Our heroes lend a helping hand.
Transcript is below the cut!
INTRO (00:00):
TESSA
Previously on Inn Between…
Inn Between theme plays in the background.
TODE
I’m feeling very at home in these woods.
ZARA
That makes one of us.
CASTOR
Do you know how easy it would be to get lost?
TODE
Nonsense! Who could possibly get lost? Such a lovely…
NIB
(a child)
(crying)
Excuse me… Can you help me?
Inn Between theme fades away.
Background sounds of tavern.
Door creaks open and closed.
KNOWLES
Okay, Nib. What exactly did your mother tell you to do?
NIB
She said to get somewhere safe and stay put, and she’ll find me.
TODE
Then I don’t understand why you would not stay where we found you.
NIB
(disbelieving)
In the woods? In the dark?
ROSIE
Don’t mind him, sweetie. He was raised by wolves.
NIB
I don’t understand…
ZARA
You don’t have to. All you need to know is that your mother’s going to find you, and we’ll be here until she does.
KNOWLES
What’s your mother look like, Nib?
NIB
Like… a mother…?
CASTOR
(sarcastic)
Helpful!
ROSIE
Cool, fun.
(beat)
I’m going to go get something to eat.
ZARA
(incredulous and derisive)
Are you kidding me?
A pause.
ROSIE
Uh… What?
ZARA
You’re just going to walk away?
ROSIE
(more and more confused)
For a second…? To get something to eat? Do you… want something?
ZARA
Guess I should’ve known.
ROSIE
What is going on here? Do you want my help?
KNOWLES
(uhm, now is not the time)
Ladies… Can we put… whatever this is on hold, for a moment?
ROSIE
(pointedly)
I don’t even know what I’m doing!
ZARA
Of course you don’t.
ROSIE
(increasingly frustrated)
What do you want from me?
CASTOR
(placating, nervous)
Hey, maybe… Maybe not in front of the child?
A pause.
TODE
(distracting)
Young Nib, do you live in the woods then, like a sensible person? Or on a farm of some sort?
NIB
My family travels. We’re merchants.
KNOWLES
I see how one could get lost that way.
NIB
Do you live in the woods?
TODE
(sincerely)
Yes, like a sensible person.
NIB
(laughs)
TODE
That… wasn’t a joke.
ROSIE
(back to her usual nice tone)
Where do you travel, Nib?
NIB
All over!
ROSIE
What’s the best place?
NIB
(thoughtful)
Uhm… I like it when we go to the capitol, on the midsummer festival!
ROSIE
Oh, that’s so much fun! Me too!
MOM
(distantly)
Nib!
NIB
Mamma!
MOM
(close now)
Oh, Nib.
Clothes rustle. A hug.
MOM
I was so worried! Are you alright?
NIB
I’m okay. These nice people helped me!
KNOWLES
She was just a little lost in the woods.
MOM
Thank you so much. I don’t know how to repay you!
ZARA
Not necessary.
KNOWLES
We were glad to lend a hand.
MOM
Thank you. Come now, Nib.
NIB
(fading out)
Mamma, that gnome was raised by wolves!
MOM
Don’t be rude, dear.
Door creaks open and shut.
A pause.
ROSIE
So, Zara…
ZARA
I realize my reaction was unreasonable, and I don’t wanna talk about it.
Chair scoots.
ROSIE
But like… what was that?
ZARA
(snappish)
Don’t act like you actually care.
ROSIE
(frustrated again)
Oh my gods, what is your problem?
ZARA
(angry, mocking sneer)
You’re just so nice all the time, aren’t you? But as soon as someone doesn’t like you, suddenly the problem is with them! Because it couldn’t possibly be you.
ROSIE
(has reached her wits’ end)
I don’t know, Zara! I get along with… basically everyone! Except for you! You’re mean! And… sarcastic!
ZARA
(high-pitched, mocking tone)
At least I don’t go around being all sunshine and roses!
(coldly)
Fake and pathetic.
ROSIE
(defensive)
I’m… I’m not…!
(low)
That’s cruel.
ZARA
(fake pity)
Aw, did I strike a nerve?
TODE
(mildly)
You know, you two are remarkably similar.
ZARA
(over Rosie)
(offended)
Excuse me?
ROSIE
(over Zara)
(equally disbelieving)
What?
TODE
It’s interesting, actually.
ROSIE AND ZARA
(simultaneously)
I am nothing like her.
A long pause of realization.
ZARA
Ugh. Whatever.
ROSIE
I can’t believe you’d say that.
KNOWLES
(curious and slightly baffled)
Oh, well, now I have to know why, Tode.
TODE
(not malicious)
Ah, don’t you see? Both of them wish to control what people think of them and spend a great deal of energy doing so. It’s only their tactics that vary.
ROSIE
(stunned)
Tactics?
ZARA
(defensive)
You don’t know what you’re talking about.
TODE
Are you not rude and sometimes cruel to people so that if they do not like you, it is somewhat under your control?
ZARA
(speechless because he is right)
I… I’m… You…
TODE
And the more they try, the more you push back.
ROSIE
Is that true?
TODE
Is it true that you want so much for people to like you that you place an outsized portion of your personality in being likable and nice?
A pause as everyone processes this call out.
CASTOR
(softly)
Wow.
KNOWLES
(a little awkward)
Maybe that was a little too insightful.
TODE
(surprised, sincere)
Was it? My apologies!
Another pause.
ZARA
(slowly, without any venom, almost vulnerable)
People… don’t like me, alright? If it’s not because I’m a tiefling, it’s because I’m a sorcerer. Or it’s something else. So…
(scoff)
Why bother?
ROSIE
(quietly)
I like you.
ZARA
(disbelieving)
Do you really?
ROSIE
(still soft spoken)
Well… Well, okay, not all the time? You don’t make it easy.
ZARA
Obviously.
(beat)
You don’t have to be nice to me. It’s a waste of your effort.
ROSIE
But look…!
(pause)
Maybe I care too much about what other people think. But I want… I want to be kind. I didn’t… use to be and… I didn’t like the person I was when I wasn’t. Kind, that is.
(pause)
Maybe I overcorrected.
ZARA
Real kindness isn’t just… nice.
ROSIE
(a little stronger now)
I know that! I… don’t always… remember that. But I know.
ZARA
(beat)
I can’t stand to watch it.
ROSIE
Watch me… be nice?
ZARA
You just… open yourself up for hurt. Over and over again.
ROSIE
Sure, but… Sometimes, it’s worth it.
(beat)
Sometimes it’s… Really worth it.
ZARA
Then you’re still wasting your time with me. I don’t want your fake kindness.
ROSIE
(sincere)
Understood. Real kindness only for Zara. The genuine article.
ZARA
I don’t need that from you.
ROSIE
(teasing)
Really, you’re doing me a favor. Reminding me to be authentic in the way I treat people?
(with emphasis)
I really owe you one.
ZARA
Ugh.
KNOWLES
(laughs)
(laughter dies out, they clear their throat)
Mm.
ZARA
Just… don’t expect me to be your friend.
ROSIE
Fair. Don’t expect me not to be yours.
ZARA
(without as much bite)
Fine.
KNOWLES
(breaking the serious mood)
Well! Glad that worked out!
CASTOR
Tode… How did you know? That they… had that in common?
TODE
(simply)
All creatures have defense mechanisms.
CASTOR
(well, that’s off-putting)
Do they?
ROSIE
(done with this, really)
Well… I would love to stop talking about us now.
ZARA
There is something we agree on.
ROSIE
(jokingly)
Well look at that, we did it!
Chair scoots.
ROSIE
If it’s okay with you… I think I’ll get something to eat…
ZARA
I told you, I know I overreacted—
ROSIE
(gently)
Do you want anything?
ZARA
Oh.
(recovering her composure)
No.
ROSIE
Anyone else?
KNOWLES
Yeah, I’m starved! Here.
Coins clink.
ROSIE
Thank you!
Steps going away.
KNOWLES
(teasing)
I bet you a gold piece you two are friends by the end of the summer.
ZARA
You realize you are making an impossible bet? I thought you were good at reading odds.
KNOWLES
I’m great at it! But… I like a longshot, sometimes.
ZARA
(mocking)
Then you’ve got a bet.
KNOWLES
(chuckles)
Excellent.
Tavern sounds fade away.
OUTRO (08:39):
Inn Between theme plays in the background.
TESSA
Next time, on Inn Between…
CASTOR
There’s still too much we don’t know.
ZARA
There has to be someone who knows something more about Belling.
TODE
But who?
CREDITS (08:53):
HANNAH
This episode, “The Child”, 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 of Zara is Quin Leigh. The voice of Tode is Anthony Morales. The voice of Rosie is Lucille Valentine. The voice of Knowles is JV Hampton-VanSant. The voice of Tessa is Hannah Wright.
This episode featured the voices of special guests: Raven James as Nib and Mandi Kaye as Mom.
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, patreon.com/thegoblinshead.
If you like the show, take up the life of a wandering poet, traveling the world and only losing the occasional child. Or leave us a review.
Thanks for listening!
Music ends.
POST-CREDITS (09:55):
Tavern noises fade in.
TESSA
Yes, yes, the woods are lovely, dark and deep. Promises, miles to go before you sleep, etc., I understand all of that, but you still have to pay your bill.
Tavern noises fade out. End episode.