PUTS IN AN EAR
BUD. SHE IS LISTENING TO TREVOR’S RADIO SHOW.

SCENE 2

TREVOR’S STUDIO

WE HEAR THE SHOW FIRST THROUGH THE TINNY SPEAKER OF THE EAR
BUD, THEN FADE IN TO THE SHOW IN FULL.

THOMAS
The lunar anomalies are an observable phenomenon.
During my time at NASA I acquired brief access to
the photo negatives. All of my research is done on
official documents. They are badly manipulated of
course but they cannot hide it all. You can see
where the structures have been blurred out.

TREVOR SHUFFLES THROUGH A FILE OF DOCUMENTS

TREVOR
Here’s an interesting one. Slide 84M from Lunar
Observer Three. Thomas, can you tell us exactly
what we’re looking at?

THOMAS
Observe the structure in the foreground. Based on
shadows and camera resolution, we are looking at a
single, mile-high spire where no comparable natural
structure exists.

TREVOR
Fascinating.

THOMAS
This what we call the Shard.

TREVOR
And in the background, the, uh…

THOMAS
The Tower. The Soul Catcher if you will.

TREVOR
The Soul Catcher.

THOMAS
It’s the heart of their operation.

TREVOR
Can you unpack that for us, Thomas?

THOMAS
Remarkable piece of machinery. Hoagland first
revealed it in the images we’ve looked at tonight
and it’s been further researched by the very best
viewers.

TREVOR
Remote viewers.

THOMAS
That’s right. Space programs are expensive, Trevor,
we can’t just pop over when the mood strikes. It’s
the moon, not Sheetz.

TREVOR
Alright, fair enough, good point.

THOMAS
Anyway, what they’ve got up there is spectacular.
And we’ve just scratched the surface. No one’s ever
made it inside.
Some have even described experiencing a repelling
force preventing the viewers access to the
interior. Whatever they’re doing in there must be
well above top secret to have psychic defenses in
place.

TREVOR
Sure. But what do we know, Thomas? What exactly
does the Soul Catcher do?

THOMAS
The theory is when a life ends the soul leaves the
body and is transferred to the moon. The purpose of
the Soul Catcher is just that – to catch the soul
before it goes wandering off through the universe
alone. To protect it until they need it again.

TREVOR
Incredible. And how do the souls get to the moon?

THOMAS
They have an emissary. A collector.

TREVOR
The Operator.

THOMAS
That’s his modern iteration. He’s had many names
over the millennia.

TREVOR
And can you provide any evidence to support the
existence of such a creature?

THOMAS
Is not the entirety of human history enough? His
footprints are everywhere along the time line.

TREVOR
So the Operator is something of a Grim Reaper
analogue.

THOMAS
It’s more than that. We all shed this meat cocoon
at some point, nothing special about that.

TREVOR
Colorful imagery, Thomas.

THOMAS
Eh, maybe that’s a little crude but my point is,
death is everywhere. But the Operator – his is a
different way.
He collects them all, but he only makes a show of
the really important ones. The deaths we remember.

TREVOR
Such as?

THOMAS
Look back along the path. You’ll recognize his
prints.

TREVOR
Well enough to maybe see him coming?

THOMAS
Assuming he makes an appearance for you. Which
reminds me, have you had a chance to read the
Urantia Book yet?

TREVOR
I’ve, uh, started it, it’s slow going…

THE SIGNAL FADES OUT AND WE FLY ACROSS TOWN. ALONG THE WAY WE
HEAR FAA TRANSMISSIONS, CATCH SNIPPETS OF MUSIC, A BEAT OR
TWO OF TREVOR’S OWN SHOW, FADING TO THE WHITE NOISE OF
STATIC.

SCENE 3

A HOSPITAL – THE SAME NIGHT

THE STATIC GIVES WAY TO THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS TAPPING THEIR
WAY LIGHTLY DOWN A HOSPITAL HALLWAY. THE WHIRRING AND BEEPING
OF MACHINERY UNDERSCORE EVE’S VOICE HUMMING A LULLABY.

A DOOR OPENS. INSIDE THE PATIENT IS RESTLESS. EVE TURNS OFF
THE RADIO AND APPROACHES THE BED.

EVE
Hey, there. You’re supposed to be sleeping.

CHILD
Hi, Evie.

EVE
What’s got you up at this hour?

CHILD
I’m thirsty.

EVE
Okay. Well we can fix that.

EVE STEPS INTO THE BATHROOM AND FILLS A CUP WITH WATER FROM
THE SINK AS THE CHILD COUGHS.

EVE (CONT’D)
Here you go.

CHILD
Thank you.

EVE
You been thinking?

CHILD
Yeah.

EVE
What about?

CHILD
There was a man in my room.

EVE
A man?

CHILD
He was in the corner.

EVE
There was a man in the corner?

CHILD
I wasn’t scared. He was funny looking but he was
nice. He had a long nose. It curved.

EVE
Oh. Like a witch’s nose?

CHILD
Bigger. Like a bird’s nose. He didn’t have a mouth.
He told me a story.

EVE
Hey, I thought he didn’t have a mouth.

CHILD
He thought at me. It tickled. He said he has a big
house and lots of friends and when I’m not sick
anymore I can come over and play.

EVE
Where is his house?

CHILD
On the moon.

EVE
The moon?

CHILD
Yeah, he told me so. Then he went away.

EVE
Well it sounds like you made a new friend.

CHILD
Yeah. I don’t want to play at the moon house,
though. Not yet.

EVE
Hey buddy, it’s pretty late. Um. Time for more
dreams. You know my favorite part about dreams is?

CHILD
What?

EVE
When we wake up they’re all gone. And dreams can
never hurt us, right?

CHILD
Right.

EVE
Good man. Now, let’s get you back to sleep and
dreaming of nice things. What is your favorite
candy?

CHILD
Chocolate.

EVE
Ah, chocolate. Well let’s just rest and see if we
can have a chocolate dream.

CHILD
Okay.

EVE starts humming her lullaby again softly, singing the
little one off to sleep.

AGAIN THE STATIC RISES AND FADES BACK IN ON THE RADIO SHOW

SCENE 4
THE RADIO SHOW

TREVOR
… I’ll certainly take it under advisement. Going
back to your earlier point, Thomas, I think you’re
underestimating our ability to wreak havoc upon
ourselves, no help required from the Operator. Or
clandestine moon bases.

THOMAS
It’s all a part of… whatever they’re doing up
there. You can understand why they wouldn’t want
the viewers to see everything.

TREVOR
Indeed. If it’s real, it’d be destabilizing to,
hell, all of human religion. Possibly the very
fabric of society.

THOMAS
It’s big.

TREVOR
Though I have to say, Thomas, without proof, or at
least some physical evidence, it seems to me this
Operator and its masters are another Mokele Mbembe,
Chupacabra, Sasquatch… more cryptids. It’s
hearsay at best and at worst, maybe a lie.

THOMAS
It’s certainly easier to believe that life and
death are random rather than a calculated event in
a greater experiment.

TREVOR
Intellectual laziness isn’t my style, Thomas. But I
am willing to be wrong. Matter of fact there’s
nothing I’d like more. Can you give us some
evidence? Here, tonight?

THOMAS
I can report the findings of the viewers. I can
point to occurrences that indicate the Operator’s
presence. I can show you photographs of the
structures on the moon.

TREVOR
Blurred images.

THOMAS
Manipulated to obscure the truth.

TREVOR
Possibly. But can you give me something clear? A
touchstone I can point to and say there. That is
the thing for all to see?

THOMAS
I cannot give you that.

TREVOR
Well then, with all due respect, my old friend, I
remain skeptical for another day.

THOMAS
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary
evidence.

TREVOR
Indeed they do.

THOMAS
Well, Trevor, your eyes are not the only measure of
proof.

TREVOR
Moving on, why come out with this new research now.
To what end…

STATIC UP AND FADE OUT ON THE RADIO, RETURNING BRIEFLY TO THE
HOSPITAL.

SCENE 5

THE HOSPITAL

STATIC CLEARS AS EVE APPROACHES THE NURSES STATION.

EVE
Hey, would you check in on 401 in a bit? Bad dreams
again.

RACHEL
You’re really good with them. You ought to have
your own.

EVE
Conventional motherhood never really suited me.

RACHEL
Go home. Get some sleep yourself.

EVE
No rest for the weary.

RACHEL
Night, hun.

EVE EXITS THE HOSPITAL THROUGH A BACK DOOR – HER SECRET PLACE
WHERE SHE CAN GET AWAY WITH SMOKING ON THE GROUNDS. SHE
LIGHTS UP AND TRIES TO RELAX FOR A MOMENT.

IN HER MOMENT OF CALM, SHE TUNES BACK INTO THE RADIO SHOW
STILL IN PROGRESS
SCENE 6

STATIC CLEARS UP AND WE HEAR THE SHOW AGAIN, BACK WHERE WE
LEFT IT.

TREVOR
…plenty of phenomena to report. So why focus on
the lunar anomalies? To what end?

THOMAS
Truth is necessary. Now more than ever.

TREVOR
Why now?

THOMAS
A lot of people are hurting. Frightened. Fear
begets anger, anger begets violence and that is
good for no one.

TREVOR
Just like Yoda said.

THOMAS
Well, yes. It’s simple enough to be the crux of a
children’s movie and yet humans still manage to get
it wrong generation after generation. Perhaps a
little more knowledge will alleviate some of that
fear.

TREVOR
We’re nearing the end of the program, Thomas. I
want to thank you for talking to us again. You know
if you ever find yourself in the neighborhood
you’re welcome to come by. It’d be great to finally
meet you in person.

THOMAS
I’ll be traveling through that area shortly as a
matter of fact.

TREVOR
That’s terrific. What brings the reclusive Dr. Ott
this way?

THOMAS
An investigation. Some strange phenomena in the
woods outside of town. Off of Route Fifty-Six if
memory serves. Strange lights and sounds.

TREVOR
I’ve heard whispers of a sighting as well.

THOMAS
Some regional cousin of the Sasquatch seems to be
the favorite culprit.

TREVOR
That speculation is a little wild for me just yet.

THOMAS
Worst case scenario a walk in the woods would be
welcome.

TREVOR
I’ll be interested to hear of your findings. Is
there anything you’d like to leave our listeners
with?

THOMAS
Just this: there is a plan. Take comfort in that.
Don’t despair. There is a plan.

TREVOR
That’s quite a notion.

THOMAS
I hope you’ll take some comfort in that too, my
friend. In light of, well, certain events.

TREVOR
Thank you, Thomas. We’ll talk to you again soon.

THOMAS
I look forward to it.

THE CALL DISCONNECTS.

TREVOR
That was Dr. Thomas Ott, former NASA scientist,
contributor to the final few Apollo missions and/
SCENE 7

EVE’S CELLPHONE RINGS, INTERRUPTING THE SHOW. EVE ANSWERS
WARILY.

EVE
Hello.

RACHEL
(on the other end of the call)
Hey, you still on campus?

EVE
Rachel?

RACHEL
I’m sorry, it’s just/

EVE
I’m right out front.

RACHEL
It’s Four-oh-one. Something’s wrong.

EVE
I’m on my way.

SCENE 8

THE HOSPITAL, PEDIATRIC HOSPICE WARD, MOMENTS LATER.

A DOOR OPENS AND FOOTSTEPS HURRY DOWN THE TILED CORRIDOR
TOWARD ROOM 401.

RACHEL
Eve/

EVE
What happened?

RACHEL
He just crashed. It was fast.

EVE
I’m heading in.

RACHEL
Eve.

EVE
I have to.

RACHEL
I know.

EVE
He needs me.

RACHEL
The family is on the way. Be quick.

EVE’S FOOTSTEPS AS SHE MAKES HER WAY DOWN THE HALL.

THE DOOR TO 401 OPENS AND CLOSES.

SCENE 9

ROOM 401 – IMMEDIATELY

EVE’S FOOTSTEPS MOVE SLOWLY TO THE BEDSIDE WHERE SHE SITS
DOWN AND TAKES THE CHILD’S HAND

EVE
Hey buddy. It’s Evie.

THE ROOM IS INTENSELY QUIET. ONLY THE FAINTEST SOUND OF
HOSPITAL MACHINERY FROM OTHER ROOMS. ALL THE EQUIPMENT HERE
IS OFF NOW.

EVE (CONT’D)
You don’t have to say anything, but if you need to,
I’ll listen, okay?
(a beat)
It’s scary going someplace new all by yourself. I
know.

A QUIET KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

EVE (CONT’D)
Just remember: it’s all a dream. Nothing can hurt
us in dreams, right?

THE DOOR OPENS A CRACK.

RACHEL
(quietly)
Evie, parents just arrived downstairs.

THE DOOR SHUTS QUIETLY.

Eve hums her lullaby from earlier.

EVE
You just keep having those chocolate dreams. I’ll
see you soon.

EVE SLIPS OUT OF THE ROOM. AS SHE RETREATS FROM THE ROOM, THE
SOUND OF A FLAT EKG FOLLOWS HER QUIETLY.

EVE MAKES HER WAY OUT TO THE PARKING LOT, STRUGGLING TO HOLD
IT TOGETHER. THIS PATIENT HAD BEEN SPECIAL. SHE GETS INTO HER
CAR, LIGHTS A CIGARETTE, BREATHES FOR A MOMENT.
EVE STARTS THE CAR.

WITH THE STARTING OF THE CAR, THE END OF TREVOR’S BROADCAST,
SLIGHTLY DISTANT AND TINNY, COMES THROUGH THE CAR’S SPEAKERS.

TREVOR
A final remark. Dr. Ott’s views are often regarded
less than charitably. So were Galileo’s. Aristotle.
Socrates. So before we start steeping the hemlock,
consider: Controversial, difficult, offensive even,
such work may be the road, however winding, that
leads to truth.
Make sure you’re with us next time; I’ll be having
a conversation with Doctor Elaine Mather. Good
night, and as always I bid you: Eyes to the skies.

THE BROADCAST GOES OFF THE AIR

EVE
Roads after roads after roads. Follow, follow,
follow, follow, follow the winding roads… Eyes to
the skies indeed.

STATIC RISES AS THE SIGNAL TRAVELS ELSEWHERE. THE RADIO SHOW
COMES THROUGH, SOME MUSIC, THEN STATIC. THE STATIC FADES AND
GIVES WAY TO A RUSHING WIND. THEN EVEN THE WIND FADES, GIVING
WAY TO A VACUOUS SILENCE.

SCENE 10

A QUIET PLACE

IN THIS PLACE THE ONLY SOUNDS ARE THE PLAYERS’ MOVEMENTS.
PERHAPS AN OCCASIONAL WHIR OF UNKNOWN MACHINERY OR A VACUUM
SEALED DOOR SLIDING IN ITS TRACKS PUNCTUATE THE SCENE
OCCASIONALLY.

THOMAS
Well that went well.

SESHAT
Sir, you report every agent interaction as
positive.

THOMAS
Aren’t they?

SESHAT
You are a little loose with your lips given ships
and the sinking thereof.

THOMAS
Oh?

SESHAT
You’re being relatable.

THOMAS
I rather think that is a good thing.

SESHAT
It can be.

THOMAS
It has been.

SESHAT
It is not now.

THOMAS
It’s not how?

SESHAT
Dr. Thomas Ott is an authority.

THOMAS
He is.

SESHAT
The foremost authority on the matter of lunar
anomalies.

THOMAS
None more so.

SESHAT
Perhaps your elocution could betray the fact.

THOMAS
Unpack that for me, would you?

SESHAT
Formalize. Control the narrative. Consider the
Scroll Processing and Delineation Device.

THOMAS
The soul catcher.

SESHAT
Scroll Processing and Delineation Device is a
concept to be reckoned with. It’s the same machine.
The same function. With the added benefit of
dissuading baseline agents from thinking they can
grasp it. It is formidable.

THOMAS
And?

SESHAT
If it is merely a soul catcher then it is not
special. It is common.

THOMAS
Yes it is. But that is how we teach is it not?
Making the esoteric common so that those without
our knowledge can start to gain it.

SESHAT
Is it our objective to teach?

THOMAS
In part.

SESHAT
My official recommendation is to keep mystery
intact. Adopt an academic tone. It lends authority.

THOMAS
Duly noted.

SESHAT
You are not going to take my recommendation,
though.

THOMAS
There’s more here. More to experience, new data to
be mined. Trust me, Sesh, Trevor Barnes is
harmless.

SESHAT
If you say so.

THOMAS
(under his breath)
Now the other one…

SESHAT
The other one?

THOMAS
Hmm?

SESHAT
Sir, we have orders. Contact is exclusive to 15068.
I need details. I need to manage this.

THOMAS
I have everything under control. Are you ready?

SESHAT
I am fully prepared.

THOMAS
Show me.

SESHAT
(in Elaine’s voice)
Incredulous can synonymize both cynical and
skeptical. I, however, draw a very clear line
between the two. Cynicism is a position. Skepticism
is an approach.

THOMAS
You’re a natural.

SESHAT
Thank you, sir. I have been trained by the best.

THOMAS
Flattery will get you everywhere.

SESHAT
Any specific guidelines for my interaction with
15068?

THOMAS
Adopt an academic tone. I’ve been told it lends one
authority.

SESHAT
With all due respect, sir, I do not approve of this
action.

THOMAS
I know. But trust me.

STATIC RISES UP AND FADES OUT INTO SPACE.
THEME MUSIC RISES.

END EPISODE 101

EPISODE 102
“GOOD GRIEF”

SCENE 1

TREVOR’S RADIO SHOW

THEME MUSIC RISES, GIVING WAY TO THE SIGNAL, THIS TIME WITH
MORE OF THE ALIEN SOUNDS.

A RADIO TUNES IN – FRAGMENTED MUSIC, CONVERSATION,
ATMOSPHERIC NOISE, FINALLY GIVING WAY TO TREVOR’S SHOW
PLAYING THROUGH A TINNY SPEAKER. SOMEONE IS LISTENING IN.

TREVOR
Welcome back, listeners, Trevor Barnes here and
this is Eyes to the Skies. We’ve been talking to
Doctor Elaine Mather, coming to us live from the
exopolitics expo in Madrid. Doctor Mather, You
specialize in lunar anomalies but yours is a
different approach from many I’ve encountered.

ELAINE
That’s probably true. It’s an enthusiastic
community but some of us are more credulous than
others.

THE TINNINESS FADES AND THE SIGNAL BECOMES CLEAR, JOINING
TREVOR IN HIS STUDIO.

TREVOR
And you lean toward incredulity.

ELAINE
Incredulous can synonymize both cynical and
skeptical. I, however, draw a very clear line
between those two. Cynicism is a position.
Skepticism is an approach.

TREVOR
Unpack that for me, will you?

ELAINE
You are a friend of Thomas’s. He loves that
infernal phrase. A cynic takes a pessimistic or
negative view of a subject out of hand. There are
anomalies on the moon and the government is hiding
them, for example.

TREVOR
It’s a locus of perception.

ELAINE
A simple one. It requires no evidence. It stands
pat.

TREVOR
As opposed to skepticism.

ELAINE
Skepticism does not stand still. A skeptic hears a
claim and says “show me”. There are anomalous
structures on the moon? That would be fabulous.
Show me. Or better yet, take me there. Let me see
them with my own eyes.

TREVOR
I like this a lot, Doctor, but I also see where
skepticism and cynicism can get confused.

ELAINE
It is not always easy to tell the difference.

TREVOR
Flexibility is the thing then.

ELAINE
It’s the key to being a healthy skeptic.

TREVOR
Perhaps, Dr. Mather, but shouldn’t the skeptic hold
their ground as firmly as the believer?

ELAINE
Most certainly. There is no need to abandon the
core skepticism but we must investigate all
possibilities. That’s what sets us apart from the
blind faithful and the cynic alike.

TREVOR
So we should what, then? We should seek the
monsters?

ELAINE
Not only should we seek, we should lead the search.

TREVOR
What of the notion that the burden of proof lies
with whomever makes the claim?

ELAINE
Why sit back and demand proof of others? If you
hold a view, test it.
The true skeptic must go in search of the very
things of which they are skeptical.

TREVOR
Only then can they eliminate or verify a claim?

ELAINE
You can see why this has made me somewhat unpopular
in the credulous halls of our friend Dr. Ott.

TREVOR
I’ve been accused of asking too many questions
myself. Dr. Elaine Mather, thank you so much. I
look forward to hearing more about the expo when
you get back stateside.

ELAINE
Take care, Trevor.

TREVOR
And thank you for tuning in, listener, and for
keeping your skepticism healthy. It doesn’t make
many headlines – what’s more exciting, wild
speculation or measured observation? But perhaps
Dr. Mather is right; both cynicism and blind faith
are too easy.
So, as I begin my doctor recommended journey toward
true skepticism, I hope to see you along the path.
And as always, I bid you, eyes to the skies.

TREVOR PRESSES A FEW BUTTONS AND THE SHOW IS OFF THE AIR.
TREVOR HAS A MOMENT ALONE.

TREVOR SHUFFLES A FEW PAPERS AND STRAIGHTENS HIS DESK.

HE OPENS A BOTTLE OF SCOTCH AND POURS THREE SIZABLE SPLASHES
IN A TUMBLER.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
One for the cynic. One for the faithful. And one
for the sonofabitch on the tightrope between.
Here’s to balance.

HE TAKES A LONG DRINK.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
I gotta get out of here.

THE SIGNAL MOVES ACROSS TOWN, OVER HOUSES, RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS, THEN LEAVING TOWN ALONG A SMALL COUNTRY
HIGHWAY.
SCENE 2

THE BEREAVEMENT GROUP – THE BASEMENT OF A LOCAL LIBRARY

THROUGH THE STATIC THE QUIET MUMBLING OF CONVERSATION.

THE STATIC CLEARS.

A COFFEE MAKER, THE OLD KIND WITH A BOTTOM SET HEATING
ELEMENT, PERCOLATES. SOMEONE TAKES THE POT; A DROP SIZZLES ON
THE ELEMENT BENEATH.

A CUP OF COFFEE IS POURED. THE POT IS REPLACED ON THE MAKER.

MAD AL
Hey, Trevor, I was gonna call the show, man, but I
saw you walk in and wow, like fate brought us
together. The hell you doing here?

TREVOR
Can we not do this right now, Al? I’m off the
clock.

MAD AL
It’s indigenous to the area. Natives passed the
stories down through the oral tradition.

TREVOR
You’re telling me Pittsburgh’s got its own species
of Sasquatch?

MAD AL
This ain’t the city, Trevor. You get much out past
New Ken, it’s forest, buddy.

TREVOR
Look, Al. I appreciate your enthusiasm. And all the
calls. But, man, I do one of these meetings maybe
once a year/

MAD AL
You’re the only one who listens. Bigfoot, UFOs,
Raystown Ray. I know they call me Mad Al for that
talk.

TREVOR
They call you Mad Al because you punched the
Allegheny Ludlum rep in the middle of a CBA
negotiation.

MAD AL
Sonofabitch modified the terms without consent. I
was the union rep. I represented.

TREVOR
I’m sure he deserved it, and worse, but Al/

MAD AL
Wood-knocking.

TREVOR
What?

MAD AL
March twenty-second to twenty-ninth, twenty fifteen
out near Kinzua dam and reservoir. Footprints in
the snow and wood-knocking. Loads of it. You know
what wood-knocking is?

TREVOR
It’s how Sasquatches communicate.

MAD AL
I never heard anything like it. Sunset to sunrise.
Knock, knock, knock. Must have been hundreds of
’em.

TREVOR
You were there?

MAD AL
There are more things in heaven and earth than/

TREVOR
Fine. It’s a slim thread, but I’ll pull on it. Call
the show line at seven AM sharp and we’ll record.
Always good to have something in the can for
backup.

A WOMAN CLAPS HER HANDS LIGHTLY

ALICE
Shall we gather in our circle?

FOLDING CHAIRS SCOOT INTO A CIRCLE ON A HARD TILE FLOOR OF A
LIBRARY BASEMENT.

THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE THE OLD BOOKS ARE STORED AND A WEEKLY
SOUP KITCHEN IS HELD. IT’S A BIG SPACE, BUT SOMEHOW CLUTTERED
AND COZY. TONIGHT IT’S BEING USED FOR A SUPPORT GROUP
MEETING.

ALICE (CONT’D)
Welcome everyone. Thank you for being here. One
housekeeping matter. The library has asked that we
make sure to keep food and beverages away from the
stacks.

MAD AL
Hate to see such fine tomes desecrated. Relegated
as they are to the basement here.

A QUIET CHUCKLE FROM THE GROUP

ALICE
Books are fragile things and fragile things must be
preserved.
Now then. Thank you all for coming. Grief is a
slippery thing. It can motivate and depress;
cleanse and pollute. Whatever you are experiencing
tonight, welcome. Diane, you have the floor.

DIANE
Hi, everyone.

GROUP VOICE
Hi, Diane.

DIANE
Everett’s been gone a year. I should be used to it
by now, but I still reach for him in my sleep. And
I’m still surprised when I wake up and he’s not
there. Feels so empty when I think he’s never going
to make another stupid joke or do another silly
dance to cheer me up. Never going to gross me out
with his endless farting.

THE GROUP CHUCKLES A BIT

DIANE (CONT’D)
But the weirdest part is that my heart sometimes
feels so full. And I laugh a little, and hear his
footsteps, and I even smell… well, nevermind. But
it’s not real. Then it’s like all that love fills
my heart so full and it’s got nowhere to go so it
just leaks out my eyes.
But, I’m… no. I was gonna say I’m okay. I am not
okay. But I am on the path. Taking it one step at a
time.
Think that’s it for tonight.

ALICE
One step at a time is all we can do. Thank you,
Diane. Who else would like to share? Al?

MAD AL
I better not. I get the impression I’m a little too
chatty tonight.

ALICE
If that is how you feel.

SHUFFLING OF FEET AND ADJUSTING OF CHAIRS. SOME QUIET
MUMBLING.

ALICE (CONT’D)
Well, I see two new faces. I know it’s hard to be
in a new group but you are welcome to talk.

TREVOR
Can I smoke in here?

ALICE
I don’t think the books would appreciate it.

TREVOR
Right, right. First time jitters.

EVE
I’m actually more of a listener.

ALICE
Listening can have a therapeutic effect

EVE
If there’s someone worth listening to.

ALICE
Of course. It is never easy to accept the loss of a
loved one. But in sharing fellowship and stories we
are not so alone…

THE STATIC PICKS UP AGAIN, JUST ENOUGH FOR A BIT OF THE ALIEN
LANGUAGE TO COME THROUGH – BRIEF BUT THE CLEAREST IT’S BEEN
SO FAR.

SCENE 3

THE PARKING LOT OUTSIDE THE MEETING

THE STATIC CLEARS ON THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT. DOORS CLOSE,
ENGINES START, CARS DRIVE OFF.

IN THE QUIET, TREVOR TAKES OUT A CIGARETTE, STRIKES A WOODEN
MATCH AND LIGHTS IT.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH ACROSS THE GRAVEL PARKING LOT.

EVE
Got a light?

TREVOR PASSES EVE THE BOX OF MATCHES.

EVE (CONT’D)
Thanks. Got a smoke?

TREVOR
(chuckling)
Course. First time?

EVE
Here, yeah. Needed a change of scenery.

TREVOR
That makes two of us.

EVE
Not much of a talker either, huh?

TREVOR
Depends. You met anyone worth listening to yet?

EVE
Thought I did. In my last group. David. Really
smart. Novelist.

TREVOR
I’ve always wanted to write a book.

EVE
Anyway he’s gone. So I come and I listen. It gets
lonely. You know.

TREVOR
I do. I’m sorry.

EVE
You’d have liked him. Though unlike you he dealt in
fiction.

TREVOR
Have we met?

EVE
I’ve seen you speak at a few expos. I listen to
your show.

TREVOR
Ah. Second time tonight.

EVE
I shouldn’t have said anything.

TREVOR
It’s fine, it’s fine. Really, I appreciate it, you
know, it’s just/

EVE
You don’t believe them, do you? Your guests.

TREVOR
I think my guests are some of the most inquisitive
minds on the planet. They’re forging the road to
truth. However winding that may be.

EVE
I heard you say that the other night. Don’t steep
the hemlock. That was funny.

TREVOR
Thanks.

EVE
You don’t have to do that, though.

TREVOR
Do what?

EVE
The radio voice. Believe or not, you’re safe here.

TREVOR
Well/

EVE
I forgot how to shop.

TREVOR
What?

EVE
I forgot how to shop.

TREVOR
What do you mean?

THE STATIC RISES FOR A SECOND, INTO MEMORY. THROUGH THE
FOLLOWING, LILY’S VOICE COMES FROM ANOTHER PLACE. SHE IS NOT
PRESENT IN THE SPACE WITH TREVOR AND EVE, HER VOICE COMES
FROM EVE’S MEMORY.

EVE
After my first patient passed. I went to the store
and just froze. The light, the smells, the people.
It was all just too much. I went home and I got
drunk instead.

TREVOR
Seems reasonable.

EVE
You think you’re ready. The reading, the schooling,
the training. But you’re not. The first time. Hell,
every time. You’re really not ready.

TREVOR
What do you do?

EVE
Hospice nurse. Pediatric.

TREVOR
Ah.

EVE
Anyway, the next day I take my sister shopping with
me. She starts asking me these completely
reasonable questions like/

LILY
What do you like to cook?

EVE
/That just make me so angry. I don’t know, Lily,
frozen pizza.

LILY
That’s not very healthy. What kind of vegetables do
you like?

EVE
I start bawling like a baby in the produce section.
Fell down on the floor and everything. Next day,
third time’s a charm, she starts asking questions
again.

LILY
Evie, I’m trying to help.

EVE
I know she is. I just need some food so I don’t
starve but it’s so hard. And then I realize, that’s
the ticket.

TREVOR
The ticket?

EVE
This is how I’m going to get by: I’m not going to
get by.
I’m going to leave the grocery store and never come
back. I am going to starve myself to death.

TREVOR
Bold strategy.

EVE
My sister doesn’t like that plan at all.

A LOUD CRACK AS LILY SLAPS SOME SENSE INTO EVE.

EVE (CONT’D)
Ouch.

LILY
Eve Fallon, if you ever speak like that again I
will slap you so hard your head will spin.

EVE
Lily leads me around the store, pointing to things.
I nod, it goes in the basket. I don’t, it doesn’t.
It’s a system. So the next week I go back alone.

LILY
Are you sure you want to do that? I’ll go with you.
No hitting this time, I promise.

EVE
But I’m a professional. The grocery store cannot
defeat me.

TREVOR
You bought the same thing.

EVE
To the item, yeah. Only they were out of provolone
so I got the Limburger because it was in the
provolone’s old spot.

TREVOR
Ugh.

STATIS RISES FOR A SECOND, RETURNING TO THE PRESENT.

EVE
Took me three more trips to stray from the list.

TREVOR
Not so bad, really. As long as you avoided the
Limburger.

EVE
Oh, yeah, cheddar is my new fallback.

TREVOR
Good adjustment.

THE CONVERSATION REACHES A NATURAL PAUSE. CRICKETS CHIRP IN
THE TREES. WIND RUSTLES THE LEAVES. TREVOR AND EVE SMOKE. EVE
LETS OUT A LONG EXHALE.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Thank you. It’s nice to hear something real for
once.

EVE
It was bound to happen eventually. Once I met one.

TREVOR
Hm?

EVE
One worth listening to.

TREVOR
It was your story.

EVE
I’ve been listening to you for a long time, Trevor.
So. Do you believe your guests?

TREVOR
I think my guests are good people.

EVE
That’s not what I asked.

TREVOR
They’re searching for something. I give them a
venue to discuss their findings.

EVE
Very noble.

TREVOR
I’m afraid I’m setting them up to be hurt.

EVE
How?

TREVOR
What if these things that they’re wasting their
lives on lies and I’m enabling delusion?

EVE
The world could use a few more monsters, aliens and
secret moon bases.

TREVOR
You think so?

EVE
It’s something to believe in.

TREVOR
Hm. Faith can be dangerous.

EVE
I think it’s a good thing you do for your guests,
helping them hunt their monsters. I hope they’re
right. All of them.

TREVOR
What about Chuck from Natrona who thinks Cthulhu
will rise from R’lyeh on New Year’s Eve and usher
in an era of darkness?

EVE
Okay, I hope most of them are right.

TREVOR
Yeah, I suppose I do too.

EVE
What monster are you hunting?

TREVOR
Another time, maybe.

TREVOR STOMPS OUT HIS CIGARETTE.

EVE
I know of a livelier place if you’re interested.

TREVOR
I have an early morning. Prepping next week’s show.

EVE
No spoilers please.

TREVOR
It’s been a pleasure, Eve.

EVE
All mine.

FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL AS TREVOR STARTS TO WALK AWAY, PAUSES,
AND COMES BACK.

TREVOR
Here’s my card. In case you want to talk again.

EVE
Careful. I might make you hunt a monster.

TREVOR
Eyes to the skies, huh?

EVE
Goodnight, Trevor.

CRICKETS CHIRP AS STATIC RISES AND ENGULFS THEM. THE ALIEN
LANGUAGE IS GETTING CLEARER. STILL UNINTELLIGIBLE BUT CLEARLY
A COMMUNICATION OF SOME KIND.

SCENE 4

BACK IN THE LIBRARY MEETING PLACE

THE STATIC CLEARS ON CHAIRS SCOOTING ACROSS THE FLOOR. SESHAT
IS FOLDING AND PUTTING THEM AWAY.

SESHAT
Sir, we’re finished for the evening.

MAD AL
Yeah, I just had a couple of questions, uh, Alice,
was it?

SESHAT
It was. I am ready to answer.

MAD AL
What do you make of it?

SESHAT
It, sir?

MAD AL
The meeting of the minds.

SESHAT
I am not certain I understand your question.

MAD AL
Hunter and hunted. Alpha and the omega.

SESHAT
Sir, while I appreciate a cryptic overture as much
as anyone –
(a beat, then a realization)
Ah. You’re still in character.

THOTH
(Dropping the Mad Al character)
Mad Al gets to say so many things.

SESHAT
I noted your joy in divulging classified
information.

THOTH
Kinzua was hardly classified, Sesh. There were
hundreds of us.

SESHAT
They don’t know that.

THOTH
Sure they do. They just don’t believe it.

SESHAT
Shall we return?

THOTH
I will. You have an assignment of the utmost
importance.

SESHAT
What is my directive?

THOTH
Immersion observation.

SESHAT
What is my objective?

THOTH
General study. See what the natives see.

SESHAT
And my location?

THOTH
I booked you a room at the Quality Inn. You should
go to the Sports Page Bar & Grille. I highly
recommend the buffalo wings.

SESHAT
I thought the age of burnt offerings had passed.

THOTH
Primitive, I know, but the way they prepare them
with the grill and the sauce and the – oh, and get
blue cheese. Extra. Trust me.

SESHAT
Charred flesh dressed with clotted organic
discharge.

THOTH
Well when you put it that way.

SESHAT
These are facts.

THOTH
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

SESHAT
Is it?

THOMAS
In point of fact you’re right, of course. Clotted,
molded cream suspended in a slightly less clotted
cream. A bowl of rotten milk, but damn if it isn’t
tasty as hell. And on a spicy wing… perfection.

SESHAT
I will take it under advisement, sir.

THOMAS
And have a beer. Hell, go wild. It’s on the company
card.

SESHAT
Intoxicants are forbidden while on excursion.

THOTH
They are.

SESHAT
I am… I am not sure what to make of this
assignment, sir.

THOTH
That’s part of the fun, Sesh. Figuring it all out.
You never answered Mad Al’s question. What do you
think of the confluence of our agents?

SESHAT
Unremarkable. A bit of tension, likely
environmental. Typical of platonic human relations.

THOTH
So it would seem.

SESHAT
Sir. Did you arrange their interaction?

THOTH
I may have, subtly, guided them to this moment.

SESHAT
Agent 15068 is cleared for interaction. We know
nothing about her.

THOTH
I’ve been watching her.

SESHAT
We are not authorized to int/

THOTH
I know about our clearance levels, authorizations,
all the official parameters. It’s boring. You’re a
researcher aren’t you?

SESHAT
I am.

THOTH
This is new knowledge. A new way forward. There’s
going to be more going on here than you yet
realize.

SESHAT
Yes, sir.

THOTH
And you have fun tonight. That’s an order. I’ve got
my own assignment to attend to.

STATIC FADES UP WITH THE ALIEN LANGUAGE AS BEFORE.

IT CONTINUES, EBBING AND FLOWING WITH THE SIGNAL.

SCENE 6

THE WOODS

SOMETHING MONSTROUS TRUDGES THROUGH THE FOREST.

HEAVY FOOTFALLS CRUNCH BRUSH AND LEAVES BENEATH.

THE CREATURE GROANS – ANIMALISTIC BUT CLEARLY ALIEN.

THE CREATURE SNIFFS THE AIR AND LETS OUT A ROAR, WHICH GETS
LOST IN RISING SIGNAL AND STATIC.

END OF EPISODE 102

EPISODE 103
“A MILLION DOLLARARNS”
SCENE 1

TREVOR’S HOME, 9:00AM THE FOLLOWING MORNING

A KNOCK AT THE DOOR

TREVOR
(mumbling)
All right, I’m coming, I’m coming…

TREVOR’S FOOTSTEPS ACROSS A WOODEN FLOOR.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Hello?

TREVOR LISTENS AT THE DOOR. NO RESPONSE COMES.

THE SOUNDS OF EARLY MORNING – A CAR DRIVING BY, BIRDS.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Hello?

No answer comes.

TREVOR SHUFFLES BACK TOWARD THE BEDROOM MUMBLING

THE KNOCK COMES AGAIN, LOUDER THIS TIME.

EVE
(from outside the door, with authority)
Mr. Barnes? Mr. Trevor Barnes?

TREVOR LISTENS IN SILENCE AND SURPRISE – THIS IS NOT WHAT HE
EXPECTED.

THE KNOCK AGAIN, VERY LOUD AND INSISTENT.

EVE (CONT’D)
Trevor Barnes, this is Agent Fallon of the MTF. We
know you’re home. We’ll give you until three and
we’ll break the door down. One… two… thr/

TREVOR
What do you want?

EVE
My name is Agent/

TREVOR
Agent Fallon of the MTF, whatever the hell that is.
I heard you. What do you want?

EVE
To ask you a few questions.

TREVOR
You’ll break down my door to ask me questions?

EVE
I still might.

TREVOR
Nothing I have to say would be worth as much as the
door. And it’s mostly luan.

EVE
Are you a believer?

TREVOR
What?

EVE
Do you deal in truth or are you a charlatan?

TREVOR
Is this a joke?

EVE
Why the monsters. Why the mystery. Why death.

TREVOR
What are you talking about?

EVE
If you could know the answers. With perfect
certainty. Would you want to?

TREVOR
I… yes.

EVE
You are closer than you think. I can help you take
the next step. So pretty please. Open the damn
door.

TREVOR OPENS THE DOOR SLOWLY.

EVE (CONT’D)
(returning to her normal voice)
Morning. I brought muffins.

TREVOR
Eve?

SCENE 2

THE HOTEL – LATE NIGHT

A DOOR OPENS ON A BUSY HOTEL BAR – IT’S MORE LIKE A SPORTS
DIVE THAN A TYPICAL HOTEL BAR

SESHAT CROSSES THE SPACE AND TAKES A SEAT AT THE BAR

BARTENDER
Hey, how yinz doing?

SESHAT
I am doing satisfactorily

BARTENDER
What can I get yinz?

SESHAT
What is the local beverage of choice?

BARTENDER
Uh, that depends on what you’re into. Special
tonight’s three dollar wells. Good stuff’s a little
more. Dollar Irons for the game.

SESHAT
Wells are undesirable liquors?

BARTENDER
Well, yeah, but you mix ’em with a Coke, you’d
never know.

SESHAT
I am not familiar with the latter.

BARTENDER
Coke?

SESHAT
Dollararns. What is a dollararn?

BARTENDER
Oh, uh, Iron City.

SESHAT
What manner of beverage is that?

SESHAT TAKES OUT A NOTEBOOK AND PEN

BARTENDER
Are yinz taking notes?

SESHAT
I am.

BARTENDER
Yinz got a test tomorrow?

SESHAT
I am not yet sure what the culmination of this
assignment entails. Describe a dollararn.

BARTENDER
I mean, it’s… it’s like a lager… a beer. You’ve
never heard of Iron City?

SESHAT
I have not.

BARTENDER
You know what, I’ll get yinz one. On the house.

SESHAT
Which house?

BARTENDER
Just hang on a sec.

BARTENDER POPS A BEER BOTTLE AND SETS IT ON THE BAR

BARTENDER (CONT’D)
Pittsburgh’s finest.

SESHAT
Thank you.

BARTENDER POPS ANOTHER ONE

BARTENDER
Bottoms up.

SESHAT
You consume intoxicants on duty?

BARTENDER
Sometimes. Part of the gig.

SESHAT
It is part of my “gig” this evening as well.

BARTENDER
(laughing)
Then… To working late.

BARTENDER CLINKS THE BOTTLES IN A TOAST
BRIEF STATIC IN THE TRANSITION TO:

SCENE 3

TREVOR’S HOME – CONTINUOUS FROM SCENE 1

THE DOOR CLOSES BEHIND EVE

TREVOR
Eve?

EVE
You’re wondering why I’m here.

TREVOR
I am.

EVE
Sad to see me?

TREVOR
It’s early.

EVE
Agent Evelyn Fallon, Monster Task Force, Cryptid
Division.

TREVOR
All right then, Agent Fallon. Agent Trevor Barnes,
Radio Task Force, Lunar Anomaly Brigade.

EVE
Care for a muffin, Agent Barnes?

TREVOR
Yeah, kind of. I mean, affirmative, Agent Fallon.

THEY EAT AS THEY TALK

EVE
Call it a hunch, I just… I didn’t want you to be
alone. I also know it’s very unlikely you’ll be
coming back to that particular circle. Am I right?

TREVOR
I don’t know, I just/

EVE
Trevor, it was your first time and two people
recognized you in the first five minutes.
If it was me, I wouldn’t go back. I saw the other
guy swoop in as you walked in.

TREVOR
Mad Al.

EVE
That’s Mad Al? From the show?

TREVOR
In the flesh.

EVE
Well, if Mad Al’s made you, you’d be crazy to come
back. You’ll end up talking Albatwitch mating
rituals.

TREVOR
Chupacabra scat coffee.

EVE
Is that a thing?

TREVOR
He’s mentioned it.

EVE
Hard pass. Anyway, that’s why I’m here. You
listened to me. The least I can do is return the
favor.

TREVOR
That’s actually really kind.

EVE
So what brought you to the meeting?

TREVOR
Are we going to discuss that right now?

EVE
No time like the present.

TREVOR
I thought you were here on official business, Agent
Fallon.

EVE
I am.

TREVOR
And this is official business?

EVE
Very much.

TREVOR
Eve.

EVE
You lost someone.

TREVOR
Well, I mean, yeah.

EVE
Let’s start at the beginning. How did you meet?

SCENE 4

THE BAR AGAIN – CLOSING TIME

LIGHTS CLICK ON AND MUSIC SHUTS OFF. THE CLINKING OF GLASSES
AND BOTTLES BEING SHELVED FOR THE NIGHT.

SESHAT MOANS MISERABLY

BARTENDER
How yinz feeling?

SESHAT
Like a million dollararns.

BARTENDER
Yeah you look like a million dollararns too.

SESHAT
Don’t be mean. I am here on official business.

BARTENDER
Yeah you’ve mentioned that a time or ten.

SESHAT
I am a very good drinker.

BARTENDER
Yeah, you’re a regular booze hound.

SESHAT
Booze hound. A canine specializing in the hunting
and tracking of alcoholic beverages. That’s me.

BARTENDER
You are something.

SESHAT
I am. You are. The hound. The dollararns. All of
them are something.

BARTENDER
You are very drunk.

SESHAT
I am not drunk. I am conducting a sociological
experiment with a chemistry component.

BARTENDER
Now, that is the best description of a drunk I have
ever heard. And I’ve heard a lot.

SESHAT
I am very smart. Top of my class.

BARTENDER
Oh yeah, where’d yinz go?

SESHAT
Far away.

BARTENDER
Fair enough. Can I call you a cab?

SESHAT
I thought I was a booze hound.

BARTENDER
And here come the dad jokes. Let’s get yinz home.

SESHAT
One eleven.

BARTENDER
What?

SESHAT
Room one-eleven. My room.

BARTENDER
You’re staying here.

SESHAT
Yes.

BARTENDER
Good lord, why?

SESHAT
I’m on / official business

BARTENDER
/Official business, right. Well I think sleep is
the final step in your experiment. Can you walk?

SESHAT
Watch me.

SESHAT SCOOTS HER BAR STOOL BACK AND IMMEDIATELY CRASHES TO
THE FLOOR

BARTENDER
(laughing)
Okay, I’m walking you home, even if it is just down
the hall.

SCENE 5

TREVOR’S HOME AGAIN

TREVOR
We met in church.

EVE
Wouldn’t have taken you for a churchie.

TREVOR
I was a youth pastor.

EVE
No shit.

TREVOR
I was raised in the church, it was always there.
When I was little, you know, it was just a place to
see my friends. Hard to proclaim the mystery of
faith when Easter vigil comes with a chocolate
cross. And forget about Christmas. I mean Jesus is
cool and all but Santa gave me Transformers.

EVE
No contest.

TREVOR
The first sacrament of confession, though. First
holy communion. Those were… those were real
gifts. Markers of my burgeoning relationship with
God; proof that I was becoming a young man of
faith.

EVE
Faith is a beautiful thing.

TREVOR
It was for a long time.

STATIC RISES BRIEFLY AND RECEDES ON THE PAST. THROUGHOUT THE
FOLLOWING THE SIGNAL TRANSPORTS TREVOR THROUGH HIS MEMORIES,
MUCH AS IT DID WITH EVE’S.

TREVOR (CONT’D) (CONT’D)
Eighth grade, the time of Confirmation, the time to
become a full member of the Catholic church. That’s
when I met Evan.

EVE
Evan?

TREVOR
He was a true innocent. Still believed in Santa in
eighth grade. Kept on believing til he was twenty
two.

EVE
Really?

TREVOR
I know, I know. But if you’d seen his eyes sparkle
when he talked about it. He played it down, said he
only did it to keep up appearances for his little
sister, then his nieces and nephews, but that
sparkle. I think he really did believe. Or wanted
to. Magic is intoxicating.

EVE
Essential.

TREVOR
So, just out of college, Father Nesset hired me to
take over the youth program. I hired Evan, of
course, as my co-director and for five years we
taught, counseled, shepherded children in our
faith.

EVE
Sounds perfect.

TREVOR
Then came December, 2001. Christmas Eve, we visited
his parents, then my family for dinner. Tradition.
Evan seemed distant, though. None of the sparkle in
his eyes. It was strange, but I thought, you know,
maybe he was just melancholy.

EVE
Holidays can do that.

TREVOR
He left early. Said he had a headache, he wanted to
lie down. That night he wrote three letters. One to
his parents. One to me. The third… He swallowed a
fistful of pills with a half bottle of vodka and
went to sleep.

EVE
Oh, Trevor.

TREVOR
The Globe report hit on January second.

EVE
Had Evan/

TREVOR
Goddamned Father Nesset. We had been in the service
of a monster for years and I never knew. How many
times was I alone with that creature? How many
times did he make a choice about my fate? Did I
seem dangerous to him? Or was I just not his type?
How many times did he make a different choice for
Evan?
It was noon when I found Evan but the room was
dark. The curtains were closed and the shadows were
deep. Heavy. Like physical things.
I just stared at them. Anything to avoid looking at
Evan like that. I stared so long, so hard into the
darkness. For a split second I thought I saw
something move behind the shadows.

EVE
Oh, god.

TREVOR
No. No god. Not in that place. Not in the shadows,
not in me, not in the man that hurt Evan.
Was it the sparkle? The innocence of an eighth
grader who still believed in Santa Claus? Or was
that sparkle the last glimmer of magic? The final
point of light that kept that horrible shadow at
bay until it just couldn’t anymore.

EVE
Trevor, I am so sorry.

TREVOR
I went back to work. Book of Job. Duty doesn’t die
easily.

EVE
I know.

TREVOR
No decent god would abide a charlatan in his house,
but I did not serve a decent god. I preached and
witnessed and prayed but no answers came.
I hunt monsters because monsters are the only
answer that makes sense in a world with no decent
gods.
Maybe. Just maybe. If the monsters are real, the
gods may yet follow.

THE SIGNAL RISES, RETURNING TO:

SCENE 6

THE HOTEL

BARTENDER AND SESHAT SHUFFLE AND STUMBLE THEIR WAY DOWN THE
HALL

SESHAT
You know, he was right. My CO. You really can do
wonderful things.

BARTENDER
Uh, thank you?

SESHAT
The dollararn is a superior beverage. And the wings
were quite good as well.

BARTENDER
Well, yinz only ate the carrots and celery, but/

SESHAT
But I tried the blue cheese!

BARTENDER
Here’s one-eleven.

THE HOTEL ROOM KEY CARD DOOR OPENS WITH A WHIR AND A CLICK.

SESHAT
Ha. Just like home. You know something? It’s going
to be okay.

BARTENDER
I’m sure it will.

SESHAT
There is a plan. Take comfort in that. Don’t
despair. There is a plan.

BARTENDER
Drink some water before you pass out, okay?

SESHAT
The evidence is everywhere. You just need to learn
how to see it.

BARTENDER
Goodnight, Ma’am.

SESHAT
Or rather, good morning. And as always, I bid you:
eyes to the skies.

SESHAT LAUGHS AS THE DOOR CLICKS SHUT.

THE SIGNAL RISES AND RETURNS TO:

SCENE 7

THE QUIET PLACE

A DOOR SLIDES OPEN WITH A WHIR AND A CLICK

STUMBLING FOOTSTEPS ENTER, CLATTERING A BIT ON A HARD FLOOR

THOTH
Ah. Welcome back. It’s almost time for Protocol
Three.

SESHAT
I know. I am still on time, am I not?

THOTH
Quite.

SESHAT
I may need a moment to gather my wits.

THOTH
Are you prepared to make a formal report?

SESHAT
I am.

THOTH
(chuckling)
No, you’re not. And I don’t need one. But I still
want to hear about it, so you’ll have to pull
yourself somewhat together.

SESHAT
I will do my very best.

THOTH
I know. Start with now. How are you feeling?

SESHAT
Like a million dollararns.

THOTH
A million what?

SESHAT
Dollararns. A beverage preferred by the local
population while watching a sporting event.

THOTH
You tried one?

SESHAT
Not exactly.

THOTH
You tried several.

SESHAT
That is more accurate.

THOTH
Did you consume anything else?

SESHAT
Carrots and celery.

THOTH
And…?

SESHAT
I tried the blue cheese.

THOTH
Fantastic! What did you think?

SESHAT
Pungent. Salty. Rich. I liked it.

THOTH
I couldn’t agree more.

SESHAT
I made contact with a low level agent, as well.

THOTH
Well, well. Was this an authorized interaction?

SESHAT
Sir, your orders/

THOTH
I’m joking, Sesh. Of course it was authorized.

SESHAT
Yes. My mind is a little sluggish just now.

THOTH
It’s called a hangover. Happens when one has too
many, uh…

SESHAT
Dollararns.

THOTH
Yes, that’s it. Nothing to worry about, just have
to let it pass. Now tell me about your agent
contact.

SESHAT
Bartender. Agent was efficient. Socially engaging.
Humorous in a dry way.

THOTH
So you liked the bartender.

SESHAT
I did not say that.

THOTH
But.

SESHAT
Bartender seemed a decent sort. Escorted me to my
room when the dollararns made it difficult to walk.

THOTH
Any further interaction?

SESHAT
None. I slept for several hours and reported back.

THOTH
Did you have fun?

SESHAT
Fun, sir?

THOTH
Fun, Sesh.

SESHAT
I was focused on completing the assignment.

THOTH
So. Yes?

SESHAT
Yes. It was fun. They are oddly charming, are they
not?

THOTH
Quite. You’ve taken your first steps into a deep,
deep ocean, my friend. Well done.

SESHAT
Thank you.

THOTH
Now then. Protocol Three.

SESHAT
I do not know if I am prepared for another
excursion just yet, sir.

THOTH
No need. I’ll handle the ground work. I need you
here. My eye in the sky.

SESHAT
That I can do.

STATIC AND COSMIC NOISE – THE SOUND FADES ON THE QUIET PLACE
AND RISES ON THE WAVERING SIGNAL. IT FADES ON:
SCENE 8

TREVOR’S HOME

EVE
Have you been sleeping?

TREVOR
A little.

EVE
What do you do? When sleep won’t come?

TREVOR
Read. Research a show. Scour blurry images of the
moon’s far side for signs of life.

EVE
Found any?

TREVOR
You’ve seen the pictures, haven’t you?

EVE
When I can’t sleep I work on a puzzle.

TREVOR
I’m sorry?

EVE
Puzzles. Sudoku, crosswords, pattern recognition,
whatever. Finding the hidden truth. I sleep like
the dead after I’ve solved one. You strike me as a
man who would enjoy a good puzzle.

TREVOR
Sure.

EVE
Well, I have one for you. Here.

EVE RUMMAGES THROUGH A BAG, PRODUCES A NOTEBOOK AND SHOVES IT
AT TREVOR. TREVOR FLIPS THROUGH IT.

EVE (CONT’D)
Here.

TREVOR
This is a notebook.

EVE
Well you solved step one.

TREVOR
It’s all handwritten coordinates. Earth
coordinates. And dates.

EVE
That’s years’ worth of data. I’ve collected it,
sorted it and I know I’m onto something, but
there’s a relationship here I’m not seeing.

TREVOR
Eve, this is, like, a little crazy.

EVE
I know.

TREVOR
This notebook is completely filled.

EVE
It’s kind of a long puzzle. I’ll leave it with you.
Work it through.

TREVOR
I have a show to prep today.

EVE
No, no, take your time. I’ll be back tomorrow
night, ten PM. If nothing else, it might help you
sleep.

TREVOR
What are you looking for here?

EVE
That would spoil the fun.

TREVOR
Eve, are you hunting monsters?

EVE
I hunt monsters because monsters are the only
answer that makes sense in a world with no decent
gods. See you tomorrow.

THE STATIC AND ALIEN SIGNAL RISE AND TRANSITION TO

SCENE 9

THE WOODS AT NIGHT

THE CREATURE SNIFFS THE AIR, GRUNTS, AND RUMBLES.

A VOICE SPEAKS, AS THOUGH OVER A WEAK RADIO SIGNAL, OR A
THOUGHT FROM THE BACK OF THE MIND

SESHAT
This is the place? It seems slightly underwhelming.

A SHORT SNARL FROM THE CREATURE

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Have you suddenly lost your flair for the dramatic?

A LOW RUMBLE FROM THE CREATURE

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Accessibility is essential, of course. Have you
determined paths of egress?

ANOTHER BARK AND SNARL – THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES, THE
VOICE AND THE CREATURE EXCHANGING WHAT MIGHT BE A REPARTEE IF
BOTH PARTIES COULD ARTICULATE.

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Line of sight, sweep patterns… I think west-east,
then south-north. You’re really giving Agent Barnes
eye full, aren’t you?

THE CREATURE RUMBLES AGAIN, ALMOST IN AMUSEMENT.

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Protocol Three. Engage.

THE CREATURE ROARS. THE SIGNAL RISES BETWEEN WORLDS, THE
CREATURE SOUNDS MELDING INTO THE COSMIC NOISE.

EPISODE 104
“HUNTING WABBITS”

SCENE 1

TREVOR’S HOME

A CAR PULLS INTO THE DRIVEWAY, SHUTS OFF.
THE DRIVER BREATHES FOR A MOMENT, THEN GRABS A PLASTIC BAG,
OPENS THE DOOR AND GETS OUT.
FOOTSTEPS TO THE DOOR.

A KNOCK ON THE DOOR

TREVOR
(through the door)
Hello?

EVE
Agent Barnes.

TREVOR
(through the door)
Agent Fallon, is that you?

EVE
Do you have another ten PM appointment?

TREVOR
Fair point.

EVE
I thought you might be hungry.

TREVOR OPENS THE DOOR AND EVE ENTERS. AS THE SCENE SHIFTS THE
VOICES COME INTO FOCUS

TREVOR
Ooh, Chinese.

EVE
God, what happened here?

TREVOR
Things got a little messy.

EVE
I see.

TREVOR
It’s been a long night.

EVE
Did you sleep at all?

TREVOR
Yeah, so that’s the bad news – the puzzle did not
help me sleep. But the good news is, I think I
might have cracked it.

EVE
Show me.

TREVOR SORTS THROUGH THE CLUTTER SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING. HE
FINDS IT AND UNFOLDS A PAPER MAP

TREVOR
Uh, sure. Where to start… All right, the map. I
started by plotting the coordinates. I didn’t find
any obvious relationship between points.

EVE
Right.

TREVOR
But then I noticed something. Every so often a
point appeared on the exact opposite set of
coordinates. Like a straight line through the
center of the earth, connecting to the other side.
A binary point.

EVE
Uh huh.

TREVOR
So, plotting the dates and coordinates in
chronological order, I realized – something’s
there, but you’d never see it on a map. It has to
be a three dimensional model.

EVE
That’s why your globe/

TREVOR
That’s why the globe is full of pins, yes.

EVE
You solved it.

TREVOR
I found something. I’m not ready to declare a full
solution just yet.

EVE
Okay – what do you have so far?

TREVOR
Grab the globe.

TREVOR TAKES A HUGE BITE OF FOOD – WAY TOO MUCH. HE CAN
BARELY TALK.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
This is really good.

EVE
My god, man, take smaller bites. That was like half
of the General Tso’s.

TREVOR
I’m sorry. I really, I honestly, I don’t think I’ve
eaten today.
Okay. You place the pins. I’ll give you the
coordinates. All latitudes are south 40.5 for the
first four locations. Alright, starting Latitude
negative 40.5, Longitude East 100.22.

EVE
The Indian Ocean, southwest of Perth.

TREVOR
South Atlantic, southwest of Cape Town; South
Pacific east of Puerto Monit. And longitude West
169.78.

EVE
Got ’em.

TREVOR
The rest of the pins are at Latitude North 40.5.

EVE
Go ahead.

TREVOR
Longitude West 169.78

EVE
The Jiuquan Launch Center. Are these binary points?

TREVOR
Uh huh. Latitude North 40.5; Longitude West 79.78.
That’s the last one.

EVE
These make a cube.

TREVOR
Kind of cool, right?

EVE
That’s got to be the key. It’s not just a list of
points. It’s a model. A path.

TREVOR
Funny you should use that word.

EVE
What do you mean?

TREVOR
Every regular polygon has an incircle. Inside a
square you can draw a circle that touches all four
sides, yes?

EVE
Okay.

TREVOR
Well the same would be true in three dimensions. A
cube will have a, what, insphere? I guess. So, it’s
not perfect, but in our model the insphere is
Earth.

EVE
Sure.

TREVOR
The shapes wrap around the earth and beneath each
vertex is a point. The pins you placed in the
globe.

EVE
Is it random? Or is there a pattern to the shapes?

TREVOR
The last five iterations of the path had points
numbering one, eight, four, five, and eight again.

EVE
What’s the relationship?

TREVOR
Pi.

EVE
As in pi, r, squared?

TREVOR
Those five digits appear in that order starting at
position 2,400,005 to the right of the decimal in
Pi.

EVE
What?

TREVOR
So. Supposing my math is right, a new shape, a new
path, begins with each new lunar cycle. If each
lunar cycle corresponds with one digit in Pi, then
there have been two point four million and five
lunar cycles, and shapes, in the path. Twelve point
three-six lunar cycles in a year, so the path
begins roughly two hundred thousand years ago.

EVE
Humankind and the path originate simultaneously.

TREVOR
It’s fascinating. But, I mean, I still have to
wonder, Eve, what do the shapes mean?

EVE
I have an idea. Give me the notebook.

RUSTLING OF PAGES AS EVE GRABS THE NOTEBOOK AND FLIPS
THROUGH.

EVE (CONT’D)
April fourth, 1968, the assassination of Dr. King;
This falls under a final vertex.

TREVOR
Okay.

EVE
May second, 1519, the death of Leonardo Davinci;
falls under a final vertex.

TREVOR
Huh.

EVE
July, 1863, the battle of Gettysburg; August sixth
and ninth, 1945, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Big death;
the kind we remember. Every one of them falls
beneath the final vertex of a completed shape.

TREVOR
The last set of coordinates I read. Latitude North
40.5, Longitude West 79.78. Take another look at
that point.

THE GLOBE SQUEAKS AS EVE SEARCHED FOR AND FINDS THE POINT.

EVE
It’s here. The vertex is above us.

TREVOR
Damn near, anyway.

EVE
Your interview with Dr. Ott. Didn’t he say he was
investigating some phenomena in the woods along
Fifty-Six? That’s fairly local, right?

TREVOR
Ten, maybe fifteen minutes from here.

EVE
Awful close to not be related.

TREVOR
That would be unlikely.

EVE
The lunar cycle ends tonight. We have to move fast.
Come on, Trevor. Let’s hunt a monster.

STATIC UP AND QUICKLY OUT THE DOOR.

SCENE 2

THE QUIET PLACE

SESHAT
Your disguises are slipping a bit, sir.

THOTH
Who says I’m in disguise?

SESHAT
You look like Elmer Fudd.

THOTH
Must be a handsome fellow. Who is he?

SESHAT
Caricature of a hunter. His quarry is a rabbit
which changes appearances and temperaments, goads
and chides him, gives him hope and crushes it, and
is inevitably the source of his undoing. Yet Fudd
hunts on. It is an apt analogy for the human
experience while remaining rooted in whimsy.

THOTH
I’m so glad you like them.

SESHAT
The rabbit’s use of subterfuge is entertaining.

THOTH
I am sure it is, but I wasn’t referring to the
stories.

SESHAT
I have developed some warmth for the idioms of
speech and popular culture but I assure you my
interest remains purely professional.

THOTH
Unpack that for me.

SESHAT
That infernal phrase again.

THOTH
I thought you liked idioms.

SESHAT
Nevertheless, no excursions are scheduled until
this evening.

THOTH
Spending a little extra time in wardrobe helps me
get into character. I want to be fully invested
when we meet our agents. Speaking of, I like your
suit. Blue becomes you.

SESHAT
My research indicates some connection between
females in blue and journeys into the unknown. In
tandem with my recent pseudonyms they allude to
classic fables of the celluloid era, resulting
ideally in mild amusement.

THOTH
Sesh… are you telling me you made a joke?

SESHAT
I am, sir.

THOTH
Well done. I’ll need you tonight.

SESHAT
In the control room?

THOTH
Not this time. This is the real deal, Seshat. I’ll
run the rehearsed track, you’ve got point.

SESHAT
I will be ready.

THOTH
I have no doubt.

THE STATIC RISES AND TRANSITIONS ACROSS TOWN. DAY FADES TO
NIGHT, THE SOUND OF CRICKETS CHIRPING.

SCENE 3

TREVOR’S DRIVEWAY

TREVOR CLIMBS INTO HIS CAR. THE DOOR OPENS & CLOSES, THE DOOR
AJAR ALARM GOES ON AND OFF.

FOOTSTEPS ACROSS A GRAVEL DRIVEWAY AS EVE APPROACHES

EVE
Ready?

TREVOR
I think so. I’m not sure what we need for an actual
monster hunt.

EVE
Flashlight?

TREVOR
Check.

EVE
Warm clothes?

TREVOR
Check.

EVE
Recorder?

TREVOR
(through the recorder)
Recording.

EVE
Then we’re ready.

TREVOR
We seem a little under packed. Shouldn’t we at
least have a camera? You know, one that’s not
attached to a phone?

EVE
We should be much better prepared when facing the
unknown. But we have the tools we have.

TREVOR
Why are you so sure we’re going to find something
tonight?

EVE
You saw the path.

TREVOR
The pattern is anomalous. Intriguing, even. But it
is not proof of the bogeyman.

EVE
I’m going to make one last pass through the house.
You going to be here when I get back?

TREVOR
Yes.

EVE
I need you to be with me on this. You’re the only
one that can.

TREVOR
I’ll be here.

FOOTSTEPS ACROSS GRAVEL AS EVE WALKS BACK TOWARD THE HOUSE.

TREVOR FUMBLES WITH HIS RECORDER, THEN PLAYS A BIT AT
NARRATING THE CIRCUMSTANCES – THE ROUGH DRAFT OF WHAT MIGHT
EVENTUALLY BE IN THE SHOW

Trevor slips in and out of his radio persona — as he hits on
ideas that scare or move him, he adopts the radio persona,
interspersed with some rambling reflection.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Okay. We’ve got gear such as it is. Flashlight,
sweater, a twenty dollar recorder and a boy scout
fire starter from when I was twelve. And with these
we are going hunting.
Be vewy, vewy quiet…
I should have goddamn bear mace or a tranquilizer
gun or, hell I don’t know.
This path thing… I can’t help wondering, and
believe me, listeners, I am trying, but what if
it’s real? Can you imagine actual evidence of
something beyond… beyond.
There’s an inescapable silliness to going into the
woods at night chasing a… whatever we’re chasing.
But why should there be? We’ve discovered a true
anomaly. Visible, verifiable, not a blurry photo, a
real pattern of unknown origin and we should follow
this without apology. It’s what Dr. Mather would
recommend.

THE SOUND OF EVE’S FOOTSTEPS RETURNING FROM THE HOUSE, QUIET
THEN GETTING CLOSER.

Trevor does not hear Eve approaching.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
And yet I still feel compelled to apologize. Why?
Fear? That things were never as they seemed and
maybe if we pull back the curtain too far life will
never be the same?

EVE
That’s the plan.

TREVOR
Holy/

EVE
Sorry. Didn’t mean to spook you.

TREVOR
Just working out some ideas for the show.

EVE
Got enough memory on that thing to last the night?

TREVOR
I think so.

EVE
Good. We’re going to need it.

FOOTSTEPS OVER GRAVEL. CAR DOORS SHUT. THE ENGINE TURNS OVER.
THE CAR BACKS OUT AND DRIVES OFF DOWN THE ROAD.

SCENE 4

THE CAR – LISTENING TO TREVOR’S SHOW

THE SHOW IS PLAYED THROUGH CRACKLY CAR SPEAKERS AS TREVOR AND
EVE DRIVE.
THE SOUNDS OF THE CAR DRIVING A COUNTRY ROAD UNDERSCORE THE
SHOW.

MAD AL
Man, it’s been good talking to you, Trevor. Real
good.

TREVOR
It has indeed, Al. Thanks for spending some time
with me tonight.

MAD AL
Pleasure’s all mine. But I best be getting on. I
have an appointment to keep.

TREVOR
I’m assuming this appointment is related to our
conversation, so I just wouldn’t be doing my job if
I didn’t ask who you’re meeting.

MAD AL
Keep a secret?

TREVOR
Remember, this on the record, Al.

MAD AL
Right. Let’s say an informant.

TREVOR
An informant.

MAD AL
A high level informant.

TREVOR
Fellow Albatwitch enthusiast?

MAD AL
Researcher. Tangentially related.

TREVOR
I see.

MAD AL
High strangeness afoot recently. Can’t be too
careful about who you keep company with.

TREVOR
Anything else before we say good night, Al?

MAD AL
If you’ve a willing ear, I’d offer you some advice.

TREVOR
Fire away.

MAD AL
You know what a deer trail is?

TREVOR
A rough path through the woods beaten down by deer
movement.

MAD AL
Uh huh. They’re called deer trails but lots of
animals leave ’em, small ones, big ones. They’re
everywhere if you know how to spot ’em. Find ’em
all over the game lands. But that’s wild, hilly
country, and following a strange path can land you
in a heap of trouble. Especially if you don’t know
what made it.

TREVOR
Duly noted, and thank you again, Al.

MAD AL
Safe travels, Trevor.

TREVOR
Well, that was Al, you know him as frequent caller
“Mad Al”, with a little local lore and some woods
wisdom for you/

THE RADIO IS SWITCHED OFF.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
(in the car)
That went okay for a canned interview.

EVE
(in the car)
Are you kidding? You made his day. You hear how
happy he was to talk to you?

TREVOR
Happy is hard to gauge with Mad Al. I just kind of
let him rant.

EVE
You listened. You helped him hunt his monster.

TREVOR
There’s a trail head about a mile up here. That’s
where we’ll go in.

THE SOUNDS OF A CAR DRIVING A COUNTRY ROAD. THE SIGNAL RISES.

SCENE 5

THE WOODS

SIGNAL CLEARS ON THE SOUND OF BOOTS TROMPING THROUGH THE
WOODS.

TREVOR HIKES THROUGH THE WOODS A BIT. THE SOUND OF FOOTFALLS
AS WELL AS CRICKETS, AND SOMETHING THAT SKITTERS UNDERFOOT.
MORE FOOTSTEPS

TREVOR
Eve?

EVE
Fifty yards ahead.

TREVOR HIKES THROUGH THE WOODS BREATHING HEAVILY. HE MAKES IT
TO EVE. HE NARRATES TO HIS RECORDER AS HE GOES.

TREVOR
Alright. We’re about a mile into the woods here.
Slow going for me. Eve has the only flashlight. She
moves fast. No strangeness yet. With the obvious
exception of a midnight monster hunt, that is.
Updates once we’re in position.

THE FOOTSTEPS STOP AS TREVOR REACHES EVE. HE SHUTS OFF THE
RECORDER.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Hey.

EVE
There’s a clearing here. If we stick to the edges
we can get a good look at the terrain and not be
too exposed. How are you doing?

TREVOR
I’m okay. Not used to this. Mostly I sit behind a
desk all day long.

EVE
You’re doing great.

TREVOR
I’m cold.

EVE
Chill creeps in fast at night. I’ll start a fire.

TREVOR
Fantastic.

EVE
Just a little one. Help me gather kindling.

UNDER THE FOLLOWING EVE AND TREVOR GATHER KINDLING AND WOOD.

TREVOR
Hey, you know, are we entirely prepared for this?
If there’s – something – out here. I mean, one,
we’re not equipped if it’s aggressive.

EVE
I’ll handle that part.

TREVOR
I admire your confidence, but what about the larger
questions. If this thing is real, it changes
everything.

EVE
That’s the point.

TREVOR
Yeah, but is that good? Is there a place in reality
for creatures of dream?

EVE
There has to be.

TREVOR
Does it not simplify the equation if the observable
world is the only one?

EVE
That cannot be true. For both of our sakes.

UNDER THE FOLLOWING, EVE PILES THE WOOD INTO A CAMPFIRE SHAPE
AND USES THE FIRE STARTER TO TRY AND STRIKE A FLAME. SHE
TRIES A FEW TIMES AND FINALLY SUCCEEDS.

EVE (CONT’D)
Tell me more about Evan.

TREVOR
Is this really the appropriate time?

EVE
No one at this meeting but us.

TREVOR
I told you everything.

EVE
You told me about his death. Tell me about his
life. Tell me something I wouldn’t expect.
Something real.

TREVOR
Okay. Uh. He was… He was really into football.

EVE
(laughing a bit)
Really?

TREVOR
Yeah.

EVE
That is unexpected.

TREVOR
He had that towel, you know? He would spin it and
howl like a banshee. He loved it. Never missed a
game. Every Sunday, right after… You know, his
family had the towel buried with him. That still
kind of baffles me, but it was important to him. I
guess that’s all that really matters.

EVE
How much would you love to see him swing that towel
again?

TREVOR
With all of my heart.

EVE
Is there anything you wouldn’t do to make that
happen?

TREVOR
Nothing.

THE KINDLING FINALLY CATCHES AND THE SOUND OF A SMALL
CRACKLING FIRE JOINS THE CHIRPING OF THE CRICKETS.

EVE
I know it. You’re a good man, Agent Barnes.

TREVOR
Thank you, Agent Fallon. But some gulfs are too
wide to reach across.

EVE
I guess we’ll see. Remember what Doctor Mather
said. Go in honest search.

TREVOR
Of monsters and moon bases, Eve. Not of death.

EVE
I can’t do this without you, Trevor. I have a gift
to give to the world.

TREVOR
What do you mean?

EVE
Is it so hard to believe in miracles?

TREVOR
What miracle? What are we looking for out here
tonight?

EVE
The big one. Doctor Ott’s favorite monster.

TREVOR
The Operator? The moon aliens’ ferryman of souls.

EVE
The end of big lives: artists, scientists, world
changers.

TREVOR
If this is a joke, it’s a sick one.

EVE
We discovered a path and we followed it. This is
where it leads.

TREVOR
I don’t want to do this anymore.

EVE
Want is a bug underneath the boot of fate. You have
been chosen to take part in a miracle. We are
facing the infinite.

TREVOR
I’m going home.

EVE
Hold your position, agent.

EVE DRAWS HER GUN, TRAINS IT ON TREVOR.

TREVOR
Why do you have a gun?

EVE
I told you I would handle any aggression.

TREVOR
Eve, what the hell are you doing?

EVE
Big death. The path leads through this point
tonight. The death it foretold is yours. I will
draw the Operator and when it comes to collect your
soul I will be waiting. Thank you, Trevor.

EVE COCKS THE GUN.

THE STATIC RISES INTO THE ALIEN SIGNALS AND FADES OUT.

END EPISODE 104

EPISODE 105
“THE BUG AND THE BOOT”
SCENE 1

SIGNAL RISES AND FADES IN & OUT ON THE WOODS WHERE WE LAST
LEFT EVE AND TREVOR. THEIR VOICES ARE DISTANT, COMING INTO
FOCUS AS IF OUT OF A DREAM.

EVE
Want is a bug under the boot of fate. You have been
chosen to take part in a miracle. We are facing the
infinite.

TREVOR
I’m going home.

EVE
Hold your position, agent.

EVE DRAWS HER GUN, TRAINS IT ON TREVOR.

TREVOR
Why do you have a gun?

EVE
I told you I would handle any aggression.

TREVOR
Eve, what the hell are you doing?

EVE
Big death. The path leads through this point
tonight. The death it foretold is yours. I will
draw the Operator and when it comes to collect your
soul I will be waiting. Thank you, Trevor.

EVE COCKS THE GUN. WE ARE FULLY IN THE PRESENT NOW.

TREVOR
I have a last request.

EVE
You’re just postponing the inevitable.

TREVOR
You know how the Operator works. If it is here for
me, it won’t leave before I’m dead. Now or later,
you’ll get your shot.

EVE
Go on.

TREVOR
I want to know why you are hunting the Operator.

EVE
You want a story. Now.

TREVOR
I told you why I hunt my monsters. If I’m going to
die for this question, I’d like to know the answer.

EVE
That’s fair.

TREVOR
If it shows up, hunt it. If it hasn’t by the time
your story is over then you draw it here. But no
Cliff’s Notes. Tell me exactly why I’m going to die
so you can hunt your monsters.

CRICKETS CHIRP AND THE BREEZE BLOWS A LITTLE HARDER. LIGHT
SCUFFLING AS EVE AND TREVOR SHIFT A BIT. EVE THINKS FOR
MOMENT.

EVE
Agreed.

THE STATIC RISES, THE ALIEN SIGNALS OVERTAKING THE SOUND OF
THE WOODS.
SCENE 2

LIKE EVE’S SHOPPING STORY, THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE IN A NON
PLACE, A DREAMLIKE STATE

STATIC FADES IN ON EVE’S STORY

EVE
Kids love recklessly and hard. But the ones that
come to me, they love ferociously. Andrew loved
scary stories. I must have read him every monster
story ever written.

ANDREW
Are the monsters real?

EVE
He asked me one night. No, sweetie, I said,
monsters are just make believe.

ANDREW
That’s sad.

EVE
Why?

ANDREW
Because monsters are like magic. I want a real
monster story.

EVE
He watched every one of those shows where they look
for Bigfoot. I read him stories of the Mothman,
Slender Man, Yeti.

ANDREW
I want a real monster. Don’t you know any real
monsters?

EVE
I figured why not. Make up a story for the kid,
tell him it’s real. So I tried.
There once was a little boy who was afraid of
thunderstorms. He would hide under his covers and
wouldn’t come out until the lightning stopped, the
last thunder disappeared, and the storm was over.
One night there was a big storm, the biggest he’d
ever seen. He huddled under his bed sheets, safe in
his little cave. But the thunder got louder and
louder, the lightning brighter and brighter.
Under the covers the boy hid, waiting for the storm
to pass. His cave got hotter, warmed by his panting
breath. The air grew hot and thick. The little boy
couldn’t breathe. Finally, he threw off the covers
and leapt out of bed. Lightning flashed and in that
instant, time froze.
His yellow stuffed dinosaur. His bright blue bed
sheets with the moons & stars, all the toys and
clothes that filled the room with color had been
colored pure white in the lightning.
Long and thin against the wall, behind the shadows,
something moved. Spindly arms reached for the boy,
tendrils of light winding through his chubby
fingers. The boy took the thing’s hand and followed
it behind the shadows, never to be seen again.
I didn’t think much of it, but Andrew loved that
story. He wanted it over and over. Every time it
stormed he wanted the Shadow Man story.
One night after telling it, I asked him why he
loved the story so much.

ANDREW
Because it’s real.

EVE
Is it?

ANDREW
The Shadow Man says so.

EVE
The Shadow Man?

ANDREW
He says he’ll take me for a walk behind the shadows
sometime. Then we can go to his house.

EVE
Where does the Shadow Man live?

ANDREW
His house is on the moon. He says I can come and
play when I’m not sick anymore.

EVE
Andrew/

ANDREW
He says you can come too.

EVE
Andrew, you know I made that story up, right? The
Shadow Man isn’t real.

ANDREW
Just because you made it up doesn’t mean it isn’t
real.

EVE
Then lightning struck and I saw it. From behind the
shadow of the respirators it slithered. Tall and
thin. Radiating a pale light. Its face like a
sickle. I swung and kicked and yelled. I tried to
keep it from Andrew but it was like I couldn’t
touch it. Like it couldn’t hear me. It reached for
Andrew and took his hand.

ANDREW
It’s okay, Evie. He’s going to show me his house.

EVE
I didn’t know what to do. I just knew that I didn’t
want Andrew to go. So I did the first thing I
thought of. The thing that always made me feel
better when I was scared.

EVE BEGINS TO HUM THE LULLABY

A QUESTIONING GROWL FROM THE MONSTER

EVE (CONT’D)
And for the first time, the thing noticed me. Its
scythe face turned to look. Its gaze felt like a
fist reaching inside and slowly twisting my guts.

THE DREAMWORLD FADES AND ARE BACK IN THE PRESENT.

EVE (CONT’D)
Then I was sitting in the room next to Andrew, and
he was gone.
One after another, the children came to me and it
took them. The Operator. One after another, it
takes them all.
Tonight it ends. I am going to destroy the
Operator. I will give the world my gift. No more
death. No more lost children. I will be the mother
of a world without death. And you will be the
father.
Good bye, Trevor.
SCENE 3

SUDDENLY THE CRICKETS GO QUIET. EVEN THE FIRE IS SILENT. IT’S
AS THOUGH WE ARE IN A VACUUM. THEN THE SOUND OF THE
CREATURE’S ROAR ERUPTS THROUGHOUT THE WOODS, ECHOING AS IT
RISES TO A HIGH WHINE.

AS IT FADES WE ARE LEFT WITH A CONSTANT LOW HUM – LIKE THE
TAOS HUM. NO CRICKETS. NO FIRE. JUST THE HUM OF THE LIGHT.

EVE
Trevor? Do you hear it?

TREVOR
I hear it. The light. So much light.

EVE
What did I tell you?

TREVOR
It’s real. It must be twelve feet tall.

EVE
A miracle.

TREVOR
I didn’t think it would be so beautiful.

EVE
It’s come for you, Trevor. Now do you believe?

TREVOR
I do.

THE MONSTER BEGINS TO MOVE AWAY, THE HUM FADING WITH IT.

EVE
Thank you for this.

EVE FIRES A SINGLE SHOT. TREVOR FALLS TO THE GROUND.

TREVOR
Fuck.

EVE
I have to/

TREVOR
Stop.

EVE
I can’t.

TREVOR
You can. You don’t have to do anything. Christ, my
arm.

EVE
I’m so close.

TREVOR
It is a miracle. You were right, Eve. You were
right about everything, just put the gun down.
Killing me won’t end death. It will just add
another. It’s not the way you wanted but you have
given the world a tremendous gift. The monsters are
real. Maybe the gods are too.

EVE
This isn’t the end of my path.

EVE TURNS AND RUNS AFTER THE RECEDING HUM AND CRASHING
FOOTSTEPS.

TREVOR
Where are you going? Eve! Wait! Eve, where are you
go/ shit.

FOUR GUNSHOTS. TREVOR STOPS SHORT AND DUCKS INTO THE BRUSH.
THE SHOTS ARE FOLLOWED BY SCREAMING: SOME HUMAN, SOME ANIMAL,
SOME OTHERWORLDLY.

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Eve!

FROM OFF IN THE DISTANCE THOMAS CRIES OUT.

THOMAS
Help! Somebody please help me!

TREVOR
Oh god.

THOMAS
I’m shot! Please, somebody help me!

TREVOR
Oh Goddamnit, Eve.

THOMAS
Please!

TREVOR
Where are you?

THOMAS
Hello!

TREVOR
Can you hear me?

TREVOR STUMBLES THROUGH THE BRUSH SEARCHING FOR THOMAS

TREVOR (CONT’D)
Goddamnit, she took the light. Where are you? I’m
coming.

SIGNAL FADES IN A BIT OVER THE SOUND OF TREVOR TROMPING
THROUGH THE BRUSH.

SCENE 4

OFF IN THE WOODS, CONTINUOUS FROM LAST SCENE

STATIC EBBS AND FLOWS OVER THE SOUND OF EVE’S FOOTSTEPS
THROUGH THE BRUSH. IT CLEARS AS SHE APPROACHES THOMAS.

Thomas lies against a tree, shot through the leg and gut. Eve
enters to find she hasn’t shot a monster but a man.

EVE
Oh shit.

THOMAS
I take it you’re the one that shot me.

EVE
You’re not the… what I was aiming at.

THOMAS
Well that’s comforting.

EVE
Where are you hit?

THOMAS
One in the leg and one in the bread basket.

EVE
Okay. Keep pressure on the wounds. We need to get
some help. You’re going to be fine.

THOMAS
Guess I should have been wearing my orange.

EVE
What are you wearing? You look like/

THOMAS
Elmer Fudd. I heard. It was a kind of joke.

EVE
I saw a light.

THOMAS
You blew it half to hell along with a good portion
of my lower intestine.

EVE
That’s why I shot. I thought you were the…

THOMAS
What?

EVE
A deer.

THOMAS
Which one, Rudolph?

EVE
It’s a long story.

THOMAS
Tilting at windmills. I’ve heard it.

EVE
You are remarkably calm for a dying man.

THOMAS
I’ve always known when it’s time. I expect you
will, too.

EVE
Shit, I can’t get a cell signal.

THOMAS
Doesn’t matter. We’ll be over the rainbow soon. No
place like home.

EVE
No. Don’t fade on me, old man, okay. Keep talking.

CRASHING FOOTSTEPS AS TREVOR STUMBLES INTO THE SCENE.

TREVOR
Eve.

THOMAS
Trevor! Hey, hey, the gang’s all here.
SCENE 5

THE WOODS, CONTINUOUS

THOMAS
I see you followed the deer trail after all.

TREVOR
What?

THOMAS
Now you know what made it.

TREVOR
Al? Mad Al, is that you?

THOMAS
Not exactly.

EVE
Trevor, help him keep pressure on the wounds.

TREVOR
What the hell are you doing out here, you crazy
bastard? Jesus, the blood.

THOMAS
Yeah, dramatic, isn’t it?

EVE
Keep him talking. What’s your name?

TREVOR
Eve, this is Mad Al.

THOMAS
Well…

TREVOR
Is he bleeding out?

EVE
Shit, Trevor, I can’t get a signal, give me your
phone. Keep pressure on the wounds or we’ll lose
him.

TREVOR
Yeah, I’m trying but I’ve only got one arm thanks
to you.

EVE
Do your best.

THOMAS
Oh, Trevor, you’re shot too. My, she’s prolific
tonight.

TREVOR
Just grazed, I’ll be okay. You need medical
attention.

THOMAS
Nonsense, that’ll need stitches and a sling. We’ll
take care of it afterward.

TREVOR
Al, just take it easy.

THOMAS
Trevor, remember what I told you.

TREVOR
Just focus on breathing.

THOMAS
There is a plan. Take comfort in that. Don’t
despair. There is a plan.

TREVOR
Al, I… what?

THOMAS
I am sorry we had to meet like this, Trevor.

EVE
Just keep pressure, keep him talking.

THOMAS
This isn’t exactly how I’d imagined it, but it’s
what had to happen.

TREVOR
Al, you know me.

EVE
He’s delirious. Just keep him talking.

TREVOR
Uh… tell me more about the Albatwitch, huh, Al?

THOMAS
I am not delirious. I’m improvising. I told you I
would be in town soon.

TREVOR
You were/

THOMAS
Investigating. And so I have. Can’t wait to tell
you about my findings.

TREVOR
Al, are you/

THOMAS
I think we can drop the facade now, Trevor. Just
call me Thomas.

EVE
What did he say?

TREVOR
He thinks he’s Thomas Ott.

THOMAS
Well, I am ready to abdicate that role now.

EVE
That doesn’t make any sense.

THOMAS
It makes some.

EVE
No signal on yours either. I’ll stay with him, you
go for help.

TREVOR
Are you kidding me? I’m shot too, in case you
forgot. You go.

EVE
I can’t leave.

TREVOR
Why?

EVE
You know why.

TREVOR
Goddamnit, Eve, your monster isn’t real. It never
was. Look at us.

EVE
You saw it.

TREVOR
I saw lights and shadows. You had a gun to my head,
I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. Now go get help
before it’s too late.

THOMAS
We all shed this meat cocoon at some point. Nothing
special about that. I know it’s been difficult, but
I do hope you’ve taken some comfort in the plan,
Trevor. Especially in light of Evan.

TREVOR
Wait, Al, how do you know about Evan? I only told
Eve and/

THOMAS
Dr. Thomas Ott. Pleasure to officially meet you,
Trevor.

TREVOR
Thomas. It’s really you?

THOMAS
For another moment anyhow.

TREVOR
But… Al…

THOMAS
Mad Al helped me keep an eye on things. Plus he was
fun to play.

TREVOR
I am very confused.

THOMAS
It will all make sense to you soon. Now listen,
both of you. After I die, I want you to leave me.
You will know what to do next.

TREVOR
But/

THOMAS
No buts. Do you understand me?

TREVOR
I can’t leave you here.

THOMAS
You can and you will. Think of it as a last
request. Now promise me.

TREVOR
Thomas/

THOMAS
Promise me.

EVE
I promise.

THOMAS
Trevor?

TREVOR
I promise. I don’t like it, but I promise.

THOMAS
Thank you.

EVE
For what it’s worth, Dr. Ott, your work was very
important to me. I never wanted this.

THOMAS
How did you put it? Want is a bug under the boot of
fate.

TREVOR
Thomas, I/

THOMAS
Just heading home for a while. My house is on the
moon. You should come and play sometime when you’re
not sick anymore.

EVE
The moon house.

TREVOR
We’re losing him.

EVE
It’s time.
(starts humming the lullaby)

TREVOR
Eve? What are you…

THOMAS
It’s very nice.

EVE
(humming)

THOMAS
Thank you, Agent Fallon.

TREVOR
Thomas, I’m sorry.

EVE
(humming)

A HUM RISES, GAINS STRENGTH, THEN RECEDES INTO THE DISTANCE.
SCENE 6

THE WOODS – CONTINUOUS

TREVOR AND EVE STAND IN SILENCE. ONLY THE SOUNDS OF THE WOODS
– A FEW HESITANT CICADAS, LEAVES IN THE WIND.

After a moment:

TREVOR
He’s gone. You killed Doctor Ott.

EVE
I just sent him on his way.

TREVOR
He is dead because you shot him. Twice.

EVE
We still have work to do, Agent Barnes.

TREVOR
Eve the game is over. A man is dead because of us.

EVE
We should honor his last request. We have to leave
him.

TREVOR
This man was my friend. A mentor. Smart,
controversial, reclusive. Lonely, maybe. The first
time we ever spoke I was lost – alone and
searching. Didn’t know a flap from an invasion.
Thomas was already a legend in his world, but he
treated me like an equal. The first time we met I
killed him horribly.
What a eulogy.

EVE
It was the truth. That’s good enough.

TREVOR
Thanks.

EVE
He said we’d know what to do.

TREVOR
What?

EVE
What else?

TREVOR
Thomas is gone, Eve.

EVE
Thomas is.

TREVOR
He’s the only thing out here besides us.

EVE
For now, yes. I need to draw the Operator back.

TREVOR
No more monsters. We followed that path and it led
to an innocent man’s death.

EVE
This isn’t over.

TREVOR
It is for me. I’m going home.

EVE DRAWS HER GUN AGAIN.

EVE
We’re going back to the clearing.

TREVOR
Are you really going to pull that gun on me again?

EVE
Thomas’s death is deeply sad. I regret it. You
still have a purpose to fulfill. Now move.

TWO SETS OF FOOTSTEPS AS EVE AND TREVOR MOVE THROUGH THE
WOODS.

TREVOR
Eve, the Operator is not real. If it was, it’d be
here for Thomas.

EVE
Thomas is not the one that he came for. Your
sacrifice will draw the Operator as it did before.

TREVOR
Eve/

EVE
I love you, Trevor. I really do. I couldn’t have
made it this far without you. There is a plan.

TREVOR
And a hell of a plan it is. Have you gone
completely mad?

EVE
You’re still with me.

TREVOR
A gun in the back will do that.

EVE
We saw a miracle together.

TREVOR
I thought it was a miracle, too, Eve, but it
wasn’t. It was just a terrible accident.

EVE
A man died, yes, in the service of a higher
calling.

TREVOR
And that makes it okay?

EVE
It makes it a worthy death. An honor most of us
never earn. One you will be receiving soon. I’ll
bury Thomas. You will be the father of a new world.
Take comfort in that.

EVE COCKS THE GUN
THE SIGNAL RISES AND FADES IN ON:

SCENE 7

THE QUIET PLACE

IN THE QUIET PLACE, SESHAT SITS AT THE CONTROL DESK.

SESHAT
Standby for Protocol Four.

A ROAR FROM THE CREATURE. SHORT, BUT MUCH CLEARER THAN WE’VE
HEARD BEFORE. THIS IS THE NATIVE VOICE OF THE ALIENS – FLUID
AND GUTTURAL.

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Are you certain she is ready?

ALIEN VOCALS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Copy that.

ALIEN VOCALS – A LIGHT QUESTION

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Persona is fully engaged.

ALIEN VOCALS – LARGER QUESTION

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Leave the com channels open. I think you will be
pleased.

ALIEN VOCALS – ALMOST LAUGHING

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Begin reintegration. I will give you as long as I
can.

THE ALIEN VOICE BLURTS IN THE AFFIRMATIVE AGAIN

SESHAT (CONT’D)
Initiate Protocol Four in three… two… one…

A LARGE MACHINE ENGAGES. THE HUM OF MASSIVE ARC LIGHTS AS
THEY COME TO LIFE. THE SOUND OF ALIEN MACHINERY.

THE SIGNAL RISES AND FADES.
END OF EPISODE 105

CRYPTIDS
EPISODE 106

“THREE TIMES GREAT, GREAT”
PROLOGUE
THE STATIC AND ALIEN SIGNAL RISE.

FROM UNDERNEATH, LINES OF EPISODE 105 EMERGE, BLURRY.
TREVOR
He’s gone. You killed Dr. Ott. I thought it was a miracle, too, Eve, but it wasn’t. It was just a terrible accident.
EVE
You will be the father of a new world. Take comfort in that.
EVE (CONT’D)
Big deaths draw the Operator and yours is a great one, Trevor. The last one.

SCENE 1

THE HUM OF THE MONSTER LIGHTS ARCS UP AGAIN AS A ROAR ECHOES THROUGH THE WOODS. THIS TIME THE ROAR IS NOT AS ORGANIC, MORE LIKE THE ENGINES OF A SPACECRAFT. IT IS GETTING CLOSER. TREE LIMBS BREAK AS IT APPROACHES FROM ABOVE.
EVE
Do you see it? Do you see the light? It’s coming.
TREVOR
It’s not/
EVE
Your death draws him near.
TREVOR
It’s not the Operator. It’s above the trees.
EVE
Thank you, Trevor. Goodbye.
TREVOR
What is that?
EVE
(finally noticing the craft)
What?
THE CRAFT CRASHES THROUGH THE TREES – THE HUM OF THE LIGHTS AND THE SOUND OF ALIEN TECHNOLOGY GET LOUDER. THE SHIP LANDS.
EVE (CONT’D)
What the hell?
TREVOR
It can’t be.
EVE
It is.
AN ALIEN DOOR OPENS. FOOTSTEPS ACROSS A METAL RAMP. SESHAT STEPS INTO THE CLEARING.

Seshat has adopted the persona of Agent Dorothy.
DOROTHY
Please cease attempting to murder Agent Barnes. I am here for you. Both of you. I would prefer to retrieve you with minimal casualties.
EVE
You’re not the one I’m after.
DOROTHY
Release him or I will show you I am just as dangerous.
TREVOR PULLS AWAY FORM EVE AND STUMBLES TOWARD DOROTHY. HIS FOOTSTEPS TRANSITION FROM BRUSH TO THE METAL OF THE SHIP’S RAMP.
TREVOR
You saved my life. Are you what I think you are?
DOROTHY
What do you think I am?
TREVOR
Wait. I think I know you.
DOROTHY
Let me know when you decide. We must return to the agency.
EVE
There is no agency. That was a joke.
TREVOR
You’re the group leader.
DOROTHY
Don’t be foolish. You are the toast of the entire division.
EVE
Division.
DOROTHY
Monster Task Force, Cryptid Division, of course.
TREVOR
Alice. You’re name is Alice.
DOROTHY
Ah. I was Alice. I am Demi-Director Dorothy. And we have to leave.
EVE
I don’t understand.
DOROTHY
We will have company soon. My craft is rather obvious. Blame Djeheuty’s flair for the dramatic.
TREVOR
Who?
EVE
I’m not going until I get what I’m here for.
DOROTHY
You would not enjoy meeting it in direct combat, Agent Fallon. Now come with me or I will collect you.
DOROTHY DRAWS A WEAPON.
TREVOR
You too? Why does everyone have a gun except me?
EVE
I have a gift/
DOROTHY
Collection it is.
DOROTHY FIRES A TRANQUILIZER DART. THE SOUND IS LIGHT AND STACCATO.
A CRASH AS EVE COLLAPSES, UNCONSCIOUS.
DOROTHY (CONT’D)
And down she goes. It’s amazing, isn’t it, Agent Barnes, how little it takes to incapacitate a human body?
TREVOR
Is she/
DOROTHY
Sedated. Collect Agent Fallon, won’t you, and bring her along. I would rather not have to drag you both.
TREVOR
Where?
DOROTHY
Into the light of course.
TREVOR
Right.
FOOTSTEPS AS TREVOR HAULS THE UNCONSCIOUS EVE. HIS STEPS TRANSITION FROM THE METAL SURFACE OF SESHAT’S SHIP TO THE UNDERBRUSH OF THE WOODS AND BACK TO THE METAL, THEN DISAPPEAR INTO THE SOUND OF THE HUM.
DOROTHY
Area secure. Agents acquired.
THE ALIEN SIGNAL, SEEMINGLY HUMOUROUS.
DOROTHY (CONT’D)
Agent Fallon required a sedative.
THE SIGNAL FLUCTUATES, ALMOST A LAUGH.
DOROTHY (CONT’D)
You find humor in the strangest things, sir.
THE SIGNAL MAKES A QUESTIONING WARBLE.
DOROTHY (CONT’D)
Oh, no need to hurry. Agent Dorothy is quite thorough. Complete your reintegration on schedule.
DOROTHY EXITS. THE HUM OF LIGHTS FADE WITH THE SOUNDS OF A ROARING ENGINE. WE ARE IN THE WOODS ALONE.
THE SOUND OF A RADIO BETWEEN SIGNALS. ANOTHER ROAR, THIS ONE SLIGHTLY ORGANIC. AGAIN, ONLY NIGHT SOUNDS.

SCENE 2
THE QUIET PLACE
THE INTERSTITIAL SIGNAL RISES AND CROSSFADES WITH THE HUM AND AMBIENT NOISE, ALMOST MUSICAL. THIS IS A JOURNEY BETWEEN WORLDS.
LIGHTS ARC ON AND HUM TO LIFE. TREVOR STIRS INTO CONSCIOUSNESS.
TREVOR
Hello?
EVE
Hello.
TREVOR
You’re alive.
EVE
Don’t sound so happy.
TREVOR
Should I be?
A VACUUM SEAL DOOR OPENS. DOROTHY ENTERS, HIGH HEELS ON A METAL FLOOR. THE DOOR RESEALS.
DOROTHY
How is your arm, Agent Barnes?
TREVOR
Did you/
DOROTHY
We tended to it in transit. Our treatment is thorough but not enough to avoid scarring. There was significant tissue damage.
TREVOR
Thank you for that, Eve.
DOROTHY
Try not to move it much. The sling will help it heal. I trust your commute was comfortable otherwise.
TREVOR
I don’t remember.
DOROTHY
We’ll begin debriefing you shortly.
TREVOR
What did you do to me?
DOROTHY
Do?
EVE
There’s a hole in my memory.
DOROTHY
That is how forgetting works.
TREVOR
No, I didn’t forget.
EVE
It’s just gray.
TREVOR
Did you sedate me too?
DOROTHY
Hard to explain, isn’t it?
THE HUM OF THE CREATURE LIGHTS AND AMBIENT SOUND OF THE SPACE TRAVEL RISE SOFTLY BENEATH DOROTHY’S DESCRIPTION.
DOROTHY (CONT’D)
A phantom ship sliding through a close fog, shades darkening the periphery. Motes in your own eye? Monstrous things on the horizon? Distant shores of strange lands? Bereft of touchstone in the swirling gray, you float without knowing, the drift both instant and endless.
THE HUM AND AMBIENT SOUNDS FADE.
TREVOR
Um. Yes.
DOROTHY
Not to worry, that’s all standard.
EVE
Do you have it too? The memory loss.
DOROTHY
No.
TREVOR
Will it come back?
DOROTHY
It may. The imprint will remain. You are here. That is all that matters now.
TREVOR
Where are we?
DOROTHY
I have told you. The Agency.
TREVOR
Where is the Agency?
EVE
What do you want with us?
DOROTHY
So many questions. You are curious little georges.
TREVOR
Georges?
DOROTHY
Furry little men. Fond of mischief and bananas.
EVE
Do you mean monkeys?
DOROTHY
Do I?
EVE
Curious George is a monkey.
DOROTHY
Is he?
EVE
George is the monkey’s name.
DOROTHY
We are all learning today.
TREVOR
I would like to learn just what the blue fuck is going on.
DOROTHY
All in good time.
TREVOR
Dear god, Eve, what have you gotten us into?
EVE
Can’t you see?
TREVOR
I can see that we’ve been abducted and imprisoned.
EVE
We’ve come farther than I’ve ever imagined.
DOROTHY
You are merely guests here for now.
TREVOR
These people, whoever they are. They are dangerous. I am sure of it.
EVE
I am sure you are right.
DOROTHY
I can corroborate your hypothesis.
TREVOR
And who are you, anyway? Alice? Dorothy? What about the other one, Jay… whatever.
DOROTHY
Djehuty.
TREVOR
Terrific. Is that a good witch or bad witch? How long before Mombi shows up and it’s off with our heads?
EVE
We are so close, Trevor. So close.
TREVOR
Close to what?
DOROTHY
You will know soon. Until then, I need to collect some information. Date of birth.
EVE
Are you serious?
DOROTHY
Date of birth.
TREVOR
What the hell are you/
DOROTHY
Agent Barnes, do you need another nap? Date of birth.
TREVOR
August 31st.
DOROTHY
Previous address.
TREVOR
Do you mean current address?
DOROTHY
Do I?
TREVOR
Previous sounds like I don’t live there anymore.
DOROTHY
Whatever structure you most recently identified as home, please share any and all symbology employed to identify said domicile.
TREVOR
Sixteen thirty four /
DOROTHY
/ Next of kin.
TREVOR
Don’t you need the rest? City. State.
DOROTHY
State? I assumed it was solid, was it not?
TREVOR
Yes. Yes it was.
DOROTHY
Next of kin. Both of you.
EVE
None.
TREVOR
None.
DOROTHY
You have both been close to death.
TREVOR
Recently, yes.
EVE
Always.
DOROTHY
That explains the compassion you showed Thomas.
TREVOR
It was the right thing to do.
DOROTHY
What seemed right about it?
EVE
I had to help him.
DOROTHY
How could you help him? He was dying.
EVE
Stay with him until the end. Ease his passing.
DOROTHY
You escorted him to the edge of the blue and helped set him gently into the black. Even as you caused his death. Fascinating dichotomy. I can see why he likes you.
TREVOR
Wait, how did you know about Thomas?
DOROTHY RISES FROM HER DESK TO LEAVE. THE DOOR SLIDES OPEN.

FAR BEHIND DOROTHY, THE LOW RUMBLE OF HUGE MACHINERY. OCCASIONALLY, THE WET GROWL AND WHINE OF THE CREATURE, AS THOUGH BEHIND ANOTHER VACUUM DOOR – MUFFLED, BUT CLOSE.
DOROTHY
Djehuty will be with you soon.
TREVOR
You’re leaving? I thought you were going to explain all of this.
DOROTHY
It will all make sense.
TREVOR
You keep saying that but it’s still not happening.
DOROTHY
There is a plan/
TREVOR
Not that again. Please. One question.
DOROTHY
One.
TREVOR
Is this Hell?
DOROTHY
No.
TREVOR
No?
DOROTHY
No.
TREVOR
Oh.
DOROTHY
You sound disappointed.
TREVOR
It’s just that, if it was, this would all make a lot more sense.
DOROTHY
Do not be so certain. Hell is… well, it’s Hell. Total bureaucratic nightmare. Djehuty approaches.
DOROTHY EXITS. THE DOOR SLIDES SHUT AND SEALS BEHIND HER, BLOCKING THE SOUNDS FROM DEEPER IN THE COMPLEX.
TREVOR
Djehuty. What the hell is happening, Eve? You said we’re close to the truth. What truth?
EVE
The end of the path.
TREVOR
You mean the shapes.
EVE
Where do you think we are?
TREVOR
I think we/
EVE
Not we. You. I know where I am.
TREVOR
I think we are probably in an abandoned grain cellar in the middle of nowhere. Held by some clandestine government agency, over enthusiastic cryptid hunters, or maybe just garden variety psychopaths. But regardless, we’ll never be seen or heard from again unless we get out of here now.
EVE
Where’s the evidence for that?
TREVOR
What?
EVE
You’re the one who insists upon evidence before all. Show me that we are where you think we are.
TREVOR
All right. There’s a big white flag in the corner. Could be the farm’s name, logo, branding. There’s dust on the floor, could be rotten chaff. There are little mechanical things on the shelves. Clearly this place housed machinery at some point. Still does by the sound of whatever is behind that door.
EVE
A logo, grain chaff, and machine parts.
TREVOR
Seems farmy to me.
EVE
It took you twenty-four hours to crack the notebooks I gave you. This puzzle is much easier. Look closer.
TREVOR
I don’t want to solve another puzzle, Eve, I want to go home.
EVE
Want is a bug/
TREVOR
Just don’t.
EVE
Start with the flag. It’s white.
TREVOR
Yes.
EVE
Why?
TREVOR
Because it is.
EVE
It’s nylon. It’s been exposed to unfiltered sun and temperature swings for almost fifty years. It’s not white. It’s faded. Why would anyone, let alone a government agency, keep a sun-bleached flag in the corner of a dingy room in an abandoned grain cellar?
TREVOR
What are you talking about?
EVE
Look at the grain chaff. Ever seen anything that color before?
TREVOR
Gray?
EVE
That’s not organic. Even if it deteriorated over years, nothing organic falls to ash like that.
TREVOR
So maybe it’s dust, then.
EVE
And that particular mechanical thing is remarkably similar to the design of the soil mechanics surface sampler on the Surveyor 3.
TREVOR
The lunar exploration module.
EVE
NASA’s been back to that site. They brought the module’s camera home in ’69 but not the sampler. That stayed on the moon, in the Mare Cognitum to be exact. So how is it that the sampler is here now?
TREVOR
How could you possibly know that is the exact model?
EVE
I’ve read just as much of Dr. Ott’s work as you have.
TREVOR
Oh, Jesus Christ, Thomas. Get to the point, Eve. Where are we?
EVE
We’re over the rainbow. We’re there. We’re here.
TREVOR
That’s impossible.
EVE
Our memory loss. The creature in the woods. Mad Al, Thomas, Alice, Dorothy, the flag, the dust, the machinery, a goddamn UFO. Come on, Trevor. Put it together.
TREVOR
No.
EVE
Say it. Say what you know is true.
TREVOR
The moon. This room. You, me, we are on the moon.
EVE
Doesn’t that feel better?
TREVOR
What about the gravity?
EVE
I’m sure they’ve taken into account that we’re earthlings.
TREVOR
But there’s nothing… you don’t think we’re in the/
EVE
The soul catcher.
THE DOOR SLIDES OPEN AGAIN AND THOMAS ENTERS. NOW HE IS THOTH, GOD OF THE MOON. THE DOOR SLIDES CLOSED BEHIND HIM.
THOTH
Greetings. No one’s ever made it inside before. Even the very finest viewers.
EVE
Some have reported feeling a repelling force.
TREVOR
So whatever is here must be well above top secret/
THOTH
To employ psychic defenses. You bet it is.
TREVOR
Thomas.
THOTH
Eh, sort of.
TREVOR
How did you/
THOTH
Survive death? One of the perks of the job.
TREVOR
The job?
THOTH
I suppose a little truth is needed.
TREVOR
Now more than ever.
THOTH
Very well. My name is not Thomas Ott. I am Djehuty, Lord of Khemennu, Judge of the Two Combatant Gods. Or if you’re feeling, I don’t know, roguish, you could use my favorite title, Three Times Great, Great.

In deference to brevity, however, you may call me Thoth.
THE STATIC AND ALIEN SIGNAL RISES AND FADES INTO THE OUTRO THEME
END OF EPISODE 106

CRYPTIDS

EPISODE 107

“EXTRAORDINARY EVIDENCE”

SCENE 1
STATIC RISES AND FADES ON THE SCENE AS THOTH HAS REVEALED HIS TRUE IDENTITY
TREVOR
Thoth.
EVE
God of the moon.
THOTH
Among other things.
TREVOR
Thomas/
THOTH
Thoth, please. Or the “Great, Great” one. I do quite like that.
TREVOR
How can that be?
THOTH
Am I not alive and in front of you?
TREVOR
My eyes are not the only measure of proof.
THOTH
Ha. Now you believe that.
TREVOR
You weren’t really shot.
THOTH
Oh I was shot. And I died. Rather painfully, did I not?
EVE
You did.
THOTH
And do you still demand proof, Agent Barnes?
TREVOR
I do.
THOTH
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.
TREVOR
Divinity is a pretty extraordinary claim.
THOTH
It certainly is. Of course I never claimed it.
TREVOR
You just/
THOTH
If it’s evidence you want, Trevor, you’ll have it. But this, uh, grain silo. It lacks the dramatic flair that I’m partial to. Follow me, please.
A VACUUM DOOR OPENS. THE SOUNDS OF MACHINERY IN THE DISTANCE. THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING, THE GROUP MOVES THROUGH THE TOWER, MAKING THEIR WAY UP A LARGE SPIRAL WALKWAY. THE SOUNDS OF ALIEN TECHNOLOGY EBB AND FLOW, GROWING QUIETER AS THE PARTY MOVES HIGHER IN THE STRUCTURE.
THOTH (CONT’D)
Now, as for my divinity. I was, in one aspect, regarded by the ancient people of Egypt as a god. Thoth, the god of the moon, wisdom, judge of the dead in the hall of truth.
EVE
But you’re not.
THOTH
I am not.
TREVOR
Thank you.
THOTH
And also I am.
EVE
Ha.
THOTH
When I was first assigned to this project two hundred thousand years ago or so, your ancestors had hardly noticed the moon, let alone constructed mythology around it.
TREVOR
Early hominids.
EVE
The beginning of the path.
THOTH
Over time we were regarded or disregarded as any number of things. We appear as our observers see us. Natural phenomena, angels, spirits, aliens. In Sumeria I was Ningizzida, son of Enki; the Persians associated me with Zarathustra and the Egyptians called me Thoth, among other things. I rather liked that take on me. The ibis head is quite striking.
TREVOR
Were they all you? All the gods?
THOTH
Goodness no, this is far from a one god job. You’ve met another recently. Several times, in fact. Sheshat, Mistress of the House of Books. Though you may know her as/
EVE
Alice.
TREVOR
Dorothy.
THOTH
She’s developed a penchant for your popular culture. It helps her relate.
EVE
Does it?
THOTH
Regardless, Seshat and I have the Project to attend to and that does not change even if our names and faces among the Agents do.
TREVOR
The project. Earth?
THOTH
Earth is a petri dish. The Project is the sample within.
TREVOR
Life.
THOTH
Close.
EVE
Death.
THOTH
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns.
TREVOR
To sleep, perchance to dream. For in that sleep of death what dreams may come.
EVE
The dreams of the dead.
THOTH
Poetics are how your kind makes understandable the infinite, so, in a manner of speaking, yes.
A VACUUM DOOR OPENS.
THOTH (CONT’D)
Each life writes its own record. All it’s learned, experienced: love, hate, joy, loss, all of its questions and answers. All of it is recorded on a scroll of sorts. Brilliant invention, that, by the way. Seshat’s idea. Fabulously intricate, though ultimately ephemeral. You see what I’m getting at here.
EVE
The soul.
THE DOOR CLOSES BEHIND THEM AS THEY CONTINUE MOVING.
THOTH
A scroll comes back, we make a record of the writing. Then we scrub it and introduce it to a new agent at the time of birth.
TREVOR
Used souls.
THOTH
I prefer refurbished. They work like new, they’ve just got a little extra character. Glitchy scrolls are few and far between.
EVE
Glitchy?
THOTH
Most scrolls are clean enough that it doesn’t matter. But old writings can on occasion resurface in the scroll’s new agent.
TREVOR
Past life memory.
THOTH
Sometimes, yes. Sometimes much more. Years can pass, generations, before the old data bleeds through. Every few centuries the writings pile up just right and you get an Eratosthenes of Cyrene. An Aristotle, DaVinci, a Buddha.
EVE
And sometimes you end up with an aberration.
THOTH
Sometimes, yes.
EVE
Then you have a Vlad Tepes.
TREVOR
A Hitler.
EVE
A Gacy.
TREVOR
A father Nesset.
THOTH
That’s right.
EVE
And you send the operator.
THOTH
Then, yes, I take on that aspect.
EVE
You?
THOTH
I’m afraid so. You were right, Eve. We are quite dangerous. To the great and the aberrant alike. Of course I am much gentler with the innocent. I don’t arrive shrouded in light for the aberrant.
TREVOR
If you can kill the monsters, why don’t you?
THOTH
Ah, Epicurus’ Trilemma. That is a dangerous question, my friend. If I am unable to stop evil, I must not be all-powerful. If I can stop evil and I don’t, I cannot be all good. If I am both willing and able, then why does evil exist?
TREVOR
Why didn’t you save Evan?
AN ALIEN CHIME AS THOTH SIGNALS A LIFT.
THOTH
We’ll take the lift from here. The walkway is a marvel of engineering, but it spirals all the way. Tends to make me dizzy toward the top.
TREVOR
Why?
THOTH
I suppose because the circles get tighter.
ANOTHER CHIME AND DOORS SLIDE OPEN AS THE LIFT ARRIVES.
THOTH (CONT’D)
Climb aboard the lift, please.
THEY WALK INTO THE LIFT. THE DOORS CLOSE.

THE SOUND OF ENGINES WHIRRING, LIKE THE CHARGING OF AN LIM COASTER BUILDING THE POWER TO LAUNCH.

THE LIFT LAUNCHES FOR THE TOP WITH A PERCUSSIVE BUT MUTED BOOM.
THE SOUND OF A MAGLEV TRAIN UNDERSCORES THE RIDE TO THE TOP.
THOTH (CONT’D)
You know this lift was designed/
TREVOR
Why did you let Evan suffer?
THOTH
Trevor, this matter is deeply personal and my answer will bring no comfort.
TREVOR
Try me.
THOTH
Simply stated, it isn’t my job. Much as I would like it to be sometimes.
TREVOR
What exactly is your job?
THOTH
To collect and process the scrolls. To learn what I can and make my reports.
TREVOR
Just data.
THOTH
No. No, not just data. I mean, yes, mostly data, but there’s no just about it.
EVE
Why do you need it? The data. The scrolls.
THOTH
That I cannot answer.
TREVOR
Just like Thomas.
THOTH
No. Thomas would not answer your questions. I cannot. I have no answers for you. Every scroll, every bit of your lives matter. But to what end, I do not know. I do what I do because it is my path to follow. I have no more choice in that than you did in following yours. And that path is nearing its end.
TREVOR
Eve, let’s finish the job. The mother and father of a world without death. Let’s kill the monsters and give the world your gift.
EVE
We can’t.
TREVOR
What?
EVE
It isn’t just about the data.
TREVOR
What?
EVE
The data is important. But that’s why the monsters have to roam free.
TREVOR
That doesn’t make any sense.
EVE
The gods, or whatever they are, they didn’t make us. They don’t control us. They demand nothing of us. Anymore than we make, control, or demand of bacteria.
THOTH
Wonderful.
EVE
They just are. And they watch. And study. And learn.
THOTH
We can guide but we cannot interfere. The sample must remain pure. Do you know what a scientist does when a sample gets contaminated, Trevor?
EVE
They clean out the petri dish.
THOTH
Precisely. And humans are not the only sample. The Project would simply continue across thousands of other worlds. And if it’s any consolation, Trevor, I don’t take it lightly. I feel every life lost.
TREVOR
And for that you, what? Deserve praise?
THOTH
Just understanding. That’s all any of us has the right to ask for, and all we have to offer.
EVE
My children. All of them. Their scrolls have been recorded and sent back to earth. Maybe some of the ink will still be there. Will bleed through.
THOTH
No one is ever truly gone.
EVE
I think I understand.
TREVOR
I think I’m going to throw up.
THOTH
Try to contain that, please.
THE CHIME AS THE LIFT ARRIVES AT THE TOP.
THOTH (CONT’D)
Here we are.
THE VACUUM DOOR OF THE LIFT OPENS.
IT OPENS ON A MASSIVE CHAMBER. THE SPACE IS VACUOUS, BUT FILLED WITH A CALMING HUM – QUIET, BUT CONSTANT – AS IF THE ROOM WAS VIBRATING AT A BARELY PERCEPTIBLE FREQUENCY – A BARELY PERCEPTIBLE OHM.

SCENE 2
Behind the door, in the massive chamber, is Seshat.
SESHAT
Welcome to the top of the Tower.
THOTH
Thank you for joining us, Seshat. Do you have the items?
TREVOR
The top of the Tower?
SESHAT
Five miles above the lunar surface.
EVE
What is this place?
THOTH
My Egyptian friends might have called it the Hall of Truth.
SESHAT CROSSES THE SPACE AND PLACES TWO ITEMS ON A METAL TABLE TOP.
TREVOR
Is that an altar?
SESHAT
It is the Scroll Processing and Delineation Device.
TREVOR
The what?
THOTH
The Soul Catcher.
SESHAT
As you say.
EVE
This is where the scrolls come before… It’s so peaceful.
THOTH
A place of rebirth. It is customary for our kind to present a gift to guests. And you two are quite distinguished. The first humans to visit in person.
SESHAT
A gift from Djeheuty, Lord of Khemmenu, Judge of the Two Combatant Gods. For you, Agent 40208, Eve Fallon, an Ankh. An ancient symbol of everlasting life. Spring eternal.
SESHAT (CONT’D)
When next you ease one’s passing, hold the ankh to their lips. Escort them gently into the black and know they will return.
EVE
Thank you.
SESHAT
For you, Agent 15068, Trevor Barnes, a pen.
THOTH
The ink will never run dry. Make good use of it, old friend.
TREVOR
Is this a joke?
THOTH
Even now you’re a skeptic. Or has it turned the corner? Have you become a cynic?
SESHAT
It is not always easy to tell the difference.
TREVOR
What did you say?
SESHAT
The true skeptic must go in search of the very things of which they are skeptical.
TREVOR
Only then can they eliminate/
SESHAT
Or verify a claim.
TREVOR
Dr. Mather.
SESHAT
Trevor.
THOTH
Her very first persona. I think she was brilliant, don’t you?
TREVOR
You were playing us. The whole time.
EVE
Have we always been pawns?
THOTH
Funny you should choose that word. Let me ask you this: In chess, which is the strongest piece?
EVE
The queen.
THOTH
Easily. Who is the weakest?
TREVOR
The pawn.
THOTH
True. And when the pawn finds itself on the opposite side of the board it can become a queen. Can become the most powerful.

You have reached the other side of the board. So the question becomes one of choice. Will you remain a pawn or will you become a queen, see the board through a new lens, and charge back into the game?
TREVOR
You’re sending us home?
SESHAT
We cannot.
THOTH
Technically, that is true. But…
SESHAT
Sir, this is far outside protocol.
THOTH
Indeed. Such an occasion was never conceived when protocol was being written.
SESHAT
We cannot allow them to return. They know too much. It will pollute our sample. All of our work, the scrolls/
THOTH
Seshat is right of course. We cannot send you gallivanting back into the world unchecked.
TREVOR
So what are you going to do with us?
THOTH
I am going to offer you a choice. But you must trust me completely.
TREVOR
Blind faith and cynicism are sides of the same coin, Thomas.
THOTH
Thomas Ott is dead, Trevor. But you were kind to me when I bore that name. I would like to repay that kindness if you would accept it.
TREVOR
How?
THOTH
Call me by my name and know that I am what I say.
TREVOR
How can I?
THOTH
Look.
A SHIELD OPENS. THIS IS A MASSIVE, STEEL DOOR THAT RETRACTS ALONG THE WALL BEHIND THE ALTAR. AS THE DOOR RETRACTS, THE MOONSCAPE UNFOLDS. ON THE HORIZON, EARTH IS RISING.
THE HUM INTENSIFIES AND IS JOINED BY VOICES, HUMAN AND ALIEN, ALMOST CHANTING, BUT SOFTLY, BARELY PERCEPTIBLE WITHIN THE HUM.
THE AMBIENT SOUND OF THE SPACE TRAVEL JOINS THE CHORUS.
THE SOUNDS BUILD AS THE PANORAMA IS REVEALED, THEN FADES BACK TO JUST THE LIGHT HUM.
EVE
My god.
TREVOR
Is that…
SESHAT
Your world. Earth.
EVE
It’s beautiful.
TREVOR
Is this real?
THOTH
See the proof in front of you. And beyond it, feel the truth. A new faith. Not cynical, not blind. Go in honest search and you will find what you seek. It may not be as you hoped, or even as you imagined. But the monsters were real and the gods did follow. Your hunt has been a success.
TREVOR
Has it?
THOTH
Most assuredly. Now will you say my name and accept my kindness?
TREVOR
Thoth, Lord of Khemmenu. What shall I do with your gift?
THOTH
Hm. I was hoping you’d go with the great, great one, but nevertheless, that is an excellent question. You have traveled far and the ink will soak deeply into your scroll, my friend.
SESHAT
Far too deep to be over-written.
EVE
You’ve always wanted to write a book.
THOTH
Tell your story. Controversial, difficult, offensive even, your work will be the road, however winding, that leads many to the truth.
TREVOR
What if I spoil the sample?
THOTH
If the truth is so ridiculous as to be unacceptable to any but the mad…
EVE
Hiding in plain sight.
THOTH
Show them the beacons as Thomas showed you. It may not be an easy life, but it is one you can have peace with.
TREVOR
Yes, Thoth.
THOTH
And for you, Seshat.
SESHAT
I am no guest here.
THOTH
Nevertheless, I thought it decent to offer you a token of my gratitude.
SESHAT
A book?
THOTH
The book. All of the data. All of the scrolls. It’s yours now.
SESHAT
I do not understand.
THOTH
Eve Fallon. Will you accept my gift of the ankh and all that it entails?
SESHAT
Sir.
EVE
I will.
THOTH
I am glad to hear it.
SESHAT
My Lord/
THOTH
You killed me, Eve.
EVE
I never wanted to hurt anyone.
THOTH
You shot me.
EVE
I only wanted to/
THOTH
You shot Trevor.
EVE
I/
THOTH
And you would have killed him if Seshat had not intervened. These are truths.
EVE
They are.
THOTH
You say you never meant to hurt anyone but you did hurt us.
EVE
I had a gift.
THOTH
A world without death.
EVE
Yes.
THOTH
And you hoped to accomplish that by killing. You see the inherent flaw, I presume.
EVE
One last death. It seemed a fair price to never lose another.
THOTH
Killing writes deeply upon a scroll. Haunts the bearer for the rest of their days and often longer.
EVE
I imagine it does.
THOTH
But you would have done it. Even knowing the cost.
EVE
I would have done whatever was necessary.
THOTH
I thought as much. You are well acquainted with death, Eve Fallon. You have eased the way for many to leave the world. We are, all of us, built to live and built to die.
EVE
Even you?
SESHAT
Even us.
EVE
I know the hurt it gives you. And so it pains me to lay this at your feet.
SESHAT
Thoth.
THOTH
Press the ankh to my lips. Take up my mantle and make it your own.
EVE
Why me?
THOTH
My time has been long. I tried to be gentle but it is not in my nature. My ways are old. Savage, outdated.
EVE
What would you have me become?
THOTH
Become what you are.
EVE
Death.
THOTH
Wisdom. And mercy at the end of the path. You will feel each of them. Some more than others, but you will know and feel them all.
EVE
I understand.
SESHAT
And what am I to do?
THOTH
You are Seshat. Mistress of the House of Books. Keep what you have done here and grow from it. You will do what you do best. Just as Eve will, just as Trevor will, and just as I have. The three of you will carry on the project.
SESHAT
Yes, sir.
TREVOR
Yes, Lord of Khemmenu.
EVE
Yes, Thoth.
SESHAT
Where will you go?
EVE
Where do gods go when they die?
THOTH
Valhalla always seemed like fun.
SESHAT
You find humor / in the strangest things.
THOTH
/ in the strangest things. You’ve noted that.
TREVOR
What is beyond the beyond?
THOTH
I haven’t a clue. But this I do know – there is a plan.
TREVOR
Three Times, Great, Great.
THOTH
Ah. Finally.
TREVOR
The chess board. You said the queen is the most powerful.
THOTH
So she is.
TREVOR
But the queen must be moved by a player.
THOTH
Unpack that for me.
TREVOR
Who plays the game? Who makes the plan?
THOTH
Fascinating. Perhaps I’ll find out. If I do, I’ll call your show.

Now then. Eve, will you do the honors? Escort me into the black.
EVE
Yes, Lord of Khemmenu.
THOTH
Thank you, Lady of Khemmenu.
EVE HUMS HER LULLABY. IT MERGES WITH THE FOLLOWING AS SHE PRESSES THE ANKH TO THOTH’S MOUTH AND HE PASSES INTO THE BEYOND – A MASS OF SOUND – THE ALIEN FREQUENCY, THE CHANTING VOICES THE RUMBLING OF THE CREATURE, AND FINALLY A PEACEFUL OHM, FADING BACK INTO SILENCE.
TREVOR
Wow.
EVE
Yeah.
SESHAT
Did you feel his passing?
EVE
I did.
SESHAT
Was it painful?
EVE
No.
SESHAT
That is good to know.
TREVOR
Eve. I’m sorry I called you crazy. You were right.
EVE
To be fair, Trevor, I wasn’t not crazy. I just wasn’t entirely wrong. I’m sorry I tried to kill you.
TREVOR
Thank you. For not killing me. But also for making me see this through.
EVE
Thank you for being my partner, Agent Barnes.
TREVOR
So. You’re Death.
SESHAT
And Wisdom.
TREVOR
The Operator.
EVE
No. Not that one. I’ll find a new path for that aspect.
TREVOR
And I am the earthbound part of our little trio.
SESHAT
The new Thomas Ott.
TREVOR
I think I can handle that. Will you be sending me back?
SESHAT
A ship slipping through the fog, just like before.
TREVOR
When the end comes… when it’s my time… Eve. Will you come for me?
EVE
And greet you as a friend. Mercy at the end of the path.
TREVOR
Thank you.
EVE
Goodbye, Trevor. Eyes to the skies.
TREVOR
Eyes to the skies.
TREVOR IS SENT BACK TO EARTH.
THE STATIC RISES WITH THE ALIEN SIGNAL, A SHORTER VERSION OF THE VOYAGE TO THE MOON.

SCENE 3
THE SOUNDS OF THE VOYAGE FADE IN ON A RADIO SIGNAL.
GEORGE
We’re back with Trevor Barnes, host of Eyes to the Skies and author of a brand new book. Trevor, tell us about your book. This is all about your experiences with high strangeness?
TREVOR
Thanks for the plug, George. It’s inspired and informed by my own experiences, sure, but I include others’ stories as well. The book is ultimately an exploration of aliens, monsters, and the like as a unique belief system unto itself.
GEORGE
That’s fascinating, how does that work?
TREVOR
The way I see it, it’s about the balance between faith and skepticism. You know, searching for these things – it requires both an adherence to visible evidence and an acceptance that our eyes are not the only measure of proof.
GEORGE
Well that certainly sounds like a belief system to me.
TREVOR
It’s a tightrope. But if you can walk it – if you’re willing to go in honest search of seemingly ridiculous ideas, there’s truth to be found.
GEORGE
Well, I look forward to reading it.
TREVOR
Your copy is in the mail as we speak. I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts.
GEORGE
Fantastic, Trevor. Where can our listeners find your book?
TREVOR
Right. It’s called Cryptids and it’s available now online, and check out your local occult book stores, they’re stocking it pretty well. I’ve got a book tour coming, too, so come on out and say hi.
GEORGE
I’m sure lots of folks will. Best of luck. Anything else you’d like to share, Trevor?
TREVOR
Just this. A lot of us are hurting. Frightened. But there is a plan. Take comfort in that. Don’t despair. There is a plan.
STATIC RISES ON THE BROADCAST AND CARRIES OUT INTO THE QUIET PLACE
SCENE 4
SESHAT
He seems at peace.
EVE
He does.
SESHAT
Thoth chose well. With both of you.
EVE
So. Here we are.
SESHAT
Lady of Khemmenu.
EVE
Mistress of the House of Books.
SESHAT
How do you feel?
EVE
I am scared.
SESHAT
It would be foolish of you not to be.
EVE
I have a lot to learn.
SESHAT
You do. But you will learn how to learn it.
EVE
Unpack that for me.
SESHAT
Lesson one. That tiresome idiom must pass into the beyond with Thoth.
EVE
I can accept that. What’s lesson two?
SESHAT
The entirety of life on this planet and how to be its goddess of wisdom and death. Shall we begin?
THE STATIC AND ALIEN SIGNAL FADE IN AND CARRY US OUT INTO THE VAST SILENCE OF THE UNIVERSE
END.

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