EXT. JUNGLE – NIGHT 

Rain drips from the thick jungle canopy. The HUM OF INSECTS echoes in the wet darkness.

DR. WORD (50s), rugged and weathered, pushes through dense foliage, holding a flickering torch. His clothes are damp and torn from travel. He pauses, eyes scanning the dark.

DR. WORD

Sumatra. Congo. Appalachia. Every place a name—every name a shadow. They say the Yeren whistles like a child. I heard it. Twice. In Hubei.The Bunyip? Saw the ripples. No wind. No boat. Just... watching.And the Wendigo—

(pause)

Best not to speak its name too loud.

(DR. WORD moves UPSTAGE. A BRANCH SNAPS beneath his boot. He stops, listening. The jungle stills.)

There’s something ancient in these places.

Not evil. Just... older than our fear.

(A beat. Then—)

SFX: A DEEP, GUTTURAL ROAR from the darkness behind him.

(pause)

DR. WORD

(whispers)

That’s new.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

V.O. (HOST):

Welcome to the wide, weird, and wonderful world of cryptozoology—for those of you who are just tuning in, that's the study of animals that science hasn’t officially recognized. Yet, anyways.

Now, let’s be clear: cryptozoology isn’t just about proving Bigfoot exists. It’s about chasing whispers. Following strange footprints. Digging into folklore and asking—what if there’s truth behind the legend? It's about being naturally curious about natural (and sometimes unnatural) creatures.

Mainstream science may scoff, but cryptozoologists? They take the stories seriously. They go to the source: the deep woods, the shadowy lakes, the dusty villages.

And sometimes? Real creatures are found. The okapi and the coelacanth were both considered mythical, absolutely made-up creatures—until people eventually proved otherwise.

So - stay curious, Hivers. Tomorrow we'll be discussing our recent adventure out to Folly Beach, South Carolina in search of the Folly Beach Monster!