Sara McNabb
Season 1 Episode 7 Transcript

Episode 7: “Truth Will Out, Part 1”
SFX: SARA’S PHONE RINGTONE
MR. X: Sara --
SARA: You -- I’ve done all you’ve asked. I need answers now --
MR. X: Get out of the house.
SARA: Why? What’s wrong?
MR. X: Close the computer and get out.
SARA: What do you know?
MR. X: You’re in danger. Go out the side door, they’re coming --
SFX: GUNSHOT, GLASS SHATTERS
SFX: SARA SCREAMS
SARA: Stupid, Sara, stupid. Screaming like some idiot movie damsel when the killer appears . . . so much for the tough investigator thing . . . Wait, the phone -- Hello? Are you still there? What’s happening -- Even the mysterious phone voice has left me on my own. At least the streaming app’s still recording. All right, knowers, this is where it all got real. I’m guessing someone cut off the power to the house from the main breaker outside. I can’t see a thing in here. It’s dark, but I don’t dare use my flashlight app, given I’m pretty sure that was a gunshot I heard when the window broke -- I don’t need to give whoever it is something to aim at.
SFX: FURNITURE SCUFFING THE FLOOR
SARA: I can’t see what’s going on outside, I don’t know . . . In spite of what the skeptic in me says, this can’t be a coincidence. Not after what was done to my car the other day and not after I was on a call with Rufus Knobbe. The good news is, they’re scared because I’m getting close to the truth. The bad news is, they’re scared because they know I’m getting close to the truth, and they have guns. Oh, my laptop --
SFX: LAPTOP SNAPS CLOSED
SFX: SARA SCRABBLING ON THE FLOOR
SARA: Okay, take a breath . . . getting lightheaded . . . Think . . . Calling the police could be a mistake. After my car was vandalized, if what Lindy said about how Etta PD harasses people -- Lindy!
SFX: PHONE SPEED DIAL
SFX: PHONE CALL RINGING
SARA: Come on, pick up . . .
SFX: PHONE CALL RINGING
SARA: Pick up --
SFX: PHONE CALL RINGING
SARA: Come on, Lindy, don’t let it --
LINDY Hello --
SARA: Lindy, they’re here! They’ve cut the power, and I can’t --
LINDY -- this is Lindell McNabb at Repair App. We value your business, so please leave a message --
SARA: Dammit, Lindy!
LINDY -- and I’ll return your call as soon as possible. Thanks!
SFX: UNCOMFORTABLE LONG PAUSE
SARA: Come on, for the love of --
SFX: RECORD BEEP
SARA: Lindy, it’s me. They’re here! They’re outside the house, but they’ve cut the power and I can’t --
SFX: CALL END BEEP
SARA: Dammit! Oh God . . . there are lights outside . . . flashing one way, then another. Searching. I can’t make out how many. They’re shining them in the windows. Cutting the lights was meant to freak me out. And it’s working. Whoever it is is shining a light in here!
SFX: SARA SCABBLING BEHIND FURNITURE
SARA: I’ve got an armchair between me and the windows, I don’t think they can see me --
SFX: MUFFLED VOICES OUTSIDE
SARA: I can’t make out what they’re saying . . .
SFX: FIST POUNDING ON DOOR
SFX: SARA STARTS TO CRY OUT, STIFLES IT
SARA: I’ve got to learn how to not do that.
SFX: SARA’S PHONE RINGTONE
SARA: Thank God -- Lindy, they’re --
MR. X: Why are you still in the house?
SARA: You? You’ve got to help me!
MR. X: I did. I told you to get out of the house. Now --
SARA: Now the place is surrounded.
MR. X: I know. You can still get out the side door.
SARA: How do you know?
MR. X: Once you’re outside --
SARA: Who’s out there?
MR. X: Who do you think?
SARA: The same people who tore up my car.
MR. X: We agree on that. Now, go out the side door --
SARA: How do you know this? Tell me! Help me!
MR. X: -- cut through the neighbor’s yard. When you reach the next street, you’ll see --
SARA: They’re outside! You can’t seriously expect me to --
MR. X: -- a white car. Get in.
SARA: Wait -- is somebody in the car?
MR. X: Get to the car.
SARA: Are the keys in it?
MR. X: Passenger side. Don’t wait.
SARA: I swear, if this ends with anybody telling me “Come with me if you want to live,” somebody’s getting slapped --
SFX: HANG UP BEEP
SARA: Son of a -- I’m . . . I’m on my own, knowers. I’m on my own. At least until I find this white car. Whew . . . okay, okay. I just have to get from the living room to the kitchen and the side door. Like going to get a beer -- Oh! Whoever it is is looking in the window again. I can only make out an outline, the flashlight beam is tracing over the coffee table, the sofa . . . they’re not looking this way now . . .
SFX: SARA SCRABBLING BEHIND FURNITURE
SFX: THUMP!
SARA: Augh -- That was my knee, in case anybody’s interested. Mmmf, that’s gonna hurt for a while . . . Lindy keeps his side door key hanging here, so all I have to do . . .
SFX: DEADBOLT TURNS
SARA: . . . is cut through the MacGregor’s yard like Peter Rabbit, and then -- no . . . Somebody’s right outside. There’s a flashlight sweeping over the driveway. Okay, okay, not going out this door. The front it is.
SFX: SARA CREEPING
SARA: . . . Maybe they’re all checking in back. Maybe Mr. X thought I’d get to the side door faster than I did. He said don’t wait. All right, all right. Whatever . . . I don’t hear anybody, there’s no lights. Here goes --
SFX: DOOR UNLOCKING, SWINGS OPEN
SARA: Oh --!
C.J.: Sara.
SARA: C.J.! What, what a surprise . . . Seems we keep running into each other.
C.J.: It does.
SARA: What are you doing here?
C.J.: I was dispatched to take a look.
SARA: For . . . ?
C.J.: Are you all right?
SARA: Sure. I mean, why would you think I’m not?
C.J.: For one thing, you’re in the house all in the dark.
SARA: Yeah, the power went out. I -- I tried calling Lindy.
C.J.: It’s just this residence.
SARA: I figured it was the whole street.
C.J.: You didn’t look outside?
SARA: Y’know, you could lower the flashlight, C.J. Thanks. So you’re searching the property because it’s dark inside?
C.J.: We had a report of a disturbance.
SARA: Like . . . like what?
C.J.: It wasn’t clear. Kids with fireworks, maybe.
SARA: There was . . . I did hear something earlier.
C.J.: Like what?
SARA: I don’t, I don’t know. That front window got broken out and --
C.J.: Can I ask you to step outside with me, please?
SARA: Oh, I don’t think --
C.J.: It would be helpful for me if you could please step out here on the porch.
SARA: I don’t --
C.J.: Please step out of the house.
SARA: I really -- Am I under arrest or something?
C.J.: I’m going to have to insist.
SARA: O-kay.
SFX: SARA’S FOOTSTEP ON WOODEN PORCH
C.J.: Are you alone in the house?
SARA: Yeah, I mean, Lindy’s at his shop --
C.J.: There’s nobody inside with you --
SARA: No --
C.J.: Holding you against your will? Threatening you?
SARA: You thought I was . . . No. No, nothing like that. You’re here making sure I’m okay . . .
C.J.: Yeah. Now, do you want to show me that window?
SARA: Uh, sure.
C.J.: Are you certain everything’s all right? I can go inside and take a look around --
SARA: No -- no. Let’s take a look at the window.
SFX: FOOTSTEPS ON WOOD PORCH
C.J.: Oh, yeah, this is --
SFX: GLASS SCRAPING
C.J.: -- This was shot out.
SARA: W-was it?
C.J.: Are you okay?
SARA: C.J., the lights went off. Then there was a bang, and the window shattered. I-I didn’t know what to do. I tried calling Lindy, but he didn’t pick up, and then you showed up --
C.J.: Sara, let’s get you inside.
SFX: POLICE RADIO STATIC
C.J.: Dispatch, this is Unit Two. I’m entering the domicile.
SFX: POLICE RADIO STATIC
POLICE DISPATCHER: 10-4 Unit Two.
C.J.: You called the power company yet?
SARA: No.
C.J.: And the lights went out before you heard the bang?
SARA: Yes.
C.J.: So it wasn’t the transformer or substation blowing . . .
SARA: You got me.
C.J.: Let’s take a look around.
SFX: POLICE SHOES ON HARD FLOOR
SARA: Thanks again for the, uh, tour at the station the other day.
C.J.: Yeah, don’t mention it.
SARA: Seriously, it was really helpful for my work --
C.J.: No, I mean don’t mention it. Don’t say anything about it to anyone.
SARA: Did I get you in trouble?
C.J.: Next day, I heard the deputy chief was bent out of shape over something to do with the records room.
SARA: Oh, wow, I don’t know what --
C.J.: Did you leave anything out? Or put it where it shouldn’t be?
SARA: You put everything back.
C.J.: I know. You didn’t take anything or some Lois Lane dipshit like that, did you?
SARA: No! No dipshit.
SFX: POLICE SHOES ON HARD FLOOR
C.J.: Maybe it was something else, then. I’ve been keeping my head down, and my face out of the station as much as possible.
SARA: If this does have anything to do with that favor you did me, I’m sorry.
C.J.: Like I said, it was probably something else, then. You only heard one pop?
SARA: Just one.
C.J.: Not likely fireworks. And that window definitely looks like it was shot through. I didn’t see anybody on the street . . .
SARA: How many houses did you check?
C.J.: I started right across from you -- the elderly couple there called it in.
SARA: They were an elderly couple when I still lived here.
C.J.: Then I came here to take a look.
SARA: Why here?
C.J.: It was the only house on the block in either direction without a porchlight on.
SARA: Ah.
C.J.: Listen, I also wanted to ask you . . . you’re here doing research, right?
SFX: POLICE SHOES ON HARD FLOOR
SARA: For my podcast.
C.J.: I’ve got something I’d like your help with.
SARA: Sure.
C.J.: I just learned --
SFX: LIGHT SWITCH FLIPPING ON, OFF, ON
C.J.: Power’s off through the entire house?
SARA: Like somebody threw a switch.
C.J.: All at once, then.
SARA: I was on my laptop at that table, and then the whole place went dark.
C.J.: Maybe something happened to your main breaker. I’ll take a look around the side.
SFX: POLICE SHOES ON HARD FLOOR
SARA: Shoulda done that while you were there.
C.J.: Where?
SARA: At the side of the house.
C.J.: I was just on the front porch with you, remember?
SARA: Before that.
C.J.: I met you at the front door, Sara. What are you talking about?
SARA: Right before I opened the front door, I saw you on the driveway with a flashlight.
C.J.: I haven’t checked the driveway.
SARA: But then -- ?
C.J.: That wasn’t me, Sara.
SARA: C.J --
C.J.: Why’s your side door open?
SARA: I didn’t open the side door.
XX. C.J.: It’s wide open.
SFX: POLICE SHOES ON HARD FLOOR
SARA: I-I unlocked when I was in the kitchen. I was going to check --
SFX: HOLSTER UNSNAPPED, PISTOL DRAWN
SARA: Whoa --
C.J.: I need you to stay behind me, Sara.
SARA: C.J., why don’t we go outside, call for backup?
C.J.: I’m going to look -- Don’t move!
SFX: GUNSHOT
SFX: GUNSHOT
SFX: BODY HITTING THE FLOOR
SARA: C.J.! C.J.! Are you --
SFX: GUNSHOT
C.J.: Get to a neighbor’s house! Go!
SFX: GUNSHOT
SFX: GUNSHOT
SFX: POLICE RADIO STATIC
C.J.: Unit Two -- Officer down! . . . Returning fire . . .
SFX: POLICE RADIO STATIC
SARA: C.J. --
C.J.: Go!
SFX: SARA SCRABBLING UP FROM THE FLOOR, RUNNING
SFX: DOOR SLAMS
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SFX: SARA BREATHING HARD
SARA: No -- No, no, no!
SFX: RUNNING UP WOODEN PORCH STEPS
SARA: Hello!?!
SFX: POUNDING ON DOOR
SARA: Hello! Somebody, help! Help!
ELDERLY NEIGHBOR We already called the police! They’re gonna be here any minute!
SARA: They’re here! And he’s been hurt! You’ve got to help!
ELDERLY NEIGHBOR We already called them!
SFX: POUNDING ON DOOR
SARA: You’re not listening! He’s hurt! He’s been shot!
ELDERLY NEIGHBOR Don’t think we won’t call them again!
SARA: Good, call them! There’s an officer down! And now they’re after -- They’re after me . . . I’ve got to go!
SFX: RUNNING DOWN WOODEN PORCH STEPS
ELDERLY NEIGHBOR That’s it! We’re calling!
SFX: SARA BREATHING HARD
SARA: White car . . . the white car . . . Can’t cut through the MacGregor’s like he said to. Which way? I’ve got to get over to the next street!
SFX: POLICE SIRENS IN THE DISTANCE
SARA: Can’t wait, can’t let them find me --
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SFX: SARA BREATHING HARD
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SARA: One thing’s for sure, knowers . . . I need . . . to get out of the studio more. I haven’t been this winded . . . since high school P.E. Need to get out of sight . . .
SFX: BUSHES RUSTLING
SARA: Just have to find my bearings. I grew up on this street.
SFX: POLICE SIRENS NEARER
SARA: Think . . . police cars will be coming around that corner any minute. The MacGegor House is behind ours, cattycorner . . . I’m about five or six houses up from there. Time to cut through some strangers’ yards . . .
SFX: BUSHES RUSTLING
SARA: No floodlight on their driveway. Should make it easier . . . Now, let’s hope this gate’s unlocked.
SFX: GATE UNLATCHES
SFX: FOOTFALLS ON GRASS
SARA: Back fence. Of course. At least it’s just a little “keep your kids out of my yard” fence, not a privacy fence.
SFX: SARA GRUNTS
SFX: FENCE RATTLES
SFX: THUMP ON GRASS
SARA: Oof. Yeah, I’m definitely getting back to working out once I’m home.
SFX: FOOTFALLS ON GRASS
SFX: SUDDEN DOG BARKING, CLOSE
SARA: Sonofa --
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON GRASS
SARA: Okay, he’s just up in the window.
SFX: POLICE SIRENS NEARER STILL
SFX: BUSHES RUSTLING
SARA: This is it, knowers, here they come --
SFX: POLICE SIRENS FADING
SARA: -- Right where they’re supposed to go now!
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON GRASS
SARA: I’ve got just a few minutes before they start combing the neighborhood --
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SARA: If I’m driving, let’s hope this white car isn’t a stick, knowers, or you’ll all be hearing firsthand the only all-second gear escape in history.
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SFX: SIRENS STOP
SARA: All right, which way? Which way? Come on! White car, white car, come on . . . He said it would be -- there! There! Under the streetlight!
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SARA: Never thought I’d be this happy to see an old station wagon!
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON PAVEMENT
SFX: SARA BREATHING HARD
SFX: RUNNING FOOTFALLS ON GRASS
SARA: Passenger side --
SFX: CAR DOOR OPENS
SARA: You?
SFX: CAR ENGINE REVS TO LIFE
PETRA: Get in!
SARA: Petra!
PETRA: Get in! Close the door!
SFX: CAR DOOR SLAMS
SARA: Why are you --
PETRA: I’m trying to save your life!
SFX: CAR TEARS DOWN THE STREET
SARA: I don’t understand.
PETRA: You will.