Every commute feels the same...until it’s not. 'Stand Clear Of The Closing Doors' is a story conceived by Hayley Livingston, written by TJ Boudreau and realized with the voices and production of the Hii sound design team. In this narrative audio piece from Hii Magazine, follow our protagonist as she embarks on a train ride STRAIGHT FROM HELL.
STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING DOORS
Written by Thomas James Boudreau
FADE IN:
INT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT
We hear our NARRATOR’s steps echo off the tiled walls as they run downstairs into an empty subway station. They are talking on the phone, noticeably irritated with the other person.
NARRATOR
No, I mean it! If they’re both
going to be there then I won’t...
They tap their metro card and go through the turnstile. They stand on the platform and groan when they see that the train isn’t there yet.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Because they’re bigots!... I don’t
care that Jackie and Nick will be with them. They never intervene when he starts up with his bull-... They should! They know their parents are a-...
The train comes hurtling into the station seemingly out of nowhere and grinds to a screeching halt in front of the Narrator.
The train doors open with a ding and the Narrator enters.
INT. SUBWAY CAR - NIGHT
NARRATOR
Their pumpkin pie isn’t good enough
to completely betray my morals...
CONDUCTOR (ON SPEAKER)
Stand clear of the closing doors,please.
The doors close and the train starts to move forward with a lurch.
NARRATOR
Who wants to have Thanksgiving in
Iowa anyway?... Mom?... Hello?...
There’s a horrible SCREECH and the train stops, knocking the Narrator to the ground.
NARRATOR (CONT’D) What the- oof!
As the Narrator groans and picks themselves up, there’s a faint, eerie fit of laughter from the ether, but they don’t seem to notice it.
NARRATOR (CONT’D) (to Conductor)
I could’ve broke my neck, what are you doing!
The speaker crackles to life and emits some horrid, almost demonic sounding static. Nonsensical conversations, snippets of nondescript sound, and music blares from the speaker as The Conductor’s voice cuts through intermittently, but it’s distorted, otherworldly.
CONDUCTOR (ON SPEAKER) (distorted)
This... is the final... stop on this train.
The Narrator STOMPS up to the front of the car and KNOCKS on the glass.
NARRATOR
Hey, asshole this isn’t a station.
Hello? Hello!?... Where did they go?
The train starts shaking and rattling. Loud BANGS seems to be coming from every side of the car. It sounds almost as if a something is attacking the side of the train. The laughter comes back, but louder and more demented, feeding off of the Narrator’s fear.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Hey! Who’s out there!? Hey! Stop!
Stop it!
The train starts lurching forward sporadically as the BANGING gets louder and more frenzied. The Narrator grabs hold of one of the bars and hangs on for dear life while simultaneously POUNDING on the glass trying to get the attention of the absent conductor.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Cut it out!
The voice of the Conductor, or what used to be the Conductor comes over the speaker.
CONDUCTOR (ON SPEAKER) (distorted)
Stay in your seat... we’ll be arriving shortly...
NARRATOR
What the fuck is going on? I’m
gonna die on this train all because that prick made me work late. Oh, Christ. I swear if I make it off this train I’ll stop smoking when I’m drunk. I’ll stop lying about going to church. I’ll even start flossing!
The train picks up speed and then jerks to a stop as the noise reaches a zenith. As the train halts, so does the cacophonous orchestra of sound.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Is it over? We’re still not at a
station. What do I do?
The doors to the car open, answering the Narrator’s question. They walk over slowly and peer out the open doorway. There is nothing there. No light, no tracks, no other cars. The dark has absorbed everything, even sound.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Wait... Where is everything? Where did the other cars go? I can’t see
anything. No cars, no lights, nothing...
The voice of the Conductor breaks the silence.
CONDUCTOR (ON SPEAKER) (distorted)
This train... is out of... service.
NARRATOR
Guess I should get out and just
walk to the next station. Just hop out and get to walking, nothing to- ahhhhhh!
The Narrator jumps out of the car and starts free-falling through an inky void. They land with a THUD on top of the train car.
INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - TOP OF TRAIN - NIGHT
NARRATOR
Oof! What the fuck?... Am I on top
of the train? That’s not possible, it can’t be. I just jumped out the door!
They start crawling towards the back of the train. The metal dents and pops back into place as they do.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
How do I get down from here? Maybe
I can- No, that won’t work. What about... yeah, that’s it.
They maneuver about on top of the train trying to figure out how to get down. Their sneakers squeak on the glass as they try to climb down the side with the windows, but decide against it. They instead climb down the back using the chains blocking the door as a makeshift ladder.
INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - TRACKS - NIGHT
The Narrator lands on the ground with a soft
NARRATOR
Hey! The tracks are back. Let’s
hope the next station is still there.
The Narrator starts walking down the tracks, kicking up rocks in their wake. There’s a steady dripping sound, but other than that it’s fairly quiet. The Narrator’s voice echoes slightly down the tunnel.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Can’t see a damn thing down here. Oh wait, why don’t I just use the flashlight on my- oh, that’s why.
Of course my phone’s dead. Just put one foot in front of the other and you’ll be there before you know it.
There’s a sound of scurrying and squeaking. Tiny paws click against metal.
NARRATOR (CONT’D) Ah! God damn rats.
The Narrator starts walking quicker, more urgently. There’s a metallic scraping and some banging which causes the Narrator to break out into a jog.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Oh, man. I should have stayed in the train. Why did I get out? I’m not suited for this. I don’t even jog above ground. Why did I think it would be a good idea to start now?
As the Narrator continues jogging their breathing gets more labored. While they’re jogging, soft whispering voices start talking. They are slow at first, but as the narrator continues their complaining the voices increase in speed and urgency.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
I should be at the station by
now.... Maybe, there’s not a station.... Maybe I’m dead, maybe I’m in some kind of weird purgatory, or hell, or something. Maybe I’m-
The Narrator’s thoughts and the whispers are interrupted by the sound of a train coming down the tracks with speed.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
Is that-? Oh, no, no, no, no, no. That can’t be the train, it can’t
be!
The Narrator starts sprinting down the tracks as fast as they can. The train gets louder and louder as the Narrator screams.
NARRATOR (CONT’D)
I don’t want to die down here. I
can’t die down here. Don’t let me die down here! Help! Anyone! Please! Help! Help m-
The Narrator’s cries are cut short as they are struck by the train. The sound of the train cuts out immediately after the Narrator is struck. We hear a faint bit of laughter, then complete silence for a time. Then we hear footsteps running downstairs into the subway station. And then we hear a new voice. The doors open with a ding to greet the NEXT VICTIM
INT. SUBWAY STATION - NIGHT
NEXT VICTIM
I’m gonna have to call you back I’m
getting on the train...
The doors close and we hear the demonic voice of the Conductor from the speakers.
CONDUCTOR (ON SPEAKER) (distorted)
Stand clear of the closing doors, please.
FADE OUT.
