SEASON 14 SNEAK PEEK

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.

Speaker 2: This is Winslow Swan, producer, writer, director of Doorway to Nightmare. Tonight, we bring you a very special episode of Doorway to Nightmare. We thought we would bring you a sneak preview of the nightmares and horrors that await you in Season 14. Think of it as a special glimpse of the fright-mares to come. Our season begins with a sort of different sort of story, a journey beyond. What lies beyond that threshold of life? What is the darkness that becomes death? We explore this question in our little tale, A Journey Beyond.

Speaker 3: When I was eight years old, Mr. Branch, Something happened to me that completely changed my life. I. I died.

Speaker 2: Well, you look pretty healthy to me.

Speaker 3: I was dead for about two minutes, according to my mother. The incident haunted me, and it was in college that I began to study the Lazarus Syndrome.

Speaker 4: No, I can't.

Speaker 2: Say that I've ever heard of it.

Speaker 3: Well.

Speaker 5: I have heard the name Lazarus.

Speaker 3: Do you read the Bible, Mr.

Speaker 2: Branch?

Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5: I went to Sunday school when I was a kid. A fat lot of good it did me.

Speaker 3: I will agree with you on that one. But no, Mr. Branch. The Lazarus Syndrome is extremely rare. Since its first description in 1982... There have only been 63 cases reported. Theories abound. But no one, no one, has discovered what it really is.

Speaker 2: Oh, let me guess.

Speaker 5: You think that you have?

Speaker 3: I'm not interested, to be honest. What I am looking for is what happens after the person dies.

Speaker 2: How did all of this start? Well, with a dream, of course. When I was extremely young, I grew up listening to, well, audio drama, whether it be on the radio or on records or tapes. I listened, and my imagination was sparked. When I began in radio at the age of 16, I had always wanted to do my own version of, well, an old radio show. with actors, sound effects, and music, and of course I gravitated towards horror and mystery. It wouldn't be until just a few years ago when I met Crimson McKenzie, told her my idea, and she said, write a script and we'll do it.

Speaker 2: Here we are in season 14 of writing scripts and doing them. And I owe it all to her, my best friend. I suppose that a nightmare depends on the point of view that you have. While some dreams can be rather intense, others only leave you with a feeling of dread and eventually relief.

Speaker 1: Or do they?

Speaker 2: Point of View stars Darren Marler and Raven Adams in a A different perspective of War of the Worlds by H.G.

Speaker 1: Wells.

Speaker 6: George, the man from Grover's Mill. Well, I'll be.

Speaker 4: They always say it's a small world. Who knew it'd get smaller after the war?

Speaker 6: It's great to see someone you know, but I thought that you had drowned.

Speaker 4: And I thought you had been burned by the heat ray. And that general, man, what a piece of work he was.

Speaker 6: Well, what do you expect from someone who is... In charge, eh?

Speaker 4: So what are you doing here, Benji?

Speaker 6: Are you kidding? The war is over. We've lost.

Speaker 4: Yeah, but we can't give up.

Speaker 6: Who said anything about giving up? We have to fight, but not against them because we can't win. We have to fight for survival. I've got a plan. Come on in.

Speaker 4: That was great. Thank you, Benji. You set a nice table, by the way. That was a great meal.

Speaker 6: And nothing but champagne now that I'm the boss.

Speaker 4: Cheers. Well then, cheers to the boss. So, what is this plan of yours?

Speaker 6: Look here, George. You've seen what happens. They clap eyes on us and we're dead. And have you seen them feed?

Speaker 4: I'd rather not think about it.

Speaker 6: Draining the blood of humans and injecting it right into them. It's disgusting.

Speaker 4: So what do we do?

Speaker 6: Think about it, George. We all go underground. Miles of drains. And don't forget the underground rail systems and subways. Plenty of room.

Speaker 1: Dark.

Speaker 6: Quiet.

Speaker 4: Safe. And you think that will keep us safe?

Speaker 6: I've thought it all out. These beings are going to start catching us. Not just killing us. We're going to be like... Like cattle. Some of us will become pets for them.

Speaker 4: I can't believe any of us would agree to be pets.

Speaker 6: Yes, it's true. Some will do almost anything to stay alive. But us, you and me, the smart ones, we go underground. Raid the libraries for books, not poems and novels, but science and math. Imagine it. We capture a fighting machine. Learn how it works, and then it is our turn to kill.

Speaker 4: Assuming we go forward with this plan, who would we get to join with us?

Speaker 6: Good, strong men and women. No weaklings. That sort, out.

Speaker 4: As you meant me to go.

Speaker 6: I fed you, didn't I? We're talking, aren't we? I did give you a chance, didn't I?

Speaker 4: Yes, I suppose you did.

Speaker 6: We will need men like you to teach the younger ones. Come on, I'll show you what I've already started.

Speaker 2: April 21st will be a very special day for us. Crimson and I will be celebrating our fifth year bringing nightmares to life. With over 200 plays produced, including our two spin-off series, The Casebook of Sidney Chase and Haunting the Saga of Fred. We also have introduced another series, produced, directed, and starring Crimson McKenzie. Curiouser and Curiouser, True Tales of the Uncanny and Peculiar, which we will be premiering on our podcast very shortly. Stay tuned for episodes of that. But now, on with the nightmares.

Speaker 2: Such an ordinary thing. A slight shake of the hand and the clapper inside makes a rather pleasant sound. But for some, that same sound can be rather terrifying in a little play we call Little Bell.

Speaker 7: Stop it! I've had it!

Speaker 1: Do you hear me?

Speaker 3: Stop ringing that damn bell! I'm going to the city.

Speaker 6: I have to get away from here.

Speaker 3: I can't stand it anymore.

Speaker 7: Excuse me. Excuse me, miss.

Speaker 6: Excuse me. What?

Speaker 4: I think this is yours.

Speaker 7: Oh, my. My purse. I didn't even notice.

Speaker 5: I was in the bookstore when I saw you leave it. You left without purchasing anything, and, well, I saw it sitting in the aisle.

Speaker 3: Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr... Harris.

Speaker 2: Ted Harris.

Speaker 5: And who do I have the pleasure of taking out to lunch?

Speaker 3: Oh, Mrs. Susan Hampton.

Speaker 1: Yep.

Speaker 4: That's my luck.

Speaker 5: You're already spoken for.

Speaker 7: Well....

Speaker 6: Do you usually give up so easily?

Speaker 5: Not usually. And you've been his caregiver all this time? Without anyone to help?

Speaker 3: That's the price I pay for saying... For better or for worse.

Speaker 5: So who's watching him now?

Speaker 3: No one.

Speaker 2: You mean he's all alone?

Speaker 4: But what if something happened?

Speaker 6: What could possibly happen?

Speaker 4: He's paralyzed.

Speaker 3: He isn't going anywhere. The only thing he can move is his little finger to ring that damn bell.

Speaker 6: I mean.

Speaker 4: What if his heart gave out?

Speaker 5: Or he had another stroke?

Speaker 3: It couldn't happen soon enough.

Speaker 2: Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? Well, it doesn't happen very often, not in this day and age. But there was a time when hitchhiking was seen as being rather noble and adventurous. And in some cases, very dangerous. So we bring you the story of Sam, a rather helpful hitchhiker.

Speaker 6: Hey, thanks for picking me up.

Speaker 4: No problem. This is a heck of a storm for this time of year.

Speaker 6: You've been driving a truck long?

Speaker 4: Almost ten years now. Only a couple of months with this current company, though. We moved, so I had to sign on with this rig.

Speaker 6: Did your kids like the move?

Speaker 1: Oh, yeah.

Speaker 4: They love new adventures. Wait, did I tell you I had kids?

Speaker 6: Truck driving has changed a lot in the past few years. I used to do long hauls when I was driving.

Speaker 4: Yeah, it can be pretty stressful at times, that's for sure. I gotta admit, I'm driving a little over my limit tonight, but I'm looking for a diner. I am desperately needing some coffee.

Speaker 6: My stop's right up here, if you don't mind. And there's a diner a couple of miles down the road.

Speaker 4: Hey, I appreciate it.

Speaker 7: Thanks.

Speaker 6: But be careful. There's a hairpin turn. The curve isn't too bad, but there might be a rock slide. Just take it easy. You should be okay.

Speaker 4: Thanks again. Um, I didn't catch your name.

Speaker 6: Sam. Sam Preston. And thanks to you, Hank.

Speaker 4: Nice to meet you too, Sam. Wait a minute. Did I even tell him my name was Hank?

Speaker 7: Weird.

Speaker 4: You know, it's funny. I don't remember telling him my name or anything about my kids.

Speaker 7: And you're positive he said his name was Sam Preston?

Speaker 4: Hey, how many times I gotta tell you guys? His name was Sam Preston. That's what he said. He used to be a truck driver. I don't understand. What's so strange about that?

Speaker 1: Yeah. About two years ago.

Speaker 4: He was coming down that mountain when he was caught in a rock slide. Just about where yours is now.

Speaker 1: Uh.

Speaker 4: He was killed.

Speaker 2: Speaking of adaptations, we bring you yet another story of fear and horror by that master storyteller, Edgar Allan Poe. Berenice is one of his more obscure stories, but it is indeed very frightening.

Speaker 4: I hope you approve, but I'm taking Edgar to the crypt, opening up the vault, showing him that Bernice is truly deceased.

Speaker 3: Martin, is this really necessary?

Speaker 1: Yes, my love.

Speaker 7: It is.

Speaker 2: I have to know.

Speaker 4: He's right, Eleanor. And gruesome as it is, he has to see that she is in the coffin.

Speaker 1: Look. Her eyes are open. And her mouth.

Speaker 7: That grimace.

Speaker 1: No.

Speaker 4: Edgar, get a hold of yourself.

Speaker 7: No.

Speaker 4: Look at her. See? Her eyes are closed. Her mouth is closed.

Speaker 7: What?

Speaker 4: She is dead, Edgar.

Speaker 1: Oh, Edgar.

Speaker 3: What my sister did to you was cruel.

Speaker 7: See? She is dead. Oh. Oh, Helena.

Speaker 1: What would I do with that?

Speaker 2: No.

Speaker 4: No, don't look at me that way.

Speaker 7: Edgar, what do you mean? Never, ever smile at me that way again.

Speaker 4: Do you understand?

Speaker 1: Never!

Speaker 3: But, Edgar, I.

Speaker 4: Let him go, Eleanor. Remember, you are Bernice's sister. Your smile, I've seen it myself, is very much like hers.

Speaker 3: But that's the point, Martin.

Speaker 7: I wasn't smiling.

Speaker 1: At all.

Speaker 2: I hope you've enjoyed this little sneak peek into the terrors to come from Season 14. And I hope you'll join us each week as we bring you more nightmares. A rather large and very grateful thank you goes out to our wonderful cast, Darren Marler, Raven Adams, Annie Mick, Dave Arkapoff, Patience Adams, Robert Jackson, Mick Davis, Mark Wheeler, and of course, my best friend, the co-producer, writer, and director, as well as a fantastic editor, and a person that I really lean on, Crimson McKenzie. And a big thank you to, well, you, the listener, the one who uses the imagination while We simply supply the nightmares.

Speaker 2: So join Artemis Black as he brings you more tales of terror and suspense through the doorway to nightmare. I'm Winslow Swan welcoming you and hoping you'll stick with us to see what nightmares are to come. So until next time slumber peacefully.

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.

Game plan