Speaker 1: Propessant's Studios presents Hitch, a collection of unusual stories.
Speaker 2: Trying the successful. We'll can save man.
Speaker 3: God every time my leaf for work. The hat Man
peers from underneath the mobile home trailer across the street
from my house. He lives where the meadow is torn
away at the lower corner of the trailer, as if
someone dogg eared the favorite chapter of a precious book.
Looks like the hat Man found his little nook. I
didn't think anything of it at first.
Speaker 4: It actually feels quite.
Speaker 3: Nice having a companion, almost similar to the neighbors next
to me, the one where the kisses the husband on
the cheek as he leaves for a hard day's work.
But you see, me and companions don't really work out
for long.
Speaker 4: A kind of snap.
Speaker 3: I could start to feel the tension and my head
build up. My brain feels like a rubber ball bounces
around in my score, my stomach chining as if it
was curdled milk. There must be some sort of in
a farm hand in my flesh barn with a never
any hell of infinite milk chugging. Nevertheless, that's how I feel.
I want to hurl. I have just seen that stupid
grin on the man tucked away in the bottom of
that I sore of a trailer. I'd flip him off,
mean muggham. Hell I even mooned him. He still smiles
and ways, what the fuck did he want from me?
Can't he see that? I just don't care. The next
day rose around and.
Speaker 4: I pay him a visit.
Speaker 3: I kneel down and whisper, why do you keep waving
at me? A slight pause, Hello, anyone know? Then a
car pos into the driveway. What are you doing here,
the man says from the car. I turn and give
him a puzzled look. What am I doing here? Whyse
a man living under your trailer? His eyes squint, Hey man,
this isn't my trailer.
Speaker 5: I scoff as I read just my square belt buckle,
of course not you just one of the thirty cars
A point in and out of here after every minute
or two.
Speaker 3: And look back into the hall under the trailer and
clear my throat.
Speaker 4: What is it?
Speaker 3: Exactly what you do here? The hat man points back
into the driveway as a good SUV pulls in. Hello,
said the man from the suv. I could feel my
forehead bubble. Hello to you too. Why are you here?
Said the man?
Speaker 4: Am I taking crazy pills?
Speaker 3: I didn't care anymore. I said whatever I want out loud.
At this point the man puzzled as he's looking at me.
I'm going to go now, I shoot him away. Gone.
He drove away, shaking his head. They say, if the
common denominator is you, it's gotta be me. This makes
no sense. Everyone seems fine, but this makes no sense. Whatever,
I'm out of here. The next day went by and
the hat man wasn't there. Strange the couple next door
still canoodling more than ever. The day after that nothing.
Then weeks turn into months. Ah, what the hell? I
decided to go check it out. I climbed down that hole.
It smells like damp dog. I kind of like it's
actually cozy down here? Is this what happiness feels like?
It's freaking joyful. A surge of energy pumps through my veins,
and I have the sudden urged to wave. Cars would
pull in and out of the driveway and I waved
at them. They smiled and waved right back. These people
aren't crazy, they're nice. What am I thinking? I never
want to leave here. Then a man walks up to me.
It was him. He hands his hat to me, like
the job's yours. I scrunched my brows and tilted my
head job. His smiles razors sharp. Oh you'll find out
soon enough, very soon. Then he skips away as his
flesh barely hangs on his face. Whatever happened, he seems relieved.
So did like them pimple popping videos, the ones with
the yellow and brown exploding volcanoes. Don't forget the leftover
pus sack. Well that was strange. A police officer walks
up to me and puts his hands on his hips.
Do you know I pulled you over? What the pull
me over? Sir? I'm not even in my car, the
guy laughed. First day on the job. I'll let you
off with a warning. I didn't notice the guy at first,
but it was him, the hat man.
Speaker 2: Boo.
Speaker 3: I jerk my head back to see what was behind me.
It was him again. He grabs my hat. I'll be
taking this back. You didn't think I'd actually give you this,
did you. I get out of my spot. The hat
man kicked me out, and I walked back home across
the street. It was at that moment that I realized
my life was meaningless. You try your hardest, get nothing,
lend a stroke of luck, and it gets taken away
from you all to repeat it again, again and again.
Is that all anyone does? Is that what all these
cars pulling into the driveway are doing? Does the hat
man give them purpose? Now that I see a bit clearer,
I see that everyone pulling in is also the hat man.
They pull in just to see the man underneath, smiling
and waving and run over to the mirror, fogged up
from the steamy shower and take a rag. Do't wipe
it off. As I gaze into the mirror, I see
exactly what I feared, the hat man.
Speaker 2: Oooh, you're trying the success About that? I'm well, can
save man? Gondy?
Speaker 6: Do you hear that? Tiagan?
Speaker 1: Here?
Speaker 7: What it's like?
Speaker 6: A high pitched ring?
Speaker 4: I don't hear anything.
Speaker 6: It's getting louder. How can you not hear it?
Speaker 4: Russell? What are you talking about? There's no noise.
Speaker 8: Make it stop, Make it stop, Russell, you're awake.
Speaker 6: What happened?
Speaker 9: You were banging your head on the kitchen table so
hard that you cut your head open.
Speaker 10: You screamed so loud, Russell, Yes, I'm doctor Cooper. We
ran a CT scan and lucky for you, there are
no concussions. We also look for tumors and other structural
abermalities to see if that perhaps caused a sudden pain
you were perceiving. We couldn't find anything. I'm going to
turn in the paperwork. Then you'll be ready to discharge
and go home.
Speaker 6: Okay, but how did this happen?
Speaker 10: I'm not sure it could be stress. Do you have
a history in your family of anything like this?
Speaker 6: No, not even close. We're a healthy bunch.
Speaker 10: Hmm. Okay, well, I'll tell you what.
Speaker 6: Here's my number.
Speaker 10: If anything like this happens again, give me a call.
Speaker 4: How are you feeling?
Speaker 6: Eh, fuzzy?
Speaker 4: We haven't been able to make it out for a
date night so long.
Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm really excited to spend some quality time together.
Speaker 4: I'm starving me too.
Speaker 6: I could eat a horse.
Speaker 4: Such a weird analogy. Who eats horses? Anyway?
Speaker 6: Am I turning the radio down?
Speaker 2: Babe?
Speaker 6: I don't really know this area.
Speaker 4: The radio isn't even on, babe.
Speaker 6: Are you sure? All I can hear is static and
faint drums.
Speaker 4: I don't know what you're talking about. The radio is literally.
Speaker 6: Off it's literally getting louder. What the fuck he can
turn that shit down? I can't hear it's not on chigin.
If you don't turn off the radio right now, I'm gonna.
Speaker 4: You're going to what you're going to? What? What are
you gonna do? Russell?
Speaker 3: Huh?
Speaker 4: Are you gonna hit me? Is that what it comes
down to?
Speaker 3: You know?
Speaker 4: I think this might be Russell. Your ears are bleeding.
Speaker 7: Aha aha.
Speaker 4: Ah a.
Speaker 6: A a.
Speaker 10: Russell. We ran an MRI scan on your brain. As
you can see in this picture, there's extreme inflammation that
the CT scan didn't catch. The swelling is so severe
that your brain is pushed up against your skull. There's
no that's terrible.
Speaker 4: Is there anything we can do about it?
Speaker 10: We're still looking at the tests, but there are procedures
we can take. Are you feeling all right for now?
Speaker 6: Russell? Yeah? I just want us all to go away.
Speaker 10: I understand. I scheduled your procedure for next week. Take
one of these every six hours. Absolutely, no alcohol or
any other drugs. We can't have anything that causes inflammation.
Speaker 4: Yes, sir, how are you feeling, Russell?
Speaker 6: I'm okay. I think the pain pills are.
Speaker 4: Working that's good to hear.
Speaker 3: And now a word from our sponsors introducing Megamind, a
supplement guaranteed to boost mental clarity, fatigue, and happiness.
Speaker 11: Have you been down on your luck, then pick up Megamind.
We want to make the world a better place, and
we know you do too.
Speaker 4: I'm really worried about you, Russell. I feel so scared
for you.
Speaker 6: Don't worry about me, babe.
Speaker 4: I'm strong, I know, but I can't help the way
I feel.
Speaker 6: Come here. Do you remember that time it was snowing
and he told me that you loved me for the
first time.
Speaker 4: Do I remember it? I think about it all the time.
Speaker 6: There was no wind at all, snow falling like it
was a scene in a Hollywood movie. We were walking slow.
I never wanted that night to end.
Speaker 4: I felt so nervous. I didn't know what you were
going to say back.
Speaker 6: It was perfect, like a chapter out of your kinky
love novels you like to read. Yeah, I know it's
in those books. You don't fool me.
Speaker 9: Hey, you're the one that recommended a steamy novel. Now
I can't stop.
Speaker 6: It had elves. I didn't know it was some fetish story.
Speaker 4: Whatever.
Speaker 6: I love you so much. You know that right?
Speaker 4: Well you barely tell me.
Speaker 6: Well, I'm telling you now. You mean the world to me. Seriously,
I felt awful screaming at you.
Speaker 4: It wasn't you, Russell, It wasn't you.
Speaker 9: Tasteley Behead, I mean eggs, bacon and hash browns.
Speaker 6: Oh, I'm so hungry. It looks amazing.
Speaker 4: How is it?
Speaker 6: How is it? It tastes like shit? How is it
possible to make rubbery eggs? These hash browns are undercooked
and the bacon tastes like trash.
Speaker 4: You don't have to be so mean about it, Russell.
I'm trying to do something nice.
Speaker 6: How about just not cooking? That would be nice.
Speaker 4: How about you just shut up? Is that an option?
Probably not? Why? Oh yeah, because you're a baby.
Speaker 6: I'm a baby. Oh you'd love that you'd finally have
a baby. Then oh wait, you don't actually have one, now,
do you?
Speaker 4: You're such a jerk. Get away from me.
Speaker 6: God damn it?
Speaker 3: You know what?
Speaker 6: Fuck this shit? Why do I owe anyone anything? I
do everything myself. Might as well make myself happy. Time
for some eggs, boys, eggs and legs.
Speaker 11: Mega mind everyone is talking about it.
Speaker 3: Just say it. I can't live without it.
Speaker 11: It's true.
Speaker 6: Listen to this testimony.
Speaker 12: My life was going down the drain. I had no
energy to take.
Speaker 4: Care of the kids.
Speaker 12: After I got off work, I forgot who I was.
My identity was mom. That's all I knew. I felt
shameful Otherwise, the moment I found Mega Mind, my life changed.
Now I'm super Mom and also I'm Nancy again. I
have energy time for my loved ones and my friends.
Thank you, Mega Mind.
Speaker 13: Welcome to Benedict's just one for today. Yes, please right
this way, sir, sir.
Speaker 2: I like that.
Speaker 12: Hello, sir, What can I get for you?
Speaker 14: Hi?
Speaker 6: I'll take a coffee black, and I will take eggs,
bacon and hash browns. Whatever you do. Don't bring me
rubbery eggs and undercooked anything. I've already had that today.
It was god awful.
Speaker 12: Sure a thing.
Speaker 14: I'll be right back with your coffee.
Speaker 6: But one more thing. Can I get a better looking waitress?
Speaker 14: Excuse me?
Speaker 6: I need a better looking broad This ain't cutting it.
Speaker 12: I'm all you've got today. We're understaffed. And be frank
with you, that was a very sexist statement.
Speaker 6: Sexist. This is eggs and legs.
Speaker 12: No, this is Benedict's.
Speaker 6: Whatever, man, Just get me my food and don't spit
on it.
Speaker 12: Uh huh.
Speaker 3: Mega Mind it makes your mind. You're alter drink.
Speaker 12: Here's your food and a new drink for free that
we're trying to promote. It's called Mega Mind.
Speaker 6: Oh love this stuff. Thanks stop there perfect pill.
Speaker 15: Having a rough day? If you could make it all
go away in a snap of a finger, would you
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Speaker 3: Hi.
Speaker 16: I'm Steve, founder of Megamind. I created Megamind to help
the future of our world. No rough childhoods, the relief
of dead end jobs, and that little relaxation you need
from the kids.
Speaker 15: Megamind it makes your mind do the things you can
only dream of.
Speaker 4: Can we talk?
Speaker 6: Sure?
Speaker 4: What do you want in person? Please?
Speaker 6: You could just tell me now, Russell?
Speaker 4: Please?
Speaker 6: Eh fine?
Speaker 4: Hey, Russell Tigan.
Speaker 6: I'm so sorry. I don't know what's happening, but I
think I have a cure. I tried this new megamind
drink called Vitalize. I feel amazing, no mood swings, no headaches.
Speaker 9: That's the thing people have been coming forward with symptoms
that you're having. They've narrowed it down to megamind.
Speaker 6: But I haven't had megamind until today.
Speaker 4: That's the other thing you have. I've been putting it
into your morning smoothies.
Speaker 3: You what.
Speaker 4: I'm so sorry, Russell. It's all my fault.
Speaker 6: You're damn right, it's all your fault. Not only are
you causing all of this, you attack me for what
I've become. You are the problem.
Speaker 9: Look, I'm sorry, but this needs to stop. We have
a solution. We can do a detox and get you
back to normal.
Speaker 6: What are you talking about? This needs to stop. You
can't just apologize and everything is magically hunky dory.
Speaker 4: I mean, if this doesn't stop, I'm leaving.
Speaker 6: Oh oh you're not going to leave. I'll make sure
of that, Russell. Stop, you created me taken. I am
what I am. Now it's my turn.
Speaker 4: Get away from me.
Speaker 6: Oh you don't know what I'm capable of. Let me
show you repeat after me. Everything is my fault.
Speaker 4: Everything is my fault.
Speaker 6: I am a horrible person.
Speaker 4: I'm a horrible person.
Speaker 6: And Russell will never be the same because of me.
Speaker 11: Russell, say it, say it, Russell.
Speaker 4: It's not true.
Speaker 6: Say it or I will slit your throat. You think
I give a fuck anymore, because I really don't say it, motherfucker.
We will never be the same, That's what I thought.
Speaker 4: I'm so sorry.
Speaker 6: Russell Tagan? Tagan? Are you there? Where are you? Russell Tagan?
What happened? Why am I tied up?
Speaker 4: I had to Russell? You were going mad?
Speaker 6: Can you untie me?
Speaker 4: I can't.
Speaker 9: We need to get that Mega mind out of your system.
Speaker 17: What the fuck?
Speaker 6: Tigan? Can't you do anything right?
Speaker 2: Stupid bitch?
Speaker 4: Don't believe me. Here, I'll turn on the news.
Speaker 18: I'm a Lexa West and this is Channel thirteen Action News.
The President of the United States declared that we have
an epidemic on our hands. Mega Mind has manipulated the
population and has caused mass hysteria. Most of the population
has been consumed with madness. People are calling.
Speaker 4: This a real life purge.
Speaker 18: Cities are being taken over and no one is safe.
Speaker 4: What are you doing? You're not allowed in here?
Speaker 19: That's funny because here I am and here you are.
I suppose we'll let this trusty gun decide who's right.
I'll go first. Now you're turned.
Speaker 18: No, no, no, please, I beg you.
Speaker 11: Don't this looks like you're wrong.
Speaker 4: Still my fault.
Speaker 6: Aha ah, look I don't care anymore.
Speaker 20: Ah ah ah ah.
Speaker 2: Truly the success about who can save mankind?
Speaker 21: Human beings are a phenomena. Sometimes, or well, a lot
of the time, we don't even know why we do
the things we do could be chemistry, genetics, environmental greed,
or even suppressing our dark side. Why do you think
someone like Genghis Khan wants to dominate the world?
Speaker 3: Can any answer that?
Speaker 21: Yes, miss Alice, Alice, Yes, continue with your answer.
Speaker 14: Hurt people, hurt people.
Speaker 21: M That is correct. To create diamonds, coal has to
undergo an immense amount of pressure. You can rise to
the top by overcoming a rough childhood. Diamonds can be
quite beautiful, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Diamonds are the hardest natural material. They can cut through anything.
Natural strength is knowing you have it and not using it.
Power is applying your strength to overcome your obstacle giving
it to the dark side. Power can be corrupted. I
think after Genghis Khan united the Mongrels and Mongolia was formed,
he had to make the world go through what he
went through growing up. Yes, Emma, can.
Speaker 22: Anyone really overcome their dark side?
Speaker 3: No?
Speaker 21: That is an excellent question, and the answer is I
don't know. Personally. I think we all have limits. Once
we pass that threshold, we revert to instincts. Our instincts
is to survive, and every memory you create is a
simulation your brain runs through to never happen again. We
really don't have to worry about tigers anymore, yet we
still have the fight or flight response. I'd say, no,
we can't overcome our dark side, but we can get
better and work with it. All right, Class, that's it
for today.
Speaker 17: Hey, they're beautiful. You looking like a snack?
Speaker 7: Oh? That is so cringe. Oh, Jazz, Hey, where are
you going?
Speaker 17: I'm talking to you?
Speaker 14: Why don't you talk to me later when you have
something better to say. I need to get to class.
Speaker 17: Nice one, Chaz, Oh, I'm gonna get her best believer you.
Speaker 3: Houn dog Oh.
Speaker 22: October sixth Human Behavioral class was eye opening today and
made me hold a mirror to my internal self. Made
me ask myself, did I really need to act that way?
When I reflect on a reaction I have? What about
people like Chazz?
Speaker 7: Though?
Speaker 22: Do people like that even really care about how they
come off. Different strokes for different folks, I guess, but
it's disgusting to be honest.
Speaker 21: Good morning class. Okay, what do you think the human
struggle is?
Speaker 3: Mm?
Speaker 17: Jazz wanting what you can have?
Speaker 7: What a meathead?
Speaker 23: Uh?
Speaker 3: Sort of?
Speaker 21: It's getting everything you've ever desired and finding out that
you're still empty inside. It's the fight between want and need.
Speaker 17: What I need is to go to the bathroom.
Speaker 21: Go ahead, Jazz.
Speaker 7: And what I want is you you?
Speaker 22: Does Alice have a tattoo? The spider covering the back
of her neck with a red hourglass on him? What
the what's coming out of her hair? Is that a spider?
Is the same one is on her neck?
Speaker 7: Hey, Alice, Yeah, there's a spot.
Speaker 21: Emma, thank you for volunteering. Can you come up in
front of the class? Welcome back, Chaz. Okay, Emma, here's
what I need you to do. Uh, Chazz, Can you
come up here real quick? Okay, Chas you stand there, Emma,
stay right there, turn around. Okay. Now, Emma, I'm going
to need you to fall backwards.
Speaker 7: Do you want me to?
Speaker 3: What this is?
Speaker 21: A trustabul? Is something wrong?
Speaker 7: Well? I don't really feel comfortable.
Speaker 21: This class is Emma's want. She wants to not fall
back because she lacks trust. Emma, I'm going to need
you to do this if you want points for today's
participation score.
Speaker 7: This is so wrong see class.
Speaker 21: Emma's need outweighed her want. She wanted to not fall
due to lack of trust, but she felt that she
needed to participate to achieve a good grade. You two
can sit down and I I apologize for exploiting your needs.
Speaker 3: Emma.
Speaker 22: What I need is a shower. I need to wash
this filth off. I feel disgusting. Was that really a
spider in Alice's hair? Or was I just seeing things?
It's probably nothing. Great Now I sound like a crazy
person talking to myself, Emma. Yeah, she sees spiders in
people's hair and talks to herself. We leave her be
not trying to get a HEXT to Hey, Satan.
Speaker 17: Welcome to Weeds. How may I help you?
Speaker 22: Hi, I'll take a Slurpeter brahmen.
Speaker 11: One Slurpeter Brahmen coming right up? Yeah?
Speaker 22: Is that Chez wouldn't expecting to be in a place
like this?
Speaker 17: Hea, there, Tutz do a spin for me.
Speaker 18: This isn't some pinky furry restaurant.
Speaker 7: You sleeze bay Mmm.
Speaker 17: I like when my women play hard to get.
Speaker 4: Whatever, what the hell do you want to eat.
Speaker 17: Other than you? I guess I'll settle for an American cheeseburger.
Speaker 6: How original, dude, you are the man so much confidence
top g my guy.
Speaker 2: Her mouth said no, but her eyes said yes.
Speaker 14: She might as well be underneath this table with all
that desire she was giving off.
Speaker 17: It's a gift and a curse, my friend.
Speaker 22: What an utterly disgusting douchebag.
Speaker 21: Ma'am, here's your ramen.
Speaker 7: Oh my god, you're the best.
Speaker 22: And this isn't the last time you'll be seeing me?
Speaker 7: Haha. Yeah.
Speaker 22: Why does it seem like every guy is a perv?
Then there are those that openly embrace it. It's like
they think they're doing women a favor and it would
be a disservice to turn them down.
Speaker 7: It's been like this throughout history.
Speaker 22: Funny thing is, if we turned around and did the
same thing back to them, they wouldn't be disgusted. They'd
take a strange woman in the back alley if they could.
Men are creeps.
Speaker 21: Sexual dynamics and that's a touchy subject now, more than ever.
The world tries to put us in a box and
expects us to be a certain way. If not, we
point fingers and shout. Let's discuss what we think is
important in sexual dynamics. When I say sexual dynamics, I
really mean interactions between two people of any gender.
Speaker 14: Women are afraid of being taken advantage of, and it
feels like men do not respect that boundary. It's a
serious issue right now.
Speaker 21: Excellent point, Alice. That is very true, or the me
Too movement wouldn't have even happened otherwise, which is a.
Speaker 14: Good thing that it happened. I feel that it helped
a little bit, but not enough.
Speaker 21: Go ahead, Steve.
Speaker 14: There are countless men scared to talk to women because
of that exact reason.
Speaker 6: We don't want to get me tooed.
Speaker 7: Well, then don't be a creep.
Speaker 17: I don't think you understand.
Speaker 16: It kills the vibe if I have to ask permission
to talk to a girl.
Speaker 2: Nice guys, finish.
Speaker 7: Last, maybe read the room, Steve.
Speaker 3: If I could, I would.
Speaker 12: It's not like there's a class for that.
Speaker 21: M I'd like to think this exact class is the
class for that.
Speaker 3: Then what do I do?
Speaker 21: It really comes down to just having a conversation. You know,
women are people too. If your intention isn't sex, you
won't come off as hold off on the flirting until
she's super into you, then keep it really light. But
I'm not here to be a pickup artist today. I'm
simply opening up a discussion about what is going on
in sexual dynamics.
Speaker 17: I never seem to have a problem. I'm just my
authentic self.
Speaker 7: Please, you're the d bag king.
Speaker 21: That's some really good advice, Jazz, be your authentic self.
Speaker 14: Hey, Emma, I'm having a party tonight at my house.
Want to come me.
Speaker 22: We've never even spoken to each other before. Why do
you want me to come?
Speaker 14: You sit right behind me. I feel like it's the
right thing to do. Besides, I'd like it if you
did come.
Speaker 7: All right, I'll be there.
Speaker 3: Cool.
Speaker 22: Is that a spider going into Alice's mouth?
Speaker 7: Alice, you have a Alice.
Speaker 21: You're facing the wrong direction.
Speaker 14: Sorry, Professor Fritz.
Speaker 17: Welcome to the smooth Jazz Lovie, hit the up station.
We hope you're having a goofy time.
Speaker 2: Boogieman and Lady.
Speaker 22: I saw a spider and Alice's hair again expun its
web and traveled down into her mouth, and now she
wants me to go to her party. I'm not gonna lie.
It's a little creepy, but at the same time it's intriguing.
Speaker 4: Oh my god, Emma, you're here.
Speaker 14: Can I get you a drink?
Speaker 24: Oh?
Speaker 14: Silly me? Why am I asking? Come with me? What
you want? I know, vodka on the rug, splash of
strawberry scissor and a lime.
Speaker 22: I don't drink, but holy shit, that tastes good.
Speaker 14: She likes it. Come on, Emma, let's go dance.
Speaker 4: Woo.
Speaker 14: You're cool as hell. Sorry I was a lame o
and haven't talked to you all semester.
Speaker 4: It's cool.
Speaker 14: Ugh, don't look, it's chaz mmmmm.
Speaker 17: I'd really like to be in your wonderland, Alice.
Speaker 14: Keep wondering, wonder boy.
Speaker 17: You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself.
Speaker 14: Whatever. Back to the dancing, Alice.
Speaker 7: Yeah, that dude's a creep. You can't trust.
Speaker 14: You don't need to worry about me. Emma, Hey, can
I show you something?
Speaker 11: Sure?
Speaker 14: This is my stash?
Speaker 7: Wow, you've got quite the taste.
Speaker 14: I've been reading for a very long time. It's kind
of my thing. I like to read.
Speaker 22: Emma, you feel Haunting of Hillhouse. Shirley Jackson is a monster.
Don't get me wrong. Hillhouse is a masterpiece. But do
you know what gets me?
Speaker 14: Before you answer, let me top.
Speaker 4: You off the witch Ah.
Speaker 14: That one is so good.
Speaker 22: A super short shory, but it is one of the
very few things that gives me the chills.
Speaker 14: This one right here is one of my favorites.
Speaker 22: A long Way to a small and angry planet.
Speaker 7: I don't know that one.
Speaker 14: Becky Chambers such an underrated book. It's got space dramas,
struggle and questions, the status quo. How so we can
never seem to wrap our heads around race and sex
in this world. In this book, it's so far in
the future, there's so many species from around the galaxies.
It makes what we have such a small and fixable problem.
There's an artificial intelligence that falls in love, a reptilian person,
and even a character that looks like an otter across
with a frog and caterpillar.
Speaker 7: That's what I love about art.
Speaker 22: We can escape from our world to a world of possibilities.
Speaker 14: Alice in Wonderland represents a child's struggle to survive in
a confusing world of adults to understand adults is to
destroy the imagination of a child A Adults need rules?
Speaker 7: Why so we don't end up killing each other.
Speaker 14: Kids don't do that. Kids don't start wars, kids don't
commit hate crimes adults do.
Speaker 7: I think you need to top off, Alice.
Speaker 14: You're not wrong there.
Speaker 7: Here you go. I from one.
Speaker 25: I'm tired of everyone telling me who I'm supposed to be.
The quality home life. Motherhood is just the most sacred thing.
Go to college and be a boss, bitch, bitch. I'm
just trying to be Dwarfing Circle of the Moon in
d and.
Speaker 14: D Elvin Sorcerer here.
Speaker 4: I think.
Speaker 14: We define ourselves in the meticulous things we do, and
we reinforce it in all other aspects of life. It's
the yin and yang. One or the other will take over.
If you're not careful, you won't even notice.
Speaker 22: Oh my god, Alice, is that what I think it is?
It is Ozumaki Spiral.
Speaker 14: The greatest peace in horror of all time?
Speaker 7: Have you finished it?
Speaker 14: I could never put it down.
Speaker 22: I actually created a fan made chapter for Spiral.
Speaker 14: N Ah, let's hear it.
Speaker 7: Well, I don't have it with me. I'll try my best, though.
Speaker 22: At Greenville University. There is a student named Marcy. Such
a sweet, reserved girl, well respected, and the guys like
to make her blush. She strives to be the top
of her class. A shy girl, but the most open
person when she warms up to you. Pierce, a guy
that feels he has to prove himself to the world,
and Leela, an activist that feels like she has a calling.
Both drive up together to the Greenville Police Academy. Pierce
parks his car and takes a deep breath and brushes
his hair to the side with his fingers, a concerned
look on his face as he turns towards Leela.
Speaker 11: Call it a gut feeling. But something feels very off today.
Speaker 22: Leela adjusts her golden necklace that gently caresses her neck.
How do you mean, Pierce looks down and shuffles his feet.
Speaker 11: Greenville University might be cursed, Pierce.
Speaker 4: Do you hear yourself right now?
Speaker 22: Pierce's skin shifts pale to red, like a white sheet
covered with a red blanket.
Speaker 11: I've been hearing a lot of things going on in
Greenville while the academy. It's not safe anymore.
Speaker 22: Leela hands Pierce a rolled up brown paper bag crinkled
like a pair of balled up cappies.
Speaker 4: Here's your lunch.
Speaker 22: Pierce takes his lunch and brushes his hand against Leela's
pillow cheek. He then steps out of the car and
heads in for the police academy. Leela gets out of
the passenger seat and into the driver's seat to head
towards Greenville University. They do this every weekday for a
hopeful future. After Leela's creative writing class lets out, she
runs into Marcy in the hallway. A tall, blonde, curly
haired boy passes by.
Speaker 26: Oh hey, Leah.
Speaker 7: Marcy Hey.
Speaker 22: Leela couldn't help but to stare at marcy long light
brown hair with matching light brown eyes, her hair waving
like the ocean. As she traces her eyes down to
her cheek, she saw a hair sticking out. Leila's never
noticed it before. It's hard to really see because it's transparent.
Speaker 26: You're looking at my cheek.
Speaker 7: Aren't you.
Speaker 27: I'm not trying to, I just noticed.
Speaker 7: I've had this ever since I can remember.
Speaker 26: My mom said, even had this coming out of the womb,
I would not be surprised if the ultrasound picked it up.
I've tried everything to get rid of it, but it
keeps getting darker when it grows back, so I just
left it alone. At least this way, it's harder to see.
Speaker 4: I'm so sorry, Marcy. I didn't mean to stare.
Speaker 26: It's okay.
Speaker 11: Do you want to get some lunch?
Speaker 8: Sure?
Speaker 22: Leela and Marcy are sitting down at steaks and chicks
and stuff. Marcy opens up like a book.
Speaker 26: Back when I went to high school, I had a
really hard social life. Classmates would make fun of me
and call me Harry Mark cheeky. All I wanted to
do was fit in, and I didn't even want to
be noticed. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. One day, three
classmates surrounded me.
Speaker 18: I didn't know what Harry Wikele is, but if I
were to guess, it's what's ever in your face?
Speaker 26: A parles, a plant ornail?
Speaker 22: Shut up, Cubert, your jokes make no sense.
Speaker 4: Who cares? They sound funny? And you book funny?
Speaker 22: Marcy, looking down while sipping out of a large straw
in her.
Speaker 26: Shake and higher group chanted Harry Mark cheeky, Harry Mark cheeky,
Harry Mark cheeky. It seemed like the entire freshman class
joined it in.
Speaker 7: I'm so sorry, Marcy. I didn't know. That's all good.
Speaker 26: The doctor diagnosed me with hersidism. Oh, but guys like me.
It's kind of funny.
Speaker 22: One day after class, Leela hears someone running behind her
as she walks to her car.
Speaker 27: Hey, Lela, waight up, Marcy tagalong?
Speaker 7: Uh? Sure?
Speaker 22: Leela and Marcy both get into Leela's car. Lela stares
at Marcy.
Speaker 6: What are you doing here?
Speaker 26: He thought so much about your boyfriend? I think I
should meet him.
Speaker 8: I do, Yeah, yeah, what do you say?
Speaker 26: Let's go meet the guy.
Speaker 22: It will take.
Speaker 4: Long, Okay.
Speaker 26: So what do you want to do when you're all
done with school, Leila?
Speaker 27: I want to help tackle the mental health crisis. I
feel that we're heading in the right direction, but we
still have a ways to go.
Speaker 26: Okay, I see.
Speaker 27: I think we really have to discuss social media. We're
honestly in the wild West right now. It's like we're
losing what it means to be human. If we sit
back and really think, I believe we can fix this problem.
Speaker 4: I couldn't agree more.
Speaker 22: Leela and Marcy pull up to the police Academy pierces
waiting by the curve to be picked up Leela rolls
down the window.
Speaker 27: Hey babe, you'll have to get in them back.
Speaker 11: You must be Peers.
Speaker 26: I've heard so many good things about you.
Speaker 11: What the hell are you doing here?
Speaker 26: I'm here to see you, silly.
Speaker 23: No, no, no, no, no no oh Piers.
Speaker 22: He manages to scramble out of the car and runs
back into the police academy. Leela opens up her door
to follow him. Marcy gets out too, but Leela's too
far ahead of her. The next day, Leela looked for
Marcy at Greenville University. She found Marcy at the food court.
Speaker 27: Marcy, Leah, I'm so sorry for what happened yesterday. I
don't know what got into Peers. I still haven't talked
to him yet.
Speaker 22: The same tall blonde boy with curly from before.
Speaker 6: Stops Marci, Can I take you up for food sometime?
Speaker 22: Marcy's cheeks blossom a rosy red.
Speaker 26: Yes, definitely yes.
Speaker 22: He brushes her cheek before he walks away. The single
hair sticking out of her cheek strokes through his fingers.
When he bounces back, it forms a curl. Marcie smiles
and turns towards Leela.
Speaker 26: No worries Leela. It's my fault. Honestly, I shouldn't have intruded.
Boys can be insecure sometimes.
Speaker 7: Tell me about it.
Speaker 22: Leela checks her form to see if Pearce responded.
Speaker 7: Noah.
Speaker 22: Impatiently waiting in her car at the police academy. If
one could see metaphorical steam coming out of someone's ears,
Leila would be a locomotive. She's fuming as she waits
for Pears to come out.
Speaker 17: Okay, here it comes. Okay, deep breath, don't snap.
Speaker 7: There might be something I'm not aware of.
Speaker 22: Pierce gets in the car and he could immediately feel
the atmosphere.
Speaker 27: What the hell, peers, Leila, Look, you don't have to
be a jerk.
Speaker 4: Marcy is a nice girl. She can't help that she
was born with her satism.
Speaker 11: She's a spiral, Leela, She's a damn spiral.
Speaker 22: Leela's gut feels like there's tiny hands rearranging her intestines.
Speaker 7: You don't know that, Piers.
Speaker 22: Pierce points at his sunken eyes.
Speaker 11: Look at me, Leela. You remember the spirals before they
all have the patent. This follows that pattern. Did you
see the hair on her cheek? It's a full formed spiral.
Speaker 4: It may have had a slight girl. I saw it today.
Speaker 11: Look again, this town cursedor like the others.
Speaker 22: Later that night, Pierce seas an unknown number pop up
on his phone and he doesn't answer it. A voice
message is left.
Speaker 26: It's from Marcy, my sweet Pierce, You've taken my heart.
Speaker 22: I can't stop thinking about.
Speaker 26: You, my love. True love knows no bounds. I can
take care of leader for you. You don't need a
pretend in front of me. We can run away together.
Speaker 22: Pierce is shopping at the Go Go grocery mart. Pierce
and Leela alternate shopping trips bi weekly.
Speaker 17: Ten for ten.
Speaker 11: Not a bad deal even still, I shouldn't get it.
Speaker 22: As Pierce looks at cheez its, he looks at his
budget calendar. A hand immediately grabs the box of cheese
its the piers put back. Pierce's eyes slowly trail up
the arm of the hand to the shoulder into the face.
Speaker 11: Marcy. What are you doing here? You need to get
out of here.
Speaker 26: Oh, Piercy, didn't you get a message?
Speaker 4: We're going to run away together.
Speaker 22: Pierce dashes over to the red phone on the wall
and pushes a button that looks like a head and
a speaker. This activates the intercom.
Speaker 3: Attention shoppers, you need to leave. Your lives are in danger.
Speaker 11: The spiral is here and she will suck you in
and turn you into a spiral.
Speaker 26: This towel is cursed, Ah, Piers, you don't need to
play hard to get.
Speaker 22: Pierce's lips pressed together and whitened.
Speaker 23: Marcy, I can't make this any clearer. I don't want
to have anything to do with you. I don't like you.
Leela and I are in love. You need to leave
this town or you're gonna spiral.
Speaker 22: Pierce turns around and runs through the aisle of people.
Speaker 3: So that's how it's want to be.
Speaker 26: After everything I've done, this is how I'm going to
be treated. No one does this to me.
Speaker 4: Nobody.
Speaker 22: Marcy runs after Pierce. She exits the Go Go grocery
mart and sees Pierce running down the sidewalk.
Speaker 8: Piers, I won't let you get away with this.
Speaker 11: You belong to me.
Speaker 22: Pierce turns his head and sees Marcy. He trips and
falls on the ground. As he scrambles up, Marcy.
Speaker 7: Is right behind him.
Speaker 22: He takes a left and hops up a flight of
concrete steps, sprinting as fast as he can he knocks
someone off his bicycle.
Speaker 11: Oh shoot, sorry.
Speaker 22: Pierce panics, steals the bike and pedals like a madman
into the distance. Marcy catches up to the bicyclist and
falls to her knees as she sees Pierce getting away.
Speaker 26: He was the first to notice. It wasn't for him,
people wouldn't think I'm a spiralal he has to pay.
Speaker 22: Marcy starts heaving. She coughs up a chunk of hair.
More hair is regurgitating from her throat. She grabs a
strand hanging out of her mouth and pulls.
Speaker 7: Hair pours out.
Speaker 22: It looks like a clothesline of hair nests. All the
wads of slimy hair pull out onto the ground. Marcy
starts screaming and claws at her face. Her nails rip
out the hair on her cheek. Her head pops like
a Hoberman's sphere, producing a cyclone of hair and skin
in the shape of a giant spiral. Marcy turns to
the bicycle. He scampers on the ground, barely able to breathe.
Marcy sucks him into her spiral, each limb breaking off
piece by piece and gets sucked into the spiral abyss.
Marcy lets out a guttural roar. Leela gets out of
creative writing class a quote stuck with her write or
don't write but don't do anything else Neil Gaiman. This
makes her feel free of the pressure of creating. As
soon as she steps out of the door, she snaps
back to reality. Her spine feels like there's ants running
up and down it, making her shiver. Marcy's nowhere in sight.
If we can only rewind time and avoid unwonted experiences,
we could avoid trauma. But why change people's choices into
our choices.
Speaker 7: I guess I should just go with her away in
a box.
Speaker 22: A week goes by and Marcy hasn't been around. Leela
laying in bed writing in her journal. Did I make
her up?
Speaker 4: I'm not lossing.
Speaker 22: My mind is the spiral in my head. This must
be what it feels like to be gas lit. Something
traumatic happens, and it's a race like it never happened,
like taking a paragraph out of a word document before
you print. Leela runs her fingers through her hair, attempting
to massage the stress away. She walks to the kitchen
and opens up the refrigerator. It's completely empty.
Speaker 7: Well, at least I have something to take my mind
off things.
Speaker 22: Leela walks into the living room, Pierces asleep on the couch.
The TV's playing Live PD. Leela grabs the keys and
gives them a jingle. She pauses and thinks, you know
what's going to be just fine, and she takes off
to the Go Go grocery Kmart. Pierce woke up to
the sound of gunshots. There was a shootout on the TV.
He reaches for the remote and turns the TV off.
Soft knocking came from the front door. Pierce got up
to see who it was. Squeaking came from the handle.
As he turned it, he cracked the door open. No
one's there. As he closes the front door, he's tripped
onto the ground. As the door almost busts off its hinges,
what looks like half human and half spiraling hairy flesh
stands in the doorway. A pulsating shriek comes from the entity.
Pierce's sunken eyes widen.
Speaker 11: Stay away from me.
Speaker 22: Pierce grabs the closest thing to him and throws a shot.
The spiral disintegrates it on site and spits it back out.
Pierces cat. Reaper jumps between Pierce and the spiral. Reaper
showing his fangs while he hisses. The spiral notices the
cat and grabs him. The cat turns inside out as
it gets sucked into the spiral. The spiral spits the
cat back out onto the floor, and Pierce jumps towards
Reaper and grabs him. The only thing left of the
cat is skin and bones. The spiral makes a rhythmic
rumble along with a high pitch frequency as the hair
of the cat makes its way to the center of
the spiral. The spiral is galloping in place as it
flaps its arms in excitement. Leela gets back from her
shopping trip. She drops the grocery bags in the hallway
and sprints for her door.
Speaker 11: Piers Leela run. It's not safe.
Speaker 22: The spiral grabs Leela and lifts her straight up into
the air. She can feel the gravity of the spiral
sucking her in like a black coal eating a star.
Speaker 4: Piers enough to grab the hair and the spiral and
yeng it out. It's the only way.
Speaker 22: Pierce dashes towards the spiral and grabs what's left of Reaper.
He can feel his skin ripping off. It's like a
thousand tiny paper cuts. He grabs as hard as he can,
then pushes off with his legs against the spiral's legs.
As the hair starts to give, the spiral pocks just
like a sink coal, the spiral consumes itself like water
down a drain. Leela falls to the ground and all
the air forces itself out of her lungs. The only
thing left of the spiral is one tiny transparent hair.
The hair goes on Marcy's cheek.
Speaker 14: Emma, what the actual fuck? That was revolting?
Speaker 4: I love it?
Speaker 14: Who knew such a sweet, reserved girl could create such
a thing. Professor Fritz is right. We all have a
dark side.
Speaker 7: Thanks, Alice. It's hard being vulnerable like that. I never
know what to expect.
Speaker 14: Lucky for you, there's a whole horror community out there.
You should do horror.
Speaker 7: Emma, I thought about it. Maybe I will.
Speaker 14: I get to say I knew you before you became famous.
Speaker 7: So, Alice, what's your dark side?
Speaker 24: Uh?
Speaker 4: Uh uh?
Speaker 14: A true performer never shows the performance until it's showtime.
Speaker 22: Alice, what's with the spider?
Speaker 5: Oh?
Speaker 14: This little thing.
Speaker 3: There? You are?
Speaker 17: Alice?
Speaker 7: Ever heard of knocking I.
Speaker 17: Was invited up here? Are you joining us?
Speaker 7: Emma ew crows?
Speaker 14: No, Alice, If you don't mind, Emma, this won't take long.
Just because I'm mad doesn't mean I'm not right.
Speaker 17: What peace out girl, scout.
Speaker 14: Oh jazz, you're a bad boy.
Speaker 21: Good morning class. Today we are going to talk about
a woman named Judy Buenoano. She was four years old
when her mother died. She was passed around to live
with family members and a few foster homes that Judy
claimed that she was sexually assaulted and abused within these households.
At the age of ten, she lived with her father
and his new wife, and she said she was abused, starved,
and treated like a work slave. Judy became pregnant when
she was seventeen years old. She gave birth to her son, Michael,
then later met her husband, James Goodyear, an Air Force sergeant.
They had two children together. James was in and out
due to the Air Force. After about a year in Vietnam,
he came back home. He developed missus sterious symptoms and
passed away. Judy collected life insurance and Veterans Administration benefits.
Judy developed a new relationship with a man named Bobby Morris.
Morris moved to Colorado for his career. Judy and her
children followed. A few years later, Bobby Morris died. He
suffered the same symptoms as James Goodyear. Both Goodyear and
Morris's cause of death was diagnosed as heart attacks. Judy
Buenoano qualified for three life insurances that she took out
on Morris since she was deemed by common law marriage
his wife at the time. This is where Judy changed
her last name Buenoanyo, meaning Goodyear. Judy's first son, Michael,
joined the army and shortly fell ill. He was diagnosed
with arsenic poisoning. He was discharged from the army and
required metal braces for his life. Judy and Michael went
canoeing out on a river. The canoe capsized and Michael
tragically drowned. Judy safely made it out of the river.
Cause of death was tragic drowning. When o'anno collected on
Michael's life insurance, Judy dates a new man named John Gentry.
Judy convinced John, her then fiance, that she would take
out life insurance on each other. She would receive five
hundred thousand if he died Gentry caught a cold and
Judy tried to give him what she called vitamin C capsules.
Gentry became very sick and went to the hospital. He
was treated and released. Gentry nearly died from a car
bomb and barely made it to the hospital alive. At
this time, investigators became suspicious of Buenoano. After being arrested,
investigators dug up her son, Michael James Goodyear, and Bobby
Morris all had lethal doses of arsenic Judy Buenoano never
admitted to any of the crimes. She was given the
nickname the black Widow Killer because she feeds off of
her mates and her young. Her last meal was steamed vegetables, strawberries,
and tea, and at seven thirteen am March thirtieth, nineteen
ninety eight, Judy Buenoanyo was executed in the electric chair.
Even in the end, Judy refused to admit anything. She
was asked if she had any last words, and she replied, no, Sir.
Speaker 2: Professor Fritz, I don't feel too good.
Speaker 21: I know, Jazz, it's a very heavy story and very sad.
My boy, you don't look good. Are you okay? Do
you need to go see the nurse.
Speaker 3: I don't know.
Speaker 24: Ah, Oh, what the fuck?
Speaker 8: What's happening to me?
Speaker 3: Ah?
Speaker 8: What the fuck.
Speaker 3: This is?
Speaker 21: Professor Fritz, can you get the nurse down here asap?
This is an emergency. My student is vomiting black liquid.
Speaker 24: It burns, burns, it burns fucking sweaters.
Speaker 14: Sirs, you right, asshole. Looks like you got what you deserved.
Somebody call nine one one. There's no way his body
can take this much.
Speaker 4: Everybody out of the way. Oh my god, hang in there,
there's no pulse. Did someone call nine one one?
Speaker 28: Oh my god, Jesus, yes, yes, Yesterday was the most
horrific day of my life, even for a guy like Chaz,
who I despise.
Speaker 29: I can't help but feel terrible. I can't help but
feel like this is somehow my fault. I can't prove anything,
But did Alice have something to do with this? I mean,
she's the one that had a suspicious spider lingering on
her and she was last scene with Chaz.
Speaker 22: I did some research on Judy Bueno Ano. She was
a very troubled woman who couldn't heal her past. It
seems that she had to take out her wounds on others.
She was silently abused, and she made her victims feel
the same way. It took going to prison in reality
to break her mind from her own mental prison. She
wrote a poem in prison that I think explains it perfectly.
It's called the Masks I Wear. Don't be fooled by me.
Don't be fooled by the face I wear.
Speaker 7: For I wear a mask.
Speaker 22: I wear a thousand masks, masks that I'm afraid to
take off, and none of them are me. Pretending is
an art that's second nature to me. But don't be fooled.
For God's sake, don't be fooled. I give you the
impression that I'm secure, that all is sunny and unruffled,
with me within as well as without. That confidence is
my name, and coolness is my game, that the water's
calm and I'm in command, and that I.
Speaker 7: Need no one. But don't believe me. Please.
Speaker 22: My surface may be smooth, but my surface is my mask,
my ever varying and ever concealing mask. Beneath lies no smugness,
no complaisance. Beneath dwells the real me in confusion, in fear, loneness.
But I hide this. I don't want anybody to know it.
I panic at the thought of my weaknesses and fear
exposing them. That's why I frantically create my masks to
hide behind. They're nonchalant, sophisticated facades to help me, pretend
to shield me from.
Speaker 7: The glance that knows.
Speaker 22: But such a glance is precisely my salvation, my only salvation,
and I know it. That is, if it's followed by acceptance,
and if it's followed by love, that's the only thing
that can liberate me from myself, from my own self
built prison walls. I dislike hiding, Honestly, I dislike the
superficial game. I'm playing, the superficial phony game. I'd really
like to be genuine and me, But I need your help,
your hands to hold even though my masks would tell
you otherwise. That glance from you is the only thing
that assures me of what I can't assure myself that
I'm really worth something.
Speaker 1: Today's episode on Hitch was written by Brian do So.
The cast for Earache is Levi Garcia as Russell, Angie
Parker as Teagan, Jason Fella as Doctor Cooper, Nate Lodbrock
as TV advertisements Carl Nordman as TV commercial voiceover, Shannon
do So as Patron Waitress and advertisement, Stefan Passmore as
owner of Mega Mind, April McGeorge as Alexa West, David
Robbins as Madman. The cast for Entangled in her Web
is Kelsey Oliviary as Emma, Juliette Angelie as Alice, Kenny
Hurtling as Chaz, Donald Sutton as Professor Fritz, John Bell
as Steve and radio DJ, Jeremy C.
Speaker 13: Krueger as Cashier, April McGeorge as Nurse Jackie and Server.
The cast for Hersitism is Jack Henson as Pierce, Tanya
Wheelock as Leela, Kennedy Jones as Marcy, rex Lte as
tall blonde Boy, April McGeorge as Beth, Kelsey Oliviary as narrator.
Speaker 3: Hitch is a fictional podcast.
Speaker 1: Any names or likeness that are similar to real world
ones are entirely coincidental.