When Your Life Gets Deleted: A Cosmic Horror Story "Control Alt Delete"

0:05 Speaker 1: 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 to nightmare. Nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm your host, Artemis Black. The philosopher Sophocles once said that nothing vast enters the lives of mortals without a curse.

0:57 Speaker 2: Are you going to be on that thing all night?

1:00 Speaker 3: No, I've just got a couple more emails to send out and then I'll be done.

1:06 Speaker 4: Yeah.

1:07 Speaker 2: You said that an hour ago. Leave it to me to marry a techie.

1:12 Speaker 3: Yeah, but you love me anyway.

1:14 Speaker 2: One of these days, that computer is going to jump up and bite you.

1:21 Speaker 1: Our mystery drama, Control-Alt-Delete, was written especially for Doorway to Nightmare by Winslow Swan and edited by Crimson McKenzie. Our stars include Crimson McKenzie, Winslow Swan, Dave Arkopov, and Carter Sheriff. I'll be back shortly with Act One. Computers. They are now in every part of our lives. From the large servers to the smallest phones, computers can help us navigate, calculate, and even keep us all connected. So, ask yourself, is this really a bad thing?

2:23 Speaker 2: Honey, I brought Chinese. Hope that's okay.

2:31 Speaker 3: Oh, that's fine, Carol. Just... Finishing up.

2:36 Speaker 1: There. Perfect.

2:38 Speaker 2: And what is the great Wizard of Oz working on tonight?

2:42 Speaker 1: Oh, you know, the usual.

2:44 Speaker 2: Zombie horde or vampires?

2:47 Speaker 3: Werewolves this time. Zombies and vampires have become overplayed.

2:51 Speaker 2: Did you get all the bugs worked out?

2:53 Speaker 3: Don't I always?

2:54 Speaker 2: You know, I don't think Chuckles is paying you enough.

2:58 Speaker 3: His name is Charles. Charles Bailey. And he happens to be one of the richest programmers in, well, probably the world.

3:09 Speaker 2: Then why doesn't he make you a partner? Or at least a vice president.

3:15 Speaker 3: Carol, we talked about that. I'm happy doing what I am doing. I couldn't stand being in a boardroom, smiling all day, shaking hands.

3:27 Speaker 2: No, Tristan, you would rather shake hands with a keyboard. But I love you anyway.

3:35 Speaker 3: I love you too. Now, why don't we go tackle that pizza?

3:38 Speaker 2: Chinese. I told you, I bought Chinese.

3:42 Speaker 3: Oh, yeah, that's right. I'm only kidding. I heard you.

3:49 Speaker 2: Hon? You coming to bed soon?

3:52 Speaker 3: Yeah, in a sec.

3:54 Speaker 2: What are you looking for? Strange. What is?

3:58 Speaker 3: You remember that picture of us in the Cayman Islands?

4:02 Speaker 2: With that almost bikini I was wearing?

4:07 Speaker 3: What about it? I can't find it.

4:09 Speaker 2: Maybe you deleted it by accident. Did you check the trash bin?

4:13 Speaker 3: Yeah, four times. It's not in here.

4:17 Speaker 2: You probably just moved it to another folder. Just do a search.

4:21 Speaker 3: I have done a search. It's not anywhere. It's like it just vanished.

4:27 Speaker 2: I'm sure I still have it on my phone. I'll send it to you, and then you can put it back on the computer.

4:33 Speaker 3: Yeah, I suppose so.

4:35 Speaker 2: Now, come on. You have a big day tomorrow, and you need your sleep.

4:40 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess you're right.

4:41 Speaker 2: Is the new game still working?

4:44 Speaker 3: So far, so good.

4:45 Speaker 2: Those nasty old werewolves don't know who they're messing with.

4:56 Speaker 4: Come on in, Tristan. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink? No, thank you, Mr.

5:01 Speaker 1: Bailey.

5:01 Speaker 4: Tristan, how long have we known each other?

5:05 Speaker 3: Well, you hired me about five years ago and.

5:09 Speaker 4: Tristan, it's me, Chuck. Now, how long have we known each other?

5:14 Speaker 3: Okay, okay. A little over seven years.

5:16 Speaker 4: Seven years, three months, and two days since I met one of the best programmers... I had ever seen.

5:24 Speaker 3: Thank you, Mr.

5:25 Speaker 1: Bailey.

5:25 Speaker 4: Will you please stop with the Mr. Bailey crap and just call me Chuck.

5:31 Speaker 3: Okay, Chuck.

5:33 Speaker 4: That's better. Now, the reason I called you in here was to talk to you about that little promotion.

5:40 Speaker 3: Chuck, I really appreciate it. I'm just not that guy. Oh, come on.

5:46 Speaker 4: Of course you are. Now just hear me out. I'm offering you a substantial raise. Your own office. Company expense account. No, look, I'm very grateful. I really am.

5:59 Speaker 3: I'm just happy with where I'm at.

6:02 Speaker 4: Just think about it, okay? Carol?

6:09 Speaker 2: Yes?

6:10 Speaker 3: Can you come here a sec?

6:11 Speaker 2: What is it?

6:12 Speaker 3: Look.

6:13 Speaker 2: Okay, so what am I looking at?

6:15 Speaker 3: You don't see it?

6:17 Speaker 2: See what?

6:18 Speaker 4: That.

6:19 Speaker 2: All I see is an empty folder. What am I... supposed to see?

6:23 Speaker 3: All of our pictures, that's what.

6:26 Speaker 2: But there's nothing there.

6:28 Speaker 3: I know that. Look, you didn't happen to accidentally delete them all, did you?

6:36 Speaker 2: Tristan, I don't even go near that thing.

6:40 Speaker 3: Well, something happened to them. I mean, all of our wedding pictures, vacation, family, all of them are just gone.

6:56 Speaker 1: Computers can be traced back as far as 4,000 years ago with the invention of the abacus. Recent findings point to the Sumerian knowledge of trigonometry. The only way to get a wrong answer is human error. I'll be back shortly with Act 2. You have probably done it yourself. You highlight a file, press a button, and find out that you have just erased the entire file.

7:48 Speaker 2: Good night's sleep?

7:49 Speaker 3: No, not really.

7:51 Speaker 2: What's going on?

7:52 Speaker 3: Carol, look, if you did, and I mean if. You deleted our photos.

7:59 Speaker 2: I told you, I don't go near that stupid thing. Why would I want to delete photos of our life?

8:07 Speaker 3: I don't know. Maybe I did it while working.

8:12 Speaker 2: Come on. It's not the end of the world. I'll just go into my account and. Send them to you.

8:21 Speaker 3: What's wrong?

8:22 Speaker 2: I know I saved them.

8:23 Speaker 3: What do you mean?

8:25 Speaker 1: Well....

8:26 Speaker 2: Look for yourself. You see? Yeah.

8:29 Speaker 3: Yeah, I do see.

8:34 Speaker 4: So, Carol went to her uploaded photos and... There she was. In her bikini, in the Caymans, but I wasn't in any of them. Well, it sounds like someone hacked her account and Photoshopped you out.

8:50 Speaker 3: Look, I know how Photoshop works. This was just... Too good.

8:54 Speaker 4: There are other programs out there much better than Photoshop. I've used them. See that picture on the wall of me with the president? I did that. I've never even been close to the White House.

9:08 Speaker 3: It's just a little unnerving, that's all.

9:10 Speaker 4: Unnerving enough to get this?

9:13 Speaker 3: What's this?

9:15 Speaker 4: Your bonus for the new game. Over a million pre-sales already.

9:20 Speaker 3: Now wait a second. I just finished it last night.

9:24 Speaker 4: Of course you did. And I've had a marketing team working on it all night.

9:28 Speaker 3: Okay, now that's a little scary.

9:30 Speaker 4: Scary, maybe. Profitable, hell yes. Now go out and buy a new car. Stop worrying. Take that lovely wife of yours out on the town and take some beautiful new pictures.

9:50 Speaker 3: Oh, well, that was a wonderful meal.

9:55 Speaker 2: Better than my cooking.

9:56 Speaker 3: The only difference between this meal and one of your meals... is that I don't have to do the dishes.

10:06 Speaker 2: It was pretty good.

10:08 Speaker 3: Excuse me, sir. Oh, yes?

10:10 Speaker 2: I'm afraid that there is a problem with your debit card.

10:15 Speaker 1: Really?

10:16 Speaker 3: Well, here, try this one.

10:18 Speaker 1: Very good, sir.

10:19 Speaker 2: Everything alright?

10:20 Speaker 3: Yeah, probably just a bank error. I'll see about it in the morning.

10:24 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, sir, but this one doesn't seem to work either.

10:29 Speaker 3: Well, that's funny. Hang on, let me check the account.

10:33 Speaker 2: In the meantime, here, just use mine.

10:36 Speaker 3: Very good, madam. Okay, now that's weird.

10:39 Speaker 2: What is it?

10:40 Speaker 3: Well, the app for the bank says that I don't have an account.

10:45 Speaker 2: Now that's crazy. Let me check.

10:48 Speaker 3: Well, what does yours say?

10:49 Speaker 2: Tristan, I swear, honey, I have nothing to do with this.

10:57 Speaker 3: What are you talking about?

10:59 Speaker 2: Look. You see?

11:01 Speaker 3: It's only your name on the account now.

11:10 Speaker 2: Why don't you believe me?

11:12 Speaker 3: Carol, look, if you want to leave me, just say so. You don't have to lie about it.

11:17 Speaker 2: Why would I want to leave you?

11:19 Speaker 1: Carol.

11:20 Speaker 2: We have a great life together.

11:22 Speaker 3: Carol. What? Our wedding picture. The one on the wall.

11:27 Speaker 2: What about it?

11:30 Speaker 3: I'm not in it anymore. It's just you standing in a white wedding dress next to the cake. But I'm not there.

11:43 Speaker 1: The American author Joseph Campbell once said, Computers are like Old Testament gods. Lots of rules and no mercy. Something seems to be deleting Tristan. And he is now afraid. You don't be afraid and return with me for Act 3.

12:23 Speaker 1: We are now more connected than at any other time in history. Through social media, we can keep up with family, friends, and even strangers. But ask yourself, is this really a good thing?

12:45 Speaker 4: Can I help you?

12:46 Speaker 3: Come on, Chuck. Not today.

12:48 Speaker 4: Who are you?

12:49 Speaker 3: Now look, I'm not in the mood for games.

12:53 Speaker 4: Young man, I don't know who you are, but you had better get the hell out of my office now.

12:59 Speaker 3: I'm Tristan, your golden boy who just gave you the biggest game in the history of computers.

13:06 Speaker 4: Oh, I see. Now you are saying that you came up with Werewolf Holocaust.

13:14 Speaker 3: Huh.

13:15 Speaker 4: I must have had 30 people today try to sue us for stealing their game. Correction, my game. Damn it, Charles.

13:23 Speaker 3: You know good and well that I came up with that scenario. I'm the one that worked out all the bugs.

13:29 Speaker 4: You even gave me a huge bonus. Security, this is Mr.

13:35 Speaker 1: Bailey.

13:36 Speaker 4: I have a small problem in my office.

13:39 Speaker 3: Charles, what are you doing?

13:41 Speaker 4: I suggest that you leave now. If you wait for security, they may not be quite as gentle.

13:48 Speaker 3: I can't find it. I just can't find it.

14:01 Speaker 2: What are you looking for?

14:02 Speaker 3: Huh? Oh, Carol. I didn't hear you come in.

14:06 Speaker 2: I didn't mean to startle you, hon. So, what are you looking for? Look.

14:13 Speaker 3: Carol, I know this is going to sound crazy. I'm looking for.

14:19 Speaker 3: Would you believe my birth certificate and social security number?

14:25 Speaker 2: Is that all? Honey, I have a copy in the safe in the bedroom. Hang on. I'll be right back.

14:35 Speaker 3: Okay. So, maybe it is just a computer glitch. Maybe I got a virus. It's okay. I can find that. But what about Charles? I mean, he's not a computer glitch.

14:53 Speaker 2: Kristen, look at them.

14:55 Speaker 3: Did you find them?

14:58 Speaker 2: All the information is gone. It's a birth certificate, but there's nothing in it. All the lines are blank.

15:06 Speaker 3: This is insane. Wait a second.

15:11 Speaker 2: Who are you calling?

15:12 Speaker 3: Well, Dad, of course. It's only a little laughter, and he's probably watching a movie. Hello?

15:20 Speaker 4: Dad?

15:22 Speaker 3: What do you mean, who is this? It's your son. Tristan. It's me, Tristan.

15:30 Speaker 1: Hello?

15:31 Speaker 2: Hello? What did he say?

15:34 Speaker 3: He said. He said he didn't have a son. Tristan?

15:42 Speaker 2: I'm Oh my god! What's going on? You are disappearing!

15:50 Speaker 1: No!

15:50 Speaker 3: Tristan! Tristan, come back!

15:57 Speaker 2: Oh my god.

15:59 Speaker 4: Carol.

16:17 Speaker 4: Nice of you to invite me over, Carol. You know, that new program you brought me is really fantastic.

16:25 Speaker 2: So glad that we can make a deal, Mr. Bailey. It only took a couple of months to figure out the coding. After that, it was simply putting it into a program.

16:35 Speaker 3: Deletion.

16:37 Speaker 4: I really like that title.

16:38 Speaker 2: And guaranteed to permanently delete.

16:44 Speaker 1: There have been many stories written about computers replacing humans. In this digital age with some industries, that has already happened. But I dread the thought that a human could use a computer to completely wipe away a person. I'll be back shortly with a final word. If you are constantly on social media or perhaps just playing a game, I offer you a challenge. Turn your device off and talk to someone, anyone, person to person, human being to human being. Our cast included Winslow Swan, Crimson McKenzie, Dave Arkabov, and Carter Sheriff.

18:14 Speaker 1: The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie, and the production was directed by Winslow Swan. And now, a preview of our next tale. John Marriott.

18:30 Speaker 2: You have been sentenced by a jury of your peers to death.

18:34 Speaker 1: Do you have any last words or requests?

18:39 Speaker 3: I didn't mean to kill her, but she laughed at me. Laughed at me!

18:44 Speaker 1: Any word from the governor?

18:46 Speaker 4: The phone line is.

18:47 Speaker 3: Clear, sir.

18:47 Speaker 2: But I don't want to die!

18:50 Speaker 1: Executioner, do your duty. This is your host, Artemis Black, inviting you to return with us through the doorway to Nightmare for another adventure into the terrifying world of your imagination until next time slumber peacefully epilogue the butler did it