A late night chat. Paths cross again.
*Spoilers in credits*
The voice of Tanner is Charles Raymond. The voice of River is Achilles Friesen. The voice of Martha is Daylin Chase.
The voice of Town Council Member Stephen is Harlan Guthrie.
CW: Mention of kidnapping/abduction, mild depictions of pain.
Sound effects thanks to Freesound.org contributors: sheyvan, brunoboselli, tabook, j1987, splice sound,ericssoundschmiede, astounded, gutek, top, forager, gammelsmurfen778, lightningjimmy88, mrh4n, somatik7, bolkmar, warrick-lendon, timmeh515, and mootmcnoodles.
Transcripts are available through our Buzzsprout website.
Nowhere, On Air is created, voiced and produced by Jess Syratt. Cover art by Moon Hermit Crab on Instagram.
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at nowhere.onair@gmail.com. Or, find us on twitter, @NowhereOnAir
A late night chat. Paths cross again.
*Spoilers in credits*
The voice of Tanner is Charles Raymond. The voice of River is Achilles Friesen. The voice of Martha is Daylin Chase.
The voice of Town Council Member Stephen is Harlan Guthrie.
CW: Mention of kidnapping/abduction, mild depictions of pain.
Sound effects thanks to Freesound.org contributors: sheyvan, brunoboselli, tabook, j1987, splice sound,ericssoundschmiede, astounded, gutek, top, forager, gammelsmurfen778, lightningjimmy88, mrh4n, somatik7, bolkmar, warrick-lendon, timmeh515, and mootmcnoodles.
Transcripts are available through our Buzzsprout website.
Nowhere, On Air is created, voiced and produced by Jess Syratt. Cover art by Moon Hermit Crab on Instagram.
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at nowhere.onair@gmail.com. Or, find us on twitter, @NowhereOnAir
[MUSIC. JESS SWITCHES SOME BUTTONS ON THE BOARD AND WALKS OVER. MUSIC STILL PLAYS UNDERNEATH. TANNER REACTS-]
TANNER: Oh- geez, you scared me. Why are you up?
JESS: What are you doing?
TANNER: Felt bad for hitting him.
JESS: Martha tell you to patch him up?
TANNER: River, actually.
JESS: Why’re you in the kitchen?
TANNER: I figured he could use a change of scenery. Also he was in my room, and this feels more- well, humane than the closet or like the basement.
[HE YAWNS. SHE LAUGHS LIGHTLY, MORE OF A SCOFF]
JESS: I’ll do it.
TANNER: What?
JESS: Go to bed. I’ll finish up.
TANNER: Are you sure?
JESS: Yeah. Seriously, go get some sleep. I’m not tired.
TANNER: Don’t-
JESS: Do anything you wouldn’t do. I won’t.
[Teasing:]
TANNER: I was gonna say don’t do anything stupid.
JESS: No promises.
[HE LAUGHS A LITTLE]
TANNER: Goodnight.
JESS: Night.
[TANNER STANDS AND LEAVES. JESS PULLS THE MIC A LITTLE CLOSER.]
JESS: Hey there, listeners. I’m gonna stop the music or whatever it is Tanner has playing. [MUSIC STOPS] Time for a little surprise broadcast. Its… its 4:04 in the morning so if any of you are still listening, Sorry you’re still awake. Hope you’re getting enough rest. It's important for your health. Apparently. If Clark was around, he could tell us the what and the why in that regard.
I know I said I was gonna try and sleep and stop broadcasting for a bit. In all fairness to me, I did try. Don’t ask why I’m awake, or doing this, it's not important.
I’m here with Town Council member Stephen. Hey, Steve- can I call you Steve?- it's been a while. How are you?
STEPHEN: [HE IS STILL GAGGED. HE GRUNTS SOME SORT OF MUFFLED RESPONSE.]
JESS: Isn’t all that fun, is it? Speaking from experience. Being suddenly pulled off the street and then stuck somewhere against your will?
This might sting a bit.
[HE MAKES A SLIGHT SOUND OF PAIN AS SHE CLEANS ONE OF HIS LIL FACE INJURIES]
JESS: Sorry. None of us wanted to hurt you, if that means anything. And to be fair, you got a pretty good hit back on Carlton. [She laughs a little, as if picturing his face]
But there’s a lot of stuff that’s happened that we didn’t want to happen. That’s showbiz though, right? Life. I know that’s pretty weak justification for the others jumping you and kidnapping you and us holding you here against your will, but, well…
Here we are, huh? [Quieter] Here we are.
Not sure it means anything but I wasn’t involved. I don’t know how far they planned it ahead, I have a feeling there’s things they’ve stopped telling me… Doesn’t mean I necessarily would have voted no if we had made it a group decision, but, yeah.
[A thoughtful pause.]
Okay look, I know you don’t know where we are right now. So, if I take off the gag, would you be willing to talk and be civil or whatever?
STEPHEN: [UNINTELLIGIBLE MUFFLED DIALOGUE]
JESS: I don’t know why I asked you a question when I wouldn’t be able to understand your answer. Just a yes or a no, moving your head, would be great. And if you start like, shouting or something, well one: rude because everyone’s asleep, and two- [IT’S A THREAT] probably not in your best interest.
Promise?
[HE NODS. MUFFLED CONFIRMATION]
JESS: Okay. Just let me-
[SHE REMOVES THE GAG AND THERE IS A PAUSE. HE CLEARS HIS THROAT]
JESS: I just have a few questions, thought we could chat. Doesn’t look like either of us were gonna get any sleep tonight.
STEPHEN: What have I done to deserve-?
JESS: Nothing. Things happen to us that we don’t deserve, isn’t that the way it goes.
STEPHEN: You’re broadcasting.
JESS: Old habits.
STEPHEN: You think anyone’s listening, this late?
JESS: Someone’s always listening. [Pause.] Can you tilt a little this way? Thanks. Sorry, forgot how much the face bleeds.
STEPHEN: [WINCING] I’ve already talked to the others- I’m sure they’d be able to give you answers about-
JESS: I think I figured a lot while I was gone. Not all of it, but some. Had a lot of time to think, y’know? And really consider what… What I know and what of that, that other people need to know. But I wanna know about me. This is… more of a selfish thing.
STEPHEN: What do you want to know?
JESS: Were you one of the ones that pushed me through? The void, in the building, in that room… were you there?
STEPHEN: No. I wasn’t.
[A thoughtful pause.]
JESS: I’ll take your word for it.
STEPHEN: Really?
[HE WINCES AGAIN, THEN-]
STEPHEN: Would you like to know who was?
JESS: No.
STEPHEN: Well why ask-?
JESS: I don’t know. Curiosity, you know? [A SUDDEN SURGE OF A MECHANICAL NOISE IN THE DISTANCE. SHE JUMPS A LITTLE] What the hell was that?
STEPHEN: Generator, probably. This place seems pretty far out, I’d assume you have one.
[JESS EXHALES HEAVILY.]
JESS: Right.
[SILENCE. JESS RUMMAGING THROUGH THE FIRST AID KIT]
JESS: The only bandaids we have are glow in the dark, hope that’s okay.
STEPHEN: If I had said yes, I was there, what would you have done? [HE WINCES AGAIN AS SHE APPLIES A BANDAID]
JESS: Nothing.
STEPHEN: Really?
JESS: I don’t know. You said no. I believe you.
[A FEW MORE MOMENTS OF SILENCE, MORE JESS RUMMAGING THROUGH THE FIRST AID KIT]
STEPHEN: You look different.
JESS: I’d say so do you but this is the first time I’ve seen your face. Aside from the blood, you look- you look ordinary.
STEPHEN: “Ordinary”?
JESS: Just like, you have very human eyes.
STEPHEN: [‘THAT’S A DUMB THING TO SAY’] Why wouldn’t I? I’m human.
JESS: Obviously. I don’t know. You made a rep for yourselves, don’t act like that wasn’t on purpose. I always wondered… I mean, you wear a cloak. You carry frequency emitters so you can’t be recorded. Like…
STEPHEN: Those that founded the town maintained certain responsibilities, and passed on an understanding for… greater things at play- you once said so yourself, “Those that came before us will always be a part of us.”
JESS: Right. So it's a uniform?
STEPHEN: A little more significant than that, but sure.
JESS: [ITS SOMETHING OF A JARRING SHIFT:] Do you want a drink?
STEPHEN: What?
[SOUND OF HER CHAIR SCRAPING ON THE FLOOR]
JESS: I haven’t had a good look around yet but I’m sure there’s something in the kitchen. Figured if I’m pouring myself some, which I plan on, it’d be rude not to offer.
STEPHEN: Rude not to offer the man you abducted a drink? It's very kind of you, but [HE PULLS AGAINST THE HANDCUFFS] The drinking part might be a problem.
JESS: They made those a little too tight, but you gotta stop pulling or you’re gonna end up with blisters. I’m sure I can find a straw.
STEPHEN: Or you could uncuff me.
JESS: [SHE LAUGHS AS SHE WALKS AWAY, THEN CALLS QUIETLY FROM THE CUPBOARDS AS SHE SEARCHES:] I guess we should probably keep it down, huh? Not sure if the others are heavy sleepers or how sound travels in here. [She judges the distance for a moment] Should be far enough from the bedrooms. Now if I was Martha where would I-
[SHE HISSES IN PAIN AND STOPS MOVING. EXCHANGE DONE AT A ‘STAGE WHISPER’ LEVEL:]
STEPHEN:[CURIOSITY MORE THAN CONCERN] What is it?
JESS: Sorry, I just- I moved wrong one sec.
STEPHEN: What?
JESS: [PAINED] Just- shut up- for a second.
[SHE LETS OUT A SLOW BREATH AS IT SUBSIDES AND CLEARS HER THROAT BEFORE CONTINUING HER SEARCH. FEW MOMENTS LATER]
JESS: Ah.
[SHE PUTS OUT TWO GLASSES AND POURS.]
JESS: Straw… straw, straw [SHE PULLS OPEN SOME KITCHEN DRAWERS- AND FINDS ONE] There. Straws. They really did think of everything. Do you have a colour preference? [A PAUSE] I’m being serious.
[PAUSE.]
STEPHEN: [SIGHING, RELUCTANTLY PLAYING ALONG] Purple.
[SHE RETURNS AND PUTS THE DRINKS ON THE TABLE. SLIDING HIS OVER TO HIM.]
STEPHEN: [MORE OUT OF OBLIGATION] Thanks.
JESS: Now let’s take a look.
STEPHEN: What?
JESS: I can pad them up with gauze or something.
STEPHEN: Or you could loosen the cuffs. Or, better yet, take them off.
JESS: I could, but I don’t trust you not to try something.
STEPHEN: I’m not interested in trying anything. I imagine my trying something would lead to your friends coming back, and I’d earn more of their hospitality. I think I’ve had my fair share for now.
JESS: Committing acts of violence doesn’t make you deserving of violence.
STEPHEN: [SCOFF/LAUGH] Philosophy? [BEAT.] Not shared by the others, obviously.
JESS: Apparently not. Sorry.
[A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE/ MOVEMENT. JESS LOOSENS THE CUFFS. DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW SOUND.]
JESS: Why are you looking at me like that?
STEPHEN: You look… Obviously we’d heard you’d come back, but- I don’t get it. Why are you here?
JESS: Can’t seem to stay away.
STEPHEN: We sent you home. That was the plan, at least. Obviously, our attempts at controlling the destination are still experimental-
JESS: That’s what happened to Elliot, right? You tried to bring him home?
STEPHEN: Did it work?
JESS: You gave him antlers and you killed the poor kid- how does that even happen by the way–?
STEPHEN: I meant you.
JESS: Yeah, it worked.
STEPHEN: We sent you back?
JESS: Yeah.
STEPHEN: Why are you here then?
JESS: River made the- door, thing, ask them.
STEPHEN: Why would you step through, when we gave you what you wanted?
JESS: Time is a funny thing. A cruel joke.
STEPHEN: Why did you come back?
JESS: There wasn’t anything left for me there.
STEPHEN: That’s it?
JESS: It’s a longer story than I’m willing to tell. [A PAUSE] I just needed to-- It was a moment and I had to make a choice. I didn’t know for sure that it was Braedon on the other side. I mean, I hoped… but… in a way it wasn’t- it isn’t. Too much has changed. Or maybe I’ve changed, I don’t know. I’m starting to think…
STEPHEN: [AFTER A STRANGE PAUSE. CURIOSITY, NOT CONCERN] What?
JESS: I’m starting to think coming back might not have been the right thing. Staying where I was wasn’t exactly the right thing either, I just… maybe there’s nowhere left for me now. An existence stretched thin. [Beat- clears throat] I’m thinking out loud. Ignore me.
[DRINKING SOUND.]
STEPHEN: In my experience, ‘the right thing’ is often a… complicated, evasive notion. Sometimes there is no such thing as the right thing, especially not in the moral or emotional sense of the word, just… the best thing.
JESS: Is that philosophy?
STEPHEN: If you like.
JESS: “In your experience” ?
STEPHEN: Yes.
JESS: Yeah that checks out. [SHE DOWNS THE REST OF HER DRINK] Wouldn’t exactly compare our experiences though.
STEPHEN: Fair enough. [A SILENCE] Do I get to ask a question, in return for answering yours?
JESS: I guess that's fair. Depends on the question, though.
STEPHEN: What’s it like?
JESS: What?
STEPHEN: The- doors, the shimmering voids, whatever you call them. Passing from one side through to the next?
JESS: [AFTER A QUIET MOMENT] Tanner once described it to me as passing through a door into a dream. But after doing it again… being forced to do it again… I don’t think so. That sounds too peaceful. It's violent. It's a violent, sudden wrenching. I think it's more like dying. Or at least, how I would imagine it. I mean, for me. Maybe it’s different for everyone. Maybe it depends on how much you resist.
STEPHEN: It's… painful?
JESS: Not so much physically. Nose always bleeds though. Sometimes you get winded. It stings the eyes because it's so blinding and it just- You’re drowning in- in, light and energy. It feels like something you’re not supposed to go through. Because you aren’t. You know, people weren’t meant to be pushed and pulled through time and space and reality like that. I don’t know why you- what made you think that doing that to people was okay.
STEPHEN: It-- [SIGHS] We never asked anyone to like what was going on. We have responsibilities, you know; the nature of this place demands certain things of us. But more of it was- and is- out of our hands than you realize. This shutdown should tell you that. You think we have the authority, the power, the resources to implement this kind of prolonged control?
JESS: You still let it happen.
STEPHEN: That’s not how it works. That’s not how any of this ever worked–
JESS: [disbelieving] Okay.
[HE’S GROWING GRADUALLY ANGRY/FRUSTRATED FROM HERE UNTIL THE UPCOMING BEAT]
STEPHEN: You know, the plan was to actually evacuate the town- We would have done a lot of things differently if you hadn’t insisted on talking about them openly. If you had left us our “shadowed corners” instead of insisting on shining a light on every strange shift or flicker or thing that caught your eye-
JESS: Don’t.
STEPHEN: Don’t what? Tell you the truth?
JESS: I realize how much we must have fucked some stuff up for people. I know what we-- what I did. I’m not saying I regret it- but you don’t have to rub it in.
STEPHEN: I’m not sure you fully understand the scope of things. In fact, I promise you, you don’t. We could have fixed things without people being at more risk than they needed to be if you had just done what we’d asked you to. What they asked us to. We warned you time and time again, yet you took it upon yourselves-
[BEAT. SILENCE. SNIFFLE. SOME EXPRESSION OF GRIEF ON HER FACE.]
STEPHEN: How long were you gone?
JESS: I counted… 424 days, give or take.
STEPHEN: That’s over a year.
JESS: Yeah, I know how it works. [CHANGING THE SUBJECT] Another question: Clark- what happened to him? That was you guys, right?
[No answer.]
JESS: Alright.
STEPHEN: If you insist on broadcasting this discussion, there’s only so much I can say.
JESS: Good to know. Speaking of, why did you broadcast that frequency?
STEPHEN: It wasn’t our idea.
JESS: Really?
STEPHEN: You believed me before. I’ve already spoken to the others about this- think about the damage and harm it caused. I don’t know what image of us you must have in your heads, but that’s not something we want or would deliberately instigate. It was intended to have the opposite effect. Hence, the lavender.
JESS: People died.
STEPHEN: It was a mistake. We know that now. [SILENCE] I know it's hard to understand, but everything we do is for the good of this town— for the good of the people here. But just because we’re willing to pay the price of that doesn’t mean we want to–
JESS: Steven , will anyone come looking for you?
STEPHEN: I’m… [BEING HONEST] I’m not sure.
JESS: Have you, your friends- have you been looking for us?
STEPHEN: No.
JESS: Really?
STEPHEN: Yes. Really. You removed yourselves from the situation. Sure, you’re still broadcasting, but only to the town, and you aren’t-- despite what you might think, and I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but so far you don’t actually know anything significant. So long as that doesn’t change… there are more pressing things at hand.
JESS: So if we knew something important…
STEPHEN: My answer would be different.
JESS: What if we tried to leave? Go back to our homes?
STEPHEN: I couldn’t promise you’d be left alone, but I don’t see why you’d be interfered with. Especially if you agreed to keep your heads down and your mouths shut at least for a while, and gave us the space we need to make things right.
JESS: You keep— to make what right? What have you done that you’re so–? Something worse than what you’ve already done?
[Silence. Then, noticing:]
STEPHEN: We have company.
JESS: What?
[They’ve snuck up behind her]
RIVER: What are you doing, Jess?
STEPHEN: [A sort of curt formality] Good to see you again, River.
RIVER: Stephen.
JESS: What are you doing up?
RIVER: I was just going to get some water. What’s going on here?
[The sound of River getting a glass of water]
STEPHEN: We’re just talking.
JESS: What do you mean ‘again’?
STEPHEN: We’ve met before.
JESS: [Not so much a question] Have you?
[A pause.]
RIVER: I’m heading back to bed. Goodnight.
STEPHEN: Goodnight.
JESS: Yeah, night. [Once River’s gone] What the hell? Why do you know them?
STEPHEN: Why do you think the Faceless came here?
[Silence. A closing door. Approaching footsteps]
MARTHA: Jess? What are you doing?
JESS: Why are you awake? I thought you were sleeping
MARTHA: River just woke me up, told me you were- What’s going on? Why isn’t he- gagged?
JESS: We were just having a conversation.
MARTHA: You should go get some sleep. I’ll clean up.
[A pause]
MARTHA: Jess.
JESS: Sure. We were done anyway. Goodnight, Stephen.
STEPHEN: Goodnight.
[She exits. Martha starts cleaning up.]
STEPHEN: [lower] Have you given any more thought to our offer?
MARTHA: Some.
STEPHEN: It won’t be on the table forever.
[Beat]
MARTHA: I can’t bring anyone with me?
STEPHEN: Just you. A new life, a new name… no record.
MARTHA: I just- give me some more time.
STEPHEN: The last exit’s approaching-
MARTHA: I get it. Don’t start with that cryptic shit.
STEPHEN: We’re giving you a chance to forget about this place. Leave it behind with nothing tying you down. Don’t pretend you don’t want that-
[Nervous someone will hear:]
MARTHA: Shut up. [Pause to listen. Lower:] I know.
STEPHEN: Not everyone on their list has the luxury of an offer like this. Saying no will come with consequences. I’d caution you to remember how lucky you have been… at some point, luck runs out.
MARTHA: Is that a threat?
[IT'S MORE GENUINE]
STEPHEN: Look- I know how little you think of our threats, fair enough. But this isn’t some news story on your show- even I don’t know what the endgame here is, but apparently you’re one of the people they don’t want around if- and more likely when- it comes. If I were you, I’d be grateful and take advantage of that.
MARTHA: And if I don’t want to?
STEPHEN: It didn’t go well last time someone said no.
MARTHA: [Level concern] Who said no?
STEPHEN: [A breath like he’s about to say. Then: Noticing the mic, remembering its live] Damn- [Clears his throat in a *gesturing to the mic* sort of way]
MARTHA: What? [Understanding] Oh- Shit-
[Some fumbling sounds. MUSIC FOR A WHILE. END.]