Audio Transcript – “Penguin Hotel Lobby, 07-01-11”

 

NOTE: Audio captured using hidden recording equipment planted in the Penguin Hotel Lobby by Field Agent Janet McCarthy. This recording was recovered by Field Agent Preston Lamarr. Audio enhanced by Leigh Carrington, Evidence Unit.

 

The recording features 6 voices, believed to be hotel guests DAPHNE PRIOR, LAURENCE PRIOR, JENNA PRIOR, SHAUN SANFORD, and TOM JOHNSON, as well as hotel receptionist RITA TALBOT.

 

[Recording opens with the muffled sound of a child crying.]

 

RITA: I’m sorry ma’am, but as a general rule, we don’t offer refunds for guests who’ve completed their entire stay as scheduled.

 

DAPHNE: Don’t give me that! Our poor daughter is scared to death because you have… hooligans, and, and vagrants wandering your hotel! So, really, a refund is the least you can give us.

 

RITA: I assure you, ma’am, the Penguin employs the highest levels of security for our guests, and no “vagrants” are allowed on the premises.

 

DAPHNE: Then explain what my daughter saw! Tell them, Jenna, tell them about the man.

 

LAURENCE: (muttering) Daph, give it a rest.

 

JENNA: (sniffling) He was really tall and he wasn’t wearing a shirt. I think he came from the room down the hall. He looked really scary. He said he couldn’t get out for so long, but he was out now and he was so hungry. I thought he was gonna eat me. But, he asked if there was a vending machine, so I told him there was one down by the ice thingie. Then he left, and I ran away to find Mommy and Daddy.

 

LAURENCE: You did the right thing, sweetie.

 

RITA: I… well, I can call the police if you want, see if the man is still in the building? I haven’t seen anyone matching that description come through the lobby today.

 

DAPHNE: Yes, yes, call the police! Now, about that refund?

 

SHAUN: Sorry, is this where we check out?

 

RITA: Excuse me, folks, this will just take a minute.

 

DAPHNE: (scoffing) Unbelievable.

 

RITA: Hi gentlemen! Did you enjoy your stay at the Penguin?

 

TOM: We, uh… I mean, it was certainly an interesting experience.

 

RITA: If you’d like to complete a short survey to rate the quality of your visit, that would be –

 

SHAUN: Hey, sorry, but we really need to get going, so, uh... No surveys. Thanks.

 

DAPHNE: You saw the man too, didn’t you?

 

SHAUN: What?

 

LAURENCE: Daph, leave the poor boys alone.

 

DAPHNE: Look at them, Laurence, they’re nervous wrecks! You saw something, didn’t you? That’s why you’re in such a hurry to leave.

 

[JENNA starts to cry again.]

 

LAURENCE: Jesus, Daph, don’t make a scene…

 

TOM: No, uh, we’re all good. Didn’t see anything weird at all. Nope.

 

SHAUN: Yeah, it’s a lovely hotel. Very… spacious. We’re going to write a blog post all about it.

 

RITA: Oh, how nice. Like a review?

 

TOM: Sure, why not.

 

JENNA: Mommy, what’s a blog?

 

DAPHNE: Sweetie, why don’t you tell the nice boys what you saw?

 

SHAUN: Wow, would you look at the time? We’re gonna be late for the ferry. 

 

LAURENCE: Thought the ferry was out of service this week.

 

SHAUN: Right, yeah. Taxi, I mean. We’re gonna be late for the taxi. 

 

DAPHNE: But –

 

TOM: Bye! Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Whooshing as the automatic doors slide open and SHAUN and TOM exit.]

 

DAPHNE: Those two saw something upstairs. I know it.

 

LAURENCE: (exasperated) Even if they did, so what? They’re leaving, we’re leaving. Creepy people in hotels aren’t our problem anymore.

 

RITA: Yes, well, it’s been lovely having you at the Penguin, and I hope you have a safe trip home.

 

DAPHNE: Nice try. We’re not going anywhere without that refund.

 

RITA: (under her breath) Christ.

 

END OF TRANSCRIPT