Homestead on the Corner

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CONTENT WARNING: Police violence, depiction of personal injury, some strong language, dread, paranoia, character betrayal, descriptions of a corpse, some loud noises

Tape 2-3-6-4-19: Old endings and new beginnings.

Starring Airen Neeley Chaconas as Anna Sheridan, Amitola Lomas as Maria Sol, Jesse Steele as Bill Tyler, Michael Dostrow as Chief Morrison, Chris Martin as dispatch, and Trevor Van Winkle as Sam Bailey, with original music by Jesse Haugen. Our end credits song was “North Star” by Origami Pigeon. 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: Police violence, depiction of personal injury, some strong language, dread, paranoia, character betrayal, descriptions of a corpse, some loud noises

Cold Open

Anna Sheridan

So — here’s a question. A very old one, actually… and honestly a bit of a cliche at this point. But bear with me on this. Say you have a broom, and at some point you have to replace the brush. Maybe it’s old, or broken, or you just don’t like the color. Whatever it is, you get a new one, attach it to the old handle, and call it a day. But then, a few months later, the handle breaks. You curse your bad luck and wish you’d just bought a whole new broom to begin with, but since you already paid for the new brush, you go ahead and buy a new handle. Now — putting aside the fact that I don’t even know where you’d go to buy a broom handle just by itself — is that the same broom you started with?

[Scoffs]

Well, obviously not: it’s completely new at that point. Not one atom of that broom came from the original, and it was probably manufactured in a completely different factory by a completely different brand. It probably doesn’t even look the same. If people come around and happen to notice it for some reason, they’ll probably ask if that’s a new broom. And, chances are, you’d tell them that yes, it is. Easier than giving them the whole story.

But on the other hand, it feels odd to say it’s a completely new broom. For a time, it shared parts with the old one — maybe not for very long, but there’s a continuum there… A direct connection between them. The old broom slowly became the new broom. It didn’t replace the old one, it was the old one for a bit… And if it was the old broom for a while… Isn’t it still the old broom, in a way?

So. The new broom both is, and isn’t, the old one. And of course, we’re not really talking about brooms here. There’s a reason this little thought experiment became a cliche, after all. It’s a question about ontology… About being and existence and the true, immutable nature of things, not the cleaning supply industry. It’s a question about people. Because we’re constantly changing too. Growing. Evolving and learning and dying all at once.

You could say the same about all living things… After all, how much of the oak tree is in the acorn? And how much of the acorn is in the tree? Not much physically, but without the acorn, there wouldn’t be a tree. They’re two states of a single entity, separated only by the passage of time… Which, as I’ve begun to suspect, might not be as solid and immutable as we think.

It’s estimated that the human body completely regenerates itself every seven to ten years. By the end of this decade, every one of my cells will have come into existence, performed their function, and died, only to be replaced by new, virtually identical copies. I don’t share a single cell with the Anna Sheridan who first looked down that well in Iowa… In fact, I don’t even share a single cell with the person who replaced her, or the person who replaced her. 

So… am I still Anna Sheridan? Am I still the same person, or am I only a doppelganger of myself? A copy of a copy of a copy, forever growing and changing and losing bits of who I am with each iteration? Or am I growing into something new — something different? Am I the old broom, or the new one?

[The faint sounds of highway traffic fade in behind her]

[Car door opens]

Maria Sol

Oh, sorry… I didn’t realize you were recording.

Anna Sheridan

That’s okay… I was just about to wrap up.

Maria Sol

Are you sure? I can wait if you’re not…

Anna Sheridan

No. Come on — let’s get going. We’ve got a job to do.

[Cassette player motor whirs, then stops]

[Click]

[Main Theme]

Tape 2-3-6-4-19

[Cassette noises]

[Click]

[Hiss of static, then fades]

[Two sets of footsteps run down the street]

[One of them stops]

Bill Tyler 

[Panting]

Wait… Chief, slow down… I’m getting a stitch over here…

Chief Morrison

We’re hours behind Sam at best. We can’t afford to give him any more of a lead.

Bill Tyler 

[Panting]

I mean, we probably can…

Chief Morrison

What was that, Tyler?

Bill Tyler 

I mean, did you see the van? It looks like he barely managed to drag himself out of there. He’s probably not moving too quickly.

Chief Morrison

I’m not leaving that up to chance. Keep up, or I’m leaving you behind.

[Morrison turns and starts running down the road again]

Bill Tyler

Dick.

[Bill takes a deep breath, then starts running again]

Chief Morrison

Tyler! Get over here! We’ve got a body!

Bill Tyler

Oh, god no…

[Bill runs faster]

[The waves lap quietly on the shore]

Chief Morrison

Hurry, Tyler!

Bill Tyler

Is it… Holy shit, that’s…

[Beep]

Dispatch

[Breaking up slightly]

…dispatch to Greyhound, dispatch to Greyhound, come in Greyhound…

Chief Morrison

[Into radio]

10-9 dispatch, signal poor.

Dispatch

Dispatch to Greyhound… Chief, what the hell is going on? It’s a shitshow back here.

Chief Morrison

Dispatch, please refrain from swearing on an open channel.

Dispatch

Chief, I’m sorry, but that’s what it is… they’re dropping like flies, and I don’t know what to…

Chief Morrison

Dispatch, you will get a grip right now, or I will have you relieved.

Understood?

Dispatch

[Takes a deep breath]

Sir, we’re getting calls from all over the county. People dropping dead in the middle of the street, in their houses, on the bus…

Chief Morrison

What? How?

Dispatch

Sir, they… They seem to be drowning.

Bill Tyler

Oh, God. It’s happening again.

Chief Morrison

He did it… That son of a bitch actually did it…

[Beep]

Dispatch

Sir? Who are you talking about?

Chief Morrison

Try to contain as much of the chaos as possible. We’ll be able to assist soon.

Dispatch

Uh… 10-4, sir. Over and out.

[Beep]

[Morrison chuckles darkly]

Bill Tyler

Sir… What’s going on?

Chief Morrison

Nothing. Nothing you need to worry about. Keep an eye on Sheridan’s body… I need to check the water.

Bill Tyler

Uh… Yes, sir.

[Chief walks off. Bill stares at the body]

Jesus, Sam, what did you do to her? God, what did you do, period? Those have to be her duplicates in Oslow, but…

[A pulsing, rising static fills the tape]

Bill Tyler

Shit… Chief! Chief, get back here, the body’s…!

[The static rises to a crescendo, then seems to disperse like sand being blown away]

It’s… gone. What the hell is…

[A loud splash]

Chief Morrison

Tyler!! Get over here, it’s Sam!

Bill Tyler

Oh god…

[Bill turns, running into the lake]

Chief Morrison

Don’t just stand there Tyler, give me a hand!

Bill Tyler

I’ve got him, I’ve got him… Shit, is he…

Chief Morrison

No, he’s still breathing. Just in shock. Come on, get him away from the water.

[Bill and Chief drag him fully out of the lake, setting him down]

Bill Tyler

[Panting slightly]

How did you know he’d be there?

Chief Morrison 

Just… a hunch. A theory.

Bill Tyler

But how did…

Sam Bailey

[Muttering]

What would you do… Would you do…

Bill Tyler

Sam? Sam, are you okay? Come on, talk to me…

Sam Bailey

What would you do… To save yourself…?

Bill Tyler

Sam? Sam, can you hear me?

Chief Morrison

He’s out. Dispatch, we need a paramedic unit in Agate Shore. Now.

[Click]

[Silence]

[Click]

[A heart rate monitor beeps]

[Sam groans, trying to sit up]

Sam Bailey

Oh, god my…

[He suddenly sits up, rattling his manacles]

The Echo! She’s…!

Bill Tyler

Whoa, easy Sam! You’re okay.

Sam Bailey

Bill? Is that… really you?

Bill Tyler

Yeah. Who else would it be?

Sam Bailey

The Echo, she… Where am I?

Bill Tyler

You’re in Oslow General. Paramedics brought you here after you passed out. How… How are you feeling?

Sam Bailey

[Scoffs]

How do you think I… I feel… Fine. God, what kind of painkillers do they have me on?

Bill Tyler

None, surprisingly. It seems like you walked away from that crash pretty much unscathed.

Sam Bailey

What? No, I… I broke my leg.

Bill Tyler

No… You didn’t. Pretty sure we’d notice if you had.

Sam Bailey

No, it was…

[Sam pulls back the sheet]

Bill Tyler

See… not broken.

Sam Bailey

Oh. Oh, of course. Sure. I guess that makes sense.

Bill Tyler

What… What happened out there? In the lake?

Sam Bailey

I’m… Not really sure. It’s all kind of… hazy. Like the last time

I…I know I went into the water… I know I heard the voice, but… I can’t remember most of what it said.

[Scoffs]

Well, except the questions, of course. I can always remember the questions.

Bill Tyler

So… what did you tell it?

Sam Bailey

It… It asked me who… Who I’d give to save myself. And I told it… The Echo. Thought that might finally be enough to stop it. Was I right?

Bill Tyler

I guess you were. At least two dozen people in Oslow were found drowned, before their bodies just… evaporated, I guess. They fizzled away into static.

Sam Bailey

And… the one pretending to be Anna?

Bill Tyler

Yeah. Same thing. Actually saw it happen with her.

Sam Bailey

Well… that’s some comfort, I guess. 

[He moves his manacle]

So… Am I under arrest now?

Chief Morrison

[From the corner]

That depends.

[Sam jumps]

Sam Bailey

Chief! I didn’t realize you were…

Chief Morrison

That’s the idea. You’re dismissed, Tyler.

Bill Tyler

Uh… Yes… Sir.

[Bill’s footsteps retreat]

[Door opens, then closes]

Chief Morrison

[Walking closer]

Sam…

Sam Bailey

Sir, I take full responsibility for my actions — I made a poor decision and it…

Chief Morrison

[Sitting on the edge of the bed]

I am so, so proud of you.

Sam Bailey

I… Sir?

Chief Morrison 

[Laughing warmly]

I was expecting a lot from you, but my god! I was worried you were going off the rails a bit there at the end, but now…

Sam Bailey

Sir, what are you talking about? I… I stole an impounded vehicle and I violated…

Chief Morrison

Ah, details, details! Means to an end, and nothing we can’t find a way to sweep under the rug.

Sam Bailey

What… end? What are you talking about?

Chief Morrison

The Echo, Sam! God, not even Sheridan was able to take care of that thing, and she was trying for years…

Sam Bailey

So it’s true then. You knew about the Echo. Before all this.

Chief Morrison

I had a team working the case for months before I gave it to you Sam. You think I didn’t have them listening to the exact same tapes you had? You think you’re the only one who could’ve figured it all out?

Sam Bailey

So you knew who she was? When I brought her into the station?

Chief Morrison

Well… yes. We were actually pretty well acquainted at that point. And I’m sorry about that, but… I couldn’t let you know that I knew. Not at that point, anyway.

Sam Bailey

Then why would… Why did you fire me? Why did you let me think I was…

Chief Morrison

Because you needed to figure this out on your own. Find your own way to the truth. That’s the way it’s always been, with people like you: no one can tell you what you are.

Sam Bailey

[Sighs]

I could have used a hint.

Chief Morrison 

[Laughs]

And would you have believed me? You’d just barely accepted the existence of the supernatural when you blundered into that halfway house… [He sighs] Do you really think you’d believe me if I said you weren’t human?

Sam Bailey

[Sighs]

So. I’m really not human. She was telling the truth.

Chief Morrison

Mmm.. the truth, as she knew it… And only in the way she thought would hurt you the most.

Sam Bailey

But you knew, right? About all of it. God, that’s why you were in such a rush to hire me in the first place.

Chief Morrison

Exactly.

Sam Bailey

Why?

Chief Morrison

I have my own reasons. And you don’t need to know them in order to…

Sam Bailey

[Scoffs}

Are you fucking kidding me? After everything you’ve put me through? You owe me an explanation, Morrison.

Chief Morrison

I don’t owe you a thing, Bailey. But, I guess you have earned some answers, at least.

I’ve always known Agate Shore was an… unusual place, let’s say. Even more so than small towns usually are. It was built on the banks of a lake that never was quite what it seemed. Anna discovered the same thing when she passed through, through you cut her exploration a bit short when you… Well.

Sam Bailey

Wait, wait… You… you knew that I blew up the dam?

Chief Morrison

Sam, I didn’t just have Sheridan’s tapes all those months… I had yours. So yes, I knew that you blew up the dam. I actually covered some of your tracks to make sure no one else found them… You were a bit sloppy, to be honest.

In any case… I knew exactly what you did. That’s what convinced me

to hire you the most.

Sam Bailey

Wait, what? You… You hired me because I…

Chief Morrison

Because you were willing to do whatever it took to destroy that threat. You saw the danger, recognized it for what it was, and took drastic steps to remove it.

Sam Bailey

Sir, I broke the law. I must have destroyed… Millions of dollars in…

Chief Morrison

Of course you broke the law. Because you understand what so many people can’t accept… that there’s a natural order to things. One that’s higher than any law. And when the creatures and monsters rise up out of the dark to threaten it — they need to be put back in their place, by any means necessary. Without people like you and me — people who will act swiftly, and without mercy or hesitation — our entire civilization will dissolve into ruin, and chaos.

Sam Bailey

What about Sheridan? Was she like you too?

Chief Morrison 

[Scoffs]

Don’t get me started on Sheridan. She’s even worse than the monsters, in my book. We wouldn’t have had to deal with the Echo at all, if she’d just let it be. God knows how many other monsters she let loose on this world because of her stupidity. I’m glad she’s gone.

Sam Bailey

And what about me? Where do I fit in to all this?

Chief Morrison

[He sighs, shifts, and switches off the heart rate monitor]

You walk a very, very thin line, Bailey.

Are you human? Not entirely. You have your memories, your identity from before you went into that water. Physically, biologically, you’re a human being… Just as much as the Echo was. But what you really are?

I don’t know. When the Echoes died, their bodies just — completely disintegrated. These entities — forces, powers, whatever you want to call them — can create things that seem indistinguishable from reality. The Beechwood Monster. De Witt. Golems. Hell-hounds. All as real and dangerous as they seem.

But take away that power, that force of will that created them, and what’s left? Nothing. Less than nothing.

You’re a memory of the Sam Bailey that was — an idea of what that Sam Bailey might have become. You have free will… Or at least, you believe you do. I can’t say for sure. You’re still a person, but… Are you really human? Well… could a human have done what you did to the Echo?

Sam Bailey

So what do you want from me?

Chief Morrison 

[Chuckles]

Hmm… You know the funny thing about sheepdogs?

Sam Bailey

Sheepdogs?

Chief Morrison

Yeah. Sheepdogs. They protect their flocks from all kinds of dangers… Bears, mountain lions, thieves… But most of all, they keep away the wolves. The funny thing is, though…

[He leans in]

They used to be wolves themselves, not so long ago.

Sam Bailey

[He breathes in]

Sir… if I’m not injured, and I’m not under arrest… Then I’d like to go now. If that’s alright with you.

Chief Morrison

Bailey, if you’re not with me on this…

Sam Bailey

I need to sleep on it. On all of it.

Chief Morrison

Of course you do. I actually think you just need to sleep, period.

Here, let me get the handcuffs…

[He unshackles Sam from the gurney]

[Sam stands and crosses the room]

Chief Morrison

But I expect to hear back from you by tomorrow morning. Understood?

[Sam stops]

Sam Bailey

Whose body was that?

Chief Morrison

Excuse me?

Sam Bailey

Whose body was that, in De Witt’s freezer? Down in the morgue?

Chief Morrison

Nobody important.

Sam Bailey

Who?

Chief Morrison

I don’t know his name. Somebody no one will miss.

Sam Bailey

Hmm. 

[Door opens]

Means to an end.

[Sam exits]

[Bill re-enters]

Bill Tyler

Sir, is… is he okay to leave right now?

Chief Morrison

A little too okay, actually.

Bill Tyler

Sir… is everything okay?

Chief Morrison

I think we might have a problem, Bill. A very big problem.

Wait, was this recording the whole…

[Click]

Tape Ends

Field Recording – Sam Bailey 050519

[Click]

[Hiss of static, then fades]

[Muffled footsteps over carpet]

[In the next room, someone is pounding on the door]

Sam Bailey

Dammit… Couldn’t even let me have one good night’s sleep before they…

Chief Morrison

[Through the door]

Bailey? Bailey, open this door, right now! You hear me?

Sam Bailey

You’d better keep it down! You’re going to wake the landlord!

Chief Morrison

He’s already getting the spare key for us! This will go a lot easier for you if you just open the door, Bailey.

[Sam opens a drawer]

[Pistol loaded]

Sam Bailey

How’d you convince him to let you in? No way you have a warrant already.

Chief Morrison

We’re here for your own good, Bailey — we know what you’re planning to do, and we’re not going to let you kill yourself!

Sam Bailey 

[Laughs to himself]

Oh, of course he’s worried about me now…

[He yells back]

No way that’s going to hold up, Morrison!

Chief Morrison

It doesn’t have to… It just has to get us through this door…

Landlord

I’m sorry officers, I can’t seem to find his key anywhere. I’m sure if you…

Chief Morrison

Stand aside. Tyler: knock it down.

Landlord

Sir! This is my building you’re…

Chief Morrison

We’ll reimburse you for the damages. Do it, Tyler.

[Bill rocks back and kicks the door several time]

[The door breaks and flies open]

[Footsteps]

Chief Morrison 

Bailey! We’re coming in!

[Sam cocks his gun]

Sam Bailey

Don’t move! I’m armed!

Chief Morrison

That is a phenomenally stupid move, Bailey! It’s two against one, and I have more officers downstairs if you try to run!

Sam Bailey

Well given everything you just told me… I like my odds.

Bill Tyler

Sam, just… Just drop it, okay? We’re not here to hurt you, but… look, there’s no good way out of this. Trust me.

[Silence]

[Sam drops the gun, stepping out]

Sam Bailey

Alright, alright… What are you… OOF!

[Sam doubles over as Morrison punches him in the gut]

Chief Morrison

Where are the tapes, Bailey?

Sam Bailey

The… the what?

Chief Morrison

We just got through searching the mess you made of Sheridan’s van. And turning your parent’s house upside down looking for them. Where did you hide them?

Sam Bailey

[Pained laugh]

Nowhere.

[Morrison hits him again]

[Sam grunts in pain]

Landlord

Hey, hey, take it easy on him… I thought you were here to…

Chief Morrison

It’s nothing to worry about! Bill, keep an eye on Sam — I need to get rid of the landlord.

[Walking back over to the landlord]

We’re fine here, it’s just a matter of making sure he can’t hurt himself. Come with me, and we’ll get you the paperwork to…

[His voice retreats down the stairs]
[Bill rushes over to Sam]

Bill Tyler

Sam? Sam, are you okay?

Sam Bailey 

[Pained, groaning]

What do you care?

Bill Tyler

Oh, shut up you idiot — I’m trying to save your life. Listen, Morrison is…

Chief Morrison

[Calling up the stairs]

Get anything more from him?

Bill Tyler

Shit…

[Bill stands]

Bill Tyler

Sir, he — he destroyed the tapes. Dumped them out the window on his way to Agate Shore.

Chief Morrison 

God damn it, Bailey!

Sam Bailey

It… it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Chief Morrison

Of course it did… [he sighs] Tyler.

Bill Tyler

Sir?

Chief Morrison

Get this piece of shit out of my sight. Now.

Bill Tyler

Uh… Yes, Sir. Where should I…

Chief Morrison

I don’t care where you put him! Just get rid of him, now. Do you understand?

Bill Tyler

Oh. Yes sir — I understand.

Sam Bailey

[Pretending]

Bill, don’t do this…

[Bill winds back and kicks Sam, who grunts]

Bill Tyler

[Faked cruelty]

Shut up and get up… We’re going.

[Bill lifts Sam to his feet]

Sam Bailey

[Groaning]

Was the kick really necessary…

Bill Tyler

Gotta sell it to Morrison. 

This might take a bit, sir… I should be back to the station by…

Chief Morrison

Just get it done, Tyler.

Sam Bailey

So much for a sheepdog, huh?

Chief Morrison

[Chuckles darkly]

Maybe I was wrong about you, Bailey. Wrong from the start.

Get him out of here.

[Bill pushes Sam out of the room]

[Footsteps down the stairs]

[Click]

Field Recording Ends

Field Recording – Maria Sol 050519

[Click]

[Hiss of static, then fades]

[The sound of a van’s engine]

Maria Sol

You’re sure he doesn’t suspect anything?

Bill Tyler

[On phone]

No, he’s got no idea where the tapes are. He’s pissed about it, though. And I doubt he’s going to stop looking for answers anytime soon.

Maria Sol

And Sam… is he…

Bill Tyler

He’s okay. I’ve got him tucked away somewhere Chief will never find him. He’s safe.

Maria Sol

Where?

Bill Tyler

Look, I can’t say it now… I’m taking enough of a risk just calling you, even from a pay phone.

Maria Sol

Got it. Should we keep our old rendezvous, or…

Bill Tyler

No, no — it won’t work anymore. Chief will be watching me like a hawk from here on. I’ll figure out a way to get back in touch with you if I need to. Toss your burner phone as soon as you hang up.

Maria Sol

Got it. Good luck, Bill.

Bill Tyler

Yeah… Same to you Maria. Hope I see you again.

Maria Sol

Yeah. Sure.

[Phone beeps as call ends] 

[Maria rolls down the window, then tosses the phone out before rolling it up]

Maria Sol 

Well… I guess it turned out okay. More or less. Not like we planned, but… It worked. It almost worked better than we expected it to. I can’t believe Sam managed to finally beat that thing… Even if he did wreck Anna’s van in the process. Can’t win them all, I guess.

I hope he’s going to be alright. Going back to Agate Shore like that… It probably messed with his head even more than everything else. Wherever Bill’s taken him… I hope he’ll finally be able to rest.

[Maria leans over, opening the case with Anna’s recordings]

Well, I’ve got a long drive ahead of me, so I figured I could listen to some of Anna’s tapes on the way.

I was actually flipping through her old copy of Udolpho and noticed a tape from that last night before… well. You know.

[Maria rummages through the tapes]

Let’s see… Tape number 2-7-31-1-2… Ah! There it is.

[Maria pulls the cassette out and slips it into the van’s tape player]

[Click]

Tape 2-7-31-1-2

[Inside of a hotel room, a shower running in the background]

Anna Sheridan

Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,

Of the endless trains of the faithless, 

of cities fill’d with the foolish,

Of myself forever reproaching myself, 

(for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light, 

of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,

Of the poor results of all, 

of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,

Of the empty and useless years of the rest, 

with the rest me intertwined,

The question, O me! so sad, recurring—

What good amid these, O me, O life?

[Slower, almost whispering]

What good amid these, O me, O life?

[Anna pauses… then shifts, sitting up straight]

Answer: That you are here — that life exists and identity. 

[The shower in the background stops]

That the powerful play goes on… and you may contribute a verse.

[Someone steps out into the main room]

Maria Sol

What, are you recording again?

Anna Sheridan

Just… getting some thoughts down. Clearing my head, before… well, you know.

Maria Sol

Actually, I kind of don’t.

Anna Sheridan

Maria, I already told you I can’t…

Maria Sol

Yeah, yeah. It’s… It’s fine. I just wish you’d trust me a little more after all we’ve been through.

Anna Sheridan

I do! It’s just… There’s more on the line here than you know. Maybe even than I know. And I’m sorry, but… It’s better this way.

Maria Sol

Better for who?

[Silence]

[Anna sighs]

Anna Sheridan

I really don’t want to fight about this, Maria. Not tonight.

Maria Sol

Fine. Come on, scoot over.

[Anna shuffles over on the bed, and Maria lays down next to her]

Maria Sol 

Can you at least tell me what’s going to happen tomorrow?

Anna Sheridan

I don’t know. Not really. But I know you’ll be there with me. That’s enough.

Maria Sol

Aw, shucks, you’re making me blush.

Anna Sheridan

[Laughs]

Oh, shut up. I mean it.

Maria Sol

You always were a bit cheesy.

Anna Sheridan

And you’re a total brat!

Maria Sol

Takes one to know one.

[They laugh at one another]

Anna Sheridan

I love you.

Maria Sol

You’d better.

[Clack and clatter as tape ejects]

Tape Ends

[Maria doesn’t say anything]

[Thunder rumbles in the distance]

[The sound of the road under her tires as she drives into the unknown]