Presenting - Trap Street

Summary

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The Road of Shadows: Presenting - Trap Street (Ep. 1)

Podcast: The Road of Shadows
Host: Mark R. Healy
Presented Audio Drama: Trap Street, Episode 1 ("San Francisco")
Release Date: December 9, 2025

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Overview

In this special crossover episode, Mark R. Healy introduces listeners to "Trap Street," a supernatural mystery podcast from the creators of "Strange Air." Episode one ("San Francisco") follows Josh Mayfield, an unemployed gamer in San Francisco, whose life takes a surreal turn after he receives a mysterious email with two cryptic attachments: the image of a red-haired, green-eyed woman and a map of Ocean Bay. As Josh seeks help from friends and a tech security expert, he’s drawn into the unraveling of a greater mystery—setting the stage for the exploration of hidden secrets, the supernatural, and the question: Why do some maps not want to be found?

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Episode Structure & Key Discussion Points

1. Introduction to Trap Street

[00:00 - 01:03]

• Mark R. Healy introduces "Trap Street" as a finished, bingeable supernatural mystery with "a cast of over 40 voice actors" and "compelling, addictive" storytelling.
• Listeners are encouraged to follow along if they enjoy the genre of "supernatural mysteries."
• The episode transitions seamlessly into the fiction audio drama.

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2. Josh Mayfield's Awkward Encounter

[01:19 - 03:37]

• Josh meets a date in San Francisco and admits to getting lost, despite being a lifelong local, underscoring his sense of disconnection and rootlessness.
• Their awkward date humorously reveals Josh's social struggles; his date abruptly excuses herself, never to return.
  • Memorable moment:

    "I don't think she's coming back."
    — Josh Mayfield (03:37)

• Brief comedic exchange with the server follows.

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3. Family Dynamics: Josh and His Mother

[04:08 - 06:44]

• Josh banters with his mother, who reveals she’s found a new love interest after his father's death.
• Conversation exposes generational tension and Josh’s lack of direction.
  • Notable quote:

    "With your brain, you could be out there accomplishing great things, wonderful things, but instead you're home playing childish games."
    — Josh’s Mom (05:59)

  • Josh reluctantly learns about his mother’s new partner, Victor, prompting a blend of support and snark.
• Ends with Josh receiving a mysterious, senderless email with a strange attachment.

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4. The Mysterious Email

[06:44 - 08:14]

• Josh deliberates on whether to open the unnamed email, humorously referencing scam emails.
  • Memorable exchange:

    "An email just came in. Someone in Nigeria might need my help."
    — Josh Mayfield (06:27)

  • The attachment downloads itself onto his desktop and emits a strange glow.
  • Josh is unsettled but intrigued.

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5. Josh Seeks Advice

[08:14 - 12:00]

• Lunch scene with a friend, who teases Josh about his perpetual lateness and lack of tech savvy.

• They discuss the strange email:

  • Attachment's behavior is unnatural; Josh insists he didn’t click anything, friend confirms it's highly suspicious.

• Friend offers a solution:

  • Connects Josh with "Athena," a cybersecurity specialist with a mysterious reputation.
  • Brief light-hearted exchange about the word "hacker" and future planning.

  "Dude, it’s never too soon to start thinking about the future. And no, you cannot live in my basement when you're an old man."
  — Josh’s Friend (11:51)

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6. Consulting Athena, the Security Specialist

[12:11 - 14:57]

• Athena connects remotely to Josh’s computer, showcasing both expertise and dry wit.
  • Comic moment:

    "I didn't know hackers had a sense of humor."
    — Josh Mayfield (12:46)

  • Athena is offended by the term "hacker."

    "Don't say that to her. Athena hates the word hacker. I made the mistake of calling her that once, and she threatened to wipe out my retirement account."
    — Friend (11:32)

  • Athena assures Josh he owes nothing; his friend is footing the bill.
• Athena analyzes the mysterious file:
  • It contains a JPEG with erased metadata, raising security concerns but no immediate sense of danger.
  • She introduces the concept of "steganography," the practice of hiding data within images, but finds no malware present.
  • Dismisses the mysterious glow as "just there to get your attention. Someone really wants you to open this file."

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7. Opening the Attachments: The Mystery Deepens

[14:57 - 16:13]

• Athena and Josh open the file, revealing an image of a striking red-haired, green-eyed woman.
  • Notable exchange:

    "She’s beautiful."
    — Josh Mayfield (15:27)

  • Athena jokes about attractiveness, then realizes there's a second hidden image—a map.

    "Wait a minute... There's a second image hidden behind the first one."
    — Athena (15:44)

  • The second image is a map, presumably of the enigmatic town "Ocean Bay," setting up the next stage of the story.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "I don't think she's coming back."
  Josh Mayfield, after his date leaves abruptly (03:37)

• "With your brain, you could be out there accomplishing great things, wonderful things, but instead you're home playing childish games."
  Josh’s Mom, critiquing his lifestyle (05:59)

• "So what are my choices? I can download this file, which will probably infect my computer with all kinds of malware, or I can just delete the email and go back to killing zombies. Well, that's an easy choice. Delete."
  Josh Mayfield (07:05)

• "It's all janky. I keep hitting delete, but the file won't delete."
  Josh Mayfield about the mysterious file (10:41)

• "Please stop talking."
  Athena, cutting off Josh’s rambling efforts at humor (13:08)

• "You could have gotten someone from the Geek Squad to help you."
  Athena, self-deprecatingly about her expertise (14:59)

• "Is there anything more attractive than a woman with red hair and green eyes?"
  Athena (15:41)

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Key Moments & Timestamps

| Segment | Description | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------| | Awkward breakup/date ends | Josh is left alone at the bar | 03:37 | | Mother reveals new relationship | Family dynamic/humor and tension | 04:53-05:59| | The mysterious email arrives | Sets up the central intrigue | 06:44-07:10| | File downloads and glows | The supernatural/technological mystery emerges | 07:28-07:48| | Consulting cybersecurity Athena | Tech sleuth comedy and intrigue | 12:11-13:47| | Steganography explained | Hidden data; escalates the mystery | 14:08-14:45| | Hidden second image (the map) | Main story world opens up | 15:49-16:13|

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Tone and Style

The episode balances comedic, character-driven dialogue with a slow-building supernatural mystery. The writing is sharp, blending self-effacing humor (Josh’s lack of dating and career success) with authentic emotional beats (family relationships, the search for meaning). The sci-fi intrigue begins subtly, leaning on quirks of technology and paranoia before introducing overtly mysterious elements (the glowing file, hidden images).

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Conclusion

Episode one of "Trap Street" seamlessly introduces listeners to its protagonist, his personal struggles, and the inciting supernatural event. By the end, Josh has received two enigmatic clues: an image of a mysterious woman and a map with unknown significance. The episode ends on this discovery, drawing listeners deeper into the enigma of "Trap Street" and the secrets maps might hide.

Tagline:
"Maps have secrets." (Repeated throughout)

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Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Hey, listeners. This week I'd like to tell you about another great podcast that I think you'll love. It's called Trap street, and it's about an unemployed gamer who receives a mysterious email with two attachments. The first is an image of a woman with red hair and green eyes. The second is an old map of a town called Ocean Bay. What this young man does next will determine the fate of the entire human race. Trap street is brought to you by the creators of Strange Air. Another great show I shared with you a while back. The There's a cast of over 40 voice actors who are absolutely terrific in this show. It really does present a compelling story that's totally addictive, and I've no doubt you'll be hooked by the end of the first episode. If you're a fan of supernatural mysteries like the Road of Shadows, then I'm sure this will be right up your alley. And the great thing is that Trap street is a complete and finished series. So you can binge all the way through to the end. Right now, Trap street is available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Visit www.trapstreetpodcast.com for more information. Stay tuned right now to hear the first episode. And remember, maps have secrets.

[Narrator]

From the creators of Strange Air. This is Trap Street.

Episode one. San Francisco.

[Friend/Colleague]

Hi.

[Josh Mayfield]

Sorry I'm late. I was lost.

[Date/Date Partner]

How is that even possible?

[Josh Mayfield]

Beats me.

[Date/Date Partner]

Did you just move to the city?

[Josh Mayfield]

No, no, I grew up here.

[Date/Date Partner]

That's amazing.

[Josh Mayfield]

What, that I grew up here?

[Date/Date Partner]

No, that you got lost. We're right in the middle of San Francisco.

[Josh Mayfield]

I know, it's just a weird thing.

[Date/Date Partner]

Well, at least you look like your pictures.

[Josh Mayfield]

Thanks. So do you.

[Waiter/Server]

Are you ready to order?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Yes.

[Date/Date Partner]

I'll have a whiskey source with bourbon. Awry bourbon.

[Waiter/Server]

And you?

[Josh Mayfield]

Prohibition ale, please.

[Waiter/Server]

Great. I'll be right back.

[Date/Date Partner]

So, have you been on many of these dates?

[Josh Mayfield]

No, not really. Just a few.

[Date/Date Partner]

I've been on 19.

[Josh Mayfield]

Is that a lot?

[Date/Date Partner]

Sure feels like it.

[Josh Mayfield]

Well, I promise to make the next hour as entertaining as I possibly can.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Mmm.

[Date/Date Partner]

You're sweet. So what brings you here? Did you break up with someone?

[Josh Mayfield]

Can I be honest?

[Date/Date Partner]

That would definitely make this date stand out from all the others.

[Josh Mayfield]

My best friend's wife gave me a six month subscription as a gift.

[Date/Date Partner]

Well, I'm guessing that means you're the third wheel in their marriage.

[Josh Mayfield]

That's funny. I never thought of it that way.

[Date/Date Partner]

Interesting.

[Josh Mayfield]

What? What's interesting?

[Date/Date Partner]

Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?

[Josh Mayfield]

No, no, go ahead. We.

[Date/Date Partner]

When was your last serious Relationship?

[Josh Mayfield]

Well, it's been a while.

[Date/Date Partner]

How long?

[Josh Mayfield]

Probably about five years ago.

[Date/Date Partner]

Five years?

[Josh Mayfield]

Five, yeah.

[Date/Date Partner]

And you're, what, 28?

[Josh Mayfield]

27.

[Date/Date Partner]

I see.

[Josh Mayfield]

What? What do you see?

[Date/Date Partner]

Excuse me, I have to use the restroom.

[Josh Mayfield]

Hey, that's great timing.

[Waiter/Server]

Why?

[Josh Mayfield]

Because our drinks will probably be here when you get back. Isn't that the best? You leave, there's nothing. You come back, there's a surprise.

[Date/Date Partner]

How is that a surprise? I'm the one who ordered the drink.

[Josh Mayfield]

Well, no, I know. I was just saying.

[Date/Date Partner]

You're sweet. I'll be right back.

[Waiter/Server]

And here are your drinks. One whiskey sour with bourbon and one Prohibition ale. Would you like anything else?

[Josh Mayfield]

I don't think she's coming back.

[Waiter/Server]

And I saw the look on her face. I think you're right.

[Josh Mayfield]

Stupid zombies. You think you're so smart. All you have is an appetite for human flesh, and I've got enough firepower to.

Hi, Mom. I sent the rent last night. Did you check your Venmo account?

[Josh's Mom]

Honey, that's not why I'm calling. But, yes, I did.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Look.

[Josh's Mom]

And the money's there. Thank you very much.

[Josh Mayfield]

Am I the world's best tenant or what?

[Josh's Mom]

So how's everything? Are you working?

[Josh Mayfield]

Not right now, but I've got a few leads.

[Josh's Mom]

It's a good thing. Your rent obligation is practically nothing compared to everyone else in San Francisco.

[Josh Mayfield]

Admit it, you missed the city.

[Josh's Mom]

Only when I'm in the mood to freeze my ass off in the middle of summer.

[Josh Mayfield]

So you're happy in Santa Fe?

[Josh's Mom]

There are no words to describe the level of happiness I'm currently experiencing. And that's why I'm calling. I wanted you to be the first to know.

[Josh Mayfield]

To know what?

[Josh's Mom]

That I met someone.

[Josh Mayfield]

You met someone?

[Friend/Colleague]

Yes.

[Josh Mayfield]

A man?

[Josh's Mom]

Yes.

[Josh Mayfield]

Well, I guess it was a matter of time.

[Josh's Mom]

Don't be difficult, Josh. Your father's been gone five years.

[Josh Mayfield]

I know.

[Josh's Mom]

That's half a decade, right?

[Josh Mayfield]

I understand how math works.

[Josh's Mom]

And you know it wasn't your fault, right?

[Josh Mayfield]

So tell me more about this man you met.

[Josh's Mom]

Well, his name is Victor. He's from Costa Rica, and he runs his own business.

[Josh Mayfield]

What kind of business?

[Josh's Mom]

He imports local goods from all over Central America.

[Josh Mayfield]

This guy sounds like a drug dealer.

[Josh's Mom]

Are you being funny? Is that what you're doing? Because I don't find casual racism funny.

[Josh Mayfield]

Sorry. Tell me more.

[Josh's Mom]

There's not much more to say. We're still getting to know each other. But I'm excited about this relationship because it might have a future. And I'm learning Spanish. Can you believe that? Are you surprised? Oh, Victor is such a wonderful teacher.

[Josh Mayfield]

That's great, and I'm very happy for you, but I have to go now. There's a horde of zombies right outside my door, and it's just a matter of time before they move.

[Josh's Mom]

With your brain, you could be out there accomplishing great things, wonderful things, but instead you're home playing childish games.

[Josh Mayfield]

It's. It's late. I'm just trying to relax.

[Josh's Mom]

And you know you have to shoot them in the head, right?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yes, Mom, I know how to kill zombies.

[Josh's Mom]

Josh.

[Josh Mayfield]

What?

[Josh's Mom]

Are you happy?

[Josh Mayfield]

I'm not unhappy.

I gotta go. Ma. An email just came in. Someone in Nigeria might need my help.

[Josh's Mom]

You know those emails are all bullshit, right?

[Josh Mayfield]

I was just making a joke.

[Josh's Mom]

Whatever. Que tengis. Buenas nochasio, mio.

[Josh Mayfield]

Did my mother just hang up on me? Amazing. These calls will be the end of me.

Anyway, I just received a strange email. There's no name, no subject, and there's nothing here but a weird looking attachment.

So what are my choices?

I can download this file, which will probably infect my computer with all kinds of malware, or I can just delete the email and go back to killing zombies. Well, that's an easy choice. Delete.

Whoa, whoa, hang on. What's happening?

Wait, did the attachment just download itself? How is that even possible? Delete, delete, delete. Why can't I delete this thing?

Great. Now the attachment is just sitting there on my desktop. And it's glowing.

These dumplings are delicious. The best in Chinatown, but kind of expensive.

[Friend/Colleague]

Don't worry. Lunch is on me.

[Josh Mayfield]

Thank you so much.

[Friend/Colleague]

Let's get back to last night.

[Josh Mayfield]

Do we have to?

[Friend/Colleague]

How late were you?

[Josh Mayfield]

About 20 minutes.

[Friend/Colleague]

And you were meeting her at a bar in North Beach?

[Josh Mayfield]

That's right.

[Friend/Colleague]

Dude, that's like a 10 minute walk from your place.

[Josh Mayfield]

I know.

[Friend/Colleague]

You know, you've been like this since your dad died.

[Josh Mayfield]

That has nothing to do with anything. I just tend to get lost.

[Friend/Colleague]

Hey, you know what? I have an idea. Take a look at this.

[Josh Mayfield]

Why are you shoving your phone in my face?

[Friend/Colleague]

See that app? That one right there, the one marked Maps?

[Josh Mayfield]

It never works, right?

[Friend/Colleague]

You know, I'm sure the engineers at Apple would take exception to that statement.

[Josh Mayfield]

It doesn't matter. She wasn't really my type anyway.

[Friend/Colleague]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[Josh Mayfield]

To be honest, I'm not sure the whole online dating thing is right for me.

[Friend/Colleague]

Oh, boy. Elaine is not gonna be happy.

[Josh Mayfield]

Just tell your wife it was a great gift and I really appreciate her thinking of me as a lonely Loser who's desperate to meet someone.

[Friend/Colleague]

Look, she's just trying to help.

[Josh Mayfield]

I know, I know. But I have to find my own way.

[Podcast Host]

Would you like anything else?

[Friend/Colleague]

Weilai Danxing Yu Jinri.

[Josh Mayfield]

What the hell was that?

[Friend/Colleague]

Cantonese. We have some deals coming up with the company in Macau. So. Trying to pick up some basic phrases.

[Josh Mayfield]

Do you think he understood?

[Friend/Colleague]

Who knows? I asked for the check. Let's see what he brings.

[Josh Mayfield]

Oh, hey, so listen to this. I got this really strange email last night. It wasn't from anyone, and there was nothing there except for an attachment.

[Friend/Colleague]

Sounds like spam.

[Josh Mayfield]

That's what I thought, but then the attachment downloaded itself.

[Friend/Colleague]

Is your software even set up to do that?

[Josh Mayfield]

No, no, this has never happened before.

[Friend/Colleague]

Well, that's not right. I mean, attachments don't just download themselves. They need, like, a trigger. Did you click on something?

[Josh Mayfield]

No.

[Friend/Colleague]

Are you sure?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yes, of course I'm sure.

[Friend/Colleague]

Huh, that's odd.

[Josh Mayfield]

And now the file's just sitting there on my desktop.

[Friend/Colleague]

So what's the big deal? Just delete the damn thing.

[Josh Mayfield]

I can't. It won't let me.

[Friend/Colleague]

What does that mean?

[Josh Mayfield]

It's all janky. I keep hitting delete, but the file won't delete.

[Podcast Host]

Oof.

[Friend/Colleague]

That sounds bad. Your computer could be, like, in some serious danger here.

[Josh Mayfield]

Yeah, and there's one more thing.

[Friend/Colleague]

What?

[Josh Mayfield]

The icon for the file is glowing, like it's trying to get my attention.

[Friend/Colleague]

That is some weird ass, man.

[Josh Mayfield]

I know.

[Friend/Colleague]

All right, let's call an expert.

[Josh Mayfield]

What are you doing?

[Friend/Colleague]

I am sending you a text with the name and number of a security specialist my firm uses from time to time. She'll know how to handle this.

[Josh Mayfield]

Got it. Her name's Athena.

[Friend/Colleague]

That's just the name she uses. Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, or something like that.

[Josh Mayfield]

Have you met her?

[Friend/Colleague]

No. She could be anyone and everywhere.

[Josh Mayfield]

So she's a hacker?

[Friend/Colleague]

Word of advice. Don't say that to her. Athena hates the word hacker. I made the mistake of calling her that once, and she threatened to wipe out my retirement account.

[Josh Mayfield]

You have a retirement account?

[Friend/Colleague]

Of course. Don't you?

[Josh Mayfield]

I'm 27. Why would I need a retirement account?

[Friend/Colleague]

Dude, it's never too soon to start thinking about the future. And no, you cannot live in my basement when you're an old man.

[Josh Mayfield]

I wish life came with a map.

Hello?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

I got your message. Athena, the one and only.

[Josh Mayfield]

Hey, it's nice to meet you, and I really appreciate your help. This is such a strange situation, and I'm really worried that I'm so Bored. Oh, sorry. I was just trying to check your email.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

I sent you a link.

[Josh Mayfield]

Got it.

Should I click on it?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

No, just stare at it.

[Josh Mayfield]

For how long?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Are you kidding me right now?

[Josh Mayfield]

Oh, I see. You were being funny. I didn't know hackers had a sense of humor.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

What did you call me?

[Josh Mayfield]

Uh, I called you a slacker. Slacker. Which is actually kind of stupid, because you don't strike me as someone who likes to hang around and do nothing. You seem more like a type A personality who enjoys.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Please stop talking.

Now click on the link. It grants me remote access.

[Josh Mayfield]

Okay.

I just did. Whoa. What's happening?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Relax. That's just me taking over your computer. I need to see what's going on with this mystery file.

[Josh Mayfield]

Great. Very cool. I can see you moving things around. And.

Does this mean you can access my browser history?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Shut up. I'm working.

[Josh Mayfield]

Speaking of work, I forgot to ask, how much is this going to cost? I don't have a job right now.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

And you don't owe me anything.

[Josh Mayfield]

Really?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Your friend Richard's paying, which is a good thing, because I checked your financial history, and you can't afford me.

[Josh Mayfield]

I completely understand.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

So I'm scanning this file. There's a JPEG inside, but the metadata's been removed, and there's no time stamp or GPS information.

[Josh Mayfield]

Is that weird?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

No, it just means the sender didn't want you to know anything about the image. Are you familiar with steganography?

[Josh Mayfield]

You mean like in court?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

No, that's stenography. Steganography is a technique that attackers use to hide a secret piece of malware inside an image. But I don't see anything malicious here. There's no evidence this code has been tampered with.

[Josh Mayfield]

What about the weird glow?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

That's a creative twist, but I'm not concerned. I think it's just there to get your attention. Someone really wants you to open this file.

[Josh Mayfield]

And it's just a picture.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

That's it. This entire situation is so beneath my pay grade. You could have gotten someone from the geek squad to help you.

[Josh Mayfield]

Should we open it?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

No reason not to. It's probably just porn.

[Josh Mayfield]

All right.

Go ahead.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Roger that. I am now opening the file.

[Josh Mayfield]

Wow.

She's beautiful.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Do you know this person?

[Josh Mayfield]

Nope.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Is there anything more attractive than a woman with red hair and green eyes?

[Josh Mayfield]

Tell me about it.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Wait a minute.

[Friend/Colleague]

What?

[Josh Mayfield]

Is something wrong?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

There's a second image hidden behind the first one.

[Josh Mayfield]

What is it?

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

I don't know. Let's take a look.

[Josh Mayfield]

Hey, it's a map.

[Narrator]

Trap street was written and directed by Tony Martinez. The show was produced by Michael P. Greco and Tony Martinez. Starring Michael P. Greco as Josh Mayfield. Featuring dale Ingram, Nan McNamara. Verona Blue. Thanks for listening. We'll be back soon. And remember, maps have secrets.

The Fable and Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish.

The Fable and Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish.

[Friend/Colleague]

Limu Emu and Doug.

[Liberty Mutual Narrator]

Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat, helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug.

[Podcast Host]

Limu.

[Josh Mayfield]

Is that guy with the binoculars watching us.

[Liberty Mutual Narrator]

Cut the camera. They see us.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Only pay for what you [e-mail].

[Friend/Colleague]

Liberty.

[Athena (Security Specialist)]

Liberty. Liberty.

[Liberty Mutual Advertiser]

Liberty Savings Ferry. Underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and affiliates. Excludes Massachusetts.