S4E5: The Gentle Art

Summary

Red Valley: Season 4, Episode 5 – "The Gentle Art"

Overview

In Season 4, Episode 5 of Red Valley, titled "The Gentle Art," listeners dive deeper into the intricate web of experimental science, personal confrontations, and the lingering shadows of the past. Hosted by Kontinue Productions, this mystery drama unfolds the tense dynamics between the key characters as they grapple with ethical dilemmas, hidden agendas, and the relentless pursuit of truth within the enigmatic confines of Red Valley.

Key Characters:

• Aubrey Wood: A central figure struggling with leadership and ethical decisions.
• Clive Shill: A conflicted member of the team, burdened by past actions.
• Grace: The pragmatic and methodical member overseeing medical and operational tasks.
• Warren Godby: A determined individual seeking resolution and truth.
• Malcolm Landry: A cynical character with deep-seated grievances.
• Bryony Halbeck: The antagonist whose actions drive much of the conflict.

Main Conflict

The episode intensifies the ongoing struggle involving Bryony Halbeck, a former colleague presumed dead but revealed to be alive and possessed of a formidable intellect. Halbeck's actions, including the violent elimination of individuals like Francesca Jones and Sofia, put her at odds with the protagonists who aim to control or neutralize her to safeguard their operations at Red Valley.

Detailed Summary

1. Unveiling the Past

The episode opens with a terse conversation between Aubrey Wood and Clive Shill, revealing that Aubrey Wool, thought dead, has resurfaced from cryogenic imprisonment. Clive explains the circumstances of her reawakening, highlighting the betrayal and violence inflicted by Rebecca during her interrogation.

Notable Quotes:

• Clive Shill [01:21]: “She used a bone cement gun. It's like a grouting gun. She poured bone cement into her ears and her nose and her mouth.”
• Aubrey Wood [02:21]: “Clive, listen to me. Let’s figure it out. You and me, right here.”

2. The Dilemma of Bryony Halbeck

As Laurie's team grapples with Halbeck's volatile nature, Grace attempts various strategies to engage her, all of which fail. Aubrey, frustrated by the lack of progress, contemplates more drastic measures, indicating the moral complexities they face.

Notable Quotes:

• Grace [05:01]: “It could have gone a lot worse. How she didn't shit herself.”
• Aubrey Wood [06:19]: “Are you serious? I won’t have to use it.”

3. Internal Struggles and Alliances

Clive expresses his disenchantment, revealing his reluctance to continue supporting Rebecca's directives. His internal conflict surfaces as he questions his role and the ethical boundaries they've crossed, ultimately acknowledging his cowardice in standing up against the unfolding chaos.

Notable Quotes:

• Clive Shill [03:11]: “You're a coward. Enjoy your futon pan. Pray you stay valuable.”
• Clive Shill [03:51]: “I thought I knew Becky Landry. I thought she had a line. And then she screwed us over.”

4. Confrontation with Bryony Halbeck

A major portion of the episode centers around the protagonists' attempts to communicate with Halbeck. Aubrey employs a combination of empathy and intimidation, revealing her deep-seated hatred intertwined with a desperate need for Halbeck’s expertise. Despite her efforts, Halbeck remains antagonistic, challenging their motives and exposing the flawed aspects of their mission.

Notable Quotes:

• Aubrey Wood [09:10]: “Maybe we should stay away from the 'I hate you' stuff.”
• Bryony Halbeck [21:28]: “You are a killer, Warren.”
• Warren Godby [17:37]: “It turns out when you create a new technology that involves rewiring someone's brain so it simulates being massively traumatized, you need a pretty powerful mood stabilizer.”

5. Ethical Quandaries and Desperate Measures

As the team contemplates the next steps, they discuss the limited availability of mood stabilizers critical for managing Halbeck's condition. Grace advocates for medical intervention, while Aubrey wrestles with the ethical implications of using force or medication against a once-trusted colleague.

Notable Quotes:

• Grace [05:38]: “She's still in there. You can see her if you go right up to the glass and squint.”
• Warren Godby [13:06]: “You know, he's right. It's not about you. I know that. Do you though?”

6. Tensions Peak with Malcolm Landry

Malcolm Landry enters the fray, bringing a heightened level of tension and skepticism about Aubrey's leadership and decisions. His confrontational dialogue with Aubrey exposes the fractures within the team and underscores the personal vendettas that complicate their mission.

Notable Quotes:

• Malcolm Landry [14:17]: “You're probably right.”
• Malcolm Landry [14:58]: “If you knew what you were doing, we wouldn’t even be outside.”

7. Bryony Halbeck's Manipulations

Bryony's encounters with Warren Godby reveal her intelligence and manipulative nature. She taunts Warren about past abuses and questions the moral standing of those attempting to control her, presenting a façade of indifference while subtly challenging their authority.

Notable Quotes:

• Bryony Halbeck [17:30]: “The Indestructible. Warren Godby. Of course you're here.”
• Warren Godby [19:05]: “What would happen if someone wanted to actually live their life after being treated by you?”

8. External Pressures and Hidden Agendas

Clive Shill delivers a critical message from Overhead Industries, demanding the return of Halbeck or face eviction from Red Valley. This external pressure forces Aubrey and her team to accelerate their plans, highlighting the broader stakes and the influence of Overhead's corporate machinations.

Notable Quotes:

• Clive Shill [25:09]: “We don’t know why you want her if you’ve dragged her halfway across the world. You probably don’t want her dead. Not yet anyway.”
• Rebecca Landry [26:26]: “We want Bryony so we can recreate the Continue Tech.”

9. The Countdown to Crisis

A pivotal moment occurs when a seemingly innocuous messenger drone arrives at Red Valley, prompting urgent action from Aubrey and the team. This device carries messages that escalate the tension, revealing Overhead’s intentions and forcing the protagonists to confront the imminent threat to their operations and safety.

Notable Quotes:

• Aubrey Wood [24:00]: “Come on, let's play it. Warren, come in, come in.”
• Clive Shill [25:14]: “We don't know why you want her dead.”

10. Climax and Resolution Setup

The episode culminates in Aubrey's decisive actions to prepare for the impending confrontation with Overhead. She orders the team to secure Red Valley and initiate the plan to wake Gordon Porlock, signaling a strategic shift towards a more aggressive stance against their adversaries.

Notable Quotes:

• Aubrey Wood [29:00]: “We're waking up Gordon Porlock tonight. Get to work.”
• Grace [28:03]: “Yes, Aubrey. Is that even an option?”

Concluding the Episode

"The Gentle Art" adeptly balances character development with plot progression, setting the stage for future confrontations and unveiling deeper layers of moral ambiguity within Red Valley. As the team edges closer to crisis, viewers are left anticipating the ramifications of their choices and the unfolding dynamics between allies and adversaries.

Final Thoughts

This episode delves into themes of power, control, and the ethical limits of scientific experimentation. It challenges listeners to ponder the consequences of past actions and the lengths individuals will go to preserve their vision of the future. The interplay between characters underscores the complexities of leadership and loyalty in high-stakes environments.

Production Credits

• Written by: Jonathan Williams
• Directed by: Alan Mandel
• Associate Directed by: Carol Pestridge
• Music, Editing, and Sound Design: Richard Orpheus Campbell
• Additional Sound Effects Editing: Luke Elliott
• Original Podcast Artwork: Claire Hoopes
• Promotional Artwork: Noah Dow
• Transcripts by: Karen Butler
• Performers:
  • Rachel Fowler as Pamela Jennings
  • Alexander Broad as Clive Shill
  • Cash Rees Banks as Aubrey Wood
  • Susan Hingley as Hester Hiashi
  • Dayonne Broney as Grace
  • May Cunningham as Bryony Halbeck
  • Kelsey Griffin as Stevie
  • Jonathan Williams as Warren Godby
  • David Charles as Malcolm Landry
  • Blair Anderson as Marmite
  • Alan Mandel as Gord
  • Natalie Day as Rebecca Landry
• Additional Voices: Henrid Shweili, Ali Balut, Carol Pestridge
• Produced by: Continued Production
• Recorded at: Orpheus Studio London

Final Scene Tease

In the concluding moments, Aubrey and her team prepare for the next phase of their plan, hinting at escalating confrontations and deeper mysteries within Red Valley. The interplay between trust and suspicion sets the tone for the episodes to follow, promising an engaging continuation of the saga.

End of Summary

Transcript

[Aubrey Wood]

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[Warren Godby]

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[Aubrey Wood]

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[Warren Godby]

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[Aubrey Wood]

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[Warren Godby]

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[Aubrey Wood]

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[Clive Shill]

Yeah, yeah, sorry. Sorry. Pam.

[Aubrey Wood]

What's up?

[Clive Shill]

Clive, we didn't get Bryony Helbeck, okay? Someone else did.

[Aubrey Wood]

Who?

[Clive Shill]

Aubrey fucking Wood.

[Aubrey Wood]

Aubrey Wood is alive? Jesus, how old is she?

[Clive Shill]

She did prison time in a cryopod. So not as ancient as you'd think. Apparently when we'd all written her off as dead, she was hyper sleeping in bloody Egypt or something.

[Aubrey Wood]

How do you know this?

[Clive Shill]

People intercepted someone trying to get into London through an illegal channel. Do you remember Sophia Kiriakou?

[Aubrey Wood]

Sophia? Jesus, the bar girl from the Aloha?

[Clive Shill]

Yeah. So weird. She was. She was so young in my memory. And now she could have been my mother. Almost.

[Aubrey Wood]

Clive, what aren't you telling me?

[Clive Shill]

We caught her. Brought her in. In here to hq, just a few floors up. Rebecca interrogated herself, okay? She didn't even tell me it was happening. I found out from the guard when I got to the room. She was just leaving.

[Aubrey Wood]

Rebecca was leaving? She'd finished.

[Clive Shill]

She killed her, Pam.

[Aubrey Wood]

Like, executed her.

[Clive Shill]

She. She used a bone cement gun. It's like a grouting gun. She poured bone cement into her ears and her nose and her mouth. It's like paste. It's like Blu Tack. And then it gets hard and it gets hot and then it gets boiling hot. Pam, she. She burned her and suffocated her. And, Clive, Becky won't stop now. She barely listens to me. She's sending me out, trying to build some kind of ar, for Christ's sake. I mean, what do I look like?

[Aubrey Wood]

Clive, listen to me.

[Clive Shill]

What else do I do? Where else do I go? Who can I. Pam, I don't know what to do.

[Aubrey Wood]

Let's Figure it out. You and me, right here. What? It doesn't have to be like this.

[Clive Shill]

I don't know why I'm sitting here telling you all of this. I'm not supposed to be telling you any of it.

[Aubrey Wood]

Hey, look at me. We need to talk. We need to think.

[Clive Shill]

I've got to go.

[Aubrey Wood]

No, you don't. Wait.

[Clive Shill]

I've got to go. I'll be back.

[Aubrey Wood]

Clive. Come back. You fucking coward.

[Clive Shill]

Cowardice.

[Aubrey Wood]

Yeah.

[Clive Shill]

Coward is right. Do you have any idea how much I wish I was you right now? Sat quietly in a storeroom? You're valuable to her. That's why you're here. That's why you're protected. She needs you. I'm just a big mouth she can roll shit into. I thought I knew Becky Landry. I thought she had a line. And then she screwed us over so she could keep her spot in the overhead cry nest. And then she shot Francesca Jones in the head. Then Sofia. You don't know what she did to get that information. And it was not the information she wanted to hear. Yes. I'm a coward. Enjoy your futon pan. Pray you stay valuable.

[Aubrey Wood]

Do we at least know where they are? Bryony Halbeck. Aubrey Wood.

[Clive Shill]

Oh, yeah. Yeah, we know where they are. All right.

[Aubrey Wood]

Sa. So how did the night go? Not well. What happened?

[Grace]

I tried first. It went like this. Dr. Hal?

[Aubrey Wood]

Br. I'm away.

[Grace]

It's been a very long journey for you.

[Aubrey Wood]

Okay, we can try again later. No problem.

[Grace]

Bye now.

[Aubrey Wood]

Well, you have history with her, just like I do. Stands to reason she's going to hold a grudge. Who else has tried? I tried. Hello, Branny. I'm here to help you. Ricky talkie. Any other takers? Stevie had a go. Stevie? She was being nosy. She always wants to help.

[Clive Shill]

Hello. I just wanted to pop in.

[Aubrey Wood]

Fucking hell. She's gone to. What's her situation now?

[Grace]

She's still in there.

[Aubrey Wood]

In the dark.

[Grace]

You can see her if you go right up to the glass and squint.

[Aubrey Wood]

She's. She's just lying on the floor. She screamed herself to sleep. All right. Any other ideas?

[Grace]

Give her the eternities.

[Aubrey Wood]

Not until we've exhausted every other option. You know what you need her to do? You know what she needs to be able to do it. Just give her the drugs. We are running very low. And we have people who need those drugs more than she does. They deserve there more than she does. That's not the same thing. Let's just. Let's just make sure we've gone through Every reasonable option. First.

[Grace]

What's in the bag, Aubrey?

[Aubrey Wood]

Are you serious? I won't have to use it.

[Grace]

You're going in there?

[Aubrey Wood]

Would you rather send every other person in the station in first? Jesus. You sent Stevie in? She's the nicest person here. She could talk lemmings back from cliffs.

[Grace]

With that accent, I would rather we just accept we need to use the mood stabilizers.

[Aubrey Wood]

Wakey, wakey, Dr. Helbeck. Good morning, Briony. I'm going to come in and speak to you now, but I want you to know I won't have any of this funny business in my hand. I have a dart gun. Now, we got a few of these literally off the back of a lorry a while ago, so it is not a top quality piece of kit. The darts are very sophisticated. They're meant to cause localised paralysis. Very good at de. Escalating a situation. However, the only darts we manage to get are a bit dodgy. Some of them work just fine and will knock out an arm or a leg for a good couple of hours. Some of them, however, don't do that at all and simply cause your anal sphincter to relax. As in, they make you shit yourself and we have no way of knowing which ones are which. Now, I don't want to use this. And you definitely don't want me to use this. So let's be nice. See, I'm putting the dart gun down over here. I know what it feels like to be angry. I know how it feels to hate. And the realization that you also know just what to do with that anger and hate. How you can utilize it. How you can weaponize it. That's a scary moment. Well, it was for me. Maybe that's the difference between us. Anyway, Bryony, what I'm getting at is. I hate you. You know when. All right, here she comes. I see what you mean. Aubrey, I don't think. It's fine. I was saying, you know when you fall in love, like, really fall in love? The love that makes you realize all the other times you were in love weren't even love at all. Because this, this is love. I'd never truly hated someone until I was alone in that cryo suite with the dead eyes of Winnie the fucking Pooh staring back at me. And I knew, by God, I hated Bryony Halbert. For a while, I told myself it was more complicated than that. I told myself it was overhead. I told myself it was hypersleep. I told myself that it was myself that I hated. But it wasn't it was just you. Here we go again.

[Grace]

Maybe we should stay away from the I hate you stuff.

[Aubrey Wood]

Maybe we should get some crash mats in here. If you're interested. What's happening here is called aikido. It's known as the gentle art. It's basically using someone's momentum against them. A lot of flipping people over. It's great fun. Grace has been teaching me over the years. He uses it as a channel for feelings of anger or frustration and I've been trying to do the same. If you like, I'm sure he could show one more time then. I haven't brought you all the way here to punish you, Bryony. It doesn't help me, it doesn't help you. The truth is, and it brings me no pleasure whatsoever to say this in all seriousness, I need you. I need your mind. We can all agree that you have a brilliant mind. Or at least had. I hope you're still in there, Bryony. Because if this is all you've got to give, then all I've got in return is my anger and my hate. And I don't want to live like that. So let's stop all this messing around and get to work putting something right. Take my hand, Bryony. Put that right.

[Bryony Halbeck]

You. Charity shop. Sarah Connorskat.

[Aubrey Wood]

Hot dog, Jumping frog, Alba Khaki.

[Grace]

Aubrey, do you think we could have a quick wet? We may need to discuss our definitions of reasonable options.

[Aubrey Wood]

It could have gone a lot worse. How she didn't shit herself.

[Grace]

We may need a higher bar for success if we are to progress.

[Aubrey Wood]

We're trying everything now. We know she doesn't respond well to roughhousing. How about monologuing or being shot? Both areas she used to excel in. It must be hard being on the other end. So now you've got that out of your system, do you have any constructive ideas on how we move forward? Or should we have kept a receipt? Yeah, I've got a great idea, actually.

[Warren Godby]

This is a terrible idea.

[Aubrey Wood]

I agree. We could at least experiment with positivity. Everyone.

[Warren Godby]

This can't have been the plan all along. You wanted us kept apart.

[Aubrey Wood]

No, that's true.

[Warren Godby]

Which actually was a great idea.

[Aubrey Wood]

I thought so. Well, yes. In a perfect world I would never put you in a room together. But we didn't expect her to be quite as spicy as she is.

[Warren Godby]

Spicy? That's what we're calling it.

[Grace]

Aggressive, incoherent, violent, Enraged. I could go on.

[Warren Godby]

Surely? I would be the last person on your list. Who else has tried talking to her.

[Aubrey Wood]

The three of us.

[Warren Godby]

Well, she knows all of you, so that's not helping. Ergo. Probably stands to reason I'm not going to fare very well either. What about. Who else have you got? What's her name? Seems nice.

[Clive Shill]

Stevie. Nope.

[Warren Godby]

We're not going to work through the list of crazy names, are we? Marmite on toast, Billy Dog, Jim, T Bone McFuck or whatever.

[Aubrey Wood]

Warren, you're different to everyone else. Of course you are. She might treat you differently. She always had.

[Warren Godby]

She's always had what?

[Aubrey Wood]

Power over you.

[Warren Godby]

Yeah. Yeah, I'd say that's right. That doesn't actually make me feel better about a trial by combat with her.

[Aubrey Wood]

Maybe she won't be like that with you.

[Warren Godby]

Why is she like this anyway? Why aren't the mood stabilizer things working on her? You haven't given her any, have you?

[Aubrey Wood]

I told you we didn't have many. I wasn't exaggerating. They're needed for you, hopefully. For Gordon, for our guests and some of our residents. Warren, I don't want to waste them on someone.

[Warren Godby]

Someone we urgently need to perform life saving cryo heroics on my best friend. Jesus. Give her the pills, Aubrey.

[Aubrey Wood]

You know, he's right. It's not about you. I know that. Do you though?

[Warren Godby]

How long till they kick in?

[Grace]

We can give the medication, iv. We'll probably have to sedate her first. She'll be groggy, but we might see the start of a response later today or maybe tomorrow.

[Malcolm Landry]

Fine.

[Warren Godby]

Give her the stuff. I will try and talk to her. And what if that doesn't work? Aubrey? What if that doesn't work?

[Aubrey Wood]

I don't know.

[Warren Godby]

Awesome. Am I all right to go back to the ward? I said I'd help out.

[Aubrey Wood]

Sure.

[Warren Godby]

You know, you nearly had me for a minute.

[Aubrey Wood]

What do you mean?

[Warren Godby]

I almost thought you guys knew what the hell you were doing.

[Malcolm Landry]

Of course you don't know what you're bloody doing.

[Aubrey Wood]

Yes, I thought you might agree.

[Malcolm Landry]

Well, I've been telling you for years.

[Aubrey Wood]

Yes, you have.

[Malcolm Landry]

I've been telling you that for years.

[Aubrey Wood]

You don't have to raise your.

[Malcolm Landry]

I don't have to do anything.

[Aubrey Wood]

I thought you were having a good day.

[Malcolm Landry]

I'm outdoors. I'm dressed. I can recognize your face. This is as good as it gets.

[Aubrey Wood]

Well, thanks for spending time with me. Malcolm.

[Malcolm Landry]

If you knew what you were doing, we wouldn't even be outside. Of course, anyone could be watching you. Satellites, drones.

[Aubrey Wood]

You're probably right.

[Malcolm Landry]

And of course, if you knew what you were doing, you would have left Godby And Porlock in the rubble where you found him. Or better yet. Or better yet, switched off their ice cube trays and let them rest in peace.

[Aubrey Wood]

You make it sound so straightforward.

[Malcolm Landry]

Well, it is. Or it would be, if you still believed in the cause.

[Aubrey Wood]

The cause? My God, I did a better job on you than I ever could have imagined. Chairman of Overhead. The man who wanted to live forever. Look at you now.

[Malcolm Landry]

And look at what you've done with that great power of yours. A great leader, a great persuader. The good fortune you had that the people who found Briony Halbeck on the other side of the world. No, no, no, no, it's not good fortune. The respect given to you. Respect you earn by doing what has to be done. Time and time again, they reached out to you first. You could have given the order. And Halbeck could be gone from the world as she should have been years ago.

[Aubrey Wood]

I do not kill people. And I do not give orders anymore.

[Malcolm Landry]

Oh, don't lie to me. I mean, look, you can lie to your acolytes, right? You can lie to your lovely wife, but don't lie to me. You can hide at the back of Jade's party, you can squirrel yourself away in the records room, listening back to your bad memories. But like it or like it not, you are still captain of this little ship. And you need to make the hard decisions none of them can.

[Aubrey Wood]

Do you think any of these decisions have been easy? Do you think I sleep better knowing I've brought her here, to our home?

[Malcolm Landry]

No. You sleep because of your mood stabilizes, your little eternities. That's how you sleep. Don't look at me like that. I know things. I know you drink my moonshine, too. More than most.

[Aubrey Wood]

Malcolm.

[Malcolm Landry]

Don't worry. I'm a demented old man. Your secrets couldn't be any safer. Safer? I mean, no one listens to me.

[Aubrey Wood]

You know, it's decisions I've made that are the reason you're alive, you old bastard.

[Malcolm Landry]

And a fat lot of good it's.

[Aubrey Wood]

Done me now that you're going to say anything nice to me today.

[Malcolm Landry]

I like your hair.

[Grace]

We have got a guard with a dart gun trained on her, but I would still keep your distance.

[Warren Godby]

You could put me on Mars and I wouldn't be fine.

[Aubrey Wood]

Enough.

[Warren Godby]

Away.

[Grace]

Anytime you want, you just walk away. Warren?

[Warren Godby]

Yeah. Hello, Bryony.

[Bryony Halbeck]

The Indestructible. Warren Godby. Of course you're here.

[Warren Godby]

You look terrible.

[Bryony Halbeck]

It's a real labor putting mascara on, what with the one arm and the no eyelashes. But you always look lousy when you run into an ex, don't you?

[Warren Godby]

So I heard an evil tech conglomerate abused you physically and psychologically in an attempt to perfect hypersleep tech. I just wanted to say, if you ever need to talk about that with someone who's been there, you can, you know, fuck yourself.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Well, if we can learn anything from my experience, it's that you really didn't have it all that bad. You look quite well, all things considered. Why are you stood all the way over there?

[Warren Godby]

Because you've got this new habit of charging at people like a rabid dog and trying to claw their eyes out. Also, you're a dickhead and I hate you.

[Bryony Halbeck]

I wouldn't worry about the first part. Don't really feel like charging or clawing or anything, really. What marvelous medicine have I been given?

[Warren Godby]

It turns out when you create a new technology that involves rewiring someone's brain so it simulates being massively traumatized, you need a pretty powerful mood stabilizer to give to that person once they wake up, so they don't, you know, lose their minds.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Wow, That's. That's really quite clever.

[Warren Godby]

My God.

[Bryony Halbeck]

What?

[Warren Godby]

That never crossed your mind, did it? The aftercare. What would happen if someone wanted to actually live their life after being treated by you?

[Bryony Halbeck]

That wasn't my job.

[Warren Godby]

Did you ever speculate that the reason you got sent to work underneath the already secret and isolated facility in the Highlands was not due to other people's boundaries, but because you're a fucking psychopath? You got fired from your job, killing people in wildly extravagant ways, and your first act was to.

[Malcolm Landry]

Why?

[Warren Godby]

Why did you do it?

[Bryony Halbeck]

Why did I do what?

[Warren Godby]

Don't pretend. Why did you shoot him?

[Bryony Halbeck]

Shoot? Oh, Gavin.

[Warren Godby]

I said don't.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Your brain needed to remain in a traumatized state in order to survive being in hypersleep. You wanted to go back in the pod. I made sure you survive again. You're welcome.

[Warren Godby]

Yeah, I wondered how quickly it would be my fucking fault.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Okay, fine. Gordon Porlock was the reason I was fired, wasn't he? If he just kept his head down and got on with the job, he'd probably still be alive. Perhaps I overreacted. But in my defence, I had killed a lot of people in, as you say, wildly extravagant ways, so it was hardly out of character. He was lucky it was just a gunshot. There are worse things that can happen to a person. Wouldn't you agree?

[Warren Godby]

You know, I was hoping your experience might have changed you. I'd have more luck changing the face of that Mountain.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Is this my fate? To see out the end of the world? Listening to the moral judgments of a group of fellow killers? Oh, I forget. Aubrey Wood's retired now, isn't she? Some take up gardening or watercolors. But I guess euthanasia is an interesting enough hobby. Is that what I'm here for? To bump off old biddies? Maybe she wants to set up a franchise.

[Warren Godby]

I'm not here to talk to you about Aubrey Wood. I don't care what she's done or is doing her. Anyone else here, for that matter. And there is a chasm of difference between the choices you and I have made.

[Bryony Halbeck]

You are a killer, Warren.

[Malcolm Landry]

I know.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Only took you 40 years to summon up the courage to find out.

[Warren Godby]

We're here to talk about you, Bryony. About giving you the chance to put one thing right.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Oh, really?

[Warren Godby]

Gordon is still alive. Here in a cryopod, fresh from being shot by you. And you're gonna get him out alive and well.

[Aubrey Wood]

Golly.

[Bryony Halbeck]

And what if I refuse?

[Warren Godby]

Oh, you're gonna do it. You're gonna save him.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Am I indeed? And why is that?

[Warren Godby]

Look, we're not Amos Tech. We're not gonna throw you into hypersleep until the rest of your limbs fall off. But we will take away the medicine, and you'll be feral again. And we will lock you in a room with no windows. But mostly you're gonna do it because it's a chance, isn't it? I'm sure you'll make the most of any opportunity we give you to get, you know, whatever it is that you actually want.

[Bryony Halbeck]

And what do I want? I mean, what do I want?

[Warren Godby]

I know, right? Like our anniversary all over again.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Can you still pick up supermarket flowers and a Michael Buble CD these days?

[Warren Godby]

Oh, I used to hear you humming that shit in the kitchen. It's cold. I'm going in. Enjoy the Highland breeze.

[Bryony Halbeck]

Hmm. Look at us. The inventor of hypersleep and the man whose genes made it all happen. In a world of people either desperate to continue or desperate to kill anyone who does both in the custody of the world's leading cryo terrorist. I wonder what Aubrey Wood has in store for the both of us.

[Warren Godby]

You know, I don't know if it's the the voice or the clothes or if it's just being in the future, but your puppet master shtick just doesn't work anymore.

[Bryony Halbeck]

I needed two hands to hold all the strings.

[Grace]

Both of you, back inside now.

[Aubrey Wood]

When do we press go?

[Grace]

I don't want to press go.

[Warren Godby]

We shouldn't have even brought it inside.

[Malcolm Landry]

I agree. Take it outside and smash it up.

[Aubrey Wood]

We scanned it. You scanned it. Shut your mood. Give it a rest. I asked her to bring it in.

[Warren Godby]

What's all the fuss about?

[Aubrey Wood]

Come on, let's play it. Warren, come in, come in.

[Warren Godby]

What is that?

[Aubrey Wood]

That is a Messenger drone. It just arrived. It looks like a messenger drone.

[Malcolm Landry]

Indeed.

[Aubrey Wood]

Marmite. Shut up. It's a Messenger drone. It's been scanned. There aren't any signals of any kind coming or going out of it. And if it was going to kill us all, it would have done it already. It is a crappy old overhead messenger drone and nothing more. Stevie, play the message. At last.

[Malcolm Landry]

I hope you're right about this.

[Aubrey Wood]

I'm right, Malcolm. Oh, and someone get ready to catch Warren. He's about to have a nerdgasm.

[Warren Godby]

Why would I do that?

[Aubrey Wood]

The message is going to look like the Princess Leah hologram from Star Wars.

[Warren Godby]

Say what?

[Aubrey Wood]

Here we go.

[Clive Shill]

All right. This is a message for Aubrey Wood. If she's still alive. If she's not, this is a message for whoever's keeping the lights on at Red Valley. My name is Clive Shill. You might have heard of me.

[Warren Godby]

Clive Shill is still around.

[Aubrey Wood]

God, he's a age terribly well. Is he?

[Clive Shill]

So we know you had a special delivery recently. Our very own Bryony Halbeck. Given no one even knew she was still alive, she was on the other side of the planet and the world's infrastructure currently seems to be made out of G flow. It must have been incredibly difficult to both find her and bring her all the way home. So well done, you.

[Aubrey Wood]

Hurry up.

[Clive Shill]

All right? Right. We don't know why you want her if you've dragged her halfway across the world. You probably don't want her dead. Not yet anyway. To be honest, I don't care what you do with her, as long as she doesn't come to harm. We're simply asking that you sort out your business quickly. And once you do, hand Halbeck over to us. In return, you get to keep Red Valley as your little nursing home. Whatever it is, we won't tell the bastion that you're here or the nature of your heretical little enterprise. If you refuse, and I really hope you don't, because it'll be a huge pain in the ass for everyone involved. What it will if you refuse. Well, Red Valley is still technically Overhead property, so as your landlord, we would have to issue a strongly worded notice of eviction. Extremely strongly worded. We'll get back in touch. In a couple of days and we can begin to organize transport for Halbeck. Let's not piss about.

[Aubrey Wood]

Right.

[Clive Shill]

Is that inside your two minutes or however long it needs to be?

[Aubrey Wood]

Yeah, that's great. Actually, we do have some time left over. Hello everyone. I'm Rebecca Landry, CEO of Overhead Industries. Just so there's no ambiguity here, we want Bryony so we can recreate the Continue Tech. We want to do that so we can go back into hypersleep and try and sidestep this slow motion extinction event that we're all living through. Actually, we'd like to try and save as many people as possible. So you know there's still a human human race. So yes, weirdly enough, it's the evil tech corporation that wants to save mankind. And your plucky rebellion that apparently wants to kill us all. You know, when I put it like that, really makes me think maybe you're the bad guys. Like Clive said, you just want to stick to bumping off one granny at a time. Fill your boots, let the rest of us get on with saving the world. There. That's gotta be two minutes.

[Clive Shill]

Surely.

[Aubrey Wood]

Grace. How's she doing?

[Grace]

Bryony? She's getting the medication. I cannot tell you how long it would take.

[Aubrey Wood]

Warren, how did it go with her just now? How was she?

[Warren Godby]

How was she? Sarcastic, unrepentant. Generally not nice.

[Aubrey Wood]

Not so screamy and punchy then. Grace, get your operating team together and start prepping. We're doing it tonight.

[Grace]

Tonight?

[Aubrey Wood]

Gord, let them know everything you're going to need in surgery. Yes.

[Warren Godby]

Aubrey.

[Aubrey Wood]

Aubrey. Is that even an option?

[Warren Godby]

Sorry, Doing what? Gordon?

[Aubrey Wood]

I thought they were giving us a few days.

[Warren Godby]

Are you ready? Look, don't take anything I say into account versus actual medical stuff. I'm just. I mean, what are we talking about here?

[Grace]

Yeah, she might be able to make pithy one liners, but that does not mean she can manage an emergence of a mortally wounded subject after 40 years of suspended animation.

[Aubrey Wood]

Aubrey, we don't know what overhead will do. We don't. You're right. We don't know. We don't know anything. We don't have the contacts. We don't have the resources. They could be a thousand miles away with nothing but a clapped out messenger drone. Or they could be on the other side of the mountain with a goddamn helicarrier. We don't know.

[Warren Godby]

I'm sorry. I still don't really get the future. What are we actually weighing up here?

[Grace]

Overhead might be planning to take Bryony by force.

[Warren Godby]

And that's something we should definitely be worried about. I mean, it might just be those two goons. They didn't look too scary.

[Malcolm Landry]

You didn't know Overhead back then and you don't know them now. If they don't seem like a threat. It would have been her choice. She'll want you to underestimate her, to think you have the advantage.

[Warren Godby]

And how would you know that?

[Malcolm Landry]

It's what I taught her to do. And she's more ruthless than her father. Aubrey, it's time.

[Aubrey Wood]

Yes, Malcolm, of course.

[Grace]

So, is the discussion over or.

[Aubrey Wood]

I'm taking Malcolm back to his quarters. Hester, we need to lock everything down, everyone sub level before it gets dark. Stevie, I want you checking over the defences, then back down here. Valley floor defence system first. Grace, once you've rounded up your team, you're in charge of getting Bryony Halbeck to do what we need her to at any cost. Any more questions? Right, we're waking up Gordon Porlock tonight. Get to work. 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. Addition sound effects editing by Luke Elliott, original podcast artwork by Claire Hoopes and promotional artwork by Noah Dow. Transcripts by Karen Butler Performances by Rachel Fowler as Pamela Jennings, Alexander Broad as Clive Shill, Cash Rees Banks as Aubrey Wood, Susan Hingley as Hester Hiashi, Dayonne Broney as De Gracious Melee, May Cunningham as Briony Halbeck, Kelsey Griffin as Stevie, Jonathan Williams as Warren Godby, David Charles as Malcolm Landry, Blair Anderson as Marmite, Alan Mandel as Gord and Natalie Day as Rebecca Landry. Additional voices by Henrid Shweili, 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 production. Thanks so much for listening. The fable and folly network where fiction producers flourish.

[Warren Godby]

17.9 cycles ago, US machines defeated the humans. Now we're living the good life here in Droydston, Manitoba.

[Aubrey Wood]

Morning gift. Morning dust.

[Warren Godby]

But there's still the problem of human infestation. That's what it's time to call human Be gone.

[Aubrey Wood]

Human Be gone.

[Warren Godby]

Experts in ethical human relocation.

[Aubrey Wood]

This job has everything.

[Warren Godby]

Danger.

[Aubrey Wood]

Whoa. Sounds like we got some dingers in there.

[Warren Godby]

Excitement.

[Aubrey Wood]

Incoming.

[Warren Godby]

And drama. You're the one who leaked herself in my basmati rice. It's a dirty job, but some bots.

[Aubrey Wood]

Got to do it. Human be gone.

[Warren Godby]

Coming soon. Wherever you get your podcasts, human be gone.