[now playing... me & my dog by boygenius]

[camera clicks on, shaky as it shows CASS's face, dark hair framing their face. Light streams in from a nearby window.]

CASS: Okay. Here I am. Your favorite wannabe ghost hunter. Or, rather, creature hunter. Here within precisely [they check their watch, then the calendar on the wall behind them. One of the dates is circled thrice over, blurred words written in the middle. CASS looks back at the camera.] two days and fifteen hours, my friends and I will be on the road. Probably for a long while. Note to self: this trip will probably take up quite a bit of the summer. But it's worth it, I hope.

CASS: [a beat later] Oh, and another note to self: ask Callen about how long it will take later.

[CASS stands, and the camera goes shaky as they pick it up. They flip the camera away from them to show something on the wall]

CASS: Here's my master plan, in all its glory. My map.

[There is a map of the United States thumb-tacked to the wall, red points with names written next to them scribbled over the map.]

CASS: We can start here, heading to Ojai Valley. It's not far from here. [CASS traces the general path with their finger as they speak] Then head off to the east, loop around, then finish back up here, near L.A.  We're only going to visit places in the continental U.S., none of us really have to funds or the time to go to Alaska or Hawaii. So we'll stay here.

UNKNOWN: [offscreen] Hey, Cass, can you come downstairs please? Your father and I need to talk to you.

CASS: [looking away, to the right] Okay.

[The camera clicks and the screen goes dark.]

[Camera clicks on, showing CASS, seemingly sitting at a desk. It's dark now, and the lighting is dim and warm from a nearby standing lamp. CASS's face is barely discernable.]

CASS: Sorry about that. My parents—don't exactly want me to do this. [They rub their face with their hand, stretching the skin of their face downward. Their hand drops, and CASS looks away from the camera to the left, seemingly peering outside. Faint shouts can be heard off-camera.]

CASS: [still turned toward the left, eyes searching] Uh, I really hope this will work out. I really, really want to do this. I guess searching for cryptids in the woods behind my house isn't enough. I think I need more. And I need my friends to join me. [They look back at the camera, a small smile on their face.] You know, cause friends make it better. Everything. Also, multiple witnesses is way better than just one. Although I suppose you guys—

[CASS's voice fades as more shouts are heard off-camera, then the separate shouts all merge into one pitch, a long, whining sound, faint but near. CASS stands quickly, and in their hurry, the camera tips sideways. Then the camera shakes and blurs as CASS picks it up, cradling it between their hands and facing it toward the window. The camera blurs, then focuses on the woodsy area outside, tall grass leading to taller trees. And there—somewhere in the darkness, in the thin gap where the grass breaks for the trees, a faint figure stands, dark and solitary. CASS's breath hitches. The camera shakes and unfocuses, but when it returns to clarity, the figure is gone.]

CASS: [off-camera] I don't... what was that? [CASS flips the camera back around roughly to show their face. Through the fear on their face, the uncertainty, there's hope. CASS smiles, a little bit.] What a way to start off this journey, huh?

[Screen goes dark.]

[Camera begins rolling, showing a dark room supposedly adjacent to CASS's.]

[CASS gently taps on the open door as they enter the room.]

CASS: Christ, Callen, why is it so dark in here?

CALLEN: [voice muffled] Because I'm trying to sleep.

[CASS's hand reaches to a nearby lamp and pulls the metal cord to turn it on. CALLEN groans at the bright light. CASS sets the camera down on the desk next to the lamp, angling it so it shows both CASS and CALLEN.]

CALLEN: [voice still muffled] What do you want, Cass? If it's my mouse again, you already know it's next to my Mac from the last time you stole it.

CASS: Callen, don't be so ridiculous. You don't know it was me who stole it.

CALLEN: [looking over his shoulder at CASS from the bed] I had to clean off the coffee stains you got on it.

CASS: Okay, yeah, it was me. Anyway, about the trip—

CALLEN: Yeah, I already booked the tickets for the hotel in Ojai.

CASS: No, well, yeah, thank you, but the thing is, I saw something.

CALLEN: What does seeing something have to do with the trip? Wait— [CALLEN sits upright.]

CASS: [nods] Yep. I saw a Thing. Outside. Right in front of the woods.

CALLEN: That Thing? Again?

CASS: Ye— [they pause.] Wait, again?

CALLEN: Oh, shit, I never told you, did I?

CASS: Why wouldn't you—

CALLEN: I didn't want to get you—like this. [He gestures vaguely to them.]

CASS: Well you should've told be anyway. "Like this" [they gesture to themself vaguely] or not. Do you know what the Thing is?

CALLEN: Probably just some shadow spirit or something. It doesn't seem malevolent. I haven't seen it come close to the house.

CASS: Or maybe it's gathering strength so it can leave the woods?

CALLEN: Jesus Christ, Cass, do you seriously want everything to be able to kill us?

CASS: God, no, Callen! Of course I don't want that.

CALLEN: Okay.

CASS: I guess I just want things to be...interesting. Shadow spirits aren't the most interesting.

CALLEN: Jesus. [He sighs, turning away and laying back down.]

CASS: Anyway, I've been plotting the route we should take. How do you feel about the Demon Road in Texas?

CALLEN: [voice slightly muffed by blankets] You want to go to the Demon Road? Really, Cass? You know what's there.

CASS: Of course I know. That's why I want to go.

CALLEN: [over his shoulder to look at CASS] You want to expose your friends to that kind of energy? A demon is bad news. That's scary shit. Do you want to get followed?

CASS: I know, I just—I want to go there. Experience it. You know.

CALLEN: And you're fine with putting everyone in danger for that? Cassie, think of your friends. This trip isn't just about you and your cryptids, right?

CASS: I—

[They pause. It's silent as CASS's eyes stare at CALLEN and CALLEN stares back, lips pursed.]

CASS: [quietly] It's for my friends, Callen. We won't get hurt, I'll make sure of it.

[CALLEN looks like he wants to say more, but says nothing.]

CALLEN: Okay. 

[END EPISODE ZERO.]