April 27, 2024 • 28 mins
Episode Alternative Title: "The Dapper Man"
Episode Description:
A storm is brewing in Hell... and on Earth.
The enigmatic and chilling Dapper Man arrives unannounced at the O.R.A., demanding to interrogate Chort, the demon who once possessed Phillip Weston. But he isn’t just after answers—he’s hunting the origin of the silver ring, a cursed object that threatens to unravel deeper secrets.
Meanwhile, Leo Brawn receives a classified dossier that could hold the truth about his own mysterious death. In a harrowing flashback, Leo takes us to the day he died—before Hell, before the demon hunter assignments, before the corruption. We meet his partner Marcus Mills and the unnerving man in the ugly orange tie—a moment that changed everything.
Leo then awakens in the bleak bureaucracy of Hell, across from his unnervingly calm Onboarding Specialist, Sebastien, who explains the grim next steps in Leo’s new "life."
Back in the present, Leo has returned to Earth, reincarnated as another fallen cop, now on assignment. A tender, haunting discovery—a child’s keepsake—reminds him of all that's been lost… and all that still matters.
Elsewhere, The Pig uncovers a shocking revelation that could change the game entirely.
⚖️ Mystery. Memory. Damnation.
🔥 The lines between past and present blur as Hell tightens its grip.
Perfect for fans of:
#HorrorPodcast #DemonHunter #DarkFantasy #OccultThriller #SupernaturalDrama #ParanormalPodcast #GothicNoir #HellLore #AudioDrama #LeoBrawn #ShoestringTV
Cast:
- Stitch Mainville as Leo Brawn
- Andy Parkin as Narrator
- Jim Fronk as the "Dapper Man", "Piggy" & Marcus Mills
- Eric Carlino as Sebastien
- Melrose Johnson as Captain F.J. Mangutt & ORA Agent
- Jason Beard as Chort & Man w/ Ugly Orange Tie
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Created, written, directed and produced by Jason Beard
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_06 (00:01):
I'm
SPEAKER_01 (00:22):
going to do this just a little under the weather.
In Chicago, Illinois, a mortallywounded police officer has...
Been placed in intensive care.
A young girl with pigtails sitsbedside.
Sorry, my vision is blurring.
(00:43):
I'll press on.
She is holding the hand of adear father who is unconscious
and only moments away fromdeath.
Yes, sorry.
I'm in the middle of recording.
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:00):
Why don't you wait until I'm finished, you...
Read this.
Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen, I've beenasked to read this card.
SPEAKER_03 (01:14):
The red wagon reliably rolls over Rutabaga.
Oh, shit! I'm chipped! Youbastards! I'm Balthagar!
Lieutenant of Hell! Kneel beforeme! No!
SPEAKER_04 (01:31):
Stay down, Mr.
Johanson.
We're with the ORA.
Get him out of here.
Bring in the replacement.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Check, check.
SPEAKER_04 (01:46):
Are you good?
SPEAKER_02 (01:47):
Yes, I'm set.
SPEAKER_04 (01:48):
Goddamn right.
Let's go.
SPEAKER_00 (01:49):
Shitstorm.
In
SPEAKER_02 (02:12):
Chicago, Illinois, a mortally wounded police officer
has been placed in intensivecare.
A young girl with pigtails sitsbedside.
She's holding the hand of herdear father, who is unconscious
and only moments away fromdeath.
The sound of a hospital EKGsings out across the small room,
audibly indicating that herfather, Luis Abarca, will soon
(02:34):
give his final goodbye.
Her loving abuela stands behindher, placing a calming hand on
the girl's shoulder.
Luis was on duty when he cameupon a carjacking in progress.
He managed to free the would-bevictim from any harm, but not
without sacrificing his body todo so.
The perpetrator and Lewiswrestled as the police officer
(02:55):
attempted to free the criminalof his weapon, but to no avail.
The assailant broke free,knocking Lewis to the ground and
swiftly firing his weapon,letting off three shots before
fleeing.
Lewis fought hard to stay in hislife, to protect his daughter,
but the wounds were tootraumatic.
Moments later, the physicianoverseeing Lewis pronounces the
(03:17):
formal declaration of death,citing the date and time.
His daughter, overcome withemotion, erupts with sorrow as a
heavy stream of tears trickledown her cheeks.
She leans in towards herfather's face and places a
simple kiss against his cheek,and then slowly backs away.
Soon after, she is embraced byher abuela.
(03:42):
Hours later, at the Cook Countymorgue late at night, Louisa
Barker's corpse is placed on aslab and gently placed into
storage.
The storage door clasps shut.
Outside of time and space inhell's capital city of Dante,
the obsidian recovery agencylocated on Good Intentions
Boulevard stands sturdily andimposing, all black stone and
(04:05):
sharp angles as storm cloudsform above in the evening sky.
Captain F.J.
Mangut, leader of the group ofdemon hunters of the ORA, files
away the case of Phillip Weston.
She's caught off guard by anunannounced visitor.
The dapper man, in awell-tailored suit with
expensive cigarettes, isstanding inside.
(04:26):
He approaches the captain.
SPEAKER_05 (04:29):
Hello, sir.
We weren't made aware of yourarrival.
I would have tried to spruce upthe place.
SPEAKER_03 (04:34):
Wanted to keep a low profile on this one.
Less publicity, paparazzi, andall that.
SPEAKER_02 (04:41):
There is an awkward pause between the captain and
the dapper man.
And then...
SPEAKER_03 (04:46):
Where
SPEAKER_02 (04:47):
is he?
SPEAKER_05 (04:47):
He's downstairs, keeping out of the rain.
Cell 2-H.
Thank
SPEAKER_02 (04:53):
you, Captain.
The dapper man walks the cellblock, hearing the whispers of
his arrival by the occupants ofthe block.
He finally arrives at Cell 2-H.
The demon who had performed anillegal possession of Philip
Weston lay on the floor.
He is shabbily dressed,barefoot, his extremities gray
and ashen.
(05:13):
covered with small wet boils,his hair in dreadlocks which
frame his round, misshapen face,and tiny, puke yellow eyes.
He is not aware that he has avisitor.
The well-dressed man leansagainst the bars of the cell and
lights up a cigarette.
The demon is startled and sitsupright, staring anxiously at
(05:35):
his late-night visitor.
SPEAKER_03 (05:37):
You startle easy.
Section 3.76 of the mandatestates, heretofore, there will
be no demonic possessions of anyhuman, whether willingly or
unwillingly.
I don't acknowledge the mandate.
(06:00):
No shit, short.
Yes, I know your name.
Your real name.
Not he who is not known.
Descendant of Ammon.
Where'd you get that shit?
And the voice.
Philip isn't here.
Straight out of the movies, thatone.
(06:21):
Oh, not for nothing.
By the way, it's pronounced Job.
Like globe.
Not job.
As in G.
I really hate my job.
Who do I know?
Who the fuck do you think I am?
You?
You are a traitor.
You spit in the face of all thatcame before, dismissing the
(06:43):
natural...
Oh yes, I know.
A reckoning.
Yes, an ancient evil hasawakened.
You know of what I speak.
Who sent the ring?
Don't know who sent the ring.
Should not have worked, but I doknow this.
A storm is coming.
SPEAKER_02 (07:03):
Leo awakens in his apartment.
A thunderstorm is in progressoutside.
Raindrops pitter-patter againstone of the few windows in the
drab apartment.
A dull light emanating from thebottom of the door blanketing
the apartment floor brieflyshifts, obstructed by a shadow
outside in the hallway.
Leo notices this changing oflight and pulls a loaded.45
(07:26):
caliber pistol from under hispillow.
He points the nose of the guntowards the door prepared to
fire if necessary.
Suddenly, a black file folder isslid under the doorway.
Leo cautiously makes his way tothe door, kneels to grab the
dossier, and then opens the doorto his apartment.
He peers into the dang hallway,but there is no one there.
(07:47):
The corridor is silent save forthe faint sound of dusty
fluorescent lights that adornthe ceilings of the hallway.
Closing the door, he sits at asmall dining room table, sliding
a half empty glass of whiskey tomake room for the dossier.
There is a sticky note, affixedto the face of the file.
It reads, for your eyes only,and then a single letter below
(08:11):
the message that reads, S.
Now opening the dossier, Leobecomes anxious as he delves
into its content.
It has the look of a reportwhere he is the subject.
The title of the documentstates, Leo Braun.
Case 87358.
Death details.
Revised.
(08:33):
Leo shuts his eyes.
A painful memory emerging fromthe back of his mind as he
recalls the tragic day when hewas taken from the world and
people he loved.
He squints harder.
His vision goes deeper intoblack, the images of the day
growing ever brighter until...
Leo's mind takes him back,several years ago.
(08:56):
He sits in an unmarked policevehicle with his partner of 15
years, Marcus Mills.
They are parked 30 yards awayfrom the Moto Reel Cinema, a now
defunct chain of boutique movietheaters.
They are on a stakeout.
Having been tipped that themurderer and rapist Samuel Dowd
has been using the abandonedmovie theater as his base of
operations and hideout for thepast few months.
(09:19):
A squad of officers handpickedby Leo are close but out of
sight awaiting Leo's orders.
Leo is in charge of thisoperation.
He is also soon to be promotedto commander of major crimes for
the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
What neither Leo nor Marcus northe tight-knit bunch of officers
(09:39):
selected for this operation knowis that Leo will lose his life
tonight.
And it won't be at the hands ofSamuel Dowd.
SPEAKER_03 (09:52):
Well, what the hell are you saying?
It's a bad idea to have sixkids?
No, no, no, no.
That's totally acceptable.
But six ugly kids?
That, my friend, is a problem.
Leo laughs and then looksthrough a pair of
SPEAKER_02 (10:17):
binoculars.
Though it is dark and a smallstorm has begun, the movie
theater is still in clear viewfrom the homicide detective's
vantage point.
While Leo scopes out hissurroundings...
Marcus takes advantage of thedistraction and reveals a small
trophy hidden in the duffel bag.
It is a plastic mold of a bald,fat man, painted in gold,
(10:41):
sitting on a toilet.
At the base is a metal bannerthat reads, congrats on 25 years
of shits.
Leo sets the binoculars downonly to see the trophy shoved in
his face.
SPEAKER_03 (10:53):
Congrats, man, on 25 years.
Oh shit, Marcus, you shouldn'thave.
Only the best for you, old man.
You know how hard it was to findyour likeness?
I can see the resemblance.
Yeah, that's your son Tony, allright.
SPEAKER_02 (11:09):
Leo and Marcus laugh.
However, the levity isshort-lived as a member of the
squad radios in.
SPEAKER_01 (11:14):
There is movement to the southeast.
SPEAKER_03 (11:17):
Roger that.
Sierra moving forward.
Assume your fields of fire, butdon't breach.
Up.
Roger.
And stay off the radio untilfurther instructions.
Could it really be?
If the intel was correct, and itusually is, Samuel Dowd is going
down.
Let's move in.
SPEAKER_02 (11:36):
Leo sets the trophy on the dash of the police
vehicle.
SPEAKER_03 (11:39):
I'm coming back for you, golden boy.
SPEAKER_02 (11:41):
Leo opens the unmarked vehicle's trunk and
hands a Kevlar vest to Marcus.
Leo slips a vest on as well.
From the gum rack of thevehicle, he unlocks a shotgun.
Already loaded, he racks theslug into the chamber.
Then the two partners make theirway to the Moto Real Cinema.
(12:02):
They travail down the incline ofan overpass until they reach the
empty parking lot of the movietheater.
Streetlights illuminateautomatically as the day grows
darker.
They rush to the entrance of thetheater, avoiding the parking
(12:22):
lot and the large swaths oflight the street lamps have
produced.
The storm grows stronger, butvisibility is still not an
issue.
In a crouching position, theymake their way from the west
entrance to the southeast cornerof the movie theater, where
movement was reported.
Leo pulls out a flashlight andbriefly turns it on, running his
hand quickly through the beams.
(12:44):
In the distance, 40 yards awayfrom the theater, two small
flashes of light are seen.
The squad still has solidvisibility.
Both torches are
SPEAKER_03 (12:53):
extinguished.
What the hell is a PCEU?
P-E-C-U.
And it's gonna have to wait,Marcus.
You don't have time to explainLeo
SPEAKER_02 (13:04):
realizes he is underneath the box office
window, and he leans upwards topeer inside the movie theater.
At this point, there is a suddenblackout, as if the memory
itself has been excised.
Leo's memory falters.
He can only pick back up withboth Marcus and Leo already
inside the theater.
He has no connection to how theybreached the movie theater and
(13:26):
made entry.
When the reel of his mindresumes, he and Marcus are
already separated, and he can'treach his partner or the squad
outside on the radio.
UNKNOWN (13:34):
Marcus.
SPEAKER_02 (13:36):
Come in.
UNKNOWN (13:38):
Damn it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:39):
Leo traverses through the abandoned lobby.
He moves through beams of lightwhere holes in the ceiling have
given way.
The burgeoning storm sends rainpouring through the open
ceiling, splashing against thetheater's wall.
The hallway to the left of theconcession is blocked by a
collapsed wall.
Leo decides to go to the secondfloor.
He holsters his service weaponin exchange for the shotgun.
(14:02):
Ascending the stairs, he arrivesat the second floor.
Tightly leaning against thecorner, he peeks around the
corner to find an empty balcony.
Leo is met with silence.
Across the balcony is a smallroom with some light flickering
behind the door.
Leo runs the phone quietly,shotgun drawn.
He makes his way towards theroom with the intermittent
(14:23):
light.
About halfway to hisdestination, the floor
underneath his feet cracks, thenrumbles, and then opens up
beneath him.
He plummets to the first floor,landing hard against wood and
smashed concrete.
He quickly dusts himself off andexamines the scene.
He is uninjured, save for someminor scrapes, but extremely
winded.
(14:44):
The shotgun has beencompromised, buried almost
completely underneath thecollapsed wall.
Only the tip of the handle pokesthrough the debris.
Leo realizes he is in the roomof flickering lights.
A projector shoots bright lightagainst a silver movie screen in
what appears to be some sort ofprivate screening room.
It is then that he senses it.
(15:06):
He is not alone.
The light is too bright anddisorientating to make out any
of the figures standing in theroom.
He can only sense theirpresence.
They don't rush him.
They just seem to stand,silently.
The room is quiet.
He can hear the runningprojector and breathing that is
not his own.
(15:27):
The projection brightensfurther.
He becomes more disorientateduntil he notices black shoes
facing him.
He can't see the person in frontof him.
As he tries to look up, thelight brightens even more.
All he can determine is that theperson in front of him is
wearing an ugly orange tie.
As he studies the unfashionabletie, he hears someone speaking.
SPEAKER_01 (15:50):
The movie is over, Mr.
Brown.
SPEAKER_02 (15:55):
Time to go.
Leo begins to question the manin the tie, but it's too late.
A heavy bladed weapon is thrustinto Leo's chest.
SPEAKER_03 (16:18):
You hear it all the time.
Those that have near-deathexperiences describe it as a
tunnel of light, something thathints at what may be beyond this
life that we're given.
But I didn't see a bright light.
I just felt a void, expansiveand constricting all at the same
time.
Everything went black, novision, no sound, except for
(16:40):
right before I came to, whispersof my wife and son's names,
Louise and Harry.
Next thing I remember, I'msitting in a plastic office
chair.
SPEAKER_02 (16:51):
Leo sits in an eggshell-colored room.
It would be completely emptyexcept for the plastic chair he
sits in, and across from him,another plastic chair, tucked
under the small plastic tablebetween the two.
A door opens that Leo didn'teven realize was there, and a
young man with well-coiffed hairenters the room.
He doesn't immediately make eyecontact.
(17:14):
The young man carries a binder,which he sets on the small
table, He is pale, thin,stylishly dressed.
He slides the plastic chair outfrom under the table and sits
down.
Removes a file from the binderand opens it, spreading out the
various documentation that wascontained inside.
The young man finally looks atLeo, but doesn't speak.
(17:37):
Finally, Leo breaks the silence.
SPEAKER_03 (17:45):
What is this?
Where am I?
We'll get to that.
Where am I?
Mr.
Braun, I assure you we will getto it.
Who are you?
You want answers.
I understand the confusion.
The disorientation.
I will do my absolute best toanswer any question you have.
(18:06):
But I cannot stress enough thatno matter what I tell you, these
answers won't digest easily.
SPEAKER_02 (18:13):
Who are you?
Sebastian points at his nametag.
SPEAKER_03 (18:17):
My name is Sebastian.
I'm your case handler.
Sebastian?
Yes.
Just Sebastian.
Sebastian.
Yes, Leo.
I'd like to go home.
Now.
Mr.
Braun, that is an impossibility.
SPEAKER_02 (18:33):
Leo attempts to lunge towards Sebastian, but is
immediately restrained.
He examines his hands, whichhave been cuffed to hooked
connectors securing him to thefloor.
SPEAKER_03 (18:41):
Where the fuck am I?
What the fuck is this place?
Mr.
Braun.
Leo...
A man of your intelligence anddeductive prowess doesn't need
help in answering that question.
You feel it, don't you?
SPEAKER_02 (18:56):
Leo takes a moment.
He looks around.
The room.
At Sebastian.
And the files.
SPEAKER_03 (19:03):
I'm dead?
Yes.
I'm sorry.
And this isn't...
This isn't heaven?
No, Leo.
No, it is not.
Oh, God, no.
No, Louise, I'm sorry.
Harry, my boy.
Oh, God, I'm sorry.
(19:24):
Leo.
Oh, my God.
Are they okay?
I don't know that,unfortunately, Leo.
I wish I did.
Look, I was a good man.
I was a cop.
From what I've read, a cop ofdistinguished service on your
way to a promotion, Iunderstand.
Commander of major crimes, yeah.
(19:44):
Leo, I know you must have somany questions, and there will
be time for that.
Due to your extended period oftime in limbo, there are a few
things I'm obligated to getthrough.
And that window is closing.
I'm sorry, my dear.
I'm going to tell you somethings that are very important.
My primary function here is todiscuss next steps.
(20:07):
It's impersonal, I realize, butonboarding has become a bit of a
bottleneck lately due to aninflux of new arrivals.
Oh, my boy.
Leo.
For the next few minutes, let megive you my spiel.
If it's easier, just listen.
You don't have to answeranything.
SPEAKER_02 (20:25):
Leo notes, in acknowledgement.
SPEAKER_03 (20:28):
Thank you,
SPEAKER_02 (20:28):
Leo.
SPEAKER_03 (20:30):
Normally, we'd have far more time to explore your
background, discuss your pasttransgressions, but due to the
extended time you've been inlimbo, we'll schedule those
discussions at a later date.
I need to prep you fororientation.
Orientation?
Yes, it can often be the bestpart of the transition.
(20:50):
Billy is a great orator.
At orientation, you'll learn theground rules.
Ground rules?
For what?
For how to live your life here.
Your assignment.
The ground rules.
Here's a map.
SPEAKER_02 (21:06):
Sebastian hands Leo a map, which literally shows the
steps he would take from theroom he is in now to what
resembles a classroom only a fewyards away.
SPEAKER_03 (21:15):
So where do we begin?
When I was nine, I stole a packof gum?
It's in the file.
Is that why I'm here?
No.
Well, there is the cause ofdeath, which is fairly detailed.
And then there's a portion ofthe report that explains why you
wound up here.
Which sin you committed.
Your file says...
(21:36):
That's unusual.
is unknown?
I'm sure it's a clerical error.
Like I said, we've had anunexpected influx of arrivals.
These things get updatedregularly.
Sorry, Mr.
Braun, a new onboardingspecialist is going to need the
(21:58):
room.
I'll walk you to the bed we havefor you tonight, and then first
thing in the morning, make it toorientation.
Sound good?
SPEAKER_02 (22:07):
Leo doesn't answer.
Sebastian unlocks the handcuffsand guides Leo out of the sparse
room.
The door is closed forcefullybehind them.
The sound of a pager beepingbrings Leo back to his dull
apartment once again.
The dossier remains open.
Many pages turned over.
(22:28):
He removes the pager from hispocket and reads the message
that was received.
Leo grabs the glass of whiskeyand drinks the rest of it down
in one shot.
Now in the present day, back inChicago, Illinois, at the Cook
County morgue.
Leo was lying on the slab,having just been reincarnated as
Lewis Abarco.
(22:48):
His briefcase vibrates.
Leo cracks it open and witheffort is able to remove a tool.
After a few minutes of jostlingthe clasps, the morgue slab lock
is removed and Leo slides theslab open.
Leo exits the morgue in the deadof night.
He's wearing a white t-shirt andpolice department issued pants.
(23:12):
He grabs the briefcase andbegins his trek towards the next
poor human who has recently beenpossessed.
As he begins to walk, he feelssomething pressing against his
hip.
Reaching into his left pantspocket, he pulls out a golden
locket.
Opening the locket, he sees thepicture of a little girl and a
name inscribed below thepicture.
Isabella.
(23:37):
He knows that time is of theessence, and yet he faces the
Cook County morgue withobligation.
The following day, the staffbegins filing into the morgue.
The woman at the front deskplaces a bag with her belongings
next to her office chair, sitsdown, and logs into her
computer.
Then she notices somethingplaced on top of the counter, a
(23:59):
golden locket and a sticky note.
She examines the locket and thenreads the sticky note.
Written in marker, it reads, ForIsabella.
(24:22):
On an empty street at night inthe city of Dante, a jet black
Cadillac Coupe de Ville pullsdown an alleyway and comes to a
stop.
The short man with a fedora andovercoat steps out of the
vehicle and approaches the sideof a building.
He unlocks the door and enters.
The man referred to as Piggyshuts the door and locks it
(24:42):
behind him.
He is in a darkened room savedfor the green glow of computer
servers.
He flips on a desk lamp whichreveals an open laptop on a
wooden desk.
He sits at the desk and logsinto the laptop.
The lit up screen casts light onhis malformed face.
He inserts a USB cable into aside port of the computer and
(25:03):
then places a briefcase on thewooden desk.
He opens a gold metal panel inthe center of the briefcase and
connects the cable.
Turning back to the laptop, heexecutes a program with a few
keystrokes and the laptopappears to be running some kind
of diagnostic.
(25:24):
Next to the gold metal openpanel is a label that reads
Braun, Leo.
Suddenly the laptop hascompleted the process and the
results have been returned.
The results appear to display alocation indicating the source
of the transmission that sentthe silver ring to Leo.
Piggy stares at the screen, andhis expression becomes one of
(25:44):
shock.
SPEAKER_03 (25:45):
What?
Who the hell is that?
SPEAKER_01 (26:49):
Leo Braun is a production of Shoestring TV.
You can find us at patreon.comslash shoestring TV, where you
can listen to each episode forfree or subscribe for only$5 a
month.
With the subscription, you'llbecome a member of the Obsidian
Recovery Agency, which grantsyou early access to each
episode.
Additionally, you'll gainexclusive access to bonus clips,
(27:10):
concept art, show notes, directchats, and merchandise including
the brand new Welcome to the ORACoffee Mugs, and so much more.
You can also find us on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, and just
about anywhere you listen topodcasts.
Leo Braun was written andproduced by me, Jason Beard, and
starring Stitch Mainville as LeoBraun, Andy Parkin as Narrator
(27:34):
2, Jim Fronk as the Dapper Man,Piggy, and Marcus Mills, Eric
Carlino as Sebastian.
Melrose Johnson as Captain F.J.
Manget and O.R.A.
Agent.
All music and sound effectsprovided royalty free by
Soundstripe and Freesound.
You can find the artistinformation in the soundtrack
section of our Patreon site.
(27:56):
Stay tuned for Leo Braun Episode4, Orientation.
Thanks again for listening.
I'm
SPEAKER_01 (00:22):
going to do this just a little under the weather.
In Chicago, Illinois, a mortallywounded police officer has...
Been placed in intensive care.
A young girl with pigtails sitsbedside.
Sorry, my vision is blurring.
(00:43):
I'll press on.
She is holding the hand of adear father who is unconscious
and only moments away fromdeath.
Yes, sorry.
I'm in the middle of recording.
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:00):
Why don't you wait until I'm finished, you...
Read this.
Okay.
Ladies and gentlemen, I've beenasked to read this card.
SPEAKER_03 (01:14):
The red wagon reliably rolls over Rutabaga.
Oh, shit! I'm chipped! Youbastards! I'm Balthagar!
Lieutenant of Hell! Kneel beforeme! No!
SPEAKER_04 (01:31):
Stay down, Mr.
Johanson.
We're with the ORA.
Get him out of here.
Bring in the replacement.
SPEAKER_02 (01:45):
Check, check.
SPEAKER_04 (01:46):
Are you good?
SPEAKER_02 (01:47):
Yes, I'm set.
SPEAKER_04 (01:48):
Goddamn right.
Let's go.
SPEAKER_00 (01:49):
Shitstorm.
In
SPEAKER_02 (02:12):
Chicago, Illinois, a mortally wounded police officer
has been placed in intensivecare.
A young girl with pigtails sitsbedside.
She's holding the hand of herdear father, who is unconscious
and only moments away fromdeath.
The sound of a hospital EKGsings out across the small room,
audibly indicating that herfather, Luis Abarca, will soon
(02:34):
give his final goodbye.
Her loving abuela stands behindher, placing a calming hand on
the girl's shoulder.
Luis was on duty when he cameupon a carjacking in progress.
He managed to free the would-bevictim from any harm, but not
without sacrificing his body todo so.
The perpetrator and Lewiswrestled as the police officer
(02:55):
attempted to free the criminalof his weapon, but to no avail.
The assailant broke free,knocking Lewis to the ground and
swiftly firing his weapon,letting off three shots before
fleeing.
Lewis fought hard to stay in hislife, to protect his daughter,
but the wounds were tootraumatic.
Moments later, the physicianoverseeing Lewis pronounces the
(03:17):
formal declaration of death,citing the date and time.
His daughter, overcome withemotion, erupts with sorrow as a
heavy stream of tears trickledown her cheeks.
She leans in towards herfather's face and places a
simple kiss against his cheek,and then slowly backs away.
Soon after, she is embraced byher abuela.
(03:42):
Hours later, at the Cook Countymorgue late at night, Louisa
Barker's corpse is placed on aslab and gently placed into
storage.
The storage door clasps shut.
Outside of time and space inhell's capital city of Dante,
the obsidian recovery agencylocated on Good Intentions
Boulevard stands sturdily andimposing, all black stone and
(04:05):
sharp angles as storm cloudsform above in the evening sky.
Captain F.J.
Mangut, leader of the group ofdemon hunters of the ORA, files
away the case of Phillip Weston.
She's caught off guard by anunannounced visitor.
The dapper man, in awell-tailored suit with
expensive cigarettes, isstanding inside.
(04:26):
He approaches the captain.
SPEAKER_05 (04:29):
Hello, sir.
We weren't made aware of yourarrival.
I would have tried to spruce upthe place.
SPEAKER_03 (04:34):
Wanted to keep a low profile on this one.
Less publicity, paparazzi, andall that.
SPEAKER_02 (04:41):
There is an awkward pause between the captain and
the dapper man.
And then...
SPEAKER_03 (04:46):
Where
SPEAKER_02 (04:47):
is he?
SPEAKER_05 (04:47):
He's downstairs, keeping out of the rain.
Cell 2-H.
Thank
SPEAKER_02 (04:53):
you, Captain.
The dapper man walks the cellblock, hearing the whispers of
his arrival by the occupants ofthe block.
He finally arrives at Cell 2-H.
The demon who had performed anillegal possession of Philip
Weston lay on the floor.
He is shabbily dressed,barefoot, his extremities gray
and ashen.
(05:13):
covered with small wet boils,his hair in dreadlocks which
frame his round, misshapen face,and tiny, puke yellow eyes.
He is not aware that he has avisitor.
The well-dressed man leansagainst the bars of the cell and
lights up a cigarette.
The demon is startled and sitsupright, staring anxiously at
(05:35):
his late-night visitor.
SPEAKER_03 (05:37):
You startle easy.
Section 3.76 of the mandatestates, heretofore, there will
be no demonic possessions of anyhuman, whether willingly or
unwillingly.
I don't acknowledge the mandate.
(06:00):
No shit, short.
Yes, I know your name.
Your real name.
Not he who is not known.
Descendant of Ammon.
Where'd you get that shit?
And the voice.
Philip isn't here.
Straight out of the movies, thatone.
(06:21):
Oh, not for nothing.
By the way, it's pronounced Job.
Like globe.
Not job.
As in G.
I really hate my job.
Who do I know?
Who the fuck do you think I am?
You?
You are a traitor.
You spit in the face of all thatcame before, dismissing the
(06:43):
natural...
Oh yes, I know.
A reckoning.
Yes, an ancient evil hasawakened.
You know of what I speak.
Who sent the ring?
Don't know who sent the ring.
Should not have worked, but I doknow this.
A storm is coming.
SPEAKER_02 (07:03):
Leo awakens in his apartment.
A thunderstorm is in progressoutside.
Raindrops pitter-patter againstone of the few windows in the
drab apartment.
A dull light emanating from thebottom of the door blanketing
the apartment floor brieflyshifts, obstructed by a shadow
outside in the hallway.
Leo notices this changing oflight and pulls a loaded.45
(07:26):
caliber pistol from under hispillow.
He points the nose of the guntowards the door prepared to
fire if necessary.
Suddenly, a black file folder isslid under the doorway.
Leo cautiously makes his way tothe door, kneels to grab the
dossier, and then opens the doorto his apartment.
He peers into the dang hallway,but there is no one there.
(07:47):
The corridor is silent save forthe faint sound of dusty
fluorescent lights that adornthe ceilings of the hallway.
Closing the door, he sits at asmall dining room table, sliding
a half empty glass of whiskey tomake room for the dossier.
There is a sticky note, affixedto the face of the file.
It reads, for your eyes only,and then a single letter below
(08:11):
the message that reads, S.
Now opening the dossier, Leobecomes anxious as he delves
into its content.
It has the look of a reportwhere he is the subject.
The title of the documentstates, Leo Braun.
Case 87358.
Death details.
Revised.
(08:33):
Leo shuts his eyes.
A painful memory emerging fromthe back of his mind as he
recalls the tragic day when hewas taken from the world and
people he loved.
He squints harder.
His vision goes deeper intoblack, the images of the day
growing ever brighter until...
Leo's mind takes him back,several years ago.
(08:56):
He sits in an unmarked policevehicle with his partner of 15
years, Marcus Mills.
They are parked 30 yards awayfrom the Moto Reel Cinema, a now
defunct chain of boutique movietheaters.
They are on a stakeout.
Having been tipped that themurderer and rapist Samuel Dowd
has been using the abandonedmovie theater as his base of
operations and hideout for thepast few months.
(09:19):
A squad of officers handpickedby Leo are close but out of
sight awaiting Leo's orders.
Leo is in charge of thisoperation.
He is also soon to be promotedto commander of major crimes for
the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
What neither Leo nor Marcus northe tight-knit bunch of officers
(09:39):
selected for this operation knowis that Leo will lose his life
tonight.
And it won't be at the hands ofSamuel Dowd.
SPEAKER_03 (09:52):
Well, what the hell are you saying?
It's a bad idea to have sixkids?
No, no, no, no.
That's totally acceptable.
But six ugly kids?
That, my friend, is a problem.
Leo laughs and then looksthrough a pair of
SPEAKER_02 (10:17):
binoculars.
Though it is dark and a smallstorm has begun, the movie
theater is still in clear viewfrom the homicide detective's
vantage point.
While Leo scopes out hissurroundings...
Marcus takes advantage of thedistraction and reveals a small
trophy hidden in the duffel bag.
It is a plastic mold of a bald,fat man, painted in gold,
(10:41):
sitting on a toilet.
At the base is a metal bannerthat reads, congrats on 25 years
of shits.
Leo sets the binoculars downonly to see the trophy shoved in
his face.
SPEAKER_03 (10:53):
Congrats, man, on 25 years.
Oh shit, Marcus, you shouldn'thave.
Only the best for you, old man.
You know how hard it was to findyour likeness?
I can see the resemblance.
Yeah, that's your son Tony, allright.
SPEAKER_02 (11:09):
Leo and Marcus laugh.
However, the levity isshort-lived as a member of the
squad radios in.
SPEAKER_01 (11:14):
There is movement to the southeast.
SPEAKER_03 (11:17):
Roger that.
Sierra moving forward.
Assume your fields of fire, butdon't breach.
Up.
Roger.
And stay off the radio untilfurther instructions.
Could it really be?
If the intel was correct, and itusually is, Samuel Dowd is going
down.
Let's move in.
SPEAKER_02 (11:36):
Leo sets the trophy on the dash of the police
vehicle.
SPEAKER_03 (11:39):
I'm coming back for you, golden boy.
SPEAKER_02 (11:41):
Leo opens the unmarked vehicle's trunk and
hands a Kevlar vest to Marcus.
Leo slips a vest on as well.
From the gum rack of thevehicle, he unlocks a shotgun.
Already loaded, he racks theslug into the chamber.
Then the two partners make theirway to the Moto Real Cinema.
(12:02):
They travail down the incline ofan overpass until they reach the
empty parking lot of the movietheater.
Streetlights illuminateautomatically as the day grows
darker.
They rush to the entrance of thetheater, avoiding the parking
(12:22):
lot and the large swaths oflight the street lamps have
produced.
The storm grows stronger, butvisibility is still not an
issue.
In a crouching position, theymake their way from the west
entrance to the southeast cornerof the movie theater, where
movement was reported.
Leo pulls out a flashlight andbriefly turns it on, running his
hand quickly through the beams.
(12:44):
In the distance, 40 yards awayfrom the theater, two small
flashes of light are seen.
The squad still has solidvisibility.
Both torches are
SPEAKER_03 (12:53):
extinguished.
What the hell is a PCEU?
P-E-C-U.
And it's gonna have to wait,Marcus.
You don't have time to explainLeo
SPEAKER_02 (13:04):
realizes he is underneath the box office
window, and he leans upwards topeer inside the movie theater.
At this point, there is a suddenblackout, as if the memory
itself has been excised.
Leo's memory falters.
He can only pick back up withboth Marcus and Leo already
inside the theater.
He has no connection to how theybreached the movie theater and
(13:26):
made entry.
When the reel of his mindresumes, he and Marcus are
already separated, and he can'treach his partner or the squad
outside on the radio.
UNKNOWN (13:34):
Marcus.
SPEAKER_02 (13:36):
Come in.
UNKNOWN (13:38):
Damn it.
SPEAKER_02 (13:39):
Leo traverses through the abandoned lobby.
He moves through beams of lightwhere holes in the ceiling have
given way.
The burgeoning storm sends rainpouring through the open
ceiling, splashing against thetheater's wall.
The hallway to the left of theconcession is blocked by a
collapsed wall.
Leo decides to go to the secondfloor.
He holsters his service weaponin exchange for the shotgun.
(14:02):
Ascending the stairs, he arrivesat the second floor.
Tightly leaning against thecorner, he peeks around the
corner to find an empty balcony.
Leo is met with silence.
Across the balcony is a smallroom with some light flickering
behind the door.
Leo runs the phone quietly,shotgun drawn.
He makes his way towards theroom with the intermittent
(14:23):
light.
About halfway to hisdestination, the floor
underneath his feet cracks, thenrumbles, and then opens up
beneath him.
He plummets to the first floor,landing hard against wood and
smashed concrete.
He quickly dusts himself off andexamines the scene.
He is uninjured, save for someminor scrapes, but extremely
winded.
(14:44):
The shotgun has beencompromised, buried almost
completely underneath thecollapsed wall.
Only the tip of the handle pokesthrough the debris.
Leo realizes he is in the roomof flickering lights.
A projector shoots bright lightagainst a silver movie screen in
what appears to be some sort ofprivate screening room.
It is then that he senses it.
(15:06):
He is not alone.
The light is too bright anddisorientating to make out any
of the figures standing in theroom.
He can only sense theirpresence.
They don't rush him.
They just seem to stand,silently.
The room is quiet.
He can hear the runningprojector and breathing that is
not his own.
(15:27):
The projection brightensfurther.
He becomes more disorientateduntil he notices black shoes
facing him.
He can't see the person in frontof him.
As he tries to look up, thelight brightens even more.
All he can determine is that theperson in front of him is
wearing an ugly orange tie.
As he studies the unfashionabletie, he hears someone speaking.
SPEAKER_01 (15:50):
The movie is over, Mr.
Brown.
SPEAKER_02 (15:55):
Time to go.
Leo begins to question the manin the tie, but it's too late.
A heavy bladed weapon is thrustinto Leo's chest.
SPEAKER_03 (16:18):
You hear it all the time.
Those that have near-deathexperiences describe it as a
tunnel of light, something thathints at what may be beyond this
life that we're given.
But I didn't see a bright light.
I just felt a void, expansiveand constricting all at the same
time.
Everything went black, novision, no sound, except for
(16:40):
right before I came to, whispersof my wife and son's names,
Louise and Harry.
Next thing I remember, I'msitting in a plastic office
chair.
SPEAKER_02 (16:51):
Leo sits in an eggshell-colored room.
It would be completely emptyexcept for the plastic chair he
sits in, and across from him,another plastic chair, tucked
under the small plastic tablebetween the two.
A door opens that Leo didn'teven realize was there, and a
young man with well-coiffed hairenters the room.
He doesn't immediately make eyecontact.
(17:14):
The young man carries a binder,which he sets on the small
table, He is pale, thin,stylishly dressed.
He slides the plastic chair outfrom under the table and sits
down.
Removes a file from the binderand opens it, spreading out the
various documentation that wascontained inside.
The young man finally looks atLeo, but doesn't speak.
(17:37):
Finally, Leo breaks the silence.
SPEAKER_03 (17:45):
What is this?
Where am I?
We'll get to that.
Where am I?
Mr.
Braun, I assure you we will getto it.
Who are you?
You want answers.
I understand the confusion.
The disorientation.
I will do my absolute best toanswer any question you have.
(18:06):
But I cannot stress enough thatno matter what I tell you, these
answers won't digest easily.
SPEAKER_02 (18:13):
Who are you?
Sebastian points at his nametag.
SPEAKER_03 (18:17):
My name is Sebastian.
I'm your case handler.
Sebastian?
Yes.
Just Sebastian.
Sebastian.
Yes, Leo.
I'd like to go home.
Now.
Mr.
Braun, that is an impossibility.
SPEAKER_02 (18:33):
Leo attempts to lunge towards Sebastian, but is
immediately restrained.
He examines his hands, whichhave been cuffed to hooked
connectors securing him to thefloor.
SPEAKER_03 (18:41):
Where the fuck am I?
What the fuck is this place?
Mr.
Braun.
Leo...
A man of your intelligence anddeductive prowess doesn't need
help in answering that question.
You feel it, don't you?
SPEAKER_02 (18:56):
Leo takes a moment.
He looks around.
The room.
At Sebastian.
And the files.
SPEAKER_03 (19:03):
I'm dead?
Yes.
I'm sorry.
And this isn't...
This isn't heaven?
No, Leo.
No, it is not.
Oh, God, no.
No, Louise, I'm sorry.
Harry, my boy.
Oh, God, I'm sorry.
(19:24):
Leo.
Oh, my God.
Are they okay?
I don't know that,unfortunately, Leo.
I wish I did.
Look, I was a good man.
I was a cop.
From what I've read, a cop ofdistinguished service on your
way to a promotion, Iunderstand.
Commander of major crimes, yeah.
(19:44):
Leo, I know you must have somany questions, and there will
be time for that.
Due to your extended period oftime in limbo, there are a few
things I'm obligated to getthrough.
And that window is closing.
I'm sorry, my dear.
I'm going to tell you somethings that are very important.
My primary function here is todiscuss next steps.
(20:07):
It's impersonal, I realize, butonboarding has become a bit of a
bottleneck lately due to aninflux of new arrivals.
Oh, my boy.
Leo.
For the next few minutes, let megive you my spiel.
If it's easier, just listen.
You don't have to answeranything.
SPEAKER_02 (20:25):
Leo notes, in acknowledgement.
SPEAKER_03 (20:28):
Thank you,
SPEAKER_02 (20:28):
Leo.
SPEAKER_03 (20:30):
Normally, we'd have far more time to explore your
background, discuss your pasttransgressions, but due to the
extended time you've been inlimbo, we'll schedule those
discussions at a later date.
I need to prep you fororientation.
Orientation?
Yes, it can often be the bestpart of the transition.
(20:50):
Billy is a great orator.
At orientation, you'll learn theground rules.
Ground rules?
For what?
For how to live your life here.
Your assignment.
The ground rules.
Here's a map.
SPEAKER_02 (21:06):
Sebastian hands Leo a map, which literally shows the
steps he would take from theroom he is in now to what
resembles a classroom only a fewyards away.
SPEAKER_03 (21:15):
So where do we begin?
When I was nine, I stole a packof gum?
It's in the file.
Is that why I'm here?
No.
Well, there is the cause ofdeath, which is fairly detailed.
And then there's a portion ofthe report that explains why you
wound up here.
Which sin you committed.
Your file says...
(21:36):
That's unusual.
is unknown?
I'm sure it's a clerical error.
Like I said, we've had anunexpected influx of arrivals.
These things get updatedregularly.
Sorry, Mr.
Braun, a new onboardingspecialist is going to need the
(21:58):
room.
I'll walk you to the bed we havefor you tonight, and then first
thing in the morning, make it toorientation.
Sound good?
SPEAKER_02 (22:07):
Leo doesn't answer.
Sebastian unlocks the handcuffsand guides Leo out of the sparse
room.
The door is closed forcefullybehind them.
The sound of a pager beepingbrings Leo back to his dull
apartment once again.
The dossier remains open.
Many pages turned over.
(22:28):
He removes the pager from hispocket and reads the message
that was received.
Leo grabs the glass of whiskeyand drinks the rest of it down
in one shot.
Now in the present day, back inChicago, Illinois, at the Cook
County morgue.
Leo was lying on the slab,having just been reincarnated as
Lewis Abarco.
(22:48):
His briefcase vibrates.
Leo cracks it open and witheffort is able to remove a tool.
After a few minutes of jostlingthe clasps, the morgue slab lock
is removed and Leo slides theslab open.
Leo exits the morgue in the deadof night.
He's wearing a white t-shirt andpolice department issued pants.
(23:12):
He grabs the briefcase andbegins his trek towards the next
poor human who has recently beenpossessed.
As he begins to walk, he feelssomething pressing against his
hip.
Reaching into his left pantspocket, he pulls out a golden
locket.
Opening the locket, he sees thepicture of a little girl and a
name inscribed below thepicture.
Isabella.
(23:37):
He knows that time is of theessence, and yet he faces the
Cook County morgue withobligation.
The following day, the staffbegins filing into the morgue.
The woman at the front deskplaces a bag with her belongings
next to her office chair, sitsdown, and logs into her
computer.
Then she notices somethingplaced on top of the counter, a
(23:59):
golden locket and a sticky note.
She examines the locket and thenreads the sticky note.
Written in marker, it reads, ForIsabella.
(24:22):
On an empty street at night inthe city of Dante, a jet black
Cadillac Coupe de Ville pullsdown an alleyway and comes to a
stop.
The short man with a fedora andovercoat steps out of the
vehicle and approaches the sideof a building.
He unlocks the door and enters.
The man referred to as Piggyshuts the door and locks it
(24:42):
behind him.
He is in a darkened room savedfor the green glow of computer
servers.
He flips on a desk lamp whichreveals an open laptop on a
wooden desk.
He sits at the desk and logsinto the laptop.
The lit up screen casts light onhis malformed face.
He inserts a USB cable into aside port of the computer and
(25:03):
then places a briefcase on thewooden desk.
He opens a gold metal panel inthe center of the briefcase and
connects the cable.
Turning back to the laptop, heexecutes a program with a few
keystrokes and the laptopappears to be running some kind
of diagnostic.
(25:24):
Next to the gold metal openpanel is a label that reads
Braun, Leo.
Suddenly the laptop hascompleted the process and the
results have been returned.
The results appear to display alocation indicating the source
of the transmission that sentthe silver ring to Leo.
Piggy stares at the screen, andhis expression becomes one of
(25:44):
shock.
SPEAKER_03 (25:45):
What?
Who the hell is that?
SPEAKER_01 (26:49):
Leo Braun is a production of Shoestring TV.
You can find us at patreon.comslash shoestring TV, where you
can listen to each episode forfree or subscribe for only$5 a
month.
With the subscription, you'llbecome a member of the Obsidian
Recovery Agency, which grantsyou early access to each
episode.
Additionally, you'll gainexclusive access to bonus clips,
(27:10):
concept art, show notes, directchats, and merchandise including
the brand new Welcome to the ORACoffee Mugs, and so much more.
You can also find us on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, and just
about anywhere you listen topodcasts.
Leo Braun was written andproduced by me, Jason Beard, and
starring Stitch Mainville as LeoBraun, Andy Parkin as Narrator
(27:34):
2, Jim Fronk as the Dapper Man,Piggy, and Marcus Mills, Eric
Carlino as Sebastian.
Melrose Johnson as Captain F.J.
Manget and O.R.A.
Agent.
All music and sound effectsprovided royalty free by
Soundstripe and Freesound.
You can find the artistinformation in the soundtrack
section of our Patreon site.
(27:56):
Stay tuned for Leo Braun Episode4, Orientation.
Thanks again for listening.
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