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Tower 4
Season 1, Episode 3, Trespassers. I'm sending my brother money directly to his bank account in India because he's apparently too busy practicing his karaoke to go pick up cash. Thankfully, I can still send money his way. Direct to my bank account.
Yes, I know I'm sending to your bank account. Western Union. Send it their way. Send money in-store directly to their bank account in India. Services offered by Western Union Financial Services, Inc., NMLS number 906983, or Western Union International Services, LLC, NMLS number 906985, licensed as money transmitters by the New York State Department of Financial Services. See terms for details. You sure it's okay that I'm doing this? Absolutely. I already talked to Gene. You're fine.
I was heading south on the three-post trail. Amber told Jean about the classical music coming through the radio. They figured it was campers that shouldn't be in the area. I packed up my backpack with water and granola bars. It was 10 in the morning. Bright, sunny day. Apparently there was an old campsite where the trail loops around. Amber told me to try there. It was about six miles away. Two-hour hike.
Has anything like this happened before? Why was it closed down? What do you mean? I'm gonna need more. How does that play into closing down a section of the forest? That sucks.
I think I remember reading something about that a while back. You not helping doesn't mean you're being selfish. But I think people are becoming more and more aware of their impact. No, it's not. Not yet. I actually didn't vote. Really? Really?
Yeah, the last few years have been tough, and I just kind of became a shut-in, especially after Mom passed. I'm sorry about that. It's not your fault. Shit happens, right? It can help. I'm hoping. Although... Although... Although hearing strange noises and creepy music at night doesn't help. Hold on. The music of Beethoven... Okay, you're right. The music isn't creepy. Hearing it over the radio at four in the morning in the middle of the woods, that's creepy. Thank you for clarifying. Don't do my friend Beethoven like that.
I'm not even sure it was Beethoven. I know some, just not a lot. And I've seen Amadeus. The movie. I climbed my way over a rock ledge and back down a steep incline. I made my way out into a clearing and stopped to enjoy the view. Hey, I just made it to some field. Am I close? He could have just said no. Except...
Where do I go? Look for a post or mile marker. I'm not seeing one. I left my binoculars at the tower. I made my way through the tall grass towards the wood line. Would I really pick up music from this far out? Lee, I'm not sure. I thought you would run into someone a lot, you know, if someone was really out there. Why do you keep saying it like that? Like what? Like you don't believe me. I didn't know how that would happen unless they were airing it or playing it over a radio. So is this all for nothing? Not if you find someone.
But you're right, how would the radio pick it up? I don't know. Is the radio picking up anything now? Mozart, static, Falco... Amber consistently teased me, which is why I didn't tell her about the paper in the desk. They were listening. Just thinking about that made my skin prickle. Who would write that and only that? When I turned over the paper, there was a drawing. Or actually scribbles. I couldn't make out what it was. Maybe it was just nonsense. Jesus.
Radio interference, noises in the woods, hidden messages. I just wanted a quiet five months to myself so I could write and relax. Hey, I'm not seeing a path. Really? Nope. I see deer though. I doubt Bambi knows the way. There were four deer about 50 yards away. They'd stop walking when they saw me. I watched as they stood motionless, eyes staring blankly, ears twitching. I took one tiny step which caused them to hop into the brush out of sight.
I continue my way through the tall grass, searching for a post. I'm not seeing... Oh, wait. I think I spotted something. No, a box. A wooden box with an orange circle on it. A supply cache? Ugh, it's locked. There's a combination lock on it. What if there's treasure inside?
A pinecone? Well, I'm not seeing a post. Yeah, I see it now. I walked under the cover of trees following a dirt path once again. I think I forgot it. Yeah. Shit. Am I in trouble?
Really? Shit. I knew I forgot something. Are there bears over here? And that means... Great. Still wish I had the bear spray. Would you consider you and I talking is enough noise? Bells? I don't think I've ever even owned a bell. Jesus, what was that? You gonna scream every five minutes to keep him at bay? If you need me to.
I've always heard that if you encounter a bear in the wild, you should play dead. Should I not curl up into a ball then? Am I talking to myself here? Sunlight gleamed through the branches, creating golden designs on the forest floor. I had to be close, but I wasn't sure. Hey, Mikey. Yeah, the one I'm writing, or should I say trying to write? What's it about? What are you eating? Bananas?
I like how I'm out here in the wilderness, away from my pose, searching for a mysterious musical trespasser while you sit in your safe loft chowing down on dried fruit. Uh, Amber? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. Don't worry though, it went back off the window. Okay. What'd you say? It's not important. No. Tell me about your... Well, it's not a book yet. Okay, but you have a story. I don't really like talking about my projects. Not while they're in development. Oh my god. You're one of those guys. What guys? Private?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Okay, fine. So I've been wanting to write this for a while. I created an outline for it years ago. Actually, it was after a breakup. I'll give you the short version and then expand upon it. Basically, the story revolves around a guy and his relationship with his ex's daughter. Not like that. There's this woman who's mentally unstable and has a daughter. She dates a guy who becomes a father figure for her daughter.
Sadly, their relationship doesn't work out. The guy finds out that the woman is unstable, an alcoholic, and a drug addict with a lot of personal demons. After years of physical and emotional abuse, he leaves her. It's hard for him though because he has fallen in love with her daughter. He thinks of her as his own, but after three years of abuse, he has to get out. He tries calling the cops on her, but nothing comes of it, so he leaves. Nearly like a decade later, he finds out his ex died from a drug overdose and the daughter is now living with her grandmother.
He sees her at the funeral and they end up talking. He actually tries becoming a part of her life again. A role model or father figure. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's a bond they had previously when she was younger. And years later, that bond flourishes. The problem is that she was raised by her mother who was unstable, so she's picked up a lot of those negative traits. The daughter's having trouble in school with friends, alcohol, drugs, and her own personal demons. He disappeared before she was born.
It's a story about love, loss, abuse, addiction, redemption, self-worth, and ultimately being there for someone no matter what. It's loosely based on a past relationship. Different girl. This relationship was before my last. That's an understatement. Cheating, lying, arrests, drugs, physical and emotional abuse, mental breakdowns, the list goes on and on. Um, son.
I'm altering a bit for the book. It's fictional after all. He was two when I met her, five when I finally walked away. I regret it to this day. I know. I mean, I tell myself that any time I think about it. Sometimes I feel like I should have tried harder. Yeah.
And while they never extended to arrests or mental breakdowns, there was still plenty of cheating, lying, and emotional abuse. I just wanted her to get help. You can't force people to get help. They have to want it on their own. She said she was going to AA. She said she'd been seeing a counselor and getting on medication for her depression and anxiety too, but... But it doesn't work if it's all talk. And it was all talk. You promised change. Exactly. I dated this guy, Peter, for every three
loves a tricky thing. Wise words. That's a little pessimistic. Does it really? Eh, who knows. Hey, was Peter the architect? Sorry. In a nutshell, obviously it's a weird relationship with her being so young and only remembering small details of him from the past, but
He decides he's going to be there for her. What do you mean? No, not at all. The daughter, like you said, wants help, wants change. That's why she's able to build a better life than her mother. It's not easy to change, but some people... Some people can. Were you close with your mother and father? That's good. I was close to my mother, but...
My dad, well, that's a little different. We were close for a while then around the time I was 10 or 11 he started acting weird, started working late nights. He kept to himself a lot. Stayed in the study for hours and hours. I think he was cheating on my mom. They started arguing a bunch and then one night after a huge fight he gets in his car and drives off. Never heard from him again. I guess we can be sorry for each other. Another 20 minutes of hiking and I made it to a small clearing.
There was an old sign hanging loosely on a tree by one rusted nail. It read, Site 5. Hey Amber, I made it. I saw a single orange tent with its door flapping in a slight breeze. See anyone? I see a tent. There you go. Go tell them they can't be there. One second. Hello? Hello? I didn't see or hear anyone. I peeked into the open flap and saw two sleeping bags, two small backpacks, a water pouch, and an empty bowl with granola bar wrappers and some other trash.
I walked around the tent to see a rock with some utensils, a beige cruiser hat, and a roll of bandages sitting on it. Hello? Where were these people? Mike, how'd it go? There's no one here. I thought you said you saw a tent. I do. It's right here. There are two sleeping bags inside, but no people. They have to be around there somewhere. I walked around Site 5 surveying the forest. Maybe they went fishing or swimming somewhere? There's no water over there. No lake? No creek?
No. Not even remotely close to Site 5. Maybe they're hunting. They shouldn't be. It's illegal. Yes, but you said this place was off limits, so obviously we aren't dealing with law-abiding types. Let me call Gene and see what he says. Okay. Stay put. I continued to walk along the edge of the site. That's when I saw something sticking out from behind a tree. It didn't look like a normal branch. I walked around the tree to see a hatchet. It was jammed into the bark. I pulled it out and noticed a weird marking in the tree.
I ran my finger over the carved area. This wasn't made with a hatchet. This had been in the tree for a long time. The marking looked like an eyeball with a line running vertically through it. Weird. But for some reason it was vaguely familiar. I waited for Amber's response but nearly ten minutes passed and nothing. "Amber? Amber, you copy?" She still must be talking to Gene. I put the hatchet down on the rock by the tent. That's when I noticed another one of those strange markings on a different tree.
I walked over to it and ran my finger over the indentation. How long ago was this carved? I heard movement behind me. I expected to turn around and see the hikers, but no. I instantly froze as I saw a huge black bear entering the site. Oh shit, the animal made its way towards the tent. Maybe it just smelled the food wrappers inside. I didn't budge. It stuck its head in the tent, but pulled it out and sniffed the air. It got on its hind legs and back on all fours.
He continued to sniff and then quickly turned his attention to me. It startled at the sight of me. "Ugh! Fuck!" The bear did not look happy to see me. I didn't know what to do. Should I make noise? Should I lie down? Fake being dead? Should I run? My eyes shot over to the rock where I put the hatchet. "Why did I put it down? Stupid Mike!" The bear clawed the ground. It was breathing heavier, keeping its dark eyes on me. I know Amber said to make noise. "Shit!" It walked towards me. "Aaah!" The bear stopped.
My shouting didn't seem like it was working. The bear seemed even more agitated. It clawed the ground once again, lowered its shoulders. Oh, shit. And that's when the bear raised its head and charged. Tower 4. Written and edited by Robert M. Lamb. Story by Robert M. Lamb and Dylan Whitehead. Starring Jack Austin as Mike, Gina Coyle as Amber, Brian Messick as Gene,
Music provided by Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com and Brett Wilkins at facebook.com slash WilkinsMusicFL. If you enjoy Tower 4, visit 7lam.com for more audio dramas such as this. Also, don't forget to follow 7LAM on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at 7LAM Podcasts. This has been a 7LAM production.
I'm sending my brother money directly to his bank account in India because he's apparently too busy practicing his karaoke to go pick up cash. Thankfully, I can still send money his way. Yes, I know I'm sending to your bank account. Western Union, send it their way. Send money in-store directly to their bank account in India.
Services offered by Western Union Financial Services, Inc., NMLS number 906983, or Western Union International Services, LLC, NMLS number 906985, licensed as money transmitters by the New York State Department of Financial Services. See terms for details. Welcome to the All 80s Movies Podcast. I'm Bill. And I'm Jason. And this is the podcast where we talk about the blockbusters, the flops, and everything in between from one of the freshest decades for movies, the 1980s. So whether you're a brain, a jock,
a valley girl, or a Jedi, we've got some 80s classics for you. Do these movies stand the test of time? Are we discovering something new? Is there an 80s movie we are finally watching for the first time? Join us each week as we dive into the cinematic nostalgia that inspired and influenced a generation. From the hits to the cult classics, we'll discuss our earliest memories, favorite scenes, fun facts, and our not-so-favorite movie moments, too. You can find the All 80s Movies Podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Please follow, and happy listening. Hey there, are you in need of a new weekly fix of horror gaming discussions? Then look no further than Saferoom, Bloody FM's horror video gaming podcast. I'm your host Jay Krieger, and I am the other one, Neil Boe. And every week, Neil, myself, and the occasional guest get together to chat about classic and contemporary horror games, and the elements that make them a standout amongst the hordes of horror games being released seemingly every day now.
In addition to celebrating anniversaries and new releases, we also interview influential horror developers such as Amnesia the Bunker's creative lead, Frederick Wilson, and even the maestro of lo-fi horror, Erdorf, the developer behind the Faith trilogy. And finally, on Thursdays, we release episodes of Horror Bytes, our bite-sized indie horror showcase in which Neil and I share a game that we discovered on Itch.io from an up-and-coming developer.
So if this sounds like the podcast for you, please consider checking out Safe Room on your preferred podcast platform and be sure to give us a follow on Twitter at Safe Room Pod for show updates.