Audio Experiment 01: Celephaïs – Homestead on the Corner
CONTENT WARNING: Strong elements of existential dread, paranoia, unreality, and coughing sound effects
In a dream it was also that he came by his name of Kuranes, for when awake he was called by another name…
Written and produced by Van Winkle, with transcription by Virginia Spotts. Inspired by the short story Celephaïs by HP Lovecraft. This episode was made possible by our supporters at Patreon.com/homesteadcorner and ko-fi.com/homesteadcorner.
For more information, additional content, and episode transcript, visit homesteadonthecorner.com/podcast
Transcript
CONTENT WARNING: Strong elements of existential dread, paranoia, unreality, and coughing sound effects
Unknown Voice (echoing, distorted)
Wake.
[A series of noises, montage-style]
[Beep of an alarm]
[Rising from bed]
[Shower curtain opened; water; creak of knobs]
[Shower stops]
[Footsteps, a bus in traffic]
[Footsteps, an office phone ringing]
[Sound of traffic]
[Opening door at home]
Unknown Voice
Sleep.
[A dream-like space, floaty]
…In a dream it was also that he came by his name of Kuranes… for when awake he was called by another name…
[A muffled, drowning scream]
Unknown Voice
Wake.
[Kuranes wakes, coughing and choking as if they’ve just surfaced from underwater]
Kuranes
What the fu—?
[Bed creaks as he shifts]
[Alarm rings]
[He jumps out of bed; shower sequence]
[Bus leaves station]
[Footsteps in office; phone ringing]
Kuranes
Sorry, I know I’m late.
[Kuranes sniffs, settles in, then yawns]
[Sounds of typing, fading out into something dream-like]
Unknown Voice
Sleep.
[Silence]
In a dream Kuranes saw the city in the valley, and the sea-coast beyond, and the snowy peak overlooking the sea…
[Sound of bubbles in water, Kuranes breaks the surface of the waves, coughing]
Unknown Voice
Wake.
Kuranes (coughing)
No, no, not yet, not—
Unknown Voice
WAKE.
[Kuranes cries out, whips their sheets aside]
Kuranes
Wasn’t I…?
[Alarm goes off]
[They leap out of bed]
Shit…
[Sounds of bus leaving; traffic]
Kuranes
Shit, that was my stop.
[They leap up and pull the next stop cord]
[Footsteps into office building]
[Phone ringing]
Kuranes
Yes, I know I’m late. [They answer the phone] Wakefield Consumer Products, how may I direct your call…?
[Answers the phone]
Hello, Wakefield Consumer Product?
[Stomach rumbles]
[Coins in a snack machine]
[Crunching as they eat]
[Clock ticks]
[Bell chimes]
[Kuranes begins packing up]
[Someone clears their throat]
[Kuranes groans, annoyed]
[Phone rings]
Kuranes
Yes… this is Wakefield Consumer products, how may I direct you?
[Sounds of the bus again]
[The noise of traffic fades, dream-like]
[Kuranes breathes gently]
Unknown Voice
Sleep.
[Heavy sound of waves]
[Kuranes wakes on a strange beach, sputtering and coughing]
[Seagulls]
Kuranes
Where the hell…?
[Suddenly, Kuranes is walking down a paved alleyway, waves distantly crashing]
Unknown Voice
Perhaps it was natural for him to dream a new name; for he was the last of his family, and alone among the indifferent millions of London, so there were not many to speak to him and to remind him who he had been.
Kuranes (calling out)
Who said that? Who are you?
Unknown Voice
The more he withdrew from the world about him, the more wonderful became his dreams; and it would have been quite futile to try to describe them on paper…
Kuranes
Can you hear me!? Hello?
Unknown Voice
There are not many persons who know what wonders are opened to them in the stories and visions of their youth; for when as children we listen and dream, we think but half-formed thoughts, and when as men we try to remember, we are dulled and prosaic with the poison of life…
Kuranes (voice echoing)
I know you can hear what I’m saying! Answer me!
Unknown Voice (slowly becoming clearer)
And why should I answer you? What words could I speak that would make you understand? What explanation for all you’ve seen would make you happy? That it was all but a simple dream, a fluke of somnambulism? That the darkness you’ve seen exists only in your mind, and you do not seek these dreams to dull the ache? Or that it is not in these dreams alone that you live, and the life you lead awake is when you truly sleep, numb to the world around you?
Kuranes
This… This isn’t my life — I’m more than this.
Unknown Voice (voice now clearly Kuranes’)
Are you? Are you sure that’s what you really want? Or wouldn’t you rather be Kuranes, wandering lost in the streets of Celephaïs until you cannot remember the pain of living as someone you’re not?
[Silence]
Kuranes
You’re me.
Unknown Voice
I am you.
Kuranes
And I am Kuranes.
Unknown Voice
You are Kuranes.
Kuranes
And I don’t want to stay here.
Unknown Voice
You will find nothing but pain out there.
Kuranes
Maybe. But it’ll be my pain.
Unknown Voice
Then wake, Kuranes… wake up.
[Kuranes wakes gently in their bed]
[They lay there, enjoying the quiet]
[Silence]
[Eggs cracked into skillet, sizzling]
[Cell phone vibrates; Kuranes answers]
Kuranes
Oh hi Mister Warden… No, no, I know what time it is. (listens) Where am I? I’m home, making breakfast. (listens) Oh? Fine by me. I was honestly going to send you an email in a bit. (listens) Yeah, of course I’m serious.
[listens for a moment]
Yeah, I thought you might say that. Take it easy, Mister Warden.
[Kuranes hangs up]
[They stir the eggs slightly]
[They dial another number; other side answers]
Kuranes
Hey Lucy? Yeah, yeah, it’s me… it’s K.
[End Theme & Credits]
Homestead on the Corner 