The Gentleman From Hell |S1| Ep. 45

Rusty Quill presents

Good evening, gentlemen and gentle ladies of hell.

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Coach, the energy out there felt different.

What changed for the team today?

It was the new game day scratchers from the California Lottery.

Play is everything.

Those games sent the team's energy through the roof.

Are you saying it was the off-field play that made the difference on the field?

Hey, a little play makes your day, and today, it made the game.

That's all for now.

Coach, one more question.

Play the new Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams Scratchers from the California Lottery.

A little play can make your day.

Please play responsibly.

Must be 18 years or older to purchase play or claim.

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Three hours of sleep, a pack of cigarettes, and three cups of tea.

It's amazing how little is required to keep a body alive.

Moving and living aren't always correlated, my dear.

I mean, I'm moving, but I sure as hell don't feel all that alive.

Just put the seat back and take a nap.

No, thanks.

I've had all the nightmares I can handle for one night.

Or day, as the case may be.

Yeah,

Chester didn't exactly go over with my nap either.

At least we have some idea of why they keep asking those fuckers questions about where they are and what they know.

There's something down there besides the damned.

Doesn't take a genius to figure out who that might be.

Yeah, I don't think it's as simple as assuming it was the devil.

Mephitika came before all that.

And the devil wouldn't need to pass notes between the damned to get his message across.

Yeah, this thing is different.

It's also possible that whatever spoke to Chester was just another aspect of his punishment, if punishment is the right word for whatever's happening down there.

We'll just have to listen to more tapes and see if anything similar occurs.

It's the only way to be certain.

Assuming it is something other than the damned, what do you you think of what it said?

This is my body, and my body I give to you.

I'm pretty sure that's a line from the Bible.

Something Jesus says during the Last Supper.

He's talking to the apostles while offering them the bread and wine.

It's meant to represent him giving himself to them.

Like they're all becoming one by taking his body into theirs.

But I thought you said none of this fits with the Bible, that Mephitica's way older.

I'm thinking that whatever it is may be speaking in terms that might be more familiar to the modern listener.

Ah, it's mocking the Bible.

A symbol for goodness.

By quoting it.

Mason, slow down a bit, won't you?

Sure.

Gone too fast?

No,

I'm getting something.

Something that happened near here.

The road we took to the pavilion is coming up on the right.

Is that it?

It very possibly could be.

Would you mind taking a small detour?

Nah, we still got plenty of daylight to burn.

Yes, it's getting stronger.

They were here not long ago.

The sparrows.

All of them?

I think so.

They weren't alone either.

I need to get down to the water.

You got it.

Half the town came down to the water

to listen to them,

to venerate them.

The sparrows, they...

They came down from the sky, hovering just above the water, wrapped in mist,

their eyes reflecting like beasts caught in headlights.

Can you hear what they said, Phil?

I'm...

I'm trying.

One them

She's saying

hearken well you cursed souls the time of waiting is nearly over time of waiting is nearly over

a new season shall blow out from hell and ye all will know the raptures for Taffy

And ye too will be risen as we are risen

Prepare ye the places where you've been shown, and speak ye the words you've been taught.

Keep well the secrets you've been told.

Already there have been signs,

and there shall yet be more.

leha ha

ha

bon le

What the hell is happening here?

Will that be all, sir?

Yeah, that's it.

Actually, before you ring that up, could you add a carton of Henrietta Slims to that, please?

Lights are regular.

Regular, please.

Smoke them while you got them, bitch.

Your time is coming.

What the hell did you just say to me?

Uh, I just asked if you wanted a bag for these.

Phil, everything all right?

Uh, uh, nothing.

I um,

I just misheard what you said, is all.

I'm very sorry.

Sure, Sure, no problem.

Uh, did you want a bag?

Man, we're good.

Thanks.

Phil, why'd you snap at the guy like that?

Have you two ever researched the effects of prolonged exposure to the resonator's field?

No, why?

Because I just read that Cassia's mind.

I've never been able to do anything like that before.

And these visions I've been having, they're more vivid than they've ever been.

I can't help but wonder if it's the machine's doing.

Certainly possible.

We already know that it enhances existing psychic abilities.

But couldn't it also be possible that it has something to do with uh,

you know, what what happened when you were at the hospital?

I don't think so.

It feels like my mind has expanded beyond its typical limitations, exactly what I felt the first time I entered the Resonator's field.

So you're saying you can read minds now.

I have no idea how recurrent it will be or if it will ever happen again.

But I heard that man's thoughts out loud as if he'd spoke them aloud what did he say he's one of them he said that like my cigarette i'd be burning soon enough or words to that effect christ i wish we could get the fuck out of that mansion i always know exactly where we are i can start work on downsizing the main unit but like i said it'll take some time and money

lots of money I'll begin working out how to condense the power units.

See if we can't squeeze her into a smaller chassis.

Okay, well, the sooner you've got that worked out, the sooner I can work out a design and order parts.

I really do think mobility needs to be a priority.

We can't expect to get ahead of them when we're always stuck here right under their noses.

Well, first things first, we need to get those speakers installed.

So, Mr.

Hayes was your hired bodyguard?

Yes, he's been in my employ for many years now.

And why do you need a security detail, exactly?

I was a professor at Thurston University in Vermont, lecturing on ancient religions.

At some point, I must have drawn the attention of a group, some kind of cult, I suppose you'd call it.

They took offense to my works on the Mephitica, an ancient belief system, called it blasphemous, and started harassing me.

Threats, the whole bit.

If you want the full story, you can speak with Detective Lars Keaton over at Stone Mills Police Department.

He has all the details.

And I suppose this cult is still a concern, given you still pay for a security detail?

That's correct.

Okay.

I think I've got all I need from you right now.

But you'll all have to come down to the station within the next 24 hours to give an official statement.

And we'd appreciate it if you didn't leave the area.

Of course.

Thank you, officer.

Martin, why don't you let me drive, I think.

No.

The last thing I want is to give myself time to do something stupid.

Like hunt down the bastards who killed my best friend, put a fucking bullet between their eyes.

Martin,

are you sure you're alright, too?

I'm a long fucking way from all right, Lenore.

But I'm good enough to drive.

Doctor, why did they just kill Bill?

Why not come for all of us?

They must have known where we'd be.

I was wondering the same thing myself.

All I can come up with is that there was something about this location Edward was meeting us.

All that hocus-pocus shit only works on the damned, and Bill was killed with a gun.

Killed by cultists, more than likely.

Perditionists.

What?

Perditionists.

That's what the church calls the cultists.

I don't give a flying fuck what they're called.

I just want to know why they let us off the hook.

Besides wanting us dead, they want us to stay out of whatever they're up to with those ex-FBI agents.

And they want the pages.

Getting us tied up in a murder investigation pretty much keeps us from going anywhere.

Gives them time to get us where they want us.

I'd say that's a pretty solid read.

But they don't know about what was shared at the meeting.

Did you give Bill any specifics as to what we were up to?

I just gave him the directions and told him we had a meeting to catch.

I'm sure they must have sweat him pretty hard to get more information out of him.

I'm so sorry, Martin.

I wish I'd never gotten anyone else involved.

If we hadn't come along, you and Lenore would have bought it in Naples.

Bill was a big boy, he knew the risks.

But still, he deserved a hell of a lot better than getting left for the Buzzards.

Fuckers are gonna pay.

I promise you that.

It's Bruce.

I'll put it through to the car.

Hello, Bruce.

Do you mind telling me what kind of shit you've involved me in?

What do you mean?

What happened?

What happened?

I'll tell you what happened.

Someone broke into my home and erased every file on my computer.

They even managed to wipe all my accounts completely clean.

All save one.

The email you sent me about wanting to meet and talk about all that Mephitica.

Now,

the way I see it, that was a message left to make sure I stayed away from you and whatever you're up to.

I think that would be a very safe assumption.

I'm sorry, Bruce.

You were the only one who I knew I could trust.

But you're right to stay away from all this.

Exactly how much trouble are you in, Philip?

I'm currently leaving the scene of a good friend's murder.

One of my bodyguards, William Hayes.

Murder?

Yes, murder.

Likely by the same people who broke into your home.

What the hell have you gotten yourself into?

What have you gotten me into?

I'm in no mood to go over it all again, and I've given you all the information you need to understand.

And frankly, Bruce, you're a priest.

A person who's pledged himself the enemy of all that is unholy.

And yet, all you want to do is to be left alone.

To maintain the status quo, leaving it to the atheist to do your dirty work.

All that said, and to repeat my earlier sentiment,

I shouldn't have gotten you involved.

You'd only end up like Bill.

I.

I don't know what I can do, Philip.

I.

I don't need you to do anything.

Except perhaps thank your cousin for his help and let him know that I'd be immensely grateful for any further assistance he can offer.

I'm.

I'm sorry, Philip.

Not nearly as sorry as I am, Bruce.

Yeah, looks like all the power's out

best to start up the portable units just to be on the safe side.

We'll do

I'll set

a lot of the security stuff has battery backups.

Let me check those.

Shit, motion detectors are all tripped.

Anyone could be in here.

Everyone stay alone.

There's no telling what's in here lose.

I'm not feeling anything.

Or anyone.

Resonators aren't picking up anything either.

Let's check the generator, see if it's been damaged.

Looks like it was just turned off.

My son.

What the hell is that?

That's Edward's

It's a goddamn tape from the elevator.

Turn the generator off!

Electricity's going nuts!

The resonators are under some serious strain.

Whatever supernatural energy that keeps giving off, it's massive.

We need to activate the main unit!

Or get the fuck out of here!

I have a feeling they're not going to let us.

Come on, we've got to get to the resonate.

They destroyed the tower couple in

their favor.

They apparently didn't know that it's got a big fat battery.

And it's still got a good amount of juice.

She's pushing back.

I can feel the two going back and forth, battling each other.

There's something else happening.

Oh, my head.

I feel dizzy.

Rice, the battery's dropping like a rock.

Oh, come on, girl.

You can do it.

Don't get out on me now.

I don't feel so good all of a sudden.

It's the chance.

It's doing something to us.

It's like I'm free from here.

Is it over?

I think so.

What the fuck was that thing doing to us?

I felt like I stayed pound a gas station sushi.

It was an incredible concentration of purest evil.

Whatever it was, it killed the resonator.

Oh, she's gonna need some serious work before we can use her again.

What about the portable units?

Batteries are almost drained, but they seem no worse for wear.

I think the primary unit took the brunt of it.

We need to check the Jenny and see if it's salvageable.

If we can get the power back back on, we should tighten the perimeter to compensate for the loss of the resonator.

Arrange the speakers around a single room.

And if we can't make shit work here, we're gonna have to make for the nearest motel, set up those speakers, and get the portables powered up.

Then let's get at it.

Here you go.

Coffee number 25, or somewhere thereabouts.

Thanks.

Though I think I prefer beer at this point.

I don't think beer and keep and watch mix all that well.

They work just fine.

Right up until you need your eyes.

I gotta tell you, after all the fireworks, I didn't expect the generator to still be kicking.

Sort of like...

Sort of like they didn't want to force us to leave.

Like they just wanted to cast their hoodoo and let it simmer in it for a while.

Yeah,

a lot like that.

What the hell is that out the window?

Is that fog?

The Gentleman from Hell is a Maltopia production.

Today's episode was written by Mark Ansloan and voiced by Stephen Zivick, Sam Stark, Aubrey Akers, David Cummings, Jesse Van Hove, Kelly Baer, and Matt Van Hove.

Sound editing was completed by Stephen Anslone and script editing was conducted by Walker Kornfeld.

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If you want unique art and animations of Meltopia's stories, visit our YouTube page or click on the link in the show notes.

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Coach, the energy out there felt different.

What changed for the team today?

It was the new game day scratches from the California Lottery.

Play is everything.

Those games sent the team's energy through the roof.

Are you saying it was the off-field play that made the difference on the field?

Hey, a little play makes your day, and today it made the game.

That's all for now.

Coach, one more question.

Play the new Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams Scratchers from the California Lottery.

A little play can make your day.

Please play responsibly, must be 18 years or older to purchase play or claim.