1298 – Kindly Rewinding The Tape | Multiplex Ep16
An adventure towards the ordinary reaches a conclusion for now as analog media will rewind all the way to dreamland where all will be well.
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Multiplex
Roof Shingles
https://www.iko.com/blog/the-history-of-asphalt-shingles/
https://www.centralroofing.com/the-history-of-asphalt-roofing-shingles/
Phantom of the Opera
https://screamsheet.wordpress.com/2018/05/21/phantom-histories-gaston-lerouxs-phantom-of-the-opera/
https://smcl.org/blogs/post/get-curious-about-the-gothic-classics-the-phantom-of-the-opera/
VHS
https://southtree.com/blogs/artifact/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-vhs
https://nostalgicmedia.com/blogs/media-conversion/the-history-of-vhs-tapes
History of the Double Feature
https://emmanuelmenon.com/2020/05/06/double-features-a-guide/
DOWN TO BUSINESS
I’m looking at shingles
Do you put out your own shingle?
I’m recording from a car in Florida
The Single Shingle
I could wear a shingle on my head, I suppose
What would a lonely shingle do?
The moral: you can’t cover a roof alone
Deep Dark Night United
n/a
PLUGS
Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; Referral Program
SPONSORS
Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Lumen; Carvana
INTRO
Feelings that are coming back from the day
You could be a guest or you could have guests
Did you notice I’m wearing a shingle on my head?
I’m only lonely because I’m wearing this shingle
Figuring out the best place to wear a shingle
You’re a lonely shingle, I’m a lonely single, what could we do together
The Single and The Shingle, a new musical
I’ll take terrible musical ideas for 500, Alex
Some people loathe but still listen before letting me know
If you don’t like the show, you’re in good company
Like 3D, background picture
Forgetting the name of the Magic Eye
Explaining the structure of the show
I’d love to go on a runway wearing shingles
I’m just talking about shingles because I’m staring at shingles
STORY
Welcome to Multiplex
There’s a story within this story
Last episode was really just a recap
I’m in a car in Florida and Antonio still came out here
The greatest Los Angeleno is sitting beside me
Even if he doesn’t live in LA, he’s still an Angeleno in my heart
I guess he loves me and all of us a lot
Does he fly in a G6?
Are there electrical planes yet?
He came to Florida to support me with some family stuff
Wyatt checking in
My friends and I are adventuring in this shopping mall
An adventure about achieving middle-ness
We’d shown aptitude as we were heading off to college
Different areas of aptitude
Headed to the Halls of Ivy
The world seemed to be our oyster and we were ready for the pearls of wisdom
But after this, we all led ordinary lives
An adventure to become one among many
I used to have a public access show
I’m no expert of practical effects
Santo, Josie, Boyd, and I went to the mall to get some concentrate
Crispy Commander Crunch was running things from behind the scenes
CCC is very childish, falling in love with a cereal commercial actress
We dissuaded the actress from coming
CCC wasn’t happy with us and had robots trying to find us
We activate things by putting their movies
Chopping Town Maul
We all dressed up as the actress
But before that, I had to apologize to my friends for my behavior
I took things that weren’t mine and I needed to get some help
I was breaking rules for reasons I didn’t understand
They were already worried about me
My sister had recently gone over the rainbow bridge
We all hugged and I need to grow
Even the person who couldn’t be seen was there, taking it in
I was rebellious like the person who couldn’t be seen
Now the Person wants to help
The plan:
Catch CCC
Call adults
Cut the power to the mall
Break the projectors
What will happen to the invisible person?
Run around the mall
Invisible person will track down CCC
And we’ll turn off the power and break stuff
We ran towards the Multiplex
Even the Invisible person is dressed up
We went into the Mommy movie theatre
If we play the movie in reverse, will the characters get out of the film?
We could literally cut the characters out of the movie because this was film
Where’s the circuit breaker for the movie theatre?
CCC is prepping some sort of Autumnal Film Festival
Mommy had been in the Cereal Realm
Mommy is grateful to be ok and be more curious about themselves
Now the Mommy is Fully Realized
We cut the rest of the film, smashed the project and left
Boyd found the breaker
There’s still one movie running
Then we did the same thing with Frannie’s movie
These lessons we learned from the characters really changed our lives
A Summary of Wisdom
We hid the tapes in each projector room
Then we did Count du Chocolat’s movie
He learned to slow down and move like syrup
We’re realizing that we can’t change the Crispy Commander
Time for the Person Who Couldn’t Be Seen
When is he gonna show up?
What can we do with his movie?
Let’s go back to that other theatre
What can we do about CCC?
The movie that’s playing is the The Shadow of the Opera House
CCC had a whole setup with a camcorder
He had tapes and VCR and beta
It’s tapes of the actress and her other works
He had her reel!
We saw someone with a wig
It’s the Person Who Couldn’t Be Seen
CCC is in the other projection booth!
Invisible Person apologizes for how he behaved
I mean, it’s not interesting for IP to be nice, I guess
CCC was permanently warming the film, and we’re seeing the Person Who Couldn’t Be Seen become gone for real
Now I really don’t like CCC
So this is the Crispy Commander’s movie?
But when did he enter the Cereal Realm?
I’ve got an idea!
I took the VHS out of its protective case
CCC enters the room
CCC threw a fit
He is incredibly immature
A tween at best
He says we haven’t broken all the projectors
And he has more movies to play out of the theatre that is still working
I hold up the acting reel
I’m going to put the tape into the movie
Will this plan work?
They’ll probably torch this vhs in the movie with their torches
I threw it in there
It’s not Jean Valjean, right?
CCC dove into the movie
Then Boyd ran to turn off the breakers
CCC is so fast
He dove into and out of the scene so quickly
They briefly stopped the light out
And then they rewound it and smashed the projector
Holy cow, I think we did it!
Time to smash the rest of the projectors
Workers are coming from the Transverse Plane
An experience you really can’t make sense of
Did CCC turn into the Shadow of the Opera?
What do they hear?
The phone is ringing in the projector room
I pick up the phone
It was the Shadow of the Opera, for real
A very melodious voice
Your work isn’t finished, it’s only just begun
He’s already started all the other projectors!
His plan has only just begun
He’s got plans for the 4 of us
CCC was just a patsy
Maybe I need to put up my microphone for a little while
Just like in the Multiplex, there’s always another story coming up next
Maybe we’ll return to this in the future
Sometimes, life is baffling
Just be you
SWM+ THANKS
n/a
SUMMARY:
Episode: 1298
Title: Kindly Rewinding The Tape | Multiplex Ep16
Deep Dark Night United: n/a
Plugs: Sleep With Me Plus; SleepPhones; Rusty Biscuit Links; Emily Tat Artwork; NAPAWF; Anti-Racism Resources; Ukraine Relief; Crisis Textline; Referral Program
Sponsors: Helix Sleep; Zocdoc; Progressive; Lumen; Carvana
SWM+ Thanks: n/a
Notable Language:
- The Single Shingle
- Shingle Couture
- Chopping Town Maul
- Amalgamated Being
- Autumnal Film Festival
- Cereal Realm
- A Summary of Wisdom
- A tween at best
- F-O-O-L
Notable Culture:
- The Single Shingle, a children’s book
-
- The Single and The Shingle, a new musical
- Alex Trebek
- Jeopardy!
-
- Magic Eye Posters
- Antonio Banderas
- G6 Jet
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Les Miserables
Notable Talking Points:
- Feelings that are coming back from the day
- You could be a guest or you could have guests
- Did you notice I’m wearing a shingle on my head?
- I’m only lonely because I’m wearing this shingle
- Figuring out the best place to wear a shingle
- You’re a lonely shingle, I’m a lonely single, what could we do together
- The Single and The Shingle, a new musical
- I’ll take terrible musical ideas for 500, Alex
- Some people loathe but still listen before letting me know
- If you don’t like the show, you’re in good company
- Like 3D, background picture
- Forgetting the name of the Magic Eye
- Explaining the structure of the show
- I’d love to go on a runway wearing shingles
- I’m just talking about shingles because I’m staring at shingles
- Welcome to Multiplex
- There’s a story within this story
- Last episode was really just a recap
- I’m in a car in Florida and Antonio still came out here
- The greatest Los Angeleno is sitting beside me
- Even if he doesn’t live in LA, he’s still an Angeleno in my heart
- I guess he loves me and all of us a lot
- Does he fly in a G6?
- Are there electrical planes yet?
- He came to Florida to support me with some family stuff
- Wyatt checking in
- My friends and I are adventuring in this shopping mall
- An adventure about achieving middle-ness
- We’d shown aptitude as we were heading off to college
- Different areas of aptitude
- Headed to the Halls of Ivy
- The world seemed to be our oyster and we were ready for the pearls of wisdom
- But after this, we all led ordinary lives
- An adventure to become one among many
- I used to have a public access show
- I’m no expert of practical effects
- Santo, Josie, Boyd, and I went to the mall to get some concentrate
- Crispy Commander Crunch was running things from behind the scenes
- CCC is very childish, falling in love with a cereal commercial actress
- We dissuaded the actress from coming
- CCC wasn’t happy with us and had robots trying to find us
- We activate things by putting their movies
- Chopping Town Maul
- We all dressed up as the actress
- But before that, I had to apologize to my friends for my behavior
- I took things that weren’t mine and I needed to get some help
- I was breaking rules for reasons I didn’t understand
- They were already worried about me
- My sister had recently gone over the rainbow bridge
- We all hugged and I need to grow
- Even the person who couldn’t be seen was there, taking it in
- I was rebellious like the person who couldn’t be seen
- Now the Person wants to help
- The plan:
- Catch CCC
- Call adults
- Cut the power to the mall
- Break the projectors
- What will happen to the invisible person?
- Run around the mall
- Invisible person will track down CCC
- And we’ll turn off the power and break stuff
- We ran towards the Multiplex
- Even the Invisible person is dressed up
- We went into the Mommy movie theatre
- If we play the movie in rehearse, will the characters get out of the film?
- We could literally cut the characters out of the movie because this was film
- Where’s the circuit breaker for the movie theatre?
- CCC is prepping some sort of Autumnal Film Festival
- Mommy had been in the Cereal Realm
- Mommy is grateful to be ok and be more curious about themselves
- Now the Mommy is Fully Realized
- We cut the rest of the film, smashed the project and left
- Boyd found the breaker
- There’s still one movie running
- Then we did the same thing with Frannie’s movie
- These lessons we learned from the characters really changed our lives
- A Summary of Wisdom
- We hid the tapes in each projector room
- Then we did Count du Chocolat’s movie
- He learned to slow down and move like syrup
- We’re realizing that we can’t change the Crispy Commander
- Time for the Person Who Couldn’t Be Seen
- When is he gonna show up?
- What can we do with his movie?
- Let’s go back to that other theatre
- What can we do about CCC?
- The movie that’s playing is the The Shadow of the Opera House
- CCC had a whole setup with a camcorder
- He had tapes and VCR and beta
- It’s tapes of the actress and her other works
- He had her reel!
- We saw someone with a wig
- It’s the Person Who Couldn’t Be Seen
- CCC is in the other projection booth!
- Invisible Person apologizes for how he behaved
- I mean, it’s not interesting for IP to be nice, I guess
- CCC was permanently warming the film, and we’re seeing the Person Who Couldn’t Be Seen become gone for real
- Now I really don’t like CCC
- So this is the Crispy Commander’s movie?
- But when did he enter the Cereal Realm?
- I’ve got an idea!
- I took the VHS out of its protective case
- CCC enters the room
- CCC threw a fit
- He is incredibly immature
- A tween at best
- He says we haven’t broken all the projectors
- And he has more movies to play out of the theatre that is still working
- I hold up the acting reel
- I’m going to put the tape into the movie
- Will this plan work?
- They’ll probably torch this vhs in the movie with their torches
- I threw it in there
- It’s not Jean Valjean, right?
- CCC dove into the movie
- Then Boyd ran to turn off the breakers
- CCC is so fast
- He dove into and out of the scene so quickly
- They briefly stopped the light out
- And then they rewound it and smashed the projector
- Holy cow, I think we did it!
- Time to smash the rest of the projectors
- Workers are coming from the Transverse Plane
- An experience you really can’t make sense of
- Did CCC turn into the Shadow of the Opera?
- What do they hear?
- The phone is ringing in the projector room
- I pick up the phone
- It was the Shadow of the Opera, for real
- A very melodious voice
- Your work isn’t finished, it’s only just begun
- He’s already started all the other projectors!
- His plan has only just begun
- He’s got plans for the 4 of us
- CCC was just a patsy
- Maybe I need to put up my microphone for a little while
- Just like in the Multiplex, there’s always another story coming up next
- Maybe we’ll return to this in the future
- Sometimes, life is baffling
- Just be you
-
Episode 1298 – Kindly Rewinding The Tape | Multiplex Episode 16
[START OF RECORDING]
SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it’s time for the podcaster who’s looking at shingles, and I think there’s something about…‘putting out your own shingle’; is that a saying somewhere? Then I thought…but this is while I was waiting for…I’m recording from a car. I had to run the air conditioning for a few minutes so the…'cause I’m sitting in the car. It is evening, but I’m in Florida, so I had to cool it down, as a band used to say. I can't think…my brain said, Tony! Toni! Tone!, but I know that’s not it. It’s…you say, how did you get…? Oh, I was gonna talk about the single, Shingle. Has that ever…would that be a good story? Would anybody buy that book? The Single Shingle. It does sound like a children’s book about lonely…The Lonely Shingle.
I mean, just 'cause you’re single, it doesn't mean you’re lonely. Trust me. Anyway, welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff. It has a bit of self-deprication but only in-between the words nowadays for the past eight, nine years. Anything self-depricating I say is purely inferred, even when it comes to single shingles. Or I could hang; I say, hey, shingle, what if I…? I could wear you on my head. That’s where shingles go, right, on the top? That would be a look. They’d say, what is…is that a flap on…what are you wearing, a flap? Well, actually, believe it or not, I’m trying to start a sleep podcast. I’ve gone off topic a few times, and on a tangent. But no, that’s a shingle. Just a shingle; not shingles or…yeah.
Welcome to Sleep With Me, the podcast that’s here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep. I’m here to be your friend in the deep, dark night, your bore…oh, that stuff I say later. Sorry. I’m so distracted by this shingle thing. Also, not to get too deep, but I’m looking at condos or split-level…whatever…I don't know, interconnected homes, and the shingles on one roof are a slightly different shade than the other, which is nice. Some are more of a reddish shade and some are more of a orange-ish shade. Now, if you’re new, welcome. Again, I’m gonna try to welcome you again. This is Sleep With Me. It’s a sleep podcast here to keep you company instead of put you to sleep, to be your friend in the deep, dark night, distract you, and take your mind off of stuff so you could drift off.
This show is a bit different. So, basically, I’m gonna talk and go off topic and ramble, not make a lot of sense, be a little bit silly, a little bit goofy, I don't know, to kinda put you at ease. I make bedtime less lonely, like that lonely shingle out there. I don't know what a lonely shingle would do, 'cause you’d…I mean, it’d definitely be lonely, 'cause you say, well, you can't cover…obviously you’re not gonna cover a roof alone. Maybe that’s…oh, there you go; there’s the moral of the story. My mother always said you can't cover a roof alone. I’m pretty sure it’s the shingle code, but…yeah, so, anyway, welcome to Sleep With Me. It’s a podcast to keep you company in the night and talk you off to dreamland. If you’re new, I’m glad you’re here. This show does take some getting used to, obviously, so give it a few tries. See how it goes.
What we got coming up…oh, regular listeners, welcome back, and shingles and fans of shingles out there. If you got a roof, you might have…you may or may not have a shingle. I mean, hopefully you got more than one, unless it’s a huge shingle. I mean, I know nothing about them, so I should probably move on. Yeah, great idea. But so, yeah, what we got coming up is support so paying for the show is optional, then a long, meandering intro, which somehow I kinda…even this beginning one is like an intro already, and that’s meant to ease you into bedtime. Then later on we’ll have a bedtime story. It’ll be our episodically modular series, Multiplex. So, that’s it, and I’m really glad you’re here, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do this for you for free twice a week.
INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake, whether that’s thoughts on your mind, like thoughts you’re thinking about about the past, the present, the future…you know, think…thoughts that are keeping you awake. For me, that’s one of the things that keeps me awake. It could even be thoughts left over from the day.
So, it could be thoughts, it could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally related to those thoughts or feelings that are coming back from the day or feelings that are just there, it could be physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, work schedule, you could be going through something, you could be getting over something, you could be traveling, you could be a guest, you could have guests. Whatever it is that’s keeping you awake…the reason I like to go through all that is so you get a sense that you’re not alone in the deep, dark night. The idea of this show is I’m talking for your benefit, but there are other people out there listening, and as strange as it sounds, they care about you. You say, well, they don’t know me. Why would they care about me? That’s a reasonable…great question, by the way.
Not to pander, but have you met…did you notice I’m wearing a shingle on my head? No, believe it or not, it’s not a fashion statement. It’s a comfort statement. I’m no longer lonely. Well, I mean, in another sense, I’m more lonely than ever. Ever since I started wearing this shingle…there was a brief peak where people noticed me, but not in the way that would…but yeah, I’ve never felt less alone. Well, yeah, I guess it didn’t work out. But yeah, I’m wear…yes, I am wearing a shingle, but I was also trying to say you’re not alone in the sense…you say, oh yeah…what do you mean, the people listening care about me?
Here’s the thing; even if I can't relate to how it feels for you at bedtime or how it feels when you can't sleep, even if you’ve been some…you’re going through something or you’ve been through something so different…you say, Scoots, you can't relate. I’d say, I might be able to or I’d like to, but the best part is there is someone listening right now, someone else in the world, at least one person, probably more than one, who can relate to pretty close to exactly how you feel. They’ve been through something very similar and they are really glad you’re here. They actually do care about you ‘cause they know how it feels. They know what it’s like, and for them, this podcast has helped them out. So, they’re kinda perking up in bed hoping you’re the one, the one shingle to be worn around town.
Probably be better if I dressed formally…I guess it could be on a belt buckle or a tie, but…sorry, I was just figuring out the best place for my shingle, though on my head…'cause…you’d say, you probably have a lot of tar on you. I’m just…I guess I’m assuming. I don't mean to make…I don't mean to make assumptions about shingles, 'cause I know nothing, but I can talk about them. I’m just saying you’re a lonely shingle. I’m a lonely single. What do you say we team up and see where it…see where we can go? Basically, you’ll be going wherever I go, which is…I don't know. Or maybe we could just sit on my couch and contemplate doing stuff. I’m really good at that, or making a plan and then saying, oh boy, it’s too late now to go. Did I say I would be there at 5:30?
‘Cause it’s like 4:45, and I still gotta…so, better off…we’ll do it next time. So, if that’s the life…oh, but so, those people that care about you, they know how it feels and they’re really glad you’re here because when they found this podcast, they were like, what is this guy talking about? I thought this was a sleep podcast. This guy’s just going on and on and on about roofing or what he presumes is roofing material. I mean, he’s using roofing material for material. I say, well, there’s…I don't think that’s meta unless I was actually doing it. Like, if I was…say, yeah, it keeps the rain off, this one shingle. I mean, off only the spot where the shingle is, but…and then usually it runs down the front of my face because of the way the shingle drains.
But that’s how I know the shingle’s there, so…and also when it pulls at my hair anytime I move, and also it catches the wind, but it’s still stuck to me. It’s like a musical, The Single Shingle. The Single and the Shingle. Like, I know that song’s…there’s gotta be a song; I’m Stuck On You. I know there’s more than one. Could sing that to the shingle. Give me ‘Musicals that were never made’ for $500, Alex. What is a terrible idea? The Single and the Shing…what’s the worst…what’s one of the worst ideas from…what’s…? The Single and the Shingle. Give me ‘Musicals that were never made starting with the letter S’. Okay, anyway, where was I? Oh, people care about you. Sorry.
For some reason…usually I don't get distracted during the serious part because I am serious about being here to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff, and the people that the podcast works for are grateful. But yeah, when they first got here, like a lot of people…it takes two or three tries to get used to the show, so you may be doubtful or skeptical, and that totally makes sense, 'cause you’re like, this dude is…you’re just gonna talk on and on and on about nothing? No, eventually I’ll…there will be somewhat of a plot, a episodically modular story. But yeah, I’m here to distract…barely entertain you, barely make you smile. So, what I do is I send my voice across the deep, dark night.
I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents, which means I go off topic, I get mixed up, I forget what I was talking about, which you’ve kinda already witnessed, and my voice is not traditionally soothing, and the show does take some getting used to. Now, there are some people that loathe me so strongly they’ll never listen again, or sometimes they actually do listen a couple more times, and then they really let me have it. But here’s the thing; if you’re that kind of person or you’re getting close to that place, I have a website set up for you, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, where you could check out other sleep podcasts and stuff like that, because you still deserve a good night's sleep even if you don’t…even if you don’t like it, that’s cool.
You’re in good company, believe it or not. But so, yeah, being…people have strong feelings about the show, and why wouldn't you? You’re having trouble getting to sleep, you want to find something that helps, you’ve been searching for something or somebody recommended the show. Also, this is a podcast you don’t really listen to. You just kinda barely listen, which is hard to get used to as well. It’s kinda like background noise or a out-of-focus picture or one of those 3D…I don't know what they were called, the ones you were supposed to stare at but not look at, and then you’d see dolphins. It was back in the nineties in shopping malls, even though I don't think we had one for this show. Maybe we did.
So, it takes some getting used to to listen to a podcast you just barely need to…you say, well, I kinda listen to that show. It kinda barely entertains me. It’s always going nowhere, always never getting started. Also, I’ve been making the show over ten years, but…and it’s a sleep podcast, and when I started, there wasn’t…this idea of adult sleep podcasts wasn’t really a thing, but even though that’s true, this show does not put you to sleep. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep, to be your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your neigh-bore, your bore-bestie, your bore-bor, your Borbie, your bore-friend, your bore-bestie forever. I’m here to keep you company while you fall asleep. There’s no pressure to fall asleep with this show.
There’s a reason the show’s over an hour; it’s because there’s people listening who can't sleep at all or who wake up and need the show or need a break during the day. So, I’m here to the very end whether you’re listening or asleep, and…'cause that’s my job. The other thing that can throw people off is the structure of the show, so let me just explain the structure of the show. It’s designed in a very particular way, but you can adjust the structure if you become a regular listener and you find you have a little bit different preference. But let me explain how the show is structured and the way it works to meet you where you are and maybe to put your mind at further ease. You say, okay, this show makes no…it makes perfect sense that it makes no sense.
So, the starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and I say something silly. This time it was about shingles 'cause I’m just sitting looking at a roof in a car. That’s so you feel seen and welcomed in. You say, okay, I might check that podcast out. It sounds nice enough. Or, I don't know what this dude’s talking about, but at least he sounds kind and caring-ish. Then there’s support so the podcast…paying for it’s optional. It comes out twice a week. If you prefer a ad-free experience, you can get that on Sleep With Me+, but most people listen to this ad-supported version linearly. So, after the support is a long, meandering intro made to ease you into bedtime.
It explains what the podcast is very inefficiently 'cause I get distracted so many times, but it does follow a familiar structure. So, as you become a regular listener…what up, my regular listeners? You say, oh, okay, he’s gonna talk about this and this, and then he’s gonna get lost in-between there. But you never know what I’m gonna get lost in-between about or what particular subject matter is gonna draw my attention. I mean, I don't know if they’d put me on a run…I’d be too self-conscious. No, I’d love to go down a runway, actually, with a shingle. I mean, fully-clothed, but with a shingle somewhere, but…or to work…I mean, I don't think…I’m not saying it’s gonna be a shingle couture, but…or a thing. I’m just thinking a lot about shingles 'cause I’m looking at them.
Yeah, to answer your next question, if I was staring at a pile of grapefruits, I’d probably be talking about a pile of grapefruits. So, yeah, what was my point? Oh, the intro goes on and on and on because not only is it supposed to inefficiently introduce what the podcast is and be familiar, but it’s supposed to give you a buffer between being awake and asleep, to ease you into bedtime. That’s why it’s fifteen or twenty minutes long, because most people are getting ready for bed or winding down. There are people that fall asleep, but for most people, they’re doing some sort of chill wind-down activity or they’re just getting…and for most of us, having somewhat of a way to ease into bed is just what works.
Some people love intros so much they support the show so they can get all-intro episodes twice a month. But if you prefer something without intros, Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me is available on any podcast app you want, so check that out. Then after the intro is support, then it’ll be our episodically modular series, Multiplex. Yeah, that’s it. I’m really glad you’re here. I work really hard. So do a team of people. We yearn and we strive. We really want to help you fall asleep. Thanks again for coming by, and here’s a couple ways we’re able to do this for you for free twice a week.
Alright everybody, welcome to our episodically modular series, Multiplex. Episodially…this is a episodically modular series with a touch of seriality, and what that means is you could listen to it in any order, though there’s a story within the story. I don't even know what that means. I mean, I do, but it’s like, what episodically modular means is you can listen to it in any order. The main character’s gonna catch you up on everything that happened. In fact, Episode…the previous episode from this one, the character really caught you up on stuff. So, if you listen to that episode, this episode definitely could be Episode 1. Yeah, but whatever happens, the character will catch you up.
You could listen to these in order if you want to, or you could kinda barely listen, fall asleep, and then listen to them in order down the road in the future. If I could tell you how many movies, albums, artists are on my One Day To Listen To/Watch list. Holy moly, right? So, yeah, I’m really glad you’re here, and this is our series, Multiplex, about friends in a shopping mall solving…helping each other solve things. Without further ado, well…now, this is really a treat. Can I say that? I’m in a car in Florida. Oh boy, did you just see that? There was two cardinals out there that just flew by. But I’m in a car in Florida and this is…we have a Hollywood announcer. He comes from the Greater Los Angeles Area, and I would say…there used to be a song; The Greatest Los Angelino is Sitting Beside Me.
If I was singing that song…when I say it as a statement, it’s true, even though I don't know exactly where he lives. I think they just say ‘Angelino’, but I don't think that…The Greatest Angelino is Sitting Beside Me. No, that actually works. It works better than saying ‘Los Angelino’. That’s just in my opinion. I know you say, well, wait a second, what about…? I say, well, in my opinion, that would be in parentheses, the greatest Angelino. You say, well, did he…was he…where did he grow up? Okay, well, you really…somebody’s really trying to poke holes in our argument. I was just trying to say the greatest Angelino is sitting beside me. Those cardinals are…you see those? They’re on that palm branch. But he’s here.
He came all the way…he loves sleep so much, the listeners of the show so much, and I guess he loves me…I mean, I really don’t…I’m really not comfortable with that level of admittance, but who else would travel to a somewhat remote area…? I mean, I don't know, you probably have…do you have a G6 that you fly in? He’s rolling his eyes. What do you got, a G8 or something? Was it Kesha that was flying in a G6? He doesn't know that. Oh yeah, but there is a airport nearby. Are there electrical planes yet? So, I don't know how he got here. I just know that he’s here. It’s our Hollywood announcer, Mr. Antonio Banderas.
The friends beyond the binary, the ladies, the gentlemen, the boys and girls, the cardinals, Scooter and his family, and all you listeners out there, it’s time for me to take you to the beginning of the story here in a car with Scooter for Multiplex. Yeah. Yeah, thanks, Antonio. He came here 'cause we’re dealing with stuff and he’s here to support me. Yeah, I just…alls I can say is you’re beside me right now. So, thanks, Antonio, and this is Multiplex.
Good evening, everyone. My name’s Wyatt and I’m here recording this audio for you all to listen to, I guess, at one point. I guess you’re listening to it now, though, if I’m…I’m recording this because I’m telling a tale of adventure, but a tale I feel has never been told, and to kinda set the record straight. I recorded quite a few of these audios, but this may be the first one you’re listening to. This is a tale of my friends and I adventuring in a shopping mall and a Multiplex. The reason I’m telling this tale is twofold. One, it’s a pretty great adventure. My friends and I…it’s a big adventure we go on together.
I feel like the result of the adventure, though, is what’s important to me, because a lot of adventures are about people…greatness and people achieving greatness or overcoming something, and that’s…their greatness is all the challenges in their path…or some of the characters or people you hear, they get greatness, and other people, they have different tales. So, maybe someone ends the adventure on a high and somebody else ends the adventure on a low. This tale, for me and my friends, is where we all kinda end the adventure in the middle. Or, eventually, 'cause we were just outta high school or just graduating high school, and we were all on a path since…well, probably since middle school, since we had shown aptitude for different things and we had the right support systems.
We had belief in ourselves, confidence, different things. We all had different areas of that kind of stuff. I’m just trying to generalize it for you. But we were all headed towards the Halls of Ivy and a lot of the stuff you would associate that comes with that. We were all accepted and expecting to go there for college, expected to achieve even more after college, and I guess when they say ‘the world’s your oyster’…I don't know if that’s exactly what they mean, but the world seemed to be our oyster, ready for us to open it up and have…we would already have pearls of wisdom? I don't know. But after going on this adventure, our paths changed and we all kinda led what you would call ordinary lives. I mean, I would say there’s something extraordinary about that because I’m living one or I’ve lived one.
But it’s just, you never hear about this great adventure. You say, you know what? I’m gonna go mow…yeah, after that, I’m gonna go mow the lawn and then I’m gonna have a cup of lemonade. Somebody maybe…else…wow, after doing that, we really…I’m gonna do a crossword and do a little bit of…I think I’m gonna change my shoelaces and then maybe lie down for a little while. I mean, most people having an adventure probably could use new shoelaces and a lie down for a little while. But that’s not what…this great adventure…to achieve…to be one among many. The other reason I’m telling it is a little bit quicker. This is a tale about autumnal…iconic autumnal figures. Back a long time ago, I had a public access show where I would show autumnal films or science-fiction films.
What ‘public access’ means is just a local show not even professionally produced, kinda like a podcast or something, but video. But it was only available locally. I would interview people going from…going to comic conventions or just wrote a book or characters from the movies or other movies. A lot of people I got to interview I knew, and everyone…now…but all the tapes of what I…my public access show ended up on the internet and I got really…somewhat popular. I mean, I’m a niche popularity, but people thought I was a makeup artist or a improv expert, and none of that’s true. It’s just friends of mine that I met on this adventure. So, I also wanted to kinda set the record straight, that I’m not some expert at practical effects. In fact, I wish I was.
My life would be…I would have lived a different life, but I’m pretty happy with the life I’ve lived. But I guess I’d say, well, that wouldn't…it sounds pretty cool, though. So, yeah, that’s what I’m here to tell you, is that tale, of a tale…oh, so, that’s why I’m telling the tale. This is a tale of two friends of mine, Santos and Josie, and another friend of ours, Boyd the Corncob Kid. We went into a shopping mall that had been closed for some time in order to get some Julius J Juice concentrate that had been left behind in the mall when it closed and the store closed. But once we got in the mall to do that…and we were gonna sell it on what would be the internet. But once we got in the mall to do that, we realized something else was at play.
We thought it was an interactive adventure…interactive theatre thing where there was workers in the mall, the stores were stocked, and there was characters from movies walking around that needed our assistance. But quickly we learned that it was real because the mall was above…or mixed in with a transverse plane, kind of a intersection of universes. Also, time at the mall was passing at a different rate than in the real world, so we wouldn't be missed even if we were in the mall for like, forty days. We also learned that there was someone running things behind the scenes, the Crispy Commander from cereal. Breakfast time…Commander Crunch, the Crispy Commander.
He had tried…he had fallen in love with a actress from one of his commercials and he had tried to get her there to come for…he was very childish even though he was a cereal icon, and he seemed to be…we still couldn't figure out everything that was going on, but the Crispy Commander was up to something more than just trying to…we couldn't quite figure it out. We knew the Crispy Commander had fallen in love with someone that had been in their cereal commercial. They didn’t really know the difference about…between acting and reality. But also, since we had decided not…we were like, well, you can't just take some…an actress…oh, 'cause the Crispy Commander told her that he was running a acting camp at the mall for adults. She was in grad school, I think, or had graduated from grad school.
We said, you can't really do that. Then the Crispy Commander said, well, I’m…you know, that whole thing, something like that. So, we disuaded her from coming, and the Crispy Commander was seriously not happy with us, and then started…okay, so, when you start a movie at this mall, things happen in the Multiplex. So, movies had been started like The Mommy…that lived in the age of pyramids and stuff like that, wrapped in tattered things. So, then we saw The Mommy at the mall or the Count du Chocolate or Frankie, the amalgamated being. Or, Franny; sorry. Franny. Franny the amalgamated being, or the person who couldn't be seen. So, they all needed our help. But then if we helped them, they would become cereal commercials.
Originally we…the Crispy Commander presented themselves as someone who needed help at first and said, help me make these cereal commercials and I’ll make sure you get paid. I know that’s why you’re here. So, a lot of confusing stuff, especially for people that are just like, seventeen, eighteen years old. We’re in a mall we’re not supposed to be in, magical things are happening, and…yeah. But we got to work and had helped, and then the Crispy Commander…oh, so, the Crispy Commander started a movie called Chopping Town Mall, which is about robots at a mall, and those robots had run around the mall and chased us.
But at some point we got the idea…I think the person who couldn't be seen maybe had the idea — or maybe we did — to dress up…to have costumes with long hair, where we could be seen as a girl, the actress. So, we…when I last left off with the story, I think that’s where we were. We had just gone to the Secrets of My Success store, escaped some of the robots, and then the invisible person…the person who couldn't be seen showed up. We decided we’ll all dress up like the girl. That’ll create confusion. Obviously the Crispy Commander’s not gonna let any robots run around the mall from a movie called Chopping Town Mall. We all dress up…but before we did that, I had to apologize to my friends, which I had kinda already done.
As we were all dressing up, even the person who couldn't be seen…I said, listen, I know now’s…and maybe I already told you this, but I said, I guess this will have to be a quick apology, but I’m really sorry for my behavior and I’m happy to make amends for how I behaved. I know I need to get some…my parents are trying to get me the…'cause I had taken things that didn’t belong to me from all my friends and businesses, and then I would break those things. It wasn’t out of spite, but I could see how anyone would perceive it that way, especially my friends. I had taken things that were valuable to them and destroyed them, and kept it a secret, too. They kinda said…as I said…and I kind of talked about that. I knew what I did.
What I didn’t know was why…or I was also afraid that since it was…I couldn't understand it that other people wouldn’t understand it, especially my friends, and I had to keep it a secret because it was so baffling and so counter to how we’re told to behave in a world of rules, right? I was breaking rules but not even for a reason I understood. My friends said, we just…I wish we would have known. We would have got…we would have made sure you got the help you needed, and now we’re…we were worried about you anyway, and your sister, because I didn’t realize…but anyway, so…'cause my sister had gone to the big…she was my…kinda my idol, and she had gone over the rainbow bridge and stuff. Anyway, this probably isn't the time to be sharing it 'cause we’re in the middle of an adventure, but we all hugged.
Even the person who couldn’t be seen was standing there listening to me give…where I came clean, and about do…and now look…this is only looking back, but I didn’t quite realize…even if you watched the movie about the person who couldn't be seen, the first one, they behave in a similar way…I mean, it’s a little bit more movie-ized, but they kind of…they’re rebellious in a way that’s…they’re so non-additive to the world, but not…they’re not just selfish, and we…I don't know. We had had all theories about why someone would behave that way, and I didn’t realize, huh, I kinda behaved in a parallel way to that.
So, anyway, we all made apologies, but then we were trying to hurry up and do it…and hugs and tears and that kinda thing, but we were also…and we were all, you know, pretty…we were pretty good-functioning. The person who couldn't be seen in the film, they’re kind of a genius. So, we said, well, what should we do? We broke it down; okay, here’s our options…or maybe we should do all of these…catch the Crispy Commander, but then what are we gonna do with the Crispy…? Call adults, which we had already tried to do, cut the power to the mall, because the…we can't have anymore movies started. Then we said, break all the projectors of all the movies. We kinda didn’t know what would happen to the person who couldn't be seen, 'cause we had promised to try to get them back in their movie.
They also didn’t want to be made into cereal. So, the person who can't be seen said, okay, well, we’ll run around the mall and I’ll try to figure out where the Crispy Commander is, and all you get to the Multiplex. If you see a way to call any adults, that’s fine, but why don’t you try to figure out the power and start breaking the projectors? Yeah, break into all the projector rooms. But we gotta figure out what to do about the other people you helped, 'cause I know we had theories, but we don’t have much time, either. So, we said, holy cow, alright. I don't know if I had filled you all in on this. But so, we…like a team, we said, okay, let’s go, and we ran towards the Multiplex. We had to take a couple of side ways. The person who couldn't be seen, they didn’t vanish 'cause they were…could be seen now.
They looked like they had long hair, like they were dressed as someone for the autumnal season. We said, okay, well, maybe we should go into the theatres first, where we started, right? So, we went into the movie theatre where The Mommy was playing, right? The movie had stopped. I think we had already looked at the film, but we got out the film, right? We pulled the film and then said, okay, the end is the cereal part, right? Like, what would happen if we reroute…played the movie and rewound it while it was playing to get them out of this…? Will that get them out of the cereal realm? Then we cut that part out of the movie. Like, grabbed some scissors. Now, this wasn’t my idea.
I’m just presenting it as a group idea, but really, this was Josie’s idea 'cause Josie had taken some film editing classes and told us this is how they edit film. I said, what? They cut it and tape it back together? What the heck? Which I would learn later on, or you would record tape to…you know, things change. Nowadays it’s all digital. So, in the mommy’s movie, we did that. Boyd was trying to figure out where the breaker was, but we really didn’t want to separate, either. But Boyd was like, let me try to figure out where the breaker for the movies…the movie theatres are. We said, okay, well…yeah, come back if you find it or whatever.
So…'cause…oh, what we were afraid would happen is the Crispy Commander had said they had all the autumnal films for this…for some sort of autumnal film festival where…that’s where the robots were from, the security bots. So…okay, so basically what happened was…and I mean, again, this happened a long time ago, so I’m giving you the summary. So, we rewound the movie, right, where the mommy had gone from…oh, 'cause when you say, how did you help them in the first place…? Well, all their movies…even though it was called The Mommy, right, she wasn’t the star of the movie. She was the one that everybody in the movie was trying to…she was the reason people came to the movie, right? But she wasn’t the star of the movie.
The movie would end — as would all the other movies — with them with a big frowny face, right? This was the thing the Crispy Commander offered, is like, you get them back in the movies, you solve their problems so the people in the movie aren't mad at them anymore, and then somehow they become a cereal commercial. I don't know. I don't know, beyond my comprehension. We just wanted to help them get back in their movies so they weren't…now I’m like, man, these movies would probably be pretty unwatchable, then. But that even makes it better because…so, we rewound the movie, right? Back…and then the mommy came into the movie. We’re up there, and then it’s like…then Josie’s like, okay, wait a second.
So, we rewound it enough, but we weren't rewinding it; we were playing it backwards, basically. Then once we got it back, Josie said, okay, stop and hit Play, and then let’s get ready to cut the tape. But then when we started to play, the mommy from the movie started directly addressing us, right? The mommy kinda said, thank you for getting me out of that cereal realm. It’s not where I’m meant to be. The Crispy…so, the mommy kinda had an idea of what was going on, maybe 'cause the mommy was in the cereal realm. The mommy said, thank you for helping me know myself and be curious, and now I’m more curious about my motivations and my desires. You really taught me that enquire…I guess this was…the mommy had a lot of time to think about it and only a few seconds to thank us.
But now when I look into my…I’m not gonna be chasing feelings or swept up in feelings as often if…wherever I end up. Now I get to be in my world, kinda like…I said…now, again, as an adult, I say, a fully-realized character that wasn’t fully realized in the movie, which wouldn't make a good movie…again, this is why I’m telling this adventure, 'cause we…I’m not saying I’m fully realized. But you’re saying, how did you end up a person among persons? Well, kinda like that. Maybe the mommy in the movie world of The Mommy is just, I don't know, helping people do stuff. So, then the mommy said goodbye. Then we cut the film, the projector part of the film, rewound the movie the rest of the way, took the film off the projector, smashed the projector, then we left the theatre, right?
Then Boyd met us and said…Boyd said, I found the breaker. There’s still a movie running in one of the other theatres that we were locked out of. Boyd said the doors to that theatre are open. Or…yeah, and Boyd said, I didn’t go in there. I’m not going in there solo. Boyd said, I cut the power to the rest of the theatres, though, other than the ones we needed and the one where the movie was still playing. I don't know, we thought maybe it was…we hadn't been in that theatre. The movie had been playing the whole time. Boyd said, I don't think the Crispy Commander’s gonna know the power’s out or where…it’ll buy us more time, basically. So, then we did the same thing with Franny’s movie, right? We rewound it and then Franny talked to us, too.
You might say, Wyatt, sometimes you forget to call yourself Wyatt and you call yourself Boyd. I’d say, yeah, I do. Boyd was quite a impressive character. But yeah, these are kind of the things we learned. These lessons would stay with us and these lessons that we were learning from these characters changed the course of our lives. So, when I summarize them, it may sound a little bit…yeah, like a summary of wisdom, 'cause it was wisdom being imparted to us. But Franny, who was an amalgamated being, said, thanks for reminding me I can't change exactly everything about me. There’s only some things I can change, and I can't change other people. I have to accept them, and maybe I could realize that people are gonna do…people are gonna people. That’s what you might say nowadays.
But even if they’re harsh, even if they’re sizzling, even if they’re…they turn away from me as an amalgamated being, I can't change that. I can only change me and how I behave, and you kinda helped me learn that. Then Franny was free. We cut Franny’s film, rewound it, took the film…we hid the tapes in each…in the projector rooms where we didn’t think the Crispy Commander could find them, and we broke that projector. Then we did the same thing with the Count du Chocolate’s movie. The Count basically said to us, oh, thanks for teaching me how to pause and slow down, to move like syrup. Now, the syrup in your world would be chocolate flavored, not real chocolate, by the way.
The Count even gave us a hard time about that, but said, if I could learn to flow like that instead of rush and just go…not go with the flow but to slow down and…instead of trying to make things happen. Thanks for teaching me that. Which I said, okay, I guess so, but…now, the other thing as we did this one was like, wait a second, the other thing we’re learning from them is we can't change the Crispy Commander. So, we had three movies down, one movie left, but this was the person who couldn't be seen’s movie, and we were waiting to see them. This is when we were like…we got the film ready. Alls we had to do was get the person who couldn't be seen into the movie. So, we got the film ready, but we still…we hadn't seen…we waited for them for a little while, but they didn’t come back.
We said, should we…do we have to use the same projector? Should we take the film? What should we do? Then we said…Boyd was like, let’s go to this other theatre quick, and just see what’s going on in there. I got a feeling it’s important. This whole time we were like, well, what are we gonna do about the Crispy Commander? The Crispy Commander’s not from our world. How do we get them back? We can't…even if we have adults, it would rock the entire planet to learn that a cereal icon’s real. No one…and also, we were feeling pretty strongly about…but it’s like, how are you gonna punish someone from another world, you know? So, then we went into this movie, and it was pretty clear the movie that was playing was The Shadow of the Opera House.
The old shadow of the opera is always there in the opera…only there in the opera house. So, change seats if you mind. We said, is this the Crispy Commander’s movie? But then we learned…so, then we were in there; we’re watching the movie, right? Again, it’s gonna play on a loop over and over again. Or is it the…is the shadow of the opera there and then somewhere in the mall? Is it someone we just haven't encountered? But then we saw on the other side of the room was a whole set-up where the Crispy Commander had…it was a camcorder, so it wasn’t professional, but was setting up a whole little studio, and it even had some of the play…tapes. Not just movies; TVs set up, VCRs, Beta, and we started to check that out. What we realized was they were the tapes of the actress, her commercials and her other works.
We still…we were like, okay…and they even had her reel with her name on it and everything in a VHS cassette tape case. That’s when we heard somebody come in, and alls we saw was a wig. We said, okay, it’s the person who couldn't be seen. We were like, is this…? This is the shadow of the opera. Are they here? The person who couldn't be seen said, it’s the Crispy Commander. We said, the Crispy Commander’s the shadow of the opera? The person who couldn't be seen said, no, no, no…about the situation, which was that the Crispy Commander was in the projection booth of the invisible…the person who couldn't be seen’s film. He said, you gotta stop him. Get him back into his movie. We said, okay, but how? Then the invisible person said, I’m sorry for how I behaved in my world and your world, but mostly my world.
I wish I could go back to my world like you did and tell people I was wrong and I didn’t understand why I was acting the way I was but that I was still sorry for it and I would still try to make it right. Though, again, that wouldn't be a very…my movie’s more interesting the way I was, I guess. I said, yeah, it’d be reinvented in an interesting way, too, but it still wouldn't go good for the person who couldn't be seen anyway, 'cause they’re never…but yeah, so, I don't know if, yeah, any of us want to watch you going around town being nice to people. Or, would you still create invisibility, you think? Then the Crispy…or the person who couldn't be seen says, I gotta say goodbye because it’s…we said, what do you mean?
Then, I don't know if you’ve ever seen a movie or…of what happens to film when it gets caught on the projector light and it starts to…but this was happening to the person who couldn't be seen in front of us, because somewhere the Crispy Commander was warming the film permanently of the person who couldn't be seen, and…because we had already wondered if that was the only way…and so, the person who couldn't be seen was gone from our world. I don't know if it meant from all worlds or just our world, but…and we said, wow, that’s…that makes me like that Crispy Commander even less. Then we said, but this is the Crispy Commander’s movie, then. I said, okay, well, I guess it’s kinda like the plot of The Shadow of the Opera, but how did he become…when did he enter the…?
Something doesn't make sense. We said, well, we gotta get him back in the movie. Then we’re like, we’ll never get him back in the movie. He’ll never go back there. He wants to stay here. Then we said, and meet the girl of his dreams, the girl he’s in love with. We were like, well, what do you mean? I said, I’ve got an idea. They said, what? I said, trust me, this will work, and I took the tape out of the cassette…the case. So, back then, when you got a VHS tape, it came in a protective case even though it was in its own protective case, like a box. I took the box and I said, Boyd, put this in your…put it behind your back. Hide it. Right after we did that, who came in the room but the Crispy Commander. The Crispy Commander said, you made a huge mistake and your friend will never, ever…no longer be seen.
Then the Crispy Commander kinda put on a fit, which I don't really feel like doing, but we had kinda posited that the Crispy Commander was incredibly immature, right, that the Crispy Commander was just a tween at best, and that’s why he thought that he could create an acting camp and that he…that just because he liked the way someone ate cereal in a commercial that they would be…and that they could somehow talk to that person and say, you know, by the way, we could make this work. I’m a cereal icon come to life and you’re a human. Well, actually, you’re just an…you’re a human that was playing a role of a person that…you know, that kinda immature thinking. So, the Crispy Commander really put on a fit, really yelling at us…tears, tears of frustration. We had seen it all before.
We had done it all before, so we just kinda sat there. But then the Crispy Commander was also incensed at us and telling us how…that the Crispy Commander still had the upper hand, there was things at play be…we didn’t understand, and that if we didn’t listen, the Crispy Commander would start all the other movies. They were already in the projectors. You might have thought you were funny breaking all those other projectors, but you didn’t break all of them. Now, we were like, well, we got the power off. We thought in our heads, you know. The Crispy Commander said, well, there’s a long start to the next film before the character…'cause we said, oh, wait a second, the person who couldn't be seen’s movie theatre still had power, and I’d hate to see what happens. I left some of the doors to the mall open, too.
So, I hope when that movie starts…it’s from this year. It’s gonna be a big hit, they thought. Then I’ll start all the other movies. Yeah, I know the power’s out in the mall, so…or you could help me. We could run up there, we could stop that before the character appears on screen and heads to your town or whatever, maybe head to where one of your families live, and ask for help, or you could help me. You could help me…and then I said, help you with this? I held up the audition tape or the…whatever it was. I forgot what you call it when you’re a performer and you…oh, your…her reel of acting and stuff like that. I said, you mean this tape here? Because this tape here is going right into this movie. The Crispy Commander said, what? I said, yeah, she’ll go right into this movie. The Crispy Commander said, it’s not possible.
We said, well, Josie went into the person who couldn't be seen’s movie, so we know it is. She’ll be in there. The Crispy Commander said, it’s just a tape. We said, well, I don't know what’s gonna happen when they find the tape. I don't know. Yeah, you’re right, they might throw it away or maybe they’ll…'cause it happened to be a scene with torches and stuff like that in The Shadow of the Opera. I’d say, well, if I was one of these people searching right now and that thing appeared, some sort of mysterious obelisk from another realm made out of strange material, I’d probably put my torch right to it. I said, yeah, you might as well throw it in there. The Crispy Commander said, don’t you dare. You wouldn't do it to her. You might do it to…and I threw it in there.
It flew onto the screen and it flew in front of the…I always want to say Jean Valjean, but Jean Valjean’s not in that. But that was in France, too, right? But Jean Valjean, who wasn’t in the movie…and then the Crispy Commander dove into the movie, right? Lo and behold…it timed it because it was in the house, right, below…they were searching below things, right? My throw just happened to go down, down, down. So, the Crispy Commander jumps into the movie. Now, luckily, San and Josie were quick-thinking, and…as was Boyd. So, Boyd ran to the breakers and…to shut off the breaker to the other movie, and Santos and Josie ran to the projection room. It happened to be locked. Now, the Crispy Commander was so fast that the Crispy Commander dove out of the scene…into the scene and out of the scene.
The two characters on the screen were like…I don't know. Again, I know it wasn’t Jean Valjean. But they’re like, what was that? We gotta go…was that him, Christine? Raoul? I don't know, something like that. So, they went in the direction that the Crispy Commander went down. They went down, down, down these stairs into kind of…it was dark, right? I was like, hurry, stop the movie, right? Quick, quick, quick. They ran up there and they stopped the projector. They stopped it briefly with the light on, but then they turned the light out, right, because they’re good people. Then I heard him rewind the tape and pull it out, and they brought it down. They Boyd said, all the other power’s out. We went up and we smashed that projector. We were like, holy cow.
We kinda sat down, right, because we were like, I think we did this. The Crispy Commander’s in this movie and we have the tape. We have the other tapes hidden. We’re like, okay, we’ll smash the rest of the projectors, right? Now, the workers were also coming from the…we were like…workers had appeared from the transverse plane, too, but we were mostly worried about going and smashing the rest of the projectors, right? But we first were just gonna catch our breaths, because we said, we’re free, right? As kind of an experience that you really don’t…you can't ever make sense of. Even now, far removed, I can see why we were…we weren't quick to action, right? We were all kinda laughing and being like…and then Boyd pulled out the tape. So we said, okay, well, it’s just a case.
I said, do you think the Crispy Commander turned into the shadow of the opera? Or what happened to the tape in the film? Does it make a difference? Is that gonna disrupt…? We were kinda talking. Then somebody — I think it was Santos — said, wait a second, you hear that? Then I said, hear what? He said, the phone is ringing. We said, what do you mean the phone’s ringing? It’s in the projector room. Can you hear the phone ringing? The door to the projector room was closed. It’s hard to hear stuff 'cause…if somebody’s talking in the projector room, right? But we said, okay, let’s go answer it. I mean, first, we were kinda like, maybe…are we gonna get in trouble? It’s gotta be some kind of adult calling. But we were all so relieved. So, we went up there, and they all looked to me.
They said, go ahead, answer it. I picked up the phone, and I could tell you that…I don't know if there was dialogue in The Shadow of the Opera, but as soon as I heard the voice on the other end, I knew it was the shadow of the opera on the phone. Even my friends said, who’s on the phone? I said, the shadow of the opera is on the phone, is on this phone. They thought I was joking. I said, no, really. Then…'cause the person just said, hello, Wyatt. I mean, not even like that. It was way more melodious and calm, but with a underlying deep…water runs…still water runs deep, especially at night. I said…they said, well, this…they said, nice job with the Crispy Commander. I said, thank you. I said, what do you want? They said, your work isn't finished. It’s only just begun. I said, where are you? They said, on the phone with you.
I thought…I said, okay. I said, what do you mean? They said, nice try with the breakers, but I’ve already started all the other projectors. I’m sorry to tell you you’ve accellerated my plans. I said, but we already…we got the Crispy Commander and we got Franny and everything. What do you want? Why are you doing that? They said, well, stay tuned. Why don’t you rest right now? Rest for a while, because I’m gonna…I’ve got plans for the four of you, the shadow of the opera said. You make fine replacements for that cereal F-O-O-L. But for now, get some rest. Maybe some time from now…I mean, I think from me telling you this tale…I’ll be honest, it’s a good time for me to rest this tale, hang up my mic for some time, 'cause we had what I thought was…this was one adventure.
I guess another one was about to begin. I guess I need some time in-between telling these adventures. But yeah, we got the Crispy Commander back in the movie, and for a brief time, we thought all is well. But just like any trip to the Multiplex, you know, there’s always a second story waiting out there somewhere. I guess if I was gonna tell it in a fictionalized way, it would have been…the credits of the movie would have rolled, then the phone would have rang, and instead it said, look on the screen, Wyatt. It said, coming to a sleep podcast near you sometime in the future. But that’s not the case. I mean, that is the case, actually. So, this is Wyatt. I’ll see you down the road. You be good. Be kind. It’s okay not to be perfect, and sometimes life’s baffling, but you don’t gotta be great. Just be you, right? It’s good talking to you for a while, and I appreciate all of you, and I’ll talk to you again soon in some time. Thanks.
[END OF RECORDING]
(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)