Homestead on the Corner

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CONTENT WARNING: Existential dread, discussions of religious fundamentalism, corruption, and cults, familial separation, and mentions of drug use

02012020: In a fragile moment between revelation and ruin, tensions and mysteries begin to reveal themselves.

Starring Virginia Spotts as Kate Sheridan, James Cain as Peter Slate, Van Winkle as Sam Bailey, Ezra J. Wayne as Ned Leroux, and Sam Taylor as Ren Park, with original music by Jesse Haugen. Written and produced by Virginia Spotts, with dialogue editing and sound design by Van Winkle.

This episode was made possible by our supporters at Patreon.com/homesteadcorner, ko-fi.com/homesteadcorner, and our backers on Seed&Spark.

For more information, additional content, and episode transcript, visit thesheridantapes.com

Script

Transcript

CONTENT WARNING: Existential dread, discussions of religious fundamentalism, corruption, and cults, familial separation, and mentions of drug use

[Cold desert wind, the distant sound of traffic]

[Kate’s footsteps, she stops walking and talks on the phone]

Kate Sheridan

…so, that’s why we’re headed back to Oslow. We should get there early tomorrow.

Peter Slate

Wow. I um…

Kate Sheridan

Yeah.

[Pause]

Peter Slate

First… I’m just relieved to know that you’re okay.

Kate Sheridan

Me, too.

Peter Slate

And Sam and Ren too.

Kate Sheridan 

Yeah.

Peter Slate

And… Ned?

Kate Sheridan

Not really sure. I don’t know how much I can trust him after what happened.

Peter Slate

It’s interesting though… he sounds like he’s genuinely scared.

Kate Sheridan

…maybe.

Peter Slate

I mean, how did you put it… he said that “Bill and Rob might be in the Source, and they could be…” what word did you use?

[Kate sighs]

Kate Sheridan

“Unmade.”

Peter Slate

Unmade. [he shivers] I mean, the way you described that made it sound like he had… feelings?

Kate Sheridan

I suppose anything is possible.

Peter Slate

…well, just try to watch out for yourself.

Kate Sheridan

[Kate laughs] Oh don’t worry. I will be.

[Pause]

Peter Slate

I miss you.

Kate Sheridan

Fuck, I miss you too. And I miss our baby.

Peter Slate

He’s been talking about you a lot lately.

Kate Sheridan

[Emotional] Oh… 

Peter Slate

But you don’t have to worry about him. He’s having a good time here. He started going to this preschool once their winter break ended, just a block away from the house. He loves it there. He’s been inviting everyone in class to his birthday party, actually.

Kate Sheridan

I hope I can see him on his birthday.

Peter Slate

I think he’d like that. [Pause] I’m sure you’re enjoying the southwest right now. It’s cold as balls in Toronto.

Kate Sheridan

Well, uh… the high desert in January isn’t exactly balmy… certainly not at night.

Peter Slate

Ah, good point. [He yawns] Well… 

Kate Sheridan

Sleep tight, love.

Peter Slate

To tell you the truth Katey, what you’ve told me, it’s… it’s bigger and scarier than I know how to process. But if anyone can deal with this, it’s you. And wherever you end up, whatever happens… we’ll find each other again at the end of it. Promise.

Kate Sheridan

And what if there’s nothing left of me to find?

Peter Slate

No chance of that, love. You’re unerasable.

[Cassette noises]

[Click]

[Main Theme]

Recording Begins

[Recorder clicks on]

[Kate walks back to a small, crackling campfire]

[She stops, and sighs]

Kate Sheridan

Glad you two are bonding.

Ned Leroux

Juuuuust keeping our backs warm. And enjoying a bit of—

Sam Bailey

—quiet.

Kate Sheridan

Fantastic. [she looks around] Uh… where did Ren go?

Ned Leroux

He’s in his Jack Parsons era.

Kate Sheridan

Sorry?

Ned Leroux

Wandering the desert, looking for answers. He’s fine, he’ll be back soon.

[Kate walks up and takes a seat across from them]

Kate Sheridan

So is this just what it’s going to be like?

[Ned makes a noncommittal noise]

…Sam? Penny for your thoughts?

Sam Bailey

Not right now. Sorry.

Kate Sheridan

Alright. How about you, Ned?

Ned Leroux

Just thinking about… well… you know.

Kate Sheridan

Bill and Rob?

Ned Leroux

Them’s the ones. [He stirs the fire] I listened to that tape on the drive. Amy said that she only exists because Anna still remembered her.

Kate Sheridan

…Remembered who?

Ned Leroux

Goddammit, I know you can’t help your poor little time-paradoxed brain but could you just like… 

[He gathers himself]

If Anna can do that for Amy, then I must be able to do the same for them. I have to.

[Ned shifts a little]

I guess this place is also… eh… it gets me thinking. Years ago, before I finally landed on becoming a cop… I considered coming out here.

Kate Sheridan

Why here?

Ned Leroux

There was this… fundamentalist Mormon cult. Name’s not important, there’s hundreds of them. But they’d begun to exercise some influence over the region. They moved their followers here, started a construction business, undercut all the other bidders to get more and more expensive contracts and before anyone knew it… they’d been overrun.

And this cult was very, very wealthy. At least, those at the top were. And well… I’d always been a fan of the desert, and I was wanting to slow things down a bit after Petrograd. So I thought, “Hey, it’s an easy get. I’ll worm my way into the sect with piety and consistency, then eke out a comfortable little existence for myself. I’ll be influential but… not highly-depended on. Easy money.”

But there was more going on here than I bargained for. I found some, uh… some darkness going on behind the curtains that even I couldn’t abide.

Kate Sheridan

What do you mean?

Ned Leroux

At the time, I didn’t mind the religious restriction, or the keeping up of appearances… hell, not even the blatant abuses and manipulation in service of the ones at the top. You’ll find that one way or another in any religious sect. Even a bit of secrets, a bit of indulgence behind the scenes. That much is to be expected of anyone who gets power for nothing.

[He pokes the fire]

I was ignorant of these fundamentalist cults. Up until that point I’d pretty much stayed out of modern religion. I mean, it’s much more fun to be on the other side of things. I spent plenty of years giving myself anything, everything… anyone that I wanted. But… 

I couldn’t abide these wolves in sheep’s clothing. I couldn’t abide by their feasts.

Anyway, they got found out pretty quick.

Kate Sheridan

How?

Ned Leroux

Anonymous tip. Police raided the compound and arrested most of the leaders. The rest just scattered.

They’re still around, sorta, but… not nearly as powerfully. Most of them up and left for middle-a-nowhere, Texas.

Kate Sheridan

That wasn’t what Bill’s family was involved in, was it?

Ned Leroux

No. He’s from around Salt Lake.

Kate Sheridan

Thought so. Still.

Ned Leroux

Still.

[Ned turns towards Sam]

Hey Bailey — give me some memories of Bill and Rob. Between the two of us, I figure we can provide some solid protection for our friends in the beyond.

Sam Bailey

Sure. Uh… let me think… 

[He laughs]

I remember when Bill talked Ramos into covering Rob’s whole dispatch desk in wrapping paper with him. They had to go in at like, 5am to get it done before Rob’s shift. He thought Bill was away on a night call, so he didn’t suspect a thing.

When he got in later that morning, his supervisor was so mad at him, it was like he’d done it himself. It took Rob nearly twenty minutes to get the desk and everything on it unwrapped.

Kate Sheridan

What, they wrapped the little… 

Sam Bailey

All the little desk things, yeah. [Kate laughs] The keyboard, the mouse, the mouse cord — [Kate laughs] honestly that’s what took the most time, it was taped to hell.

Ned Leroux

You were there?

Sam Bailey

I watched the security cam footage. We all did. It was one of the, uh… one of the few times I actually bonded with people at the station.

Anyway. There you go, Ned. I can remember them with you, at least. Hopefully that’ll help when you go to find them.

Ned Leroux

When I… hold on.

Sam Bailey

And, you know, I’m having some doubts about what happened… Morrison in the tunnels? Weak, emaciated… god-like? I mean… how could Morrison transform into something that powerful, after everything he’s railed against? After that long without food and

water? He shouldn’t even be alive.

Ned Leroux

Bailey, listen to me—

Sam Bailey

—I’m not calling you a liar, just… it was dark down there. Maybe Morrison had enough power to pull Bill and Rob over out of pure spite, but who’s to say he’s still holding onto that power?

And anyway, I’m still not falling for that kind of trap. No matter who he took.

Ned Leroux

You slimy fuck—

Kate Sheridan

Come on boys, let’s just talk this over.

[Ned stands]

Ned Leroux

Listen, Bailey — I’m pulling rank. I’ve been doing this shit way longer than any of you. I’ve got shapeshifting and more than a thousand years of experience under my belt. I should be in charge of what we decide. Not you.

Sam Bailey

Oh, please.

Kate Sheridan

How is shapeshifting relevant right now?

[Squelching noises]

“Neter” Leroux (shifting into “Peter”)

I don’t know Katey, don’t you think this could be useful?

Kate Sheridan

Um… wow, alright. Is that really what you think Peter looks like?

[Squelching noises]

“Ked” Leroux (shifting into “Kate”)

Alright, fine. If one Kate is effective, imagine what we could do with two.

[Despite himself, Sam laughs]

Kate Sheridan

Stop that… right now.

“Ked” Leroux

“Welcome to Two Kate’s Accounting! Where we offer tax advice so good, you’ll be seeing double!”

[Kate stands abruptly]

Kate Sheridan

I’m out of here. I’m going to find Ren.

[Footsteps as she walks away; Sam and Ned fade in the background]

[Squelching as Ned returns to normal]

Ned Leroux

Phew, that took it out of me.

Sam Bailey

And this is why you’re not in charge. You’re an insufferable clown.

Ned Leroux

And you’re an insufferable know-it-all.

[After a while Kate approaches Ren, who is sitting quietly]

Ren Park

The light… as it’s fading… 

Kate Sheridan

It’s a beautiful sunset.

Ren Park

Yeah.

Kate Sheridan

You okay?

Ren Park

I think so. I’m just trying to believe that this sunset can endure in my memory, if nothing else.

Kate Sheridan

I… I see.

Ren Park

I’ve just been wondering if this sunset… this exact sunset… even exists in alternate versions of this moment? Probably not. The probability of this exact sunset showing up in this exact way in a completely different timeline… you’d have better luck getting those monkeys on typewriters to compose Shakespeare.

So it only exists here, and it only exists now. But “now” is… [He laughs] “Now” is an interesting concept. Because apparently, moments can disappear. They can just evaporate like… like mist. Like they never happened. Like there was no me or you, or Arizona, or desert, or sunsets. Like there was always just emptiness.

If this is a… fragile sunset… If I forgot about it, would anyone else remember?

Kate Sheridan

Gosh.

[Pause; sniffing]

Is that weed?

Ren Park

I smoked some of my stash a while ago to try and calm my nerves. It’s at least halfway working. Well, that, or the mushrooms.

Kate Sheridan

You… [She stops herself] Okay.

Ren Park

I’ll be fine. Not my first rodeo. Although I am getting some interesting visual patterns.

Kate Sheridan

[Slight laugh] I bet.

Ren Park

A weird one showed up earlier, though. It sort of looked like some kind of well, right over there in the gully.

Kate Sheridan

A well? Why would… [She tries to remember something] That’s strange.

Ren Park

Strange, indeed.

[He turns to look at her]

That doesn’t mean something to you, does it?

Kate Sheridan

I… hmm. I feel like it should, but I just… don’t know why.

Ren Park

Must be a deleted timeline.

[Pause] 

Kate Sheridan

Well, I should… I think I should head back. Just wanted to check in on you.

Ren Park

Thanks for the consideration, Kate.

Kate Sheridan

Anytime.

[Kate begins to walk away, then stops]

Ren Park

Something else on your mind?

Kate Sheridan

Do you think… do you think we’ll actually be able to work together long enough to get this done? Find Bill and Rob, I mean.

Ren Park

Can we trust Ned, you mean?

Kate Sheridan

…yeah.

Ren Park

[Ren sighs] I’m really not sure. You know him better than I do. And honestly… I think I’m the last person you should be asking about trust right now.

[Kate pauses, then turns and continues towards camp]

Kate Sheridan

A well… no, that’s… that’s nothing. It sounds like nothing. Right?

Sam Bailey (distantly)

[Muttering] Ahh… goddammit, stupid piece of…

[Angry footsteps marching away from the fire]

[The sound of the fire grows as Kate approaches]

Kate Sheridan 

Where’s Sam going?

Ned Leroux

Oh, that raincloud? He’s all relaxed and ready for bed, apparently.

Kate Sheridan

And…?

Ned Leroux

And we nearly got physical.

Kate Sheridan

Ned!

Ned Leroux

What can I say, it must be my country charms…

[Pause]

Something happen over there?

Kate Sheridan

What do you mean?

Ned Leroux

You look… are you okay?

Kate Sheridan

I… can’t remember why I came over here.

[She steps closer]

Do you think… do you think you and Sam will be able to get along? At least long enough to find Bill and Rob?

Ned Leroux

Kate… I think you might be the only one all of us can really trust. I don’t know Ren, and I don’t think Sam has what it takes to get this done. I think we’re all counting on you to make this work.

Kate Sheridan

You were the one who made that anonymous tip, weren’t you? About the cult?

Ned Leroux

How… [He clears his throat] Yeah.

Kate Sheridan

Hmm.

Ned Leroux

What?

Kate Sheridan

You’re just full of surprises.

[Clack]

Recording Ends

End Theme & Credits