SCP Podcast #120- Hitchhiker Revisited

The following audio drama is rated PG thirteen, suggesting that all children under the age of thirteen should listen accompanied with an adult. Sonic Cinema production.

Hi there and welcome back to the Sonic Cinema Production Podcast. I'm Jack Ward and this is episode 120, Hitchhiker Revisited. As we get ready for new releases, I was going through the Classic Sonic Society podcast and I discovered a gem. I had forgotten about. Sam A. Maori and Willamot Radio took my deadline script, adapted from the original Deadly Sins script, Wrath. and which is called actually the full title is The Hitchhiker, and he recreated it for us with his team. So for this month,

And a day before my birthday, I present this beautiful production in tribute to Sam, who we miss in our community every day. Rest well, my friend.

You can't help. The receiver. As distant as the grave. There's something unsavory and satisfying. into the show. Voyez the wire. Wow. As you cross. Listen carefully. A car broken down on the side of the road and a man The quiet, unassuming hitchhiker Unlikely traveler down a snow-covered road, stretching across the deadline. Are you freaking crazy?

Thanks for stopping. My car has a flat. Are you stupid? I'm sorry, I just It's a freaking blizzard. I know. You can't stand in the middle of the road. Jesus. I know. Barely saw you, you stupid son of a I know. What are you doing? My car broke down. Jeez, you gave me a heart attack. I don't need that shit. Sorry. Can I get a lift? Uh sure. Hey, where you going? Back in a sec. I had to get my case. You a doctor? Uh no. Why?

The bag. Of course it it's an antique. There's room by your feet. But it's okay, I'll just hold it on onto it. What's the matter? You look like somebody stepped on your pet turtle. I'm fine.

I only look like that when I'm halfway past P.O. Town. I I never lose my temper. No? Well, you might try it sometime. You'll explode bottling it up. Where you headed? Uh just into Churro. I'm not going there. I'll let you off at the city limits. That would be fine, thank you. My wife worries. Whipped, huh? Me, I never got leashed. No? Hell no.

Wow, really coming down, isn't it? Called it the worst storm of the year. God damn storm can't go any more than 30. I know. Haven't had a storm like this since I was a kid. What are you doing out on the war on the roads? I spent a lot of time in the snow. My father didn't like us inside. No? No. Children should be seen and not heard. Actually, not even seen. Have a tough day.

Days. Damn. Maybe I should have just waited with my car. Problem with people like you is you have no freaking idea what real people go through. But my cell phone was out of range. Damn freaking radio, can't get anything here. Power's all power's out all over Halifax. Something about a transformer board. Yeah, you'd think one of these stations would come in. Not a lot on the AM band in these parts.

I usually listen to books on tape myself. Yeah? Too bad your tire blew up. Too cold to change it? Too tough for you. I'd never changed a tire. Uh but but I could. I'm I'm stronger than I look. Just uh good genes, I guess. W shouldn't you be watching the road? Oh hell what's wrong? Oh the gas station's closed. I need a coffee. We're low on gas? Yeah, there's some tanks in the back. Really? It's a long drive from Ontario. You're from Ontario.

Breaking out all over with a bad case of nosy, ain't ya? Sorry. Just mind your own damn business. Sorry, I just Well you said. Sorry. No frickin' crime bringing your own gas, is it? Sorry. Yeah. Let's give that word a break for a while, alright? Look, this is okay. You can still Stop right here. I'll go to the gas station. Maybe there's a pay for Oh no no no no no no no no. You wanted a ride. So let's go for a ride. What what what do you mean?

I I'd really rather just sit back and enjoy. We'll be in Churro soon enough. Don't forget about your wife. What about her? Bet she'd worry a whole lot more if you never turned up, wouldn't she? You're quiet. You said? Yeah, I know what I said. You're right though, you just can't get ticked. I get angry. You said I said I never lose my temper. I don't I know exactly where it is. Funny. I wasn't joking. That's why it's funny.

You know what the problem with people today is? Folks like you who know what the problem with people is today? I'm sorry. That's better. I'm not scared of you. So I'm dying to know. What's the problem with people today? Lack of focus. So how'd you come by this revelation? Tell me. We got miles of the white crap in front of us, and I'm learning the meaning of life. I've fulfilled the goals of my goddamn high school yearboy.

My father was a wise man. Ah, goddamn revelations. No. He was unique. My father had this thing about focus. He worked at the mines all day, but he wanted to be a fiddler for a living. You know, violinist, uh play for square dances, kitchen kayes, what have you. He was a lousy fiddler. until his fingers bled. The thing is it wasn't that he wanted to do well that kept him practicing all night. No? No. It was anger. Pure anger. It got better eventually. Focus in life. Even anger.

But I don't think it's right. See, I don't see value in getting angry with people. As much as dad tried to focus, though it anger just pushed him down. Padres continue to outpace the Mets in the fifth gig. Stadium. Police are warning. No word on the highway murder. Until then, the main hunt continues. Stormy weather is Hurricane Force from offshore. Expect Tuesday well Back in a minute with business from your all-news station, CKUD99.

Well that's probably your best bet the news station is closest. Nah. When I was a kid I always uh sang this one song. What? Big Rock Candy Mountain. Yeah. I remember that song. Oh, the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees near the soda water fountain. And the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings. In the big rock candy mountain.

It's good. Do you know any of the verses? No, it's it's been too long. Yeah, that see that's the thing about this song. It comes across like a kid's tomb, but it's for hobos. Is it's like a place they go when they die or something. Yeah, well uh check this out. In the Big Rock Candy Mountain, the cops have wooden legs. The bulldogs all have rubber teeth, and the hens lay soft-boiled eggs.

The farmers' trees are full of fruit, and the barns are full of hay. I'm bound to go where there ain't no snow, where the sleet don't fall and the winds don't blow in the big rock candy mountain. You see what I mean? Yeah. I can see that. Yeah. Big Rock Candy Mountain. I bet you read. Sure. I used to read a lot too. And then yeah, well, you know how things happen. T V takes up a lot of my time, you know. I don't really own a television.

Huh. Yeah, I figured that. You think you're better than me or something? No. You think you're smarter or something'cause you don't have a TV. No, I never said that. Well then which is it? I just I just Don't have a television. Never appealed to me. You're right, I I read a lot as a kid. That's all. I read a lot too, you know. Alright. You read comics? Sure. I liked this comic when I was a kid. Rom Space Knight. Space Knight? Was he honorable? Honorable? Yes.

King Arthur's knights. Oh yeah, Christ, yeah. He didn't kill anybody. He had this code, but but it wasn't easy. Noble quests never are. It's in space and he's stuck in his armor. He's half a machine. It's like uh that Van Damflick. He uh cared about this one girl, you know what I mean. Uh, give up being a space knight in a heartbeat for her. But the quest. In the joint there's this kid, we call him Bug. He's got glasses, reads all the time. Big Tard. Yeah.

Well, anyway, uh always trying to get in good with the rest of us. And he's uh this internet nut. Looks up Rom thinking he'll get in good with me. You know what he tells me? What? The comic ended mid-run. Just like that. They tried to make more, but they couldn't. Why not? Some toy company owns the right. Turns out Rom was a toy uh they sold. Looked like a trash can with glowing eyes. Rom's this crappy toy, but everyone loves the comic. Weird, eh?

Yeah, weird. So Bug says they get around it by making a couple comics called Space Nights. At first issue. Very first freaking issue they kill off Ron. Bug says it's like a crappy death. He just gets destroyed in the ship. Yeah, like I'd read that. Well then there's an an article interviewing the writer of this crap, Jim Who Gives a Damn. You know what he says about killing off Rom? Yeah. I thought Rom was stupid. I just wanted to pay off my boat. There's no honor today.

Nobody cares about what's right or wrong. Yeah. The guy originally wrote the first ROMs. Car accident. Poor bastard's a vegetable. That's. That's too bad. I'm sorry. Worst way to go. Killing off ROM like that.

Yeah, can't get a decent station. CKUD 99.3. 735 News Break. Police are saying that there is no connection. Afford different people on highways throughout. Tucker Macklin. Macklin escaped to a Laman Medium Security Prison eight days. I was listening. Static gives me a headache. But they were talking about the escape. Yeah. I I just had a funny thought. Yeah. Not not nothing. No. Please, tell me. What clever thoughts ran through your head? Nothing really, just uh No one gets away with murder.

Wanna know if I've killed someone? No. But that's what you're thinking, ain't it? No, I mean I I just thought you just thought that maybe I'm what they're hunting. I'm Tucker Macklin. Maybe I am. I I I I don't want to know. No? What would you do about it anyway? I I don't know. Overpower me with your doctor's bag? Yeah. You're pretty much not able to do anything, are you? I don't want to talk about this anymore.

Why? What's the matter? Not scaring the animal. No, I just I don't want to talk about it, that's all. Crap. What? It lights up ahead. It's a roadblock or something. Maybe it's Churro. No, we're 15 miles from Churro. Looks like a truck jackknife on a damn cop car. Be cool. I I could g I could get out here. Uh the officer could You're not going anywhere. What? You're gonna sit right there and not make a sound. Well why?

You're not? Yep. Mac Macklin. Tucker Macklin. Don't try to run. Handles rusted out on your door. Check this trunk out before I stole it. No one's gonna miss it for at least another week. Keep cool or I'll wring your scrawny neck. Oh god. Yes. Good. And shut the hell up. Or I'll kill you right here. Where are you folks headed? Evening, officer. Nice night. Yeah, right. Great night. Did you know the highway's closed? No, sir, I did not. Well, how far are you going? We're headed to Churro.

Well, be careful. This isn't the only accident on the road. Sir? Uh yes, officer. Your friend awake. Your eyes peeled. Snow's coming down fast. It's easy to lose tracks and drive yourself right off the road. Road. Sir? You all right? Yeah, my buddy's just a little under the weather himself, officer. Right. Right now we're all under the weather. Yeah, don't worry though. We'll keep an eye on each other. Won't

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure. Okay, move along. Thanks, officer. Don't worry. We'll be home free long before then. Where do you live? Really just drop me anywhere. Okay? The whole Tucker Macklin thing, right? What's your name? Arnold. Arnold? What is it? Your first or last? Beck. My my name is Arnold Beck. There you go. Wasn't so hard, was it? Arnold Beck. Let me guess. You're a computer geek, right? No.

I'm good at this crap. Okay, um Accountant. You're an accountant. Well actually more of a bookkeeper. Haha Told ya I'm good at this stuff. What's your name? You know my name, Arnold. You got it first try. You're real smart, aren't you? Look, I I won't tell anybody anything. Damn straight you won't. I don't know, Arnie. I mean, on one hand I like ya, but I don't want to do this. Hey, you stood out there like you were some kind of knight or something. What the hell did you call it?

You know Rom, he was on a uh a crusade. Quest A noble quest. Yeah. Look, you said it yourself, I'm nobody. Let's just forget the whole thing, you know? Maybe we should just end the ride right here. No, uh I mean we're not in Truro. Good point, Arnold. I mean, should take you home. Meet your wife. She must be real worried. Really Macklin, right?

Be pretty smart. The way here from Ontario in just a couple of days, avoid the whole manhunt. So I'm not smart. No. I'm not good at explaining things. I just mean it's quite a coincidence. Coincidence. Maybe it's fate, Arnold. You keep up on the news? I told you I read. I read the paper every day. And I'm just saying criminals always get caught. Maybe I'm no criminal. That's it. Magdalene isn't a murderer. Just robbed a bank. Then Jim turned over to save his ass. I'm sorry.

I promised Mary I'd stop. She's the only one who knew. What the hell are you talking about? I completely understand why you like Ron. Talk sense, Arnold. Those a bit of your humanity putting on the righteous armor. But tell me I know how to keep a secret.

You're not Magdalene. Jesus, you're an idiot. You're a freakin' idiot, Arnold. Look in the back of the cab. Turn on the light. What do you see? It's a jumpsuit. With a number on the front. What happened to the people you stole the truck from? Uh you don't wanna know now, do ya? Actually I do Tucker. So you believe me now? I know a little about your escape. You've been in and out of prison since you were a kid. So what? Nothing.

You're no murderer. You never even assaulted anyone. Don't mean there's not a first time, Arnold. Don't worry, Tucker. Oh to I told you that. I just find all this well. Rather ironic. Yeah. The new re The news reports all talk about a connection between your escape and the highway murders. Yeah, well I don't know nothing about that. Of course not. You don't have a family, do you? What's that got to do with it? I never had kids. Not with how I was raised but you should consider marriage, Tucker.

It's difficult, but it's also motivating. Turn off the light, will you? That's what my father taught me best. I never got it until just a couple of weeks ago. I told you to turn off that light. I can't see the road. It hit me. It all came together. What are you talking about? Constant disappointment. You never really attain what you can become without cutting out the distress.

Distractions. What are you talking about? And you don't cut out the distractions until your anger reaches a critical mass when you can't think anymore. Poof. Just like What the hell are you doing with that bag? I'm sorry, Tucker. I told you I'm terrible at explaining things. Here look at this. You really want to see this. Take your hands out of the bag or I'll break em off! Opening it for you? Just look here. In my case. Jesus Christ, that's a woman's head. You wanted to meet my wife?

Rid the world of wickedness. I used to get so angry with Mary. Nearly drove me mad. She called it a midlife crisis. But it's not when it happens. It's who you are when it hits you. And then clarity. I told you. Mary was the first one to know. She can keep the secret now. So can you, Tucker.

Help! Help! Help! He's gonna kill me! It's a noble quest, Tucker. Open! Damn it! Open! Open! Mom destroy the shapeshifters, Tucker. That's what they all are. This sweet girl I picked up first. She was a prostitute. Punk graffiti rider. He was top of his class. No one knew his shadow. and the hitchhiker. You wouldn't believe the things he told me before the end. I hate living a lie. Showing one face having another. It makes me so happy. Angry

And it's so cleansing afterwards. Like I'm finally worthy. I wish my father could see me now. He'd be so proud. Where are you going, silly man? Where are you going, silly man? No one can hear you! I I I know Mary. I know Mary I think by now I know how to kill someone. The knife is right here. Thank you, dear. Now I can do up my own top button. Be back in a moment. I know, we'll ditch the truck. But we have some time. Oh, it's okay, Mary. We'll find a place for Tucker.

You know I wouldn't squeeze the two of you together like that. He'll just have to be comfortable on the seat beside you. I really like that song. Let it go again, Tucker. In the big rock candy mountain, it's a land that's fair and bright, and the handouts grow on bushes. Come on, Mary, join in. Oh right. You haven't got the lungs for it. In the Big Rock Candy Mountain When someone cleans

Where clarity exists in the eyes of another, and their righteous hand sweeps in to shake yours, run screaming. For when a burning Are you still there? Are you hearing me? Or is this a deadline?

You've just listened to the hitchhiker with performances by Tim McKenney, Sam. With Mark Rose as the officer and Joe Medina as the radio announcer. The Hitchhiker was written by Jack J. Ward. Direction and production by Sam A. Maury and the Willamette Radio Workshop. Special thanks to Sam. Marty Gallagher and Executive post production by Andrew Dorfman. Theme and incidental music written and composed by Sharon B. The deadline anthology is a sonic cinema production.

This has been a Sonic Cinema production.