Nowhere, On Air

Episode 17: (Exit James, Into a Dream)

May 10, 2021 Season 1 Episode 17
Nowhere, On Air
Episode 17: (Exit James, Into a Dream)
Show Notes Transcript

Folks, this is an emergency: James is missing.  Plus, a quick look at this week's weather, Tanner finds something weird on his search, and an update from the HA for spring home-and-garden guidelines.

The voice of Tanner Walling is Charles Raymond. Vocals by Jess Syratt. 

Nowhere, On Air is created, voiced and produced by Jess Syratt. Cover art by Moon Hermit Crab on Instagram.

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EPISODE SEVENTEEN: (EXIT JAMES, INTO A DREAM) 


JESS: Folks, this is an emergency: 


James is missing


Now, she is an outdoor pet, she does as she pleases, and Martha and I are both fine with that. 


We agree she doesn’t need a curfew. 


We trust she is mature and responsible and can make good choices. 


In the past, sometimes she has stayed out for the night, but she has a secret back entrance into the station so she can come back home when she’s done. 


She’s always, without fail, here to greet both Martha and I when we come in. 


Except, well, today. She wasn’t here. We’ve searched the station, but there’s no sign of her. Her dinner from last night is still in her dish. I tried going outside and calling her, I played her favourite David Bowie songs- nothing. Please, please keep your eyes and ears peeled for her. We just want her to come home. 


Jordan, Tanner, and Clark- Dr. Oleson- will be out and about around town today searching. If you had some free time, we’d appreciate all the eyes you can spare to give to the search. 


Well, obviously they’re your eyes and they would stay in your head and you would retain complete autonomy over them… and we’d consider making calls to the authorities if someone presented multiple, you know, disembodied eyeballs… but yeah… 


If you can join the search, we would greatly appreciate it. And you know the station number by now, hopefully, so if you spot James, please call us. We cannot recommend approaching her as she’s quite wary around strangers and is technically a wild animal at heart.


[SHE SIGHS]


James, if you’re listening, please come home soon. 


And, with that, let’s start today’s show. 


Well, actually, before we do that- and sorry for back to back, heavy-topic housekeeping, but… I don’t know how to say this without sounding paranoid even though it's not actually the craziest thought considering everything but I think someone might be… watching the station? Well, not just me, all of us here are pretty sure someone or something is watching us. 


*MUSIC* 


Who or why or to what end, we’re not sure. 


Now, this isn’t just sort of an unfounded concern based on feeling and feeling alone, there have been signs. Footprints in the earth around the building I wouldn’t have known were footprints but Martha and Tanner both apparently have some tracking experience and are certain that’s what they are. There’s been shadows outside the windows, moving when there shouldn’t be anyone or anything there. 


There’s been a car, the same car, parked at the end of the street. It's there when we arrive. It's there when we leave. It moves a little, but never goes away. Every night for the past two weeks it's been there. There are no other houses on this block. All other businesses are closed by the time we get out of here after a show. The car doesn’t have a license plate, which is illegal, in case you didn’t know. 


Those are the main things. We’re collectively keeping tabs of suspicious moments and signs on the whiteboard in the breakroom, but in a meeting we agreed as a group it was probably a good idea to shed a little light on this. Publicly. Just in case. 


*MUSIC ENDS* 


Anyways, now we can get on with today’s show! 


First, weather! 


Weatherman Todd told me during our midafternoon meeting over lunch today that tonight’s weather is wholly unpredictable. The rest of the week should be nice, spring weather with a cool breeze, sunshine, warm afternoons, and an average of 15 degrees celsius, but tonight… tonight will be a surprise. 


I can’t imagine anything crazy will happen, and he didn’t seem to think it was going to snow or storm or anything, but… yeah. 


Be prepared for anything. 


*TRANSITION* 


In community news: 


There is still no sign of Lizzie Shaw, or any of the still- missing members of our community. 


It's been a while since we had anything to report on the topic, and so it's been a while since we’ve really talked about it, but I thought it was high time for an update, even if that update is: there is no update. 


However, here before me I have a list of names of those who are currently missing, and I’d like to read them out loud as a- a reminder. Not that we could ever forget the loss of our own, not that we don’t always feel their absence, but it feels important… to remember. Due to… well, unknown complications down at the RCMP station, there is a strange lack of information available regarding these cases, so we’ve gathered as much information about each situation as we can. 


[JESS SIGHS] 


Here it goes: 


APRIL BECKETT, who disappeared from the Golden Sky care facility a number of weeks ago, after an evening visit with her grandchildren. 


CYNTHIA ABERNATHY - The third grade teacher at Braedon Elementary school, who went missing in the middle of the night, around the same time as April. Her husband reported her missing first thing in the morning. And she hasn’t been seen or hear dfrom since.


LOUIS NEWMAN- 17 year old twin brother of local teen Ashley Newman. Louis part-times as a waiter at Mountainview Diner and has a gift for always being able to predict your order. He worked a late shift that night, texting his mother when he left the diner, but never made it home. 


LIZZIE SHAW - local high schooler, was reported missing by her father a few weeks ago, after we shared over the air a voicemail I received from her. 


DAVID REICHER- Middle school math teacher. Around the beginning of the month, he never showed up to his class and he never picked his daughter Emily up from school.  


ETHAN CRAWFORD- disappeared last week. At first his family thought he may have been trying to skip town again, but he left all his belongings behind, including his phone, and his mother insists he isn’t the sort of kid to go without leaving a note. 


Please keep the families of those on this list in your hearts and in your prayers. 


Also, this list, you probably noticed, does not include those whose disappearances have either been solved or explained to some extent. This isn’t to diminish or ignore the experiences of the victims or their families: Tanner Walling, Elliot Housley, and Brock Taylor, who reportedly was found somewhere in Russia a few days ago and should be home soon. We just wanted to bring attention to those who are still absent without explanation. 


If you have any information you think might be helpful in the many simultaneously ongoing searches for your fellow townspeople, please do not hesitate to reach out to the authorities, or to us, and we will pass the information on. No questions asked. 


[TRANSITION] 


JESS: Alright listeners, we’re gonna pivot briefly from our scheduled programming today and go to the phones. Tanner contacted us during the break to say that during his search he has found something of significant interest-- not James unfortunately… but ‘somethings of significant interest’ are our cup of tea here at the station. Hey, Tanner. 


[THERE IS A MUSICAL SOUND IN THE BACKGROUND.]


TANNER: Hey, folks. 


JESS: Tell us what you’re seeing. 


TANNER: Well, I’m not exactly sure how to describe it. I’m standing at the corner of 8th Street and 10th Ave, behind the uh, the library here and I’m looking right at um… a shimmering void. 


JESS: A void? 


TANNER: (slightly in awe of the void) A shimmering one, yeah. 


JESS: Can you describe it for us? 


TANNER: (speaking as he’s examining it) Well it’s round and… well I’m really just guessing here, but about two meters in diameter. The colours around the outside are a- a swirling mix of emerald and deep amethyst… and the middle. It’s something, but it’s not a colour. I don’t know how else to describe it. Just- shimmering. Like water in the sun, but it isn’t bright. It’s dark. 


JESS: Tanner, what’s that sound? 


TANNER: It's coming from… it. 


JESS: Almost like music. 


TANNER: (introspective) It gives off a weirdly welcoming feeling. Familial. Like there’s something waiting on the other side. I’ve seen one of these before. 


JESS: Well, last time we had a report of one of these was the day Elliot Housely went missing. I cannot recommend getting too close. We don’t know what could happen. 


TANNER: (seeing something) Oh wait, wait there’s… hm, there’s something on the other side. 


JESS: What is it? 


TANNER: Shadows of movement. Like- seeing movement behind sheer curtains in a window. 


JESS: Can you make anything specific out? 


TANNER: Not really, and admittedly I’m hesitant to get too close. (A pause.) Oh, there- it’s getting clearer its- (trails off, seeing it clearly) woah. 


JESS: What is it? 


TANNER: (describing as he’s making it out) A forest of tall, jagged pines. Dark, so deep and dark there’s almost no colour. The sky is washed out with grey clouds. There’s um- I think that’s a house in the distance? A cabin, or something. I- I think it might be moving. There is a wind brushing through the trees. It’s- I don’t know, it’s all pretty far away and it’s- hard to see cause it's all blurred by the void. And the light is fading, the sun is starting to set. (A thoughtful pause) I am not sure what this is, but I’ve seen one before. 


JESS: Wow… Do you feel safe, Tanner? 


TANNER: I don’t feel not safe but… something doesn’t feel right. Jess, I’d encourage people to avoid this area for the time being. (thinking, then being deliberately vague) And, huh, yeah  I’m going to make a call and take care of this. 


JESS: Are you sure? 


TANNER: (sincerely) Yeah, for sure. I got it. I’ll let you all know when it's sorted. 


JESS: Oh! Take some pictures if you can? For journalism purposes. 


TANNER: Sure. Keep me updated on finding James? 


JESS: Will do. Best of luck and be careful. 


TANNER: Thanks, right back at ya. 


[TANNER HANGS UP] 


Alright, folks, so be advised: steer clear of 8th and 10th for the time being, just to be safe. 


*TRANSITION* 


In more community news, Augustus Kane, head of the local HA branch, or Homeowners Association, said their group met Sunday afternoon to discuss the imminent springtime and any possible new home and garden guidelines that come with the change in seasons. They submitted these adjustments to us so we can pass them on to you, as the flyers they printed mysteriously vanished into thin air quite unexpectedly, along with the group’s secretary, Elijah D’Silva. 


The only change is that, this year, they ask anyone planning to plant herbs and similar things to abstain from planting lavender. At least for this year. If you already have lavender in your garden, that’s fine, Augustus clarified, but suggests that those that do keep a close eye on it. 


And he further asks that everyone keeps an eye out for Elijah. We hope he turns up soon, along with your flyrers. And will unofficially add him to the list we read out earlier. 


*TRANSITION*


And now, a quick word from today’s sponsor: 


[WEIRD, STATIC SNIPPETS OF SOME VOICE RECORDING] 


*TRANSITION*


Listeners, I have some very bad, awful, heartbreaking news. 


During the break, Clark called, and, he was very quiet, and in my heart I knew… James… is gone. She was found, lying on the side of the road, two blocks from the studio… like she was on her way home. Clark said… he said it looked like she had been hit in the road and managed to pull herself to the shoulder… before- before… she- cold, scared, and in pain, and alone. 


That’s not a fate I’d wish on anyone. 


James, wherever you are, if you can hear me- I’m sorry our time together was cut short. I’m sorry your last moments were so- so- (beat- heavy breath) But I hope you had enough good memories to say goodbye to. I know you’re not in pain anymore. You-- you were the best kind of friend-- the kind you didn’t expect to make--


[SHE TAKES A DEEP BREATH] 


I’m okay. I’m good. 


[MARTHA BRINGS A MUG OF WATER AND PLACES IT ON THE DESK.]


(Thanks, Martha.)


[SHE LAUGHS LIGHTLY]


Martha just brought me some water in that ‘world’s best grandpa’ mug Jordan got me what feels like a lifetime ago, and also brought a note saying that Tanner is waiting over the phone.(She clears her throat.) Well, let’s go to the phones and hopefully he’s got some good news for us about the void situation. 


Hey, Tanner, you’re on air. 


[THERE IS A MUSICAL SOUND IN THE BACKGROUND, LIKE BEFORE, BUT DIFFERENT AND INCREASED.] 


TANNER: Hi Jess. (sincerely:) I’m uh, I’m really sorry to hear about James. 


JESS: Yeah. [SHE SNIFFLES] What’s the news on the void- front? 


TANNER: Right, yeah, I’m just calling in to let everyone know that the situation is under control and everything is fine over here! Truly fine. [TEXT CHIME ON HIS END. Talking about the text from Town Council:] Except for, y’know. Man even with do not disturb on, huh? Kinda regret getting a cell phone. 


JESS: [LAUGHS LIGHTLY] Glad to hear everything’s sorted. 


TANNER: Me too. 


JESS: Is that… is that sound the-- the void? It sounds louder. 


TANNER: No, it's, uh-- Sophia is here, along with some… mysterious members of a secret society. It's a song for James. [A PAUSE] I’m going to go join Clark and we’ll get everything sorted with James, bring her back to the studio or-- well, wherever you wanna bury her. 


JESS: [A PAUSE AS SHE THINKS FOR A MOMENT] Her favourite spot when we’d go for walks was-- was one of the fields to the west, just at the edge of Framer Crawford’s property? There’s that old, weather-worn shed that’s probably as old as the town, and that tree that’s definitely been struck by lightning more than once. Good place to watch the sunset. 


TANNER: That sounds… (genuinely) that sounds nice. We’ll meet you two there- and anyone else who wants to join us. I already texted Jordan. 


JESS: Yes, listeners, please feel free to join us in remembering James. She was a beloved member of our station family and our community, and… yeah. We hope to see you there. Like we said earlier, tonight’s weather is… unpredictable. So bring coats or blankets, and let’s hope for a stormless, cloudless night. 


TANNER: Always do. 


[TANNER HANGS UP.] 


I think that’s all we have the time, and the heart for, today. 


Thanks for being there, especially through the stormy nights. 


Goodnight listeners. 


Goodnight James.


Thanks for tuning in.