EPISODE 1: PILOT- THE SEVENTH OF JUNE IS OUT NOW
Transcript for the episode under the cut
Click
Bug: Okay, Bug, you've got this. How does this thing work?
Multiple Clicks, clunking sounds etc.
Bug: Come on, you stupid thing, work! Why won't-
Bug: Oh. It's... already recording. Stupid. Let's try this again.
Click
Bug (in fake-cheerful voice): Hi everyone! My name is Bug Whitlock. My pronouns are they/them... I think. Today is my eighteenth birthday. Yay!
Bug (in their normal voice): God, that sounds awful.
Click
Bug: Hi, I'm Bug. Errr... as of today, I am eighteen. I have black hair and brown eyes. I moved into my new flat today, where I found this super-old tape recorder and decided to find out if it works, because why not. Also, journaling is supposedly good for your mental health or something, so... yeah.
A short pause
Bug: Man, this is stupid. I mean, it's not like anyone is going to hear this, so what's the point of it anyway. Just... talk into a recorder?
Bug: Ah, forget it.
Click
Click
Bug: Okay, so this might sound stupid, but I feel like I should finish this entry at least. So, what did I do today? I spent about six hours on the train ride here, then I got lost multiple times, since Pottersburgh is a pretty city, but also one that's quite difficult to navigate. I spent about five minutes just (chuckles) standing in front of my landlords apartment and contemplating all of my life choices leading up to this point, before I went in and got the key to this apartment. Then I started unpacking my stuff, before I found the recorder... Yeah, that's about it.
Short silence.
Bug: I have a bit of money saved up, but since I'll need groceries and stuff, I'll only be able to pay the rent for about... two months? So I, er, have to find a job fast, otherwise I'd have to go back. And we don't want that!
A small laugh that sounds more desperate than amused
Bug: Shit, this whole thing was a terrible decision. Maybe if I'd just stayed, I- it-
A short pause
Bug: Wait. What was that?
Distant voices
Bug: I thought the other flat was empty, but someone is yelling. I- I can't quite make it out, but something about... rats? And... about children.
The voices continue, before staying quiet.
Bug: It stopped. I should- I should probably go investigate to make sure that everyone's okay and stuff.
Short Silence.
Bug: But... what if it's just the tv? I don't know the situation and I don't wanna be intruding or annoying, I just moved in, I...
But if someone's in danger, and I do nothing-
Short pause
Bug: Wait here a minute.
They snort.
Bug: I'm talking to a recorder like it's a person. That's, like, super weird.
A short pause.
Bug: Wait a minute.
Click
Click
Bug (in a shaky voice): Okay, so... I went downstairs and knocked. I was kinda worried that I'd be intruding in some personal stuff, but nobody answered. So I knocked again, no answer. But then I noticed that the door wasn't locked and I opened it, looked inside and...
They gulp.
Bug: Nothing. It was dusty, like really dusty. Nobody has been there for at least ten years, and there was certainly no one there a few minutes ago, or there would've been footprints. I went through the whole apartment, it has the same layout as mine. Absolutely nothing, except for dust and dead flies. But I heard a voice just now, it's gotta be on the recording.
A shaky laugh
Bug: I mean, there's gotta be a rational explanation. It's just... not possible, right? Maybe I misheard and it's actually a noise that came from the next house. Or... maybe I fell asleep for a second. It's nothing. Probably.
A pause.
Bug: I'm just... scared. Because I mean- I need this to work. 'Cause if it doesn't, then all that secret planning, all that money I saved, then that would have been for nothing. And I would have to go back home. And I just...
A sob.
Bug: I thought that if I just got here everything would be okay, but it's not. I'm scared, and alone, and now I'm apparently hallucinating voices. That are talking about rats, of all things. Why am I even still talking into this thing? I am sitting on the floor and I am narrating my feelings into an old-timey recorder that doesn't even belong to me. Look at me, I'm Bug Whitlock and I'm unable to do anything without feeling sorry for myself , apparently.
A pause
Bug: Focus on the good things, Bug. I am in my new home. I have some money saved up, not much, but it's there. If everything went according to plan, my parents have no idea where I am right now. I am a legal adult who can make their own decisions. I am not at my parents house anymore. Deep breaths. Deep breaths, Bug.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
They sigh.
Bug: It's getting late, I should probably go to bed. This won't lead to anything.
Silence, then knocking.
Bug: Who the-
Rustling, then a click.
Click.
Bug: Okay, so... this dude just knocked. He said that his name was Jay and that he lived in the apartment above mine. He'd seen that I just moved in and wanted to bring me some risotto he made. He also had a really cool cane, it had birds and stuff all around.
Sniffling.
Bug: I'm actually kind of getting emotional over this right now. It's just... really nice, you know? I mean, he doesn't even know me. It just means a lot.
A short pause.
Bug: Also, this risotto smells, like, really good. I mean, yeah, you can't really tell, since this is a recording, but this snell is heavenly, it's like paradise for tastebuds. Man, Jay really knows how to make risotto. I owe him my life.
Short pause
Bug: Also, I just realized that I haven't eaten anything today. Errr, so... that's not good.
They laugh nervously.
Bug: I didn't really drink anything either. No wonder I'm such a wreck today.
A short pause
Bug: I'm going to eat the risotto now and then I'll go to sleep. I'll have to go grocery shopping tomorrow, since I don't have any food right now or furniture- I'm literally sleeping in a sleeping bag in the middle of my living room. But I hope to change that as soon as I'm earning a bit of money. Finding a job is... also on my to-do list, heh.
A short pause
Bug: Well, then, good night. I'll try to make another entry tomorrow. Bye!
Click
Click
Bug: Me again, half an hour later. I think I might've found something.
The sound of paper rustling
Bug: So, when I searched the empty apartment earlier, I found a piece of paper that was completely crumpled up. I didn't think it was important, but I took it with me anyway. I just looked at it, and it's a list of names, adresses and ages. All of them children. One is five years old, one is seven, one's ten... And then- here- the date of their dissappearance. The oldest one is about a year ago, and the newest one is... the twenty-first of june. In fourteen days. What does this mean? Is this... the calendar of a serial kidnapper?
A short pause
Bug: What did I get myself into?
Click