Episode 15 - The Rejects

INTRO

Hello Amelia Listeners, this is Alan, hello from Scotland and thank you very much for listening to the Amelia Podcast, it means so much to us. If you like listening to the Amelia Project, then please do consider supporting us on Patreon, so that we can continue to make more and more and more and more and more and more and more… (FADES OUT)

PROLOGUE

(ANSWERPHONE CLICKS ON WITH A BEEP)

VOICE

Congratulations. You’ve reached The Amelia Project. This phone call isn’t happening. If you’re not serious about this, hang up. Now.

(PAUSE)

Still there? If you continue, there’s no way back-

(FAST FORWARD, WE END UP IN THE MIDDLE OF CONVERSATION)

INTERVIEWER

-small time crooks and people trying to cash in on their life insurance. So dull! I don’t waste my time with that kind of thing. I only take on cases that capture my imagination. It seems you’re bringing me a domestic squabble, and, well, they’re usually so boring.

ELIZABETH

You’ll hear me out anyway.

(FAST FORWARD, MIDDLE OF CONVERSATION)

INTERVIEWER

Huh. An involuntary disappearance. Interesting.

STEVE

Oh. I’m glad you find my ordeal “interesting.”

INTERVIEWER

Oh, you should! If I wasn’t interested I’d send you packing. That’s what this is about. Assessing if your case is of interest-

(FAST FORWARD)

MELISSA

So you’ll help me?

INTERVIEWER

That depends.

MELISSA

On what?

INTERVIEWER

Your story.

MELISSA

My story?

INTERVIEWER

At Amelia we collect stories.

MELISSA

And in return you’ll help me?

INTERVIEWER

If I like your story, yes.

MELISSA

(SCOFFS) Now I’m nervous!

INTERVIEWER

Have some more cocoa! It’ll help you rela-

(STOP, WE’RE WOTH COLE AND HAINES)

HAINES

Hmm.

COLE

What are you thinking?

HAINES

He's helped everyone we've listened to.

COLE

You think he's bluffing? They're not as picky as he pretends?

HAINES

Or we haven't heard the tapes of the rejects yet.

COLE

Hm. How many tapes before we make a move?

HAINES

Yeah, we need to establish the full picture. We don’t want any surprises when we go in.

COLE

How, uh… How are you sleeping?

HAINES

Sorry?

COLE

Since we started this Amelia business. Have you been sleeping?

HAINES

Yeah. Not much. I lie awake thinking what the next tape will bring. You?

COLE

(SCOFFS) I have nightmares.

HAINES

What kind of nightmares?

COLE

Last week I had a dream about Kozlowski switching our brains around.

HAINES

Ha! You wish.

COLE

Yesterday I had one about being fired out of a canon and landing in Hell!

HAINES

Yeah, speaking of hell, should we have another coffee?

COLE

(CHUCKLES) When are they going to get the machine fixed? We've been drinking instant for a week!

HAINES

Was that a yes?

COLE

(WITHOUT ENTHUSIASM) I could do with the caffeine.

HAINES

I'll go make some. Then let's get back to the tapes.

(HAINES MOVES INTO A CORNER OF THE ROOM AND FLICKS ON A KETTLE. HE SCRAPES NESCAFE OUT OF A JAR INTO TWO CUPS. COLE RUMMAGES THROUGH THE TAPES)

COLE

We've barely scratched the surface.

(MORE RUMMAGING)

Huh!

(SHORT SILENCE)

HAINES (FROM FURTHER AWAY)

What?

COLE

There's a tape here marked "NOT AMELIA MATERIAL." All in capital letters.

HAINES

Aha!

COLE

You think it's a tape of the rejects?

HAINES

Only one way to find out!

(HAINES WALKS BACK ACROSS THE ROOM. SOUND OF COLE INSERTING TAPE)

Here's your coffee Cole.

(THE BEEP BEEP BEEP STARTS)

COLE

(QUIETLY) Thanks.

HAINES

Careful it's hot.

COLE

Play?

HAINES

Play.

(THEY SIP THEIR COFFEES)

Cole

(SIGHS) Still shite.

HAINES

Still shite.

(THE AMELIA THEME KICKS IN)

INTRO

The Amelia Project, by Philip Thorne and Øystein Brager, with music and sound design by Fredrik Baden. Episode 15 - The Rejects.

THE INTERVIEW(S)

INTERVIEWER

Who's next?

ALVINA

(LONG-SUFFERING) If you'd looked at the case file, you wouldn't have to ask-

INTERVIEWER

I like to be surprised-

ALVINA

(EXCITED) It's Etienne Duclos!

INTERVIEWER

Who?

ALVINA

Etienne Duclos! You know! The Mime!

INTERVIEWER

What was his message?

ALVINA

He didn't leave one.

INTERVIEWER

(SURPRISED) He didn't leave a message?

ALVINA

Well. Considering he's a Mime, it would have been rather difficult for him.

INTERVIEWER

(SMACKS HIS LIPS) Why does he want to disappear?

ALVINA

You'll have to ask him.

(KNOCK ON THE DOOR)

INTERVIEWER

Come in!

(ETIENNE ENTERS. HE'S WEARING TAP SHOES WHICH MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS AS HE MOVES)

Ah! Bonjour Monsieur Duclos! Comment ca va?

(ETIENNE PERFORMS AN ELABORATE LITTLE TAP DANCE IN RESPONSE)

ALVINA

Welcome to Amelia Mr Duclos. Big fan of your work.

(ANOTHER LITTLE DANCE)

INTERVIEWER

(AMUSED) Watch out Alvina! He's removing the flower from his lapel! That means he's going to squirt you!

ALVINA

He's a mime artist, not a kid's clown. Oh look, how sweet, he's giving me the Rose!

(SOUND OF ETIENNE GETTING DOWN ON HIS KNEES IN FRONT OF ALVINA)

INTERVIEWER

(VERY SURE) Don't take it! I'm warning you Alvina!

ALVINA

Thank you! How nice. (SNIFFS) Mmmm. It smells lovely.

(HE TAPS)

No, thank you!

(HE TAPS)

(LAUGHING) No, thank YOU!

INTERVIEWER

Okay, now stop clutching your heart and blowing kisses and let's get down to business, shall we. Why do you want to disappear?

ALVINA

(UNDER HER BREATH) You haven't offered him cocoa yet.

INTERVIEWER

(GRUDGINGLY) Est ce que vous aimez du chocolat chaud?

(ANIMATED TAP DANCING. SOUND OF SIPPING AND SIGHING)

ALVINA

(DELIGHTED) Ha! Brilliant! Brilliant! It looks exactly like he's drinking from a real cup! It's so precise!

INTERVIEWER

(FLATLY) A simple nod would have sufficed.

(ETIENNE LOSES BALANCE. SOUND OF HIM SKIDDING ACROSS THE FLOOR)

ALVINA

Woa, watch it!

INTERVIEWER

You're going to get cocoa all over my-

(SOUND OF FALLING)

ALVINA

(STARTS LAUGHING AND CLAPPING) So good! So good! It was like I could see the cup shattering!

INTERVIEWER

(HUFFS)

ALVINA

Come on, you must admit that was amazing.

INTERVIEWER

I thought it was rather foolish. Go get some cocoa.

ALVINA

But I don't want to miss-

INTERVIEWER

Cocoa!

ALVINA

We need an assistant!

(ALVINA LEAVES. THE INSTANT THE DOOR CLOSES)

INTERVIEWER

(DEAD SERIOUS) Stop hitting on Alvina. It's pathetic.

(ETIENNE GETS UP, HEAVY BREATHING)

Yes, that's right! Pathetic! There, I said it! Mimes are pathetic.

(SLOW CLICK CLICK CLICK OF ETIENNE WALKING ACROSS THE ROOM TOWARDS THE INTERVIEWER, STILL BREATHING HEAVILY)

I'm not scared of you, you white faced joker!

(CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, MORE HEAVY BREATHING)

You tongue-tied jester!

(CLICK, CLICK)

You cliched fool! You- you(CONFUSED) What are you doing?

(CLICK, CLICK)

(SCARED) Don't come any closer!

(CLICK, CLICK)

You stop right there!

(CLICK, CLICK)

Alvina!

CLICK, CLICK.

Ha!!!

(ETIENNE STOPS DEAD IN HIS TRACKS)

You weren't expecting that, were you! I took lessons at Ecole Jacques Lecoq back in the day! I can mime a glass wall like the best of 'em!

(ETIENNE TAKES A STEP BACK)

That's right! You can't penetrate this glass wall!

(ETIENNE TAKES ANOTHER STEP BACK)

Oy! What are you doing? Not very precise that one. Can't tell if it's supposed to be a stick or a tennis racket or a- A BASEBALL BAT! IT'S A BASEBALL BAT! STOP RUNNING AT MY-

(WE HEAR ETIENNE CHARGING ACROSS THE ROOM, THEN A CRASH AS ETIENNE AND THE INTERVIEWER COLLIDE AND FALL TO THE FLOOR)

(UPSET) You smashed my wall you brutal buffoon! Hey, careful with- you'll cut yoursel- Put down those shards, put them- AHHHHHHHHH! (SCREAMS)

(THE DOOR OPENS AND ALVINA COMES IN)

ALVINA

Cocoa! Where... where are you?

INTERVIEWER

Here! Behind the desk!

(ALVINA WALKS ACROSS THE OFFICE, BOTH THE INTERVIEWER AND ETIENNE GET UP)

ALVINA

What are you doing on the floor?

INTERVIEWER

He shattered my glass wall with a baseball bat and then he started slashing me with the shards!

ALVINA

What are you talking about?!

(ETIENNE PICKS HIMSELF UP AND STARTS TAPPING AGAIN)

INTERVIEWER

He's evil! That's one evil Mime!

ALVINA

Oh look! He's doing another dance and offering me a box of…

INTERVIEWER

Don’t trust him!

ALVINA

What's that supposed to be…

INTERVIEWER

It’s a trick!

ALVINA

Oh, chocolates!

INTERVIEWER

It’s not!

ALVINA

So sweet!

INTERVIEWER

(TREMBLING WITH FEAR AND ANGER) Alvina! I want that creepy frog out of my office right now!

ALVINA

Gosh. I've never seen you this irate!

INTERVIEWER

(SCREAMS) Now!

ALVINA

Alright alright!

(ALVINA STARTS ESCORTING ETIENNE OUT OF THE DOOR. HER VOICE AND HIS CLICKING STEPS FADE INTO THE DISTANCE)

ALVINA

(WITH A TONE OF VOICE THAT TELLS US SHE HAD THIS CONVERSATION A MILLION TIMES ALREADY)

So sorry about that Monsieur Duclos, you'll have to try one of the other agencies. On the bright side, this is when I usually have to threaten rejects into secrecy, but I think with you, we can rely on your silence right?

(SHORT STATIC)

INTERVIEWER

Welcome to Amelia!

ALI

Thanks.

INTERVIEWER

Alison?

ALI

Ali

INTERVIEWER

Ah!

(PAUSE)

And that's...?

TOM

(SNORES)

ALI

(SIGHS) That's Tom.

INTERVIEWER

He's your...?

ALI

Husband, yes.

INTERVIEWER

Right.

(PAUSE AS TOM SNORES AGAIN)

INTERVIEWER

Is he just going to sleep through this?

ALI

I hope so!

INTERVIEWER

Why?

ALI

Because I put eight sleeping tablets in his tea.

(PAUSE)

INTERVIEWER

You drugged him?

ALI

He mustn't know we're here.

INTERVIEWER

Good lord... Why ever not?

Ali

I want you to make him disappear. Can you do that?

TOM

(SNORES)

INTERVIEWER

Without his consent?!

ALI

Is that a problem?

INTERVIEWER

We only take on voluntary disappearances!

ALI

Why?

INTERVIEWER

Because... ethics!

ALI

No one will miss him.

INTERVIEWER

Oh for god’s sake…

ALI

He doesn't really have any friends.

INTERVIEWER

I don’t have time for this…

ALI

Nobody likes him.

INTERVIEWER

Still…

ALI (CON’T)

I was hoping you could make it look like he got flattened by a bus or something…

INTERVIEWER

Can’t do that, sorry, no…

ALI (CON’T)

and set him up with a new life in Panama. He really likes canals…?

INTERVIEWER

(MUTTERS SOMETHING UNDER HIS BREATH) Look, get out! Out out out out out out out!

ALI

Alright, alright!

(SCURRIES OUT AND SHUTS DOOR BEHIND HER)

INTERVIEWER

Unbelievable!

(PICKS UP THE PHONE, SOUND OF ROTATE-DIAL)

Alvina? I just had a lady in here who wanted me to make her husband disappear without his knowledge! ... I know! ... Well I told her it was against our ethics! Now, about the motorway pileup this afternoon: we've reinforced the Cadillac's bumper with a steel bar, so it should smash right through that Twingo! I can't wait! I just need to make some final calculations to determine the speed for maximum impact... I'm going to need some cocoa for that, can't do maths without cocoa! Bring me some with extra cream (EXAGGERATED, INNOCENT) please?

TOM

(SNORES)

INTERVIEWER

Oh and Alvina? You're going to have to remove the sleeping man from my office.

(SHORT STATIC, SCENE CHANGE)

INTERVIEWER

Come in!

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)

Ah, Alex! Take a sea-

ALEX

(URGENT WHISPER) Is it safe here?

INTERVIEWER

In here, you're safer than a Swiss franc in a Zurich Bank Vault. Please, take a sea-

(KNOCK ON THE DOOR)

ALEX

(SQUEAKS) Oh! Shit!

(ALEX FLEES ACROSS THE ROOM AND SHUTS HIMSELF INTO A WARDROBE)

INTERVIEWER

Come in!

(DOOR OPENS)

ALVINA

(ANNOYED) Two cocoas.

INTERVIEWER

Lovely jubbly!

ALVINA

Where is he?

INTERVIEWER

Who?

ALVINA

The client?

INTERVIEWER

Alex? Oh. He's in the wardrobe.

(PAUSE)

ALVINA

He's in the wardrobe.

INTERVIEWER

Yes.

ALVINA

…why?

INTERVIEWER

I think he's scared.

ALVINA

Of me?

INTERVIEWER

I think so.

ALVINA

Hm. I better go then.

INTERVIEWER

Yes. Toodle-oo!

ALVINA

(ON HER WAY OUT) And next time, (LOUDER) make your own cocoa!

(DOOR CLOSES)

INTERVIEWER

(NERVOUS COUGHING) Ahem. Your cocoa!

ALEX

(MUFFLED) What did you say?

INTERVIEWER

(LOUDER) Your cocoa!

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Speak up, I can hardly hear you in here.

INTERVIEWER

(SHOUTS) Can't you just come out?

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Nobody is allowed to know that I'm here!

INTERVIEWER

(SHOUTS) So you're staying in there?

ALEX

(MUFFLED) I think it's safer this way.

INTERVIEWER

Very well. Two cocoas for me. (SIPS AND "AHHHHHHH"s)

ALEX

What did you say?

INTERVIEWER

I just said (SAME LEVEL AS BEFORE) "Aaaaaah!"

ALEX

Huh?

INTERVIEWER

I just said (EXAGGERATED AND AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT MAKING IT A SCREAM) "Aaaaaah!"

ALEX

What?

INTERVIEWER

(VERY LOUD) I just said- (ANNOYED) Never mind. (SHOUTS) What brings you here Alex?

ALEX

(MUFFLED) I can't tell you.

INTERVIEWER

(LOUDLY) Then how can I help you?

ALEX

(MUFFLED) You'll judge me!

INTERVIEWER

(LOUDLY) Alex. You'd be surprised at the stories I've heard in this room…

ALEX

(MUFFLED, CAREFUL) You won't judge me?

INTERVIEWER

No.

ALEX

What?

INTERVIEWER

(SHOUTS) No.

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Okay, (DEEP BREATH) here goes

INTERVIEWER

Wait! I need to get comfortable for this!

(SITS IN A CHAIR)

What am I sitting on… hmm…

(SOUND OF A COIN FALLING ON THE TABLE, THEN SIPPING AND SIGHING, HE RUBS HIS HANDS TOGETHER)

Okay. Shoot!

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Okay, so. Uh… here goes: I… I… (FAST) put my wife through a wood chipper.

INTERVIEWER

You what?

ALEX

(MUFFLED SHOUT, EMPHASIS ON EVERY WORD) I put my wife through a wood chipper.

INTERVIEWER

No no, I heard you, it's just- um... I… uhm…

ALEX

It was a silly thing to do…?

INTERVIEWER

I suppose I should ask you… why you put your wife through a wood chipper?

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Because she was a witness.

INTERVIEWER

A witness?

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Yes. She saw me dispose of Katy.

INTERVIEWER

(WEAKLY) Oh good lord…

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Katy was threatening to tell my wife about the affair, (FRIGHTENED INTERVIEWER SOUND) so I had no choice but to dispose of her. (MORE FRIGHTENED INTERVIEWER) But then my wife walks in, just as I'm shoving Katy into the fireplace. So I put my wife through the wood chipper, (HESITANT AND SCARED HUM OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE INTERVIEWER) but then the bell goes and there's this dude from next door asking what all the screaming’s about. I tell him my wife stepped on a thumb tack. He asks about the blood on my jeans and I… I can't really think of an explanation for that, so I have to get rid of him too. (INTERVIEWER GETS INCREASINGLY MORE FRIGHTENED) I thought a quick plunge of the kitchen knife would do it, but he's tough, rather than bleeding to death quietly on the floor, he jumps out the window, drags himself down the street and screams bloody murder! So now everyone knows! And before you suggest disposing of the entire neighborhood-

INTERVIEWER

(TERRIFIED) I-

ALEX (CON’T)

I've already thought of that, but something on that scale requires planning and I don't have the time! They're after me! I'm screwed! And all because my wife walks in on me cremating Katy... Such bad luck!

INTERVIEWER

Oh, yes, ah...

ALEX

You know what?

INTERVIEWER

Hmhm?

ALEX

I might have some of that cocoa after all. This has got me all stressed out.

INTERVIEWER

(SPLUTTERING) No! Alex! Stay in there! I think... I think I- I- I think I can hear someone!

(SOUND OF ROTARY DIAL, HE LOCKS THE WARDROBE DOOR)

ALEX

Oh shit! Hey, hey, what are you doing?

(ALEX POUNDS AGAINST THE WARDROBE DOOR)

INTERVIEWER

(FRANTIC, HIGH-PITCHED) Alvina! Help! Help, Alvina? There's a psychopath in my wardrobe!

ALEX

Oy! Oy! Did you just… Happen to lock that door?

INTERVIEWER

Um... Safer that way! Safer that way. Don't want to take any... I can hear footsteps!

ALEX

Okay, just tell me when the coast is clear, yeah?

INTERVIEWER

Will do!

ALEX

(MUFFLED) It's just it's pretty hot and stuffy in here.

(DOOR BURSTS OPEN. THE FOLLOWING CONVERSATION IS WHISPERED)

Alvina! He's like the love child of Norman Bates and Lady Macbeth!

ALVINA

Not boring then.

INTERVIEWER

You got us into this Alvina, now get us out!

ALVINA

(DISBELIEVING LAUGH) I got us into this?

ALEX

Can I come out yet?

INTERVIEWER

(HIGH-PITCHED, SCARED) Yes! You're supposed to research clients so we don't, I don't know, invite someone in here who might chop us into pieces and bake us into a pie!

ALEX

(NERVOUS LAUGHTER)I'm having difficulty breathing.

ALVINA

I'm supposed to do their background checks,

INTERVIEWER

Yes!

ALVINA (CON’T)

-welcome the clients to the office,

INTERVIEWER

Yes!

ALVINA (CON’T)

-draw up their contracts,

INTERVIEWER

Yes!

ALVINA (CON’T)

-bribe them into secrecy and make your bloody cocoa?

INTERVIEWER

Yes!

ALVINA

It's too much!

ALEX

(MUFFLED) Oh fuck.

(SOUND OF ALEX COLLAPSING IN THE WARDROBE)

INTERVIEWER

What was that?

ALVINA

I think he just fainted. We better open that door.

INTERVIEWER

(URGENTLY) No! No Alvina! He's a killer! He kills people! (SPLUTTERS) Don't open that-

(ALVINA OPENS THE WARDROBE AND ALEX FALLS OUT)

Is he...?

ALVINA

(NOT EVEN SURPRISED) I think you just killed him.

INTERVIEWER

(SLOWLY) Oh. Hm. Well.

(PAUSE)

Righty-ho.

(COMPLETELY FINE AGAIN) That's that sorted then.

ALVINA

Good timing actually. Kozlowski needs a replacement corpse for the Langsbury disappearance and Walter at the morgue can't get one till tomorrow.

INTERVIEWER

Good! Shall we bring him straight to the basement then?

ALVINA

You’ll take the head and I'll take the feet.

(THEY STRUGGLE WITH THE HEAVY CORPSE AND DRAG IT ACROSS THE OFFICE AND THROUGH THE DOOR)

Careful!

(SOMETHING FALLS AND CLATTERS TO THE FLOOR, ALVINA GROANS)

Ugh, we so need an assistant!

INTERVIEWER

(QUIETLY) But we’ve got you…?

(FRUSTRATED ALVINA-CRY)

CLICK.

HAINES

I thought they had assistants?

COLE

Hm.

HAINES

Whatever happened to Joey and Salvatore?

COLE

They quit? They got fired?

HAINES

Is there a date on the tape?

(TAPE EJECTED AND TAKEN OUT)

COLE

October 2012.

HAINES

Before the other tapes we've been listening to then.

COLE

So before Joey and Salvatore joined?

HAINES

Presumably.

COLE

Hm. How far back do you think these tapes go? I mean, how many years are we talking?

HAINES

Difficult to say. They're all jumbled up.

(COLE RUMMAGES THROUGH THE TAPES)

COLE

2015, 2019, 2001, oh! (SURPRISED) 1986.

HAINES

We'll need to establish a timeline.

COLE

You think we should pay them a visit? Pretend to be clients?

(PAUSE)

HAINES

No. We can get all the information we need from these tapes. When we turn up at Amelia, it'll be with a SWAT team, not with and fake moustaches and wigs.

COLE

I just think it would be useful to actually-

HAINES

You just want to taste that cocoa.

(THEY CHUCKLE)

COLE

Look. That tape's November 2012. That leads right on from where we left. Shall we?

HAINES

First thing tomorrow morning. It's past midnight. We should get some sleep.

COLE

Ha. “Sleep”

HAINES

Too much coffee?

COLE

No. It's just I know what I'll be dreaming about. Mad mimes and murderers.

(FABRIC RUSTLING AS THEY PUT ON COATS)

HAINES

And who knows what it'll be tomorrow! This could go anywhere.

COLE

See you tomorrow then.

HAINES

See you tomorrow.

(COLE MOVES OUT OF THE DOOR, THEME MUSIC SLOWLY STARTS UP)

HAINES

(CALLS AFTER HIM) Oh and Cole?

COLE

Yeah?

HAINES

Happy nightmares.

CREDITS

PHILIP

Want to listen to the Follow-up to this episode and find out what the Interviewer and Alvina drag Alex out of the office? Well, by supporting us on Patreon you can do just that. Simply go to patreon.com/ameliapodcast( … )to make your pledge. A cocoa-slurping Thank You to Kathi Sindelar. Your contribution really makes a difference. And thank you to all our wonderful patrons. And now: To Julia, for the Credits.

JULIA

This Episode was written and edited by Philip Thorne. It was directed by Philip Thorne and Øystein Brager, with music and sound design by Fredrik Baden. It featured Alan Burgon as the Interviewer, Julia C. Thorne as Alvina, Joseph Grimaldi as Etienne Duclos, Beth Crane as Ali, James Oliva as Alex, Benjamin Noble as Agent Haines, Torgny G. Aanderaa as Agent Cole and Julia Morizawa on the Answerphone. Foly work by Torgny G. Aanderaa. The Episode was produced by Imploding Fictions, it was recorded by Battle Bird Productions London, and Nitro Studios Oslo, with Studio Engineering by Hedley Knights. All graphic design for the Amelia Project is by Anders Pedersen. Follow us on Twitter, where we’re @amelia_podcast. Tell us how you’d like to disappear. Share your favorite Cocoa Recipe with us! Or simply say Hi. See you soon!

EPILOGUE

PHILIP

Hello! And it’s lovely to be back! Øystein, do you want to tell the listeners where we are right now?

ØYSTEIN

Absolutely! I mean, we recorded season 2 all over the place, there’s been recordings down in Vienna, in Oslo, right now we’re in London recording a couple of episodes, and right now we’re here together with the lovely Beth Crane!

BETH

Hello!

ØYSTEIN

Hey!

PHILIP

And you might recognize Beth’s voice from this very episode, where she played Ali! Yes, so we’ve recorded a good chunk of this season with Battle Bird Productions. Battle Bird Productions is Beth Crane and Hedley Knights, and they also produce the brilliant Audio Drama “We fix Space Junk” which is an absolutely fantastic show. Beth, you want to talk a bit about “We fix Space Junk”?

BETH

Yes, thank you! “We fix Space Junk” is the story of two female repairmen barreling around the galaxy fixing things and generally trying not to get killed in the process.

PHILIP

(LAUGHS) And it’s a lot of fun. I listened to the first episode and I immediately texted Oystein saying “You have to listen to this show”. So yeah, everybody go and download “We fix Space Junk” and we see you back in two weeks. Bye!

ØYSTEIN

Bye!

BETH

Bye!

(VARIOUS QUIET LAUGHTER)

PHILIP

I- I- I hate being on mic. And yet we keep writing ourselves into our own show.

ØYSTEIN

I know, I don’t know why we do that

PHILIP

It’s like a- it’s just a-

BETH

I actually like being on mic. I’m-

PHILIP

Oh yeah, you’re in your show all the time!

BETH

Yeah, I play Kilner.

PHILIP

(...) Yes, but you write your own stuff.

BETH

It’s my own script…

ØYSTEIN

I think you’re an audio-masochist, Pip.

PHILIP

Yes, that’s right… Okay-

ØYSTEIN

Cool! Let’s do one more

PHILIP

One more time? Okay!

(VARIOUS SOUNDS OF APPROVAL)

BETH

Ah, my own show, I’m like “What do they do?” uuuuuuh

(LAUGHTER)

END OF EPISODE