1
00:01:03,946 --> 00:01:09,805
CREDITS

2
00:02:01,229 --> 00:02:02,283
Morning.

3
00:02:55,408 --> 00:02:57,710
Please give it to me. Please.

4
00:02:58,945 --> 00:03:00,346
Hey, man.

5
00:03:00,824 --> 00:03:02,125
Gimme or else...

6
00:03:02,882 --> 00:03:04,217
I'll fuckin' kill you.

7
00:03:08,888 --> 00:03:10,823
All right, just chill.

8
00:03:11,591 --> 00:03:12,800
Just know I'll be back,

9
00:03:12,825 --> 00:03:14,327
and I won't be so nice next time.

10
00:03:21,901 --> 00:03:23,603
I see you're makin' friends.

11
00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:28,529
I'm drownin' in 'em.

12
00:03:29,890 --> 00:03:33,327
In fact, a few of 'em
may wanna drown me.

13
00:03:43,289 --> 00:03:44,357
You learnin'?

14
00:03:44,891 --> 00:03:47,068
I'd better be... given the price tag.

15
00:03:47,093 --> 00:03:49,162
Hey, it'll be worth it.

16
00:03:49,862 --> 00:03:52,507
You know if I'd go back in time,
I'd be doin' the same thing.

17
00:03:52,532 --> 00:03:56,144
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Goodnight, old man.

18
00:03:56,169 --> 00:03:58,771
- Oh, fuck that "old man" shit!
- Be safe.

19
00:03:59,134 --> 00:04:00,469
You know me.

20
00:04:00,914 --> 00:04:02,049
I'll be good.

21
00:04:33,885 --> 00:04:36,627
_

22
00:05:12,251 --> 00:05:14,649
Yo, Anton!

23
00:05:15,337 --> 00:05:18,118
Hey. I was just about to call you, man.

24
00:05:19,537 --> 00:05:21,209
You seein' this shit?

25
00:05:22,355 --> 00:05:23,289
Yeah.

26
00:05:24,457 --> 00:05:25,491
What is it?

27
00:05:27,460 --> 00:05:28,494
I dunno.

28
00:05:29,395 --> 00:05:31,331
But it's been here all night.

29
00:05:33,325 --> 00:05:34,400
Creepy.

30
00:05:59,892 --> 00:06:01,761
It doesn't reflect the light.

31
00:06:09,402 --> 00:06:11,337
I think you oughta head in for now.

32
00:06:16,216 --> 00:06:18,786
Go on. Go on.

33
00:06:20,613 --> 00:06:22,615
I'll let you know
if it does anything interesting.

34
00:06:23,926 --> 00:06:25,051
Promise.

35
00:07:21,808 --> 00:07:23,751
Stand back. Call the police.

36
00:07:23,776 --> 00:07:25,511
Do you think it's a camera or something?

37
00:07:26,245 --> 00:07:27,480
Like it's watching us?

38
00:07:28,114 --> 00:07:30,383
No, this is some extraterrestrial shit.

39
00:07:31,203 --> 00:07:33,001
Yeah, this thing's probably
runnin' experiments

40
00:07:33,027 --> 00:07:34,362
you don't even wanna know about.

41
00:07:34,387 --> 00:07:35,822
Anything happen last night?

42
00:07:36,589 --> 00:07:38,791
Is there a reason we're
all crowded around this thing?

43
00:07:41,327 --> 00:07:42,695
You know what this is, Tim?

44
00:07:44,497 --> 00:07:45,498
Not really.

45
00:07:46,432 --> 00:07:48,634
Then why the hell you
standing so damn close to it?

46
00:08:02,982 --> 00:08:06,319
Honey, you don't get near
this thing, you hear?

47
00:08:07,319 --> 00:08:09,483
Why don't you head for the car?
It's time for school.

48
00:08:18,097 --> 00:08:20,566
Y'all just can't wait to be
late for work today, huh?

49
00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:23,736
There ain't nothin' to see here.
Let's go, let's go!

50
00:08:24,243 --> 00:08:25,471
Have a nice day.

51
00:08:42,588 --> 00:08:44,357
Fuck me...

52
00:08:50,681 --> 00:08:52,498
You really think it's dangerous?

53
00:08:53,566 --> 00:08:55,034
I mean, it could be anything.

54
00:08:57,182 --> 00:08:58,358
Yeah.

55
00:08:58,571 --> 00:08:59,872
It could be anything.

56
00:09:00,573 --> 00:09:02,375
And that includes a lotta options.

57
00:09:04,744 --> 00:09:06,045
Not all of 'em great.

58
00:09:28,306 --> 00:09:30,540
_

59
00:09:34,822 --> 00:09:37,337
_

60
00:09:46,213 --> 00:09:48,908
_

61
00:09:48,933 --> 00:09:51,603
_

62
00:09:54,392 --> 00:09:56,329
_

63
00:09:58,432 --> 00:10:01,212
_

64
00:10:01,237 --> 00:10:05,797
_

65
00:10:05,869 --> 00:10:08,141
_

66
00:11:04,830 --> 00:11:06,665
Hey, what's going on down there?

67
00:11:06,691 --> 00:11:08,059
Come on!

68
00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:10,295
Shut the fuck up!

69
00:11:13,174 --> 00:11:14,742
Bill, is that you?

70
00:11:18,811 --> 00:11:20,179
Be quiet!

71
00:11:21,847 --> 00:11:23,282
Are you okay?

72
00:11:24,350 --> 00:11:25,384
Fuck.

73
00:11:46,492 --> 00:11:49,600
Hey, Ethan, right?

74
00:11:51,038 --> 00:11:52,311
Mind if I get a picture?

75
00:11:52,912 --> 00:11:53,946
No can do.

76
00:11:54,729 --> 00:11:56,230
Boss said no nonsense and...

77
00:11:57,082 --> 00:11:58,584
that looks like some nonsense.

78
00:11:59,585 --> 00:12:00,895
Who's the boss?

79
00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:02,088
- Bill.
- Right.

80
00:12:03,055 --> 00:12:04,090
Of course.

81
00:12:05,558 --> 00:12:07,026
But this isn't nonsense...

82
00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:08,996
it's science.

83
00:12:09,595 --> 00:12:11,230
Trying to learn about it, you know?

84
00:12:12,398 --> 00:12:14,867
So, can we make an exception?

85
00:12:17,223 --> 00:12:18,925
Experiments have consequences, man.

86
00:12:21,207 --> 00:12:24,018
Anton, who the fuck deputized this guy?

87
00:12:24,043 --> 00:12:26,078
Hey, hey. Big man.

88
00:12:26,278 --> 00:12:28,414
Now, we ain't lookin' for trouble.

89
00:12:29,489 --> 00:12:30,677
Right?

90
00:12:30,797 --> 00:12:31,974
Alright. Look, man.

91
00:12:32,418 --> 00:12:34,918
Everyone's got their own comfort
level with this shit, right?

92
00:12:35,721 --> 00:12:38,591
Well, this? This is my comfort level.

93
00:12:39,391 --> 00:12:42,294
So if you don't want the guards
walkin' around with guns, fine.

94
00:12:42,823 --> 00:12:44,530
You're free to guard
this thing yourself.

95
00:13:00,652 --> 00:13:02,014
What do you think is inside, man?

96
00:13:03,088 --> 00:13:05,265
I hear things... around.

97
00:13:05,291 --> 00:13:07,060
From who? I mean,

98
00:13:07,483 --> 00:13:09,318
this is crazy.

99
00:13:12,250 --> 00:13:13,259
Listen.

100
00:13:14,725 --> 00:13:18,195
I don't know for a fact that
this thing is dangerous, okay?

101
00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:21,037
But you don't know for a fact
that it ain't dangerous,

102
00:13:21,063 --> 00:13:23,420
and you're standing
real fuckin' close to it

103
00:13:23,446 --> 00:13:25,366
with no goddamn protection.

104
00:13:26,005 --> 00:13:27,039
So...

105
00:13:28,602 --> 00:13:29,912
who's the crazy one?

106
00:13:32,843 --> 00:13:33,879
Fine.

107
00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:35,560
Whatever.

108
00:13:36,230 --> 00:13:38,295
But if you think it's that scary,

109
00:13:38,984 --> 00:13:40,886
why don't you call
the damn police or somethin'?

110
00:13:50,343 --> 00:13:51,486
9-1-1?

111
00:13:51,511 --> 00:13:54,089
Yeah, hi, my name is Bi... Kevin.

112
00:13:54,114 --> 00:13:56,257
I live down at the Greenwood Complex,

113
00:13:56,282 --> 00:13:57,859
corner of 8th and Marley.

114
00:13:57,884 --> 00:13:59,728
And what's the nature of your emergency?

115
00:13:59,753 --> 00:14:02,397
There... there's, somethin' unnatural

116
00:14:02,422 --> 00:14:05,241
here in the neighborhood. It's weird.
I've never seen anything like it.

117
00:14:05,592 --> 00:14:07,527
An unnatural object, sir?

118
00:14:07,726 --> 00:14:09,503
Yeah, yeah. It's hard to explain.

119
00:14:09,529 --> 00:14:12,774
It's, black and murky and shit

120
00:14:12,799 --> 00:14:14,983
and shaped like a perfect square.

121
00:14:15,501 --> 00:14:16,811
It's just kinda...

122
00:14:17,370 --> 00:14:19,906
floating there, maybe
a few inches off the ground.

123
00:14:20,707 --> 00:14:21,883
I'm sorry, sir,

124
00:14:21,908 --> 00:14:24,886
are you saying that
there is a floating black box

125
00:14:24,911 --> 00:14:27,547
that appeared in your neighborhood?

126
00:14:29,015 --> 00:14:30,225
Am I correct?

127
00:14:30,250 --> 00:14:32,427
Look, I know it sounds crazy,

128
00:14:32,452 --> 00:14:34,295
but I'm watchin' it
last night and it, like,

129
00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:35,697
activates out of nowhere.

130
00:14:35,722 --> 00:14:37,766
It makes this crazy fuckin'
sound and goes blank

131
00:14:37,791 --> 00:14:41,136
and just... shit, I'm...
I'm not explaining it right.

132
00:14:41,161 --> 00:14:42,971
But just when you send a unit down,

133
00:14:42,996 --> 00:14:44,372
they will get it, okay?

134
00:14:44,397 --> 00:14:47,275
So, I'm up all night, thinkin' about it.

135
00:14:47,300 --> 00:14:48,668
I-I can't sleep and...

136
00:14:49,803 --> 00:14:51,571
I think this is a government thing.

137
00:14:51,971 --> 00:14:55,850
Like, I was reading about
military tests and we have 100%

138
00:14:55,875 --> 00:14:57,118
tested shit on civilians before.

139
00:14:57,143 --> 00:14:59,609
- I'm sorry, sir. Are you okay?
- Just let me finish!

140
00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:01,514
Let me finish!

141
00:15:02,682 --> 00:15:04,125
Of course, sir.

142
00:15:04,150 --> 00:15:05,460
Please continue.

143
00:15:07,687 --> 00:15:09,931
I think this is a weapon,

144
00:15:09,956 --> 00:15:12,400
and I'm asking you for help
because we're scared.

145
00:15:12,425 --> 00:15:14,327
There's good people here, families.

146
00:15:14,994 --> 00:15:15,995
I have a daughter.

147
00:15:17,831 --> 00:15:20,275
Last night, I think I saw
that fuckin' thing activate.

148
00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:21,976
Where are you located again, sir?

149
00:15:22,001 --> 00:15:23,278
Greenwood Complex.

150
00:15:23,303 --> 00:15:24,904
8th and Marley. Please!

151
00:15:27,173 --> 00:15:29,184
Right. I've filed a report here.

152
00:15:29,209 --> 00:15:31,019
Floating black box at Greenwood Complex.

153
00:15:31,044 --> 00:15:32,145
Is that correct?

154
00:15:34,714 --> 00:15:35,648
Yeah.

155
00:15:36,015 --> 00:15:37,425
- Yeah, that's right.
- Right.

156
00:15:37,450 --> 00:15:40,161
We'll have someone out there
eventually to check out the box.

157
00:15:40,186 --> 00:15:41,663
Maybe check in on your as well.

158
00:15:41,688 --> 00:15:44,828
Just please hurry. We don't have time
to fuck around with this thing, okay?

159
00:15:46,059 --> 00:15:47,794
It is a very large city, sir.

160
00:15:48,261 --> 00:15:49,629
Have a nice day.

161
00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:35,661
What's up, little man?

162
00:18:37,030 --> 00:18:38,498
How did you know it was me?

163
00:18:39,665 --> 00:18:40,708
My business,

164
00:18:40,733 --> 00:18:42,702
gotta have eyes
in the back of your head.

165
00:18:43,669 --> 00:18:45,872
That's why they put
my ass on night watch.

166
00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:48,574
You're not scared?

167
00:18:50,810 --> 00:18:53,713
Lots of people would love
to see me dead.

168
00:18:56,049 --> 00:18:57,350
They scare me a bit.

169
00:18:58,351 --> 00:18:59,352
This?

170
00:19:02,021 --> 00:19:03,998
I'm kinda beginning to enjoy the view.

171
00:19:04,023 --> 00:19:05,391
Yeah, about that...

172
00:19:09,762 --> 00:19:11,406
Check out this view.

173
00:19:11,431 --> 00:19:12,465
Surveillance.

174
00:19:14,267 --> 00:19:15,701
Bill's gonna love this.

175
00:19:25,478 --> 00:19:27,221
I don't know why it isn't showing up,

176
00:19:27,246 --> 00:19:28,548
but I've got some theories.

177
00:19:29,215 --> 00:19:30,550
I need to test 'em.

178
00:19:33,419 --> 00:19:34,695
Be careful about them tests.

179
00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,097
I don't need anyone's permission.

180
00:19:36,122 --> 00:19:39,859
Boy, shut up and listen
for once in your damn life!

181
00:19:44,297 --> 00:19:46,699
People 'round here...

182
00:19:48,434 --> 00:19:49,702
they get a little crazy.

183
00:19:50,937 --> 00:19:53,439
You wanna run experiments,
you run them at night...

184
00:19:54,073 --> 00:19:55,641
when I'm out here with you.

185
00:19:58,444 --> 00:20:00,947
Pullin' stunts during the day,
these folks gonna get scared.

186
00:20:02,365 --> 00:20:03,483
They don't need that.

187
00:20:06,719 --> 00:20:08,588
And what test is so damn important?

188
00:20:10,656 --> 00:20:13,326
I think this is something
that we can just perceive.

189
00:20:16,195 --> 00:20:17,497
So it ain't real?

190
00:20:19,098 --> 00:20:20,099
Kind of.

191
00:20:22,201 --> 00:20:25,171
I need to see
if something from our world,

192
00:20:26,506 --> 00:20:30,276
something tangible, can engage with it.

193
00:20:36,516 --> 00:20:38,551
So what test gonna prove that?

194
00:20:55,701 --> 00:20:57,670
Oh, shit.

195
00:20:59,138 --> 00:21:01,207
Kid, kid, what'd we talk about?

196
00:21:02,175 --> 00:21:03,242
Damn!

197
00:21:04,143 --> 00:21:05,344
Please move.

198
00:21:05,678 --> 00:21:08,389
Son, let's just get you inside.
This ain't necessary.

199
00:21:08,414 --> 00:21:09,492
Why?

200
00:21:09,524 --> 00:21:11,701
Last time I checked,
you don't own Greenwood.

201
00:21:11,851 --> 00:21:13,319
I'm asking you nicely.

202
00:21:13,653 --> 00:21:15,953
What are you gonna do, shoot me?

203
00:21:16,062 --> 00:21:17,974
No, no one's gettin' shot.

204
00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:20,117
These guns ain't for you,
they're for the government.

205
00:21:20,159 --> 00:21:21,671
The what? What does this have to do

206
00:21:21,697 --> 00:21:23,335
- with the government?
- The weapons test, man.

207
00:21:23,531 --> 00:21:24,796
It's imminent.

208
00:21:24,869 --> 00:21:26,374
We're just keepin' people safe.

209
00:21:28,801 --> 00:21:30,903
Must be why everyone feels so secure!

210
00:21:33,606 --> 00:21:35,141
This is fucking stupid.

211
00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:56,762
What did you do?

212
00:21:57,163 --> 00:21:59,232
- Well, I...
- What the fuck did you do?!

213
00:22:06,639 --> 00:22:08,207
Thank you for your attention.

214
00:22:10,776 --> 00:22:12,111
That's enough.

215
00:22:15,548 --> 00:22:18,584
You need to go inside, lock your door,

216
00:22:19,051 --> 00:22:20,653
and pray nothin' else happens.

217
00:22:21,087 --> 00:22:23,022
I don't wanna see you out here again.

218
00:22:24,557 --> 00:22:25,625
Is that clear?

219
00:22:28,794 --> 00:22:29,795
Good.

220
00:22:38,304 --> 00:22:40,106
Now, you have yourself a night, son.

221
00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:48,781
Let's go.

222
00:24:33,185 --> 00:24:35,254
It wasn't my fault, man! I swear!

223
00:24:59,801 --> 00:25:01,952
Shit, Anton?

224
00:25:02,324 --> 00:25:03,391
Anton.

225
00:25:03,416 --> 00:25:06,085
Anton, I'm here.
See, I'm here, I'm here.

226
00:25:06,619 --> 00:25:08,087
Anton, I'm here.

227
00:25:23,602 --> 00:25:24,804
No!

228
00:25:29,316 --> 00:25:30,659
The fuck happened?

229
00:25:33,669 --> 00:25:34,803
Shit!

230
00:25:35,147 --> 00:25:37,483
Bill! Ethan!

231
00:25:53,999 --> 00:25:55,334
He went up there!

232
00:25:57,803 --> 00:25:59,338
There's nowhere to hide, Harris!

233
00:26:08,951 --> 00:26:10,586
Break it the fuck down!

234
00:26:23,662 --> 00:26:24,663
Harris?

235
00:26:26,031 --> 00:26:27,266
We just wanna talk.

236
00:26:31,670 --> 00:26:33,205
We need to know what you saw.

237
00:26:33,906 --> 00:26:36,175
We need to know what that weapon can do.

238
00:27:03,602 --> 00:27:04,603
You mother...

239
00:27:37,870 --> 00:27:40,072
You couldn't have just
left it alone, could you?

240
00:28:01,927 --> 00:28:05,431
You wanna study it so badly, huh?

241
00:28:07,099 --> 00:28:08,801
Tell us what you find.

242
00:29:25,711 --> 00:29:27,078
Where am I?!

243
00:29:27,444 --> 00:29:28,854
Hello?!

244
00:29:48,567 --> 00:29:49,668
Help!

245
00:29:51,336 --> 00:29:52,538
Hello?

246
00:29:54,707 --> 00:29:55,841
Anybody?

247
00:29:56,709 --> 00:29:57,910
Please...

248
00:29:59,078 --> 00:30:00,179
Help me...

249
00:30:22,234 --> 00:30:24,903
Bill! It's me, Harris!

250
00:30:25,571 --> 00:30:26,672
Help!

251
00:31:36,642 --> 00:31:37,676
He'll come out.

252
00:31:41,680 --> 00:31:43,039
He'll come out.

253
00:31:50,022 --> 00:31:52,057
Y'all don't all have
to be out here, you know?

254
00:31:53,859 --> 00:31:55,360
You don't like it, go inside.

255
00:31:58,897 --> 00:31:59,965
Go!

256
00:33:38,897 --> 00:33:41,867
Daddy, when's dinner?

257
00:33:49,527 --> 00:33:50,683
Yeah.

258
00:33:59,106 --> 00:34:01,433
_

259
00:34:14,766 --> 00:34:17,578
Somebody... help me!

260
00:34:22,954 --> 00:34:26,094
_

261
00:34:26,119 --> 00:34:31,726
CREDITS

262
00:34:35,487 --> 00:34:37,164
Welcome back from the void.

263
00:34:37,189 --> 00:34:39,666
Thanks for watching. I'm David Cummings,

264
00:34:39,691 --> 00:34:42,394
the host and creator
of the NoSleep Podcast.

265
00:34:42,861 --> 00:34:45,464
Today, we're joined
by author Matt Dymerski,

266
00:34:45,797 --> 00:34:49,276
writer of the NoSleep story
"The Black Square,"

267
00:34:49,301 --> 00:34:52,145
which we adapted into the episode titled

268
00:34:52,170 --> 00:34:53,505
"Into the Unknown."

269
00:34:54,139 --> 00:34:56,475
Welcome, Matt.
Thanks for being with us today.

270
00:34:56,875 --> 00:34:58,143
Yeah, great to be here.

271
00:34:58,610 --> 00:35:03,490
Now, Matt, you are
a legendary NoSleep author.

272
00:35:03,515 --> 00:35:06,193
You've been around
since the very early days,

273
00:35:06,218 --> 00:35:08,653
and I think we all want to know what

274
00:35:09,054 --> 00:35:10,497
initially drew you to NoSleep.

275
00:35:10,522 --> 00:35:12,766
How did you find it
and how did you decide,

276
00:35:12,791 --> 00:35:15,260
"I want to write
and post on this Subreddit"?

277
00:35:16,628 --> 00:35:18,338
Oh, that's a very great question

278
00:35:18,363 --> 00:35:19,840
because it delves back to the history

279
00:35:19,865 --> 00:35:22,042
that probably most people
don't even know these days,

280
00:35:22,067 --> 00:35:23,668
all the fans of NoSleep.

281
00:35:23,969 --> 00:35:26,713
So before NoSleep,
there was creepypastas,

282
00:35:26,738 --> 00:35:29,816
and they weren't just a thing,
they were an actual website,

283
00:35:29,841 --> 00:35:31,109
Creepypasta.com.

284
00:35:31,543 --> 00:35:34,187
And somehow I found
my way onto these forums,

285
00:35:34,212 --> 00:35:38,025
where just for the forum
community people were posting

286
00:35:38,050 --> 00:35:39,159
these short-form stories

287
00:35:39,184 --> 00:35:41,286
that came to be known
as creepypastas later,

288
00:35:41,586 --> 00:35:44,798
and got involved in that,
and just posting.

289
00:35:44,823 --> 00:35:46,833
Like, no one told us we couldn't,

290
00:35:46,858 --> 00:35:48,068
and we just started doin' it.

291
00:35:48,093 --> 00:35:50,829
And then one day,
Creepypasta.com shut down

292
00:35:51,363 --> 00:35:53,040
and scattered to the wind

293
00:35:53,065 --> 00:35:54,975
and formed all sorts
of different places,

294
00:35:55,000 --> 00:35:58,879
and I didn't even know NoSleep
existed until someone was like,

295
00:35:58,904 --> 00:36:00,605
"Hey, man, we're all posting on NoSleep.

296
00:36:00,839 --> 00:36:04,384
"Let's go check it out."
And I did, and I'm like,

297
00:36:04,409 --> 00:36:06,887
"This is the next evolution
of Creepypasta.com."

298
00:36:06,912 --> 00:36:08,822
I'm like, "I gotta get on here.
I gotta be on here.

299
00:36:08,847 --> 00:36:09,915
"These are my people," you know?

300
00:36:10,315 --> 00:36:13,060
And you've written
a lot of great stories,

301
00:36:13,085 --> 00:36:16,229
and the one that we're
here today to talk about

302
00:36:16,254 --> 00:36:19,733
is "The Black Square,"
and it's an incredible blend.

303
00:36:19,758 --> 00:36:22,594
It's sort of sci-fi, it's horror,

304
00:36:22,894 --> 00:36:26,106
and I'm really curious how
that formulated in your mind.

305
00:36:26,131 --> 00:36:27,332
Where did that come from?

306
00:36:28,300 --> 00:36:29,443
Used... It used to be,

307
00:36:29,468 --> 00:36:31,011
in all horror stories
and movies and stuff,

308
00:36:31,036 --> 00:36:33,413
you know, the '70s, '80s,
all that stuff which, you know,

309
00:36:33,438 --> 00:36:35,082
I feel like is ancient history,
but I'm sure

310
00:36:35,107 --> 00:36:36,683
some people were alive back then,

311
00:36:36,708 --> 00:36:39,920
you'd call the cops...

312
00:36:39,945 --> 00:36:41,621
You'd call the cops, and that's it.

313
00:36:41,646 --> 00:36:42,923
Like, you survive.

314
00:36:42,948 --> 00:36:45,025
The cops show up, they're the good guys,

315
00:36:45,050 --> 00:36:46,293
they blast the bad guy.

316
00:36:46,318 --> 00:36:49,896
But now, the authorities are, at best,

317
00:36:49,921 --> 00:36:52,165
useless and almost now the enemy.

318
00:36:52,190 --> 00:36:55,602
So you think, "Oh, how
do we solve this monster?

319
00:36:55,627 --> 00:36:56,962
"How do we beat this villain?"

320
00:36:58,163 --> 00:36:59,806
In these, especially in modern movies,

321
00:36:59,831 --> 00:37:01,241
it's not about calling the cops anymore.

322
00:37:01,266 --> 00:37:03,477
It's not about getting back
to the rest of society.

323
00:37:03,502 --> 00:37:05,312
Like if you could just
get out of this basement,

324
00:37:05,337 --> 00:37:07,247
you might live, but no, actually,

325
00:37:07,272 --> 00:37:08,907
no one's gonna help you. And in fact,

326
00:37:09,341 --> 00:37:11,952
when the authorities
you used to rely on to save you

327
00:37:11,977 --> 00:37:14,454
are now your enemies,
you are more than alone.

328
00:37:14,479 --> 00:37:17,657
You're in a hostile world that
is not gonna make things better.

329
00:37:17,682 --> 00:37:18,683
They're gonna make it worse.

330
00:37:18,884 --> 00:37:20,760
And that's the core of the
feeling of "The Black Square,"

331
00:37:20,785 --> 00:37:25,165
is you've got this unknown
problem in your neighborhood.

332
00:37:25,190 --> 00:37:26,833
It's a very local, communal problem,

333
00:37:26,858 --> 00:37:28,268
and so no one else cares.

334
00:37:28,293 --> 00:37:30,537
And if you try to get
other people involved,

335
00:37:30,562 --> 00:37:33,974
they're not... they actively
don't want to help,

336
00:37:33,999 --> 00:37:36,176
and if you force them
to see your situation,

337
00:37:36,201 --> 00:37:37,869
they might actually dislike you for it.

338
00:37:38,236 --> 00:37:41,039
Which is, I feel like, a very
relevant feeling these days.

339
00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:43,984
And so, you've created
this neighborhood,

340
00:37:44,009 --> 00:37:48,013
this community, that is very,
very real, very grounded.

341
00:37:48,246 --> 00:37:52,417
And yet within that, you throw
this mysterious, unknown,

342
00:37:52,984 --> 00:37:54,961
obviously a black square.

343
00:37:54,986 --> 00:37:58,156
And so, I'm curious,
what challenges you faced

344
00:37:58,390 --> 00:38:01,535
to try to create a story
where everything is,

345
00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:05,972
really, perfectly normal, except
for this massive abnormality

346
00:38:05,997 --> 00:38:07,232
that they have to deal with.

347
00:38:07,699 --> 00:38:10,310
Number one challenge for this
is threading the line,

348
00:38:10,335 --> 00:38:11,978
making sure the reader doesn't feel

349
00:38:12,003 --> 00:38:14,648
as if this is about
any one thing, or political.

350
00:38:14,673 --> 00:38:16,550
Like, this isn't about politics.

351
00:38:16,575 --> 00:38:18,652
This isn't about any one specific thing.

352
00:38:18,677 --> 00:38:20,020
I was worried, "Okay, number one thing,

353
00:38:20,045 --> 00:38:21,821
"people are gonna think
this is climate change."

354
00:38:21,846 --> 00:38:26,051
And yes, it's partly that,
but I think the biggest theme

355
00:38:26,518 --> 00:38:28,862
is that we are facing monsters
in our real lives

356
00:38:28,887 --> 00:38:30,388
that are of cosmic scale.

357
00:38:30,689 --> 00:38:32,065
They are bigger than any one person.

358
00:38:32,090 --> 00:38:34,868
There's literally nothing an
individual person can do

359
00:38:34,893 --> 00:38:37,529
against this or even
understand its full scope,

360
00:38:37,862 --> 00:38:40,440
and I want the reader to understand

361
00:38:40,465 --> 00:38:42,409
this is bigger than
any one specific thing,

362
00:38:42,434 --> 00:38:43,810
because I don't want them to tune out.

363
00:38:43,835 --> 00:38:45,078
I don't want them to just be like,

364
00:38:45,103 --> 00:38:47,172
"Oh, I know what this is about,"
and, you know, dismiss it.

365
00:38:47,472 --> 00:38:52,177
And in a story like this,
you have this menacing object,

366
00:38:52,444 --> 00:38:56,056
and yet I feel that the story
draws so much horror on

367
00:38:56,081 --> 00:38:58,758
the interaction between
the people, the neighbors.

368
00:38:58,783 --> 00:39:00,952
Was that sort of an intentional
theme you went with?

369
00:39:01,253 --> 00:39:03,463
Oh, absolutely,
'cause at the end of the day,

370
00:39:03,488 --> 00:39:06,633
these monsters don't exist,
but other people do.

371
00:39:06,658 --> 00:39:09,569
And we feel this feeling every
single day when we're out there,

372
00:39:09,594 --> 00:39:10,604
and we're thinking,

373
00:39:10,629 --> 00:39:12,272
"Oh, it's obvious what we should do.

374
00:39:12,297 --> 00:39:14,541
"Like, we should, I don't know,
stop emitting carbon.

375
00:39:14,566 --> 00:39:15,709
"Why don't we just do that?"

376
00:39:15,734 --> 00:39:17,877
And when then you actually have to go

377
00:39:17,902 --> 00:39:19,579
and try to convince other people to,

378
00:39:19,604 --> 00:39:21,506
for example, stop emitting carbon,

379
00:39:21,940 --> 00:39:24,317
you run into all these surprise problems

380
00:39:24,342 --> 00:39:25,452
and different perspectives.

381
00:39:25,477 --> 00:39:27,921
You know, like, "How could
you possibly think that?"

382
00:39:27,946 --> 00:39:30,190
And they think the same about you

383
00:39:30,215 --> 00:39:31,424
because everyone is just trying

384
00:39:31,449 --> 00:39:32,959
to make their own way
in a colossal system

385
00:39:32,984 --> 00:39:35,895
that has become its own cosmic entity

386
00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:37,330
that we can't do anything to stop.

387
00:39:37,355 --> 00:39:39,666
And it's interesting,
if you're old like me,

388
00:39:39,691 --> 00:39:41,468
you'll remember "The Twilight Zone,"

389
00:39:41,493 --> 00:39:44,104
and back in the old
black and white days,

390
00:39:44,129 --> 00:39:45,505
and there's a great episode called

391
00:39:45,530 --> 00:39:47,307
"The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,"

392
00:39:47,332 --> 00:39:50,677
and there's very similar themes
that are going on there.

393
00:39:50,702 --> 00:39:51,646
Oh, absolutely.

394
00:39:51,671 --> 00:39:53,446
I grew up on "The Twilight Zone."

395
00:39:53,471 --> 00:39:54,447
I absolutely loved it.

396
00:39:54,472 --> 00:39:56,274
I have almost all
the episodes memorized.

397
00:39:56,508 --> 00:39:58,685
And every couple years,
I'll see one more episode

398
00:39:58,710 --> 00:40:00,053
I haven't seen before and be like,

399
00:40:00,078 --> 00:40:02,355
"How did I miss this?
I've seen all the marathons."

400
00:40:02,380 --> 00:40:03,890
And it's absolutely inspired

401
00:40:03,915 --> 00:40:05,950
by "The Monsters Are Due
on Maple Street"

402
00:40:06,251 --> 00:40:07,994
because in "The Black Square,"

403
00:40:08,019 --> 00:40:09,896
the black square doesn't
even really do anything.

404
00:40:09,921 --> 00:40:12,132
It's all people tearing each other apart

405
00:40:12,157 --> 00:40:13,558
because of the fear of the unknown.

406
00:40:13,825 --> 00:40:15,860
Like, "The Monsters Are Due
on Maple Street"

407
00:40:16,261 --> 00:40:18,672
had a great plot, a great thesis,

408
00:40:18,697 --> 00:40:21,266
that fear in the unknown
can tear us apart,

409
00:40:21,499 --> 00:40:24,110
and the aliens kind of,
I think, judge us for it, where,

410
00:40:24,135 --> 00:40:26,446
"Oh, all we had to do was set
them against each other and..."

411
00:40:26,471 --> 00:40:28,014
But I don't think that's the case.

412
00:40:28,039 --> 00:40:30,784
I think we will overcome that.

413
00:40:30,809 --> 00:40:34,788
It's not that we're greedy
or selfish or paranoid,

414
00:40:34,813 --> 00:40:37,490
it's that we just have to come
to understand each other,

415
00:40:37,515 --> 00:40:39,526
and that will help us get back to, like,

416
00:40:39,551 --> 00:40:41,661
a real sense of community in society.

417
00:40:41,686 --> 00:40:43,496
Matt, great to talk to you.

418
00:40:43,521 --> 00:40:47,100
Thank you for years
of great stories and for sharing

419
00:40:47,125 --> 00:40:48,401
"The Black Square" with us,

420
00:40:48,426 --> 00:40:50,136
and thanks for being with us tonight.

421
00:40:50,161 --> 00:40:51,696
Yeah, always great working with you.

422
00:40:52,597 --> 00:40:55,175
Thanks for joining us
for this exclusive interview

423
00:40:55,200 --> 00:40:56,768
with our NoSleep writers.

424
00:40:57,035 --> 00:40:59,371
We look forward to you
joining us next time.