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Cauldron Lake
Saga: Hey, kiddo. How are you?
Logan: I’m good, mom. How are you?
Saga: This trip might take a little longer than I thought. I’m sorry I’ve been gone so much lately, Logan.
Logan: Oh my god, mom. It’s not your fault people get all murder-y. What happened?
Saga: Just… work stuff.
Logan: Right. Well, dad and I are just watching the latest episode of Night Springs here. Mom, it’s so good.
Saga: No spoilers. I’ll let you get back to the show you were supposed to wait to watch with me. I love you both.
Logan: This is what happens when you go on work trips, mom. Love you too. Say hi to Casey. Tell him to stop brooding so much.
Saga: Logan! I will. Bye, kiddo.
Saga: Logan thinks you should try cheering up.
Casey: Snarky kid, wonder where she gets that from.
Saga: It can’t be a coincidence that another body turns up just as we arrive in town. Feels like the killer is leaving us a message.
Casey: I’m glad you’re on the case with me, Anderson. It’s right up your alley. You should take lead. Think of me as the backup.
Saga: OK. Any words of advice?
Casey: Nothing that would cheer anyone up. Here we are. Cauldron Lake.
Sage: Time to get to work. A deputy was supposed to be here to show us to the crime scene. There’s the car, so where’s the deputy.
Casey: Eaten by a bear? I’ll check out that map. Worth memorizing, before we get swallowed up by the trees.
Mulligan: You were the one who wanted to switch, Thornton!
Saga: I think I hear someone.
Mulligan: I’m not walking all the way back down there.
Saga: Could be our deputy.
Thornton: I didn’t want us to switch! I never said that, Mulligan!
Casey: I can go take a look.
Thornton: I said we should both be down here, watching this dead guy. For safety!
Mulligan: Quit your bellyaching, Thornton. I’m up here now. That’s how the cookie crumbles. Hey! Over here! Hey there. Agent Casey, right? Sheriff Breaker said you’d be coming by to take over the case.
Casey: You’re half right. Anderson?
Saga: Saga Anderson. I’ll be leading this case. It seems you already know my partner, Alex Casey.
Mulligan: Ah shoot, sorry about that, ma’am. I’m Deputy Mulligan. I just figured, you know, that, uh-
Thornton: When are those damn feds gonna show up, Mulligan?
Mulligan: The federal agents are right here, Thornton. My partner, Thornton, down at the crime scene. He’s not what you’d call the sharpest axe in the shed.
Thornton: Right here? What do you mean? Are they with you? Ah shit, they didn’t hear me, did they?
Saga: What can you tell us about the crime scene?
Thornton: Tell ‘em about the heart!
Mulligan: I was getting to that, Thornton! We reckon there are some, uh, organs that are currently… outside the victim’s, uh, person, when they should be, you know, inside.
Saga: Were there any witnesses?
Mulligan: Yeah. A couple of out-of-towners. I wonder what were they doing sneaking around the woods at night.
Thornton: Mention the city folk! Pretty suspicious!
Mulligan: Not that we have anything against city folk, right, Thornton? But don’t worry, Sheriff Breaker took them back to town awhile ago.
Saga: I want to see the body. How do we get there?
Mulligan: Oh, sure, that’s real simple. Just through the hole in the fence, down the hill, towards the lake, around the old convenience store. You can’t miss it. Everything’s been closed since the area was fenced off. The store, the campground, all of it.
Thornton: Mulligan, tell them I’m here waiting! I’ll show them around!
Mulligan: They got it, Thornton!
Thornton: Are they gone? These fucking out-of-towners. We could handle this ourselves if they’d just stay the hell out of it. All of them!
Mulligan: Shut up, Thornton. They can still hear you.
Thornton: I’m just saying. You know I’m usually a calm person. Yoga, three times a week. But these god damn city folk always think they know everything. It gets on my fucking nerves.
Mulligan: Shut up, shut up, shut up.
Thornton: For fuck’s sake!
Saga (V.O.): Before we get to the crime scene, there’s time to review the facts of the case so far. Make sure I’m seeing the clues clearly.
Saga (V.O.): The Mind Place. My version of the mind palace technique. To sift through the clues and work the case. Building the Mind Place again for each case, using each field office as the model in my head. The facts are on the board. Everything we know about the previous murders. Worth taking another look.
Casey: I see you’re already hard at work, Anderson. Close to cracking it?
Saga: We’re just getting started. Let’s head down the hill, to the crime scene.
Casey: Fucking nature. Gives me a headache. Too much sky.
Saga: Hey, Casey. You putting me in charge. Why now?
Casey: Look, Anderson, you’re a better detective than I am. You’ve cracked cases that had the rest of us baffled. I don’t want to slow you down.
Saga: Are you thinking of retiring? You know what happens to cops who say this is their last case.
Casey: Mhm. Real funny, Anderson.
Saga: Stairs are out. You okay to jump down?
Casey: I’m not that old.
Saga: Not a bad place to get murdered.
Casey: Hmm. If getting back to nature is your thing.
Saga: Damn. Should have brought an umbrella.
Casey: I like the rain. The only thing around here that feels like home.
Saga: You think the local law had the sense to put up a tarp?
Casey: If they did, next coffee is on me.
Thornton: Look, I meant BOTH of us would be HERE. You and me here, together. At the murder site. I did not want to swap.
Mulligan: Nope, still not getting it. Try explaining it one more time.
Thornton: How much clearer can I make it, Mulligan? Hey!
Saga: Deputy Thornton, I take it?
Thornton: That’s me, at your service, ready to get this case solved! The body is behind the store! Come on, I’ll show ya. So, FBI, huh? That’s so cool. Hunting down psycho serial killers. Shootouts with the mob.
Casey: You forgot the UFO cover ups.
Thornton: Those are real? Are you guys hiring?
Mulligan: Thornton, he’s joking.
Casey: Let’s just see this body, shall we?
Thornton: This is the scene of the crime. We found him on the table, didn’t touch nothing. You know, procedures and… stuff.
Saga: Thanks, deputy.
Casey: No tarp. You owe me a coffee.
Saga: Okay, let’s start by examining our guest of honor.
Saga (V.O.): Does this fit the MO of the previous murders? Body is positioned on the table. Ritualistic. Another body turns up just as we arrive in town. Coincidence? Bruising on the wrists from the cargo straps holding him down. Incised-stab wound, chest cut open, heart removed. The killer left the heart right next to the body. Yeah, yeah. Heart removed from chest, strapped by the wrists. Definitely matches the previous murders. But this time the heart and the straps were left behind. More clues to work with. This makes four murders that we know about. Who is our victim? Who killed him? Need to find more clues. Large amount of blood on the table. The victim died here. Did they plan for the murder to happen here? Multiple people were here. Multiple killers? Boot prints indicating multiple killers. Quite the party.
Saga: Any idea who the victim is?
Thornton: I sure do! His name is Nightingale. He was FBI, came to town about 13 years ago. Haven’t heard a word about him since. Well, until now.
Casey: Nightingale? Robert Nightingale?
Thornton: Oh yeah, you probably knew him. Brothers in arms. Oh, and sisters.
Saga: So you knew our victim?
Casey: Didn’t recognize him in his current state, but yeah, I ran into him a few times at Quantico. Never worked any cases together. After his partner got killed in the field, he went off the deep end. Got the boot pretty quick after that.
Saga: So what happened to Nightingale after the bureau let him go?
Casey: I only know the rumors. Depression led to booze, booze led to paranoia. He got some wild ideas in his head, chased ghosts until he fell off the map. Guess he ended up here.
Saga: I bet there’s more to that story.
Casey: But no happy ending.
Saga: Nightingale went missing 13 years ago. 2010.
Casey: The same as all the other victims.
Saga: Certainly fits the pattern. Makes me wonder what was going on that year.
Casey: Probably something this town wants to forget.
Saga (V.O.): Robert Nightingale. Ex-FBI, came to Bright Falls 13 years ago.
Saga (V.O.): Someone was drinking beer. They spent time here, waiting. Someone left in a hurry, knocked the tripod over. Was it for a camera? I think that’s everything. For now, at least.
Casey: Anything clicking yet?
Saga: Not sure. Need to think about it.
Saga (V.O.): They planned for the murder to happen here, passing the time with equipment ready. They were waiting for him. But why Nightingale? He’s been missing for 13 years. Why here? Why now? Profiling. Get into the subject’s head. See what they saw. Feel what they felt. Use whatever I know about them to guide my intuition to a revelation. Piece it together. Agent Nightingale has been MIA for thirteen years. How did he end up here?
Nightingale (V.O.): Up from the lake that’s not a lake. It’s dark. He was there too. You are not allowed in the lake until he says otherwise.
Saga (V.O.): Robert Nightingale came from the lake, before his murder. Nightingale was chosen as the victim. Why?
Nightingale (V.O.): Flick the switch, it goes “click”. Lights are off. But somebody’s home. Somebody’s home!
Saga (V.O.): This wasn’t some random act of violence. This was a ritual, and Nightingale a component. They didn’t see him as a person, more like a container for something. The lake is connected to Nightingale somehow.
Saga (V.O.): This mug always cheers me up… My first ever prank on Casey. A true classic… Casey’s favorite brand. Taste terrible… Mom may be gone, but whenever I read this, I feel like she’s still here… Miss you, kiddo. I’ll be home soon… If only the rest of the bureau knew what a softie Casey is… The Mile High Strangler case. Proud of that one.
Saga: Casey, let’s take a look down by the lake. Lead the way.
Casey: Sounds good. This way, right?
Saga: Right.
Thornton: Okay! Well, I’ll just, uh, I’ll just wait here.
Casey: This one of your hunches, Anderson? Did something happen at the lake?
Saga: I think Nightingale came up from that direction, from the lake. Probably looking for shelter, safety. They were waiting for him.
Casey: When you’re ready, I’d love to hear what you’ve put together so far.
Saga: Sure. It’s not that complicated. Nightingale was out in the woods, alone, at night, possibly nude. The killers knew he was here, ambushed him, dragged him to the campgrounds, strapped him to the table, cut his heart out- but then they were interrupted by those witnesses, the Bookers. The job is unfinished.
Casey: That seems pretty complicated to me. What was this guy doing skinny dipping this time of year?
Saga: I haven’t figured that part out yet.
Casey: Hm. Lots of questions.
Saga: Lots of answers for us to find.
Casey: I didn’t know trees got that big. Gives me the creeps.
Saga: You need to get out more. It is kind of creepy though. A witch with no heart. A strange echo of our murder.
Casey: Hmmm.
Saga: Tracks. Barefoot. Nightingale’s? They come out from under the boulder.
Casey: Makes no sense.
Saga: There’s a piece of paper on the ground. A page full of text on one side. Not a printout. Written with a typewriter, old school. Lines scratched out and edits added with a pen.
Casey: Hmm. Like a manuscript? A page of a story? The killer left a message?
Saga: It’s for us. The text is about us. “The victim was one of their own, FBI Special Agent Robert Nightingale. And then there was the page they had found. The first step down into terrifying depths.”
Saga & Alan: Reading the words, these words, felt like a message.
Alan: Someone knew they were here. Someone playing a game with them. An invitation. How could they not accept? Even if they know it would end up hurting them.
Saga: Someone’s been watching us.
Casey: Playing a sick game with us.
Saga: You were right. This is right up my alley. Nightingale came this way. Either he dropped this page, or the killers left it for us.
Saga (V.O.): We found a page in the woods. A story about these events. What is Nightingale’s role in this?
Nightingale (V.O.): I carry his words close to my chest now. Inside. The awful truth. You must dig it out.
Saga (V.O.): Something was put inside him. In his chest. I must find out what. I think he came from the lake, but his tracks make no sense. Found all I can here. Time to properly examine the body, see what I can find inside.
Saga: Casey, I think something’s been put inside Nightingale’s body. Let’s tell the deputies to get the body to the town morgue.
Casey: Okay.
Saga: Whoever wrote that page made sure it read like a story. Like a scene from a thriller.
Casey: I hate all of it. The text said we’d find more. I believe it.
Saga: But what’s the purpose? They’re twisting events to create their own narrative to do… what? Entertain some fantasy? Projecting their desires? Are we characters or the audience? Witnesses to their design? All of the above?
Casey: It’s all about control. Deciding what happens to who. Don’t let it drag you in.
Saga: Too late. I’m already hooked. I need the next chapter.
Thornton: Hey, you made it back. Good! Hope you didn’t get stuck in any of those big puddles. Crazy flooding down here, huh, just like I said.
Saga: Deputy, I want the body taken back to town for a proper examination, ASAP.
Thornton: Sure, but the coroner won’t be in town for another week, after Deerfest.
Saga: Not a problem. I’ll do it myself.
Thornton: Oh, yeah. Sheriff Breaker called. He’s got the Bookers over at the Oh Deer Diner in town. Oh, and I’ve got a key to the gate. It’s a shortcut back to the parking lot, just up the hill.
Saga: Thanks. Let’s get the car, drive to Bright Falls, and talk to these witnesses, the Bookers.
Casey: At the diner, right? I could use a cup of coffee.
Saga: Let’s try that shortcut the deputy mentioned.
Casey: Sounds good.
Saga: I’m gonna go check something out. I’ll be right back.
Casey: Got it.
Saga: Hello? This is Agent Anderson and Agent Casey, FBI. We’d like to come in, ask you a few questions pertaining to an investigation.
FBC Agent: The station heads are not currently available. Access is restricted without their permission.
Saga: Nice talking to you too.
Saga: Seems like a nice town so far, murders aside. Pretty woods. Cute lodge we got set up in. We should go for a hike if we get a chance.
Casey: Now you’re just being mean, Anderson.
Saga: The deputies aren’t exactly up to the task, but hopefully the sheriff will be more helpful.
Casey: Not a surprise about the deputies. Doubt they see much stuff this gruesome.
Saga: Can’t fit the clues all together yet. Heart removed. A tripod. Tracks leading to a dead end.
Casey: A tripod for a camera? To record a snuff film?
Saga: Maybe. And why take out his heart just to throw it away?
Casey: To stuff in something for us to find.
Saga: Hey Casey, what’s the forest’s favorite shape?
Casey: Please, Anderson. Just one case without the ridi-
Saga: A tree-angle.
Casey: I don’t get it.
Saga: Yes, you do.
Casey: I’m getting flashbacks. Remember Ohio?
Saga: Sure. The Northside Slasher. But that case was completely different.
Casey: The trees, Anderson. He hid the bodies in the forest.
Saga: They left a lot of garbage. Not the fastidious type.
Saga: A creepy twig sculpture.
Saga: Come on, Saga. Time to get back to work.
Casey: Good to see still in one piece, Anderson. Forest can be a dangerous place.
Saga: Here we are. Let’s drive back to town and meet the sheriff at the diner.
Saga: “The Federal Bureau of Control”. That’s a new one. “Toxic volcanic gas”, huh?
Casey: The FBC is an obscure branch, only shows up for… unusual cases.
Saga: What’s so unusual about volcanic gas?
Casey: Beats me.
Saga: I can’t get that manuscript page out of my head. I’ve never seen killers reach out so directly before.
Casey: Damn impressive work so far. With your technique, these hunches, we’re moving fast.
Saga: I wasn’t sure about taking a case so far from home, but I’m thrilled to be here for this mystery.
Bright Falls
Saga: Need to swing by the lodge to get anything from the field office?
Casey: I’m all set.
Saga: I’ll park there anyway. I want to walk to the diner, get a feel for the town. The diner’s just up the waterfront. Shouldn’t keep the sheriff and our witnesses waiting.
Casey: I smell coffee.
Hotel Clerk: So sleepy. Just a few more days.
Hotel Staff 1: Any interesting guests lately? Any good finds?
Hotel Staff 2: Zilch. But someone left a gross surprise under their bed for housekeeping. They went nuts!
Hotel Staff 3: So that’s what all that screaming was about?
Hotel Staff 2: Either that or the couple on their honeymoon.
Hotel Staff 3: When you guys said nothing ever happens in this town, you weren’t kidding.
Hotel Staff 1: Not on the surface at least.
Hotel Staff 2: Or in the public eye.
Hotel Staff 3: Okay, I’m going to get back to that one later for sure.
Hotel Staff 1: I guess we should get back to work. Those dishes won’t clean themselves!
Hotel Staff 2: Ugh, fuck my life.
Townsperson 1: So how’s that mystery business of yours going? We missed you at trivia night.
Townsperson 2: You did? How badly?
Townsperson 1: Stop avoiding the question, Mark.
Townsperson 2: You know, I have been up to a little something. You know those urban legends about that cult operating in the woods?
Townsperson 1: And a witch haunting the woods? Yeah, I know the scary stories to keep the kids from falling off cliffs and drowning in lakes.
Townsperson 2: I think there’s more to those stories than they let on. Well, maybe not the witch one, but there’s definitely something going on. And I’m going to figure out what.
Townsperson 1: Uh-huh.
Charline: Just how much coffee have you had today, Charlie?
Charlie: Don’t know, don’t care! How much have you had? Not enough, that’s how much! Never enough coffee. That rich, bittersweet nectar – get it at Coffee World, get it where you can, get it now!
Charline: Jesus, Charlie.
Charlie: Man, it is sweaty in these suits. Isn’t it? Charline? Are you as uncomfortable as I am?
Charline: You don’t think the amount of hot caffeinated beverages you’ve downed has anything to do with it?
Charlie: I don’t know what you’re talking about. Ugh, I’m in hell. Swamp-ass city.
Charline: Change of topic, please. Come to Coffee World! The thrills never end, and the coffee never stops pouring!
Charlie: Now with ten percent off all your coffee-themed purchases from the gift shop! Get your thermoses ready for winter! I could use a thermos right now. Drank too much.
Charline: You and me both, brother.
Float Builder: Not to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty darn sure my, er, I mean our float will be the belle of the ball at this year’s Deerfest. Just a few more days!
Assistant: It’s a nice looking float, for sure. This’ll be my first Deerfest, so I don’t know what to expect really.
Float Builder: It is the finest entertainment a town like ours has to offer. The happiest day of the year – like Christmas, but better!
Assistant: Well I certainly hope so – I hate the holidays.
Float Builder: Got any big plans for the day after the festival? It’s known as the ‘staying in and eating your body weight in pancakes’ day around here. You need to recover after all that celebrating.
Assistant: Well I’ve got plans now, by the sound of it. I’ll head straight to the Oh Deer when I wake up.
Float Builder: You won’t be the only one!
Assistant: Did you see those out-of-towners? I wonder why they’re here.
Float Builder: Never a good sign to see more law around. I just hope they won’t interfere with the festival!
Assistant: At least any more than this flooding already is.
Casey: “Oh Deer”. Cute.
Tim: Let me guess, the FBI. Welcome to Bright Falls. Nice to have you here. Got you both some coffee. Washington’s finest.
Saga: Nice to meet you, sheriff. I’m set for coffee.
Casey: I wouldn’t say no to another.
Saga: I’m Agent Saga Anderson, this is Agent Alex Casey.
Tim: Tim Breaker. And let me just say, I’m happy you two are here. Frankly, we could use the help.
Saga: Your deputies said you had a couple witnesses here.
Casey: They made them sound like suspects.
Tim: Mulligan and Thornton are still on about that? Nah, the Bookers don’t strike me as the murdering type, but you can decide for yourselves. They’re just inside, having coffee and pie to calm their nerves.
Saga: I’ll see what they have to say. Casey, you compare notes with the sheriff.
Casey: Take your time. We’ve looked through the case files you sent over, sheriff. Have you had many people besides the known victims go missing?
Tim: Sure, but it’s slowed down ever since Cauldron Lake was fenced off.
Casey: Let me guess. Missing person cases spiked around 2010. The fence was built just after.
Tim: Yeah, that’s exactly right.
Casey: Hmm. You can go ahead, Anderson. We’ll be here.
Ed: I can’t believe that happened. I still feel like I’m gonna be sick.
Tammy: Come on, Ed. Have some pie. It will take your mind off things.
Ed: How can you be so calm?
Tammy: Corpses are part of the job. Can’t dwell on it too much.
Ed: This is exactly why I hate small towns.
Tammy: Keep it down, Ed. You know how touchy these rural types can be.
Saga: Excuse me, I’m Agent Saga Anderson. Are you the Bookers?
Tammy: That’s us. I’m Tammy, and he’s Ed.
Ed: Hello, officer.
Saga: Just Saga is fine, Ed.
Tammy: So are we being charged with anything? Because if not, we’d love to get back to our hotel and decompress after what we saw. Take a bath, scream into pillows, that kind of thing.
Saga: We’re not charging you. I just have a few questions. Nothing to stress about, okay? What were you doing at Cauldron Lake last night?
Tammy: I’m a writer. True crime. We’re here from New York doing some research on a famous novelist, Alan Wake, who went missing here. I was down at the lake getting some details. Perfectly legal.
Saga: So what did you see in the woods?
Ed: This naked dude came out of the lake. He was acting crazy, shouting weird shit at us. He must have been on something.
Tammy: Unless skinny dipping at dawn is a thing around here.
Ed: Then we heard shooting and ran into these psychos in deer masks. They were tearing into the naked guy with knives. Like some kind of satanic cult. We bolted and called the cops.
Saga: What makes you say it was a cult?
Tammy: The masks and knives aren’t enough?
Ed: I mean, they were shouting “the Cult of the Tree! The Cult of the Tree!” Oh, and then we found a-
Tammy: Ed!
Ed: The whole thing was terrifying. That’s all.
Saga (V.O.): The Cult of the Tree. What aren’t the Bookers telling me?
Tammy (V.O.): I found their necklace. The symbol is two triangles.
Ed (V.O.): The cult wants their spruce tree back, Tammy.
Tammy (V.O.): Finders, keepers, Ed. My publisher will want this on the cover.
Saga (V.O.): Tammy found something. A necklace belonging to one of the cultists. The Bookers were at Cauldron Lake. Why?
Tammy (V.O.): The fence was built to hide what’s there. They say the writer fell in the lake.
Ed (V.O.): Private party. No trespassing.
Tammy (V.O.): My book has questions. Pass the boltcutters.
Saga (V.O.): They broke in for the sake of Tammy’s book. Nothing to do with the murder. They were telling the truth.
Saga (V.O.): We’re dealing with an organized group of killers, not a lone serial killer. The Cult of the Tree is behind these murders. This case just became much more complicated. I’ll need to start a new file. But it’s my first cult case! Exciting! I need to know more about the Cult of the Tree if I’m going to shut them down.
Saga: So you found something there, right? A necklace these cultists may have dropped?
Tammy: Okay, wow. How did you put that together?
Saga: It’s evidence. You need to hand it over.
Tammy: Okay, Okay.
Ed: I told you not to keep that thing, Tammy.
Saga: Thanks. This could prove to be helpful. Do me a favor, stick around town for now, in case we have any more questions.
Tammy: Like we’d even dream of missing Deerfest.
Rose: Oh god! Saga! Saga Anderson! As I live and breathe. I thought we’d never see you back here after that awful, awful thing that happened to your baby girl. How are you?
Saga: Um, I’m sorry, who are you? I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Rose: It’s me, silly, Rose. You know me.
Saga: I don’t think I do. What horrible thing happened to “my baby girl”?
Rose: She… drowned? Your daughter. That’s so weird you don’t remember.
Saga: How do you know I have a daughter?
Rose: Oh, I know what this is! You’re blocking out your traumatic memories. Happens on TV all the time!
Saga: No. You’re mistaking me for someone else.
Rose: If you say so.
Saga: A cult murdering a man is pretty extreme. Why didn’t you tell the police what you saw?
Tammy: We did! We told those two idiots deputies. They didn’t listen! They wanted to throw Ed and I in jail for that murder. Bright Falls is just Alabama with bigger trees.
Saga: This is my case now and no one is throwing you in jail. If you need anything else, come to me.
Tammy: Got it.Thank you, Saga.
Saga: So, Rose, help me out, how do you think we know each other?
Rose: We all know each other around here! It’s been awhile, but I never forget a face. Or a coffee order!
Saga: Guess I just have one of those faces. Seen anything out of the ordinary in town lately? Suspicious people in deer masks?
Rose: No one suspicious, but soon enough there’ll be lots of happy people wearing deer masks for Deerfest. Practically everyone will be wearing one!
Saga: Good to know.
Ed: So… We’re not being arrested.
Tammy: We’re all good, Ed. You can ease up now.
Ed: Thank god. Hey, think they serve avocado toast here?
Tammy: I wouldn’t count on it.
Tim: All set? My guys have Nightingale at the morgue if you’re ready to go take a look.
Saga: Let’s go. Well, Casey, I got a lead. Looks like we’re dealing with a cult. The Cult of the Tree.
Casey: A murder cult. Fuck.
Saga: Have you heard of this Cult of the Tree, sheriff?
Tim: Only the urban legend. If you’re in the woods at night, the Cult will get you. That sort of thing.
Casey: We’re not gonna find out you’re the grand wizard of something, are we?
Tim: I did play some D&D back in the day and wizard was always my favorite class.
Maintenance Worker: Morning, sheriff! Looks like you have some guests.
Tim: Morning, Ted! Yep, important guests. Deerfest always draws a crowd, right?
Maintenance Worker: Too true! More the merrier! Have a good one, sheriff.
Bird Feeder: Tweet tweet, my sweets! Heard any good news lately? I’m all ears! Ears, and eyes, and limbs and organs. That’s all I am. What’s that you say? There’s change in the air? Some sort of shift? A wrong turn, a point of no return? Yes, my dearies – I feel it too. If not for the birds, I might just go a little nutty. A little cuckoo, if you will. Hahaha. Now why’d you go and do that? Stomping around like that and scaring the poor little things.
Townsperson 1: The passage of time is deceiving.
Townsperson 2: The days of our lives are fleeting.
Townsperson 1 & 2: And they end, in the end they end.
Townsperson 1: So how have you been? I hear things are looking up for you.
Townsperson 2: Oh, thank you! Yes, that’s correct – my efforts are being rewarded in abundance.
Townsperson 1: How lovely. I’m proud of you.
Townsperson 2: As am I of you.
Townsperson 1: The moon and the sun and the circles they run.
Townsperson 2: The light of the stars, the sky where they fly.
Townsperson 1 & 2: Down below we flow. Below we flow.
Saga: This is the same symbol as that Cult necklace.
Street Sweeper: Who else to keep this city clean if not I? Who else to protect its citizens from the dangers of unsanitary conditions? trash, garbage, refuse – call it what you will, I will make it disappear. The world may be drowning in its own waste, but not this town. Not as long as I’m here, guarding the streets, keeping them safe. Keeping them clean! Trash does not belong in your lives nor does it belong on the streets, people!
Maintenance Worker: FBI? What do you think that’s about, Marge?
Townsperson: I bet they’re looking into that nursing home up the hill. Mismanagement or some such.
Maintenance Worker: My money’s on those Koskela brothers with all their shady businesses. Tax evasion maybe.
Traffic Officer: A pretty nice day to be working outside. I don’t envy the guys stuck on desk duty. This is where the action is! Careful crossing the road! Jaywolking – the bane of my existence.
Saga: Hey, what do you know about that waitress from the diner?
Tim: Oh, Rose? She’s a bit of a space case. Always has been. Why? What’d she do now?
Saga: She kept saying that my daughter drowned. She even knew my name. It was all very weird.
Tim: Rose has a talent for saying the weirdest thing possible. Best not to take it personally.
Mulligan: Hey, boss. Corpse is downstairs, ready to go.
Thornton: Yeah, in the morgue, all prepped.
Saga: I’d like to take a closer look as soon as possible. Lead the way, sheriff.
Tim: This is the Bright Fall Sheriff’s Station. Anything you need, just let us know.
Saga: We appreciate the support, sheriff.
Receptionist: I’ll be right with you, sir.
Townsperson: Yep, yep. Just here to pay my ticket. Whenever you’re ready to take my money. No speeding happening here, I see.
Receptionist: Sir, some patience, please.
Prisoner: They locked up an innocent man! I swear I didn’t do anything! They’re a lying bunch of bastards. You believe me, right?
Deputy 1: As you know, the investigation is being taken over by the federal agents. Sheriff Breaker wants us to cooperate fully.
Deputy 2: Aye aye, ma’am.
Deputy 1: I’m being serious, Nelson.
Deputy 3: I don’t know about you folks, but I don’t care for all these gruesome murders — and whatnot right here in our wholesome little town. It’s not what I signed up for.
Deputy 1: This line of work is not for the faint of heart.
Deputy 3: Faint of… Bah ha!
Deputy 2: Are we done with all this official business yet? I have a breakfast bagel waiting for me.
Deputy 1: Hrhh.
Tim: We share a morgue with the funeral home next door. Shoestring budget. Guess you don’t have that problem though. Our only coroner rotates between a few other towns, and he’s away this week. But you can handle this, right? I’m qualified to perform examinations, yes.
Casey: Something about morgues, they always cheer me up.
Tim: Can’t say I feel the same.
Saga: Okay. Let’s take a look at our patient. I’ll start with an external inspection, before performing the internal examination.
Saga: Time to see what Nightingale’s body can tell us. What was the cause of death? What other clues can the body give me? Ah-ha. They did leave something inside his chest. The body shows signs of being submerged in water post-mortem. It doesn’t add up. This looks like text. A tattoo?
Casey: Nightingale didn’t strike me as a tattoo guy. Defensive wounds. He put up a fight.
Saga: There’s writing on here. Can’t make it out.
Casey: Writing? How’d they manage that?
Saga (V.O.): Chest wound is cause of death. But the corpse is bloated, water-logged. Doesn’t add up. There’s definitely something in his chest. Did the killers leave it there?
Saga: It’s the same type of page we found at Cauldron Lake.
Alan: Nightingale hunted Saga. Didn’t see her. The Taken could not see into bright light. Light hurt them. Made them vulnerable. Nightingale had no heart. But here he was. Killing.
Saga: Someone’s created a fucked up fantasy about us.
Tim: Hey, hold on. We’ve found these kind of pages. I didn’t think they were relevant to this case. I have them right here. No, no, no wait —
Saga: Sheriff?
Casey: What the hell?
Nightingale: Show me the Clicker.
Casey: Fuck!
Saga: Casey!
Nightingale: It’s dark.
Deputy: No! No!
Alan: Didn’t see her. Could not see into bright light.
Nightingale: I’ll make you pay.
Saga: Shit shit shit. He’s coming. No weapon. The page said to get into the light.
Nightingale: Lights are off. But somebody’s home. I’ll find you.
Saga: I can’t see me in the light. My gun’s out in the hall. Gotta get it back.
Nightingale: I flick the switch, it goes “click”.
Saga: Gotta move, now.
Nightingale: Show me the Clicker. Hemingway brought you here, witch. Get out of my house! Pulled from darkness. A wave of terror. Killing. Was, but wasn’t. He’d be inside. Waiting for her.
Saga: He vanished…?