"The Long Night"
Special Agent Wanda Garner interviews young Adam James regarding the events that took place during a deadly night in a small Tennessee town. Was it all simply insanity run amok or something far more apocalyptic?
On a muggy August evening, SPECIAL AGENT WANDA GARNER of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation finds herself in the tiny hamlet of Columbus in order to help local law enforcement with their investigation of the deadly events that transpired two weeks prior. The only person alive who witnessed most, if not all, of those events is ADAM JAMES, a young man still tormented by poor decisions made long ago. As our story opens, Special Agent Garner begins her interrogation of Adam. Before long, the layers that make up that fateful night start to peel away. First, a tense siege at a radio station. Then, a mysterious trek through a ghostly forest. And, finally, a confrontation with evil at a house seemingly flooded by fear. The other passengers on this terrifying journey are ANNE MARIE DYER, a young woman bursting at the seams with a dread that was implanted in her by her unhinged father, JIMMY DYER. Then, there’s SHERIFF CARL STONE, a good man too burdened by his past to ever be the man he wants to be.
And bubbling under everything is something that’s feeding on all this anger and despair. A thing that seems to be expanding its reach. Agent Garner is not one to believe in things beyond the logical. However, that might change on this very long night.
SPECIAL AGENT WANDA garner
Wanda Garner was born to be in law enforcement. Her father was a small-town Sheriff and Wanda’s personal hero. An ill-advised choice as a teenager could have easily derailed Wanda's ambitions; but, instead, it gave her a strong desire to create order from chaos. Serious, smart, and tough. Wanda is a force of nature.
Potential Cast: Octavia Spencer; Taraji P. Henson; Sanaa Lathan; Regina King; Aisha Tyler
ADAM JAMES
Adam (22) carries a lot of guilt on his shoulders. Far more than most men his age. Drugs and death hover around him like ghosts. But, after working to get sober, he is finally trying to pick up the pieces and move on to a, hopefully, brighter future. Easier said than done, though.
Potential Cast: Joe Keery; Keir Gilchrist; Dylan Minnette; Owen Campbell
SHERIFF CARL STONE
Carl Stone (50s) has wanted to make things “right” for as long as he can remember. Yet, to him, his efforts have only resulted in a litany of failures, culminating in the death of his daughter. Ultimately, it’s Sheriff Stone’s inability to face the darkness surrounding him that could forever keep him from finding his peace.
Potential Cast: Aaron Eckhart; Gary Sinise; Thomas Jane; Dominic Purcell; Wood Harris; Harold Perrineau; Michael Beach
ANNE MARIE Dyer
Anne Marie is a broken young woman at 17. She struggles to survive in her ugly world by escaping into an oasis that she created in the basement of her home. But no amount of hiding is going to save her from the pain and despair that’s waiting to take her.
Potential Cast: Keirnan Shipka; Elsie Fisher; Taylor Blackwell
JIMMY dyer
Jimmy Dyer (40s) served his country in Iraq, and, like many before him, came back a different person. Now, he sees and feels conspiracies all around and senses an evil presence at every turn. He wants desperately to protect his family, but feels inadequate to the task. That is until now... When madness presents the worst of solutions.
Potential Cast: Clayne Crawford; Ronnie Gene Blevins; David Kallaway
sound design
Sound will play a crucial role in relaying the tension and suspense of the piece. From movies like The Witch and Get Out to TV shows like True Detective, sound design is integral to the success of suspense narratives. In our audio “film,” we will accentuate the ambient noises of the South. The chirping of crickets. The buzz of mosquitoes. The rustle of leaves in the night breeze. All these elements will be part of the aural palette that we will use to not only tell the story but to highlight each character's emotions and the terror waiting for them.
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear."
--- H.P. Lovecraft
