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1.10 - Oblivion
7.8k Plays2 years ago
In the season one finale, oblivion comes to Charity, Oregon…that is, unless Lara can get there first.
Transcript for this episode is available at BelieverPodcast.com
Content notes
- Harm to wild animals, distressed animal sounds
- Human screaming, including children
- Cult behavior, religious content
- Violence
- Loud noises/chaos
- Nausea/retching sounds
- Respiratory distress
Cast (in order of appearance)
- Abe - Miles Langerman
- Jake - Jason Markoff
- Lara - Julie Saunders
- Rose - Mara Hernandez
- Camille - Sara Gorsky
- Cult Children - Kip Parshall, Duke Parshall
- SodaPop - Archie
- Terri - Rosa Delgado
- Dr. Simmons - Samantha Ronceros
- Nurse - Jillian Cardillo
- Various - Seth Ellsworth
- Mysterious Man - Javier Ronceros
Crew
- Written/Directed/Produced by Julie Saunders
- Sound design by Ester Ellis
- Additional sound design assistance by Andrew Wardlaw
Music
- "Julie's Melody (Believer Theme)," by Aaron Ferenc
- “Big Announcement,” by Out to the World
- “Diffusion Echo,” by Ethan Sloan
- “Trailing,” by Christian Andersen
- “Night Swap,” by Bill Ferngren
- “Gravity Fields,” by Hampus Naeselius
- “Face of the Earth,” by Jakob Ahlbom
- “The Vanished,” by John Barzetti
- “Breathe it in Deep,” by Hampus Naeselius
- “A Sky Sparkling,” by Johannes Bornlof
- “Passed Danger,” by Farrell Wooten
- “I Will Fool You,” by Bothnia
Music tracks (other than Believer Theme) courtesy of Epidemic Sound.
Phone voice generated at https://filmmusic.io/voiceovers
Sponsored by Zencastr, an online recording and podcasting platform. Click this link or go to Zencastr.com and enter promo code "believer" for 30% off your pro plan.
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Transcript
Strange Phenomena in Charity
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode is sponsored by Zencaster, an online recording and podcasting platform. Stick around at the end for more information and use promo code Believer for 30% off a pro plan.
00:00:17
Speaker
Welcome back to WKCH, Charity's only public radio. This is Abe Ramirez, broadcasting live as strange phenomenon appear in the forest around Charity. So far we've heard reports of inky darkness, darker than a foggy night, unexplained power failure, and strange sounds. Could this be extraterrestrial activity here in Wasco County? It's not aliens, man!
Paranormal Insights
00:00:41
Speaker
We're reaching out to paranormal experts as we speak. It's never aliens. Jake, dude, I told you, if you're going to stay at my place, you have to stay out of the recording studio. It's a wooden box in the middle of your living room. It's not like I can't hear what you're saying in there. Hello, charity. It's Jake Talbot, host of Squatchdog. Hey, what are you doing? You need my expertise, man. Just trust me on this. I record live, they told me. But did I listen?
00:01:06
Speaker
Ape, please. Let's be professional. Uh... People need to know what's going on. It's dangerous out there. They should stay off the roads and out of the woods. Well, obviously nobody's going to the woods right now.
Warnings and Unseen Dangers
00:01:21
Speaker
Soda pop! Are you out here? Be on the lookout for anything unusual, especially a strong, sulfur-like smell.
00:01:34
Speaker
I'm sorry. I'm sure you smell great to other whatever you are. Is this about Bigfoot again? I'm telling you, man, it's not out there. Not tonight. Sasquatch is always watching.
Rose's Urgent Call to Action
00:01:56
Speaker
I'm just really nauseous or is it nauseated? I'm nauseated.
00:02:05
Speaker
It's a concussion, right? I mean, it's gotta be. I don't suppose you could look at my pupils. No, you're busy. Soda pop! Soda pop!
00:02:29
Speaker
Okay, well, in any case, for your own safety, everyone should stay indoors. And if you do see anything, give us a call. Our lines are open. What? No, they're not. I've got all these experts. I'm just waiting on a call back home. Okay. Then call me. It's 503-869-
00:02:46
Speaker
Camille. What? Oh, Rose. It's time. Wake the others. It's time? Are you sure? Yes. Wake them up. We're going into the forest. Now. Okay. Yeah. Let's go. Believer. Episode 10.
Disturbing Forest Discoveries
00:03:11
Speaker
Oblivion.
00:03:29
Speaker
Soda Pop! God, it's so dark out here. My phone is totally dead. What?
00:03:40
Speaker
Wait, is this the dead zone? From before? Oh my god. It was absolutely covered in carcasses. I mean, before there had been a lot of dead animals, but this was like a carpet. Were these squirrels at some point?
00:04:11
Speaker
I won't touch them. What's growing out of them? Sickly white mushrooms sprouted out of each of the dead animals. I don't even know if white is the right... It was like they were drained of color. Have you ever seen those flowers that grow inside of caves? There's a variety of orchid that never sees the sun, but it grows anyway.
00:04:40
Speaker
Those are beautiful, though. These were wrong. At the base, they were black, oily, like the ones I found in the water pipe. But as they grew, the color just drained out. And the mushroom caps were disturbing, bloated, pulsing pustules.
00:05:08
Speaker
ready to burst. They're flowering. Getting ready to release spores.
Rituals and Transformations
00:05:14
Speaker
Did you bring me here to see this? You want me to help them? Why can't you help them? Is it because you're not real? Ow! God, watch it! Chewbacca looking asshole. What?
00:05:36
Speaker
No, no, wait, s-s-s-sass! Watch. And he's gone. God, how hard did I hit my head? We're here. Close the lanterns and keep them out of sight. Of course. Let's go. There. The flowers. Do you see? God's fingers.
00:06:02
Speaker
They're even more beautiful than I dreamed. God's fingers. God's fingers are windy. Everyone, line up around. Laura? Uh, hi. Are you kidding me? What are you doing here? So, um, long story. There was a car accident, and I actually think I have a concussion. Where's Soda Pop? He ran off. I was actually trying to find him, but, um, I might just need the hospital. He ran off? He's out here somewhere?
00:06:32
Speaker
Well, I'm looking for him. You were supposed to keep him safe. I'm trying. Sorry. Listen, Rose, I don't know what's happening here, but you don't have to do this. No, you don't. You don't know what's happening here. We're about to change the world, Lara. Make it new. With mushrooms? Stop making fun of me. I'm not. What is that? The stars. It's time.
00:07:01
Speaker
You can't stop this. Lara, do you understand? It's already begun. Rose, find Soda Pop. Take him somewhere far from here. Everyone, gather round, just like we practiced. Rose, wait. Whatever's supposed to happen here, you know it's not right. You sent Soda Pop away, right? It doesn't look like your mom is here. Some part of you wants to protect the people you love. Not everyone I love.
00:07:31
Speaker
What? Sister Rose, we're ready.
Parasite Control and Cult Beliefs
00:07:35
Speaker
Good. It's too late, Laura. Join in or get out of the way. Form a ring. Get close. Close to the beautiful blooming flowers. And now it begins.
00:07:55
Speaker
All is nothing and we are all. All is nothing and we are all. Rose, all is nothing and we are all. Rose, Marcus, can you? Ow, hey. Wait, what's happening? It's hard to describe what happened next.
00:08:25
Speaker
And not just because my head was swimming worse than ever. Shooting stars were streaking overhead. They're far too bright, far too close. And there was this sound. It was like you could hear them breaking up against the atmosphere, just squealing as the friction wore them down. But that wasn't the crazy part.
00:08:52
Speaker
Now, listen, I know I was hallucinating at this point. I was definitely starting to see double and not alone. That blanket of animal corpses, those dead animals started to move. What is that?
00:09:13
Speaker
It's okay, honey. Say it with me. All is nothing, and we are all. Holy shit, shit. Don't stop. We're nearly there. Bring the dead to life again. Except it wasn't like the animals had come back to life. Their movements were screwed. Disjointed like something else was controlling them. Piloting them.
00:09:41
Speaker
This is glory. This is beauty. This is life from death. There's a type of parasite. Opiochordioseps. You usually only see it in bugs, ants or caterpillars, things like that. It takes over its host's central nervous system.
00:10:07
Speaker
They, okay, I'm not talking about zombies. I mean, people use them in zombie stories sometimes, but what it actually does is force its host to climb. The ant finds a tall tree and it just goes up and up and up. And when the ant can't get any higher, it stops and it grows spores and it sends them through the air. These animals weren't going up though.
00:10:38
Speaker
They were moving toward the cult members. I don't like this. Oh god, she's planning to infect the others. Can't you see? She's gonna turn you all into parasites! Wait, no! Let me go! Ah!
00:11:00
Speaker
No, let me go, please! Okay, I'm very dizzy, so if you can slow down... Ugh! Stop! Listen to me! There has to be some way to... Whoa! Oh, okay. There's a slope here, and my vision is kind of... Ugh! Ah! Ugh! And, uh... I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm... I'm... Uh... Uh... Hm.
00:11:37
Speaker
Don't move away, let them come to you. As Revelation says, surrounding God's throne were living creatures and they were covered with eyes in front and in back. It's just as the scriptures say. Please. Here, I'll do it. I'll show you guys. This elk has been touched by oblivion.
00:12:07
Speaker
I see it. Just like you said, Rose. Pale moonlit flowers. Don't move. It's okay. Just breathe. Just breathe. Okay. All is nothing than we.
00:13:08
Speaker
Where have you been? Oh my god, it's so much worse at the feet, I... Sorry, I'm sure it's... Oh god!
00:13:29
Speaker
Shit, shit, Rose, the cult. Okay, okay, okay. Yeah, just give me a minute. Okay, there's gotta be some way to do something.
Lara's Internal Struggle
00:13:46
Speaker
The lanterns. They had kerosene lanterns and she wanted them out of sight. The mushrooms only grew at night.
00:13:57
Speaker
Light and heat, that's gotta be it, right? Okay, okay, okay, well, you should stay away from there. Actually, can you find my dog? You don't eat dogs, do you? Okay, okay, okay, let's go. Ready, break.
00:14:34
Speaker
Please, you have to believe. This is joy. Come into the world. Please, come back. No. See? Everyone, Camille is... She's... Are you okay? I feel... amazing.
00:15:02
Speaker
No, my peace in here is so alive. See, the animals, the flowers, it's a blessing. Camille? It's okay. I just can't, I can't quite breathe. This isn't, this wasn't in my dream or this noise.
00:15:34
Speaker
Rose, you have to stop this, please. Laura, what are you holding? A propane lantern and somebody's lighter? You can't bring that here.
00:15:45
Speaker
Your people are all leaving. It's my father. He didn't teach them what to expect. I didn't have enough time. You can end this now. You can try again later. No, Rose, please, you can't stop now. It's too late anyway. They're already awake. Okay, it's just a theory, but look, if you bring the fire close to them,
00:16:12
Speaker
Lara, stop, you're killing them. They're already dead. No, you're dead. Please, meal, let her go. Rose, you can't let her do this. Oblivion is, it's so... Tougher your nose and mouth. Lara, don't.
00:16:41
Speaker
The rose, I saw it. The oldest ocean, older than old, and reaching across the sky, a dark embrace. You saw it. I saw everything.
00:16:58
Speaker
Since I breathed in God's love, there's spores. Laura, listen to me. It's more than just a vision. I can feel everything. I'm connected to it all. What do you mean? It's all one, Rose. The Mycorrhizal Network. One being, one entity.
00:17:23
Speaker
but it needs you. We need to get to the center. Rose, please. Laura, I know you don't understand this. I don't expect you to follow me, but you have to let me go. I can't describe what she looked like there, standing in the dirt, the world.
00:17:41
Speaker
ending all around her and her eyes so Bright was sad. I can't be alone anymore Lara. I've been alone in this for so long. I'm with you now Rose.
00:17:57
Speaker
Thank you, Camille. Laura, please just pretend you get it. Please. Wait. Listen, I'll come with you. I'll leave the lantern here and I'll come with you. You can't save me from this. Everything is spinning and my head hurts so bad. Laura.
00:18:23
Speaker
I won't try to save you. Can I just sit with you until the end or whatever? You won't try anything? Rose, I don't have anything left either. Okay. Let's go. Are you sure? I'm sure. Let's go.
00:18:57
Speaker
Demon squirrels! Here, this is it. It's beautiful. It's a weird pile of goo. The heart of Oblivion. Yeah, that sounds better. Come on, move in close. Of course.
00:19:18
Speaker
Whatever happens, you'll have to carry it with you. Without the congregation, we'll have to find others. Quickly. We'll take God's love to the world. Or we'll die. Hush. She'll understand. If you want to be here, Lara. I want to be here. Then lean in close and get ready to breathe. Okay. I'm glad you're here. She reached for my hand.
00:19:50
Speaker
but just before our fingers touched. Glittering spores filled the air. We breathed in and... What? Where am I?
00:20:21
Speaker
I suddenly saw myself in this wide expanse, silver sand dunes that stretched beyond my imagination. I stood at the top of one. The sky, the ground, it was so immense, massive. It was overwhelming. It felt crushing.
00:20:49
Speaker
At some point the sand became water, like the ripples in a mirage, and the water was a huge, dark ocean. There was nothing there, anywhere. Nothing except... Laura! Laura! Rose!
00:21:17
Speaker
I ran forever. It was like on the road walking home that night, except instead of frightened, I was ecstatic. You made it. I made it. It's me. It's you. It's us.
00:21:45
Speaker
I'm so... And that's when I caught it. Wait. I was so... happy. Unbelievably happy. This is wrong. No. Lara, it's finally right. People like me, we don't get to be happy. I need to go back. Lara, there's nowhere to go. She was right.
00:22:16
Speaker
I turned around and around, but everywhere, in every direction, everything was the same. There's nowhere to go. I'm so... I'm so tired. I don't know if you've ever felt everything just kind of drain out of you.
Finding Resolution with Soda Pop
00:22:40
Speaker
It's a hard thing to imagine if you haven't been through it.
00:22:45
Speaker
I could feel myself shutting down piece by piece. All the sensation slid down my shoulders, through my arms, out my fingers, just dissipated. I knew that somewhere there was a forest and spores and horror, but I didn't know what it meant anymore. It didn't seem important. I just wanted to
00:23:15
Speaker
I didn't even want to fall asleep, I was just... empty. I think I'm going to die. What? I'm gonna die. But then...
00:23:31
Speaker
Listen, I don't really go in for all that we don't deserve dogs stuff. We spent thousands of years specifically engineering dogs to be ideal human companions and then act all shocked when they turn out to be, you know, excellent companions. It's silly. But still, when I heard that dog, soda pop, soda pop. It's like I knew the way home.
00:24:07
Speaker
Soda Pop! Oh, hey buddy, where have you been? I guess it's just... what do you do when you have nothing left? You hold on to what you love, right? Even if you can't quite remember what loving something feels like. Oh, holy shit! I knew you would ruin this!
00:24:36
Speaker
Camille, please. Soda pop? What's wrong, baby dog? God damn it! Don't move! We're so close to oblivion. Only you, only you are in the way.
00:25:00
Speaker
Please! Camille! I can't breathe! Camille! Stop! Get off me, you stupid dog! No! Where's that lantern? Rose? How could you? Oblivion.
00:25:30
Speaker
like a spider, like a hole, the mouth of nothing. What are you doing? I'm lighting the lantern. Laura, I see it. I know what we need to do. Laura? Laura? Laura, wake up. Ah. Ah.
00:26:02
Speaker
Did you just kiss me? We wouldn't wake up. So I thought I'd try it. Like in a fairy tale? Shut up. We don't have time. Right. I think we have to burn it. Yeah. No. No.
00:26:27
Speaker
It's okay. Oh, it's okay, puppy. Laura, can you stand? We're going to have to run. Yeah, I can. Um, I'll just, uh, yeah. Please, you can't. I'm so sorry, Camille. No! No!
00:27:00
Speaker
They're taking it through the net.
00:27:05
Speaker
Nothing's touching you, Camille. But it will in a minute if we don't... Don't touch me! She's part of it now. No, that's not a thing. Camille, come on. The fire's spreading. You ruined everything! Look, we need to go now. I'll kill you! Laura, you can't help her. But... Laura! Fire! Run! Right! Uh, come on, soda pop.
00:27:53
Speaker
I know you. You shouldn't be here. Alright then. Let's do this.
00:28:21
Speaker
Good morning, and welcome back to WKCH. I'm Abe Ramirez. And this is my co-host, Jake Talbot. Really? Co-host? You mean it, buddy? Yeah, why not?
00:28:37
Speaker
Thank you. Okay, well, we're just catching everyone up on the massive wildfire of that. Chaos. Terror. Smoke blankets the valley as a mysterious fire starts deep in the Mount Hood National Forest. Dude! Firefighters were able to contain the plays, but questions remain.
00:28:54
Speaker
In addition, citizens are encouraged to check their homes for a virulent strain of mold. That's right. It's not just me. But could the mold and fire be related? Martha Arberg- Who, as we know, has her farm right on the edge of the affected part of the forest. Martha Arberg reports that the lingering smoke isn't just the last embers of a fire going out. That fire is still burning.
00:29:15
Speaker
The Forest Service has locked down the area so nobody can get close to investigate. Could it be a controlled burn? Waste disposal? We don't know yet how the fire started, why it's still going. And more importantly, what's still up there? Or inside your homes! For the next three hours, we'll be taking your calls. Do you have any information about what's happening up there? I think it's aliens. Dude, you have got to stop interrupting me! Wait, what? Yeah, it's got to be aliens.
00:29:41
Speaker
You don't think of Sasquatch? Are you kidding? No way Sasquatch would be involved in something like that. But the protection of nature is like his whole thing. Man, you will never get it. It's like this. Sasquatch, yes, is like the preserver. But at the same time, he would never- That's enough of that. Come on, Mom. It's the news. That is not news. Hey, can I come in? Laura. Mayor Boone.
00:30:11
Speaker
Hey, Lara. Yeah, it's okay. Rose? Honey? It's okay, Mom. I'll be outside. I heard the nurse's station has one of those coffee pod machines. If you ask nicely, I bet Eddie would- Excuse me? Well, she still hates me. She's been through a lot. Yeah.
00:30:36
Speaker
How are you feeling? I'm okay. They keep talking about scans and keeping me for observation, but I feel fine. How's your head? Better. I'm over the worst of the concussion, so they're actually discharging me. No lingering effects from the forest. That's good. How's the patient? Dr. Simmons? Oh, Lara.
00:31:03
Speaker
Hello. It's okay. I'm feeling better. You're not seeing patients, are you? No. No. No, I'm on a bit of a sabbatical. Oh. Yeah, it seemed best. But I helped synthesize the treatment that rose in a few of the others who inhaled the spores last night at getting. You did? Nobody told me anything about that.
00:31:25
Speaker
Well, no, your body seems to have cleared itself of all of them on its own. I'd love to find out more about that. But I suppose I should. I'm going to go. The sheriff is meeting me here about Camille. Have they found her? She survives a fire. That's all they know. Oh, I'm so sorry, Dr. Simmons.
Reflecting on the Night's Events
00:31:51
Speaker
It's not your fault. She, Camille, does what she's going to do. I'm assisting where I can, but, well, I suppose I should focus on my own recovery. It appears I had a bit of exposure. Might have been affected. Yeah. They're good at what they do, the search teams, and she, I'm sure she's fine. With treatment, we'll all be fine.
00:32:21
Speaker
Yeah. You saw them then. The spores. Yeah. Are any of them... We burned them all. Oh. Oh, well. I'm sure that's fine. What do you mean?
00:32:38
Speaker
Well, some species of fungi reproduce through forest fires. The flames actually release the spores from the soil, so they only fruit in burn zones. But I'm sure it's fine. It's fine. Well, I was just stopping by to see how you were. I'll go.
00:33:01
Speaker
She hasn't tried to examine you, has she? What? Why? I'm not seeing any patience. I hope you continue to improve. Thanks. What was that about? It's a long story. You know, Laura, I'm glad you were there last night. Me too. Did you really see it?
00:33:31
Speaker
When we, when the spores burst out. Why don't you tell me what you saw? It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The stars came down to the earth and these beautiful balls of dancing light. And they sang, like really sang. I could see the tendrils from the mushrooms.
00:34:00
Speaker
reaching up, and when they met the stars, it was like everything. It was peace. Perfect peace. Hmm. You didn't see that? I had a dream, but it was different. You didn't see the stars? There was an ocean, I think, but no stars and definitely no song.
00:34:30
Speaker
Aww. I'm sorry, Rose, I wish I... I don't know why you see dancing stars and I just see emptiness, but mold spores and mushrooms. And it went wrong anyway. There was that one moment of bliss and then you said something about... dine, I think? And it fell apart.
00:34:54
Speaker
I had the most horrible feeling, like everything was just falling out of me. It was like this tingling feeling, like every bit of me, my nerves were just freezing fire. The nothingness wasn't an embrace anymore, it was... I'm glad. I'm glad we burned it all. I'm sorry it didn't end the way you thought. Yeah, me too.
00:35:25
Speaker
I can't believe you didn't see the stars. And you don't, you didn't feel anything either? That piece of something greater? I think it's just who I am. It's why I can't be the person for you. Lara, it's okay. You know, my mom used to tell me this story that her mom told to her about the sun and the moon. Yeah?
00:35:56
Speaker
She said, in the beginning, the sun and the moon were strangers. The sun gave us light and heat and the moon moved the tides and brought the rain. And the sun watched over the day while the moon watched over the night. But at sunrise and sunset, they could see each other just for a moment across the sky. And over the years, they fell in love.
00:36:25
Speaker
That's sweet. Yeah. They lived like that for a long time, catching glimpses between day and night until one day they tried to be together. But when the sun and the moon came together, the Earth lost them both. An eclipse. Everything went dark and cold. The tides wouldn't move and soon the plants and animals began to die.
00:36:55
Speaker
Hmm. So the sun and the moon agreed to stay apart. They leave messages for each other in the clouds, catch glimpses when one rises or sets. And once in a while, after years of isolation, they come together. But only if ever for a moment.
00:37:20
Speaker
That's sad. The sun and moon love each other, but they love the rest of us more. That's what my mom always said. It's a good story. Yeah.
00:37:41
Speaker
soda pop hey buddy look what i found oh hi baby what a good boy oh someone cut your hair
00:37:53
Speaker
He was a mess after all that time in the woods. And your cousin's ex-girlfriend grooms dogs, so... Ma'am, you can't have dogs in here. It's just for a moment. Do you know who this is? She's the mayor of Charity. What? Charity? It's like 20 minutes from here? Well, it's hospital policy. Alright, um, give us just a minute. One minute. They don't mess around here.
00:38:19
Speaker
Oh, hey, Soda Pop. I'm so happy you came back, bud. What a good boy. Well, I should probably get out of your way. Thank you. Will you take care of him, of Soda Pop? Oh, do you mean you'll take him home, won't you? Oh, are you sure? You know, he was always your dog. He's your dog, Flora.
00:38:49
Speaker
I don't know about that. I mean, look at him. He's following me. See? He doesn't do that. Apparently he does. Come on, buddy. Goodbye, Rose. Goodbye, Laura. Ma'am, I really need you to remove that dog. I've got him. Come on, buddy. Let's go.
00:39:17
Speaker
Goodbye, Soda Pop. Yes, goodbye, Soda Pop. How are you feeling?
00:39:26
Speaker
I'm fine, mom. Good. Oh, did I tell you about Sheriff Tate? Apparently when they started on his mold abatement, they found a bunch of gold. What? Yeah, in the walls, under the floorboards. They were just sitting on it the whole time. He is pretty happy. I bet.
00:39:56
Speaker
All right there buddy, you ready? We can go see Shane, run around where there's fences. Yeah, sound good? Okay. Oh well, let me just plug in my phone. Oh. You have 216 new voice messages. Oh, great. Just great.
00:40:25
Speaker
Phone. Play messages. First message sent Wednesday. So that's what happened. I mean, it didn't it didn't really happen. Obviously, but that's how I remember it. I think what do you think happened? I mean, really? Oh, I think. You can love someone and just.
00:40:54
Speaker
not be right for them, you know? The moon chases the sun and as long as it never catches it everything's okay. As long as it's just close enough to to reflect it once in a while. So even if I love Rose and I maybe I'll always
00:41:22
Speaker
You know, in tarot, the moon represents illusion, deception, and unconscious knowledge. Rose reads tarot, so I mean, I don't know if that's what that meant, but you can love the sun and still recognize that it needs to stay where it is.
Contemplating Origins and Gratitude
00:41:49
Speaker
Or sorry, did you mean the Bigfoot stuff? Yeah, no, there's no Bigfoot. I had a concussion. There are species of fungus that can survive in space, like not just a vacuum, but actual space. So maybe when they had that meteor shower, a fragment came through with something weird on it.
00:42:14
Speaker
maybe there was a weird strain there all along just down under the dirt Rose got exposed and with her existing issues and you know small towns can get this kind of mass hysteria so I guess it was just a combination of things and I just got in the middle somehow hmm so anyway um that's my story that's why I came to a psychotherapist
00:42:44
Speaker
I think you should see me twice a week. Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. So, what do you think? It's fascinating. She's coming here. She's on her way. And she doesn't know we're here. She thinks she's visiting her mother. Good, good. You seem pleased. Well, I suppose there is a reason they call me the Grinning Man.
00:43:25
Speaker
What?! Guys?! I guess you'll have to come back for season 2!
00:43:30
Speaker
I just want to thank everyone for sticking around through the season one finale. It has been a wild time. Did I think it would take me two years to release one season of this show? No, my friends, I did not. But life happens, and here we are. Completing these last five episodes was only possible because of Patreon, Zencaster, the Saunders family, and the ongoing support of all you lovely people.
00:43:57
Speaker
A special thank you to our Patreon supporters, including new patrons, Timothy Diaz, Adam Alexander, Rafael Fuentes, and Debbie, who is actually my mom. Hi mom. Patreon supporters get all episodes early, as well as access to behind-the-scenes information, updates, bonus content, and more.
00:44:17
Speaker
For more information or to join yourself, go to Patreon.com slash Believer Podcast. That's P-A-T-R-E-O-N dot com slash Believer Podcast.
00:44:30
Speaker
Remote recording during the pandemic has only been possible because of our sponsor Zencaster. When we lost access to in-person recording, I really thought we were done for. But Zencaster made the transition to remote recording really easy. It's browser-based, so everyone can log in from home. It records high-quality audio on separate tracks, which is something you don't get from general internet video call services.
00:44:54
Speaker
A lot of the features are available for free. You can try it right now at zencaster.com. That's z-e-n-c-a-s-t-r.com. And if you want to get 30% off of a pro plan, use the referral link in our show notes or enter promo code Believer at checkout.
00:45:13
Speaker
This episode features the voice talents of Mara Hernandez, Sarah Gorsky, Miles Langerman, Jason Markoff, Rosa Delgado, Samantha Ronceros, Julian Cardillo, Kip Parshall, Duke Parshall, Seth Ellsworth, Julie Saunders, and Archie. The Grinning Man was played by Javier Ronceros, who killed it.
00:45:35
Speaker
This episode was written and directed by Julie Saunders with sound design by Esther Ellis. Additional sound design assistance from Andrew Wardlaw. Andrew runs the Lamplight Radio Play, which adapts original dark fiction stories into audio. If you want to hear an episode directed by me, check out episode 11, The Elevator Girl. Esther Ellis is the creator of Station Blue and provides sound design for Dungeons and Daddies, Hit the Bricks, Arden, and much more.
00:46:02
Speaker
Season 2 will begin production later this year. In the meantime, if you experience an unexpected head injury, or even really unexpected head injury, you should get that checked out. It's pretty serious even if you don't see Bigfoot. Although if you do see Bigfoot, will you tell him hi from me? He's not returning my calls. Bye now.
00:46:45
Speaker
I will use you, I will use you Until I am strong enough Till I can't break these calls
00:47:09
Speaker
I will use you, I will use you Until I am strong enough Until I can break these calls