| "This Storm fella looks like he’s about a medium build, maybe a buck 180. You get yourselves a gunny sack, some come-along straps, and a roll of duct tape. You meet me 19 clicks from Old Rose’s café at 0400 hours-" |
| — Herschel F. Baumgardner in "Stormy Weather, More at Eleven" |
"When Channel 13's Award-winning weatherman endures an on-air meltdown, Ben laughs it up with the King Falls AM listeners. Until he realizes what he thought was a drunken rant might actually be the symptoms of an ancient Indian curse."
Episode Audio[]
Official KFAM Audioboom release: [1]
Episode Summary[]
| Spoilers Ahead! |
|---|
| Ben is giddy about the recent meltdown of Channel 13’s weatherman, Storm Sanders, and has been playing audio clips of it during their segment even though it isn’t in his schedule for the night. His enjoyment stems from how much he hates Channel 13, as it is “the hub of all evil” (3:06) and they don’t get to win much at KFAM. He pleads for Sammy to let them play it one more time, and he relents. “You are evil….and that is why we get along so well, roll the damn tape, Ben.” (1:12). |
| The intro music for Channel 13 plays and Storm Sanders begins his weather segment with swearing and hiccuping, indicating that he might be drunk. Maggie Masterson, his coworker, asks if he’s feeling alright. The rest of his segment is inappropriate and curse-laden. At one point, he references what appears to be workplace sexism in Channel 13 about Maggie’s work clothing being regulated by a man named Steve, presumably their boss. Storm then makes a comment about his skin feeling weird. The audio clip ends. |
| Sammy tells Ben that he’s finding way too much enjoyment in the situation, but he sounds more amused than truly irritated. Ben then says that Storm’s words were only censored on King Falls AM, and that the actual televised broadcast had been aired live in full. With some difficulty, Sammy manages to reign Ben in and get him to share their actual schedule for the evening. Part of that includes a Tim Jensen update and then speaking to Ron Begley about the 5th Annual Bareback Bear Festival, which Sammy can’t restrain a laugh upon hearing. Ben doesn’t get the innuendo. |
| A commercial plays for Chet Sebastian’s latest smooth jazz album, Chet Sebastian’s Honey Pot of Horns. |
| They open the phone lines while they wait for Ron and the first caller is Cynthia, who immediately scolds Ben for mocking Storm Sanders. Cynthia points out that Storm mentioned his skin felt weird, which Ben hadn’t caught the first time around. His tone changes immediately and he begins to take Storm’s meltdown much more seriously. At Sammy’s prompting, he reveals that legend has it that certain spirits can take a hold of someone, similar to possession. Sammy reacts with skepticism to the phrase “legend has it” and compares it to the Exorcist. However, when Ben starts to figure out ways to try and contact Storm personally, he realizes that Ben is being serious. They go back to the phone lines where Troy is trying to make peace with Ben. Ben hangs up before Troy can get out more than a few sentences, stating they don’t have time for it and he’s afraid the situation with Storm is “a matter of life and death”. Next is Herschel, calling in to give them advice on how to kidnap Storm. Ben also hangs up on him, apologizing. |
| They go to another line where an unidentified male voice confirms that Ben is right to be worried. The caller says he watched the outburst on his television and has been driving around downtown since then but with no luck. Sammy suggests checking the Red Rock Bar. When Ben asks who they’re speaking to, the caller identifies himself as Walt, but refuses to give a last name. Ben asks if he knows the legend and Walt corrects him, saying: “I know the truth. Saying ‘legend’ makes it seem like people haven’t seen it with their own eyes, lived it. I have done both” (9:04). Sammy interrupts and asks one of them to explain what’s going on to both himself and the listeners. Ben explains that even though he’d described the phenomenon Storm is experiencing as a possession, it’s more like a hostile take-over of the mind, body, and soul. Walt follows this by saying, “My people tell stories of men with evil hearts living outside Hatchenhaw lands. Their only purpose on this Earth is to claim others as they once were claimed” (9:34). These beings are called Skinwalkers. “These men, if you can call them that, tampered with things they should not have tampered with. They became things one should not be, and they have the ability to go in one form and out another as they please. All while searching to make more of their kind” (9:50). |
| Sammy still doesn’t understand what this has to do with Storm, nor does he fully even believe that there is an issue outside of excess alcohol consumption. However, the important part is Storm’s discomfort surrounding his skin. Walt adds that people who have been “converted” develop symptoms such as fever, sweats, and itching so bad they try to peel their skin off as the beast begins to take over. Sammy likens it to werewolves on Route 72, prompting Ben and Walt’s emphatic disagreement. Walt says he needs to focus on his tracking and Ben thanks him for the call. |
| The boys tell the listeners to be safe and to call the sheriff’s department if they see Storm Sanders, as he might be a danger to himself or others. Ben also warns not to look him in the eyes or approach. |
| Sammy suggests taking another caller. It’s Troy again. He’s annoyed that Ben keeps hanging up on him. He says he’s trying hard to make things right and he’s got a good idea on how to do it. Sammy tries to play peacemaker, but Ben asks Troy if he’s going to avenge Serendipity the sugar glider, and if not, then the conversation is over. Troy implores for his forgiveness in the holiday season, and remains convinced that they will be friends again. |
| Sammy tells Ben that he’s being harsh and really shouldn’t hang up on listeners and friends of the show. Ben replies that Troy is only a friend of Sammy’s. |
| Next is an unidentified male caller who wants to talk about city ordinance 44812-36, saying the politicians are trying to pull the wool over the citizen’s eyes. Ben apologizes and interrupts, telling him to call back next week when Councilman Davidson will be on air. |
| Sammy suggests taking a break to regroup but Ben is really worried about what’s going on with Storm and doesn’t think Sammy fully grasps how bad it is. Sammy agrees, saying he “doesn’t ever get how bad any of this is”. According to Ben, Skinwalkers are mostly just a bedtime story for King Falls children, but the Hatchenhaw Indians believe in it. After this incident with Storm, Ben is also starting to believe in its legitimacy. He repeats how dangerous Skinwalkers can be, as they can take over another person simply by looking them in the eyes, and as such he’s concerned for the safety of the citizens in town. Apparently, if it’s caught in time, it can be reversed. Ben wants them to do what they can for the community. |
| Before they can continue there is a knocking at the door that scares both the boys. Ben calls out that they’re recording and to go away, but the knocking persists. Sammy says they’ll go to commercial and answer the door, but Ben insists on keeping them live so anything that happens can be recorded. He starts to call up Troy just in case. Ben nervously suggests that it might be Ron who is supposed to come in later but Sammy doubts that. Sammy gets up to answer the door, taking the portable mic per Ben’s request, and their visitor turns out to be Storm Sanders. He’s less than pleased with them. Ben advises Sammy not to look him in the eyes and decides to go out to the parking lot where they’re standing. Storm is angry that they won’t look at him and says they’re being extremely rude. Sammy tries to explain that they’re only concerned about him. He keeps commenting on how uncomfortably hot it is outside. Ben interrupts Sammy’s ramblings to call Storm a Skinwalker and tell him to get out of town before he passes it on to everyone else. Storm starts to tell Ben off before he abruptly passes out. Right after, footsteps can be heard as someone walks up, startling Sammy. It’s Walt, who instructs them to carry Storm Sanders inside. |
Trivia[]
- The people on the phone lines this episode were: Cynthia Higgenbaum, Troy Krieghauser, Herschel F. Baumgardner, Walt, and an unidentified male caller.
- This is the first episode where a single character says more than 1000 words, in which Ben says 1244.
Episode Transcript[]
Unofficial episode transcript: [2]
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