Writer Wrong

SPINES Chapter Two

September 17, 2020 FBT Productions Season 1 Episode 2
Writer Wrong
SPINES Chapter Two
Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Rory and Markie, after some familial discoveries, begin to understand what BZB Productions is all about. Not everything is as it seems.

CO-HOST: Bryce Hunter

Produced by Patrick Emile and Marlo Mysliwiec
Written, Directed, Scored, and Edited by Patrick Emile

CAST: Cameron Casey as Rory Millerson, Cody Dry as Markie Pon de Lancie, Courtney Dyamond as Bethel Bridgers, Patrick Emile as Detective David Chalmers, Kris Kelly as Madame Bianca, Jon Murrell as Narrator, and Evan Michael Woods as Tom and Angry Drunk Driver

Support the show

Writer Wrong Episode 2

SPINES Chapter Two

9.17.2020


Note: Writer Wrong is designed and produced for your listening enjoyment. If you are able, we recommend listening to the audio for your initial experience. All transcripts are generated by human transcribers and may contain errors. Please refer to the corresponding audio episode before quoting in print.

Writer Wrong
and “Spines Chapter Two” are copyrighted works under Title 17, USC. No part of these works may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission from the copyright owner.



INTRO      00:00

     [MUSIC: WRITER WRONG THEME]

Marlo Mysliwiec:
Welcome to Writer Wrong where you, the listeners, become the writers. Today’s episode is Chapter Two of three. Now over to your host Patrick Emile.

     [MUSIC: WRITER WRONG THEME OUT]



WRITERS ROOM with Bryce Hunter      00:13

Patrick Emile (PE)
: Welcome back, brave listeners, to the show. This is the Writer Wrong Podcast where you decide what happens next. We’re so happy that you’ve joined us again. Quick disclaimer; if you have not listened to "Spines Chapter One", you will have everything spoiled for you. So, please go back and listen to that before you listen to this as we will be listening to "Spines Chapter Two" and discussing it in great detail. And by “we” I mean we are back with Bryce Hunter, who has agreed to steady the helm with me through the finale of "Spines". We’re very excited. Welcome back, Bryce.

Bryce Hunter (BH): I’m back. Good to be here.

PE: He’s back folks. We are, once again, truly enjoying The Botanist. How’s that treating you, Bryce?

BH: (laughing) You are begging for this sponsor, huh?

PE: Yeah, well, you know. I mean...hey—

BH: It’s delicious. I fancy myself a gin drinker, this is some of the best gin I’ve ever had, it’s very good.

PE: It might be the best gin I’ve ever had.

BH: Yeah. I think it’s definitely the best. Without a doubt, The Botanist.

PE: Yeah. Thank you, to The Botanist. So, Bryce, do you want the good news or the bad news?

BH: I always take bad news first. Let’s do that.

PE: Ok, the bad news is, despite your best efforts for episode one, the votes are in. And Option B did in fact not win, Option A pulled it out, about 70 to 30—70 percent.

BH: That’s absurd.

PE: Yeah, it’s actually a little bit closer to 69 to 31, so that’s a nice round number.

BH: (laughing) Nice.

PE: So the good news is that we got some really great feedback about you specifically as—

BH: Oh that’s very nice.

PE: —as a guest co-host, and also about your ability to persuade the masses for Option B because—

BH: Well, it obviously didn’t work.

PE: Well, it didn’t, but I think that’s a testament to people's leanings towards spooky things. But the people that wanted B were vehemently for B, I will say that.

BH: Yeah, I had the passionate.

PE: Exactly.

BH: The passionate. Ok, yeah.

PE: Yeah, you instilled the passion into some of our listeners. So that’s the deal folks, Option A won, and again if you have not listened to "Spines Chapter One" go back to our website and check it out, or wherever you consume podcasts. Bryce how’s it going, how have you been the past two weeks, anything exciting happening, you watching anything, listening to anything cool?

BH: If you’re a fan of the first two, I caught the new Bill and Ted

PE: Oh yes.

BH: —and that was a lot of fun, and very therapeutic in these unprecedented times, as people are saying.

PE: Oh! Ok.

BH: There’s a lot of joy and hope and positivity, and it’s funny, it’s a really cool movie. It was great to see them 30 years later.

PE: I haven’t seen it. I’m a huge fan of the first two, or certainly was as a kid. It’s totally my—

BH: The first, or the second one is still like...ten. The second one, when they go-to Hell is still like a great, great movie.

PE: Yeah, yeah. Anything else? Anything else you’ve been checking out?

BH: I did want to, if there’s any movie fans out there who especially like the movie China Town there’s a new book by Sam Wasson called The Big Goodbye about the making of that.

PE: Oh cool.

BH: I haven’t finished it yet, I’m about two-thirds of the way through, but it is like—if you like the movie you’ll love the book. It’s fantastic.

PE: Cool, so I’ve been listening to a really fabulous jazz record called Good Day for Cloud Fishing by a clarinetist named Ben Goldberg as well as some other instrumentalists. But it’s really fascinating though because they wrote the tunes based around some of the poetry by Dean Young. Who then, listened to the tunes and created a new collection of poems based on that experience. So, it’s a little bit like the snake eating its own tail creatively. It’s really kind of a fascinating process that they had. But it’s just super, super amazing. And yeah, I highly recommend it.

BH: I’ve never heard of him or them, if I was on Spotify and it did the, “you may also like this” is there somebody that I would know, that it sounds like?

PE: So the guitarist in the ensemble is Nels Cline, are you familiar with Nels Cline?

BH: Oh, I love Nels Cline.

PE: Are you a Wilco fan?

BH: Yeah. What is the—Lovers, that album?

PE: Yeah.

BH: Oh my god, I love them.

PE: Yeah. So Nels Cline is the guitarist and he just does some super cool stuff.

BH: Ok. So that’s right up my alley.

PE: Yeah, check it out. It does veer towards the avant-garde at times, so just keep that in mind. Alright folks so, I think it’s time. Bryce are you ready to listen to Chapter Two?

BH: Let’s do it, man, I’m ready.

PE: Alright, brave listeners, my friends, just like last time Bryce will be experiencing "Spines Chapter Two" for the very first time. He has previewed the script but he has not listened to the audio play. So, we’re about to do that, and you are about to do that. So, sit back, relax, here comes "Spines Chapter Two".

     [MUSIC: WRITER WRONG THEME UP AND OUT]
     [BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP]



SPINES - Chapter Two      05:21

     [MUSIC: ETHEREAL UND.]

BIANCA:
(mysteriously) Do not fear, Mrs. Crumley, for fear is simply one of the many ways your aura responds to the infinite new connections we make every moment of every day. Through these powerful talismans, I will be guiding your true form into the spiritual plane. It is there that you can call out to your loved one—and he will hear you. Now...what was his name?

MRS. CRUMLEY:
Mister Biscuits.

BIANCA:
(chanting) Mister biscuiiits...

MRS. CRUMLEY:
...sometimes Mister Biscuits-face. He liked that, too.

BIANCA:
(still chanting) Which one do you preferrr...

MRS. CRUMLEY:
Mister Biscuits.

BIANCA:
Mister Biscuiiits...with me now, Mrs. Crubmley, from your soul...

TOGETHER:
Mister Biscuiiits...Mister Biscuiiits…Mister Biscuiiits...Mister Biscuiiits…

     [SOUND: STORE PHONE RINGING]

BIANCA:
(cheerfully, much less mysteriously) Oh, well how's that for timing? My goodness. Excuse me just one moment. Go ahead and continue calling out.

MRS. CRUMLEY:
(in the background) Mr. Biscuiiit...faaaace…

     [SOUND: PICK-UP PHONE RECEIVER]

BIANCA:
(answering the phone) Thank you for calling Crystal Breath, the oldest metaphysical outpost in Griwerrtown, this is Madame Bianca…

     [SOUND: MUFFLED CHATTERING FROM RECEIVER]

BIANCA:
...Mm-hm, that's correct...
...I see...
...Absolutely, that is something we can definitely help with...
...Are you familiar with our Breath-head Program?...
...Wonderful. You can do it all through the website: register, book your first appointment...
...Excellent! We look forward to helping you reach your spiritual goals...
...Ok, great. Thanks for calling. Lightness to you...
...Mm-hm, bye-bye now.

     [SOUND: HANG-UP PHONE]

MRS. CRUMLEY:
(still in the background) Mr. Biscuiiits...

BIANCA:
(to Mrs. Crumley) I am just so sorry about that. Where were we—

     [SOUND: STORE PHONE RINGING]

BIANCA:
(amused) Well not again! I guess I wore my popular pants today! Keep on going, Mrs. Crumley. I'll be right back.

MRS. CRUMLEY:
(in the background) Mr. Biscuiiits...

     [SOUND: PICK-UP RECEIVER]

BIANCA:
(answering the phone) Thank you for calling Crystal Breath, this is Madame Bianca…

     [SOUND: MUFFLED CHATTERING FROM THE RECEIVER]

BIANCA:
(delighted) Oh well hello, darling!...
...What? What do you mean?...
...Are you ok?...
...Are they ok?...
...Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.  Well, no surprise there. I've been warning them for years about their dusty
chakras...
...(laughing) Oh stop it, you! (gasp) How are the floors?
...Oh, now that's a shame. Mother was always so proud of those floors...
...Ok. See you in a bit?...
...Okie dokie! But would you be a dear and bring me a chai?...
...(kissing sound) See you soon!

(back to Mrs. Crumley) Oh I’m so very sorry about that, Mrs. Crumley. Someone was murdered at my child's bookshop last night. Why I'm just hearing about it now is anyone's guess. To think I held that kid in for two extra weeks to bathe them in the light of a new moon at birth. (sigh) A mother knows no gratitude, I suppose. Anyway, where are we with Mr. Biscuits…

     [MUSIC: SPINES THEME]

NARRATOR:
"
Spines, Chapter Two" written by Patrick Emile.

      [MUSIC: SPINES THEME OUT]

NARRATOR:
Rory and Markie are sitting on the porch of Spines, awash in the red and blue lights of police cruisers and an ambulance. Rory has an icepack on their head, and they are quiet and far away. Markie is pacing back and forth. It has been about an hour since Markie found Rory with the body.

     [SOUND: ECHOING ATMOSPHERE, VOICES FROM CHAPTER ONE FADE IN AND OUT]
     [SOUND: OUTSIDE, NIGHT AMB.]

DET. CHALMERS:
Mx. Millerson? You there? Rory, can you hear me?

MARKIE:
Rory? Honey, the detective is still talking to you.

RORY:
What? Yes. Sorry, what did you say?

DET. CHALMERS:
Now, I was saying is there anything else you can remember?

RORY:
No, that was really it. Like I said, I took my laptop into my office and must've left my phone out by the register. When I saw what was happening, I immediately went for it, but it wasn't in my pocket. I looked back out and this woman, Bethel—

DET. CHALMERS:
The production coordinator...

RORY:
—right, she was just staring at me and waving my phone like "ah-ah-ahhh..."

MARKIE:
Fucking creepy.

RORY:
Right? Anyway, that's when I tried to run out of the office. Next thing I know I'm waking up on the floor.

DET. CHALMERS:
Ok, well you let me know if you think of anything else. You have my card.

RORY:
And you have my check.

DET. CHALMERS:
Unfortunately, that is now evidence, but it might be returned to you at some point. Doubtful, though. Doubtful.

RORY:
Awesome.

DET. CHALMERS:
You call me now if anything comes to mind, ok?

RORY:
Yes. Yes sir, I will.

DET. CHALMERS:
And you call Madame Bianca. She'll be wanting to hear from you—

RORY:
What—

DET. CHALMERS:
—and tell her I said hello. She's a fine woman, your mother.

RORY:
I'm sorry, what? How the hell do—

MARKIE:
(swooping in) Yes, officer. We absolutely will. We'll just go inside now. Come on, Rory. Here we go.

NARRATOR:
Markie guides a bewildered Rory back into Spines and shuts the door behind them.

     [SOUND: DOOR CLOSE]
     [SOUND: SHOPKEEPERS BELL]

RORY:
What. The fuck. Was all that about?

MARKIE:
What?

RORY:
How does he know my mother?

MARKIE:
Rory, she's a very influential person in the community. ...I knew she was seeing someone, that sneaky bitch!

RORY:
Have I ever told you before how uncomfortable it makes me that you have a standing appointment with her?

MARKIE:
(speaking quickly) Yeah, yeah, yeah, many times, many times, so I'm having a bit of a brainstorm...

      [MUSIC: BRAINSTORM UND.]

RORY:
None of this would've happened if you hadn't told them about Spines in the first place.

MARKIE:
Huh?

RORY:
They had just come from Bean Scene. They said some crazy barista recommended shooting here.

MARKIE:
I remember them. ...but I didn't tell them about Spines.

RORY:
What?

MARKIE:
What?!

RORY:
WHAT?

MARKIE:
HOLY FUCK.

     [MUSIC: BRAINSTORM UND. INTENSIFIES]

RORY:
Why did they say that? What does this mean?!

MARKIE:
Ok, ok, ok, ok, I'm having even more of a brainstorm now—

RORY:
Markie, but what—

MARKIE:
—you know the girl? Who just died?

RORY:
(pause) Yes!

MARKIE:
You know how she was wearing that fucking fab necklace?

RORY:
It really was—but whatever, what is your point?

MARKIE:
It was ICKY.

RORY:
Huh? Yeah, it sure fucking was, Markie.

MARKIE:
No, no, no, no ICKY: I-C-K. Italian Chef's Kiss. (kiss sound)

RORY:
Dude.

MARKIE:
No good? I'm trying it out.

RORY:
So stupid.

MARKIE:
You're stupid, but anyway that necklace—

RORY:
Wait, are you on coke right now??

MARKIE:
...no?...Should we get some, or—

RORY:
No!

MARKIE:
Right, right, right, bad idea. But that necklace, did you get a good look at it?

RORY:
Not really. I mean, maybe.

MARKIE:
Did you see those symbols?

RORY:
(thinking) Yeah, kinda.

MARKIE:
Rory, you bitch, I have seen that shit before!

RORY:
Where?

MARKIE:
At Crystal Breath!

RORY:
Motherfuc—

MARKIE:
We're going. Tomorrow.

RORY:
I'm not calling her.

MARKIE:
I know! I am! Tomorrow!

RORY:
Fine. Whatever. She'll be even more pissed if I don't tell her, anyway.

MARKIE:
Tomorrow like...ten? Meet me at that little bench across from Bean Scene?

     [MUSIC: BRAINSTORM UND. THINS OUT]

RORY:
Why not just meet at Bean Scene?

MARKIE:
Because tomorrow is my day off, I already worked a double today, and I don't want to step foot in that bitch.

RORY:
Ok, yeah.

MARKIE:
Perrrrrf. Do you need anything before I go? You ok?

RORY:
I'm good. I just need to make a sign for tomorrow. It's not like I can open until the city cleans this all up.

MARKIE:
Your floors are so fucked.

RORY:
I know.

MARKIE:
Ok, see you mañana!

      [SOUND: SHOPKEEPERS BELL]
      [MUSIC: SOFT UND.]

RORY:
Hey, Markie. Thank you. (a bit emotionally) I really don't know...what, um, what I would've done if you hadn't been walking by...

MARKIE:
It's gonna be ok...

RORY:
...it's just so fucked up...

MARKIE:
(sweetly) I know. You're my fave, Rory. I'm just glad you're ok. Yeah?

RORY:
(collecting themself) Yeah. Yeah, you're right.

MARKIE:
Tomorrow, 10, see you then?

RORY:
(more settled) Yeah, I'll be there.

MARKIE:
Get home safe!

      [SOUND: SHOPKEEPERS BELL]
      [SOUND: DOOR CLOSE]

NARRATOR:
And with that, Markie leaves. Rory sticks around for just a bit longer, printing out a "closed for renovations" sign and trying not to look at their blood-soaked reading corner. They eventually lock up, hop on their bike, and pedal home, exhausted but happy to be alive.

     [MUSIC: TRANSITION UND.]
     [SOUND: BICYCLE IN GRAVEL]

NARRATOR:
As planned, our duo meets the next morning at the bench across from Bean Scene. Markie is talking animatedly on the phone as Rory pulls up on their bike about 20 minutes late.

     [SOUND: OUTDOOR AMB.]
     [SOUND: BICYCLE IN GRAVEL]

MARKIE:
...(slyly) Oh, I'd be happy to dust off their chakras!...
...They're fucked! Like I know of no infomercial product that could get those stains out…
...Well, you never know. The city might have some secret blood eraser or something...
...Yeah, like in 45? That ok?...
...Anything for you, Madame B!...
...'K. Buh!...

NARRATOR:
Markie ends the call and turns to Rory.

MARKIE:
Goddamn, I love that woman.

RORY:
(annoyed) I know. Hey, sorry I was late. I would've texted, but I didn't get into the store this morning.

MARKIE:
Oh right, that hellspawn took your phone!

RORY:
Yeah.

MARKIE:
Well, all good. Your mom wants a chai—do you know how she likes it?

RORY:
I don't. Wait, you really won't go in with me?

MARKIE:
I told you, I'm fucking off today. Get a clue, boat shoe!

RORY:
But if you went in, it would all be on the house...

MARKIE:
Make sure to tip fat. They know I know you.

RORY:
I'm a great tipper.

MARKIE:
(condescendingly) Oh of course you are, darling! Just, you know, add a little extra.

NARRATOR:
Rory gets up and makes their way across the street.

MARKIE:
(calling out) She likes it iced with oat milk! No cinnamon! I'll be here! (beat) Hey, hey Rory!

NARRATOR:
Rory turns back while avoiding an oncoming car. Markie is pointing at himself.

      [SOUND: CAR HONKING]

MARKIE:
I'll be right here! At the bench! Over here!

RORY:
(laughing to themself) Stupid idiot.

     [MUSIC: ETHEREAL UND.]

NARRATOR:
While Rory is heading into Bean Scene, Madame Bianca is finishing up at Crystal Breath with her new client, Mrs. Crumley.

BIANCA:
...and once more out with the breath (exhale). And in (inhale, while holding breath), giving thanks to the universe for allowing us to commune with Mister Biscuits...

MRS. CRUMLEY:
(exhaling) Goodbye Mister Biscuits...

BIANCA:
Well done, Mrs. Crumley. You were very strongly connected to your metaphysical self. I'd love to read your cards. Would you like to set up an appointment? Have I told you about our Breath-head program?

MRS. CRUMLEY:
(with high energy) Oh, a Tarot reading I love it! I wish I could, but I have to dash. But this was great! Great, great, great, great, super awesome!

     [MUSIC: BETHEL THEME]

NARRATOR:
Uh-oh, friends.

BIANCA:
Oh, I'm so very pleased that you enjoyed your experience.

MRS. CRUMLY/BETHEL:
It was just the best! But do you have like a bathroom where I could just powder my nose before I get out of your way?

BIANCA:
Certainly. Right down that hall past our talisman section. And if anything catches your eye, please let me know! We're in the midst of our semi-annual "Crank The Thanks" sale, so most everything is reduced. Even some rare items!

BETHEL:
Great, great, great! (giggle) I'll take a little looksie—I just die over a good sale!

     [SOUND: FOOTSTEPS]

NARRATOR:
Who we thought was Mrs. Crumley floats off towards the bathroom. Madame Bianca, completely unaware of the potential murderous danger she is now in, collects the spent crystals and incenses, spritzes some cleansing mist around the lobby, and flips through her appointment book.

     [MUSIC: SOFT UND.]

NARRATOR:
Crystal Breath is in its 35th year of operation and wears that age very well. It was founded after Bianca attempted but ultimately failed to follow in her late mother's footsteps in anthropology. Nana Millerson was an expert in ancient religion with an emphasis on paganism, and she never dreamed that her daughter would forgo a promising academic career to become instead a modern practitioner of such things. 

This put a strain on their relationship, and, as we know, Nana left almost everything she had to Rory, save for a few artifacts in her collection she bequeathed to her daughter. Bianca finds a certain poetry in this: Rory spent much of their childhood in this shop, and she herself grew up in what would eventually become Spines. But truly there is no time for poetry, as who we now know to be Bethel has returned.

      [SOUND: FOOTSTEPS]

BIANCA:
Did anything catch your eye?

     [MUSIC: BETHEL UND.]

BETHEL:
How did you know? Did you read my mind? (laughing) Kidding, no but seriously I have to be off, but I'll be back, I'm just in love with this little store! I'm going to tell my whole crew about this place, I swear!

BIANCA:
Oh, please do! We're always interested in meeting new travelers.

BETHEL:
Awesome, awesome, awesome! Travelers, I love it! Ok gotta go, lots to do. Take care now, Madame...?

BIANCA:
Bianca.

BETHEL:
Bianca, right. Buh-bye now!

     [SOUND: WINDCHIMES HANGING ON DOOR]
     [SOUND: DOOR CLOSE]

NARRATOR:
Bethel leaves and Madame Bianca goes about making some adjustments to her schedule in anticipation of Rory and Markie. They should be here any minute.

     [MUSIC: SHORT INT.]
     [SOUND: OUTDOOR AMB., FOOTSTEPS]

MARKIE:
...look I'm not saying I'm casting spells and shit, but I do find it rewarding. The gossip alone—

RORY:
But you don't actually believe any of it, do you?

MARKIE:
What if I did? Look Rory, maybe just being open to new possibilities is enough. Instead of always judging.

RORY:
Yeah, maybe you're right.

MARKIE:
What?!

RORY:
I'm just saying after last night, maybe anything is possible.

MARKIE:
(loudly in a bad English accent, to everyone around) Be it this day that Rory Millerson hath admitted their wrongness and submittedeth to their superior—

      [SOUND: CAR HONKING]

DRIVER:
Get the hell out of the road!

MARKIE:
(normal voice) Hey, fuck you too, sunshine!

RORY:
Markie, Jesus, come on.

NARRATOR:
Rory yanks Markie back next to them on the sidewalk. The pair continues on for two more short blocks, and they eventually come up on Crystal Breath. They enter.

     [SOUND: WINDCHIMES]
     [SOUND: DOOR CLOSE]
     [MUSIC: ETHEREAL UND.]

MARKIE:
Where's my New Age Rage Sage?

BIANCA:
Markie, my love! Oh, I love that shirt, it's super ICKY!

MARKIE:
Isn't it? Don't you think so, Rory?

NARRATOR:
Markie and Bianca exchange kisses on the cheek as Rory looks on holding the drinks, eyes rolling as hard as possible to one side.

MARKIE:
I need to use the little prince's room for a bit of courtly business. Rory's got your chai—brb!

     [MUSIC: SOFT UND.]

RORY:
Hey, Mom.

BIANCA:
Oh, my sweet Rory. Come here, baby.

NARRATOR:
Markie makes his way to the back of the store knowing full well that some privacy is warranted. And he isn't wrong: Rory, despite their embarrassment of, or at least difference in philosophy with, Bianca, is no match for the embrace of a mother in a traumatic time. Their head has been filled with terrible visions for the past twelve hours, and they take great comfort in the soothing tones of their mother's assurances.

      [SOUND: VOICES FROM CHAPTER ONE FADE IN AND OUT]

BIANCA:
(gently) Shh, shh, shh, I know my sweet. It's ok. You're ok now.

NARRATOR:
After his courtly business is completed, Markie pokes his head out to see Rory and Bianca talking quietly. He doesn't want to interrupt, so he makes his way over to the talisman section. This is what he came here for after all. High up in one cabinet is a dusty blue necklace display with a distinct, un-dusty outline of what used to be hanging a fabulous statement piece.

      [MUSIC: BRAINSTORM UND.]

MARKIE:
Oh fuck. (calling out) Hey, Madame B, where is that bitchin' necklace you used to have right here? Did you sell that shit?

BIANCA:
The one on the top shelf?

MARKIE:
Yeah!

BIANCA:
No, that was my mother's. It wasn't for sale.

MARKIE:
Well, she gone.

BIANCA:
What?! That can't be, I just saw it earlier today.

MARKIE:
Rory, that was the necklace. It had those same symbols.

RORY:
Mom, when exactly did you see it last? Who has come in today? Anyone weird?

      [MUSIC: BETHEL THEME]

BIANCA:
I had a new client. Mrs. Crumley. She was so pleasant, I don't think she would ever—I just can't believe it's gone!

RORY:
You said it was Nana's...?

BIANCA:
Yes, it's a Thespis Medallion. She had two. Markie, dear, bring me that book over there. The big one that says Agrippa.

MARKIE:
On it.

BIANCA:
I need to text David.

RORY:
Who's David?

BIANCA:
David Chalmers. Detective Chalmers.

NARRATOR:
Markie locates the book and drops it on the table that the trio is now situated around.

      [SOUND: TEXTING]

MARKIE:
Oh shit, I forgot we met him last night. (knowingly) He says, "hello" by the way.

BIANCA:
(texting, but interested) Oh, does he now?

MARKIE:
He's pretty hot.

      [SOUND: TEXT SEND]

BIANCA:
He has very pleasant features, yes.

MARKIE:
(stage whisper) Are ya'll fucking?

RORY:
Gross.

BIANCA:
We have experienced an exchange of radiance, yes.

      [SOUND: PHONE VIBRATE]

MARKIE:
(singing) I fucking knew it!

RORY:
Can we focus please?

BIANCA:
Yes, dear. David says he'll be here soon. Ok, let me see...

      [SOUND: BOOK PAGE TURNS]

NARRATOR:
Bianca flips through the large tome. It is one of the Three Books of Occult Philosophy by Heinrich Agrippa. Written in the 16th century, it is a wealth of information about various ancient magicks.

      [MUSIC: BRAINSTORM UND.]

BIANCA:
Here we are. The Thespis Diavolos.

NARRATOR:
Madame Bianca turns the book around for Rory and Markie to look. They immediately see similar symbols from the victim's necklace last night. It seems as if Markie was right, after all.

BIANCA:
Thespis Diavolos was a greek death cult that originated around 500 BCE. They were known for their performances: they believed that theatre was a conduit to commune with other realities, dimensions, what have you. Agrippa writes that their performance rituals were centered around these medallions that, when paired together, could open portals into the underworld. In fact some, like your Nana did, Rory, believe that Comedy and Tragedy masks were historically used to ward off the dark magic of the Thespis twin medallions.

MARKIE:
Holy hell.

RORY:
And that was a Thespis medallion? That was just stolen from your shop?

BIANCA:
Well, there were many. Few existing pairs, but mother had a set. She left me one of them, although I always assumed it was a Victorian replica. She was buried with the other one.

      [MUSIC: BRAINSTORM UND. INTENSIFIES]

NARRATOR:
Rory and Markie stare at each other for a moment and then begin to pace around the room.

MARKIE:
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit...

RORY:
Mom, I don't think Nana is buried with it anymore.

MARKIE:
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit...

BIANCA:
What do you mean?

MARKIE:
Is she in Griwerrtown Cemetery? Come on, Rory, let's go.

RORY:
Mom, that girl was wearing it last night.

BIANCA:
I told you, there were many examples.

RORY:
And now one is suddenly missing from here? Down the street from where someone was murdered wearing one that is really fucking similar—right, Markie?

MARKIE:
The goddamn twin, I'm telling you.

BIANCA:
Ok, calm down. David will be here any minute. Let's just wait for him.

NARRATOR:
Rory looks at Markie who is shaking his head vigorously.

RORY:
We're going to the cemetery. Just...look, Mom, text Markie to let us know what Chalmers says. Keep us posted. Ok?

MARKIE:
I'm calling a car. Later, Madame B! (kiss sound)

     [SOUND: WINDCHIMES]

BIANCA:
Ok, I will. But this is what I'm talking about Rory. You need to find your center, strive for alignment. Just breathe, child.

RORY:
I know, I know. I will, Mom. I promise. Just text us, ok?

     [SOUND: WINDCHIMES]
     [SOUND: DOOR CLOSE]
     [MUSIC: TRANSITION UND.]

NARRATOR:
Rory and Markie don't say much during their ride to the cemetery. Markie is taking selfies and posting to social media: hashtag SpookyShit, hashtag GriwerrtownGroupThing. Eventually, they arrive at the cemetery and make their way up the path towards Nana Millerson's headstone.

      [MUSIC: SOFT UND.]

It's quiet, like graveyards typically are, and it's quite beautiful. The trees are old and solemn. And today they cast long, blanketed shadows, as the sun is high and bright, belying the crisp temperature. Rory feels their own pulse with every step as they climb the gentle hills of the grounds. Together with Markie, they search for several minutes for the gravesite with no luck

RORY:
Shit, I can never find it. This happens every time. I know it's right around here. By this willow.

MARKIE:
(calling out) Rory!

NARRATOR:
It quickly becomes clear why Rory was struggling to find the grave. Markie is crouched down by a mound of recently turned-over earth.

      [MUSIC: DRONE UND.]

NARRATOR:
Next to him is a toppled headstone, leaning forward as if an attempt to prop it up didn't quite take. Markie peers beneath it and looks to Rory. They do not need to see Markie's face to know that it does indeed read 'Catherine Millerson.' As Markie snaps a picture of the headstone, Rory notices a new shadow sliding slowly across the scene. This is no tree. Rory turns slowly and fearfully to face it.

Meanwhile, at Crystal Breath…

     [SOUND: WINDCHIMES]
     [SOUND: DOOR CLOSE]

BIANCA:
David, thank goodness you're here. You won't believe what's been happening. You actually just missed Rory— (noticing someone else entering) Oh, hello there! David, is this your partner, or...?

TOM:
You're perfect, she's perfect, just fucking perfect, right? Love the super cool, eclectic vibe, right? Here's what I'm thinking, Chalmers: roughed up, but not mangled, right? Let's rip some earrings, break her nose, but nothing too mauled-by-a-bear-but-survived. That cool? Are we cool, Chalmers?

DET. CHALMERS:
Oh yeah, Tom. We're cool.

BIANCA:
...David?

     [MUSIC: SPINES THEME UP AND OUT]
     (END OF SPINES CHAPTER TWO)



WRITERS ROOM with Bryce Hunter      27:04   

PE
: And we are back, brave listeners, from "Spines Chapter Two". Brought to you by our Writer Wrong rouges once again, that’s Cameron G. Casey as Rory Millerson, Cody Dry as Markie Pon de Lancie, Courtney Dyamond as Mrs. Crumbley and Bethel Bridgers, Evan Micahel Woods as Tom and the Angry Driver, Jon Murrell as the Narrator, and new to our Rogues gallery, Kris Kelly as Madame Bianca.

BH: (applauding)

PE: Friends, I just want to add that we are on Patreon. If you go to Patreon and search Writer Wrong Podcast you will find us. And we are developing a really cool menu of bonus content for our patrons. We would very much appreciate your support. As you may or may not know this is a self-produced podcast and we are doing the best we can with the resources available to us, which we are happy to do. This has been a joy especially with the audience interaction, and we invite you to go to Patreon.com, look for us, Writer Wrong Podcast and you will see some of the bonus content which may or may not include SuperCuts of the stories. If you ever wanted to listen to "Spines" without our commentary, I don’t know why you would but you might, you can listen to it as a complete radio drama. Go to the Patreon. Check us out. So, there’s a lot to dig into, lots happening in our established town of Griwerrtown. Bryce, what do you think? Any general thoughts before we dig into some specifics?

BH: I’ve got thoughts.

PE: That’s a good thing. That’s why you’re here.

BH: Yeah, I’ve got quite a few. First of all, I’ve got a question for you: the voice on the other line, for both of the phone calls that Bianca takes, is that you?

PE: Yes.

BH: Ok. I knew it.

PE: Is that a bad thing?

BH: No, I love it because it’s like the Charlie Brown. Like, if I was directing you I’d be like, “just do Charlie Brown.”

PE: Yeah so, that was me on the other line and that was also me as Detective Chalmers.

BH: Oh my!

PE: Yes.

BH: No, it wasn’t.

PE: Yes, it was.

BH: I have thoughts about Detective Chalmers.

PE: Do you really?

BH: I do.

PE: Oh well, I hope they’re good.

BH: They are.

PE: Ok.

BH: They’re really good.

PE: Alright, well, what else you got Bryce?

BH: Well, general thoughts. This on the page was quite a bit different than the dramatization of it. And not in a good or bad way, just in a fascinating kind of interesting way. I read it as you leaning into the humor and absurdity of the first episode.

PE: Ok.

BH: Upon listening, far from it. The spooky option won and you dove into the spooky option. It’s still funny, but the balancing of the tone was unexpected but appreciated and I imagine difficult. Or at least in my mind.

PE: Yes, there’s a juggling act there. I wanted to keep the humor, but as the middle installment I wanted to keep it going and I wanted to drive the drama as well. Both from a thriller standpoint, horror standpoint, and also with regard to specific relationships.

BH: I think you succeeded at that.

PE: Oh great. Thanks.

BH: Absolutely. So, I don’t want to wax your car too much (PE laughs), but the way that tone is handled between the—kind of extreme absurdity of like some of your characters and kind of the, like Markie being kind of, he’s less cartoonish in this episode, but he’s still the one end of the spectrum. And then you have the more sober, like spooky, horror side of it.

PE: Yeah.

BH: And then whenever you add in the narration which is kind of sardonic at times and very fourth-wall breaking—

PE: Sure.

BH: —you get, it just gave me Coen brothers vibes.

PE: Yeah.

BH: But in a genre that they’ve never done, or at least never done so literally, you know, with horror elements.

PE: Ok, so, you’re saying that the juxtaposition of some of the absurdity in the story itself, versus the fourth-wall-breaking of the narrator and kind of their like seriousness? Is that what you mean? Or like—

BH: Well, the narrator—I think that’s the key to that kind of reference is, the narrator never winks, but they’ll say very sardonic things—

PE: Sure.

BH: —or fourth-wall-breaking things, or maybe sarcastic things.

PE: Sure. Specifically the “uh-oh, friends.” With the Bethel reveal—

BH: Yeah. Things like that.

PE: So, I can tell you that there’s been a lot of thought on, as far as my process is concerned with regards to the narrator because the narrator is seemingly omniscient but also speaking in present tense.

BH: Right.

PE: So when I initially started writing the story I defaulted to a past tense narration and there was something about it that wasn’t working for me. I mean, that’s more typical of course. But I thought it would be interesting to keep the narration present tense as if the narrator is omniscient but also experiencing this at the same time, which doesn’t quite make a lot of sense from a logical standpoint, but I think it’s effective? With regard to this particular story. I’m not sure as far as moving forward with other tales in Writer Wrong in Griwerrtown that the narrator will be present tense omniscient, but we’ll see. You know.

BH: I have to put in my obligatory PTA reference—

PE: Oh ok, go ahead.

BH: (laughing) —for each episode.

PE: (laughing) Yeah. Yeah.

BH: The narration is a lot like the narration in Inherent Vice because the narrator does the
exact same thing.

PE: Really?

BH: Where it's present tense and the narrator is actually in the scenes—

PE: Oh!

BH: —at times. And it’s kind of Coen adjacent in that respect because it’s, the narrator is like the smartest person in the room, kind of.

PE: Sort of like Lebowski.

BH: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly, exactly. There’s the connection.

PE: Yeah. His name, remind me, Sam—

BH: Sam Elliot.

PE: Sam Elliot. Of course.

BH: Yeah. That’s exactly, that’s what I was trying to get at. All that to say, that.

PE: Ok. Cool. Alright.

BH: Two more quick things, Tom the character, who plays Tom by the way?

PE: Evan Michael Woods.

BH: Alright, he’s really good.

PE: Oh, he’s excellent.

BH: I liked him in the first one, I love how he comes into this on like ten.

PE: Yeah, I mean like, spinal tap eleven. You know?

BH: Yeah. It doesn’t go higher than that.

PE: (laughing) Yeah.

BH: There’s a danger, I feel if I was like directing this as a short film, I would feel like the tone would kind of go off the rails a bit. But it works, I think, in this scenario because you’ve got two colliding forces of like this big ass character and we’re in the middle of this suspense sequence and tension both cross-cutting between the cemetery and the house, and it makes it more unsettling to me.

PE: Yeah.

BH: Whenever you—you get the audience in a groove and then whenever you inject this different energy, it's like, it could be super positive or super different. But just because it's so different, the audience like on a subconscious level is feeling this weird kind of disconnect.

PE: Yeah, well, ok, so...I have a certain thought because this is a new medium for me, you know, audio-plays. And as a composer first and foremost I do consider the quality, and I don't mean that in the sense of good or bad, but the nature of the audio. And so, to have Evan come in as Tom at that level 11 right off the bat, to me is reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann's strings in Pyscho, specifically in the, you know, the iconic shower scene.

BH: Yep, I totally see that. Alright, so, one more thing on the general thoughts...I want to give a shout-out to the music in this episode. The listeners are probably going to figure out that the tonal control is like a very interesting thing for me. Like, whenever I watch movies I'm always thinking about how people can balance these different genres at the same time. The music does that totally through this. And I truly mean that. I'm not waxing your car.

PE: Ok.

BH: I really mean that.

PE: I don't own a car so it is impossible for it to be waxed.

BH: Ok. Well, that's fair. And that goes back to like whenever we were talking about the funny on the page versus what I heard in the dramatization. It was much more even-keeled and much more controlled. The tone was. And I think the music did it scene-to-scene. There's a lot of subtle— I recommend people go back and listen to it a second time because there's a lot of subtleties in the music that you'll pick up on, and it's kind of the director of the story.

PE: Another thing with the music, and I say this at the expense of myself, sometimes when I feel the writing isn't strong enough, I can bolster it with the music. I have the luxury of having complete control over this, and that's what I try to do with this. And hopefully, it succeeds—

BH: We do that with film in editing.

PE: Right, right. Alright Bryce, obviously I tried to elevate the stakes from a relationship standpoints and certainly from plot-based standpoints. Did any of the twists and turns that happen in this chapter, did you find any of them particularly effective?

BH: Not really.

PE: (laughing) Alright, folks, that's it. That's it. 

BH: I'm kidding. I'm kidding. (laughing) Yeah, I did. The Bianca reveal especially was a lot of fun, specifically because once you find out the connection between her and Markie, it becomes a lot of fun, because Markie is much more like Bianca than Rory is. And it creates an interesting dynamic.

PE: Yeah.

BH: The Chalmers one, while good I felt that there was something fishy about him from the get-go.

PE: Did you think so?

BH: Yeah. Because of the references to—

PE: Knowing Bianca.

BH: Yeah. Yeah. I didn't know what it was, of course. But whenever he showed up and he was the big heavy...or whatever you want to call it...

PE: Yeah. Sure. Sure. 

BH: ...I was like, oh you mother-fu— I knew. I knew something was up with you.

PE: (laughing)

BH: Oh, let me say something real quick. Chalmers, as you played him—

PE: Uh-oh.

BH: —as Foghorn Leghorn.

PE: Oh. (laughing) Yeah. I would be remiss if I didn't say that I was not channeling Foghorn Leghorn.

BH: It's wonderful.

PE: Oh thank you.

BH: Because when I read that on the page it was like the stoic Denzel detective, who's shown up and he's going to figure this stuff out. And then whenever I heard it...(laughing)...whenever I heard it, this is like the Coen brothers thing, that I keep bringing up. But I don't think it's out of step with the tone of the rest of the story.

PE: Yeah.

BH: It fits it's just like a choice I wasn't expecting.

PE: And, I'm not sure geographically where Griwerrtown is. And I'm not sure I'm even going to really explore that with much specificity. But that remains to be seen.

BH: Yeah I think it's nice that it's a mystery.

PE: Yeah.

BH: Ok, so the Bethel one was the one that took me most off guard.

PE: Oh good.

BH: And it was cool because it made perfect sense. It felt organic to the story that you're telling, or that you're making up as you go along, so to speak.

PE: I think that when it comes to writing things in this genre, nebulous as it may be, trying to always outsmart your audience, isn't necessarily a goal. You know? So, if you realize that it's Bethel in the beginning, so be it. I gave some specific direction to Courtney for Bethel, in the beginning, to just make it flat, make it as neutral as possible, but it's still her voice obviously.

BH: No, I think it's completely successful.

PE: Ok great.

BH: Because on the page, and even listening to it, knowing the twist, I totally heard it as neutral.

PE: Ok. I thought about affecting her voice, but then I thought that's cheap.

BH: That's kind of dishonest.

PE: Yeah, that's dishonest, and I don't want to do that.

BH: No, I think it works completely.

PE: Ok. Alright, brave listeners, that brings us to the options, the moment you all have been waiting for. Here is Option A: Rory and Markie learn some new truths from an unlikely source and they are granted access to BZB productions production calendar. Armed with this knowledge the pair heads back to the bookshop for a climactic encounter with BZB AKA the Thespis Diavolis. Authors note: this option would be closed to supernatural elements. And here's Option B: In a flashback, we meet Nana Millerson and realize the nature of her relationship with the Thespis Diavolos. After an unexpected intervention, Rory and Markie learn of Bianca's imminent danger and recruit help in saving her and possibly Griwerrtown itself. Authors note: this option would be open to supernatural elements. Alright, Bryce, you've heard them, what option do you prefer? Or better question, which option would you like to start with?

BH: Alright, so I'm going to throw that question back in your face.

PE: Oh I like this.

BH: I'm going to give you my broad feelings about each one and then depending on what you say I've got some ideas.

PE: Ok.

BH: So, I feel like Option A, the one that would be closed to supernatural elements is interesting because I feel like it would be subverting the expectations because you've set up all of this occult stuff and like dark histories of these people. But, would that be anti-climatic? I don't know. Maybe. Depending on where you go with it. It could be because you've built it up. You know what I mean?

PE: Mmhmm.

BH: So on the other hand I feel like you personally as the creator and the God of this universe are leaning towards Option B.

PE: Oh!

BH: Tell me if I'm wrong.

PE: J'accuse. J'accuse.

BH: (laughing) Tell me if I'm wrong. I feel like deep down in your heart the setup is for a supernatural element. You wanna see that flashback. Tell me if I'm wrong. I mean I've got my own thoughts on where I think you should go. But, just by the writing, I feel like—

PE: Well, I would say you're not wrong. 

BH: Ok.

PE: I do think that a supernatural aspect would be beneficial, given what has been setup. 

BH: Right.

PE: Tonally, structurally, all that. However, I'm not sure—you know, the question is do you show it? Do you imply supernatural or do you actually go supernatural?

BH: Alright! I like that!

PE: Yeah, I mean, for instance, The Burbs. Right?  One of my favorite movies of all time. 

BH: Oh God, yeah. "There go the goddamn brownies."

PE: (laughing) Yeah! Right, "there go the goddamn brownies." So, back when Mr. Hanks was a comedian, and an excellent one. 

BH: Right. Yeah. The best.

PE: They set up this idea on the burbs that like, 'what are they doing?' There are lights flashing in the basement, and it could be anything. Are they into some black magic or whatever? And then of course we find out that the family is doing nefarious things, there are nefarious 'doings' in that basement. But they're not necessarily supernatural.

BH: Right.

PE: Another example that I really love, of course, is The Vvitch.

BH: Great movie.

PE: Yeah. Where they straddle that so hard—

BH: They really do.

PE: —for the course of the film. And they're playing with those stakes. And the stakes are raising and raising and raising. Go ahead...

BH: Well, The Vvitch makes me think if you had that in mind when you were conceiving of this story either from A to C, or A to B to C, the end of The Vvitch is pretty decisive on where it lands.

PE: That's exactly what I mean.

BH: Ok. Ok.

PE: So, the way that Robert Egger keeps increasing the stakes of terror in that film are based on the fact that you never really see for so long, for most of the film you do not see any kind of supernatural element. And then, of course, you do, and then the final scene is brilliant with such a wonderful line, with regard to the work as a whole. And so, I think "Spines" is sort of living in this world, you know. Maybe a world between The Burbs and The Vvitch.  

BH: Right. 

PE: Right kind of in the middle. Which those are...

BH: different things...

PE: Yeah, ends of the spectrum. But you don't know if it's real or not. If it's supernatural specifically or not. 

BH: Well the father figure, you don't know if he's paranoid...or if he knows what he's talking about. 

PE: Right.

BH: Ok, so I feel like the way that you just articulated that, fortifies my initial response.

PE: That I'm favoring B.

BH: No, no. Well, yes, but—

PE: (laughs)

BH: —but my justification for choosing Option A. 

PE: Oh ok, so folks here we have it. Brave listeners, Bryce Hunter choosing Option A, for now.

BH: So Option A to me...and I don't want to water it down or make it seem simplistic in any way. But, I think Option A gives you the opportunity to do the Scooby-Doo version of the story. 

PE: Sure. Sure.

BH: And I kinda like that.

PE: Oh ok!

BH: Because you can subvert the expectations.

PE: Right.

BH: You can have this built up—but the only way that that works is if you can give a satisfying conclusion or a satisfying twist. It doesn't necessarily have to be a twist, but it would help.

PE: Well, it's funny you say that because I think Option A necessitates a pretty significant twist in order to be successful. If you're not going to go supernatural then it might need a big twist.

BH: So, let me just say this about Option A. The non-supernatural version—I wrote this down...I like the flashback version of seeing the beginnings of it—

PE: Of Nana Millerson and what her—

BH: Right, which is borrowing from Option B. But you put that with Option A, without the supernatural elements. And then you just see the beginning of BZB or the Thespis Diavolos, did I pronounce that correctly?

PE: Yep.

BH: Ok. But then it just ends up being a bunch of fucking idiots. And I understand what I'm doing is trying to convince you and the audience to find a way to do Option B from the first podcast. And making it more absurd.

PE: Right, that's exactly what you're doing.

BH: But that's my taste.

PE: You're a person of conviction. I appreciate that. I appreciate that.

BH: I am! I know what I'm doing. I'm trying to go back to the—

PE: Yeah. Yeah.

BH: —but that's the way my brain works.

PE: Sure.

BH: I can't help it.

PE: Ok, so it almost seems like you wish, or your hope would be to do the flashback with Nana Millerson but do it with A.

BH: Right.

PE: So no supernatural element, but we do get a flashback from Nana Millerson.

BH: Exactly.

PE: If only to set us up for, as you said, a subversion of our expectations.

BH: Yes. Yes.

PE: And I regret to say, brave listeners, that I am leaning towards B, and that Bryce's intuition is correct. And we are again at an impasse. So—

BH: And we did not talk about this beforehand—

PE: We did not.

BH: —This is a natural disagreement.

PE: Yeah. No, it's probably gonna be fist to cuffs.

BH: We're going out in the parking lot right after this.

PE: Yeah. Yeah. We have arm-wrestled before, Bryce is quite a bit stronger than I am.

BH: That's not true.

PE: I don't think that fist to cuffs will work out in my favor. But, listeners, again, Option A: Rory and Markie learn some new truths from an unlikely source and they are granted access to BZB productions calendar and with that knowledge, they head back to Spines for a climactic encounter with the Thespis Diavolis and this would have no supernatural elements at all. Grounded in this quirky reality that we have established thus far. Option B: is in a flashback, a dedicated flashback, which would be a departure for us structurally, as far as the narrative goes. In a dedicated flashback, we meet Nana Millerson, Catherine Millerson, and we begin to understand her nature of her relationship with the Thespis Diavolos. And there might be an unexpected intervention, and Rory and Markie learn of Bianca's imminent danger and recruit some help in saving her and possibly the town of Griwerrtown itself and this would be open to supernatural elements. So we ask you to go to our website WriterWrongPodcast.com, Bryce, how do you spell that?

BH: W-R-I-T-E-R. Wrong.

PE: Podcast.com. That is correct my friends. WriterWrongPodcast.com. You will see these two options posted; A or B. There's a lot to think about here, so please cast your vote very carefully.

BH: Guys, please don't let me down again.

PE: Yeah, folks. Bryce...he's disappointed. He's disappointed. I think he made some great points. So we'll see. I'm comfortable with either one. I'm leaning towards B, Bryce is leaning towards A. And there we have it, folks, we are out of time. So thank you, Mr. Bryce Hunter, once again.

BH: Thank you for having me.

PE: Yes, we love you dearly and we will definitely see you back for the conclusion—

BH: Oh, I'm coming back?

PE: Yes, yes, you are here my friend.

BH: Oh my God.

PE: We will see you for the conclusion of Spines. And to you, our brave listeners, thank you so much for partaking in this journey with us thus far. Go to the website WriterWrongPodcast.com. And we will see you next time. I will turn it over to Marlo to take us out. Peace ya'll.



OUTRO      49:55

     [MUSIC: WRITER WRONG THEME]

Marlo Mysliwiec
: Writer Wrong is created by Patrick Emile and Marlo Mysliwiec.  This episode’s story was written by Patrick Emile with music and sound design by KCKSRV. Cast your vote on our website at WriterWrongPodcast.com and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at Writer Wrong Podcast. If you like what you’re listening to hit the subscribe button, write us a review, and be sure to tell your friends to share the stories. Until next week, keep writing.

     [MUSIC: WRITER WRONG THEME OUT]

www.writerwrongpodcast.com
www.patreon.com/writerwrong
www.instagram.com/writerwrongpodcast
www.facebook.com/writerwrongpodcast
www.twitter.com/writerwrongpod

INTRO
WRITERS ROOM with Bryce Hunter
SPINES - Chapter Two
WRITERS ROOM with Bryce Hunter
OUTRO