DERELICT Presents: Midnight Burger – Episode Summary

Release Date: May 20, 2024

Overview

"DERELICT Presents: Midnight Burger" is a captivating episode that immerses listeners in a surreal narrative set within an enigmatic diner that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Produced by Night Rocket Productions and penned by Joe Fisher and Finlay Stevenson, the story follows Gloria, a woman seeking employment during the pandemic, who inadvertently becomes part of a cosmic mystery that threatens the very fabric of existence.

1. Setting the Scene: Midnight Burger Diner

The episode opens with Gloria arriving at the Midnight Burger diner for a job interview. Unlike any ordinary establishment, Midnight Burger is situated "nineteen thousand feet down" in the ocean floor, encased within a massive, secretive laboratory base named FATHOM, operated by the powerful Maas-Dorian corporation. This diner is not fixed in location; instead, it shifts through various points in the cosmos daily, making each night an adventure into a different dimension or timeline.

2. Gloria’s Job Interview: Meeting Casper and Ava

Gloria arrives late for her interview, only to find herself in a deserted diner managed by Casper and Ava. The initial interaction is tense, highlighting Casper's unpreparedness and the diner’s eerie atmosphere.

• Gloria: "I'm broke and miserable. And for you to add your irresponsibly unprepared interview to that is the slap in the face." ([06:26])

Casper attempts to engage her in conversation, revealing the diner’s unique nature:

• Casper: "We have one regular customer whom you've already met, and the clientele here can be challenging." ([08:54])

3. Strange Occurrences: The Radio Broadcasts

As Gloria navigates the interview, the diner’s radio intermittently broadcasts sermons by Zebulon and Effie Mucklewain, introducing an otherworldly element to the setting.

• Zebulon Mucklewain: "I can always sense when a change is coming... For God is my rock, in whom I take refuge." ([03:09])

These broadcasts serve as both background ambiance and foreshadowing of the diner’s instability within the cosmic tapestry.

4. Emergence of the Transdimensional Threat

The tranquility is shattered when Ava alerts the group to an impending crisis:

• Ava: "We've got a problem. Look on the horizon." ([09:41])

A massive sandstorm-like phenomenon approaches, but Ava clarifies it's something far more sinister—a "transdimensional haboob," a sentient super being composed of antimatter.

• Ava: "It's like a large dust storm, but instead of dust, it's antimatter... a sentient super being." ([15:11])

5. Leaf’s Revelation: The Cook with a Secret

Leaf, the diner’s cook, enters the fray, revealing his role in their predicament. He explains that Midnight Burger exists in a pocket dimension to evade cosmic threats like the haboob.

• Leaf: "Because it owes me a favor. I'm hiding from what?" ([14:24])

Leaf’s presence introduces a deeper layer of complexity, indicating that the diner is a nexus point battling constant annihilation from the ever-decaying universe.

6. Time Travel Mechanics: Escaping the Threat

Faced with imminent danger, Leaf devises a plan to transport the diner back in time to evade the haboob. This involves sliding backwards through a timeline, effectively rewinding their existence to avoid the impending catastrophe.

• Leaf: "If we slide backwards through a particular timeline, that could throw it off the scent." ([16:29])

The group experiences disorienting time slips, witnessing Arizona’s landscape morphing from modernity to ancient eras.

7. Encounter with the Pima People: A Glimpse into the Past

As they navigate through time, the diner arrives in a prehistoric America, encountering the Pima people. This interaction underscores the diner’s role as a sanctuary amidst the chaos of creation and destruction.

• Effie Mucklewain: "Those are the Pima people... They believed in the power of names, and that to speak the name of your ancestors is to conjure them from the spirit world." ([30:27])

This segment blends historical reverence with mystical elements, enriching the narrative with cultural depth.

8. Return to Present: Consequences of Time Manipulation

After a tumultuous journey through various timelines, including the Devonian era, the group manages to return to their original position in Arizona. However, the repercussions of their time travels become evident as Gloria notices anomalies, such as her car appearing to drive away backwards.

• Gloria: "That's me getting into my car backwards. That's me driving away backwards." ([36:35])

This realization hints at the lasting impacts of their interventions in the time stream, setting the stage for future challenges.

9. Conclusion: Setting the Stage for Future Adventures

The episode concludes with lingering questions about the diner’s existence and the protagonists' grasp on reality. The persistent threats from the cosmos and the diner’s unique ability to navigate through time suggest ongoing battles and deeper secrets yet to be unveiled.

• Gloria: "Life is about choices, man. You and I both suffer from a very rare form of mental illness. Right?" ([38:22])

This final exchange leaves listeners anticipating the unfolding of Midnight Burger’s saga, blending elements of science fiction, mystery, and existential contemplation.

Notable Quotes

• Gloria on Her Struggles: "I'm broke and miserable." ([06:27])

• Ava’s Scientific Explanation: "When you're a scientist and you spend your time zooming out on the universe, you discover that the universe is inherently a huge bummer." ([21:16])

• Leaf on Turning Back Time: "Tachyons. You guys need cream." ([28:33])

• Effie Mucklewain’s Wisdom: "We can gaze so deeply into the visions of a promised life that often the life we've been given slips past us." ([10:49])

Conclusion

"DERELICT Presents: Midnight Burger" masterfully blends elements of science fiction and surreal storytelling to explore themes of existentialism, the relentless march of time, and the quest for meaning amidst chaos. Through Gloria’s journey and the diner’s cosmic escapades, listeners are invited to ponder the delicate balance between order and entropy, all set against the backdrop of an ever-shifting universe.