Ep 45 – Tune of the Summer

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

SAM: What do you mean?  

ALINA: Think about it! We want to stop Pelu, but it’s not like we can just easily kill him, I mean even if we wanted to, we don’t. So that means we have to think of a different solution.

DREW: (getting it) Wait, maybe all we have to do is fulfill the original wishes that brought him to life in the first place! You know like kinda, kinda when wandering spirits finally achieve peace and then they can move on. What did you guys wish for again?

JESSICA: …For Juni to be open with himself and… for me to make friends. 

JUN: Well, we can’t really work on the first part right now with Junichi in Japan, but I guess we could work on the second part?

ALINA: How many friends did you need to make again?

JESSICA: Absolutely not. 

DREW: Oh come on, why can’t we be friends? Even Terry puts up with us now!

JUN: I don’t really think that counts.

SAM: Jessica needed to make five friends I believe…

SFX: (Everyone tries to count because they are children.)

JUN: Wait there’s only four of us here.

ALINA: So we just need one more!

DREW: Would Dog count? Or is it humans only?

SAM: Jessica and Terry were friends once! 

DREW: Yeah I don’t believe you.

JESSICA: They hate me now. 

JUN: Maybe I should call my mom and see when Junichi is coming back…

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (A month or two have past, Sam and his friends are getting used to Pelu in the park.)

JESSICA: Peluuuu! 

PELU: It’s nice to see you again, Jessica.

JUNI: Hey there buddy! We can finally hang out for more than an hour.

PELU: Yes, how has your… “temporary summer work” been going? 

JESSICA: Ugh, the internships? Can we not talk about them right now?

JUNI: Aren’t you interning at the same place as Carter? Good luck with that.

JESSICA: Please don’t remind me.

PELU: Who’s he? Is Carter a problem?

JESSICA: …No. He’s fine. But it’s him and Laura. I thought being on summer vacation would mean I didn’t have to deal with those two for at least another couple of months, and yet both of them somehow ended up at the same job as me!

JUNI: Well, at least we can split our time between our internships and the park now! There’s so much to explore and see. I’m glad we finally got to meet that “park ranger” a few weeks ago. No wonder Sam takes care of everything…

JESSICA: Speaking of which, are you excited for tonight? 

JUNI: Yes! Oh don’t forget to put Pelu in your bag. Terry’s going to be here and Sam hasn’t told them about us creating him yet.

JESSICA: Right… You know we’ll have to deal with it sooner or later.

JUNI: I-I know, but you gotta admit it’s hard to explain how we got a plush to be able to do practically anything we ask it to.

JESSICA: True… All right, Pelu, come here.

PELU: …Okay. 

SFX: (Jessica picks up the plush and puts it in her bag and they start walking.)

JUNI: You know, it’s the first time in a while since everyone’s going to be here. I even thought about bringing Dog over today, but Sam said there might be some fairies coming, and I didn’t want to traumatize her.

JESSICA: Aw, bring her next time! It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. 

JUNI: Sure thing! See, this is what I’m talking about. This summer is going to be awesome! It’ll be us, the creatures, and the perfect adventure.

JESSICA: Well, there‘s one more thing that would make it perfect…

JUNI: Like what?

JESSICA: How about finally asking Sam out on a date?

JUNI: What?! H-how could I even?

JESSICA: Come on, everything we’ve done so far has been with the three of us, and while I don’t mind, there’s only so much I can stand being the third wheel. 

JUNI: I haven’t done anything to make you feel left out, have I?

JESSICA: Of course not, but I can feel myself literally aging while watching you two move at this pace. 

JUNI: Hey! Well, you know if I try to spend some time with Sam tonight that means you’re going to be stuck with Terry?

PELU: And me!

JESSICA: Pelu! Stay in the bag. Remember, you have to act like you’re a regular plush! And I will take Terry over Carter any day.

JUNI: Really? Terry barely talks to you. What has Carter done?

JESSICA: Juni…

JUNI: No seriously, has he done anything to you?

JESSICA: I’m fine, okay. A few more months and I’ll probably never see him again. 

JUNI: That doesn’t mean you have to put up with him. 

JESSICA: Okay, enough, we’re supposed to be having fun! It’s the summer solstice.

JUNI: Fine, but we’re not dropping this conversation. I’ll talk to Carter myself if I have to.

JESSICA: All right Mr. Hero. Come on, Sam and Terry are waiting for us.

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Jess and Juni walk up to the outdoor festival environment. Creatures are chatting and dancing, and music in the air. Someone is heavily whistling.)

JUNI: Oh, Looks like those two are over there!

JESSICA: And they brought Cerberus!

JUNI: Since when did you like dogs so much? I swear you like Cerberus more than me.

JESSICA: That’s not true! 

PELU: I want to meet these people. I can be a dog too!

JESSICA: Not yet, Pelu. Remember what we told you! And Cerberus saved us from the Capelobo remember? Of course I like them.  

SFX: (Sam, Terry, and Cerberus walk up to meet them.)

SAM: Jun! Jessica. You’re right on time.

JUNI: Hey Sam, Terry! We wouldn’t miss this for the world.

JESSICA: Right, so what exactly is this?

TERRY: One big excuse to throw a crazy party in the park…

SAM: It’s a lot of fun. But there are some ground rules we need to set. 

JESSICA: Let me guess. Don’t eat anything. Don’t talk to anyone. And always stay in your radar? 

JUNI: You’ve already told us the rules like fifty times already.

SAM: I just want to be sure!

TERRY: Knowing you all, something will probably go wrong tonight regardless, so please follow the rules…

JESSICA: Come on, Terry, let’s go be literal wallflowers…

SFX: (Jessica starts dragging Terry away.)

TERRY: Why… I did not ask for this…

SFX: (Cerberus follows after them.)

SAM: Wait, we were supposed to stick together…

JUNI: It’s fine. We can still see where they are. Let’s go too! I’ve never been to a party in the park before!

SFX: (The boys start walking as well.) 

SAM: It does get pretty wild. The music, the magic. It can almost be too much for humans, so it’s best to hang it back a little.

JUNI: What?! But there must be something we can do. Dance? Play games? Isn’t that what an actual party is?

SAM: You’re not going to win a single game against a fairy…

JUNI: Okay, then we dance!

SAM: I’m not exactly the best at dancing…

JUNI: Who cares! No one’s going to know but me. 

SAM: Maybe… j-just one dance. 

JUNI: That’s the spirit! Now, tell me about all these fairies we’re about to meet. 

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Somewhere else at the party. Terry, Jessica, and Cerberus are creature-watching.)

TERRY: Why did you drag us away from the group?

JESSICA: Do you really not know?

TERRY: …They’ll get there on their own eventually.

JESSICA: Giving them a push isn’t going to hurt anybody. 

TERRY: There’s nothing wrong with taking it slow either. 

JESSICA: And what do you know about relationships, Terry, last name “I work alone”?

TERRY: Just because I don’t have any doesn’t mean I don’t know how relationships work.

JESSICA: Most people say you need experience first before you can get the job.

TERRY: Look, I know Sam all right? He worries about me, about the park, not to mention school. Adding in a new relationship could pile on more stress.

JESSICA: Why would he worry about you? You seem to be doing fine. 

TERRY: Can you imagine what it’s like growing up and seeing dead people and creatures? I can give you a hint: you don’t exactly make a lot of friends. You mostly have enemies. And all Sam could do when we were younger was help keep my grades up in school…

JESSICA: I see. No wonder the two of you care for each other so much… But you know, maybe a new relationship could help Sam as well.  

TERRY: How so? 

JESSICA: Well, I think Sam’s a lot calmer with Juni, don’t you think? Look at them trying to dance.

SFX: (In the background, Juni and Sam are stumbling/dancing with each other and laughing.)

TERRY: He does…

JESSICA: So maybe you can drop your guard a little as well? I promise we don’t bite. 

TERRY: Ha, please. My situation is different. I can’t stay in the park like you can. 

JESSICA: Maybe we can hang out somewhere else with you then?

TERRY: …I travel a lot. I help museums out with paranormal artifacts and make sure wild creatures don’t cause too much trouble. 

JESSICA: So whenever you’re in town then. 

TERRY: Maybe… 

SFX: (Someone whistles in the distance.)

JESSICA: It’s a deal then. Say, do you want to go dance with Sam and Juni?

TERRY: Absolutely not. 

JESSICA: Oh come on!

TERRY: Do you hear that?

SFX: (Pelu peeks out of the bag.)

PELU: Jessica, can I be introduced now? 

JESSICA: Pelu! No. Not yet, I’ve just barely gotten on their good side! 

PELU: How much longer must I remain hidden?

JESSICA: I’m sorry Pelu… It’s just for today. I promise. We’ll have fun together soon. 

TERRY: Hey.

JESSICA: Y-yes?!

SFX: (Jessica smushes the top of her bag close.)

TERRY: You really don’t hear anything strange?

JESSICA: Um, besides all the festival noises? No…

TERRY: Hm, I’m going to patrol the perimeter with Cerberus. Go back to Sam, all right?

JESSICA: Oh, sure? Will do.

SFX: (Terry walks off. But then someone else shows up.)

JESSICA: Well that was weird… Hmm, but the boys are still dancing… It’d be kinda awkward to interrupt them…

AOS SI 2: Well, well. A familiar face. 

AOS SI 1: Is it?… (squints) Oh! You!

JESSICA: What are you two doing here?

AOS SI 2: It’s the summer solstice! You think we’d miss this?

JESSICA: Oh, I guess that’s true. Well then, good bye.

SFX: (Jessica starts to walk away.)

AOS SI 1: What? Come on? Do you not trust us after that little prank? 

JESSICA: It wasn’t a little prank! You hurt two people that day!

AOS SI 2: Well, we apologize then. Our goal really was to see what was going on in the human world… We haven’t been there in a long time!

JESSICA: Right, well then if you really are apologizing, I’ll bring you to Sam right now. 

AOS SI 2: Oh well, what’s the rush? Where did that demigod go?

JESSICA: Terry’s walking around the area, so don’t even think about trying anything.

AOS SI 1: Oh come now, we really are trying to be friends. You know, if you ever want to come back to the Sidhe…

JESSICA: I’m good, thanks.

PELU: Jessica, do you want me to get them to leave?

AOS SHI 1: Oh ho hoo, and who is this?

JESSICA: No one! No one at all!!

AOS SHI 2: Is this the new creature? You were successful after all? 

JESSICA: How did you know about that?

AOS SHI 1: Please, as if we wouldn’t be keeping an eye on you. We know you’re keeping this from the demigod as well.

PELU: I can come out then right?

SFX: (Pelu comes out of the bag.)

PELU: I don’t like the way you two are treating Jessica. 

AOS SHI 1: Aww, aren’t you a little cutie, ow!

SFX: (Pelu bites the Aos Shi)

AOS SHI 2: Fascinating… just how did you do it?

JESSICA: I’m not going to tell you! Pelu! Let’s go!

SFX: (All of a sudden, there’s screaming in the background. The whistling once again appears in the distance. Music plays.)

JESSICA: What’s going on?

AOS SHI 2: Looks like someone crashed the party!

AOS SHI 1: It’d be best to stick with us, you know, if you want to live!

SFX: (They grab her hand and tug.) 

JESSICA: Hey! Wait, where are we going? I need to go back to Sam and Juni!

AOS SHI 2: We need to go to some place where we can observe the situation. If you go into the crowd now, you’re going to get trampled. 

PELU: Jessica and I can take care of ourselves!

AOS SHI 1: You’re like what? A couple of months old? Listen, it’s time for you to learn something called foresight. Come on, quickly, quickly. Let’s see how we can help. 

JESSICA: No! Stay away from us.

SFX: (She pulls her hand out of their grasp.)

AOS SHI 2: All right, we’re not being nice anymore. Listen child, come with us or we’ll tell the demigod what you’ve been up to.

JESSICA: Are you blackmailing me?

AOS SHI 2: Yes! It’s about time you get with the program. Now let’s go.

PELU: Jessica, I can deal with them.

JESSICA: (sighs) No, we don’t know what exactly is going on… We have to go with them… for now.

AOS SHI 1: Wise decision.

SFX: (They start moving but then the whistling gets ominously quieter.)

AOS SHI 2: Do you hear that? 

AOS SHI 1: Do we really have time to listen to sounds when there’s noise everywhere?

JESSICA: Wait, what did you hear? Terry said the same thing before they left. Is there a creature making a specific sound?

AOS SHI 2: Focus on it, you can hear it too if you try. It’s the sound of someone whistling. 

SFX: (More whistling)

JESSICA: I think I hear it?

AOS SHI 1: This tune!… But why would it target anyone at this party? It makes no sense.

JESSICA: What is it? Who is it?

AOS SHI 2: I don’t know either.

AOS SHI 1: El Silbon, the whistler… Quick, we need to get you back to the demigod.

JESSICA: Weren’t you just trying to kidnap me?

AOS SHI 1: We won’t be able to do anything if you’re just a bag of not bones! Let’s go!!

SFX: (The Aos Shi grabs Jess’s arm and starts pulling her towards where they say Terry is.)

AOS SHI 2: Are you sure this is the whistler? He only murders cheaters and drunkards!

JESSICA: What do you mean a bag of not bones?

AOS SHI 1: I don’t understand either, but there’s no way I could forget that tune. You, child, have you done anything immoral or concerning that could have caused this?

JESSICA: What? Obviously not!

AOS SHI 2: Could it be because of the new creature? 

AOS SHI 1: That… That seems like a bit of a stretch.

JESSICA: Are you saying there’s someone out there that is possibly looking to kill me because we created a new creature??

AOS SHI 1: Well it wants your bones specifically, so you know, your soul will never rest.

JESSICA: Oh, well how kind! What is wrong with creating Pelu? We’ve done nothing wrong! We created him to help the park! To help Sam!

AOS SHI 2: Is that actually true? 

JESSICA: What’s that supposed to mean?

AOS SHI 1: You didn’t have any selfish reasons for making a creature all for yourselves?

JESSICA: Of course not!

PELU: Jessica and I are friends! She wouldn’t do anything mean like that!

AOS SHI 2: We’ll see about that…

JESSICA: I can assure you, I will never use Pelu for anything other than for the good of the park! Now, tell me about El Silbon and why we need to find Terry.

AOS SHI 1: It’s more of that mutt we need than the demigod themselves. El Silbon is a creature from South America; Venezuela and Columbia to be exact.

SFX: (Music starts to play.)

AOS SHI 2: Weren’t they originally a normal human being who saw their father demean El Silbon’s wife and killed him for it? 

AOS SHI 1: It varies per tale. Some say he was actually a spoiled child and killed his father for not bringing home meat. Others say his father disapproved of his lover and killed her and El Silbon lashed out in return. But look, it doesn’t matter the reason, El Silbon in the end, is always punished and turned into a creature.

SFX: (A woman gets hit and then two men fight until a creature roars.)

JESSICA: How does that even happen?

AOS SHI 2: The same way any creature is created. When emotions like fear and anger are so strong and so unbearable, it can change everything.

AOS SHI 1: For El Silbon, the emotions were created from him and his grandfather specifically. While he was the one who killed his own father, his grandfather reacted just as strongly. It’s said he tied El Silbon to a post and whipped him until he bled and then tied his father’s bones onto his back and covered him in alcohol before letting loose hungry dogs to feast on his dying body. 

SFX: (A whip snaps and then bones are stacked one by one. Dogs attack only to end with a scream.)

JESSICA: What a family…

AOS SHI 1: Yep, and after that, El Silbon was forced to wander the earth, carrying the bones of his father and his victims.  

SFX: (Whistling gets quieter. The fae flinch as Jessica relaxes)

JESSICA: Well, it sounds like the whistling is going away now. We should be good then, right?

AOS SHI 2: Absolutely not. Stay on your guard. And please tell me you have not had a sip of alcohol in you. 

JESSICA: Alcohol? No… Sam said not to drink anything here.

AOS SHI 2: Oh thank goodness. He’s a lot meaner to drunks. He’ll rip your stomach out and suck out the alcohol from your body. 

JESSICA: Wow. Okay. Let’s go then, why aren’t we moving?

AOS SHI 1: Stop it. The farther away his whistling sounds, the closer he is!

JESSICA: That makes no sense whatsoever—

SFX: (MONSTER SCREECH FROM A TALL SKINNY 3M DUDE.)

FADE OUT.

NEXT SCENE: (Back at the cafe, “Proserpina Bops” plays. Jun accidentally slams into the table.)

JUN: Wait, wait, wait!!

ALINA: Jun! What are you doing?!

JUN: This is terrifying! Is no one else scared?!

DREW: Everyone’s clearly still alive! 

JUN: I know but still!

SAM: Drew’s right. Everyone’s relatively okay. 

DREW: Relatively?

ALINA: Wait, and what were you doing at that time?

SAM: I, uh… well…

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 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