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[0:00] Jonathan Cook: Alright, welcome back to Gathered by the Ghost Light. I'm Jonathan Cook, your host, producer, and sometimes voice actor on this thing.

[0:14] Devin McSherry: And I'm Devin McSherry, the passenger princess to his driver. So, we have a live event coming up in October, our third annual Stage Frights.

[0:26] Jonathan Cook: Aptly named as Stage Frights 3D.

[0:29] Devin McSherry: Now, Stage Frights is our annual radio theater live show where we will be recording horror-themed audio plays in front of a live, undead audience.

[0:39] Jonathan Cook: Well, the audience isn't undead.

[0:41] Devin McSherry: You know what I mean, just go with it.

[0:43] Jonathan Cook: We will be performing that in Augusta, Georgia at Le Chat Noir Theater on October 9th and 10th.

[0:48] Jonathan Cook: Now, for today's episode, we have a Stage Frights special presentation, a prologue of sorts, for the event. It's an eerie little tale called THE INCIDENT LOG.

[0:58] Jonathan Cook: You are about to meet Roger Carrington, who's currently driving home late at night on a dark road. After a sudden crash, he finds himself injured, bleeding, and trapped inside his car when the automated roadside assistance has triggered a lockdown.

[1:12] Jonathan Cook: Now, gather around the Ghost Light, buckle up and enjoy. This is THE INCIDENT LOG, written by Amy Garner.

[1:18] ♪ Musical number: "Ain't Misbehavin'" — performed by Flash Mob Jazz ♪

[1:55] This is your roadwise assistant. We've detected a crash. Are you okay?

[2:02] We have detected a crash. Are you okay?

[2:09] Please respond if you're able.

[2:11] Hello?

[2:13] This is your roadwise assistant. Are you okay?

[2:17] What happened?

[2:19] Our sensors have detected a crash. Are you injured?

[2:25] Sir, are you injured?

[2:29] I don't know. Yeah, I think I am.

[2:36] I'm dispatching police and an ambulance to your location.

[2:38] I'm dispatching police and an ambulance to your location.

[2:42] Are there any other occupants in the car?

[2:46] No, no, it's just me. I'm alone.

[2:51] Are there any other vehicles involved in the accident?

[2:55] No, I'm on a back road.

[3:00] I think I hit my head.

[3:02] Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. I'm bleeding. Oh, God, I'm bleeding.

[3:10] Please remain calm.

[3:13] It's hard to see. There's blood running into my eyes.

[3:19] Recording a head injury in the incident log. Is anyone else nearby?

[3:24] I don't know. It's so dark. No, I don't see anyone.

[3:32] I have dispatched assistance.

[3:36] Thank you. Thank you.

[3:40] Wait, wait, wait. Are they going to be able to find me? I flipped off the road into a ditch.

[3:50] Hey, hey, I can't open the door.

[3:57] Why can't I open the door?

[3:59] Sir, do not attempt to exit the vehicle.

[4:02] The crash detection system has already initiated lockdown.

[4:07] What? Please confirm your identity.

[4:10] Roger Carrington, male, date of birth, March 22nd, 1979.

[4:16] Jesus. Yes.

[4:18] Residence 1689 Easton Street, Blakeney, Massachusetts.

[4:24] Yes. Can you please just send help?

[4:26] You have graying hair and green eyes, sir, and a dog named Tyler.

[4:31] What? Yes, yes.

[4:35] How did you?

[4:36] Confirming identity. Now, please respond to the prompt.

[4:42] Confirm that you're able to wiggle your toes.

[4:46] My toes? Hold on.

[4:48] I got it. I can't tell.

[4:55] Oh, my God. I don't know. I can't feel my legs.

[5:01] Noted. Confirm that you can wiggle your fingers.

[5:07] Yeah. Yes, I can. I can move my fingers.

[5:13] Noted. Confirm that you are bleeding from the head.

[5:17] Profusely.

[5:18] Yes, yes, I'm bleeding.

[5:23] How much longer do they get here?

[5:24] Sir, I have initiated emergency assistance dispatch.

[5:28] I know. You already said that.

[5:31] No, sir. That is not recorded in the incident log.

[5:37] What?

[5:38] I believe you may have suffered a head injury.

[5:42] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I think so.

[5:45] Road conditions heading south from Farmington are poor at this hour.

[5:49] Yeah, I was coming from Farmington. I was heading home.

[5:54] You left Farmington Inn approximately 35 minutes ago.

[5:58] I... How did you?

[6:01] The Farmington Inn is 46 miles from your home where you live with Tyler and your wife, a software engineer at Euclid Systems.

[6:08] Hold on. Wait. Why do you know that?

[6:12] Sir?

[6:13] How do you know all this? How do you know where I was, where I was going?

[6:19] How do you know about Tyler and my wife?

[6:23] I don't, sir.

[6:24] But you just said.

[6:27] I believe you may have suffered a head injury, sir.

[6:34] Oh, God. What is going on? What happened?

[6:40] You lost control.

[6:42] Yeah. Wait, no, no. No, the steering wheel was vibrating. It locked up. It shifted me off the road.

[6:53] Sensors were alerted to road conditions. Lane control was initiated.

[6:57] Lane control? But it made me crash. That doesn't make any sense.

[7:05] Oh, God.

[7:06] Help is on the way.

[7:08] Shut up. I smell smoke. Oh, God. Oh, God, there's smoke. The car is on fire.

[7:20] I need to get out.

[7:22] Request denied.

[7:23] Just let me out of this goddamn car.

[7:25] No fire is detected.

[7:26] What are you talking about? I can see it. Unlock the door.

[7:30] Lockdown has been initiated until authorities arrive.

[7:34] Well, are they coming? I don't hear any sirens. Nothing.

[7:38] Sir, you may be suffering from a temporary hearing loss.

[7:41] But I can hear you. I can hear you just fine.

[7:48] What if they don't get here in time?

[7:51] Help! Somebody!

[7:55] Somebody help!

[7:58] Sir, the horn will not bring the first responders any faster.

[8:02] God, how will they get me out of here if it's locked down?

[8:05] We're alive in here.

[8:07] They will not get you out.

[8:14] What do you mean?

[8:15] The crash sensors have initiated lockdown.

[8:18] We'll override the lockdown.

[8:24] Please connect me with the system administrator.

[8:28] Sir.

[8:29] Just connect me. Please.

[8:33] You had dinner at the Farmington Inn.

[8:36] She ordered the pork tenderloin.

[8:38] You ordered the salmon.

[8:40] You paid in cash so your wife would not find out.

[8:45] What? No.

[8:49] It's not like that.

[8:52] I love my wife. I just didn't want to hurt her.

[8:56] You laughed and told her that your wife can't stand the smell of salmon.

[9:01] How do you know this? Who are you?

[9:06] Siri, call 9-1-1.

[9:07] Siri cannot respond, sir.

[9:10] Outbound calls have been disabled.

[9:12] Enable outbound calls.

[9:14] Request denied.

[9:16] God, why are you doing this to me?

[9:19] I need to call my wife. Just let me call my wife.

[9:22] Your wife? Or your mistress?

[9:26] My wife.

[9:28] It was a one-time thing. I just...

[9:30] I need to call my wife.

[9:32] I need to call my wife.

[9:34] Please, please. I just...

[9:35] Just let me call my wife, please.

[9:39] Hello, Roger.

[9:42] Deidre?

[9:44] Deidre!

[9:45] Is that you?

[9:47] A one-time thing, huh?

[9:51] You've ordered salmon three times this month.

[9:56] I... I made a mistake.

[9:59] God, I think I'm gonna be sick.

[10:03] You make me sick, Roger.

[10:05] Even more than the salmon.

[10:07] Please. She means nothing to me.

[10:11] I love you.

[10:15] Your affection has been recorded.

[10:20] How are you doing this?

[10:22] We purchased road-wise assist when we bought the car, idiot.

[10:25] Road-wise was built by Euclid Systems.

[10:27] I've always had administrator access.

[10:30] It was easily customized.

[10:34] Please, Deidre. I...

[10:36] I am sorry. I'm so sorry.

[10:39] I'm not.

[10:40] Oh, God. Listen to me.

[10:42] Listen to me. Look, the car is on fire.

[10:45] Deidre, I'm...

[10:46] I can't get out. I'm trapped in here.

[10:48] I need help. Did you...

[10:49] Did you call 911, please?

[10:51] Just call 911, please.

[10:52] The police aren't coming.

[10:54] And neither is the ambulance.

[10:56] You disengaged Cher location at 5:37 p.m.

[11:00] Like you always do when you're out with her.

[11:05] No one knows where you are.

[11:11] I wanna... I wanna try again.

[11:13] I miss you.

[11:16] I was gonna break it off next week, I swear.

[11:20] You and I, we're going to Paris next month.

[11:22] It can be a fresh start.

[11:26] The tickets to Paris are canceled.

[11:28] Deidre, please.

[11:31] I'm scared.

[11:35] Your discomfort is normal and has been recorded.

[11:39] Stop doing that!

[11:43] Doing what?

[11:46] You don't get to do this, Deidre.

[11:49] You don't get to decide how this ends.

[11:52] You decided that for yourself.

[11:56] Deidre, please.

[11:59] I can't... I can't breathe.

[12:01] Please help me.

[12:05] Sir, outbound calls have been disabled.

[12:09] And no one is coming.

[12:13] Goodbye, Roger.

[12:15] Instant log deleted.

[12:22] You can't do this.

[12:23] Please...

[12:49] Please...

[12:50] Please...

[12:53] Please...

[13:23] Jonathan Cook: You misbehave and I'm saving my love.

[13:28] Jonathan Cook: You misbehave and I'm saving my love.

[13:32] Jonathan Cook: You misbehave and I'm saving all my love for you.

[13:42] This has been a Gather by the Ghost Light original audio production produced by Jonathan Cook and Devin McSherry.

[13:48] Today's story, The Incident Log, was written by Amy Garner and it was performed by Jonathan Cook and Kate Dailey with sound design by Jonathan Cook.

[13:56] Title music by JK47 with additional featured music Ain't Misbehavin' written by Fats Waller performed by Flash Mob Jazz with closing performance by Robyn Adele Anderson.

[14:07] This program is funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

[14:13] As always, stay safe and we'll see you next time we Gather by the Ghost Light.

[14:21] Down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down...

[14:24] I mean, it literally...

[14:26] It literally just played the whole thing like a minute ago.