Episode 25: "Time's Imperious Voice" – The Sheridan Tapes
CONTENT WARNING: Violence, doppelgängers, discussions of a natural disaster and depictions of aftermath, discussions of loss, grief, and death, some strong language, despair, paranoia, depiction of personal injury, some loud noises
Tape 2-3-138-1-14: Reflections, memories, and revelations regarding the town of Agate Shore, and what became of those who lived there.
Starring Airen Neeley Chaconas as Anna Sheridan, Robin Gabrielli as Allen Gott, Jesse Steele as Bill Tyler, Maurice Cooper as Jerry Price, Michael Dostrow as Chief Morrison, and Trevor Van Winkle as Sam Bailey, with original music by Jesse Haugen. Written and produced by Trevor Van Winkle, and made possible by our supporters at Patreon.com/homesteadcorner
For more information and additional content, visit thesheridantapes.com
Script
Outtakes
Transcript
CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, doppelgängers, discussions of a natural disaster and depictions of aftermath, discussions of loss, grief, and death, some strong language, despair, paranoia, depiction of personal injury, some loud noises
Cold Open
[Faint sounds of a busy office through the wall]
[Knock on door]
Allen Gott
Come in!
[The door opens, then closes]
Sam Bailey
Sorry to bother you, but… I’m looking for Sergeant Gott?
Allen Gott
Oh, you must be our new detective! I’m Allen.
Sam Bailey
[Footsteps]
Hi, um… Sam. Bailey. Uh, do you know where I could find Sergeant Gott…?
Allen Gott
[Laughs]
Allen Gott, Sam. But you can just call me Allen.
Sam Bailey
Oh. Of course, sorry, I’m just… I just wasn’t sure if…
Allen Gott
Hey, don’t worry about it. Welcome to Agate Shore, Detective Bailey. Can I get you anything? Water? Coffee?
Sam Bailey
No thanks, I — I’d just like to get settled in, if you could show me where…
Allen Gott
Oh, yeah, of course. Come on, it’s just down the hall.
[Chair scoots back, he begins to lead Sam out of the office]
[Door opens]
[They walk in silence]
So… what brought you to Agate Shore? If you don’t mind me asking.
Sam Bailey
Just, uh… Looking for somewhere quiet to get started, you know. And I’ve got some family in town… Well, used to, at least.
Allen Gott
You spend a lot of time here as a kid?
Sam Bailey
Um… Not… Not a lot, no. A couple of summers when I was little.
Allen Gott
Was that before the dam, or uh…
Sam Bailey
Uh… A few before then, yeah.
Allen Gott
God. Wish I could’ve seen it back then. The old pictures make it look absolutely stunning.
Sam Bailey
Uh, yeah… It was.
Allen Gott
Well, here we are.
[Allen opens a creaky door]
[Something clatters to the ground]
Sam Bailey
It’s… uh… cozy.
Allen Gott
I think you mean tiny.
Sam Bailey
Well, I didn’t want to say, but…
Allen Gott
It used to be a broom closet, Sam.
[Laughs]
We set it up as nice as we could, but… We didn’t exactly have the money to build you a whole new office. Sorry if HR promised you different.
Sam Bailey
No, it’s fine… I guess I just didn’t know what to expect.
Allen Gott
Trust me, you get used to that pretty quickly around here. But if you ever need a bit more space to think, my door is always open.
Sam Bailey
I… Thanks, that’s… that’s really kind of you.
Allen Gott
It’s nothing. Besides, my office is about the only place in the station that actually stays warm in the winter. Don’t want you freezing to death on us.
Sam Bailey
I’ll… keep that in mind.
Allen Gott
Well, I’d better get out of your hair and let you get settled in. Nice to meet you, Sam.
Sam Bailey
Uh… Nice to meet you too. See you around.
[Cassette player motor whirs, then stops]
[Click]
[Main Theme]
Tape 2-3-138-1-14
[Cassette noises]
[Click]
[Hiss of static, then fade]
[Sound of light rain, distant waves]
[Slow, limping footsteps, punctuated by a crutch]
Sam Bailey
It doesn’t feel real — being back in Agate Shore, I mean. Seeing it like this. I mean, it’s all solid and real, sure, but — it doesn’t feel like I’m actually here. Like it all really happened. I don’t know why. I mean, just look around, Bailey: it’s all right there in front of you. There used to be a town here, and now there isn’t.
[Sighs]
And you know exactly how that happened.
Maybe I’ve just dreamt about it so many times since I left… it doesn’t feel real anymore.
[Sam’s crutch twists in a pothole, and he groans in pain]
Nope — definitely real. Ahhh… God, that hurts. I really need to find something to splint this before I break it even worse.
[Sighs]
And somewhere I can hide, too — I doubt the Echo’s far behind… Or Morrison, for that matter.
[Sam, recovered and limps forward]
[A cold wind whistles off the dark lake, and he shivers]
Speaking of things that don’t feel real… I saw what the lake looked like on the news after I woke up, but being back here, it’s even stranger than I thought it would be. When the dam broke…
When I blew up the dam, the whole town was flooded within five minutes. The water almost reached the 101 exit, and the highway was washed out at a few points below the grade. But now, it’s mostly settled back into the old lake bed… Mostly. I mean, I was, what –
– 7? 8? When the dam was first built? So I don’t really remember what it used to look like before, but… I can tell the waterline is way higher than it used to be.
Hell, the shoreline is practically at the police station’s doors…
Which is handy, because it’s about the only structure on main street that’s really survived.
[Sighs]
And probably my only good bet for finding a first aid kit… If it hasn’t been washed away too.
[He takes a breath]
Come on Sam. You can do this. You have to do this.
[Footsteps]
[Wind howls through the building, water dripping]
God. Look at this place. I mean, it’s in remarkably good shape for — you know, getting hit with an entire lake’s worth of water less than a year ago, but still…
Most of the interior walls are just — completely gone. All of the drywall is washed away, so the only things left are a few structural beams, and most of those are completely black with mildew. Literally rotting away.
I’d better get out of here, fast.
[Sam limps a bit faster with the realization]
Let’s see… We kept the first aid kits in the supply closet and the main office, but those look… Well, they aren’t really there anymore, so I doubt the first aid kits would be. But the break room looks mostly intact. I think we started keeping a first aid kit in there after the New Year’s party… God, what was that, five years ago?
[Sam pushes open a creaky sounding door]
[It falls off its hinges with a bang]
Jesus!
[Breathes in, steadying himself]
You’re okay Sam. You’re fine. It should be just over… Okay good, the cabinets survived. Kind of. Sort of. And if I’m right… Ah! Here it is.
[Sam pulls it out and unzips it]
And it’s all still dry. More or less. Really glad we didn’t go cheap when we bought this…
Oh… You’re still recording, huh? Forgot I had you on for a minute there. I’d better stop… I have no idea how much tape—
[Click]
Tape Paused
[The sounds of a small but noisy crowd in the next room]
[Sam takes a deep breath]
[Door opens]
[Loud partygoers inside]
[Footsteps as Sam enters party]
Jerry Price
Sam? What are you doing here?
Sam Bailey
I’m… uh… Here for the party.
Jerry Price
[Laughing]
Well obviously! But we didn’t think you were really going to show up. We actually had a bit of a bet going round the office, you know.
Sam Bailey
I… I, uh, thought I’d try. To be here for one of these things. Wait, were you betting against me showing up?
Jerry Price
No, of course not! I knew you’d come through just, uh… You know, kind of seemed like something you’d skip out on.
Sam Bailey
[Scoffs]
With people betting on whether or not I’d show up? Yeah, don’t know why I wouldn’t want to deal with that.
Jerry Price
[Laughs]
We’re just having fun, Sam… It is actually a party, you know! Speaking of which…
[Jerry grabs a beer, opening it]
Jerry Price
Happy new year, man! Here’s to 2015!
Sam Bailey
Uh… Cheers.
[The two clink their bottles together and drink]
Jerry Price
So, um… How long are you planning on staying, by the way?
Sam Bailey
What? Why?
Jerry Price
Well, uh… Not to pressure you, but there was also a bet on how long you’d stay if you did show up, so…
Sam Bailey
[Annoyed grumble]
Oh you’ve got to be kidding me… Do people really think I’m that predictable?
Jerry Price
Well, uh… Not so much predictable, just… Idiosyncratic, you know?
Sam Bailey
[Scoffs]
Glad I could be a source of amusement for everyone.
[Sam sips his beer]
Is, uh… Is Allen here?
Jerry Price
Huh? Oh, yeah, he’s here. Over by the punch bowl, making eyes at Susan.
Sam Bailey
Oh. Is he, uh… Do you think he likes her?
Jerry Price
I don’t know. Maybe. Honestly, I think he’s had a little more to drink than usual. She’s really not his type.
Sam Bailey
What do you mean, she’s not…
[Something breaks across the room]
Allen Gott
Friends! Romans! Countrymen, lend me your ears!
Jerry Price
[Laughs]
Get off the table, Gott, you’re drunk!
[Shushing around the room]
Allen Gott
That may be so, but that doesn’t change the fact that tonight is indeed… a night of nights. The last night of 2014. It’s been one hell of a year. We’ve kept our old friends, made some new ones, and clung to life here on the ragged edge of nowhere. It’s been tough, and I won’t pretend otherwise — but we’ve made it through. All of us. And we even managed to grow stronger for it, haven’t we? Come on, let’s hear it for the newest member of our little cadre, Detective Sam Bailey!
[A smattering of applause]
Allen Gott
I know, he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but he really is a decent guy if you just get to know him — well, get to know him, manage to ignore all the angry muttering, and learn to see the real human person underneath. But, in any case… here’s looking at you, kid.
[Laughs]
Anyway, since I’m a bit of a sap for tradition, I think it’s high time for a bit of Auld Lang Syne, don’t you think! Come on, let’s go!
[Starts singing]
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to…
Whoah!
[Allen slips, fumbling and falling
[Sam catches him]
Sam Bailey
I’ve got you, I’ve got you.
Allen Gott
Uh… Yeah. I guess you do. Wasn’t I… Wasn’t I up there a minute ago?
Sam Bailey
[Laughing]
Uh… yeah. You kind of were.
Allen Gott
[Chuckles]
Huh. Huh huh huh huh… That’s funny.
What are you all staring at? Never seen a guy fall off a table before? Bunch of greenhorns…
[A few people laugh, a little uncomfortable]
Well, come on! It’s still a party, isn’t it!
[People cheer and applaud]
Let’s get it… Uh, let’s get… I…
[Allen takes a few steps forward, then falls on his face]
Sam Bailey
Allen! Are you okay?
[The sounds of the party fade out]
Tape Resumes
[Click]
[Waves lap quietly on the new shore]
[Sam limps along, his crutch crunching slightly in the sand]
Sam Bailey
Okay… Rolling again. Took longer than I expected to splint my leg… Hurt more than I thought it would, too. Though to be fair, I never thought I’d be splinting my own leg while running away from the police. Funny how they don’t cover that in basic first aid.
[Sam chuckles bitterly]
[A fresh burst of wind whistles off the lake]
Sheridan really wasn’t kidding when she said this place was full of memory. I mean, she didn’t even live here, and she could feel it.
When I was in the station, I could swear I heard…
[Sighs]
Well, I don’t know what I heard. I don’t even know if I really heard anything, or was just — remembering again. Reliving what happened. And when so much happened in that station, it’s almost like it’s all just…
[Scoffs]
I don’t know. But it’s not like it’s really important anyway. I’m probably just trying to keep talking to… To drown out whatever my mind is trying to do. Or… whatever’s out there in the water.
[Another breeze rolls off the waves]
[Static rises slightly on the tape]
Unknown Voice
[Deep, echoing]
“What would you do…?”
[Sam shivers, and begins to walk faster]
Sam Bailey
I just need to find somewhere to shelter for the night. That’s all. I thought I might be able to stay in the station, but I’m really not too confident in its structural integrity right now. There’s really nothing else left in town, but it looks like there are still a few houses left on the crest…
Including mom and dad’s old place. It’s not… Ideal, but — hey, at least if I get caught, they can’t pin me with breaking and entering… I still have the key.
[Sighs]
But if there really are ghosts anywhere in this town — they’re in that house. All of them.
Guess I shouldn’t keep them waiting any longer.
[Footsteps continue]
[Click]
Tape Paused
[A door opens quietly]
[Soft footsteps pad across the carpeted floor]
[Someone sets a tray on the night stand]
[Allen stirs, groaning a little as he wakes up]
Allen Gott
[Groaning]
What the hell…
Sam Bailey
Oh, shh shh shh shh… It’s okay.
Allen Gott
Sam? What are you doing in… Where am I?
Sam Bailey
My house. You hit your head pretty badly when you fell, and no one could find the first aid kit in the station. Now hold still… You’re still bleeding a bit.
Allen Gott
Hold on… Why am I in your house?
Sam Bailey
Oh, uh. Well — we figured you didn’t want to go to the hospital over this, and my place was closest. Uh, Jerry’s still downstairs, waiting to see if you’re okay. Now lie back and keep still.
Allen Gott
Did he help you… Ow!
[Allen yelps a little]
Sam Bailey
Sorry — need to disinfect it. I don’t think the break room floor is sterile, you know?
Allen Gott
Yeah, no… [He laughs] but… Still isn’t fun, though.
Sam Bailey
I think you had a bit too much fun already tonight. That’s how you ended up here, remember?
Allen Gott
[Chuckles]
Oh. Right. No exactly how I wanted to end up in your bed, that’s for sure… Uh.
[Fabric rustles as Sam moves back]
[Awkward silence]
[Sam coughs]
Sam Bailey
Uh… Here, this should take care of the bleeding. You should ice it as well, just to be safe…
Allen Gott
Sam…
Sam Bailey
Twenty minutes on, forty minutes off. It should stop the swelling.
Allen Gott
Sam, listen, I didn’t mean to…
[Sam stands up quickly, handing him the ice pack]
Sam Bailey
I’m going to go downstairs and tell Jerry you’re fine. I’ll be sleeping down in the living room if you need anything, but try not to get up if you don’t have to.
Allen Gott
Sam, look, I wasn’t trying to…
[Sighs]
Okay. Thanks Sam.
[Sam hurries out of the room]
[Door opens and closes]
[Allen groans]
Oh, brilliant. Way to go Gott. Gold star for you on this one.
Tape Resumes
[Click]
[Faint whistle of wind]
[Sam sits down on the bed, elevating his leg]
[Groans slightly]
Sam Bailey
And… Finally here. My old room. God, never thought I’d be back here. And against all odds, everything’s exactly where I left it. The other houses on the row were all looted and most of their windows were broken, but somehow, this one is pretty much untouched. Just a bit of graffiti, and besides that — exactly like I left it. I doubt that’s a coincidence.
[Sam leans back and sighs]
God, my leg is really starting to hurt again. I think the painkillers are starting to wear off. I can’t stop running, but… I don’t know how long I can keep going like this before I need to go to the hospital. Of course I would break my leg less than a day into my life as a fugitive. Yeah. That seems just about right for me.
[Sighs]
I honestly don’t know if I should sleep, or try to stay awake, or just — stay still for a while. This was definitely not part of the plan. I just hope Bill is able to keep the chief distracted long enough for Maria to…
Unknown Voice
[From far away, echoing as they sing]
[Faint static rises]
Of all the money that e’er I had
I spent it in good company
Sam Bailey
Who is… Dad?
[Sam pushes the covers aside and grabs his crutch]
[Limping footsteps]
[Door opens, then closes]
Unknown Voice
And all the harm I’ve ever done
Alas it was to none but me
[Sam slowly descends the stairs]
Sam Bailey
Hello? Who’s there?
Unknown Voice
And all I’ve done for want of wit
To mem’ry now I can’t recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be to you all.
[Static fades]
[Sam reaches the bottom of the stairs and stops]
Sam Bailey
Hello? If there’s anyone there, please… Come out where I can see you?
[No response]
[Sam sighs]
Just imagining things again, Sam. They’re gone. They’re all gone.
[Sam turns and begins to walk back]
[Something breaks in the next room]
[Sam freezes]
What the hell was…
[Footsteps enter the room]
Sam Bailey
You.
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Hello, Detective Bailey. Good to see you again.
[Click]
Tape Paused
[Birds call outside]
[Something sizzles as it cooks on the stove]
{Sam stirs, sniffs, and sits up off the couch]
Sam Bailey
What the hell… Who’s…?
[Fabric rustles]
[Sam stands up off the couch]
[Footsteps]
Sam Bailey
Allen? What the hell are you doing?
Allen Gott
Oh good, you’re up. I didn’t want to wake you, but now that you’re up… How do you like your eggs?
Sam Bailey
What? Uh, scrambled, but…
Allen Gott
Great, because that’s about all I can really do on short notice.
[Eggs crack, sizzle in pan]
Allen Gott
I was going to make toast. Want some?
Sam Bailey
Allen, what are you doing up? You should be resting…
Allen Gott
[Scoffs]
What, for this? I’ve had much worse with way less pampering. And seeing as you slept on the couch, I figured the least I could do was make breakfast. So… Toast?
Sam Bailey
Um… Sure?
[Allen puts bread in the toaster and pushes it down]
[Momentary silence]
Sam Bailey
Allen… Listen, about what happened last night…
Allen Gott
[Chuckles]
I think you mean what didn’t happen last night.
Sam Bailey
I… Yeah. Sure. What didn’t happen. Look, I don’t want you to…
Allen Gott
Hold on, I think the eggs are done.
[Allen turns off the stove]
Sam Bailey
Allen, I’m serious — you…
Allen Gott
And I seriously think this conversation will go over better after you’ve had something to eat. Here.
[Allen sets a plate on the counter]
[Sam hesitates, then picks up his fork and begins to eat]
Allen Gott
Plus, I’m starving, and no good decision in history has ever been made on an empty stomach. Good?
Sam Bailey
Yeah… Really good, actually.
Allen Gott
[Laughing]
Don’t flatter me, it’s eggs. They’re pretty hard to mess up.
Sam Bailey
Not that hard… Trust me.
[They both laugh]
[The toast pops up]
[Allen sets his plate on the counter]
Allen Gott
So. Last night.
Sam Bailey
Um… Yeah. Last night.
Allen Gott
I shouldn’t have said it. It was just a stupid thought that popped into my head, and I wasn’t thinking clearly, and… I’m sorry.
Sam Bailey
Did… Did you mean it, though?
Allen Gott
Well, I… Sort of? Mostly?
[Sighs]
Yes. Not the way I said it, but yes. I did. I do. Do you?
Sam Bailey
I… I don’t know.
Allen Gott
It’s a very simple question, Sam.
Sam Bailey
Well… Not really. Not for me.
Allen Gott
What’s that supposed to mean?
[An awkward silence, then…]
Sam Bailey
[Sighs]
Look, the people I love — I don’t always like them at first. And I never really know if it will even happen. I know I like… Being around you. I like spending time with you, I like to be close to you, but… I don’t know if I feel that way about you yet. Or if I ever will.
Allen Gott
Huh.
Sam Bailey
It… It takes time. For me. Too much time for most people, actually. So… look, I get it.
Allen Gott
Get what?
Sam Bailey
If you just… Want to go.
[A bird sings outside]
Allen Gott
Why do you think I’d want to go?
Sam Bailey
I… I don’t know. I just thought…
Allen Gott
Sam, I don’t know who you think I am, but if I didn’t want to wait, I would have asked you out three months ago.
Sam Bailey
You… You’re not going to…
Allen Gott
[Laughing]
Sam, I’ve had a crush on you since you first bumbled into my office. I’ve always known. But I’m not in any rush. I can wait. And if you never feel the same way about me, then… That’s okay. I’ll wish you did, but if you don’t — then you don’t. It’s your call.
Sam Bailey
[Stammering]
How… How long?
Allen Gott
As long as you need. Now eat your eggs — they’re turning into rubber over there.
[Allen starts to eat]
[Sam hesitates for a moment, then starts eating in contented silence]
Tape Resumes
[Click]
[Waves lapping nearby]
[Sam hits the ground hard, grunting]
[He coughs]
[Footsteps approach]
Sam Bailey
Oof!
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Really, Bailey… You’re making this way too easy. I mean, I didn’t expect a challenge, but I wasn’t planning on going up against a cripple. I almost feel bad about this.
[Sam groans as he stands]
Actually, I do feel bad. Here, I’ll give you a free shot. Right here.
Come on… Take a swing. Unless you’re too much of a gentleman to hit a lady…
[Sam snarls and lunges]
[“Anna” sidesteps]
[Sam falls, grunting in pain]
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Oh… So close. Better luck next time.
Sam Bailey
Look, if you’re trying to kill me, then just do it, okay?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Laughs]
God, you really are an idiot, aren’t you?
Sam Bailey
What?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
You really think I went through all of this just to… What, murder you? Dump your body in the lake?
Sam Bailey
Why not? That’s pretty much what you did with Anna, in any case.
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Laughs]
Jesus Christ Bailey, you really think that’s what happened? That I just… Killed her?
Sam Bailey
You… You didn’t?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Laughing]
God, where would I find the time to pull that off? She’d been trying to kill me for nearly ten years — she’d see me coming halfway across the country!
Sam Bailey
But… If you didn’t kill her, then… Who did?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Laughing again]
Oh, Bailey… Sorry, but that nearly made all of this worth it. Thank you… I needed a good laugh.
Sam Bailey
Who killed Sheridan?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
I don’t know. I don’t even know if she’s dead. I just know she’s gone.
Sam Bailey
Oh, come on…
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Trust me, I wish I knew — that way I’d have the pleasure of not telling you. As it is, well…
[“Anna” kicks Sam in the gut]
[He grunts, falling closer towards the water]
Sam Bailey
[Coughing]
For someone who’s not trying to kill me, you seem to be getting awfully close.
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
And there it is — the final proof.
Sam Bailey
Proof of what?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Sighs]
“You can lead a horse to water…” Why on earth would I want to kill you in the first place?
Sam Bailey
Well… to replace me. Like you tried to do with Bill.
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
And why would I want to do that? What would I gain from being you? I mean, it’s not like anyone really likes you. Or trusts you.
Sam Bailey
Well…
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
And even if they did… Well, you met my copy of Lieutenant Tyler. And you know I copied Maria… Not very well, but I managed it. But you… Well…
Sam Bailey
You… You can’t… Copy me?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Oh, I tried. I didn’t think it would work, but I still gave it a go. When we first met in the halfway house. Chief Morrison told me not to try, but still…
Sam Bailey
Wait, you knew Morrison before…
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
You’re missing the point. As usual. What am I, Bailey?
Sam Bailey
You’re… The Echo.
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Scoffs]
A stupid name. But it works, I guess. I’m a reflection — a refraction. I take the voices of the living and copy them back into the world… But for some reason, I can’t take yours. No matter how much I listen to your irritating voice, I just can’t duplicate it.
Sam Bailey
Are… are you saying that I’m… what, that I’m not alive?
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Do you really think that Sam Bailey ever came out of that water? Do you really think that the voice you heard made a bargain without taking its cut? You told it you’d do anything. You told it you’d give anyone. But you also told it you’d give it anything. So it took your life.
Sam Bailey
But… but I’m alive. I’m… I’m me! I grew up after that! I… I lived my life!
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Laughs]
And what makes you think the life you lived was really yours? Did it ever feel like you were in control? Like you were ever whole?
Sam Bailey
I… I was… [he pauses] Once.
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
[Chuckles]
And how long did that last? How long before the lake took that away as well?
You’re a dead man walking, Bailey. You drowned more than half a lifetime ago, and all the time since… Well, you’ve certainly paid the price for it.
[Anna kicks him again]
[Sam grunts]
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
So no: I don’t think I can kill you. But I do know that I can hurt you. And that I want to.
[Sam coughs, pained]
[Waves lap against the shoreline, wind blowing across the waves]
Sam Bailey (?)
[distant, distorted]
“What would you do… to save yourself?”
Sam Bailey
Oh. Of course. What else would it be?
[Click]
Tape Paused
Field Recording – Bill Tyler 050319
[Click]
[Car’s engine revs]
Chief Morrison
Wait, wait! Stop!
[Car stops]
Bill Tyler
What the hell is that?
Chief Morrison
Something went through the guard rail over there… Quick, grab a flashlight!
[Chief opens and closes the door]
[Bill rummages]
[Bill opens and closes his door]
[Footsteps]
Look, down there at the bottom of the hill… Quick, get the light on it.
Bill Tyler
Hold on, I’m just trying to… Oh god. That’s Sheridan’s van.
Chief Morrison
Bailey must be down there… Come on, we can go back to the exit and…
Bill Tyler
Sir? That’s Agate Shore. Maybe we shouldn’t…
Chief Morrison
Don’t get superstitious on me now, Tyler. Come on.
[Chief’s footsteps retreat]
[Bill hesitates, then begins to walk back to the patrol car with him]
[Click]
Field Recording Paused
Tape Resumes
[Click]
[Sam struggles to his feet]
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
What, back on your feet are you? Ready for round two? Come on — I’ll give you another freebie. Sure you can’t miss this time.
[Silence]
Sam Bailey
No. I don’t think I will.
[Sam drops the tape deck]
[He turns and begins to walk into the water]
Anna Sheridan (OTHER)
Wait… What the hell are you doing? Bailey? Bailey? No — no wait, stop! Bailey, you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s not — you can’t…
God, I think he can.
[There’s a louder splash far off in the water as Sam goes under]
Shit… Where did he go? Bailey? Bailey! Come back here! Please… Please don’t do this.. You can’t…
[A harsh static rises on the tape]
[Clack and clatter as the tape ejects]
Homestead on the Corner 