¶ Podcast Introduction and Anomaly Overview
Hi guys, it's Daisy. So I'm sure you've noticed that this is not 6113. Unfortunately, due to the massive scale of those episodes, we aren't going to be able to get them out in time for process. So we'll just have to celebrate career identity every month of the year. I'm pretty in favor of that. On the Patreon front, our postcards will be going out next week to our site director, to your patrons and above. Look forward to a little surprise.
I don't know what it is either. Pacific just told me to tell you to look forward to a little surprise, so we're gonna find out together. That's all for now.
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Warning. The foundation database is cla clack clack clack. Unauthorized access will will result in
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And a cat.
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Anomaly we've encountered.
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Secure. Contain it. And don't forget to have a great day.
Amen.
Item number SCP-8081. Classified level one. Unrestricted.
Thank you.
Containment class. Safe. Disruption class. Dark. RISC class Notice Special Containment Procedures A secure perimeter is to be maintained around the town of Coatesville, Georgia. All roads leading to the anomaly have been purchased by the Foundation. The town has been declared private property, and security checkpoints are now situated north and south of the town.
Amen.
These checkpoints are to be manned by members of Stationary Task Force Gamma-3, Border Patrol. Security forces are to divert any civilian vehicles that attempt to enter or leave the area. Personnel facing the anomaly are to wear 80s-era police uniforms, while personnel facing the outside world are to wear private security uniforms. Observational Site 89 is to be established 500 meters west of SCP-8081. It is to be staffed around the clock, with at least 12 active research and security personnel.
Entry into the anomaly is restricted to research and welfare purposes. Introduction of elements not native to the 1980s is prohibited unless authorized by a research team lead or the site director. To this end, all personnel interacting with residents should wear appropriate 80s fashion.
Amen.
Resources including food, power, leisure, and other necessary items are to be supplied monthly via transport trucks driven by D-class personnel with nonviolent criminal histories.
Amen.
D-class personnel entering the town are to be closely monitored by security at all times.
Amen.
All efforts are to be made to ensure the population remain oblivious to the state of the outside world and the presence of Foundation research teams. Citizens attempting to leave the confines of the perimeter are to be intercepted, interrogated, and supplied with pre-prepared false memories at observational site 89 when necessary.
Description.
SCP-8081 is an anomalous effect of unknown origin in the town of Coatesville, Georgia. The town's architecture is identical to that of a typical 80s-era society with corresponding technology, media, and fashion. Although no information about this town exists in state databases, town records indicate it was established in 1980. SCP-8081's most obvious trait causes residents to always believe that the current decade is the 1980s.
On the eve of 1990, affected individuals come to believe that the previous ten years were the 1970s and that the new year is 1980. Since its initial discovery, The population of Coatesville is around 1100 and consists of normal, non-anomalous humans adhering to the culture and attitudes of the 1980s. Introduction of modern-day technology and Stimuli to the members of the town's population leads to confusion and denial.
Subjects are unable to comprehend what they're perceiving and make excuses to explain what they're seeing. Prolonged stress of this kind causes headaches or migraines that may last as long as a full day.
¶ Anomaly Discovery and Resident Interview
Discovery. SCP-8081 was first discovered by viewers of an Atlanta news station who called in to discuss a 1980s-themed town in Georgia. After a news reporter successfully Trace their way to the location of this alleged town. It was pitched as a story for broadcasting. Following further investigation, the town of Coatesville was not found on any map and not designated as a real town in the state of Georgia, attracting the attention of the Foundation.
Upon discovery of anomalous properties, a foundation cover story discredited the reporter's claims, and all necessary parties were amnesticized. Containment procedures were established and implemented shortly thereafter. Addendum. Interview with Abigail Daniels. In order to gain a better understanding of SCP-8081, the history of the town and its residents, Foundation personnel posed as members of an 80s-era historical records organization and interviewed several.
Whilst most interviews provided no reports of abnormal events, a select few provided potential leads into the town's history of anomalous activity. Interview eight zero eight one-twenty-three Conducted by Foundation Researcher Thomas Lawley, april twenty ninth, twenty fifteen. Begin log.
How long have you lived in Coatsville, Abigail?
Thirty-two years now. Lived here all my life.
Have you ever left the town for any reason?
Never really had any reason to. I mean, all my friends and family are here and this place has everything I need. The only time anyone really leaves is for holidays, school or job opportunities, I guess.
What about your childhood? What was that like?
May I ask why you need to know that?
Well we just want to make sure that the historical record we're building accurately reflects the way of life in this picturesque little town. Coatesville is like a slice of the American dream. Our society wants to preserve that.
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Can my identity remain confidential?
Of course.
Well, my childhood was normal really, like any other. Two parents, safe neighborhood. Everybody knows everyone around here and I grew up with the same people I spend my time with today. I went to the elementary school down the road. Played in the parks and woods around town and went to Coatesville High when I was old enough. I never went to college, although I thought about moving to Athens and attending UGA.
But I saved up enough money working at my dad's hardware store to start a dry cleaning business on Main Street. He helped me out a little, of course, but I work hard. I never thought I'd find my way through life doing other people's laundry, but being a small business owner suits me. And I'm happy. I think my mom and pop are proud of me, even though I didn't get a proper education. I have a real head for finance and business, and I've done well for myself here.
Has anything out of ordinary ever happened in Coatesville? No unexplained occurrences or anything?
哇
Well, I don't remember the story very well, but supposedly there was a boy who went missing. When I was growing up they called it the Disappearance of 67. I don't remember his name, but the investigators couldn't come to any conclusions because there was no trace of him anywhere. They even searched the nearby forests and found nothing. His mother was quite distraught from what I recall.
They never found him?
Never.
And this was around 15 years ago.
Sounds about right, yeah.
May I ask what year you think it is, Abigail?
Uh uh you mean you don't know?
Humor me, please. Just for the sake of the record, if you don't mind, Miss Daniels.
Well, it's 1983, of course.
Thank you. And to your recollection, how many times has it been 1983?
Excuse me?
Are you aware that everyone in town believes it's always the nineteen eighties for every passing decade here?
I don't know what you mean. I remember the 70s quite clearly. I celebrated the new year with my friends right here in this diner.
Miss Daniels, the current year is 2011.
Oh okay, now I know you're yanking my chain. It's 1983. I know it is. Ask anyone in town. Heck, look right over there at the calendar behind the register.
Thank you, Miss Daniels. That will be all for today.
End log.
Hi guys, Daisy here with your eyebrows. All right, back to the show.
¶ Coatesville's Fabricated History Uncovered
Addendum. Historical overview. Following initial statements gathered from local residents, research team BP-1 Arnold were assigned to research Coatesville's origins and any potential links between aforementioned people and events. SCP eight zero eight one. Historical Overview. May thirteenth, twenty eleven. Researcher Brenda Herrigan,
We began our investigation in Town Hall. We were convinced that we could find information on the history of Coatesville in the town records. At first, we had trouble getting past the mayor. He was opposed to our intrusion and posed a significant barrier to our progress. Eventually we convinced him our research would be good for the town, and for his public image. There's an election coming up next year and he agreed to let us go forward with our research.
Upon analyzing the town's records, we found nothing noteworthy about its origins. Records indicate the town was founded in 1924. There are mentions of several townspeople who fought in the Second World War, and a memorial to them stands in the center of town. However, we took samples of the paper records. for the purpose of determining their age, and found evidence of ozone bleaching consistent with practices established in the early 70s and which continued into the 90s.
This was true even for records dated before the Second World War. Records from that time should have traces of chlorine, not ozone, suggesting that the records are a fabrication or are themselves subject to the effects of SCP-8081. Next, we turned our attention to the local graveyard. Naturally, the majority of the stones have dates of death before 1980, which seems to confirm Coatesville's establishment prior to the advent of its anomalous effect. Whoever I'll
Observations of weather damage on the stones suggest that none of them are more than 10 years old. This is very strange given that we've interviewed palliative residents whose spouses were allegedly buried here decades. Yeah. We estimate that the last resident to die was buried between 1995 and 1997, but the date of their passing was not inscribed on the grave. Our last location of interest was the Coatesville Public Library. The plaque on the building's exterior indicates it was built in 1957.
Analysis of the collection found the usual type of media you'd expect from such an institution. Obviously, they're still using card catalogs and paper files. We found books published as far back as the nineteen twenties and as late as nineteen eighty nine. Many contain information on more recent of recent historical events such as the Chernobyl disaster of nineteen eighty six. Other texts include information on events spanning as far back as the establishment of the English colonies in 1620.
A selection of texts were cross-referenced with identical books from outside SCP-8081. Regardless of the facts of the outside world, all contained a nineteen eighties publication date and evidence of ozone bleaching. This was true even for books which were ostensibly written long before the twentieth century. Contrary to expectations, geography textbooks with maps of Georgia all failed to include any records of Coatesville whatsoever. It is possible.
existed prior to nineteen eighty and that this anomalous effect manifested later. But it seems history is either of no interest to residents or has been modified or erased to maintain the illusion. Otherwise someone would have noticed these discrepancies before now.
¶ Tim Osborne's Interrogation and Key Revelations
Addendum. Interrogation of Tim Osbourne. Internal email from Researcher Brenda Harrigan to Researcher Thomas Lawley. Subject: Strange Encounter, May 14th, 2011.
Thomas, I need to tell you about something that happened on our way out of town this afternoon. During our investigation, we spotted a suspicious individual trailing us as we walked back to our vehicles. We attempted to establish contact, but when they realized they'd been spotted, they ran off. Smith suggested we just let it go and dismiss the encounter as a fluke. Just some local curious about outsiders. We have orders to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to ourselves, so I agreed.
When we reached our cars, we encountered them again. And this time they confronted us. asked if we were loopy. After a brief discussion, we learned that they weren't affected by SCP-8081, and had been following our investigation since our arrival in town. They were worried that we intended to cause harm to the population of Coatesville, and insisted that they should be left alone since nothing overtly dangerous was happening to them.
Attempts to reassure them failed, and they eventually took off. Let me know how you think we should proceed.
Internal email from Senior Researcher Thomas Lawley to researcher Brenda Harrigan. Subject Re Strange Man. May 14, 2011.
If there is an individual in town unaffected by SCP-8081's influence, then they may have information about the anomaly not available to the rest of the population. They could be the key to gaining a better understanding of the origins of this thing. I think if you or anyone else in your team spot them during your next research expedition, you should contact Site eighty nine and ask for a security detachment to apprehend them.
Thank you.
Maybe they'll be more forthcoming if we put them in an interrogation room for a while.
Yeah. On May 23, 2011, STF Gamma-3 apprehended Tim Osborne, designated Person of Interest 8081-1, and brought them to Site-89 for interrogation. Person of interest dash eight zero eight one slash one interrogation log. Tim Osborne interrogated by researcher Thomas Lawley, May 23rd, 2011. Begin log.
So let's start with your name, shall we?
Leave me alone. I haven't done anything wrong. This is unlawful arrest.
Please. We just want to ask you a couple of questions about Coatesville.
Fuck you. You're not here for journalism or whatever the fuck you call it. You're here to control us. I won't object to you hanging around, but you'd better not start interfering in our lives. These people have done nothing wrong. They shouldn't become your personal labrad.
I can assure you that's not what we're here to do. We're here solely for research.
And why should I believe you?
Have we given you a reason to believe that we're here for any other reason? You've been watching us. How exactly have we interfered in the lives of the population? All we've done is look at historical records and ask people about the town's history.
My name is Tim Osborne.
Thank you. How long have you lived in Coatesville, Mr. Osborne?
It's Mox.
My apologies, Mux Osborne. Please continue.
I've lived in Coatesville about fifteen years now. I came back here with my father in ninety five, and the townspeople were already uh loopy.
Wait, came back? C can you elaborate on that?
I was born here in 1960, but later moved away after my parents split up. I barely knew my mother and never thought much about her, so My father and I returned following her death. I had very little memory of Coatesville, due to me leaving at such a young age, but I don't think much changed about the town.
How old were you when you left? And what exactly do you remember about this place?
Not much. Just it's the same houses and estates, the same parks and gardens. Even the people haven't changed all that much. When my dad and I came back, uh he got caught up with an old friend. I I forgot her name, she was like about sixty years old, and she acted like she saw him just last week.
And this was the first you began to notice that people were
Loopy, yeah. That was when I first noticed it. But at first I just assumed my dad's friend was senile or something. She was shocked to see how much I'd grown. I didn't even remember her, but she kept talking like it hadn't been too long since we last met, but I didn't pay that much attention to it.
And further symptoms of this became more apparent.
Yeah, it wasn't too freaky or anything, but it was weird. They all shared the same attraction to stuff from the eighties. I just thought they hadn't yet moved on. But Soon I realized they had no concept of any time after 1989. Anyway, we went back to my childhood home and settled in. My mom left it to my dad in the will. He was surprised about that given how they split. Uh I mean the loss of my mother didn't have much of an impact on my life, but I expected my dad to take it pretty hard.
After we moved in though, it was like he just Forgot about her.
Was there a service or memorial?
Yeah, but we missed it. Supposedly it happened before we arrived in Coatesville.
Uh where's your father now, Mux Osborne?
he died and Nineteen ninety eight, I think. It's hard to keep track of time in this place, uh What is going on in this town? Do you guys know that?
I was hoping you'd tell us, Mucks Osborne.
Look, I've shared enough with you. It's time for you to give me some answers, all right? I know you know something. You must be FBI or CIA or whatever. It's obvious from the men in black you had picked me up. They were dressed like cops, but I know a G Man when I see one.
Even if I wanted to, I'm not authorized to divulge information relevant to our investigation to you. Now could we please
Fuck this. If I'm not allowed answers, then this interrogation is over.
Restrain.
Hey, hey! Let me go!
Listen. If you cooperate with us, I'm sure I can get authorization to clear you for a proper debriefing. But if you continue to resist or impede our investigation, And I'm afraid you'll be dealt with accordingly.
Oh, what's that supposed to mean? You can't hurt me. I'm an American. I have rights. Is unlawful detainment. I want a lawyer.
That might mean something, Max Osborne, if we were the police, or a member of any government agency. Some of them give a shit about the rights of American citizens. There are fewer than you think. But we're not among them.
Well who the hell are you then?
Are you sure you want to find out?
Não.
How far has the toll of each reset impacted the residents of Coatesville?
How should I know? I've only been here long enough to see them relive the eighties a few times. When everything started from scratch, I I thought I would probably start doing the same thing, but
Nothing?
Yeah, nothing. Maybe it was because I wasn't living in Coatesville when this whole thing started and Honestly, I don't care. I mean, would it really be that much of an impact on my life if it started happening to me?
There are definitely worse things that could happen to you.
Are we done here?
Just one more question, Mux Osborne. Is there anything strange happening in this town? Anything at all that might explain why the people here are stuck in this loop?
Only one thing. But it's very minor a and it's never really bothered.
Anything is still something, Mox Osborne. No matter how small.
Well, uh my father's old friend, the the sixty year old I mentioned, When we arrived at her house she was listening to something.
Go on.
I don't know, it was something on the radio. It sounded strange. I always assumed it was in another language or something. She turned it off when we came in.
and so on
Well, this town, everything in it, is 100% 80s America. There's only one radio station in town. And we're far enough from the rest of the world that we don't really get outside broadcasts.
Have you listened to the radio in Coatesville before?
Well, yeah. I mean they mostly play eighties pop, some rock, and a little of that electronic shit late at night. even the T V station mostly is reruns of the Dukes of Hazard and Magnum PI. I've never heard anything like what she was listening to. chanting or a prayer or something.
Are you sure it wasn't a tape?
Yeah, it was just one of those little portable radios. It didn't have a cassette player.
Well that is very interesting. Thank you, Mucks Osborne.
One more thing. Um
Yes.
When I met her, that old woman told me the last time she saw me was a few months ago. If we left town in the sixties, we Have things been looping since way back then? Could all of this have started before the eighties?
That, Mucks Osborne, is what we're here to find out.
End log.
¶ Episode Credits and Podcast Announcements
This episode, like all episodes, is made possible thanks to our patrons. Today I'd like to thank Chiara, Ethan, Aiden 949 Gaming, and Amanda Johansson. Thank you all so much. Your support means the world and makes all of this possible. SCP Archives was created by Pacifica Sobadia. SCP-8081 was written by Claude Hinton. Script was by Kevin Wall. Our narrator was Nate Dufort. Abigail Daniels was Shelby Novak. Researcher Lolly was Mick Wheaton. Researcher Harrigan was Tanya Milievic.
And Tim Osborne was B N R. Dialogue Editing was by Sam Stark. Art is by Eduardo Valdos Hevia. Our composer was Newt Shotlcock. Our theme song is by Matty Roy Berger. Sound design was by Brad Colbrook. I'm your showrunner, Daisy Matthew. Our creative director is Pacific Asopadaya and our executive producer is Tom Owen. A bloody FM show.
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