Ep 42 – Birth of a Theory

SCENE STARTS: (“Proserpina Bops” plays. The gang is still listening to the story in the cafe.)

ALINA: Wait, so go back, this is where it all started? With the creature?

JESSICA: Yeah… But you have to understand why we did it in the first place.

DREW: What could possibly be a good reason to mess with the rules of mythology?

SAM: Well, to be fair, when it was first being discussed, I didn’t realize we were breaking any rules. For the most part, I was just indulging him… but Jun, or Junichi, was determined.

JESSICA: He really was.

ALINA: But why did you do it? Was it really to help Sam out? 

JESSICA: I mean, yeah… But then the idea morphed and well, things got out of hand. 

FADE OUT

NEXT SCENE: (Jessica, Junichi, and Sam are still in the park talking.)

SAM: So explain this again.

JUNI: You do so much for this park, but you’re just one person. And there’s so many innocent creatures that could use your help. Jessica and I would be willing to step up, but we don’t have a creature like Cerberus who we can count on to protect us. So why don’t we make one?

SAM: Right… You got me up until that last part.

JESSICA: Would that even be possible?

JUNI: Mythology still exists, even today. We are literally seeing it with our very own eyes in this park. That means all the stories, all the morals, everything societies believed in the past, exist! Therefore it must also mean that new creatures could exist. And! If we believe in something, right here, right now, I think we’d be able to see it come to life.

JESSICA: A myth of our own.

JUNI: Exactly! How amazing would that be?

JESSICA: Yes, imagine us, the first to create a modern myth!

JUNI: Well, technically aliens are still pretty new…

JESSICA: You just said they’ve been around for at least 50 years! That doesn’t count! 

JUN: Oh whatever, what do you say Sam? I really want to help you.

SAM: Let me… Let me just think about this, okay? (trips) Woah!

JUNI: Sam!

JESSICA: What just happened?

SAM: I’m okay!.. This is embarrassing, I can’t believe I tripped.

JUNI: Can you get up? That looked like a pretty bad fall.

JESSICA: How does your ankle feel? It looks swollen.

SAM: J-just give me a second. 

JUNI: Wait Sam, what is this bruise? This can’t be from the fall.

JESSICA: Was this when you caught the martian? Why didn’t you say anything?

SAM: It’s nothing. I didn’t want to worry you all. It just happens.

JUNI: This is what I mean! You can’t keep doing this all by yourself. 

SFX: (Music starts to play.)

SAM: Well what am I supposed to do?. It’s not like I can just ask anyone for help! This is a secret park! Even Terry can’t come too often because their stepmother hates them!

JUNI: Whoa! All I’m saying is you can rely on us more! 

JESSICA: No one’s saying you’re doing a bad job. But it’s clear you’re a bit stressed…

JUNI: That’s why I brought up the idea of a new creature. Jess and I can help with the park and you can have some time to yourself.

SAM: Sorry, I didn’t mean to raise my voice. 

JUNI: It’s okay. It happens, next time just talk to us and we can work something out together. 

SAM: Right… 

JESSICA: So… Why does Terry’s stepmom hate them?

SAM: She’s the owner of this park, Proserpina Park. 

JESSICA: Someone owns this park?

SAM: The gods do. This park specifically is owned by the Greek gods, Hades and Persephone. 

JUNI: There’s more than one park?

SAM: Yes, supposedly there’s parks all over the world. But I haven’t been to the rest of them. It would be nice one day.

JUNI: That’s so cool! I mean about the other parks, not the, you know… adultering… 

SAM: Yeah. And although none of this is Terry’s fault, you know, they still have to deal with the consequences. 

JESSICA: Well… you can certainly see why they have such a lovely personality…

JUNI: Jess!

JESSICA: I’m just joking!… kinda…

SAM: (actually laughs) Don’t worry, they’ll warm up to you eventually. (grimaces) Okay, maybe no laughing for now. 

JUNI: Oh, here, how about we take a break and continue our conversation then?

SFX: (They stop walking when a Ramidreju, like a ferret or weasel with a snout, peeks out and squeaks.)

JESSICA: Wait, what is that!

JUNI: Where? Are the fairies back?

SAM: Hold on, don’t panic! Let me see. Is that… What I think it is?

SFX: (The Ramidreju starts snorting and digging around.)

JESSICA: Is that… a weasel?

JUNI: That or some other kind of long furry animal. Well, maybe not an animal seeing how green it is. And how long it is. It’s really long. 

SAM: Oh, we’re in for a special treat today it seems. A Ramidreju! Who would have thought a hundred years would have passed already.

JESSICA: A hundred years? As in this creature only appears every hundred years?

SAM: Yes, exactly that. Although typically born from a normal weasel, they’re anything but.

JESSICA: Is it safe to pet? Or is it going to become a giant were-monster as well?

SAM: No, go for it. Luckily that green color makes it very easy to identify. Actually, let me show you something.

JUNI: What are you going to do?

SAM: There’s a reason why the Ramidreju is such a rare creature. It has a power that not many do. It has healing capabilities.

SFX: (Music starts to play.)

JESSICA: It does? How does it work?

SAM: I’ll just– ahem, hopefully it doesn’t mind if I pick it up… This process is always so weird.

SFX: (Sam carefully picks up the creature and wraps it around himself, almost rubbing in a way, to heal all his marks. The Ramidreju squeaks and a healing sound rings.)

JESSICA: Wow, that was instantaneous! 

SAM: Yeah, it’s uh, a unique way of healing for sure.

JUNI: So you just rub this wild animal on your wound… Sounds less than hygienic. 

SAM: Magic works in mysterious ways. 

JUNI: Hm, quick, Jess hit me. 

JESSICA: Sure.

JUNI: Just in the arm!– Ow!

SFX: (Jessica hits Juni.)

SAM: What are you guys doing? 

JUNI: An experiment!

JESSICA: Come here little guy.

SFX: (Jessica starts rubbing the Ramidreju on Juni.)

JUNI: Hey, that tickles! Haha, oh wow. I don’t feel it anymore. (stretches) I actually feel better than I’ve felt in a while! What an amazing creature, let me take a look at you–

SFX: (The Ramidreju rebels.)

SAM: Okayy, let’s leave the innocent creature alone now.

JESSICA: But Sam! Aren’t you fascinated? How can you just say magic works in mysterious ways and not want to investigate further?! 

JUN: Yeah, don’t you want to know how it works?

SAM: Well, I do, but these creatures are created by the imagination of the people from the past. There’s some facets that we can explain and some we can’t… 

JESSICA: But there has to be some kind of link right? Where is it from?

SAM: So they’re from the province of Cantabria.

JESSICA: Cantabria? Where’s that?

SAM: Northwestern Spain, I believe. A specific mountainous area that has a history with the Celts.

JUNI: Celtic? Like… the Irish? In Spain? I don’t remember that from geography…

SAM: Yes, although remember, Celtic doesn’t necessarily mean Irish, but there’s definitely a connection with this creature. 

JESSICA: In what sense? 

SAM: Well, what other Irish creature is known for being green?

JUNI: Something nature-y I’m sure. 

JESSICA: (gasps) A leprechaun. Like a leprechaun! Who is Irish!

SAM: And just like the leprechaun, the Ramidreju has a special affiliation with gold. 

JESSICA: Is… Is that what it’s doing right now? Looking for gold?

SAM: They’re very similar in the sense to pigs that look for truffles. That’s probably another one of their inspirations. If you look closely at their face, you can see it has a little snout.

JESSICA: Wow! 

JUNI: Wait, are we all just ignoring the fact that we might become very rich in a matter of seconds?

SAM: Ah, well… I can’t let you leave with that money. 

JESSICA: Why not?!

SAM: Well, How are you going to explain where you came up with that much money, specifically that much money in gold? Creatures like these will corrupt your morals if you abuse their kindness.

JUNI: I– hmm…

SAM: Think about it. If humans catch on that there’s not only gold here, but also a creature that can find more gold for them and heal them, it will get dangerous real quick. 

JESSICA: No, no. I understand where you’re coming from. It was just a thought. 

SFX: (The Ramidreju ducks off to the side.)

JUNI: And there it goes… Seems like no gold for us anyways. 

SAM: I’m just going to make sure it goes to a safe place before I head out. 

JUNI: This is what I’m talking about. You always go the extra mile for creatures. 

SAM: I just want to make sure it’s okay! It’s a gold finding green weasel!

JESSICA: How about we go together then? Even though your foot is all better now, you’re forgetting Cerberus isn’t with us today and it’s starting to get late. 

SAM: Oh… I guess it is a force of habit. 

JUNI: See? Now, let’s keep discussing about our creature.

SFX: (They all start walking with the Ramidreju)

SAM: Right, I just need more information. What kind of creature are you thinking of creating?

JUNI: What if we get a healer type? Same as the Ramidreju. That way, if anyone gets hurt, we have a way of helping them. 

SAM: That might get us in trouble, ethically speaking. There’s a reason why creatures like them are few and hard to find. Where would we stop if we’d try to cure everyone who’s sick or injured? 

JESSICA: We could even make dumb mistakes if we think we’ll be healed immediately. Like in a video game. 

JUNI: Okay, I see what you mean…

SAM: If we want to protect all the creatures in the park, we’d need someone strong but also willing to listen to us like Cerberus. 

JESSICA: Why make a creature that’s just a copy? We should utilize other powers. Maybe we should believe something that could fly?

SAM: Technically we do still have our park ranger to rely on and they can fly… I know they wouldn’t show it, but I think they’d be hurt if it looked like we’d be replacing them with someone else.

JESSICA: Okay… Then a different elemental? Fire or water. 

SAM: Those are notoriously hard to control for the same exact reason why flames and storms are dangerous. 

JESSICA: Then what? It seems like we’re not very original if this is the best we can come up with. 

JUNI: …What if we think about this differently? 

SAM: In what way?

JUNI: Well, in my family, it’s believed that there’s a spirit in everything and we should give thanks to that spiritual deity for its work. It’s a give and take system you know? That includes the sun and the moon like most Polytheistic religions. But we also consider small things like clothes and personal items. 

JESSICA: Personal items… like what exactly?

JUNI: Anything. Books, toys, the toilet. 

SAM: I don’t think the toilet is considered a personal item. 

JUNI: Well!.. It’s kinda personal… But does that make sense? It doesn’t have to be a personal item per se, but if we believe and treat them right, we could awaken a spirit between all of us!

JESSICA: That sounds just like an imaginary friend!

SAM: Imaginary friends aren’t mythology…

JESSICA: But it sounds kinda similar right? If we need an item, I have tons of toys back home. When I was younger, I would play with my dolls all the time. Give them names and personalities, like they were real. 

JUNI: Okay, well maybe bring all of them here and we can test them out? 

SAM: Right, but how exactly would we test this?

JUNI: We build them a little shrine and give them some offerings?

JESSICA: Let’s give it a try! Please?

SAM: Do we have to do this immediately? Give me a couple days to think it over. 

JUNI: Sure! I mean, it doesn’t have to be right away, just give it some thought.

JESSICA: It’s not like my dolls are going anywhere anyways. 

SAM: Okay, I’ll sleep on it. Speaking of which, we should head out, I think the Ramidreju has called it a night, I don’t see it– 

SFX: (Sam steps on a pile of gold.)

JESSICA: Oh my god, gold!

JUNI: Whoa… are you sure we can’t take it?

SAM: Come on, just go. Pretend you didn’t see anything!

JUNI: Oh… Goodbye money… Sweet, sweet money…

JESSICA: I’ll buy you some ice cream in the dining hall to make up for it.

SAM: Today’s been a long day. Let’s get some sleep, and think everything over.

JUNI: Great, and then the next time we meet up, we can decide what to do.

SAM: …Sure. Let’s try it. Maybe it is time the park saw some change. 

JESSICA: Then it’s settled! Oh, I can’t wait to see if we can actually pull this off!

SAM: Remember, we’re taking this one step at a time… We’re not even sure this’ll work. I don’t even know how to explain that we turned a toy into a mythical creature…

JUNI: It’ll work. Everything we’ve done together has worked so far hasn’t it?

JESSICA: That’s the spirit Juni! We’re going to be unstoppable!

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Alina and the others are in the cafe. “Proserpina Bops” plays in the background.)

DREW: I can’t believe you guys didn’t take the money.

JUN: Oh yeah, one of Drew’s first ideas was to find a World Tree and sell their fruit. 

SAM: Really? I didn’t take you as someone who liked money.

DREW: Hey! (stutters) I-I mean! It’s not like we actually followed through with the plan! And I’m not going to do it now! I know… better.

ALINA: Well, it’s a good thing we never actually found a World Tree…

DREW: Oh come on, like you guys wouldn’t do it either!

JUN: Well, it’s not like there’s actually a world tree in the park anyways…

SAM: (coughs) There might be one… 

DREW: We gotta get back into that park!

ALINA: Drew!

FADE OUT

NEXT SCENE: (Sam, Juni, and Jessica head out, not knowing the fairies were listening in on their conversation.)

AOS SHI 1: So? What do you think?

AOS SHI 2: Did you hear what the humans were talking about? They’re going to make their own creature?

AOS SHI 1: Not exactly the smartest are they? It takes time plus more than just three humans to create their own myth. 

AOS SHI 2: Well, we can’t underestimate what humans can do…

AOS SHI 1: You don’t think they’ll actually succeed, do you?

AOS SHI 2: I think… we should keep a close eye on them just in case. Who knows, maybe they’ll give us a new friend.

AOS SHI 1: Well, all right. Oh wait, let’s take the gold!

AOS SHI 2: Oh yes, let’s grab that before we forget.

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 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 Junichi is Spencer Hiroshi Field. And the voice of the Aos Si are Cameron Gergett and Dylan Smith.

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