Season of the Witch - episode 2

Please listen to our Prologue & episode1 before you listen to episode two. 

The story continues in the early morning October 30th. You’ll meet the unusual residents of this quiet town of Wincharm. The paranormal radio show host Jeremy and co-host Gabriel have been doing a Spookathon for Halloween. Just like all teens, it’s school time for witches Storm and Electra with their teacher Mildred. Vince the vampire is up this morning as well as Duncan, our young dragon changeling. He is exploring the cave in Blackhill Mountain to find the elixir pool to save the sacred tree, Yggdrasil.

Thank you for listening to Save Erce
Brio Integrated Theatre Production

Directed by Margo Attaya
Written by the Brio team

In order of appearance, this episode stars:
Nicolas Stavre as Jeremy Hamilton
Jason Dorce as Peter McDonald 
Alexandra Sturm as Gabriel Hart
Erin MacArthur as Electra
Erin Boyle as Storm
Jake Crafts as Monty the Crow
Linda Doucette as Mildred
Margo Attaya as Nero the Cat
John Zeisel as Vince
Brian Hunt as Duncan 
Patrick Levassuer, Whitman Mamayek and Jake Crafts as the goblins

Sound design by Margo Attaya and Alexandra Sturm

Music: Theme is True Strength by Caleb Etheridge
music from storyblocks and soundstripe.

Special shout out to NuPath and Wincam
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Winchester Cultural Council,
a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
 
Save Erce is produced by Brio Integrated Theatre, it is an all abilities production 
If you’re enjoying the adventure so far, let us know by leaving us a 5 star  rating or review! This really helps us find new listeners.

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Transcript

Episode 2 of SAVE ERCE - Season of the Witch
audio drama podcast

MORNING Oct 30 1983

Scene 1. ============

SPACE INVADERS
Jeremey’s One Step Beyond is doing a Halloween marathon, he and his cohost Gabriel are broadcasting from the front studio of the radio station building.
Add music and intro of show

JEREMY HAMILTON
Good Morning listeners Rise and Shine, it’s Oct 30th, 1983. We are broadcasting Live from Downtown Wincharm this morning. This is WNCH’s Day 3 of our Halloween Spooktacular Creepathon. That’s right! 24/7 encounters with the Paranormal. 

I’m your host, Jeremy Hamilton from the ‘One Step Beyond with Jeremy’ show with my cheerful assistant, Gabbie. We’ll be giving you goosebumps ‘til November 1st - the Day of the Dead. Don’t forget to enter our Halloween Costume Contest tomorrow night at 8pm! 
Want to say something Gab!

GABRIEL HART:
Hello, I’m Gabriel Hart. (sighs)
Our third day of our Creepathon has passed. (sigh with a yawn)
My bags under my eyes will now soon be developing…. well, another set of bags over them by Halloween. (yawn ) If you hear ZZZZs, it is probably meez.

JEREMY HAMILTON
Don’t we love Gab’s sense of humor…but she is starting to look a bit ghoulish.

Now listeners, most people say Christmas or Hanukkah is their favorite Holiday, but not me. Halloween is where it’s at! It’s a very special time of year, and for many, it’s the scariest. 
There is more in this world than you realize…Beneath the dark shadows are demons, spirits, witches, giant sea monsters, and unimaginable creatures. And we’ll be exploring many of these topics throughout the week.
(pause)

Last night we had local callers report very strange sightings in our own little town. You know the full moon will be rising soon on Halloween and who knows what may be around the corner! Beware and be safe! 

Our first guest is not from Wincharm but from far away  -  Tullahoma, Tennessee in fact… he will be talking to us about a strange encounter with aliens from outer space.

GABRIEL
Another guy living in a trailer in the middle of nowhere? Seriously?

JEREMY HAMILTON
Be open Gab. Let him speak. 

*Jeremy puts the phone on speaker so that Peter’s voice can be heard*

Anyway, please welcome, Mr. Peter McDonald.

PETER McDONALD
Hey, Jeremy! Glad to be on your show!
And by the way Gabriel, I live in a house… not a trailer.

JEREMY HAMILTON
Sorry about that remark, Peter.  
You say you encountered aliens. Can you tell us specifically how this incident went down.

PETER McDONALD
Well, I was sleeping in my bed, I was having my typical dream  err …about mercilessly devouring the souls of the innocent…

GABRIEL
What?!

PETER McDONALD
 …when all of a sudden, I was awoken by a loud noise. 
I tip-toed downstairs with a baseball bat in my hand and there I saw three… three creatures sniffing around my house …they looked real strange. They were tall and spindly…. two arms and four legs. I could see their strange faces in the moonlight, they had five bulging eyes and weird anteater-like snouts. They were huddling over my cabinets in the living room …. And I saw that they were concentrating in this one area and were unplugging things. I got a little closer and I saw their hands - damn! they had all thumbs!. … well, it was then, I realized they were stealing my Atari 2600
…for God only knows what purpose! 
(pause)
You know that was a brand new system. It was hard to get. I had been trying to get my hands on that system for months and now ..it’s gone! They even took all the games. I had just got to level 81 in my favorite game, Space Invaders and…..

JEREMY
That’s horrible, Peter. An atrocity! I can understand why you’re upset. You said you were at Level 81 - that’s not bad….

GABRIEL:
(mutters)
Oh, give me a break. Why would they want an Atari 2600?

JEREMY
Everybody I know wants one..

GABRIEL:
(now at her normal voice)
Sir, are you absolutely sure what you saw were indeed - aliens?
Let me understand, You had just woken up… you were very drowsy at the time. Your half-awake brain probably made you think you saw …aliens. Especially with that weird dream you had.
They were most likely just …your everyday human crooks. 

PETER
Lordie girl! They were MOST DEFINITELY NOT human! I watched them trot right out my door … there was no getaway car…. I saw a bright beam. Shining right down on them when they got outside …. then they started floating straight up into the air. In the Air! I assume back into their mothership. Those galaxian burglars, they made off with my entire Atari system!

GABRIEL
Oh Beam me up, Scotty. PLEASE! 

JEREMY
My, that must’ve been one terrifying encounter. 
Folks, if you’re listening to this, be sure to keep your game systems secured.


GABRIEL
Yes, Lock your doors, Gamers!  Look out for the “Notorious Gang from Planet Maldemar*” - they’re plundering the Earth for your video treasures! 

JEREMY
Well, I and the listeners want to thank you for sharing your amazing story with us, Peter.

 PETER
You’re welcome sir. Good Night Gabriel (hrumph)

*Peter hangs up*

JEREMY
Listeners, please look up to the skies my friends, you never know what you may see.

GABRIEL
Jeremy, I’ve been fine with the whole “countdown to Halloween marathon” thing we’re doing, ….but can we at least try to get better guests who are more… believable?

JEREMY
Gabriel, please don’t be such a naysayer, who knows, one day it could happen to you. 

JEREMY
Listeners, there are creatures out there 
ones that we have yet to discover ….or understand…. 
they could be ready to strike at any moment!

Eerie music played

Our next guest, after our commercial, will be …. 

GABRIEL
Now we go to our Morning Sponsor… The Cauldron. 

Jingle is played
  
Scene 2.============

Vinny’s House MORNING OCTOBER 30
Morning at Vinny’s House
Vinny is working out in his basement, you can hear heavy metal playing, and the clanking of him lifting weights.
(HEAR THE Groan. Clank. Clank.)

VINNY:
“49, 50!”

“Hhmmp!”
(looks in mirror)

“If only I could see myself in this mirror, I’d say 
Vince -  you’re in the best shape in centuries! “
(sad)
Why do they say - “Vampires “Undead, can not be wed” 

“It’s the twenty-first century, man, not the 14th! “

“Bob has it right “The times they are a changin! 
(sighs)
“Tomorrow’s the night to win her heart!”

“Ok, Gotta look buff for my sweetie.
Just one more set.”

(he grabs his weights)

“One, 
And a two, 
And a three!”

(you hear clanking of weights, and heavy music)

"I want to know what love is, I want you to show me....." 


Scene 3.================

Spell Lessons with Electra, Storm and Mildred

Young witches, Electra and Storm, are walking to Mildred’s for their witchcraft lessons. Carrying brooms and spell books.
(hear them walking, steps, sounds of leaves, wind)

STORM
“Don’t you feel a change in the air. Something feels different.”

ELECTRA
“Last night I had the strangest dream… something about fire and a giant tree. Must be the full moon playing with me.”

STORM
“This Full Moon coming - and on Halloween night - that’s a powerful combination.”

ELECTRA
“Maybe, but I feel something …. else…”
 
(hear them walking quietly, the wind gets a bit stronger, leaves scattering on the pavement)

STORM
“What are you wearing to the party?”

ELECTRA
“Oh, a ball gown. My neck will be dripping in diamonds. 
My magical spiders will style my hair in a french twist. 
And my shoes … black stilettos! 
Magical of course (she laughs)   - the kind that never hurt your feet.”

STORM: 
“That’s so to the Max! What do you think I should wear?”

ELECTRA: 
(stops her, looks at her up and down and says)
“You would look great in emerald green! 

“You know,  I see you rockin’ a strapless mini-dress that lights up when you dance. 
Now your hair… hmmm, how about adding purple butterflies? 
They’ll look like pretty clips but then they come alive and flutter when you swirl. 
What do you think?

STORM
“That’s would so rad! Do you think I could pull it off?!

ELECTRA: 
“Of course!”
 
(They come to the front porch and ring the bell at Mildred’s front door)
(A black crow swoops down next to them)

MONTICULUS the CROW
“Morning girls! Going to the party?”

STORM AND ELECTRA
“Morning, Monty! Of course we are. 
Is Mildred in a good mood?”

MONTY: 
“She is in a “Hocus Pocus- the bestest hostess”  mood”!”

(They laugh)
They enter the house, Big victorian, Mildred owns a black cat Nero. see hand-knitted Blankets, afghans, pillows, lots of Victorian heavy furniture
Hear the ticking of the grandmother clock, cat purring, 
(cat comes to Electra’s leg swishing his tale)

STORM AND ELECTRA
“Hi Nero, Are you ready for the big night?” 

NERO the cat
“I am wearing my fancy bowtie! Strutting my stuff! 
(he licks his paw)
“I asked my girlfriend to come. You know, the pretty tiger cat next door?”

ELECTRA (teasingly)
“What! The cat has a date, and I, Electra, don’t!”

NERO
“Well, some folks got it, and some folks don’t!”

ELECTRA
“You’re one sassy cat! (laughs)”

MILDRED 
(hearing the girls voices)
“Electra! Storm! Come in the kitchen and have some tea!”
(Girls walk across the room to the kitchen. 
Hear Kitchen sounds. Water running, dishes putting themselves away. )

STORM
“We're both so pumped for the party!  What will we conjure up this year? Last year’s theme “hotel Transylvania” was “blank””

MILDRED:
“This year’s will be so exciting! It will be your first conjuring with the coven. 
Oh, what do you think about an Egyptian theme!”

STORM:
“OOO, like a Pharaoh's Tomb? With all those crazy hieroglyphics?!”

ELECTRA
“Yes, what about ... lots of spider webs and gold treasures!’

MILDRED
“I like it! 
How about a large coffin in the middle of the dance floor? 
That’s where the mummy will pop out. He’ll be our MC. 
We’ll add a lil fog, some music and of course ….. mayhem!”

(they laugh together)

ELECTRA
“This is going to be fun! I’ve been looking forward to this all year!”

MILDRED
“Yes girls, but first, (ahem) 
Let’s have our morning Spell Class! 
Hmm. What spell should I teach you?”
(pause)
“I know... all young witches want to know how to make a love potion,
Would you like to learn?”

ELECTRA & STORM (in unison)
“Oh Yes!” 

MILDRED
“Let’s go into the spell room.”
(They walk to the room, creaky door, Strange noise, bat wings, Sound of bubbling for drinks.)

MILDRED
“Hmmm, let’s see what’s in these old jars. “
(Blows away some dust off the bottles. Picks each bottle out of shelves.)

“Ok, love spells, I remember….”
(she starts her incantation)
Open up your spell book.  It’s Before the  loosening tongue spell….
Ready? Repeat after me.

“We add frog legs and wax of ears, 
so you will love me for all the years,”
(SIZZLING SOUNDS)

“the eye of newt, and the breath of a snake
 will have us eating our wedding cake,” 

(BUBBLING PLOP)

“burp of goblin and red dragon drool, 
will make our love - cool and rule! ”

(LIQUID SOUNDS)

“dew of mountain mixed with wine, 
now our hearts will be be entwined,” 

(HISSING SOUNDS)

“zombie finger and spider web, 
to make sure our love will never ebb.”

(ALL THE SOUNDS)

MILDRED
(take a ladle of the potion and pours it into 2 bottles)
“Now this is very important….you need to add a strand of your hair into the bottle. Make sure the person of your desire, drinks every drop.”

(stirring sounds)

STORM
“Have you ever used that potion on an Unmagical?”

MILDRED
“Yes, 200 years ago …. Ahhh - Captain Samuel Putnam. 
He was a tall, handsome man, with lots of gold and a hearty laugh. 
I was a young witch then. 
You know, I was quite the looker. 
He would have loved me for eternity! (with a sigh)
That new fellow, Vince, he reminds me a little of him.”

ELECTRA
“Don’t tell me you have a soft spot for him! 
He’s a vampire.
Mildred, that’s forbidden!”

STORM
“Electra, I think it’s romantic! 
Mildred and Vince… it has a nice ring to it!”  


Scene 4
 
DUNCAN LOOKS FOR THE elixir in the cave of Blackball Mountain

INT. IN THE CAVE  
morning   - Oct 30

DUNCAN
"I had a nice deep sleep. (YAWN)
That was a long flight -I thought me wings would fall of! ARGGH!  They’re mighty sore…

Today’s the day I change into me human form. Give me wings a rest. Me Dragon body is just too big to look at in this cave.  Hmm.” 

(We hear him change to human.)
(He starts rummaging in his knapsack)

“Now let’s see, I’ll wear these. 
I’ll be perfect for their Halloween Party. 
lookin’ like a real human laddie! 
yea - but with fire in his eyes! Ha!"

HEAR HIM GET DRESSED.

DUNCAN
"Ok Amulet - it’s time to d o your stuff! 
You got me here, now lead me thru this cave to the sacred elixir  - we must  save our sacred tree."

WE HEAR SOUNDS FROM THE AMULET. 
AND DUNCAN STARTS CLIMBING THRU the caves, AND  WE HEAR HIM SCRAMBLING AND WALKING DEEP INSIDE THE CAVE

“Grunt!”

DUNCAN ASKS THE AMULET

"By all the heavens! Where are you taking me? 
It's as Black as the Earl of Hell’s Waistcoat!" 

HE SQUEEZING THRU A TIGHT HOLE IN THE CAVE 
Makes noise of trying to fit thru tight spots

FROM HIS LEFT

EEBLIXX
“duun agaan o?”

FROM HIS RIGHT

STAGDAZZ      
“Dec agaan o maagaan?”

DUNCAN
“Where are you all coming from?”

FROM UP HIGH

GEAZEA
“BurPPPP!”

DUNCAN
 “Don’t you creatures have any kind of manners?!”

DUNCAN TURN HIS HEAD IN ALL DIRECTION

DUNCAN
"What the …...!"

FROM HIS LEFT

EEBLIXX
“Haar! Kaagaan den shagaan!”

FROM HIS RIGHT

GEAZEA
“BURPPPPpPPPPPPPP! “

FROM UP HIGH
   
STAGDAZZ 
“O shac'd haar takaan rhaac!”

DUNCAN TURN HIS HEAD IN ALL DIRECTION

DUNCAN
“I feel like my head is going 360! I’ll  !!"

APPEARS ON HIS RIGHT

GEAZEA
“BURP!”

DUNCAN
“Oh I see you now!”

GRABS FOR HIM AND MISSES
“Haud yer wheesht! “ 

GRABS THE OTHERS ONE - SLIPS THRU HANDS.

“There - now I got one of you!”

EEBLIXX 
“Haar men alkol'daar !”

DUNCAN 
“Whoa! Man,You’re some slippery guy!”

THEY TUSSLE 
AND DUNCAN DROPS TO THE GROUND 
WITH A BIG THUD

EEBLIXX 
“kaar huun or ghaan!”
 
DUNCAN
“If I was in my real dragon form, I’d beat the crap out of ya.
you wee guys would be sorry! “

STAGDAZZ
“daan'zaan huur men alkol'daar!”

EEBLIXX
“Mogec kaar't haar or maagaan!”

Duncan brushes himself off, and hears his amulet in the distance making its noise

“What the?…. The amulet?… 
It’s gone! O my Shen! O Erce! “