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This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. I can say to my new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, hey, find a keto friendly restaurant nearby and text it to Beth and Steve. And it does without me lifting a finger so I can get in more squats anywhere I can. 1, 2, 3. Will that be cash or credit? Credit. 4 Galaxy S25 Ultra. The AI companion that does the heavy lifting. So you can do. You get yours@samsung.com compatible with select apps. Requires Google Gemini account. Results may vary based on input. Check responses for accuracy. Red Valley 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 sa Marmite? Put the bed up before you unplug it or it won't go. Yeah, I know what I'm doing. Then why are we having this conversation? Listen, you okay there, Warren? Yeah. Just take what we need. You don't need to pile up everything. Sure, Cuz I know what we need. Or anything whatsoever. Wouldn't that be God. Does this happen often? Moving everyone around like this? We have evacuation drills to the sub level every four months. The real thing though, like not a drill. There have been three occasions since my activation where a risk assessment advised a precautionary measure of sub level evac. So this isn't the first time something scary has happened. People are like, ready for it. Two of them were threats from other communities that were successfully averted through nuclear negotiation and trade agreement. The third was a flock of pink footed geese that Marmite mistook for an airborne assault. Cool, cool, cool. Warren, it's Hester. How are you doing up there? Fine, thanks. It's all very busy. Just do what you can. You're an extra pair of hands. We're grateful. Right, Hester? There are a lot of things going on here that I don't understand and it all feels like a lot of fuss. Are you absolutely sure that this isn't all my fault? It isn't your fault. It feels like it might be my fault. With respect, Warren, it isn't always about you. I. Wow. All right. Jesus. Sorry. I was experimenting with tough love. That's more Aubrey's area, isn't it? Watch what you're Doing with those? We don't have time to forge new weapons. What? Oh, don't worry about it, Warren. Once everything is in place, I'll be running things from the control. If you'd rather join us down there than be in your quarters, you're welcome. Okay, thanks. Bye. Stevie, where are we? Hi, Hester. I'm at the house. Defenses are live. Don't send anyone else out here now. And the valley floor defense system? I mean, everything looks good. As long as the reactor is happy, it should work fine. I'll make my way back now. Does Grace need any help? I don't know if he's in the operating room or fetching our special guest. Aye. I'll check if he's okay. I'll see you in control. Grace, it's Stevie. I'm done at the farmhouse. Do you need a hand? No, thank you, Stevie. All in hand to control. Sure thing, boss. Careful around the evil genius. Remember, she's a good shot throwing shoes. Thank you for the advice, Stevie. Surely I'm not the first person to throw a shoe at her. How can you live alongside such relentless pluckiness? It's time to get to work, Bryony. Righty. So do I get a lab, A team? What kind of time frame are we working with? You'll need a few days to survey what kit you have in the future. The bad people might be coming to kill us all sometime over the weekend, so we thought we'd better crack on and get it done tonight. Oh, sure, sure. Why not? It's the weekend, you say? I do hope there's music. I'm sure Aubrey runs a fun emergence. I'll be in charge of Gordon's emergence. Oh, really? And what's Aubrey up to? Everything else. Hold still. Oh, yes. There. You know. You know I can do my own injections. I know you can. Just wanted to. How are you feeling? I'm fine. So am I. Isn't that strange? You and I are alike that way. It's the standing still that kills us. Days like this, that's when we come to life. Yeah. You sure you're okay, Malcolm? Oh, don't be soft. I'll be all right. You just do what you're best at. All right? Hold your bloody nerve, Aubrey, and maybe we both get what we want. Okay. All right. Everyone's here. Yes. Yes. Good. It's important not to look at this as two procedures. The emergence and then the surgery. They are both entirely intertwined. The moment we press go and the thoring process begins, our patient goes from stable to unstable. From known to unknown. So we want to get him out of this pod and onto the operating table as fast as possible, I guess. Sir, on a more personal note, I know there are a lot of nerves around this situation, and for some of us, a lot of emotions, myself included. I knew Gordon Pollock for a short time, and it was Aubrey and I who put him in this cryopod 44 years ago. So believe me when I say I understand your apprehension. But you are in this room now because we know what you are capable of. The most important thing to remember at any stage of this operation is to communicate. If you see something you don't think looks right, speak up. I'm team leader for this procedure, but God operates the surgical drone. Please listen to him. Okay, then. Anesthetics? Check. Ecmo? Check. Transfusion? Check. Resource? Check. God? Surgical drone is fully operational. Bryony. Bryony. Oh, check. Check. A doodle doo. Sorry, I was thinking about something else entirely. Are you ready? The robot surgeon speaks with Gordon's voice. Yes. We could change it back, but we like it. It's kind of soothing. Yeah, it does seem to have caught on. What a regular and well balanced group of people you all seem to be. Well then. Bryony. Yes? You start. Oh, of course. Hot frogs. Jumping. Wait, no, it's a hot dog. Jumping frog. Yes, yes. Hot hot dogs. Bag of frogs. Albuquerque. That's me. That's me. Jesus. Come on, you lot find the fun and the job's a game. Let's start that again. Hey, Aubrey. You're not in the suite. They're starting. I'm needed here in control. You're the most experienced cryonic scientist in this hemisphere. No, Bryony Halbeck is. They've got the best people down there. I'd only complicate things. Are we dark? Aubrey, You've been planning Gordon's op. You should be down there. Is. Is that my love? Why is your shotgun up here? I'm exactly where I need to be. And if you want to have this conversation, could we save it for when we're alone? The levels are clear and we're powered down. We're dark, sir. Stevie. Marmite. Any traffic out there? Nothing to see, nothing to hear. You really think they're coming tonight? I don't think anything, Aubrey. Who knows? Hi, Hester. You said I could join you if. It's fine. Warren, are you all right? Yeah, I. I just. I don't know what to do with myself. It's okay. They should have started the procedure by now. It's probably best you're not just sat in your room. Thanks, Aubrey. I thought you were part of the operation. They've got the best team. Let's just leave them to it. Yeah, sure. So we're all just standing in silence? Yeah, pretty much. Yeah. That's cool. Picking up any life signs yet? Nope. This is taking too long. This is how long it takes. Perhaps we could practice baritones again. God, I don't think this is the right time for that. God, let's just focus. Of course. Is Porlock his actual name or is it something he made up? I'm sorry? It's an uncommon name. It's a village in Devon, isn't it? Porlock? I don't know. So there's this poet, Samuel. What was it? Coleridge. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He's writing a new poem. This was a long time ago. It's a real moment of inspiration for him. But then he's interrupted by some fellow from the nearby village of Porlock who proceeds to drag him away on some tedious business. And by the time he gets back to his poem, the moments passed, the spark is gone, the poem's ruined. Hence the literary illusion of a person from Porlock. Someone who gets in the way of inspiration at the crucial moment. That's an interesting piece of trivia, Bryony. I only learned this fact coincidentally sometime after I shot Gordon here. But it's apartment In a way, isn't it? We were on the verge of breaking this technology. It was all coming together. Then Gordon Porlock comes along and Aubrey Wood and it all turned to rubble. I don't know about that. From where I'm standing, we barely slowed you down. Trace, end tidal CO2. Grace, there's movement in the drip. He's taking the warm fluids. Open the pod, Brian. Yes, Dr. Mele. Oh, something just pinged on the perimeter. If it's a family of pink footed geese. Marmite. I'm going to give them your bunk. I think we got a picture. Can you enhance it? I don't know how to do that. Just zoom in on it. It's not geese. Yes, It's a fleet of drones. I've got them now. How many? 18. No, 20. 25. So much for the valley floor defense system. They're too high to be in range. 25 sounds like a lot. They're small, can't be carrying much on board. Surveillance? They want to know what they're dealing with. They're slowing down. They're reaching the farmhouse. They won't stay long. Nothing of interest. Arterial and central lines still aren't picking up. Checking the transducers. Is the tranexamic on board? Yeah. Looking for a new vein, though. Struggling with flow. Vitals? Never gonna get oxygen saturation off. His peripheries Might never pick them up again after this long. Heart rate's 130. Ready to make incision. Still waiting on blood pressure. Grace, I believe I should start. His BP will go through the floor once you open him up. We need to know what we're working with first. Got it. Blood pressure 74 systolic. Risk assessment made. Making first incision. Whoa. Large swabs. Thank you. Please ensure this excess blood is salvaged for retransfusion. Cell salvage is going. I want two units of onite pushed through and platelets ready to go. Got it. Good. Toothed. Forceps, please. Larger. There is a shard of his iliac crest. I am attempting to reach. I will need to check the nerve later. Splenectomy, Likely diathermy. Cauterized well. What? Perhaps you could pass this to Dr. Halbeck. What was that? The bullet. Just returning lost property. Wow. Spicy little robot, isn't he? Find the fun and the jobs a game. If we could just focus, please. The drones are at the house. They're stopping. What are they doing? Looking for a heat signature. They'll move on in a second when they see it's empty. How dangerous are these things? Depends what resources overhead have. They're small, but they could still be armed. Or just here to look around. They're circling the house. Why would they do that if it's empty? Because it isn't. What? There's someone there. Who is there? Right. Hello, there. Come in, Come in. And there's room for everyone. In. You. Come here. Come. Spread yourselves out. I'm unable to control this bleeding. Grace. That's eight units. Heart rate's going up 170. Everything we're putting in is just coming straight back out. Okay? Okay. It's not the right blood. What? It's not the right blood. What do you mean? O negative isn't going to cut it for him anymore. He's lived longer with the heart spawn infusion in his system than without it. Now it's all being flushed away and he doesn't have the time to adapt. We don't have any more heart horn. There is no more heart horn. Well, I could make some, given the right ingredients and enough time. Time? How much time would you like? A week? Briny, if you are not going to help, I need you to be quiet. Dr. Melee. Please. I was thinking about his aftercare. Right now, it's obvious what he needs, isn't it? Malcolm. What the hell is Malcolm doing in the farmhouse? It was his idea. What was his idea? Sorry, what's going on? How did you get him there? The tunnel. He enjoyed that bit. Aubrey, was he lucid? Of course he was. He understands the situation as well as any of us. Better, actually. This is how he wants it to be. Wants what to be? We wanted to send a message. Hester? Hester. Grace, is everything okay down there? I need you to get Warren down here right now. Hurry. Now, which one of you shall I address? Can any of you things talk to me? Dad? Rebecca. I. I hoped it would be you. It's so good to hear your voice. Dad, I. I didn't know you were. How. What are you doing there? Rebecca, I want you to listen to me, just. Just for once. Dad, we can. We can come get you. We can find a way. Rebecca. Shh. Just listen to me. What? I. I spent too many years trying to make you want the same things as I did. I beg of you. Remember that person you used to be before the company, before all this. I thought we could beat any challenge this life could throw at us by simply outlasting it. But we can know more separate ourselves from this world than milk from tea. You need to leave these people be, Rebecca. They're trying to do some good in the time they have left. And there isn't a lot of time left. My daughter. I don't understand what you're saying. Of course you don't. You still sound so young. Younger than you should be, I fear. Heart rate's 200. He can't keep up this tacky. He's going to crash. Oh, my God. He's bitten. God. Sharks away. Can someone please hold his legs? What's happening? What have you done to him? I'm going to need you to pop yourself in that gurney over there and roll up your sleeves. I beg your pardon? Chop chop. You touch me and I'll chop chop your other armor. Warren Gordon's about to bleed out and die, and for a bunch of reasons none of us have the time to explain. The only blood that's going to save him is yours. What? Grace, we are running out of options. This is the inexplicable reason you brought me here, isn't it? To save the Caretaker. So it's up to you, darling. We have outstayed our welcome, Rebecca. We have no more business here, any of us. We have to let it go. I Beg of you. Just. Just let it go, dad. Let me come and get you. You're not well. I can help you. No, I'm not well. And I finally learned there are many things worse in this world than dying. How did. How did Andrew Marvel put it? Wonderful poet. Constrained not only to endure diseases, but what's worse. The cure. And ready off the port to gain. I'm shipwrecked into health again. Mustard Van Harriot. Holy shit. I think they got the message. Are there any left? Just one. Heading to us. Okie doke. Hold the fort, Shotgun. Yes, ma'am. You want to go out there? Won't be a moment. Aubrey. Aubrey. Back in a jiffy. Good evening. Hope the journey wasn't too rough. The stars are out. The air is still. This would have been a lovely evening. Right, what have we got here? You still working, little guy? Can anyone hear me? What? Come on. You better answer me. Can you make this thing work? Are you better than. Come on. Listen to me. What if you're still there, Rebecca. He wouldn't have felt any pain. It was his idea, I promise you. Your father talked about his death often. How he wanted it to be. He kept returning to two main principles. He wanted it to mean something. And he really wanted to explode. Now, the second one, we were able to accommodate. But the first is up to you. Malcolm had the same choice that all who come to Red Valley are given. You can live and die in the manner of your choosing, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. You have that same choice. You can all walk away now and live your lives in whichever manner seems best to you. But if you come here with plans to hurt any of my people or take anyone from here against their will, then that choice is forfeit. Let me turn this camera around. That was a beautiful old house. I don't want it burning down for nothing. I hope you can get a good picture. I want you to consider the difference between yourself and your father, Rebecca Landry. Between your people and mine. None of us are afraid to die. Connection lost. Connection lost. Connection lo. Wow, Becky, I'm sorry. That must have been pretty rough. Malcolm Landry was. You know, none of us would be here without him. You more than. Well, the rest of us, obviously. But this is. This is why it was good to send the drones and stay back here at hq. You know, woods played her hand. We'll keep building support here. Make more allies, strengthen numbers. I'll speak to Pam, see how she can help. And then. And then, you know, all of us, we can see what we can. Clive, I'm going to need you to do something for me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Shut the upper. Hey. Hey. Either wake up or take. Stop grunting. Oi. What? What? Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Head back down. I said wake up, not get up. You've had surgery. Surgery? Warren, is that you? What am I? What? You're okay. You're okay. You're probably fine. Probably? Well, I don't know. I'm not a doctor. Wait, you remember who I am, right? What? You know who I am, Warren. Just tell me everything's all right. Everything's all right. Probably. Jesus. I wanted to be honest. Forget honest. Just tell me I'm gonna be okay. You're fine. You're fine. Fine. You're fine. You're fine. I can't see very well. Yeah, I had that, too. But don't worry, it gets better. Oh, wait, did you have surgery, too? Oh, no. Why are you in a bed, then? I gave you a blood transfusion. Why? Something to do with my special blood and the dodgy infusion that you were given and antibodies. I don't know. It was the only way you could survive your emergence. You're welcome. Wait. Emergence from hypersleep? You did it, man. What? You continued. I was in hypersleep. I know. We both did it at the same time. How cool is that? How long for? Well, Warren, how long? Not crazy long, but longer. Wait, I can see a bit better now. Why are you smiling? I smile when things get awkward. That's my line. How long? Warren, it's 2064. Oh, come on. Just tell me it's 2064. No, it isn't. Yes, it is, Warren. Gordon, it's been 44 years. It's weird, but it's true. You're gonna like it. Oh, come on. You're being infuriated. Gordon, in a minute, some people will walk in with faces much older than you remember them and render this discussion moot. But there are several other reasons to believe me. Okay, and what are they? Well, firstly, you mess around with something called hypersleep for long enough, one day you're gonna wake up in the future. You're lucky it's only 2064. And secondly, well, I'm not gonna lie to you. Well, I'm choosing not to think about this right now. Totally. That's my whole philosophy. I'd write that in Latin on my forehead. Yeah, you get some sleep. I need you to get yourself better. Why? What's your plan? It's not a plan yet. More of an Outline. Let me guess. Get the hell out of Red Valley. You read my mind. Are you. You gonna be here when I wake up? That's. Red Valley is written by Jonathan Williams, directed by Alan Mandel, an 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 but performances by Henry Chouaili as Nurse Blair Anderson as Marmite Jonathan Williams as Warren Godby Alan Mandel as Gord Susan Hingley as Hester Hiashi Kelsey Griffin as Stevie Dionne Broney as De Gracious Mele May Cunningham as Brioni Halbeck Tash Reith Banks as Aubrey Wood David Charles as Malcolm Landry Ali Balut as Anaesthetics Chris Gregory as Ecmo Toby Burton as Transfusion Natalie Day as Rebecca Landry, Alexander Broad as Clive Shill and Alan Mandel as Gordon Porlock. Additional voices by Alan Mandel and Richard Orpheus Campbell. 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. We will return to Red Valley in season five. Do you want to. The Fable and Folly Network where fiction producers flourish. It's the last days of summer, 1920. Do you know where your children are? Are they should be playing outside? Come on, Chelsea. Mima says we're not allowed to go to this house. We're not even supposed to be on the side of town doing their chores. Why aren't these chicken coops clean? Please, Father. I'll be good. Oh, God. Obeying their parents. You look me right in the eyes and tell me you didn't steal this bike. Ma, no. I've been helping Mr. Diamond. All right. Lord, don't tell me. My son is working at a speakeasy. Exploring their feelings. Let's go over to the apple tree. Gosh. Okay. But unfortunately for these young fools, the neighborhood bully has other plans. Tonight you are going to meet me out in front of the old barnaker House. Howling House? Why? Now? A boy Scout, a tag along, a doormat and a delinquent will dare to spend the night in the most haunted estate in Arkham. Will they survive to see the sun rise? Or will they succumb to the hunger of Howling House? Your boy to die tonight. What is that thing? Is this the witch's library? I'm gonna kill you. Not tonight. Roger, make him stop. No, you watch. Run away. Little ones so hungry. Listen to the Call of Cthulhu Mystery Program's award winning season night at Howling House. The Complete story. Available everywhere you listen to podcasts and@cthulhu mystery.com all the all ye outs and Free all the outs and free that.