Episode Two

Summary

Sanctuary – Episode Two Summary

Release Date: July 25, 2024
Host/Author: Voyage Media
Starring: Lily Rabe as Rhea Williams, Albi Robles as Christopher, Veronica Warner as Misha

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1. Episode Overview

In the second episode of "Sanctuary," tensions escalate on the terraformed Mars as Rhea Williams grapples with her husband's authoritarian rule and the persistent threat of terrorist factions. The intricate dynamics between Rhea, her husband Christopher, and the fierce warrior Misha come to the forefront, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that challenges the very foundation of their mission to secure a peaceful future for Mars.

2. Setting the Stage on Mars

Rhea Williams introduces herself as a woman awakened on a fractured Mars, a planet now divided into hostile nations teetering on the brink of war. She reveals that her husband, Christopher, has risen to power as the president of Sanctuary—the nation he founded. Despite the passage of over a decade, the underlying chaos persists, with remnants of the former elite class, the 1%, resorting to terrorism to regain their lost dominance.

Rhea Williams [00:03]: "My husband is somehow the president of Sanctuary, the nation he founded here. ... The more things change, the more they stay the same."

3. The Role of Nan

A pivotal element in the Mars settlement is Nan (Neural Artificial Network), an advanced AI designed to support and protect humanity. Initially perceived as a benign, grandmotherly figure, Nan has evolved beyond its original programming, integrating seamlessly into every aspect of Martian life. Rhea, one of Nan's original coders, expresses unease over its omnipresence and manipulative capabilities.

Rhea Williams [02:02]: "NAN scares the ever living shit out of me."

4. Character Dynamics: Rhea, Christopher, and Misha

The episode delves into the strained relationship between Rhea and Christopher, highlighting their shared trauma over a lost child and the burdens of leadership. Misha, a loyal yet ruthless enforcer, adds complexity to the trio. Her interactions reveal a hardened individual shaped by a brutal past, committed to protecting Sanctuary at all costs.

Rhea Williams [05:03]: "You know, you're still a kid. You should be in school, having fun, dating, not killing people."

5. Conflict with Terrorists

As Sanctuary confronts remnants of Earth's oligarchs led by John Dryden, tensions rise. The mission to eliminate these terrorists is fraught with danger, leading to strategic planning and internal disagreements. Christopher emphasizes the need to neutralize threats to maintain Sanctuary's security, while Rhea questions the moral implications of their actions.

Christopher [07:05]: "We've let them get away with harboring terrorist gin Sanctuary for long enough. It's time to put an end to it once and for all."

6. The Assault on Dryden's Headquarters

The team, supported by Nan and Misha, assaults Dryden's stronghold. Misha demonstrates her lethal prowess by neutralizing invisible assassins with precision, showcasing her indispensable role in the mission. The confrontation is intense, blending advanced technology with raw combat skills.

Misha [07:50]: "I'm bored, Nan."

During the assault, Rhea witnesses Misha's swift and brutal efficiency, deepening her understanding of the lengths necessary to secure their vision for Sanctuary.

7. The Revelation of Betrayal

Post-mission, suspicions arise regarding the sudden explosion of the prisoner transport ship. Rhea pieces together the clues, realizing that Christopher orchestrated the sabotage to eliminate Dryden and his cohorts without leaving evidence. This manipulation exposes Christopher's darker side and his willingness to undermine even his closest allies to preserve his authority.

Rhea Williams [19:39]: "I know all his tells. Those micro expressions he has when he thinks he's right and he lies. ... Christopher is a danger to everyone in Sanctuary."

8. Rhea's Decision

Confronted with the truth about Christopher's actions and his unyielding pursuit of power, Rhea comes to a harrowing realization: to ensure the safety and freedom of Mars, she must eliminate her own husband. This pivotal moment marks a turning point in the narrative, setting the stage for profound personal and political upheaval.

Rhea Williams [20:48]: "I look at my husband and I see him, really see him for the first time since I woke up. ... God help me. I'm gonna have to kill my husband."

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Key Quotes with Timestamps

• Rhea Williams [00:03]: "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

• Rhea Williams [02:02]: "NAN scares the ever living shit out of me."

• Rhea Williams [05:03]: "You know, you're still a kid. You should be in school, having fun, dating, not killing people."

• Christopher [07:05]: "We've let them get away with harboring terrorist gin Sanctuary for long enough. It's time to put an end to it once and for all."

• Misha [07:50]: "I'm bored, Nan."

• Rhea Williams [19:39]: "Christopher is a danger to everyone in Sanctuary."

• Rhea Williams [20:48]: "I'm gonna have to kill my husband."

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Conclusion

Episode Two of "Sanctuary" masterfully intertwines personal vendettas with broader sociopolitical conflicts on a newly terraformed Mars. As Rhea navigates her complex relationships and confronts the moral ambiguities of leadership, the episode sets the stage for a gripping narrative of power, betrayal, and redemption. The intense character development and plot twists ensure that listeners are deeply invested in the fate of Sanctuary and its inhabitants.

Transcript

[Christopher]

Voyage.

[Rhea Williams]

This episode is brought to you by Shopify. Upgrade your business with Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet. Shop pay boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning fewer carts going abandoned and more sales going cha ching. So if you're into growing your business, get a commerce platform that's ready to sell wherever your customers are. Visit shopify.com to upgrade your selling today. My name is Rhea Williams. I was born on Earth over a thousand years ago. But now I'm alive and on Mars, where humanity has created a new home. I was the last to be awakened. So they already had over 10 years to screw this place up. Mars has fractured into nations that feel like they're all on the brink of war. Terrorists mostly, made up of the former 1%, who are pissed about not being on top anymore. Bomb and sow chaos. One of those terrorists tried to kill me. The more things change, the more they stay the same. But there is one big change that surprised me. My husband is somehow the president of Sanctuary, the nation he founded here. One thing that did not surprise me as much was when he ordered an attack on the terrorists after the botched attempt on my life. Like I said, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Nan]

ETA 45 minutes.

[Christopher]

Nan, remind the squad leaders to let your probes sniff out any booby traps, especially nano bombs, before they step anywhere or touch anything.

[Nan]

Affirmative. My probes are already there, Christopher. They'll disable any explosives or weapons they detect. I'll clear a path to their headquarters by the time you land.

[Christopher]

Thanks, Nan.

[Nan]

Of course, dear.

[Rhea Williams]

That's Nan. Helping make all our lives better. Short for Neural Artificial Network. It didn't sound like everybody's grandmother when we left for Mars. It didn't even have a name back then. But it kept us all alive while it terraformed Mars and made the planet livable for us. In the meantime, it rewrote itself God knows how many times. Even studied human psychology to make itself more relatable. It gave itself that voice. A brilliant bit of manipulation. When you think about it. It knows how to make itself the thing that everyone trusts the most. NAN has become a central part of everyone's lives on Mars. Everybody's grandma protecting us, giving us advice, keeping us alive. Integrated with every machine, computer, keypad, drone and nanobot around. Keeping us alive. That's its whole objective. How it was programmed. I should know. I was one of its original coders. It has gone way beyond what I ever imagined or even thought possible. NAN scares the ever living shit out of me.

[Misha]

I'm just gonna talk to the president.

[Rhea Williams]

You don't have to ask my permission. Misha.

[Misha]

Yo, boss. You still mad?

[Christopher]

I told you to keep Rhea in Sanctuary.

[Misha]

She insisted on coming. What was I supposed to do, tie her up and lock her in a closet?

[Christopher]

You could have kept her sedated.

[Misha]

No medical grounds for.

[Christopher]

Oh, spare me a lecture on medical ethics. We're heading into a possible trap. It's too dangerous.

[Misha]

So you're the one who wants me to kill her.

[Christopher]

We're not there yet. It might end up not being necessary that you kill her. She's still my wife.

[Misha]

She's just dangerous. Yeah, I know.

[Christopher]

Fine. It's fine. I shouldn't be surprised. Rhea never did listen to anyone but herself. Just stay with her. Watch her like a hawk.

[Misha]

Buzz kill. I wanted to have some fun.

[Christopher]

I need you to keep her safe.

[Misha]

Keep her safe? Kill her. Make up your mind.

[Christopher]

You know, what? If she becomes a threat to me? Then we're there. Otherwise, do your job and stay with her.

[Rhea Williams]

Problem?

[Misha]

You were just talking about the assassination attempt.

[Rhea Williams]

Sorry you had to kill that man.

[Misha]

I killed a bunch of idiots while you were still on ice.

[Rhea Williams]

Wait, what? Nobody said anything.

[Misha]

Seriously, it was no big deal. Bunch of dudes tried to take you out while you were in your pod being rebuilt. That's why the press didn't assign me to you.

[Rhea Williams]

How? How many times?

[Misha]

Half dozen times, off the top of my head. Honestly, they start to blur together after a while. I was assigned to you about a year ago after I spent a few years guarding the boss. You had a bunch of guards before me.

[Rhea Williams]

Damn.

[Misha]

Probably more like 10 or 11. A few teams tried to get to you.

[Rhea Williams]

Misha, how old are you really?

[Misha]

Sixteen, I think. Not quite sure. No parents to tell me.

[Rhea Williams]

You know, you're still a kid. You should be in school, having fun, dating, not killing people.

[Misha]

Tribe and I had to fight and kill for as long as I can remember. I was probably about 11 the first time I killed a man. I'd still be fighting for scraps if your husband hadn't found us and brought us back to Sanctuary.

[Rhea Williams]

I'm so sorry.

[Misha]

Why? Life in Sanctuary is heaven compared to before.

[Rhea Williams]

Does Christopher. Does he make you kill people?

[Misha]

I volunteered.

[Rhea Williams]

Why?

[Misha]

Sanctuary's a good thing. A safe place for everyone. Anybody is accepted just as they are. I'll kill as many people as it takes to keep that dream alive. What are you looking at me like that for?

[Rhea Williams]

You remind me of kids I grew up with who would pull a knife on people that looked at them funny.

[Misha]

It kept me alive. And the President. And you.

[Rhea Williams]

I'm grateful. But you deserve better.

[Misha]

I don't deserve anything. I'm happy with what I got.

[Nan]

Historians will write about Rhea walking on Mars. She walked among the people. She had no heirs, claimed no special privilege. She had what her husband didn't have. That common touch. She was one of them. And the people felt that. That's why every Martian will remember Rhea Williams for as long as humans live on Mars.

[Christopher]

You really didn't have to come.

[Rhea Williams]

Neither did you.

[Christopher]

I don't want the troops to do something I'm not willing to. I want everyone in Sanctuary to know I'm willing to go anywhere to keep them safe.

[Rhea Williams]

So what would it say about me if I just stayed home and waited for you?

[Christopher]

I'd feel a lot better if you did.

[Rhea Williams]

We were always a team. Has that changed?

[Christopher]

No, of course not.

[Rhea Williams]

So why are we really out here?

[Christopher]

We've let them get away with harboring terrorist gin Sanctuary for long enough. It's time to put an end to it once and for all.

[Rhea Williams]

It's still John Dryden, running the whole gang of tech bros. Yep.

[Christopher]

Ex billionaires with a grudge. Look around. Does it look any different here? Poorer, more deprived Than sanctuary? No. They have every convenience, every luxury to live a good life here. And they still hate us.

[Rhea Williams]

Now they have to make do with what everyone else has. This is surprisingly quiet.

[Christopher]

You were expecting gunfire and explosives? Police actions are different here. It's what you and I talked about on Earth.

[Misha]

I'm bored, Nan.

[Christopher]

And the troops have cleared the building in the area of booby traps and weapons.

[Misha]

There could be something hidden.

[Christopher]

That's why we have you, Misha.

[Rhea Williams]

I felt a flash of jealousy that surprised me as I watched the two of them whispering to each other. Jealousy of their closeness as friends. Christopher and I used to have that kind of friendship. But the man I knew would never have allowed himself to be elected president. And even if he somehow got dragged into it, he never would have enjoyed it. This man did. I could tell. But there was no way.

[Misha]

Look out.

[Rhea Williams]

Misha was moving. Before I even registered her warning, a blur of motion moved past me and attacked what seemed to be air. Until I noticed the distortion. Some kind of advanced photonic camouflage, matching the background almost perfectly and rendering the three killers nearly invisible to me. Me, but not to her. She broke the arm of the first invisible assassin at the elbow, twisted it and shot his friend in what I assumed was his face. Then twisted his broken arm further and shot him with his own weapon. The last One's camouflage was disrupted when she threw a blade into his chest. He was aiming a gun at either Christopher or me. I couldn't tell. But I reacted anyway. Tackled the killer without thinking about it. Hit him low across the knees. Taking him down and making him drop his weapon. Misha made short work of him after that. I scrambled away as she butchered the man in moments.

[Christopher]

Are you all right?

[Rhea Williams]

I'm fine.

[Christopher]

I told you it was too dangerous.

[Rhea Williams]

I said I'm fine. You're the one he almost shot. I think he's dead. You don't have to keep hitting him.

[Misha]

I'm done.

[Christopher]

Where the hell is the rest of the security detail? Ma'am.

[Nan]

Dead. I have a team coming to replace them now.

[Christopher]

I'm gonna go talk to the captain. Take care of her. I'll be just a moment.

[Rhea Williams]

We'll be fine. Thank you. You saved my life. Again.

[Misha]

It's my job.

[Rhea Williams]

I still appreciate it.

[Misha]

I like how you took out that guy's legs. You got some moves of your own.

[Rhea Williams]

I grew up in a rough neighborhood.

[Misha]

Yeah. The boss said so. He talked about you a lot.

[Rhea Williams]

You and my husband are close.

[Misha]

He brought me and my tribe to Sanctuary.

[Rhea Williams]

He's changed a lot.

[Misha]

The president has to make a lot of tough decisions. A lot of responsibilities. That changes you.

[Rhea Williams]

You've been with him a while. Is there anyone else?

[Misha]

Not that I know of. But I'm not his babysitter. I'm yours.

[Rhea Williams]

I wouldn't blame him if there was. But I don't want to just flat out ask him either.

[Misha]

I don't know. Ask Nan. Just leave me out of it.

[Christopher]

Nan's been deactivating every weapon system. Place it secure.

[Rhea Williams]

Of course she did. Nan can run over a hundred trillion calculations in less than a second. She's guiding this operation. And back in Sanctuary, she's helping a class of grade schoolers with their physics homework. She's also counseling a young woman about her eating disorder while regulating the clouds over Midtown to maintain a steady temperature of 22 degrees Celsius with 20% humidity. And she's simultaneously directing traffic and the public transport system in synchronicity, all while directing over two dozen squadrons of soldiers to round up the former oligarchs from Earth who've been trying to destroy Sanctuary for the last 10 years. While I slept.

[Nan]

You're approaching John Dryden's inner chamber.

[Christopher]

Stay back while the soldiers check for booby traps.

[Nan]

There are no active explosives or weapons. Clear. Breaching.

[Misha]

I'm taking point. Cute. Found a hand grenade with a trip Wire. Totally old school. It's disarmed. No cameras in here either. Very old school.

[Rhea Williams]

Misha, run. John Dryden. Huge man with a really huge knife. He's a muscle bound gym rat, narcissist motherfucker. I almost felt sorry for him. He's in deep shit and doesn't even know it. He slashes wildly, trying to gut her. Misha barely seems to sway back, hardly moving at all. But the blade misses her cleanly and she spins, hitting him hard as she moves by. I could see she was toying with him as her heel lashes out and hits the side of his knee.

[Misha]

Too slow.

[Rhea Williams]

As he tries to rise and stab her. Misha chops his throat and crushes his windpipe. She disarms him and has his own knife to his neck as he struggles to breathe.

[Christopher]

John Dryden. The architect of all our misery.

[Rhea Williams]

We were what, barely 25? Chris and I were organizing workers in protest since they wanted to leave without us. Workers. We were slowing down the buildings of the chips to Mars. Until they agreed to let us join them. I started the car while Chris locked the door to the house. Car bomb. I woke up in the icu. All I could think about was our unborn child. We had named him Albert, after my grandfather. That he was gone. I lost our baby. A miscarriage brought on by the stress on my body from surviving the car bomb.

[Nan]

All units have reported in. Prisoners are secure.

[Christopher]

We got them, Rhea. The bastards that killed our baby. All of them. Even Dryden. You used to work for me, Chris. Ancient history, John.

[Rhea Williams]

We were a good team. Everyone else was just dead. Weak. Listen to me, girl. He's gonna betray you just like he betrayed me.

[Misha]

You gonna die already or do I need to make sure?

[Rhea Williams]

They were like kids being cruel on the playground. Christopher was enjoying it. I wanted it to be because he changed while I was gone. But this was a change that started the loss of our child. This was something neither of us could forgive. But he also couldn't let it go. He wanted to punish those responsible. I understood it. But I had hoped that we could be better. Cut it out, Misha. We have to be better than this.

[Christopher]

They killed our baby.

[Rhea Williams]

I know.

[Christopher]

We never got to see him grow up, play ball.

[Rhea Williams]

I know.

[Christopher]

We never got to see him drive us crazy or become a screw up or something. Great.

[Rhea Williams]

You think I haven't thought of that?

[Christopher]

At least you got to stay asleep for a little longer. I had to wake up and think about that every day for 10 long years while these bastards continued to come for us after taking Our son.

[Rhea Williams]

I carried our baby from for seven months. I'm the one who felt him die inside me. This isn't just about you. You're the goddamn president of the biggest democracy on Mars. Now you have to put your feelings aside.

[Misha]

Boss, what should I do with them?

[Rhea Williams]

You think I don't want them dead? I want them to suffer just as bad as you do. But you said it yourself. We're more than just two kids from the projects. We're symbols now. We have to be better than that.

[Christopher]

Symbols. Exactly. They immediately tried to murder you to drive a knife at the heart of public morale. They're never gonna stop.

[Rhea Williams]

So we kill them.

[Christopher]

Seriously, Rhea? You wanna let them live?

[Rhea Williams]

After all, they did remember our wedding vows. No matter how much they tried to destroy us, we wouldn't break.

[Christopher]

Yes.

[Rhea Williams]

And we would keep each other from breaking.

[Christopher]

All right. Today's your lucky day, Dryden. I've spent decades thinking about killing you and your buddies, but this is a new world, and we're gonna be better than that. You get to live. And you get to remember every single day that all the. The evil shit you did led you to the hell we're gonna put you in.

[Rhea Williams]

When will you release us?

[Christopher]

Who said we will? You can thank my wife. She just saved all your lives. Happy?

[Rhea Williams]

We're not putting him in hell. It makes no difference where we put him. We're not making him suffer for kicks. Nan. Create a neutral world. Purgatory.

[Nan]

Christopher.

[Christopher]

Fine.

[Rhea Williams]

Our people rounded up all 200 former oligarchs living on the island and put them into an automated prisoner transport to fly back to Sanctuary. I stopped Christopher from going too far, but I was noticing more and more changes. And I wasn't liking any of them.

[Christopher]

Nan, make certain the escort ships are kept in a safe ring around the prisoner transport. I don't want to take any chances.

[Nan]

Yes, dear. On it.

[Christopher]

You've been strangely quiet.

[Rhea Williams]

Martian warfare is not what I expected.

[Christopher]

No casualties, at least.

[Rhea Williams]

Aside from the ones Misha's killed.

[Misha]

Not enough.

[Christopher]

You'll get over it. Nan. You have the prison ready? Back in Sanctuary.

[Nan]

The facility was printed during our operation. It'll be up and running by the time we get back.

[Rhea Williams]

There will be a trial, right? Right. With proper due process, not just some show. Trial.

[Christopher]

Of course. We have very good lawyers for the prosecution and defense. You were right. We need to show that we're better. And unlike Earth, nobody's bought and paid for. It'll be televised. Full transparency for the citizens to follow.

[Rhea Williams]

You'll look good.

[Christopher]

Sanctuary will look good.

[Nan]

The prisoner transport ship has exploded.

[Rhea Williams]

What? How?

[Misha]

Whoa. That is one big fireball.

[Christopher]

All ships take evasive action. Do not get caught in the explosion.

[Rhea Williams]

What happened, Nan?

[Nan]

It appears to be a fuel cell malfunction.

[Rhea Williams]

Appears? How? Do you not know? You were connected to the ship, right?

[Nan]

I was locked out of its system seconds before the explosion.

[Christopher]

How?

[Nan]

I wish I knew. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue. Perhaps if the black box survives.

[Rhea Williams]

Let's follow its trajectory and go through that wreckage where it lands.

[Christopher]

It's too dangerous.

[Rhea Williams]

We have to find out how this happened.

[Christopher]

Human error?

[Rhea Williams]

How? That transport didn't even have a pilot. Maybe it was sabotage.

[Misha]

Don't look at me. I didn't go near that ship.

[Rhea Williams]

You know how to blow up a ship?

[Misha]

Of course I do. But I didn't do it, cross my heart.

[Nan]

It's possible the passengers escaped somehow and opened the control panels to try to hack the ship.

[Rhea Williams]

And accidentally blew themselves up.

[Nan]

It's possible, but strictly speculation at this point.

[Rhea Williams]

We need to get to that black box. Can you access it remotely? Nan?

[Nan]

That's been cut off from me as well, which should be impossible.

[Christopher]

At least we didn't lose a Sanctuary citizen on the ship. Not for that bunch.

[Nan]

You're going to have to issue a statement when we get back.

[Christopher]

That won't be hard. We carried out a police action against the rogue nation that was waging acts of terror against Sanctuary. We intended to apprehend them and bring them back for trial, but they lost their lives to an unforeseeable transport malfunction. At the end of the day, their threat to Sanctuary has ended once and for all.

[Rhea Williams]

He did it. I could see it in his eyes. He changed. But not enough to hide that kind of thing from me. I know all his tells. Those micro expressions he has when he thinks he's right and he lies. Nothing escapes you. After 15 years of marriage, or technically, 10, 25 years this June, Christopher somehow arranged for their transport to blow up. He somehow timed a cutoff of Nan's access to the ship and blamed it on human error. And he knew that I knew. I think even Misha knew. Though I'm not certain she cared one way or another. Worst of all, Christopher knew that in the end, I wasn't going to say anything. For the sake of Sanctuary.

[Nan]

I've conducted a drone scan of the wreckage. Nothing but charred human remains and melted metal. No life signs.

[Christopher]

Call off the search, Nan. Let's head home.

[Rhea Williams]

What about the black box?

[Nan]

It was destroyed in the explosion.

[Christopher]

Sorry, Rhea, but this saves us a lot of trouble in the end.

[Rhea Williams]

I look at my husband and I see him, really see him for the first time since I woke up. He's the man I love, the man I always knew. But he's also something new. He wants what he wants and he'll do anything to get it. And he will go through anyone to get it because he thinks he's the savior of humanity and the protector of Sanctuary, which makes any action he takes justified. I see the rage and vindictiveness that's festered in his heart for what was done to us. And I finally see the truth. Christopher is a danger to everyone in Sanctuary. To every human on Mars. Even me. He'll kill me if I ever get in his way. I can see that clearly now. God help me. I'm gonna have to kill my husband.

[Narrator]

Sanctuary is a production of Voyage Media, Starring Lily Rabe as Rhea. Produced by Nat Mundell, Robert Midas and Deb Bennemore. Executive produced by LeVar Kelly. Featuring Albi Robles as Christopher and Veronica Warner as Misha. Additional cast credits in the show Notes Based on an original story by levar Kelly and a screenplay by Mahool Desai. Podcast story by Adi Sac Tantimed Podcast written by Adi Saq Tantimed with additional revisions by Matt Altman and Ed Benoit Directed by Matt Allman Edited sound designed and mixed by Nick Missitti if you're enjoying the show, please leave us a five star review on Apple Podcasts or anywhere you're listening and subscribe now for future episodes.