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1.02 - Dead Zone
10.8k Plays4 years ago
Lara goes on a Squatch Walk, which leads to an...unusual discovery. Sodapop proves much more helpful than local law enforcement.
If this is your first time listening, go back to Episode 1: "Charity," and start there.
This is a REMASTERED version of this episode, with additional sound design by David Weaver.
The transcript for this episode is available here.
For bios, credits, and more information, visit BelieverPodcast.com
CONTENT NOTES
Wild animal death, illness, hospitalization, discussions of public health, gaslighting.
CREDITS
CAST
- Dr. Penelope Simmons - Samantha Ronceros
- Lara Campbell - Julie Saunders
- Jake Talbott - Jason Markoff
- Guy Who Can't Find Keys - Brett Saunders
- Camille Simmons - Sara Gorsky
- Mayor Terri Boone - Rosa Delgado
- Sheriff Tate - Regen Wilson
- Rose Boone - Mara Hernandez
- Sodapop, World's Greatest Dog - Basil Archimedes Hornberger (Archie)
MUSIC
- Intro: “Julie’s Melody,” by Aaron Ferenc
- Thought music: “Altostratus,” by Franz Gordon
- Outro music: “All More,” by Lax Superlative
SFX
- Dog in leaves: https://freesound.org/people/cognito%20perceptu/sounds/83156/
- Dog running: https://freesound.org/people/acclivity/sounds/74518/
- Snap: https://freesound.org/people/Snapper4298/sounds/177495/
- Bell: https://freesound.org/people/skirton101/sounds/494565/
- Panting: https://freesound.org/people/keweldog/sounds/181767/
- Dog yawn: https://freesound.org/people/jinxycat49/sounds/490164/
- Dog shake: https://freesound.org/people/giddster/sounds/435368/
- All others from Adobe Stock
Next episode is due March 31st. In the meantime, listen to Under the Shroud, a supernatural noir audio drama about a half-demon taxi driver for Baltimore's underworld.
Recommended
Transcript
Environmental Concerns at the Balloon Home
00:00:06
Speaker
Hello, this message is for Laura Campbell. This is Dr Penelope Simmons, General Practitioner in the town of Charity, Oregon. I don't know your plans in charity, Miss Campbell, but I must ask you not to go inside the balloon home. There appears to be some kind of contaminant related to the environment or the home. Symptoms include respiratory depression, hallucinations, periods of catatonia. Again, I must advise you to avoid the area as a matter of public health.
00:00:34
Speaker
Please contact me with any- Believer.
Investigating Sasquatch Evidence
00:00:48
Speaker
Episode 2. Dead Zone.
00:01:01
Speaker
I don't think it's a footprint. Oh, come on. You've got the impression of a heel right here, a slight incline where the arch would be. That's a Sasquatch track. It's an impression in the dirt. When this plaster cast comes up, you'll see. What do you say? Eighteen, eighteen to three quarter inches. That's a full grown one right there. Probably an adult male. And what with the wood knocking last night? Wood knocking? Sasquatch knock pieces of wood together to warn off outsiders and communicate with their clan. It's very well documented.
00:01:31
Speaker
That's what you heard, right? Knocking? It was a dream. I guess we'll see. Ready to squash walk? Terrible name, by the way. But it pairs with my podcast, Squatch Talk. Of course you have a podcast. Every Tuesday and Thursday. That's the plan, anyway. Just gotta find some guests. Okay. Is the dog gonna be alright, or... He's fine. He hikes off leash all the time. Pops. Soda pop. Let's go, bud.
00:01:57
Speaker
Well, keep an eye on them. Animals sometimes get spooked in Sasquatch territory. Note it.
The Fox Sisters and the Birth of Spiritualism
00:02:05
Speaker
The trail seems to lead this way, which makes sense because that's where I heard my first Squatch. Now, if you look off this way, see, those look like natural rock formations, but no, no, no, no, no, see. Knocking. Actual bumps in the night. It's so classic, I'm surprised I even fell for it.
00:02:22
Speaker
Now, I want you to pay attention to those tree limbs, okay? Broken limbs represent a boundary, a kind of message to the others in the clan. Uh-huh. Okay, let me give you some history. In 1848, the Fox family in Rochester, New York, began to hear mysterious sounds in the night. Bumps on the floor, knocks on the walls, that kind of thing. The sound seemed random at first, but then two of the girls, Kate and Maggie, found that they could communicate with it.
00:02:50
Speaker
Kate would snap her fingers, and the knocking sounds would reply. Wait! Shh! You hear that? What am I hearing? Nah. False alarm. They're mostly nocturnal, but you never know.
00:03:05
Speaker
Now the girls claimed that the sounds came from a spirit called Mr. Splitfoot, which is a nickname for the devil, naturally. But this ability caused a giant sensation. People came from miles around, and these girls demonstrated this ability in homes and mansions and concert halls all across the northeastern United States. They gave guidance on investing, love affairs, even criminal investigations.
00:03:32
Speaker
When the sisters communed with Mr. Splitfoot, people said they felt hands on their shoulders, spirits walking among them. They saw flashes. They fell to presents. Here, here, you see this? Look, this tree. You see the way the limbs are all broken on just this one side? And that one up there? That one too, see? Mm-hmm. Wayfinding. They use it to communicate with the rest of the clan. They travel in clans? Oh, sure. They're social, just like other hominids.
00:04:02
Speaker
Fox sisters later confessed this knocking sound. They were just popping their joints, their toes mostly, but ankles and knees too. These girls could pop their toes so loud that entire auditoriums of people heard it. There. See the bent branches over there? He went this way. What do you think it sounds like when Bigfoot pops his toes? What? He's got big feet, right? Probably some big toe knuckles on there.
00:04:32
Speaker
Well, you think a sasquatch was popping its knuckles last night. Well, it's possible, right? Well, yeah, I guess. It didn't matter that it was fake, though. It started a movement. Spiritualism. Ouija boards, seances, most of what I do. It all goes back to a couple of girls with really creaky toes.
00:04:56
Speaker
And if you know all that history, right? It's foundational to what you do and why you do it. What do you think your nightmares are gonna be about? Of course, it was gonna be knocking.
A Disturbing Discovery in the Woods
00:05:11
Speaker
Jake? What is that? I, um... I don't think we should go this way.
00:05:17
Speaker
Okay, well, I think I see some more bent branches up that way. I mean, to be honest, I see them everywhere. It's almost like they're naturally occurring. Go back. What? You need to go. Jake, I'm sorry if I seem- No, let's go. Okay, uh, Pops? Pops? Little Pops, get back here. Laura, don't. Come on, I just- It's a bad place, Laura. Jake, I'm gonna need you to let go of me.
00:05:46
Speaker
Thank you. Now I'm going to get my dog. I wouldn't. So don't. What the... Soda pop? Soda pop? Where are you, buddy? You checking out those... deer... carcasses?
00:06:16
Speaker
jesus that is a lot of dead deer it was a neat circle of dead things trees bushes animals and birds looked like they'd fallen out of the sky even the dirt felt dry and lifeless what could even do this i mean elk don't do graveyards they're not elephants it's
00:06:43
Speaker
The weird thing, and I didn't really think about this until later, but there weren't even any bugs. No flies, no worms, nothing. But the deer were still decayed, like normal. I don't know, you expect flies, you know? It just made the whole thing seem really, really quiet. Pops? Oh, soda pop. Oh, thank God. Whatcha find, buddy? Hello.
00:07:11
Speaker
Hey, hey, it's just a sweater. Let me see that button, come on. City of Roses. It's a dumb joke sweater I got for Rose in Portland one time. She said she threw it out before we even broke up. Is this why you ran off, pops? You could smell her? She said I did one of those dumb fights, bad ones, with the end. Yes, she just wanted to hurt me.
00:07:41
Speaker
Jake? Jake, I found something! She kept it, though, so that's something. What do you think, bud? Where's the trail from here? Come on, you're a dog, do the tracking thing. Okay, well, I'm not staying here with all this bad meat. Come on, buddy, let's head back and re-group. No, you can have the sweater when we get home.
The Mystery of Rose Boone
00:08:19
Speaker
Someone there? Oh, I'm really starting to hate this place. First unheard message. Hey, uh, is this Murrah Campbell? I can not find my keys, and like, I don't know if you ever do any work with poltergeist, but there is this- oh. Hang on, they're just in my jeans. Nevermind.
00:08:51
Speaker
Finally! Jesus. Jake? Jake, are you here? It was great finding the way back without you, by the way. Jake? Come on, buddy. Let's get back to the cottage. I'll make some calls or something. Yes, you can have the sweater.
00:09:23
Speaker
Welcome to the lofty diner. Do you want a booth or table? I'm actually just looking for Sheriff Tate, dispatches that he was here. Oh, he is, but he's actually in a meeting with- Mayor Terry Boone, is that you? Lara, what are you doing here? I should have known I'd see you here, among all your constituents. You know me, just chatting with the Sheriff here. Howdy, Sheriff Tate.
00:09:47
Speaker
Camille, why don't you see if you can find Lara a nice seat at the counter? Oh, I actually have business with the two of you, if you don't mind. Is that all right with you, Mayor Boo? Honey, I keep telling you to call me Terry. Right. Sorry. Doris, we'll just pull up another chair here. I'm always happy to hear a citizen's report. Okay, well, I'll just come back for the... I'll check in on you. Thanks. Now, what can I help you with?
00:10:15
Speaker
I'm surprised to see you out and about, dear. I thought I was clear. What's that now? Is everything okay?
00:10:23
Speaker
I just have a little history with Mayor Terry's daughter, Rose. Oh, oh, you're Laura Campbell. Have you been talking about me, Mayor Boone? How flattering. Well, she just mentioned a few things. Yes. So I wouldn't say there's much the two of you need to talk about. If you could just... I found Rose's sweater in the woods above Jake Talbot's house. I can take you right to it. Well, not right to it, but you know, I can find it again.
00:10:48
Speaker
Come on, she must have passed through there on her way to wherever she went. It's a lead. She's a missing person, right? So if we just head back up there. Rose Boone is not a missing person, Miss Campbell. She's been gone for two weeks. She's fine. And her mother says she's camping.
00:11:06
Speaker
Listen, Ms. Campbell, I don't know when you were last in contact with Rose, but this isn't so unusual with her. Clearly it is, or else why would Mitchell- Mitchell suffers from a severe respiratory disorder. I don't see how he could have called you, Laura. Do you want to hear the message? I've been having some issues with my voicemail, but I'm sure it's in there. Ms. Campbell, believe it or not, we actually have things under control here in Wasco County, and we don't need people like you. No, no, no, no, my niece is a lesbian, all right? So I don't have a problem with that. I just mean with your history of misrepresenting yourself.
00:11:36
Speaker
Okay, maybe you're not the right person to go around telling us what to do. Misrepresenting myself. Mayor Boone, what have you been saying about me? Nothing that isn't true. The fake psychic business. Fake? You don't believe I'm really psychic.
00:11:49
Speaker
Oh, no, hold on. I'm feeling something. Laura, someone here has unresolved business with someone on the other side. Somebody here, you've been thinking about them lately, just unexpectedly. I'm getting maybe an M or a D. My great aunt, her name was Mary Dawson. That's it? Oh, she has a message for you. Enough.
00:12:13
Speaker
Oh, no, it's gone. Sorry, everyone. What do you want? I want you to investigate this, to care or something. Okay, were there any signs of struggle around this sweatshirt you found?
00:12:24
Speaker
Well, no, but there were a bunch of dead deer. Well, that sounds like an issue for the game warden. Wouldn't you say, Sheriff Tain? Sure. Come on, Sheriff. Mayor Terry's got a point, Ms. Campbell. And from where I'm sitting, this doesn't seem to be a criminal matter at all. But, well, there you have it. And I think it's about time we both got back to work. Wouldn't you say, Sheriff? I'll just go see the girl about the bill. Camille, honey. Guess Mayor Boone?
00:12:48
Speaker
Listen, the thing about my aunt, did she say anything in particular? You know, because there's a rumor in my family about some gold. Come on, Sheriff. Well, we'll talk another time. We definitely will. I'm coming, Terry. Hey, wait, don't go.
Community Concerns and Assistance
00:13:09
Speaker
It's Lara, right? Love how everyone here already knows my name. Listen, I heard what you said in there. Not that I was eavesdropping, I just... Okay, I don't think the spirits are gonna give me any more information right now, so... No, no, I mean, are you really looking for Rose? Oh, yeah. Oh, thank God. I feel like I've been going insane. Everybody's acting like there's no big deal, and if you bring up Rose, it's like they... Like what?
00:13:36
Speaker
Okay, come over here. I don't want to be too close to the diner, you know? Okay. When you mention Rose to any of those people, it's like either they act like they can't hear you or they just kind of pat you on the head and tell you to calm down. It's bizarre. Are they usually like that about, you know, town secrets? Well, I don't know. I didn't think we had any town secrets. But if you're looking for Rose...
00:13:57
Speaker
I wanna help you. That's great. Where do you think she is? Well, okay, so like a few weeks ago, or maybe like a month, something happened. What? Well, I wasn't there, but some of these guys went to the woods to watch this meteor shower. Okay. And I guess Rose was there? Or, well, I'm not sure, I don't really know her, but the guys said, they said the sky fell down. The sky fell down? I know, it's, and they seemed pretty freaked out, and they wouldn't say much about it, and then they got sick.
00:14:26
Speaker
but like really sick. And since then, things are just off. It's like whatever happened that night, spooked the whole town. And Rose has been missing since then? Not long after. Listen, was this, you said this happened in the woods? Yeah. So have you heard anything about a kind of a dead zone in the woods above Jake's place? Jake Talbots?
00:14:47
Speaker
Yeah, a dead zone? I found this area with no vegetation, no leaves, grass, anything, and dead animals, too. There are birds and a bunch of deer. Oh, gross. Yeah. I mean, I haven't been out there for a while. Jake doesn't really like people messing with his Bigfoot stuff.
00:15:04
Speaker
But that's the way they went for the meteor shower, right? Out past Jake's place? Probably. They would have wanted to get up that hill. Do you know when exactly this was? Who was there? Anything? I think I can look it up for you. And I can give you the guy's phone numbers, but I don't know how much it'll help you. Why not? Well, like I said, they're sick. Like, they're in the hospital sick. All of them. Tim's mom says he opens his eyes sometimes, but they can't talk. Everyone who was there that night. Except Rose. Rose didn't get sick.
00:15:31
Speaker
No, apparently she was fine. That's weird. Right? Huh. Yeah. Oh, listen, I gotta get back to work. But, you know, see if you can find Rose's phone. She does these little insta videos all the time. Maybe there's something from that night. Yeah, actually I found it at her house.
00:15:46
Speaker
What? She's always on her phone. She wouldn't leave it. Yeah. God, this whole thing is just awful. But you know she's okay. Like, look, you can sense her. Yeah, she's out there. She's gotta be. Because you're psychic, right? Have you tried, like, connecting with spirits? I'm doing everything I can. Camille.
00:16:05
Speaker
Good. Okay, yeah. Oh, I gotta get back in there. You tell me if you need anything, okay? Yeah, here, take my card. If you think of anything at all, call me. And if you don't get through, just try again or text or something, okay? I haven't been getting my voicemails lately. Okay, thanks, Laura. I'm just so glad someone believes me. I know, we'll find her. I know we will. First skipped message.
00:16:38
Speaker
It's so beautiful.
Closing Remarks and Engagement
00:16:44
Speaker
I'm glad. End of message. Zorba? Buddy, you feeling okay? You seem kind of... Okay, it's okay. I won't take your sweater.
00:17:03
Speaker
Her sweater, the sweat, whatever. Still no Jake, huh? Well, let's see if I can find anything about elk graveyards online. Jake, is that you?
00:17:37
Speaker
okay what is going on i must be exhausted i'm hearing things oh actually i'm really really tired oh i think i'll just shut my eyes
00:18:33
Speaker
It's okay. I'll see you soon.
00:18:34
Speaker
Thank you for listening to Believer. This week, let's try raising some engagement. Leave us a review or comment wherever you're currently listening right now. It's a little thing, but it really helps the show. This episode was sponsored by Saunders & Associates LLC, providing medical insurance consulting in the beautiful state of Oregon.
00:19:01
Speaker
In the meantime, check out another independent audio drama. I'm recommending Under the Shroud. It's about this half demon who is basically an uber driver for the hellish beings that inhabit underworld Baltimore. It's quirky and dark and has a really interesting built out world and I think that you'll enjoy it. So search it out in your podcast app or go to UnderTheShroud.com.
00:19:30
Speaker
Until next time, remember, if you wake up in the night and everything seems quiet, like strangely quiet, like a heavy sort of quiet that pings you down and crawls into your lungs until silence, all you know, all you've ever known, this crushing silence, the only reality you can possibly imagine, just try flipping the pillow over.
00:20:21
Speaker
The other side is nice and cool. I don't know.