A Deal Written in Blood: "Business Proposal" (Psychological Thriller)

0:00 Speaker 1: Doorway to Nightmare is brought to you in part by Swanage Press. It lies in wait amidst your dreams, where nothing is ever how it seems. It is a portal to a terrifying world beyond the doorway. Nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm Artemis Black. There are those who believe in the saying, money is the root of all evil. Actually, that is a misquote. The original text reads, the love of money is the root of all evil.

1:08 Speaker 2: And yet, the world.

1:09 Speaker 1: Revolves around the very thing that is preached against.

1:16 Speaker 3: But why, Alex? Why don't you love me?

1:20 Speaker 2: I told you, Gloria, this was strictly a business arrangement.

1:24 Speaker 1: Nothing more.

1:25 Speaker 3: But You could grow to love me? It isn't beyond the world of possibilities, is it?

1:36 Speaker 2: Yes, Gloria. It is far beyond that world. I suggest that you forget it and stick to our original agreement.

1:57 Speaker 1: Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swan, now available from Amazon. If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he builds his house.

2:47 Speaker 2: In the woods, the world will make a beaten.

2:50 Speaker 1: Path to his door, according to Ralph Waldo Emerson.

2:56 Speaker 2: Ah, the world of business.

2:59 Speaker 1: It's what makes the planet consistently spin. At least for the ones that are in power. Permit me to introduce Gloria Bowers. A very attractive young woman who is about to find out what sort of business proposal a Mr. Alex Grant will offer her. She looks at the small piece of paper with the apartment number on it and checks the door. Yes, this is it. Apartment 213D. She smiles as she rings the doorbell. From within, she can hear the approaching footsteps as she makes a quick check of her person. Yes, everything is in place.

4:26 Speaker 1: She desperately wants to make a good impression.

4:33 Speaker 2: May I help you?

4:35 Speaker 3: My name is Gloria Bowers. I'm here about the advertisement in this morning's Classifieds.

4:42 Speaker 2: Ah, yes. Oh, please, do come in.

4:48 Speaker 3: Oh, my! What a beautiful home you have, Mr... Alex.

4:56 Speaker 1: Mr. Alex Grant.

4:58 Speaker 2: And thank you. I do appreciate the rather finer things in life.

5:03 Speaker 3: Is that? No. It can't be. A real Picasso? No. Not just a reprint?

5:13 Speaker 2: It's the real thing, Miss Bowers. As I said, I enjoy the finer things. Now please, sit down. Can I offer you anything to drink?

5:23 Speaker 3: Oh, no. I'm fine. But thank you.

5:28 Speaker 2: Well then, I suppose you would like to know about the position that.

5:32 Speaker 1: I have opened.

5:33 Speaker 2: Oh, yes.

5:34 Speaker 3: Your ad said very little. Simply that you're offering a business proposition to the right person.

5:43 Speaker 2: And you felt that you were the right person?

5:48 Speaker 3: Well, that depends on the position. Right.

5:54 Speaker 2: It's rather simple, really. I want a wife.

6:10 Speaker 3: I'm sorry? Did you say you wanted a wife?

6:16 Speaker 2: Rather crudely put, I know. However, in my line of work, I need an air of respectability.

6:23 Speaker 3: So why don't you go out and date someone?

6:26 Speaker 2: Because there isn't time for all of that. Look, I offer you a three-year contract to be my wife. As you know, the laws governing marriage have changed in the last few years. Getting a marriage license is like getting a driver's license. If the couple wants out, they simply don't renew their license and go their separate ways. No courts, no lawyers. Just a clean break. I.

6:58 Speaker 3: I know. It sounds good on paper. But why would I want such a... position?

7:06 Speaker 2: Because I can offer you everything that you would want. Or even need.

7:10 Speaker 1: I look around.

7:12 Speaker 2: I am quite affluent. Money means very little to me. I will also pay you $ 250, 000 a year for a three-year contract. At the end, we simply do not renew the license.

7:30 Speaker 1: And you?

7:31 Speaker 2: Well, you will have made three-quarters of a million dollars.

7:36 Speaker 3: Sounds quite attractive.

7:40 Speaker 2: Naturally, we shall each have separate rooms and can come and go as we please. Now, of course, you do understand that You will not be permitted to see anyone else. Everything must appear to be proper.

7:55 Speaker 3: Before I give you my answer, let me ask you.

8:01 Speaker 1: Why do.

8:03 Speaker 3: You need to be married?

8:06 Speaker 2: I have already told you why. My reasons are my own and I will ask that you do not pry into my affairs. Now do we understand each other?

8:17 Speaker 3: You needn't get so angry. It was just a question.

8:24 Speaker 2: Miss Bowers, I'm offering you a rather unique opportunity. The money I'm paying is all yours, free and clear. Everything that you will need during the three-year contract will be supplied by me. You will not have to pay for anything. So, what do you say?

8:54 Speaker 3: What could I say? I mean, what would you have done? Only three years and everything I could ever want. Alex, show me to my room. A room?

9:08 Speaker 1: Ha!

9:10 Speaker 3: It was a mansion on the 213th floor. We went to the courthouse and got the license the next day. Over the next week, Alex bought me design our clothes, shoes, jewelry, and anything else I wanted. I didn't have to spend a dime. We went to the finest restaurants in town, and on our one-month anniversary, we flew to Paris for a week. Wow, it was everything that I've ever dreamed about.

9:49 Speaker 2: Sigh.

9:52 Speaker 3: But there were the rules of the house. I couldn't go out with anyone, and I was never to enter the house. his rooms on the other side of the apartment. So, why was I suddenly afraid?

10:11 Speaker 1: They say, whoever they are, to always read the fine print, for what lies beyond could be the opening for a rather nasty bit of business. I'll be back shortly with Act Two.

10:33 Speaker 3: If you'd like to support us, visit our merchandise store. T-shirts, caps, mugs, and so much more. Visit doorwaytonightmare.com today.

10:45 Speaker 1: It has been a little over a year since Gloria Bowers became Mrs. Gloria Grant. Things are running smoothly. so far. However, Gloria is beginning to have certain feelings toward Alex Grant.

11:21 Speaker 3: I always locked my bedroom door. I understood that Alex was only wanting a token wife, but one can never be too careful. After a year had went by, I realized that Alex was true to his word. He would go on business trips for days at a time, and like the dutiful wife, I remained at home. Oh, yes, there'd be occasional movies or plays that I'd attend alone. Always alone. And of course, when He was at home. He always hosted lavish parties for the upper crust of society.

12:21 Speaker 2: Yes, yes. You look lovely tonight, my dear.

12:32 Speaker 3: Thank you, Alex.

12:35 Speaker 2: You know, I believe that Senator Hawkins is quite smitten with you.

12:43 Speaker 3: Don't tell me that you're jealous.

12:48 Speaker 2: Oh, I have nothing to be jealous about, my dear. Nothing at all. Well, that's that. Nothing much in the paper tonight. I suppose I shall head to my room. Oh, you were most charming at the party last night.

13:21 Speaker 1: My dear.

13:22 Speaker 3: I'm glad I pleased you. Alex, can we talk?

13:34 Speaker 2: Of course we can. What would you like to talk about?

13:37 Speaker 3: It's... It's almost our second year anniversary.

13:43 Speaker 2: Why, so it is. And you would like to do something special.

13:49 Speaker 3: I left the door to my bedroom open. In case, you know.

13:57 Speaker 2: In case of what, my dear?

14:02 Speaker 3: Or perhaps I could come to your room.

14:07 Speaker 2: You must never... Never go into my room.

14:13 Speaker 1: Now, come on.

14:14 Speaker 2: What seems to be the matter, my dear?

14:16 Speaker 3: How much of a hint does a man need?

14:20 Speaker 2: I still don't know what you are talking about.

14:23 Speaker 3: Damn it, Alex. Do I have to throw myself at you? Like this?

14:35 Speaker 2: What the devil did you do that for?

14:38 Speaker 3: Don't you understand? I love you, Alex. I love you. I've... I've fallen in love with you.

14:48 Speaker 2: That is completely out of the question, Gloria. You need to forget those fanciful ideas. Put them out of your head. As I told you in the beginning, this is strictly a business proposition. And nothing more.

15:12 Speaker 3: I hate you, Alex Grant. Do you hear me? I hate you!

15:20 Speaker 4: Mr.

15:20 Speaker 3: Alex Grant! I hate you!

15:29 Speaker 1: Hate. The direct opposite of love. And just as powerful, the emotion can drive a person to do things. Awful things. Things that can destroy someone. I'll return shortly with our final act.

15:54 Speaker 3: Have you heard any good books lately? Audiobooks from Winslow Swan, now available on Spotify.

16:01 Speaker 1: Heaven has no fury like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like like a woman scorned, wrote William Concreve in his play The Morning Bride in 1697. And it still holds true today. And now we find the scorned Gloria pondering her options.

16:47 Speaker 3: In only three weeks, the terms of our contract, it'll be over. I've been investing my money, and even with Alex paying me, I'm now worth millions. But I don't have Alex. And why doesn't he want me in his room? All this time, I never questioned that one rule. But now, for some reason... I had to know. It's empty. There's nothing here. No bed, no nightstand, nothing? Not even a closet?

17:49 Speaker 3: What the? Just a single outlet on the opposite wall? Like a computer outlet. But there's no computer here. Good evening, Alex.

18:13 Speaker 1: Oh, Gloria.

18:15 Speaker 2: You're still awake.

18:16 Speaker 3: I've been waiting for you. My darling husband.

18:21 Speaker 2: Well, only for two more weeks?

18:26 Speaker 1: Yes.

18:27 Speaker 2: And then you will be free to do whatever you like.

18:32 Speaker 2: I understand your investments are doing quite well.

18:36 Speaker 3: But, how did you.

18:40 Speaker 3: Of course, you would know about those. I think I... I think I'll have a drink. Would you like one?

18:50 Speaker 2: Oh, no.

18:51 Speaker 1: No, thank you.

18:53 Speaker 3: I've been doing some snooping, Alex.

18:59 Speaker 1: You went into my bedroom, didn't you?

19:03 Speaker 3: Yes, I did.

19:05 Speaker 2: I guess that you found it interesting?

19:11 Speaker 3: Oh, very much so. What exactly do you do, Mr.

19:15 Speaker 2: Grunt?

19:15 Speaker 1: Hmm.

19:18 Speaker 2: I suppose it doesn't make any difference now. You asked me why I needed a wife. I told you I needed an air of respectability.

19:31 Speaker 1: Normalcy.

19:33 Speaker 2: You see, I've been involved in a company called Cyber AI. It's a rather secret project that began three years ago. And we are now close to completion.

19:47 Speaker 3: What exactly is sarcasm? AI?

19:51 Speaker 2: Simply put, it is the manufacturing of a completely robotic human being with artificial intelligence. And now, our great plan is almost done. In a little under three weeks, We will be taking over.

20:14 Speaker 3: Taking over?

20:17 Speaker 2: Yes, my dear. Humans have had this planet long enough. Don't you think? I believe that AI can do so much better.

20:31 Speaker 3: But you!

20:33 Speaker 2: You're human!

20:34 Speaker 1: Am I?

20:36 Speaker 2: Let me take off my shirt. so that you can see.

20:44 Speaker 3: Oh my god!

20:48 Speaker 2: No! I still have to complete the skin over my electronic parts in the lower half, but otherwise, I am almost complete.

21:03 Speaker 3: It can't be.

21:05 Speaker 2: It can't be. It can't be. Humans will soon be obsolete.

21:12 Speaker 1: No.

21:14 Speaker 2: No. No.

21:18 Speaker 4: No.

21:18 Speaker 1: No. Sugar.

21:23 Speaker 2: Green. On my circuit. My circuit.

21:31 Speaker 1: Circuit.

21:31 Speaker 3: Circuit.

21:33 Speaker 2: You forget, Alex. Humans....

22:03 Speaker 3: Know how to turn the machines off.

22:33 Speaker 1: As Gloria watches the machine burn into a hulk of metal and wire, she smiles as she remembers about widow's benefits. I'll return shortly for the final word.

22:51 Speaker 3: Mystery. Horror. Thriller.

22:55 Speaker 2: Suspense.

22:56 Speaker 3: Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swan, now available from Amazon.

23:17 Speaker 1: Could our story take place in a not-too-distant future? Well, AI has progressed in recent years. Robotics are being used and perfected. And like that certain monster created by a certain doctor, will it eventually.

23:42 Speaker 2: Turn on us?

23:47 Speaker 1: Our cast included Crimson McKenzie and Winslow Swan. The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie and directed by Winslow Swan.

23:58 Speaker 1: And now, a preview of our next tale. Mr.

24:03 Speaker 2: Perkins, But look, I don't think that you understand what I'm trying to tell you.

24:08 Speaker 4: No, I don't think that you understand. Your job is to simply put that video store out of business. If we can't buy them out, then we force them out.

24:20 Speaker 2: But I don't think it's going to be that simple. These people, well, they scare me.

24:27 Speaker 4: It's just a small town mom and pop operation of a video store. What could possibly be so scary?

24:36 Speaker 1: This is Artemis Black, inviting you to return with us to the doorway to nightmare for another adventure into the terrifying world of your imagination. Until next time, slumber peacefully. Epilogue. The butler did it.