S3E4 Tell Me What You See

Summary

Podcast Summary: I Witness: Between Two Worlds
Episode: S3E4 "Tell Me What You See"
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Host/Author: Northwest Christian School, Red Five Media

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Introduction

"I Witness: Between Two Worlds" delves into the intricate tapestry of human emotions, faith, and the quest for truth amidst dire circumstances. In Episode 3, Season 4, titled "Tell Me What You See," listeners are immersed in a gripping narrative that intertwines a real-life kidnapping scenario with profound discussions on faith, forgiveness, and perception.

The Kidnapping Emergency Call

The episode opens with a stark portrayal of the frequency and gravity of 911 calls:

Narrator [00:04]: "240 million calls are made to 911 every year. 600,000 calls each day. 50,000 calls to 911 report kidnappings. Not every voice is found."

This statistic sets the stage for the episode's central event: a desperate 911 call from a kidnapping victim seeking help.

Kidnapping Victim [00:29]: "Please, you have to help me, okay?"

The interaction between the victim and the 911 operator immediately establishes a tense and urgent atmosphere.

Faith and Loss: Emily's Mother's Monologue

A significant portion of the episode features a heartfelt monologue by Emily's mother, exploring her personal journey with faith and the impact of loss:

Emily's Mother [01:16]: "She looks so peaceful, like she's just sleeping."

As the narrative unfolds, Emily's mother delves into her past, recounting the loss of her friend Hannah and how it shattered her faith:

Emily's Mother [02:21]:
"I was 13 the first time I really prayed. Like, really prayed... I thought that's what faith was supposed to be. Simple, safe, and easy... Until the day it did."

Her candid reflection highlights the struggle between doubt and belief, especially in the face of tragedy:

Emily's Mother [04:15]:
"If faith was real, if God was real, if Jesus was real, then why didn't he do something? Why didn't he listen?"

Dialogue Between Emily and the 911 Operator

The narrative transitions to a profound conversation between Emily and the 911 operator, delving into themes of perception and emotional trauma:

Emily [08:18]:
"Sometimes we see what we expect to see. We hold on to the pieces that fit. The story we've been telling ourselves for years. The story that feels safe, familiar."

Emily challenges the operator's perception of her pain and invites her to see beyond her own narrative:

Emily [08:47]:
"Not in the way you wanted her to be. Not in the way you needed her to be. But that doesn't mean that she didn't love you."

This exchange underscores the complexities of familial relationships and the hidden depths of love and fear.

Exploration of Spiritual Connections

A pivotal moment occurs when Emily introduces a spiritual dimension to the conversation, revealing a deeper connection:

Emily [10:19]:
"You're Jesus. People worship you... You don't get to stand there and tell me what it feels like to be invisible."

Through this dialogue, the episode bridges the mundane and the divine, suggesting a supernatural undertone to the unfolding events.

Confronting Pain and Forgiveness

Emily confronts the operator with a powerful narrative of sacrifice and unconditional love:

Emily [13:16]:
"Because I love."

She references biblical accounts to emphasize the essence of grace and forgiveness:

Emily [17:46]:
"When Jesus was dying... He looked at them and said, father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing. That's grace. That's love."

Climactic Revelation

As the episode nears its climax, medical concerns arise regarding the victim's condition, adding urgency and suspense:

911 Operator [18:27]: "Her pupils aren't responding."

This medical revelation hints at the escalating stakes of the situation, blending emotional turmoil with physical peril.

Conclusion and Teasers

The episode concludes with a seamless blend of the narrative and promotional content, maintaining the immersive experience:

Narrator [19:18]: "240 million calls are made to 911 every year... Not every voice is found."

This echo of the opening remarks brings the episode full circle, reinforcing the persistent theme of unheard voices and unresolved mysteries.

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Key Themes and Insights

1. Faith in Crisis:
   Emily's mother's journey illustrates the fragility of faith when confronted with inexplicable loss and suffering. Her eventual rediscovery of belief underscores the resilience of the human spirit.

2. Perception vs. Reality:
   The dialogue between Emily and the 911 operator highlights how individuals often cling to their perceptions, missing the underlying truths and emotional depths of others.

3. Forgiveness and Grace:
   Drawing parallels with biblical narratives, the episode emphasizes the transformative power of forgiveness, even in the most harrowing circumstances.

4. Supernatural Undertones:
   The introduction of spiritual figures like Jesus and Peter adds a metaphysical layer to the story, suggesting that the events transcend ordinary experiences.

5. Emotional and Physical Struggle:
   The victim's physical condition, coupled with the emotional dialogues, creates a multifaceted portrayal of struggle, both internal and external.

Notable Quotes

• Kidnapping Victim [00:29]:
  "Please, you have to help me, okay?"
  [00:29]

• Emily's Mother [02:21]:
  "I stopped praying after that. I stopped believing. Because if faith was real... why didn't he listen?"
  [02:21]

• Emily [08:18]:
  "Sometimes we see what we expect to see... The story that feels safe, familiar."
  [08:18]

• Emily [17:46]:
  "When Jesus was dying... That's grace. That's love."
  [17:46]

Conclusion

"I Witness: Between Two Worlds" Episode S3E4 "Tell Me What You See" masterfully blends suspenseful storytelling with deep emotional and spiritual exploration. Through its richly developed characters and thought-provoking dialogues, the episode invites listeners to reflect on their own perceptions, beliefs, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. Whether grappling with faith, forgiveness, or the mysteries of the human experience, this episode stands as a testament to the power of storytelling in uncovering profound truths.

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Prepare to be captivated, amazed, and become an eyewitness to the extraordinary. Stay tuned for the season finale next week!

Transcript

[Narrator]

240 million calls are made to 911 every year. 600,000 calls each day. 50,000 calls to 911 report kidnappings. Not every voice is found.

[911 Operator]

91 1, what is your emergency?

[Kidnapping Victim]

Please, you have to help me, okay?

[911 Operator]

I want to help you. What is the address of your emergency?

[Kidnapping Victim]

I. I don't know. I've been kidnapped.

[Narrator]

Watch. Don't hang up. Exclusively at don't hang upmovie.com on May 9th.

[Kidnapping Victim]

They didn't have any Diet Coke, so I hope Pepsi's okay.

[Emily's Mother]

That's perfect. Thank you, Quinn.

[Kidnapping Victim]

No problem.

[Emily's Mother]

She looks so peaceful, like she's just sleeping.

[Kidnapping Victim]

She is. She's just taking her time coming back.

[Emily's Mother]

I don't know how to do this.

[Kidnapping Victim]

Do what?

[Emily's Mother]

Wait. Hope. Pray. I've never been that kind of person. Faith, prayer, all that. It's just never been me. But right now, I would do anything, anything if it meant she would wake up. What else am I supposed to do? Just sit here? Just wait? Hope for what? That some higher power is just gonna fix this? I'm sorry. That's just not how life works. That's not how it's ever worked. If there is something, someone out there, why would they wait until now? Why wouldn't they step in? Before it got to this.

[Kidnapping Victim]

I was 13 the first time I really prayed. Like, really prayed. It wasn't in a church. It wasn't because someone told me to. It wasn't even because I wanted to. It was because I was terrified. When I was a kid, my family prayed before every meal. My parents, my brothers, my grandparents, even my baby sister when she was old enough to mumble a few words. It was a routine. It was just life. Not just something we did at church or on special occasions. Faith was just there, like air. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't forced. It just was. And for a long time, I thought that's what faith was supposed to be. Simple, safe and easy. Like a warm light that never went out. Until the day it did. I had this friend growing up. Her name was Hannah. We met in kindergarten, and we were best friends. We were inseparable. She was wild, reckless in the best way possible, and she was always pushing boundaries, always dragging me to some new adventure. And she had the biggest heart of anyone I knew. When we were 16, she got sick out of nowhere. Doctors called it aggressive. She was fine one day, and then suddenly she wasn't. Chemo treatments, hope rising and crashing like waves. The whole time, I prayed, I begged. Not just me, but our whole church. It even felt like our whole town was praying. We rallied around her, believing, truly believing that God would heal her. She died three months later. I stopped praying after that. I stopped believing. Because if faith was real, if God was real, if Jesus was real, then why didn't he do something? Why didn't he listen? If anyone deserved a miracle, it was Hannah. And it didn't come. I remember sitting in my car after the funeral, gripping the steering wheel so hard my hands went numb. And I was spurred. Where were you? You know what I felt? Nothing. No big revelations. No answer. Just silence. And for a long time, I thought that was it, that faith was just an illusion. But then something happened. And the months later, I started noticing things. Not signs, not miracles, just reminders. The kind of reminders I'd read about my whole life but never really paid attention to. It wasn't my mom dropping off meals at Hannah's house. It was her praying over them before she did, asking God to bring comfort where words couldn't. It was my pastor sitting with Hannah's dad, holding his hand as he wept, not just being there, but carrying some of the sorrow with him. It was my friends, the ones who prayed with me when I had no words left, reminding me that even when my faith felt empty, God wasn't going anywhere. And then one night, I opened my Bible for the first time in months. I didn't even know what I was looking for, but I landed on Isaiah 43. 2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. And when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. It doesn't say if you pass through the waters. It says when. Because pain is inevitable. Suffering is inevitable. We live in a broken world. But that verse, it's a promise. It's God saying, you won't go through this alone. I will be with you. I will carry you through. Even now, I don't think Emily's alone. I think God's with her.

[911 Operator]

Why did you let me see that?

[Emily]

See what?

[911 Operator]

My mom. The guilt. The pain. I. I wasn't ready for that.

[Emily]

What did you see?

[911 Operator]

I just told you. My mom, Quinn, her pain.

[Emily]

No, Emily. What did you really see?

[911 Operator]

What were you talking about?

[Emily]

Sometimes we see what we expect to see. We hold on to the pieces that fit. The story we've been telling ourselves for years. The story that feels safe, familiar.

[911 Operator]

That wasn't a story. That was my life. She wasn't there for me. She wasn't. She wasn't what I needed.

[Emily]

And yet she was there, wasn't she?

[911 Operator]

Not in the way that mattered.

[Emily]

Not in the way you wanted her to be. Not in the way you needed her to be. Not in the way you thought she would be. But that doesn't mean that she didn't love you. I'm not saying your mom didn't make mistakes, Emily. She did. But I want to encourage you to see that the isolation you felt, she felt, too. Sometimes love isn't loud. Sometimes it's quiet, hidden under layers of fear and failure. That sometimes love looks like a mother sitting beside a hospital bed, whispering prayer she isn't even sure she believes.

[911 Operator]

What was your mom like?

[Emily]

What do you mean?

[911 Operator]

Well, you said that you've been through what I have. I mean, how is that even possible? You don't know what it's like to be this. This broken, left behind, fighting for something that never comes. Sure, you say you've been abandoned. You say you've been betrayed, but that's not the same as me. You don't know what it's like to be powerless. To feel like you don't matter, like you don't exist.

[Emily]

I do.

[911 Operator]

No, you don't, Emily. No, I mean, look at you. You're. You're you. You're Jesus. People worship you. They write songs about you, paint pictures of you, build churches for you. You don't get to stand there and tell me what it feels like to be invisible.

[Emily]

Then let me show you. Emily. Tell me what you see.

[911 Operator]

I see man walking alone. He looks like he's scared. It looks like he's trying to hide or something. There's more people walking up. A lady's walking up to him. Hey, you're him, aren't you?

[Narrator]

I don't know what you're talking about.

[911 Operator]

You. You're friends with J. Jesus, aren't you? You know him?

[Narrator]

No, I've never seen him before in my life.

[911 Operator]

Yes, you have. What's your name?

[Narrator]

I'm not who you think I am.

[911 Operator]

Yes, you are. You're Peter. And Jesus is your friend.

[Narrator]

Leave me alone.

[911 Operator]

Wait. Where is he going?

[Emily]

He's running away.

[911 Operator]

Why?

[Emily]

He was afraid.

[911 Operator]

Who was he?

[Emily]

That was Peter.

[911 Operator]

He was your friend.

[Emily]

He was more than that. He was my rock. I told him he would be the foundation, that everything would be built upon. And in my darkest moment, he swore he never knew me.

[911 Operator]

Wow.

[Emily]

But I forgave him anyway.

[911 Operator]

How?

[Emily]

Because love isn't about keeping score. It's about grace.

[911 Operator]

But you still don't know what it's like to be powerless. Oh, my Gosh, that's.

[Emily]

Yes. Tell me what you see.

[911 Operator]

I see you on the middle cross. There's a crowd of people watching you, yelling at you. And you. You're just there, taking it.

[Kidnapping Victim]

This.

[911 Operator]

This happened to you?

[Emily]

It did.

[Emily's Mother]

Why?

[Emily]

Because I chose it.

[911 Operator]

Why? Why would you do that?

[Emily]

Because I saw you. I saw you in your worst moments, Emily. I saw you in the nights you thought no one cared. I saw you when you were a child, crying into your pillow, believing you were invisible. I saw you. I took it. I took all of it. Every hurt, every sin, every one weight you've ever carried. And I let it die with me.

[Kidnapping Victim]

Why me?

[Emily]

Because. Because I love.

[Emily's Mother]

Foreign.

[Narrator]

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[Emily's Mother]

I don't know how to fix this. I don't know how to fix any of it. I don't know if you can hear me, sweetie, but I need you to. I should have told you this a long time ago. I should have. I should have been better for you. I told myself I was protecting you. Staying distant, keeping you from everything happening with your dad. That was what I had to do. But I see now all you saw was me leaving. I wanted to be so strong. I thought if I held it all together, if I carried everything myself, then you wouldn't have to. But I didn't see. I didn't see what that did to you. I was so afraid, Emily. So afraid. If I got too close, if I let you see how scared I was, you'd end up just as broken as I felt. I was wrong. I was so wrong. You deserved a mother who stayed. Not one who hid behind excuses. Not one who let fear decide how much love she gave. I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry. If you wake up, if you give me another chance, I'll do better. I promise. But even if you can't, you won't. I just need you to know I love you. I have always loved you.

[Kidnapping Victim]

I can come back.

[Emily's Mother]

No. I was just talking to her, begging her to forgive me.

[Kidnapping Victim]

You know, I think maybe she already has.

[Emily's Mother]

She has every right not to. I wouldn't blame her.

[Kidnapping Victim]

Maybe. But love isn't about what we deserve. And neither is forgiveness. When Jesus was dying, the very people who hurt him, the ones who mocked him, spit on him, abandoned him. He looked at them and said, father, forgive them. They don't know what they're doing. That's grace. That's love. You don't have to be perfect to be forgiven. You just have to ask.

[911 Operator]

Just checking your pupils.

[Emily's Mother]

What? What is it?

[911 Operator]

Her pupils aren't responding.

[Emily's Mother]

What does that mean?

[Emily]

What's going on?

[911 Operator]

Her pupils are non reactive.

[Emily's Mother]

Someone please tell me what this means.

[Emily]

I don't know right now. It could be swelling in the brain or something worse. We appreciate you spending time with us.

[Narrator]

On Between Two Worlds. Be sure to follow, share and come.

[Emily]

Back for the next chapter. The season finale of Eyewitness drops next week. Don't miss it. Eyewitness is powered by NCS Online. Christ Centered Learning. Anytime, anywhere, enroll today at ncsonline.org.

[Narrator]

240 million calls are made to 911 every year. 600,000 calls each day. 50,000 calls to 911 report kidnappings. Not every voice is found.

[911 Operator]

91 1, what is your emergency?

[Kidnapping Victim]

Please, you have to help me, okay?

[911 Operator]

I want to help you. What is the address of your emergency?

[Kidnapping Victim]

I. I don't know. I've been kidnapped.

[Narrator]

Watch. Don't hang up. Exclusively@don'thangupmovie.com on May 9th.