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Ep 13 | TRANSCRIPT



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