Minisode: Adiós

NARRATION
Previously, on Timestorm: 

HORACIO
Now, I exist in this timestorm. I can't go back. / I miss Puerto Rico. I never had a chance to say goodbye.

***

GAEL
I’m proud of you, mijo. So’s your Abuelo.

HORACIO AT 18
Why’d you have to bring him up?

GAEL
I wish the two of you would have made peace while you were home. You’re off to the School of Infantry and who knows where to next?

***

ATABEY
You have retrieved the artifact.

ALEXA
Two artifacts. The arrowhead and—

BENI
The container from the Mount Britton Tower.

HORACIO
The one my father hid.

ATABEY
Artifact cloud: emerge.

ARTIFACT CLOUD EMERGES.

HORACIO
Atabey. Let me keep this container. It was meant for me. 

ATABEY
Artifacts attained.

THE ARROWHEAD GOES INTO THE CLOUD.

BENI
There goes the arrowhead.

HORACIO
Wait! The container—

THE ARTIFACT CLOUD WOBBLES.

ALEXA
Do you feel that tug?

THE ARTIFACT CLOUD PULLS IN THE TWINS AND HORACIO.

BENI
Where are we? 

HORACIO
Inside the artifact cloud. 

ALEXA | BENI
Horacio— | Whoa—

THERE IS A STRANGE WHOOSH.

HORACIO
Beni? Alexa?

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.

1967. THE WOODS / ABUELO’S SHED / THE SHORE. GUAYAMA, PR.

HORACIO LANDS WITH A JOLT IN THE WOODS.

HORACIO
Beni? Alexa? Where are my cousins?

HORACIO GRABS A HANDFUL OF SOIL.

HORACIO
Dirt.

BIRDS CHIRP ABOVE.

HORACIO
Birds. Trees.

HORACIO INHALES DEEPLY.

HORACIO
Earth.

HORACIO INHALES AS HE STANDS.

HORACIO
Mi tierra. This is supposed to be impossible. But I really am here.

HORACIO OPENS THE CONTAINER IN HIS HAND.

HORACIO
I’ve still got Abuelo’s container in my hand.

HORACIO PUTS THE CONTAINER IN HIS POCKET AND PATS IT.

HORACIO
I better keep it safe in my pocket.

HORACIO TAKES A COUPLE OF STEPS.

HORACIO
I know these woods. Abuelo’s shed is—

HORACIO TURNS.

HORACIO
This way.

MUSIC: NOTES ON A CUATRO AS...
HORACIO RUNS THROUGH THE WOODS.

HORACIO
(laughing Mi tierra! Woohoo!

HORACIO REACHES THE SHED.

FLASHBACK:

GAEL
Almost there, Horacio. Ahora, step up.

YOUNG HORACIO CLIMBS A COUPLE OF STEPS.

YOUNG HORACIO
You don’t have to cover my eyes, Papi. I can tell we’re at Abuelo’s shed.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

HORACIO CLIMBS A COUPLE OF STEPS AND OPENS THE DOOR.

HORACIO
Abuelo? Abuelo? You’re not here.

HORACIO STEPS INTO THE SHED. HE INHALES DEEPLY.

HORACIO
I know the smell of this place.

FLASHBACK:

JORGE
Oh sí? And what does it smell like?

YOUNG HORACIO
Wood, fire, and metal.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

HORACIO
(Overlapping) Wood, fire, and metal.

HORACIO STEPS TOWARDS A DESK AND BRUSHES HIS HANDS AGAINST IT.

HORACIO
Ay, Abuelo. Here’s the desk where you’d draw your designs and do your metalwork. The shelf where you’d keep your tool case and the barometer you made me.

FLASHBACK:

YOUNG HORACIO
What’s that on the shelf, Abuelo?

JORGE
A handheld barometer.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

HORACIO CHECKS THE ITEMS ON THE SHELF.

HORACIO
It’s not on the shelf. Huh. What year is it?

HORACIO STEPS BACK TOWARDS THE DESK.

HORACIO
What year, what year, what year, what year...

HORACIO LIFTS A NEWSPAPER.

HORACIO
Nineteen sixty-seven. The day I left for the School of Infantry.

FLASHBACK:

GAEL
I told you he’s proud of you. Even gave you his prized barometer.

HORACIO AT 18
Maybe I’ll call Abuelo before I leave tonight. Thank him for the gift.

FLASHBACK ENDS.

HORACIO
I never got you on the phone that day, Abuelo. Never said goodbye. But I can do it now.

HORACIO WALKS TOWARDS THE SHED ENTRANCE.

HORACIO
I can walk to the house and see you—

THE CONTAINER MAKES A STRANGE SOUND.

HORACIO
Argh! What is pulling back? Why can’t I just— Fine. All right. I won’t go to the house. But I’m gonna write my goodbye.

HORACIO WALKS TOWARDS THE DESK. HE GRABS A PENCIL AND PAPER.
MUSIC: NOTES ON A CUATRO AS…
HORACIO WRITES A FAREWELL TO HIS GRANDFATHER HE FOLDS THE PAPER AND TUCKS IT UNDER THE NEWSPAPER.

HORACIO
Adiós, Abuelo.

HORACIO WALKS OUT OF THE SHED. COQUIS CROAK.

HORACIO
It’s dusk. The sunset.

MUSIC: NOTES ON A CUATRO AS...
HORACIO RUNS FROM THE SHED. HE APPROACHES THE OCEAN.

HORACIO
(laughing) Oh, there it is! There it is. Salt in the air.

HORACIO RUNS ONTO THE BEACH.

HORACIO
Oh. Sand! The sea.

HORACIO TEARS OFF HIS BOOTS AND WALKS INTO THE WATER.

HORACIO
The sea. The sun sinking into the water. Always felt like magic. Adiós, adiós—

MUSIC: NOTES ON A CUATRO INTO A SOFT WHOOSH.

MUSIC: THEME SONG "IN THE TIMESTORM" (INSTRUMENTAL).

NARRATION
This minisode of Timestorm was written by me, Dania Ramos. Sound design and original music by Michael Aquino.

The role of Horacio Méndez and Horacio at 18 was played by Orlando Segarra. This episode also featured Luis Bermúdez, Robert Asencio, and Aaron Catano-Saez. The guest musician was Gabriel Muñoz.

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. Learn more about t-r-a-x-dot fm.

All episodes of Timestorm are available at TimestormSeries dot com and on all podcast apps. If you enjoy the show, please share it with two friends.

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.