Click for Content Warnings
- Background sounds and music
- Stereo audio (audio will sound different in right and left speakers/headphones)
- Static
- Mentions of death and dying
- Emotional distress Crying Threats of violence Threats of murder Discussions of cults/high control groups Thunder
Transcript
From the right perspective, every end is a beginning. Welcome back to Spirit Box Radio.
[INTRO MUSIC]
Hello Faithful Listeners, another week, another segment, only this week is the week. I’m going to come up with a plan to stop the Scarcemongers. I think there’s a way we can do it together. I know the last time we did a group séance it didn’t go so—
[PHONE RINGS]
SAM: Oh. Hang on.
[SAM LIFTS THE PHONE]
SAM: Hello?
BLISS: It’s me, Bliss. You said do whatever it takes to keep the nice one safe so I put them in a cupboard.
SAM: You– what? Is Arlo alright?
BLISS: I think it’s starting.
SAM: What is?
BLISS: The Redistribution.
SAM: No. No, no, NO! Not now, not now, please not now.
BLISS: I can call back?
SAM: No, it’s not you, it’s— GAH. You’re doing everything right Bliss, don’t worry. Okay, okay, can you tell me where you are?
BLISS: Standing next to a cupboard.
SAM: Where’s the cupboard?
BLISS: Down a fancy hallway which lead to an even fancier room. It’s connected to the tunnels. The floor had tiles. There were loads of coats of arms everywhere. I think they were calling it ‘the guild hall’.
SAM: The Guild Hall! Bliss, you’re doing fantastic, thank you. Make sure nobody finds Arlo and wait for me and the others to get there before you do anything else, unless there’s immediate risk, okay?
BLISS: And then it’s knife time?
SAM: It’s knife time.
BLISS: Oh, yes! Finally! My time to shine.
SAM: We’ll be there soon.
[SAM HANGS UP]
SAM: Okay, it’s happening, it’s happening, it’s happening. There’s still time. It’s going to be fine. It’s all going to be fine. Deep breaths; in, out. In, out. Great. See?
REVEL: Rrrrnnnnpppt.
SAM: You’re right, I do got this. Okay. Ingra!
[INGRA’S STATIC]
INGRA: What’s up, hot shot?
SAM: The Redistribution is starting right now.
INGRA: Is Bliss okay?
SAM: Yeah, I just spoke to her, I need you to go ahead and make sure she’s alright, and keep an ear out for developments, you got that?
INGRA: Got it. You want me to take the cat?
REVEL: Rrrrgggggt!
SAM: No. Revel, I need you to go to the Hatfield Karpos. None of us can get inside but you can stand on the street and keep an eye out. I don’t know what this is going to mean more broadly, I thought we’d have more time to prepare, what if they come for Oliver whilst this is happening? What can I—
REVEL: Prrrn.
INGRA: Cat’s right. Lover boy will be fine if we stop this.
SAM: Yeah. Yeah. Okay, Revel, please go keep watch outside of the Karpos anyway, okay?
REVEL: Mrrp.
SAM: Thank you.
[REVEL’S STATIC]
INGRA: Seriously, Sam. We can handle this. It’s going to be fine.
SAM: Right. Thanks, Ingra.
INGRA: No problem.
[INGRA’S STATIC]
SAM: What now, what NOW? Um, INDI!
[INDI’S STATIC]
INDI: You called?
[DOOR BURSTS OPEN]
ANNA: What on earth is going on? I keep hearing all this buzzing, and– oh. Indi. Hello.
INDI: Hey.
[ANNA CLEARS HER THROAT]
ANNA: Kitty not with you this evening?
INDI: She went out.
ANNA: I see.
SAM: Am I… missing something, here?
INDI: No.
ANNA: No!
SAM: Uh, okay? We haven’t got time for this. Bliss says things are starting with the Redistribution. Arlo’s safe, but we need to move fast. I’ve sent Ingra already, I need you to–
ANNA: I’m going.
SAM: Anna, no.
ANNA: Don’t you ‘Anna, no’ me. I can handle myself. I want to help.
INDI: She could come in handy in an interrogation.
ANNA: I– could!
SAM: Okay, fine. Indi, I need you to get Rhytidia. She might be able to talk some… well, not sense exactly, but she’ll be able to say a lot of words and we’re going to need that, I think. Bliss is in a tunnel just off the Guild Hall in York. You’ll find it if you look for her. Ingra should be nearby.
INDI: What about the Unrelenting?
SAM: I sent Revel to keep watch.
INDI: And Kitty?
SAM: I– we need to do something first.
ANNA: What?
SAM: It– I’ll explain later, okay?
ANNA: Where’s Kitty?
SAM: I’m going to get her. If you want to help, just go with Indi and find Rhytidia. Okay?
INDI: No time for this.
[INDI’S STATIC RINGS OUT IN COMBINATION WITH AN INDIGNANT CRY FROM ANNA]
[SAM BREATHES HEAVILY]
SAM: Kitty.
KITTY: Sam– you’ve never– you’ve never called me like that before.
SAM: Gods– I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking.
KITTY: It’s alright, what’s wrong?
SAM: I– It’s the Redistribution. We need to stop it, and I– I need you there.
KITTY: Okay, let’s go.
SAM: You don’t understand, I–
KITTY: You what?
SAM: I need you there as the Investigator.
KITTY: Ah.
SAM: I didn’t mean to do this to you, I didn’t mean for this to happen, I just wanted you back, I—
KITTY: It’s done, now. Alright? For what it’s worth, it’s all the same to me. I’m your Major Arcana and I’m your sister. I’m there for you either way.
SAM: Kitty.
KITTY: Don’t mention it.
SAM: But Kitty–
KITTY: No really, I’m serious. Don’t.
SAM: I’ll find a way to undo this. I swear I will.
KITTY: Enough, Sam.
[SAM TAKES A DEEP BREATH]
SAM: Sorry.
KITTY: Shut up. What’s the plan?
SAM: The plan? Oh! Right. I. Yeah. The plan. I thought we had more time. I didn’t think it would happen so soon. I– all the signs say it’s not happening for weeks, I haven’t worked this out yet, Kitty, I–
KITTY: You want my input?
SAM: Yeah.
KITTY: We fall in immediately and shut it down head on.
SAM: How?
KITTY: Take my hand.
SAM: Okay.
[KITTY’S STATIC]
B: — and all we are will come to— Naught.
SAM: Stop what you’re doing RIGHT NOW!
B: Sam Enfield, what a surprise.
SAM: I can’t let you do this.
B: And how do you suppose you’ll stop things now?
KITTY: You’re surrounded!
B: By… who?
KITTY: Sam, you said the others were here, where are–
[INDI’S STATIC]
RHYTIDIA: EVERYBODY PUT DOWN YOUR FORKS! I’VE GOT A GALLON OF BOG WATER AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT.
ANNA: She’s not lying!
INDI: Oh, boy.
[A PAUSE]
B: Fascinating.
KITTY: Where are the rest of them?
SAM: I–
[SAM STEPS AROUND]
[B LAUGHS]
B: Oh dear, you’re very late to the party.
RHYTIDIA: Watch him, he’s got a knife!
[A DOOR BURSTS OPEN]
BLISS: They already did it!
INGRA: They were onto Arlo, we checked the dining hall and there were bowls in there, used, and—
SAM: We’re too late.
B: Far, far too late.
SAM: But. But, Arlo, how did you, why did–
B: You think that because I got rid of all the radios in the tunnels that I’ve got no way to know what’s happening on your show? That’s the drawback of your little forums. Everyone is so forthcoming, so ready to explain what I missed.
SAM: You knew this whole time?! But, why did you let Arlo keep speaking to me?!
B: It was easier to keep you occupied. Now I realise I needn’t have worried. What was your plan here, exactly? Did you even have one?
SAM: But I… I saw in the threads! And when I checked with the cards, they said– they said it wasn’t for weeks!
INDI: Cards can be wrong.
RHYTIDIA: And you ask a lot of the wrong questions, Samael.
B: That you do.
SAM: The wrong…
[GASP]
SAM: I asked about the prophecy, I asked about the end of the world, I asked about becoming One with the One and I didn’t ask about you.
[SAM LAUGHS BITTERLY]
You’re wrong. You were so completely wrong, about everything! Ha, wow. WOW.
B: What are you talking about?
SAM: See, I didn’t have a plan because I was banking on having more time. I asked the true arcanist tarot about when this prophecy would come to pass and–
[SAM LAUGHS]
daft of me really, even Arlo could see, and Scarcity herself said–
B: Don’t speak the name of her holiness, your wretched mouth dishonours her.
SAM: She as good as told me you were wrong, and when I spoke to the Man in the Flat Cap, he seemed surprised, or amused, even, that I thought you could be right.
INDI: Jay Magnum was right. There’s only one Heir Apparent.
SAM: Yeah. And it wasn’t the girl you just ate, B. It’s me.
B: What do you know about any of this? Nothing! You didn’t even know of the prophecy before I told you about it, you knew nothing about the mechanics of allowing the Impossible Children to grow, you don’t even understand yourself!
SAM: So what do you think I am then, huh?
B: I think you’re just one of many, told you were special your whole life and now sad and bitter that it turned out not to be true. I think you’ve found yourself at the centre of too many prophecies, and now you’ve found the biggest prophecy of all, the one of the End, and you can’t stand that you’re not the one that it pivots around.
SAM: Oh, I wish you’d said all of that when we first met. You’d have saved me a lot of worry.
B: Cut a little close to the bone? Listen, kid, you’ve got another thing coming if you think you can stop this.
[SAM IS ALMOST LAUGHING AS HE SPEAKS]
SAM: Stop it?! Do you have any idea–?? Do you not realise this, this whole thing, your whole set up here, what you’ve done, it was allowed to happen, it was designed! It’s all a plan, these things, they fall together at the precise moments they are meant to and maybe you think that you’ve played me because you didn’t persecute Arlo but all you’ve done is be played yourself. All these people you brought into this, who trusted you, who you betrayed?
[OBJECTS BEGIN TO TREMBLE]
SAM: When people follow you they become your responsibility, and you lied to everyone who ever showed up at your door, and worse, worse than that, you went out looking for people, you brought them here, on the basis of what!? It’s all baseless. There’s no substance behind any of your charade, no method, just madness, and you still can’t see it. You’re too blinded by conviction to realise you’re just a pawn in this!
[THINGS TREMBLE MORE LOUDLY]
B: Maybe so, but what does that make you?
SAM: Me? I’m the fucking king.
[THUNDER ROLLS, DISTANTLY]
B: Don’t make me laugh! You think a little arcane showmanship is going to frighten me? You came here cowering behind a bunch of Major Arcana and you claim to be anything more than the rest of them!?
[THINGS TREMBLE STILL MORE LOUDLY]
SAM: I didn’t claim anything! I had no choice! I woke up one morning and my mother was gone and all I did was try to step in whilst she was away. This isn’t the path I wanted to walk, how could it be? I don’t want any of this, I—
B: Last time you came here, too, you couldn’t face it alone either, hiding behind that thing—
[MAGIC HUM RISES]
SAM: You will not call Oliver Boleyn a thing.
[THUNDER]
B: [CRUELLY] I know what he is. You’re not the only one with access to a True Arcanist deck, you know. I’ve asked the cards, I saw what he is! The Unrelenting. I’ve wondered for a long time how the flesh of such a creature would taste. All that borrowed power sewn into his sinews. Just like Maria, I’m sure he’d taste divine.
SAM: Oliver Boleyn is mine.
[THUNDER CLAPS OVERHEAD.THE STRANGE, SHIMMERING WHISTLE OF THE ARCANE SHIMMERS, SAM’S POWER RISES]
[OLIVER’S STATIC]
OLIVER: Sam! What have you done? I–
SAM: Oliver? What, I—
OLIVER: You said– I said. We agreed that you wouldn’t. That you wouldn’t do this, I—
B: Oh, did you summon him here just for us, the Redistribution is done but there’s always time—
SAM: [WITH RESOUNDING FINALITY] Enough.
[A BEAT OF SILENCE. A BREATH, SLOWED DOWN. THE BACKGROUND SOUNDS STOP]
SAM: Huh. Everyone has just… stopped. HAve I made an Arcane Space? Here? Well that was easy. Lemme just.
[SAM CLICKS THEIR FINGERS]
SAM: Hello? B?
[SAM SLAPS HIM]
SAM: No. Nothing. Well. There we go.
SAM: Okay, before anything else. I’ll take that knife, thank you.
[KNIFE CLATTERS]
[SAM WALKS AS HE SPEAKS]
SAM: Ah, Oliver, how do I unfreeze you? Can I? Um. Vibes, VIBES, What if I just…
[SAM STOPS]
[SAM KISSES OLIVER BRIEFLY]
[OLIVER GASPS]
OLIVER: What are you– how are you doing this!? Time– everything has stopped, it’s all—
SAM: Suspended. It’s alright. Don’t worry. Why did you leave the shop? What if he calls you, Oliver! I can’t let that happen to you again.
OLIVER: He can’t do that anymore; you took my deal.
SAM: No, I didn’t, I wouldn’t. That’s what they wanted us to do, so I wouldn’t, I– Oh. Oh no, oh. I was– it was a mistake, I didn’t mean to but, vibes, intention! Ah. I said you were mine, I’m sorry, I didn’t think!
OLIVER: [UTTERLY DISTRAUGHT] You have no idea what you’ve done.
SAM: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to!
OLIVER: I– it’s alright. It’s going to be– mmf.
SAM: Oliver?!
OLIVER: Sorry, magpie, I feel… weak. Wrong. What? My head.
SAM: Ah, I don’t think I can keep you here like this for long. This is a bubble of the arcane or something, I think?
OLIVER: I– it’s a what?
SAM: Hold onto me.
[A SOUND LIKE A DOOR OPENING. THE BACKGROUND SOUNDS RETURN]
B: —For another sacrement! Uh. The knife! Where is the knife?
SAM: [CALMLY] This knife?
OLIVER: Sam, don’t—
SAM: Oliver, stay where you are. I can handle this.
B: I– You were over there and now you’re— how—-
[THUNDER ROLLS]
[SAM’S VOICE ECHOES. GHOSTLY WHISPERS RISE ON THE WIND]
SAM: I am Samael Apollo Enfield, Heir Apparent to the Blood Rose Crown. I speak and will be heard. Tell me, are you afraid?
B: P—please!
ANNA: Sam, no!
SAM: Why. Why shouldn’t I?
OLIVER: You don’t have to do this.
SAM: They all trusted him! He called them here for nothing, and he betrayed them. He’s taken so many lives!
OLIVER: So have I.
SAM: That’s different! They forced your hand.
OLIVER: His hand was forced too.
SAM: What about my hand, huh!? What about me? What about what I want?
OLIVER: You don’t want to kill this man.
SAM: YES I DO.
[THUNDER ROLLS]
B: P—please.
SAM: How could you?! How could you? They trusted you. I should kill you right now!
ANNA: You’re better than this.
SAM: Am I?
BLISS: The killing bit isn’t the best part.
INGRA: Take it from us. It’s more trouble than it’s worth.
KITTY: He’s not worth it.
INDI: You’re a magnanimous lord, Heir Apparent. This isn’t you.
SAM: Then WHAT AM I?!
[THE LOUDEST PEAL OF THUNDER YET]
[SAM BREATHES HEAVILY]
[B WHIMPERS]
SAM: [WHISPERING] What am I?
OLIVER: [CLOSE, SOFTLY] Magpie. Let him go.
[MAGIC HUM FLARES]
SAM: ARGH!
[THUNDER FADES INTO RAIN]
[SAM SOBS]
[THE KNIFE CLATTERS TO THE FLOOR]
[SAM SOBS]
SAM: I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
OLIVER: It’s all going to be alright.
B: Coward.
KITTY: Sam, look out!
RHYTIDIA: Watch him! He’s got the knife!
[INDI’S STATIC]
INDI: Oi! Drop that!
[CRUNCH]
B: Ah! My wrist!
[THE KNIFE CLATTERS TO THE GROUND]
INDI: Don’t try me, scum bag.
[KNIFE CLATTERS AS INDI KNOCKS IT]
INDI: Oi, Kitty? You want this for your collection?
KITTY: Nah, it’s hideous.
BLISS: I think it’s got a sort of ugly charm to it.
ANNA: Sam, Sam are you– are you okay?
SAM: I’m fine. Oliver, you, love, you can let go of me now.
OLIVER: I– oh. I’m sorry.
SAM: No, you’re fine, you’re. You’re okay. You’re fine.
OLIVER: I’m so sorry.
SAM: No. No, why are you apologising, I’m the one that…
OLIVER: Later.
SAM: Oh, okay. Later. Can– can you get home?
OLIVER: Yes.
SAM: Okay. Go. I’ll meet you there.
[OLIVER’S STATIC]
INGRA: What now, boss?
SAM: Um. You and Bliss, you need to supervise B. We can’t just leave the other Scarcemongers. They need answers I can’t give. But first. I need to ask. B. You never did speak with her, did you?
B: Who?
SAM: Scarcity. She never spoke with you, only Maria Gillespie. And neither of you had spoken to the One.
B: Him? The One Who Walks Here and There? Of course not! He doesn’t speak to mere mortals, not unless he is offering a deal!
SAM: Exactly.
B: What? What?! You’ve spoken to him?
SAM: Yes.
[PAUSE]
B: Maria Gillespie was never an Heir Apparent.
SAM: No.
B: Scarcity. She played us for fools.
SAM: Like a fiddle.
B: No. How. Why? I– my whole life. The last twenty years. My friends, my family. The sacrament. What have we done? What have we all done? We… we just… No, no. You don’t understand. Everything we did, all of it, it’s… it’s nothing. It was all nothing, and so many people. So many. So many people.
SAM: You were wrong.
B: No. I— forgive me.
SAM: No. No, I won’t forgive you. It doesn’t matter what I think. None of this is about me. It’s about you, and these people. The ones that are left. People you brought here and offered family to. It’s them you owe your apologies, not me.
B: But—
SAM: I don’t have any answers, B.
BLISS: Come on. We’ve got a whole cult to speak to.
B: No, wait, I-
INGRA: I’d save my breath for all the grovelling if I were you.
[INGRA’S STATIC]
SAM: Indi. Take Rhytidia and my sisters home.
ANNA: Sam–
SAM: Anna, I swear to Bathsheba, if you argue with me about this–
ANNA: I just–
INDI: I’ll come back for you and and your other sister.
[INDI’S STATIC]
SAM: Alright, jeez! What’s going on, Anna? Why is Indi your biggest fan?
ANNA: Are you okay.
SAM: Is that it? Is that seriously why you wanted to stay? To ask if I’m alright?
ANNA: I–I keep thinking it could have so easily have been you.
SAM: I don’t know if that could have happened as easily as you think.
ANNA: W– what do you mean?
SAM: Well, they were wrong, weren’t they? The whole premise they were working on was incorrect. Me and Marie Gillespie, and all the other Impossible Children. I’m not like them. I’m something else.
ANNA: Sam. Whatever you think, whatever M thought. You’re not a monster, alright?
SAM: You saw what I just did, didn’t you?
ANNA: You didn’t do it!
SAM: Came close though.
ANNA: Sam, none of this is easy–
SAM: Well, you’re getting one thing right at least.
[PAUSE]
ANNA: Something happened with Oliver, didn’t it?
SAM: Yes.
ANNA: Is it this transfer of a deal thing you’ve been trying to avoid?
SAM: Yes.
ANNA: There’s something going on with Kitty too—
SAM: Anna. Don’t ask about that. Please.
ANNA: Okay. [PAUSE] What? Why are you looking at me like that?
SAM: You’re different, too.
ANNA: People change, I guess.
SAM: Yeah. Looks good on you.
ANNA: Where’s Arlo?
SAM: Oh crap! Wait here. If Indi comes back you go, send her back for me, okay?
ANNA: Sam!
SAM: No I’m serious, you GO.
[RUNNING]
[THUD THUD THUD THUD]
ARLO: [MUFFLED] HELLO?! IS ANYONE THERE!? HELLO!
SAM: Oh my god!
[RATTLING]
SAM: Ugh! The door is stuck, uh, I’ll get Bliss, she’s just taken B. Arlo, can you hear me!?
ARLO: You! But! They were here! They gave me the tea! Maria was there! They were going to— I thought it would— you said– This person! She shoved me in here! I don’t know what’s going on!
SAM: Gods, I’m so sorry, that’s Bliss, I told her to keep you safe and this is all she could think of. She’s probably got the key, I’ll get you out of there soon, I, I, it’s all going to be okay, I promise.
ARLO: The world isn’t ending?!
SAM: Not yet. Not today.
ARLO: Where’s Maria?
SAM: I– I’m sorry.
ARLO: Wh- but you said. You said everything was okay. You said it was okay!
SAM: I’m so sorry, Arlo.
ARLO: No. No, no, no!
[ARLO SOBS]
ARLO: You were supposed to stop them in time!
SAM: I know.
ARLO: You were supposed to stop them.
[ARLO CONTINUES TO CRY]
SAM: I know. I’m so sorry.
[SAM AND ARLO CRY]
[END]
Hanging Sloth Studios 