S4E3: The Glorious Now

Summary

Red Valley: Season 4, Episode 3 - "The Glorious Now"

Release Date: December 29, 2024
Hosted by Kontinue Productions
Description: A mystery drama about the limits of experimental science, confronting your own past, present & future, & trying to remember the level select cheat from Sonic 2.

---

Introduction

In "The Glorious Now," Red Valley delves deeper into the intricate web of experimental science, personal conflicts, and the haunting remnants of past decisions. This episode intricately weaves the struggles of its characters as they navigate a world teetering on the brink of technological and societal collapse.

Setting the Scene

The episode opens with a brief advertisement for Dutch Bros, which the narrative swiftly moves past, plunging the audience into the tense interactions between key characters:

• Pamela Jennings: Struggling to manage her responsibilities within the company amid external threats.
• Holy Colonel John Breakfast (Warren Godby): A formidable leader opposing the company's cryotech advancements.
• Clive Shield: A conflicted ally trying to balance loyalty and personal morals.
• Rebecca Landry: A central figure wrestling with the complexities of her past and present.

Key Conflicts

Bastion vs. Red Valley

Pamela Jennings discusses the mounting pressure from various factions within Bastion—the overarching authority opposed to cryotech. The lack of centralized leadership within Bastion exacerbates the chaos, with numerous subgroups led by eccentric figures like Total Bishop Kingsley Lordbox.

• Pamela Jennings (03:03):
  "I've used every trick I've got to charm and bullshit them. And I'm realizing that maybe I depended more on those donuts than I thought."

Clive Shield highlights the overwhelming nature of the Bastion's forces:

• Clive Shield (03:39):
  "Total Bishop Kingsley Lordbox. What?"

Their conversation underscores the fragmented yet relentless threat posed by Bastion, emphasizing the difficulty in negotiating or brute-forcing a resolution.

Internal Struggles and Personal Stakes

Pamela expresses frustration over the company's dire situation and the oppressive environment imposed by authorities:

• Pamela Jennings (05:34):
  "We have to be careful."

Clive suggests taking calculated risks, hinting at deeper strategic moves against Bastion:

• Clive Shield (05:23):
  "To keep to the same line, right? That we're trying to help them apprehend cryoscientists, not take them for ourselves."

Their dialogue reveals the moral quandaries and high stakes involved in their fight against Bastion.

Character Dynamics

Pamela Jennings and Clive Shield

The relationship between Pamela and Clive is strained yet pivotal. Pamela's determination to save the company and herself contrasts with Clive's attempts to find practical solutions amidst chaos.

• Pamela Jennings (06:22):
  "I'm saving Pamela's life."

This personal stake showcases the depth of their commitment and the lengths they are willing to go to preserve their legacy and humanity.

Rebecca Landry's Confrontation

Rebecca Landry faces a critical interaction with Malcolm Landry, the aging patriarch once at the helm of Overhead's cryotech initiatives. Their conversation unearths buried secrets about hypersleep technology and its ramifications.

• Rebecca Landry (13:20):
  "He looks older than Yoda, and he's screaming abuse at me."

• Clive Shield (14:17):
  "Malcolm was the driving force behind much of Overhead's more experimental research and development projects."

This exchange highlights the generational conflicts and ethical dilemmas surrounding cryotech.

Plot Progression

Strategizing Against Bastion

Pamela and Clive discuss recruiting assets to strengthen their position against Bastion. Clive mentions leveraging biker gangs and other factions to build a formidable resistance.

• Clive Shield (07:12):
  "I've got a biker gang based in Woolwich that was easy to win over."

Pamela envisions a diverse coalition to challenge Bastion's dominance:

• Pamela Jennings (12:04):
  "I'll work on finding overhead's big guns. You work on the heavies."

Their strategic planning underscores the escalating conflict and the desperation to find allies.

Encounter with Holy Colonel John Breakfast

A significant portion of the episode revolves around a tense conversation between Pamela and Holy Colonel John Breakfast. Warren Godby, known as the Holy Colonel, represents the formidable opposition aiming to dismantle cryotech.

• Warren Godby (08:06):
  "Clive Shield, I presume? The heathen?"

Pamela attempts to negotiate, revealing her company's vulnerabilities and seeking an uneasy alliance.

• Pamela Jennings (10:05):
  "We will do our part to assist this noble cause wherever we can, Holy Colonel."

This negotiation marks a critical turning point, indicating possible shifts in alliances and future confrontations.

Mysteries Unveiled

Rebecca Landry's exploration into the facility uncovers more about the internal workings and secrets of Red Valley. Her interactions with Clive and other characters reveal the depth of the company's struggles and the hidden agendas that drive its actions.

• Rebecca Landry (16:40):
  "Why is the world ending if you have all these wonderful solutions for modern living?"

Clive provides sobering insights into the ecological and societal collapse that underpin the company's desperate measures.

Notable Quotes

• Pamela Jennings (04:05):
  "The bastion might look like packs of insane little children running around with scissors, but they're not messing about."

• Holy Colonel John Breakfast (05:42):
  "If this is what we think it is, then maybe we could go easier."

• Rebecca Landry (16:31):
  "Okay, but you guys have managed to put together everything that you need to survive."

• Clive Shield (19:35):
  "Look, maybe you're not who I think you are, but given the company we keep, you might still be the least awful person I currently work with."

Conclusion

"The Glorious Now" intensifies the overarching narrative of Red Valley, presenting a world where experimental science has led to unforeseen dystopian realities. Through intricate character interactions and escalating conflicts, the episode portrays the fragile balance between survival and ethical responsibility. As Pamela, Clive, and Rebecca navigate their tumultuous paths, the episode sets the stage for future revelations and confrontations, keeping listeners eagerly anticipating the unfolding mystery.

---

Notable Performances:

• Alexander Broad as Clive Shield
• Natalie Day as Rebecca Landry
• Michael Gibson as Holy Colonel John Breakfast
• Jonathan Williams as Warren Godby
• Carol Pastridge as Waffles
• Kelsey Griffin as Stevie
• David Charles as Malcolm Landry
• Tash, Ruth Banks as Aubrey Wood
• Rachel Fowler as Pamela Jennings

Production Team:

• Written by: Jonathan Williams
• Directed by: Alan Mandel
• Associate Directed by: Carol Pestridge
• Music Editing and Sound Design by: Richard Orpheus Campbell
• Additional Sound Effects Editing by: Luke Elliot
• Original Podcast Artwork by: Claire Hoopes
• Promotional Artwork by: Noah Dow
• Transcripts by: Karen Butler

Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to the Overhead board of directors—Jack Rees, Marguerite Kenner, Dev Patel, Paul James, and Hayley Daniel—for their continued support. "Red Valley" is proudly recorded at Orpheus Studio London and produced by Kontinue Productions.

Closing Note:

Listeners are reminded to check RedValleyPod.com for full content warnings on each episode, ensuring an informed and enjoyable listening experience.

---

This summary aims to encapsulate the essence of "The Glorious Now," providing both a comprehensive overview and insightful highlights for both seasoned listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Narrator]

This episode is brought to you by Dutch Bros. Big smiles, rocking tunes and epic drinks. Dutch Bros. Is all about you. Choose from a variety of customizable handcrafted beverages like our Rebel Energy drinks, coffees, teas and more. Download the Dutch Bros app for a free medium drink. Plus find your nearest shop, order ahead and start earning rewards offer valid for new app users only. Free medium drink Reward upon registration. 14 day expiration terms apply. See Dutchbros.com the rules that govern the vampire are well known. He does not die, but clings to life forever. Having lost his own life, he must steal the life of others. If a place is a home, he may only enter after he's been invited in. And though the vampire may look like a man, all traces of intelligence vanish upon death, leaving behind nothing but a beast. There are no vampires that can think like a man.

[Clive Shield]

None.

[Rebecca Landry]

Except for one. Dracula the Dance Macabre, A four part fiction podcast event from Gabriel Urbina, the creator of Wolf 359, bringing Bram Stoker's timeless horror classic to audio.

[Narrator]

Wherever you get your podcasts, Red Valley.

[Pamela Jennings]

Is intended for mature audiences and contains scenes some listeners may find distressing. Please go to RedValleyPod.com for full content warnings on every episode. Do you want to continue?

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Becky.

[Pamela Jennings]

Hey. Hey. Come in.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

How's it going?

[Pamela Jennings]

You know, before I started helping my dad in R D, I was a.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Sales rep. Yeah, I think he mentioned that to me once. Biomedical stuff, wasn't it?

[Pamela Jennings]

I used to travel the world trying to sell bone cement. You know, when old people break their hips and knees and whatever and they need replacing. You use a special kind of cement to hold it all in place. I would sell that to hospitals and surgeons.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Sounds interesting.

[Pamela Jennings]

It was not, but I was very good at making people think it was. Plus, I would always stop by a shop on the way to a hospital and buy doughnuts or something. It was easier to sell people something if you were holding out a donut at the same time.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Sure.

[Pamela Jennings]

This morning. I've already spoken to three different divisions of the Bastion, or whoever these bloody people are who run everything these days. I've used every trick I've got to charm and bullshit them. And I'm realizing that maybe I depended more on those donuts than I thought.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

How many of these Bastion gits are there?

[Pamela Jennings]

Who knows? There's no discernible central leadership. Everyone seems to think they're in charge. And I swear to God, I haven't met a single one who's over 25. They've all got the Most absurd names. I just got off a call with a guy called Total Bishop Kingsley Lordbox.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

What?

[Pamela Jennings]

He looks like he should be waiting tables at a harvester. Instead he commands a militia of 500 men all dedicated to hunting down anyone associated with cryotech. They're called the assembly of Absolute Assent. They're based in Brentford and they have a tank.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Fucking hell.

[Pamela Jennings]

And just like the others, they want to know what the hell the ex CEOs of the company that invented Continue are suddenly doing back in town and whether or not they should pop over with that tank and pay us a visit.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

This sounds like a stressful morning. I mean, I could try and find doughnuts. Did you know the Greggs doesn't exist anymore?

[Pamela Jennings]

Do you know, it would be nice if we could share the load actually, when it comes to dealing with these tools. But they literally won't talk to you because of your swearing.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Sanctimonious little shit.

[Pamela Jennings]

Clive.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Ridiculous little pricks.

[Pamela Jennings]

I'm sorry, you do swear too much. Clive.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

I'm trying, alright? I'm fucking trying.

[Pamela Jennings]

Oh God. I. I just. I don't know how to navigate this world. It doesn't matter how much research I'm brought, how many Lessons in geopolitics, 2040-2060 I'm made to sit through. There's no logic to any of it. Everyone's just a bullfrog riveting over the last of the Standing Water. It's deafening.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

You said there was new intel.

[Pamela Jennings]

Yeah, there is.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Okay. Is it legit?

[Pamela Jennings]

I don't know. I've already put some more people in the field to follow it up. But seriously, Clive, the bastion might look like packs of insane little children running around with scissors, but they're not messing about. Aubrey Wood run a terrorist group? Yes, they were very bloody good at what they did. And don't we know it. But they were underground extremists. The bastion of the police, the church, the government. Any sniff that we're looking for, cryo tech or cryo people, we just need.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

To keep to the same line, right? That we're trying to help them apprehend cryoscientists, not take them for ourselves.

[Pamela Jennings]

If the intel is right, then it doesn't get much bigger than this. We have to be careful.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

I'm just saying some things are worth the risk. And you know, if this is what we think it is, then maybe. Maybe we could go easier.

[Pamela Jennings]

Clive, I don't want to talk about Pamela.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Becky. It's not right keeping her locked up.

[Pamela Jennings]

I'm not going through this again? As you can see, I've got a lot on.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Pam is one of us. We owe her more than locking her up like a dog. She could at least have the run of the building. She doesn't even have a bed.

[Pamela Jennings]

Clive. I am spending all day, every day trying to run what is left of this company. I am trying to find a way out of this horrible place. I am trying to get us back into hypersleep with no cryonests, no cryopods and no red valley. And I am doing it under the intense glare of an apparently never ending line of fascist fun police who literally hang, draw and quarter anyone involved in cryotech. I am saving Pamela's life.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

You're punishing her. We only got as far as 2064.

[Pamela Jennings]

Because of Pam losing 20 years in the process where we might have found a cryonest that wasn't built by an alcoholic with some toilet roll holders and a Pritt stick.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

But you remember you weren't actually invited to that house party, right? And it only existed because you wouldn't spare a couple of pods for us in the first place.

[Pamela Jennings]

Clive, what the hell is happening to you? I thought you wanted to get out of here. To get to the future, to see your daughter again.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Yes, of course I want to get out of here.

[Pamela Jennings]

Then get your mind right. Stop complaining that Pan Jennings doesn't have an ensuite. And find us a way out of this. I don't need Gandhi as my right hand man. I need the fucking T1000.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Yes, ma'am.

[Pamela Jennings]

Have you found any more recruits?

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Plenty. There's a biker gang based in Woolwich that was easy to win over. Got no love for the Bastion. Always up for a ruckus by the sound of it.

[Pamela Jennings]

Another biker gang?

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Well, I'm trying to find some fighting Uruk Hai, but they don't use social media. What are you expecting, Clive?

[Pamela Jennings]

We need a better class of goon. How about tech?

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

We've got 40 reconnaissance drones, but they're old. A few of them have got tasers at least. Oh, and someone managed to find a lockup at the basement level that's got five of those robot dog things with machine guns on their heads.

[Pamela Jennings]

Oh, for God's sake. Robot dog things? Yes.

[Narrator]

Hi, Rebecca. I've got the leader of the Righteous.

[Pamela Jennings]

Enforcement of Absolute Longevity Movement on the line. The what? Haven't we talked to this one already?

[Narrator]

No, no, this is a different one.

[Pamela Jennings]

North London.

[Narrator]

He's very insistent.

[Pamela Jennings]

Right, what's this one called? Holy Colonel.

[Rebecca Landry]

John, breakfast.

[Pamela Jennings]

What? What? Breakfast.

[Narrator]

John, breakfast. I'll put him through.

[Pamela Jennings]

No, wait. That can't be his actual. Ms. Landry, hello. I apologize. I didn't know we had an appointment. Colonel. Breakfast.

[Warren Godby]

It's breakfast. I'm commonly addressed as the Holy Colonel.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Break fast.

[Pamela Jennings]

Of course, of course, Holy Colonel. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Is it two separate words.

[Warren Godby]

Then it is not for pleasure that I get in touch. Ms. Landry. I'm sure you're aware your company, such as it is, is under quite some scrutiny since you returned to the executive's chair.

[Pamela Jennings]

Well, it's been wonderful to get to know everyone in this brave new world.

[Warren Godby]

I hope this isn't an inconvenient time, Rebecca.

[Pamela Jennings]

You caught me during a briefing, Holy Colonel. But not to worry. It's all finished now. My colleague was just leaving.

[Warren Godby]

Clive Shield, I presume? The heathen? He insulted the mother of one of my men and implied that he was born in a whorehouse.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Oh, I did do that.

[Clive Shield]

Yeah.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

I got in a scuffle where the HMV used to be on Oxford Street.

[Warren Godby]

Some of the company you keep has raised eyebrows, Rebecca. Questions have been asked about your and your company's intentions, Holy Colonel.

[Pamela Jennings]

I. I assure you, my intentions are clear. Under my father's rule, this company was dedicated to the foul and unnatural science of life extension at the cost of the. The. The living moment. The living moment.

[Warren Godby]

The glorious now. A gift. That is why they call it the present.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

That's a line from fucking Kung Fu Panda.

[Pamela Jennings]

Absolutely. I want to be clear on this holy kernel. Myself and my colleagues were forced into hypersleep against our will, and we barely escaped with our lives.

[Warren Godby]

How did you escape, if you don't mind me asking?

[Pamela Jennings]

The nest we were imprisoned in was found by mercenaries looking to use it for themselves. Half of our group died in the incident.

[Warren Godby]

And did they use it for themselves, these mercenaries?

[Pamela Jennings]

We lost more than 20 years in that basement, Holy Colonel. I wouldn't wish that fate on anyone. We burned the whole nest down.

[Warren Godby]

Then perhaps your course is allied with ours after all. To ensure no one is forced into cryonic incarceration of any kind ever again.

[Pamela Jennings]

We will do our part to assist this noble cause wherever we can, Holy Colonel. We are in the process of sourcing weapons and other resources that OVERHEAD placed in secure storage back in the past.

[Warren Godby]

Yes, we've heard about this. It's taking some time, isn't it? Locating resources inside your own company?

[Pamela Jennings]

You must understand, Holy Colonel, many things were kept hidden from me while my father and the rest of the overhead board worked their nefarious. Scheme to be awoken in the future with all their technological strength intact. Resources were hidden. We will find them. And we'll be happy to share that wealth.

[Warren Godby]

And we will gratefully receive, of course, as the leading company selling hypersleep to a gullible public over several decades, you understand the need to prove yourselves in this. What did you call it? Brave New World.

[Pamela Jennings]

Uh, yes.

[Warren Godby]

That's good. I might use that, you know.

[Pamela Jennings]

It's from a book.

[Warren Godby]

I'm sorry.

[Pamela Jennings]

Forget it.

[Warren Godby]

Well, I'll take up no more of your time until we speak again, Rebecca.

[Pamela Jennings]

Thank you for your call. Holy Colonel, break fast. I refuse to live in a world where I have to worry about a person called John. Breakfast.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Are they all that intense?

[Pamela Jennings]

Yes.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

You're getting that story down pretty good, Clive.

[Pamela Jennings]

I haven't got time to deal with these pricks. We're never going to find a way out of this without breathing down our necks more.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Biker gang.

[Pamela Jennings]

I don't want. I want biker gangs. I want everyone.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Everyone.

[Pamela Jennings]

No one wants to be lorded over by these buffoons. They. They don't rule with any logic. Anyone who doesn't find a cryopod pretty bloody soon is going to be the last of their line. It can't be that hard to win people over. We just need some heavies to get the ball rolling. I'll work on finding overhead's big guns. You work on the heavies.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Okay. I'll go find everyone.

[Pamela Jennings]

Everyone. The jets, the Sharks, the T Birds, the Pink Ladies, the A team. MacGyver. Who are Shredder's guys? The Pigman and the Bebop and Rocksteady. Bebop and rocksteady. Ed 209 the so solid crew, everyone.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Okay?

[Pamela Jennings]

I'll find Pam something to sleep on.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Thank you, Rebecca.

[Pamela Jennings]

And Clive.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Yeah?

[Pamela Jennings]

Don't ever question my methods again.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Yes, ma'am.

[Rebecca Landry]

Oh, wait, I've got you, Waffles. I've got you. Stop moving. Like bloody hell. So that was a fun party.

[Clive Shield]

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.

[Rebecca Landry]

Are you gonna tell me what that was all about? Malcolm Landry, the mad old bloke who banged on about egg sandwiches 40 years ago, is here. He looks older than Yoda, and he's screaming abuse at me.

[Clive Shield]

And me.

[Rebecca Landry]

Yeah, and you. What did you do to him?

[Clive Shield]

Malcolm has vascular dementia. He suffers behavioral changes, including agitation and aggression.

[Rebecca Landry]

Yeah, I recognized it. How old is he?

[Clive Shield]

Honestly, we don't know.

[Rebecca Landry]

So what's he doing here? Isn't Malcolm Landry kind of the Bond villain of this whole Situation. He seemed to be the big cheese.

[Clive Shield]

Malcolm had been the driving force behind much of Overhead's more experimental research and development projects, with a particular interest in human longevity. He was one of around three people that had a place in Overhead's cryonest, which, like many such projects, was intended to preserve its host for around 1,000 years, to a time when the planet could be safely recolonized. Aubrey and her team infiltrated the site in 2043, less than three years after its members had gone into hypersleep. She awoke all the participants and destroyed the technology. At this time, she chose to abduct Malcolm Landry.

[Rebecca Landry]

Abduct? What for?

[Clive Shield]

I cannot claim to understand her motives, only detail her known actions. But Malcolm was, as you say, the big cheese behind hypersleep. He is now perhaps, the fiercest voice calling for its destruction.

[Rebecca Landry]

What were her known actions? Did she show him what a cryopod smells like if you don't wash it after use? Because I can vouch for that. I remember Grace not cleaning down my pod when he was meant to. And the smell really sinks into the upholstery. It's a lot more porous than it looks. I'll speak to him about that later.

[Clive Shield]

Actually, Aubrey's first move was to take Malcolm to a high rise urban residential facility, typical of the era where the elderly were forced into increasingly overcrowded dwellings with inadequate care provisions. She left him there for six months.

[Rebecca Landry]

That is brutal.

[Clive Shield]

She then proceeded to take him with her as she carried out more infiltrations of cryo nests around the world so he could witness the planet's accelerating social and ecological decline firsthand. The experience altered his perspective.

[Rebecca Landry]

Oh, so I guess seeing hypersleep patient Zero up and about has rubbed him up the wrong way.

[Clive Shield]

Given his new stance on the technology and both of your roles in its creation, yes. I imagine your emergence has provoked a reaction.

[Rebecca Landry]

Well, I have that effect on lots of people, to be fair.

[Clive Shield]

What else would you like to talk about?

[Rebecca Landry]

Why does everyone wear these yellow scrubs?

[Clive Shield]

Clothing is produced by the forge unit.

[Rebecca Landry]

Do I need to know what a forge unit is?

[Clive Shield]

You would call it a 3D printer. The Forge can produce food, clothing, and many vital items for the day to day running of the facility, provided we can obtain the necessary raw materials.

[Rebecca Landry]

But why? They're yellow.

[Clive Shield]

The raw materials are commonly known as mulch. The only suitable mulch we can second source in bulk for our last delivery window was saffron yellow. It should last the next 18 months at current facility personnel numbers.

[Rebecca Landry]

Right, so Red Valley is Powered by its own reactor.

[Clive Shield]

Now a micro nuclear reactor.

[Rebecca Landry]

Well, okay. You have an omnipresent artificial intelligence.

[Clive Shield]

I'm not supposed to go into the bathroom, but yes.

[Rebecca Landry]

And a 3D printer that can make.

[Clive Shield]

You anything you need if you have the right mould. Right? Malt? Yes.

[Rebecca Landry]

So why is the world ending if you have all these wonderful solutions for modern living?

[Clive Shield]

The planet is not currently able to adequately support human life on the scale to which it is required. None of those factors are able to rectify this.

[Rebecca Landry]

Okay, but you guys have managed to put together everything that you need to survive.

[Clive Shield]

Aubrey Wood and Hester Hiashi are in positions of influence and authority in certain communities. This enabled them to gather the resources they need needed to adapt Red Valley to their requirements. Few people are as fortunate.

[Rebecca Landry]

Are you ever going to tell me who Aubrey Wood actually is in 2064? Or do I have to carry on enduring these cryptic clues given out when people drink alcohol that should only be used to sterilize wounds on a battlefield.

[Clive Shield]

Aubrey has requested that certain information be restricted until she is happy with your physical and mental assessments following emergency.

[Rebecca Landry]

Thank you. Right, right, right. Here we are. Do I need special clearance or something to get in here?

[Clive Shield]

Clearance is granted. But I do have to send a notification to today's duty manager.

[Warren Godby]

Cool.

[Clive Shield]

Landing.

[Rebecca Landry]

There you go, Waffles.

[Clive Shield]

You don't care where you go, do you? Hey, Gordon. Is everything all right?

[Rebecca Landry]

I had a vision in my head of coming down here and talking to him, but it turns out it feels weird and shit.

[Clive Shield]

You can talk to me and Waffles instead.

[Rebecca Landry]

Yeah, I don't like that I can't see him. It makes it hard to accept that he's really in there.

[Clive Shield]

Readouts of the status of the pod and the occupant can be obtained to verify that he is.

[Rebecca Landry]

No, thank you. I'm so bored of science.

[Clive Shield]

I imagine this must be difficult.

[Rebecca Landry]

Do you? Do you? Do you imagine.

[Clive Shield]

Sorry.

[Rebecca Landry]

No, I'm sorry. I've just. I've sat beside unconscious people who may or may not die before and I don't like it. Difficult to recommend.

[Clive Shield]

If it makes you feel better, when Gordon Porlock was first brought to Red Valley and you returned to hypersleep, he had a similar communication problem with you.

[Rebecca Landry]

Really? I thought he'd love not being interrupted.

[Clive Shield]

He got over it. Beginning playback. Apologies I haven't been down to see you much.

[Narrator]

You look well.

[Clive Shield]

I can't actually see you. I thought they would have put windows in a cryopod so people could see you floating about, but I guess it's nice to have privacy, isn't it? Wow. Would you like me to continue playback?

[Rebecca Landry]

Uh, yeah, sure.

[Clive Shield]

I've been struggling, Warren, with what's going on here. But the truth is I have to make a choice. To be a friend to you or not. I'm gonna keep listening to your tapes, but I'm not gonna find out what you did. I'd like to say it's because I'm respecting your privacy, but truth is, I recognise the guy on these recordings. He doesn't sound too different to me. He's scared. He's lonely. He hates exercise. Look, maybe you're not who I think you are, but given the company we keep, you might still be the least awful person I currently work with. So let's be friends. I'll be back tomorrow. And maybe I'll bring top trumps or something. Would you like me to play another entry? There's a Christmas one.

[Rebecca Landry]

Go on, then. So you're saying no one gets to wear anything but mustard yellow for the next two years?

[Clive Shield]

Saffron yellow. It's not a dress code. Pre existing clothes are fine, but residents often find comfort in a shared uniform.

[Rebecca Landry]

If you like dressing up like earwax, I suppose.

[Narrator]

Be careful with it, please.

[Rebecca Landry]

Oh, it smells funky.

[Pamela Jennings]

What do you mean funky?

[Clive Shield]

You want to tell me you can't smell it?

[Narrator]

It's not my first cryopod.

[Rebecca Landry]

Just sniff it.

[Pamela Jennings]

Oh, mate, I don't need to sniff anything.

[Clive Shield]

I don't know why this is even necessary.

[Narrator]

It's part of the deal.

[Rebecca Landry]

But why is that even necessary?

[Clive Shield]

Why can't Aubrey just do the procedure?

[Rebecca Landry]

She's the best there is, isn't she? This just seems like a hell of a lot of trouble to go for.

[Pamela Jennings]

Oh, hello.

[Rebecca Landry]

Hi. Sorry to sneak up on you.

[Warren Godby]

Hey.

[Rebecca Landry]

Warren, right? Yep. How's your first night going? Okay. I was just. I was just visiting my friend's pod.

[Narrator]

Gordon Porlock. The Beatmaster.

[Rebecca Landry]

The what? I'd love to see him play the drums. Maybe one day. I don't think Gordon plays the drums. Of course he does. He plays the bass guitar. He played the drums on Moria and Victor. No, he didn't. He played the bass. I think I know what I'm talking about. Sorry, who are you?

[Pamela Jennings]

I'm Stevie.

[Rebecca Landry]

I'm Marmite. Marmite? Marmite, like the yeast extract spread me on a rice cake. Can I ask what you guys are doing with my cryopod?

[Pamela Jennings]

Oh, we're dismantling it.

[Malcolm Landry]

Stevie.

[Pamela Jennings]

It's his pod.

[Narrator]

I'm sure she'll have told Him.

[Rebecca Landry]

Then why is he asking? Why are you dismantling it?

[Narrator]

Maybe you should speak to Aubrey.

[Rebecca Landry]

Good.

[Clive Shield]

Maybe you should speak to Aubrey.

[Rebecca Landry]

Okay, well, I'll be sure to do that. See you later.

[Narrator]

Moria Invictus.

[Rebecca Landry]

Yep. Super cool. Love that.

[Warren Godby]

How did everything go?

[H]

It went fine. How are you feeling?

[Warren Godby]

It was how she wanted.

[H]

To the best of our ability. I hope it was enough. How are you feeling?

[Clive Shield]

Oh, I'm fine.

[Rebecca Landry]

Bloody hell.

[H]

Sorry. I'll miss her. Jade was kind.

[Warren Godby]

Yeah. A good egg. The kind of woman who would let one examine the contents of one's own nostrils without judgment.

[H]

You picked your nose in front of Jade exclusively.

[Clive Shield]

Christ.

[Warren Godby]

Where's Stevie? She's. She's missing the party.

[H]

She's below with Marmite. They're dismantling Warren's pod.

[Warren Godby]

Of course.

[H]

I thought you'd be happy. One less cryopod in the world by tomorrow morning.

[Warren Godby]

Well, I'm not sure the trade off is worth it, what with it spelling certain doom for us all.

[H]

Let's not talk business. Jade wouldn't have wanted that.

[Warren Godby]

How convenient.

[H]

Have you given any more thought to how you want to go?

[Warren Godby]

No need. Same as always.

[H]

Ever the showman.

[Warren Godby]

Well, choosing your own death. Orbi. Don't get another run at it, do you? Right. I can't see too many empty demijohns. I think they're running low on moonshine. Look, I better sort them out or they'll. They'll throw me on the fire.

[H]

And that's not how you want to go. Save me some booze.

[Warren Godby]

Oh, bug it off.

[Rebecca Landry]

Hey. It's hard to find you in all this. I need to talk to you, Warren. Why is my pod being taken apart?

[H]

God. For God's sake.

[Clive Shield]

It would have been highly inappropriate to interrupt you during Jade Scott completion.

[H]

Then you should have gone to someone else.

[Clive Shield]

I did. They all said decisions regarding Warren's care defer to you.

[Rebecca Landry]

Hey, I'm right here. I don't need an AI babysitter and I don't need anyone controlling what I do and do not know. I need you and me to have a sit down where you tell me what is what.

[H]

Not now, Warren.

[Rebecca Landry]

Yes, now. I'm sorry. We can come back and stare meaningfully at the nice bonfire later.

[Pamela Jennings]

I beg your pardon?

[Rebecca Landry]

It's a lovely fire. It'll still be here once. Oh, my God. This isn't a bonfire, is it?

[H]

No. It's Jade's funeral pyre. Yes.

[Rebecca Landry]

Jesus Christ. I. Aubrey, I. I am sorry. I'm.

[H]

It was not my plan to bring you out on Somebody's completion day. But not everything is in my control. Rather, nothing is in my control. I'll tell you anything you want to know, Warren. But tonight, I'm saying goodbye to a friend.

[Rebecca Landry]

Of course. I'm sorry.

[Clive Shield]

I am.

[H]

Your cryopod is part of the plan to save Gordon.

[Rebecca Landry]

Oh, right.

[H]

Try and enjoy yourself if you can. It's what she would have wanted.

[Clive Shield]

You really aren't very good at parties.

[Narrator]

Oh, shut up. So, thanks for the futon. Very comfortable. They still have a kia, huh?

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Yes. I mean, it's not much, but it's an improvement.

[Narrator]

Maybe you could just bring me one of their showrooms. You know, pretend window with a lamp behind it so it looks like daylight. Pretend shower. So I can imagine what it would be like to clean myself without a guard outside the door. Stuff like that. Let's play house.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

I'll see what I can do.

[Narrator]

Or you could, you know, let me the out.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Pam, I am trying. I promise you. I will keep trying. I promise.

[Narrator]

Consider my breath held.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

I do have news, though. Good news.

[Narrator]

Oak Furniture Land is still open, too.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

The intel I mentioned, I didn't want to tell you about it until I knew it was real, but our people confirmed it today. A scavenger group in China was raiding what was left of a burned out Amos Tech Fleet facility. Almost nothing left on the surface, but they found a bunker underneath.

[Narrator]

Cryopods.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Only one, old and failing, could have conked out any minute, I'm told. Living occupant Ellen Ripley.

[Narrator]

Last survivor of the Nostromo.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Yeah, there's something of a bidding war going on for this person. But we're overhead. We still got a fair amount in the bank. We're confident we can bring whoever these people are to the table. But, yeah, this particular person, a lot of people are going to want to get their hands on.

[Narrator]

Who is it? Fucking Beyonce.

[Holy Colonel John Breakfast]

Who's the last person on earth we want to see again, but the only person we really need if we want to go back to sleep?

[Malcolm Landry]

Red Valley is written by Jonathan Williams, directed by Alan Mandel and associate directed by Carol Pestridge with music editing and sound design by Richard Orpheus Campbell, additional sound effects editing by Luke Elliot, original podcast artwork by Claire Hoopes and promotional artwork by Noah Dow, transcripts by Karen Butler, performances by Alexander Broad as Clive Shill, Natalie Day as Rebecca Landry, Michael Gibson as Holy Colonel John Breakfast Jonathan Williams as Warren Godby Carol Pastridge as Waffles Alan Mandel as Gord Blair Anderson as Marmite Kelsey Griffin as Stevie David Charles as Malcolm Landry Tash, Ruth Banks as Aubrey Wood and Rachel Fowler as Pamela Jennings. Additional voices by Richard Orpheus Campbell, Kelsey Griffin, Blair Anderson, Dionne Bro, Hennad Shuehli, Ali Balut and Carol Pestridge. Thanks as always to the Overhead board of directors Jack Rees, Marguerite Kenner, Dev Patel, Paul James and Hayley Daniel. Red Valley is recorded at Orpheus Studio London and brought to you by Continued Productions. Thanks so much for listening.

[Narrator]

The Fable and Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish.

[I]

Hey, this is Sean from Spelt Lore. We were told the trailer we submitted was too confusing and didn't talk about the podcast and did talk about the 1999 Heath Ledger movie A Knight's Tale. Way too much. So we've been asked to submit another one with actual information. Spell Lore is a fantasy RPG podcast about three idiots bumbling their way through the magical post apocalypse, dealing with the fallout from their attendance at a small town hot dog festival.

[Warren Godby]

That's us.

[I]

It's like an early 2000 road trip comedy with swords, monsters, and more improvised world building than you could shake a stick at. It's Spelt Lore, a Podcast for Best Friends by Best Friends. Okay, Ryan, is that better you. Is this what you wanted, Ryan? That's why you wanted headphones on me, so you could. So you can hear this. We could yell at you in the trailer spout. Lore is proudly a Spelt Lore Studios production.

[Malcolm Landry]

A Podcast for Best Friends by Best Friends.