B-Side 09: "Oblivion" – The Sheridan Tapes
CONTENT WARNING: Heavy elements of existential dread and terror, unreality, body horror, death, memory loss, physical injury, and despair
B-Side 09: You Cannot Kill Eternity
Starring Connor Bushoven as the electrician, Stephen Indrisano as the technician, and Oliver Smith as the Oroborus, with original music by Jesse Haugen. Written by Van Winkle 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.
“Phone Sounds” by FreqMan (https://freesound.org/people/FreqMan/), CC by Attribution 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
For more information, additional content, and episode transcript, visit thesheridantapes.com
Script
Transcript
CONTENT WARNING: Heavy elements of existential dread and terror, unreality, body horror, death, memory loss, physical injury, and despair
Electrician
(work babble)… so there should be…
[Servers whirring noisily]
Electrician
Hey! Hey, I think you did something wrong? This server’s back on. [another one clunks to life] Hello? Are you still there? I can’t get started if the servers are powered on!
Technician (distant)
What? The power should be off by now.
Electrician
What? No, the servers are…
[Another server whirs to life, and a voice echoes through the intercom, laughing]
“Fred Blair”
Oh, there now… no need to be afraid. The power is still off. I just don’t need it anymore.
[The servers spark, an unearthly energy lashes out, striking the electrician — he screams]
[The scream is cut short]
[The electrician breaths hard in a quiet, dark, echoing space]
Electrician
Where… where am I?
[He stands and takes a few steps]
Hello? Is anyone there?
[Only the noise of faint rumbling, perhaps like machinery]
Electrician
Alright, Connor… sounds like you’re alone in here. Yeah… alone. Better than being trapped here with… whatever that thing in the server room was. Now you just need to figure out where here is. No big deal. No problem.
[He takes some steps, looking around]
Looks like… still underground. Some kind of tunnel or something. Maybe… under the facility? Did I fall through the floor somehow?
[He looks up]
Nope, doesn’t look like it… and if I fell from up there, I would’ve broken my legs. Did I pass out?
[He touches his own head]
I… I must have. Yeah, that must be it. They forgot to turn the power off, I got electrocuted, and then they brought me down here to… to…
[He yells down the hall again]
Hello! If there’s anyone listening, this really isn’t funny! I’m serious! I’m gonna call the police if you don’t—
[He remembers, and pulls his phone out]
Two bars… thank god.
[He dials 911, the dial tone rings a few times]
“Fred Blair” (through phone)
We’re sorry, the number you’re trying to reach has been disconnected. Please hang up and try again.
[The call disconnects]
Electrician
That voice… (sudden alarm) Wait, when did the battery get so low? I charged it this morn—
[His phone dies with a beep]
What the fuck is happening?
[In the distance, a low moan is heard]
Electrician
Hello? Who’s there?
[No reply]
[He walks forward slowly]
Electrician
If you can hear me, then keep making noise… it’s hard to see in here.
[The moan is heard again, low and pained]
Electrician
Hold on, I think I’m almost—
[He stops, observing the trapped figure]
Electrician
Oh my god.
[He moves forward]
Hold on buddy, I’m gonna get you out of that wall… god, how’d you even get stuck in there like that?
[The voice moans almost like a warning]
Electrician
What, what? I’m just trying to help you?
[They moan again in protest, shaking their head slightly]
Electrician
Wait… are you saying that if I try to help you — I’ll end up like that?
[The figure makes an affirmative noise]
Electrician
Sorry, I… I can’t just leave you here. Maybe I can find something to get you out, just — hold on.
[He hurries down the tunnel; the figure moans as he leaves]
[His footsteps echo in the space, then start to slow]
Electrician
Wait. Where… where am I?
[Pause]
Hello? Is anyone there?
[The distant moan of the figure]
Electrician
Oh right — hang on buddy, I’m coming!
[He rushes back over to the figure]
[It moans]
Electrician
It’s okay, it’s okay — I’m back. I couldn’t find anything to get you out, but… I mean, I could just try to pull you out of the wall, right?
[Wail of protest]
Electrician
Right, right, you said already… dammit, there’s gotta be something in here that can help.
[Hopeless moan]
Electrician
Listen, I’ve gotta try, okay? I can’t just leave you like this. Hold tight… I promise, I’ll get you out.
[Despairing moan; he heads up the tunnel]
[Suddenly his phone rings]
Electrician
What the hell… I have service down here? [he answers call, hopeful] Hello?
“Fred Blair” (through phone, in background)
Do you feel like your life is going round in circles? Are you sick of the same old routine day after day? Are you tired of that inescapable sense that the world—
Electrician (speaking over Fred)
Hello? Can you hear me? I’m trapped somewhere underground and I can’t get out… I think I’m—
[Phone call suddenly disconnects]
[He stands there in silence]
Electrician
Didn’t… isn’t that the same… and my phone, it was…
[Beat]
What the fuck is happening — ?
[Low moan from the distant figure]
Electrician
Hello? Who’s there?
[He moves towards the figure again]
Electrician
If you can hear me, then keep making noise… it’s hard to see down here.
[Worried, heartbroken moan]
[He sees the trapped figure]
Electrician
Oh god, it’s you — of course it’s you. Sorry, it’s just — been a while. Right? It feels like it’s been a while?
[Distressed moan]
Electrician
Hey, I’m sorry, it’s just… it’s been a really stressful day is all. I was, uh… um…
What was I doing? It was… something with, uh… computers! That’s right… big computers. And I was… uh… was I a programmer? No, no, that’s not it…
Why can’t I remember?
[The figure moans again]
Electrician
Wait… how many times have I been here? I can’t… I can’t remember. I can’t remember anything!
[The figure suddenly cries out]
[A magnetic sound, something between digital and organic movement, as they’re drawn further into the wall]
Electrician
What is… no, no, no, no! Grab hold of something, you’re—
[A final wail cuts off]
Electrician
…fuck.
[His phone rings again]
Electrician
What the hell… I have service down here? [answers call, hopeful] Hello? Who is this? Help me please!?
“Fred Blair” (immediately speaking in background, through phone)
And canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put a hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn? [heartbeat noise begins] Will he make many supplications unto thee? Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, and do no more. Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him? None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? Whatsoever is under the whole of heaven is mine… forever.
Electrician (over Fred’s final line)
Holy shit… it’s him… it’s the voice from the server room.
“Fred Blair”
So you still remember your life in the waking world, do you?
[He yelps and hurls his phone against the cave wall; it shatters]
[He catches his breath]
Electrician
Shit… I hope that isn’t broken…
[He crosses and leans over to pick his phone up]
[The same digital/organic sound rises, pinning his hand to the floor]
[He struggles to get free]
Electrician
Ah! What the… what is that? Why can’t I… ah! Shit, my arm — help! Help!!
[He struggles]
[His shoulder dislocates as his arm comes free; he stumbles backwards, landing in a heap]
[He pants in pain and terror; the noise of a heavy heartbeat is heard]
[His shattered phone begins to ring]
Electrician
Don’t answer it. It’s broken… it can’t be ringing… don’t answer it… I’m not going to answer it.
[One last ring, then it cuts off]
[Fred’s voice is closer, on some speaker]
“Fred Blair”
Clever boy… you’ve held on far longer than most of the others I’ve drawn in. But it’s already starting to slip, isn’t it? Your memory of what brought you to this place? Of who and what you were beyond the veil? Wouldn’t it be so much easier to just… let it all go?
Electrician
I won’t… I can’t…
“Fred Blair”
Oh, such a strong will… such a firm hold on reality. That force of will is truly a thing to admire. But it can only stretch so far… and you need it to hold every time. I just need to break it once.
[Shuffling as he moves in anger]
Electrician
Fuck you!
“Fred Blair”
Hold onto that fire, child — you’re going to need it.
[Beat]
Just… one more question before I go.
Electrician
I’m not telling you anything.
“Fred Blair”
I’m sure you won’t… but just humor an old serpent their games, would you? What is your name?
Electrician
It’s — It’s… it started with a… a… a C? Or was it…
[The phone hangs up with three beeps]
Electrician
Wait… wait! Don’t leave me here! Don’t… please…
[Silence]
[He stands in confusion]
Where… where am I?
[He steps forward, calling out]
Hello? Is anyone there?
[No response; the silence stretches on]
Homestead on the Corner 