Episode 9 - Searching for Answers

Summary

Trap Street - Episode 9: "Searching for Answers" Release Date: August 9, 2024

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Introduction

In Episode 9 of Trap Street, titled "Searching for Answers," hosts Tony Martinez and Michael P. Greco delve deeper into the enigmatic events surrounding Ocean Bay. This episode intensifies the mystery as MC Henderson, the protagonist, unravels unsettling truths that could impact the fate of humanity. Through a blend of investigative dialogue and personal reflections, listeners are taken on a suspense-filled journey teeming with secrets and unexplained phenomena.

Local News and Earthquake Aftermath

The episode opens with Maddie Smith reporting from 1240 KAB Radio, Ocean Bay. On [00:57], Maddie details the aftermath of a recent earthquake:

Maddie Smith [00:57]: "Good morning, Ocean Bay. This is Maddie Smith, 1240 KAB radio. As I'm sure you've noticed, the fog is gone, the sun is shining, and today is a new day."

She continues to inform listeners that the earthquake registered a modest 3.6 on the Richter scale, with its epicenter in the heart of Ocean Bay. Sheriff Green confirms there was minimal damage:

Sheriff Green [01:19]: "No property damage and just one traffic accident... the result of excessive beer consumption, not fog or the shaky shakes."

Simon Hill’s Mysterious Death

The plot thickens as MC Henderson discusses the baffling death of Simon Hill. Through a conversation filled with tension, it becomes clear that Simon's demise lacks a discernible cause:

MC Henderson [03:05]: "The mysterious death of Simon Hill is now Canada's problem."

Sheriff Green adds:

Sheriff Green [03:40]: "No one at the medical examiner's office could find any cause for the damage his body suffered."

This unresolved death raises red flags, suggesting that something beyond ordinary circumstances may be at play.

Josh’s Strange Behavior

MC Henderson reveals concerns about her friend Josh, who has been acting erratically:

MC Henderson [03:05]: "Thought someone was after him."

Sheriff Green reports:

Sheriff Green [03:57]: "He came by yesterday, had these crazy ideas."

Further investigation leads MC to discover that Josh is missing, intensifying the mystery:

MC Henderson [04:12]: "Now that I've seen what I've seen, it's impossible for me to turn a blind eye."

Interactions with Kathy

MC's personal life intertwines with the unfolding mystery during her conversation with Kathy:

Kathy [06:11]: "Hey, look who's here."

Their dialogue hints at a deeper relationship, adding emotional layers to MC's quest:

MC Henderson [07:20]: "That's it. We're together."

However, their interaction takes a turn when MC seeks Kathy's help to access Josh's room, highlighting the strain the events are placing on their relationships.

Investigating Josh’s Room

Determined to uncover the truth, MC Henderson enters Josh's room at the Ocean Bay Inn. Her internal monologue provides insight into her thoughts and discoveries:

MC Henderson [08:27]: "He's got my picture taped to the mirror. Most people would think that's creepy, but I don't know, it's sort of cute."

She finds handwritten notes that hint at connections between Josh and Simon Hill:

MC Henderson [09:00]: "Search report on Simon Hill. I don't believe it. Josh and Simon are related."

Discovery of the Trap Street Phenomenon

A crucial revelation occurs when MC Henderson confronts the legendary "Trap Street"—a fictitious street only existing on maps:

MC Henderson [12:07]: "If I can just hear myself saying it out loud, I might start believing it was all real."

She recounts a surreal experience where Trap Street materializes:

MC Henderson [12:09]: "The wall where Josh was standing dissolved into a street. I'm talking a real street here."

This phenomenon blurs the lines between reality and fiction, suggesting that the map her grandmother created holds supernatural significance.

Sheriff Green and Maddie’s Suspicion

Further complicating the narrative, Sheriff Green and Maddie Smith examine seismic activities that mirror past events:

Maddie Smith [10:12]: "There was seismic activity six months ago in New Orleans. Measured 3.6."

Sheriff Green [10:55]: "I think that is pretty damn odd."

Their discussion hints at a possible pattern or connection that could be pivotal to understanding the town's mysteries.

Climactic Revelations and Cliffhanger

As the episode progresses, MC Henderson experiences a physical manifestation of Trap Street, leading to a dramatic shift in her reality. Meanwhile, another character, Jack, finds himself inexplicably transported to Auckland, New Zealand:

Jack [18:22]: "This is not Ocean Bay. This is a city. A real city."

This sudden displacement raises questions about the nature of Trap Street and its influence beyond Ocean Bay.

Conclusion

"Searching for Answers" masterfully intertwines personal turmoil with supernatural occurrences, pushing MC Henderson to the brink of uncovering truths that challenge her perception of reality. The episode concludes with unresolved tensions and a palpable sense of anticipation, setting the stage for future revelations.

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Notable Quotes

• Maddie Smith [00:57]: "The fog is gone, the sun is shining, and today is a new day."

• Sheriff Green [01:19]: "No property damage and just one traffic accident."

• MC Henderson [03:05]: "The mysterious death of Simon Hill is now Canada's problem."

• MC Henderson [04:12]: "Now that I've seen what I've seen, it's impossible for me to turn a blind eye."

• Kathy [06:11]: "Hey, look who's here."

• MC Henderson [07:20]: "That's it. We're together."

• MC Henderson [12:09]: "The wall where Josh was standing dissolved into a street."

• Sheriff Green [10:55]: "I think that is pretty damn odd."

• Jack [18:22]: "This is not Ocean Bay. This is a city. A real city."

Key Takeaways

• Unexplained Seismic Activities: The recurring earthquakes in Ocean Bay draw connections to past events, suggesting a cyclical or patterned occurrence.

• Trap Street’s Reality: The convergence of fictional maps and tangible reality points to a supernatural or alternate dimension influence.

• Character Dynamics: MC Henderson's relationships and personal dilemmas add depth to the narrative, highlighting the human element amidst chaos.

• Global Mysteries: The sudden shift of Jack to Auckland hints at a broader scope of the Trap Street phenomenon, possibly affecting locations beyond Ocean Bay.

Looking Forward

As "Searching for Answers" wraps up, listeners are left eager to discover the true nature of Trap Street and its implications for Ocean Bay and beyond. The intertwining of personal stakes with cosmic mysteries sets the stage for deeper explorations in upcoming episodes.

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Produced by Michael P. Greco and Tony Martinez. Starring Michael P. Greco as Josh Mayfield, Lindsay Elston as MC Henderson, and featuring Rena Marie Villano, Samantha Turret, Carl T. Wright, and Kirsten Rutherford.

Remember, in Ocean Bay, maps have secrets.

Transcript

[Jack]

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[Amazon Sponsor]

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[Maddie Smith]

From the creators of StrangeAir. This is Trap street episode 9, searching for answers.

[Jack]

The call of the great Northwest.

[Sheriff Green]

1240 KAB Radio, Ocean Bay.

[Maddie Smith]

Good morning, Ocean Bay. This is Maddie Smith, 1240, KAB radio. As I'm sure you've noticed, the fog is gone, the sun is shining, and today is a new day. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network has confirmed that yesterday's earthquake was a small one. It measured 3.6, and the epicenter was right here in the middle of our lovely town. This was a first for Ocean Bay. But there's no need to be concerned. Sheriff Green has informed me there was no property damage and just one traffic accident. And that accident was the result of excessive beer consumption, not fog or the shaky shakes.

[Sheriff Green]

1240 KAB radio, Ocean Bay.

[MC Henderson]

Good morning, Sheriff.

[Amazon Sponsor]

There she is, the girl I wanted to see.

[MC Henderson]

Or woman I'll even accept, young lady.

[Amazon Sponsor]

Sorry. Old habits and all.

[MC Henderson]

Did you hear anything about Simon?

[Amazon Sponsor]

I did indeed. The results came in about an hour ago and they were inconclusive.

[MC Henderson]

Are you serious?

[Amazon Sponsor]

No one at the medical examiner's office could find any cause for the damage his body suffered.

[MC Henderson]

So what happens now?

[Amazon Sponsor]

That's up to the folks in Vancouver. He has an aunt up there who's making arrangements to have the body transferred. So the mysterious death of Simon Hill is now Canada's problem.

[MC Henderson]

Got it.

[Amazon Sponsor]

By the way, have you spoken to Josh today?

[MC Henderson]

No, why?

[Amazon Sponsor]

Strangest thing. He came by yesterday, had these crazy ideas. Thought someone was after him.

[MC Henderson]

That's odd.

[Amazon Sponsor]

I'd like to follow up, but he's not at the motel. Can you ask him to drop by when you see him?

[MC Henderson]

Sure.

[Amazon Sponsor]

And just so you know, I ran him through the system and he came up clean. No criminal record or anything like that.

[MC Henderson]

Good to know.

[Amazon Sponsor]

So Tell me about the big meeting. I heard everything went well at the museum.

[MC Henderson]

Oh, it really did. The earthquake shook a few bricks loose, and that definitely captured their attention. We should have an answer soon.

[Amazon Sponsor]

Well, I hope the decision goes your way.

[MC Henderson]

Our way. This isn't just about me.

[Amazon Sponsor]

Fair enough. Mc yes? Are you all right? You seem a little off.

[MC Henderson]

I'm fine. Everything's fine. New entry. I just met with Sheriff Green, and he informed me that no one at the state medical examiner's office could determine the reasons for Simon's death. I didn't see him die, but I saw what was left of him. Simon's passing must have been incredibly painful. And. And what did he do to deserve that? He followed the instructions in an email which led him to this town, my grandmother's map, and Josh. I also learned that Josh was worried someone might be after him. That would explain why he was so frantic when he came by yesterday. Damn, I was so distracted. Why didn't I just listen? The sheriff wants to follow up with Josh, but he hasn't been able to locate him. I said I would let him know when I see him, but I won't be seeing him for reasons I can't even begin to explain. Okay. Part of me just wants to remain true to my word and forget this whole mess. Making sure my grandmother's map is safe and getting ready for school should be my main concerns. But now that I've seen what I've seen, it's impossible for me to turn a blind eye. That's why I'm making these audio notes. I need to keep track of what's happening, and I want some answers. Hi, Kathy.

[Kathy]

Hey, look who's here.

[MC Henderson]

How's everything?

[Kathy]

Not bad, considering all that crazy stuff yesterday. Can you believe we had a real earthquake?

[MC Henderson]

It was pretty small.

[Kathy]

I just hope God wasn't sending us a message or a test of some kind.

[MC Henderson]

Well, if it was a test, I'm pretty sure we passed.

[Kathy]

I like the way you think, M.C.

[MC Henderson]

Thanks. Hey, have you seen Josh around?

[Kathy]

No, but he can't be far. His car is outside.

[MC Henderson]

Right.

[Kathy]

And he was all over the place yesterday, running up and down the stairs. I could hear him from my office. Who knows, maybe, like, the fog freaked him out.

[MC Henderson]

I doubt it. He's from San Francisco.

[Kathy]

Hey, can I ask you something?

[MC Henderson]

Sure.

[Kathy]

Are you too.

[MC Henderson]

What?

[Kathy]

Oh, you know.

[MC Henderson]

Oh, right. Yes. We're.

[Kathy]

Together.

[MC Henderson]

That's it. We're together.

[Amazon Sponsor]

Oh, my goodness.

[MC Henderson]

Oh, my goodness.

[Kathy]

It happened so quickly.

[MC Henderson]

Isn't that always the way?

[Kathy]

While he is not here, you should Just call him.

[MC Henderson]

I tried, but his phone's off.

[Kathy]

Boys will be boys.

[MC Henderson]

Kathy, I need a favor.

[Kathy]

What kind of favor?

[MC Henderson]

I need to get inside his room.

[Kathy]

Oh, I'm not sure I can do that.

[MC Henderson]

I know it's against the rules and all that, but I just want to leave him a little surprise. And between us girls, I guarantee he won't mind.

[Kathy]

Oh, I get it. This is like sexy face stuff.

[MC Henderson]

That's exactly right.

[Kathy]

You win.

[MC Henderson]

Here's the key.

[Kathy]

It is room 218.

[MC Henderson]

Thanks. New entry. I'm inside Josh's room at Ocean Bay Inn. My first impression is that someone has searched the place and made a huge mess. But the more I look around, I think that Josh is just sloppy. That makes him the exact opposite of me. Would be like the world's worst couple. Huh. Look at this. He's got my picture taped to the mirror. Most people would think that's creepy, but I don't know, it's sort of cute. Anyway, moving on, I just noticed a few handwritten notes on the night table. Touch base with Richard. Ask mom about London. Check balance on credit card. Interesting. Hey, what's this? Search report on Simon Hill. I don't believe it. Josh and Simon are related.

[Sheriff Green]

Come in.

[Maddie Smith]

Do you have a second?

[Sheriff Green]

Sure. What's up?

[Maddie Smith]

One of my technicians found a surprising anomaly.

[Sheriff Green]

I hate anomalies. All right, what do you got here?

[Maddie Smith]

Take a look.

[Sheriff Green]

There was seismic activity yesterday in the town of Ocean bay, Oregon. Measured 3.6. First noted report in that area.

[Maddie Smith]

And now look at this.

[Sheriff Green]

There was seismic activity six months ago in New Orleans. Measured 3.6. First noted report in that area.

[Maddie Smith]

What do you think?

[Sheriff Green]

I. I think that is pretty damn odd.

[Maddie Smith]

Should I file a report with Caltech?

[Sheriff Green]

You might as well. But if you ask me, that's just a left field coincidence. Nothing to worry you. What?

[Maddie Smith]

That's what the guy in the movie always says.

[Sheriff Green]

What guy? What movie?

[Maddie Smith]

Well, you know, the one where the world's about to end. There's always some guy who says there's nothing to worry about.

[Sheriff Green]

Yeah.

[MC Henderson]

New entry. I'm standing in front of the spot where my grandmother's Trap street is supposed to be located, and everything's back to normal. It's just a brick wall and nothing else. Good morning. Good morning. Why are you staring at that wall? Wall? I'm waiting on a friend. Sounds good.

[Amazon Sponsor]

Have a wonderful day.

[MC Henderson]

You, too. All right, I need to process this. If I can just hear myself saying it out loud, I might start believing it was all real. Hey, I'm A history major, right? Just deal with the facts. That's what they taught me. So here we go. I was standing in front of the museum with the officials who were here for the inspection. The three of us were talking about the fog. It was so thick, we could barely see each other. And then I heard someone running down the street. I could barely see who it was. The figure kept fading in and out. But then I realized it was Josh. That made me upset. I kept thinking, what is he up to now? And why is he running around like a crazy person when there's zero visibility? Then I got concerned. Josh has this lost puppy quality which I find hard to resist. Oh, man. Why do I always feel the need to take in strays? What am I doing? Stop. Stick to the facts. I decided to follow Josh. I couldn't help it. I was curious and always curious. So I let the officials in and told them I'd be right back. Then I walked in the direction Josh was running till I ended up right across the street from this exact spot. Okay, I'm not sure how to explain what happened next. Here are the facts. There was a sound, like something was opening, but it wasn't a door or gate or anything like that. It was different, older. I know those are bad descriptors, but I can't think of any other way to explain it. Then there was a flash, and it was quick and bright, and it cut right through the fog. And that's when it happened. The wall where Josh was standing dissolved into a street. I'm talking a real street here. And yes, I know how crazy that sounds, but that is precisely what I saw. It was hard to make out anything past the opening, past the line where Ocean Bay ended and the new street began. But I could definitely see some old gas lamps in there. And the ground looked like it was made of cobblestones. My brain kept saying, this can't be real. But my eyes were yelling, shut up, brain. This is definitely real. And that's when Josh entered my grandmother's trap street. The one that isn't real. The one that only exists on a map. One moment he was a few steps inside the opening. Then he started walking slowly, carefully. But a few seconds later, he was smaller, like he was really far away. And he had been walking for a long time. And then the sound came back, and there was another bright flash, and the opening disappeared. And that's when I heard someone screaming. I never saw this person, but there was definitely someone else in that fog. And he was pissed. I mean, royally pissed. So So I ran. I ran back to the museum. And that's when the earthquake hit. The officials could see I was freaked out, but they were freaked out, too. And none of us were expecting the ground to start moving. So we just sort of calmed each other down. And then I gave them a tour. And that's it. End of story. Okay, fact. I have a degree in history. My senior thesis was titled Nellie Bly A Case Study in How Journalism Can Influence the Historical Record. It received an A. Now here I am staring at a brick wall. I just. I can't believe a fake street that was drawn on a map almost 70 years ago can turn into a real street. But I guess it's like my professor used to say, don't be so sure about what you believe. That just leaves one question, and it's big one. Where's Josh?

[Unknown Character]

Yeah, that's true. You knew he was a total knob before I did. But there are some lessons a woman has to learn for herself, eh? Who are you talking about? You're a hard case. But nah, I'm taking a break. No more bloody dates. At least not for a while. I need to focus on the shop. I need to make some money. Yes, I'm being straight up, thank very much. The last thing I want right now is another man entering my life and messing everything up.

[Amazon Sponsor]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Kathy]

Crap.

[Unknown Character]

Where did you come from?

[Jack]

What?

[Unknown Character]

You scared me half to death.

[Jack]

I'm sorry.

[Unknown Character]

No worries. You right?

[Jack]

Wait, this isn't Ocean Bay.

[Unknown Character]

It's not?

[Jack]

This is a city. A real city.

[Unknown Character]

As opposed to.

[Jack]

Where am I?

[Unknown Character]

Ah, I get it. You're knackered from last night. A bit too much to drink, eh?

[Jack]

Please, just tell me where I am.

[Unknown Character]

You're on Ponsonby Road, mate.

[Jack]

And where's that?

[Unknown Character]

What do you mean, city?

[Jack]

What city is this?

[Unknown Character]

Auckland. Are you not feeling well? Should I call someone?

[Jack]

Did you say Auckland?

[Unknown Character]

I did.

[Jack]

As in New Zealand?

[Unknown Character]

Yeah, of course.

[MC Henderson]

What?

[Jack]

What, what?

[Maddie Smith]

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, Lindsay Elston as MC Henderson Featuring Rena Marie Villano Samantha Turret, Carl T. Wright, Kirsten Rutherford. Thanks for listening. We'll be back soon. And remember, maps have secrets.

[MC Henderson]

The Fable and Folly Network, where fiction producers flourish.

[Jack]

Oh, hey, friends. It's me, your dungeon master, Russ Moore. You don't know me, but I'm gonna introduce you to Dungeons and Dragons, where I play D and D with my friends. And they're gonna become your friends because you're gonna love us so much. I mean, maybe you won't love us, but we'll love you. Let me give you a taste of the show in 42 seconds.

[Unknown Character]

Let's go.

[MC Henderson]

You must have a flask. He's got a stick. Satchel.

[Jack]

That was the most disappointed way I've ever heard anyone say the word satchel. How much is a donkey?

[MC Henderson]

Toss. Russ, how much is a donkey?

[Jack]

Everyone wants to know.

[MC Henderson]

For one hour, it's concentration.

[Jack]

So if you do another concentration spell.

[Kathy]

It'S abjuration you doink.

[Jack]

It's concentration.

[MC Henderson]

I mean, that sounds like exactly the sort of person you should probably tell your friends about. The kind that are there and say, like, weird, mysterious things and then just disappear.

[Jack]

Yeah, that's why I'm telling you.

[Kathy]

Okay.

[Jack]

Also, he had three eyes. Oh, we're having this rager. I mean, Lich Astley in the Magic Magic Missiles is gonna be playing later tonight. Is he ever gonna give you up? Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Orcus is gonna rule all and he won't desert you. What else do I need to tell you? We're Dungeons and Dragons. You can find us anywhere. You listen to podcasts [e-mail]. we can't wait to adventure with.