Episode 11: What Is Missing?

Transcript

Episode 11: What Is Missing?

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

A zap into a buzz.

ATABEY
April, twenty eighteen.

HORACIO
Springtime.

ATABEY
First thunderstorm of the season is approaching the Ventura twins. For them, it's been six months since they've been inside the timestorm. Since they've completed their first three quests.

A channel change.

FLASHBACK FROM EPISODE 05, SCENE 3:

ALEXA
Celestina's plea.

FLASHBACK FROM EPISODE 07, SCENE 6:

BENI
This bow is the artifact.

FLASHBACK FROM EPISODE 09, SCENE 6:

ALEXA | BENI
Got the test tube? | That was close!

FLASHBACK END.

A channel change.

ATABEY
There's electricity in the air in Newark.

MUSIC: THEME SONG - "IN THE TIMESTORM"

Witness. Find. Remember.
The hidden past seeks its dawn,
showing us that we all belong.
Horacio, Alexa, and Beni take back time,
find history in the timestorm.
Witness. Find. Remember.

2018. PATIO OF TAÍNO COMICS AND BRICK CITY CAFE. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: "PATIO" TRANSITION

A small crowd gathers behind Taíno Comics and Games and Brick City Cafe.

BENI
Hey, Janelly.

JANELLY
Hey, Beni.

BENI
Datu said we can have tourneys on this patio.

JANELLY
We just have to make sure we don't lose any game pieces.

ALEXA
Sonia, the buildings in these murals kind of look like the ones in Old San Juan.

SONIA
I know, right?

Distant thunder.

SONIA
Hm. Looks like it might rain. What do you think? First spring thunderstorm?

ALEXA/BENI
Thunderstorm?

Distant thunder.

JOSIE walks up to DATU.

JOSIE
Hey, Datu.

DATU
Oh. There you are, Josie. Reannae is finally about to start talking. And then you're up.

JOSIE
Thing is, I've got that virtual meeting in a few minutes. You think you can step in and say a few words on behalf of the store?

DATU
Of course.

JOSIE
Thank you, Datu.

The owner of Brick City Cafe, REANNAE, steps in front of the crowd.

PERSON
Oh, lookit. Reannae's gonna talk.

REANNAE
Welcome! Welcome, everyone! How about this patio?

The crowd cheers.

REANNAE
I promise we're gonna dig into that food soon. Because good food is what we do at Brick City Cafe. Today, we're celebrating the opening of this brand new patio with Taíno Comics and Games.

The crowd cheers.

REANNAE
I believe the owner of Taíno Comics and Games is gonna say a few words? Josie?

DATU
Josie's in a meeting.

REANNAE
She's so busy! I swear she needs to clone herself so she can be in two places at once.

Laughter from the crowd.

DATU
Um, on behalf of Josie and the store, I want to welcome everyone to the new patio. We're excited to share it with Brick City Cafe. Just don't get any of Reannae's secret sauce on the dice, okay?

REANNAE
All right! Let's open these trays of food and eat!

SONIA
What Reannae said about Josie? I feel the same way. I could use a clone.

BENI
It's true. Josie's always so busy.

JANELLY
Always in the office with the door shut.

ALEXA
With that sign hanging on the doorknob.

BENI/ALEXA
Virtual meeting in progress.

ALEXA/BENI/JANELLY
Do not disturb.

2018. TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES - GAMING AREA. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: “TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES” TRANSITION

JOSIE enters the store. She passes GAMERS playing a game.

POLITE GAMER
What's up, Josie?

JOSIE
Hey, what are you all still doing in here?

HYPERBOLIC GAMER
Conquering all who cross my path.

JOSIE
You should take a break and check out the patio. There's food.

HYPERBOLIC GAMER
Then why did you vacate the area?

JOSIE
I've got a virtual meeting. I'll be in the office.

A dice roll.

FOCUSED GAMER
Ugh. That does not help me. Guess I'll have to stay in the catacombs.

POLITE GAMER
Have a good meeting.

JOSIE
Thanks.

JOSIE walks to her office. She hangs a sign on the knob and shuts the door.

JOSIE
Time to take care of business.

MUSIC: “TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES” TRANSITION.

BENI and JANELLY enter the store.

JANELLY/BENI
Hey, guys.

GAMERS
Hi, Beni, Janelly. / What's up? / Hey.

BENI
Janelly! The virtual-meeting-in-progress sign is on the doorknob.

JANELLY
But the door's slightly open.

BENI and JANELLY walk toward the door.

BENI
Can you see anything from that angle?

JANELLY
Maybe if I push open—

DATU
Hey, you two.

BENI | JANELLY
Hi! | Datu!

DATU pulls the door shut.

DATU
You know the rules. No customers allowed in the business office. Especially when this sign is hanging.

BENI
We were just gonna close the door.

JANELLY
Yeah. That's right.

BENI
So, Josie's in there, having a virtual meeting?

DATU
Josie's probably in her favorite chair. Tucked all the way in the corner out of sight. Hey, Beni we've got the new issue of Space Race. It's over here.

DATU walks down an aisle.

BENI
What was that about?

JANELLY
I don't know.

DATU walks down an aisle.

DATU
Here you go. Issue 42: "Orbital B-Bop."

DATU hands BENI a comic book.

BENI
Thanks.

DATU
Enjoy.

DATU walks away. BENI flips through the comic book.

JANELLY
Did you see that huge thing hanging on the wall?

BENI
Not from where I was standing. What was it?

JANELLY
A poster? No, it was gigantic. Some huge piece of art. Looked like one of those archways in the mural outside on the patio. The design was, like…3D. Pretty cool-looking.

BENI
Why would they hide something like that in there?

ALEXA and SONIA walk up to them.

ALEXA
Hey, Pa just texted, Beni. He's on his way to pick us up.

BENI
You missed it. Janelly peeked into the business office.

JANELLY
I didn't see too much. Just some kind of huge hanging artwork.

SONIA
What's so exciting about an office?

BENI
That's what we've been trying to figure out since it was built a few months ago.

JANELLY
Yeah, Josie and Datu are kind of weird and secretive about it.

SONIA
Huh. Look at all of these comic books. How many have you guys read?

BENI
I stick mostly to this shelf here.

JANELLY
Everything here. Plus, Spider-man, Araña, La BorinqueÃ±a, Dare Devil and this one.

JANELLY hands SONIA a comic book.

SONIA
Take Back Time. This Horacio Méndez guy is, like, a superhero?

ALEXA
You could say that.

BENI
He's a good guy.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

ATABEY
What's wrong, Lieutenant?

HORACIO
It's just that thinking about the twins...it reminds me how much I miss earth.

ATABEY
What is missing?

HORACIO
Longing for something you once had. Or something you never had, but you wish...que quiero decir...

ATABEY
When you see the earth in the windshield - you feel...absence.

HORACIO
I never had a chance to say goodbye. And now I can't go back.

2018. TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

DATU opens the door.

DATU
Good meeting, Josie?

JOSIE
Yep.

JANELLY/BENI
Josie?

DATU
See, Janelly and Beni? She was in the office the entire time.

JOSIE laughs.

JOSIE
Where else would I be?

DATU
Reannae and I put away the patio chairs ahead of the storm.

JOSIE
Sorry to miss the opening. How was it?

JOSIE
Glad to hear it.

A text alert.

ALEXA
Ooh, Pa's here.

BENI
Either of you want a ride?

JANELLY
I'm sticking around to play a game.

SONIA
And I want to stay and finish this comic book.

ALEXA | BENI
See ya. | Bye.

SONIA | JANELLY
Bye. | Later.

2018. INSIDE THE VENTURA'S MINIVAN. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: "MINIVAN" TRANSITION

Thunder approaches as RAMIRO drives the minivan.

RAMIRO
The clouds sure look ominous.

ALEXA
(Whispering) Beni, did you bring the barometer?

BENI
(Whispering) In my pocket.

FLASHBACK:

ATABEY
Beni, that barometer you hold is sensitive to these spacetime energy waves. When a portal opens—

FLASHBACK ENDS.

RAMIRO
What's that?

ALEXA
Uh...just making sure Beni didn't forget his dice at the comic book store.

RAMIRO
Let's see if we can pick up your mother at the library before the sky opens up. She's probably stressed about the event tomorrow.

2018. PUBLIC LIBRARY NORTH END BRANCH. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: “LIBRARY MAGIC” TRANSITION.

CLARA and BETINA are having a virtual meeting with ANGIE.

BETINA
Thanks for all of your help, Angie.

CLARA
Yes, I'm glad the timing worked out. April's a busy month at the park with all the Cherry Blossom events.

ANGIE
Well, they're in full bloom, so your attendees will have a lovely view as they walk around.

CLARA
Sounds good. I appreciate you taking the time to do this video chat.

ANGIE
We're happy to have your event at Branch Brook Park. See you soon, Clara and Betina.

Video call ends.

CLARA
Well, that was a good meeting. You feel better about things?

BETINA
Yeah. I do. It always feels strange having an event outside of the library.

CLARA
We couldn't fit all these different acts indoors, Betina. Not even the main branch would have enough room.

A thunderclap.

BETINA
Oh no. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.

2018. INSIDE THE VENTURA'S MINIVAN. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: "MINIVAN" TRANSITION

The rain intensifies.

RAMIRO drives the minivan.

ALEXA
(Overlap with BETINA) Tomorrow?

RAMIRO
The cultural event the library's organizing. At Branch Brook Park?

BENI
Oh yeah. I forgot.

RAMIRO
We've talked about this. We're all going together. It's a big deal for the library. And it's really important to your mother that we're all there.

ALEXA
Okay, Pa. We're going.

2018. TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: "TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES" TRANSITION.

SONIA closes the comic book.

SONIA
Okay, so...about this last page...

JANELLY
She will change everything?

SONIA
Yeah. Who is she supposed to be?

JANELLY
Everyone asks. No one knows.

SONIA
Huh.

A door opens, triggering a laser bell. A city street is heard. The door closes.

SONIA
Hey, mom.

MELISSA
Hi, mamita. Hi, Janelly. You want a ride?

JANELLY
No, thanks. I'm sticking around.

MELISSA
Okay. Come on, Sonia.

SONIA
Can I get this book?

MELISSA
A comic book?

SONIA
Please?

MELISSA
Fine, pero, quickly.

JANELLY
Later, Sonia.

JANELLY walks towards the back.

JANELLY
(To herself)
The office door. It's open again.

2018. TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES OFFICE. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

JOSIE
(From inside the office) It's just a boring office!

JANELLY
Whoa! Oh...you scared me.

JANELLY opens the door.

JOSIE
Ven. Come on in.

JANELLY steps into the office.

JANELLY
Huh, there's a chair in the corner that Datu said it was your favorite.

JANELLY turns to the wall where she saw the tapestry.

JOSIE
You're really interested in that wall. Aren't you?

JANELLY
Before...there was some kind of...

JOSIE
What?

JANELLY
Nothing. Guess it's just a plain wall in a boring office.

2018. A DIGITAL SPACE.

VOICE
Please leave your message.

A cell phone beeps.

JANELLY
(Whispering) Hey, Beni. It's Janelly. Something's up with Datu and Josie. I actually went into the office. Josie invited me in and was all "this office is so boring." The thing is, the huge hanging wall art thingy? It was gone. There was just a blank wall. But I know what I saw when the door was left open — and it wasn't a plain white wall. Whatever was hanging there — it must have been taken it down. But why? Call me when you get this, Beni.

2018. TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES - OFFICE. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: "TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES" TRANSITION.

DATU
Does it look even, Josie?

JOSIE
Yeah. That's good. It such a bulky tapestry. I'm sure it wasn't easy taking it down and hiding it so quickly.

DATU
It was no bother at all.

JOSIE
Thank you. If you hadn't sent me that text letting me know that the door was left open—-

DATU
It was a close call, Josie.

JOSIE
We've got to replace that doorknob as soon as possible.

2018. INSIDE THE VENTURA'S MINIVAN. NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

MUSIC: "MINIVAN" TRANSITION.

Rain hits the minivan.

RAMIRO
Be right back.

RAMIRO opens the car door and gets out.

Thunderclap into the barometer buzz.

BENI
Barometer's starting to glow.

FLASHBACK:

ATABEY
When a portal opens —

BENI
It glows purple.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

ALEXA
The portal's open—

A dramatic thunderclap. ALEXA and BENI shout and they travel through the portal.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM HELICOPTER" TRANSITION.

HORACIO
Ay, I've missed those laughs!

BENI
I've missed the timestorm!

ALEXA
Feels like forever—

A zap into a buzz.

MUSIC: "IN THE TIMESTORM" (INSTRUMENTAL).

NARRATION
This episode of Timestorm was written by me, Dania Ramos, with audio engineering, sound design, and orignial music by Michael Aquino.

The role of Alexa Ventura was played by Leilany Figueroa. Beni Ventura was played by Claudio Venancio. Janelly was played by Frances Ramos. Sonia was played by Jessica Bracken. Datu Ancheta was played by Joel Arandia. Josie was played by Angelica Ubiera. Atabey was played by Alicia Rivas. Horacio Méndez was played by Orlando Segarra. Ramiro Ventura was played by Walter F. Rodriguez. Clara Ventura was played by Jennica Carmona. Betina was played by Amanda Faison. This episode also featured Trevor Brown, Keisha TK Dutes, Florence Faison, Jane Mandel, Daniela Palacios, Tanya Pérez, and Daria Sullivan.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media and is a proud member of TRAX from PRX. To learn more about TRAX, visit TRAX dot fm: that's t-r-a-x-dot fm.

It's time for our Listener Share-out!

ADONIS
Hello. My name is Adonis Ayala. I am ten years old and I live in Monroe, New York. My time-travel adventure is about me traveling to the fifteen-nineties so I could see the Castillo San Felipe del Morro. The reason why is because I would like to see the guarded fort with my own eyes. Also, I would like to see how the fort looked back then. Another reason why is because I would want to see the fort during battle.

NARRATION
Ooh, nice! El Castillo San Felipe del Morro is one of my favorite places to visit in Old San Juan. Today it's a National Historic Site so there aren't any battles. But you're right, Adonis. At the end of the sixteenth century, two Brits — Sir Frances Drake and Earl George Clifford — both led attacks on the fort. Thanks for sharing, Adonis.

Hey, listeners, we want to feature your voice in an upcoming episode. You can learn more on how to submit a share-out by visiting Timestorm Series dot com. If you enjoy the show, ask your parents to subscribe to Timestorm on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or the Kids Listen App.

A quick message for our adult listeners, please be sure to check out our free resources, including episode guides and transcripts over at Timestorm Series dot com. And if you're interested in more bonus and behind-the-scenes content, we hope you'll consider joining our Patreon community over at Patreon dot com slash Timestorm. You can also show your support for the series by sharing it with a friend or leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Podchaser.

Timestorm is produced in Essex County, New Jersey, which is situated on the traditional territory of the Leni Lenape people.

As always, thanks for listening.

ATABEY
Witness. Find. Remember.