A PDF version of this transcript is available here.
Please note, this episode contains lots of loud beeps and alarms, so please exercise caution if you listen in the car.
INT. LARA'S INBOX
Ring, ring.
LARA
You have reached Lara Campbell's Psychic Investigations. Please leave a message.
Rose sounds nervous -- and a little relieved to get voicemail.
ROSE
Hi, Lara, it's Rose. Listen, I'm sure you're pretty far out of Charity right now. Or at least, I hope you are.
The sound of a CAR HORN fades in...
INT./EXT. SHERIFF'S SUV - NIGHT
The horn rings out into the night. Sodapop cries and whines in the back seat.
Lara moans, slowly comes to.
ROSE (V.O.)
Now that you're away and safe...I guess there are a few things I'd like to say.
Lara gasps, wakes up.
LARA
What...where...oh my god. Sheriff -- Sheriff Tate? Sir?
Sheriff Tate groans softly.
SHERIFF
What's that noise...?
LARA
You're on the horn.
SHERIFF
Huh?
He sits back. Horn sound stops.
LARA
Whoa, hey, careful.
SHERIFF
'M fine...
SodaPop cries in the back seat again.
LARA
(to SodaPop)
Oh, hey, buddy, it's okay.
ROSE (V.O.)
But I don't want you to come back, okay? No matter what I say, don't come back here.
SHERIFF
We hit the tree.
LARA
Yeah. Not the best airbags in here, huh?
SHERIFF
The window's broken out.
LARA
Yeah. Listen, is your radio working? Maybe you should call someone.
SHERIFF
Yeah...yeah...
LARA
Okay, let me check on Sodapop.
(shifts in her seat)
Hey, buddy, let me look you over...
SodaPop cries and whines. Sheriff grabs a walkie-talkie.
SHERIFF
(into walkie)
Dispatch, this is Tate. Doris, are you there? We had an accident on Route 10.
He releases the button. No response.
LARA
He seems fine. This is a great car harness. Let me just get you unbuckled, buddy...
She unclips his harness.
SHERIFF
Doris, you there? Anybody listening? Hey! Is this thing working?
The radio cuts in and out.
SHERIFF
What happened to the headlights?
He clicks them on and off.
LARA
Maybe they blew out when you hit the tree?
SHERIFF
The engine's totally dead. This isn't right.
LARA
(to Sodapop)
Come here, buddy, let's look you over without the harness -- hey! No!
SodaPop yelps and scrambles out the window.
LARA
SodaPop! No!
Lara opens the car door.
SHERIFF
Lara, don't! You could have a -- ooh, I definitely have a concussion.
LARA
Keep working on the radio, I'll be right back.
She leaps out of the car and races into the brush.
LARA
Sodapop? Sodapop!!
Sheriff presses the walkie button again.
SHERIFF
Dispatch? We need an ambulance. And...animal control, I guess.
He smacks the walkie-talkie and tries again.
SHERIFF
Hello? Damn it.
LARA
(from afar)
Sodapop!!
Sheriff Tate sighs.
INT. LARA'S INBOX
Rose's message continues.
ROSE
I'm sorry about what I said before. Well, I'm not sorry I said it; I needed to say it. It's just...maybe it doesn't matter.
I don't know what's going to happen tonight, Lara. It'll be tonight, not tomorrow. I haven't told them yet. I tried earlier, but it's...complicated.
INT. BOONE HOUSE - EARLIER THAT DAY
Rose walks through the front door, Mayor Terri just behind.
Terri turns and hugs Rose.
TERRI
Rose, honey, come here.
ROSE
(muffled by hug)
Hi, Mom.
Terri pulls out of the hug, relief replaced by urgency.
TERRI
Sweetie, what are you doing here? This isn't what we talked about.
ROSE
I know.
TERRI
You didn't make it to your Auntie Maria's house?
ROSE
I didn't need to.
TERRI
But...
ROSE
Mom -- has it really been two weeks?
TERRI
Yes, honey. I thought you were just waiting, avoiding contact.
ROSE
So then tomorrow's the new moon.
TERRI
You were supposed to stay away until after it was over. Do you remember?
ROSE
I remember...I remember...
(she starts, shifts)
I've gotta talk to Dad.
She pushes past Terri toward the back holiday.
TERRI
Honey -- wait --
ROSE
I can't!
TERRI
Rose -- Rosie!
Rose walks determinedly toward the back. Terri follows.
INT. LARA'S INBOX
ROSE (V.O.)
There's emptiness at the edge of everything, Lara. The desert by the sea. I wish you could see how beautiful it is. But I know you never will.
INT. BOONE HOUSE - EARLIER
Sound of Mitchell Boone's machines. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Rose hurries in, Terri close on her heels.
TERRI
Rose -- wait --
Mitchell gasps awake.
MITCHELL
Rose!
ROSE
Reverend Boone.
MITCHELL
Oh, Rose -- you're back!
ROSE (V.O.)
There's something out there, Lara. It wants me. No...I want it.
TERRI
Shh, Mitchell, try to stay calm.
MITCHELL
Rose!
ROSE (V.O.)
Wait...not this part yet.
Sound stops. Whoosh.
INT. LARA'S INBOX
We're back. Light music fades in over this part.
ROSE
Lara, do you remember my dream? I always used to tell you about my dreams, in the mornings, in our kitchen. Do you remember? You would nod over your coffee, half-listening. I tried to tell you that the dreams were important. But you couldn't hear me very well. Remember?
Well, that night -- the night I left home -- I had the dream again. I was packing my bag. I picked up my bible. Mom said I had to take it. And then I heard...singing.
There's a song the stars sing, when they're perfectly in harmony. When the time is just right. The stars gather, huge and sparkling like firelight, and they sing.
I went outside, and there it was again. A vast, silver desert. The softest sand beneath my feet, fine and smooth like silk. And above me, the stars. Huge. Close.
In the distance, you could hear the ocean. Not our ocean. Older, and bigger.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, darker than the darkness...it called to me again.
The odd, high-pitched monster cry. Music crescendos, then stops.
ROSE
I wish you could hear it, Lara. I wish you could hear the stars sing.
INT. BASEMENT - DAY
Cult members happily sing around a guitar.
CULT MEMBERS
All will be nothing, and we will be all
A-men.
They clap and murmur happily.
ROSE
Thank you. That was beautiful.
CAMILLE
Will the Reverend and the Conductor be joining us for this meeting?
ROSE
No. You don't need to worry about them.
CAMILLE
Oh. Okay.
ROSE
(to the group)
So. I guess I've been in the woods for a while. Haven't we all?
Nervous laughter.
ROSE
Well, in the woods, I had a vision. A beautiful vision.
Child, a child, speaks up.
CHILD
What did you see, Sister Rose?
ROSE
I saw something beautiful. I saw God's fingers, underneath the dirt. Reaching, climbing, touching everything around them. They climbed up and up and up, and where they touched the surface -- flowers. But not like flowers you know, Child. Pale, moonlight stems reaching straight upward toward the darkened sky. Thick buds, bursting with seeds. Millions of tiny seeds, so small you can hardly see them. The Hands of God, here in our world.
The cultists gasp and whisper.
ROSE
When the time is right, those flowers will open. And the seeds will need to spread as far as they can go.
CHILD
Will we take it?
ROSE
Yes. You will. We all will. We'll breathe in the love of God, and carry it through the world.
CAMILLE
(realizing)
That's how Oblivion will finally come to us. To the world.
ROSE
We will take it into our bodies. And breathe it out into the world.
Cult members celebrate: 'Wow!' 'Hallelujah!' Etc.
CAMILLE
What will happen then?
ROSE
Then...all will be nothing.
CULT MEMBERS
And we are all.
ROSE
Amen.
The cult members break off into conversation.
Rose and Camille step aside.
CAMILLE
It's so great to hear from you, Rose. We're so glad you're back.
ROSE
Thank you.
(beat)
Camille.
CAMILLE
Oh -- yes?
ROSE
Are you ready for what's next? Can I count on you for help?
CAMILLE
Of - of course! You can count on me for anything.
ROSE
Are you sure?
CAMILLE
Yes, of course. I'll do whatever it takes.
ROSE
Even without the Reverend?
CAMILLE
Why? What happened?
ROSE
Nothing.
CAMILLE
Well, I'm -- I'm here for you. Whatever it takes to make the world right again.
ROSE
Good. Thank you.
CAMILLE
Thank you for coming back.
Rose acknowledges this, happy.
FADE TO:
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Lara runs, though it's more of a stagger. She pauses against a tree. She retches.
LARA
Oh god. Oh god. I'm so dizzy.
A few ragged breaths.
LARA
(calls)
Sodapop! Sodaaaa! Come here. Please.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps in the brush. Lara stiffens. The steps pause. Then resume.
LARA
(weakly)
Sodapop?
A low, guttural growl, like the curious sound of a very large creature.
LARA
Not Sodapop.
She steps back. Stumbles.
LARA
Whoa. Okay.
She crouches in the brush.
LARA
Oh god...what is that smell?
She retches again, suppresses the need to vomit.
ROSE (V.O.)
There are things in those woods, Lara. Things I know you can't believe in, even if you could see them.
A HUGE FIGURE moves slowly through the woods. It's massive and hairy, like a bear, but not a bear.
That's right, friends: meet the SASQUATCH.
LARA
Oh my god.
ROSE (V.O.)
That's why you shouldn't be here.
LARA
Don't look at me, don't look, don't...
Sasquatch makes a curious noise.
LARA
Oh, god.
Heavy steps move toward Lara. It breathes out a heavy whuffling sound.
Lara vomits.
LARA
Sorry. I didn't mean...
Sasquatch sniffs her. Thoroughly.
LARA
Yeah, I think I have a...do you know what a concussion is?
SASQUATCH
Hrmph?
LARA
Yeah. My head. I'm guessing it's...worse than I thought.
SASQUATCH
Hrmmph.
LARA
Yeah. You...you're not a bear, are you?
SASQUATCH
(no)
Hmphhh.
LARA
Sasquatch. That's what they call you, isn't it? That's what you are.
SASQUATCH
(yes)
Mmm-mmph.
LARA
Cool. Cool, yeah. This is...yup.
Lara sighs, leans against the tree.
LARA
God. I'm so...so tired...
SASQUATCH
Hrmphlph?
It moves toward her.
LARA
Ahhh!
She backs away quickly.
LARA
Sorry. I, uh, maybe no touching?
SASQUATCH
(shrug)
Mph.
It turns and begins to walk away.
LARA
Wait, should I -- yeah, okay, I'll follow you. Why not?
She takes a second to steady herself, then staggers after it.
LARA
Remind me to find a hospital soon.
SASQUATCH
Hrmphf.
INT. LARA'S INBOX
Back to Rose's voicemail message.
ROSE
At the center of our galaxy, there's a black hole. Did you know that? An all-consuming void that pulls all matter in and gives no light in return. That's what holds our galaxy together.
If you could hear it -- the music of the stars -- I think you'd understand. I used to think that if I caught you at the right time, you'd be able to hear it. Maybe that's why I called you. If I called you.
But, you know, I looked you up. Online. And I see you're still going. With our old business? You're selling people this thing that you think is a lie. You -- you know it is. How can someone like you possibly help me?
I've learned things, Lara. Real things. True things. You only know lies. And the fact that you know they're lies doesn't make them more true.
It can't reach you if you lie, Lara.
(sighs)
I'm sorry. It's not your fault, not really. You've never seen the world taken apart and put back together again, and I didn't know how to explain it to you. I think I yelled at you too much. I think I hurt you so you wouldn't hurt me. Which didn't work. But you know.
You should know that I really liked that haircut you got. When was it...after the Fourth of July. I didn't tell you.
It's hard to keep my thoughts in order.
I don't have time anymore. Not like I'm out of time. Like, I just don't have it.
We move closer and closer to the hole at the center of everything.
Maybe I didn't know what to do with love. Maybe love isn't real anymore.
Maybe love isn't...what was I saying?
Oh yeah. I was talking about lies. And liars.
INT. BOONE HOUSE - AS BEFORE
Sound of Mitchell Boone's machines. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Rose hurries in, Terri close on her heels.
TERRI
Rose -- wait --
Mitchell gasps awake.
MITCHELL
Rose!
ROSE
Reverend Boone.
MITCHELL
Oh, Rose -- you're back!
TERRI
Shh, Mitchell, try to stay calm.
MITCHELL
I prayed for this day. We all prayed for this day.
ROSE
That's nice. But you didn't think it would really work, did you?
MITCHELL
What?
TERRI
Rose, honey, you just got home, maybe you should rest.
ROSE
It's never going to speak to you, Dad. It doesn't speak to liars.
MITCHELL
Rose, I...
TERRI
Rose!
ROSE
I learned things, Dad. In the desert by the sea. I know things now.
Mitchell's heart rate speeds up.
TERRI
Sweetie...
ROSE
You used me, Dad. You made me think you were in charge, that you knew what it wanted, and then you told me what to do.
TERRI
Please, your father...
ROSE
And you went right along with it, didn't you, Mom? Even though you knew it wasn't true.
TERRI
I have been trying to keep this family safe.
ROSE
Not at first. At first it was just a great new way to get some power, wasn't it? Oh, it was weird, don't get me wrong. You thought your husband had gone off the deep end, and he was taking your daughter with him. But you could see the opportunity, too.
MITCHELL
The face of God...in the church...
ROSE
Oh, you saw something. But it wasn't God, was it, Reverend Boone?
TERRI
Rose, what are you talking about?
ROSE
I'm talking about your lies!
TERRI
Rose --
MITCHELL
I never --
ROSE
Do you remember the night I came home? When I left Lara. I told you about my dream.
MITCHELL
The darkness...by the sea...
ROSE
And then suddenly, you said you'd seen it too. You said you heard the stars sing.
MITCHELL
How a Rose...blooming...
TERRI
Shh, Mitchell, stay calm.
ROSE
You changed the sermons, and you pushed and you pushed until only the truest believers stayed behind.
MITCHELL
Uh...huh...
ROSE
And me.
MITCHELL
Rose...
ROSE
I thought finally, I'd come home. Like, really home. Where people understood me. I'd been lost for so long, and finally someone believed me. Somebody else knew what I knew.
MITCHELL
Yes.
ROSE
No.
TERRI
Honey, please...
ROSE
He's a liar, Mother! He's been lying this whole time.
MITCHELL
No...no...
ROSE
Your congregation was failing. Your numbers were dwindling. And you were sick.
TERRI
What? No, he got sick after...
ROSE
No. You didn't, did you, Dad? It was happening even then. You felt out of breath. Out of place. Out of time.
MITCHELL
Please...
ROSE
So you pretended to save me so that I would save you.
MITCHELL
Rose...try to understand...
ROSE
Oh, I understand. Don't worry about that. A new church, smaller but more devoted. They gave up everything for you. All the money you needed for these treatments, this equipment.
TERRI
Rose, honey, that's not fair. Your father needed that money, and the followers were glad to help.
ROSE
Sure. For Oblivion.
TERRI
For your father.
ROSE
Forget it. It doesn't matter anymore. None of it does.
MITCHELL
Rose...anything I've done...has been for the good...
ROSE
Locking me in the basement? That was good for me?
TERRI
I thought you went in there yourself.
ROSE
What about the medicine you gave me? For the visions? The ones that made me tear apart my room?
TERRI
What medicine?
MITCHELL
You were already seeing...I just wanted...to help...
ROSE
I want you to know that everything I've seen? Everything I'm bringing into the world? That was me. Not you. I never needed you. You pushed me. Confused me. Used me. But that's okay. Because it'll all be over soon.
MITCHELL
Please, Rose...the new moon...the end...
ROSE
Shh, it's okay. You don't need to worry about that anymore.
MITCHELL
What...
He gasps. Chokes. Alarms blare from the machines.
TERRI
Mitchell? Mitchell!
Rose hums quietly to herself.
Mitchell coughs wildly.
TERRI
What are you doing? What did you do?
ROSE
Nothing, Mama. Nothing at all.
Mitchell tries to speak, struggles. And then...
He goes silent.
The machine lets out a prolonged BEEEEEEEP.
TERRI
Mitchell! Get me the phone!
ROSE (V.O.)
Anyway, I guess there's really only one thing I wanted to say to you. One thing I want you to hear.
Terri grabs a phone.
TERRI
Hello? We have an emergency!
ROSE (V.O.)
Don't come back here, Lara.
The alarm fades out slowly.
INT. LARA'S INBOX
ROSE
There's nothing here for you.
BEEP.
COMPUTER VOICE
End of message.
END CREDITS
Thank you for listening to Believer! This episode was written and directed by Julie Saunders, with voice acting by Mara Hernandez, Regan Wilson, Rosa Delgado, David Pinion, Sara Gorsky, Kip Parshall, Duke Parshall, and Julie Saunders. Sound designed by Julie Saunders.
Our spotlight Patron today is Michael Armes! Michael is a Patreon supporter at the “Believer” level. He describes himself as a “scary story chaser,” which you might assume means that he likes to listen to scary stories. But no. Michael Armes is a scary story chaser. If a scary story haunts you, he will chase that story down and make it pay. You can seek out his services on Twitter at micycle_armada.
We so appreciate your patience with this episode arriving so late. There were some extremely unfortunate production delays which basically boil down to: back up your files, folks. And after you back them up, open them to make sure they were backed up correctly. And if your actor friends kept their own backups, let them know you love them. Unfortunately this delay means the finale will also be late, but don’t you worry - it will be worth it. Episode 10 is double-length, action-packed, and will hit your feeds soon. Stay tuned.
Until then…if you’re awakened in the night by horrible rattling chains, and a deceased former friend appears to tell you that you will be haunted by three ghosts? See if you can skip the rigamarole and just donate more of your money to charity now. It’s one of those things that starts out interesting and ends with you in a hole in the ground, and nobody wants that.
Bye now.