In the Presence of Things Unseen

by William J. Meyer

Sometime after the war, the new recruit of a secretive Clinic is dismayed when she is prematurely thrust into the line of duty and forced to communicate with an ancient, extra-dimensional intelligence. The terrifying experience triggers confrontational memories of her recently deceased brother, invites the erosion of her ethics, and underscores the Clinic’s promise of power.

An Atomic Gothic sci-fi story set in...

Sometime after the war, the new recruit of a secretive Clinic is dismayed when she is prematurely thrust into the line of duty and forced to communicate with an ancient, extra-dimensional intelligence. The terrifying experience triggers confrontational memories of her recently deceased brother, invites the erosion of her ethics, and underscores the Clinic’s promise of power.

An Atomic Gothic sci-fi story set in a fictitious nation during the 1950s.

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In the Presence of Things Unseen

Character Information

1F, 2M, 3X (or more).
'Rebekah' ought to be younger than 'Professor' to accentuate the apprentice/master dynamic.
'The TIR Machine' can be doubled or pre-recorded.
'The Intelligence' can be doubled, pre-recorded, or created through sound design.
'Technicians' can be implied, pre-recorded, removed, or played by two or more performers.
  • Rebekah
    Apprentice.
    Curious, determined, rash.
    Young adult
    Any
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Professor
    Instructor.
    Smug, deceptive, warm.
    Older adult
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Jacob
    Rebekah’s brother.
    Troubled, eager, anxious.
    Young adult
    Any
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Leonard / Leonore
    Clinic Director.
    Stoic, stern, egotistic.
    Middle-aged
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      40s,
      50s
  • Technicians
    Various support crew.
    Frantic, earnest, thorough.
    Can be implied, removed, or two or more performers.
    Any Adult Age
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • The TIR Machine
    Translates for The Intelligence, speaks in a slow modulated pitch, an analog computer resembling an accordion mixed with a typewriter, worn with straps over the chest.
    Calm, casual, insistent.
    Can be doubled or pre-recorded.
    Any Adult Age
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+
  • The Intelligence
    Ancient extra-dimensional entity, communicates in deep guttural animal sounds.
    Inscrutable.
    Can be doubled or pre-recorded.
    Any Adult Age
    Any
    Any
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s,
      40s,
      50s,
      60s,
      70s+

Development History

  • Reading, Dramatists Guild End of Play Virtual Table Reading, 2021