Tom Stavano (6:53)

He laid me out once, you know.

Corinne Abbas (6:55)

I've heard the story.

Tom Stavano (6:57)

Never even saw it coming. Your father wasn't what you call a bruise, you know.

Corinne Abbas (7:01)

He was a sweetheart.

Tom Stavano (7:03)

You just don't want to cross him. I deserved it.

Corinne Abbas (7:06)

Probably.

Tom Stavano (7:07)

I was a prodigious drinker back then. See? Anyways, I'll see you at the bar, then.

Corinne Abbas (7:13)

Thanks for coming, Mr. Stavano.

Tom Stavano (7:15)

Think you're old enough to call me Tom?

Barbara Horne (7:17)

Now, now, Tom, you're holding up the line.

Tom Stavano (7:21)

All right there, Bob. You give my regards to Jimbo while he's healing up.

Corinne Abbas (7:26)

Mm.

Barbara Horne (7:27)

Will do.

Corinne Abbas (7:28)

How is Jimbo, Barb?

Barbara Horne (7:30)

You know, ornery as hell. Yeah, he's been snippy with me, which isn't like him. But we can talk about him later. I'm so sorry about Johnny. You know, we used to work together at the bar when we were just out of stage school.

Corinne Abbas (7:45)

Jimbo told me I had such a crush.

Barbara Horne (7:48)

But he only had eyes for your mom. Of course. Then Jimbo came along all brash well.

Corinne Abbas (7:54)

Please send my love. Tell him first round is on me when he gets back on his feet.

Barbara Horne (7:59)

All my love, dear.

Corinne Abbas (8:00)

Thanks, Barb.

Sylvie Harris (8:03)

Hey, how you holding up?

Corinne Abbas (8:05)

No, Sylvia, I need a drink. But this line seems to keep getting longer.

Sylvie Harris (8:11)

Easy. All right, mourners, it's time to wrap it up. We're gonna go get pissed in Johnny's memory.

Corinne Abbas (8:17)

All right?

Sylvie Harris (8:19)

You can give Corrine your condolences while she's got a drink in her hand. Let's move.

Corinne Abbas (8:25)

Thank you.

Sylvie Harris (8:28)

Ride or die, hon.

Barbara Horne (8:34)

You know, he happened to be walking by when I got a flat tire. He fixed it for me, but you never heard such swearing.

Tom Stavano (8:41)

Just laid me out on the floor right over there. Didn't know what hit me. Just sort of came to covered in beer, surrounded by my buddies, and just.

Sylvie Harris (8:49)

Started laughing his ass off. You heard him laugh, right?

Corinne Abbas (8:53)

He didn't do it often, but the man cackled like a hyena.

Sylvie Harris (8:57)

It was endearing, you know.

Corinne Abbas (9:00)

This was what kept dad going through the hard years. This was a good and proper send off. Friend or foe. Everyone was welcome at Dottie's. Even the man who very timidly poked his head in at this moment. Brother Ken, our town's eminent scholar on sin and the wages thereof. Nobody was sure where he came from. Nobody was sure where he went each night after packing up his cardboard signs covered in prophecies and scripture. But he always managed to be clean cut. And his khakis and navy sport coat were always clean, even if a little threadbare in places. He was crazy, of course. You'd have to be to stand on a street corner and preach to deaf ears for so many years. But he was dedicated. Ken had never walked into this bar until this moment. It's like it burned his lungs to breathe the air. But he stood up straight when he saw me and marched bravely across the bar, ignoring the quiet chuckles and leering eyes that followed him. Hello, Ken. To what do I owe this honor?

Brother Ken (10:15)

I, your father. I wanted to pay my respects. Despite his vocation, I believe that he was a decent man. He was always very kind. He gave regularly so that I could keep up the services for my parishioners.

Tom Stavano (10:33)

Who are your parishioners? Us poor people walking by in the street.

Corinne Abbas (10:37)

Quiet, Tom. Go on, Ken.

Brother Ken (10:40)

He was very kind and very generous.

Corinne Abbas (10:44)

I didn't know that he donated.

Brother Ken (10:47)

Well, that's the mark of a godly man. And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your father who is in secret, and your father, who sees in secret, will reward you. That's Matthew. He was good. I can see that he instilled that in you. I was hoping that you would allow me to lead a prayer.

Corinne Abbas (11:24)

Well, dad wasn't religious, but, you know, given the circumstances, I think he'd happily accept that.

Brother Ken (11:33)

It is into your hands, O Lord, that we humbly entrust our brother, Jonathan Abbas. In this life, you embraced him with your tender love. Deliver him now from every worldly evil and bid him eternal rest. The old order has passed away. Welcome him into paradise, where there will be no sorrow.

Corinne Abbas (11:59)

Jimbo. Oh, my God. Jim. Hey, are you okay? You're bleeding. I. I didn't want to miss it. Barb said. Yeah, I know what she said. Jimbo, your eyes. It's nothing. No, I think you should go to the hospital. Jim. Jim, your eyes are bleeding. What are you looking at?

Narrator/Announcer (12:21)

Ken?

Corinne Abbas (12:22)

What's he saying? What are you saying?

Brother Ken (12:25)

Against itself is brought to desolation.

Corinne Abbas (12:29)

What the hell are you on about?

Brother Ken (12:30)

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?

Corinne Abbas (12:35)

Shut him up.

Brother Ken (12:36)

Because you say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom be your sons? Shout him up, for I will, therefore shall they be your judges.

Corinne Abbas (12:47)

Suddenly, Jimbo was on him, hands in his hair, screaming and slamming his head on the counter. Ken managed to get up and swing, but Jim tackled him to the ground and sunk his teeth right into Ken's shoulder.

Brother Ken (13:05)

He that is not with me is against me. He that gathereth not with me.

Corinne Abbas (13:09)

Scatter. Your goddamn friend. Killer. Sylvie, call the cops.

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Professor Jeremy Bradshaw (14:36)

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Corinne Abbas (15:51)

It was horrible. All of it. The blood was everywhere. Jimbo Horn, a gentle man, raving and screaming as friends pulled him from a battered brother Ken, who continued screaming Bible verses in his shrill, terrified voice.

Brother Ken (16:09)

But if I, with a finger of God, cast out the devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Corinne Abbas (16:16)

By the time the authorities had arrived, both had been subdued. Brother Ken had a nasty bite mark on his shoulder and a broken nose. Jimbo was bleeding from everywhere, his eyes, nose, mouth. He was sweating it, just like Raymond Bachmann had before him. What struck me was the eyes. Brother Ken's fearful turned upward, looking for help from the Almighty to pull him through. Jimbo's wild, almost feral, murderous Jimbo Horn, who in decades on the force only discharged his firearm once to save my life. A good, gentle man. That's the word anyone would have used Gentle. Now suddenly a slavering beast. They were taken to the hospital, Jimbo in handcuffs. Though the officers were apologetic about it, he trained them both. I called Barb to break the news.

Sylvie Harris (17:24)

Hello?

Corinne Abbas (17:26)

Barb, it's. It's Corinne.

Sylvie Harris (17:28)

Oh, God. Is. Is this about Jim?

Corinne Abbas (17:32)

Yes, actually.

Sylvie Harris (17:34)

What? What, what did he do?

Corinne Abbas (17:36)

It's.

Sylvie Harris (17:37)

Did he kill somebody?

Corinne Abbas (17:38)

Listen, it's best that you let the guys tell you the details.

Sylvie Harris (17:42)

Did he kill someone?

Corinne Abbas (17:46)

No.

Sylvie Harris (17:47)

Oh, thank God.

Corinne Abbas (17:50)

Did you think he would.

Sylvie Harris (17:53)

No. Kareem.

Corinne Abbas (17:54)

Barb, I'm.

Sylvie Harris (17:57)

I'm so sorry.

Corinne Abbas (17:58)

It's okay, honest.

Sylvie Harris (18:00)

Day. Of all days for you to listen to me. Blubber is not.

Corinne Abbas (18:03)

Barbara, what happened?

Sylvie Harris (18:08)

He came home from the hospital the other day and has just. Well, he's. He's not been himself. It's.

Barbara Horne (18:13)

It's like he's been possessed. In 40 years of marriage, he's never once raised his voice with me, and suddenly he's screaming about everything. He's mad that I'm keeping him in bed. But, Corinne, he's had this fever. And I keep having to change the bed sheets because, well, they're red. And then this afternoon, I get back from your father's service, and Jim's taking a nap, and I'm in the kitchen when I hear this. I don't know, this scream. Like a baby screaming, but somehow worse. And I come up the stairs and he's sitting in the corner, faced away from me, hunched over something. And when I ask him what the hell happened, he turns to me with this. It was a snarl, Karin, like. Like a junkyard dog. And.

Corinne Abbas (19:16)

Barb, what is it?

Barbara Horne (19:22)

He's got the cat in his hands, and it's dead.

Corinne Abbas (19:29)

Wait, he. He killed the cat?

Barbara Horne (19:34)

I didn't know what to do. I, I. I should have run off or called somebody, his. His doctor, the chief, anybody. But I couldn't wrap my head around what was happening.

Sylvie Harris (19:42)

So I just said, jim, did you kill the cat?

Corinne Abbas (19:49)

And what did he say?

Barbara Horne (19:52)

He shrugged.

Corinne Abbas (19:54)

He shrugged?

Barbara Horne (19:56)

Mm. And dropped it on the carpet like a used towel. And he said he was going out for a drink and he left Corinne. His eyes were all bugged out and bloody.

Corinne Abbas (20:14)

Wait, the cats or Jimbos?

Barbara Horne (20:18)

Jimbos.

Sylvie Harris (20:21)

But poor Samson. I mean, he was a good cat. He didn't deserve to be mangled. He loved Jim. He did. They were best friends. Samson used to crawl into bed at night and curl up beside Jim's shoulder, right in the curve of his neck. And he'd sleep there all night long, only getting up when Jim did.

Corinne Abbas (20:42)

I'm so sorry, Barb. I. I think you should go to the hospital. Okay? Maybe you can tell the doctors all the details. It's. It's not like. Jim.

Sylvie Harris (20:53)

Yes, of course. Oh, God. I. I'm. I'm just so scared.

Corinne Abbas (21:01)

Barb, if you need any.

Sylvie Harris (21:02)

I have to go.

Corinne Abbas (21:03)

Barb.

Sylvie Harris (21:04)

Barbara.

Corinne Abbas (21:08)

I'd come straight home to shower after everything and to sit shell shocked by the violence and loss over the last few days. I'd barely had time to recover from one thing before the next barreled through. I'd barely had time to process my father's death. I'd spent so much time on his arrangements, I hadn't had time to grieve, to start to sift through the pieces, to process his last days, his last words.

Josiah Abbas (voice or reading) (21:44)

Blackwood. Black wood box.

Corinne Abbas (21:54)

Shit. I hadn't thought of them since he died a few days previous. It must have been important if it was the last thing he'd said. Dad was never a man of many words. He was careful with them, used them sparingly, even occasionally, to the detriment of our relationship. He said, I love you. And that stood in for a lot. We didn't talk about mom much after she died. We didn't talk about feelings. We didn't talk about his shortcomings or mine. So using up his last breath on these instructions. And of course, my middle name must have some weight. He certainly didn't talk about the box that I found on the top shelf of his closet. He really buried the lead on that one. What in the hell? A black wooden box with an old iron clasp. I mean, antique, the size of a bread box, across and laid on the lid. I was not prepared for what I found inside. What? Coming. What the hell? What the hell?

Sylvie Harris (23:21)

Hey, buddy.

Corinne Abbas (23:23)

Sylvie.

Sylvie Harris (23:24)

And look who I found pacing in front of your house.

Corinne Abbas (23:28)

Hi.

Barbara Horne (23:30)

Hi.

Corinne Abbas (23:31)

It's Murray. I was your father's nurse. Oh, yes. Yeah. I'm sorry. The last few days have been a little bit of a whirlwind, I'd imagine.

Barbara Horne (23:43)

I'm incredibly sorry for your loss.

Corinne Abbas (23:46)

And I am sorry to show up uninvited.

Barbara Horne (23:48)

I just seen that you were.

Corinne Abbas (23:50)

You were the only one who came to visit your father in the hospital, and. I don't know, this was silly. No, no, no, no. It's. It's not. You. You thought I was alone. A lot of assumption on my part. I. Well, it was kind of you. Come in.

Sylvie Harris (24:06)

I've wrapped bourbon.

Corinne Abbas (24:08)

Excellent. I'll get the glasses.

Barbara Horne (24:10)

Oh, none for me, thanks.

Corinne Abbas (24:12)

I've got first shift tomorrow.

Sylvie Harris (24:14)

Boo.

Corinne Abbas (24:15)

Sylvie. No. Hey. How did everything go After I left.

Sylvie Harris (24:20)

The bar, I mean, the cops hung around asking questions. I don't think they could believe that Jimbo would ever attack anyone over nothing, much less bite a guy.

Barbara Horne (24:32)

I'm sorry, what?

Corinne Abbas (24:34)

A regular at my bar when berserk. Sounds like it.

Sylvie Harris (24:40)

Old Tom and Kip Baker were moaning that they got scratched up too, trying to pull Jimbo off Ken. So I gave them a couple on the house to clear it up. Hope that's okay.

Corinne Abbas (24:50)

Yeah, yeah, I trust your judgment.

Sylvie Harris (24:52)

As you should. But anyway, the mood changed. Some of the old folks talking about winds shifting, signs of the times, normal. But they were rattled, Corinne.

Corinne Abbas (25:05)

Yeah, I am too.

Sylvie Harris (25:07)

I. So am I. I mean, has been crazy. And with your dad dying in the middle of it, I don't know. Anyway, to Jonathan, God love him, he'd have had all this worked out quick.

Corinne Abbas (25:21)

Truth to.

Sylvie Harris (25:28)

So you gonna keep us in suspense or what? What's in the box? You answer the door, clutching it for dear life, and your eyes haven't left it since you put it down like you thought it might bite you.

Corinne Abbas (25:42)

Oh.

Sylvie Harris (25:45)

Well.

Corinne Abbas (25:45)

You're not gonna believe this.

Sylvie Harris (25:49)

What the hell am I?

Corinne Abbas (25:54)

Inside the box, lined with deteriorating red velvet, were the following. A small crystal vial, a Bible, its leather cover, dry rotted brass candlesticks, two half melted candles, a small crucifix, rosary beads, desiccated garlic, a small brass flask, two ornate matching pistols, the kind they used to use in duels, a wooden mallet, and finally, a simple wooden stake stained a dark brown on the sharp end. It had clearly been used at some point in the distant past. It's for vampires. Well, I figured, given the family history. Oh, it's just a long story that I guess I don't know in as much detail as I thought.

Sylvie Harris (26:49)

What's this?

Corinne Abbas (26:50)

Careful. Careful.

Sylvie Harris (26:51)

Nah, I'll be gentle. It's a letter. It's signed by Josiah Abbas.

Corinne Abbas (26:59)

Well, read it aloud.

Sylvie Harris (27:01)

I will. Jesus. My dear grandson, There are many things between a parent and his progeny that go unspoken over the course of a lifetime.

Josiah Abbas (voice or reading) (27:15)

My time grows short. Even now I can sense a shift in the wind over this village. The blind will be approaching soon to cut out the good eye that has led them through the darkness thus far. There is little time for apology. But I fear I must make one to you, to your brother. For I could not save your parents from their fates, nor could I keep this great burden from you, so young and alone in this world. These things shall torment me long after death. And I well deserve it. I shall leave you with this sacred Box. Hopefully, by the time that you receive this missive, its contents will no longer be necessary for peace. The good Lord willing. But I fear, my good grandson, that the events which have unfolded in this town have not yet come to full fruition. And so it is with you I leave these holy artifacts, these histories, these consecrated weapons against the inferno. It is time for you to take up the family great cause in this unending battle between God's holy warriors and the horrors of the infernal. There's a vile sickness in Abbas town. You must excise it, dig into the deep earth and cut it out by any means necessary. And if you see the devil walking around inside of another man, be an enemy of your very own brother. If you see the blood pour forth from his flesh, you must cut out the very heart of him, burn his body, and scatter the ashes in the furthest corner of this town as a warning. You are God's warrior now. They will not understand you. They will fear you. But this fear is your weapon as well. Wield it without mercy and bring down its holy judgment upon any who stand in the way of your calling. God save this lineage. God save Abba's town. God save my own wretched soul for what I have done in his service.

Corinne Abbas (29:59)

Wow. Shit. That's incredible.

Sylvie Harris (30:03)

Was he insane?

Corinne Abbas (30:07)

I mean, they didn't call him the mad preacher for nothing. If you see the blood pour forth from his flesh. Shit, Jimbo. Yeah, I mean, that. That. That can't be connected.

Sylvie Harris (30:23)

Why not?

Corinne Abbas (30:24)

I don't know. And Damaris, like my father's very last word, was damaris. What do you think he meant?

Sylvie Harris (30:34)

I mean, that's your middle name, right? Did he ever call you that?

Corinne Abbas (30:39)

No.

Sylvie Harris (30:41)

Oh, that's so weird.

Corinne Abbas (30:44)

What did he do to Damaris? What?

Sylvie Harris (30:49)

I. I think I know someone who can help us.

Corinne Abbas (30:52)

Help us what, Sylvie?

Sylvie Harris (30:53)

Help us figure out how this is all connected.

Corinne Abbas (30:57)

Oh, Sylvie, don't be ridiculous. No. Oh, come on. Let me call the guy. Sylvie.

Sylvie Harris (31:04)

No, let me call him.

Corinne Abbas (31:06)

Who. Who. Who is this guy you speak of? You have a historian in your back pocket? No.

Sylvie Harris (31:11)

I wish. No, he studies folklore. And he's cute too. Not that that is important. I. I went to a lecture with that guy I dated who was into weird shit, and we ended up talking to him for a little afterward. I found his number a while back and.

Corinne Abbas (31:30)

Were you stalking him? No. Yes.

Sylvie Harris (31:34)

But I didn't have the guts to call him because just calling him out of the blue for no reason would be weird.

Corinne Abbas (31:40)

But calling him about an old vampire slaying kid is not weird.

Sylvie Harris (31:44)

Not for this guy.

Corinne Abbas (31:46)

I don't have the time to deal with this.

Sylvie Harris (31:49)

No, you have nothing but time.

Corinne Abbas (31:50)

Shh. Shh.

Sylvie Harris (31:51)

It's ringing. It's his office number, so he probably won't pick up this late, but.

Sylvie Harris (31:55)

Oh.

Corinne Abbas (31:55)

Jeremy Bradshaw.

Sylvie Harris (31:56)

Professor Bradshaw.

Corinne Abbas (31:57)

Listen, if this is about the midterm.

Professor Jeremy Bradshaw (31:59)

I've made it abundantly clear that I.

Corinne Abbas (32:01)

Will not be grading on a curve.

Sylvie Harris (32:02)

Okay?

Sylvie Harris (32:03)

Nope, nope. Not a student.

Corinne Abbas (32:07)

Sorry. There's always a rush of them calling.

Sylvie Harris (32:09)

To beg or cajole this time of year. Who is calling?

Sylvie Harris (32:14)

Hi. You don't remember me? My name is Sylvie. We met a while back after a lecture you gave at Concord Library about the. You know, the terror of Lake.

Corinne Abbas (32:24)

Right, yeah, the Lake Memphromegog.

Sylvie Harris (32:27)

Yeah, that's it. I never remember that. Anyway, I was with a guy at the time. Michael. I am not seeing him anymore, to be clear.

Corinne Abbas (32:35)

But Sylvie.

Sylvie Harris (32:36)

Sylvie, I. Okay. Sorry. Anyway, we have something you might like to see.

Sylvie Harris (32:43)

Go on.

Narrator/Announcer (32:49)

Havoc Town was created by me, Aaron Manke. The show was written and directed by Nicholas Takoski. This episode was edited and sound designed by Rima El Kayali. Starring Jewel State as Corinne Abbas, Felicia Day as Sylvie Harris, Ray Wise as Josiah Abbas, Crystal Lee as Damaris, Robin Bloodworth as Jimbo Horne, David Calhoun as Jonathan Abbas Charlie David Newell as brother Ken Summer Rain Menke as Barbara Horne and Misha Collins as Professor Jeremy Bradshaw. With additional voice acting from Julian Graham, Sacha Hatfield, Beverly Bremers and Aaron Manke. This season is directed by Nicholas Takoski, with assistant directors Sarah Klein and Jake Diamond. Casting by Sunday Bowling, CSA and Meg Moorman, CSA production coordinator Wayna Calderon. Our theme song was created by Chris Childs. Executive producers Aaron Manke, Trevor Young and Matt Frederick, with supervising producer Rima El Kiali and producers Nomes Griff and Jesse Funk. Havoc Town is set in the Bridgewater audio universe, which includes the hit fiction podcasts Bridgewater and Consumed. Learn more about both shows as well as Havoc town@grimandmild.com and find more podcasts from iHeartRadio by visiting the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

Sylvie Harris (34:22)

Foreign.

Corinne Abbas (34:29)

This is an I heart podcast.