The Late Shift

by Dennis Etchison

  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