A Voice From Beyond the Grave: "Time Ticks Divine" (Psychological Thriller)

0:00 Speaker 1: Mystery. Horror. Thriller. Suspense.

0:06 Speaker 2: Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swan, now available from Amazon.

0:10 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. Nightmare. Come in. Welcome. I'm Artemis Black.

0:50 Speaker 3: In all the world, there.

0:52 Speaker 1: Is no heart for me like yours. A quote from Maya Angelou and the beginning of a different kind of nightmare.

1:12 Speaker 4: By eight in the morning, only seven hours.

1:17 Speaker 3: From now, Who was on the phone?

1:33 Speaker 5: I'm not sure, Richard.

1:34 Speaker 3: Didn't you at least recognize the voice?

1:38 Speaker 5: Yes, Richard, I did. And that is the problem.

1:43 Speaker 1: What sort of problem?

1:47 Speaker 2: The voice.

1:49 Speaker 5: That voice. On the phone was my husband.

1:53 Speaker 1: My.

1:53 Speaker 3: dead... husband....

2:05 Speaker 1: Our mystery drama, Time Ticks Divine, was written especially for Doorway to Nightmare by Winslow Swan and edited by Crimson McKenzie. Our stars include Crimson McKenzie, Robert Jackson, and Winslow Swan. I'll return shortly with Act One.

2:27 Speaker 5: It is in all of us. Waiting.

2:31 Speaker 3: Watching.

2:32 Speaker 2: Growing.

2:33 Speaker 1: Growing.

2:34 Speaker 2: Evil Within, by Winslow Swan. Now available on Amazon.

2:53 Speaker 1: Ah, the love story. Such a remarkable genre. You say horror cannot be in a love story? What of the two lost souls who finally find each other on a different plane of existence? Could it not be a horror story? Perhaps if you were to ask Evelyn Marsh, she may disagree with you.

3:22 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for such a wonderful evening, Richard.

3:31 Speaker 3: Well, I must admit, the cast did a remarkable job.

3:36 Speaker 2: And what will my critics say about the performance on tomorrow's broadcast?

3:40 Speaker 3: That his wife, who happens to be the producer of.

3:44 Speaker 1: Such play, will have to wait to hear it for herself.

3:49 Speaker 5: Now that isn't fair. But I love you anyway.

3:58 Speaker 3: If that's the network, tell them I'm in the shower.

4:01 Speaker 5: Oh, don't worry. I will. Besides, you look beat.

4:07 Speaker 3: And it's only one in the morning. Hello?

4:12 Speaker 5: Hello?

4:16 Speaker 4: By eight in the morning, only seven hours from now, you will be dead.

4:34 Speaker 3: Well, who was it?

4:38 Speaker 1: Evelyn? Are you all right?

4:43 Speaker 5: No, Richard. I'm not.

4:45 Speaker 3: Well, who was on the telephone?

4:47 Speaker 5: I'm not sure.

4:49 Speaker 3: Well, what did they say?

4:52 Speaker 1: They said... No.

4:54 Speaker 4: He said.

4:58 Speaker 5: That by eight in the morning, I would be dead.

5:03 Speaker 1: What?

5:05 Speaker 3: Are you positive?

5:07 Speaker 5: That's what I heard.

5:09 Speaker 3: Perhaps you were mistaken, or it was some.

5:12 Speaker 1: Sort of a prank.

5:13 Speaker 5: That's a hell of a prank.

5:20 Speaker 1: The storm seems to be getting worse.

5:23 Speaker 5: What do you think that we should do?

5:25 Speaker 1: Above the storm? There's nothing we can do.

5:29 Speaker 4: No!

5:30 Speaker 5: About the phone call!

5:31 Speaker 1: Oh, come on. It was probably a wrong number.

5:36 Speaker 3: Someone trying to prank call a friend and accidentally dialed our number instead.

5:42 Speaker 5: Do you really think so?

5:46 Speaker 1: Oh, I'm sure of it. Now, come on.

5:49 Speaker 3: Let's try and get some sleep.

6:16 Speaker 5: Hello?

6:18 Speaker 4: You only have another five hours to go, Evelyn. Don't you think you should be making final preparations? Hello?

6:31 Speaker 6: Hello?

6:34 Speaker 5: Richard!

6:35 Speaker 1: Richard!

6:36 Speaker 3: Please, wake up! Richard!

6:39 Speaker 1: Who?

6:41 Speaker 3: Evelyn?

6:43 Speaker 2: What's the matter?

6:45 Speaker 5: That same man called!

6:46 Speaker 3: Again! Oh, for crying out loud, it's three in the morning.

6:51 Speaker 5: Please, Richard, I know what time it is.

6:54 Speaker 2: Can't we maybe perhaps get out of this house?

6:58 Speaker 5: Just for tonight?

7:03 Speaker 1: In this weather?

7:04 Speaker 3: And you know that the only bridge to our little island hideaway will be flooded with all of this rain.

7:11 Speaker 5: Richard, I'm afraid.

7:13 Speaker 1: Of what? What?

7:15 Speaker 3: A silly phone call.

7:16 Speaker 5: No, Richard. I recognize the voice.

7:21 Speaker 3: Well, then who was it?

7:23 Speaker 5: I swear. It was... It was... The voice of Alan. My first husband.

7:32 Speaker 1: But.

7:34 Speaker 3: You told me that he was dead. Died while on a cruise. Some two years ago.

7:42 Speaker 5: That's right. They'd never found his body. Richard, what if he's still alive?

8:04 Speaker 1: Aristotle once wrote that love is a single soul inhabiting two bodies. But what if one of those souls... is somewhere beyond the grave. I'll return shortly with Act Two.

8:23 Speaker 2: The only witness to her murder cannot speak. Until now. Click. A Tale of Revenge by Winslow Swan. Now available on Amazon. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

8:56 Speaker 1: American basketball player Bill Russell once said, To love someone is nothing. To be loved by someone is something. To love someone who loves you is everything.

9:16 Speaker 3: You never told me exactly how your first husband died. Much less anything about him.

9:23 Speaker 5: He was a tyrant.

9:25 Speaker 2: An insufferable narcissist who only married me for my money.

9:30 Speaker 3: But isn't that why I married you?

9:33 Speaker 5: Don't even say that.

9:35 Speaker 2: Even if you're joking, don't ever say it again.

9:38 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, dear. I was only joking. So.

9:43 Speaker 3: What did happen to your first husband?

9:49 Speaker 2: He simply went out onto the deck during a storm and went overboard.

9:54 Speaker 3: And they never found his body?

9:57 Speaker 5: In the middle of the Atlantic? How could they?

10:00 Speaker 2: Do you think.

10:04 Speaker 3: This time I will answer it. Now listen here. I believe this joke has gone far enough.

10:14 Speaker 4: Tell Evelyn. Only three more hours.

10:22 Speaker 5: What did he say?

10:24 Speaker 3: Nothing for you to concern yourself with. Now, look, the storm is starting to die down.

10:29 Speaker 1: See?

10:31 Speaker 5: Richard, if we can.

10:34 Speaker 2: I mean, if the bridge isn't completely washed out, would you please take me away from here?

10:38 Speaker 3: Oh, I don't think we'll have to worry about that. Besides, if Alan is alive, how could he get here?

10:47 Speaker 5: Of course.

10:50 Speaker 2: Why didn't I think of that? If we can't get off the island, how could anyone possibly get here?

10:55 Speaker 3: I'm glad you see it, Mike.

10:59 Speaker 2: Mike.

11:02 Speaker 3: Oh, my God.

11:05 Speaker 5: What is it? Why are you looking out the window?

11:08 Speaker 3: Because I thought I saw... When the lightning struck, I thought I saw someone standing at the window.

11:21 Speaker 1: It can't be!

11:26 Speaker 2: Leave me alone! Damn you, leave me alone!

11:29 Speaker 4: Aren't you glad to see me, Evelyn?

11:48 Speaker 5: Almost 8 o'clock.

11:52 Speaker 3: If someone is coming, and I'm not saying that it is your deceased husband come back from the grave, whoever it may be, I will deal with them on my terms.

12:26 Speaker 1: Hello, Evelyn.

12:28 Speaker 7: My dear, devoted wife.

12:34 Speaker 2: No.

12:35 Speaker 1: No.

12:36 Speaker 5: You're dead.

12:38 Speaker 1: Am I?

12:39 Speaker 3: Really?

12:42 Speaker 1: I'm warning you.

12:43 Speaker 3: You stay away from her.

12:45 Speaker 1: Ha, ha, ha.

12:46 Speaker 4: Ha, ha, ha.

12:49 Speaker 7: Do you really think that gun could ever hurt me?

12:54 Speaker 5: I shot you!

12:56 Speaker 3: I killed you!

12:57 Speaker 2: For your body overboard!

12:59 Speaker 5: Stay away!

13:01 Speaker 1: Keep away from her!

13:09 Speaker 7: Time to.

13:13 Speaker 1: Die.

13:20 Speaker 3: I told you!

13:21 Speaker 7: I'm already dead!

13:23 Speaker 3: My heart.

13:25 Speaker 5: Richard.

13:25 Speaker 4: Help... me.

13:26 Speaker 1: Help.

13:26 Speaker 3: Die....

13:59 Speaker 1: Is she dead? Yes, Mr.

14:02 Speaker 4: Marsh. She is dead.

14:04 Speaker 7: I told you. I'm very good at what I do.

14:08 Speaker 3: Yes, you seem to be. I think the blanks in the gun is what did the trick.

14:15 Speaker 7: It was your plan after all. A little more elaborate than what I would have done, but still very effective.

14:26 Speaker 1: We'll come into the other room. I'll get you your money. Apparently, Alan is not the corpse coming back from a watery grave. But if he is not Alan, then who is he? Answers will be forthcoming when I return with Act 3.

15:00 Speaker 2: If you'd like to support us, visit our merchandise store. T-shirts, caps, mugs, and so much more. Visit doorwaytonightmare.com today.

15:12 Speaker 1: American author Khalil Gibran once said, One day you will ask me which is more important, my life or yours. I will say mine, and you will walk away not knowing that you are my life. Well, I believe that you will find it all there.

15:52 Speaker 4: I'm sure I will, Mr. Marge.

15:55 Speaker 7: But answer me one question.

16:00 Speaker 3: Why?

16:01 Speaker 1: Why did I hire you to kill my wife?

16:06 Speaker 7: And in such an elaborate way?

16:11 Speaker 3: Can you find a flaw in my plan? When I saw you and realized that you looked exactly like Evelyn's dead husband, well, I couldn't pass.

16:23 Speaker 1: On the opportunity. Yes, I see.

16:26 Speaker 5: And the $ 50, 000 you paid me.

16:31 Speaker 3: A rather small amount, wouldn't you say? You didn't have to shoot her, stab her, drown her. You simply had to.

16:41 Speaker 1: Walk into the room.

16:43 Speaker 7: I'm so happy that you find this all amusing. But I think that $ 50, 000 is, to use your word, a small amount.

16:55 Speaker 3: Well, it's better than any other contract you've done for me.

16:58 Speaker 7: Oh, I quite agree. But you see, Mr. March, Richard, I want so much more. I want so much more.

17:14 Speaker 1: Yes, I'm sure that you do.

17:18 Speaker 3: Now get out of here while I phone the police.

17:24 Speaker 2: Are you positive you want to phone the police?

17:28 Speaker 1: Yes. Evelyn!

17:31 Speaker 5: You're alive!

17:33 Speaker 3: Oh, thank heavens. I thought for sure that.

17:37 Speaker 5: That I was dead?

17:39 Speaker 2: Oh, no, Richard. I'm alive and well. Thank you, Alan, for a wonderful performance.

17:47 Speaker 7: You're most welcome, my dear.

17:51 Speaker 1: Now, wait a minute.

17:53 Speaker 3: What the devil's going on?

17:56 Speaker 5: Why don't you... Explain it to him, Alan.

18:01 Speaker 7: I've been your hitman for quite some time. When you came up with this scheme to eliminate your wife, I simply... I told her what you were planning.

18:14 Speaker 1: What? You told her?

18:18 Speaker 5: Yes, Richard.

18:21 Speaker 2: So, we planned our own little play.

18:26 Speaker 1: What? What are you going to do?

18:36 Speaker 5: It isn't loaded with blanks. This time.

18:40 Speaker 7: Would you like for me to dispatch him, my dear?

18:45 Speaker 5: And rob me of that pleasure? Goodbye, Richard.

18:49 Speaker 7: Thought you were going to make it look like suicide.

18:57 Speaker 5: Small change of plans, Alan.

19:02 Speaker 7: Why are you pointing the gun at me?

19:03 Speaker 1: I thought... I mean... I thought.

19:09 Speaker 2: You thought that we would be married after everything was investigated. I murdered my first husband for two reasons.

19:16 Speaker 6: Money.

19:18 Speaker 5: And freedom.

19:20 Speaker 1: And Richard.

19:21 Speaker 5: It was either him or me. And I voted him.

19:25 Speaker 1: But....

19:28 Speaker 7: Can't explain away two bodies?

19:32 Speaker 6: Actually, I've planned it this way for a long time. Several phone calls to the police telling them that someone's been here stalking me, trying to break in, who looks exactly like you.

19:48 Speaker 2: And everyone knows what a rotten shot I am.

19:50 Speaker 6: Am. Poor Richard.

19:52 Speaker 2: He was simply in the way when I shot you.

20:00 Speaker 5: My money. My freedom. Why would I ever give them up?

20:05 Speaker 3: Again.

20:06 Speaker 1: Again. Evelyn calmly picks up the phone and calls the police. Eventually, they were able to get to the island and discover the distraught woman crying over her deceased husband. I returned shortly with a final word.

20:52 Speaker 2: Have you heard any good books lately? Audiobooks from Winslow Swan, now available on Spotify.

21:12 Speaker 1: I leave you tonight with the words of Brazilian lyricist Paulo Cole. Life is short. Kiss slowly. Laugh insanely. Love truly. And forgive quickly. Our cast included Crimson McKenzie, Winslow Swan, and Robert Jackson. The story was edited by Crimson McKenzie and directed by Winslow Swan. And now, a preview of our next tale.

21:51 Speaker 3: I am so glad that I had the elevator put in to go down to the cellars. I'm not in the shape that I was in years ago. Now, what do you think of this?

22:04 Speaker 1: A bottle of wine?

22:05 Speaker 3: What about it?

22:08 Speaker 6: Oh, no.

22:09 Speaker 3: No, not just any wine, but a bottle of Amontillado. and one that has been stored for half a century.

22:18 Speaker 4: Then it's probably gone bad.

22:20 Speaker 3: Oh, possibly, possibly, but it definitely has to do with what I'm going to tell you. See, Detective, I was Fortunato's best friend. I also planned very carefully and executed his murder.

22:46 Speaker 1: This is Artemis Black, inviting you to return with us to the doorway to nightmare for another adventure into the world of your terrifying imagination. Until next time, slumber peacefully.

23:05 Speaker 2: Epilogue. The butler did it.

23:10 Speaker 1: Mystery. Horror. Thriller. Suspense.

23:16 Speaker 2: Novels and short story collections from Winslow Swann, now available from Amazon.