Case Study – Savannah Ghost Walk Script

1. Script Excerpt (Opening + Madison Square Segment)

Guide (stage whisper):
“Welcome to Madison Square—where Savannah’s oaks drip Spanish moss, and the air itself seems to hold its breath. In 1829, beneath this very soil, a yellow-fever pit yawned open. The city’s solution? Mass graves—layer upon layer of the newly dead, hastily shrouded, hastily forgotten. Walk softly; you are treading on the restless.”

That single paragraph sets tone, stakes, and historical anchor in 34 seconds. The full script continues through Chippewa Square, Colonial Park Cemetery, and the Marshall House basement, each section clocking 8–10 minutes and ending with a cliff-hanger to keep the group moving.

2. Annotated Historical Sources

City of Savannah Board of Health Minutes, 1829 – confirms yellow-fever burial procedures.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, 1885 – verifies Madison Square dimensions and adjacent structures.
Georgia Historical Society Vertical Files – eyewitness account of nocturnal “lantern lights,” 1878.
“Savannah Spectres” by Margaret Wayt DeBolt – secondary corroboration of Marshall House apparitions.
Library of Congress Chronicling America – Savannah Morning News, 19 Sept 1888 (funeral procession detail).

3. AI Prompt Chain (Runtime Optimization)

Step 1 – “Hook & Stakes” Prompt

Prompt:
"Write a 40-word hook for a Savannah ghost tour that introduces Madison Square, references the 1829 yellow-fever pit, and ends with a suspenseful metaphor. Tone: eerie yet respectful."

Step 2 – “Compress & Cliff-hanger” Prompt

Prompt:
"Trim the following paragraph to 28 seconds spoken time (~58 words) while preserving historical fact and suspense. End with an open question."

Step 3 – “Voice & Fluff Remover” Prompt

Prompt:
"Remove filler words, redundant adjectives, and generic phrases. Replace with visceral, place-specific imagery."

After three passes, the segment shrank from 2 min 12 sec to 1 min 48 sec without losing narrative punch.