Curse of the Weeping Damsel Episode 1 "Monday" - podcast episode cover

Curse of the Weeping Damsel Episode 1 "Monday"

Jun 15, 202522 min
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Summary

Jesse's Lockbox Anthology returns with a surprising guest, S.J. Riker, who finds himself unexpectedly opening a mysterious lockbox containing an audio cassette. The tape reveals the start of a compelling story set in the small, isolated town of Emerpleise, Alabama, where a woman named Sandy arrives for work only to be mistaken for a local who vanished years ago, hinting at a deeper mystery.

Episode description

Welcome to Emerpleise, Alabama. Where everyone knows your face, even if you don't know them.

Cast (in order of apperance):

John - Zach Fragoso

Sandy - Ashlee Jones

Phone Voice - Kale Brown

Marcus - Josh Jones

Darlene -Katrina Pecina

Jeff - Kasha Mika

Eugine - Alex Van Ningen

Warren - Chuck Whited

 

Episode art by Michael Ramstead

Lockbox Anthology theme by Amy Young

Curse of the Weeping Damsel theme by Dana Creasman

Special thanks to SJ Ryker and Amy Young for flawlessly playing fake versions of themselves.

Join us on discord: https://discord.gg/JCubw86Rdb

 

 

Transcript

Show Intro and Unexpected Guest

Tonight, from my secret broadcasting studio hidden somewhere in Jacksonville, Alabama, I'll be interviewing star of stage and screen, St. Joy DeMarche. House music led by Amy Young and the Lockbox Jukebox. All right, that's enough preamble. Let's get to the show. Thank you. Thank you, folks. Thank you. You are too kind. Let's hear it again for Amy and her amazing band. Thank you, boss.

All right. Glad you're all in a good mood because I do have one note at the top of the show here. Star of stage and screen, St. Joy to March, cannot be here tonight. Not to worry, we had a replacement waiting in the wings. Go ahead and bring them out now. You know them. I love them. Put your hands together for S.J. Riker. Uh, yeah. Hi, or... Whatever. Hey, Jesse. What's going on here? You're on America's oldest and longest-running interview and variety show, Jesse's Lockbox Anthology.

Did... Did you... kidnap me? Bye, he said the word! Amy? Amy? What are you doing here? What are you talking about, SJ? I've been the band leader on this show for years. Wait. What is happening? We're sitting down today with noted voice actor and writer S.J. Riker. S.J., so glad you could squeak out some time from your busy schedule to talk with us today. I... I was having dinner with my family.

Yes, the show has been likened to a robocall. Is it time for the hold music? I don't know, Amy. SJ, is it time for the hold music? No. Please, God, no.

Opening the Lockbox

What do I have to do to get out of here? Oh, you want to jump right into the lockboxes? Do I? He does. Right, studio audience? Let's get these curtains out of the way! Ah, there we go. All these bank lockboxes. All of them sealed until our guest decides which one to open. Uh, what are... In these? Money? I thought this was a talk show, not a daytime game show. Thanks for reminding me, SJ. You're so smart and helpful, isn't he, folks?

Please, don't do that. Alright, here's the media player, crack one of those lockboxes open, and let's see what kind of outmoded media you get. So, like, what? There's... tapes and vhs and these things and you all watch it together hd dvds and mini discs too we got a laser disc one time it was a choose your own adventure that was cool wasn't it It was. Come on, SJ. Pick a lockbox. Uh... Okay. Uh, so... I just, uh... Open it? It's like you've seen the show before. Oh, I definitely have not.

Screw it. Uh, this one. It's an... audio cassette? it over let's see what it says uh curse of the weeping damsel that mean anything to you not a bit the weepers Calling it now. So, you're going to play this now? Once you're headed to me. Thank you. Is this going to be funny or scary? What's the theme of all of this? We can't know until I hit play.

Welcome to Emerpleise

Come in. Come in. Have a seat. Let us talk. Yeah. So do I... Oh, that'll be in your own time. We've got all night. Why don't you start from the beginning? Where did your current trouble start? Monday. This all started on Monday. Hey, Warren? Warren. Warren. Can you... Warren! Network error. Please try your call again. One of those days, huh? I work as a field technician for Verdant Hills Rehabilitation. Of course you know that. But it keeps everything straight in my head if I just explain it.

They use funds earmarked from Superfund sites to try and stimulate the economy in old mining towns. The smaller, the better. That way, they're on the hook for less cash to transfer. I work in the southeastern branch and found myself in Chambers County, Alabama. I was trying to find Ember Place, but being an unincorporated area, most maps were not helping.

Piece of junk An old model farm truck pulled up to a stop in front of me Large man with a match of beard leaned out of the window and looked my way Hey Sandy Who are you looking for, stranger? Sandy Bigham. That you? Yeah, Sandy Bigham. You are... Marcus Wainwright. We spoke on the phone. Sorry, you sounded different. It happens all the time. Wait a minute. You have cell phone signal out here? Not a lick. It's all landline or sap phones out here in Ember, please.

Y'all can afford sat phones? We have one in case of a natural disaster or, I don't know, alien invasion. Showed Marcus my cell phone. So this thing is... A neat looking paperweight until you get back on the interstate. Great. Well, you ready to head over? I suppose so. Just don't take me down a deer trail. I don't think my suspension will handle it. Don't worry. We might have a lot of dirt roads, but they're solid. We'll see about that. Lead on. I followed Marcus a short distance.

Paved road did not give out. At least not on Main Street. Marcus pulled through stopping from the post office and got out. I followed suit. Welcome to Emmer, please, Sandy. Yeah, thank you. This is my first view of every place. Boomtown facades. Few vehicles. Most built for the Y2K scare. Everything seemed to be coated in a fine layer of red clay dust. Kudzu grew thick where people didn't walk. Smell of pine pollen and honeysuckle in the breeze.

There's a charm to it, but this place has definitely seen some better days. My grandfather's generation was the last of mine in this area. When Garvey Energy pulled out, so did the heart of this place. Things went south for... 10 years before everything kind of equalized. Oh, that quick, huh? Lots of folk moved on. We lost the city charter, then the town charter, and now we're just an incorporation.

Jesus. You don't have to play along with the sob story. I know you've heard it all before. I mean, hearing it all before didn't make it any less heartbreaking. Well... Hopefully you can make a change around here. Hey, don't expect miracles. But if y'all still have slurry ponds and the like, I think my company can help. Glad to hear it. So, uh...

Where's the rest of the welcoming committee? Just me today. Pastor Molden and the others will meet with you tomorrow. We have a swap meet on Wednesdays. That's usually when most of the community's business gets discussed. Oh. Every small town has its quirks. Hey, no judgment. Well, I am on the clock. Is this the records office? It is.

Mistaken Identity at the Post Office

Darlene's an ornery old cuss, but she keeps all our federal affairs in order. Her office is in the post office. Ah, I see. Well, let's go say hi then. I might come to regret that. He was not incorrect. Set the boxes down, Jeff. I'll get them sorted later. Sorry, Darlene. Not Jeff. Seated behind a desk that was made a century or more ago with Darlene, an old granny lady type with permed hair and creases around her mouth for a lifetime of smoking. Remember?

I told you that government lady from Birmingham would be coming by and might need to look at some of our files. Oh, right. I'd lose my head if it weren't attached. We'd all be in trouble if that happened. Give me a second. Darlene finally laid eyes on me. The whites, or more honestly, the yellows in her eyes got bigger. Marcus, you told me this girl's name. What was it again? Sandy.

She snapped her fingers in my collection. Sandy, that's it. Why'd you say she's from Birmingham? That there's an ember, please, girl. Man's sakes, girl. Pastor Moe darned how to thinkin' you was dead. Sorry? You're Sandy Daughtry. I'd recognize you anywhere. Sorry to say, ma'am, but my name's Sandy Bigham. Shoot, girl, we all changed our last name at some point, but you are from here.

This is my first time at Nimmer, please. You get sick, girl. Welcome home. I know I ain't crazy. Marcus, you remember little old Sandy Daughtry, don't you? She helps you fix that old rattle wagon of yours before she up and vanished. Mark's forehead creased. He crossed his arms and placed a hand at his mouth. His eyes went wide before looking at me. The hand fell away. You. Need opinions everyone has here about who I am, but... Can I get those records and get out of here?

You'll find copies of everything you'd need in there. As I put my hand out for the manila envelope, Darlene's hand struck out like a cobra and viced around my wrist. Hey, what's the deal? Bit of advice? Run the town gossip? Stare clear of Violet. Once she knows you're in town, you're going to be in trouble. Her gaze told me this was not a trick or something to try and scare the out-of-towner. I'll keep that in mind.

Her eyes switched to Marcus. Can't believe you didn't recognize her, Marcus. How was I supposed to know? I talked to her on the phone. I'll be outside, okay? John is going to be furious when he finds out she's back in town. Hey, she can do us some good. Don't get all fire and brimstone on me.

Local Warnings and Ricker's Inn

I walked outside and tossed the envelope in the passenger seat, and then proceeded to sit against the hood of my car and smoke two cigarettes before a postal truck pulled up. A gangly man stepped out and nodded his hat to me like a cowboy in the movie. Uh, you Jeff? I am. Hey, Darlene's expecting some boxes from you, but she and Marcus are pitching a bit. You best give him a moment. Yeah, that sounds like Darlene. An idea came to me.

Hey, Jeff, would you say you knew your way around here pretty good? Well, I hope so. I'm the only county mail carrier anymore. Would you happen to know the way to Rickers Inn? I do. What do you want with that old death trap? Apparently I'm staying there for a few days. Shock and horror chased each other across his face before the two settled together in a concerned brow furrow. Uh, I can draw you up a map if you need one, but...

Uh, you might be better off sleeping in that car if you don't mind me saying so. Why's that? Before I could get my answer, the door in the post office swung open with a tingle of the bell. Marcus was rubbing his beard in frustration and looked at Jeff. Get to work, Jeff. They don't pay you to talk to women. Uh, right. I'd never seen someone lose the color in their face only to snap into action so automatically. You good? I am.

You might not be. Oh, what's that supposed to mean? He looked off into the twisting kudzu and cicada infested trees. Are you staying in town? It depends. Where's Rickers Inn? Back towards the interstate. On the highway. That side of the old town limits. I'll show you. He stomped over to his truck. Feel like regaling me on what's going on?

Darlene has it in her head that some folk here might have some negative opinions to you being here. What? Are more people gonna get me confused for someone I'm not? I mean... There is a resemblance. Sure, man. Look, fact stands, I'm me. Not this other person. Peace and blessings for her and hers, but... I'm here to do a job, and I plan on getting it wrapped up by Friday. Okay. You want to lead the way to Ricker's Inn? Yeah. I'll show you the way.

First Night and a Discovery

True to his word, Marcus led me over to the Rickers Inn. It was a squat red building. Single floor, L-shaped. There used to be a pool, but either fallen into disrepair or was retrofitted to be a green area. The handrail for the ladder still stuck out of the ground. A glass in front office stood below a swinging sign that read Rickers Inn. Marcus told me to be careful again and was gone. I made my way into the front office.

Behind the counter was an old man. If I didn't know any better, I'd have guessed they built this place around him. I knocked on the counter. What? Who's there? What? Who? Easy there, old-timer. Just here to get my key. I called ahead. Oh, I see. I see. What's the name? First name Sandy. Last name Biggum. Thank you, miss. Let's see her now.

Bigham! I knew I'd write that one down. Yes, the young lady from Birmingham. Yes, since you got a hit and paid, let's set you up room two or three. Just let me get the key. One moment. Behind the old man was a hookboard covered in keys. Not many were missing, so at least I wouldn't have to worry about nosy or noisy neighbors. He definitely plucked 203's key off the board and turned back to me.

we are, 203. As promised, so delivered. Thank you. Oh, where are my manners? Eugene, ma'am. Eugene Ricker, at your service. Thank you, Eugene. You need anything, dial 0-0-0 on your phone and it'll ring up right here. Well, thank you, Gene. Hopefully you have a quiet night. Oh, I don't know. A little noise now in the game just about again. I'll make a deal with you. I'll take the quiet and you take the noise. Deal? Oh, that's dear young lady. My room was 203. The room sat in the bend of the L.

It smelled damp, and its last decor update was 1987 by my best guess. The room had a little card saying Wi-Fi was available, but I couldn't even get the speed test side to open on it. I decided to just use the local 3G tower and hope for the best. Totally Tony's Pizza was next door, and the gas station it was inside sold single beers out of a cooler. So I'd have definitely spent worse nights in a cheap motel.

And that's how you spent Monday. Getting drunk at an hourly motel by the interstate. Not drunk. Just had a beer with my pizza. No, I spent my night reading all the paperwork Darlene had printed off for me and checking topographical maps of Everplace. One must do one's homework for going out into the field. Checking slurry ponds is never easy work.

You want me to believe that's all you did? What would be nice if folk around here would just believe me when I said I came here to do my job. But that's not the entire truth, is it?

The Mystery of Violet

You found a mystery, didn't you? Not the one you're thinking of. No, I found a mystery. It was in the form of a pressed flower and all that paperwork. Uh, pressed? Flower? Mm-hmm. Darlene didn't strike me as a press flower gal. Well, I'll confess that I don't know everything about everyone here, but... But you know one free spirit who does. Because the flower was a purple aster. Ring any bells, preacher? No. See, that's funny.

Because your daughter's name is Violet Aster Mulder. Figured that wouldn't be obvious. But to be fair, sitting alone on Monday night, I just thought it was a pretty flower out of place. The real ramifications of that thing didn't kick off until noon the next day.

Tuesday Morning Check-In

Hey, boss. Sandy. Guess the receptionist pot out there, huh? Is it ever? Anything to report today? Well, the internet's crap. So once we're done talking, I'll get all my files over to you. How'd it go meeting with the leadership? Didn't meet him. That's going down tomorrow. Any reason why? Local yokels being local yokels. Can't be helped. Hey!

Do you still have some stateies that owe you a favor? I do. Why? I was mistaken by two people as a missing woman from here. Well, one said missing. One implied she was presumed dead. Ah. I do. I'll see what I can find. Just remember to also do your job while you're out there. My what now? And send me those files. Warren? Warren. Hey, Warren, can you... Darn reception out here is terrible.

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