#audio script

[SFX: car engine]

(soft chuckle)

"You’re staring again."

(pause)

"No, don’t deny it. I can feel it."

(soft hum)

“Of course I look relaxed. We finally get some time off.”

(pause)

“Yeah? You’re that excited, huh?”

(soft chuckle)

(pause)

“Yeah… me too. I’ve been thinking about this trip for a while. Just you and me. Open road.”

(pause)

“You hungry? We’re a few miles from the next diner.”

(soft, humorous exhale)

“I could go for a burger right about now. Some fries. Maybe cherry pie.”

(pause)

“Onion rings and chocolate cake? …Yeah, that works too.”

(pause)

(sharp inhale)

“…Hey.”

(voice lowers)

“You’re really not playing fair.”

(contented sigh)

“Your hand… in my hair like that…”

(exhale)

“…That’s unfair.”

(pause)

(low groan)

[SFX: light movement, hand brushing denim]

“No… Don’t stop.”

(pause)

(soft hum)

“If we crash… I’m holding you and your head scritches responsible.”

(quiet chuckle)

[SFX: car engine gradually fades to silence]

🌸 Masterlist 🌸

Narration Key

{...} = Pause for Listener response for about 2-3 seconds

{—} = Pause for Listener response for about 5-6 seconds

[Insert text] = Tone indicators, narration cues, descriptions to help with clarity (not to be narrated) and sound effects (which are optional but may help convey actions)

“Insert text” = Dialogue

Usage

Feel free to use this script monetized or not, just be sure to credit me if this script is used. Please, however, keep this audio as “4A”. Gender of the speaker can be changed but the gender of the listener must be kept as “anybody” if you wish to use this script. Thanks! :)

Characters

Athol: A vampire who’s been travelling with the Listener for around a year. They’re teasing, very good at complaining and very bad at opening up about their feelings. They have very loose and flexible morals and spent some years as a high priority target for the Hunters Association. They’ve been travelling with the Listener for some months now but tend to argue over their difference in morals quite a bit, putting a strain on what could be a friendship.

Listener (AKA Hunter): A Hunter-For-Hire travelling between the regional towns looking for work. As there's minimal support when it comes to magic outside of the walled cities aside from the Hunters Association, they think it’s their duty to aid those they can. They hold very little respect for the Hunters Association but were very close to graduating from the Association’s trainee program.

Motel Owner: Their family has lived in Lake Stine for generations. They’d do anything to keep their town safe and prosperous.

Setting

Lake Stine, a country town built upon a slowly-drying-up river.

Context

Athol and the Listener have arrived in Lake Stine hunting a rogue shifter and begin their investigations around the small township.

CONTENT WARNING: depictions and descriptions of violence and injury.

Script on scriptbin!

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Script

[The clamour of a relatively busy cafe (for a small town) buzzes in the background. Athol and Listener are seated in the back of Lake Stine’s one and only cafe. New Orleans R&B croons quietly as background music]

Athol: [Grumpily] “‘The room will be ready in the early afternoon.’ Ugh. Get real. As if anyone stops long enough in this dingy old town to leave a mess.”

{...}

Athol: “That’s true. Well they’d better hope none of their staff have any allergies cause I’d be willing to bet good money they’re cleaning a century's worth of dust build up.”

[Shoes on wooden flooring as one of the waitstaff approaches]

Athol: [To the waitstaff] “Huh? Oh, no. I’m fine for now… Oh, them?”

{...}

Athol: “More caffeine? Seriously? Especially after what just happened this morning?”

{—}

Athol: “Yeah. That’s what I thought. [Back to the waitstaff] That’ll be all, thanks.”

[Waitstaff leaves]

Athol: “I’m seriously convinced you’d live off nothing but caffeine if it wouldn’t send your body into catatonic shock.”

{...}

Athol: “That’s one of the most unconvincing arguments I’ve heard from you yet, Hunter. Those foul energy drinks finally getting to you? Maybe this is my chance to free myself from all that garbage you’ve got crammed in that rusty excuse you call a car.” 

{...}

Athol: “Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first fifty times. It’s your pride and joy… which isn’t saying much.”

[Thunk as Listener kicks Athol under the table]

Athol: “Ouch! Alright! Alright! God, you’re more defensive over that car than your own damn life.”

[Shoes on floor again. Cup and saucer set down on the table]

Athol: [Distracted, to waitsaff] “Thanks.”

[Shoes fade again]

Athol: “Did you get anything useful from the information centre? That ridiculously overstuffed bag isn’t exactly filling me with hope.”

{...}

Athol: “I’ll believe everything’s useful when it proves its use, thanks.” 

{—}

Athol: “You may as well hand some over. The quicker we do this, the faster we can get out of this snooze-fest of a town.”

[Shuffling of papers as Listener and Athol comb through what Listener retrieved]

Athol: “A brochure from a hunter’s club? I’m pretty sure their game’s a little different to yours, Hunter.”

{—}

Athol: “That’s… not an entirely terrible idea. If they’ve seen abnormal wildlife, it would certainly get the grapevine buzzing. And judging by some of these photos, I’d say a solid percentage of this town is part of the club.”

{...}

Athol: “If there’s one thing that spreads quick, it’s small town gossip.”

[More shuffling papers as the search continues]

Athol: “Good lord. How many newspapers can one town produce? How far back do these date?”

{...}

Athol: “We only started this hunt two weeks ago. How does a tiny town like this drum up the funds for a daily newspaper cycle?”

{...}

Athol: “A dedicated reader base is still a small reader base.”

{—}

Athol: “Boats being torn up? There’s no way in hell the shifter we’re chasing is marine. The last three towns we were in were miles away from anything bigger than a puddle. It was probably just some bad weather.”

{—}

Athol: “I don’t know if a dented mailbox counts as a clue. For all we know it could’ve just been some dumb kids drunk on the high of getting a driver's license.”

[Pause as both Listener and Athol continue reading]

Athol: “Here. What about this?”

{...}

Athol: “And what, your dented mailbox theory is any better?”

{...}

Athol: “Just because it’s by the water doesn’t mean the shifter necessarily has to swim.The fisherman’s boats didn’t make sense because the damage was all in the hull. They’re docked in a private boat yard you’d only be able to access through the water and in freak weather like that anything that wasn’t a marine animal would’ve a hell of a time trying to navigate those waters. But here, look at this, there’s no way in hell all that damage to this hut was from the same weather event. That has to be claw marks on the right side.”

{...}

Athol: “Exactly. Using a storm like that for cover means a quick getaway too.”

{—}

Athol: “Well, if this hunting gig has taught me anything it’s that we should cover all our bases. Like I said before, small town gossip travels quick so asking around is our best bet.” 

{—}

Athol: “Sounds like a good place to start. Even if the motel owner doesn’t know anything, it’s around time we check in so it won’t be a total waste of time.”

[Squeak of chairs against flooring as the Listener and Athol stand up]

Athol: [Teasing] “Leaving without paying, Hunter? I didn’t think you had it in you.”

{...}

Athol: “Uhuh, you were ‘getting to it.’ Sure.”

[Scene fades out into the local motel. A bell rings as the door opens and Listener and Athol enter. An old radio crackles but doesn’t spout anything legible. The Motel Owner is polite, warm and friendly with a country accent]

Motel Owner: “Good afternoon. How can I help you two today?”

{—}

Motel Owner: “I see you’ve been readin’ up on the local paper. You must be the ‘leather wearin’ hero’ Bessie helped out at the information centre. We don’t get folks from the Hunter’s Association out here very often. Lake Stine likes to handle its own issues. No offence, of course. I’m sure the Association does good work but we find keepin’ it local is better for business.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “Not with the Association, huh? Coulda sworn you were a Hunter. I saw some of the kit you’ve got in that mighty car of yours when you pulled into my parking lot.”

Athol: [Quietly, only to the Listener] “Told you we should’ve ditched that stuff.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “A Hunter-for-Hire? Well I always do like to support independent businesses. So, how can I help you today?”

{...}

Motel Owner: “Old Hank’s fisherman hut? Yeah, she took quite a beatin’ during the storm that just swept in. Hell of a howler that was. Old Hank hopped town after that. Bessie thinks he musta driven out as soon as it gave way, none of us saw him leavin’ after all. Not that I blame ‘im. Fish just isn’t that popular ‘round here anymore. Guess you could say we’ve developed a taste for heartier game.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “That’s right. The other fisher-folk left soon after Old Hank. With their boats torn up like that they thought they’d try their luck elsewhere. Real pity that was. Most of their families moved ‘ere when mine did. A shame. No loyalty to their hometown.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Ah. Missus Mable’s mailbox. Yeah, the little stinkers who caused that were caught real quick. Missus Mable was in a right state so the gents from the hunters club banded together to find ‘em. They were real apologetic after, and as the soft-hearted lady she is, Missus Mable let ‘em off easy. Not personally the path I’d go down but to each their own. She got ‘em to fix the busted box and they were off the hook.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “I guess you could say I’m familiar with the folks ‘round here. My family’s lived ‘ere for just about two centuries now and we don’t got no plans of leavin’ any time soon. I try to give back where I can, so I like to hear the local’s stories. Always makes ‘em happy to have a ear listenin’ out. Helps too that my older brother is the mayor of this old town.”

Athol: “You two must put a lot of effort into this town then.”

Motel Owner: “We do what we can.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Now that’s a club that’s gotten real popular as of late! Old Hank was real sour after the fishin’ club regulars started turnin’ towards Micheal’s hunting club. But with the old lake dryin’ up more year after year, I guess a lotta folks wanted to turn to greener pastures. I don’t have a personal interest in any of that, it’s better for my state of mind. But I’m sure Micheal down at the pub would be more than willin’ to chat. He’s always lookin’ for new members.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “What makes you say that?”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Yeah, I have heard about that. A couple passin’ through yesterday brought it up. They were real concerned about those maulings but I reassured them that no trouble would dare bring itself to Lake Stine.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “A shifter, huh? Well I suppose towns like these attract all sorts of unwelcome folk. They think just cause the walled cities won’t have nothin’ to do with us, that they can just throw their weight around. ‘Course most towns like this rely on the Hunters Association but we haven’t had to make a call out in three decades now. Guess we just got more resources.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Lake Stine’s treated her townsfolk well. The loyal ones, anyway.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “I’d be devastated if that was the case. But I don’t think it’s likely. Old Hank was a pretty big chap, all that manual labour’s gotta leave some mark. After his old garage’s legs gave way and just about fell into the river, the local repair shop offered to hang on to his car ‘til he figured somethin’ else out. Sheila was chekin’ stock before opening right after the storm and noticed his car was missin’ as soon as she arrived.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “Nah. We’ve been mostly occupied lendin’ a hand with the residents who stuck around.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Ah, so you’ve booked a room here? How long you plannin’ on staying?” 

{...}

Motel Owner: “Fair enough. Everybody’s gotta work hard to get anywhere these days. Now which room was it?”

Athol: “Room 105.”

Motel Owner: [Amused] “You must be the ‘alluring stranger’ my wife mentioned!”

Athol: “I’m flattered.”

Motel Owner: “Well, your room should be all set up by now. Feel free to ring reception between 8 and 6 if you need anything.”

Athol: “Thanks.”

[Footsteps on carpet as Athol and Listener head for their room. Scene change as Athol throws their bags down onto one of the two beds]

Athol: “Finally. If I had to be stuck in these three-day-old clothes for one more hour I would’ve lost it. Truly, I’ve never met newer lows than I have travelling with you, Hunter.”

{—}

Athol: “Yes, being stuck in sweaty, dusty clothes is a newer low than draining some random. Not that you’d know. I’m half convinced that leather jacket is melded to you. Are you sure you don’t wear that to sleep? Sneak out of bed once you’re sure I’m asleep and slip it on? It would give you a reason to always be awake before I am.”

{...}

Athol: “I am the pinnacle of humour.” 

{...}

Athol: “Whatever helps you sleep at night, Hunter. But anyways, what did you think of old country hospitality over there?”

{—} 

Athol: “Yeah. Don’t know if I believe that ‘Old Hank’ left right after his hut collapsed. We were only on the edges of that strom and you could barely drive. You’ve driven to hell and back in that old rust bucket so, as much as I hate to admit it, it wasn’t your driving capabilities that were the problem.”

{...}

Athol: “Uhuh. Remember that time you chased me all the way to that mountain village and ended up having to drive through almost three feet of snow? I swore that was the time I’d finally shake you off my tail but here we are, huh?”

{—}

Athol: “But yeah, no way in hell anyone could’ve driven in weather like that. Still… the missing car is a bit odd.”

{...}

Athol: “Exactly. If we can check out the damage, we should get a better idea of what happened.”

{—}

Athol: “So many people to interview and so little time.”

{...}

Athol: “We’ve split up plenty, Hunter. This isn’t exactly new information.”

{...}

Athol: “Speaking of new information though… what do you think about that… thing we almost hit.”

{...}

Athol: [Annoyed] “Well I couldn’t exactly tell what the hell it was so you’ll have to settle with ‘thing’ for now.”

{...}

Athol: “I’d say whatever it was, there’s a pretty high likelihood that it’s what we’re hunting.”

{...}

Athol: “Exactly. The storm slowing it down means that we’ve been given time to catch up. And if it's been in its shifted form for as long as you think it has, the animal instincts that took over probably got hellishly disoriented in that storm. Though, if it didn’t before, it definitely knows that we’re on its tail now.”

{—}

Athol: [Cocky] “Worried? Me? Please. If I can handle you tracking me for almost a year, I can handle some no-brained mutt.”

{...}

Athol: “Alright. Well, while you rub those depressingly minimal brain cells together to figure out how you’re going to occupy yourself until the sun goes down, I’m going to take a shower.”

[A bag unzips and clothes shuffle around as Athol rummages around for fresh clothes and a towel. Improv muttering to themself. Footsteps on carpet before a door opens and closes. Muffled squeak of a rusty shower handle being turned. Wait a few beats.]

Athol: [Muffled, loudly.] “You’ve gotta be shitting me!”

[Door opens and slams shut.]

Athol: [Angrily] “Of course an arse-backwards town like this can’t handle having working water in its only motel.”

{—}

Athol: “No. It’s fine. Don’t bother. If I get desperate I’ll go find the owner myself. Hopefully I won’t have to and the water will be back on after I’ve gotten some actual sleep.”

{—}

Athol: “Well, say hi to Micheal down at the pub for me then. Nothing much I can do ‘till the sun goes down, but I can take a look over at ‘Old Hank’s’ hut while you rest up tonight.” 

{...}

Athol: “Try not to intimidate too many residents into answering, will you?”

[Room door opens and closes as Listener leaves. Wait a few beats before the bell above the motel’s door tinkles as the Listener returns. Listener has returned from speaking to Micheal]

Motel Owner: “Well hi there. I hope your chat with Micheal was productive.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “Zachary’s an old friend of mine and likes to let me know his appreciation when one of my customers visits his pop’s pub.” 

{...}

Motel Owner: “We all try to support each other in our own ways, ‘round here. Keeps us happy and safe.” 

{...}

 Motel Owner: “Yeah. Safe. We don’t get lots of issues this far out but keeping an eye on a neighbour or two doesn’t hurt. It’s how we made sure Missus Mable’s power didn’t go out during that storm.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “I noticed that 20 minutes after I checked you folks in. The plumbing should be fixed by now, I made sure of it.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “Oh yeah, me and the missus do everything ourselves. We don’t get a lot ‘a support but it keeps us busy and happy.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “That’s right, plumbing, electricity, security, I do it all. My missus takes care of the cooking and cleaning. She really does keep the cogs turnin’ in this old place.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Ah, we get a few folks who’ve had a little too much to drink sometimes. I just make sure they get to their rooms alright. Don’t really need security in a quiet town like this.” 

{—}

Motel Owner: “No, I’m not much help when it comes to any magical issues. We’ve got the priest up the road, and if it gets real hairy the hunters club can sort it out.” 

{...}

Motel Owner: “Yeah, Father Markus did visit recently. How could you tell?”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Ah, well I suppose it makes sense you Hunters are trained to pick up even that sort of magic. Especially with that inadvisable travel buddy you’ve got.”

{...}

[The atmosphere shifts to something more tense]

Motel Owner: “I don’t mean nothin’ by it. It’s just not everyday folks like us travel with… leeches.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “I was pretty damn obvious. Even little Johnny would’ve been able to sus your vampire out. What with the red eyes and the aversion to the outside. Although I’m sure your pal isn’t adverse to the great outdoors once the sun sets. Probably isn’t adverse enough.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “I know vampires can’t actually be killed by the sun. Gives ‘em a hell of a rash though. And I know I’m not the only one who feels a little better knowin’ they can’t be at the height of their power under the sun.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “I’m a good listener. Some of you Hunters have real loose tongues once the alcohol gets flowing.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “Don’t think much of it. My missus’ll get any messes cleaned up in no time. It was just the hunter’s club payin’ me a visit. They like to keep me company when the days are slow.”

{...}

Motel Owner: [Sternly, all appearances of friendliness gone] “I think it’d be best if you didn’t take a closer look, Hunter.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “Those are some mighty accusations. I didn’t touch your pet leech.”

{...}

Motel Owner: “I’d suggest you calm down. I don’t wanna have to get the gents from the hunters club to solve this dispute. How about you just go along your merry way and I’ll forget you even passed through this town? We’ll even call the disposal of that blood sucker a favour, from one problem-solver to another.”

[Listener grabs the Motel Owner by the collar and slams the Motel Owner into the wall, pinning them in place. The Motel Owner swears, colourfully]

Motel Owner: “Get off me you crazy—”

[A bang as the Listener lifts the Motel Owner off the wall and slams them into it again]

Motel Owner: [Panicked, quickly] “Alright! Alright! I switched out the rain tank’s water with holy water when you were out! Once we were sure they were hurt enough we went in and made sure the deal was done with a few silver bullets.”

{—}

Motel Owner: “By Old Hank’s hut! I got some of the boys to drag them out and dump ‘em in the lake!”

{...}

Motel Owner: “We’re desperate alright! Everybody on this side of the country knows Lake Stine is dryin’ up! Mother Nature was clearly punishin’ us for letting those magic corrupted folk run around like they owned the place after the walled cities opened up! We were just givin’ back to her!”

[Thump as Listener drops the Motel Owner, who crumbles in a heap on the floor. Rushed footsteps as the Listener runs out and the bell above the door rings again.]

Motel Owner: [Trembling] “Crazy bastard.”

[Scene changes as the Listener runs to the lake’s shore. Rain comes down hard and fast and the wind howls loudly. Gravel and sand crunches under the Listener’s boots as they come to a stop. Shuffling of fabric before their jacket hits the ground as they fumble around taking their outer-layer of clothes off. After a few beats of clothes removal, the Listener dives into the water and begins to swim. General underwater noises for a few beats as the Listener searches before they resurface with Athol]

Athol: [Coughing, spluttering] “What’re you—?”

[Listener swims Athol and themself back to shore as Athol coughs and sucks in big breaths of air. Gravel sound effect as the Listener drags Athols body onto the shore]

Athol: [Strained] “Holy Mother Mary and all things saintly that hurts.”

{...}

Athol: [Obviously hurt, wheezing in breaths of air] “The bullets… Can’t let myself heal over them…”

{...}

Athol: “Silver doesn’t do much to vampires—” [Cut off as Athol coughs hard] “Won’t heal right if they don’t come out though.”

{—}

Athol: “No— don’t. You’ll hurt—” [Cut off again as Athol coughs]

[Athol continues to cough and generally groan in pain as the Listener digs out the bullets. The sound of hissing flesh due to heat/burning grows until the tinkling of metal hitting the floor signifying the Listener has gotten them out]

Athol: [coughs subsiding] “Your hands—”

{...}

Athol: “Found—” [coughing] “Found the missing car… sunken to the bottom of the lake…”

{...}

Athol: [Loopy from pain] “...drink…? What?”

[Listener presses their wrist to Athol’s lips. The rain slows down before fading entirely]

Athol: “What’re you…?”

[Athol breathes heavily for a few moments before biting the Listener. Athol takes a few deep gulps before they let go]

Athol: “That’s… enough… need to rest.”

[Listener picks Athol up and walks along the gravel to the car. Improv generally pained noises and laboured breathing that gradually evens out. The car door opens and the Listener sets Athol down in the passenger seat.]

Athol: [Hissing in pain] “Careful.”

[Seatbelt slides out and clicks into place. Athol’s door closes. Listener’s door opens. Car starts and begins driving down the road]