00:00.970
ANNOUNCER
For information on upcoming episodes, merch, and other ways to support the podcast, follow us on Instagram @JacobsStanleypodcast or on Twitter @InappropriateF and check out our website, jakobstanley.com to submit your own story to the podcast.
00:22.050
BARKBOX
Got a doggo and wanna support the poddo? Use the affiliate link in our show notes BarkBox.com/jakobstanley, that’s Jakob with a “K” and sign up for BarkBox! Each month BarkBox brings your dog more than $40 worth of toys, treats and chews tailored especially for your pup, curated from each month's unique themed collection. Is your puppers is into Stranger things? Would they dig some Beggo Waffles, or a Demo bat? Maybe they prefer the Wizarding World of Harry Potter? And want a sorting hat or Hedwig of their very own. So, click on the link in our show notes barkbox.com/jakobstanley that’s Jakob with a “K” or go to our website jakobstanley.com and use the link provided to help support our pod and bring monthly dog joy right to your door. OH! And by using our link you get an additional month FREE! That's barkbox.com/jakobstanley.
01:09.190
NARRATOR
In October of 2011, 4 college students disappeared in the woods near Porter Township Pennsylvania while researching a documentary on children’s author Jakob Stanley. They remain missing to this day. Last month their recordings appeared online. In an effort to aid in the investigation, the families of those missing have agreed to release the following sound files. If anyone has information on those missing or the identity of the person or persons who uploaded these files, please use the contact information provided. Anything submitted may be used in future episodes. Certain materials referenced in this podcast, including the published works of Jakob Stanley, are currently protected under U.S. copyright law and may be redacted. For legal reasons, some names have been withheld and voices altered. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the podcasters and participants, and do not represent the official policy or position of the Iphigenia County Police Department of Porter Township Pennsylvania or its associates. This podcast contains adult themes and language. Listener discretion is advised.
02:17.330
PROFESSOR WHITAKER
Folder labeled: “013 Rough Cut, Episode 13 - Tell Me a Story: The True Life of Jakob Stanley.”
02:32.434
[PODCAST INTRO SEQUENCE]
NEWS ANNOUNCER
WN [BEEP REDACTED] TV New York.
MUSIC: [80’s NEWS INTRO THEME]
NEWS ANCHOR ‘83
If your child has been to a school book fair recently, chances are they came home with one of this author’s scary books-
MUSIC: [80’s SUNDAY TALK SHOW THEME]
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
Our guest’s first anthology leapt to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list -
MUSIC: [LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW INTRO APPLAUSE]
LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST ‘86
- Thank you. Thank you! Over the past few years, he has become a household name -
MUSIC: [PODCAST THEME]
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- Bridging the gap between Alvin Schwartz and Stephen King -
TV PREACHER
- The devil is among us, friends.
CONGREGATION
AMEN!
TV PREACHER
He’s among us, in the form of a writer. -
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
- The book might have struggled during it initial release in 1977, but now “Tell Me A Story: Under the Bed That’s Over My Head”, has skyrocketed -
ALSC COMMITTEE REP
- So many parent organizations complained that his work was too sophisticated for children-
TV PREACHER
- He has infiltrated your homes, and your children’s minds-
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- His second macabre anthology “Tell Me A Story: Moonless Sky and Other Friends” sold out from bookstores in mere minutes. Becoming a controversial -
NEWS ANCHOR ‘83
- Stanley's books ranked on the American Library Association’s “100 Most Frequently Challenged Books” from 1981-1993 -
TV PREACHER
- Stanley’s books promote disobedience, violence and the occult! Lord have mercy -
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- The 3rd volume in his “Tell Me A Story” collection “The Floor That Creaks, the Closet That Speaks and the Tip Toes That You Walk On” was released in 1986 to mass acclaim -
ALSC COMMITTEE REP
- All that fussing, just made his work more popular -
TV PREACHER
- Check your children’s rooms, check their bookshelves, check their back-packs! -
YOUTUBER
- I do think his final book, released in ‘99, “TMAS: The nightmare, The Dream and the Places Between,” was by far his best work.-
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- His work has been described as “subversive” and “dark,” I simply describe it as genius.
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
- It is my pleasure to introduce -
LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST ‘86
- Please welcome -
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- Ladies and gentleman, please welcome -
SUNDAY MORNING TALK SHOW HOST ‘81
- Jakob Stanley.-
LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOST ‘86
- Mister Jakob Stanley.
PUBLIC RADIO HOST ‘92
- Author, Jakob Stanley.
[Applause.]
MUSIC: [POD THEME SYNTH]
04:11.650
AVERY/NARRATOR
Little to nothing is known about the life of this elusive author. And since 1999 Jakob Stanley seems to have completely dropped off the face of the earth. Until a short two-line obituary appeared in a small town paper, over a year ago.
TOLEN/NARRATOR
From BOO Labs and Red Cup Media, I'm Tolen Reid -
AVERY/NARRATOR
And I'm Avery Fischer, this is TELL ME A STORY: THE TRUE LIFE OF JAKOB STANLEY.
SFX: The mic pops on, it cuts in and out a few times.
TOLEN
Check, check, check. ...
SFX: Tolen continues to adjust levels.
TOLEN (CONT’D)
Check, check... Uh, I just woke up in our room. It is 2:55 in the afternoon. ... Uh, what day is it?
AVERY
You ask that again and I swear to God.
TOLEN
Sorry, I didn’t know you were awake.
05:18.582
AVERY
I’m not.
RJ
Why are you talking?
CHUCK
Did you say it was 2:55?
AVERY
How is it so late?
CHUCK
We should-
SFX: Chuck scrambles to get up and immediately lays back down.
CHUCK (CONT’D)
Oh, I got up... too fast, I'm going to... stay here now.
RJ
Am I hungover?
AVERY
My tongue’s fuzzy-
CHUCK
Did we drink last night?
TOLEN
Honestly, I can’t remember.
AVERY
-My whole mouth actually.
RJ
Wait... Oh... yeah, I’m gonna throw up.
SFX: RJ runs to the bathroom and slams the door.
AVERY
BAH! ... Loud sound.
TOLEN
Do we all feel like shit?
AVERY & CHUCK
Yes.
05:53.750
TOLEN
Weird.
AVERY
Is it? I mean we have been running on empty for the last 3 days...or 4 days... or week?
TOLEN
Can lack of sleep cause this?
CHUCK
Oh God.
SFX: Chuck bounds to the bathroom door and knocks.
AVERY
OH BAH! Loud sound.
SFX: The toilet flushes.
CHUCK
RJ! I need to get in there. ... RJ!
SFX: RJ opens the door.
RJ
Fuck, here.
SFX: Chuck dives into the bathroom and slams the door.
AVERY
No the sound.
RJ
Only dry heaves anyway.
TOLEN
This has gotta be from lack of sleep, right?
06:24.044
RJ
Maybe... Can’t even remember when we last slept?
TOLEN
I barely remember last night.
RJ
Huh, me neither?
AVERY
Yeah, it’s foggy.
TOLEN
Were we at the police station or did I just have a really fucked up dream?
RJ
No, yes, I remember that, sort of.
AVERY
Me too... sort of?
TOLEN
Okay, so not a dream.
SFX: The toilet flushes.
RJ
Yeah, and we... Oh, no...
SFX: RJ bolts to the bathroom door and knocks.
RJ
Not a drill this time.
SFX: Chuck exits and RJ zooms past her and slams the door.
AVERY
Again with the sounds.
SFX: Chuck slowly crosses to a chair and sits.
CHUCK
Seriously, go throw up. It will make all the difference.
TOLEN
Do we have food poisoning?
07:06.214
CHUCK
Did we even eat yesterday?
TOLEN
I think we did?
AVERY
We did! Uh, yeah... Wallace!
TOLEN
That’s right! He brought us dinner.
AVERY
We were supposed to interview him last night? Did we?
SFX: Toilet flushes.
TOLEN
I think we did?
AVERY
Uh, I can’t take the spinnies... think I’m gonna try the-
CHUCK
Trust me. Worth it.
SFX: Avery bolts to the bathroom, as RJ opens the door.
RJ
Good luck.
SFX: The door slams. RJ crosses to the bed and lays down.
07:30.350
TOLEN
Should we call Wallace?
CHUCK
RJ, do you remember last night?
RJ
I only vaguely remember the police station?
CHUCK
The police station?
SFX: The toilet flushes.
TOLEN
We remembered that Wallace came over for the interview and brought us dinner.
RJ
Oh, no. Did he give us food poisoning?
TOLEN
That’s what I was thinking.
CHUCK
If we interviewed him, we should have those sound files right?
RJ
Uh, yes let me look.
SFX: Toilet flushes as RJ opens her laptop and begins typing.
TOLEN
Or we could just call him?
SFX: Avery exits the bathroom.
07:58.290
AVERY
Not the worst oral discharge experience I’ve ever had, but close.
RJ
What was the worst?
SFX: Avery lays down on the bed next to RJ.
AVERY
Cottage cheese and orange soda, courtesy of raw sugar cookie dough.
CHUCK
Mine is cherry pie and eggnog, courtesy of eggnog.
RJ
Shellfish courtesy of shellfish. Tolen?
TOLEN
I don’t throw up. - Chuck, do you not want to call Wallace for some reason?
CHUCK
What? No. ... Wait, you don’t throw up?
SFX: RJ stops typing and closes her computer.
AVERY
Yeah, odd right?
RJ
Not even like... as a kid?
TOLEN
No, I do not throw up.
AVERY
He can’t burp either.
08:25.680
RJ
Interesting.
TOLEN
Can we come back to Wallace?
CHUCK
Jesus.
TOLEN
What’s your issue?
CHUCK
I don’t know. Maybe I just don’t think you should keep pestering the man.
TOLEN
I don’t pester.
RJ
Wait, didn’t you ask him to hide evidence?
AVERY
Oh right. I remember that now.
TOLEN
I didn’t ask him to hide evidence. There was no evidence of anything, because we didn’t do anything. He offered to help and I accepted. - Shit! Where’s the puzzle box?
CHUCK
Tolen, chill, your “precious” is over there on the dresser.
TOLEN
Oh, thank God.
08:55.836
AVERY
Right! We have the manuscript.
RJ
Shit, yeah. How do we have the manuscript?
CHUCK
Not... sure.
TOLEN
Uh, RJ?
RJ
Yeah?
TOLEN
Any luck with the sound files?
RJ
Right, sorry. On it.
SFX: RJ goes back to the computer and types.
AVERY
Why is my computer wearing your jacket?
CHUCK
What?
RJ
Do we have any other memory cards out?
AVERY
My laptop... it’s propped up on the chair with your jacket on it.
SFX: Avery crosses, tosses Chuck's jacket at her.
CHUCK
Hey!
AVERY
Sorry, I have no depth perception right now.
SFX: Avery grabs her laptop and sits back down on the bed.
TOLEN
Where’s the case thing?
RJ
It’s over here, got it.
CHUCK
Oh, we must have shot the interview with it.
09:24.264
AVERY
Yeah, I think we didn’t wanna spend the time to set up a camera camera.
SFX: Avery starts typing on her laptop.
AVERY (CONT’D)
It’s dead, is the charger-
CHUCK
Here.
SFX: Chuck passes her a charger.
AVERY
Thank you.
SFX: Avery plugs in her computer and turns it on.
RJ
Huh... Maybe we offloaded everything already?
TOLEN
Here check the drive.
SFX: Tolen passes RJ the drive.
AVERY
We can just watch down the video file?
TOLEN
Yeah, but-
AVERY
-Tolen. We will find the cards. Let’s just figure out last night first, okay?
TOLEN
Fine.
RJ
You find it?
AVERY
I think it ...
CHUCK
Seriously man, you don’t throw up?
AVERY
Yup. Ok, here we go.
SFX: Everyone gathers on the bed to review the video file from Avery’s computer.
AVERY (CONT’D)
Let me... okay.
SFX: Avery raises the volume all the way up and scrubs through the video to get to the beginning.
09:55.270
RJ
That file is forever long.
TOLEN
Almost 5 hours?
AVERY
Huh.
CHUCK
I am not watching 5 hours.
AVERY
We’ll skim.
SFX: Avery hits play at a random point in the video from the previous night. We barely hear a second of it before Tolen says:
TOLEN
Don’t start there, go back to the... the top.
CHUCK
We just said we weren’t gonna to watch the whole thing.
TOLEN
Well, you said that.
AVERY
Yeah, but I have to agree.
RJ
Skim!
TOLEN
Wait, wait, wait. Look.
RJ
What?
TOLEN
Look, right there.
AVERY
What?
TOLEN
In the background, the reflection from the window...
CHUCK
I can’t tell what that is?
TOLEN
You’re editing, those are your editing headphones.
10:22.750
AVERY
Oh, yeah.
CHUCK
How did you even see that?
AVERY
Huh. I must have put a rough cut of yesterday together on RJ’s computer.
RJ
I didn’t see it on there.
AVERY
I reorganized the drive, each day has a folder - I’ll look.
TOLEN
So, you were the last one with the memory cards.
AVERY
I guess?
TOLEN
Where did they end up?
AVERY
Fuck, Tolen, I don’t remember, but if I’m editing, that means it’s all been loaded to the drive, so don’t worry about it.
10:45.370
TOLEN
Fine.
SFX: Avery scrubs back and hits play. The quality of the recording is low.
SFX: Wallace has just started putting out trays of food before them.
WALLACE
... No problem-o. And again I am sorry, I thought I had all your Stanley stuff in the car with me tonight. I think I was trying to juggle too much with the dinner and all.
TOLEN
Huh, what? Oh, yeah, don’t worry about it.
CHUCK
I don’t know how you can even read right now?
TOLEN
Huh?
CHUCK
You haven’t taken your eyes off that manuscript all night?
TOLEN
Oh yeah, no, I’m too tired to take in the actual words... but I’m really... the illustrations.
WALLACE
That good, huh?
TOLEN
It’s brilliant.
SFX: Wallace starts setting out food.
AVERY
I’m still afraid to look at it? ... Like I’m scared it would turn to salt before my eyes.
RJ
Is it as fucked up as they say?
SFX: RJ approaches and Tolen pulls the manuscript away, protecting it.
TOLEN
Bu-bu-bah. Not with food hands.
RJ
Sorry, dad.
SFX: RJ walks away and plops down to eat.
11:28.930
WALLACE
Ah, tomorrow I can bring Stanley’s stuff back here or you can pick it up on your way out of town. Whatever’s best.
CHUCK
We’ll come by first thing in the morning, we really need to get out of here ASAP.
WALLACE
Y’all have been up for days. Might need a little more sleep than you think.
CHUCK
I’m sure we’ll be fine.
WALLACE
I’m not kidding around, you gotta take care of yourself. If you guys push to rush outta here and anything were to happen to y’all on the road? I’d never forgive myself. So, sleep for as long as you need, ya hear?
TOLEN
Yeah, we hear.
SFX: Avery scrubs to another section.
TOLEN
Wait, wait, wait. There.
SFX: Avery hits play, the team listens.
12:02.690
RJ
Oh, my God!
TOLEN
Try the biscuits.
CHUCK
Oh, you gotta try the biscuits. And the mashed potatoes. They are straight up heroin.
AVERY
This is... the best thing ... I have ever tasted.
RJ
What’s this?
WALLACE
Homemade apple cider.
RJ
You make this yourself?
WALLACE
Nothing to it really. Just mash up some apples, add some yeast, then wait a few weeks for everything to ferment. Set it and forget it. Bingo-bango, homemade apple cider.
SFX: Avery pauses the video.
RJ
So, I guess we did drink last night.
AVERY
Huh.
CHUCK
That explains a lot.
12:36.264
TOLEN
Go there, that looks kinda like an interview?
SFX: Avery scrubs to the next section.
RJ
Why did we set up like that?
CHUCK
Wallace is barely in frame?
AVERY
I have no idea.
SFX: Avery hits play, the team listens.
WALLACE
You really gonna try to do this now, y’all are fried?
TOLEN
No we can totally do this.
WALLACE
You gotta understand I didn’t know him know him, he just would talk to me every now and again.
TOLEN
What about?
WALLACE
Mostly property upkeep, ya know? Neighborly stuff, helped him clear underbrush, this and that.
TOLEN
He ever talk to you about buying the Mendenhall property?
WALLACE
Well, not about buying it... I just knew it was all his land. His family had been in that house forever. There used to be a bunch of other staff housing near there, but that’s the only one left standing.
TOLEN
So, they definitely worked for the Mendenhall?
WALLACE
Well, back in the day, that’s how he come to live in the house. But, I don’t know anything else about that.
13:30.270
RJ
Were they members of The Light?
WALLACE
The what?
RJ
Humm.
WALLACE
Then, when his momma got taken in as a patient-
TOLEN
Whoa, wait! His mom was a patient?
WALLACE
I mean, that’s what he said, their momma got taken into care at the Mendenhall and they let the kids stay at the house. Which worked out well, cause she was able to visit them.
TOLEN
Holy shit.
RJ
I wonder if-
SFX: There is a loud crash of breaking glass. Avery has accidentally knocked over one of the glass apple cider jugs.
AVERY
Oh sorry, sorry, sorry!
13:55.810WALLACE
All right I’m calling it. Interview: time of death 11:58 pm.
TOLEN
No, nononon, but-
WALLACE
-Nope, nope, not another word. Don’t move, you ain’t got shoes on. Let me just-
SFX: Wallace gets up and starts cleaning up the glass.
CHUCK
There's a dustpan in the hall.
SFX: Chuck exits to grab the dustpan.
AVERY
I’m sorry about the jug.
WALLACE
Don’t worry about it, I have plenty more.
SFX: Chuck re-enters with the dustpan and brush. Wallace cleans up the glass.
WALLACE (CONT’D)
Thank you kindly.
TOLEN
Wallace, just a few more questions -
WALLACE
- Tolen come on man, y’all are a mess. - Look, ya gotta come over to my place to get all your Stanley stuff anyway. Might as well put this off after you get a full night’s sleep.
TOLEN
But-
WALLACE
It’s okay. We can do the interview tomorrow.
SFX: Avery pauses the video.
14:38.190
AVERY
I don’t remember that at all.
TOLEN
Fuck, his mom was a patient at the Mendenhall! This is wild.
CHUCK
Guess we never finished the interview.
AVERY
Yeah, I guess... Sorry, Tolen. I know we were just getting somewhere.
TOLEN
But, why does the video go on so long. Go scroll forward.
SFX: Avery scrubs forward.
TOLEN
Okay stop-stop-stop, right there. Play from there.
SFX: Avery hits play, the team listens.
CHUCK
- Cops questioned us for hours.
14:58.650
RJ
I still can’t believe Jane is dead.
TOLEN
I know.
WALLACE
Yeah. Poor thing. Didn’t get to know her too well, but it just breaks your heart, don’t it?
AVERY
Then the station started to fill up with pissed-off locals.
TOLEN
Who really looked nonplussed that we were being let go.
CHUCK
Oh! And cops even got in our faces about Stanley’s remains being missing.
WALLACE
His remains are missing?
AVERY
Creepy right?
WALLACE
Creepy don’t somehow cover it.
CHUCK
OH! Furry mangos!
WALLACE
What?
RJ
Fucking hell, Chuck. It’s Harry Lime.
WALLACE
Oh yeah! We talked about that, didn't we? Ah, late night booze fueled fireside backyard chats. One of my top 10 favorite things.
15:38.370
CHUCK
You have an actual list of top 10 favorite things?
WALLACE
Sure as shit I do. Don’t you?
CHUCK
No, but now I want one!
TOLEN
So, ok, but do you really think that there is any chance Stanley actually could have faked his own death?
WALLACE
I don’t know, man.
TOLEN
I mean did Jakob say something to you that -
WALLACE
- Thought we were done with the interviewing tonight, buddy?
TOLEN
We are...
WALLACE
I tell you what though ... if I faked my own death, the first thing I would do is make sure no one could dig me up to do a DNA test. Especially, if I was a fancy pants writer where the likelihood of a bunch of nosey college kids showing up and poking into my life was high.
TOLEN
Huh... yeah.
WALLACE
And, make it mighty difficult for those doing the poking.
TOLEN
Oh my God!
AVERY
What?
RJ
What is it?
TOLEN
We got our tires slashed... the other day out at the quarry. You don’t think?
CHUCK
“Don’t think” what?
WALLACE
Wait, wait hold on. Someone slashed your tires?
AVERY
Well, popped our tire, I don’t know if it qualifies as “slashed.”
TOLEN
And that recording Avery found!
WALLACE
Whoa, now, what recording?
AVERY
Uh, it's nothing, really.
TOLEN
Seriously, Avery? Come on!
WALLACE
What the hell? You kids alright?
AVERY
Yeah, no it’s fine.
TOLEN
Someone recorded themselves watching us in the woods!
WALLACE
What the hell? Has someone been hassling you? Well? Anyone gonna fill me in? ... Tolen, you look like you’re about to explode?
TOLEN
Okay... So, what if... Okay... Are we... Are we possibly... being run out of town... by Jakob Stanley?
AVERY
Tolen.
17:23.206
TOLEN
Anything is possible!
RJ
Are you that drunk?
TOLEN
No, I’m not! Come on think about it!
CHUCK
Tolen! Knock that dumb shit off, man. Jesus.
WALLACE
Y’all should have told me about this.
CHUCK
Well, we were gonna get the hell outta this town, but then the whole murder inquest happened.
WALLACE
I don’t like this one bit. People ‘round here can be rough and tumble. The locals at the station is one thing, but I didn’t know you were singled out before that. Some of these backwoods, ruthless and toothless, ain’t no joke. Y’all need to take this seriously.
SFX: Avery hits pause.
AVERY
Shit.
TOLEN
Was wondering why we had bear spray in the bathroom.
17:59.390
AVERY
I remember the recording now... the one from the quarry.
RJ
Fuck. Jane’s dead.
CHUCK
I know we all feel like shit right now, and the thought of moving at a rapid pace doesn’t sound appealing, but we need to pack up the car and get the hell out of this place, like now. Someone is fucking with us, and I don’t wanna be here long enough to figure out who.
AVERY
Yeah, okay.
SFX: RJ, Avery and Chuck start packing up.
RJ
Tolen? You alright?
TOLEN
So, we’re just gonna run off? What about the Wallace interview?
AVERY
We’ll just do it over the phone.
TOLEN
What about all the stuff from Jakob’s house?
CHUCK
Are you kidding me?
AVERY
Get him to mail it.
TOLEN
But, we literally drive right past his house on our way out of town.
18:41.898
RJ
No, we don’t.
TOLEN
Guys, this feels like a bit of an overreaction. One more day here won’t kill us.
CHUCK
-Hold up. Do you really think we are being stalked by Jakob Stanley or was that just drunk talk? - You do. You think we are being stalked by Jakob Stanley, and you are happy about it!
AVERY
Tolen.
TOLEN
I’m just curious.
CHUCK
Jakob Stanley’s dead!
19:08.970
TOLEN
But it could be someone who is trying to stop us from finding out more about Stanley and THAT could really lead us somewhere!
CHUCK
Hell if I’m willing to be your bait in that little venture!
AVERY
Tolen, this is fucked up. And I’m not willing to put everyone at risk to find out.
RJ
It was different when it was us versus the cops, we kinda knew what we’re dealing with there. But now we have no fucking idea!
CHUCK
And the whole town was frothing at the mouth yesterday, thinking we had something to do with Jane’s death!
AVERY
And, this person screwing with us, whoever it is, could’ve been the person who murdered Jane! We need to go.
SFX: Tolen starts to pack. He grabs the puzzle box from the dresser and a few notes from the creepy out-of-tune music box plays.
19:48.750
TOLEN
What. The. Fuck.
RJ
What is it?... What?
AVERY
What?
TOLEN
The puzzle box...
AVERY
Yeah?
TOLEN
It’s empty.
RJ
Huh?
AVERY
What?!
CHUCK
How the fuck-
AVERY
Oh my God.
CHUCK
No.
RJ
- Check your bags, we could have already packed it up.
SFX: Avery, RJ and Chuck begin frantically riffling through all of their stuff.
TOLEN
Chuck.
CHUCK
Uh-huh.
TOLEN
You said it was in there. You said you saw it.
CHUCK
I saw the box and assumed it was in there.
TOLEN
You assumed? You assumed?!
RJ
I don’t have it.
CHUCK
No, I don’t either.
AVERY
Shit... nothing. Uh, fuck.
CHUCK
You know what, let me call Wallace. I bet he probably picked it up by mistake last night clearing up our mess. ... Two seconds.
SFX: Chuck quickly grabs the phone and ducks into the bathroom to call Wallace.
TOLEN
Avery.
20:39.548
AVERY
It’s okay, Chuck’s probably right, Wallace accidentally packed it up.
RJ
I’m gonna start taking stuff down to the car.
AVERY
The H4N case is empty.
RJ
Shit.
AVERY
Wait. It’s over here. ... Son of a bitch. Were you recording this entire time?
SFX: Chuck exits the bathroom.
CHUCK
Wallace has it.
TOLEN
Oh thank GOD!
AVERY
Oh damn, that almost made my heart explode.
RJ
Oh my God.
CHUCK
Yeah. It was like I thought, he said he must’ve accidentally packed it up with the dinner stuff.
TOLEN
Can we go by there now? Would that be okay with you?
AVERY
Tolen.
TOLEN
THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE HAVE FOUND SINCE GETTING HERE AND I AM NOT LEAVING WITHOUT IT.
21:24.630
TOLEN (CONT’D)
I’ll be in the car.
SFX: Tolen grabs his bag and exits.
RJ
Well, okay then.
SFX: The mic abruptly cuts out.
SFX: A recorder clicks on mid convo.
AVERY
- It’s just weird... one of them is always in the kitchen? Or at least downstairs?
RJ
I would have liked to see them before we left too.
TOLEN
We left a note.
RJ
Eww.
AVERY
It’s not the same thing. - Jesus! Slow DOWN.
TOLEN
I’m not going that fast. ...
SFX: Tolen adjust the mic levels.
TOLEN (CONT’D)
Check, check.
SFX: RJ grabs the H4N.
RJ
I’ll do that, thank you very much!
21:56.660
AVERY
Yeah, both hands back on the wheel.
CHUCK
Why are you even recording this?
TOLEN
We need to have a record of everything. Avery were you able to find the-
AVERY
-Yes, I found the sounds files from yesterday, I am putting things together right now. ... It would be a lot easier to get this done if you were not driving like a maniac right now.
TOLEN
Just - Just get it done. The sooner it’s ready the sooner-
AVERY
- The sooner we can send it to Whitaker. I know, I know.
CHUCK
We’ll have service when we get back on the interstate.
RJ
Thank God.
22:20.504
TOLEN
My phone is at the ready!
AVERY
No. No phone for you, you drive!
TOLEN
No comment from you, you edit!
RJ
Does she have the memory card from this?
TOLEN
Yes, I just put a new one in.
CHUCK
Good, we wouldn’t want to miss a word.
TOLEN
It’s a PODCAST, Chuck!
RJ
So, Tolen the manuscript... you seem to have gotten a good look at it... is it as fucked up as they say?
TOLEN
To be honest, my memory of last night is still a bit fuzzy... and I don’t think I got the chance to really absorb the text -
CHUCK
“Absorb the text”?
TOLEN
-But, from what I do remember, as far as the illustrations go... it definitely was not for kids.
RJ
So, kinda like the drawings from the folio?
TOLEN
What?
RJ
The illustrations in the folio from the FMC... I have pictures on my phone... here.
SFX: RJ passes her phone to Chuck.
23:12.970
CHUCK
Oh, holy crap.
RJ
You see it?
CHUCK
Uh-huh.
TOLEN
What?
CHUCK
Oh, wow.
RJ
Right?
TOLEN
What?!
CHUCK
Hold on.
RJ
Chill.
TOLEN
Guys, you’re killing me.
CHUCK
No, it’s just... this stuff looks pretty similar to the manuscript. Well, what little I got to see over Tolen’s shoulder. These were from the FMC folio?
RJ
Yeah. Everything we catalogued.
TOLEN
Let me see.
CHUCK
Okay.
SFX: Chuck passes Tolen the phone.
TOLEN
NO WAY.
SFX: Avery grabs the phone and tosses back it into the back seat.
23:43.370
TOLEN (CONT’D)
HEY!
CHUCK
Watch it!
AVERY
No phone, only drive.
RJ
You know, this art from the FMC - if you take away the grizzly content, and just go by the illustrator’s style... it does look similar to the artwork from Stanley’s last published book?
CHUCK
I don’t know if I see it.
24:07.416
TOLEN
I have my copy of the last book, it’s in my bag, behind the seat.
RJ
Okay.
SFX: RJ opens Tolen’s bag and roots around.
TOLEN
Uh, yeah in the front pocket.
SFX: RJ pulls out Tolen’s copy of Jakob Stanley’s final published book.
RJ
I don’t know, Chuck, look at this one.
CHUCK
Oh.
24:24.550
TOLEN
What?
RJ
You see it?
CHUCK
Interesting.
TOLEN
What? Are they similar? Let me see.
CHUCK
I mean... there’s a-
RJ
- Tree.
CHUCK & TOLEN
-What?
TOLEN
FUCK!
SFX: Suddenly, Tolen slams on the brakes. The tires squeal. They all scream.
25:30.670
PROFESSOR WHITAKER
End of folder labeled: “013 Rough Cut, Episode 13 - Tell Me a Story: The True Life of Jakob Stanley.”
25:47.598
NARRATOR
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the podcasters and participants. If anyone has information on those missing or the identity of the person or persons who uploaded these files, please use the contact information provided. Anything submitted may be used in future episodes.
[MUSIC AND CLOSING CREDITS]
26:13.170
ANNOUNCER
“Tell Me a Story: The True Life of Jakob Stanley” is a biweekly podcast produced by Sylvia, Whitaker. Please, rate, review and subscribe. If you have had your own unexplainable experience in Iphigenia County, Pennsylvania, we want to hear from you. Please submit your story via our website’s tip-line. - www.jakobstanley.com - stories may be featured in future episodes. Follow us on Instagram @JakobStanleyPodcast or on Twitter @InappropriateF. Episode 14 will be released Wednesday, October 19th.
[Transcripts are generated by a combination of speech recognition and transcribers, and may contain errors.]