Woodbine

Summary

Everyone is trapped by something. Maybe you’re in a house you can’t leave, maybe you’re in a meeting that never seems to end, and maybe you’re stuck in a situation where any good outcome is slipping away, every opportunity to make change is disappearing. For Bea and Grace, their chances of escape are slimming quickly. But it’s not just them who are in trouble…

So maybe you are trapped in a room, or in an untenable position, or a job you can’t leave, or between a ravenous crowd and a broken window. Maybe there is a way out, just not the one you wanted. You can’t walk away, you can only escape. You can run.

For everyone, the walls are closing in, whether they realize it or not.

Content Warnings: violence, mental torture, death

Transcript

[SFX: The meeting. Hollis is talking underneath, but it’s all cloudy and unintelligible]

 

GRACE_NARRATION: I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to handle this. And I don’t know if Bea will be ok.

He’s going to destroy her. I left her and she panicked. I panicked. And now we’re here. And even if we bring him down, even if we take the hard power from him, if he has hurt her then he has still won, at least in some way. And then what? Why even do this? Why-

HOLLIS: Grace?

GRACE: Huh?

HOLLIS: We’re discussing the stifled growth opportunities under the current management structure. Anything you’d like to add?

GRACE: I think that the lack of growth is evident in itself.

HOLLIS: I would agree. While the company has shown general stability over the last five decades, there has been a noted inability of upper management to adapt to current situations, meaning that the inflexible situations trickle down to the other staff, causing the whole enterprise to stagnate…

GRACE_NARRATION: Hollis is watching me like a hawk. They know I’m not tuned in. Whatever. Stupid, stupid. Should’ve stayed. Should’ve brought Bea with me. At least Lennox is distracted, I know that’s what Hollis is thinking. But I need to know she’s ok. I need out of here, I need to go.

Just get through it. Bea is strong. She’ll… she’ll be ok.

HOLLIS: We can now move to questions.

WILHELMINA: Hollis, I know we’ve spoken on this prior, but do you really think that this will result in a stable transfer of power?

HOLLIS: Anything involving Lennox is going to be a difficult transition. He’s not going to want to step down. But he’s clearly thinking of himself over the good of this place.

BILL: Sorry, I want to ask Grace this, do you want this?

GRACE: I…

GRACE_NARRATION: What have I gotten myself into?

GRACE: I… know that whatever I do, there will be problems. But he has been a growing shadow in my personal sphere. And that is leaking into the professional space as well. I have… not been a part of this place in a long time, I am aware, but at some point… a risk has to be taken. And I know as well as any of you that I am the most at risk, but…

GRACE_NARRATION: I need to get him away from Bea.

GRACE: … If you are willing to work alongside me to figure out a path forward then I am ready to see this through. I will not shy away from the fact that I will be asking for protection as well.

BILL: I worry about retribution.

HOLLIS: You can be protected.

BILL: Can I? Can you guarantee that? Can any of you?

HOLLIS: We can try.

BILL: And Grace, you’d continue to help us?

GRACE: If required. Until there was a better solution. Then I take my leave.

BILL: And sorry, before we dig into that further, I want to touch back on Q3, there was some solid growth in the real estate sector… [SFX: the talking wah-wah-wahs underneath, unintelligible]

GRACE_NARRTION: Bea, please be ok.

 

[SFX: transition. The library at Lennox’s. Bea is still sitting there, trying to break the compulsion]

 

BEA: [big deep measured breathing] Stand up. Stand up. Come on. Your brain works. Your mouth works. Stand up. [pained noise] I think my kneecaps are going to leave my body. Come on… [pained breathing] Fuck. Fuck!

 

[SFX: transition. Lennox is storming through his big living room while on the phone. He slams something off a table]

 

LENNOX: What do you mean there’s a fucking board meeting going on right now? You tell Hollis to get their ass out here right now or… what? Are you serious? … Fuck!

 

[SFX: transition. Hollis walking into their office, Grace follows]

 

HOLLIS: I think that worked.

GRACE: I think this whole thing is going to come crashing down on our heads, and-… and you expect that! God, it was a mistake getting wrapped up with you again-

HOLLIS: It was a mistake even giving Lennox the time of day again.

GRACE: I’m out of here.

HOLLIS: You can’t leave.

GRACE: Watch me. [SFX: Michael walks in the door]

MICHAEL: Uh, sorry, uh…

HOLLIS: Spit it out.

MICHAEL: One of the board members let Lennox know this was happening and he’s pissed.

GRACE: Oh god, oh god-

HOLLIS: Yeah. No turning back now.

 

[SFX: transition, back to the library. Bea is still trying to get up]

 

BEA: Come on… come on… [SFX: Lennox bursts in the door, furious]

LENNOX: [SFX: storming over] WHAT DID YOU KNOW?

BEA: [surprised] What?

LENNOX: Did you come here as a distraction? This pathetic little act about Grace? I show you an ounce of understanding, of respect, and you’re in here, oh, a false victim-

BEA: What are you on about?!

LENNOX: The takeover! … Are you a dunce AND a liar?

BEA: I’m neither, thanks, and I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I want you to [SFX: compel but not strong enough] LET ME OUT OF HERE.

LENNOX: [SFX: breaking through, the spell dissipates] Cute. Very cute. Absolutely adorable that you think you can hold your own here. You want to know how I got to where I am? AND WHERE I WILL CONTINUE TO BE? [SFX: big mean magic time] Come here. Right to me. [SFX: he takes her by the chin] My dear, if you so badly want to know then let me show you. [SFX: more magic but it’s spikey, painful] I don’t need to wait until you’re sleeping to find my way into your mind. I can go whenever I want.

BEA: [pained gasp]

LENNOX: Of course, it’s a lot easier when you’re asleep. And a lot less painful for you. The physical touch aspect… It helps quite a bit. But I need to know what you know quickly and I’m not wasting time asking when I can just take the knowledge I need. Now, show me: What do you know about Hollis’s plan?

BEA: [uncomfortable] Nothing! I don’t know!

LENNOX: You’re very strong. That’s fun. [SFX: the magic gets worse, at least if you’re Bea] Tell me.

BEA: I DON’T KNOW.

LENNOX: What do you know, then? [poking around in her brain] Hm. Just Grace. Always Grace.

BEA: I don’t know, and I don’t know what their plan was!

LENNOX: The cool hand of a lover, the sweet warmth of love. Oh, poor Bea. You’re hurting. I can see that.

BEA: You’re CAUSING it.

LENNOX: Only at the moment. But… Grace, oh Grace.

BEA: I don’t have what you want.

LENNOX: [quietly] You do. Just in other ways. … Ok. I’ve seen enough. [SFX: the magic drops away, Bea stumbles backwards, trying to get her bearings again] 

BEA: [gasping, that was incredibly uncomfortable] Holy… shit…

LENNOX: It’s not fun. For you, mostly. But that’s immaterial right now. I’m going to ask – nicely, this time, and only this time – for you to stay here. I’ll be back. Rest. You’re… safer here, I think.

BEA: What, so you can kill me later?

LENNOX: I’m not going to kill you, Bea. But I will be keeping you as collateral. And more.

BEA: … the ability to make new vampires-

LENNOX: Yes, the ability to make new vampires.

BEA: Shit.

LENNOX: Also… well, Grace can’t have everything she wants. She’s spoiled enough.

BEA: Lennox…

LENNOX: You’ll be fine. Get comfortable. [SFX: he pats her on the head and gets up and walks over to the door] You’re not getting out of here any time soon. Kick this door down and I break both your legs, and that’s not a threat. That’s a promise. [SFX: the door slams and locks. There’s a shocking number of locks]

BEA: Why the fuck would you have so many locks on a library? … Shit.

 

[SFX: transition. Emiel, Grace is in a tizzy. Her phone buzzes]

 

GRACE: Shit. Shit! [SFX: she answers] Lennox.

LENNOX: [phone] I offer you clemency and this is how you repay me?

GRACE: Clemency, is that what we’re calling it now?

LENNOX: [phone] I wouldn’t be so flippant with the knowledge that Bea is still here.

GRACE: … I trust her ability to stand up to you.

LENNOX: [phone] As foolish as always. She’s mine, Grace.

GRACE: [SFX: compel, low, quiet and angry] You let her go.

LENNOX: [phone] [SFX: the magic breaks harshly] Come and get her. And if you dare follow through on that vote I will make sure of it that you never see her face again. I’ll see you soon. [SFX: hangs up]

 

[SFX: transition. Rhys is quietly walking around the outer area of Lennox’s property in the rain]

 

RHYS: [SFX: walking around] Man, that’s a lot of windows. More than I am willing to throw stones at. Ok… if I was going to keep someone in a room… that wasn’t a basement… man, I hope she’s not in the basement or else this plan isn’t going to work… ok, then what would I do… [SFX: walking around] second floor minimum. Find one with the light on. That’s clearly a bedroom, that’s a bathroom with the frosty window, that’s… ok… maybe… ah ha! Ok, here we go- [SFX: turns into bats, flies up into the distance, then returns and reforms] Hah! I was right! And now to… get her out. New problem…

 

[SFX: transition. Bea is sitting on the couch in the library, exhausted] 

 

BEA: Lennox, you fucking ass, I know you probably have a security camera in here or something, or you have a hidden mic or WHATEVER, but know that the second I get the chance I’m going to tear you in half, ok? I saw what you’ve done to people. I saw what you did to Vivian, what you’ve done to Grace. I know your past and I am not scared of you, alright? I refuse to be at this point. [deep breath] Fuck! Grace, if you can hear this through… vampire magic or something, maybe you’ve secretly got that power, just… please be ok. Please be safe. Please be safe.

God, everything hurts. [puts her head in her hands] You know, Lennox, I didn’t know you could have this kind of full body… full mind kind of pain but… yeah. I guess you can relish in that. You freak.

You’re going to kill me, aren’t you? Or I’m going to wish I was dead. Probably that one. I’m much more useful undead than dead. Grace, please be out there, please be ok out there. [SFX: there’s a thump at a window high up] Oh jeez! What the… [SFX: there’s another thump, then another] What the fuck… [SFX: the sound of a BUNCH of bats hitting a window over and over again, you can hear the leaded glass start to crack] This is either going to be really good or really bad. [SFX: they keep hitting the window until the glass breaks and they all come streaming in, only to reform into Rhys, who’s a bit dazed as he drops to the floor] 

RHYS: Whew! That… was pretty painful, gotta say. But it worked! Also, that window is really high up, how would you even clean that- [SFX: he’s cut off by Bea hugging him] hey, glad to see you too.

BEA: I cannot begin to tell you how glad I am you’re here.

RHYS: Yeah, [quietly] is Lennox still here?

BEA: Probably, so we should… get going.

RHYS: Bats?

BEA: [sigh] Bats, god I am so tired. This is going to hurt.

RHYS: You’ve done it before, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

BEA: Yeah, it’s been a real time here, Rhys. Ok… bats, bats… concentrate.

RHYS: … You good?

BEA: [bent over, trying to centre herself] No, I’m really not.

RHYS: You’ve looked better.

BEA: Thanks.

RHYS: I say it with nothing but love.

BEA: I’m trying, I’m trying and I can’t find that spot. I’m just so tired. And so sore, fuck.

RHYS: How bad of a night has it been?

BEA: Real bad.

RHYS: Right. Look, I’m of the mind that we have not a lot of time before Lennox comes stomping back in here, so we need to go–

BEA: Yes, I am aware!

RHYS: What would help?

BEA: I don’t know, a… caffeine gel? A protein bar? A 6 month sabbatical in a nice dark room?

RHYS: … would feeding on me help?

BEA: Uh…

RHYS: Sorry, this is probably some sort of boundary line and also does that count as cheating in a vampire relationship? Like that probably doesn’t matter in this situation, I’m sure Grace would understand, but… if it would help you get out of here, I think it’s worth entertaining.

BEA: [pause, thinking] Rhys?

RHYS: Yeah?

BEA: Come here.

RHYS: [a little amused] I mean, not our first rodeo…

 

[SFX: transition. Hollis is walking down a hallway in the basement of the office building. They’re carrying the big ghoulish staff]

 

BILL: The staff is a bit much.

HOLLIS: Think of it like a walking stick. A big garish walking stick.

BILL: I’m not here to judge your sartorial choices, you do what you need to do to find joy, but I think we need to backtrack on this entire plan.

HOLLIS: Bill, you cannot pull out now. We are in way too deep.

BILL: I think you’ve become so hyperfixated on taking down Lennox for whatever reason might be personal to you that the actual fate of this company has become completely secondary to you.

HOLLIS: Ok, if you’re going to judge me this harshly then this discussion is over.

BILL: Hollis! I wanted to talk to you in private, so it’s time we talk. You know that Lennox is on his way here.

HOLLIS: Yes. He’s been… distracted for most of the night, but I am aware of the fact that he’s now decided to make his presence known.

BILL: He’ll kill us all.

HOLLIS: You don’t know that.

BILL: Yes I do! You think I haven’t heard about the vampires who’ve died as of late? Torn apart, bled dry, throats ripped out? That could only have been Lennox’s doing.

HOLLIS: Interesting.

BILL: Interesting? He’s a maniac! He’s going to destroy all of us for this betrayal.

HOLLIS: Probably. If you let him. So why not just… continue betraying him?

BILL: I’m done here. You’ve taken this too far.

HOLLIS: I’ll be the one deciding that. Come, I’d like to show you something that might change your mind.

BILL: What, are you going to show me that the boilers are about to blow and that you’re the only one with the expertise to fix them?

HOLLIS: No, although that would be funny. [SFX: they stop] Here.

BILL: What’s in there?

HOLLIS: The thing that will make sure that Lennox cannot stop this once it’s started.

BILL: … did you rig up a bomb?

HOLLIS: Hah! No, that’s a bit much. [SFX: they open the door a crack] Too messy. I prefer something a bit more… creative. [SFX: ghoul noises]

BILL: What… is that?

HOLLIS: Backup plan. Something Lennox can’t control or buy or compel his way out of.

BILL: Did you do this?

HOLLIS: No, Santa dropped them off. [SFX: they close the door]

BILL: This is sick.

HOLLIS: Relax. Have a little fun for once.

BILL: You’re going to kill people!

HOLLIS: Maybe just him.

BILL: I’m warning the board.

HOLLIS: You tell the others and I shove you in here. The element of surprise is needed, thank you very much. Also, dramatic effect.

BILL: Who hurt you, Hollis?

HOLLIS: How much time do you have?

 

[SFX: transition. Grace sitting at a table in a meeting room, head in hands]

 

WILHELMINA: Knock knock. Can we speak for a moment?

GRACE: Yeah, come in. What’s on your mind?

WILHELMINA: What do you want out of this, Grace?

GRACE: I don’t know anymore. I want Lennox gone, full stop. I’ve always wanted that.

WILHELMINA: From here or just in general?

GRACE: I used to say “from here” because it felt achievable. But I know that it’s not that simple. That it’ll take more than knocking him off this particular pedestal to rid him from my life. And that I’m… not home free even if he’s gone from here.

WILHELMINA: Will this bring you peace?

GRACE: I just want to be free of this place, Wil!

WILHELMINA: You think you can just walk out now? Fat chance.

GRACE: Lennox is the one pulling the strings.

WILHELMINA: You’re going to run?

GRACE: Are you going to stop me?

WILHELMINA: Personally? No. But if you’re going to, make sure to do it in the light of day. There will be… definitely others keeping a watch on you.

GRACE: Fuck…

WILHELMINA: What about your little partner?

GRACE: No, she’s not a part of this.

WILHELMINA: Hm. You’ve learned well.

GRACE: Oh, not you too.

WILHELMINA: It’s fine. I won’t needle.

GRACE: I’ve got bigger problems right now. And he’s still at the heart of them. But I know that the moment he shows up here it’s war.

WILHELMINA: Can’t say that it doesn’t feel like it was already declared long before this meeting, albeit not by him.

GRACE: What are you saying?

WILHELMINA: What is Hollis planning? I don’t mean this, I mean for if this doesn’t work out.

GRACE: I don’t know. I am aware that they are only out for themselves but… that’s always been the case. A known quantity in this entire situation.

WILHELMINA: A dangerous one. This situation is going to go out of control very fast if you don’t focus. Whatever is bothering you… you have to either put it out of your mind or leave and never stop running, because Lennox will find you. And he does not forgive.

GRACE: How are you planning to vote?

WILHELMINA: Oh, I want him out. Between you and me, I hate his guts too. But like you said, he’s a known quantity. I know how to handle Lennox and his… idiosyncrasies. The rest of the board? They might be too comfortable to risk anything. I don’t know what lies on the other side of that door.

GRACE: I’m trying to protect myself. And others.

WILHELMINA: Well good luck with that. I do mean it. But also, get it together, Grace. You’ve really put yourself in a conundrum. So either be strong, or get out of here. That’s all I have for you. So… make your choice, darling.

 

[SFX: transition. Bea comes up for air after… y’know, the blood drinking]

 

BEA: [contented] Ah, that was… needed.

RHYS: Is it weird if I tell you how good that felt?

BEA: Maybe a little, but… I’m aware. Wait, did you and Hollis never do that?

RHYS: Oh, no, that would cross some sort of intimacy boundary for them and that boundary is, like, a mile wide.

BEA: So no kissing either?

RHYS: No, that’s fine.

BEA: … There’s a lot we should gossip about when we’re home free.

RHYS: I mean clearly you and Grace have been trying a little of everything-

BEA: Alright, now’s not the time- [SFX: the door begins to unlock] Yeah, now is really not the time. No matter what, you get out of here!

RHYS: You good to go?

BEA: Is there another option? Come on body, let’s do this…

RHYS: Come on, we need to get you to Grace.

BEA: [steadying breath] Yeah. Grace… [SFX: BAMF, both of them become bats and start streaming up through the broken window. Lennox enters]

LENNOX: [SFX: enters as the last of the bats fly out] [long pause, sighs] Should’ve killed him when I had the chance, but… hindsight. Hm. Ok. Time to take back what’s mine. [SFX: walks out, the door slams]

 

[SFX: transition. Hollis comes up to Grace at the office]

 

HOLLIS: Come on, it’s time.

GRACE: How are you so flippant about this?

HOLLIS: Have you heard from Bea?

GRACE: No.

HOLLIS: Then fuck Lennox and whatever he wants. What do you owe him?

GRACE: [sigh] I don’t owe him anything, I just want-

HOLLIS: You have to focus on the now. He does anything stupid, you can rip his face off. Until then, let’s try this by the book. Then you can rip his face off or whatever will make you feel better.

GRACE: Fine.

HOLLIS: Let’s go. [SFX: they walk away]

 

[SFX: transition. Bats fly over a quiet street, Bea turns back, exhausted]

 

BEA: I’m sorry, I’m trying my best to keep it together but I can’t, I had half of me lagging back there so hard.

RHYS: Gotta be honest, don’t think I could do another donation.

BEA: No, I need you to keep your strength, I think… maybe we just call a cab now or something. Is she at the main office building?

RHYS: Yeah, Oh! Hang on, [SFX: pulls his phone out, takes a photo of Bea] proof of life! I’m sure Grace’ll appreciate that.

BEA: Was she worried?

RHYS: Yeah, of course she was. Why, did you expect that she wouldn’t be?

BEA: I don’t know right now.

RHYS: [SFX: typing on his phone, ordering cab] Look, I’m just going to order us a cab. We don’t have a lot of time and I’m sure we’re going to arrive to a world of shit,

BEA: Yeah, I’m sure there’s some sort of weird vampire thing that’s happening, I don’t know, but he’s aware and will definitely be on his way to the office at this point.

RHYS: Oh, yeah, we’re boned.

BEA: Maybe it’ll be an easy transfer of power.

RHYS: [laughs] … How was it at Lennox’s?

BEA: Well, he tried to break me mentally and physically several times, including pushing his way into my waking mind.

RHYS: Holy shit.

BEA: Yeah, you think the dream stuff sucks? Wait until he’s literally doing it to your face. It’s trippy in the absolute worst way and also it feels like he’s trying to crush your entire head through atmospheric pressure.

RHYS: Alright, noted, I’ll try to stay away. [SFX: a cab pulls up] Our chariot awaits. [SFX: opens the door] M’lady.

BEA: You seem very chipper for a man going to his likely death again.

RHYS: Hey, who knows what the night will bring? Could be anything. Let’s go get Grace. [SFX: slams the cab door shut]

 

[SFX: transition. Outside the office, a bunch of bats becomes Lennox. Lennox storms in to the building pushing the doors open and walking with purpose over to the elevator]

 

GUARD: Excuse me sir, but you’ll have to-

LENNOX: [SFX: big magic time] SNAP YOUR OWN NECK. [SFX: the guard makes a choked noise and then there’s a terrible CRUNCH and he dies] Human filth thinks I’m waiting around. I’m going to skin them alive. [SFX: the elevator door closes]

 

[SFX: transition. Main meeting room. The meeting is starting]

 

GRACE_NARR: I can feel their eyes on me. He was supposed to hand me over the moment he knew. But he didn’t. And that’s a weakness. I shouldn’t be here. But… I’m in too deep now. And their eyes keep drifting up towards me like the starving, focusing on a fresh, hot meal. For now, I have a guise of protection, the idea of propriety, the knowledge that killing me would only make things worse, but… I am very aware that that is not forever. I just need to be here long enough to finish what we started and then get out.

BOARD MEMBER: May the formal voting procedure begin. [SFX: the lights go out] Light the candles of judgement!

HOLLIS: Can’t we just do this by raising our hands or something?

BOARD MEMBER: We must abide by tradition! Upon the ancient scrolls, may a drop of your blood give the choice that you wish to make! But choose wisely, for there are grave consequences on all sides.

HOLLIS: You said that about lunch as well.

BOARD MEMBER: Grave consequences! Next time we order from somewhere else!

HOLLIS: Great. Hurry up.

BOARD MEMBER: Bring me the Rod of Perspicacity!

HOLLIS: Oh my god.

GRACE_NARRATION: [SFX: text ding] It’s a photo of Bea. She looks… exhausted. She’s bloodied and ragged looking, as if she hasn’t slept in days. There’s a puncture wound on her chest that looks fresh, so fresh. So fresh… What did he do to her? She’s hurting. And that fills my veins with ice.

But there’s life there. And her eyes are clear. She’s hurt. But she’s ok.

I can do this. I know she’s ok. And that’s all that matters.

BOARD MEMBER: [SFX: low bell tone] Let us begin.

LENNOX: [SFX: the door slams open] DON’T YOU DARE.

GRACE: Shit.

HOLLIS: Whatever.

GRACE: Hollis, I swear-

LENNOX: [looking hard at them] YOU TWO. [SFX: stalking over] You two pathetic little urchins come into MY HOUSE and try to KICK ME OUT-

HOLLIS: Continue the vote! Keep lighting your fucking candles or whatever! Grace?

GRACE: [SFX: compel] Do not stop. Do not perceive his will. 

LENNOX: DO NOT TRY AND PUSH ME OUT OF HERE. I WILL PULL THE BONES FROM YOUR BODY.

GRACE: Lennox, enough!

HOLLIS: You had your chance. And now we’re taking ours.

LENNOX: And if they push me out, what then?

HOLLIS: [getting close to him] You think I haven’t planned for this, old man?

LENNOX: Old man, [scoffs] you are in so deep you’ve mistaken the dirt for the sky.

HOLLIS: Your time here is done. You had your chance and you didn’t take it. And I’m so tired of your games, I’m tired of being your lackey, and I’m tired of your endless obsession with your sweet knife. A weapon who can be better wielded in another hand, anyway.

LENNOX: I wonder what Grace would think about how you talk about her.

GRACE_NARRATION: I’ve made a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.

HOLLIS: The vote’s almost done. Any last words?

LENNOX: No. Because I’m not done yet.

HOLLIS: Cute. I like a challenge. [SFX: there’s the sound of a piece of paper burning quickly and a deep gong noise]

BOARD MEMBER: The blood speaks true. The question has been answered. You have all spoken your true thoughts! The motion does not pass. [SFX: murmured discontent]

GRACE: What?!

HOLLIS: You COWARDS.

GRACE: Are you that afraid of him that you’re willing to throw everything we want away?

BILL: I’m sorry, Grace! But we don’t want this danger brought onto us as well!

GRACE_NARRATION: I’ve made a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.

LENNOX: They’ll throw you away. You were FOOLISH to even trust these people.

GRACE: Lennox, walk away, your power wanes and you already know that the faith around you weakens!

LENNOX: Hah! You thought this would work?

HOLLIS: It was worth a shot.

LENNOX: Worth a-… you IMPERTINENT little RAT. [SFX: big compel] KNEEL. [SFX: Hollis drops to the ground] Put your head on the fucking ground. [SFX: they collapse forward] [SFX: he walks over and bends down close to them, quietly] Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just rip your traitorous skull from your body.

HOLLIS: [in pain but amused] I’ll admit, there’s probably not a lot of good reasons I could give you right now.

LENNOX: Not even going to try, huh?

HOLLIS: Oh, I’ll try. First, replacing me would be a lengthy hiring process, I’m sure.

LENNOX: Very funny.

HOLLIS: Second, you’d still have to deal with Michael.

LENNOX: What concern do I have when it comes to your assistant? I’ll fire him too.

HOLLIS: It’s not so much Michael as it is what I asked him to do if this happened.

LENNOX: Which is?

HOLLIS: Got a minute?

LENNOX: More than you.

HOLLIS: I’d hope I’d have at least a few left. [SFX: there’s crashing in the distance] Ah, and I might.

LENNOX: [to someone else] Figure out what that is! [to Hollis] What the hell did you do? [SFX: the crashing and horrible noises are getting closer]

HOLLIS: You set out to make more vampires. You failed. So  I saw… an opportunity.

LENNOX: [a horrible realization] You… Hollis, you IDIOT. [SFX: the person who goes to the door opens it and a ghoul comes storming in]

MICHAEL: Hi! Sorry, I got your text-

HOLLIS: Just let the damn ghouls in!

MICHAEL: Yep, yep! [SFX: ghouls storm in]

BOARD MEMBER: What in the- [SFX: they are attacked by the ghoul. People start to panic and run]

GRACE: Hollis, get it together!

HOLLIS: [SFX: standing up, the compel is broken] Michael, give me my staff.

MICHAEL: Yeah, let me- wait, time out time out time out TIME OUT TIME OUT TIME OUT OH GOD NO AHhHHhHHHhh [SFX: he is torn to shreds by ghouls] 

HOLLIS: No! Oh for fuck’s sake. [SFX: they run over and grab the staff] Yoink. [SFX: they hit the bottom of the staff on the ground and there’s an echoing low boom, magic] You listen to me now. Sorry, we’re doing a staff overhaul. And rehiring, I guess.

LENNOX: No, no, you-[SFX: the ghoul comes crashing over]

HOLLIS: Make a choice, Lennox. That or me.

LENNOX: SHIT! [SFX: he dodges the lunging monstrosity] You… you made ghouls?! [SFX: compel] STOP, NOW. [SFX: it comes towards him again] Damnit!

HOLLIS: Yeah, that’s not going to work on them.

LENNOX: And they’re the undead? That is low.

HOLLIS: It’s a little hard to ask for volunteers for this! [SFX: taps the staff on the ground, the sound gets fuzzy on the outside world] You had an opportunity and you missed it. Now, step down, and I’ll let you walk out of here into a brand new world where you have to find your way back again. Or, try and resist and I’ll have my… employees, if that is the correct term, come over here and rip your limbs off. I’m sure they’d love to get a taste of you.

LENNOX: You go behind my back- … is that my staff of power?

HOLLIS: YOU WEREN’T PAYING ATTENTION.

LENNOX: Neil told me that it was lost! That idiot!

HOLLIS: This business has grown to the point where you are nothing more than a figurehead. It runs without you, and you know that. You are a face, a body at the top pushing buttons without any worry that a mistake will affect you, well guess what? Your day of reckoning is finally here!

GRACE: Alright, this has gone far enough! Hollis, [SFX: compel] STOP THIS NOW-

HOLLIS: [SFX: bamf] [SFX: bamf reappears very close to Grace] Don’t you dare. Don’t you even try. You got what you wanted-

GRACE: I-… I-

HOLLIS: You knew this was a possibility.

LENNOX: Grace-

GRACE: I never thought it would come to this.

HOLLIS: You should’ve! The board is made of cowards. Just as soft and useless as him, if not more. They’re comfortable at the top, unwilling to change. You wanted to force change. Well, now it’s here. And you are a part of this now whether you want it or not!

LENNOX: [soft] Grace…

GRACE: Lennox… resign. Walk away. You’ll… you’ll be fine. I know you’ll be fine in whatever it is you do afterwards, but now… I need you gone.

LENNOX: You want it that badly?

GRACE: Yes.

LENNOX: [long pause] Ok. Fine. If that’s what you want.

GRACE: Oh, don’t put this on me-

HOLLIS: Sorry, what’s that?

LENNOX: I… I will resign.

HOLLIS: Goody. Well, you know what you have to do then.

LENNOX: Oh, come on, can’t I just send an email? … Fine. Fuck. I’ll… you know that I’m just guessing at this, right? These procedures are ancient.

HOLLIS: I’m sure you’ll figure it out.

LENNOX: Give me that stupid knife. [sighs] With this blood… I… … whatever. [SFX: he pricks his finger] To the council, I say unto thee now, I rescind my position within this… corporation. That doesn’t feel like the right word, this was written in the 1800s-

HOLLIS: Just go on. Edit as needed.

LENNOX: [sigh] The council speaks, I, Lennox Marlowe, resign henceforth. My rule has ended. … Ugh, “rule” feels like the wrong word-… fine. As decided by the council, I give the power of the position of CEO to the company.

HOLLIS: Great. Perfect! Hang on a second, Michael had the papers… [SFX: steps over to his corpse and rummages around, pulls a bunch of papers out] they’re a little covered in viscera but that’s fine, I’ll get you to sign this [SFX: lays some papers out]… blood is fine, I didn’t bring a pen. Yeah, ok, here… here… and… here. Alright! I think that’s it!

LENNOX: You know that you can’t hide.

HOLLIS: That’s fine. Oh, and if you want to discuss your severance, you know where to find me. I’m going to so enjoy redecorating your office.  Can I offer you one last piece of advice?

LENNOX: No.

HOLLIS: Whatever. You should’ve had better security downstairs in the catacombs. You know what? [SFX: the staff begins to hum and they tap it on the ground]  Kill him. [SFX: ghouls rush in]

LENNOX: TRAITOR!

HOLLIS: Oh, big talk.

LENNOX: [SFX: ghouls! He’s backing up towards the window] Grace, I’m sorry about Bea. I didn’t mean to hurt her.

GRACE: [quietly] Yes, you did.

LENNOX: Maybe. But I probably shouldn’t have. Sorry you two, but if this is how you want to handle things then I’m going to fly. [SFX: he chucks an office chair at the window, breaking it, wind starts whipping in] Good luck. [SFX: he turns into bats and flies away]

GRACE: He’ll be back.

HOLLIS: [SFX: looking outside] Unfortunately. Maybe a little rash on my part at the end there, but eh, what are you going to do?

GRACE: You got what you wanted. Are you happy?

HOLLIS: You got what you wanted as well, technically. [SFX: staff magic] Clear out, boys.

GRACE: You absolutely screwed us, you know that, right? This was wildly reckless.

HOLLIS: Fun, though.

GRACE: [sigh] God. I’m going to find Bea. We can deal with the fallout after because lord knows there’s going to be an ENDLESS AMOUNT of it. You were so foolish, Hollis. But fuck it, I am going to find Bea and I am going to make sure she’s safe.

HOLLIS: She’s fine. You know she’s fine. That’s not important right now.

GRACE: Piss off. I’m out of here.

HOLLIS: Hang on.

GRACE: What?

HOLLIS: Stay.

GRACE: What?

HOLLIS: Stay. There’s no reason to go. Stay here with me and we can… get this all ironed out. Together, if you so want.

GRACE: Don’t bring this back.

HOLLIS: Maybe I’ve enjoyed being around you again.

GRACE: I doubt it.

HOLLIS: Even I’m not so sure, to be honest.

GRACE: Ok, well, I’ll need you to speak to the board because-

HOLLIS: Oh, they’re never going to get off your back. Or mine if I let you walk out that door without a plan.

GRACE: There’s not much else more I can do.

HOLLIS: [wicked smile] There is.

GRACE: No, Hollis. I made enough vampires. Find them and see if any of them can change people. I am done.

HOLLIS: You said you would.

GRACE: I said a lot of things.

HOLLIS: Well, if you walk away then I’m screwed.

GRACE: I don’t care. I’m not staying.

HOLLIS: I think you’re going to. In fact, I know you’re going to.

GRACE: Move.

HOLLIS: [doesn’t move] Grace, Grace, you’re putting me in a tough spot. Because I know you’re going to go home and grab your girlfriend and make a run for it. But then… I’m in the same place as Lennox. And I don’t feel like having to chase you, you know?

GRACE: [SFX: compel] Move-

HOLLIS: [SFX: staff magic] That’s not going to work here, sorry. Please don’t make this harder for yourself.

GRACE: You’re not giving me any other choice.

HOLLIS: Ok, how about I give you some other choices. You have three. You can give into the anger flowing through you, and fight me, and try to rip my head off, and you die or we both die or whatever. Either way, bad time for us both. And your next option is to agree to it and come with me quietly, because now I don’t trust you to go home. I’m sorry, but you’re a little rash, and that’s a bad look. But it’ll be ok, because I’m going to make you comfortable.

GRACE: I’m a little rash-… Ok, you’re going to trap me here. You’re no better than Lennox!

HOLLIS: Maybe it was nurture all along.

GRACE: And the last option?

HOLLIS: The third is to leave. You walk out that door. I won’t stop you.

GRACE: There’s a catch, tell me.

HOLLIS: You are so smart.

GRACE: If I have to compel the information out of you then I will make you shave your head and eat the fucking hair.

HOLLIS: And you’re so creative too! But there’s no need for that, I’m just toying with you, Grace. Because If you walk out that door, then know this: I will leave you alone. [getting close] But I will never give your precious Bea a moment of peace. I will find her and I will lock her in this building until she is drained of all of her blood, then I will resurrect her and do it again. And if you try to stop me, I will only make it worse for her. I will compel her until her spirit breaks. And I will make sure you know how terrible it is. So make your choice. It’s you or her. The only difference is she doesn’t know what’s coming.

GRACE: You kicked Lennox out only to become him.

HOLLIS: Damn. We really do all become our parents at some point, don’t we? It sucks.

GRACE: You know I would never let you near her-

HOLLIS: There’s no letting. You know I could be beside her right now.

GRACE: [SFX: compels] STAY.

HOLLIS: [tight, fighting it] You learned more from Lennox than you let on.

GRACE: [SFX: compels] Throw yourself out that fucking window.

HOLLIS: [resisting] You’ve gotten soft.

GRACE: [SFX: compels, furious] WALK YOURSELF OFF A FUCKING CLIFF.

HOLLIS: [returning the anger, the magics fighting – Grace vs. the staff] You can walk yourself into that fucking room or I can drag you in there. Or I will go and I will kill Bea right now– [SFX: the air starts to hiss at Hollis’s powers start to manifest]

GRACE: NO.

HOLLIS: [the room quiets down, the magic fades] Come. Let’s walk. I’ll show you to your new home.

GRACE: [breaking down] Hollis, no.

HOLLIS: I need vampires, Grace. I’ve… inherited a problem. And I’ll figure out another solution, eventually. Maybe. But I can’t just have these… ghouls running around. I need real, honest to goodness vampires. And you are the only one who can do it.

GRACE: … Hollis, how-

HOLLIS: If you walk with me now, I won’t touch Bea. I’ll call off the ghouls. And she’ll be safe. But you’re not seeing her again.

GRACE: How can I trust you?

HOLLIS: You can’t. But do you have any other options?

GRACE: [a long pause, very quiet] No. No, I don’t think I do.

HOLLIS: Good girl. 

GRACE: Don’t patronize me.

HOLLIS: Come. Let’s go see your new digs. I’ll send Bea your regards.

GRACE: Please Hollis, please, just let me talk to her-

HOLLIS: No, no no. It’s just going to make both of you go feral, and I’m pretty tired of feral weirdos. So you either walk or I drag you.

GRACE: [quiet, angry] … Fine.

HOLLIS: Do you want me to just tell you to do it?

GRACE: Will it make it easier?

HOLLIS: Probably.

GRACE_NARRATION: Every part of me is screaming. Every single cell in my body is begging me to claw at Hollis until we are both ribbons but I can’t, I can’t, I can’t risk it. A single wrong move, a miscalculated swing, anything, and I’ve doomed not only myself but Bea as well. And I can’t do that for her. I can’t. I won’t. I can’t. It’s me or it’s her. And I choose me. 

GRACE: [a long sigh] Do it, then.

HOLLIS: [SFX: compels] Go downstairs. Do not turn back. Go to the room at the far end of the hall. Stay there until I come for you.

GRACE_NARRATION: Bea, I’m so sorry- [cut off harshly]

GRACE: [flat] Ok. [SFX: she starts walking away, the door closes behind her]

HOLLIS: [a pleasant little ‘hm!’, like they’re pleased with themselves] I should reach out to my interior designer, make a few changes in here. [SFX: they sit back in the chair, contented sigh]

 

[SFX: transition. A cab pulls up and Bea storms out, furious]

 

BEA: [SFX: getting out the car] NO I’M NOT TIPPING, I TOLD YOU TO STAY OFF FUCKING EGLINTON. [SFX: slams the door] FUCK.

RHYS: It’s ok! It’s ok! We’re here, let’s get inside- oh shit…

BEA: What? RHYS, WHAT?

RHYS: I don’t think a window up there should be broken.

BEA: Oh… oh fuck, ok, fuck, come on-

LENNOX: [from behind them] You’re too late.

BEA: [SFX: stops] What?

RHYS: How’d you get here so fast?

LENNOX: It’s a quick flight. Sorry, Bea, you must be so tired. That must’ve delayed you.

BEA: Lennox, what the fuck are you talking about? What do you mean I’m too late?

LENNOX: You’re not getting Grace out here anytime soon.

BEA: The meeting?

LENNOX: It’s done. It’s over. Hollis wins. They get everything.

BEA: You shut the fuck up, you… fucking get in there and you STOP them-

LENNOX: [explodes] You think I want to be out here?! I’d rip their fucking heads off if I could! The double-crossing little bastard-

BEA: What? No, no, you… let me in there, come on-

LENNOX: It’s TOO LATE.

BEA: [SFX: slams her hand against his chest] Go in there and… command them! Compel them! DO IT!

LENNOX: You think it’s that easy? I’m not a fucking wizard, Bea! There are RULES. There are LAYERS of security. There are MONSTERS in there. And I don’t have that kind of power anymore. [SFX: sits down on the curb, exhausted, he gives a little sad chuckle] You work your whole goddamn life amassing power and it can all be ripped away from you so quickly. The most intangible, the easiest to go.

BEA: Lennox, where is she?

LENNOX: Hollis has her. Hollis got their claws in early. If I’d been smart… ah, hindsight.

RHYS: Seriously, can’t you go in there?

LENNOX: There are a legion of ghouls in there you twit. I am but one man. Even I, for all my years and all my… my power… I can’t take that on. I can’t win against this.

RHYS: Fuck. So… Now what?

LENNOX: Go home. Leave the city. Walk into the sun. Who cares?

RHYS: You bust out of there, why can’t Grace too?

LENNOX: She’s underground by now. Hollis is going to trap her and bleed her for all she’s worth. Vampires, born anew. At the cost of one.

BEA: [SFX: storms up to him and starts hitting him] You MOTHERFUCKER, you WASTE ALL THIS TIME FUCKING WITH ME and now Grace is TRAPPED in there and it’s YOUR FAULT.

LENNOX: You know what, Bea? In this moment, I’ll agree with you.

BEA: Fuck. FUCK!

RHYS: There has to be a way in there.

LENNOX: Not for you two. Not like this. Not against them.

BEA: Rhys… I…

RHYS: I know. I know. We’ll… we’ll find a way in.

LENNOX: It’s a death sentence.

BEA: We’re already dead, Lennox. What’s one step lower?

LENNOX: Oh, you don’t want that. I’ve seen it. And it’s a nightmare.

BEA_NARRATION: He looks defeated. Not cowed or hunched, just defeated. A man aware that the world is closing in on him. That the soft power that he spent years cultivating was too soft, too ephemeral. That the hard power was too brittle, shatterable. Lennox could walk away from this. He still has money. He still has other places he could go. Connections, other parts of a world we’ll never see. But I know a tool when I see it. And I’m not letting him walk away from this that easily…

BEA: We’re getting her out. And you are coming with us.

RHYS: What?

LENNOX: Hah! You think I want to be a part of this?

BEA: I think you do. Because it’s not just Grace on the line anymore. It’s your entire sense of self. It’s your pride. It’s your legacy. And you’re just going to let Hollis rip it all away from you like that?

LENNOX: [quietly] You think I have any interest in putting my neck on the line?

BEA: Nope. But you’re going to. Because if you walk now, you will always be known as someone who ran. A king without a kingdom. And what good is that to anyone? What good is that to you?

LENNOX: You are an impetuous little bird.

RHYS: Hey, you’re just as screwed as we are.

BEA: You know what we are up against. You know this world. And we…

LENNOX: A couple of nothings.

RHYS: [shrug] I dunno man, I’m pretty great.

BEA: He is. You can run, Lenny. Or you can stand and fight. And if we die, well, then no big loss. But I want Grace back. And I know you do too. Sentimentality is a weakness? It’s a weapon, my dear. You know how to wield it, and so do I.

RHYS: [quietly to Bea] Do you trust him?

BEA: Does it matter?

LENNOX: No, it doesn’t. I don’t trust you either.

BEA: Good. No pretense then. [sigh] Ok. Lennox, one more business deal. You help us, we help you. We go in there, we get her out, and then I don’t care what you do afterwards.

LENNOX: You betray me and I’ll-

BEA: You’ll kill me. Whatever. Threaten me all you want, but I know exactly who you are now. [sigh] Let’s go back to the office. We need to talk about what we’re up against. Come on. [SFX: they all turn into bats and fly away]

 

[end]

 

Credits

Featuring the voices of:

Emily Kellogg as Grace
Alex Nursall as Bea
Ian Boddy as Rhys
Rob Deobald as Lennox
J Strautman as Hollis
Kat Letwin as Wilhelmina
Justin Thomas James as Bill
Shaun Oldfield as Michael
Rach Shelkey as the Board Member
and Phil Wright as the Security Guard

Woodbine is an original podcast created, written, and produced by Alex Nursall and Emily Kellogg
This episode was written and directed by Alex Nursall
Production and promotion by Emily Kellogg
Engineering and sound design by Ian Boddy
Theme by Phil Wright
Music by Phil Wright and Ian Boddy
Recorded at Pirate Sound
Artwork by Andy Kelly
Distributed by Realm