This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Jonathan Cook: Hi listeners.

[0:01] Devon McSherry: STAGE FRIGHTS is a Gather by the Ghost Light production and an immersive audio experience intended for adult audiences.

[0:08] Jonathan Cook: Immerse yourself and enjoy.

[0:12] Devon McSherry: Previously on STAGE FRIGHTS.

[0:15] Jonathan Cook: So on today's episode, we'll be performing a sacrifice.

[0:22] Devon McSherry: Intruders!

[0:23] Jonathan Cook: Ow!

[0:24] Devon McSherry: Get the axe!

[0:25] Jonathan Cook: We're not intruders, this is our show.

[0:27] Devon McSherry: Well, our plan was to perform a sacrifice on tonight's show, and we were going to choose from one of these rascals.

[0:34] Jonathan Cook: You need to perform a sacrifice, and we need to perform a show.

[0:37] Devon McSherry: So, what if you all stick around and we use these sacrificial candidates here as the performers in our show?

[0:45] Jonathan Cook: What a great idea.

[0:47] Devon McSherry: Perfect.

[0:58] Jonathan Cook: Well, look at that.

[1:00] Devon McSherry: We're down to the last few candidates for the sacrifice.

[1:05] Jonathan Cook: It's almost time.

[1:10] Devon McSherry: He's right.

[1:11] Jonathan Cook: We only have a few more to save.

[1:12] Devon McSherry: What stories do we have left?

[1:14] Jonathan Cook: Well, here's the last script.

[1:15] Devon McSherry: It's a good one, though.

[1:16] Jonathan Cook: Oh, yeah, that should definitely do the trick.

[1:18] Devon McSherry: Come on, come on.

[1:19] Jonathan Cook: We don't have all day.

[1:21] Devon McSherry: Our sacrifice isn't going to sacrifice themselves, you know.

[1:24] Jonathan Cook: A lot of work to be done.

[1:26] Devon McSherry: People to torture, limbs to sever, a sacrifice to sacrifice.

[1:30] Jonathan Cook: Let's get on with it.

[1:31] Devon McSherry: Gotcha covered, Doc.

[1:33] Jonathan Cook: This next story may be the scariest one yet.

[1:40] Devon McSherry: Jonathan, I'm doing a thing here.

[1:42] Jonathan Cook: Come on, come on.

[1:44] Devon McSherry: So this one is a bit of a cautionary tale to be careful when you go jogging alone at night.

[1:49] Jonathan Cook: You never know what you may find lurking in the darkness.

[1:52] Devon McSherry: For this one, we need two actors.

[1:53] Jonathan Cook: One to play a mother and one to play her adult daughter, who is also our jogger.

[1:57] Devon McSherry: Hmm.

[1:58] Jonathan Cook: Well, I'm running a little low on candidates, but these two here should do just fine.

[2:03] Devon McSherry: Step forward.

[2:05] Corlin Hendricks: Your names, please.

[2:06] Arelis Rivera: Corlin Hendricks.

[2:08] Arelis Rivera: Ah, Elise.

[2:13] Jonathan Cook: Wow, okay. That was weird.

[2:14] Devon McSherry: All right, uh, step up to the mics and let us begin.

[2:18] Jonathan Cook: Oh, uh, looks like this script also needs uh needs a narrator.

[2:21] Devon McSherry: All right, I guess I'll take care of that part.

[2:24] Jonathan Cook: Now, gather round the ghost light. Sit back and enjoy.

[2:27] Devon McSherry: This one is called CLIP CLOP.

[2:29] Jonathan Cook: Written by Greg Mandryk.

[2:31] Devon McSherry: How do you echo a mandrink?

[2:38] Jonathan Cook: Nighttime. A country road. The world was all black tar and chalk dust under the pale moon.

[2:45] Devon McSherry: The sun had set and the day's heat had been subdued.

[2:48] Jonathan Cook: It was an absolutely perfect night for a run.

[2:52] Devon McSherry: Here we go.

[2:53] Jonathan Cook: But the woods, they can be a dangerous place in the darkness.

[2:57] Devon McSherry: Well, that makes them doubly so.

[2:59] Jonathan Cook: She had been warned.

[3:00] Devon McSherry: Her mother often told her.

[3:02] Jonathan Cook: Don't go running at night, dear. It isn't safe.

[3:04] Devon McSherry: A pearl of wisdom from a worrisome mother.

[3:08] Jonathan Cook: You can't see where you're going. You might trip and break your ankle, and then where would you be?

[3:13] Devon McSherry: But there was something, something in the woman's expression that warned of darker, more insidious threats.

[3:19] Jonathan Cook: Perils that can only exist in the imagination of an overly protective mother.

[3:24] Devon McSherry: Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?

[3:26] Jonathan Cook: And she had listened.

[3:28] Devon McSherry: When she was younger.

[3:29] Jonathan Cook: But now.

[3:32] Devon McSherry: Oh, the air was brisk.

[3:34] Jonathan Cook: It cooled her as she glided over the smooth pavement.

[3:37] Devon McSherry: Her legs carrying her effortlessly.

[3:40] Jonathan Cook: Her heartbeat was steady, her breathing unlabored.

[3:43] Devon McSherry: Years of discipline had paid off.

[3:45] Jonathan Cook: The once torturous exercise had become a source of primal enjoyment.

[3:49] Devon McSherry: She paused under a street lamp.

[3:52] Jonathan Cook: Up ahead, she could see headlights.

[3:55] Devon McSherry: A car was approaching, speeding, definitely, not minding the lines too well.

[4:00] Jonathan Cook: Drunk?

[4:01] Devon McSherry: Stupid.

[4:02] Jonathan Cook: The car drew closer.

[4:04] Devon McSherry: Should she wait in the light where she could be seen?

[4:07] Jonathan Cook: Maybe get off the road completely.

[4:09] Devon McSherry: Ah, screw it.

[4:12] Jonathan Cook: If it was her fate to be roadkilled, then so be it.

[4:15] Devon McSherry: It's dangerous, sweetie.

[4:17] Jonathan Cook: Thanks, Mom.

[4:18] Devon McSherry: The headlights began to illuminate the area surrounding her.

[4:21] Jonathan Cook: As the car came closer, the light filtering through the trees, the grass, every tiny pebble, lent a kaleidoscope effect to the landscape.

[4:30] Devon McSherry: The car came closer.

[4:31] Jonathan Cook: Jesus.

[4:32] Devon McSherry: Easy on the brights.

[4:33] Jonathan Cook: The car was almost on top of her now.

[4:35] Devon McSherry: The lights, two angry eyes baring down on her.

[4:41] Jonathan Cook: Ass hats.

[4:43] Devon McSherry: She didn't think much of the local youth.

[4:45] Jonathan Cook: Rich kids, unholy terrors.

[4:48] Devon McSherry: Future world leaders.

[4:50] Jonathan Cook: The woodland nightscape returned to its ephemeral tranquility.

[4:53] Devon McSherry: The chirping of insects accompanied the rhythm of her footfalls as she continued on into the night.

[4:59] Jonathan Cook: Music.

[5:00] Devon McSherry: Very faint.

[5:01] Jonathan Cook: And the indistinct buzz of human voices.

[5:05] Devon McSherry: Someone's having a party.

[5:07] Jonathan Cook: And then came the barbecue smell.

[5:10] Devon McSherry: Charcoal and meat blending together into a sweet carnal perfume.

[5:14] Jonathan Cook: Oh, God, that smells good.

[5:17] Devon McSherry: Even at her most health conscious, she could never say no to a good stick.

[5:22] Jonathan Cook: It was difficult to tell which direction the smell and the noise were coming from.

[5:26] Devon McSherry: It seemed close.

[5:27] Jonathan Cook: Not that she had any intention of something lurched on the road beside her.

[5:33] Devon McSherry: A deer?

[5:34] Jonathan Cook: No, no.

[5:35] Devon McSherry: She only caught a glimpse as she strode past it, but it appeared to be a person.

[5:40] Jonathan Cook: And then it was behind her.

[5:43] Devon McSherry: What the hell?

[5:44] Jonathan Cook: Following.

[5:45] Devon McSherry: Great.

[5:45] Jonathan Cook: A pacer.

[5:46] Devon McSherry: Pacer.

[5:47] Jonathan Cook: A term she coined during her many jogs through suburbia.

[5:50] Devon McSherry: Children would see her running and decide.

[5:53] Jonathan Cook: Yay, let's have a race.

[5:54] Devon McSherry: And they'd try to outrun her.

[5:56] Jonathan Cook: Moron.

[5:57] Devon McSherry: In the late night hours, drunks sometimes did this too.

[6:00] Jonathan Cook: Exactly what she had here by the sound of it.

[6:05] Devon McSherry: Okay, Dickhead, let's race.

[6:05] Jonathan Cook: Pushing herself past her normal pace, she sped onward.

[6:08] Devon McSherry: She hadn't seen her short-lived companion very well.

[6:11] Jonathan Cook: Just a dark shape emerging from a collection of shadows in her peripheral vision.

[6:16] Devon McSherry: She could turn to get a better look, but not without breaking her stride.

[6:21] Jonathan Cook: And she felt that a snubbing was in order.

[6:23] Devon McSherry: Eat my dust.

[6:28] Jonathan Cook: Acknowledgement.

[6:29] Devon McSherry: I would only encourage him.

[6:30] Jonathan Cook: Of course, it was also possible that her pursuer meant her harm.

[6:34] Devon McSherry: She had no money, no wallet, only the key to a car that was parked three miles away.

[6:39] Jonathan Cook: And if he was willing to wear himself out for that.

[6:42] Devon McSherry: Come and get it.

[6:43] Jonathan Cook: But still, he was keeping pace considerably well for a drunk.

[6:48] Devon McSherry: Judging by the sound, he was only a dozen paces behind, and more impressively, not giving up.

[6:55] Jonathan Cook: Okay.

[6:55] Devon McSherry: We've got a drunken marathon runner here.

[6:58] Jonathan Cook: Bring it, bitch.

[6:59] Devon McSherry: She wasn't worried.

[7:00] Jonathan Cook: Not yet.

[7:01] Devon McSherry: The pacer was running in a fashion as though one leg were six inches shorter than the other.

[7:05] Jonathan Cook: An unsteady cadence.

[7:07] Devon McSherry: He wouldn't.

[7:08] Jonathan Cook: He couldn't last much longer.

[7:10] Devon McSherry: And yet, was it getting closer?

[7:14] Jonathan Cook: Hard to believe, and yet he seemed to be gaining.

[7:16] Devon McSherry: Their footfalls were beginning to match.

[7:18] Jonathan Cook: The lighter blended in with her own, but the heavier swallowed her every time she set her right foot down.

[7:25] Devon McSherry: What the hell?

[7:26] Jonathan Cook: No way he's running me down.

[7:28] Devon McSherry: No way.

[7:29] Jonathan Cook: She had been running faster than her usual pace.

[7:31] Devon McSherry: The exertion was beginning to sap her stamina.

[7:34] Jonathan Cook: She wanted to give up this little game, turn around and face her pursuer, but a tiny voice inside her head warned her.

[7:41] Devon McSherry: Don't.

[7:42] Jonathan Cook: Don't turn around.

[7:43] Devon McSherry: She began to entertain the notion that this person might very well be a deranged killer.

[7:48] Jonathan Cook: Curiosity was beginning to play its hand, and then an unfamiliar voice spoke inside her head, telling her, turn around, have a look-see.

[7:57] Devon McSherry: Who knows what you might see?

[7:59] Jonathan Cook: Nope.

[8:00] Devon McSherry: She kept running.

[8:01] Jonathan Cook: She decided that if he fell behind, she'd take a peek.

[8:05] Devon McSherry: But as long as it was only a few paces behind.

[8:09] Jonathan Cook: I do not break stride.

[8:11] Devon McSherry: But just then, it was over.

[8:14] Jonathan Cook: That's it.

[8:15] Devon McSherry: She came to a stop under a street light.

[8:17] Jonathan Cook: She looked behind her.

[8:19] Devon McSherry: There was only the harsh light surrounding her and the utter blackness beyond.

[8:23] Jonathan Cook: She waited for her eyes to adjust.

[8:25] Devon McSherry: She could make out a few details, the road, the shoulder, but there was no one to be seen.

[8:31] ♪ Musical number: "CLIP CLOP" — performed by Greg Mandryk ♪

[13:25] Arelis Rivera: Mother.

[13:37] Jonathan Cook: Ooh, I always love a good creature feature.

[13:40] Doctor Necropolis: Well done. Is that it? Can we go?

[13:43] Jonathan Cook: Yes, yes, go on. Get out of my sight.

[13:48] Devon McSherry: Okay, bye. I let them through.

[13:54] Doctor Necropolis: Well, Dr. Necropolis, you seem to be out of candidates for your sacrifice, which means the show's over.

[14:00] Jonathan Cook: Because we are out of actors.

[14:03] Doctor Necropolis: Oh no. I'll still be having my sacrifice.

[14:08] Devon McSherry: But you let everyone go.

[14:11] Doctor Necropolis: Not everyone. Caesar. Come here.

[14:15] Arelis Rivera: Hey! Let go of it!

[14:17] Doctor Necropolis: Whoa, whoa, what are you doing?

[14:18] Arelis Rivera: Improvising.

[14:21] Doctor Necropolis: You promised me a sacrifice today, and that's what we shall have.

[14:25] Jonathan Cook: No, grab her arm! Come on! Grab her arm!

[14:27] Arelis Rivera: Stop your belting paws off of me!

[14:29] Devon McSherry: Jonathan, aren't you going to do anything?

[14:32] Jonathan Cook: Well, we did tell him he could, you know, have a sacrifice. And you're the only one left that hasn't performed, so uh—

[14:37] Arelis Rivera: Rude!

[14:42] Doctor Necropolis: Bring her to the altar!

[14:48] Arelis Rivera: Let go of me! Stupid salvation! I hope someone teaser carl!

[14:58] Jonathan Cook: STAGE FRIGHTS is a Gather by the Ghost Light production. It was produced and directed by Jonathan Cook and Devon McSherry.

[15:05] Devon McSherry: The STAGE Frights concept and theme was created and written by Jonathan Cook.

[15:10] Jonathan Cook: The featured audio play in this episode, CLIP CLOP, was written by Greg Mandryk.

[15:15] Devon McSherry: The STAGE Frights series stars A.C. Daniel, Matt Kridel, Luke Romagnoli, Azariah Seay, Marian Thibodeau, Mickey Lay, Robb Smith, Wesley Pierson, Pepper Wren, Brad King, Michael Silvio Fortino, Karla Daly, Korilyn Hendricks, Arelis Rivera, TJ McSherry, Jonathan Cook, Devon McSherry, and Nathan Shelton as Doctor Necropolis.

[15:39] Jonathan Cook: Original audio production, sound design, and editing by Jonathan Cook.

[15:43] Devon McSherry: Title music by composer JK/47.

[15:47] Jonathan Cook: Additional featured music in this episode by idokay and Josh Tarp.

[15:51] Devon McSherry: Special thanks to the Frightmare Theatre Podcast, Bonnie Marie Williams and the Horror Nerds Podcast, Horrorstruck Hot Sauce, and Le Chat Noir Theatre.

[15:58] Jonathan Cook: This program is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

[16:05] Devon McSherry: You arrived with good intention, and you never meant to leave.

[16:10] Jonathan Cook: I handed you my secret, and you all the mom you'll see.

[16:15] Devon McSherry: Truth is I'm a stepping stone on your way to greater things.

[16:27] Jonathan Cook: There's a demon in the bottle trying to drag me to my knees.

[16:31] Devon McSherry: And I can't afford to fall apart every time we meet.

[16:36] Jonathan Cook: Oh, there's a ghost after me.

[16:54] Devon McSherry: I mean, it literally like just it literally just played the whole thing like a minute ago.