The Incident (Vol. 4)

Silver Authorization

Public Media and Transcripts

Time: 14:00

Location: Wellner Square

Media Type: Public, news transcript

[Click]

Newsperson: Welcome, one and all, to 2 O’Clock Live! I’m Cassidora Gibson, and I’m here in Wellner Square. The weather is bright and sunny, but the mood is not. At 7:00 pm last night, Cail G. Siron was filed as missing after he failed to return home. The local police have been searching for him since they were called, unfortunately to no avail. Rumors abound that the Bureau of Official Research deployed an entire order of search last night—before Cail was reported missing. What do they know that we don’t? Do they have something to do with Cail’s disappearance? More on this soon. Until next time, I’m Cassidora Gibson. Good afternoon, and as always, stay safe.

[Beep]

[Click]

Investigator: So you still can’t locate the LDO?

Chief Security Officer: No. Officer [Redacted] and I have looked in all the places that make sense–

Investigator: You haven’t looked in the ones that don’t, then?

Officer: No, but we’ve been looking for hours. The LDO isn’t here.

Investigator: And if I go and look, and find her?Officer [Looking pale-faced at his phone]: Y’all…

Chief: Well then, good for you, but I’m not looking any more. We are wasting time. We need to figure out a plan.

Officer: Um. Hello?

Investigator: We can’t very well proceed in this investigation without the one person certified to properly use a lie detector.

Officer: LISTEN, PLEASE!!

[The other two jump]

Chief: You can’t talk like that to your superiors. 

Investigator: We don’t have time for this. Let him talk, Chief.

Officer: Have either of you seen the 2 O’Clock Live news broadcast?

Chief: …No?

Officer: It’s… it’s not good. There’s a missing person case, and—

Investigator: What does this have to do with the current investigation?Officer: …Let me finish, will you?

Chief: Go on, spit it out.Officer: The public somehow found out about the order of search, and they’re saying that we might somehow have something to do with the civilian's disappearance.

Chief: What? They think we—

Investagator: It doesn’t matter.

Officer and Chief: How?

Officer: This—the witness is turning the public against us!Chief: Explain yourself, Investigator.

Investigator: Who was the first person the witness killed here?

Chief: Agent [Redacted]?Investigator: Yes! And where’s a better place to hide than the Agent’s mansion?

Chief: Oh. Oh!Officer: How does this negate the public opinion?Investigator: The witness made a mistake. In trying to incriminate us in the public eye, they gave us exactly what we need to get them sent to jail.

Chief: Precisely! Before this, none of their transgressions were public. Convincing the county jail would’ve been a pain. But now, if we can prove that they kidnapped or killed Cail Siron, we’ll be undeniable! 

Investigator: I will send the LSC a report of this and inform them of our plans. [Keyboard clicking] [Ding] Report has been sent.Chief: We good to go?Investigator: Yes.Officer [quietly]: No.

[Beep]

[Click]

Investigator: There. That’s the house.Officer: Sheesh. What do they get paid?

[Silence]

Chief: That is not our focus, Officer.

Officer: Right. Sorry.

Investigator: Let’s move.

[Everyone gets out of the car. Investigator and Chief slam their doors, but Officer closes it super quietly.]

Investigator: Are we ready to finally end this case?

Chief: [The sound of a gun being loaded] Yes.

Officer: [Nervously] Yes!

Investigator: Well then, here we go.

[Beeps as the Chief Security Officer inputs a code. The gates groan open.]

[Boots crunch on gravel as the three walk silently towards the mansion.]

Investigator: Wait–! [She grabs the Chief’s arm, which he was about to raise and knock with.] Try the door first.

[The door knob rattles] 

Chief: Locked.

Investigator: Perfect.

Officer: “Perfect”? Why is having to force our way in “perfect”?

Investigator: An open door means vacant. Means untouched, unprotected. But this door- it’s locked. Meaning there is something important inside. A secret that, to whomever locked this, is worth protecting.

Chief: “To whomever”? Don’t you mean the witness?Investigator: Of c-

[A loud bang and the door is thrown open. All three stumble back in surprise.]

Chief: What the-

Officer: What was that?

[Investigator walks up to the now-open doorway and looks in.]

Investigator: There’s no one. The explosion must have been triggered via a pressure plate of some sort out here.

Chief: Well, I guess we don’t need to try to figure out how to open the door.

Officer: Why install an explosive that opens the door and doesn’t harm us at all? It doesn’t make sense.

Investigator: Little about this case has. Come on.

[She steps into the mansion with the Chief close behind. Once again, Officer hesitates.] 

Officer: This is definitely a trap.

[A beat of silence, then they spin on their heels with a crunch of gravel and hurry inside.]

[Beep]

[Click]

[Humming, and the soft sound of rope rubbing against clothes and skin.]

Unknown: Alright, hold still. When I pull the rope tight it’s going to hurt either way, but it hurts less if you’re still.

Cail: Just—just don’t kill me. Please.

Unknown: Oh, don’t worry. Killing you is not a part of today’s performance! Tomorrow’s, of course, is a different story.

Cail: Why do you talk like that?Unknown: For many reasons, Mr. Siron! The first one being–

[A large boom echoes through the mansion. Unknown slowly turns towards the closed door of the room.]

Unknown: Well, that’s interesting. 

Cail: Is your “performance” not going to plan?Unknown: No play is ever perfect, sir. And this particular deviation is only a tad bit [A click as they lock the door to the room] early. 

[Beep]

[Click]

Chief: I say we split up. Cover more ground.

Officer: No! That’s exactly what they want us to do!

Investigator: Which is why we’re going to do it. Make the witness think we’re playing her precious little game.Chief: You know, lull her into a false sense of security.

Officer: But—

Investigator: Well, which ways, Chief?

Chief: Investigator, you go straight. Officer you go left. I’ll go right. Meet back in an hour.

[Chief and Investigator’s footsteps move off, getting quieter and quieter. Officer is alone.]

Unknown: That went exactly as expected. Lovely how easily people can lure themselves into traps simply by trying to be smart. 

[The Officer doesn’t startle. He just turns around slowly.]

Officer: Knew it.

Unknown [Laughs]: That you did! You thought it was a trap. You tried to stay together. And you are the one no one listens to. [They pull out a kitchen knife.] Which is exactly what I was counting on.

Officer: Brave talk for someone wearing long sleeves, long pants, and a ski mask. I know who you are already.

Unknown: Oh, do you? Did the word finally oblige you and make sense? Please, spill. [They whirl the knife in their hand] Who do you think I am?

[Beep]

[Click]

Chief: So many doors. So many locked doors. Investigator [Redacted] said that a locked door always means it’s hiding something, but I’m beginning to think these are exactly as they appear to be. Doors that are old, dusty, and not in use. [He sighs] An hour might be too much— 

[A thud echoes from behind one of the numerous doors.] 

Chief [Whispered]: What was that? [They reach for the door knob and try to turn it. Locked.] Well, I guess I finally get to test out my lock-picking skills. [A whole lot of rattling and clicking that echoes in the silent hall] 

Chief: Come on, ya stupid thing—[A sharp click as the lock finally gives, and the door opens with a creak.]

[The Chief walks through the door and stops dead.]

Chief: Agent [Redacted]?

Agent: Hello there. Little help, if you wouldn’t mind. [The Agent is tied to a chair which is lying on its side, clearly having fallen over.]

Chief: I—We—We thought you were dead!

Agent: No, I am quite alive, my friend. I did sustain some damage, however, which I would show you, but…

Chief: Sorry, yes. Let me help you. [He rushes forward and sets the chair upright, then sets about working at the knots.] 

Agent: Thank you. [They stand up, stretch, then turn to face Chief.] I take it you found the dagger, then?

Chief: Yes.

Agent: I was stabbed—but it missed any vital organs. [They lift their shirt slightly to reveal an angry scar.]

Chief: Ouch. [They glance around.] Come on. Let’s get you out of here.

[Beep]

[Click]

Investigator: Come out, come out, wherever you are, murderer!

Unknown: No need to shout, my dear. I’m right behind you.

[The Investigator spins out to face them, gun locked and loaded]

Unknown: Well look at that! You are quite prepared. That’s good to see.

Investigator: Glad you like it so much. It’s the last time you’re ever going to see something you enjoy again.

Unknown [Amused]: Cause you’re gonna kill me?

Investigator: [Unknocks gun, and pulls out hand cuffs.] No. I’m not a murderer. You are going to jail.

Unknown: Ah, ah, ah! That’s not in the blocking for today! And the thing that always ruins the show the fastest is going off script. [During this, they lean down towards the Investigator.]

Investigator: Too bad for your little show then. [She reaches up and pulls off Unknown’s mask.]

Investigator: …Agent [Redacted]?!

[The figure laughs]

Figure: No, no, no. I am no Agent. We are, however, related. [He extends his hand as if to shake.] Name’s Carl [Redacted]. It is a pleasure to meet you, Investigator.

[Beep]