My apologies - sick with no voice, so I have to put off the next Lovecraft 5 until I can record the intro. Here's a short one for this week.  Thanks for your patience! ***************************************************************** COUNTDOWN The haunted Ratcatcher Mine is irresistable to tourists and ghost hunters alike. Written by Julie Hoverson, Sound and mastering by Tanja Milojevic (of Lightning Bolt Theater of the Mind) Cast List Steff / Dutch - J. Spyder Isaacson Bobby / Rory - Reynaud LeBoeuf Roj / Jacob - Danar Hoverson Gloria - Tanja Milojevic Old Frank - J. Christopher Dunn Martha - Julie Hoverson Music:  Mary Lou by Country Gold This Land Here for Free by Country Gold Sunshine Revisited by Country Gold The King is Coming by Dom The Bear     All available through Jamendo.com Cover Design:  Brett Coulstock "What kind of a place is it? Why it's a mountain with a mine shaft - can't you tell?" ***************************************************************** COUNTDOWN By Julie Hoverson   Cast: OLD FRANK - local shopkeeper, southern MARTHA - Frank's wife Gloria - modern college girl Steff, Bobby, Roj - modern college guys, wannabe filmmakers Dutch, Jacob, Rory - young miners from a century and a half ago, irish or other immigrant accents [NOTE - the modern guys double as the miners]   SETTING - opens in collapsed mine shaft MUSIC SOUND     PATTER OF GRIT SOUND    Dutch, Jacob, and Rory, heavy breathing.  DUTCH    5, 4, 3, 2, 1. SOUND    FLARE OF OLD LUCIFER MATCH DUTCH    Quick looks, all-- [clears his throat, hawks, spits]  You alright, Jacob? SOUND    MOVEMENTS IN DIRT, SHIFTING GRAVEL JACOB    I can't feel me legs, Dutch. RORY    Hail Mary, full of grace... SOUND    DISTANT RUMBLE OF FALLING ROCKS, MORE GRIT MUSIC AMBIANCE    MA AND PA STORE, MUZAK SOUND    FLAP OF PHOTO GLORIA    Have you seen--? OLD FRANK    Them boys?  Yup.  You almost jest missed 'em.  Come through this morning - maybe 'bout two hours-- MARTHA    --Nearer on to three, it was-- OLD FRANK    Two hours ago.  Asked a bunch of damn fool questions-- MARTHA    They were real curious about the Ratcatcher. OLD FRANK     --got some gas and took off.  Probably went on up to that whore's ass of a hole in the ground. MARTHA    Hush, you old goat!  We make a lot of money on the old Ratcatcher mine, you know. OLD FRANK    Some day that cussed thing's gonna cave all the damn way in and that'll be the end of the matter. GLORIA    The guy in the middle, that's my brother - Steff. OLD FRANK    And what kind of name is that for a young man, anyway? MUSIC SOUND    CLICK WHIRR - SMALL FILM CAMERA COMES ON. [NOTE - the modern guys are on a filter, like a recording being played back, unless otherwise noted] AMBIANCE    IN A CAR STEFF    Aha!  Smile! BOBBY    Dude, Why bother with the antique?  I can take better video than that with my phone. STEFF    It's the only way to make it look real, bro!  Film or nothing! SOUND    RADIO GOES STATICY, TUNING ROJ    Oh hell!  SOUND    RADIO OUT ROJ    Man.  We are so in the boondocks. MUSIC AMBIANCE     Mine DUTCH    Hold your breath. JACOB    Why?  RORY    Just do as he says, boy! SOUND    THEY ALL GASP IN A BREATH, HOLD IT A SECOND RORY    [on an exhale] Damn. DUTCH    [sigh] Aye. SOUND    MATCH SHAKEN OUT JACOB    What? RORY    The flame.  It didna waver at all. JACOB    But... whatever does it mean? DUTCH    [grim] We shant have long to wait. MUSIC AMBIANCE    OUTSIDE, MOUNTAINS SOUND    STEPS CRUNCH ON DIRT STEFF    Just hold it steady.  BOBBIE    Does it even have a built in mike? STEFF    It's not that old.  I don't have to hand crank it, either. BOBBIE    It's not like you're going to fool anyone.  No one believes any of this mockumentary crap any more.  Not since freaking Blair Witch. STEFF    It's all in how it's presented.  [turning away]  He said the mine opening is a half hour hike that way. SOUND    CAR DOOR SLAMS ROJ    [off, calling] I was thinking I might stay with the car.  STEFF    Come on, Roj!  We all agree