Episode 92: "Unto Woman What Is Hers” – The Sheridan Tapes
CONTENT WARNING: Severe existential dread and despair, peril, depictions of a dystopian police state and imprisonment, gun violence, claustrophobia, and loud noises including screams and breaking glass
????2020_03: Trapped within Morrison’s fortress city, Sam, Ned, and Lara attempt to reach a dangerous escape route.
Starring Sarah Karnes as Lara Smith, Ezra J. Wayne as Ned Leroux, Van Winkle as Sam Bailey, Adrian Gibbs as Adrian Briggs, and Alejandra Cejudo as Amanita, with original music by Jesse Haugen. Written and produced by Virginia Spotts, with dialogue editing and sound design by Van Winkle.
For more information, additional content, and episode transcript, visit thesheridantapes.com
This episode was made possible by our supporters at Patreon.com/homesteadcorner, ko-fi.com/homesteadcorner, and our backers on Seed&Spark.
Script
Transcript
CONTENT WARNING: Severe existential dread and despair, peril, depictions of a dystopian police state and imprisonment, gun violence, claustrophobia, and loud noises including screams and breaking glass
[Inside a dusty, drafty farmhouse]
[Outside, footsteps on dirt]
[The screen door creaks open and slams shut]
[Lara sighs]
[She walks across the creaking wooden floor, and sets her bag down]
[She notices something on the table, and picks up a piece of paper]
Lara Smith
What’s this?
[Reading] “To Lara, after I’m gone…”
[beat; emotional] Oh, hell…
[She sits, and we hear her read internally]
“I’ve never been a man of many words, so my apologies for the awkwardness in this letter. I don’t know how to write something like this… not sure anyone does. But I just need to say this: I… I’m sorry for my silence in your life. You deserved better.
“I hope you learn from me: always take care of what is yours. Whether farm or gun, intention or accident, catastrophe or blessing. Love, Dad”
[Lara sighs, folds the letter, and sticks it in her shirt pocket]
[She stands, chair scraping, and grabs her bag, walking to the bedroom]
[Cassette noises]
[Click]
[Main Theme]
Recording Begins
[Cassette noises]
[Click]
[Static fades]
[A distant alarm sounds in the otherwise quiet alleyway]
[Someone opens a window above Sam and Ned]
Lara Smith
Still alive, you two?
Ned Leroux
Ms. Smith??
Lara Smith
[Whisper yell] Well don’t shout my name like a goddamn idiot. Get inside!
Sam Bailey
H-how?
Lara Smith
Come out to the street and take the access door on the right! Fourth floor. [Muttered] I swear to God if these idiots get me killed…
[She closes her window again]
[Sam and Ned run to the street, enter the door, and shut it behind them as they climb up the stairwell]
[The sound of fluorescent lights flickering]
Sam Bailey
Who is that? How do you know her?
Ned Leroux
Met her on one of my first nights out with Bill. She called in about an… extraterrestrial disturbance in her barn.
Sam Bailey
Legit?
Ned Leroux
Oh yeah.
Sam Bailey
And now she’s…
Ned Leroux
Saving our asses. And somehow, not under Morrison’s control, by the look of things.
Sam Bailey
Can we trust her?
[They briefly stop]
Ned Leroux
Don’t see what other choice we have. Let’s go.
[Ned pushes the fourth floor door open and they step inside]
[A hollow, drafty sound of an empty, ransacked office floor]
[The wind howls through]
Sam Bailey
Where is she?
Ned Leroux
No idea. Best guess is behind all that piled-up furniture…
[A sheet of corrugated steel creaks as it’s slid aside]
Lara Smith
You two! In here, quick.
[She waves them over, and they squeeze through the opening]
[Creaking as she shuts the steel panel again]
[Slight dripping in here; a clock ticks on the wall]
[Some glass clinking as she speaks]
Lara Smith
Now listen up. There’s a raid on the southern guard towers happening tonight, and Molotov cocktails that need to be made, so get to work, boys.
[A few footsteps as she retreats to sit in her chair]
[The sound of pouring liquid into glass]
Sam Bailey
[Whispered] Are we doing this?
[Ned is already assembling Molotov cocktails]
[The sound of fabric being shoved into a glass bottle neck]
Ned Leroux
[Quietly] What do you think?
[Ned and Sam quietly assemble Molotov cocktails]
Sam Bailey
So Ms. Smith… Ned tells me you two have met.
Lara Smith
Lara. No use being formal at a time like this. Ned, was it?
Ned Leroux
Yes, ma’am. And this is Sam.
Sam Bailey
Nice to meet you.
Lara Smith
No it ain’t. Look where we’re at. But I suppose I appreciate that, honey. Now pipe down, I need to make sure none of those bastards followed you.
[She rises, walks to the window, and gently opens it]
[The noise of the street drifts through]
[The distant alarm gently sounds]
[The beeping of a flatbed truck reversing]
[Marching boots approaching]
Sam Bailey
Shit…
Lara Smith
Shh. We might be okay.
[The lifting and dropping of heavy loads into the flatbed – bodies]
Ned Leroux
[whispering] They’re just collecting the bodies, huh?
Lara Smith
Seems like it.
[Boots marching away]
[The truck leaves]
[They all sigh with relief]
Lara Smith
Y’all must be lucky. They may still come back to search for you… and me… but for right now, you’re lucky.
[She settles back into her armchair, opens a canteen, and drinks]
[She sighs]
Lara Smith
Well. What do y’all wanna know?
Sam Bailey
I’m sorry?
Lara Smith
We ain’t got time for this — the look on both your faces tells me you don’t got no earthly idea what’s happening here, besides the fact that you were two seconds from becoming Morrison’s prisoners. Clearly he wants something from you, and I’ve got no interest in assistin’ him with that.
I know Ned here was one of his old cops, so that makes sense. I don’t know what he wants with you, Sam, but that’s none of my business. And I know you ain’t one of the poor souls Morrison’s got trapped in the city, so you musta come here of your own accord, looking for something.
So I’ll ask you again. What do y’all want to know?
Sam Bailey
How… long have you been here?
Lara Smith
Couldn’t say for certain. At least a couple days. You know, I thought I was losin’ my damn mind at first — I just went into town one day to buy some paint… I’ve been doing a lot of house projects, you get it… and then I had a…
A… waking nightmare? I don’t know where I was. Maybe I hallucinated it all, but… it was real bad. I just hid until it all blew over… maybe half a day? That’s what it felt like, at least. And then things got a little better. There was a roar in my head, and the world shuddered, and then… things felt more normal after that.
Only… I can’t leave Oslow. I kept trying, but I just woke up here every morning. But I did have my supplies and the rifle in my truck, like I always do. There was enough commotion when I arrived that it was easy to hide from the patrols… and there are still plenty of empty buildings on the edge of town that they don’t pay any mind.
After a while I managed to get myself close enough to the center of the city to find out what was happening, and that’s when I recognized Chief Morrison. [She groans in disgust] That slimy fucking bastard, right at the center of it all.
I mean, I knew he was bad news. I should’ve listened to my gut last year, when all those trucks and helicopters showed up to get that alien off my farm. But… I let Morrison talk me down. I took his dirty money. And now he’s… well, shit. He’s gained a kind of power that’s just… demonic. There’s no other word for it, Hollywood as that sounds.
Ned Leroux
Demonic might be a good description for him, honestly.
Lara Smith
Yeah. Since then… I’ve been doing what I can to chip away at his operation. Taking out these officers, or… whatever those freaks are, it just doesn’t seem to make a difference. Just wastes bullets. I only shoot them when I really have to. I try to keep them from dragging people away when they break out of their apartments. I hope they can escape, but I’m not sure. But… there is one big silver lining.
[Thumping as she pats some fertilizer bags next to her]
Ned Leroux
Fertilizer. I was wondering when you were going to address that.
Lara Smith
I was picking up a big order for the farm when I got caught up in all this. It’s certainly gonna come in handy now.
Sam Bailey
You’re making IEDs?
Lara Smith
Sure am. I’ve kept a low profile so far, but… I’m ready to move in a big way when I need to.
I’ve never killed a man before, but… Morrison ain’t no man. Not really. Y’all got a good look at him?
Sam Bailey
We did.
Ned Leroux
Yeah.
Lara Smith
Everything I’ve been doing seems to slow them down, but just barely. They’re still moving… Expanding the city, building up new watchtowers and guard stations everywhere. I’m not sure whether I’m actually making any difference. But… I know for sure it’d make a difference to me if I did nothing. I couldn’t live with myself.
[The sound of boots returns]
[They stop in front of the building]
Lara Smith
[low whisper] We need to go, now.
[Lara picks up her pack and shoulders her rifle]
[They move towards the exit, floor creaking]
[Ned knocks something over]
Lara Smith
Jesus, careful Ned… there’s explosives over there.
Ned Leroux
[Faux apology, hiding something] Sorry, just clumsy.
[The creaking of metal as they exit into the drafty office]
[The metal door closes]
Lara Smith
Come on, move! We need to get down this hall.
[Quick footsteps on this level as they move quickly to the edge of the building]
[They begin to breathe heavily]
Lara Smith
Y’all were fools for coming here unarmed. I’m gonna lead you out quick as I can… [Under breath] Goddamn idiots.
Over there! Don’t go across the breezeway yet!
[They reach the edge of the building and Lara stops them]
Lara Smith
Hold on.
[She looks down, doesn’t see anything, and crosses the breezeway]
Lara Smith
Okay, come on —
[A bullet nearly grazes her, puncturing and shattering glass]
[Lara fires back]
Lara Smith
For god’s sake, y’all better get across NOW!
[Ned and Sam run across the breezeway]
[Glass shatters behind them]
Lara Smith
Take the stairwell!
[They open the heavy door and climb a set of stairs to the roof]
[Boots on the stairs below]
[They open the access door to the roof, close it behind them, and breathe heavily in the evening air]
Lara Smith
Okay you two, time to jump a roof. Swear to god, I should’ve brought my chondroitin.
[They run to the roof edge]
Sam Bailey
[Nauseous] Oh god oh god oh god…
Ned Leroux
If you can blow up a dam, you can jump a roof, Sam!
[Sam scoffs nervously, runs, and takes a leap to the other side, landing with a grunt]
[Ned and Lara jump as well]
[Ned laughs]
Ned Leroux
First time?
Sam Bailey
Oh, shut up.
Lara Smith
Stop flirtin’ and run!
[They run across the room and hide behind an elevator shaft, wind dying down slightly in the shelter]
Lara Smith
I don’t think the officers are following us, but we can’t risk going back to street level until we’re sure. There’s a sewer entrance I’ve used before not too far from here, I might know a way out of the city from there.
Sam Bailey
Might?
Lara Smith
I’ve used the sewers to move through the city, and I haven’t been caught down there yet. I’m not sure if they lead out, but… it’s worth a try. Y’all are being watched too closely.
[All is quiet for now… they relax for a beat, slowing their breath]
Sam Bailey
So… Morrison is trying to perfect these people, right? He’s showing them their worst mistakes and making it impossible to escape from them. Why? What does he get from all this?
Lara Smith
My father always told me to take care of what was mine. But he never asked me to be perfect.
Ned Leroux
He must gain some kind of power from forcing these people to reach for perfection. From punishing them.
Sam Bailey
That must be why the timeline resets every day. [Pause] He won’t let a new day begin until everyone here is perfect in his eyes.
Ned Leroux
But that’s… not possible, is it?
Sam Bailey
It does sound like him though, doesn’t it?
Ned Leroux
…yeah, it does.
Sam Bailey
But Morrison… he’s not looking so good, is he?
Ned Leroux
He’s looking awful. But we did just watch him shove his own heart back into his chest, so…
Sam Bailey
How long ago did the Shamson Mine monster take that from him?
Ned Leroux
Shit, that would have been… months ago. Right after you got Bill out of the tunnels.
Sam Bailey
How heavily does his own imperfection weigh on him, I wonder?
Ned Leroux
Maybe he’s not as invulnerable as he’s been making himself out to be.
[The sound of boots, far below, grows again]
Sam Bailey
We just may have a chance.
[Lara stirs, standing]
Lara Smith
We need to move. This way.
[They run to the building’s fire escape, and try to move down the short set of metal stairs as fast as they can]
[On the final landing, Lara stops them]
[Boots are louder and closer now]
Lara Smith
Goddammit, RUN!
[They fly down the last few stairs, then hit the asphalt streets hard]
[The sound of boots grows louder, and louder]
[Sam, Lara, and Ned keep running, and breathing hard]
Lara Smith
Shit, we’re not gonna reach the entrance. In here!
[She opens a propped-open metal door on a random building, they all enter, and she closes it behind them]
[In the small, quiet hallway, they hear a familiar muffled voice]
[Fluorescents buzz]
[A clock ticks]
Adrian Briggs (muffled)
So do not fear, and know that all is as it should be. Only through submission will you know true release. Trust our Lord. Rejoice. Rejoice. Rejoice.
Sam Bailey
Is that…?
Ned Leroux
It’s that damn radio guy.
[Adrian stops, audibly sighs, and stands inside his office]
Lara Smith
Shit, what if he turns us in?
Sam Bailey
Hold on a second…
[Adrian opens his door into the hallway, and is startled]
Adrian Briggs
Jesus Christ, what—?
Sam Bailey
[Distortion rising] Relax. If you don’t hurt us, we won’t hurt you.
Adrian Briggs
How the hell did you get in here?
[Lara cocks her rifle]
Lara Smith
Who are you, and why the hell are you helping Morrison?
Adrian Briggs
Whoa, easy! I’m Adrian, I… Oh my God, wait… you’re… [Realizing what they think] Oh, I don’t like him either! I don’t want to be here! Oh my God… are you getting me out of here? I would do anything to get out of this—
Sam Bailey
Just… Slow down. Tell us what’s happening.
Adrian Briggs
I… well, I dunno, the last rational thing I remember is being just a regular radio DJ. Only life was… well, picture this: the wife and kids had left, I was watching a lot of Dogg the Bounty Hunter, and I kept having to give these missing person alerts for somebody named Molly Davis in Oslow County.
[Sam breathes in sharply]
Adrian Briggs
You knew her?
Sam Bailey
It doesn’t matter now. How did you end up here?
Adrian Briggs
[Hesitant] Well… I guess I thought I would go find her. Wanted to do something good. You ever do that? Make yourself look like an asshole because you think you’re doing the right thing?
Ned Leroux
It’s safe to say we’ve been there.
Sam Bailey
So you got pulled into the Source with the city, and now you’re… trapped.
Adrian Briggs
Yeah. Somebody named Amy found me in there, made sure I didn’t lose my mind. Hey… this is all actually real, right?
[Brief pause]
Sam Bailey
Amy Sterling?
Adrian Briggs
Oh… oh no. You know her too? [Under his breath] What kind of fucking place is Nevada, anyway?
Ned Leroux
Why would she have done that? Doesn’t that help Morrison?
[Sam exhales in confusion and worry]
Adrian Briggs
Oh my God, you guys just say “Morrison,” that is exhilarating. You know, you’re batshit crazy for being in the city like this. I wouldn’t be caught dead here if I wasn’t stuck.
Ned Leroux
Long story, bud. We’ve got a whole lot of irons in the fire.
[Sam steps forward to peer into Adrian’s small office studio]
Sam Bailey
How does… this work?
Adrian Briggs
I, uh… I’ve got a video feed in there, it shows the podium where Morrison makes his grand proclamations. Sometimes he sends me a little signal, but it’s usually just… a random printout that falls to my desk. I never know when they’ll come. And then… I read them. If I don’t, I get… [He hesitates] well… I’ve had better accommodations. These freaky officer things escort me here and back every day, and I usually get a full night’s sleep, but… it’s never for sure.
So… what’s your plan? Huh? How are you, uh… are you trying to stop all of this? Is that it?
Sam Bailey
We’re not sure yet. But we are trying to stop him. Would you be willing to help us? We might need it.
Adrian Briggs
Uhhhh…
Ned Leroux
I’m sure you’d be willing to do that, yeah? Instead of spending the rest of your life in this tiny little studio, praising a dangerous idiot?
Adrian Briggs
I mean… Of course. Whatever you need. I’ll be here every day, so… [Nervous laugh, voice breaking] You know where to find me. I don’t know what I actually could do, but…
Ned Leroux
You’ve got the loudest mic in the city, for one thing. But you let us worry about that.
Lara Smith
We should go.
Sam Bailey
Not a word of this to anyone, Adrian.
Ned Leroux
What he said.
Adrian Briggs
Uh… yeah. Sure. Got it. [Pause] Please don’t die out there, okay?
[Adrian retreats down the hall]
[Lara, Sam, and Ned listen at the exterior door]
Lara Smith
It’s quiet. Ready?
Sam Bailey
Ready.
Ned Leroux
Let’s go.
[Creak of the metal door opening, they step outside, and it shuts]
[The quiet evening air]
[They run a short distance and hide behind a dumpster]
Lara Smith
We made it, folks. The dumpster is good cover, but we’re still gonna need to be quick.
[Lara moves the manhole cover aside, grunting]
Sam Bailey
Have you done this before, Ned?
Ned Leroux
Bailey, what haven’t I done?
Sam Bailey
Stupid question.
[Ned, then Sam, then Lara climb down the descending ladder into the echoing tunnel]
Lara Smith
Watch your step, you two.
Sam Bailey
Jesus, it smells.
Ned Leroux
Comes with the territory, Bailey.
[Above, the sound of boots on the street]
Lara Smith
Shh!
[They listen for a moment]
[The boots get closer]
Lara Smith
GO!
[They descend the ladder quickly, breathing hard]
[They all hit the ground, feet splashing slightly]
[They begin running]
Lara Smith
Don’t look behind you and don’t stop running!
[Click as the tape stops in the jostle]
[Silence]
[Click as the tape is jostled back on]
[They approach a side entrance in the tunnels]
[The air echoes loudly]
Ned Leroux
In here?!
Lara Smith
Yes goddammit, this is our exit.
Ned Leroux
Oh my God, why does this feel so familiar…
[Distant boots]
Sam Bailey
You think this goes all the way to—
Lara Smith
MOVE!
[Click]
[Silence]
[Click]
[They all breathe raggedly, voice echoing in a narrow space]
Lara Smith
We need to… we need to keep going. Don’t let the bastards win.
Sam Bailey
We’ve been running for miles, Lara. I don’t even know if there’s any ventilation down here.
Ned Leroux
Doesn’t feel like it.
[Distant boots]
Sam Bailey
These aren’t like the ones we started in, Lara. You haven’t been down this far before, have you?
Lara Smith
No. I have not.
Ned Leroux
What are you trying to say, Sam?
Sam Bailey
I’m saying… I don’t think the city’s the only thing Morrison’s twisted. I think you and I know these tunnels all-too-well.
[The boots are much closer]
Ned Leroux
We’re not gonna make it…
Lara Smith
This way, we—
[The next turn reveals a dead end — they are trapped]
Ned Leroux
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
[The boots grow louder]
Sam Bailey
Ned…
Ned Leroux
Sam…
[An organic noise of rot dissolves the wall next to them]
[Lara, Sam, and Ned react in surprise]
Amanita
Well don’t just stand there, get in here!
Sam Bailey
What the—
[They haul themselves through the hole with some effort]
[A net of solid, black mycelia grows over the opening in the wall; organic and strong]
[The sound of boots dims greatly]
[The whistling of wind in the tunnels]
[Distant dripping]
Ned Leroux
How the hell did you do that so quick? And how did you find us?
Sam Bailey
And… thank you.
Amanita
Don’t mention it. I’ve been eating well lately. Growing my family. Doing a bit of remodeling… Plus, underground? I’ve got ears everywhere. [She laughs; turning to Lara] You may call me Amanita.
Lara Smith
What the hell was that? You some kinda witch?
[Amanita just laughs]
Amanita
Well… shall I give you the tour?
[Clack]
Homestead on the Corner 