Oct 31st The Sinister Spirits of Samish Asylum One

(Theme music plays)

Mysterious by Tom Aldrich

freemusicarchive.org/music/tom-aldrich/underscore/mysteri...

 

Soul Sleuths intro, voice over plays over intro montage of explorations.

 

Paranormal. Supernatural. Otherworldly. Mysterious.

Unexplained.

There are those who shrug off these words.

There are those who find these words irresistible.

If you are watching, then you are among the latter. You are people with

inquisitive minds, adventurous hearts, and courageous souls.

Together, we will explore places some say are inhabited by restless

spirits, demons, and creatures of unknown origin.

Our team of believers and skeptics seek to unite science and mysticism

in our quest to produce empirical evidence that some things may exist on

the boundaries of what we regard as reality.

Welcome to Soul Sleuths, where "investigation is just the beginning."

 

LIVE - ONE - ENTRY

 

(dissolves to exterior scene where Nica, Hammer, Edi, Philly, and Rebus sit in a half circle, facing the camera, on camping chairs, while behind them looms a dark building)

 

Nica: Welcome fellow sleuths of the supernatural. As you can see, we are not in the studio. That's because we are live!

 

Hammer: You requested a live Halloween show, and you're going to get it.

 

Nica: Let's hope this doesn't end up as a found footage episode.

 

Philly: Let's hope. So grim, girl.

 

Nica: Grim is exactly what this is. Behind us is what remains of the Samish Asylum, named after Samish Bay, which is named for the Samish Tribe. Tonight, we will explore one of the most haunted places on Earth, to determine whether or not restless spirits still roam the halls of this notorious asylum for the criminally insane.

 

Edi: OHhh. (nods) So, I was thinking of a completely different kind of asylum, and wondering why it'd be a Halloween situation. I get it, now. Not sanctuary. (the others smile, shake their heads, Philly pats her arm)

 

Hammer: Tonight, we will be armed with phones. (holds up her phone) We will be keeping an eye on your questions, observations, and comments as we explore. You will literally be participating in tonight's investigation. So, stay alert. The life you save may be ours.

 

Philly: You're absolutely morbid. Have you considered adding one or two bright colors to your wardrobe? Look at Edi, her clothes shout, "I'm alive and I'm not afraid!"

 

Edi: Of colors? Why would I be? That's weird, Philly.

 

Rebus: Ghosts.

 

Edi: Where?! (turns violently, tipping over her chair, squeaks)

 

Hammer: While Rebus and Philly rescue Edi from the camping equipment, why don't you tell our viewers about Samish Asylum? (to Nica)

 

Nica: Samish Asylum for the criminally insane was constructed in 1940, the location selected for its remoteness from populated areas. From the beginning, the asylum was rumored to be cursed due to being built on former tribal land.

 

Hammer: Here we go.

 

Nica: I didn't make this up. The Samish people were displaced, and the asylum was built on what used to be their land.

 

Hammer: Ancient burial grounds? That's a trope.

 

Nica: I have no idea if any of it was built on burial grounds. It's just part of an area where they lived. But at least seven construction workers died during construction--

 

Hammer: That could be sheer clumsiness. Right, Edi?

 

Edi: (brightly) Right! (frowns) Wait. (everyone chuckles)

 

Nica: And two vanished during construction. Rumor is that they were entombed in the building, accidentally or intentionally.

 

Rebus: Why? I mean, seven other guys died while it was being built so who cares if a couple other guys did?

 

Philly: You sounded like a pirate just then. (to Rebus) I like it.

 

Rebus: (grins) I just meant, if seven guys died, why hide two more?

 

Hammer: It's more likely they just quit and took off since people were dropping dead left and right.

 

Nica: They might have. There's another rumor that they were causing the fatal accidents, to prevent the building from going up, because after they vanished, there were no more fatal accidents.

 

Hammer: That's an interesting theory. Very "Goodfellas" vibe, there.

 

Philly: I just love Joe Pesci in that. (all look at him) What? He's a talented actor.

 

Rebus: No, we're surprised you watched Goodfellas.

 

Nica: All you talk about are Meryl Streep, and Downton Abbey.

 

Philly: You just don't listen to everything I say. I have depth.

 

Rebus: And a full length mink coat.

 

Philly: It's faux fur, and you wish you could pimp this coat. (he preens, and Rebus grins at that)

 

Hammer: (to the camera) This is the sort of stuff we edit out of what you see.

 

Nica: The asylum opened in the spring of '42 and was considered to be state-of-the-art in treating the criminally insane.

 

Hammer: So, nightmare kind of stuff?

 

Nica: (nods) Oh, definitely a horror trope all by itself. One of the buildings are apartments intended for staff, so that they wouldn't have to commute the distance to the nearest town, but they were rarely used. Apparently, the almost constant screams from those undergoing "treatment" were unbearable.

 

Edi: Hang on, Nica. Are you about to describe stuff?

 

Nica: Yes.

 

Edi: (puts on a headset) Wave at me when you're done, 'cause I can't hear you.

 

Nica: "Treatments" included ice baths. electro-shock, the usual kind plus genital, anal. (Rebus and Philly cross their legs) Various drugs, lobotomies, and if a criminal bit, or tried to bite, their teeth were pulled. No anesthesia was used.

 

Philly: Well, that explains the waves of pain and rage I've been feeling.

 

Hammer: Are you sure your shoes aren't too tight? (Nica and Rebus chuckle, Edi's eyes are closed and she's head-bobbing to whatever tune she's listening to)

 

Nica: There were amputations, and also stories about experimental surgeries.

 

Philly: It sounds like a Nazi concentration camp.

 

Rebus: Well, World War Two was going on. Maybe somebody sneaked into our country?

 

Nica: Well,

 

Hammer: Here we go.

 

Nica: (snort/laughs) I'm not making this up. There were rumors that Director Hoffer, who ran the asylum, was actually a Nazi doctor named, Haufmann. He was apparently right up there with Dr. Mengele as far as grotesque experimentations on humans.

 

Hammer: Rumors.

 

Nica: Well, yeah.

 

Hammer: I'm ready to go inside.

 

Rebus: And, this place is empty, right?

 

Philly: Not at all. I sense many dark entities within.

 

Rebus: I'm talking about living humans. Nobody's squatting in there, are they?

 

Nica: No, they have a security company that routinely patrols the grounds to keep people out. The city doesn't want a lawsuit for injuries.

 

Hammer: What if Edi trips?

 

Edi: (nods) Bound to happen.

 

Nica: We signed your life away, Edi. It was the only way to get inside.

 

Edi: (brightly) Sounds good. (jumps up, chair topples over)

 

Hammer: (takes Edi's arm) Someone else can pick it up. Why don't we go over here until everybody is ready? (leads her off to the side)

 

Rebus: I'll grab the camera. (exits the viewing area)

 

The Soul Sleuths assemble, with their gear, and we can even see Rebus with his camera, in the shot.

 

Nica: Okay, looks like we're ready to face The Sinister Spirits of Samish Asylum.

 

(view changes to Rebus' camera angle, as he follows the others into the dark asylum)

 

Edi: (turns on her Spectre Detectre) All right, let's do some boo!

 

Hammer: No.

 

Edi: I need a catchphrase.

 

Hammer: No.

 

Nica: This first room used to be an extremely secure. (camera pans decrepit room) But the various holding areas, check in desk, etc. were removed after a fire. This was after the asylum was closed, so there was no reason to replace any of it. (continues down corridor) The first room is the exam room, where inmates were physically and mentally evaluated, categorized, then sent to whichever wing their "type" was incarcerated.

 

Hammer: Stranglers with stranglers, axe murderers with axe murders?

 

Nica: (snort/laughs) I don't think it was--

 

Hammer: Guys who like to leave little sprigs of rosemary stuffed up their victims' nostrils with other guys who like to leave little sprigs of rosemary stuffed up their victims' nostrils. (all chuckle)

 

Nica: I think it was more about raving lunatics in one ward, and more easily controlled in another. I mean, they were all kept in separate cells. There was absolutely no common time. If they were taken out of their cells it was shackled, under heavy guard, and often under sedation.

 

Philly: (moans and leans against the wall near a door) No, I can't. I can't go in there.

 

Edi: (turns her flashlight above the door) It's an office. It's not the exam room.

 

Philly: (moans) I can't go inside.

 

Hammer: (pats Philly's arm) Hang in there, Handsome. You don't have to go in that room.

 

Edi: (opens the office door and peeks inside) Gross. (draws back and closes the door)

 

Nica: What's gross? Did you see a gross ghost?

 

Edi: No, there's just a jumble of flashes. I think there's a bug swarm in there.

 

Nica: Gross. Okay, let's move on.

 

The group moves to the next room, Philly leaning against Hammer and walking as far around the office door as the hallway allows.

 

Hammer: You okay, here? (to Philly)

 

Philly: (straightens) Yes, there's...maybe something here. I'm not sure. But it's not like--

 

Edi: (helpfully) The bug room?

 

Hammer shakes her head at Edi as the group goes into the exam room which is littered with retro equipment, an examination table, a couple of chairs, and a lot of dust and cobwebs.

 

Nica: People have reported objects moving in this room, and the feeling that someone--

 

Philly: (interrupts) --Is standing in that corner! (points, they all look, nothing's there)

 

Edi: No, that corner! (points, and they all look, nothing's there)

 

Hammer: Settle down, it's just our shadows.

 

Nica: Or is it? As I was about to say; people get the feeling that someone, or something, is standing in the corners of this room, always just out of direct sight.

 

Rebus: (voice from direction of camera) So, what happens if everybody picks a corner, and stares at it?

 

Hammer; That's a good idea, Rebus. Let's do it. (points her flashlight at one corner) I've got this one.

 

Edi: (turns her head so the Spectre Detectre is aimed at a corner) I call dibs on this one!

 

Philly: I've got this one.

 

Nica: Sure, make me go last so I piss it off. (they all chuckle and she sighs) Okay, last--

 

As she's turning her flashlight into the last corner, a rat scampers across the floor, and she shrieks, Philly shrieks, Edi squeaks loudly, steps back, falls over a chair, the rat runs across her back, disappearing into a cabinet. Flashlights wave and shrieks continue until Hammer cuts in.

 

Hammer: (laughing) It's just a rat! Stop turning this place into a disco, already. We're live, here. Edi, you okay? (helping her up)

 

Edi: A rat used me like the Narrows Bridge! (they all chuckle at that) Hope it wasn't rabid. (looking around)

 

Rebus: (voice from direction of camera) That's not how rabies is spread.

 

Nica: Let's move on to the operation theater.

 

Edi: Oo, movies? (clearly forgets about the rat and bounces out of the room)

 

Nica: She's going to be disappointed.

 

Hammer: Did you get the rat action? (smirking)

 

Rebus: (voice from direction of camera) Got it. Should be a great edit. (they chuckle)

 

Philly: (as he passes them, exiting) I could have sworn all the cabinet doors were shut.

 

Nica: Bailey

Hammer: Arc

Edi: Teddi

Philly: Seth

Rebus: Erebus

 

CANCELLED - It can happen, and it's happened to us. Perhaps this episode will be aired another time, but for now, Soul Sleuths is off the air.

Best wishes to one of our sleuths.

Done