Episode 2: ...Will Change Everything

Transcript

Episode 2: ...Will Change Everything

NARRATOR
Previously, on Timestorm...

ATABEY:
Twins. Twelve years old.

HORACIO:
Kids? The mission isn't a game.

ATABEY:
You're right. And it's a mission that you can't meet alone, Lieutenant Méndez. You need help. Besides, these aren't just any children, they're your family.

BENI:
I want to finish reading this comic book.

ALEXA:
Take Back Time. American soldier Lieutenant Horacio Méndez is fighting a war on a foreign shore when he's pulled through an inter-dimensional portal into a timestorm. I don't do inter-dimensional portals.

ATABEY:
We're in agreement then.

HORACIO:
Yes, I'm summoning Alexa and Benito Ventura into the timestorm.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land in the timestorm.

HORACIO:
I can’t believe you're here! Twins. Benito y Alexa Ventura. Tremendous! You can travel in time and whenever, wherever you arrive on earth, you'll exist alive as can be. You can help me.

ALEXA:
No. We can't.

RAMIRO:
It's gaining strength. Might become a hurricane tonight.

CLARA:
Irma a week and a half ago and now this storm…it's Minerva, right?

RAMIRO:
Maria.

ALEXA:
If the timestorm actually existed...I’d go with you.

BENI:
Really?

ALEXA:
But it's not real. Time travel is impossible.

A thunderclap. Then a zap into a buzz.

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.

2017. NEWARK. RAFAEL HERNÁNDEZ SCHOOL.

MUSIC: "BELL, LOCKER...CLASS!” TRANSITION

NARRATOR:
September eighteenth, two thousand seventeen. Rafael Hernández School. Newark, New Jersey.

MS. THOMPSON:
...but what Washington couldn't anticipate was that the winter of seventeen eighty would turn out to be the harshest of the Revolutionary War. Despite this, the General kept the encampment in Jockey Hollow until...? Yes, Sonia?

SONIA:
June. That's when the British were all - We can take this Continental Army! But Washington's troops were like - Nope, you can't have New Jersey!

MS. THOMPSON:
That's one way to put it, Sonia.

A bell rings.

MS. THOMPSON:
Okay, the link to tonight’s homework and review questions can be found on the digital homework // portal.

FLASHBACK

HORACIO:
(overlapping) ...portal... That's because the helicopter was yanked through // an inter-dimensional portal.

FLASHBACK END.

ALEXA:
No. No. No!

SONIA:
Something wrong, Lex?

ALEXA:
Huh? Oh. No. Why?

SONIA:
I can’t remember the last time you made it through an entire social studies class without raising your hand.

Students leave the classroom.

ALEXA:
Just, uh, thinking about that report due Thursday.

BENI:
Ugh. I haven't even started.

SONIA:
I finished mine. Just have to proofread.

JANELLY:
Have you ever not finished something early, Sonia?

SONIA:
And stress myself out? No, thank you.

BENI:
I think my best ideas come to me last minute.

SONIA:
Too risky. Well, I’ve got to run to my guitar lesson, then vocal coaching. I’m getting ready for the musician’s showcase this Friday. I’m debuting my latest original song. I think. But I kind of want to rewrite the last verse before then. If I have time. Ugh. Maybe, I’ll just sing a cover.

JANELLY:
Yeah. You don’t want to stress yourself out.

SONIA:
I know, right?

BENI:
Sonia, when do you sleep?

JANELLY:
Maybe she snagged Hermione's // Time-Turner.

FLASHBACK

HORACIO:
(overlapping) ...time... Take Back Time. // I exist in this timestorm.

FLASHBACK END.

ALEXA:
No. That's impossible.

JANELLY:
I was just kidding.

ALEXA:
No, I didn't mean... Sorry. I was just...never mind. I'll walk with you, Sonia. See you at home, Beni. Later, Janelly.

SONIA:
Peace, my lovelies.

BENI/JANELLY:
Bye.

JANELLY:
What was that about?

BENI:
Just my sister being weird, as usual.

THAD slams his hands against a locker.

BENI:
Ugh.

THAD:
Uh, Jaiden? Did you just hear some loser call his sister weird?

JAIDEN:
Yeah. Totally heard it.

JANELLY:
No one was talking to you guys.

THAD:
Who would you say is the weirdo in that family?

JAIDEN:
That'd be Ben-ji-mi-ah.

BENI:
My name is Benito.

THAD:
Weirdito?

THAD and JAIDEN laugh.

JAIDEN:
Hey, weirdito? Do you, like, boss around your sister? Hey, Alexa, open the lamest video game ever. Hey, Alexa, search for a comic book big enough to hide my sorry face.

BENI:
Ha ha, joke’s on you, Jaiden. We don't even have smart speakers.

JAIDEN/THAD:
Weirdito!

THAD and JAIDEN laugh as they walk away.

BENI:
Don't they have better things to do than to listen to our conversations?

JANELLY:
Yeah. For real.

A locker slams.

2017. NEWARK. TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES.

MUSIC: “TAÍNO COMICS AND GAMES” TRANSITION

NARRATOR:
Thirty minutes later. Taíno Comics and Games.

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

JANELLY:
…and he seriously said that he didn't even read the Ultimate Comics: Spider-man series because Miles Morales doesn't "look" like Spider-man.

BENI:
He's got the bodysuit.

JANELLY:
I don’t think he means the bodysuit.

DATU:
Hey, Beni! Janelly! How's it going?

BENI | JANELLY:
Hi, Datu. | Fine.

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

THAD:
Cool. Ooh. Look it's Weirdito.

BENI:
What are you doing here?

DATU:
Hey, hey, hey. First time in the store?

THAD:
Uh, yeah.

DATU:
I'm Datu. What's your name?

THAD:
Uh, Thad.

DATU:
Thad! Please refrain from calling my customers names.

BENI:
Yeah. He's the manager.

THAD:
Uh, okay.

DATU:
So, what can I help you with?

THAD:
Uh, I'm looking for a Star Wars mask...for my little brother. He wants to be Kylo Ren for, like, Halloween.

JANELLY:
Your brother wants a Kylo Ren mask, Thad?

THAD:
Uh, yeah. There's, like, this one that changes your voice.

DATU slides the mask across the counter.

DATU:
Hm. Oh, is this what your brother's looking for?

THAD:
Cool. I mean...uh, yeah, I guess, whatever.

DATU:
Wow. This one's pricey. It's eighty dollars a pop.

THAD:
Uh...guess I should ask my parents if they want to buy it for him.

DATU:
So...I can set it aside until Friday for you.

THAD:
That'd be good. Uh, thanks.

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

JANELLY:
For his brother? Yeah, right.

BENI:
Thanks for sticking up for me, Datu.

DATU:
Look, you guys are always safe here. Hey, we've got some new games in the back.

JANELLY:
Ooh! Let's go check them out.

JANELLY and BENI walk down the aisle.

JANELLY:
Alexa?

BENI:
What are you doing here?

ALEXA:
What? I used to come here...every once in a while.

BENI:
But not to read comics.

JANELLY grabs the comic book.

JANELLY:
Nice. I love Take Back Time. Doesn't Beni have a copy at home?

ALEXA:
Can I have it back?

JANELLY:
Here you go. I'll be by the games.

ALEXA takes back the comic book. JANELLY walks down the aisle.

BENI:
Why are you reading this?

ALEXA:
I thought it'd help me understand my dream from the other night. Do you know what this last page means? She will change everything. Who's she supposed to be?

BENI:
People have lots of theories. But the creator of TBT has never confirmed any.

ALEXA:
Creator? Oh. Written and created by L. J. Ortega.

BENI:
She's super mysterious. No one knows what she looks like. Plus, Take Back Time is the only thing she's ever published. And then she vanished. Like a phantom.

ALEXA:
Really? A phantom, Beni?

BENI:
A spectre?

ALEXA:
You think Datu would know what the last page means?

BENI:
Nah. We've talked about it before. He doesn't know either.

ALEXA:
How about...maybe the owner of the store would know?

BENI:
I don't think I've ever seen the owner. Datu's pretty much in charge.

ALEXA:
I guess we'll have to figure it out on our own.

BENI:
Hey. You can borrow my copy of TBT anytime.

ALEXA:
I kinda want my own. You know, for research.

JANELLY:
Beni, they've got Microbia!

ALEXA:
Microbia?

BENI:
Role-playing microbes.

ALEXA:
Gross.

BENI:
Not if you're Master Acidophilus.

ALEXA:
Still gross.

BENI walks back toward the gaming area. ALEXA walks to the counter.

DATU:
Alexa!

ALEXA:
Hi, Datu.

DATU:
It's been a few months since I've seen you. What happened to knitting in the reading room upstairs?

ALEXA:
You know, homework and stuff.

DATU:
Of course. Whatcha got there? Ooh, Take Back Time. Guess it's a family favorite.

ALEXA:
What do you mean family?

DATU:
I mean your brother.

ALEXA:
Oh, Beni. Of course.

DATU:
In fact, I've got an unpublished sketch by the creator of Take Back Time in storage. Beni might be interested in it. A beautiful rendering of um...I don't know...I think it's a compass?

ALEXA:
Barometer?

DATU:
That's it.

ALEXA:
We'll take it.

DATU:
So, you're interested, too?

ALEXA:
Beni said that Take Back Time is the only thing the creator ever published.

DATU:
Yep. TBT. And that's it.

ALEXA:
Then I definitely want to see this sketch.

DATU:
Okay. I'll pull it out of storage. And then how about I give your mother a buzz when it's ready?

ALEXA:
That would be so amazing. You have no idea what that means to us.

DATU hands her the comic book.

DATU:
Well, I'm glad to hear of your newfound interest in comic books.

ALEXA:
Thanks, Datu!

ALEXA rushes to the back.

JANELLY:
...any time an amoeba is on the board, the game is in sudden-death mode.

ALEXA:
Ooh. Sounds scary.

JANELLY:
Microbiology's intense.

ALEXA:
Hey, Beni. Make sure you ask Datu about a sketch he has in storage. It's of a barometer.

BENI:
Really?

JANELLY:
You like barometers?

ALEXA:
Oh, it’s a family thing.

BENI:
So amoebas — bad guys, huh?

JANELLY:
Uh, yeah...

A DIGITAL SPACE.

VOICE:
Please leave your message.

DATU:
Hey, it's Datu. I just wanted to let you know that I'm pulling the L. J. Ortega sketch out of storage. You were right: I knew exactly when to bring it up. Seems like both Ventura twins are fans of L. J. Ortega now.

2017. NEWARK. THE VENTURA HOME. OFFICE AND BENI’S ROOM.

MUSIC: "HOME" TRANSITION.

ALEXA:
Hey, Ma?

CLARA:
Si, mi amor.

ALEXA:
Are we related to anyone who fought in Vietnam?

CLARA:
Mi tío, Fermín. He was a combat medic.

ALEXA:
What about on Pa's side of the family?

CLARA:
I think a few of his older cousins are Vietnam vets.

ALEXA:
Cousins?

CLARA:
Here. Let me check our Heredity account.

CLARA types.

CLARA:
Here we go...our family tree. Let's see...military service. There's my Tío Fermín. And on your father's side of the family…Sergeant Miguel Arroyo. Corporal Ricardo Pérez. Lieutenant Horacio Méndez.

ALEXA:
Horacio Méndez. Did you or Pa know him...I mean, any of them?

CLARA:
Not that I remember. They're all distant cousins. Hm, what's this star next to Horacio Méndez? What a shame.

ALEXA:
Missing in action.

CLARA:
A helicopter pilot.

ALEXA:
I can't believe it.

CLARA:
I know. So young. Only twenty-one.

The computer sounds with an emergency alert.

COMPUTER:
Alert from The Forecast Station OnDemand.

CLARA:
Oh. I've been waiting for this. I set up the computer for automatic weather updates.

WEATHER REPORTER:
The latest from the Caribbean: Maria is now a category five hurricane.

CLARA:
Ay, no. // It's gaining strength like it's on steroids.

WEATHER REPORTER:
(overlapping) With the eye passing right over Dominica, we expect this system to add to Irma's recent destruction on those islands. Our fellow citizens in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are in the direct path of this major hurricane.

CLARA:
That storm looks like a monster.

FLASHBACK

HORACIO:
Think of what’s happened in Puerto Rico. How this hurricane's changed everything.

ALEXA:
Hurricane Irma?

FLASHBACK END.

ALEXA:
It's not Irma.

CLARA:
You're right. I think Hurricane Maria's going to be worse.

ALEXA flips comic book pages.

CLARA:
What are you doing with Beni's comic book?

ALEXA:
It's mine. I bought it with my allowance.

CLARA:
I thought you hated comics.

ALEXA:
This one's not so bad.

A cell phone rings.

CLARA:
(exiting) Rami, what's the airline saying about the storm?

ALEXA flips to the last page of the comic book page.

ALEXA:
"She will change everything." It's Maria. Hurricane Maria will change everything.

CLARA:
(off mic) I never thought I'd be so happy to hear you're flying to Albuquerque.

ALEXA rushes down the hall and knocks on BENI’S door. Video game sounds.

BENI:
Got the Spectagon. Ooh, Janelly, watch your back.

JANELLY:
(through headset) Ah! I didn’t even see it coming!

ALEXA:
(through the door) Beni!

BENI:
I can blast through the enchanted door if I can just —

JANELLY:
(through headset) No! I’m gonna fall!

A video game loss.

BENI:
Ah, man!

JANELLY:
(through headset) Wanna try again?

ALEXA:
(through the door) I think I know what the last page of Take Back Time means!

BENI:
I've gotta sign off, Janelly. Be back in ten.

BENI shuffles to the door and opens it.

BENI:
You know what now?

ALEXA closes the door.

ALEXA:
"She will change everything." 'She' is Maria.

BENI:
Maria who?

ALEXA:
The hurricane.

BENI:
Do you know how many people on the Comic Book Orbit message board have argued about the meaning of the final page? You read Take Back Time once, and you think you've figured it all out?

ALEXA:
Maria's headed straight for Puerto Rico. Category five. Ma's freaking out.

ALEXA walks to the door and opens it slightly.

CLARA:
(in office, off mic) Mami, por favor, ve al refugio. Put Pa on the phone, I'll convince him to take you to the shelter. You can replace the house. I can't replace you.

ALEXA closes the door.

BENI:
Okay. Ma's freaking. Doesn't mean you're right about the last page.

ALEXA:
Think about how strange Horacio got talking about Hurricane Irma.

BENI:
Wait a minute. Are you finally admitting that meeting him wasn't a dream?

ALEXA:
Ma went on that genealogy website. Horacio's listed on our family tree. He was telling the truth. He's our distant cousin.

BENI:
Does this mean you want to go back to the timestorm and help him?

ALEXA:
I...I don't know. It's not like we can do anything about...never mind.

BENI:
The hurricane. You think we could actually do something about it?

ALEXA:
No. Nothing can stop a hurricane. It was a silly idea. I wish I could just do a report on Jockey Hollow and forget I ever met Horacio Méndez.

BENI:
Forget your family?

ALEXA:
We've never really met him. Or at least, not on earth.

BENI:
Because he died fighting for our country before we were even born. Horacio's history too. Only no one's writing a report on him.

ALEXA:
Then you write a report on him.

BENI:
We can do more with Horacio. You admit he's real. Let's go help him.

ALEXA:
I don't think we’re the ones to do it. We’re not superheroes, Beni.

BENI:
Then why'd you practically knock down my door to tell me about the meaning of the last page, and how Ma found Horacio in the family tree? Something's changed for you, hasn't it? Alexa?

ALEXA:
I hope I'm wrong. I really hope 'she' isn't Hurricane Maria.

2017. NEWARK, NJ. THE VENTURA HOME. COMPUTER ROOM.

MUSIC: "HOME" TRANSITION

NARRATOR:
September twentieth, two thousand seventeen.

BENI types.

BENI:
Ms. Thompson. Period eight. American History. (typing stops) Why didn't I start this sooner?

The computer sounds with an emergency alert.

COMPUTER:
Alert from The Forecast Station OnDemand.

CLARA and ALEXA rush into the room.

CLARA/ALEXA:
Is that —

BENI:
Yep. // Another hurricane update.

WEATHER REPORTER:
Hurricane Maria is leaving the West coast of Puerto Rico this evening. The energy grid has failed across the main island, and the storm has destroyed most avenues of communication both in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. // It is now clear that tomorrow morning hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens will awaken to a home they don't recognize.

The computer sounds with an emergency alert.

CLARA:
This is why we haven’t been able to get in touch with anyone.

There is an incoming call.

ALEXA:
Hi, Pa.

BENI:
(overlapping) Hey.

CLARA:
(overlapping) Hi.

RAMIRO:
Hey, everyone.

CLARA:
Ay, Rami, I wish you were here.

RAMIRO:
I'm on a couple West Coast flights before I head back on Friday. It can't come soon enough. You get in touch with any family?

CLARA:
No. You?

RAMIRO:
Same here.

BENI:
Pa, you see that video where the road looks like a river?

RAMIRO:
I saw it, Beni.

ALEXA:
It's like everything's been washed away. Disappeared overnight.

RAMIRO:
Clara, you look exhausted.

CLARA:
I stayed up all night checking all those Facebook groups, hoping to see names I recognized.

RAMIRO:
I've been doing a lot of that, too.

CLARA:
I feel so useless. I wish we could reach them, help them.

RAMIRO:
We will, Clara. In time.

CLARA:
Can't we fly down there? You should have special clearance, right?

RAMIRO:
Clara—

CLARA:
I just want to know they're okay. I want to see for myself what's happened.

RAMIRO:
The kids have school. We've got work. And we should go down when we're able to help in some way. What's up with you two? What's that look about?

BENI:
Nothing.

ALEXA:
Twin thing.

CLARA:
We'll never understand these twin things, Rami.

RAMIRO:
Of course not. Love you. Muah.

ALEXA | BENI | CLARA:
Love you. | See you. | Safe home.

The computer sounds with an emergency alert.

COMPUTER:
Alert from The Forecast Station OnDemand.

CLARA:
Another alert? // So soon?

WEATHER REPORTER:
We're back with a local advisory. The New York City metro area is under an extreme weather watch. Many of the counties affected by last night’s storm should expect more rain, lightning, and localized flooding. This system should reach northern New Jersey in about an hour.

The computer sounds with an emergency alert.

FLASHBACK

HORACIO:
The weather will guide you.

FLASHBACK END.

CLARA:
I'll get the flashlights. Just in case. While I do that, why don't you two set the table? Dinner's almost ready.

ALEXA:
Beni?

BENI:
Yeah?

ALEXA:
Horacio says we can't change the past, but —

BENI:
Maybe there's a loophole.

ALEXA:
Exactly.

BENI:
You're finally ready?

ALEXA:
Where's the barometer?

BENI:
In my room.

ALEXA:
Good. According to the report, we've got an hour before the storm comes.

BENI:
Wait a minute. We should eat dinner first.

ALEXA:
Good idea. Fuel up. Then we'll meet in your room.

NARRATOR:
One hour later.

The barometer buzzes.

ALEXA:
There it is: the sound of tempus!

BENI:
It’s glowing purple! It's time. Ready?

ALEXA:
I'm so ready.

CLARA knocks in the door.

CLARA:
(through the door) Beni? Have you seen your sister?

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

2017. INSIDE THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land.

HORACIO:
Alexa! Beni! You made it! Welcome back.

A dramatic thunderclap.

MUSIC: "IN THE TIMESTORM" (INSTRUMENTAL)

NARRATION:
This episode of Timestorm was written by Dania Ramos with audio engineering, sound design, and original music by Michael Aquino. The role of Alexa Ventura was played by Leilany Figueroa. Beni Ventura was played by Claudio Venancio. Horacio Méndez was played by Orlando Segarra. Ramiro Ventura was played by Walter Rodriguez. Clara Ventura was played by Jennica Carmona. Janelly was played by Frances Ramos. Sonia was played by Jessica Bracken. Datu Ancheta was played by Joel Arandia. Thad was play by Philipe AbiYouness. This episode also featured Christine Mariani, Alexis Pérez, and Emily Smith.

It's time for our Listener Share-out! Here's a community share-out sent in by Liliana from New Jersey.

LILIANA:
Hi. My name is Liliana and I am ten years old. I would like to tell you about a time where I helped out in my community. It was around Christmas time when you would usually write a letter to Santa Claus. When writing my letter, I thought about how many toys and stuff I had. I didn't really want much. I was happy with what I had. It got me thinking about the kids who didn't have much. Eventually, I decided to ask Santa Claus to bring me many different things, of which I decided to donate to homeless kids, or kids' families who don't have enough money to buy these things on their own. A few days before Christmas, Santa Claus gave me these things I asked for. It felt really good to be helping out in my community. What can you do for your community.

NARRATION:
Thank you for being so kind and generous, Liliana!

Hey, listeners, we want to feature your voice in an upcoming episode! You can learn more about how to submit a Share-out by visiting Timestorm Series dot com.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media and is a proud member of TRAX from PRX. Support for TRAX comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. To learn more about TRAX, visit TRAX dot fm: that’s t-r-a-x-dot fm. Additional support comes from the PRX Google Podcasts creator program.

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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.