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Podcast Announcer
Hymns for the Road is a fiction podcast that often takes place inside a moving vehicle. Listener discretion is advised while driving. General content warnings are listed in the show notes.
Copper
It Morning.
Silver
Morning.
Amber
Where's the glass?
Silver
Bathroom, I think.
Amber
Oh.
Silver
Want to help me get breakfast started?
Amber
Sure.
Silver
I am a man of constant sorrow I seen trouble all my days.
Copper
I.
Silver
Bid farewell to old Kentucky the place where I was born and raised the.
Amber
Place where they was born and raised.
Glass
Maybe I should sing a little louder. I'm sure nobody's trying to sleep in a car.
Silver
Time to get up, Amber.
Amber
You can sleep all you want when we get to the somewhere better. Who's driving first when we leave?
Copper
Amber slapped on the bump, so they're off the hook. I can do it.
Silver
Glass, you drove first yesterday. Why don't you take a turn?
Amber
Cop can do.
Copper
Thanks. The sausage is ready.
Glass
What's it made out of?
Copper
Don't know and don't want to know.
Glass
Whatever it is, it smells great.
Silver
Everybody fed enough?
Glass
I could go for a little more.
Copper
Here, but maybe carrots.
Glass
Thanks.
Silver
You best enjoy those, Amber. I traded a toe for them.
Glass
Worth it. The toe. Carrots are delicious.
Copper
I can't believe this is the only thing we could find to replace my cards.
Silver
Look on the bright side. At least we found something that works.
Glass
It's also really funny.
Copper
It is a little bit funny. Magic 8 ball, tell me what Mind dear benefactor has to say.
Amber
Getting anything useful.
Copper
I absolutely am not.
Glass
What? Why not? How hard is it to give us a yes? No?
Copper
Maybe they've given me a paragraph. It doesn't fit on the little triangle. Every letter is the size of a grain of sand.
Amber
I'm sorry about your cards, Glass.
Copper
It's all right. Maybe I'll be able to get my hands on a new deck someday. For now, though, I've just got this. Better than nothing, I guess.
Glass
Tell Aster to unfreeze the sinks at the rest stops if they really want to help us. I know. I'm hilarious.
Copper
No, sorry. It was something else.
Glass
What?
Copper
Nothing. Inside joke.
Amber
Is it something bad?
Copper
Nope. Nope. Everything's fine. It's good. We're good.
Glass
Oh, hell. Are you flirting with each other?
Copper
I mean, do you actually want to know?
Glass
Ew. No.
Copper
Good. Because.
Amber
Good because what?
Copper
Because.
Silver
Everything all right?
Copper
Yeah. Yeah. Everything is okay. I don't mean to sound totally crazy, but this is our car, right?
Glass
Huh?
Copper
Yeah. Yeah. No, no, you're. You're probably right. That sounds crazy, doesn't it? Never mind. Never mind.
Silver
Why don't we take this left over yonder? I don't want to go off toward that mountain.
Amber
Sounds good.
Glass
Long as it's warmer that way. Getting sick of the snow. Hey.
Copper
I'm sorry. Can we pull over for a second?
Silver
Uh, guess so. Not in a hurry.
Copper
I'm sorry. Just give me a second. I have to check something. I'll be right back.
Glass
Are they okay?
Silver
I don't know.
Amber
What's going on?
Glass
Glasses lost it.
Copper
This isn't our car.
Silver
Don't know what you mean by that, darling.
Copper
I mean, it's not. It's not our car. It's. It's a different car.
Glass
Explain.
Copper
Last night, we went to sleep, and when we woke up this morning, it wasn't the same car. It's. It's. It's a different car.
Glass
Wow. Really?
Copper
Yes. I. I don't know how I know, but I know it's not the same car.
Glass
That's so wild. You should get back in the car so we can keep driving.
Copper
You're. You're being sarcastic.
Glass
It's not a different car, Glass.
Copper
It is. It is a different car. I know it is.
Amber
Well, how? Did Astor tell you?
Copper
No, they said something about a car, but I couldn't tell exactly what it was.
Silver
That don't mean any.
Copper
I know. That doesn't mean it's not our car. Silver. It's. It's a gut feeling. You're the one who's always saying we should trust our gut before we trust our senses, right? Right. Because our sins can lie.
Amber
How are we supposed to tell it's not our car? It looks identical. All our stuff is in it.
Glass
It's not a different car.
Copper
I don't know. Do you have any spells that can sense magic or something?
Amber
I still have to replace most of my components from when I lost them, but if I dig through our stuff, I know a spell that can show us if there are any. If anyone is close by.
Copper
Worth a shot.
Silver
I'll come out there, too, help you give it another once over just to be sure.
Glass
I'm not doing any of that.
Silver
Amber, just come on and help for A minute.
Glass
Where's your paranoia all of a sudden?
Silver
All I want is to make Glass feel better. Sooner we lay this to rest, sooner we could keep going.
Glass
Fine. I'll help. But if we all get eaten by. If something unfavorable happens to us, I get to say I told you so.
Copper
Nobody else feels it?
Glass
No, I sure don't.
Amber
I'm going to start looking for components.
Silver
Got everything you'll need?
Amber
We'll find out. I guess I need some blue plastic, but I think we used it all up.
Copper
I've got a blue bottle cap I can take off this water bottle.
Amber
That should work.
Silver
I put a protection sigil under the hood. I can check for that.
Glass
Seeing anything interesting out there?
Copper
No, not yet.
Amber
I put something together. I'm not sure if it'll work.
Copper
Anything I can do to help?
Amber
Take this bag and go stand on the opposite side of the car.
Copper
Can do.
Glass
You all are wasting your time. There's nothing wrong with the car.
Amber
Okay, now hold it onto the ground.
Copper
It's. It's feeling like it doesn't want to.
Amber
It'll try and push up. You just have to hold it down. Like putting two magnets together the wrong way.
Copper
Probably means it's working, doesn't it?
Amber
It's doing something.
Glass
Is it doing something good?
Amber
I don't know. I guess we'll find out.
Glass
What's happening? Did it work?
Amber
I can see the car.
Glass
Are any folk around?
Amber
Not nearby.
Glass
And the car?
Amber
I can't tell. It looks normal. I can see that it's not alive.
Glass
Good. I have no idea how I would react if it turned out to be alive.
Copper
You don't see anything wrong or different at all?
Amber
I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be looking for. Glass.
Copper
Nothing out of the ordinary.
Amber
Nothing. I can see.
Silver
Everything. All right, Copper?
Amber
Yeah. I haven't used that spell before.
Copper
Are you okay?
Amber
I'm fine. It just knocked me over is all. I'll be okay. Just. Just give me a minute.
Silver
The sigil's still here, y'all.
Copper
And.
Silver
Glass, I think you are on to something.
Amber
Is it the engine? Is something wrong on the inside?
Glass
There had better not be.
Silver
Then why don't you come out here and see for yourself?
Glass
Fine. But I'm not wasting any more daylight on this. Let me take a look. Glasses.
Amber
Right. What? Really? What do you see?
Glass
I mean, nothing. Nothing out of the ordinary. I just know it's wrong. Something's messed up.
Copper
See? That's what I mean.
Glass
What's wrong with it? What did you do?
Copper
Huh? What did I Do.
Glass
So what, are we going to just keep driving in it? Can you ask Aster what to do?
Copper
Aster just gives me the power to work with. They don't control what happens.
Glass
What's the point of working with one of them if they can't give us anything helpful?
Silver
Stop.
Glass
Sorry. Sorry, that came out faster than I meant.
Copper
Besides, Aster's not omniscient.
Glass
So what do we do about the changeling car?
Silver
First of all, everybody calm down. We're gonna attract attention if y'all keep panicking.
Copper
You're right.
Silver
We only got two choices here. Either we keep driving in this car or we don't.
Glass
Silver, we can't just keep going.
Silver
Then our only other choice is to stay right here where we're at.
Copper
We can't. It's freezing and we're in the middle of. We're not in the middle of anywhere.
Amber
What if it's us?
Silver
What do you mean?
Amber
What if the car is the same and we're different?
Glass
All in favor of selling this memory to the nearest summer?
Copper
It can't be us, Copper. It happened overnight.
Amber
But what if it didn't? What if it just took this long for us to notice? And now that one of us said it out loud, we're all starting to notice.
Glass
Like how you never think about how your tongue sits in your mouth?
Silver
Now, why'd you have to go and say that?
Amber
Guys, I'm serious. Silver's always saying that magic changes people eventually.
Glass
I don't feel any different.
Amber
Well, how could you feel different? You don't feel yourself getting older? Well, you know what I mean.
Glass
What are we supposed to do, then? Just wait out here in the cold until we figure out an answer?
Silver
It is awful cold out here.
Copper
Everybody back in. I can drive.
Amber
But what about the car?
Copper
What about the car? Either we're all changing or the car's changing. But there's not anything we can really do about it, is there?
Amber
I guess not.
Copper
Maybe we'll learn a new word or something soon. We can deal with it later.
Glass
I'm gonna be thinking about this all day.
Silver
You'll adjust. We've adjusted to everything so far.
Copper
All the more reason to get to the somewhere better.
Amber
If we're different, we're all here and.
Silver
We'Re all safe and we all love each other. If being different changes one of those things, then we have something to worry about.
Copper
Take it in stride, Copper. We'll be fine. Weird car or not, I've got something.
Glass
We can do about it.
Amber
What?
Glass
Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger. I don't know if that really counts.
Copper
As human, doesn't it?
Amber
All right, fine. But there is one crowd.
Podcast Announcer
Hymns for the Road is a podcast written and Produced by Anna McGuire, starring Maurice Thomas as Silver, Pau Pongani, Bon as Glass, Grizz Siebenek as Amber, and Tabitha Bardol as Copper. Original music by Joshua David Mitchell. This episode's hymn is man of Constant Sorrow by Dick Burnett. Sign up for our newsletter@hodgepodgeaudio.com or support our work on Patreon.com Hodgepodgeaudio thank you for listening.
Advertiser
New Year Same great savings all in the Fred Meyer App. Get Sugardale ham portions for 87 cents a pound with your card and an additional $25 purchase. Limit one. Then get organic asparagus for $1.99 a pound with your card and a digital coupon. Shop these deals local Kroger today or click the screen now to download the Fred Meyer app to save big today. Fred Meyer Fresh for everyone. Prices and product availability subject to change restrictions apply. See site for details.
Episode 18: The Wrong Car
Release Date: January 4, 2025
Host/Author: Hodgepodge Audio
In Episode 18 of Hymns for the Road, titled "The Wrong Car," the narrative delves deeper into the enigmatic journey of four survivors navigating a post-apocalyptic America transformed into a fantastical wasteland. The group faces unexpected challenges as they grapple with mysterious changes to their vehicle, leading to tension and uncertainty about their reality and the safety of their journey.
Morning Routine and Initial Tensions (00:54 - 03:36)
The episode opens with the group waking up inside their vehicle, engaging in everyday tasks like preparing breakfast. Silver initiates the morning with a rendition of "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow" (02:07), setting a contemplative tone. The camaraderie is evident as the characters interact, though subtle tensions begin to surface regarding the mysterious circumstances surrounding their survival.
Discovery of the Car's Anomaly (03:27 - 07:09)
Copper expresses frustration over their reliance on improvised replacement cards, highlighting the group's ongoing struggle with resources (03:27). The conversation shifts when Copper senses something amiss with their vehicle, asserting, "This isn't our car" (06:19). Despite the car appearing identical and containing all their belongings, Copper's intuition suggests otherwise. This revelation ignites a debate among the group about the nature of their reality and whether external forces, possibly magical or manipulative, are at play.
Attempt to Verify the Car’s Authenticity (07:18 - 11:37)
Determined to uncover the truth, Amber proposes using spells to detect any magical interference or changes (07:18). The group collaborates to perform a spell, with Amber taking the lead despite limited resources. The spell's execution is met with uncertainty, as they struggle to interpret the results. Silver's protective measures, such as placing a sigil under the hood, indicate their preparedness against unseen threats (09:10). However, the spell fails to provide definitive answers, leaving the group puzzled and increasingly anxious about their situation.
Escalating Tensions and Unanswered Questions (11:37 - 14:25)
As doubts persist, Glass confronts Copper about the car's authenticity, questioning the lack of tangible evidence despite Copper's strong feelings (11:24). The discussion becomes heated, with Glass challenging the reliability of their benefactor, Aster, and questioning the purpose of their collaboration if Aster cannot provide clear guidance (11:37). Amber introduces a radical possibility: "What if the car is the same and we're different?" (12:31), suggesting a scenario where their identities or states have been altered unbeknownst to them. This hypothesis exacerbates the group's fears, leading to a collective sense of vulnerability and uncertainty about their path forward.
Resolution and Continued Uncertainty (14:25 - 14:27)
The episode concludes with the characters acknowledging their unresolved issues and the persistent mystery surrounding their situation. Copper's attempt to remain optimistic, "We'll be fine. Weird car or not, I've got something we can do about it," (14:12), underscores the enduring hope that drives their journey, despite the lingering doubts and challenges they face.
Reality vs. Perception:
Dependency on Magic and Resources:
Trust and Leadership:
Identity and Change:
Copper: Exhibits a strong sense of intuition and skepticism. His persistent belief that something is wrong with the car drives much of the episode's tension.
Glass: Represents rationality and pushes back against Copper's assertions, seeking concrete evidence before accepting any supernatural explanations.
Amber: Acts as the mediator, attempting to use magic to resolve the group's concerns while managing the limited resources at her disposal.
Silver: Balances protective instincts with a desire to maintain group harmony, often encouraging collaboration despite emerging conflicts.
Silver on Decision Making:
Amber on Potential Change:
Copper's Optimism Amidst Uncertainty:
Survival in a Magical Apocalypse:
Trust and Betrayal:
Identity and Change:
Resourcefulness and Adaptation:
Episode 18, "The Wrong Car," deepens the narrative of Hymns for the Road by introducing significant internal and external conflicts that challenge the group's cohesion and understanding of their reality. Through a blend of magical intrigue and human emotion, the episode explores themes of trust, identity, and survival, setting the stage for future developments as the characters continue their perilous journey through a beautifully desolate America.
Noteworthy:
This episode's hymn is "Man of Constant Sorrow" by Dick Burnett, echoing the ongoing struggles and enduring hope of the characters as they traverse the enigmatic landscape.