"What's next?"
The question was met with blank stares from everyone around the conference table.
"Come on people, surely we've got some suggestions knockin' around those well-paid craniums. Someone just pipe up."
More blank stares. A few crew members looked away, like they hoped like hell Berman wouldn't call on them. They got their wish when the intern cleared her throat and spoke up.
"Hellingly." she said in a small voice. Everyone around the table cringed and groaned.
"What's that umm.. uhh.. Who are you again?" Berman asked.
"S-Sam. I just started here last week." she answered as her face flushed. Her nerves were getting the better of her. Berman's temper was legendary and Sam did not want to start out in her new job on his shit list.
"Ok Sam, tell me about this place that makes everyone here roll their eyes."
"Sir, she's new. She doesn't -"
"I'm taking to Sam here Sharon. Not you. Shut it."
Sam gulped. "I was just throwing a name out there since everyone seemed to be out of ideas. Hellingly's never been done, it's cost-effective since it's nearby, and well, the rumours about the place fit our criteria for the show." Sam could tell Berman was actually listening to her and that gave her the strength to continue. "Because it's isolated we wouldn't need to worry about the looky-loos, and I believe only a minimal crew is needed: 2 cameras, 1 sound tech and of course Jason and Emma. I had this idea that they could carry their own small digicams with night vision and we could intercut with their footage."
"Sounds like you've given this some thought." Berman said.
"A little. I've been working towards this internship for a while. I never really knew why Hellingly wasn't explored for the show since it's so close. I've been out there a couple of times myself and it seems perfect."
"Except for the part where it's possibly the scariest place I've ever seen." said Emma. "Look, do you think we've never looked into it? Of course we know it's nearby. We've scouted it, researched it and know what we found? The place has the most gruesome history I've ever seen. I'm talking experimenting on the patients. Mengele-like stuff only these experiments make Mengele look like Doctor fucking Sunshine."
"Emma don't you think enough time has passed-"
"No. The place is too disturbing. I felt it when I went out to scout it. I never felt such an onslaught of psychic vibrations. There is something there and it doesn't want trespassers. I already put my foot down about the place when it was brought up before. I'll do it again. I'm not gong there." Emma sat back in her chair and glared at Sam who looked taken aback.
"I didn't realize Emma. I'm sorry."
Berman watch the two women closely. He could see real fear in Emma's eyes. She was a good host. She downplayed her psychic abilities when she was on camera and he liked that. He didn't believe in that crap and he would bet his substantial fortune that most of the country didn't either. So he let her use her 'abilities' to pick out locations for the show, but when it came to hosting it, he'd made it clear that she should leave the theatrics to Jason. So to hear Emma play her psychic card as a reason not to go to Hellingly surprised him.
