Ep 44 – Fire, Fire, Tail on Fire

SCENE STARTS: (Everyone is still at the cafe. “Proserpina Bops” plays in the background.)

JUN: Okay, so you guys created the creature.

JESSICA: Pelu, yes.

DREW: Even though a big scary guy showed up and said it was a bad idea?

SAM: Well, you’ll see that there’s more to it than that. 

ALINA: What about you, Jessica? You weren’t concerned?

JESSICA: I mean, sure, but I also wasn’t going to completely trust someone who was outright trying to kidnap us…

ALINA: Okay that’s pretty fair. Eh, I don’t know, I guess… Tell us more about Pelu.

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Sam, Juni, and Jessica meet to go over Pelu and their powers in the park.)

SAM: So explain what you did again? You said you created a creature that can manipulate fire?

JUNI: Yes! Pelu, do you want to show him?

PELU: Okay. Here you go. 

SFX: (the sound of fire igniting.)

SAM: That’s… amazing, did you do anything specific to give him these powers?

JESSICA: No, it just happened, right Pelu?

PELU: I just knew that I wanted to help you. And when that urge appeared, the fire came out. 

SAM: Well, fire is known to symbolize power in mythology. So maybe, that’s why Pelu was given this element? 

SFX: (Pelu’s just casually setting things on fire.)

JUNI: What other creatures use fire?

SAM: Oh You know, like dragons and phoenixes.

JUNI: Oh right. Duh.

SAM: But those are the big ones… Um, is Pelu okay?

SFX: (A big fire ball.)

JUNI: Whoa! Pelu! Okay, let’s stop now.

PELU: Why? I thought you wanted to see fire? 

JUNI: Right, but fire can also be destructive, see? Look at the tree that’s burning.

SFX: (rip tree.)

PELU: So burning trees is bad?

SAM: Burning anything is bad. Burns are incredibly painful, so we want to be careful when we decide to use fire. 

PELU: But what about what I did in the woods?

SAM: What… did you do in the woods?

JESSICA: Well we—

JUNI: —We just ran into a bit of trouble. (JESSICA: Juni…)) But Pelu saved the day luckily! Seems like we just need to go over some rules about when to use his powers.

SFX: (The fire keeps burning)

JESSICA: (sighs) We might need to get some water… 

SAM: Hmm, that might be tough. I doubt many water creatures will help us, I wonder if JD can fan out the flames.

SFX: (Sam gets up, ready to look for JD.)

PELU: Where are you going? Do you need water now?

SAM: It’d be ideal so that we could put out the fires. 

PELU: Hmm, okay! Like this?

SFX: (Spurts of water shoot out.)

JUNI: Uh, Sam? Is this normal?

SAM: I’m starting to think that there’s nothing normal about Pelu.

PELU: Was this not what you wanted?

JESSICA: No, no. Pelu, this is super helpful. We’re just shocked that you have all these… special powers!

JUNI: Pelu let’s put out these fires over here. See! We fixed it, no problem.

SFX: (Juni and Pelu work on putting out the rest of the fires.)

SAM: So, what did you guys do with Pelu at the end of the day? Were you able to get him out of the park at all?

JESSICA: No, we ended up leaving him here by the bench… I worry about what he does when we’re away…

SAM: I don’t think we have to be too concerned. Most creatures attack humans, not each other.  And you know, I’ve been doing some research as to why he can’t leave.

JESSICA: Did you find anything?

SAM: Kinda sorta. I went down a rabbit hole regarding imaginary friends and mythology.

SFX: (Playful music starts to play.)

JESSICA: Oh really? I thought you said imaginary friends weren’t mythology?

SAM: I take it back. Apparently there’s a whole study about childlore and how children learn from each other.

JESSICA: They do? Like what?

SAM: Well, you know the old saying, “Don’t step on a crack or you’ll break your mother’s back”? Or a rhyme similar to that? Do you remember how you learned it?

SFX: (In the background, kids are laughing and hopping around on the concrete. A woman gasps in pain.)

JESSICA: Hmm, I assume I learned it in school. 

SAM: Exactly. But it’s not something a teacher would say. If an adult told a child that, the child would probably believe that walking on the sidewalk could actually hurt their mother. But if another child said it…

JESSICA: It becomes a game. 

SAM: And so on and so forth. As adults, if someone tries to say something like that to someone, we’d just think that they’re saying nonsense. 

JESSICA: That’s sad… Is that maybe why Pelu can’t go outside? Because his powers aren’t recognized in the… adult cognitive mind? 

SAM: It’s a theory. But maybe if more people were to be made aware of him, he could go back out. But it’s best for creatures to stay in the park regardless. 

JESSICA: Agreed. Not sure how my parents would react if the stuffed animal they got me became “sentient” anyways. 

SFX: (Pause here.)

JESSICA: So Juni didn’t tell you anything about what happened in the woods when we created Pelu? 

SAM: No, not at all. Why what happened?

JESSICA: Do you know what a Leshy is? 

SAM: A Leshy? That’s quite rare. They tend to keep to themselves, although sometimes they do have a family of their own.

JESSICA: Really? So they’re not supposed to be… scary?

SAM: Oh well, they can be. Especially regarding their territory, but I can’t imagine either of you doing something that would make them angry. (pause) Did you make this Leshy angry?

JESSICA: I don’t think so!… He said what we did, creating Pelu, was unnatural. Juni doesn’t seem worried at all, but what if the Leshy tries to attack Pelu again while we’re away?

SAM: Well… First things first, let’s make sure to tell Pelu not to go into the woods without us. I’ll try to look for more information regarding all of this… Honestly, I was hoping to be able to tell Terry about this soon, but maybe that’s not a good idea anymore. I feel like… I feel like they’d say that we should put Pelu down if the Leshy said something…

JESSICA: Do you really think they’d say that? 

SAM: One typically does what a Leshy tells them to do… But again, let’s look into this. Maybe we’ll figure it out, I promise. 

JESSICA: Okay, I believe you.

SAM: I wonder why Jun didn’t mention any of this to me. I feel like he avoids me sometimes. Like, like… He didn’t even tell me you guys were creating Pelu yesterday.

JESSICA: Don’t take it to heart. It’s because he wants you to see him in the best light possible. Pelu was his idea, and if it didn’t work, he’d think he failed you. 

SAM: But that’s not necessary. 

JESSICA: I know that, but for some reason, he doesn’t. 

SAM: But why? 

SFX: (Music starts to play.)

JESSICA: I… don’t want to speak for him too much, but has he talked to you about his family?

SAM: Um, just that he has a younger sister I believe…

JESSICA: Hmm. Next time you get a chance to talk to him, ask him why I call him Juni. 

SAM: There’s a reason? I just thought it was his nickname. 

JESSICA: Well it is, but there’s more to it than that. 

SFX: (A phone notification. Multiple times, as if someone is sending lots of short messages. Jessica looks at it and immediately silences her phone.)

JESSICA: (sighs) Sorry about that. 

SAM: Is everything okay?

JESSICA: Yeah, just… some spam. 

SAM: …Jun says that you’ve been having trouble at school.

JESSICA: Of course, he’d talk about that but not about himself. (pause) It’s nothing. Really. 

SAM: You know he’s just worried about you. I am too.

JESSICA: It’s fine. There’s just a few weeks left and then class will be over and I’ll never have to see these people ever again.

SAM: Okay, well, even venting can be helpful at times, you know.

JESSICA: No, this is the park. It doesn’t deserve all the negativity and— and anger that I have accumulated. Plus, I feel like that would attract a creature or something. 

SAM: Let’s do it at a cafe or something then. My treat. 

JESSICA: Really, Sam, you don’t have to deal with both me and Juni’s baggage. Remember? We created Pelu to make your life easier, not to give you more things to worry about. 

SAM: Helping out a friend in need doesn’t take away anything from my day. You can talk to me. The both of you.

JESSICA: Thanks—

SFX: (Juni and Pelu return from putting out all the fires.)

JUNI: And we’re all done! So, we’ve got fire and water! Heh, looks like we’ve got the perfect creature to help us out, don’t you think?

PELU: So I’ve been doing a good job?

JUNI: You’ve been doing a GREAT job! Should we practice some more? Find a creature to parry? Not that I would want to start a fight for no reason, but we should make sure Pelu understands self defense and all that. 

JESSICA: You just want to see Pelu do more magic.

JUNI: I absolutely want to see Pelu do more magic!

PELU:  Do you want to see more fire now?

JUNI: Oh uh wait, let’s not start another forest fire…

SAM: I don’t think that we should look for trouble, but maybe we can find someone to help guide Pelu instead? There are a lot who can use fire. Most are jerks if I’m going to be quite honest, but there may be someone more… persuadable at least. I-I hope. Come on, let’s see if they’re here.

SFX: (They all start walking.)

JESSICA: What kind of creature is it? 

SAM: Well, it’s a creature that Terry introduced me to…

JUNI: What kind of a creature could Terry possibly introduce you to? Like a dead one? Are those even around here? 

PELU: Who’s Terry?

JESSICA: Terry is Sam’s cousin, Pelu. We’ll introduce you to them soon, but now is also a good time to remind you not to talk to any strangers, okay? 

PELU: But what do I do when you leave then? I can’t talk to anyone? 

JESSICA: There’s no chance that maybe Cerberus can stay with Pelu?

SAM: No, unfortunately that’s not possible. 

JUNI: Can you just stay by your shrine for us Pelu? We promise we’ll try to visit as much as possible. 

PELU: Okay…

SAM: Now then, the creature that we’re looking for isn’t dead, but it sure likes them. They typically hang out around cemeteries on stormy nights, but I’m hoping since the weather has been getting a little bit warmer, they might be sunbathing for a change. 

JUNI: Sunbathing? What are we meeting, a cat? 

SAM: Actually… yes. At least, I hope they’re currently a cat.

JESSICA: What other form could they have?

SAM: Oh, you know, just a big scary monster with a cart on fire?

JESSICA: That’s not what I imagined you would say. 

SAM: I’ll explain more if I can find them… Cats aren’t typically mythological creatures, so if we see one, it’s most likely… it…

JUNI: Huh, really? Feel like there are a lot of cat creatures in Japan. The Nekomata or the Bakeneko for example. 

SAM: Oh great! So you know them. Japan’s one of the few countries that have lore on cats. 

JESSICA: Why is that?

SAM: Well, I think that in most cultures, they just think of cats as well, cats. It’s different compared to dogs because dogs come up in different sizes.

PELU: What’s a cat?

JESSICA: Oh, Pelu. It’s a furry little animal that some people keep as pets. Remember? I had one when I was a child. 

PELU: Oh! You mean like that creature over there? 

JESSICA: Huh, where? 

SFX: (Somewhere in the distance is a huge sleeping creature purring.)

JESSICA: Uh, Sam? Is this creature supposed to be a cat… on fire?

JUNI: Wait a minute, is that a Kasha? Ooh, the cart makes sense now. (pause) Wait, don’t they drag the dead to hell? Are you sure we should go talk to him?

SAM: Well, we’re not dead and I’m pretty sure he’s taking a break, so I think it should be fine.

KASHA: (far away) Nooo don’t talk to me, go away.

SAM: Oh, he heard us. Come on.

JESSICA: He just said to go away though.

SAM: If he really wanted us gone, he would have given us an actual warning. 

JESSICA: Okay… Come on Pelu. Can you act like a stuffed animal for me? Just in case there are any surprises.

PELU: Sure!

SFX: (Jessica puts Pelu in her bag as they start walking towards the Kasha. The Kasha grumbles and swishes its tails, which are on fire. It reluctantly moves to kinda sit up.)

KASHA: (yawns) Don’t you know it’s rude to bother someone when they’re napping?

SAM: You sleep most of the time. It would be impossible to not bother you. 

JUNI: Wow, an actual Kasha! This is so cool! My mom used to tell me about all the things temples used to do to prevent the Kasha from stealing corpses.

JESSICA: They steal corpses? Why?

KASHA: To send the bad people to the underworld. Hey, kid. Can you scratch this spot over here?

JESSICA: Oh, uh me? (To Sam in a whisper) Is this safe?

SAM: Yeah it’s fine. Just watch his tail, that really is on fire. 

JESSICA: Okay… Good kitty. So how did cats and stealing corpses become mythology? 

KASHA: Oh yeah, that’s the spot. A little lower? Me-ow.

JUNI: I want to pet too!

KASHA: (Stretches) Go for it kid. 

JUNI: Yes!

SFX: (Creepy music starts to play.)

SAM: I believe originally it was a Japanese demon that pulled a burning cart to take the dead away.

JESSICA: And how did that change?

SAM: No one really knows… 

JUNI: Oh but I feel like there are a lot of superstitions out there that believe cats are somehow connected to the dead. You know, like when they stare into space sometimes and people think they can see ghosts, that kind of thing, right? Also there’s a saying in Japan that you shouldn’t let cats near corpses, otherwise they will rise. 

SFX: (A door opening very slowly and creaky and at the end a very creepy meow.)

SAM: Yes, it’s said people would take extra steps to prevent the Kasha from coming. Things like holding a fake ceremony to trick it or chanting some words and making loud noises to scare them away. It’s tricky because they can blend in as regular cats as well.

SFX: (Some ceremonial sounds and loud funeral noises here.)

KASHA: I take bad people away to hell, what’s so wrong about that?

JUNI: Don’t you… play with their bodies sometimes?

KASHA: What, I can’t have any toys? I’m a cat! I can’t help myself.

SAM: Bad or not, people want their loved ones put away peacefully. Everyone deserves a proper burial.

KASHA: Bah, you of all people should know how meaningless the afterlife is to the living world. Just move on already. 

JUNI: What’s that supposed to mean?

SAM: It’s nothing. That’s not why we’re here. We wanted to ask you about how you control fire. 

KASHA: Fire? What kind of question is that? 

JESSICA: We’re just curious.

SAM: I was… telling them about how notoriously powerful fire creatures were and wanted to show them an example. It was either you or…  a dragon. 

KASHA: And you want to see me burn something for your entertainment?

SAM: Well, more just the sense of how you… decide to use your fire and why.

KASHA: I’m a cat.

SAM: Well, yes…

KASHA: So I just do what I want.

SFX: (Pelu pops out of the bag.)

PELU: What does that mean?

JESSICA: Pelu! You can’t come out!

PELU: But I want to understand.

KASHA: Who’s this?

SAM: Just a… creature that we’re helping out. This one’s the one that wants to know more about fire.

KASHA: Never heard of a creature who didn’t know how to use their own powers…

PELU: I know how to use my powers!

SFX: (Pelu starts a fire in their hand)

JUNI: I-it’s more like we’re trying to teach them the danger of wildfires. Can’t be destroying nature or hurting anyone right?

KASHA: Ah, well yes. Fire is hard to control. If you really wanted to hurt someone, you might as well just stab them—

JUNI: Okay, I think we’re good here. 

JESSICA: Right, I don’t think we’re going to learn much about morals today… Should we just uh, play with the Kasha?

SAM: (sighs) I tried my best. Sorry guys. 

JUNI: What! There’s nothing to apologize for! We got to meet a new creature!

KASHA: Right, well, if that’s it, I’m leaving. (pause) How’s Terry these days?

SAM: They’re good. They should be coming back for a visit soon.

KASHA: Ooh, well. I’ll be sure to see them when they’re here. Now I’m going to find another spot to nap…

SFX: (The Kasha gets up, and leaves) 

SAM: What a waste of time…

JUNI: Seriously Sam, it’s not a problem.

PELU: Can I come out now? For real?

JESSICA: Oh yes. Looks like we’ll have to find someone better for you Pelu. 

PELU: I didn’t get a chance to talk to them at all. Can they use fire whenever they want because they’re a cat?

SAM: There was supposed to be something more to it than that… Like when to use and when not use fire…

PELU: Well, I can be a cat too!

SFX: (Sound of Pelu transforming and meowing.)

SAM: Oh, I think that we have more things that we need to talk about…

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (“Proserpina Bop” plays in the cafe as Alina and the others discuss the story.)

ALINA: So how many powers does Pelu have?

JESSICA: He can do anything he can put his mind to I believe…

DREW: No wonder they want to close the park then, that really does seem like too much power.

JESSICA: If only we had the time to teach him right.

JUN: Can’t we do that now?

SAM: Do what now? We can’t even enter the park.

JUN: Well, I mean, like when we can, like later… Hopefully.

DREW: Yeah, that’s wishful thinking.

ALINA: Wishful… Wait, did you guys ever get your wishes in the end?

JESSICA: No, we never did, why?

ALINA: Maybe that’s how we can stop him! 

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 Pelu is Nick Fiore. The voice of Junichi is Spencer Hiroshi Field. And the voice of the Kasha is Skyler Giordano.

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