Ep 40 – No Access

SCENE START: (The team is underground somewhere. They’re tired, and have been walking for a while now. Cerberus holds the two hurt fae.)

JUN: How much further do we need to go?

TERRY: We’re going into a world full of magic, there’s no way to tell how long it’ll take to get there until we get there.

DREW: That seems like poor planning… 

TERRY: Well if someone over here didn’t have a messed up, unnecessarily strong linebacker, we wouldn’t be in this situation.

JESSICA: I’m right here you know, I can hear you.

ALINA: Hey, we all agreed to help get these fairies home. Let’s not start arguing until after that, okay?

DREW: Yeah, I feel like that’s going to be tougher than getting out of here…

SAM: Come on guys. We have to try.

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Music plays as the gang is still on their way to the other side. People are sore, and tired, and probably hungry. ) 

TERRY: Hmm…

SAM: What’s wrong Terry?

TERRY: We’ve spent too much time here. 

DOG: I agree, what if we were followed?

ALINA: But we don’t know how much further we need to go. Maybe let’s just take a small break?

SAM: Okay, just for a bit and then we should go.

SFX: (Drew breathes a sigh of relief.) 

JUN: Well… this is some hang out huh?

DREW: Shhhhhhhh. Let me relish this peace and quiet.

JESSICA: Don’t fall asleep, otherwise who knows when you’ll wake up. 

DREW: I know the rules, just let me be a vegetable for a bit.

SFX: (All of a sudden the ground starts shaking. Hard.)

ALINA: What’s going on?!

DOG: This has to be caused by magic. This area isn’t known for seismic activity! 

JUN: What should we do?! We never covered earthquake drills in school. I mean, we’re from New Jersey!

SAM: I think this is a sign that they want us out. Come on, let’s go.

DREW: Ugh, So much for being a vegetable…

SFX: (They all get up and start running. They think they see the light when… they’re outside again. The crickets chirp in the background.)

ALINA: (panting) Where are we?

JUN: It looks like we’re back outside again! Yay!

ALINA: (looking around) No, It’s not just that… I think we’re out of the park…

SAM: Terry?! Cerberus?

DREW: Wait, Dog and the fairies aren’t here either. Dog?!

JESSICA: (stomps) Those cowards!

ALINA: Whoa, Jessica is everything okay?

JESSICA: Don’t you see? They kicked out everyone who was human. They wouldn’t even meet with us when we were just trying to help!

ALINA: So the fairies did this?

SAM: No wonder it took so long down there, they were probably watching us. 

JUN: What do we do now? I mean, I can’t go home without my pet alien!

ALINA: Well what time is it? Maybe they’re waiting for us in the park.

DREW: It’s… phew, almost 5:30am. We sure stayed out late. 

SAM: Okay, that means we should be able to go back to the park then. Come on, I want to make sure they’re all okay.

SFX: (They all try to walk in. Nothing happens.)

ALINA: Uh, the entrance was right around here right?

DREW: Sun’s definitely rising right now too.

SAM: It can’t be.

JESSICA: There should still be three months, right?

ALINA: That’s what I thought you guys said… Three months.

JESSICA: (scoffs) Those fairies won’t even let us inside the park? 

JUN: What should we do? 

ALINA: Sam? Jessica? You guys know best…

JESSICA: I don’t know, they’ve never closed the park on us before.

DREW: Jessica says they’ve never closed the park like this, is that true?

SAM: Yes… (sighs) Let’s just call it a night.

JUN: But, Dog!

SAM: I’ll try and contact my Uncle and see if maybe, maybe he can convince the fairies to let us back in. 

DREW: You’re talking about Hades? That uncle?

ALINA: How long would that take?

SAM: I don’t know… But Cerberus and Terry can’t be out of commission for too long. 

DREW: Then let’s regroup after we all get some sleep. Yeah? Does that work?

JUN: Can I stay over someone’s place again? My mom’s definitely going to notice that Dog is missing…

ALINA: Yeah, of course um… Everyone keep in touch, all right? Let’s meet at the cafe later.

SFX: (Everyone mumbles their greetings and heads off for bed.)

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Some time later, the gang meet up at the cafe. “Proserpina Bops” plays in the background.)

ALINA: (yawns) Well, (DREW: morning) it seems since we’re all here, pending Jessica, I guess that means none of us have been able to enter the park?

JUN: Do you guys think Dog is all right??

DREW: I’m more worried for the fairies if they have to deal with Terry…

SAM: Terry will be on their best behavior… I hope.

ALINA: So what do we do now then?

DREW: I mean, can we do anything but wait?

SFX: (The cafe door opens and a bell rings. Jessica finally shows up, clearly in a sour mood.) 

JESSICA: (sigh) I can’t reach the jinn at all.

DREW: Dang, girl. Did you sleep? That was kinda the only thing we agreed to do… 

JESSICA: How can you sleep when we have no access to the park?

SAM: Is Jessica okay?

JUN: She didn’t sleep. She went to look for the Jinn. I didn’t get much sleep either to be honest…

DREW: All right, so coffee for everyone. That’s something I can do at least.

SFX: (Drew walks away to start a batch of coffee.)

ALINA: Thanks Drew. So, maybe now would be a good time to talk? About the whole situation? Since uh, seems like you’re stuck with us no matter what. 

JESSICA: (Sigh) I guess it’d be best for them to know.

JUN: Yes! Please! Any kind of clarification as to what is going on. 

SAM: Okay, it’s kinda a long story, but maybe it is time we tell you. 

SFX: (Drew comes back with a tray of coffee and mugs.)

DREW: All right, I’ve got coffee for everyone!

ALINA: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Ready for story time?

JESSICA: Right… I can start it. This is the story about how we created the creature Pelu…

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (We fade out and then go to the past. Jessica and Junichi are chatting and walking outside of a school campus.) 

JUNI: …That’s why I was telling him that you shouldn’t actually wear gloves when handling liquid nitrogen because of the Leidenfrost effect, but then Carter called me a nerd and tried to stick his gloved hand in anyways! 

If it weren’t for Sam literally stopping him, he would have gotten hurt! I don’t get it, shouldn’t you listen to the nerd when he tells you not to do something? Especially in a science class? 

JESSICA: Who’s Sam again?

JUNI: My… lab partner. You know, the quiet guy in my chemistry class! The one all the girls are always talking about…

JESSICA: …And the one who you always talk about too.

JUNI: I-I mean, can you blame me? You should have seen how he stopped the guy! He took his hand and looked directly at Carter and told him to quit it.

JESSICA: I’m sure you could have done the same thing. 

JUNI: Not with that confidence! I can hardly look at him sometimes. Oh, why did he end up being my lab partner?

JESSICA: Well, at least he talks to you… My lab partner ignores me the whole time.

JUNI: Laura still won’t talk to you? But it was a misunderstanding!

JESSICA: I don’t think any of the girls in class talk to me. They still think I was aiming for her boyfriend when I didn’t even know who he was… It’s fine. School is just school anyways. Wish we could be somewhere else.

JUNI: Hey, you know I got your back, if you ever want to talk.

JESSICA: Right back at you.

SFX: (Sam is walking ahead of them, turning around the block.)

JESSICA: Say, isn’t that Sam over there? 

JUNI: Does he usually walk this way? 

JESSICA: (teasing) Let’s go talk to him. 

JUNI: Now?!

JESSICA: No time like the present. Let’s go chat with your hero.

JUNI: Hero?! He’s not my– Wait, Jess, slow down!

SFX: (The two follow Sam down the block, but all of a sudden he’s gone.)

JESSICA: Where did he go?

JUNI: Maybe he lives around here? It’s a quiet neighborhood.

JESSICA: Wait, there!

JUNI: (Turns to look.) Um, there’s no one.

JESSICA: No! I swear I just saw him…

SFX: (Jessica goes to where she saw Sam.)

JESSICA: Right here—

SFX: (And Jessica disappears.)

JUNI: Jess?! Jessica?! Where did you—

SFX: (And Juni runs after her, not realizing they’ve both entered the park.)

NEXT SCENE: (Juni is now in the park.)

JUNI: Jess! Whoa– Hey, how did you do that?

JESSICA: Juni… where are we?

JUNI: What do you mean? We’re– (finally looks around) Oh.

JESSICA: We were just in a neighborhood before…

JUNI: But how?! Where did the houses go, the street signs— how did we wind up here?

JESSICA: I could have sworn Sam went this way.

JUNI: Oh right, you said you saw him too?

JESSICA: I thought I did. But he’s nowhere to be seen now. 

JUNI: Okay, well logically we shouldn’t move until someone finds us, right?

JESSICA: Juni, I don’t think anyone can find us if we don’t even know where we are.

JUNI: Right… right. So I guess the next logical answer would be to… look around? Uh, hey! Here! These footsteps over here could be Sam’s.

JESSICA: Following footsteps on a mysterious trail! Who knew we’d be in for such an adventure today.

JUNI: Well, when you put it like that, it makes it sound a bit more fun… Where do you think we are? 

SFX: (They start walking.)

JESSICA: Hmm, what if we were whisked away to a magical realm and now we have to save the day and be heroes the rest of our lives?

JUNI: Okay, clearly you’ve been taking English Lit a bit too seriously. 

JESSICA: Oh come on, we gotta have some fun with this. I want to be optimistic. Better that  than some queen screaming “off with your head!” 

JUNI: Might as well just throw in a pirate with a ticking alligator next.

SAM: (distant) Hello? Who’s there? 

JUNI: That’s Sam! What do we do?!

SFX: (Juni instinctively ducks down in some bushes.) 

JESSICA: Why are you hiding? We should say something… (out loud) Hello? Sam?

JUNI: (whispers) But what if he thinks we’re following him?

JESSICA: But we’re not, remember, we’re lost? 

SAM: Jun? What are you doing here? 

SFX: (Sam shows up with Cerberus, who instantly starts barking.)

JUNI: What is that?!

SAM: Cerberus, hush.

JUNI: Sam?! Okay, what is going on???

JESSICA: Huh, this wasn’t in any of the stories…

SAM: How did you two find this place? 

JESSICA: We were just walking and all of a sudden we were here! Where are we? And is that a … dog next to you? 

SAM: (to himself) I told them this was a possibility. (to the others) You really shouldn’t be here. Let’s go back, I’ll make sure you get home safely.

SFX: (He starts walking immediately.)

JUNI: Wait, can you explain a little bit more? 

SFX: (Cerberus sniffs Jessica, curious about her.)

JESSICA: Oh— Hello doggie.

JUNI: Jess!

SAM: Cerberus, enough. He won’t do anything, don’t worry about it. Let’s go.

JUNI: Sam. You can’t just show up with this– this creature and not say anything! Where did it come from? How did you meet it? Why does it have three heads?!

SAM: (sighs) Look, don’t worry about him. It can be very dangerous here, so you and your girlfriend need to leave.

JUNI: Girlfriend?! Jess and I aren’t like that.

JESSICA: Hey, this guy has snakes all over his body. Wouldn’t it be wild if this were the real Cerberus from Greek Mythology? 

SAM: You know about the snakes?

JESSICA: Um… They’re not actually the Cerberus, are they? Was not expecting we’d be in a Hades and Persephone situation…

SAM: What? What are you talking about?

JUNI: Sam, where are we? Really?

SAM: I… can’t tell you.

JUNI: What is that supposed to mean? 

SAM: It’s exactly what that means! Come on… I’ll explain more once we leave the area, how about that? 

JESSICA: This is going nowhere… 

SFX: (Jess starts walking off on her own.)

JUNI: Jess, where are you going? 

JESSICA: To find the answers myself!

JUNI: Oh, what. But—

SAM: Jun, stay here. 

JUNI: I have to go after her!

SFX: (Juni follows after Jessica.) 

SAM: Wait! (sighs) Shoot. Come on, Cerberus.

SFX: (Sam and Cerberus follow after.)

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Deeper in the park. Jessica is walking up ahead, Juni catches up.)

JUNI: Jess! Jess. I don’t think we should wander off into an area we’re not familiar with!

JESSICA: But you didn’t seem all that happy either with the way Sam was acting.

JUNI: Okay true but, let’s not run off on your own? I thought we were going to be a team. 

JESSICA: Oh, sorry about that. You’re right. Let’s do this together. 

SFX: (A bush rustles. A tapir is chilling, maybe eating whatever they eat.)

JESSICA: Oh what is that? Is that an anteater? Those aren’t native to here are they?

JUNI: I-I don’t think so… But it also doesn’t really look like an anteater. I think I know what it is… A tapir! I think they’re from South America somewhere.

JESSICA: What is a tapir doing in New Jersey?

JUNI: What if we ended up in some rich guy’s exotic zoo or something?

JESSICA: I guess that makes more sense than purgatory. Does that mean Sam’s rich then? Maybe “Cerberus” is a part of his collection too! He seemed quite friendly…

JUNI: Maybe… You think this tapir is friendly as well then?

JESSICA: Let’s find out. Hi little guy…

JUNI: Aw, look at him sniffing. Man, never thought I’d meet a tapir here, look at its snout!

JESSICA: He’s so cute!

SFX: (More cute jargon as the tapir suddenly starts growing.)

JUNI: Look at his little ears… Wait… do they look different to you? 

JESSICA: Hmm? Oh… 

SFX: (Sounds of the tapir slowly growing to stand on its hind legs like a human. Scary music starts to play.) 

JESSICA: Yeah, it’s actually growing really fast.

SFX: (The tapir fully morphs into a Capelobo.)

JESSICA: (gasps) What… is that?!

SFX: (The Capelobo growls and huffs. The two stand motionless until Sam appears with Cerberus.)

SAM: Guys! Move!

SFX: (The three of them start running. In the background, the Capelobo and Cerberus scuffle.)

SAM: Cerberus, lead the creature away from here!

JESSICA: Right! Running!

JUNI: (panting) So I think it’s safe to say that that tapir was NOT friendly!

SAM: (panting) Less talking, more running! 

JUNI: Okay!

SFX: (The Capelobo screams in the distance, causing Jessica to stop.)

JESSICA: Ugh! What was that sound?

JUNI: Jess?! What are you doing? That was screaming! Screaming is bad! Why’d you stop!

JESSICA: I can’t move. Why can’t I move? 

JUNI: What?! What’s wrong with her? Jess! Come on! Jess. She’s really not moving!

SAM: Calm down. It’s hard to think when you’re stressed. Cerberus won’t let the creature come close to us. What did you say this creature was?

JUNI: A tapir! You know, those long nosed animals from South America?

SAM: South America, okay. This is probably a creature from Brazil if we’re being honest. They have the wildest creatures.

JESSICA: How does that help?

SAM: If we can figure out what this creature is, we might be able to figure out why you can’t move.

SFX: (The Capelobo screams again. This time, Sam can’t move.)

SAM: Ooooh. Shoot I can’t move now either. Wow, this is a terrible feeling. I can’t stop shaking.

JESSICA: Oh great, you too? 

JUNI: You both can’t move? So what do I do???

SAM: Use your phone, Jun. Quick. Find out— Look up Tapir, Brazil, Mythology. Whatever pops up! 

JUNI: Okay, okay. It’s just showing me a-a Tapire-Iauara? But this looks like a jaguar?!

SAM: What else do we know about it? What caused us to stop moving? 

JESSICA: I think there was some yelling right? 

JUNI: Yes, that scream! Okay, okay. Tapir, Brazil, Mythology, Scream. Uh, Capelobo? Capelobo! 

SAM: (sighs) Capelobo! Okay, that makes sense. Oh, this could have been a lot worse.

JUNI: This could?!

SAM: They’re screams could also possibly cause madness… Like I told you, this park is very dangerous.

JESSICA: So what do we do now? 

SAM: Well, the reason why you can’t move is just due to a mental block caused by fear. Break through it. There’s nothing to be scared of. Cerberus is taking care of it. Listen, you don’t even hear it anymore right?

JESSICA: Right…. Right, it’s quiet. 

JUNI: You guys are okay then?

SAM: We will be. Come on, one step at a time. See? Your feet work. Just a little— Just a little spooked. We’re almost there. I’ll explain everything soon.

SFX: (They all start taking small steps until they recover.)

FADE OUT. 

NEXT SCENE: (They’re back at the bench, Sam is waiting for Cerberus. It’s getting late now.)

SAM: How are you guys feeling?

JESSICA: I’m fine. My ears are just kinda ringing. You?

SAM: Probably have some nightmares tonight but I’ll live.

JUNI: You were like a hero out there Sam!

SAM: Me? You’re the one who figured out what the creature was. I froze in fear and did nothing…

JUNI: But you understood the situation so quickly. 

SAM: It’s… it’s just my life.

JESSICA: Is that what happens? Here in this park?

SAM: I’m just trying to explain to you guys why you can’t stay here. There are many more night creatures than the one you saw today.

JUNI: Uh, night creatures? You mean like werewolves and vampires?

SAM: Yes, that’s why you guys can’t stay here. Now, if you’re both ready, I can take you back and you can forget today ever happened. 

JESSICA: Wait, can’t you explain this better? It’s why we left in the first place. You didn’t tell us anything! Why is there a park? Why are there mythical creatures here? And why do you know all about it? We want to know!

SAM: I didn’t tell you anything because it’s none of your business. 

JESSICA: (sighs) It’d be nice to know why you’re so closed off as well…

JUNI: Jess! (ahem) Sam this is all very confusing, so I hope you can understand why we have so many questions. But we should have first said thank you for saving us today. 

JESSICA: Right, thanks. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that kind of fear before… 

SAM: You’re welcome. While this park can get pretty crazy, there are some good things about it too.

JUNI: Like what? 

SAM: Like–

SFX: (Cerberus comes running back, barking happily to have completed his mission.)

SAM: Like Cerberus. And a lot of other creatures that live here as well. Good boy, Cerb.

JESSICA: Other creatures… Like fairies and dragons?

SAM: Yeah… There’s some pretty cool beasts out there. 

JUNI: So if we came again with you and Cerberus, then maybe it’d be fine for us to be here?

SAM: Jun– 

JESSICA: There’s so many things that we could see! 

SAM: You guys aren’t scared?

JUNI: I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was absolutely terrified when that creature attacked, but this whole idea? It’s like a fairy tale come to life! I want to know more about this place a-and– you, I mean, that sounded weird, I think I’m starting to talk too much here aren’t I–

JESSICA: Just say it Juni!

JUNI: Sam, I want to be just like you!

SAM: Oh… Sure.

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Still in the cafe, “Proserpina Bops” plays as Alina and the gang react to the story.)

DREW: Wow this is… all very sweet. 

ALINA: Uh… I can’t tell if this was better or worse than my first experience…

JESSICA: Trust me, there’s nothing like hearing that scream…

JUN: I’ve never heard Junichi like this before either… I want to hear more about him before the scary stuff if we can.

SAM: Sure, there’s lots that we can tell you. 

JESSICA: Ooh like the time when he tried to convince the Kappa to go on a strict cucumber-only diet?

SAM: Or when he tried to convince JD to use a cell phone despite the fact that they only have hooves.

JESSICA: He wanted to help with communication throughout the park! Too bad he didn’t think about it all the way through.

SAM: Yeah, but even though most of his attempts fell through, he really made the park as fun as he promised. 

JESSICA: He sure did. 

ALINA: W-wait a minute… Sam, can you hear Jessica?

SFX: (Everyone reacts loudly in surprise.)

FADE OUT.

CREDITS: Residents of Proserpina Park is a production written and produced by Angela Yeh. Directed by Angela Yeh. The voice of Jun is Ben Pollizi. The voice of Terry is Molly. The voice of Drew is Ashley Dawson. The voice of Jessica is Jess Syratt. The voice of Alina is Angela Yeh. The voice of Sam is G3. The voice of Dog is Sara Roncero-Menendez. And the voice of Junichi is Spencer Hiroshi Field.

Dialogue edited by Angela Yeh. Sound design by Angela Yeh and Rebecca Liu. Mixed and Mastered by Angela Yeh. Script edited by Sara Roncero-Menendez. Original music by Hoa Pham. Season 5 cover art by Winona Noronha. Series logo by Macy Tang. For more information about the show, please go to our website residentsofproserpinapark.com