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Wake (V.O.): I had to talk to someone. I told Barry everything. He thought I was certifiable, but when he heard about the manuscript, I had him. The fact that I’d written something, even if I couldn’t remember it, was enough for him. He smelled money. And he believed that Alice had been kidnapped. Anything beyond that was another story. I had a midnight appointment with the kidnapper in a place called Lovers’ Peak, somewhere in Elderwood National Park. The plan was to rent a cabin.
Barry: I don’t like it, Al. I don’t like any of it. It’s not good. In fact, it’s the absolute opposite of good.
Rose: Mr. Wake! Barry, you found him!
Barry: Hi, Rose.
Rose: Oh, wow, I was just thinking about you, too! I was just bringing Rusty some coffee.
Wake: Great.
Rose: He’s on the balcony, looking after Max, poor thing! I really need to go! Great seeing you again, Mr. Wake! Later!
Barry: Who’s Max?
Wake: What an airhead.
Barry: Geez, Mr. Takes a Swing at Everybody! This is not her fault. She’s a very nice girl, and more importantly, a fan. She even has a fansite dedicated to you. Seriously, Al, what you were saying in the car, just listen to yourself. What, you shot a guy? And his body just disappeared? When was the last time you slept? Are you high? Have you been drinking?
Wake: No! Look, Barry, I’m missing a week, and someone’s got Alice, and everything’s just—
Barry: Do you understand what it sounds like when you say stuff like that? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good story, could be a best-seller. But when you start confusing fiction with reality, you’re buying yourself a ticket to the funny-farm.
Wake: Wait here.
Rusty: Easy there, boy, I’m almost done.
Wake: Hey. Rusty, right? You rent cabins?
Rusty: Mr. Wake! I’d shake your hand, but mine are kinda full here. Actually, I’m sorry about this, would you mind grabbing the registration form from the desk? It’s just across from Buck-Toothed Charlie.
Wake: Okay, sure. What happened?
Rusty: Crazy poachers. Max here got his foot caught in a trap. They’re illegal to use here—hell, you’re not supposed to hunt within the park at all, but that doesn’t stop some lowlifes! Aahh, at least Max’s gonna be okay. He got lucky. Max is still groggy from the shot I gave him, and I’d rather not leave him alone just yet. The form’s on the desk across from the mammoth skeleton. Okay, boy, we’re almost done here.
Barry: Seriously, Al, you can’t just go and meet a kidnapper. Those situations always end up in disaster. You gotta talk to the cops.
Wake: She’s my wife. And it’s my call. Can we talk about this later?
Barry: No! This whole thing—listen, you hit your head. I mean, geez, Al, come on. You gotta understand how crazy all this sounds. If you’re trying to pull a joke on me, freak me out, it’s working. Ha ha, let’s have a laugh on Barry. Well, you had me going there. Real funny, Al. You can quit it now.
Wake: I think this is the form you wanted.
Rusty: And here are the keys. Okay, you’re all set, Mr. Wake! Glad to have you staying here.
Wake: Thanks. Can you tell me how to get to Lovers’ Peak?
Rusty: Oh, sure! It’s at the end of the nature trail. Just follow the paths, you’ll get to it eventually. It’s an easy walk. Nice spot, too! If you have any trouble finding it, just keep your eyes on the radio mast, it’s right below that. Oh, and hey, if you take a walk in the woods, watch your step so you don’t end up like Max. I guess I’m a little worried. We’ve got a bunch of campers out there we haven’t heard from. It’s not like these people are on a schedule, but with the traps… Well, you know. I just don’t want any trouble.
Wake: Right. Thanks.
Barry: Look, Al, you’re asking me to believe that you shot a dude who went poof! Into thin air! A guy who was bulletproof until you pointed a flashlight at him. You hear that from people who end up spending time in padded rooms! Strapped to their beds, wearing white shirts with too long tangled-up sleeves. And eating a healthy diet of pills! Al, you make cruel jokes about people who believe that kind of stuff. You’re the skeptic. You gave me an hour-long lecture on homeopathy last month. What was it? “If there’s no proof, it’s pure bullshit. Period?”
Wake: Guess the laugh’s on me then.
Barry: Al, come on. I mean, okay—okay, maybe something weird happened to you, okay?
Wake: Well, thanks for the heartfelt vote of confidence.
Barry: All I’m saying is, you gotta throw me a bone here, Bestseller. What would you think if it was me? There’s no way you should be going out at midnight with a gun.
Wake: No one asked you to come here, Barry. Either work with me on this, or go straight back to New York. Your choice.
Barry: That’s just crazy talk, Al! Al! Al? We should go to the sheriff, or call the FBI.
Wake: Damn it, Barry! They’ll kill her. This is not a goddamn debate, Barry.
Barry: Ah, ah, ah… Achoo!
Wake: I’m going to Lovers’ Peak. He said to come alone.
Barry: Okay! Okay, then. I understand. But you’re my best friend, and I’m worried that you’re not right in the head. Tell me what to do to help, and I’ll do it.
Wake: You stay here, and if I’m not back by morning, call the cavalry.
Barry: Achoo! Just be careful with the natives, Al. These yokels are dangerous. Everybody hates a tourist. Or it’ll be Deliverance all over again. Achoo!
Wake: Bless you.
Barry: This place is trying to kill me. I bet there’s mold in here, spores, poison ivy, God knows what. This is so not worth a fifteen percent commission.
Wake: Lock the door when I leave.
Barry: I’ll wait here, Al. I’ll hold down the fort. I’ll be with you in spirit. Every step of the way, Al. Locking the door now.
Wake (V.O.): I knew I should have gone to the cops. This wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done, but I was still angry with Barry for trying to talk me out of it. These people had called me right in the Sheriff’s station. The cops wouldn’t scare them. And they had Alice.
Wake (V.O.): The vision left me weak. This was no head injury.
Rusty: No! Aaaah! No! No!
Wake: Rusty? Damn. Rusty! Hang on! I’m coming.
Rusty: Oh God. Please help me! Anybody? Help me! Help! Help me! Can you hear me? Anyone? Please help! Help me!
Wake: Hello?
Rusty: Back here! I’m back here! Hey! Please help me!
Rusty: Mr. Wake?
Wake: Oh, hell…
Rusty: It happened… just the way it was on that page… I found… came true. It knew… so dark. It’ll come back for me… you must… the lights… in the office. I have the key.
Wake: Okay, Rusty. Hang on. I’ll be right back.
Wake (V.O.): Whatever did this couldn’t be far. Rusty had found a page from the manuscript. It would help me understand what had happened. The only way to make sure that Rusty was safe was to get the power running and the lights back on.
Wake (V.O.): I was too late. Someone had destroyed the circuit breaker. There was no way to get the lights back on.
Wake: Rusty! Rusty!
Wake (V.O.): The ground was covered with oily patches that looked like liquid darkness.
Wake (V.O.): Something had torn a mammoth-sized hole in the wall.
Rusty: Please don’t feed the animals! Fishing is only permitted for those visitors who purchase a park fishing license! Obey the park ranger’s instructions at all times!
Wake: Rusty? Rusty! No!
Rusty: Never approach closer than one hundred yards to bears and wolves. Never approach any other wildlife closer than twenty-five yards. Pets must be leashed at all times. Never leave your pet unattended! It is against the law to remove any natural objects or historical artifacts from the park grounds! This includes even rocks you may find along the river or even simple berries, sir!
Barry: What—what the hell was that? I saw it from the window—I saw—I saw something.
Wake: Forget about it, Barry. It’s just me going crazy.
Barry: Oh geez. Oh geez. You’re not crazy. I wish you were crazy but you’re not crazy. Al, be careful!
Wake: Stay in the cabin. Don’t open the door for anyone. I mean it.
Wake (V.O.): Lovers Peak was at the far end of the nature trail.
Wake: Shit! Oh, crap.
Mott: Come on, we gotta get moving. More of ‘em coming! That flashlight’s kids’ stuff. The flares will keep the bastards away.
Wake: You can see them too?
Mott: Hell, of course I see ‘em. C’mon, we gotta move.
Wake: Why?
Mott: Ha ha ha ha! Because that’s the way the story goes!
Wake: Yeah, but—
Mott: Let’s move.
Wake: I lost my gun back there.
Mott: Oh, I’ve got a gun. Just keep that light steady on ‘em!
Wake (V.O.): It took a moment, but then I recognized him. He’d been on the ferry when I’d first arrived here with Alice. He knew my name. We were headed in the direction of Lovers’ Peak. There was no way this was a coincidence. He was the kidnapper.
Mott: C’mon, Wake, you better keep up. You set ‘em up, and I’ll knock ‘em down, Wake! That’s what I got for ya! Bring it! Filthy monsters! Stop fighting me! How’s that? Huh? You like that, boy? Huh? Lovers’ Peak, right up these stairs, Wake. Use the flares from the emergency box to hold ‘em off while I get these boards off.
Wake: Give me the gun.
Mott: Heh. No can do, Wake.
Wake: Are you kidding? Give me the gun!
Mott: No time for backtalk. Hold ‘em off, dammit! Just a little longer. Scare ‘em off. Get some light on those bastards! That’ll keep ‘em off us. Just a little longer. I almost got it. Okay, it’s open, Wake! Move it or lose it! Get some! Aw, you feeling better now, Wake? All cozy and safe? Better get ready, they’ll be on us soon.
Mott: This is it, Wake! The last stand! There’s more flares here. Get ready, we fight them as long as they keep coming!
Wake: Give me the goddamn gun! They’re coming!
Mott: That’s not how this goes! Get with the program, Wake. Nailed ya! Yeah, that’s right. POW! Bullseye! Just die already! Die! Stop moving! That’s what I got for ya. Feel that? Huh? Feel that? I bet it hurts. I know this hurts! This is a piece of cake, Wake. Scream, goddamnit! I’ve got your number, boy. See? Nothing to it.
Wake: Let’s cut the act now. Where’s my wife?
Mott: I knew you were gonna say that. I read it all before. You’re a hell of a writer. Congratulations. You’re gonna bring about something glorious and terrible, once we get you some… proper editorial control.
Wake: What the hell are you talking about? Where’s Alice?
Mott: I want the entire manuscript… Or she’s gonna suffer bad.
Wake: You touch her, and I’ll…
Mott: You’re gonna give me the manuscript or you’ll be sorry!
Wake: No! Come back here! I swear I’ll kill you if you hurt Alice! Do you hear me? Come back here!
Wake (V.O.): He had Alice. And he wanted the manuscript because he thought it held some magical power. But I had no manuscript to give him. I had to get back to Barry, and figure out my next move.
Wake: What the hell?
Wake (V.O.): I had heard the plane fall. It made no sense. It was clear that it had just fallen here, but it was very old and obviously hadn’t flown in decades. Looking at it sent a shiver down my spine.
Wake: Barry?
Barry: Al, the porch’s covered with birds, they’ve gone all Hitchcock on me.
Wake: Stay out of sight, I’m on my way. Don’t open the door!
Barry: What am I, crazy?
Wake: Stay hidden. I’ll be there soon. Just make sure you keep the lights on!
Wake (V.O.): I still had to reach Barry at the cabin, but at least I was out of the woods. I’d have to get the car from the locked garage. It would get me back to Barry faster. And the headlights were a welcome bonus.
Wake (T.V.): A story is not a machine that does what you tell it. A story is a beast with a life of its own. You can create it, shape it, but as the story grows, it starts wanting things of its own. Change one thing, and you set off a chain reaction of events that spreads through the whole thing. The characters have to be true to themselves. The events need to follow a logic that fits the story. A single flaw and the magic is gone. The story dies. Alice dies.
Wake (V.O.): The flare gun was probably the best weapon I could imagine against the dark things I was facing.
Wake (V.O.): It was the kidnapper.
Wake: You son of a bitch! Where’s my wife?
Mott: Enough horseplay, Wake. You deliver the manuscript and you can have your woman back. Simple as that.
Wake: I don’t—listen, listen. I’m gonna need time to finish it. I still need to write the ending. I need… a week.
Mott: It’s not done?
Wake: I need a week.
Mott: Two days! The old Bright Falls Coal Mine is nearby. You can find it easy, city boy. The main building, there at noon. You bring the manuscript, you’ll get your wife. If not, well… Get me?
Wake: Yes. Yes, I get you.
Wake (V.O.): Barry had talked about birds over the phone.
Barry: Al! Al, I’m so glad you’re here! A couple of them got in here before I blocked the chimney! This isn’t normal! These birds are weird! I thought the pigeons back home were bad! Al, make ‘em go away! Please! The only good thing about this goddamn horrible situation is that I’m not allergic to birds! Oh, crap.
Wake: Barry? You can open the door now. They’re gone.
Barry: Hey, Al. I’m—I’m sorry for thinking you were having a psychotic episode, man.
Wake (V.O.): I sent Barry to the town to ask around about a man fitting the kidnapper’s description. He’d go through the archives of the local paper. Perhaps he could learn something—anything—about the island and the cabin that had disappeared. The man wanted a manuscript. I had to try to write him one to get Alice back.
Wake: Agh!
Wake (V.O.): For me, the supernatural had always been nothing but a metaphor for the human psyche, a tool to use in writing fiction. Now it was happening for real, and I couldn’t put a single word on paper.
Barry: Barry Wheeler speaking.
Rose: This is Rose.
Barry: Rose?
Rose: I’ve found Mr. Wake’s pages.
Barry: Oh, you sweet, brilliant girl!
Rose: Could you and Mr. Wake come get them? I live in the trailer park outside the town.
Barry: We’ll be there in less than an hour!
Rose: Bye now.
Barry: See you soon!
Rose: Have a great day. Hope you come back soon. Welcome to the Oh Deer Diner.
Jagger: Good girl.