Episode 12 - How Maps are Made

Summary

Trap Street - Episode 12: How Maps are Made

Release Date: September 20, 2024
Hosts: Tony Martinez and Michael P. Greco

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Introduction

In Episode 12 of Trap Street, titled "How Maps are Made," hosts Tony Martinez and Michael P. Greco delve deep into the mysterious world of maps and their extraordinary influence on human destiny. This episode unravels the enigmatic narrative of Josh Mayfield, an unemployed gamer who becomes entwined in a reality-altering adventure following the receipt of a peculiar email containing a photograph and an ancient map.

Setting the Scene

The episode opens with Josh Mayfield engaging in a tense conversation with MC Henderson in what appears to be a café setting. Their exchange quickly shifts from mundane small talk to a riveting recount of Josh's harrowing experience.

Notable Quote:

• Josh Mayfield [02:26]: "Alright. Okay, here goes. On the day I disappeared, this man showed up—a complete stranger."

The Encounter with the Mapmakers

Josh narrates his initial encounter with a sinister figure intent on his demise. In a desperate bid for survival, he follows a map displayed on his phone, leading him to "Trap Street," a location previously considered nonexistent. This journey transports him to an otherworldly dimension inhabited by the Mapmakers.

Notable Quotes:

• MC Henderson [02:35]: "Was he the one chasing you?"
• Josh Mayfield [03:20]: "They exist on the other end of that Trap Street."

As Josh steps into Trap Street, reality bends around him. The familiar sounds and sights of Ocean Bay dissolve, replaced by an environment reminiscent of Victorian England. The transition is disorienting, with the pavement morphing and the ambiance shifting drastically.

Insights into the Mapmakers' Role

Upon arrival in the Mapmakers' realm—a verdant void—Josh meets beings who identify themselves as the Mapmakers. These entities reveal themselves as immortal guides who craft maps that present humanity with pivotal choices, known as inflection points, influencing the course of history without overriding free will.

Notable Quotes:

• Mapmaker [06:06]: "We are the mapmakers. We are the ones who sent you the invitation."
• Josh Mayfield [07:20]: "Why do you keep saying we and us like there's someone else here?"
• Mapmaker [08:05]: "There are 12 mapmakers. But we are not individuals. We are one."

Historical Examples

To elucidate their influence, the Mapmakers present Josh with historical scenarios where their subtle guidance altered human events:

1. The My Lai Massacre:
   The Mapmakers describe how a captain during the Vietnam War faced a critical decision. Their intervention via a modified map led him to choose a path that resulted in the tragic slaughter of over 500 innocents, forever altering the lives of those who survived.

   Notable Quote:

   • Mapmaker [13:48]: "More than 500 innocent people were slaughtered... She would have gone on to become an engineer who would invent a new form of genetic engineering that would reduce your world's hunger problems by 4%."

2. Harvard's Scavenger Hunt:
   Contrastingly, in 1996, their influence helped foster collaboration among medical students through a scavenger hunt, leading to lifelong friendships and life-saving medical advancements.

   Notable Quote:

   • Mapmaker [16:33]: "Maps can have unexpected consequences."

Consequences and Urgency

The conversation takes a dire turn as the Mapmakers inform Josh of a critical incident threatening his world. They emphasize the interconnectedness of Josh's past with their existence, hinting at an impending crisis that necessitates his involvement.

Notable Quotes:

• Mapmaker [18:45]: "An incident has occurred which could have dire consequences for your world."
• Josh Mayfield [19:03]: "I have a past?"

Transition to the Next Phase

As Josh attempts to comprehend the gravity of the situation, he is guided deeper into the Mapmakers' domain. A moving walkway transports him through a tumultuous history lesson, blending historical events with futuristic elements, culminating in his arrival at the Mapmakers' ice cream parlor—a surreal nexus point.

Notable Quote:

• Mapmaker [19:36]: "We will be waiting for you on the other end."

Conclusion

The episode concludes on a cliffhanger, with Josh encountering unexplained phenomena and hints of an imminent mission involving alien encounters. The Mapmakers' influence remains pervasive, setting the stage for future revelations about their role in shaping humanity's fate.

Notable Quote:

• MC Henderson [25:43]: "What do you mean? Who are you?"
• Josh Mayfield [25:53]: "I don't know where that thing is, but it wasn't my mom."

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Key Takeaways

• Mapmakers as Guardians: The Mapmakers serve as ethereal guardians guiding humanity through critical decisions without infringing on free will.

• Influence Through Maps: By subtly altering maps, they present choices that lead to significant historical outcomes, both beneficial and detrimental.

• Free Will vs. Destiny: Despite their guidance, the onus of choice remains with humans, emphasizing the perennial struggle between fate and autonomy.

• Impending Crisis: Josh's involvement signals a looming threat that could have profound implications for the entire human race.

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Final Thoughts

Episode 12 of Trap Street masterfully intertwines elements of mystery, science fiction, and philosophical musings on free will and destiny. Through Josh Mayfield's journey, listeners are invited to ponder the unseen forces that shape our world and the pivotal choices that define our collective future.

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Thank you for tuning into Trap Street, where maps hold secrets that transcend the ordinary, guiding us through the labyrinth of fate and fortune.

Transcript

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[Narrator]

From the creators of Strange Air. This is trap street, episode 12, how maps are Made.

[MC Henderson]

Come in.

[Josh Mayfield]

Thanks.

[MC Henderson]

Would you like anything to drink?

[Josh Mayfield]

No, just some water.

[MC Henderson]

Here you go.

[Josh Mayfield]

Thanks.

[MC Henderson]

Is it good?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yes.

[MC Henderson]

Nice and cold?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yes, very refreshing.

[Mapmaker]

Great.

[MC Henderson]

I'm glad.

[Josh Mayfield]

You'Re upset. Right.

[MC Henderson]

I just want to know if we're done wasting time discussing this stupid glass of water.

[Josh Mayfield]

Oh, sure, I guess so.

[MC Henderson]

Then sit down, shut up and start talking.

[Josh Mayfield]

Alright. Okay, here goes. On the day I disappeared, this man showed up a complete stranger.

[MC Henderson]

Was he the one chasing you?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yeah. Yeah, that was him. He wanted to kill me.

[MC Henderson]

Why?

[Josh Mayfield]

We should do this in order or won't make any sense.

[MC Henderson]

Fine, go ahead.

[Josh Mayfield]

Okay, so I was trying to get away from him when a map appeared on my phone. And it was pointing at the Trap street you showed me, the one from your grandmother's map.

[MC Henderson]

Do you know how it got there?

[Josh Mayfield]

I learned later that the people who sent me that map were the same ones who emailed me your picture.

[MC Henderson]

People? What people?

[Josh Mayfield]

They're called the mapmakers.

[MC Henderson]

The map makers?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yes. And.

[MC Henderson]

And what?

[Josh Mayfield]

They exist on the other end of that Trap Street.

[MC Henderson]

Are. Are you serious? Do you hear yourself?

[Josh Mayfield]

It's the truth. And you should brace yourself because this story's gonna get a whole lot crazier.

[MC Henderson]

Fine. I'll buckle my seatbelt.

[Josh Mayfield]

Okay, well, not knowing where else to go, I followed the directions on my phone. They took me right past the museum. Hey, that's probably when you saw me. And then there I was, back in front of the brick wall you showed us.

[MC Henderson]

I saw this part. There was a flash and then the wall, it just faded away. Which is completely insane.

[Josh Mayfield]

I know, but it happened. The Trap street became a real street. And that man who wanted to Kill me. Was getting so close, I had no choice. I jumped in. And that's when everything changed.

[MC Henderson]

What happened?

[Josh Mayfield]

It's hard to explain. All I did was take one step, but I could tell I was someplace else. The sounds of Ocean Bay were gone, and the air felt different. It felt musty, like a room that hadn't been aired out in ages.

[MC Henderson]

This is so bizarre.

[Josh Mayfield]

Then the pavement started to change. It melted into cobblestones. And the lights, they became gas lanterns. It felt like I was back in Victorian England.

[MC Henderson]

Are you saying you time traveled?

[Josh Mayfield]

No, no, no, that's not it. The trap street is. It's more like an opening. And when I looked back, the opening had closed. Ocean Bay was gone. There was nothing there. All I had was the path right in front of me. So I started walking. And the thing is, I had no sense of time passing. I could have been walking for minutes or hours. There was no way to tell. Then the walls on either side of me, they seemed to be moving closer, like the street was getting more narrow. I saw that trick in a funhouse once. It's really freaky. But anyway, I didn't have time to process what was happening, because that's when a force suddenly grabbed me and jerked me forward at what felt like 100 miles an hour. And then I was there.

[Mapmaker]

Hello, Joshua.

[Josh Mayfield]

Uh, who are you?

[Mapmaker]

We are the mapmakers. We are the ones who sent you the invitation. The invitation? The invitation.

[Josh Mayfield]

Invitation?

[Mapmaker]

Yes. It came in the form of an email. We also placed a map on your telephone.

[Josh Mayfield]

Which got me here.

[Mapmaker]

That is correct.

[Josh Mayfield]

And where is here?

[Mapmaker]

This is where we exist. Where we exist. Where we exist.

[Josh Mayfield]

Am I dead?

[Mapmaker]

No, of course not. Why would you think that?

[Josh Mayfield]

Well, it looks like I'm standing in a green void.

[Mapmaker]

The space we are in is not really green. That is just your perception of it. We chose this color because we felt it would make you feel welcome.

[Josh Mayfield]

Really? Why green?

[Mapmaker]

Is the tone not familiar?

[Josh Mayfield]

Wait. Is this the same shade of green as Marie Claire's eyes?

[Mapmaker]

Yes. Do you like it?

[Josh Mayfield]

I don't understand what's happening.

[Mapmaker]

Your confusion is to be expected if it makes you feel better. This is also a unique experience for us. We have never met one of your kind.

[Josh Mayfield]

What do you mean by my kind?

[Mapmaker]

A member of humanity. A human being.

[Josh Mayfield]

Does that mean you're not human?

[Mapmaker]

That is correct. We are not human.

[Josh Mayfield]

But you speak English.

[Mapmaker]

You hear us in English because that is what we wish. If you were Korean, you would hear us in Korean.

[Josh Mayfield]

Why do you keep saying we and us like there's Someone else here.

[Mapmaker]

There are 12 mapmakers. But we are not individuals. We are one. We are one. We are one.

[Josh Mayfield]

That's fascinating. So here's what I think. If I'm not dead, my brain must be broken. Must have happened when I was running through the fog. Maybe I fell and hit my head or something like that. Maybe I'm still there, unconscious, having this really weird dream.

[Mapmaker]

I can assure you, Joshua, you are alive, you are here, and you are not in danger.

[Josh Mayfield]

Okay, well, call me Josh. Everyone else does.

[Mapmaker]

Very well. We will call you Josh.

[Josh Mayfield]

And what do I call you?

[Mapmaker]

We do not have names.

[Josh Mayfield]

Because you are one.

[Mapmaker]

That is correct.

[Josh Mayfield]

I am so lost right now.

[Mapmaker]

We understand this is a great deal for you to absorb, so we are going to proceed slowly, at a pace that will make you feel comfortable. Does that sound appealing?

[Josh Mayfield]

Sure.

[Mapmaker]

Let us begin in a manner that is familiar. Do you see those doors over there?

[Josh Mayfield]

Wait. Where'd they come from?

[Mapmaker]

Please step inside and take a seat. We will be waiting for you here when the movie is over.

[MC Henderson]

Hit the brakes. Are you telling me these mapmaker people sucked you into another dimension so they could show you a movie?

[Josh Mayfield]

Yeah. I know that sounds crazy, but think about it. The language of film is familiar. We understand how the images cut together. So they felt that was the best way to get their reality across to me. And the popcorn was crazy good.

[Narrator]

Welcome to the world of the Mapmakers. The map makers have been here since the beginning of time. They were born from one energy source, and they are immortal. This is the number 12. 12 is the number that represents cosmic order. There are 12 months in the year, 12 astrological signs, and there are 12 mapmakers. The mapmakers have a specific purpose. They guide humanity by creating maps that give choices to those who are lost. Their maps exist at the crossroads of the present and every possible future. And they are able to see all those futures. This knowledge allows the mapmakers to nudge humanity in the right direction. But make no mistake, these maps do not replace free will. They only provide choices that bring the user to an inflection point. These inflection points are specific moments in the present when humans must make choices that will have a profound effect on the future. So these maps should be considered gifts that can be used or ignored. The choice has always and will always be yours. Thank you for visiting the world of the Mapmakers. Your hosts are waiting for you in the lobby.

[Advertiser]

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[Mapmaker]

Did you enjoy the movie?

[Josh Mayfield]

This is real. This is really happening.

[Mapmaker]

That is correct.

[Josh Mayfield]

So you people have been what? Sending us maps that help us make choices?

[Mapmaker]

To be clear, we do not create physical maps. That would be impossible because this is not a physical place. But we can influence those of you who work as cartographers. We can inspire them to create maps that allow us to communicate with you. And when necessary, we can alter the content of any map in the world. In the world? In the world.

[Josh Mayfield]

What about digital maps like the ones Google and Apple use?

[Mapmaker]

We can manipulate them in the same manner. There is no difference. That is how we were able to place a map on your telephone.

[Josh Mayfield]

I'm still not clear on how this works.

[Mapmaker]

I will present you with two examples. One where humanity made the wrong choice and one where they made the right choice.

[Josh Mayfield]

I'm listening.

[Mapmaker]

Are you familiar with the My Lai massacre?

[Josh Mayfield]

No.

[Mapmaker]

During the Vietnam War, an American company on patrol found themselves at an inflection point. Their captain had received orders to to attack the village of My Lai because the enemy had a stronghold there. That information was wrong. There were no enemy forces. The captain knew his men were exhausted. They had suffered great losses. Everyone was angry and broken. The captain was trained to follow orders, but radio communications were unreliable in the jungle. He realized how easy it would be to pretend he had never received threat transmission. Not sure how to proceed, the captain studied the map he had been carrying for days. It looked familiar, but we made a change. His eyes could not perceive the path which led to the village of My Lai. And the path which led to the base camp was slightly brighter. On an unconscious level, the map now presented two possible paths. The captain stared at the map for an entire five minutes. And then he made a choice.

[Josh Mayfield]

What happened?

[Mapmaker]

More than 500 innocent people were slaughtered. It one of the women who died, had she lived, would have gone on to escape the war by fleeing to the city of Hong Kong in China. Then she would have gone on to marry an accountant she met there. And their first child would have gone on to become an engineer who would invent a new form of genetic engineering that would reduce your world's hunger problems by 4%.

[Josh Mayfield]

And none of that happened because the captain chose the wrong path.

[Mapmaker]

Would you like to hear an example where Humanity made the right choice.

[Josh Mayfield]

Yes. Please.

[Mapmaker]

In 1996, we assisted in the creation of a map for a scavenger hunt that was sponsored by Harvard University. The players were all medical students. It was a weakened diversion with no obvious importance, except the winning team was so inspired by their victory that they became close friends and went on to work together on a piece of medical technology which has saved thousands of lives.

[Josh Mayfield]

Just because they understood the map better than everyone else.

[Mapmaker]

We made sure they did.

[Josh Mayfield]

That's incredible.

[Mapmaker]

Maps can have unexpected consequences. Unexpected consequences? Unexpected consequences.

[Josh Mayfield]

But if you know all the possible futures, good and bad, why give us a chance to make the wrong choice? Why not just force us to go in the right direction?

[Mapmaker]

Because you have free will. The choice has always and will always be yours.

[MC Henderson]

You know how all this sounds, right?

[Josh Mayfield]

The mapmakers are real. Why would I lie?

[MC Henderson]

And they've been out there since the beginning of time.

[Josh Mayfield]

Yeah. Yeah. How incredible is that? Oh, and listen to this. 64,000 years ago, they inspired a Neanderthal to create the first map. Think about that. We're talking about the first map ever. It was a cave painting that had clear lines which led to a source of water and an area that was good for hunting. That map was the beginning of symbolic thinking which led to the evolution of the human brain.

[MC Henderson]

That's a great story, Josh, but there's no way to prove it.

[Josh Mayfield]

I'm just telling you what they said.

[MC Henderson]

So, what happened next?

[Josh Mayfield]

I asked them a very important question.

[MC Henderson]

What's that?

[Josh Mayfield]

So why am I here?

[Mapmaker]

An incident has occurred which could have dire consequences for your world.

[Josh Mayfield]

What happened?

[Mapmaker]

We will explain that soon. First, you must learn more about the past. You must learn more about your past.

[Josh Mayfield]

I have a past?

[Mapmaker]

Of course. It is directly connected to us. To us. To us.

[Josh Mayfield]

You lost me again.

[Mapmaker]

The time has come for you to move deeper into our world. Doing so will give you a greater understanding of why we brought you here.

[Josh Mayfield]

What's going on? Where did that tunnel come from?

[Mapmaker]

It is there to provide you a path forward. We will be waiting for you on the other end.

[Josh Mayfield]

What's down there?

[Mapmaker]

A history lesson.

[Josh Mayfield]

Hey, it's a moving walkway. Just like at the airport. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I wonder where this goes. I can't see the end of this thing. Just goes on and on. Oh, man. Now I can't see the beginning. I'm in the middle of nowhere. How is that possible? It's only been, what, a few seconds? Wait, what's that?

[MC Henderson]

CBS projects that Senator Barack Obama of Illinois will be the next president. Of the United States. He defeats John McCain.

[Narrator]

This is one device.

[Josh Mayfield]

And we are calling it iPhone.

[Historical Figure]

Today we've had a national tragedy. Two airplanes planes have crashed into the World Trade center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country.

[Narrator]

Developments in East Germany a short while ago, as you may know, the East German government, the communist leaders there announced.

[Historical Figure]

That they are opening their border between.

[Narrator]

East and West Germany. From East Berlin to West Berlin through.

[Historical Figure]

The Berlin Wall itself. That announcement, that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know the night that we as a people will get to the promised land. Entertained by them right now. And again on the second half of our show. Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles from Dallas, Texas. The Flash. Apparently official President Kennedy died at 1:00pm Central Standard Time. First in a test in the United States New Mexico desert. Then 5,000 miles away at Hiroshima. And then again at Nagasaki came the world shaking explosions of the atomic bomb bomb. Latest reports from the Japanese say that 126,000 died as the result of the damage done by the single bomb that. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men. The Shadow knows it's a terrific race. Ladies and gentlemen. The smoke and its flames now and the President to the ground, not quite to the mooring mass. All the humanity and all the fans just screaming around it. I told this. Crowds which you see gathered outside the stock exchange are due to the greatest crash in the history of the New York Stock Exchange and market prices. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. You ain't heard nothing yet. Wait a minute, I tell you. You ain't heard nothing. You want to hear trouble?

[Josh Mayfield]

All right. Well, I guess the history lesson's over. That's pretty cool. Not sure why I needed to hear any of that, but thank you. Oh, the walkway's ending. So now what? Hello?

[Historical Figure]

Hello?

[Josh Mayfield]

Man, echoes are so creepy. Hey, it just got colder. Is that supposed to happen? And what is that smell? I think it's vanilla. Oh, okay. Well, I see some doors now. They're made of glass and it's really bright on the other side. Well, here I go.

[Narrator]

Welcome to the Mapmaker's ice cream Parlor. 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. Lindsey Elston as MC Henderson. Featuring Timothy Davis Reed Keiko Agena. Thanks for listening. We'll be back soon. And remember, maps have secrets. The Fable and Folly network where fiction producers flourish.

[Josh Mayfield]

What are we looking at?

[Narrator]

It's not a plane or helo, but it's big round. If it's a drone, it's Nothing I've seen Dr. Stevens.

[Josh Mayfield]

The only way to know if it'll harm us is to see how it reacts to human contact. Did you see that? That was human, right? Well, Peterson said it transformed, so you don't see anything weird here. I'll take weird Larson over regular Larson any day.

[MC Henderson]

Alpha 8, are you here?

[Josh Mayfield]

I blinked for like a second and it was just gone.

[Narrator]

Bravo Leader, hangar is clear and secure. No sign of Philips or the Asset. Over.

[Josh Mayfield]

Let's catch ourselves an alien.

[MC Henderson]

What do you mean? Who are you?

[Josh Mayfield]

I am Larson. No, no, no. We call you Alpha 8.

[Historical Figure]

Michael.

[Josh Mayfield]

No, listen to Alpha 8 now on Apollo plus or AlphaAudio. Com. I don't know where that thing is, but it wasn't my mom.