MOONBASE THETA, OUT – S4 Episode 2 – “Read From The Beginning”
by D.J. Sylvis
ANNOUNCER
Moonbase Theta, Out – a Monkeyman Productions Podcast. Season 4, Episode 2 – “Read From The Beginning”
INTRO
SOUND: Planetwide Media Theme
BARNETT BELL
(she’s sounding a bit too cheerful; note pronunciation below is “Thee-aw-fil-us”)
– that was at the end of my tour, sitting beside a broken-down Rover just beyond the reach of Base Eta. The granola wound up at the bottom of the Theophilus crater, adding my own personal entry to that list of human-made items that have been left, or …
(hitting this a bit harder)
… abandoned, on the surface of the Moon. Who knows, maybe one day they’ll recover it for that museum on Base Epsilon, which would be quite the adventure – since that’s where the granola came from to start with!
(suddenly flat)
Maybe. If any of those Bases are ever reactivated. Or explored.
(the briefest of pauses)
And that’s this week’s installment of “My Time on the Moon, With Barnett Bell.”
ANNOUNCER
Thank you, Barnett. Sounds like they should put the Moon on one of the NYC trash routes!
BARNETT BELL
It couldn’t hurt.
ANNOUNCER
And that’s it for our broadcast this evening. We’re sending all of the best from the Planetwide Media team to our listeners. Good night, and good news.
SOUND: Planetwide Media Theme
Note – there may be advertisements inserted at this point in the episode
SCENE ONE
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SOUND: Outside background in North Africa – camp / compound feel, outside business going on in the background, occasional vehicles / voices
SOUND: Van pulling in, shutting off ignition, door opening
(Note that Elio is definitely sounding more mature by this point compared to last season.)
ELIO
Van Three is here! Everyone, grab the hampers marked for Van Three!
SOUND: Footsteps shuffling
TECHNO 1
(background, mumbling)
Bad enough I have to make this stuff, now I’m hauling it around …
FREE FOLK 1
(background as well, overlapping)
The vegan kofta. I’ve got it marked.
SOUND: The van shifting as Elio moves around
ELIO
Thank you. Just set that here, on the edge.
SOUND: Boxes sliding
SOUND: Dogs barking, collars jingling
ELIO
Now girls, we’ve been through this. No dogs in the van!
SOUND: Dogs barking happily
NASHWA
They followed me over. None of us could resist the smell of food.
ELIO
Nashwa!
NASHWA
Hey there. I’ll take that.
FREE FOLK 1
Wait, that’s the vegan –
ELIO
You don’t have to help, we’ve got this.
NASHWA
I’m not going to watch you work. Or miss a chance at the leftovers.
SOUND: Dogs barking
NASHWA
Cas, Pol, Elio’s right. Go on, go find your friends!
SOUND: Dogs barking, fading as they run off
ELIO
Have they been playing nice? They forget how big they are sometimes.
NASHWA
You don’t have to tell me! They’ve knocked me down a time or two. Here.
(they grunt as they lift a box into the van)
But not on purpose.
TECHNO 1
(muttering, background)
No, let me go get the next cart …
NASHWA
Where is this load headed?
ELIO
I’m not sure.
SOUND: Nashwa banging on the van door
NASHWA
Hey, who’s up there?
SOUND: Rolling down the window
NAC 1
Evening, Nashwa.
NASHWA
Zane. I should have known you’d be hiding out from hard work.
NAC 1
That’s not fair.
NASHWA
Where are you heading?
NAC 1
To the camps out on the coast.
NASHWA
They got the traffic moving again?
NAC 1
I can make it most of the way.
NASHWA
That’s something. Maybe we’ll get people back soon.
SOUNDS: Faintly, rapid footsteps approaching
FREE FOLK 1
I think this is the last hot hamper –
ELENA
(still a bit distant, arguing – she respects Nima, but they aren’t quite friends)
I’m not saying I don’t understand your position, but –
NIMA
(similarly, moving closer)
My position is four hundred klicks from Gaza. Your bots were supposed to do something about that –
ELENA
(overlapping)
I’ve been a little busy keeping the bunkers from flooding!
NIMA
(in Arabic – translation is “You were taking your time down in yours.”)
ما خذة راحت بالك
ELENA
You know I understood that.
ELIO
Elena!
SOUND: Elio scrambling out of the van
ELIO
Can you – my cane – sorry –
TECHNO 1
Sure, whatever.
ELIO
Elena, you’re back!
ELENA
(grunts as Elio crashes into her arms)
Missed me? Careful, I’m not at my cleanest.
ELIO
It’s been forever!
NASHWA
Good to see you both again.
NIMA
I won’t be here long. I don’t know about this one.
ELENA
(still being squished a bit)
If you’re going back, I’m going back. I wouldn’t mind a night in a real bed first.
NASHWA
I think we can accommodate you.
TECHNO 1
Excuse me. I’m just … I need to get to the van and you’re –
ELENA
(delighted)
Oh wow! Nima, fresh food!
NIMA
What?
TECHNO 1
(background)
This stuff is for –
SOUND: Crates being shifted, rustling of wrappings
ELENA
Citrus sinensis, Vitis vinifera, Punica granatum!
NIMA
(in Arabic, translation is “I haven’t had a tomato for so long …”)
من زمان مش ماكل بندورة
TECHNO 1
Elio!
ELIO
This is what the food is for. Bring those cartons from the bottom?
SOUND: Loading cartons into the van in the background
NIMA
(in between bites)
Nashwa, we’ve got to have more people on the coast.
ELENA
Oh, Capsicum annuum …
NASHWA
We’re doing everything we can.
NIMA
(translation is “nonsense / bullshit”)
هراء
NASHWA
I’m reaching out to some other groups. You’ll have to be patient.
NIMA
I’ve heard that too many times.
ELENA
It’s really rough out there. They’ve got unlimited resources to keep throwing at us, we … don’t.
NIMA
(a bit of admiration)
Every night when things die down, she’s out there stripping the losing bots for parts.
NASHWA
That doesn’t sound the safest.
ELENA
It’s night.
NASHWA
(gently, but concerned – night doesn’t matter)
And they’re bots.
NIMA
What matters is we need more help. We were supposed to have a safe crossing by now, so we can focus on the Jerusalem Enclave. We can’t even hold our ground.
NASHWA
We’re still with you. These vans are headed that way with fresh supplies.
NIMA
We need people, not just food.
TECHNO 1
(somewhat in the background, more to Elio)
Why can’t I do something like that?
ELIO
We’ve got work already.
TECHNO 1
(overlapping, closer now)
I could help you. I can program a bot.
NIMA
(dismissive)
We’ve got it under control.
TECHNO 1
I know things, I could show you, I could teach you –
NIMA
You could teach me?
ELIO
It’s okay. We’re just going to take care of these carts –
TECHNO 1
But I could be doing more than this! You need me!
NIMA
They don’t even know you! Do you know how many refugees turn out to be corporate agents?
TECHNO 1
It’s been months! At this point, I might as well be –
SOUND: Someone being shoved
NIMA
What? You might as well be what?
TECHNO 1
(cowed)
I just … I thought I was going to be helping with …
NIMA
You’re lucky they even let you in!
NASHWA
Nima.
(to Techno 1)
I understand your concerns. Can we talk about this later on?
TECHNO 1
Sure. I’m just trying to help.
(after a moment)
I’ll … take these carts back inside.
SOUND: A cart being wheeled away
ELIO
I’m sorry.
NIMA
Someone needs to put them in their place. They all want to be the chosen one.
SOUND: Dogs barking excitedly, getting closer
ELENA
(trying to help break the tension)
Cas, Pol! Hello, hello, it’s good to see you, too.
NIMA
All right. I’ve got things to do.
SOUND: Rapid footsteps as Nima walks away
SOUND: Dogs panting, moving back and forth
NASHWA
What adventures have you two been having?
ELIO
(after a moment)
What they said – we don’t all feel that way.
NASHWA
I do understand. But Nima is right, too … it’s important to recognize your place in a movement.
ELIO
It does feel like most of us are being … kept on the edges.
ELENA
With so many people coming in from every Freehold after Zero Day, it’s not such a surprise.
NASHWA
And so much fresh attention from the corporations was a part of that. We could see things were in motion, but we didn’t know how much would fall on us. We’re still reconnecting with our networks, and trying to evaluate, and revising plans.
ELIO
Doesn’t that mean you’d need more help? I mean … if you trust us.
NASHWA
Do you trust us?
ELENA
(after a moment, when Elio doesn’t reply, quickly)
Of course we do.
ELIO
(overlapping just a little)
I trust you.
NASHWA
Then trust that this is where we need you. We need the work you’re doing. We need you in this place.
ELENA
I know it’s not the way Moddy Sarah ran things.
ELIO
It’s hard to keep folks together without them.
NASHWA
I wish we’d had the chance to meet – even though I’m not much for religion.
ELENA
(laughs)
Neither were they.
(brief pause)
Elio, they’d be proud.
NASHWA
You’re doing good.
ELIO
(after a moment)
It just feels a little bit like … I know this is your place, I mean actually your place, you took us in. But aren’t we all fighting together? I mean, not fighting, gardening and making meals, but still … together? I’m not sure how to say this.
SOUND: A dog pants slightly
NASHWA
Good girl, Cas.
(after a moment)
We are fighting together. And gardening, and making food together. But you need to understand … to take the time to understand … what it means to be a part of the movement. Our movement.
(after a moment)
I’m sure that grates to hear. Our movement. We do have the same enemy. But here, where this stand will be made … this place was always ours, this fight has been ours, for so long that it is in our bones, in our soil. You’ve joined us late into the story; you’d have to read from the beginning to understand. And even then, you would only have read it.
ELIO
(after some time, thoughtful)
Does that mean that we can’t help? Any more than we are now, I mean.
NASHWA
Why do you need it to be more?
(after letting that sink in; a bit ominious, thinking of the future)
There will be more. For all of us.
SOUND: A dog barks, a bit impatient
NASHWA
But for now, someone wants her dinner.
(groaning a little as they stand up)
And she’s not the only one! All that food you loaded, there’s got to be more waiting inside. I’m sure Nima’s already found it.
ELENA
I’m sure. Elio?
ELIO
Come on, girls.
SOUND: A laugh or two, footsteps, a bark or two
NASHWA
(fading as they walk away)
Elena, we’re definitely going to talk later as well. Don’t give me that look, keeping yourself in one piece is important to the revolution.
SOUND: Outside background ends
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
ANNOUNCER
Our program is brought to you by Planetwide Media – broadcasting everywhere on Earth and across the Moon! Brownstein Heritage is our “Spotlight Sponsor” for this broadcast. Brownstein – back from the past! Our revised “History of the Conglomerate” V.2 rewriting the previous version in all media.
Note – there may be advertisements inserted at this point in the episode.
SCENE TWO
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
SOUND: Moonbase hallway (ongoing)
(At the beginning of this scene, we’re hearing the other voices from a slight distance – we’re in the hallway with Addie.)
JAXON
We’ve got, umm, six and a half days. The only large transport was at Epsilon, they woke up the quartermaster, Valentine Narváez, to coordinate. And Michell sent over a crew list?
WILDER
Most of our mining crew is headed over, and a couple of general techs – Zhong needs the help workin’ on the comms towers. We’re gonna need the room, with all those new Science Bros headed our way.
DR. JUST
(sighs)
I trust you will not call them Science Bros when they arrive.
ASHWINI
I’ve authorized a half-dozen transfers from the list provided by Officer L’Anglois.
DR. JUST
What about –
ASHWINI
Edwin, I cannot select personnel who have not yet been revived.
(brief pause)
What I can do is add my name and considerable cachet to your previous request, and submit that for the next exchange. Just hold your metaphorical horses.
JAXON
Hold your tardigrades.
WILDER
Right. So that’s a half-dozen Science … personnel to Base Theta, and we’re sendin’ off three from mining, two techs … Zhong asked for someone with comms experience. Uh, Roger …
ROGER
No.
WILDER
No, for sure, I didn’t mean … I just thought, you had that assistant for a while? Rhesus, or Resolve, or …
ROGER
No. No again.
TUMNUS
Rizal. Eddie Rizal.
ROGER
He’s bad news.
WILDER
All right, all right. We’ll leave it for now.
JAXON
(singing to themselves)
… to be done, work to be done –
ROGER
(muttering)
You should have seen what he did to my files. Or didn’t do to my files when I asked him to.
ASHWINI
(butting in, impatient)
All right, I believe I’m done. There’s nothing here I couldn’t solve with a well-drafted memo.
SOUND: A chair being pushed back
ASHWINI
You have my crew notes, my supply requests, and our secondary workspace is now ready for occupancy.
Personally, I’ve been working on a new Tolkien-inspired fiction where some of you have been incorporated as party members. I’ll be in my observatory.
SOUND: Brisk footsteps heading toward our viewpoint, stopping
ASHWINI
Doctor Just appears as a dwarf. Roger is Samwise Gamgee. And no, you cannot. Ever. Read it.
(brief pause)
Jaxon, I’ll see you after dinner?
SOUND: Footsteps continue
SOUND: Door opens further
SOUND: Footsteps pass us and continue down the hall
WILDER
And off ze goes to Isengard.
ROGER
But … Sam?
TUMNUS
(laughs)
Sorry. I know who ze’s cast as Frodo.
WILDER
And?
TUMNUS
I can’t say. Ze would kill me.
JAXON
Umm … that’s all for personnel, until Officer L’Anglois approves the next list.
WILDER
Who thought there’d be a L’Anglois worse than ours?
JAXON
Oh, one more … I guess, personnel thing. I guess. Addie.
SOUND: Addie gasps right beside us, out in the hallway
DR. JUST
That’s the one I brought in? From the …
ROGER
The rocket.
TUMNUS
Adlai, former resident of the Patrick Free Zone. No last name listed – like you, Wilder.
WILDER
Great, we must be related.
JAXON
They’re up and around. Has, umm, anyone talked to them?
ROGER
Pacey, I’m sure.
JAXON
The notes they brought from Elena … I’m sure they made sense to Nessa but I’m …
WILDER
Some of that stuff about power conservation – I was all like, “Wat?”
JAXON
It’s all too, too too … I thought someone who was there for her presentations might help.
WILDER
Are they … y’know, with us?
TUMNUS
Where else can they go?
WILDER
You know what I mean, code monkey.
TUMNUS
You know what I mean, meatbag.
JAXON
Maybe someone ought to talk to them.
ADDIE
(after a moment, to themselves)
No time like this time. Let’s go.
SOUND: Addie walking into the room; hallway background ends, kitchen background (no music) – ongoing
ADDIE
I mean, if you want to talk, just call my name. Addie, right on cue, at your service.
WILDER
Oh, well, hi there.
TUMNUS
Adlai. Addie.
ADDIE
(overlapping with her – less presentational, but still selling themselves a bit)
I was kinda passing by outside, okay, passing super-slow but … turns out I was right on time. I’m with you, fam, here to help any way I can. That’s why I took the trip.
JAXON
Thank you, umm, for coming. I can show you, in the notes, where I –
ROGER
We all appreciate you … taking that trip.
ADDIE
(uncomfortable around Roger)
Uh huh.
JAXON
Some of the data Elena provided, I’ll bring up the –
ROGER
I mean, it was obviously, you know …
(shaky laugh)
Awfully dangerous.
ADDIE
A lot less than fun.
(shaky themselves)
Hey … Roger, if you need to hear about it –
ROGER
No, no, it’s all … not good, obviously, but you told your story. Everyone heard it.
ADDIE
Amigue, I’m sorry.
ROGER
(after a moment)
You said that, too.
SOUND: During the silence that follows, we hear people shifting, and someone clears their throat
WILDER
That’s kinda the thing, I guess. We know the story, we don’t know you. We need to pick your brain.
ADDIE
That’s funny. It’s what Doc Pacey told me.
DR. JUST
(overlapping as Addie continues)
Medic –
TUMNUS
(similarly)
Actually –
ADDIE
(continuing over them)
Only ze said I need to do it, you know? Pick my brain from the outside, get all the puzzle pieces lined back up. That’s what I recorded, sent you folks, listened to myself a few dozen times down in med bay. The events are real, not even the names have been changed.
(brief pause)
But none of that catches the way it felt, right? When everything went … sideways all at once, for real, sideways – and Payload was shouting and the place was shaking to pieces around us, and Alex in the background reading off numbers while – you couldn’t see outside but you could feel the ground getting closer, you had to be there feeling it …
(they laugh weakly)
Me cagué del susto, tell you the truth. I won’t be wearing that suit again! But you know … I made it, and I’m always gonna have to be happy for that. Right?
SOUND: A couple of footsteps closer
ADDIE
I love Alex, I’ve been a fan since the glory days.
ROGER
(quietly)
Me too.
ADDIE
And Payload was a dork times infinity, but …
(after a long moment)
I’m just … here to help. Anything I can do.
JAXON
If I can go through the notes, Elena’s notes, with you …
ADDIE
Sure. But while I’m telling too much truth – I never understood most of what she was talking about.
JAXON
Oh.
ADDIE
I’m not one of the big brain types. I’m better at … telling stories, making connections, you know? People skills.
TUMNUS
Those are useful talents.
WILDER
We’ll find somethin’ for you. Settle in, and don’t be shy about the muffins. Jaxon?
JAXON
They’re, umm, raspberry. There’s soy, if that’s a problem.
WILDER
I meant the agenda.
JAXON
The agenda … personnel, reassignments, the new lab space, Elena’s notes … Addie … umm …
ADDIE
I’m gonna take a look. You never know.
JAXON
Wilder, then it’s you again. Your trip.
SOUND: Tumnus sighs
WILDER
I heard that. I’m about ready. Things’d be easier if Zhong weren’t lollygagging his way across the near side, but we’re sortin’ out getting my tasks covered.
SOUND: Tumnus clears her throat
WILDER
Anyhoo … tasks will be covered, supplies are stowed, my route is locked in.
TUMNUS
What about communications?
WILDER
(gritting her teeth)
Thank you, friend … I almost forgot. I’ve been … lookin’ into that. They never ran towers up that way, I’m not sure how th’ Gamma folks handled things when they did repairs from their side.
TUMNUS
They did have a full team for backup.
WILDER
O’ course. Well, alternatives. We don’t have enough cable to run a hard line as I go, or the equipment or time to set up repeaters. Roger!
ROGER
Huh?
WILDER
I know you’ve got that transmitter from, uh … Doctor Day, and everyone’s still tryin’ to crack the satellite network … any chance you could sort out somethin’ satisfactory?
ROGER
Right … right. They’re both big problems … I’ve been banging my head against them for months now.
WILDER
Just … when you can. If you can. I’m headin’ out regardless.
TUMNUS
Wilder!
WILDER
It’s the truth!
ROGER
I could use another pair of hands … or ears, eyes, another head to bang when mine’s busy.
(after a bit of a pause)
Addie, what do you say?
ADDIE
What does who say? Roger? You mean me?
ROGER
You’re here. You said you’d chip in … and communication is obviously one of your things.
ADDIE
I don’t know if I’m really –
ROGER
I could really … really use the help.
ADDIE
(after a pause, a bit uncomfortable but unable to say no)
Of course, amigue. Anything I can do.
JAXON
Umm … communications was the last thing, last item, so … I guess we’re adjourned.
SOUND: Chairs pushing back, footsteps as people start to shuffle out behind the next few lines
JAXON
Push in your chairs! Dishes in the sink.
ROGER
(a bit distant)
You know where the comms cubicle is, right?
ADDIE
Sure.
JAXON
(singing to themselves)
Work to be done, work to be done …
(wandering off, fading a bit as they go)
Post that notes file to our intra, tag it for general review …
WILDER
(after things quiet down)
I appreciate the effort you put into synthesizin’ a sigh just for me.
TUMNUS
I’m just … worried, Wilder.
WILDER
I know.
TUMNUS
I didn’t know I could worry until recently.
WILDER
(kindly)
You sure? Seems to me that you always have.
TUMNUS
Perhaps I should speak to Doctor Pacey myself.
WILDER
Might be worth tryin’. For now, I’m gonna lock myself in th’ workshop with some soda pop and crank up a pocketcast. Somethin’ not at all t’ do with space.
SOUND: A chair sliding slightly; Wilder’s arm cycles
WILDER
You want to come?
TUMNUS
Oh! Really? Really? Yes, please.
SOUND: Kitchen background ends
SOUND: Chime – Bookend
(The episode ends.)
PRODUCERS
Today’s episode featured Danyelle Ellett, Evan Tess Murray, Leeman Kessler, Cole Burkhardt, Jen Ponton, Tina Daniels, Journee LaFond, David S. Dear, Tau Zaman, Becca Marcus, Serena Rahal, Tom Zalatnai, Tal Minear, Dalia Ramahi, Leslie Gideon, and Jason Dania.
Written by D.J. Sylvis; Cass McPhee is our audio engineer. Our theme music is “Star” by the band Ramp; our cover art is by Peter Chiykowski.
Looking for more great audio fiction? If you’re into queer, dark paranormal stories, try out Care & Feeding of Werewolves – but make sure you’re nice to Julia.
Our Executive Producers are Sarah Müller and Beka B, and our associate producers are Marty Chodorek, June Madeley , Timothy LaGrone, Marilyn Reid, Marissa Robertcop and Linda Boyer. Today’s special shoutout is Annabel Chadwick.
Thank you guys so much for your support, and helping and trusting us to bring this story to life. We love what we’ve done with it and we can’t wait for you guys to hear all the work the cast and crew has put in, and we hope you love it as much as we do.
And speaking of your support: everything helps, from leaving us a great review and subscribing on your podcast app of choice to sharing your feelings with us on Twitter and telling your friends about our show. For behind the scenes updates and early access to every episode, we would love to have you join us on Patreon. Visit us at MonkeymanProductions.com to learn more (and to visit our store if you need an En-Soy-Ment sticker or a T-Shirt featuring your favourite doggos!). But beyond all of that, we are so glad that you’re listening and sharing in this story with us. Thank you. And, as always, keep watching the moon.
