
ยทS1 E13
Episode 13: The Baptism
Episode Transcript
The Miniwauk Caves is intended for mature audiences.
It contains strong language and depictions of bullying, violence, and sexual assault that some may find disturbing.
Listener discretion is advised.
Also, this is an extremely immersive experience, and headphones are recommended.
You're listening to The Maniwac Caves, a production of iHeartRadio, Blumhouse Television, and Psycopia Pictures.
Speaker 2The fog is rolling and thick in the valley.
It whips by my windows and gusts, moving fast, faster than I could run, faster than my soul could hope to fly up to the holy Sun.
And it keeps coming in endless gloom at one hundred miles an hour.
I could hardly see my own face in the side, and merrits so goddamn thick, and I wouldn't recognize myself anymore even then, because my eyes don't seem.
Speaker 3Like my own anymore.
There's something else in there.
Speaker 4In the reflection watching me.
Speaker 5I'm scared.
Speaker 6The closer I come to the truth, the more frequently the blackouts happen, because the caves don't want me to know the truth.
But I'm close now, closer than ever, despite the fog and the noise.
Despite the blackouts, the memories are getting sharper.
Bits and pieces of my path that were completely blank have crystallized, And I have my tape.
Speaker 5For the rest.
Speaker 7A ghost and a mirror and the hounds of hell dancing in your, dancing in you.
Speaker 8The mouse sings tar river of el who climbed inside and tells these lanes, tells these lanes.
Speaker 7Somebody screaming for help and no answer, a feedback.
Speaker 9Loop gone wrong.
Speaker 10Does it fight when you're all.
Speaker 11It was my idea.
Speaker 12Look them down in the case, get them lost, watch them fall apart like the cowards we knew they were.
We weren't gonna make them ship their pants and videotapeic get footage of them crying and freaking out.
I couldn't let those spoils ship let's get away with it anymore.
It had gone too far.
It was time they got theirs, you know.
It was time for revenge.
Speaker 9To be tilanside.
Speaker 10Nice.
Speaker 13If you were driving, I need you to pull over.
Speaker 10So I'm not trying.
Speaker 14James Fincher just confessed killing Thncoln and Thomas Handley.
Speaker 11Thanks for joining us tonight.
Speaker 15We are avoarding one of bizarre turn of events and the.
Speaker 16Attorney General's office that Fincher has now drin double I'm not brood, only hours after the Governor had intervened on his behalf with an older that the Governor has relearsed in decision and Fincher's execution is still set for ABM tonight.
Speaker 12Many unknowns now well, we don't even know the circumstances of this supposed confession.
Speaker 3No one from James Fincher's legal team was present.
Speaker 17Now, look, we are on the verge of murdering a man without allowing him or the state or Tennessee the opportunity to Governor of Justice.
Speaker 16That there was new evidence in the case, wrongly, evidence that could prove that Governor was preparing to commute fin Your's sentence entirely, when in these final hours before his scheduled execution, Fincher himself released a sworn statement confessing to the crime.
Speaker 18If there is any chance of saving your soul, now is the time time to give the family what they need, the peace they deserve.
Speaker 10James, go ahead, now, James Fincher.
Speaker 19Confessed to the crimes for which I have been convicted and for which I have been sentenced.
Speaker 20I hope that this will bring both families to peace they deserve.
Speaker 13Julian Julian Julian Julian.
Speaker 11I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 2The reverend had brobbed him, said a Finch confessed to the murders.
He would make sure Dina and Jimmy were well cared for.
He would bring them into his flock, set up a church fund, and make them an example of how the Lord's goodness is mightier than the devil's eavol.
Speaker 4I guess Finn should taken the bride.
Speaker 2Lined with rage and tears, I staggered back to my car, clutching the video camera that Tyler sent me.
Speaker 21H h, it's yours.
It's your truth, it's your decision about what to do with it.
Speaker 3This has all the answers you're looking for.
Speaker 4Okay, Okay, okay, Tyler.
Speaker 22Yeah, get back here with that light.
Speaker 9Pha.
Speaker 23I swear to God, I'm going to fuck that motherfucker up when I see him.
Speaker 11Do you hear me?
Pitch, We're can go back that queer man?
Speaker 13Will you tried that.
Speaker 5Ship?
Speaker 13What the fuck up?
Speaker 3Said you?
Speaker 10Dina?
Speaker 13Hello?
Speaker 24Well?
Speaker 5Fuck else?
Could it be?
She's gotta be right up Okay, we'll.
Speaker 10Just keep going.
Speaker 3Hello, Thomas, there no one here, dna.
Speaker 10Da dude.
I don't know, man, it don't sound like her.
What the fuck she's moving?
Speaker 5Man?
Speaker 10Where is?
Speaker 13Where is?
Speaker 22What the fuck is that she's moving?
Speaker 10I can't say it where It doesn't matter?
Speaker 22Just too man, what fucking life?
Speaker 5What?
Speaker 10What is he?
Speaker 2What?
Speaker 5Something?
Speaker 16God?
Speaker 13Such?
Speaker 10Just something trippy.
Speaker 2I'm bleeding Jesus homing.
Speaker 10So I'm fucking no.
Speaker 25No, no, that's that's just I just walk.
Speaker 10No, man, I'm fucking bleeding comic.
Speaker 22I'm down here.
Speaker 10I'm down here.
Speaker 22Toddy fucking pushed me.
Speaker 10Man, Oh my b I'm not.
Speaker 22I can't get up and.
Speaker 10Stay there, stay there, don't move, honey, help I'm play Okay, Wait, I can't.
I can't reach you.
Come on, my god, I see I see it.
Speaker 22There's a tone.
I can see it to the entrance.
I can see like Thomas gets through here.
I can see it.
Speaker 10What I suck?
Speaker 5I suck?
Speaker 10Oh, God, fucking stuff.
Speaker 26No promise all this.
Speaker 10I'm stuck with it.
But I've got a signal.
Speaker 16Nine one.
Speaker 10Yeah, yeah, Hello.
Speaker 2When when you help I'm in the cave, and when you help us, please please send someone.
Speaker 5To help us.
Speaker 22Okay, run that one more time.
Speaker 4Okay, my my brother, my my brother, Thomas.
Speaker 5He felt.
Speaker 10He's bleeding real bad.
Speaker 11Please, sir, I need.
Speaker 5You to calm down.
I need your address.
Speaker 10We're here off of highway for two.
Speaker 27Fushing's properly?
Speaker 10Who sucks?
Who's sucking a cave?
Speaker 5Sure?
Hello, let's shuck way anger.
Speaker 10Ship shut me way out of the highway force two.
Speaker 22Hello should you hear me?
Speaker 2Sure?
Speaker 10Hello?
Hello?
Speaker 11Hello, I can hear you?
Speaker 5Hello?
Speaker 10Hello, Hello?
Speaker 1All right?
Speaker 10Ms Thomas Thomas hm hm dom hell somebody hell you help me?
Speaker 3Oh man?
Speaker 10Why are you just standing there?
Speaker 8The fuck are you doing?
Speaker 11Wait?
Speaker 10Wait wait wait wait wait I'm I'm I'm sorry, I'm just I'm please pla.
I'll never I'll never message see you again.
Speaker 28I just want to go.
Speaker 3Looking.
Speaker 10Non't know I got him up.
Speaker 5Up help help.
Speaker 29Okay, Hey, man over here, I think got say.
Speaker 15Julie, jeez, Julie, chase man, my hands, my hands hurts, so baggsy, managed.
Speaker 29Go easy.
Speaker 23Play everywhere?
So much poor Julian Julian.
No, Julie, Julie no, no, oh no, had.
Speaker 11Julie Julian.
Speaker 30Julian Julian h she told you that don't come.
Speaker 3Do you get it now?
Speaker 4My heart's all swollen like a balloon in my chest, and there was no room for my lungs.
Speaker 30We each have our own part.
Speaker 3I couldn't breathe.
Speaker 4The air was hot and wet, with my own dress, fog in the windows.
Speaker 30I was holding on to the hope maybe you know, maybe I was crazy.
Speaker 3It wasn't my car anymore, but that it was just a metal box.
Speaker 31I was trapped inside off and I tried to reach for the door, but my hand weighed a hundred pounds fence.
He can see things, whether the ghost of Tyler Wilson was actually sitting beside me.
Speaker 30I had to accept it things other people can.
Speaker 3It was happening, whether it was real or not.
Speaker 5So he knew what he had to do.
Speaker 21Me.
Speaker 30All I had was my five senses in the caves, trying to hide the truth, m trying to hide from me, try to trick my mind.
So I ran a few experiments.
I charted it on the patterns, and the only thing I could figure for certain.
If I cut off the case from the rest of the world, then nobody else would have to suffer.
Problem solved.
Speaker 3So I did what I had to do.
Speaker 30Finched on his part, I done mine.
Now you've got to do yours.
Buddy, buckstops with you, because it's going to happen again if you don't stop it.
Speaker 3What's gonna happen?
Speaker 10Murder?
Speaker 4I didn't kill those points.
Speaker 30Apes weren't never gonna let us go.
Speaker 5I didn't kill those boys.
Speaker 30Finch told you the time would come tough for to remove yourself from the situation before it gets in your head again, before anyone else gets hurt.
Speaker 5You want me to run.
Speaker 25My whole life.
Speaker 30No, you can't run, So you have to end it.
You're the only one who can.
You have to take yourself out of the situation before it's too late.
Hell huh, you still have the detective's gun.
Speaker 5Don't.
Speaker 30It's right here in the glove box.
You say, remove yourself from the situation.
Speaker 2My fingers groped for the door and slipped on the wetness.
Somehow I managed to pull the handle and open the door.
I could barely see through the rain and fall.
I couldn't feel my body, but I forced one foot in front of the other and made my way back up the wet, fern covered hill back to my mother's grave.
Speaker 4I shut my eyes, and everything stopped.
The rain stopped, the crow stopped, the wind stopped.
Like I was suspended and avoid a vacuum of time and space.
Then now I felt the damp rocks beneath my body.
Speaker 32And now I heard the low, dull wind bending and howling through the hollow space, heard water dripping from the still attites, the fluttering and chirping of a thousand bats in the distance.
Speaker 2But I keep my eyes shut tight for fear.
I might confirm by sight, but my heart already knew that I was now deep inside the case.
Then I felt her fingers in my hair, soft but strong.
I looked up and saw her face above me, her sweet cheeks and beautiful dark eyes.
Speaker 10My mother.
Speaker 28It's okay, baby, Mom.
Yeah, baby, I'm here.
Speaker 3But I don't understand.
Speaker 4How could I have done those things?
Speaker 5Yeah?
I know, I know.
Speaker 10Baby.
Speaker 3There comes a time, though, when you got to accept the truth.
Speaker 28Julian, There comes a time when you got to accept who you are.
Speaker 11What you are.
Speaker 2That's what I hid me, my mother's fingers plying gently upon my hair like a warm summer breathe.
All I'd ever wanted was to get away as far away as possible, away from my mother and father, away from the bullies, away from the racist and backward sheriffs, away from the shadow of my mother's death, away from myself, away from myself.
All I wanted was to belong to something for once, And I.
Speaker 3Felt so warm in my mother's laugh.
I realized that this was the only sanctuary I'd ever known.
Speaker 28Oh, it's been only your breath, all your heart beats, and just running, never knowing what real love is.
Speaker 19And you run out of potsman, you run away from meniwalk, and you run away from your family, You run from the truth.
Speaker 28But you can't, baby, you can't run away from.
Speaker 10Yourself and who you are?
Speaker 5Who a my mom?
Speaker 1A crowd?
Speaker 3You are the last of us.
Speaker 20And then I saw them, all of them, the entire unholy horde, All of my ancestors were standing behind my mother, all gathered in the matrix of your caves.
Speaker 3My father, the gray Man, stood behind my mother, his blue eyes gleaming, his hair parted on the side.
He wears a blue suit.
Speaker 1He was buried.
Speaker 2Then a few behind him there was Matthew sweet Sir, a distant cousin who committed suicide in the case two decades before.
Speaker 3Half his head blown off.
Speaker 2Richard ride down too, the leather straps from his electric chair still dangling from his wrists and cinched around his forehead.
And behind him a family dressed in woolen rags, the Leary's, I assumed, father Seamus, mother Eleanor, and two daughters.
Speaker 3Milicent and Nadine.
Speaker 2Young Nadine O'Leary dressed in rags, missing fingers and parts of her face from frostbite, looking just as she did the knight.
Speaker 3Solomon's house went up in flames.
Speaker 2Others were there too.
Speaker 20Hundreds of them, spread deep throughout the caves, all standing before me.
Speaker 11Eventually he.
Speaker 33Comes for each one of us, and some have and some have a blige, others others.
Others well, they refused, and they suffered it, and they suffered.
Speaker 19The consequences some and some have taken their own lives before he could.
Speaker 10Make them take others.
Speaker 3We are your family, Julia said, this is your family.
Speaker 15Never give up, never give up on.
Speaker 28We've been watching you.
I'm waiting calling come back home ever since you run off.
Speaker 10Had fuddenly heard the calling.
Speaker 28He finally came back to us.
Speaker 3You know, I came home for Finch.
Finch was my friend Finch loved me, and I came back to make things right.
I came back to save him, and now he's gonna die.
Speaker 10He made his own deal, and you still want.
Speaker 5To save him.
Speaker 2Then all the spirits of the dead, all of my ancestors, moved to the sides of the caves, parting like the red sea, and a shape came up from the bottomless depths, a figure made only of sorrow and hunger.
Speaker 3A shadow of no beginning and no end.
It swallowed any light bleeding down from the world above.
Speaker 2It took form behind my mother and looked at me through her eyes, And as I stared back, I saw myself reflected in.
Speaker 3Her endless black pupils.
Speaker 11Who are you?
Speaker 21You know?
Speaker 2The dark wrapped around my mother, and her face fell away, along with all the other faces of my ancestors, until there was no face at all, but only a feeling of indescribable emptiness.
And when she spoke again, my mother's voice was haunted, mercurial and shifting, at once, male and female and old, a chorus of a thousand souls with a thousand tongues, all folded into one ancient voice.
You know.
Speaker 11It was?
It made you maybe do.
Speaker 25No, you were simply given license and opportunity.
Speaker 2No.
Speaker 25I may have guided you, but it was by your own hatred and rage that you took their lives.
But it didn't take my chance.
Oh it's very near end.
And then you paid your dad.
You are free.
Speaker 10I'll never be free.
Speaker 24I have tried to make this easier for you to clear your press guilty died, your memory of it.
Speaker 25My but you're only human.
Speaker 24That's the real curses, and it's your humanity, your conscience.
Speaker 25You can't take that away, right, It's how.
Speaker 5You were made.
Speaker 10All lie.
Speaker 34You're guilty has nothing to do with killing those boys.
They deserved it, didn't.
They let you get to.
Speaker 24Live while your friend will die for your crimes.
I mean you could turn yourself in converse to your students, reveal yourself for the world, take his place, take Venture's place on death throne.
Speaker 25But let's be honest, you never will.
So looking for you as uh another way?
Speaker 24Wh why if you really want to free James Fincher, I could make that.
Speaker 25I could without anyone ever knowing the truth.
But I don't need you to do more.
Speaker 3For you want me to kill again?
Speaker 4Right to give you more into sell lives.
Speaker 25Here's the deal.
Speaker 24You can spare the life of your innocent friend in exchange for others, those who.
Speaker 25Have wronged you, those who you all already hate.
A feel riding apples be doing the world of service, seems fam, do we have a deal?
Speaker 23Breaking news this evening, Tennessee Governor Travis Cox has granted a temporary reprieve to death prisoner James.
Speaker 16Only moments ago, Governor Cox said mister Fincher's execution must be delayed in light a long women appeals in court rulings, and the governor's decision comes despite an apparent confession made by mister Fincher only hours ago to the crimes for which he has been convicted.
Speaker 11Julian, it's Jill.
I just got a call from the book.
Speaker 10We did it.
Speaker 14James Fincher isn't gonna die, at least not today.
The governor stepped up and LeBlanc was able to get a federal appeals paneled to grant him in a definite stay.
They were shaving James's head when the chaplain told him said, he just cried goes to show never give up, never lose hope.
I know I almost did, but for you Julian, and I know this was not easy, but you do the right thing.
Courage isn't just doing the right thing when it's easy.
Courage is doing the right thing even when you're scared.
Speaker 5Sheitless.
Speaker 2Just know that I am grateful, And just like that, I found myself back here in my car, like I've never left it, except I have no idea how long I've been here.
Speaker 3The day has become night, a closer dry, the storm has passed.
Speaker 2The fog is so thick now I can't see any goddamn thing clearly.
Soon nothing will be visible anymore ahead or behind, present or past.
Speaker 3Soon I will remember my name.
I'll look in the mirror and I will recognize my face.
I'll speak and I won't hear my own voice.
Speaker 2And soon the darkness will take me again.
Don't panic.
This recording is to help you, Julian.
Because of your hair and this it means you've had another spell.
Know you expected this, you plan it for it.
This tape is to help you determine what's real from what's not.
The blackouts are more frequent now, they last longer, leaving gaps in your memory.
Speaker 3That's why you left this message for yourself.
Julian, to help you remember, first thing I need you to do is to start the car.
Speaker 25You need to drive.
Speaker 3Never mind the fog.
Speaker 2Visibility is going to be shipped for a while, doesn't matter, and it doesn't.
Speaker 3Matter which road would you take?
Just heading north and don't stop, no matter what.
Speaker 2You should have at least a half tank, so just drive, drive until the fog breaks.
Speaker 11No matter what, you should have at least a half tank.
Drive, drive until the fog breaks.
Speaker 2And hopefully you will do what must be done while you're still able to.
In the meantime, hit rwind, go all the way back to the beginning of this tape and then play it, all of it.
Speaker 4That should do it.
Speaker 11Now.
Speaker 4All I can do is hope for the best.
Speaker 5That's all.
Speaker 26Stap until you saw us.
Damn, you just can't seem to stay out of trouble, can't you, Julian.
I need to confess doing back here it caves for I need to turn myself, come back to slay.
Prayer for your friend, Tyler.
Speaker 3I need to confess the property.
Speaker 26You know you are trash at least once.
Speaker 5That sis for radio.
Speaker 10You are not listening.
Speaker 26It's backlo.
I got a coach twenty four.
Hello, piece of shit, I'm gonna need you step out of your vehicle.
Speaker 3Out of the car now, you should walk away.
Speaker 5What about step out of your vehicle?
Do you not understand?
Speaker 2God damn it, step out now, motherfucker.
Speaker 5Dina, Reverend.
Speaker 35Jimmy, you can call me James.
Well, okay, James, Dina.
Speaker 3I don't know if you formerly met Bobby.
Yes we met?
Speaker 5Yep.
Speaker 35Oh, good, good, that's that's a real good well James, if you are ready, yes, sir, that's good.
Speaker 4That's fine.
Speaker 3How's the water?
Is it cold?
Speaker 35It's like a warmth you've never felt.
Speaker 36Okay, it'll all be over before you know it, but you will feel it forever, son, trust me, Yes, sir?
Speaker 35All right, then let's get this going.
Speaker 3Follow me, okay, I'm happy, decided to do this.
The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.
Yeah, well, you look lovely.
That's a real preddress.
Thank you.
Speaker 11It was going to be Michael by address, but.
Speaker 5Things have changed.
Speaker 37Thank you all for joining us today.
Speaker 38Let me begin with a few observations.
Speaker 36This is a special occasion.
Speaker 37The baptism is always a special occasion, but the circumstances here are not normal.
I'll be the first to admit it, but these circumstances nonetheless deserve addressing.
I invite you all to join me here today to look upon this young woman, Dina Fincher, and her son Jimmy, as unique souls who themselves have done nothing to offend the Lord.
The Bible teaches us forgive, and that is in fact our duty.
Speaker 38We have an opportunity to make right a great wrong, to heal a deep wound in the heart of this community.
If we do not embrace this family here and.
Speaker 28Now, we will be equally guilty.
Speaker 17Not if, but when the pattern of sin repeats itself and the matrix of evil manifests itself.
Speaker 27No, please.
Speaker 37Say all, Satan is waiting, waiting in the wings.
Speaker 38He lurks in the shadows.
Speaker 10Of man's walk out.
Speaker 17And so it is up to us to protect and shelter this poor family from the silver tongue and evil.
Speaker 3Grip of the beast, and deliver him to the glory of God that was joy.
Speaker 10God.
Speaker 17We are here to witness as this young man follows Christ examp.
Speaker 5Sorry, so here we go.
Speaker 3Upon your public.
Speaker 17Profession of your faith in Him and obedience to his command.
I baptize you, Jimmy Fincher, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, buried in the likeness of his death, ray in the likeness of his resurrection.
Speaker 5I'm sorry, visit though, mm hmm.
Speaker 28Amen, m.
Speaker 5A ghost and a mirror.
Speaker 8And the hands of Hell, Dancing in.
Speaker 10Your Dancing in.
Speaker 1The Manilock Keys stars Jonathan Tucker as Juliet Sallace, Eddie Getheggy as James Fincher, Clark Peters as Detective Solomon Smith, Nick Cercy as Sheriff Kirby Hooper, Justin Welborn as Tyler Wilson, Jill Jane Clements as Jill Campbell, Brad Carter as Doodlee Tappern, Scott Poythus as Reverend Perkins, Samantha Ashley as Dena Fincher, Justin Matthews Smith as Paul Sallace, Ta Oakes as Laura Sallace, Jonathan Horn as Deacon Hadley, Alden Karanovich as Thomas Hadley, Mike w Anderson as Griff Washington, Body, Walter Off as Jimmy Fincher, Brian McClure as Ian Spinks, Larry Clark as Bobby Hadley Paydon Fallis as ed leablanc Vic Polisis as William Fowler, Nick Takosky as Richard Rydell, and Ailey Lloyd as The Darkness, with additional performances by Clint McGowan, Dina Dill, Edward Howard, Henry Foss Brown, Jamie Joseph, Juan Mansalez, Christopher Curry, Bailey Heineman, David Mitchell, and Bernard Sataro Clark created by ConL Byrne and Dan Bush.
Written by Dan Bush, Zoe Cooper and Nicholas Dakosky, featuring our theme song Killer Inside, written produced and performed by Lera A.
Speaker 2Lynn.
Speaker 1Our executive producers are Matt Frederick, Alexander Williams, Michael Monty, and Courtney du Frees.
Our executive producers at Blumhouse Television are Jeremy Gold, Chris Dickey, and Noah Feinberg.
Produced by Dan Bush, music by Ben Lovett, additional music by Alexander Rodriguez, edited by Dan Bush, Chris Childs, Stephen Perez and David Chen.
Sound design by Benjamin Malcolm.
Additional sound designed by Alexander Rodriguez.
Dialogue editing and sound mixing by Juan Campos.
Recorded at Studio Awesome in Los Angeles, sound Byte Studio in Atlanta, and Echa Mountain in Asheville.
Casting by Sunday Bowling, Kennedy and Meg Mormon.
Our dialect coach is Linda Bessesti, Assistant director Michael Monty, second assistant director, script supervisor and production coordinator Sarah Clein.
Supervising producer Josh Thain.
Special thanks to Mary Ellen and Jason Davis, Jonathan Dieter, and Joe Rickman.
The Manowall Caves is the production of iHeartRadio, Blumhouse Television, and Psychopia Pictures.
Speaker 5It's Nie