Prelude 03: "Disquiet" – The Sheridan Tapes
CONTENT WARNING: Elements of peril, doppelgängers, claustrophobia, some strong language, gun violence, and loud noises
March 31, 2008: When famed horror novelist Anna Sheridan discovers strange radio signals emanating from Spirit Mountain Cave in Cody, Wyoming, she finds that no voice can be trusted as she follows the disquieting trail of a ghost in the airwaves.
Starring Airen Neeley Chaconas as Anna Sheridan and Jeff Frome as Ranger Kirk, 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, additional content, and episode transcript, visit thesheridantapes.com
Script
Transcript
CONTENT WARNING: Elements of peril, doppelgängers, claustrophobia, some strong language, gun violence, and loud noises
[Static rises and falls, zipping and squealing as through weak radio signals]
[Footsteps on gravel]
Anna Sheridan
One – two – three – four – five – six – seven…
[A truck engine revs nearby, then slows and stops as it gets closer]
[Truck door opens; footsteps on gravel]
Ranger Kirk
You the writer?
Anna Sheridan
Yes, they said to meet you here…
Ranger Kirk
Thought so. Here, let me get that gate for ya.
Anna Sheridan
No, that’s…
[Screech of heavy, rusty metal]
Ranger Kirk
There ya are!
Anna Sheridan
I could’ve just – climbed over.
[The gate squeaks shut again]
Ranger Kirk
Ah, no problem ma’am. Yer gonna have to leave yer car here, though – no way that thing’s makin’ it up that hill, I can tell ya that.
[Gravel crunching underfoot]
Anna Sheridan
You’d be surprised…
[Truck doors open and shut]
Still, thanks for the lift, Ranger…
[Truck hums to life and begins to drive]
Ranger Kirk
Kirk. All my friends call me Rob, though.
Anna Sheridan
Thanks, Kirk. The Field Manager in Cody told the road to the cave’s a nightmare.
Ranger Kirk
You met Greg?
Anna Sheridan
Yeah, when I went to pick up my permit. You know anywhere else I could get one?
Ranger Kirk
Nah, I figured that, just – haven’t talked to him in a while. Don’t get down to Cody much. How is he?
Anna Sheridan
He’s, um… well, he seemed like he was doing well. In good spirits, at least.
Ranger Kirk
Ha! Good one.
Anna Sheridan
Excuse me?
Ranger Kirk
Ya know, good spirits, Spirit Mountain Cave… pun, yeah?
Anna Sheridan
I hate puns.
Ranger Kirk
Really? I thought – ya know, bein’ a writer and all…
Anna Sheridan
Have you read any of my books, or are you just assuming they’re full of puns?
Ranger Kirk
Well, no, I – I’m not really a horror fan myself. Gives me the creepy-crawlies. And well, ya know… Anna Sheridan books have a – well, a bit of a reputation.
Anna Sheridan
Glad to hear it. So why don’t you go down to Cody more often? See… Greg?
Ranger Kirk
Well, used to be I could go into town on the weekends, but now it seems like every teenager in the state wants to go pokin’ around in the abandoned cave in the middle a’ nowhere. Had to replace the lock on the gate about ten times already.
Anna Sheridan
So why don’t you just – call him?
Ranger Kirk
That easy, huh? Hate to break it to ya, but this ain’t exactly LA. Cell coverage’s crap up here – oh, pardon the language, miss – and then the landlines keep goin’ down every other week. “If a tree falls in a forest, does anybody hear it?” Up here, answers “No, cause it fell on the damn phone line again.” Oh, sorry ma’am. Ma said I had a mouth like a KFC dumpster.
[Shuffling as he grabs something]
Here.
[A sharp beep]
Anna Sheridan
What’s this?
Ranger Kirk
Most reliable means of communication ’round here besides smoke signals. Or jus’ plain yellin’,
Anna Sheridan
Walkie-Talkies?
Ranger Kirk
Been usin’ ’em since the 80’s. Ain’t failed once. You can talk clear cross the range with ’em – even pick up signals from Yellowstone if yer on top of the ridge and the wind’s in yer favor.
Anna Sheridan
Really? The ones I had as a kid were…
Ranger Kirk
Don’t know if ya noticed, but these are a mite nicer than whatever plastic crap ya had back then. ‘sides, I just put up a buncha new signal repeaters in the cave, so you’d prob’ly hear signals all the way from the center a’ the earth.
Ya just might get ’em, too. People say there are holes in the cave that go down forever. That ya can hear voices from ’em if ya listen long enough. And then there are the ghost stories…
Anna Sheridan
I thought you weren’t a horror fan?
Ranger Kirk
What? Oh. Well that’s just prob’ly ’cause I get enough spookin’ out here all by myself. Don’t need any books to spook me more.
Anna Sheridan
Hm. Fair enough.
Ranger Kirk
Oh, hang on, miss, gonna get steep here for a minute.
[The engine roars as they crest a hill]
Ah, Good work, Betsy. ‘nother day, ‘nother climb.
[He chuckles]
Think yer Prius woulda made it up there?
Anna Sheridan
It’s not a – wait, what’s that?
Ranger Kirk
What’s what?
Anna Sheridan
Over there, on the other ridge. Are those radio towers?
Ranger Kirk
Oh, yeah. Couple a’ local stations transmit from here. Ya know, Country, gospel, pop, the usual junk.
Anna Sheridan
I thought this was all protected?
Ranger Kirk
Eh, not really. Used to be back when it was a national park, but… well, it was founded in the 50’s. You think cars back then coulda made it up that hill?
Anna Sheridan
Probably not.
Ranger Kirk
Damn right. Whole thing folded in ’54. “Shoshone Caves National Monument” – only park to ever get struck off the rolls. Cody took it back for a while, but they couldn’t figure out what to do with it neither. BLM took it over in ’08, and well – here I am.
Anna Sheridan
Here you are. A man, a truck, and a hundred acres of wilderness to protect…
Ranger Kirk
Huh? It’s not a hundred acres…
Anna Sheridan
I know, I was just putting together some lines. Shit, now I’ve lost my train of thought…
Ranger Kirk
Jeez Miss Sheridan! Pardon you.
[Pages flip open; a pencil scratches]
What are you doing?
Anna Sheridan
Getting this all down before I forget. Now shush.
Ranger Kirk
Didn’t ya already know all that?
Anna Sheridan
Most of it. Better to get it firsthand, though. Oh, speaking of
which…
[The recorder bumps as she shifts it]
You don’t mind if I record this, do you?
Ranger Kirk
Uh – I guess not. So long as ya don’t, ya know, show it to anyone.
Anna Sheridan
Perfect.
[Beat; pencil continues scratching]
Ranger Kirk
Um… ain’t you gonna start that thing?
Anna Sheridan
What? Oh, I already did.
Ranger Kirk
Huh? When?
Anna Sheridan
Back at the gate.
Ranger Kirk
WHAT?
Anna Sheridan
Keep your shirt on Kirk. I won’t tell anyone you said crap. Not even your mother.
[Pencil stops; she closes her notebook]
There, got it. Close one, though.
Ranger Kirk
What was?
Anna Sheridan
Nearly lost the words there. The trick is to catch them before they fade. If you don’t – well, then they’re gone forever.
Ranger Kirk
Huh. Never thought of it like that.
Anna Sheridan
Is that it?
Ranger Kirk
Is that – oh! Yeah, here we are!
[Truck slows to a stop]
[Doors open; footsteps on gravel]
[The evening wind is gentle]
[Anna breathes deeply]
Anna Sheridan
Ah… perfect.
Ranger Kirk
Sure y’ll be okay by yourself? It’s gettin’ dark.
Anna Sheridan
I’m sure. Besides, if I need you…
[Walkie-talkie beeps]
Anna Sheridan (Doubled over radio)
I know how to find you…
Ranger Kirk
Uh… Yeah. Guess you do.
Anna Sheridan
See you tomorrow!
[Anna begins walking]
Ranger Kirk
Wait, Miss Sheridan!
Anna Sheridan
What?
Ranger Kirk
You forgot yer recorder!
Anna Sheridan
Oh! Right!
[Gravel crunches underfoot]
Thanks Kirk.
Ranger Kirk
You take care in there, yeah? That cave can get a little… well, you know.
Anna Sheridan
Yeah. Right. Thanks for the ride.
Ranger Kirk
Yeah. Sure. Take care.
[Engine revs; truck drives off]
[Anna rummages in her backpack; she switches something on; a high-pitched beeping starts]
Anna Sheridan
Alright then. Time to work for a living.
[Gravel crunches underfoot]
MAIN THEME
[Gravel crunches underfoot]
[A small, metal grate creaks open]
Anna Sheridan
Alright. All right.
[Walkie-talkie beeps]
Kirk? You there? I’m at the cave entrance.
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Copy that, Miss Sheridan. Hey, ya made good time! Sun’s still up.
Anna Sheridan
Barely. Not that it’ll matter once I’m inside.
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
You keep in touch, alright?
Anna Sheridan
Will do, Kirk. Over and out.
[Final walkie-talkie beep]
[Anna pulls out the beeping device again; it’s faster now]
[Footsteps in earth and gravel; the sound begins to echo]
Alright – I’m at the cave entrance now, and it’s definitely here… whatever it is. Those radio towers were definitely a surprise, but they shouldn’t have been. Whatever’s causing this distortion probably has a very small sphere of influence. It probably wouldn’t be noticeable if Kirk hadn’t installed…
[Anna’s head hits something with a thunk]
Ow! Oh, my head… speak of the devil…
Yeah, that’s definitely one of his signal repeaters. Probably how this thing’s been interfering with radios down in Cody. Some of the poltergeists I’ve dealt with did cause a little EM disruption, but nothing this severe. Normally, I’d ignore it, but…
[Device beeps faster, spikes, then stops]
[The echoing quiet fills the cave; a single drip falls from the cave ceiling]
What the…
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Sheridan?
Anna Sheridan
FUCK!
[The walkie-talkie falls out of her hand]
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Sheridan? Miss Sheridan? Can ya hear me in there? Everythin’ okay?
Anna Sheridan
Ranger Kirk, may I offer you some constructive criticism?
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Huh?
Anna Sheridan
When you’re calling someone exploring a dark, creepy cave by themselves – could you try NOT SHOUTING INTO YOUR RADIO?
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Ow! You keep shirt on, Sheridan. I’m still in the truck – just tryin’ to be heard over the engine.
Anna Sheridan
If I have a heart attack down here, my ghost will totally haunt you until the end of time.
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Sure… Just thought I should check the repeaters…
[Kirk’s voice vanishes in a wash of static]
Anna Sheridan
Kirk? Kirk, can you hear me? Hello?
Cheap piece of junk… Kirk? Are you still there? I think I might’ve bumped one of your repeaters – with my head. Something could’ve been knocked loose…
[Static shifts slightly]
Ranger Kirk (through radio, distorted)
…I’m… here… you… okay?
Anna Sheridan
Yes! Oh. Yeah, I – I’m here. What happened?
Ranger Kirk (through radio, distorted)
I’m in the truck… On top of the ridge… signal… failed – I… think.
Anna Sheridan
I thought you said these things were reliable.
Ranger Kirk (through radio, distorted)
I… said… that… didn’t… before…
Anna Sheridan (nearly yelling)
Kirk, can you repeat that? There’s a lot of interference.
Ranger Kirk (through radio, distorted)
What? I… can… hear… ya…good… up here. Keep…
Anna Sheridan
Keep what? Keep talking? Keep – going? What?
Ranger Kirk (through radio, distorted)
You keep in touch, alright?
Anna Sheridan
Copy that. I’ll let you know as soon as anything… WHOA! Whoa!
[Pebbles grind and fall as Anna loses balance]
Ranger Kirk (through radio, distorted)
You… okay?
Anna Sheridan
Only just. Shit, how did I not notice this…
[The radio goes silent]
Kirk? Come in Kirk? Oh, of course.
[She switches on her tracker; the beeping is constant]
This is it.
[The tracker switches off]
[She rummages around in her backpack; zipping it open and removing supplies]
Can’t believe I almost missed it… or, fell into it, I guess. Whatever’s causing the interference is definitely down at the bottom of this crevice. No problem. Just…
[Climbing wedge pounding into rocks]
…climb down the bottomless pit, find the source, and figure out how to get rid of it.
I’m guessing this one’s probably less of a “go to your peace” ghost than a “the power of Christ compels you” one. Then I just scramble back up and make camp outside. All in a day’s work. All in a day’s…
[A chilling, whistling wind blows up from the chasm]
I can’t do this. I can’t do this.
[Shuffling as Anna considers changing direction]
No. You can do this. You’ve this done before. You’re Anna Sheridan. You’ve got this. You’ve got this.
[She clips in with her climbing rope]
I’ve got this.
[The rope squeaks and hums as she lowers herself]
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.
[Speeding up]
Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten…
[Pebbles fall as her grip slips]
[Anna gasps; breathing fast]
Shit shit shit shit shit… Breathe, Sheridan, breathe, breathe…
Come on, you’ve made it this far. No turning back now.
[Rope hums as she continues]
Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixt… AH!
[Rocks slip underfoot; the rope buzzes as she falls; it reaches full length and snaps to a stop]
[Anna grunts in pain, the echo of it intense]
Ow…
And there’s the end of the rope. Just enough to…
Holy Hell.
Okay, I’m still recording. It’s a… some kind of massive, underground chamber. At least half a mile wide, and a mile deep from what I can see, and I can’t even see the edges with my headlamp. The walls are rounded – they look like – a mix of metallic and crystalline rock. And the echo –
HELLO!
[The word echoes like a hundred little voices returning to her]
Okay, that’s kind of creepy. So – this is where the signal’s coming from. Not really what I expected. But what’s causing it…
[Walkie-talkie beeps and crackles to life]
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
…Miss Sheridan, Miss Sheridan, can ya hear me, over!? Please come in!
Anna Sheridan
Finally!
Yeah Kirk, I copy. Can you hear me?
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Oh thank God! I thought I’d lost you!
Anna Sheridan
I’m fine, Kirk. Like I told you, I didn’t fall down that hole.
Everything’s… fine.
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
You told…
Anna, I don’t know who ya think yer talkin’ to, but it sure as hell ain’t me.
[Pause]
Anna Sheridan
What do you mean its not you?
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Just – get out of there. Whatever you do, get out of there, and don’t listen…
[Kirk’s voice disappears into static]
Anna Sheridan
Kirk? Kirk, come in! What do you mean it wasn’t you!? What…
[Radio crackles to life again; as it does, the whole cave vibrates, a deep, pulsing hum]
Ranger Kirk’s Voice (through radio)
Don’t… listen to… that… thing. Listen to… me.
[Shaking increases as the echoes rebound; they become physical]
Anna Sheridan
Holy Shit…!
[A wave of sound and wind blast into her; slamming her against rock; she barely grabs hold]
Okay, got a grip. Climb. You’ve got to climb now. Stop talking and do it Sheridan! Oh god oh god oh god…
[Scrambling as she climbs]
Ranger Kirk’s Voice (through radio)
Come… here… Sheridan. Be… with… me… in… the… mountain.
Anna Sheridan (words echoing)
One two three four five six seven eight…
Anna Sheridan
Okay, back in the tunnel. Halfway there. Just keep going. You’re fine so long as the rope doesn’t…
[The sound echoes, building, then slams into her rope, snapping it]
AHH!
[She catches herself on the rocks]
Okay. Caught yourself. You’re almost there, just… Don’t look down. Whatever you do, don’t look down.
Ranger Kirk’s Voice (through radio, echoing beyond)
Sheridan… can ya hear me? Come… to… me…
Anna Sheridan
Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve.
[She continues climbing]
It’s just a voice, it can’t hurt you, it’s just a voice, it can’t…
[The static changes, bringing a new voice]
Radio Evangelist’s Voice
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron – and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God…
[She continues climbing]
Anna Sheridan
Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen… Yes!
[She reaches the main cave and stops climbing]
[She listens; the echoes are gone]
Ha. Ha! YES! Anna Sheridan twenty, forces of darkness – zero! Who you gonna call? I ain’t afraid of no…
[The cave rumbles with sound]
Radio Evangelist’s Voice
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh, a name written: King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.
Anna Sherida
SHIT!
Ranger Kirk’s Voice (booming around her)
Pardon… your… language… Sheridan…
Anna Sheridan
Shut up! Shut up!! You’re not real!!
Ranger Kirk’s Voice
Come. Come… to… me.
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
…Sheridan? Miss Sheridan? Can ya hear me? What the hell’s goin’ on in there?
Anna Sheridan
Kirk? Is that you?
Ranger Kirk’s Voice
No… it’s… not…
Ranger Kirk (through radio)
Whatever that thing is, don’t listen to it! I’m coming as fast as I…
[His voice is lost to static again]
Ranger Kirk’s Voice
Don’t listen to it… no… one… is… coming…
Anna Sheridan
SHUT UP!!
[A wave of solid sound hits Anna; she cries out and falls]
Radio Evangelist’s Voice (continuing in background)
…And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air, and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done…
Anna Sheridan
What are you!? What the hell are you!?
Anna Sheridan
Okay. Okay. Running away now.
[Anna runs through the cave]
Radio Evangelist’s Voice
…And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal…
[Something clatters to the cave floor, but Anna doesn’t notice]
Anna Sheridan
Seventeen! Eighteen! Nineteen – TWENTY!
[Anna jumps through the gate, then slams it shut]
[The voices are gone; she gathers herself; the evening wind gently blows]
Anna Sheridan
Shit!
Ranger Kirk
Now what did I say about your language, Miss Sheridan…
[Anna jumps]
Anna Sheridan
AHHHH!
Ranger Kirk
Whoa, whoa, take it easy Miss Sheridan. It’s just me. See? It’s Rob.
Anna Sheridan
I’ve never called you Rob.
Ranger Kirk
What?
Anna Sheridan
I never called you Rob. The real Kirk would know that.
Ranger Kirk
Well, shoot. Guess I must be the evil spirit of Shoshone caves, then. And I woulda gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for you meddling…
[Anna steps backwards]
Anna Sheridan
Stay back! Stay – stay away!
Ranger Kirk
Anna, it’s me. And if yer gonna get picky ’bout it, I ain’t never called you that neither. Just listen to…
[He freezes midstep]
Anna. Walk towards me. Slowly.
Anna Sheridan
No. Nope! No way I’m not falling for that…
Ranger Kirk
Just…! Listen to me. Look behind you.
Anna Sheridan
Just how stupid do you think I…?
[The gate creaks open behind her]
Oh Christ.
Ranger Kirk
Run Anna, RUN!
Ranger Kirk’s Voice (distorted)
Come Anna… come!
[Horrible crunching and shuffling as the figure approaches]
Anna Sheridan
Stay back! Stay away from me!
Ranger Kirk’s Voice (distortion becoming human)
Come, COME!
Ranger Kirk
ANNA, DUCK!
[Kirk draws his gun and cocks it; his doppelganger also draws and cocks a gun]
Anna Sheridan
Wait! It’s copying…!
[Two gunshots; one cry of pain; two thuds; heavy silence]
Ranger Kirk
Ah – dammit, that hurts.
Anna Sheridan
Kirk? Is that – you?
Ranger Kirk
I sure as hell wish it weren’t.
Anna Sheridan
Oh thank G… oh Jesus, Kirk, that doesn’t look good.
[Kirk laughs, in pain]
Ranger Kirk
You should see the other… me. Is it… dead?
Anna Sheridan
I don’t think it was really alive to begin with.
We should go.
[Kirk grunts]
Ranger Kirk
Sure. Drive down the mountain with a bullet in my shoulder. Yeah. Great idea.
Anna Sheridan
Give me your keys.
Ranger Kirk
What? Ya sure you can…
Anna Sheridan
Just shut up and help me get you into the car.
[Kirk groans as she helps him up, and they limp to the truck]
[The door opens; Kirk drops in his seat]
[Door shuts; Anna walks around, then closes her own door]
[The cab is quiet]
Ranger Kirk
What… what happened in there?
[The engine revs to life]
Anna Sheridan
Trust me: the less you know, the better.
Ranger Kirk
Why?
Anna Sheridan
’cause you have to live up here.
[The truck drives away]
Ranger Kirk
No, really. What happened? I heard ya talking to someone… somethin’ in there. Sounded an awful lot like me.
Anna Sheridan
It sounded exactly like you. Looked like you too.
Ranger Kirk
Well, less good lookin’, but…
Anna Sheridan
It was stealing your words. Must’ve picked them up through the Walkie-Talkie – or maybe the car radio…
Ranger Kirk
Stealing my… why? What did it want ’em for?
Anna Sheridan
Catching words…
Ranger Kirk
Huh?
[Truck hits a pothole; Kirk falls against the dash; the truck radio crackles to life]
Ranger Kirk
AH!
Anna Sheridan
Kirk? Are you okay!?
Ranger Kirk
Yeah, yeah, it was my good shoulder. Dammit, this road…
Radio Evangelist’s Voice (continuing in background)
And I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven: Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God…That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great…And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh…
Anna Sheridan
What… is that?
Ranger Kirk
What? Oh, him. I don’t know, some nutcase preacher down in Cody. I listen to him whenever I need a good laugh.
Anna Sheridan
He doesn’t… use one of those towers on the ridge, does he?
Ranger Kirk
Prob’ly. Wouldn’t get his signal otherwise.
[Anna searches her pockets, fabric rustling]
Ranger Kirk
What are you doing?
Anna Sheridan
My recorder, it’s – it’s gone. I – I must’ve dropped it back in the…
Ranger Kirk
Whoa, whoa, hey watch the road, Miss Sheridan! Is it important?
Anna Sheridan
What?
Ranger Kirk
Yer recorder. It important?
Anna Sheridan
No, I – I guess it’s not.
Ranger Kirk
That’s right, it ain’t. We got away alright, and that thing’s up there dead. Nothing to be afraid of.
Anna Sheridan
Right. Nothing to be afraid of.
[Noise fades out]
[A quiet room]
Radio Evangelist
…and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled – and after that he must be loosed a little season. And now, at the end of the last great battle for righteousness, holiness, and the immortal soul of man – a word from our sponsors.
[He presses a button; then leans back and sighs]
Christ.
[Static comes through his monitors]
Radio Evangelist
What? Hello? Hello? Someone there? Goddammit, who’s messing with my equipment?
[A voice comes through the static]
Anna Sheridan’s Voice
Hello? Hello? Can you hear me? One two… one two three…
Radio Evangelist
Holy… Yeah! Yeah, I can hear ya. Who is this?
Anna Sheridan’s Voice
This is… Anna Sheridan. I’m… lost… in… Spirit Mountain… send…
[Disjointed static-filled speech becomes fluid and human]
Please… send… help.
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