[Dictaphone was tuned for wide-audio capture before recording. Abridged transcript is based on the modified recording with relevant sound isolated, created in 1882. Abridged transcript starts after distortion cause by Switch Lever activation.]

Freestone: Where were you? I could have…what happened to your arms?

Macy: Oh, uh, Bean left to go to the woodshed. I was worried he was up to something and tried to follow him. He brought someone out, came back and locked the door before I could slip in. Had to break a window. You screamed? Is that the strongman from-

Freestone: We don’t have time. Not right now. Get the equipment ready. We need to be out of town by dawn. I can help in a moment, but I need to check something first.

[Rustling of metal and rubber, footsteps]

Freestone: Mhm…mhm…well, the external signs of damage will be significant but she’ll live. Sorry for the scars, Josie. Sorry for a lot of things.

Macy: Oh god.

Freestone: What?

Macy: Mr. Lannery, look at his eyes, the way they’re twitching. He’s…looking at us, or trying to.

Freestone: He’s awake?

Macy: I’m…not sure. Maybe increasing the range lessened the effect. He can’t actually move, so that part of the brain’s off, but…maybe he can hear us, maybe he can’t. Maybe it’s conscious, maybe it’s not. I…I don’t know.

Freestone: This is…inconvenient. If they’ve heard us speaking, then…

Macy: God, I knew I hadn’t tested it enough, and now something’s gone wrong. What if I’ve paralyzed someone and-

Freestone: Geraldine. If they’re not presenting a threat to me, you, or the mission, then you did a good job. If they’re hurt, we can fix that. That’s our job.

Macy: I…fine. Do we keep going?

Freestone: The good pastor suggested that I not stay here another night. I’m inclined to agree. Start the full extractions while I look for the bones.

Macy: Are you sure? If they’re not fully shut down, then-

Freestone: If you’re worried about pain, there’s a bottle of ether in my bag. If you run out of ether…I’ve run out of niceties.

[Roughly two hours pass without dialogue. There are occasional, distant noises of objects being moved, and the occasional grunt or yelp.]

Freestone: Gi. Taking a quick break. Are you okay?

Macy: I’m…fine. Everybody’s breathing. The younger kids are all out completely, thank god. Nothing’s consistent with the adults. Some are out entirely, some are twitching, some come off as too drunk to move. A few could definitely feel the pain but the ether helped with that. It…could be worse. It could be worse.

Freestone: Mhm. Good. Yes. And the extraction?

Macy: Oh! I decided to test that dual-intake idea I had for the pump. Couple of problems with handling that much eyef (EF?) at the same time, but we’re far ahead of schedule. Only 12 pounds left. How are you doing?

Freestone: Not in the basement. Not in the woodshed. Not in the bedroom. She’s felt his hands fiddling with them for twenty years; I know he hides them close.

Macy: You made sure they weren’t buried somewhere in the basement? It’s what I’d do if I had to hide someone’s bones.

Freestone: [laughter] Of course you have a theory. I checked for any loose dirt but I’ll do another pass. The last thing I want to do is have to try and pull the information from Bean’s mind. How is he…

Macy: He hasn’t moved. Bitters hasn’t either, and you still haven’t explained why he’s here.

Freestone: Bean brought him. I don’t…we don’t need to talk about that right now. When does he get the-

Macy: We should be able to hit the goal without touching them. Strongman wouldn’t have eyef and I don’t…want to work on Lament if I have to. Father treats him more like family than some of his cousins. I called him Uncle Lamb until I was eight. It’s…weird.

Freestone: Fine. I’ll be in the basement. Be ready to crack his head open if I come up empty-handed.

[Receding footsteps. Recording runs for fifteen more minutes. There’s a quiet creaking noise before the next segment of dialogue]

Macy: Alright…just a few more pounds and we can get-

Walstead: Well, I knew you two were planning something, but…what the hell did I just walk in on?

[Silence]

Walstead: Answer me, Gigi. What happened to all these people? Is that device Freestone’s? Is…is that Benton from-

Macy: Quiet. He’ll hear you. Just…leave and pretend you didn’t see any of this. At least for another half hour?

[Following dialogue is whispered]

Walstead: Even if I wasn’t tired of freezing my nose off out there, you know I can’t let this alone, dear. That’s the same thing he was doing with the corpse, isn’t it? He has you doing this for him on your own people, Gigi?

Macy: Nothing I haven’t done on myself already. It’s hurts like hell but it doesn’t kill.

Walstead: Right, right, you’re just knocking them out and violating them without their knowledge. What, did you spike the ale?

Macy: Oh, that was…the Switch. I figured it out from what you said about EM waves and I combined it with some proprietary-

Walstead: Gigi, I told you about that nine days ago. You took what I said about a radio and turned it into a weapon…in nine days?

Macy: It’s not a weapon, it’s a medical tool, and I did testing!

Walstead: Bull it isn’t and shit you did. People can die when they fall unconscious. Crack their heads open. Happens to drunks all the time. So I’m going to ask you again, is Freestone making you do this? Knocking out the people you grew up with?

Macy: This…was not how I wanted to use it. There was an emergency. I think they tried to kill Victor. The only thing that upsets him like this is a threat against his life - or you.

Walstead: If he was ready to do this to them the moment he felt threatened, maybe they should have! Do you not understand the absurdity of this situation? The Negro is not safe!

[Silence]

Macy: He was right not to trust you, wasn’t he? Were you in on it?

Walstead: I told you, I have standards. I think he should be in jail or disgraced, not lynched. And I was giving him an actual chance for your sake, but…god, can’t you see how far you’ve let him lead you? I’ve read the literal manual on esoteric crime; this is the sort of thing that’ll get you put away for a decade, and you’re doing this for someone you’ve known for half a year!

Macy: I’ve known you for even less.

Walstead: Oh, and would your parents, who raised you, agree with me or the man making you pump…what is that even? It looks like…pressed curds in cherry sauce?

Macy: He believes in me.

Walstead: And I don’t? I sat out there in the goddamn snow playing lookout, knowing that it was his way of keeping me out of his plans without outright rejecting me, because I believed that you’re worth it, that you wouldn’t let him do anything really dangerous, just, you know, incriminating. This? This is dangerous. Am I wrong?

Macy: I…fine, this is dangerous for me and Victor and everyone on the floor right now. But I need to. Something bad happened here twenty years ago and I want to help fix it. It might be hard to believe, but-

Walstead: I won’t believe you because you’ll tell me something about trusting that Negro and I won’t believe him! He’s a man, Gigi, a man and a Negro and a liar. He’ll say whatever it takes to get you on his side or in his bed and-

Macy: You think I want to believe it? I thought…this town loves my father. My father, who lost an arm fighting the foul wizards of the Confederacy. My father, the hero. My hero. If it reveres him as a hero, then the town has to be alright, even if it never made me feel like I belonged. But it…it isn’t. It just doesn’t want to admit it. Because we’re not the sort of town that’s supposed to have problems, just white people being kind to each other.

Walstead: So? Every town’s run by liars. There’s always two sets of rules, there’s always unmarked graves nobody wants dug up, there’s always hypocrites and bastards and sin. You can’t fix it! All you can do is run when it comes to catch you. Why do you think I bothered with that idiot’s circus? All you can do is take care of yourself and climb high enough on the latter so people stop bothering you. Freestone’s…he’s already lost. I have enough evidence now to send the Marshal after him. Please, Geraldine, you beautiful freckled disaster, take my hand so I can pull you up. Don’t let him drag you down with him.

Macy: I might drag you down too.

Walstead: I’ll risk it if I can save you.

Macy: That’s the problem. I’ll risk it too. Twicefold if I have to.

Walstead: You…what are you-

[A sound of metal hitting wood. Post-action analysis suggests it may have been an abandoned spade]

Freestone: Ms. Walstead. Apologies, you surprised me.

Walstead: Mr. Freestone. I got tired of keeping watch.

Macy: Victor, it’s fine, I have her under-

Freestone: Of course you got tired. Do we have a problem here? I’m already having a very bad night.

Walstead: Maybe, maybe not. I did tell the Marshal to show up loaded for bear if I don’t call him back by tomorrow morning, so that might make me a problem.

Macy: Mattie?

Freestone: You’ve already won.

Walstead: Oh? I mean, sure, if you’ll just put on these handcuffs-

Freestone: Bean already convinced the town that I can’t be trusted. He won for you. I’ve worn out my welcome. All I can do is finish up my work here and run for my life. Let me leave and, I assure you, you’ll never see me again.

[Silence]

Walstead: I’ll let you leave. Geraldine stays with me.

Macy: Mattie!

Freestone: Don’t get greedy. She comes with me.

Walstead: You’re going to be hunted by the Marshals for this, Freestone. I won’t stop you - I doubt I can - but I’m not covering this up for you. The best thing you can do for her is make sure she’s seen as your victim instead of an accomplice.

Macy: I’m nineteen! I’m not a child, stop talking over me!

Walstead: It doesn’t matter how old you are! You’ve never been outside of this town. You don’t know how bad it can get for someone like you, especially if you’re with someone like him.

Freestone: Geraldine, you’ve given her enough allowances. Walstead, I am out of time and out of patience. Give up your claim.

Walstead: What, are you going to tear me apart like Duke’s fake daughter? You want to get strung up?

Freestone: Why not! If everybody thinks I’m a danger to women, why should I keep trying to convince them that I’m not! So leave before I make all your joints turn the wrong way.

Walstead: I knew it. I’m not moving one inch. I’m staying for her. The Marshals will take care of everybody else, but all she has to protect her against you is her me.

[Flesh hitting flesh]

Walstead: Gigi, what the-

Macy: Shut up. You too, Victor, or I’ll slap you too.

Freestone: Geraldine, we don’t have time for-

[Flesh hitting flesh]

Macy: Anything else you need to say? Good. I am not a child. I do not need protection. I am not something to be claimed. I might not know everything that’s going on with either of you, and I might not know where the danger is, but I’m not going to push either of you away. Befriending the unknown is how you understand it. You don’t get to pull me away from her, or vice versa. So if you two are going to fight, it had better not be over me.

[Silence]

Freestone: I wasn’t going to hurt her, just…make her joints turn the wrong way. I’d put them back.

Macy: Thank you, Victor. Mattie…I’m leaving with him tonight. You won’t come with us because you don’t trust him, because you don’t understand him. Victor, can we…tell her why? Let her understand?

Freestone: Surely you’re…no, you are not. Hmpf. Bean’s already exposed me to the townsfolk. I can give her some context for how this fiasco happened…and what the end goal is.

Macy: See? Mattie, just…hear him out. Hear me out. Neither of us are perfect, but we’re rational people pursuing an inspiring goal and correcting a dire sin. I want you to believe that. I want you to believe in me. I…I don’t want to leave you here.

[Silence]

Walstead: Geraldine, it’s…you don’t…wait a moment, was that actually Benton from the Circus on the floor when I came in? Because he’s not there anymore.

Macy: Victor, where’s the strongman?

Freestone: Forget him, where’s Pastor Bean?

[Two gunshots]

Macy: Victor!

Bean: [slurred] Oh, heavenly Father, must you burden me with this sin and foul my aim? That should have killed him.

Walstead: Bean, drop the revolver. I have this taken care of.

Bean: No, you didn’t. You don’t even know what ‘this’ is. You let your curiosity override your sense of justice. It was always going to come down to me. No one else has the stomach for it. He needs to die, Matilda.

Walstead: Listen, I don’t like him either, but for once, the law’s actually on my side. Your side! He’s knocked out a dozen people and experimented on them; he’s going to jail; you don’t have to kill him. Now, give me the gun before you do something-

[Gunshot, scream]

Bean: Shame. You know, I really did like you. If you were a Negro, and less of a trollop, you’d be the spitting image of her.

Bitters: Pastor? Why…did she need to die?

Bean: Keep behind me. She’s not dead yet, and I shot her because this is a matter of church, not state. The law has no place for what he and I have done. Now if he’ll stop writhing, I can finish this.

Macy: Get away from him. Her. Both of them!

Bean: Gigi. I’ve been watching you. The whole time I was watching you, since everybody else fell asleep. As compromised as you are…you never used that thing on me or your father. You don’t want to hurt me…and I don’t want to hurt you. So stand aside.

Macy: No.

Bean: I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t let him live. You understand that, don’t you? You understand what God has tasked me to do? It wouldn’t be the first time he’s demanded the sacrifice of a child.

Macy: You won’t shoot if I’m in the way. You know my father will never forgive you if you do. You’re not that crazy and-

Bean: No. I am. All the while you were growing up, I was as sensible as I could be. Worthy husband, noble father, caring friend. But as long as he’s breathing in my town? As long as he’s planning to bring her back? Do you know what he’s trying to do?

Macy: I do. I know what you did too.

Bean: To the woman who raised me. To the woman I…and you really think I’m not crazy enough? Do you really think there’s anything I wouldn’t do to keep her dead? I’d like to go back to being sane, Gigi, and that won’t happen until the world is safe from her. So stand aside. I don’t have to shoot you to push you out of the way.

Macy: I’ll…if you kill him, I’ll restore her body myself.

[Silence]

Bean: To what end? You have no need of an assassin.

Macy: Six thousand years of knowledge. Or spite. Either way, if you were watching the whole time, you know I know enough to do it. And I will do it. And I…I won’t stop until you kill me. Do you think I’m not crazy enough?

[Silence]

Bean: Please.

Macy: I’m…I’m sorry, but-

Bean: Please, God, not again. Not someone so close they might as well be family.

[Silence]

Bean: Nothing? Fine. Her, him, then me.

[A bellow. Sounds of struggle last for a minute before a sudden stop.]

Bitters: Hi.

Macy: Hi? Did you just kill him?

Bitters: Knocked out. Trick I still remember from…before.

Macy: Oh. thank you. Sorry, I just…I saw into the gun’s barrel. I think my heart stopped.

Bitters: He…promised it would only be him. Clean catch. No one else. I don’t want to…regret coming. I don’t want him to…regret. And I liked her act.

Macy: Oh, damnit, Mattie! Victor!

[Cough]

Freestone: [Cough] You know…extraction actually hurts more than the bullets.

Bitters: You! Y-y-y-you…my mind! Pastor!

[Hurried receding footsteps, accompanied by a dragging noise. Post-action analysis suggests Bean was carried off here]

Macy: Victor, I think we broke him back in October.

Freestone: Then thank God we have time to-

[Cough]

Freestone: -time to repent for that. The last extraction finished. We need to leave.

Macy: Are you kidding? You have two holes in - no, it’s three, one went out your back. We need to stabilize you!

Freestone: I won’t bleed out for…few more hours at least. Walstead’s worse. I can’t see how bad the damage is, but that much blood means an artery’s open. Go to Fry’s, get the horse and wagon with my good tools. Quickly.

[Receding footsteps]

Freestone: Matilda? Good, you’re still conscious. How bad is it?

[A soft gurgling]

Freestone: Ah. Through your vocal chords bad. Relax, keep your hands on the wound, breathe slowly. I want to save your voice and your life, but you’ll have to come with us so I can do that. We can’t risk staying here if people are waking up, you’ll bleed out before anybody else can help you, and I’m not letting another person die for my sake. Blink twice if you’re willing to come along.

[Silence]

Freestone: Thank you. God, all this pain and anguish and I didn’t even find the bones. God knows how long it’ll be before we can recover…are you pointing? At the floor…in the floor?

[Footsteps, wood scraping against wood]

Freestone: It’s…well, I suppose he could have a second person’s bones in here, but I doubt it. How did you know this was there?

[Silence]

Freestone: Right, you can’t talk, you don’t have to glare at me about it. Here, I can’t fix it yet, but I can thin the bleeding. You…might want to close your eyes. It’s not pleasant to watch me work.

[Ten minutes later, a door opens and closes. Recording continues to run for ~34 hours; irrelevant dialogue cut.]

Assistant 14-8: Hey, found another one under the floorboards! And this one’s still intact! Mostly at least.

[Heavy footsteps]

Marshal 14: That confirms my theory. See how she buried it in the metal storage case? That would have blocked the pulse that knocked out the others. I knew she was smart.

Assistant 14-8 Marshal, do you think she’s alright?

Marshal 14: She’d better. Now help me carry this and the wrecked ones to the staging tent. Let’s find out what happened here.

[End of recording]