1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,520 The comedy4cast network. Let's dog ear that for now. 2 00:00:09,524 --> 00:00:16,933 This is the 2023 comedy4cast Podcast Spectacular, brought to you by the fantastic Patreon patrons. 3 00:00:18,148 --> 00:00:24,459 Thank you! Why not join Darren, Stan, Zach, and the other amazing individuals 4 00:00:24,657 --> 00:00:27,627 who support the show for as little as a dollar a month? 5 00:00:28,438 --> 00:00:34,325 This year's original 20-chapter story is called Big Shot. To hear it from the beginning, 6 00:00:34,532 --> 00:00:38,403 go to comedy4cast.com/2023, 7 00:00:39,051 --> 00:00:44,669 And remember, comedy4cast is all one word, with the number four. 8 00:00:45,294 --> 00:00:50,088 Now, here's Chapter 16, Paying the Price. 9 00:00:50,160 --> 00:01:12,880 Music. 10 00:01:12,873 --> 00:01:19,534 Previously in our story, the mysterious stranger returned to the Venus Arms Hotel resolved 11 00:01:19,534 --> 00:01:24,801 to finally locate Danny Hillcrest at all costs, but instead, the staff trapped him, 12 00:01:25,294 --> 00:01:26,844 in the hotel's revolving door. 13 00:01:27,105 --> 00:01:30,400 Let me out! I don't think so. 14 00:01:30,859 --> 00:01:36,000 You'll just keep looking for Danny, and we can't let you find him. 15 00:01:36,450 --> 00:01:39,790 The staff was convinced that the stranger meant to harm Danny, 16 00:01:40,321 --> 00:01:44,734 but while they waited for the police to arrive, Danny came in through the back door of the hotel, 17 00:01:45,083 --> 00:01:46,469 surprising Miss Falmacher. 18 00:01:47,027 --> 00:01:55,733 Danny! You need to go! Run! First, I needingly have to give you this heavy box. 19 00:01:55,886 --> 00:01:56,939 Ugh! 20 00:01:57,173 --> 00:02:07,014 Copy paper? When I was out puttingly printing my scripts, I used some of the hotel's supply. How much? 21 00:02:07,093 --> 00:02:12,711 All of it! I knew you wouldn't be happy if you found out, so I bought you more! 22 00:02:12,909 --> 00:02:18,211 As our chapter begins, the Stranger is still trapped inside the revolving doors. 23 00:02:19,535 --> 00:02:23,314 If you don't let me out, I can't give Danny what he has coming. 24 00:02:23,631 --> 00:02:26,169 Oh, did he say something for me? 25 00:02:26,691 --> 00:02:28,780 Danny rushes toward the revolving door. 26 00:02:29,347 --> 00:02:34,938 Danny! Don't! Watch out, Hillcrest! He's reaching for something in his jacket! 27 00:02:35,046 --> 00:02:37,062 Everyone flinches, expecting the worst. 28 00:02:37,494 --> 00:02:43,085 But the stranger simply pulls out sheets of paper and slams them against the glass of the revolving door. 29 00:02:43,805 --> 00:02:45,569 Xylophone! 30 00:02:46,424 --> 00:02:53,653 Paper? What sort of a weapon is paper? What does it say, Jules? 31 00:02:53,968 --> 00:02:54,714 Moi? 32 00:02:55,265 --> 00:03:01,899 Your closest. Cautiously, the maître d' inches towards the door and inspects the text. 33 00:03:02,556 --> 00:03:03,790 It is a contract. 34 00:03:04,753 --> 00:03:11,603 On Danny! No, je suis désolé. I meant for Danny. 35 00:03:11,603 --> 00:03:22,603 It is a contract for Danny to produce his movie script. My real name is Perry J. Oshmont. 36 00:03:23,136 --> 00:03:31,603 I work with the Low Channel. I want to make Danny's rom-com movie. You do? Like, ditto. 37 00:03:32,039 --> 00:03:38,303 Yes! I was using an alias so no one would recognize me. Well, you could have picked a better one. 38 00:03:38,926 --> 00:03:45,848 But I need Danny to sign this right away. Don't just sit there, Cap! Let the man out! 39 00:03:46,334 --> 00:03:52,303 Stop the door! Start the door! What am I? Some kind of doorman? 40 00:03:54,303 --> 00:04:01,629 No, really. Am I? Right this way, Mr. Oshmont. You can use my office. 41 00:04:02,187 --> 00:04:07,634 I hope you won't take that whole we-think-you're-a-hit-man thing too personally. Uh-huh. 42 00:04:08,129 --> 00:04:12,306 Well, lead the way. I need witnesses for the contract, too. Come along, Danny. 43 00:04:13,863 --> 00:04:19,787 Danny? No one has noticed that Danny Hillcrest has not said a word in several minutes. 44 00:04:20,111 --> 00:04:26,903 Oh, I noticed. I certainly noticed. Like me, too. We just didn't want to jinx it by saying anything. 45 00:04:26,903 --> 00:04:32,012 They want to make my movie? 46 00:04:32,507 --> 00:04:39,376 Yes. Now come into the office so this nice man can go over the details with you. 47 00:04:39,718 --> 00:04:42,257 They want to make my movie! 48 00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:44,993 Oh, for goodness sake! 49 00:04:45,704 --> 00:04:53,923 Cindy, Detective Haartte, will you help Frozen Boy into the office, please? 50 00:04:57,119 --> 00:05:04,923 Here, Mr. Oshmont. You can sit behind my desk. Danny, you sit there. 51 00:05:05,248 --> 00:05:08,923 But Danny is still in shock. His body is as stiff as a board. 52 00:05:08,923 --> 00:05:15,923 Maybe if we angle him right, we can prop him in this chair like a two-by-four. Like whatever. 53 00:05:18,563 --> 00:05:23,923 Close enough. Now, Danny, this contract allows me to produce your script. 54 00:05:23,923 --> 00:05:29,923 In return, my production company will pay you the sum of $50,000. 55 00:05:30,293 --> 00:05:37,923 Fifty thousand dollars? Ooh, that's a lot of money, Danny. 56 00:05:38,710 --> 00:05:42,923 With that kind of cash, you can make a down payment on a house. 57 00:05:44,255 --> 00:05:52,177 Anywhere. Even far away from Chasm Valley. 58 00:05:52,465 --> 00:05:57,786 And we're only interested in developing pages 83 through 142. 59 00:05:58,236 --> 00:06:03,185 We don't usually get TV movie scripts that are over 500 pages long. 60 00:06:03,340 --> 00:06:06,065 Oh, I could increasingly make it longer. 61 00:06:06,203 --> 00:06:08,865 No, no, that's fine. 62 00:06:09,265 --> 00:06:19,490 Now, just sign here. Like, shouldn't Danny hire a lawyer first to like, read over the contract? 63 00:06:19,706 --> 00:06:28,945 With what money? Don't worry, Cindy. Once I have $50,000, I can hire one. But like... 64 00:06:28,945 --> 00:06:34,745 Here, Danny. Use this complimentary public access pen. 65 00:06:34,857 --> 00:06:38,701 And I need two witnesses. 66 00:06:38,872 --> 00:06:45,831 Why, Oshmont, what exactly did you do? Was it...murder? For the contract. 67 00:06:46,236 --> 00:06:54,086 Miss Vollmacher? Certainly. Cindy? Like, whatever. 68 00:06:54,536 --> 00:06:58,011 I'm not really sure that's two different signatures. 69 00:06:58,506 --> 00:07:03,538 All right. I need to get moving on this production right away. 70 00:07:03,718 --> 00:07:11,541 Oh boy, Hollywood! It'll be just like I pictured it. Skyscrapers and every kiss begins with K! 71 00:07:11,703 --> 00:07:16,348 Oh, I'm sorry Danny, but my production company doesn't have the budget for that. 72 00:07:16,672 --> 00:07:22,308 And I can't ask the Low Channel for more. All the cable channels are on pretty shaky ground these days. 73 00:07:22,585 --> 00:07:26,585 Of course you are. You're all based in LA. What were you thinking? 74 00:07:26,585 --> 00:07:32,381 They want something that will produce buzz for the channel. That's why we want to have this movie out for Arbor Day. 75 00:07:32,606 --> 00:07:34,227 That's a year away! 76 00:07:34,857 --> 00:07:40,501 I guess that might be enough time. No, I mean this Arbor Day. 77 00:07:40,763 --> 00:07:42,959 We need to get in front of the cameras ASAP. 78 00:07:43,310 --> 00:07:45,975 But I had an idea for speeding things up. 79 00:07:46,479 --> 00:07:53,707 I'm thinking the movie could take place in Chasm Valley. What a wonderful idea! 80 00:07:53,951 --> 00:07:55,688 I'll take that as a yes. 81 00:07:55,985 --> 00:08:02,431 Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to have a long call with my team and Sid Ralston. Who? 82 00:08:02,719 --> 00:08:06,257 Sid Ralston is the Senior VP of Creative Development. 83 00:08:06,572 --> 00:08:11,424 Sid and I go way back. Then tomorrow morning, I'll be heading out first thing. 84 00:08:11,687 --> 00:08:13,855 Let's get this thing done. 85 00:08:14,887 --> 00:08:21,247 I can't believe it. They're going to shoot a movie right here in our town. 86 00:08:21,247 --> 00:08:25,981 At last, people will finally hear about what happens here in Middling Fair. 87 00:08:26,307 --> 00:08:28,475 That's never happened before. 88 00:08:28,967 --> 00:08:33,927 Like, what about the podcast? Podcast? 89 00:08:34,287 --> 00:08:39,927 Like, you know, Lenny's Basically Podcast Show. 90 00:08:40,327 --> 00:08:44,418 No offense, dear, but no one listens to that. 91 00:08:46,207 --> 00:08:57,201 Like, Nomad451 just sent you an instant message. But I don't think I can repeat it. 92 00:08:57,561 --> 00:09:00,928 We should do something special for Mr. Oshmont. 93 00:09:01,549 --> 00:09:07,562 And I think I know just the thing. What does Abby have in mind? 94 00:09:07,994 --> 00:09:09,282 Maybe there'll be cake. 95 00:09:09,939 --> 00:09:11,830 Mmm, cake. 96 00:09:12,694 --> 00:09:20,031 For answers, and maybe even recipes, be sure to come back for Chapter 17, A Fitting Farewell. 97 00:09:23,451 --> 00:09:34,031 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Just go to comedy4cast. You'll find lots of ways 98 00:09:34,838 --> 00:09:44,193 to add us, like Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn. In this episode, as The Stranger, Grant Johnson, 99 00:09:44,478 --> 00:09:49,099 voicegranted.com, as the maitre d, Nathan Alvord, 100 00:09:49,678 --> 00:09:53,456 as Abby Falmacher and Cindy, Bonnie Kenderdine. 101 00:09:54,104 --> 00:10:00,217 And the narrator was played by Gary J. Chambers, garyjchambersvo.com. 102 00:10:00,918 --> 00:10:05,456 Additional voices, as well as story and music by Clinton Alvord. 103 00:10:06,284 --> 00:10:09,327 Copyright 2023, all rights reserved. 104 00:10:10,731 --> 00:10:15,223 See you next time, but for now, that's it. We're done, done, done, done, done. 105 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:32,500 Music.