Our heroes are bored.
Transcript is below the cut!
Transcript provided by Ria Couoh.
**************
(00:00) INTRO:
HANNAH
Hi, everyone! Hannah here, popping by to tell you once again about a show I love: Play On Podcasts.
Play On features incredibly talented playwrights, directors, composers and actors adapting Shakespeare specifically for audio drama and into more modern English.
You want Macbeth? They’ve got it! Midsummer Night’s Dream? They’ve done that too! Personally, I’ve been loving their all-women version of Coriolanus, it’s one of my favorites.
Check out Play On Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts!
It’s Shakespeare like you’ve never heard it before.
And now, let’s go to the Inn!
(00:29): PREVIOUSLY ON…
TESSA
Previously on Inn Between…
Inn Between theme plays in the background.
TODE
It seems the other groups of adventurers have fallen behind or given up.
CASTOR
Except for Cybilene, Max and Killiker.
KNOWLES
If they got a look at our map, they know all our shortcuts.
(worriedly)
We might not get to the Gem first.
ROSIE
They might not know all our shortcuts.
Inn Between theme fades.
(01:28) THE TRAVEL GAME.
Several set of footsteps over stone.
Note: voices of the characters echo slightly throughout the episode.
KNOWLES
You’re sure this is a shortcut?
ROSIE
That’s what my sister said! And… then we’ll be back out on the surface!
ZARA
(tiredly)
Never thought I’d miss the sun so much.
CASTOR
I could take or leave the sun, but scenery would be nice.
ZARA
Yep, this sure is a cave!
TODE
(brightly)
But there’s plenty to see! I’ve met six new slime molds since we set off this morning!
ROSIE
Good to know someone’s making friends!
KNOWLES
Can I at least get a time estimate?
ROSIE
Uh… Another half hour. Tops.
KNOWLES
Alright, I can live with that.
ZARA
(groans)
KNOWLES
(amused)
Can you not live with that, Zara?
ZARA
Is anyone besides me just incredibly tired of all this?
CASTOR
You’re… bored?
ROSIE
Well, if you’re bored…
ZARA
I said tired, not bored—
ROSIE
(pointedly)
If you’re bored, then maybe it’s time for…
Rosie rubs her palms together.
ROSIE
A travel game!
ZARA
(another, deeper groan)
KNOWLES
Can we play something new this time?
CASTOR
Yeah, this particular tunnel isn’t very conducive to Eye Spy.
TODE
Surely, you’re joking! The slime molds have plenty of potential!
ROSIE
We can play a new game! I’ve been saving this one anyway.
(slowly and dramatically)
The name of the game is…
Truth… or Dare.
KNOWLES
(gasp)
(delighted)
Ooh, excellent!
ZARA
(sarcastic)
Great.
TODE
How does one play this game?
ROSIE
When it’s your turn, you ask someone if they choose truth or dare.
If they say truth, then you get to ask them a question and they have to answer truthfully. If they say dare, then you issue a challenge, and they have to do it!
TODE
Hm, who do I ask?
ROSIE
Anyone you want!
ZARA
Let’s get this over with, I guess.
ROSIE
Why don’t we do a round youngest to oldest? Just so Tode gets the idea?
ZARA
I hate you… so much.
ROSIE
I know!
ZARA
(with an annoyed sigh)
Fine.
Knowles, truth or dare?
KNOWLES
Dare, of course!
ZARA
I dare you… to do something illegal.
KNOWLES
W—what? Here? In a cave?
ZARA
Yeah.
KNOWLES
How?
ZARA
I’m sure you’ll figure something out!
CASTOR
What’s the rule for when the dare is… something impossible?
ROSIE
Usually that means Zara would have to ask again.
KNOWLES
Wait, no. Hang on.
Fabric and buckles shuffle.
CASTOR
You’re not going to… attack someone with your greave…
(nervous)
Are you?
KNOWLES
(amused)
No, I wouldn’t do that. Here.
Five consecutive clangs as metal hits stone.
KNOWLES
(sigh)
There! You will note that now the greave is scratched and dented.
ZARA
(skeptical)
How is that illegal?
ROSIE
(pointedly)
Besides being really loud in a cave, which is… kind of a no-no.
KNOWLES
This armor isn’t technically mine. It belongs to the Guard, to the Crown.
(smug)
So, that was vandalism!
ROSIE
(loudly)
Oh!
ZARA
That barely counts!
KNOWLES
This is the first vandalism I’ve done in years.
ROSIE
Be honest. You kind of missed it.
KNOWLES
Hm… All I’m thinking about is how it’s not going to fit right.
Shuffling of buckles and fabric.
KNOWLES
(sigh)
Alright.
Castor, truth or dare?
CASTOR
Uh, dare…? I guess?
KNOWLES
Fun.
(thoughtfully)
I dare you to… cast the biggest spell you have.
CASTOR
Oh, uhm…
Sure! Okay.
ROSIE
I’m dead serious, not something loud?
CASTOR
I’m not about to cause a cave-in, don’t worry.
Castor rubs his palms together.
CASTOR
(sigh)
Uhm…
Yeah, here’s a psychic one I’ve been working on.
ZARA
Careful whose brain you’re messing with.
CASTOR
Oh, don’t worry. It’s not going to be harmful.
A high-pitched magical ping as though a projector has turned on.
Several different birds chirp and call in the distance. Voices stop echoing.
Footsteps stop.
KNOWLES
Whoa!
TODE
Goodness me!
ZARA
Is this… Hallucinatory Terrain?
CASTOR
Uh, yeah!
TODE
(softly, impressed)
It even smells like the woods.
ROSIE
Castor! It’s beautiful!
CASTOR
Oh, thanks!
KNOWLES
I had… no idea you could do this! It could come in handy.
CASTOR
Well, heh, I can do it like twice.
Footsteps resume.
KNOWLES
Noted.
Bird calls fade away and echoes resume.
CASTOR
Uhm, Rosie’s turn?
ROSIE
Yep! Give me your best shot!
CASTOR
Okay.
Truth or dare?
ROSIE
Dare!
CASTOR
Okay, let me think.
ROSIE
Hope it’s a good one!
KNOWLES
Our expectations are sky high.
CASTOR
(snort)
Gods, don’t say—
(breathy chuckle)
Don’t say that.
Uhm… You can’t do magic, right?
ROSIE
Alas, no.
CASTOR
I dare you to do something that looks like magic.
ROSIE
Ooh!
KNOWLES
Ooh, this should be good.
ROSIE
Mm…
(gasp)
Oh, okay, I’ve got something! You all ready?
CASTOR
Ready—
(confused)
O—oh!
TODE
(startled)
Uh—My word!
KNOWLES
R—Rosie? Where are you?
ROSIE
(echoing)
Wouldn’t you like to know?
(sing-song)
Ooh!
CASTOR
You have to be casting Blink or something!
ZARA
No, she’s not.
ROSIE
(regular tone)
Nope!
Yells from the cast.
ROSIE
(laughs)
(pleased)
I didn’t know any of you could jump that high!
CASTOR
Alright, that definitely looked like magic! Great job.
ROSIE
Thank you, thank you! My turn now!
Tode, truth or dare?
TODE
Just to be different… I will choose truth.
ROSIE
Oh, boo.
Okay, uhm… Do…
(gasp)
(excitedly)
Do animals talk about us behind our backs?
KNOWLES
Ooh, interesting!
TODE
Not everything is about us, you know.
ROSIE
So, they don’t?
TODE
I suppose it depends on the context. Most of the time, animals don’t care about you and… just ignore you.
KNOWLES
What about when they don’t?
TODE
That also depends on the context!
Some see you as a danger, some simply acknowledge your presence… these slime molds, for example.
ZARA
(disbelieving)
What have slime molds possibly got to say about us?
TODE
Oh, something to the effect of…
“These creatures have many fewer legs than usual.”
CASTOR
(disgusted groan)
KNOWLES
(regretting everything)
Now, there’s a truth I wish I… didn’t know.
ZARA
I thought your sister said this shortcut was safe.
ROSIE
She said it was fine.
(mutters)
Which… I’m now realizing technically is not the same…
(brightly)
But it’s fine!
ZARA
(with fake cheer)
Wow, that makes me feel so much better!
ROSIE
You’re… just trying to delay the inevitable by starting an argument with me!
ZARA
(indignant scoff)
ROSIE
Go ahead, Tode!
TODE
Oh, very well!
Truth or dare, Zara?
ZARA
Dare.
TODE
I dare you… to tell the truth!
ZARA
What?
CASTOR
That can’t be fair.
ROSIE
Hm, let’s take it to the judges!
A pause. Footsteps continue.
KNOWLES
Wait, am I “the judges”?
ROSIE
(snorts)
(fondly)
You’re the judgiest person here!
KNOWLES
(laughs)
Touché.
Uhm… You know what? I want to hear the question!
ZARA
Come on!
KNOWLES
If it’s truly awful, you… don’t have to answer it. How about that?
ROSIE
(disappointed)
Aw!
ZARA
(sighs)
Fine.
TODE
Now, you said once that you have no friends, and another time that you did not like us.
ZARA
Yes?
TODE
My question is…
Have you changed your mind?
Pause.
ZARA
Yes.
ROSIE
(excitedly)
Yay!
CASTOR
Aw, that’s really nice, Zara!
ZARA
Shut up, all of you.
I can pick whoever I want this round, right?
ROSIE
Uh… yes.
ZARA
Okay.
Castor, truth or dare?
CASTOR
(a little pained)
Mm…
(hesitant)
Truth…?
ZARA
What is it that you asked for in exchange for your soul?
ROSIE
(in complete disbelief)Wow, Zara. Wow.
ZARA
Nothing’s off limits, right?
ROSIE
Castor, you’re allowed to pick dare if you don’t want to answer.
CASTOR
No, uh, it’s okay. It’s just… embarrassing.
KNOWLES
I thought you already told us the answer to this question. It was knowledge, right?
CASTOR
The information was part of the deal, but… Uhm…
(takes a breath)
(slowly, picking words carefully)
When I went in, I thought I could just… talk to him. Talk to the Gray One? I wouldn’t need to cut a deal; it was just going to be an interview!
And then he… offered me more.
ZARA
What could he possibly offer that would be worth your soul?
CASTOR
You know, I used to be so paranoid.
It’s… It’s fear, really, just… fear.
Because… when you study evil, you get to the point where you know how easy it is to just slip into it, or let it find you.
So, I asked him to protect my family. Especially my brother.
ROSIE
(softly)
Did he do it?
CASTOR
(thoughtfully, considering)
Mm… maybe. Nothing… happened to them. And we did have a pretty good year, but…
I… don’t know.
ZARA
You can’t prove a negative.
CASTOR
Exactly.
Sadiyah was right, I was just paying protection money to a gangster.
TODE
(firmly)
You are not anymore.
CASTOR
No. No, I’m not!
ZARA
But you’re still not going home?
CASTOR
(sigh)
I have… no idea how to explain myself.
ROSIE
(commiserating)
I know that feeling.
CASTOR
(exhausted)
Yeah…
(beat)
(normal tone)
Hey, Knowles. Truth or dare?
KNOWLES
Seems only fair that I choose truth.
CASTOR
Oh! I… didn’t expect that.
KNOWLES
(laughs)
Come on, hit me with something good.
CASTOR
Uh…
(sigh)
Oh, I don’t know. Tell us a secret.
ROSIE
(gasp)
(interested)
Ooh!
KNOWLES
O… kay…
Wait, what constitutes a secret?
ZARA
Something nobody knows?
TODE
Everything is known by something.
ZARA
(dryly)
Something only known by Knowles, then.
KNOWLES
Alright? Uhm…
(beat)
(softly, almost hesitant)
I’m thinking about… quitting the Guard.
ROSIE
What?
CASTOR
Really?
ZARA
Why?
KNOWLES
I mean, you said it, Zara.
I never really joined up for the right reasons. I spent years just… not thinking about consequences because… because it was easy.
And now I… don’t know if I should go back.
ROSIE
You don’t… have to do things just because they’re hard.
KNOWLES
No, but the hard thing is also the right thing… with alarming frequency.
ZARA
What are the odds?
TODE
Have you come to a decision?
KNOWLES
No.
(quietly)
I’m not sure what I’ll do.
(beat)
(normal tone)
Hey, Zara. Truth or dare?
ZARA
Dare. And if you try to twist this one on me, I swear to every god—
KNOWLES
I dare you to show us exactly what you’re capable of.
ZARA
(wary)
What?
KNOWLES
I dare you to actually let loose. Show off some sorcery!
Footsteps stop.
ZARA
(furious disbelief)
You want me… to lose control?
ROSIE
(nervously)
Okay, hang on! Maybe not… lose control, like, completely?
CASTOR
Relaxed control?
KNOWLES
No. I want you to let it all hang out.
TODE
Is there a rule about dares that may be dangerous to bystanders?
CASTOR
(seriously)
There should be.
ZARA
(with increasing anger)
You don’t know what you’re asking. Take it back.
KNOWLES
No.
ZARA
Why do you want me to do this?
KNOWLES
You’ve pulled every punch I’ve ever seen you throw.
It’s no wonder you’re angry! You’ve got all kinds of excess energy.
ZARA
That’s not why I’m angry.
TODE
Uhm… Excuse me, friends?
KNOWLES
You can keep your secrets. This is dare, not truth. As for the dare…
ZARA
(emphasizing every word)
I don’t want to.
KNOWLES
So, you’re chickening out.
ZARA
You’re one to talk about cowardice!
TODE
My friends, I know you can’t hear the slime molds, but surely you can hear me—
KNOWLES
I should say so!
That’s what happens when you lose control, you get afraid.
ZARA
Don’t you throw my words back at me!
KNOWLES
I wouldn’t have to, if you’d buck up and—
ZARA
(yelling)
(pained)
I don’t want to hurt you, okay?
TODE
(loudly)
If I could have your attention?
ROSIE
Please, Tode, say your thing?
TODE
(slightly panicked)
Apparently the multilegged denizens of this tunnel are quite close.
CASTOR
How close?
Hundreds of soft, tiny steps and chitters in the distance, slowly increasing in volume.
TODE
Getting closer.
ROSIE
Leaping Lolth! Cave centipedes!
CASTOR
Uh, how big are cave centipedes?
ROSIE
Pretty big…?
KNOWLES
Zara, I’m sorry.
ROSIE
Is now really the time?
KNOWLES
I… didn’t know what it meant to you.
ZARA
(guarded, dismissive)
I’m with Rosie, we can do this later.
KNOWLES
Fine.
Just know that I trust you not to hurt anyone, or I wouldn’t have asked.
ZARA
(caught off-guard)
You do?
KNOWLES
Of course.
ROSIE
Guys?
ZARA
You trust… me?
KNOWLES
You’ve never given me a reason not to, and plenty of reasons to trust you.
TODE
Do we have any tactical plans or recommendations?
ROSIE
Oh, this is why Mother always said never go into this tunnel system…
ZARA
(still surprised)
You’re not joking.
KNOWLES
About this? Never.
CASTOR
(panicked)
Please tell me we didn’t come all this way just to get eaten by cave centipedes!
KNOWLES
Okay, alright, let’s go.
Metallic sound as they unsheathe their sword.
KNOWLES
Anyone feel like taking point?
ZARA
Me.
KNOWLES
Oh?
ZARA
(determined)
You dared me, after all.
ROSIE
(thrilled)
You’re going to do it?
ZARA
You should probably stay behind me.
Footsteps.
KNOWLES
As soon as she’s cast what she’s going to, I’ll go in for melee against whatever’s left.
You three cover me?
ROSIE
(delighted)
Absolutely.
CASTOR
(relieved)
Thank the gods! Yes! Okay!
TODE
(brimming with excitement)
Go, Zara! Unleash your nature-like fury! Show us what kind of hell you can deal!
ZARA
(satisfied)
Hm, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
The chitters grow much louder.
Loud whoosh as fire magic flares.
ZARA
Ready?
KNOWLES
Let’s go.
(16:08) OUTRO:
(16:08) NEXT TIME ON…
Inn Between theme plays in the background.
TESSA
Next time, on Inn Between…
CASTOR
The Glacial Caverns are just ahead, right?
ZARA
I think at this point we’re ready for a dungeon.
ROSIE
Oh, you think so?
Deep, throaty growl of a beast.
Crackling of stone.
Loud metallic crash.
ROSIE
You really think so?
(16:34) CREDITS:
HANNAH
This episode, “The Travel Game”, was written and directed by Hannah Wright with assistant director William Wright. The show is produced and edited by Katherine Ayers.
The voice of Castor is Caleb Del Rio. The voice Zara is Quin Leigh. The voice of Tode is Anthony Morales. The voice of Rosie is Lucille Valentine. The voice Knowles is JV Hampton-VanSant.
Our theme song is by Eli Hamada McIlveen and our artwork is by Gabrielle Buxman. Our transcriber is Ria Couoh.
Transcripts for this and every episode can be found on our website, thegoblinshead.com.
Find and follow us on Twitter, @inn_between_. Or support us on Patreon, at patreon.com/thegoblinshead.
If you like the show, play two truths and a lie in character at your next D&D game! Or leave us a review.
Thanks for listening!
Music ends.
HANNAH
This story was created in the traditional territory of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute peoples, and edited in the unceded territory of the Salish, Kootenai, and Kalispel peoples.
AD BREAK.
POST-CREDITS:
Background sounds of tavern.
Door creaks open.
ROSIE
Hi Tessa!
TODE
(happily)
Evening, Tessa.
TESSA
(horrified)
Oh, my word, what are you covered in?
You’re tracking goo all over the floor, you… And why do you all smell like toast?
Background sounds of tavern fade away.
EPISODE ENDS.