RUEBEN: –RIGHT NOW! HONESTLY WOMAN, THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR YOUR BULLSHIT, LEAVE THAT HUNKA-JUNK OR WE’LL BE MINCE-MEAT! ELOISE: THAT DOESN'T MATTER! WITH ENOUGH EVIDENCE WE CAN PROVE EVERYTHING TO ANY COURT IN THE LAND. THESE FOLKS BELONG IN THE SLAMMER. MEABH: REUBEN (DISTANT SHOUT) ELOISE: THIS IS ELOISE MCCREA, ON MARCH (PANT)... TWENTIETH, 1949. RUEBEN: THIS ISN’T THE TIME FOR A DIARY ENTRY, LET'S GETA’ MOVE ON. BEFORE THEY FIND US. IF WE GET PAST THE BIG MEADOW OF BLACK-EYED SUSANS, THERE'S AN OLD CAR OUT THERE. ELOSIE: YOU HAVE HAD A CAR THIS WHOLE TIME, AND ONLY THOUGHT TO TELL ME AFTER WE SCAMPERED ALL AROUND TOWN WITH THE CIRCUS ON OUR TAIL! SOUND EFFECT: MEABH YELLS AGAIN. REUBEN AND ELOISE WALK FASTER. RUEBEN: (ANRILY WHISPERED) WELL BECAUSE IT’S A HALF-FINISHED PROJECT! ELOSIE: (ANRILY WHISPERED) HALF FINISHED, WHAT HALF IS MISSING?! RUEBEN: (ANRILY WHISPERED) YOU’RE WELCOME TO FIND OUT, (BEAT) AFTER YOU’RE DEAD IN A DITCH BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE FAULTY, BUT THAT’S ONLY IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO ATTACH A TIRE FIRST, WOMAN! ELOSIE: (ANRILY WHISPERED) YOU DIDN’T THINK TO FIX THOSE FIRST! RUEBEN: (ANRILY WHISPERED) THERE WASN’T A REASON TO ‘TILL NOW. SOUND EFFECT: A DISTANCE SHOUT, IS FOLLOWED BY THE PLAYING OF FLUTE THAT COMES THROUGH CLEAR ON THE TAPE. THEY’RE RUNNING.THERE. PAST THESE AND WE’RE HOME FREE, THEY WON’T GO PAST THESE FLOWERS FOR SOME REASON. GET BEHIND THE OLD HOUSE ELOSIE: (SARCASTICALLY) THEN PLEASE INFORM ME, WHY? FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER, WHY? RUEBEN: I DON’T KNOW, MEABH- SON OF A BISCUIT! (BEAT) THIS WHOLE DEBACLE HAS MY HEAD ACTING ALL FUNNY. ELOSIE: I’LL KEEP A LOOKOUT, YOU GET THAT OLD RUSTY BOX A’GOING. JUST DON’T STEP IN THROUGH THOSE ROCKS OVER THERE, LOOK’S LIKE A RING. RUEBEN: A RING?! GODS, MEABHS BEEN FEEDIN’ YOU THIS NONSENSE TOO! (BEAT) THERE’S ONLY SO MUCH I CAN DO RIGHT NOW. MEABH: (OFF MIC) THEY’RE HERE SOMEWHERE, COWARDLY VERMIN. (BEAT) THEY ARE STEALING MY HUSBAND AGAIN! GREAT LORD ABOVE, LET HIM BE OKAY, LET HIM COME HOME. (BEAT) FINALLY CATCHING UP, OLD TIMER. EDWIN: (OFF MIC & OUT OF BREATH) I’M NOT YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE CHASING FAERIES ANYMORE. (BEAT) MEABH: (OFF MIC) RIGHT, I APOLOGIZE ON MY HUSBAND'S BEHALF, HE’S BEEN NOTHING BUT A TROUBLEMAKER. ELOSIE: (WHISPERING) REUBEN, THEY’RE GATHERED ‘ROUND. GEORGIE: (WHISPERING) HI MR. CASEY, MS. POLICE-LADY, I HAVEN'T SEEN Y’ALL THIS FAR IN THE WOODS EVER. RUEBEN: GEORGE WALSH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE! GET HOME. GEORGIE: MY FRIENDS LEAD ME HERE. ELOSIE: MEABH AND EDWIN AND WHOMEVER ELSE IS IN THAT PACK OUT THERE, THEY’RE NOT FRIENDS– GEORGIE: (ECHOEY AND LOW) MR. CASEY? MISS? ELOSIE: I DON’T SEE THE YELLOW FLOWERS ANYMORE. CROCUS: (WHISPERED BUT LOUD) FOUND YOU. CROCUS: ALDERWEL, HELLO, AS YOU SAY IN THE NOW-A-DAYS. ELOSIE: HELLEBORE? (WISTFULLY AND CAUTIOUSLY) HELLO, HOW DO YOU DO? CROCUS: SUCH A CUTE NAME YOU GAVE ME, ELLIE. SO LONG AGO NOW. RUEBEN: (BREATHY) YOU WEREN’T KIDDIN’. CROCUS: (POUTING) WHERE IS MY HELLO REU-REU? RUEBEN: (TENTATIVELY) HELLO. CROCUS: (PLAYFULLY) WELL, WITH SALUTATIONS OVER, (SCARILY SERIOUS) IT’S TIME TO COME HOME. JUST LIKE YOU AGREED ELLIE. YOU’VE LOST OUR GAME... ELOSIE: WHAT GAME? CROCUS: (SLAYFULLY)THE ONE THAT WAS AGREED ON, SILLY. (BEAT & SERIES) DON’T LIE TO ME ELLIE, WHEN YOU WERE RETURNING THOSE SKIN COVERED MANUSCRIPTS. WE AGREED. ELOSIE: I BELIEVE I WOULD REMEMBER TALKING WITH YOU. CROCUS: WELL I COULD NOT SPEAK WITH YOU FACE TO FACE, (FRENCH) NON? RUEBEN: WHAT ARE YOU AFTER? HOW DO YOU KNOW MRS. MC- ELOSIE: DON’T SAY IT! RUEBEN: SAY WHAT? ELOSIE: MY NAME. IT’S PART OF... PART OF. (BEAT) YOU JUST MUSTN’T! RUEBEN: WELL THAT’S A CHILDISH WAY TO SAY IT. CROCUS: I THINK IT’S TIME TO STOP DAWDLING– MEABH: OH! SWEETIE, DARLIN, SUGARPEA. DON’T LEAVE ME BEHIND. RUEBEN: MEABH, JUST WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! MEABH: SAVING YOU. SILLY MAN, BUT YOU'RE MINE, SO I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. CROCUS: (DISTORTED) THEY’RE MINE! MEABH: IT’S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY– ELOSIE: –(WHISPERED HORROR) A FAERIE'S RING IS THE SOURCE OF THEIR POWERS MEABH: OH SHUT IT! IF YOU KNEW THAT, WHY BRING MY HUSBAND INTO THE FOREST, HE DOESN'T KNOW BETTER. ELOSIE: BUT YOU KNEW. MEABH: THAT IS ENOUGH LIP FROM YOU, I SHOULD HAVE NEVER TRUSTED YOU, NEVER SHOULD HAVE CALLED, I WAS DELIRIOUS, SCARED AND VULNERABLE. YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME, JUST TO STEAL HIM AWAY. I HEARD WHAT IT SAID TO YOU, YOU WERE CONSPIRING. THIS HAS ALL BEEN A PLOY. ELOSIE: YOU ARE A LOON! YOU AND THIS TOWN, AND I HAVE THE PROOF JUST HERE. THIS CASE IS CLOSED. MEABH: DO NOT TALK ABOUT INJUSTICES TO ME. NOBODY CAN TAKE THIS MAN FROM ME. RUEBEN: WOMAN, YOU’VE LOST YOUR DAMN HEAD. THIS IS NOT– SOUND EFFECTS: MEBAH STABS REUBEN. HE COUGHS, SPUTTERS AS BLOOD DRIPS ONTO LEAVES. MEABH: NOBODY IS TAKIN’ YOU' FROM ME, BUT I HAVE TO PROVE IT HERE AND NOW THAT YOU ARE MY HUSBAND. SO EITHER DIE LIKE THE FAIRY YOU ARE, OR LET THE LORD BREATHE NEW LIFE IN YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE MY REUBEN, RIGHT, (TEARY) YOU WILL COME BACK TO ME WITH THE WISDOM OF GOD OR SO HELP ME THIS FOREST WILL BURN. ELOSIE: REUBEN? MEABH: GET AWAY FROM US, CREATURE! ELOSIE: YOU WOULD STAB YOUR OWN HUSBAND, YOU ARE THE CREATURE, THE MONSTER. YOU AND THIS WHOLE TOWN, NOTHING BUT CRAZY FOLK BELIEVING IN SUPERSTITIONS AND PARADING AROUND YOUR SUPERIORITY, YES THESE CREATURES EXIST, BUT WHY ANTAGONIZE THEM FURTHER. MEABH: BECAUSE THEY TAKE OUR HUSBANDS, OUR CHILDREN, OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND REPLACE THEM WITH FAKES, ONE OF THEIR OWN, A CHANGELING, WHILE THEY ENJOY THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO STAY IN OUR LIVES, FULFIL THEIR AMBITIONS AND ENJOY LIFE AS A HUMAN, NOT SOME WICKED MAGICAL BEAST. ELOSIE: AND YOU WOULD RISK KILLING YOUR HUSBAND?! MEABH: I WOULD RISK ANYTHING FOR HIM. ELOSIE: AND HOW MANY MADE IT! I SAW THE CEMETERY! THERE WERE HUNDREDS. YOUR HUSBAND WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST THE SAME. THEY DON’T TAKE AND REPLACE PEOPLE. MEABH: THEY HAVE AND ARE ACTIVELY HOLDING MY REUBEN AWAY FROM ME! LEAVE MS. ELOISE MCCREA. ELOSIE: THAT IS ENOUGH OF THIS. CROCUS: WHATEVER MY ELOISE SAYS GOES, AND I CAN’T LET YOU HURT MY REUBEN LIKE THAT EITHER. MEABH: HE ISN’T YOURS, YOU– ELOSIE: GET ON UP, YOU FIXED THAT CAR RIGHT. WE’RE GETTING OUT. RUEBEN: (SOFTLY) THANK YOU. ELOSIE: SAVE IT FOR LATER, NOW THIS WILL HURT BUT– ELOSIE: -PUT THIS AS TIGHTLY AS YOU CAN ON THE WOUND, WE’VE GOT TO STOP THAT BLEEDING. RUEBEN: GOTCH-(COUGHING) ELOSIE: ENOUGH, WE’RE LEAVING. EDWIN: (OFF MIC) I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE, YOU DEVILISH KIND ARE ALWAYS GONNA BE BUGGERS TO US MORTAL KIND. BUT I WON’T HAVE IT. EDWIN: (OFF MIC) THIS TOWN HAS HAD ENOUGH, LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL CREATURES OF THE NIGHT– CROCUS: HE’LL BE PART OF THE VERY PLACE HE LOATHES, FOR AS LONG AS THAT TREE STANDS. ELOSIE: (SHAKILY) HE BECAME... HE’S,(PAUSE) BY GOD. CROCUS: A DOGWOOD. THAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RIGHT? PURITY, REBIRTH, SO FASCINATING TRULY. (BEAT) YOU LOST OUR GAME ELOISE. AND REUBEN WON’T SURVIVE MUCH LONGER. ELOSIE: (FRANTIC AND DELIRIOUS)THAT’S ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY. YOU GREW A TREE FROM A MAN’S BODY, AND SPAWNED WEEDS FROM A WOMAN'S LEG LIKE A MAC-COB POTTED PLANT. THIS IS- YOU, CAN’T. WHAT ARE YOU?! CROCUS: I HAVE LIVED A LONG LIFE, AND THANKS TO THAT CRAFTY THING. CROCUS: I HAVE LEARNED JUST A WEE BIT OF YOUR NEW VERNACULAR. SO STRANGE HOW THIS WORLD HAS CHANGED. ELOSIE: THAT JUST DOESN'T– THAT, YOU’RE A FIGMENT OF MY IMAGINATION, THAT’S IT. CROCUS: THEN JOIN ME IN YOUR IMAGINATIONS DEARY, AND THIS CAN ALL BE SOME FANTASTICAL DREAM AND MORE. ELOSIE: (HEAVY BREATHING) IT’S I... REUBEN (BEAT) NEEDS ATTENTION. CROCUS: (SOFTLY & SWEETLY) REUBEN RUEBEN: (HUMMING DELIRIOUSLY) HMM... IT’S COLD. CROCUS: COME HOME THEN. COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT. (WHISPERING) JUST SAY YES, I WOULD PREFER ACCEPTANCE OVER FORCE. ELOSIE: YOU DON’T HAVE POWER HERE, WE DIDN’T– IT’S PART OF THE RULES– THERE WAS NO INVITATION. CROCUS: IT’S THE SPRING EQUINOX, THE VEIL IS AT ITS THINNEST, I COULD HOP TO AND FRO WHENEVER I PLEASE. ELOSIE: YOU DON’T WIN US OR ANYTHING WE– AREN’T, WE DIDN’T– CROCUS: WELL, WELL, WELL. DEARY BUT YOU DID, YOU LOST OUR GAME, AND REUBEN WAS SO RUDE TO LEAVE WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE EARLIER. ELOSIE: THAT DOESN’T CONSTITUTE– CROCUS: GIVE IT UP! I ALREADY HAVE YOUR NAME, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. IT BELONGS TO ME RIGHT NOW, THUS I HAVE AUTHORITY OVER YOU! SO TAKE MY HAND, AGREE TO COME WITH ME, HOME, ELOISE MCCREA, REUBEN CASEY. CROCUS: (BACKWARDS) I AM CROCUS H. ORIENTAL. WELCOME HOME, MY NEW CHILDREN. AGENT BRYCE P: THIS CONCLUDES THE ANALYSIS OF TAPE NUMBER [6]. THIS EVIDENCE IS INTEGRAL TO OUR ONGOING INITIATIVE TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND "WHAT LIES IN WAIT" FOR SUBSEQUENT BRIEFINGS, FOUND ON SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCAST, AMAZON MUSIC AND MANY MORE. 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