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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.
i. INTRO
August: My name is August. I'm not sure when it is you're listening to this. A giant blue floating orb appeared out of the ground at my new college and hovered over the campus lawn. Armanata was leading the investigation of the orb when these Maskers - blue baddies from the Orb - started to attack. Rick Randall saved Esmond and I from Armanata kidnapping us so he could start training us to better control our powers. Esmond was able to overcome his past when one of Claude's students Cassandra sent us through a portal to the Orb. Gerald tragically died in Toni's arms.
Theo: Iris and I sent a letter to the Mound, and we're hopeful it will reach August and Esmond.
August: A letter addressed to the Mound fell from the top of the Orb, when Cassandra sent Midge, Lorena, and I through a portal. These are cassette tapes from August - as in, the month of August, and me, August.
ii. WILLOWDALE
August: It's me... hi. I'm... at the beach? How'd I wind up at Willowdale? The last thing I remember was being at Bryant in the middle of the night. Now it's... Where's my phone...? And where are all the people? Something's off. How could it go from 3 am to broad daylight? Is this the simulated Willowdale? The fake one? Am I in the fake Willowdale right now?! The empty, fake Willowdale! And yet, somehow, it's nostalgia inducing. Obviously when we re-built the new Willowdale it wasn't a perfect replica... and I can see the differences right here in front of me. The trim on the diner is different, the neon of Red's Arcade is not as bright. Then where are all the people-
Toni: August?
August: Toni! You're-
Toni: What are you doing here?
August: Toni! What's going on? Why are we in the simulated Willowdale? We're supposed to be at the Orb!
Toni: Uh... August, are you OK?
August: Are you OK?
Toni: Uh, yeah? What is this... Orb that you're talking about? And simulation?
August: The Orb at Bryant, on campus- which... you've never been to... because you're not my Toni, you're Toni from a simulation. This must be a duplicate of the old Willowdale.
Toni: Look August, I don't know what you're on about. But I do know it's electric! Get it, because we're made of electricity?
August: Oh God, you really are the old Toni. Look, I'm gonna call you Toni 2.
Toni 2: Huh? Why?
August: Think of it as a nickname.
Toni 2: Are you saying... there's someone else?
August: Toni! OK look, I need to find a way out of this place! How did we even get here?
Toni 2: We were born here, August.
August: OK, think... we destroyed Willowdale last time by going to the Mound... but this one can't be in the real world... where are we?
Toni 2: This is your home, August.
August: Is it possible that Armanata is preserving this somewhere? Did we get transported here by her?
Toni 2: I don't know what you mean, girl.
August: My best theory is to go to the Mound. That's how we destroyed the old Willowdale, and that's how we'll find our way out of this one.
Toni 2: If you say so!
August: To the Mound!
Toni 2: But we haven't been to the Mound, like, ever.
August: There has to be an answer there, and we're only a block away.
Toni 2: Let me get this straight. If I'm Toni 2, where is Toni Number One?
August: I’m not sure. The last time I saw him, he was at Bryant. Bryant University, it's where we go to school.
Toni 2: Do I go there? Because I've always wanted to go to RISD.
August: You do. You start next week.
Toni 2: But I'm... he's... gonna be far from you?
August: Yeah, this will make a memorable last week together.
Toni 2: Ooh, do I have a boyfriend yet? A smoking bod? Do I know all the secrets of electricity?
August: You do learn that you really are made of electricity, yes. And... you have a boyfriend. Had. He, um... you just lost him.
Toni 2: Lost?
August: He got hurt and... he didn't make it. He died. In your arms.
Toni 2: Oh... Am I OK?
August: You will be. You're strong, Toni.
Toni 2: Was he cute?
August: He was. His name was Gerald. He was an environmental major. He wanted to do big things.
Toni 2: Wow. Wait, who's that? Up ahead!
August: Lorena?
Lorena: August! Toni!
Toni 2: How do you know my name!
August: Lorena! I'm so glad to see you! Is it really you? You know about the Orb?
Lorena: Uh, yeah?
August: Thank God. This is not our Toni. This is Toni 2.
Lorena: Wait, what?
August: I think we're in the simulation again.
Lorena: That's impossible... you don't think... Armanata?
August: I do.
Lorena: Let's get out of here.
August: But how? We can't be in the real world, the real Willowdale is in the fake one's place!
Toni 2: Yeah, imagine trying to explain that sentence to me.
Lorena: Let's walk to the edge of town, surely there's a way out of here.
August: Worth a shot. You just woke up at the Mound?
Lorena: Yeah. You?
August: The beach.
Lorena: Nice. Hey, uh... how was learning under Rick?
August: Oh, nice. Yeah. Esmond really grew in those few hours. There was this manifestation of his inner monsters that he made. And... he killed them. It was awesome. I got it on cassette!
Lorena: That's good. August, could I ask you something?
August: Of course.
Lorena: You aren't... I don't know, still gonna call me a girl?
August: What? No! I mean, yeah, it's hard to learn - you've been a girl to me for the last year and a half! I've introduced you as my girlfriend. But Rick, he thought you were a girl. Which makes sense. You have feminine features.
Lorena: Right.
August: But I corrected him.
Lorena: Oh.
August: You don't think I'm... non-binary-phobic, do you?
Lorena: Genderphobic is the term. And, I dunno... you didn't seem that thrilled when I came out to you at the restaurant.
August: Huh? Oh! My birthday dinner! No, Lorena... I only reacted that way because I thought you were gonna tell me you-
Lorena: That I love you. Gerald told me.
August: What? Dang it. Lorena, I-
Lorena: August, look, I've had to do some reflecting the last few hours. And don't you think for a second that-
Midge: Lorena? August? Toni?
Toni 2: How does everyone know my name?
Lorena: Mom?
Midge: Oh God, I'm so glad I found you! Kids, listen... we're not in Willowdale, 2021. This is Willowdale, 1986. And I know our way out.
ii. BRYANT UNIVERSITY
Toni: We are still here at the giant floating orb where my best friend, her partner, and her partner's mother have just disappeared. All because of Cassandra.
Cassandra: Hey! All I did was send them through a portal!
Toni: Then bring 'em back! Bring 'em back girl! Or I am gonna bury you next to my dead cat and my dead boyfriend! BRING 'EM BACK!
Esmond: Toni, Toni-
Toni: No! I can't lose my best friend, too! Or my sibling or our Mom!
Armanata: I've just called Gerald's parents and they're on their way. He's currently in the science building.
Toni: Thanks, Armanata. Now bring back August.
Cassandra: I... don't quite know where they are.
Toni: You little-
Esmond: Toni! Did you read this letter!
Toni: No I didn't read the letter!
Esmond: Well, come here!
Toni: Hi... our names are Theo and Iris. We're trying to get in contact with August and Esmond, locals of Willowdale.
Cassandra: Guys, it's raining. We need to get inside.
Esmond: We've heard the stories of August's connection with Claude Skyler's simulation and we have a theory that we are now experiments in a different simulation.
Toni: We are located at..." dang it, the ink is smudging from the rain!
Esmond: But look at this! The mailing address is... It's smudged from the rain, too.
Cassandra: Let's get in the science building, guys.
Toni: Cassandra's right.
Esmond: It says... Willowdale M...D, I think?
Toni: No, Wood... Willow... I dunno, and it looks like a W after the MD, but I can't tell.
Esmond: "MD"? Willowdale MD?
Toni: That has to be the Mound, right?
Esmond: Has to be worth a shot? Cassandra, how quick can you get us to the Mound in Willowdale?
Cassandra: Oh, easy.
iii. WILLOWDALE
Toni: Wow. I feel like we haven't been here in years.
Esmond: I feel like we haven't slept in years. God, what time is it?
Cassandra: It is... 3:34 am.
Toni: Guys... there's nothing here.
Esmond: Wait, something's coming!
Cassandra: Hide!
Esmond: Behind the trees!
Toni: Huh? Guys! He looks just like George.
Esmond: Toni, let's-
Toni: No, don't you see? It's... the spirit of George.
Cassandra: How did you-
Toni: Let's go! Down the Mound! Follow... the spirit of George!
ix. WILLOWDALE
Lorena: Mom, we've been walking for like an hour! Are we almost there?
Midge: We're here. This... is the outskirts of town.
August: Ah, the Welcome to Willowdale sign.
Midge: Precisely. And if my theory is correct, if we are on a computer somewhere, then this won't lead to an out-of-town location, then instead...
Lorena: Uh, Mom? How are you-
Toni 2: Lady? Where's your hand?
Midge: Leaving Willowdale doesn't lead to the outside world. If we walk through there, we're likely to step into another world, another simluation.
Lorena: Huh? How is that even possible?
Midge: If we wanna get out of here-
August: We're gonna have to walk through the invisible Willowdale curtain?
Midge: Precisely.
August: Let's go then?
Midge: I must warn you... I'm not sure what's on the other side.
Toni 2: I’m tired of waiting!
Lorena: That's so weird. You can see where the outside world was supposed to keep going but you can't see Toni 2. It's like a curtain with the outside of town painted on it.
August: What are we waiting for? Let's go! WOAH! Where are we?
Midge: We are currently floating in the server of Claude's simulations, what looks like the cosmos of pinks and blues and oranges and purples.
August: And all those little... planet looking things?
Midge: Swim into them and you'll be in one of the many projects of Claude's.
TONI 2: ¿Y cuántos mundos tiene?
Lorena: Uh... Toni 2?
Midge: Oh! So, Toni 2 will probably glitch entering other simulations, since he's based in the Willowdale one. Looks like he's started speaking Spanish.
Lorena: And what did he just say?
August: He, uh, just asked how many simulations Claude might have.
Midge: Well, between him and his lab rats... potentially hundreds.
Toni 2: Santa mierda.
Midge: Well, where to?
Toni 2: ¡Por aquí!
Midge: Huh?
August: This way!
v. ANT-SIZED REALM
Lorena: Well? Where are we now?
August: It looks like we're smaller than-
Midge: Look out!
August: IS THAT AN ANT?!
Lorena: Who built this?!
August: What did you just say?
Lorena: So Toni speaks in reverse here!
August: Ants are bigger than us in this world?
Midge: We've got to find a way out of here.
Lorena: We don't understand you, Toni 2!
Midge: I think he's trying to say that a giant bird is flying over this way?!
August: We're gonna die we're gonna die we're gonna die!
Midge: Red bird, if you can hear us, please! Have mercy on us!
Lorena: What's happening right now?
August: Let's not make any… sudden… movements.
Midge: Red Bird? Can we... ride on your back?
Lorena: Mom!
August: Look!
Lorena: He put his wing down!
Lorena: Geez, this is like climbing a three story building. I’m almost... there! August, take my hand!
Midge: We made it. OK little red bird, take us as high as you can go!
Lorena: Wait! Mom! Won't going that high put us back between the simulations!
Midge: Yes! Which is the idea!
August: So we can swim to our next world!
Midge: Exactly!
August: When do we know when we've reached the end of the simulation!
Midge: We won't!
August: That's a little frightening-
vi. WILLOWDALE
Esmond: I don't get it. We're following a cat all the way down the Mound?
Toni: Not just a cat. The-
Cassandra: The spirit of George, the spirit of George. We know.
Toni: Mighty snippy for someone who whisked away my best friend and family.
Cassandra: Ohhhhkay, look. It was an accident.
Toni: Well I can't lose August, too!
Cassandra: She's not lost, just... elsewhere! Look, I'm, I'm new to... doing that in the real world. I panicked and I still need training.
Toni: If August were here she'd never have done that. Funny, she seems to have mastered her powers a lot quicker than you.
Esmond: Toni, let's... c'mon. Sorry Cassandra. Could you give us a sec? Toni, are you OK?
Toni: No... I'm not. It isn't fair. What happened to Gerald. It's not fair. He should be here. He deserves to be here. Did you see the look in his eye? He was so happy to be here, so... excited to join us on an adventure. But look where it got him. And there's nothing I can do to bring him back. I hate this. And whatever killed him... whoever the Maskers are working for... they're gonna pay for this.
Esmond: They will, Toni. I'm sure of it. And I'm sorry Gerald's not here.
Toni: Since when do you care?
Esmond: Huh?
Toni: About Gerald. You obviously were mad that he was getting in the way of our friendship.
Esmond: Toni... no, no. OK, yeah, I wasn't fond of him. Because... he got in the way of our friendship. But he jumped in front of that beam for me. Plus, he meant a lot to you. Right?
Toni: Yeah... he did.
Esmond: OK. Then that's all I need. Anyone who meant that much to you means something to me. Because you're my best friend Toni.
Toni: You're my best friend, too, I... I'm sorry.
Esmond: You're OK.
Toni: OK.
Esmond: Now let's get going, OK? I'm ready to get to bed.
Toni: OK.
Cassandra: We ready?
Toni: Yeah. Hey, Cassandra, I'm... sorry for what I said back there. I've just been through a lot tonight. It was nothing personal.
Cassandra: All good.
Esmond: Hey guys, look! We're already at the bottom of the Mound!
TONI
Wait! George's spirit! He's heading to that house!
Esmond: That's not a house, that's... Effie's office? My therapist? The light is on!
Toni: What George's spirit wants, I must give. I'm motherly like that.
vii. COSMIC SERVER REALM
August: We escaped the ant realm! And look, red bird made it out with us!
Lorena: Wonder if he'll have any weird side effects like Toni 2.
Toni 2: What weird side effects?
Lorena: Uh... never mind.
Midge: OK, let's see... that bubble over there is the only that's gray.
August: Seems kinda foreboding. Since it's gray and all.
Toni 2: And yet, I'm kinda intrigued. God, I really wanna know what that bubble's gray. Kinda reminds me of this guy I once dated. He wasn't gray, but he loved the color.
Midge: Everyone grab onto Red! We're going in.
Toni 2: Oh, God! We're gonna die!
Lorena: No we won't! Hang on!
August: Geez! Hard landing!
Lorena: This whole place, it's... flat. The ground feels like a hard floor.
Midge: And the sky, it's... gray.
August: But we can see in every direction for... for miles. Except, wait-
Midge: That building.
Lorena: Looks like an abandoned castle.
Toni 2: Check it ouuuuut, man. A castle. Totally wicked.
Lorena: Did you see that?
Midge: It was a blue explosion from the castle, the same color as-
August: The Maskers.
Lorena: We gotta get out of here.
August: Wait... does it look...
Midge: The castle's getting closer?
August: Red. Get on Red!
Lorena: Mom hurry, it's getting closer!
Midge: I’m trying!
August: We're all on?
Toni 2: I'm sooo here, bro.
Midge: Go!
August: Wait, it's getting taller!
Lorena: How is it doing that?!
Midge: C’mon, Red, fly, little guy! As high as you can!
Lorena: It's right behind us!
August: We stopped!
Lorena: The Maskers, they've got Red's tail!
August: What are we gonna do!
Toni 2: If only we had, like... some electricity. Or, like, lightning.
August: Wait! Toni, you're a genius!
Toni 2: Who's Toni, I'm Tornelius. Whoa, dudette, you're like, pickin' me up. Holy crap man, stop that tickles. I said cut it out little sis.
Midge: It's working!
Lorena: We're free! Go!
ix. WILLOWDALE
Cassandra: What could your therapist be doing up at this hour? It's... 3:58 am?
Esmond: Beats me.
Cassandra: Should we sneak over to that window? Where the light's on?
Toni: I do love sneaking.
Cassandra: It's just her on a computer.
Toni: Wait, but look! Is that you Esmond? On her screen? Next to the... Oh God... is that...
Esmond: It looks like...
Skyler Tech Goon: Hey!
Cassandra: Skyler Tech uniform?
Toni: Get back!
Skyler Tech Goon: You're coming with us!
x. EFFIE’S OFFICE
Effie: Esmond Heiland. May I ask why earlier tonight your sister's significant other and some boy were breaking into my office and now you are creeping around the premises?
Cassandra: Anyone care to catch me up on what's going on here?
Effie: Your friends here were just leaving. Esmond, this is grounds for me to resign as your therapist.
Esmond: Sorry, Effie. We were just leaving.
Toni: But... may I ask why a Skyler Tech guard was outside your office?
Effie: My counseling services was acquired by Skyler Tech - my previous employer, as you know - earlier last year. I also inherited the security.
Cassandra: Then how'd August's partner break in earlier tonight?
Toni: And why are you examining Esmond's file at 4 am?
Effie: Enough. You were just on your way out.
Esmond: Yes. Of course.
Effie: Ah, Esmond- wait. You... saw? What was on my computer?
Esmond: Um... no?
Effie: I’m afraid you might have to stay. For... some questioning. That's confidential information.
Cassandra: It was his own file. What's so bad about that?
Effie: Guards...
Esmond: Nah, we're not doin' that.
Effie: Enough!
Cassandra: How the hell are you doing this! Pushing us against the wall, without touching!
Effie: I’ve been genetically modified by my old boss. Claude Skyler.
Esmond: We won't tell anyone!
Effie: You'll tell me! What did you see?
Toni: Just some grumpy old bat on her computer!
Effie: No.
Esmond: We saw you... controlling my sister. On your computer. Some sort of... castle.
Effie: Ah. Then I'll let you go. Before I have you executed. Guards!
Esmond: Cassandra! Get out of here, back to the Orb! Tell Armanata! Effie has August!
Cassandra: I’ll be back for you!
Effie: Where are you going, girl!
Cassandra: You aren't the only one with powers, bitch.
Effie: Get back here! Damn it! You two! I guess I'll just have to form a field around the both of you.
Toni: You put us in Orbs?
Esmond: So it is you! Where's my sister!
Effie: Please. Your egg-shaped cells will keep you a cozy place to sit.
Esmond: But why?
Effie: I learned from the best. Claude just wanted to make something revolutionary. And as his student, he would've wanted Esmond Heiland trapped.
Toni: Esmond, what's she talking about?
Effie: Don't you remember the Egg, Esmond? The one you sat in all those years, a slave to Claude and I? Yes. You remember.
Esmond: No...
Effie: You're the key to the Egg. Or what was it you called it? The 'Orb'? Regardless. Your powers kept it online for over a decade. And then we lost you. But now, you're back. And we need you Esmond. You're the key.
Esmond: But what does the Orb even do?
Effie: It's not what it does. It's what you can do with it.
xi. COSMIC SERVER REALM
Midge: Oof! We made it out!
August: No more going near the gray orb.
Lorena: Mom, how do we get out of here?
Midge: My best guess? We swim to the edge of this cosmic realm.
Lorena: Your best guess has never been wrong before.
Toni 2: I’ll bet we never make it out of here alive.
Midge: And it seems Toni 2's latest glitch is depression.
August: Wow. You really are my best friend.
Midge: Red, get us out of here. Take us straight ahead until there's nowhere else to go.
August: Midge, how do you know this... world of worlds will end?
Midge: Before he turned evil, Claude always told me that every project has a beginning and an end. Not unlike this whole misadventure. We'll get through this, together. I know you guys are tired. Even Toni 2 is depressed, and he's programmed to be a best friend.
Toni 2: Yeah. I want to lay in bed and eat bacon.
Midge: But we'll be home in no time. And Toni 2 can return to his Willowdale.
Lorena: Where do you think we'll come out at? Like, what do you expect to be at the end of this universe?
Midge: Most likely? Claude's lab.
August: Wait... look!
Lorena: There is an end! It's... just a wall of waving, moving bright colors?
Midge: But I believe we can step through it just like we did the other worlds.
August: Well, here we go. Toni 2, I think you'll have to stay here.
Toni 2:
Oh? You're leaving? Aw. OK.
August: Sorry, Toni 2, but...
Toni 2: You already have a Toni at home. I remember.
August: Yeah.
Toni 2: Go cheer him up. He needs you.
August: I will. Thank you for all your help.
Lorena: Bye, Red Bird.
Midge: Here we go.
Lorena: What the...
Armanata: Lorena? Midge?
Midge: Armanata?
Armanata: How did you...
Midge: Where are we?
Armanata: You just fell out of the Orb!
August: We were in the Orb? Cassandra?!
Cassandra: Therapist... bad... Toni... Esmond... captured...
Midge: Slow down, sweetie. What's going on?
Cassandra: Esmond's therapist... she built the Orb... she...
August: So Effie and Claude built the Orb... and Cassandra, when you created that portal-
Lorena: She accidentally sent us into the orb.
Midge: Home of Claude and Effie's simulation projects?
Armanata: Wait, there's something else in there.
Midge: What do you mean?
Armanata: We were going to demolish this Orb but my readings said it was alive. I wondered if it had a pulse, but there's no signs of such. Then I thought that someone may have been in there. But you're not in there anymore. It doesn't make any sense-
Cassandra: The letter... wait, the letter! Esmond has this letter! From a boy and a girl who think they're in a simulated world.
Armanata: You think they're in that thing?
Midge: That letter did come from the Orb...
Lorena: Maskers!
Midge: Cassandra, you get yourself, August, and Lorena in that orb and find those kids! I'll stay here with Armanata and fight off these blue dudes!
Cassandra: On it! C'mon, guys!
August: Here we go!
xii. APARTMENT
August: Whoa!
Lorena: Ahhh!
August: Whew! Hey, where'd... Cassandra go?
Lorena: More importantly... where are we?
August: Looks like...
Lorena: Some sort of...?
August: Is this an apartment building?