911 OPERATOR
Slow down. What medications are you on?
JIM
I’m talking about criminal activity!
911 OPERATOR
I’ll connect you with the Mental Health Hotine.
JIM
I don’t need a psychiatrist!
911 OPERATOR
For future reference, the direct line is –
JIM
Will you listen to me? What happens to people when Lhey die – before they get put in the ground? It’s a scam! If you don’t have any family, you’re out of luck! They won’t let you rest, till they get one last pound of flesh!
911 OPERATOR
Sir, you need help. . .
JIM
Don’t you get it? They’ll never let us rest, as long as there’s money to be made! It’s the system. They want to bleed us dry. We’re in it like rats. . .
911 OPERATOR
Give me an address. I’ll send someone –
JIM
They shoot you up with some kind of super-adrenaline, right in the heart. And there’s a pacemaker – a little silver thing they strap to your chest, to keep it pumping – just enough. All you can say is “please,” “sorry,” “thank you,” stuff like that. . . but it’s the cheapest labor there is! Who will bury them? That’s what I want to know! What kind of sick, twisted –?
911 OPERATOR
Try to remain calm, sir. Sir?
JIM
Why won’t you listen?
SOUND
JIM HANGS UP. THEN HE BEGINS FLIPPING FRANTICALLY THRU THE PAGES OF A LARGE PHONE DIRECTORY.
JIM
(intensely, to himself) What’s the number? Gotta be in the book. . .
SOUND
HE PUNCHES IN A SEVEN-DIGIT NUMBER.
OPERATOR
(filtered, recorded) Please deposit fifty cents for the first three minutes.
SOUND
JIM FUMBLES TWO QUARTERS INTO THE SLOT. THE PHONE RINGS ON THE OTHER END.
POLICE OPERATOR
You have reached the Los Angeles Police Department. All our personnel are busy serving other citizens. A representative will take your call in the order received. Please remain on the line. . .
JIM
Damn it!
SOUND
JIM IIANGS UP IN FRUSTRATION. THEN LIFTS THE RECEIVER AGAIN AND PUNCHES IN ANOTHER NUMBER.
NURSE #1
(filtered) Good morning, Saint Sebastian’s. May I help you?
JIM
Sixth floor.
NURSE #1
One moment.
MUSIC
FILTERED MUZAK AS HE IS PLACED ON HOLD.
NURSE #3
(filtered) Nurse’s station.
JIM
Six-two-six.
NURSE #3
Oh. Are you immediate family?
JIM
Yes!
NURSE #3
I’ll get the attending physician.
SOUND
MUZAK RESUMES AS HE IS PLACED ON HOLD.
DOCTOR
This is Dr. Benway.
JIM
Let me talk to him.
DOCTOR
That’s. . . not possible.
JIM
(assertively) Then wake him up.
DOCTOR
I’m afraid he never regained consciousness.
JIM
What?
DOCTOR
When you’re ready to make arrangements, the Coordinating Office will take care of everything. Or, if you’d rather come in, Mr. Macklin. . .
JIM
How do you know my name?
DOCTOR
I could have someone there in a few minutes. We want to make this as easy as possible. . .
SOUND
OUTSIDE THE PHONE BOOTH, THE VAN PULLS UP TO THE CURE ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY – PUMPING FAINT, MUFFLED BASS-HEAVY MUSIC. THE VAN DOORS OPEN.
JIM HANGS UP QUICKLY AND OPENS THE PHONE BOOTH DOOR. TRAFFIC SOUNDS INCREASE. FOOTSTEPS OF MORE MEN AND WOMEN PASSING ON THE STDEWALK. AS TWO MEN CLIMB OUT OF THE VAN AND REGIN WALKING THIS WAY.
MUSIC
NOW WE HEAR THE MUSIC FROM THE VAN MORE
MUSIC (cont ’d)
CLEARLY: “LIGHT MY FIRE” BY THE DOORS.
NARRATOR
He stood there, in the cold, gray morning light, and watched them come. All around him people were on their way to work. Their eyes looked glazed, like sleep-walkers. He wondered how long till they, too, would be replaced. Now he remembered the smell in the van. Formaldehyde. And something else, drifting on the air from a flower shop. It was the thick, sweet smell of. . . a funeral. For a moment he felL frozen, unable to move. There was no longer anywhere to run. Or if there was, he could not think of where that might be. They came on and on.
SOUND
THE DRIVERS STOP WALKING AS THEY REACH THE PHONE BOOTH.
DRTVER #1
(wryly) Hello, sweetmeat.
MUSIC
FADE UP “LIGHT MY FIRE” FOR A FEW SECONDS.
THEN FADE THRU TO EPISODE SCORE. . .
AND DOWN TO SILENCE.
ANNOUNCER
More from Dreadtime Stories after this. COMMERCIAL BREAK
MUSIC
THEME.
ANNOUNCER
“The Late Shift” was adapted for radio by Dennis Etchison, based on his short story, and directed by Carl Amari. The cast included (names). . . and Dennis Etchison as the Narrator. Join us next time on the darkside, where the night never ends, for another story presented by. . . Fangoria Magazine.
MUSIC
CLOSING THEME.
END
