Ep 29 – Too Old for the Boogeyman?

SCENE STARTS: Mirai is freaking out all by herself in her hotel room.

MIRAI: Okay, I know I should be worried about Dog, but something weird is going on in this hotel and I don’t know what. I swear things I thought were in one place are now in another place and I feel like I’m going crazy. I was supposed to go take a bath, but now I’m too scared. What if there’s a creature who knows I’m human? Do I need to wear a mask even as I shower?! 

SFX: Phone rings again.

MIRAI: Okay, that’s it. As if I’d answer a phone when it’s just someone creepily breathing in it. I’m going to the front desk. I need to at least switch rooms! Why couldn’t the Kitsune have given me a weapon or something?!

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: Alina, her friends, and the lion dogs are already at the park, preparing to meet Jessica.

ALINA: Okay, so we’re in agreement. We’re going to talk to Jessica.

JUN: Dog is at the groomer’s today, and you know, now that she’s “recovered”, my mom’s going all out on the pampering so, she doesn’t know I’m here. She would be devastated if she knew we wanted to see Jessica again.

DREW: I don’t blame her… Uh, hey. What are we going to do if Jessica decides to sick “Jinny” on us?

ALINA: It’s a risk we’ll have to take? After all, Dog wouldn’t tell us anything about the creature either. Hopefully, the lion dogs will be enough… But maybe we should have asked Terry for some Talismans?

DREW: Oh, you think of that now?

JUN: Well, well… We can’t ask Terry now so are we ready to do this?

ALINA: Let’s try to get some answers today. Light her up.

DREW: (laughs) Alina you– Alina. You’re making it sound like we’re doing something crazy and not just using a lighter.

ALINA: Just trying to make things a bit more fun before… Jessica shows up.

DREW: This is going to be our last memory. This is it.

JUN: All right. T-t-target spotted and light her up! Pew, pew, pew!

ALINA: Oh my god, welp! Great to hear that we are all having a good time before who knows what happens next.

SFX: Jun lights the lighter.

JUN: So um, how long do you suppose this would take?

DREW: Well, hopefully not that long…

JESSICA: Hello.

SFX: Everyone freaks out, but is also kinda used to it now.

JESSICA: I’m surprised you all actually reached out. Now, what do you want after you ruined my attempt to help you?

DREW: (mutters) Well I don’t know maybe some actual help for once.

ALINA: We want answers about the creature in the woods.

JESSICA: A creature in the woods?

JUN: Yeah! The one that everyone’s been fussing about! And probably the very thing you said you’re searching for!

JESSICA: How do you know that’s what I’m looking for?

DREW: Just cause, you know, it’s what everyone’s been talking about. Except, of course, to us. So we want answers.

JUN: Yeah.

JESSICA: Well, I want information as well then. What more can you tell me?

ALINA: We know that Sam and Terry are going to go look for it soon.

JESSICA: They are? When?

ALINA: Tell us what we want to hear first.

JESSICA: A trade? Well, it seems like you guys do know a thing or two about how this park works.

DREW: Great, now start talking.

JESSICA: You guys know what Dog is exactly right?

JUN: Duh, a green martian.

JESSICA: Then you understand the concept of new creatures.

ALINA: New? Hmm, what do you mean?

JESSICA: Well, there have been alien sightings throughout human civilization, so maybe that’s not new enough… How about this, do you know Slenderman?

SFX: All noises disappear.

MUSIC: “False Alarm” plays.

ALINA: What… Did you just say?

DREW: I need you to stop.

JUN: Slenderman? Why does that name sound familiar? 

DREW: Jun! Don’t say that name.

ALINA: Th– no. Th– no! There’s no way. No way that this creature actually exists. Jun, didn’t you hear about what happened two years ago?

JESSICA: Slenderman.

DREW: STOP SAYING HIS NAME.

SLENDY: Hello. 

SFX: Everyone screams. The lion dogs freak out.

SLENDY: Oh my. Haven’t seen people this old in a long time. Ow!

DREW: Lion Dogs! Get that guy the fuck away from us now.

SFX: The lion dogs attempt to yip at Slendy.

JESSICA: Honestly, it’s fine Drew. We’re not his prime… audience anyways.

JUN: Why is Drew so paranoid?

ALINA: Jun, we really need to get you to read the news more… Even I know about this creature, this monster. Two years ago. Those girls who tried to kill, all for the name of Slenderman.

DREW: You know, all the creepy stories from the internet?

SLENDY: I just want to state for the record that, that was a shock for me as well. I mean I loved it, but wow.

DREW: You loved it?!

JESSICA: Okay, okay. The point isn’t about what he’s done, it’s about what he is. A new creature. He’s only seven years old.

DREW: Yeah, the worst seven-year-old to ever exist.

SLENDY: Aw shucks, you’re making me blush.

JUN: You don’t have a face to blush…

ALINA: There were similar cases that followed after that wasn’t there? Kids planning to sacrifice someone f-for… Slendyman?

SLENDY: Ahem, it’s Slender-Man… Although Slendy does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Seems like something the kids would like more.

DREW: You stay away from kids, you monster.

ALINA: Drew, we’ve talked about antagonizing creatures…

JUN: Okay, okay, but how is it even possible for a creature to be seven years old? That feels like it should be impossible.

SFX: A camera flashes. In a creepy basement. Someone is typing. And children laughing.

JESSICA: Well, he was created from an online photography contest in 2009. From there, other online forums like Creepypasta started letting their imagination run wild by creating lore for him.

JUN: What kind of lore are we talking about?

JESSICA: Child abduction for the most part. That was the most obvious since the pictures of him were with children that, quote-unquote, went missing. But this is a pretty common trope within creatures. La Llorona, Changelings, etc. 

JUN: (whispers) Alina, I’ve never heard of any of these…

ALINA: (whispers back) Uh neither have I, don’t worry, we’ll look it up later!

DREW: Ugh, this guy became so popular that they created video games and I think there’s even a movie in the works. 

JUN: Okay but like, if this guy’s story isn’t even that original, what made him so popular?

SLENDY: Hey! I resent that! I’m amazing. I’m the Slenderman. You wanna know what makes me stand out? Fine.

SFX: Tentacles slither out. Everyone steps back, grossed out, not wanting to get touched by them. Some murder sounds to go with Slendy’s monologue.

SLENDY: You wanna know what makes me different? How about how almost human I look? If it weren’t for the fact that I have no face, I could be just about anybody on the street and you wouldn’t even notice.

ALINA: Oh too close, too close, too close!

DREW: Oh my god, Alina, Alina get over here right now.

JUN: Oh my gosh.

SLENDY: Or what about how no one knows exactly what happens to Slenderman’s victims and there’s no way to stop me?

JUN: Stay away from us man!

SLENDY: How about how I was just an internet story and now people are willing to kill in my name— 

JESSICA: That’s enough Slenderman. 

SLENDY: Don’t underestimate me for just being seven years old.

JESSICA: I don’t. But keep this up, and there will be a problem.

SLENDY: (laughs) Careful. Don’t want to deal with another young creature now, do you?

JESSICA: Goodbye Slenderman.

SLENDY: I’ll be listening.

SFX: Slenderman fades to black. The park atmosphere returns.

DREW: What on earth were you thinking, inviting that monster here?!

JESSICA: I told you, we weren’t his typical victims. Plus, there’s no way the lion dogs or my jinn would have allowed any harm to us.

JUN: He got awfully close to us before we even noticed.

JESSICA: Well, that’s the kind of danger you have to deal with in this park! Do you still think this is just a fun little adventure for you to go on and then you can just go home?! It’s not like that for the rest of us!

ALINA: That’s what we’re trying to understand! But we’re still new to this, you can’t just throw us firsthand into danger like that! 

JESSICA: You’ll never learn if I have to constantly warn you what’s going to happen. 

SFX: Jessica starts to walk away.

DREW: H-hey! Hey! Jessica! Where are you going?

JESSICA: Our conversation here is done. There’s no point talking anymore.

ALINA: But you never told us what we wanted to know! We still want to trade!

JESSICA: You gave me enough information to go off of. You can do the very same with mine.

SFX: Jessica walks off for good.

ALINA: Ugh! Just what is up with everyone in this park?

DREW: Alina, calm down, we just need… We just need to think, right?

JUN: Yeah! She said she gave us enough information to figure it out. We can do this.

ALINA: All she did was talk about Slender—

DREW: Shhhh, no! Don’t say that name! We are not dealing with that a second time. 

ALINA: Okay, fine. Anyways, all she talked about was stuff about… Slendy? 

JUN: I think it was actually something he said that was interesting.

ALINA: Really? Like what?

JUN: Okay so, at the very end, before he left. He said, “You don’t want to deal with another new creature.” He’s probably referring to the creature in the woods, right? 

MUSIC: (“Park in Twilight” Piano theme plays.)

DREW: Oh… Yeah but I mean, I haven’t heard anything about a new entity out there, have you guys?

ALINA: If you haven’t heard about it, I doubt the two of us have either.

DREW: I mean, that’s true. But everyone here is making it sound like a really big deal, there’s no way it could be some lesser-known creature, could it? I mean Jessica practically made a deal with the devil. Dog went looking for Gods to figure out what to do. A demigod is taking their pet Cerberus to find it. That doesn’t scream, “not a big deal” to me.

ALINA: (sighs) Yeah… You’re right.

JUN: Oh, why do I feel an “and” coming with that sentence?

ALINA: Because there is. Yeah, you’re right AND I think you all know what we need to do now.

JUN: (sighs) We’re going into the woods, aren’t we?

ALINA: Yes, Jun, indeed we are. 

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: Mirai is now in the hallways, walking towards the hotel lobby.

MIRAI: Hello? Is anyone here? 誰かいませんか?

SFX: Silence and yet…

MIRAI: Weird, how could there not be anyone in the lobby? It’s not that late yet… Are they in the dining area? 

SFX: Mirai walks to the dining hall only to see plates and chairs floating around and immediately turns around. 

MIRAI: Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Okay, so I just walked to the dining area, and there are plates and chairs and WHATEVER just floating around like a freaking haunted house and I think this is my time to LEAVE.

Where is everybody?!

SFX: Mischievous laughter in the distance.

MIRAI: Oh great, I am definitely being haunted. Excuse me, this is not funny! Look, I-I’m a kitsune! You can’t bully me! I’m a scary fox!

SFX: Silence. 

MIRAI: Ohhh why did I not get Daichi’s phone number?!

FADE OUT.

CREDITS: Residents of Proserpina Park is a production written and produced by Angela Yeh. Directed by Angela Yeh. The voice of Mirai is Vida Shi. The voice of Alina is Angela Yeh. The voice of Drew is Ashley Dawson. The voice of Jun is Ben Pollizi. The voice of Jessica is Jess Syratt. The voice of Slendy is Sam MacDonald. And the voice of Dog is Sara Roncero-Menendez.

Dialogue editing by Angela Yeh. Sound Design by Rebecca Liu. Mixed and mastered by Angela Yeh. Script edited by Sara Roncero-Menendez. Original music by Hoa Pham. Season 3 cover art by Molly James. Series Logo by Macy Tang. For more information about the show, please go to our website residentsofproserpinapark.com 

AFTER CREDITS SCENE: Jun returns home from the park.

DOG: Hey Jun! How was your day?

JUN: (failing at lying) D-dog! Hey! Yeah. You know, got all these group projects and you know how those are… you know.

DOG: Riight… Did you go to the park?

JUN: The park?! Psh, why on earth would I go to the park? Today? You know, without you? 

DOG: Jun… you’re sweating like crazy. If you went to the park, that’s okay! Did you see a creature? Did you see a creature?

JUN: CrEatUre?! Um, yeah. Um, you know, actually it was a pretty quiet day. Yeah, didn’t see much, haha. But uh yeah, just so you know, I gotta finish up this group project this week so I’ll be at the library all night on Friday.

DOG: Okay! That’s fine. Do you maybe want to go to the park on Saturday then?

JUN: Yeah, yeah, yeah totally! But boy, it’s been a long day! I just want to relax and eat dinner!

DOG: Okay… Well, Mom got octopus from the grocery store today! So dinner will definitely be delicious!

JUN: Oh… I don’t feel so hungry anymore…

DOG: Eh, kid gets weirder and weirder every time…

FADE OUT.