Hi, friend! This is Episode 1, Act 1 of Strange Tales*, a podcast/audio drama that I’ve been working on this year. The show focuses on a student journalist who begins investigating when strange things start happening at her school. It’s a little bit Veronica Mars and a little bit X-Files, if you’re a fan of either of those shows. If you’d like to listen to more episodes (or read the scripts!), you can find them at extonare.substack.com.

FRED

I keep having this dream.

SFX: Roar and boom.

FRED (CONT'D)

It all starts with a boom.

SFX: Fire crackling.

FRED (CONT'D)

Then, the smell of smoke.

SFX: Mechanical door opening.

FRED (CONT’D)

And then ... the sound of something I can't place. Something strange. And then I see a silhouette. Someone walking toward me, backlit by a bright light.

FRED (CONT'D)

And then ... then I wake up.

INT. STUDIO

SFX: Studio background noise.

FRED

I've been having this dream for a month now. And I've started nodding off at the end of class ... and in the middle of lunch ... and first thing on Monday morning, right before I'm supposed to go on camera. I hope I didn't drool on something this time.

DIANE

Frederica?

FRED

Diane Hunter, my steely journalism professor, stares at me. There's some concern behind her urgency. I smile.

FRED

Sorry, Diane. I'm ready--the art show, auditions for the fall musical, Wednesday's pep rally for the softball team ... those are our big stories.

DIANE

You've got it. We'll roll in two.

SFX: Door slam.

FRED

I watch as Kelsey, one of our middle school PAs, rushes through the studio door. I wait for Diane to take her head off.

DIANE

Kelsey! Did you not see the recording light? We're about to go live! We've been over this ...

FRED

I've been doing the morning broadcast at Wildewood Hall for the last two years. Most of the professors in this place would have given me a pat on the head and then sent me on my way if I had told them I wanted to start a news program for the whole school ... but Diane has believed in me every step of the way.

SFX: Lights power down.

FRED (CONT'D)

The overhead lights flicker off, and the generator lights kick on. The electrical system at the school has never been ... reliable, but these power outages have been happening a few times a week.

LIZ

Better now than when we're rolling!

FRED

I glance over toward Liz Wallis, one of the smallest girls--and biggest personalities--in my class. While I'm at the anchor desk and Diane directs the broadcast, Liz keeps everything running smoothly as our producer.

FRED (CONT'D)

Liz, any progress with maintenance? Are they going to get these power outages figured out?

SFX: Lights power up.

FRED (CONT'D)

The overhead lights flicker back on. I look across the set and see Diane locked in conversation with Kelsey.

LIZ

Maintenance keeps giving me the runaround. I don't think they want to reach out to an electrician, and I really don't think they want to be bossed around by a student.

JUNIE

Hey, Fred!

FRED

Junie, what ... a surprise.

FRED (CONT'D)

Junie Fry. A sophomore who's had her eye on the anchor desk from the moment we aired our first news broadcast. She's done some decent field reporting in the last few weeks. She's just a little ... intense. Liz gives me a knowing look before making her escape.

JUNIE

Anything you need before we start? Can I get you some water? Tea? A snack? I have a granola bar in my bag.

FRED

I'm good, thanks.

JUNIE

You know, I've been practicing my anchor skills every night.

FRED

Every night?

JUNIE

I'm sure, if you just talked to Diane--

DIANE

Grab your notepad, Fred!

FRED

Diane--who never broke a sweat if she could help it--moves away from Kelsey and toward me at breakneck pace.

JUNIE

Professor Hunter, are you okay?

FRED

What's going on?

DIANE

Developing story in the gallery. We'll have to delay this morning's broadcast.

INT. MAIN HALL

SFX: Door opening.

SFX: Footsteps.

FRED

When I open the door from the studio into the school's towering main hall, I find it packed with students, all headed in the same direction--toward the gallery.

SFX: Voices.

SFX: Whispers.

FRED (CONT'D)

Whispers and rumors have been a part and parcel of Wildewood Hall for years. When I started attending the historic all-girls school as a sixth grader, it seemed harmless. Everyone took the stories they heard with a grain of salt. But recently? More and more, it seems like everyone believes everything they hear. And that can make finding the truth ... a challenge.

INT. GALLERY

SFX: Voices

FRED

I approach the crowd of students gathered in front of the gallery's doorway. A smell reaches my nose--something fresh and earthy--but I don't give it much thought as I attempt to work my way through the crowd.

FRED (CONT'D)

Excuse me, sorry, I'm trying to get through.

STUDENT A

Hey, watch it.

FRED

Sorry about that.

STUDENT B

Let me see!

FRED

I have to throw a few elbows, but I make it to the front of the pack.

CARLA

I need everyone to settle down and take a step back!

FRED

I spot Carla Thomas, Wildewood Hall's head security officer, attempting to set up a barricade and take charge.

CARLA

All of you should be in class right now. I need you to disperse and return to your classrooms immediately.

FRED

But the crowd doesn't move. And for good reason. The gallery is wrecked.

SFX: Gloop noises.

FRED

Past the barricade, I can see into the gallery, a grand room filled with artwork. Most collections are made up of student and professor pieces, amassed over the decades. But one wall is dedicated to portraits of the school's board of directors. And it's this wall--and the nearby floor and ceiling--that is splattered, covered, with a dark, sticky, dripping substance. And the smell ... it's like someone stuffed the forest floor up my nose. I pull out my notebook and pen and give Carla a wave.

CARLA

I'm a little busy right now, Fred!

FRED

I decide to lend Carla a hand.

SFX: Whistle.

SFX: Voices stop.

FRED

The vice dean's headed this way! If you don't want to get caught, you'd better get back to class!

SFX: Voices start up, lower.

SFX: Many footsteps.

FRED (CONT'D)

As the crowd begins to thin out, I turn back to Carla and give her a grin.

CARLA

You're unbelievable.

FRED

Any leads?

SFX: Carla sighs.

CARLA

Nothing concrete. The security system has been on the fritz for the last month -- there's nothing helpful on the feed.

FRED

While Carla speaks, Diane walks up.

DIANE

No other evidence?

CARLA

We haven't found anything so far. You'd think we'd get a shoe print or ... something in all of this mess. But it looks like whoever did this was pretty careful.

FRED

Thanks, Carla.

INT. MAIN HALL

FRED

As Diane and I turn away from the gallery, she gives me a pat on the back.

DIANE

I'm going to stop by the office and find out how much publicity the administration wants us to give this story.

FRED

You think they wouldn't want us to pursue it?

FRED (CONT'D)

Diane takes a long look at the gallery's splattered wall.

DIANE

Anything involving the board of directors can get tricky, and it looks like their portraits took the brunt of the vandalism. Don't put wheels in motion until I give you the go-ahead.

FRED

... Sure.

FRED (CONT'D)

As I head back to the studio, I catch snippets of everyone's conversations.

STUDENT 1

I heard that Rachel ...

STUDENT 2

Bianca left our dorm room pretty late last night.

STUDENT 3

Remember how Coach Peters got in a tiff with the school board

FRED

I know, in the next few days, these rumors will take on a life of their own. Eventually, a single person will be singled out. But for now? Everyone is fair game.

INT. ART ROOM

SFX: Classical music.

SFX: Light conversation.

FRED

It's Tuesday, and my mind is working overtime, trying to make heads or tails of what happened in the gallery. But ... people keep interrupting me.

TESSA

Your latest masterpiece, Frederica?

FRED

Tessa Teegarden, the first-year professor for my art class. She loves all things classical and floral and beautiful. Her potted roses cover the perimeter of the room, always seemingly in full bloom. She's an alumna of Wildewood Hall, and as far as I can tell, is devoted to the school.

FRED (CONT'D)

Sorry, Professor Teegarden. I know I haven't gotten much work done on my painting.

FRED (CONT'D)

That's an understatement. At the moment, my canvas consists of a single, thick brushstroke. And as far as brushstrokes go, well ... it could be better.

TESSA

Just remember--it's due at the end of this week. I wouldn't want you turning in another half-finished work.

SFX: Door opening.

FRED

I look up to see Bea Fisher, a friend of mine, coming into class. Between her bags of art supplies and the large canvas under her arm, she struggles to make it through the door.

TESSA

Bea, you're late. Again.

BEA

(sheepish)

Sorry, I lost track of time.

FRED

Bea's never once gotten to class on time. ... but the girl is an art prodigy. I watch as she sets her canvas on the easel next to mine. It's like some sort of dark vortex, a river of color and texture, all spiraling in toward the center. I can't take my eyes off it.

BEA

Hi, Fred.

FRED

Bea, your painting is making my painting look bad.

BEA

Haaa, it'll come together.

FRED

At this rate, I might finish a triangle before the week's done.

BEA

Any breaking news?

FRED

Word's going around that Alice Simmons has a twin, and the two change places during passing periods.

BEA

Really? I mean, do you think ... ?

FRED

I've found no evidence to support this rumor.

BEA

Whew, okay. Good. See, this is why I like standing next to you.

SFX: Door opening.

FRED

I notice two figures lingering in the doorway. Carla, the security guard, and the school's towering Vice Dean, Ingrid Osborn. The student body refers to her as "The Enforcer." ... I mean, never to her face. But you get the idea.

SFX: Light conversation stops.

VICE DEAN

Bea, please come with us.

FRED

A chill goes down my spine. Bea gives me a questioning look. I glance at Carla, hoping for some kind of clue as to what's happening. The expression on her face is grim.

FRED (CONT'D)

Everyone in the class watches as Bea sets down the rest of her things and makes her way over to Carla and the Vice Dean. Carla holds the door open for Bea, and the three women exit into the hallway.

SFX: Students whispering.

FRED

I wait a few seconds--just until the rumor mill starts up and Professor Teegarden's back is to me--and follow after them.

INT. MAIN HALL

SFX: Quiet door creak.

SFX: Footsteps.

FRED

Out in the main hall, everything is dead silent, save for the sound of the three women walking toward the office.

SFX: Walkie-talkie

FRED (CONT'D)

Carla stops to listen to her walkie as Bea and the Vice Dean head inside.

SFX: Door opens and closes.

FRED (CONT'D)

She lets out a weary sigh when she sees me coming.

FRED (CONT'D)

Is this about the gallery?

CARLA

Fred ...

FRED

Off the record! Diane told me we're not touching the story until she gets the go-ahead from admin, anyway.

CARLA

... Bea submitted a request to the school board last week to paint a mural on school grounds.

FRED

They rejected it?

CARLA

Yes.

FRED

Well, that's ... not exactly incriminating. Anything tying her to the scene?

CARLA

No. They don't have a lot to go on, but ... I worry about Bea. This is just an interview, but ...

FRED

There's no way she'll interview well. She's nervous in normal conversation.

CARLA

I know. But ... try to trust the process, Fred. The board and Dean Blackstone will get to the bottom of this.

SFX: Walkie-talkie.

CARLA (CONT'D)

Sorry. I've got to go.

FRED

As I watch Carla walk away, I feel a knot forming in my stomach. I know the school administration. I've interviewed everyone in their office, including Dean Blackstone and Vice Dean Osborn. They're ... intimidating, sure, but I've never questioned their care for the students in this school. Still, none of that knowledge does anything to settle my stomach.

INT. ART ROOM

FRED

When I slip back in to my art class--catching a sour look from Professor Teegarden in the process--I settle back in at my easel. Once again, my attention is drawn to Bea's canvas, all dark and splattered. It's her signature style. ... And to my untrained eye, it's not so different from the mess inside the gallery.

FRED (CONT'D)

I know she didn't do this. But I can see why the administration would single her out. And if they try to pin this on her ... there might be some investigating in my future, whether Diane likes it or not.

END ACT I

Strange Tales

Laura Ketchum

Cheryl Eichman

Strange Tales

Laura Ketchum

Cheryl Eichman

Light of the World: Behind the Music

Advocate or Accuser