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Narrator/Host
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Russ Moore
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Mark R. Healy
The road of shadows created by mark r. Healy a beyond the dark production season 5 episode 1 lambert.
Roderick
Daniel Amber it seems that I've reached your answering machine again. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought you were trying to avoid me. It's Roderick here. Obviously. I hope you're both keeping well. Since last we spoke, it's been, what, a few weeks now? Time flies. I just wanted to let you know about some new developments on my side of things. You remember that when we left Oakwood, I intended to seek out several of our fellow Nostromo, old friends of mine, who also happen to be scholars like myself. They all agree that there are ripples across the entire kin. A collective unease that has placed our enemies squarely on the back foot. And it seems like the most likely cause of it is, well, the two of you. Your actions over the past few months have sent a shudder right to the very heart of their world. And that brings us to her. Now, I know that you've said previously that you still intend to hunt shadows down one by one, from town to town, but I think that after hearing about my research into the Blood Monarch, I may finally be able to persuade you to see things my way. She is utterly fascinating, this creature. And as I always suspected, she might well be the key to everything we hope to achieve. In any case, if I have my days correct, I'm guessing that you must be close to reaching your next target by now. I wish you luck and a clean kill. Please stay safe, my friends. And do call me back when you get the chance. Goodbye.
Daniel
This has to be the place, Amber. It's just like you described it. Do you feel it close by?
Amber
Yeah, this is the place, all right. It's here. No doubt about it.
Daniel
In that case, I better keep this ax handy.
Amber
Right. Let's go introduce ourselves.
Daniel
Handle this in the usual way. Start with the room on the left, and then we can look out.
Amber
Nice. You've got him down. Now finish him off.
Daniel
Not so fast, Amber. This one's personal.
Amber
What? He's there for the taking, Daniel. Just go ahead and do it.
Daniel
Relax. He's not going anywhere. Are you, Shadow?
Ragamon
You think you can intimidate me, Nostromo? I'm not afraid of your kind. Go ahead. Do your worst.
Daniel
Not afraid, huh? Maybe you should be. Before we go any further, I want to know your name.
Amber
Daniel. Why is that important? What's the point of this?
Daniel
Just give me a minute, Amber. This won't take long. Well, I asked you a question, Shadow.
Ragamon
Among the vesperine, I am known as Ragamon.
Daniel
Do you know who I am, Ragamon?
Ragamon
Of course I know who you are. After what You've done both. You and your friend here are well known amongst my kind.
Daniel
But what I want to know is do you remember me from before? This isn't the first time I visited the township of Lambert.
Ragamon
Maybe you should refresh my memory.
Daniel
The movie theater across town. I'm sure you're familiar with it, right?
Ragamon
What about it?
Daniel
I was there a while back, watching a late night screening. When the show was over, I met a young woman outside. She was a traveler heading east. I think her name was Helen. She'd been staying in Lambert for a week or two. Picked up some part time work at Denton's garage. When we were done talking, Helen set off for home. I watched her slip on her headphones and hit play on her walkman. Not realizing that further down the alley, they're in the darkness. You were waiting for her.
Roderick
Ah,
Ragamon
I think I remember now. Helen. Yes. She was ripe for the picking, that one. A juicy specimen, I must admit.
Daniel
Go ahead, taunt me all you want. Just know that her name is the last thing you'll ever hear.
Ragamon
Do you know what else I remember? A coward who stood by and watched the whole thing happened. You should have seen your face, Daniel, when I revealed myself to you. Such delicious terror.
Daniel
You knew I was Nostrama even back then. That's why you didn't come after me.
Ragamon
I didn't come after you because you weren't worth my time. You weren't then and you aren't now.
Daniel
Whatever you say. Stand back, Amber. Give me some room.
Ragamon
A coward. That's what I remember. Running away into the night with his tail between his legs.
Daniel
Yeah, well, times have changed. I'm not running anymore. And this one. This one's for Helen.
Amber
Daniel. Are you okay?
Daniel
Yeah, I'm fine. I. I only wish I could have made the bastard suffer more for what he did.
Amber
Well, I could have stepped over and laid my hands on him. Let him writhe in pain as his lifeblood slipped, slowly trickled away. But I got the impression you wanted to handle this one yourself.
Daniel
I did. Thanks for giving me the time to take care of it.
Amber
Is something else on your mind?
Daniel
I. I let him get under my skin a little. That shit about me being a coward and running away when Helen needed me.
Amber
From what you've told me about that night, she was already dead by the time you realized what was happening, right?
Daniel
Yeah. I wasn't able to reach her in time.
Amber
So there's nothing you could have done. Come on, there's no point dwelling on it. We're done here. We should get Back to
Ragamon
Amber.
Daniel
What's wrong?
Amber
It's my eyes.
Daniel
Getting the visions again?
Amber
I think so. It must be this house or because I was so close to the shadow just now.
Ragamon
Oh.
Amber
Oh, it's really coming on strong. Oh, just give me a minute. This is. This is making me feel sick to my stomach.
Daniel
What do you see? Is it your Besa again?
Amber
No, not her. I see trees and a river or. Hang on. I think. I think there's more.
Daniel
Just try to breathe. You look like you're about to pass out. Okay.
Amber
I. I think it's gone. Yeah. Yeah, it's over. Sorry. That was unpleasant.
Daniel
Tragisa won't stay out of your head, huh?
Amber
Yeah. Strangely enough, I don't think it was her this time.
Daniel
So who was it? Another shadow?
Amber
Yeah. I haven't mentioned this to you yet, mainly because I was still trying to figure it out myself. But the last few times I've had the visions, it hasn't felt like them coming to me. More like the other way around.
Daniel
Wait a second. You're telling me that you can initiate contact with the shadows now? With your mind?
Amber
No, nothing like that. I. I don't think it's more. I guess I'm just reaching out somehow. Probing into their world in some way.
Daniel
How is that possible?
Amber
I don't fully understand the mechanics of it yet, but I assume that it's just part of this ability of mine, the mental link I share with the Vesperine.
Daniel
Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Amber
I don't know. But I can tell you one thing. It's fucking disgusting. I can't explain exactly why, but when I reach out with my mind, it's like pulling the lid of a rotting garbage can, exposing myself to something putrid and awful beyond words. It just makes me want to puke.
Daniel
Maybe you should try to ease off a little. In that case. Might be overdoing it.
Amber
Well, that's the thing. I'm pretty sure the visions are giving us an advantage. I saw this room we were standing in yesterday, and I knew the shadow would be here. The visions led us right to its doorstep.
Daniel
You told me you had a feeling it was here, not that you saw it in a vision.
Amber
That's because I wasn't sure if I was just imagining things. But I can't deny it. The vision was true. And now I'm seeing trees and rivers. And more than that, I saw another town. And a mountain.
Daniel
Trees, rivers, a mountain. What's that all about?
Amber
I haven't figured that out yet. Maybe if I get another vision. I'll be able to narrow it down. But I do know one thing for sure. That mountain is important. Somehow we have to find out where it is. And once we do, we need to get there.
Ragamon
Foreign.
Russ Moore
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Narrator/Host
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Roderick
It's the Paradise Podcast.
Narrator/Host
I am your host, Ryan Michelle Bathe with my husband Sterling.
Ragamon
What's up?
Narrator/Host
Join us here on Hulu and Hulu on Disney, where we'll discuss each episode with the cast and crew of Paradise. I'll be getting all the secrets from Dan Fogelman, James Marsden, Shailene Woodley, Julianne Nicholson and Sterling Kelby Brown. Paradise. The official podcast is now streaming and
Russ Moore
stream paradise on Hulu and Hunter Hulu on Disney plus.
Roderick
In any case, if I have my days correct, I'm guessing that you must be close to reaching your next target by now. I wish you luck and a clean kill. Please stay safe, my friends, and do call me back when you get the chance. Goodbye.
Amber
Sounds like Roderick's been busy having fireside
Daniel
chats about the shadows with his old pals. I wouldn't call that busy. The work we've been doing, it's another matter.
Amber
He really is transfixed with his blood Monarch, isn't he?
Daniel
You really think so? I mean, he only mentions her five or ten times every conversation.
Amber
So should we call him back?
Daniel
That depends on how you're feeling. How are you doing after those visions?
Amber
I'm okay. I've started to get my bearings again since we arrived back here at the motel. Let's give him a call, alright? Where's that number he left us? Oh, here we go. You take the receiver and I'll dial.
Roderick
Hello?
Daniel
Roderick, it's Daniel. Got Amber with me.
Roderick
Ah, the hunters have returned. Still in the township of Lambert, I assume.
Amber
Hey, Rodrick. Yeah, we are still here all is well, I trust. Well, put it this way. You can cross another shadow off the list.
Roderick
Glad to hear it. One down, another thousand to go.
Daniel
It's progress. And another town is safe. It has to count for something.
Roderick
By all means. It's a worthy undertaking. I don't mean to diminish your achievements in the slightest, and I'm. I'm sorry if it came across that way. I trust everything went smoothly.
Amber
Yeah. This one didn't give us much trouble. We tracked it down and finished it off in practically no time at all.
Roderick
I still can't fathom how you were able to find the Wicked Ones so quickly. I've never had the ability to track them with any degree of precision. For me, it's a process that can take months.
Daniel
More often than not, we're developing a. Well, I guess you could call it a secret weapon on that front.
Roderick
Amber is able to sense the general location of the Wicked Ones by some kind of illness. I believe that's the way you described it to me.
Daniel
That was how she used to do it. But she's had an upgrade recently.
Roderick
Oh, well, now you do have me intrigued. What is this upgrade you speak of?
Amber
The best way I can describe it is. Well, I would call them visions. I'm starting to see things in broad daylight. I know that probably sounds crazy.
Roderick
No, no, no, not at all. Please, tell me about them.
Amber
Well, during the last one, I saw a street here in town. Then it seemed to intensify, become more focused, and I was able to narrow it down to not just a street, but a specific house on that street.
Roderick
A house? Interesting. Go ahead. Describe it to me if you can.
Amber
It was totally ordinary. Just a moderately sized place. A bungalow with a gabled roof. Probably built Sometime in the 50s, I guess. In need of some maintenance, too. There was paint peeling on the exterior walls, and the lawn and gardens were a little overrun.
Roderick
You saw all of that through a vision?
Amber
Yeah. I mean, it came on pretty strong. There were lots of details.
Roderick
So are you saying you saw the Shadow's home in your mind?
Amber
We found it hiding inside, and it turned out the details were accurate.
Daniel
She nailed it right down to the lawn and the color of the paint.
Roderick
Incredible. I've heard of rare cases where Nostromo have been gripped by visions, but never quite like this.
Amber
What do you mean by that? Am I doing something wrong?
Roderick
Oh, no, no, not at all. The kind of precision you're talking about is unheard of. And besides that, it generally takes decades for Nostromo to develop this kind of ability. You've Done it in just a few months. Tell me, Amber, what are the triggers for these visions? Do they occur more frequently at a certain time or place?
Amber
They're still a little random at this point. Although it definitely comes on stronger in places where there's been shadow activity. Like tonight, standing over a fresh pile of ashes. Or even better, inside one of their dens. That's where it really hits me.
Roderick
Yes. You're tapping into their psychic energy, no doubt about it. Traversing the ether, as the wicked ones call it. That's how Dragisa has been reaching out to you in your dreams. I'm sure you already realize this, but having a talent of this nature is a great advantage to us.
Amber
Is this something you and Daniel could develop, too?
Roderick
That's highly unlikely, I'm afraid. Had we shared your propensity for visions, we surely would have experienced something before now. It seems that where this ability is concerned, you either have it or you don't.
Amber
Are you sure? Maybe with enough practice, you could get better at it.
Roderick
Believe me, I've tried. I spent many years in that endeavor, as it turns out, but never made any headway at all.
Amber
Well, you're probably better off without it. I can't say the whole experience is particularly pleasant.
Roderick
Most of the time, not pleasant, but extremely useful.
Amber
Do you want it? Honestly, I wouldn't be too broken up if you just took it off my hands entirely.
Roderick
I would like nothing more, but it's just not possible. So, what else have you seen? Tell me everything, Amber.
Amber
Let's see. This is probably gonna sound weird, but in the last vision, I saw trees and a river, and at the end of it, there's a mountain.
Roderick
You saw wilderness?
Amber
Yeah. Sorry if that seems underwhelming. The mountain has the strongest pull on me, if that helps. Almost like it's the final destination. Any idea what that means?
Roderick
Interesting. A mountain. Do you recognize it? Have you seen it somewhere before? Or, failing that, are there any prominent features that might help us locate it?
Amber
I can't say I've ever seen it before. And unfortunately, the terrain isn't particularly distinctive. I mean, I could try sketching it, but I really suck at drawing.
Roderick
What if this isn't an actual place? Have you considered that this vision might be purely symbolic?
Amber
Not really, but I'm open to suggestions. Any thoughts on what this mountain might symbolize?
Roderick
There are a number of different interpretations we could make, I suppose. Firstly, a mountain can represent permanence as well as strength and solidarity. Perhaps this all ties into misgivings about your crusade against the wicked ones. They have stood amongst humans for many centuries now, perhaps even back to the beginning. And it's likely that they always will. Maybe you have a subconscious fear that this challenge is too imposing for you to ever prevail against.
Amber
I don't know about that. If anything, lately I've been feeling more positive than ever about where this is going. Daniel and I, we've got these fuckers on the back foot. You said it yourself. They're worried about us.
Daniel
Yeah, this is still going to be a tough fight, but it's by no means insurmountable.
Roderick
All right, then let's try another perspective. If the mountain does not represent a challenge, or the peak of an arduous journey, or anything to do with danger, it could very well be a symbol of enlightenment. Mountains are places of spiritual journeys, are they not? Many cultures have certainly seen it that way throughout the ages. Perhaps you are striving for revelation, or even some kind of personal transformation.
Amber
Could be. I suppose I hadn't really thought of that, but it's possible.
Roderick
Or perhaps you're seeking divine inspiration. Mountains have long been considered the dwelling places of deities, the homes of gods.
Daniel
A God in a mountain? Could that be a metaphor for something?
Amber
Look, at this stage, we really don't know much of anything. I've only had one vision of the place so far, and it was kind of vague. I'm sure if it's important, I'll have more. Maybe I'll see more detail next time.
Roderick
That's fair enough. I'll keep thinking about it. And do keep me updated if you discover anything.
Daniel
We will if we can manage to track you down. Seems you've been moving around a lot since you left Oakwood.
Roderick
Ah, yes, I've been busy. I'll endeavor to keep supplying you with new contact numbers each time I relocate. If all else fails, just call and leave a message at my home office.
Daniel
Have you heard any news from Oakwood over the past few weeks?
Roderick
No. Were you expecting something?
Daniel
I was just thinking that there must be some major changes going on there now that Argus and his holoskins are gone.
Roderick
It will take time for the township to reawaken, if you could call it that. But eventually I'm sure it will happen. And now that you mention Argus, I have been trying my best to research the transformation he was undergoing.
Amber
You mean the whole thing with that cocoon that was growing around him? What was it?
Roderick
Unfortunately, I don't have a full explanation for you yet. But I do have several promising leads that I'm pursuing. Once I put things together, I'll be only too happy to share it with you.
Amber
In your message, you also mentioned that you'd been researching our old friend, the Blood Monarch.
Roderick
Oh, yes, yes. I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you about that. My mind has been all over the place lately. And where are my notes? Ah, yes. Here we are. The Monarch. The one they call Mother. I've been gathering as much information as I can about her.
Daniel
We already know that each kin has its own Monarch. You said that there might be a dozen or more kin spread across the globe, right?
Roderick
That's correct. The Shadows we've been fighting against belong to the same kin. All contained within this one geographical region.
Amber
But wait a second. We've crossed hundreds of miles these last few months. How big can these regions get?
Roderick
Well, that's not known for certain, But I have a theory that a single kin could in fact, occupy an entire continent.
Daniel
Damn. That's kind of mind boggling to even contemplate.
Roderick
Yes. However, at the other end of the spectrum, they could occupy nothing more than a small city. It all depends on the power of the Monarch to control the Shadows who serve her. And this is where it gets interesting. After speaking with other Nostromo, I've come to the conclusion that a Monarch's strength may very well be aligned with the number of servants in her kin.
Daniel
So the more Shadows she controls, the more powerful she becomes.
Roderick
Yes. And conversely, when she loses her shadows.
Amber
Holy shit. Are you. Are you saying Daniel and I are making her weaker every time we kill a shadow?
Roderick
I believe so.
Amber
Well, that's great. It means we've been on the right track this whole time.
Roderick
In some ways, yes. But the time is soon coming that we will need to change our strategy.
Daniel
Why the hell would we do that?
Roderick
Listen, my friends, if my theory is correct, the Monarch has never been as weak as she is now. Together, you have killed more Shadows than the kin has lost in decades or even centuries. But my fear is that the Monarch will react to this threat and soon.
Amber
React? In what way?
Roderick
I don't know for certain, but there are historical records concerning changes within the kin during times of peril. The Monarch will respond to this threat. If she hasn't already. That's why we need to find her and strike now.
Daniel
Roderick, we've had this conversation before, haven't we? I understand that you want to go after the Monarch, but as far as I'm concerned. Well, I still have at least 10 more shadows on my list that I want to cross off first.
Roderick
Yes, I'm well aware of your personal vendettas. Daniel. But I still believe you're going about this the wrong way.
Amber
What? Why? You said yourself we are weakening her with every kill.
Roderick
She won't sit idly by while you hack and slash your way across the countryside, Amber. As I said, she will respond. And if we wait another year or even another month, we may be giving her exactly what she wants. Time to recover what she's lost.
Daniel
This all sounds pretty vague, Roderick. You're going to have to come up with a better reason than that.
Roderick
You want a better reason? All right. I haven't told you the most important piece of research I've uncovered these past few days. We know that the Monarch is at the center of everything. And that she is tied intrinsically to every single one of her subjects. They worship her. In fact, their entire lives are centered around her very existence. But what I've learned is that this only scratches the surface of their relationship with her. If I'm correct in my assumptions, it seems that they are tied to her physically as well. In the most profound way possible. She is their lifeblood. And what that means is if we kill the Monarch, we kill them all.
Mark R. Healy
The Road of Shadows is created by Mark R. Healey. Want to hear more stories just like this one? Head over to Patreon to hear other audio productions by Mark R. Healy. There you'll also find lots of bonus content, free stuff and ad free episodes you can hear a week early. All of that and more is available now at patreon.com BeyondTheDark. You can also hear more at the roadofshadows.com the Road of Shadows stars Hamish Pledgemars, Martha De Silva, Liz Morey, Joseph Tweeter, Marlon Dance Hooey, Sarah Safarian, Nicholas Ewan and Thomas Barker. The Road of Shadows is a beyond the dark production.
Narrator/Host
The fable and folly network where fiction producers find flourish.
Russ Moore
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Podcast: The Road of Shadows
Host: Mark R. Healy
Release Date: May 5, 2026
Episode 5.1, "Lambert," marks the beginning of a new season in The Road of Shadows. Picking up in 1984, Daniel Knox and his companion Amber continue their dangerous journey, evading the shape-shifting entities known as Shadows—predators only Daniel can truly identify. Seeking sanctuary in the remote township of Lambert, the pair hunt another Shadow, encountering both old ghosts and new revelations about Amber’s evolving psychic abilities. Meanwhile, their friend Roderick investigates the legends surrounding the Blood Monarch, uncovering chilling truths that could change their strategy in the war against the Shadows.
[03:08–05:15]
“Your actions over the past few months have sent a shudder right to the very heart of their world. And that brings us to her. ... She might well be the key to everything we hope to achieve.”
— Roderick ([03:45])
[05:15–09:39]
“Go ahead, taunt me all you want. Just know that her name is the last thing you'll ever hear.”
— Daniel to Ragamon ([08:15])
“I only wish I could have made the bastard suffer more for what he did.”
— Daniel ([09:42])
[10:07–13:52]
“When I reach out with my mind, it's like pulling the lid of a rotting garbage can... It just makes me want to puke.”
— Amber ([12:33])
[15:37–24:03]
“The kind of precision you're talking about is unheard of. ... Generally, it takes decades… You’ve done it in just a few months.”
— Roderick ([19:12])
[24:03–29:02]
“So the more Shadows she controls, the more powerful she becomes … and when she loses her shadows…”
— Roderick ([26:23])
“Are you saying Daniel and I are making her weaker every time we kill a shadow?”
— Amber ([26:28])
“She won’t sit idly by while you hack and slash your way across the countryside... She will respond.”
— Roderick ([27:45])
“If we kill the Monarch, we kill them all.”
— Roderick ([29:01])
| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|-------------| | Roderick's Message & Monarch Lore | 03:08–05:15 | | The Hunt in Lambert & Ragamon Confronted | 05:15–09:39 | | Aftermath & Amber’s Latest Vision | 09:39–13:52 | | Motel Call to Roderick & Vision Details | 15:37–24:03 | | Kin Structure & Monarch Revelation | 24:03–29:01 |
Episode 5.1 "Lambert" sets the stage for a season in which Amber’s abilities reach unprecedented levels, driving the team forward in their hunt. The core dynamic between Daniel, Amber, and Roderick is tested by new knowledge and the question of whether to continue their shadow-by-shadow crusade or set their sights on the Blood Monarch herself. The climactic revelation—that killing the Monarch could wipe out the entire kin—promises greater dangers and bolder decisions ahead. The tone is intense, with character introspection counterbalancing supernatural action, as the trio faces mounting stakes in their shadow-haunted world.