Dec 20, 2022 11:14 pm
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S1 E1 "Pilot" (RP)
Jan 4, 2023 11:21 pm
PRE OPENING CREDITS SCENE
The camera pans through a snow covered wood 'til it finds, two sets of booted prints heading deeper into the forest. It's just on the edge of night.
The camera finds two people, a young woman and a young man, trudging through the ankle deep snow, their breath misting in the air. The woman carries a thermos; the man carries a small hatchet.
She looks around as they walk, boots crunching on the fresh snow. She looks back the way they came, the tunnel of trees dark and foreboding. What looked like a 'winter wonderland' from the car now looks creepy as hell.
"Jack, come on. I'm getting cold. Just pick one. We're going too deep." She motions to the pine trees surrounding the 'trail' they walk down.
"Babe, come on. It needs to be perfect." He looks back at her and can see the nerves on her face. "The sign's bullshit. I told you--this is public land. 'KEEP OUT' doesn't apply."
"Then why was it posted?!"
"It was ooooold. Even if it was legit at some point, it's not now. We're not gonna get arrested for walking through the woods."
"Yeah, but cutting down a tree? We can just get one from a lot."
He motions her to follow and keeps walking. "Babe. That's boring."
He walks a few feet, breath misting in front of him. "We're, like, pioneers. Just like the olden times."
He looks back at her and smiles. "Just a bit further then we'll get choppin'."
She smiles back, weak, and they continue.
The camera cuts to a clearing, the trees surrounding it stunted and twisted. Becky and Jack enter from the trail that's now more-or-less just tall winter grass.
"Dude," he points the axe head toward a lone tree in the middle of the clearing. "See! Look at that beast!" His voice is oddly muted in the snow laden clearing. His tread sounds like cracking styrofoam as he hustles toward the lone pine.
"Wait, slow down!" She jogs after him, her knees having to lift high.
When she catches up, Jack is already hefting the axe, beaming with excitement.
She gets a better look at the tree. Her face scrunches up in disgust. "It's, like, diseased."
He hesitates for a minute. "Nah. It's ancient. Gives it Christmas character!"
He swings the axe, the blade connecting with the trunk. A clang rings out--like metal on metal. "Jesus," he laughs. "It's harder than I thought."
Her stomach twists from the discordant sound of the axe hitting the tree. She's feeling 'off.' "Jack... wait."
But he's already swinging again. This time the axe blade bites into the trunk. Sounds like bone splitting.
The head gets stuck. A thick liquid begins to bubble out, round the wedge of the blade. "Ungh...there's, like, sap pouring out." He chuckles. Pulls hard, frees the axe then swings again. THUNK!
This time the 'sap' squirts from the trunk, splattering on Jack's parka front. It's deep red, almost black, and it steams in the cold, winter air.
"Ew, what the hell!" The 'sap' gushes from the wound in the tree trunk, melting the snow it pours on. The tree shakes, needles fall from its boughs. The air is humming with a noise.
"Becky... Becky go. Go!" Something doesn't feel right about all this and he wants to get away from this tree.
She watches the 'sap' gushing out, in fascinated horror. "Jack, what the hell--"
A sound like a log bursting in a white hot fire. Bark splinters fly out from the tree, dashing against them.
A hand, withered and decayed is reaching from the trunk.
They both scream and run. The camera tracks them as they tear through the woods, finding the trail and panting as they run for their car and the road.
Becky hears Jack shouting at her, as they run, though only just barely over her roaring breath.
"Go! GO! Keep going, keep going!"
There's a sound like a large animal in pursuit. Breaking branches and crunching underbrush.
She breaks from the woods, passed the KEEP OUT sign and slams into the passenger side door of their car.
Her fingers numb with cold and fear she gets the door open and throws herself into the car, then slams the door. Jack! The keys!
She pants trying to catch her breath. Jack... She gathers her courage then opens the door and goes back outside.
Grunting and groaning, Jack bursts from the woods and drops to his knees. Blood trickles down his face.
She runs over to him, leaving the car door ajar. "You're bleeding!" She shouts as she grabs his coat round the shoulders and tries to drag him to his feet. "Come on, come on. Are you hurt? Was it chasing? What the hell is this?!"
He let's Becky drag him toward the car. "I don't know. Just, let's just go."
They get back to the car, and Becky climbs in the still open passenger door while he runs round to the driver side. As soon as his butt hits the seat, his keys are in the ignition and the engine is turned over an' roaring.
Jack and Becky look at each other, relief starting to wash over their faces. They made it back, and they're leaving.
She reaches over the center console and puts her hand on his thigh. "What the actual hell was that?" Her voice shakes, slightly with laughter, thinking it's over.
She hears a sound from the back seat. She turns, and screams, unable to make sense of what she's seeing.
"Brad....ock..." its voice creaks.
And the camera cuts to black.
[ +- ] TWO WEEKS AGO
The camera pans through a snow covered wood 'til it finds, two sets of booted prints heading deeper into the forest. It's just on the edge of night.
The camera finds two people, a young woman and a young man, trudging through the ankle deep snow, their breath misting in the air. The woman carries a thermos; the man carries a small hatchet.
Becky
"Jack, come on. I'm getting cold. Just pick one. We're going too deep." She motions to the pine trees surrounding the 'trail' they walk down.
Jack
Becky
Jack
Becky
Jack
He walks a few feet, breath misting in front of him. "We're, like, pioneers. Just like the olden times."
He looks back at her and smiles. "Just a bit further then we'll get choppin'."
She smiles back, weak, and they continue.
The camera cuts to a clearing, the trees surrounding it stunted and twisted. Becky and Jack enter from the trail that's now more-or-less just tall winter grass.
Jack
Becky
When she catches up, Jack is already hefting the axe, beaming with excitement.
She gets a better look at the tree. Her face scrunches up in disgust. "It's, like, diseased."
Jack
He swings the axe, the blade connecting with the trunk. A clang rings out--like metal on metal. "Jesus," he laughs. "It's harder than I thought."
Becky
Jack
The head gets stuck. A thick liquid begins to bubble out, round the wedge of the blade. "Ungh...there's, like, sap pouring out." He chuckles. Pulls hard, frees the axe then swings again. THUNK!
This time the 'sap' squirts from the trunk, splattering on Jack's parka front. It's deep red, almost black, and it steams in the cold, winter air.
Jack
"Becky... Becky go. Go!" Something doesn't feel right about all this and he wants to get away from this tree.
Becky
A sound like a log bursting in a white hot fire. Bark splinters fly out from the tree, dashing against them.
A hand, withered and decayed is reaching from the trunk.
They both scream and run. The camera tracks them as they tear through the woods, finding the trail and panting as they run for their car and the road.
Becky hears Jack shouting at her, as they run, though only just barely over her roaring breath.
Jack
There's a sound like a large animal in pursuit. Breaking branches and crunching underbrush.
Becky
Her fingers numb with cold and fear she gets the door open and throws herself into the car, then slams the door. Jack! The keys!
She pants trying to catch her breath. Jack... She gathers her courage then opens the door and goes back outside.
Jack
Becky
Jack
They get back to the car, and Becky climbs in the still open passenger door while he runs round to the driver side. As soon as his butt hits the seat, his keys are in the ignition and the engine is turned over an' roaring.
Jack and Becky look at each other, relief starting to wash over their faces. They made it back, and they're leaving.
Becky
She hears a sound from the back seat. She turns, and screams, unable to make sense of what she's seeing.
???
And the camera cuts to black.
Jan 4, 2023 11:28 pm
NOW | Exterior, Witch Craft Brewing
The camera shows a snow covered street in small town, downtown Salem MASS. A large brick building, emitting the smell of mash, rests on a not so busy corner. Yellow light glows from the windows, illuminating the nighttime sidewalk. The sign above the door, and painted on the side of the building says Witch Craft Brewing Co.
Cut to the interior, in the spacious, mostly customer-less tap room. Long wooden tables dot the floor, but only a few regulars drink at the polished bar. Sad Christmas decorations are still stung up, even though the holiday is a week gone by now.
Actually, there is a party of people sitting at one of the taproom tables. The camera jumps to them--a party of six. The dim, warm light of the bar shines off the tall glass of beer set in front of each person--a mix of colors and states of fullness. The mood of those gathered is not very festive.
"Whelp. We're dead."
Tara takes a loud sip from her cloudy hefeweizen. "We did, literally, no holiday sales." She looks at the ledger in front of her. "Well, I mean, figuratively. No sales that is. We're, still, literally dead."
She looks around the table at friends / coworkers / co-owners / coven. "Unless one of you has a Christmas miracle you forgot to share, we're not gonna be paying our rent this month, sooooo likely not next month either..."
She pauses, letting her words sink in, and waiting to hear opinions...
No worries for anyone who hasn't finished their sheet--as noted, 3 post a week so plenty of time to add to it, or jump in!
Let's try and exercise a "yes and..." approach, as you all already know each other, the town, your lives, etc. Assume good intent in the beliefs and ideas other characters have regarding your own PC, and let's play off each other!
The camera shows a snow covered street in small town, downtown Salem MASS. A large brick building, emitting the smell of mash, rests on a not so busy corner. Yellow light glows from the windows, illuminating the nighttime sidewalk. The sign above the door, and painted on the side of the building says Witch Craft Brewing Co.
Cut to the interior, in the spacious, mostly customer-less tap room. Long wooden tables dot the floor, but only a few regulars drink at the polished bar. Sad Christmas decorations are still stung up, even though the holiday is a week gone by now.
Actually, there is a party of people sitting at one of the taproom tables. The camera jumps to them--a party of six. The dim, warm light of the bar shines off the tall glass of beer set in front of each person--a mix of colors and states of fullness. The mood of those gathered is not very festive.
Tara Hensley
Tara takes a loud sip from her cloudy hefeweizen. "We did, literally, no holiday sales." She looks at the ledger in front of her. "Well, I mean, figuratively. No sales that is. We're, still, literally dead."
She looks around the table at friends / coworkers / co-owners / coven. "Unless one of you has a Christmas miracle you forgot to share, we're not gonna be paying our rent this month, sooooo likely not next month either..."
She pauses, letting her words sink in, and waiting to hear opinions...
OOC:
Boom, let's roll. Let's take this scene to introduce our characters! Post when you're ready--IC is now open. What does the camera see; who are these folks? I'll also intro the main plot point for this episode.No worries for anyone who hasn't finished their sheet--as noted, 3 post a week so plenty of time to add to it, or jump in!
Let's try and exercise a "yes and..." approach, as you all already know each other, the town, your lives, etc. Assume good intent in the beliefs and ideas other characters have regarding your own PC, and let's play off each other!
Jan 5, 2023 2:21 am
As the camera pans around the table, it holds briefly on an attractive girl with long, bright blonde hair. The girl is dressed elegantly in a form-fitting white blouse with a light scarf in a dark, anthracite grey around her neck. She's wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses that despite their thickness still look like a fashion accessory as well as a visual aid. The beer in front of her looks almost completely untouched.
"It is not surprising," the girl says in a fairly thick accent that's not quite Russian but close enough that most would probably not be able to tell the difference. "Who drinks beer for holidays? It is mulled wine time." The girl is clearly the youngest one around the table and while she would have been allowed to drink for years back home in the Czech Republic, she would definitely still need to show ID to get any beer here. Well, not here, since everyone working at the brewery knows that she is 21. And because she never once expressed interest in taking any of the product home.
She looks at Tara, then glances around the gathered witches around the table. "Maybe a winter festival to ring in the New Year? Spiced, hot beer? Do people drink that?"
"It is not surprising," the girl says in a fairly thick accent that's not quite Russian but close enough that most would probably not be able to tell the difference. "Who drinks beer for holidays? It is mulled wine time." The girl is clearly the youngest one around the table and while she would have been allowed to drink for years back home in the Czech Republic, she would definitely still need to show ID to get any beer here. Well, not here, since everyone working at the brewery knows that she is 21. And because she never once expressed interest in taking any of the product home.
She looks at Tara, then glances around the gathered witches around the table. "Maybe a winter festival to ring in the New Year? Spiced, hot beer? Do people drink that?"
Jan 5, 2023 6:49 am
I think that a winter festival sounds like a wonderful idea," Sarah replies, obviously delighted. "Maybe we could sell mulled cider!"
Jan 5, 2023 1:48 pm
A festival could work, if we do it right. What about branching out into new products? A solid whiskey or bourbon could help turn things around. Deacon looks over at Tara as he asks her a question. Do we have any kind of capital..to at least entertain the idea?
Deacon sits back in his chair and takes a healthy drink of his beer. Setting the mug down he mentally reassures himself that the meeting will end soon. Knowing situations like this are necessary Deacon attends the meetings more to help his sister and fellow coven members.
Feeling boredom begin to rear its ugly head, Deacon leans forward and rests his arms on the edge of the table.
Deacon sits back in his chair and takes a healthy drink of his beer. Setting the mug down he mentally reassures himself that the meeting will end soon. Knowing situations like this are necessary Deacon attends the meetings more to help his sister and fellow coven members.
Feeling boredom begin to rear its ugly head, Deacon leans forward and rests his arms on the edge of the table.
Jan 5, 2023 9:59 pm
At the mention of mulled beer the camera snaps to awell kept blinded woman just in time to catch a grimace cross her face before she tries to look unconcerned again.
Dress in a well tailored suit though with the jacket currently over her chair the witch leans back and tries to force out a smile. 'We' ve had bad buisnes before. This will be fine, it'll tide over... ' The way her fingers tapped nervously on her own pile of papers in front of her wgave away she didn't necessarily believe her own words.
'... Unfortunatly we can't exactly change the brewery into a distlleray and... Well it's an interesting idea Tereza but mulled beer I don't will take off. Then again, there was that brewery that made bacon stout.... Jemma how much magic can you work?'' She throws a quest n glacé at the head brewer as she start to look through the papers in front of her.
'An event tp promote a new beer... It would be a tight turn around on time. I can try and query some contacts in cider making, see if they want to collaborate... We' d have to do most the work in house, if we want to profit off it, rather than contractors..'.
Dress in a well tailored suit though with the jacket currently over her chair the witch leans back and tries to force out a smile. 'We' ve had bad buisnes before. This will be fine, it'll tide over... ' The way her fingers tapped nervously on her own pile of papers in front of her wgave away she didn't necessarily believe her own words.
'... Unfortunatly we can't exactly change the brewery into a distlleray and... Well it's an interesting idea Tereza but mulled beer I don't will take off. Then again, there was that brewery that made bacon stout.... Jemma how much magic can you work?'' She throws a quest n glacé at the head brewer as she start to look through the papers in front of her.
'An event tp promote a new beer... It would be a tight turn around on time. I can try and query some contacts in cider making, see if they want to collaborate... We' d have to do most the work in house, if we want to profit off it, rather than contractors..'.
Jan 5, 2023 10:46 pm
"It was a thought," Tereza says, shrugging with her palms raised up. "The primary idea was an event in-house. Whether we present a new kind of beer or not is different matter. And hot spiced beer was not meant to be new product, only the gimmick for the event. We advertise, invite friends maybe. It is too bad the solstice is over. That would have been a nice date, but maybe we can schedule for the full moon. Just to get a bit of business into the store, yes?" She looks around, grimacing at the Christmas decor still up. "We do need different decorations for it. This is no good in January."
Jan 6, 2023 2:10 am
Fair enough on the whiskey and bourbon idea. Deacon looks around at his sister and fellow coven members. Out of curiosity, what has been the all time best selling brews that we've offered? If we do go with the festival idea, why not dust some of them off and bring them back. We can have a sort of greatest hits night. We can offer the greatest of the old and the best of the new. Hell, we can even host a trivia night. The yuppies really eat that stuff up.
Jan 6, 2023 4:31 pm
Quote:
Unfortunatly we can't exactly change the brewery into a distlleray...Tara Hensley
She jumps in the middle of Tereza and Deacon's banter. "Full moon soiree? Cool, cool. But...our marketing budget is, like, nil. So we'd need to DIY it--lots'a favors called in, blah blah blah."
"An' Deacon, um..." she flips about in her notes. "Ah ha. Yeah, not to piss anyone off, but our top 4 selling have all been IPA."
She holds her hands up in a 'don't shoot' motion. "I'm just the messenger."
Jan 6, 2023 4:59 pm
Deacon shakes his head like he just tasted something awful. Not that weak shit. Ugh, if that's our only choice...so be it. So if our budget is going out like the dinosaurs, then that rules out possibly having our little event catered. If we were able to have that happen, then we could charge by the plate. Deacon finishes off the beer in front of him and grabs another that was near by..
Jan 6, 2023 6:20 pm
"IPAs," Tereza repeats with a shrug. "If they sell, they're good, so no problem." She then thinks about Tereza's comment about decoration. "I do not have many friends here, but I can ask some for help. Maybe in exchange for free beer? We can have crafts evening!" She chuckles about that idea. It feels delightfully like primary school.
When Deacon finishes his beer, she pushes hers towards him. She's taken two or three small sips from it but it's still mostly full.
When Deacon finishes his beer, she pushes hers towards him. She's taken two or three small sips from it but it's still mostly full.
Last edited January 6, 2023 6:50 pm
Jan 6, 2023 7:59 pm
Finally, the big pile of hair moves and the face of Jemma appears. Her rich brow hair flows down the middle of her back. She looks bone tired. There is a red mark on her forehead as she have been resting her head on her hands while the others spoke.
Caroline, I'm not putting bacon in bear. That is just awefull.
One by one she looks at her friends, partner and coworkers. The IPA's a fruity beer, why not delve into that some more? Advertise beer for women. Buy a six-pack of witches brew, by the fifth, you will be cackling.
What else can we do? Give up? Summon up some investors?
Caroline, I'm not putting bacon in bear. That is just awefull.
One by one she looks at her friends, partner and coworkers. The IPA's a fruity beer, why not delve into that some more? Advertise beer for women. Buy a six-pack of witches brew, by the fifth, you will be cackling.
What else can we do? Give up? Summon up some investors?
Last edited January 6, 2023 7:59 pm
Jan 6, 2023 8:27 pm
Deacon nods appreciatively as Tereza slides her beer over. Sitting the unopened beer down he picks hers up to finish it off. Taking a healthy drink, Deacon pauses as Jemma wakes up. That's a fair point, we definitely need to do something. Even though I think it's weak as hell, perhaps that is the way to go.
Pausing a moment Deacon looks over at Tara with a, for once, serious look on his face. Do you have a list of the best selling IPA's? Perhaps we can bring them back and do a kind of greatest hits taste testing. We could even call in what favors we do have, or even ask for one...That way we can redecorate, advertise, get some food, and probably even toss in a triva night or a contest or two. Perhaps that will at least start the money train rolling in the direction we need it to.
Pausing a moment Deacon looks over at Tara with a, for once, serious look on his face. Do you have a list of the best selling IPA's? Perhaps we can bring them back and do a kind of greatest hits taste testing. We could even call in what favors we do have, or even ask for one...That way we can redecorate, advertise, get some food, and probably even toss in a triva night or a contest or two. Perhaps that will at least start the money train rolling in the direction we need it to.
Jan 6, 2023 8:56 pm
As the decorations are mentioned Caroline goes to raise a hand before catching herself remembering that while spare there are a couple of normal humans in the build. '..I'll get Alabastor to take care of them later.
'I wasn't going to force anyone to put bacon in beer.. though it does surprise me what people will put in their mouth out of curiosity...'
There's another grimace at the IPA's being the best sellers, and then a raised eyebrow at the idea of 'woman's beer.' Her eyes flick toe the stout next to her. 'I..well perhaps it could draw in some who see beer as a 'mans drink' but it may also alienate others as well...The catch phrase I like though. I can see what I can do on those favours and contacts. '
'I wasn't going to force anyone to put bacon in beer.. though it does surprise me what people will put in their mouth out of curiosity...'
There's another grimace at the IPA's being the best sellers, and then a raised eyebrow at the idea of 'woman's beer.' Her eyes flick toe the stout next to her. 'I..well perhaps it could draw in some who see beer as a 'mans drink' but it may also alienate others as well...The catch phrase I like though. I can see what I can do on those favours and contacts. '
Jan 6, 2023 9:22 pm
"This is going to be so much fun," Tereza grins. "I can already see the poster. The full moon shining through a tall glass of beer... Oh, maybe a black cat sneaking around it. I need to draw up a sketch."
She glances around the group, surprised at the general outrage at IPAs. She's had some before and it tasted... like every other beer. Better not to mention that unless she wants the others to get suspicious about her tastes, though. "How about tomorrow, we ask around our friends, come up with some ideas for decorations, slogans, anything." She nods at Deacon to acknowledge his idea. "Trivia topics. Prizes? And then we meet again tomorrow evening for sharing the ideas."
She glances around the group, surprised at the general outrage at IPAs. She's had some before and it tasted... like every other beer. Better not to mention that unless she wants the others to get suspicious about her tastes, though. "How about tomorrow, we ask around our friends, come up with some ideas for decorations, slogans, anything." She nods at Deacon to acknowledge his idea. "Trivia topics. Prizes? And then we meet again tomorrow evening for sharing the ideas."
Jan 8, 2023 5:17 pm
Jemma says:
Summon up some investors?Tara Hensley
"She's at, like, every Chamber of Commerce meeting." She looks each of her friends, one by one, then shrugs. "Just a thought."
She flips through pages again, getting the info Deacon asked for. "Eh, Potion Number 7, Newt Eye, IPA, Hocus Pocus Citrus IPA...hmm, maybe we just need new names. Anyway, yeah we have a list of what sold well, and what didn't."
Tara chimes in after Caroline and Tereza. "O.K., then we'll call tomorrow an official meeting. So someone will need to keep minutes. For, like, legal reasons and st--" her eyes move to the door as she trails off. "Oh God. What does she want...?"
The camera cuts to the taproom's front door, the one leading out to the street. A woman stands there, looking around for a few seconds, brushing fresh snow from her shoulders. She wears the uniform of the SPD.
Chief Sarah Sweeney
"Ladies," she says. She looks at Deacon. "And gentleman." She nods at him.
"Can I get a moment of your time?" It sounds more like a demand, than a request.
Jan 8, 2023 5:29 pm
"Whatever you think we did, it was probably Caroline," Tereza says in a playful tone. "You cannot trust that girl." With a chuckle, she stands up and takes a half step towards the bar. "Of course we have a moment. Can I offer you something to drink while you're here?"
Jan 8, 2023 5:56 pm
I swear Chief, I haven't been using the hay bales for target practice again. Deacon says as he listens to the Chief speak. Noticing the posture of her stance and the tone of her voice, Deacon sits forward as the Chief asks to speak to the coven. What's happened?
Jan 9, 2023 7:34 am
Caroline raises an eyebrow at Tereza, though witha smile on her face. 'Come on now, the Chief know I will never do anything bad. Right Chief?' She grins at the woman and gestures for her to pull up a chair. Despite the suit jacket on her chair her arms were still covered by the long sleeves of her white shirt, as always. Any questions about her overheating also got her usual shrug.
' I'm taking this visit isn' t just because you miss us and want to hang out?'
' I'm taking this visit isn' t just because you miss us and want to hang out?'
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