Al takes a trip through his memory banks.
Starring Kristi Boulton, Michael Divinski, Phil Johnston and Sean Howard.
Sound design and music: Eli Hamada McIlveen
Cover art: David Demaret
Announcers: Marisa King and Michael Howie
Find and support our sponsors at fableandfolly.com/partners.
Content warning: panic, car accidents and cussin’.
Theme music plays.
NARRATOR
Humanity’s last hope to find and settle a new world. A small terraforming fleet sets out to prepare a lifeless planet for the colony ships sure to follow in their wake.
ANNOUNCER
Civilized.
THE BASE—PRESENT DAY
AL
And then after that, pretty much the next six months, nothing really happened. It was just a series of unconnected but semi-interesting or anecdotal moments that isn’t really worth delving into.
BOB
I’m confused. What happened? Like everyone was hurt, and in the infirmary, and…
AL
Well yeah, then there was just a bunch of small moments in our lives that I guess, if you’d like, I could spare the detail towards. But that’s really not anything effectual to the story of… the dying.
BOB
Well, I’m torn. I sort of want to still know why all these people are dead, but now I’m hooked on these characters! Maybe you could just tell a couple of the stories?
AL
Well, there was this moment when Barty found a whole bunch of old tires and built a wagon.
BOB
Really?
AL
Yes.
READY ROOM—FLASHBACK
The door slides open as Beatrice enters.
BEATRICE
Uh, Director Tinsley?
ROBERT
(distracted and upset)
Yeah. Just a second. Ugh, all these paper files…
BEATRICE
Sir, you know you can computerize those.
ROBERT
I had some files on my computer, but there was a virus.
From out in the hallway, the sound of a small motorized wagon speeding past.
ALBERTA
(from outside)
Woohooo!
BEATRICE
Yes, sir. I just I need to talk to you about something.
BARTY
(from outside)
Go, go, go, go, go-o-o-o!
The wagon revs and smashes into something as it zooms away.
BEATRICE
Sir…
ROBERT
Alberta is taking care of it. He says that he’s working on the virus.
BEATRICE
Yes, sir. That’s the thing. I don’t think that Alberta and Bartholomew are working right now.
Tires screech outside, followed by more revving and crashing.
BARTY
(from outside)
Ride like the wind!
BEATRICE
Do you not hear the commotion in the hallway outside of your office?
ROBERT
Yes, I—ALBERTA
(from outside)
No brakes! No brakes ever!
ROBERT
Yes. They are actually working on a prototype for a new land rover since someone destroyed the last one. Oh, look, there it goes now! Look at it bank!
Screeching and crashing.
BARTY
(from outside)
No hands!
BEATRICE
Have they learned nothing—has no one learned—has anyone…?
Another smash.
BEATRICE
Alberta is still in a full body cast! How are we—how is this—this is not okay!
You know what? Fine, fine, fine. Fine. Fine. Build your tire things. I am just—I’m gonna go. As head of security, it’s not like I have any jurisdiction about what’s safe!
ROBERT
Actually—before you go. Can you help me find Alberta’s file here in this pile?
The wagon speeds past again.
BARTY
(from outside)
25 points if you get through the janitor’s closet door!
A massive crash. Parts go flying.
ALBERTA
(from outside)
I made it! 25!
Alberta and Barty high-five.
BEATRICE
(furious whisper)
And yet they remain in charge.
ROBERT
I’m sure it was just a minor crash.
BARTY
(from outside)
Wow, that was a major crash!
Beatrice storms out, but turns in the doorway.
BEATRICE
Also just press Alt-Control-Delete.
The door shuts behind her.
THE BASE—PRESENT DAY
BOB
Al, wow, that’s really cool. But how was Bartholomew driving a vehicle? I thought you said he broke his arm.
AL
Oh, yeah, well… arms, legs. What’s it matter to you, Bob? This is about the development.
BOB
Well, it’s just a pretty big difference, breaking an arm versus breaking a leg.
AL
So yeah, then there was also this time when we all went outside…
CORRIDOR—FLASHBACK
Beatrice, Robert, Barty and Alberta walk along together.
BEATRICE
I mean, do we really need to go for a picnic? Do we really need to step outside to enjoy food that we can just have in the cafeteria?
ROBERT
I’m actually with Miss Brass on this one. I concur 100%.
BEATRICE
Mr. Bridges, I… Bartholomew—Barty. I just don’t really feel that comfortable going out to just enjoy the outside. A picnic, really? Can’t we just enjoy food inside in the cafeteria without, you know, the various things that have murdered a lot of our crew.
ROBERT
Well, we do have a lovely cafeteria, I will say, again, quite serviceable for a picnic. We can even put one of those blankets over one of the tables.
ALBERTA
I don’t want to sit inside at the cafeteria. That’s where losers sit!
BEATRICE
Inside there aren’t, you know, those tiger-lion, uh—
ROBERT
Wions.
BEATRICE
Wions, thank you, that mauled that one team, or you know, the giant worms that tried to eat us last time we were out there. And then there was that one team that… got destroyed by acid rain…
BARTY
Beatrice knowing how you react to a fun and carefree personality like my own, you might find this hard to believe, but… I’m actually suggesting this because I think it might be good for you. You might… enjoy yourself.
BEATRICE
(to herself)
There was that one team that got mauled by grasshoppers…
ROBERT
I agree! Maybe this would be good for Beatrice to go out… And I’ll just stay here and monitor communications.
BEATRICE
And then there was that random comet.
BARTY
Beatrice, why don’t we just go outside the door? We’ll sit in the doorway. How about that? And then your left leg will be entirely safe.
BEATRICE
(wavering)
Oh, you know, though, there was that acid rain! That just took their—ssssss!—right off… but…
Okay, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Um, I’m trying to be more “loosey-goosey”.
Loosey-goosey.
Loose goose. Um—
BARTY
Yeah, you’re one loose goose, all right.
All right. I’m opening the door.
BEATRICE
Okay.
Barty presses a button and a garage-style door starts to open.
BARTY
There. It’s a bright sunny day…
BEATRICE
(whispers to herself)
Bright sunny day…
BARTY
You know… there’s grass.
BEATRICE
Mm hmm. Mm hmm. I see it.
BARTY
There’s the—oh! Is that a comet!?
Beatrice and Robert scream and run back down the corridor at full tilt.
BEATRICE
AAAGH! Everybody back inside! Code Blue! Code Blue!
ROBERT
Aaaa! We’re all gonna die!
BARTY
It was a joke… It’s a… yeah.
THE BASE—PRESENT DAY
AL
Oh, And who could forget all that excitement around the director’s birthday?
READY ROOM—FLASHBACK
Beatrice enters.
ROBERT
Oh, Hello, Miss Brass.
(hinting strongly)
Anything to report or say?
BEATRICE
Well, Alberta seems to be recovering very well, sir. He’s mostly out of his casts.
ROBERT
Yeah? Yeah?
And…?
BEATRICE
Well, we had a successful scout team come back and they found some sources of fresh water.
ROBERT
Right. Right, right.
BEATRICE
Um… there was that moment when Barthol—Barty decided to surprise everyone with a light show in the cafeteria—
ROBERT
Anything to report about your director?
The door slides open again and Barty struts in, followed by Alberta.
BARTY
Heyyy, there he is! Birthday boy, birthday pinches!
He pinches Robert, who tries to dodge.
ROBERT
No no! Agh!
BARTY
(laughs)
Ha ha ha! It’s gonna be a great day!
ROBERT
Hands to yourself.
Uh, thank you.
ALBERTA
I got you these presents.
Alberta produces a pair of objects that clink softly.
ROBERT
Oh! Alberta, you shouldn’t have—
ALBERTA
They are my casts. They stink like hell.
ROBERT
Oh, well. Um. I guess it’s the thought that counts. Thank you, Alberta. Oh, I’ll just set those over here by the trashcan.
ALBERTA
I wanted you to think about me on your birthday.
ROBERT
That’s very sweet.
BARTY
So listen, we got it all planned out—
BEATRICE
Shh!
BARTY
…So listen, we got it all planned out—
BEATRICE
(furtive hiss)
Bartholomew!
BARTY
What?
ROBERT
Oh, I get it! Right. Right. It’s a surprise—I mean, nothing to share! Ha ha ha.
BARTY
(slow realization)
Ohhhhhhhhhh…
ROBERT
I didn’t hear a thing, wink wink.
BEATRICE
I was playing it so cool.
BARTY
Ohhhhhhhhhh…
BEATRICE
You couldn’t just be cool, man? You couldn’t just be cool? Neither of you could be cool? I’m trying to be loosey-goosey here and all of a sudden you guys come around and destroy the surprise that I’ve been building for the past month and a half for the director.
ROBERT
Well, I say it’s still a surprise!
BEATRICE
No, it’s ruined. It’s ruined. We might as well not even have your birthday.
ALBERTA
I agree.
BEATRICE
I’ll just go tell all of the crew in the cafeteria to clean up.
ROBERT
No, there’s really no need to do that! I’m sure it’s fine. I didn’t hear a thing—look at me, I have earbuds in!
BEATRICE
No, it’s ruined. It’s ruined. Everything’s ruined.
ALBERTA
I’ll throw out this cake that someone made in the fridge.
ROBERT
What? No, I—!
Alberta dumps the cake in the trash.
ROBERT
I made that cake.
ALBERTA
Oh…
I’m just gonna—
(he scoops some out and tastes it)
It still tastes fine… from the garbage.
BARTY
It’s all over the casts…
ALBERTA
It’s actually really good. Oh, wow.
ROBERT
Well, um, well yeah, no, I know. I don’t want any, thank you Alberta.
ALBERTA
Mmm! Eat it from my hand!
ROBERT
Oh, no, no, very good.
BEATRICE
Albert is still on his pain medication, Sir.
ROBERT
Well, I appreciate everything that you attempted.
BARTY
Does anyone know how to make souffle?
THE BASE—PRESENT DAY
BOB
Well, the birthday sounds fascinating, Al. but you know there’s, there’s all these dead people in these pods. It’s sort of the part of the story I was hoping we could get to.
AL
Well, Bob, before you know, the dead people in the pods you got to know who they were when they were alive.
BOB
I guess that makes sense.
AL
Like, there was that time at the big dance when Simone and David kissed for the first time in front of everybody!
BOB
Oh, but wait, who’s Simone—what?
AL
Daaaaah!
LOUNGE—FLASHBACK
Dance music plays while a lively crowd celebrate.
BEATRICE
So uh, it’s a nice dance you put together here, Barty.
BARTY
Thank you. Yeah, I… I engineered it rather well, ha ha.
BEATRICE
(laughs)
ROBERT
Beatrice! Barty! Have you tried this punch that Barty put together from those potato carrot things? Hoo hoo! Nice work.
(laughs drunkenly)
I just I’m gonna go dance over this way…
BEATRICE
(to Barty)
I’m surprised you’re not dancing, actually.
BARTY
You take me as a real Fred Astaire type?
BEATRICE
(laughs)
I don’t know. I just figured you put this all together. You might as well be out on the dance floor, instead of standing in the corner with me.
BARTY
No, I’m… more of a organize and then sit on the sidelines kind of a guy, you know. Tall, dark, brooding. Mysterious.
Rowdy screams and catcalls from the dance floor.
ROBERT
Whoa! You shake it Simone!
BEATRICE
Oh, there’s Simone. Alberta just doing a little jazz box step.
ALBERTA
Wha-ga-ga-ga! I love to dance!
BEATRICE
He loves to dance.
BARTY
Yeah. And hey, he’s not the only one, check out David there.
More catcalls .
BEATRICE
Oh. Oh no. Oh, Simone. David. David. No. Stop. Simone! Stop. Oh! No! There’s people everywhere! Stop it! Oh, no. Oh no, their mouths are just—
ROBERT
Way to use your tongue, Simone!
BEATRICE
Uh, I mean, I guess if we’re looking to improve morale…
BARTY
(sighs)
THE BASE—PRESENT DAY
AL
Yeah, that was a day I definitely remembered. Definitely remembered when Simone and David kissed for the first time.
BOB
I don’t know, I’m starting to feel like we’re avoiding some bigger issues.
AL
I’m just getting lost in all the fun that I used to have with all my friends, and being alive, and having a body, like, oh! I remember when me and Barty started our super special project…
LABORATORY—FLASHBACK
Barty shakes Alberta vigorously.
BARTY
Alberta, Alberta. Come with me. Come with me.
ALBERTA
(sleepy)
Okay. Barty…
BARTY
It’s so exciting!
ALBERTA
(sitting up)
It’s very early in the morning/very late at night, depending on how semantic you want to be about it right now.
BARTY
It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to see this. And hopefully you can work on it with me. Come on, follow me!
Alberta shuffles along behind Barty, down a corridor.
ALBERTA
Okay, I’m coming. I’m coming. I’m just moving very slowly, cause I hate what we’re doing? Uh, yeah. Okay, what?
BARTY
So for the past couple of weeks, I’ve been collaborating with Dr. Golgi in biology, and I think we stumbled upon something, and then maybe with you, if you could take a look at coding certain aspects of it… We could be onto something really big here.
They enter another laboratory in the complex.
ALBERTA
What? What is it? What? papers, diagrams, 3-D models of… what?
BARTY
Just look up! Here. Look, look at it.
ALBERTA
(looks up slowly)
Oh, what? Oh, Barty…
BARTY
And then if I press this button…
He presses the button. A familiar beep and hum as a reiteration pod slides opens. Inside, someone can be heard breathing slowly.
ALBERTA
Barty… do you know what this means?
THE BASE—PRESENT DAY
BOB
Um, wow. Okay, so I guess that explains where the pods came from, Al, but it really doesn’t explain why there’s thousands and thousands of dead people in the pods staring at me with their blank little eye holes right now.
AL
Well, Bob, as you can imagine… after that, things got way more complicated.
CREDITS
Theme music plays.
ANNOUNCER
Civilized.
Starring Kristi Boulton, Michael Divinski, Phil Johnston and Sean Howard.
Sound design and music by Eli Hamada McIlveen.
Cover art by David Demaret.
Join us on Patreon for bonus episodes and lots more. Look for the Support Us link at civilizedpod.com.
OUTTAKE
KRISTI BOULTON AS BEATRICE
It’s just that—
(stops, breaks character)
Are you Director, Doctor or Mister Bridges?
MICHAEL DIVINSKI
Barty’s fine.
KRISTI BOULTON
Fuck you.
Laughter.
SEAN HOWARD
That’s our outtake.
KRISTI BOULTON
(laughing)
Goddammit.