19 Nocturne Boulevard - COUNTDOWN - Reissue
My apologies - sick with no voice, so I have to put off the next Lovecraft 5 until I can record the intro.
Here's a short one for this week.\xa0 Thanks for your patience!
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COUNTDOWN
The haunted Ratcatcher Mine is irresistable to tourists and ghost hunters alike.
Written by Julie Hoverson,
Sound and mastering by Tanja Milojevic
(of Lightning Bolt Theater of the Mind)
Cast List
Steff / Dutch - J. Spyder Isaacson
Bobby / Rory - Reynaud LeBoeuf
Roj / Jacob - Danar Hoverson
Gloria - Tanja Milojevic
Old Frank - J. Christopher Dunn
Martha - Julie Hoverson
Music:\xa0 Mary Lou by Country Gold
This Land Here for Free by Country Gold
Sunshine Revisited by Country Gold
The King is Coming by Dom The Bear
\xa0\xa0\xa0 All available through Jamendo.com
Cover Design:\xa0 Brett Coulstock
"What kind of a place is it?
Why it's a mountain with a mine shaft - can't you tell?"
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COUNTDOWN
By Julie Hoverson
\xa0
Cast:
- OLD FRANK - local shopkeeper, southern
- MARTHA - Frank's wife
- Gloria - modern college girl
- Steff, Bobby, Roj - modern college guys, wannabe filmmakers
- Dutch, Jacob, Rory - young miners from a century and a half ago, irish or other immigrant accents
[NOTE - the modern guys double as the miners]
\xa0
SETTING - opens in collapsed mine shaft
MUSIC
SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0PATTER OF GRIT
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 Dutch, Jacob, and Rory, heavy breathing.\xa0
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 FLARE OF OLD LUCIFER MATCH
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 Quick looks, all-- [clears his throat, hawks, spits] \xa0You alright, Jacob?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 MOVEMENTS IN DIRT, SHIFTING GRAVEL
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 I can't feel me legs, Dutch.
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hail Mary, full of grace...
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DISTANT RUMBLE OF FALLING ROCKS, MORE GRIT
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 MA AND PA STORE, MUZAK
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 FLAP OF PHOTO
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Have you seen--?
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 Them boys?\xa0 Yup.\xa0 You almost jest missed 'em.\xa0 Come through this morning - maybe 'bout two hours--
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 --Nearer on to three, it was--
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 Two hours ago.\xa0 Asked a bunch of damn fool questions--
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 They were real curious about the Ratcatcher.
OLD FRANK \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0--got some gas and took off.\xa0 Probably went on up to that whore's ass of a hole in the ground.
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hush, you old goat!\xa0 We make a lot of money on the old Ratcatcher mine, you know.
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 Some day that cussed thing's gonna cave all the damn way in and that'll be the end of the matter.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 The guy in the middle, that's my brother - Steff.
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 And what kind of name is that for a young man, anyway?
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CLICK WHIRR - SMALL FILM CAMERA COMES ON.
[NOTE - the modern guys are on a filter, like a recording being played back, unless otherwise noted]
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 IN A CAR
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Aha!\xa0 Smile!
BOBBY\xa0\xa0\xa0 Dude, Why bother with the antique?\xa0 I can take better video than that with my phone.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's the only way to make it look real, bro!\xa0 Film or nothing!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO GOES STATICY, TUNING
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 Oh hell!\xa0
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO OUT
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 Man.\xa0 We are so in the boondocks.
MUSIC
AMBIANCE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0Mine
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 Hold your breath.
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 Why?\xa0
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just do as he says, boy!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 THEY ALL GASP IN A BREATH, HOLD IT A SECOND
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 [on an exhale] Damn.
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 [sigh] Aye.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 MATCH SHAKEN OUT
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 What?
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 The flame.\xa0 It didna waver at all.
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 But... whatever does it mean?
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 [grim] We shant have long to wait.
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 OUTSIDE, MOUNTAINS
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 STEPS CRUNCH ON DIRT
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just hold it steady.\xa0
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Does it even have a built in mike?
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's not that old.\xa0 I don't have to hand crank it, either.
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's not like you're going to fool anyone.\xa0 No one believes any of this mockumentary crap any more.\xa0 Not since freaking Blair Witch.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's all in how it's presented.\xa0 [turning away]\xa0 He said the mine opening is a half hour hike that way.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CAR DOOR SLAMS
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 [off, calling] I was thinking I might stay with the car.\xa0
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Come on, Roj!\xa0 We all agreed--
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 [coming on] I'm just feeling weird about this whole thing.
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 He just wants to hit his girlfriend up for some naughty hottie talk.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 You get reception out here?
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 This is about where I should turn and have a horde of network people standing there...
MUSIC
AMB\xa0\xa0\xa0 MA AND PA STORE
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 CELL PHONE NOISE, NO SERVICE
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 PHONE SLAPPED SHUT
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Dammit.\xa0 They were supposed to wait for me!
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 You gonna buy something or just stand around and suck up our A-C?
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Frank!\xa0 The girl is concerned.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 You said they bought a map?
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 Five dollars.
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Mine
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 Have you another lucifer, Dutch?
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 Cannot spare it.
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 We're gonna die!\xa0 Why must we perish in the dark?
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 Every flame eats air we could be breathing.
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 We're doomed right enough, aren\u2019t we?\xa0 Will a few moments of bright comfort end our suffering so much faster?
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 The lad has a point.
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 No!\xa0 I at least want every breath I have left.\xa0
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 STORE
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR OPENS, BELL DINGS
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [leaving] Thanks!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR SHUTS
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 Only thing stupider than tourists is film people.
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 This from the old coot who can't miss his Deal or no Deal.
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 [dismissive noise] Ahh!
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 DOOR OPENS, BELL RINGS
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [coming back in]\xa0 Why is it called the Ratcatcher mine?
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 [congenial storytelling mode] Well, there's quite a story there.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Is there a quick version?
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Not from him, there ain't.\xa0
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ten bucks?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 MONEY SHELLED OUT, SNATCHED
OLD FRANK\xa0\xa0\xa0 Right then.\xa0 It was a mother lode of silver, back in the day.\xa0 But the hillside was particularly unstable, so there were quite a few cave ins.\xa0 [getting spooky] So everyone took to bringing rats in, and feeding 'em, down in the shafts, since you could watch the rats, and when they ran, you knew to run too.
MARTHA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [after a moment] Or else it was named after a fella called Ratcatcher Jones. No one's real sure.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 The map also doesn't say why anyone gives a flying ratcatcher's ass about it?
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 OUTSIDE
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 HIKING
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's not my GPS that's messed up - that map is just plain wrong!
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's the official map.
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Maybe it's wrong on purpose.\xa0 Maybe the mine is still being worked, in secret, and they don't want anyone to actually be able to find it!
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 They would just stop selling maps, dumbass.
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Or, maybe it's all a cover for a secret underground government installation - they put those into old mines and bomb shelters and stuff all the time, don't they?\xa0
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 They'd just fence everything off!
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Not if it was secret.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Nah.\xa0 I think it's just a big joke on tourists.\xa0 Like if you can actually find the mine, then you're worthy to be there.
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 We should go back to the car and wait for Gloria.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yeah. \xa0That's what I want to do.\xa0 She only wants to be here to piss me off.\xa0
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 She has the hots for Bobbie.
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 She does?\xa0 Let's go back!
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Ew.\xa0 [gasp of excitement] Hey, does that rock look like this blob - right here - on the map?
MUSIC
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 FLARE OF LUCIFER STRIKING, BURNING
[they're all getting breathless]
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 We should pray.\xa0 God will welcome us home and forgive us our sins.
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 I don't have any!\xa0 No good ones, anyway!
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 Pray silently.\xa0 Spare your breath.\xa0
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 They could still find us!
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 Best turn your mind heavenward, lad.\xa0
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 But they could, couldn't they?
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 God may still spare us.\xa0 Shh now.
MUSIC
AMBIANCE \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0OUTSIDE
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 [close to the mike] Hold it steady.\xa0 [backing off]\xa0 OK?\xa0 Is this good?
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 I can see you.\xa0 That's all you need, right?
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Am I centered?
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 You can't fix it in post?
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Just hold it steady.\xa0 [clears his throat, up] \xa0This is Steffen Cray, standing in front of the infamous Ratcatcher Mine, supposed to be haunted by the ghosts of numerous miners who died in its inky blackness.\xa0 Most notably, it still holds the souls of three men whose bodies were recovered within minutes of their ultimate suffocation.\xa0
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Completely sucks, man.\xa0 House woulda been able to pump them, stat, and they'd be on Oprah next week, with a fund in their name.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Yeah, well, it was a hundred and thirty some years ago.\xa0 They say the mine will always hold three souls.\xa0
BOBBIE\xa0\xa0\xa0 Who's this "THEY" who says these things?\xa0 They should be making this crap-ass film.
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 DRIVING
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Dumbass idea, anyway, making some dumbass film about some dumbass mine.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO TURNS TO STATIC
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Crap.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 RADIO TURNED OFF, DIALING CELLPHONE
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 BEEPS, THEN ANSWERED - FAINT AND CRACKLY
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 [gasping voice]\xa0 Hello?
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Steff?\xa0 Jeez!\xa0 Really didn't think there would be coverage out here.
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Gloria?
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [raising her voice] I can barely hear you!\xa0
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 We're... in the mine.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Oh, great.\xa0 How the hell am I gonna find you?
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 STATIC GROWS
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 You... won't.
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 PHONE CUTS OUT
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Well, crap.\xa0 Didn\u2019t even get a chance to ask where to park.
MUSIC
AMBIANCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 MINE
[NOT ON RECORDING]
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 Tell her to go for help!
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 It cut out before I could.
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 No!! What were you thinking?
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 Bobbie's out again.
ROJ\xa0\xa0\xa0 You idiot!
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 You're using up the air!
MUSIC
AMBIENCE\xa0\xa0\xa0 OUTSIDE
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 WALKING
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [calling] Steff?\xa0 Steff?
JACOB\xa0\xa0\xa0 [close] Hello.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 [startled] Crap!\xa0 Jeez, you scared me!
RORY\xa0\xa0\xa0 Shouldn\u2019t take the lord's name in vain.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 It's not vain.\xa0 Are you friends of my brother?\xa0 He never mentioned--
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 We're... local.
GLORIA\xa0\xa0\xa0 Of course.\xa0 The costumes.\xa0 You must work here.\xa0 Where do I find this Ratcatcher mine thing?
DUTCH\xa0\xa0\xa0 The mine?\xa0 Tis closed down.\xa0 There's been a bit of an incident.\xa0
MUSIC
SOUND \xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0PATTER OF GRIT
SOUND\xa0\xa0\xa0 STEFF, BOBBIE, ROJ, HEAVY BREATHING\xa0
STEFF\xa0\xa0\xa0 [fading out] 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
CLOSING MUSIC