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After a shocking discovery, August and Toni must decide what to do next.
August Heiland's hometown is not what it seems.
In this queer sci-fi audio drama, a girl in 1986 Rhode Island gets a cassette recorder for her 17th birthday, where she logs her daily life, beachside happenings, and conversations with her best friend Toni. But when the cute new girl at school, Lorena, asks her out on a date, August slowly starts to learn that Willowdale isn't what she thinks. Fans of stories like Gravity Falls and San Junipero, this one's for you.
These are cassette tapes from August. As in, the month of August, and August from Willowdale. Season one and Vol. II now streaming.
Welcome to Willowdale.
My name is August. It is August '19 '86. I'm not sure when it is you're listening to this. My twin brother, Esmond, disappeared thirteen years ago and just reappeared earlier tonight. These are cassette tapes from August, as in August 1986.
Speaker 1:And me, August. Oh my god. My brother. My missing presumed dead brother.
Speaker 2:Are you August?
Speaker 1:Are you Esmond?
Speaker 2:Yes. I don't trust you.
Speaker 1:And I don't trust you.
Speaker 2:If you're August, then what was my favorite cartoon?
Speaker 1:Pebbles and Bam Bam. What was mine?
Speaker 2:The Addams Family.
Speaker 1:Nah. I was always a horror fan. Then are you Esmond?
Speaker 2:Yes. And you're you're August. I can see it in your eyes. August, you've gotten so old.
Speaker 1:If you are Esmond, then then repeat it. I need proof that this is real. Why? So, well, maybe someday or in the morning when I think this is all a dream, I can know.
Speaker 2:Jesus Christ. Okay. This is me, Esmond. I'm here with my sister August.
Speaker 1:With the location.
Speaker 2:We're in where are
Speaker 1:we? Willowdale.
Speaker 2:Jeez. We still live here. I am Esmond with my sister August. We're in Willowdale.
Speaker 1:With the date.
Speaker 2:God August. We still live in Willowdale, which is where we are. And today's date is what's today's date?
Speaker 3:Oh, it's August 14. It's August 14.
Speaker 1:And the year?
Speaker 3:1986.
Speaker 2:It's 08/14/1986.
Speaker 3:Actually, it may be the fifteenth. It's past midnight.
Speaker 2:It is August 14 or fifteenth nineteen eighty six. There. Can we go home now?
Speaker 1:Okay. Okay. Yes. Wait. No.
Speaker 3:Why not?
Speaker 1:Because when you disappeared, if you are Esmond
Speaker 2:Which I definitely established.
Speaker 1:If you are, if you are Esmond, then you should know that you going up missing killed mom and dad. They were devastated. What would we even tell them?
Speaker 2:I don't know, but I miss them.
Speaker 1:I miss you too, Es. But you just returned. Where even were you? I Hold that thought. Tony, is it okay if Esmond stays with you?
Speaker 3:Sure. I've always wanted a pet brother.
Speaker 2:August, I want to go home.
Speaker 1:Esmond, listen to me. Mom and dad are going to want answers. Let's just take a day to get our thoughts together before their son, who they haven't seen since 1973, decides to up and return.
Speaker 3:Okay. Okay?
Speaker 2:Okay. Fine. But tomorrow, we go home.
Speaker 1:Of course. Thank you.
Speaker 3:I can't believe you're here. I I never thought you'd be back.
Speaker 2:And who are you?
Speaker 3:Oh, I'm Tony, August's best friend. I've heard her talk about you for years. She missed you.
Speaker 2:I missed you too, August.
Speaker 1:I missed you. Well, let's get you to Tony's. Tony, how are we gonna
Speaker 3:I have a plan. We're here deep in the trenches of Whittledown history, my backyard, where many battles were fought to bring peace and order to my homestead.
Speaker 1:Tony, what are you doing? I'm making my
Speaker 3:own Star Wars audio drama on your cassette.
Speaker 1:Well, lord Jedi, could you instead use the dark side to help me get my brother into your room? Give me that.
Speaker 3:Fine. And if I were a Jedi, I wouldn't be using the dark side.
Speaker 2:So what's the plan?
Speaker 1:Tony is gonna go upstairs and sneak us up to his room. He lives on the 2nd Floor, so he's gonna pull down a rope ladder.
Speaker 3:About that. I just realized my folks are probably up waiting for me. I don't know if I'm ready for the stern talking to.
Speaker 1:Too bad. Go face the music, or I'll make you record a gold bikini leia monologue and show it to the whole school.
Speaker 3:Pushing it, considering I am your only hope.
Speaker 1:Sorry. Just hurry up.
Speaker 3:Nope. Say it. Say what? Help me, Tony. You're my only hope.
Speaker 3:Ugh.
Speaker 1:Help me, Tony. You're my only hope.
Speaker 3:Off I go.
Speaker 1:So where did you go?
Speaker 2:I'm not sure. I feel like I've been in Willowdale all along.
Speaker 1:What do you mean?
Speaker 2:I don't know how to explain it. I just I feel like I was a kid, and I never left. Like, I went from four to 17. I can explain more when we're not in the backyard of your friend's house at midnight. I just know I woke up at that tall hill earlier tonight, failed to find my way home I saw you and Tony instead.
Speaker 2:Wait. The mound? That mountain like hill on the edge of town? Yeah.
Speaker 1:Before or after that earthquake.
Speaker 2:What earthquake? I just woke up, laying down, looking at the stars
Speaker 3:and Okay. Come on up, Esmond.
Speaker 2:See you tomorrow?
Speaker 1:Yeah. Definitely. I I just found you though. I'm scared to lose you again.
Speaker 2:I'll be okay.
Speaker 1:Okay. First thing after school, we go home.
Speaker 2:Perfect. Beat me up, Scotty.
Speaker 3:Jeez, dude. You're heavy.
Speaker 1:I'm going to the mound. I've already started a trek up, but something that earthquake, as returning, doesn't make sense. I mean, it does. It has to add up. It's too coincidental to just be a coincidence.
Speaker 1:I need answers. I just don't get it. And oh, god. I have to see Lorena tomorrow after she thought I was recording her too. She probably thinks I'm such a freak.
Speaker 1:She was so pretty until her face made that disgusted look at me. That was humiliating, the peak of devastation. Speaking of peaks, here's the lookout now. There's nothing here. I have to get home.
Speaker 1:I have to be up in five hours. It doesn't make any sense. How did Esmond or whoever that was pretending to be him go from missing for thirteen years to reappearing so suddenly just like that? It has to be him though. It felt like him, sounded like him.
Speaker 1:His voice is deeper, obviously. I feel like I've forgotten what his voice sounded like. It's been so long. But this guy, he has to be Ez. Right?
Speaker 1:It doesn't make sense. Maybe if we bring him back in the morning, something could jog his memory. Wish me luck. I'm gonna need it.
Speaker 3:Good morning, Willowdale. It's currently sunny on this lovely morning. I'm here with August and her long lost brother, Esa.
Speaker 1:You give it a rest. I'm trying to figure something out. Okay. So my theory is that if we can leave you, Esmond, at the mound, maybe it'll make you remember something or maybe an earthquake will happen again.
Speaker 2:Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Are you implying that I triggered an earthquake?
Speaker 1:Well, the timing was strange. And considering you washed up at the top of a mountain with no recollection of where you've been for thirteen years, the same night there was an earthquake in this town that's never had an earthquake, I'm not taking any chances by ruling out that you and that earthquake are somehow connected. We just really need to jog your memory. Fill in the gaps of wherever it is you've been.
Speaker 2:So what? I'm just gonna stay at the top of the mound all day while you guys go to school?
Speaker 1:Yes. But then we will go home and tell mom and dad everything we know.
Speaker 2:Okay. Sweet. What about food? Here.
Speaker 1:Here's some cash.
Speaker 2:Thanks. I appreciate it.
Speaker 3:Here's our block, August.
Speaker 1:Let me know if you find anything. I'll see you after school.
Speaker 2:Okay. Hey, August. What was it like?
Speaker 3:We're gonna be late, guys.
Speaker 1:Tony, go ahead. I'll see you in homeroom. What was what like?
Speaker 2:I've been wondering, what did it feel like to have me torn apart?
Speaker 1:Torn apart? From what? Our family? Yeah. To be separated from my own brother?
Speaker 1:I felt like I was never gonna see you again. Like you just evaporated. And a part of me went with you. When I was a kid, I wondered if more kids were gonna disappear or if I was gonna disappear. Like mom and dad could just lose me too.
Speaker 1:You really don't know what happened?
Speaker 2:Not a clue, August.
Speaker 1:It was the day we got ice cream, and you and I built a rocket ship from cardboard boxes. And we went to the beach, and there's a Polaroid on the fridge at home of it. I don't remember it all too well, so I doubt you do.
Speaker 2:The beach, that's that's the last memory I have.
Speaker 1:Now that you're back, I won't let us get separated again. But we have to find out what, or who, separated us the first time to prevent it from happening again.
Speaker 2:I love you.
Speaker 1:I love you, Es. See you this afternoon?
Speaker 3:I have still been standing here and I am still recording. Back to you in the studio, Robin.
Speaker 1:Would you?
Speaker 3:Hey. You hit me. What the fuck?
Speaker 1:This is August and Tony, theorizing about where my brother may have went for thirteen years.
Speaker 3:Well?
Speaker 1:He doesn't know what happened.
Speaker 3:Maybe something will turn up at the mall.
Speaker 1:Maybe so.
Speaker 3:What are you gonna do when you see Lorena today?
Speaker 1:Preferably explode into a quadrillion dead pieces of dust.
Speaker 3:Look, after this is all over, we can go to one of those new video stores.
Speaker 1:We don't have time, Tony.
Speaker 3:What's it called?
Speaker 1:Blockbuster? Tony, that Blockbuster video store will be around forever.
Speaker 3:What about the arcade? Maybe. Speaking of video, I was watching the show the other day. I forget the name of it. But there were these students who have this laid back teacher, mister Moore, and they just talk all day in their classes and their teacher never taught.
Speaker 3:The bell rang and they just upped and
Speaker 1:laughed. So unrealistic. I hope Esmond is okay.
Speaker 3:Me too. But don't look now. Lorena is headed, walking down the hall.
Speaker 1:No. Hide me.
Speaker 3:I am only one person. I can barely hide your outfit from the of campus.
Speaker 1:Why would you need to hide my outfit?
Speaker 3:No reason. I gotta go and hey, maybe put the cassette away so she doesn't think you're weird. Just an idea.
Speaker 1:August. Hi, Lorena. How was
Speaker 3:your day? You look tired.
Speaker 1:Long night. It was madness. I was there. Remember? Oh, right.
Speaker 1:Our date. Did you forget? No. I just August, look. I get it.
Speaker 1:I'm sorry I forgot about the tape. It was no big deal. I was wondering, could we try again? Lorena, as much as I'd love to, I have a lot going on right now. There's this whole family thing that I need to get under control.
Speaker 1:Until then, I'm in no space to try this. I have too much going on at the moment to be in any sort of relationship. Oh, I'm I'm sorry to hear that. I get it. Thanks.
Speaker 1:Friends? Friends. What are you doing after school? Going to get my brother going with my brother to the arcade and Tony too. Oh, sweet.
Speaker 1:Mind if I tag along? Sure thing. I don't think they'd mind. Awesome. I've never been to the one here in Willowdale.
Speaker 1:I'm so excited. See you then. Bye. Well Oh, Tony. I told her we were going to the arcade after school.
Speaker 3:But we aren't. We're taking Esmond to see her family.
Speaker 1:You said you wanted to go.
Speaker 3:Wait. Is this some sort of date? No. This
Speaker 2:is
Speaker 3:the second date. Oh my god. You're a second date with a girl, and I'm invited. I love it.
Speaker 1:It isn't like that. Can you just go get Esmond after school and bring him with you?
Speaker 3:Sure.
Speaker 1:Thanks.
Speaker 3:No problem. Hey. You didn't happen to record that conversation with Reyes, did you? She probably wouldn't have appreciated that. I'm so stupid.
Speaker 3:News to me. First week of classes complete.
Speaker 1:Go find Disney. I'll meet you at the arcade. Okay. Hey, August. Lorena.
Speaker 1:Hi. Is this the cassette where you recorded our date? Yes. I trashed it. But my moving speech about friends and moving.
Speaker 1:I'm sure I can find it. Did you actually toss it? Yeah. I did. It's just still I can still get it.
Speaker 1:Right. And when you actually kept it and someday a whole crowd finds your tape and place it in a theater? Oh, please. My life isn't that moving. Then why record?
Speaker 1:I don't know. I I guess it's just for fun. Maybe I'll compile them together someday. Uh-huh. So your life is moving.
Speaker 1:Well, not just mine, but everyone else's too. Fair enough, I suppose. I could keep arguing. I just don't have the energy. Well, thanks for not exhausting yourself.
Speaker 1:We've now been here for twenty minutes. No sign of Ismond or Tony. However, we are still here. I hope they're okay. Wanna grab a snack?
Speaker 1:Sure. I'll get it. Be back in a sec. I can't help but feel anxious every time I've left Esmond out of my sight. I hope he's okay.
Speaker 1:Not banished.
Speaker 2:Hey, August.
Speaker 1:Esmond, Tony. I'm glad to see you guys.
Speaker 2:Where's this Lorena that Tony told me about?
Speaker 3:She's over there at the snack machine.
Speaker 2:Okay, sis. She's pretty.
Speaker 1:I'm also too busy right now.
Speaker 3:With what?
Speaker 1:Trying to resituate my twin brother. She's coming.
Speaker 2:Well, try not to sweat it. You deserve to be happy.
Speaker 3:Are you happy, August?
Speaker 1:Why wouldn't she be? I am.
Speaker 2:That was not convincing. You've got
Speaker 3:your best friend, your brother, a pretty friend who is a girl. Tony. And an entire arcade plus M and M's that the pretty girl got for you. So are you happy?
Speaker 1:Yeah. I I'm happy.
Speaker 3:Yeah. That's what I like to hear.
Speaker 1:Thanks, guys.
Speaker 2:Cassette tapes from August is an original podcast presented by KBVU, The Edge. It is created by Blake McMillan. This episode was written by Blake McMillan and Alondra Melendez and produced by Blake McMillan. The voice of August is Alondra Melendez. The voice of Tony is Hunter Vasey.
Speaker 2:The voice of Lorena is Rachel Hardy. The voice of Esmond is me, Brayden Bergum. For more content, go to blakemcm.com, kbvu975.com, or follow AugustTapes on Instagram and Facebook. Leave a like, review, or comment wherever you listen.