INTRO: (It’s about summertime. Mirai’s laptop hums almost as loud as the grasshoppers in the warm evening. “Proserpina Bop” bleeds through her headphones as she pulls up some files.)
MIRAI: I’m back! And I’m gonna pack up my things while I listen to the rest of this file. My brother had the nerve to say that he’s actually going to go on another adventure as we speak and if I’m able to catch up to him, I can make him listen to all of this. Really, how can he be running around when all these people are trying to reach him?
SCENE STARTS: (“Proserpina Bop” transitions to the new scene. We return to where Alina, Dog, and Jun left off.)
DOG: It must be a Taniwha.
JUN: And what is that?
DOG: Wait right here, let me see if I can get a closer look without it noticing me.
ALINA: Hold on, we’ll go with you too. It’s way too dangerous.
SOUND: (The Taniwha creeps around in the background.)
JUN: Oh my god, it’s huge.
DOG: Hmm, yes be grateful this one doesn’t have wings.
MUSIC: (“We Can Meet Aliens” plays.)
ALINA: So it is a Taniwha?
DOG: Yes. It resembles what many cultures would consider a dragon, but as you can see, it’s more likely inspired by sharks or other ocean based animals, so, more so than reptiles. Although, there are some Taniwha that are known to look like tree logs…
Anyways, they originate from Maori traditions and are usually known to appear in the ocean, or really any kind of body of water. But clearly, they can come on to land as well. Their stories vary from predators to protectors, depending on which ones you meet.
JUN: Okay, okay, let’s think positive, what are the protectors like?
DOG: They are guardians, known to warn when enemies are around and save drowning humans. Their powers are so strong, it’s believed that they still live among us around the Pacific today.
ALINA: Well how can we tell whose side this one’s on?
DOG: Seeing as this one came charging at us before, I’d say it’s probably a predator.
ALINA: Ugh, oh my god, then what was the point of all that info?
SOUND: (Jun hushes Alina.)
DOG: I thought Alina liked to learn about all aspects of creatures.
JUN: She got you there.
ALINA: Shut up. Okay, then, what can you tell us about the bad ones?
DOG: Well luckily, a lot of them are in stories where hunters come and save the day?
ALINA: Okay, so how about you tell us a story about how these hunters defeated the Taniwha.
DOG: The most famous one of course is Tūtaeporoporo. It was said that he was originally a normal shark that was kept as a pet by a local chief, Tuariki.
JUN: Huh, that’s some pet…
ALINA: Jun, you have an alien as a pet! And she’s kinda talking right now!
DOG: Anyway, as time passed, Tutaeporoporo started to grow in ways most sharks wouldn’t, including parts like bat wings, a scaly tail, and claws like a hawk, even his head changed shape to look like a bird’s. And at this point, Tuariki knew that his pet was a Taniwha.
ALINA: But then what happened? This is a story about killing a Taniwha right?
DOG: Sadly yes, unfortunately the time spent with Tuariki would not last as he was later on murdered by a different tribe’s warriors. Seeking revenge, the Taniwha swam close to that tribe and created a hideout in a cave, swallowing up people and their canoes if they got too close, slowly becoming a monster who craved for human flesh.
ALINA: Oh… my gosh… that went a little dark. So what did they do?
DOG: They called for a famous hunter, Ao-kehu, who agreed to take down the beast. He and his men decided that the best way to kill the Taniwha is to trick it into eating Ao-kehu, who would then kill it from the inside out, using his spear. He ended up being able to also free the people and boats who have not yet been digested.
ALINA: Uh, okay, Uh, I don’t think we can pull any of that off… and I don’t think anyone here wants to be eaten.
JUN: Whoa we’re actually going to fight it? We don’t have weapons.
ALINA: But we can’t stay here forever either!
DOG: There were other stories about hunters who helped handle the Taniwha. For us, we could try to bait it and attack it from behind. I can be bait. I got us into this mess, I’ll take responsibility.
JUN: Wait, this is all happening so quickly, how could I let you be the bait?
ALINA: H-hold on, I-I agree with Jun, that seems a bit extreme.? Look, we don’t need to defeat it, we just need to escape the Taniwha. So let’s think it over. We’re currently hiding in a cornfield and the Taniwha doesn’t know where we are, clearly, as it hasn’t killed us yet…? Knock on wood and all that?
So… so let’s use the bait idea, but… the corn! L-let’s get a bunch of corn, warp the leaves together, and… and we’ll chuck it! Away! T-towards the water. Hopefully, that’ll be a big enough distraction so we can make a break for it? Does that sound… like a plan?
DOG/JUN: Got it/Let’s do it
ALINA: Come on let’s grab the corn, there’s some over there. Let’s go.
SOUND: (Alina, Jun, and Dog walk around, gathering as much corn as they can.)
ALINA: Okay, I think we got enough corn. Uh is, is everyone ready? Who has the best aim?
DOG: Leave it to Jun, he actually has an exercise routine as he firmly believes he needs to be fit to be an astronaut.
JUN: Hey, you know there’s no such way for there to be such a thing as an unfit astronaut.
ALINA: Okay guys, focus all right? Now where did the Taniwha go…
SOUND: (The Tanwha growls.)
JUN: There! I see it.
ALINA: Okay… The minute the Taniwha goes to check out the corn, we book it. No looking back.
DOG: Let’s do this.
SOUND: (Jun chucks the bundle of corn and throws it into the water, causing a splash. The Taniwha goes to check the disturbance.)
ALINA: Okay, go go go.
MUSIC: (“Clench” plays.)
SOUND: (They all run off, hoping to escape quickly. Unfortunately, the Taniwha notices them.)
ALINA: Come on guys, hurry. Oh shoot, it noticed us. Come on, quickly, we gotta go!
SOUND: (The Taniwha roars again, much closer this time as it very nearly reaches them.)
DOG: It’s right behind me!
JUN: Dog, get out of the way!
ALINA: Jun, no!!
SOUND: (Cerberus roars, taking Taniwha’s attention away from Jun. The two creatures start fighting.)
ALINA: Cerberus? There–there’s no way!
SAM: Cerberus! Get him back into the water!
ALINA: Sam? What are you doing here?
SAM: I bumped into JD, they told me that they saw you— Jun?
JUN: Do I know you?
SAM: I-I can hear you… Dog? You’re here too?
DOG: It isn’t what you think, this isn’t the Jun that you know.
SAM: Alina, you brought people into the park?
ALINA: S-Sam, it’s not a big deal, okay please just listen— Aaah!
SOUND: (Alina gets too close to the Taniwha and Cerberus.)
JUN: Alina, you’re too close to those things, get over here.
SAM: “Those things,” Jun would never say something like that.
ALINA: Sam, please listen to me, okay?. I-I just happened to bump into Jun and Dog at the park. Uh, Dog is from this park, it’s, it’s really not a big deal—
JUN: Whoa, hey man. Personal space, I don’t know how you know my name, but I don’t know you.
ALINA: Sam? Oh my, oh my god, Cerberus…
SAM: But I can hear you…
ALINA: While Cerberus is still distracting the Taniwha, we should escape now. Sam! Sam, are you listening to me?
SAM: How is this ha– how can this be?
ALINA: I don’t know man, maybe this is all just a big misunderstanding—
SAM: No! I told you! You promised! Never to bring people here!
ALINA: Why are you yelling– I just happened to meet them! Sam, what’s going on? You’re scaring me.
SAM: I should never have allowed you to come here…
SOUND: (Cerberus starts growling at her. The Taniwha is gone.)
JUN: Well the Taniwha is gone now, but the three-headed dog is growling at us.
SOUND: (Sam starts muttering to himself falling deep in denial.)
DOG: Alina, Sam isn’t listening to us anymore, we need to leave. Now.
ALINA: We can’t just leave him like this, T-there’s literally a dark shadow growing around him!
DOG: He’ll be fine, that shadow means his cousin will be here shortly. I suggest we don’t be here when a Greek demigod decides to turn up. They always act before thinking, it’ll just create more chaos.
JUN: A demigod?
DOG: Let’s go Alina, now!
ALINA: But… Sam.
OUTRO: (We return to Mirai. “Proserpina Bop” transitions back to her room.)
MIRAI: Uhhh… That was not what I was expecting. First of all, the secret’s out. Alina’s at least. But Sam… was acting really weird. Something about being able to hear? That’s weird. Also Sam seems to know my brother Junpei. But then Dog said it’s not the Jun you know… So then… Junichi?
SCENE ENDS: (“Proserpina Bop” ends the episode.)
CREDITS: Residents of Proserpina Park is a production written and produced by Angela Yih. Directed by Angela Yih. The voice of the Narrator is Vida Shi. The voice of Alina is Angela Yih. The voice of Jun is Ben Pollizi. The voice of Dog is Sara Roncero-Menendez. And the voice of Sam is G3. Dialogue editing by Angela Yih. Mixed and mastered by Angela Yih. Original music by Hoa Pham. Season 1 cover art by Molly James. Series Logo by Macy Tang. For more information about the show, please go to our website residentsofproserpinapark.com
Residents of Proserpina Park 