TRANSCRIPT
[intro]
ELY: Recovery from disaster is long, arduous, and complex, especially when corporations move in to take over your home, transforming it into something you don’t recognize. Join Bianca as she returns to Meteor City, right here on Radio Drama Revival
[theme music – smooth, jazzy horns playing a mellow, sultry tune that fades out gradually as Elena speaks]
ELY: Hello, and welcome to Radio Drama Revival, the podcast that showcases the diversity and vitality of modern audio fiction. I’m your host, Elena Fernandez Collins. Today, experience the first episode of Meteor City, an alternate history science-fiction podcast, in our showcase; next time, return to join us for the creator interview with Madelyn Dorta.
ELY: In an alternate universe, a meteor shower struck the city of Detroit in 2008, devastating it almost entirely and creating an enormous community of refugees and so-called rejects. Bianca, ten years after the meteor struck, is returning to the home where she grew up and the New Detroit built in her absence, only to discover that nothing is what it appears or is said to be.
ELY: She’s barred from visiting certain sections of Meteor City, even her own house, because they’re owned by someone else and she’s trespassing in her own home. Meteor City speaks to our very real problems of gentrification and social crisis in the wake of vulnerable communities left to die or fend for themselves when they can no longer live in the places where they have flourished all their lives. It’s a vision of a city in turmoil accessible to people everywhere who have had to watch as a Whole Foods goes up where local shops used to be, as corporations and their staff move in and drive rent up, drive property prices up, drive local goods’ costs up, and drive the community out.
ELY: Settle in and meet Bianca, vlogger and new podcaster, in episode one: Patty Melt.
ELY: Please be aware the following episode contains discussion and portrayal of a community post-natural disaster.
[Meteor City, episode 1 ‘Patty Melt’ begins]
INT. BIANCA’S BEDROOM – DAY
Youtube Intro. ACOUSTIC SONGS (TYPICAL YOUTUBE INTRO SONG)
BIANCA
Hi guys, it’s ya girl Bianca… In
my last video, I got real with you
guys and I am about to again.
EXT. CITY PARK – DAY
CUT TO ANOTHER VIDEO SCENE..outdoor environment, soft
atmosphere sounds.
BIANCA
Hey guys, I had something planned
for this video but honestly..I
don’t have the energy to fake this
shit today. I don’t want to do
this anymore. I am just over it.
When I was just out of college, I
started this channel..I wanted to
tell stories, I wanted to find a
way to connect with people and
connect with the world.
But somewhere along the way it
turned into top five restaurants
in Toronto, the best way to pack a
carry on..I’ve spent the better
part of four years making shit
content, I am not proud of it.
(Paused, sigh) I feel so stuck and
just I’m tired..really tired and I
just wanted to go home…that’s
it..
(Deep sigh)
Home..I’m going home.
(Frustrated & emotional)
I’d like to just say thank you,
thank you to those who reached out
to me and sent me words of comfort
and who showed concern, I
appreciate it. I was being a bit
melodramatic yes, but it was the
truth. I am have been unhappy for
a while and I didn’t want to admit
it to myself because there really
isn’t a reason why I don’t find
satisfaction in what I am doing
anymore. But that is something
that I am going to change, I am
going back home. I was born and
raised in place many of you now
call, Meteor City. I haven’t been
back since the meteor hit. It’s
not something easy for me to talk
about and that is exactly why I
have to.
The Detroit Refuge hotline was
closed in 2011, I want to pick up
where it they left off. I’d like
to create a safe place for people
to remember their loved ones, to
share their stories and to use my
platform to do it. God..I’ve spent
so much time talking to you guys
without actually saying anything.
I want something to matter..
But now, I want to tell the
stories that are the closest to
me, my story and those who were
affected by the landing.
So, I have decided to step away
from the camera and take a
document this differently.
But, if case you miss me like
crazy. And you want to follow my
journey home, stay tuned. It might
take me awhile to get the hang of
recording audio but I’ll take you
guys along with me. But while I am
figuring it out, bear with me,
okay guys? Thanks again for all
the love
(Silence)
INT. BIANCAS CAR – DAY
STATIC, CHOPPING AUDIO
Hey guys, I figured that I should
record a little bit of the drive
too, in order not to chicken out.
I am not sure what I am getting
myself into but I…
CUT TO SONG
GPS
Recalculating
BIANCA
Ugh, what the fuc-. Alright well,
my gps keeps recalculating, it’s
probably a sign. Well, I am in
Indiana, my god this state is
long. I feel like I’ve been
driving for three days. I think I
am going to stop for a bit and
stretch my legs and grab a bite to
eat.
CAR TURNS OFF, THE SOUND OF KEYS AND THEN
SHE SHUTS THE DOOR. BIANCA OPENS THE DOOR,
PUTS THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND RADIO
BEGINS.
RADIO
In today’s news, Kevin Wilson,
spokesperson from the EPA,
delivered a speech on the future
agriculture in Detroit. “It has
been ten years, we are still
sifting through the information
the Radiological Emergency
Response teams were able to
collect. Three years ago, we
dispatched another REP team to
continue their soil testing and
radiation levels. Although, the
radiation from the initial blast
is no longer present on the
surface, the crater caused
significant damage to the streets,
water and sewer lines. It is still
unclear exactly how much radiation
was released but we..”
Bianca turns the channel
PREACHER
I think it’s important not to
forget about events like Meteor
landing, it is reminder how
completely out of our control we
really are. Do you think the
people of Meteor City woke up that
morning thinking this is the day I
am going to die, or this is the
day I am going to flee? No.
Tomorrow is promised to no man
that is why you must give yourself
to God, give yourself to him and
he will…
Bianca turns the channel
CONSPIRACY CALLER
Why are the stories you hear about
Meteor City not from the people
directly? Where are they? Where
are those stories? It’s been ten
years, we still don’t have any
answer how a fu****g meteorite the
size of three school buses goes
unnoticed? –
RADIO HOST
So what are you saying?
CALLER
I am saying that you can’t trust
them, they are hiding things from
- First 911, Meteor City, what’s
next?
RADIO HOST
Alright folks, that is all the
time we have for today.
STATIC
Phone rings, goes to voicemail
BIANCA
Hey mami, it’s me. It looks like I
am almost there. I just drove
through New Detroit. It was so
weird. I can’t even explain it.
It’s nice, I guess but unreal. It
looks like a model of what a city
would look like. It’s like if you
went into the building, it would
just be cardboard. Like it’s
printed on itself or something…
anyway. Just thought I’d check in.
I’ve heard the reception if MC is
pretty spotty, you practically
have to be in New Detroit to get
Wi-Fi. But I just wanted to say
that I love you. I know that you
didn’t want me to come back – but,
I don’t know, I felt like I had
- I promise to check in as much
as I can. llámame mamá, necesito
saber que estamos bien, okay bye.
Music
Phone rings, goes to voicemail
BIANCA
Hey ma, it’s me again. I really
hope you are not avoiding my
calls. Even if you are still mad
at me, you will never guess what
is still here, I can’t believe it.
D’s Diner. It is still here. It’s
on the border of New Detroit and
Meteor City, it looks a little
warned down but it looks a hell of
a lot better the MC does. It’s
probably a long shot but I am
going to go in and see if D is
still there. Por favor mami, call
me back. Bye
Turns off the car, the sound of keys, closes car door, walk
on gravel
EXT. OUTSIDE DD’S DINER – NIGHT
BIANCA
So, here I am. Standing in front
of DD’s Diner. To this day, the
best diner in the country. My
family would come here all the
time. It was in walking distance
from our church, Malcolm & I had
every birthday party here when we
were kids, so did all of our
friends.(Listing memories of the
diner) I’ll try to take as many
photos as I can. Not sure when I
can upload them but keep a look
out for that.
CAMERA SHUTTER SOUND
BIANCA
D’s neon sign is still glowing and
they added a new one..well new to
me..D’S Diner, the home of Meteor
Malt. (Chuckle) Cute. Well, it
looks like my phone still has a
little signal, not much but it is
probably as good as its going to
get. D’s Diner might have to be my
home base for a while. While I
figure out what the hell i’m doing
here at least. I saw a motel half
a mile back. Definitely not the
Four Seasons, but it’ll do for
now. I have no idea long I’ll be
here. On the bright side, the rent
on the border of MC is hella
cheap. Apparently, no one wants to
wake up and look at the
post-apocalyptic Detroit. Well, I
am going to head into diner and
grab a bite to eat, maybe I’ll try
the Meteor Malt.
INT. DD’S DINER – NIGHT
GRAVEL, OPEN THE DOOR, BELLS, JUKEBOX SOUNDS IN THE GROUND
DELORES
Hiya, welcome to D’s Diner, take a
seat where eva ya like.
STEPS ON TILE, THE SOUND OF A ZIPPER (TAKING OFF COAT),
SLIDING INTO A BOOTH, JUKEBOX PLAYING
BIANCA
In all my years of taking selfies,
vlogging, asking strangers to take
artsy photos of me posing, none of
it has felt as strange as sitting
in this diner, looking at this
worn out menu, talking to myself.
From the looks of it, I’m not the
only one talking to myself.
DELORES
Welcome to D’s Diner, what can I
get for ya?
BIANCA
I had to fight the urge to ask her
all the questions on my mind. I
couldn’t believe she was still
here. I am looking at her, she
couldn’t be older than 65 years
old. Why do adults seem so old
when you are a kid? Anyway..she
wore herself like the diner. A
little older, a little worn but
still standing. The diner seemed
to a scientific marvel. It was
always busy- filled with kids
running around, truckers, church
ladies, businessmen, everyone and
anyone. This place could be packed
but there was always an empty
booth or stool for someone to
fill. Something about that scent
of this place… you could bottle it
- I am surprised they haven’t
already tried to bottle it and
sell it at one of the tourist
traps I drove past in New Detroit.
The smell, I imagine is so deeply
rooted in this place even if the
Meteor did wipe it out, the rubble
would still smell like the sticky
menus and greasy booths.
Transition into dialogue
BIANCA
I’ll have a patty melt, with fries
and umm- a Meteor Malt. Oh ya, and
coffee. Please.
DELORES
Coming right up.
DINER SOUNDS
Transition into dialogue
BIANCA
I am not sure when she realized
it, it must of been somewhere
between me entering the place and
me inhaling my patty melt but she
knew who I was. She slid into my
booth and sat facing me.
DELORES
So, were you going to say hi or
just eat my food and go on your
own way, Bianca?
BIANCA
Hi D, I wasn’t sure you would
remember me. I haven’t been back
since… I didn’t want to be rude
and I –
DELORES
Nonsense, stand up let me look at
you.
Transition into dialogue
BIANCA
As I stood up and twirled a bit
for D, the past and present became
intertwined. The walls faded from
their dirty sand color to bright
white with a wash from the red
neon lights. I slid back into the
booth, something caught my eye. I
saw the little carving on the
wooden beam under the booth. I
must have forgotten which one it
was or maybe D moved the booths
around but I was sitting at our
booth. The initials BD, MD, WC
were carved deep into the wood
grain. I couldn’t help but smile.
D and I chatted for a while, about
old times, who was still around,
how her health was and the
development of New Detroit. They
approached her about buying up the
diner. New Detroit Financial,
wanted to due away of the
remaining business and buildings
that bordered Meteor City. She
wasn’t sure what to do, D’s Diner
lasted longer than most, but it
was clear it was just standing.
The only customers she had were
the few truckers that occasionally
delivered in MC and the patrons of
the past who now lived in New
Detroit, wanting to reminisce and
feel nostalgic about the good ol’
days, but that wasn’t enough to
keep the neon lights on.
DELORES
You know, I think you coming back
is a sign.
BIANCA
What do ya mean?
DELORES
I can’t explain but I just have a
feeling, a good one. I haven’t had
a good feeling in a decade. I had
been seriously considering selling
this place. After Darrell died, I
wanted to keep it open, in his
memory but then my sister in
Atlanta died. I thought maybe, I
could move home back to Georgia,
be closer to my family
BIANCA
D, you should do what you feel is
best for you. You don’t owe anyone
anything.
D nodded her head in agreement.
BIANCA
I told D what I’ve been up to for
the past few years, all the places
I’ve been. She seemed a bit sad,
like she wish I would of come home
sooner, but she seemed to get a
kick out of vlogging. How strange
it must of seemed to her. I asked
if her if it was okay to record
our conversations. D, agreed but
made me promise to come back every
day, she would feed me if I stop
by to see her. I promise without a
hesitation because, after ten
years away, I was home.
SCORE
BIANCA
Hey guys, I am just checked into
the Meteor Motel formerly known or
well to me anyway, as the Shady
Shack, some shady shit happen here
back in the day. I can’t imagine
that to be the case now, my car
was one of three in the whole lot.
My room view well – it’s not a
good one that’s for sure. I am
staring at a empty pool, that is
full of old pool chairs and pieces
of a broken fence and some–
CURTAIN CLOSES, EERIE SCORE CONTINUES THROUGHOUT SCENES
Shit, so there is guy that was
staring at my room, maybe he was
staring at the motel or something
but..I’m going to check and see if
he is still there. Where did he
go? The guy who was staring at me,
was standing under the broken pool
lights, it’s uhh– too dark to get
a good description of him..
SHUFFLING SOUNDS, CREAK ON THE BED,PHONE RINGS
Hey mami..what? No, I’m good. I’m
just tired. I’m glad you called me
back. Ma, please I don’t want to
fight about this anymore, okay, i
just wanted to –
ABRUPT KNOCK OF THE DOOR
Umm..I think it’s the house
keeping. I asked for towels. Ma, I
gotta go. I’ll call you tomorrow.
SHUFFLING, WALKING
Hello? Can I help you?
KNOCKING CONTINUES
What do you want? Seriously, fuck
off.
KNOCKING STOPS
I looked through the peephole, the
man who I saw staring at me from
across the pool, was at my door.
His face were nearly covered by a
black hoodie but then he turned
and walked away. I called the
front desk and told them what had
happened but they didn’t seem too
concerned. They asked me not to
give him any money or food if he
asked, they didn’t want to become
a regular thing. I suggested
calling the police, which seemed
to amuse them. They assured me
that they would keep an eye out
for him, I didn’t hold my breath.
I opened the door and looked
around and saw nothing and no one
but something was left at my door.
It was wrapped loosely in old
Detroit Daily newspaper. I picked
it up and return to my room. I
closed the door and check the
locks a few times, more than a few
times, compulsively for a few
minutes.
Wrapped in the newspaper was
something I hadn’t seen in over
ten years. It was my high school
yearbook with a note attached-
“WELCOME BACK”.
I brought the yearbook up to my
nose and I sniffed it. I know that
sounds weird but it still smelled
like my high school. You know that
smell, the smell of lockers and
crusty drinking fountains. I know
you know that smell. I opened the
yearbook and read the book plate.
Property of Bianca Diaz
[ad break]
ELY: The Radio Drama Revival and Meteor City production teams would like to encourage you to donate and support the United Community Housing Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness in Detroit. Their services help families permanently retain their homes, preserve family assets, and protect neighborhoods from gentrification and blight caused by vacant housing. You can donate to them at uchcdetroit.org/support.
ELY: Now, back to Bianca and her strange return to Meteor City.
[episode resumes]
BIANCA
After a very restless night of
sleep, I woke up early and went
for a run through Meteor City. I
ran until it looked familiar,
which was far. It was miles of
abandonment. Block after block of
stripped cars, partially burned
homes, looted stores, and silence.
Unnerving silence. A thick fog
rolled past me as I ran through a
gray Meteor City. The air was
chilly but smelt like hot sewer
and wet cement. Something about
running along these streets,
although empty and missing the
people that made this place their
home, was incredibly familiar,
like my feet knew i was home. I
got turned around a few times
trying to find my old block but
after I spotted the a giant stone
tiger on the corner of Homer
street, I knew I was close. The
tiger had a large crack down the
middle and his tale was missing.
It was still standing though, a
tiger among the rumble. It
belonged to Mr. Duke, I was never
sure if that was his first or last
name but all of us kids called him
Mr. Duke. He had two loves in his
life, God and the Detroit Tigers.
Devoted to both, one more than the
other.
I gently put my hand on the
tiger’s large head and swept the
green dust from his eyes. I walked
slowly for two blocks until I got
to my house. Seeing my house like
that.. hit me like a punch in the
gut. All the windows were broken,
the porch was burned. The porch
swing was now on the lawn. In that
moment, I am glad my mom never saw
this, that she never came back to
this place. Her image of our
house, the way she remembered
it… I wish I had that too.
In the distance, I heard a car
come to a stop. I quickly turned
around. There was a New Detroit
patrol car a few hundred feet away
from me. A white man, in his late
30’s, maybe early 40’s stepped out
of his police vehicle. As the
officer approached me, I grabbed
my phone and turned on the voice
recorder.
BIANCA
Morning officer.
MCKEE
State your business, you are trespassing.
BIANCA
Trespassing? This was my house.. I
lived in here before the landing.
MCKEE
Yes, trespassing. This is private
property, this block and another
hundred or so were privately
purchased.
BIANCA
Privately purchased? Who would
want these? When did they buy
them?
MCKEE
It’s been that way since I’ve been
patrolling this shithole. You need
vacant this area immediately.
BIANCA
Is there someone I can talk to
about going inside? I want to look
around, see if anything is
salvageable.
MCKEE
Listen, I don’t want to be here
any longer than I have to.
Do you need a lift out of town?
BIANCA
Uhh-out of town? No, I was
planning on sticking around here
for a bit today.
MCKEE
I’d like to escort you to where
you need to go.
BIANCA
I’m fine, thank you.
MCKEE
It’s not safe here and without
knowing who owns what, you could
be trespassing and I’d have to
take you in.
BIANCA
I don’t feel like you are giving
me a choice.
BIANCA
I didn’t catch your name
MCKEE
Officer McKee, you?
BIANCA
Bianca
MCKEE
You got a last name, Bianca?
BIANCA
Diaz.
MCKEE
So Bianca Diaz, I gotta ask, what
is a girl like you doing in this
place? Ya, you know..you ain’t a
reject like the people here.
BIANCA
Uhh- I just moved back to Meteor
City. My mom and I left after we
were passed testing. This is my
first time back.
MCKEE
Mhmm..not much left. I left too. I
live in New Detroit, once a day we
gotta patrol this place, that’s
what the owners want. I guess.
Make sure no rejects causing
further damage or something–
Where are you staying?
BIANCA
I am staying at the Meteor Motel.
– B
MCKEE
I gotta patrol a bit, can you sit
tight for few more minutes.
BIANCA
Sure. Uhh..so I just wanted to let
you know that I am recording this,
it’s for a podcast that I am
doing.
MCKEE
You’re recording me without my
consent?
BIANCA
I don’t need your consent
actually, not here in Michigan but
I thought it would be polite to
tell you..that’s why I told you.”
MCKEE
Uhh..well.. What’s your thing
about?”
BIANCA
Meteor City, a kind of where are
they now piece
MCKEE
Ahh.. for the anniversary.
BIANCA
So, is it okay if I record you?
MCKEE
Sure.
BIANCA
We drove around for another
fifteen minutes. A lot of stops
and turning around, it’s hard to
patrol when you have debris,
boulders and abandon cars all
around you. I saw a few people,
exactly four people. They were
just walking, they didn’t seem
like they have a place to be or
go, they were just walking. There
was convenient store still opened
but nothing more that I can see.
Jesus, where do people get their
food or gas? Do you they have
electricity?
MCKEE
Most of ‘em go into New Detroit, I
think there is a shelter that
brings ‘em food a few times a
week. Some streets have power,
it’s shotty but better than
nothing, I guess.
BIANCA
What happens in the winter? Most
of these places don’t have
windows. In ten years..this place
still looks like this..I don’t get
it.
MCKEE
Beats me.
BIANCA
I sat in the car as we made our
way back to the border of New
Detroit and what is now Meteor
City. As we approached D’s diner,
I saw man and a dog walking, more
like shuffling around. I’m not
shittin’ you..they both were
missing their..legs not all of
them..but one each.
MCKEE
You should stop before you try it.
BIANCA
Excuse me?
MCKEE
That look you got, it’s sad. It’s
all fucking sad but nothing we can
do it about it. Some people got
out, some are just stuck. But
don’t let them con you. He beat
you down in a second.
BIANCA
I don’t know if I believe that.
MCKEE
Well believe it, this is not your
home anymore- this is Meteor City.
The rejects here, they’re barely
even people.
BIANCA
Whatever helps you sleep at night.
I can get out here at D’s.
MCKEE
You sure?
BIANCA
Yeah, i’m hungry. Thanks for the
lift, I guess.
MCKEE
Wait, just be careful. Here’s my
card, take it.
BIANCA
Uh-thanks officer.
MCKEE
You can call me Micky..how long
are you plannin’ on stickin’
around?
BIANCA
Uh..not sure yet..
MCKEE
Well..maybe if I’m lucky..I’ll see
you around..have a good one ms.
Diaz.
BIANCA
Officer McKee or Micki attempted a
smile. Micki seemed like a black
and white kind of man. Everything
was something or another. Never
nothing and never both. Just one
or the other. As uncomfortable as
I was with Officer McKee, I really
was hungry. Much to my surprise,
the diner looked busy, well busy
for the border. There was a five
or six cars in the lot. For the
border, that was busy.
OPEN THE DOOR, BELLS, JUKEBOX SOUNDS IN THE GROUND
DELORES
Hi,take a seat at the booth.
BIANCA
D was standing at the bakery case,
adding pastries when she looked up
at me and smiled. That smile was
enough to erase my whole morning.
DELORES
Hiya, you okay? You look tired.
Let me get you something to eat.
BIANCA
Thanks, I just went for a run and
saw my old house. It was.
DELORES
Oh sweetie, I’m sorry you had to
see that but you shouldn’t go back
there. It’s not safe.
BIANCA
So, i’ve been told. D, umm..so
there was this guy outside of my
..”
LANDLINE PHONE RINGS
DELORES
Hold that thought hun, eat up.
BIANCA
As I was inhaling a cinnamon roll
in front of me, I watched D argue
on the phone, clearly getting
frustrated. She hung up abruptly
and swore, which surprised me, it
shouldn’t of but it did.
BIANCA
Everything okay?
DELORES
No, that damn truck. The only
delivery company that will deliver
just called and said they ain’t
coming to Meteor City anymore.
They will refund me but I don’t
have time to find someone else.
BIANCA
Uh.. is there another place you
can get it the stuff from around
here?
DELORES
None that will deliver to me, I’d
have to go into New Detroit and
get the stuff I need to hold me
over..
BIANCA
I have a car, it’s not big it
might take two trips but..
DELORES
No, business has been steady this
week, I can’t close and..I
can’t..April can’t work nights
this week.
BIANCA
Well, how about I hold down the
fort? I waited tables in college,
I think I can manage it for the
afternoon.
DELORES
Oh hunny, i can’t ask you to do
that and I can’t afford to pay
you, It’s me and the night girl.
BIANCA
D, don’t be silly. Keep feeding me
cinnamon rolls and i’ll never
leave but seriously, don’t worry
about it.
DELORES
Are you sure?
BIANCA
Yes, I am positive, as long as you
are okay with me asking a few of
the customers a few questions. I
won’t pressure them. If that’s
okay.
DELORES
With these folks, you’d be lucky
to get a hi but go ahead. Thank
you, Bianca.
BIANCA
I’m going to stop run back to the
motel and get changed, i’ll be
back in a bit.
SILENCE
BIANCA
Hi, welcome to Ds, take a seat,
I’ll be a right with you.
I turned around to see the person
I just greeted. He was a little
over 6ft and handsome. There was a
large scar from his eye brow down
nearly to his sharp jawline. He
was wearing a navy suit and his
hair was slicked back tightly. He
looked out of place here. Throw a
penny in New York and you’d hit a
dozen of him but here in this
dated diner, he didn’t belong. He
looked surprised to see me..
WES
Where’s D?
BIANCA
She had to run into town and grab
some stuff, the truck was late.
What can I get for you?
WES
When will she be back?
BIANCA
Uhh—I’m not really sure, a few
hours probably.
WES
Coffee and a club
BIANCA
Sure thing
WES
To go.
I’ve never seen you around here.
Did D hire you for some reason?
You know, she’s selling this
place.
BIANCA
Might be
WES
Excuse me?
BIANCA
Might be, she might be selling
this place. And no, I am just
helping her out for the day.
What makes you think she is going
to sell?
WES
Because she is smart and knows
that no one would give her nearly
as much as I’ve worked to get her
for this place.
What makes you think she won’t sell it?
COOK
Order up.
BIANCA
I don’t. She should sell it, it’s
a smart move but doesn’t make it
the right one.
WES
Mhmm
BIANCA
Here you go—
As I handed the bag to the man at
the counter, I glanced outside to
see the man who I saw at the
motel. Standing in front of the
diner, I forgot I was holding onto
the bag.
WES
You okay
BIANCA
Yeah, I just… do you see that
guy across the street? In the
hoodie?”
WES
Yes
BIANCA
Do you know him?
WES
No, I don’t know him, he’s
probably a reject. They make their
way into New Detroit, and ask for
food and money. Sometimes D gives
them food when it’s slow
BIANCA
Oh, okay, he’s probably hungry or
something.
WES
You sure you are okay?
BIANCA
Yeah, I just saw him outside of my
motel last night and he…
WES
He what?
BIANCA
Uh..nothing, thanks for stopping
in.
WES
Uhh, thanks.
Can you tell D to call me when she
gets back in?
BIANCA
What was your name?
WES
Have I changed that much?
BIANCA
What?
WES
Nothing…Wes, my name is Wes.
BIANCA
My stomach flipped and I felt a
little dizzy. The man standing in
front me was Wes..our
Wes..Malcolm’s Wes..it took my
head a few seconds to focus on his
changed features but it was him.
Wes was my brother’s best friend,
they were inseparable and I was
constantly tagging along. Wes said
nothing as he turned and walked
out the door.
OPEN THE DOOR, BELLS, RUNNING ON GRAVEL
BIANCA – SHOUTING
Get out of the car…
WES
Okay…
BIANCA
Before I knew it, almost
uncontrollably my arms were
wrapped around his neck. I was
standing on my toes hugging Wes
with all my might. The guilt, I
felt was overwhelming.
WES
B-Bianca, I can’t breathe.
Bianca
Oh I’m sorry. I just…Wes, I am
so sorry.
WES
Sorry? Sorry for what?
BIANCA
For leaving, I thought you were
dead with my dad and Malcolm. If I
would a known you were alive… I
would have come back for you. I
would of..
WES
It was a long time ago. Don’t
worry about it. It is good to see
you though, you look good…
BIANCA
Thanks, you too. You like a man
now, all grown up.
WES
(Chuckle)Yeah, that happens.
BIANCA
Wait, did you know who I was when
you came in? Why didn’t say
something
WES
I don’t know, I wasn’t sure if it
was you, it’s been a long time, I
looked you up a few years ago but
you changed your hair since then.
BIANCA
You were going to leave without
saying anything?
WES
What was I supposed to say? Hey,
we haven’t spoken in ten years and
you probably thought I was dead.
BIANCA
Well maybe not that… Look, I gotta
get back in the diner but I want
to talk to you, I need to talk to
you.
WES
Okay, — here take this. Call me
when you’re free.
BIANCA
I grabbed the card and wrapped my
arms around his neck again, not
nearly as long. I ran back into
the dinner.
SCORE
BIANCA
It was a few hours before D came
back to the diner with a pickup
truck full of food. I spent an
hour looking up Wes. It seemed
only fair. He was successful and
he was married. His dashing
headshot was on the front page of
New Detroit Financial’s website.
From the wedding announcement, his
wife who also worked for New
Detroit Financial, she was
beautiful. She was tall, blonde
and thin…from the outside, they
looked perfect.
DINER BACKGROUND, MUSIC, LOW CHATTER
Delores
Thank you for looking after the
place, I don’t know what I would
have done. Close it down for the
day I suppose.
BIANCA
No problem, happy to help.
D must have sense my distance.
Delores
You okay?
BIANCA
Why didn’t you tell me it was Wes,
the person who approached you
about selling?
DELORES
Well, I suppose I figured you two
would run into each other
eventually. He is in here a lot.
BIANCA
He isn’t pressuring you to sell is
he?
DELORES
No, I just think he just misses
this place. He’s got a pretty nice
life built in New Detroit, but…
BIANCA
But?
DELORES
You know. The same reason why you
came back. You needed to.
BIANCA
Right.
DELORES
He is one good looking man ain’t
he?
BIANCA
Ya, he is.
DELORES
You use to chase those boys around
like a puppy. I think you were
mostly chasing Wes.
BIANCA
What?
DELORES
Oh hun, don’t get upset, all
little girls have crushes on their
brother’s friends. But, I think
Wes liked you back.
BIANCA
That was a long time ago.
DELORES
Well it’s a shame that you didn’t
come back sooner. He’s married
now. But I don’t think he’s
happy…
BIANCA
What makes you say that? You know
what? It’s not any of my business.
DELORES
Well. Sometimes he comes here,
really late at night. She calls
and he ignores it, sometimes he
takes the call outside and they
argue. It seemed pretty arranged
to me.
BIANCA
What? Arranged? Like an arranged
marriage?
DELORES
His wife, is the daughter of the
president of New Detroit
Financial.
BIANCA
Well that’s not that weird.
Co-workers develop feelings for
each other all time…
DELORES
It just didn’t seem like it was
something he wanted…
BIANCA
Have you ever met her?
DELORES
Yep, one time. He brought her
here, he was excited, you could
tell. She well, she complained a
lot and made some commentS about
this place was a waste of land
that New Detroit Financial could
be using.
BIANCA
Damn, that’s too bad. Anyway, if
you need help again, don’t
hesitate to ask okay?
DELORES
You sure, everything is okay? You
look like you got a lot of ya
mind.”
BIANCA
Yeah, I’m just beat. I’m going to
take off but I’ll stop by
tomorrow.
DELORES
Promise?
BIANCA
I promise.
BIANCA
I didn’t lie to D exactly, I
really was tired but I just wanted
to be alone. After seeing what I
saw in MC, how uneasy Officer
McKee made me feel, seeing the guy
in the hoodie outside the diner,
not to mention seeing Wes again. I
was fucking exhausted. When I got
to my room, a flashing red light
was on the telephone on the
nightstand by my bed. The message
was from the front desk. There was
a packaged for me. I quickly
walked back, there was no one
behind the desk when I got there
but a Manilla envelope addressed
to me, B. Diaz in. As I opened the
envelope, a two keys slid out unto
my hand. One was smaller than the
other. The smaller one looked like
it was for a lock or safety
deposit box. The only other thing
in the envelope was address.
I went back to my room to look up
the address, I didn’t find shit.
The address I was given maybe
wasn’t registered, or it was
something that I couldn’t find
online. My eyes was heavy and I
fell back into the pillows, and
despite all the questions I had
and everything I’ve seen, I was
able to fall asleep.
I was woken up a little after 3am
by an unusual buzzing sound, like
thousands of bugs around a street
lamp, it was low but it is was
almost rhythmic. I reached over to
check my phone but it was black. I
got out of bed and checked all the
lights, there was no power. I went
to my window and peaked out the
curtains, the lights outside were
out, all but one. The pool light
was flickering. I adjusted my eyes
and rub the sleep out of them and
that’s when I saw him again. The
man in the hoodie, his hand was on
the lamppost. Despite the distance
between us, I could have sworn I
saw light come from his hoodie,
like this neon light moved from
his arm and into the lamp.
He let his hand fall off the lamp
post, he turned on heels and
walked away into the darkness. The
roar of electricity stuttered and
came back on. The lights came back
on bright, the ceiling fan ticked
above, and my phone was flooded
with notifications. All the lights
outside continue to flicker
through the night.
SCORE
So, my first full day back home
has been, well it’s real. As
painful as it was to see Meteor
City that way, it felt like space
I had in my head for it, was now
filled. I will be going back to
Meteor City after I do a little
more digging. I’ll find out who
owns what and how I get back to my
old house.
I felt like I was holding dozens
of questions in my chest and they
were trying to escape but the
biggest one was, what the hell am
I doing here? I came back to
document myself coming home, is
that what I doing? Coming home?
This place isn’t my home, well
it’s not anymore. But D was here,
I can’t really explain how close
to her I feel. Like her entire
being is a representation of
everything I lost, we lost and I
know that is not fair. After
seeing the one of the rejects
outside of my room twice and once
at the diner, it shook me. I
fought the urge to leave, to go
back to my life. I want to wrap
this up, to convince myself that
what I once had was gone and
should move on. Just coming back
and seeing what I’ve seen should
be enough. But seeing Wes, I
wasn’t expecting that. The more I
thought about it, about him, the
angrier I felt. Wes was family. He
had always been family. Every
thanksgiving, Christmas, spring
break, summer break, always. I
know that we as people don’t owe
anything to each other but. Did he
search for Malcolm and my dad too?
Did he spent weeks looking for
them too? How did he survive? I’ve
been back here in Meteor City for
a little over two days and I –uhh,
it feels like a lot longer. But,
I left anything behind to come to
this place and I am going to see
it through. I am going to find the
answers to my questions, no matter
how many arise. I am going to help
D, for as long as I am here. But
Wes, he complicates things for me.
I don’t know this Wes, and I
probably shouldn’t but I want to
know his story, what happened and
why he didn’t find us. As for the
rejects—God, I hate that term, but
until I know his name, I guess
that’s what I have to call him, as
for the reject, there is got to be
someone who knows who he is. He
obviously lives in Meteor City, he
left my yearbook at my door so he
know how to navigate MC without
being seen. Maybe he knows who
owns my house. As startling as his
random appearances are, I hope
they continue, and they lead to
something. He left my yearbook at
my door, did he also leave the
keys at the front desk. Maybe they
recognized him?
It seems like every question that
I have, three more follow. All I
do know is that despite the
weariness that I am feeling, just
below the surface, I feel an
excitement stirring.
My name is Bianca Diaz and
ahh..I’m back in Meteor City.
[outro]
ELY: If you liked what you heard, you can find out more at wrightwoodstudios.com, and follow them on Twitter at @meteorcitypod.
ELY: Radio Drama Revival runs on an endless supply of bagels and coffee and the change you leave in our tip jar. If you’d like to help keep us afloat and featuring new, diverse, unique fiction podcasts and their creators, you can support us on Patreon, at patreon.com/radiodramarevival.
ELY: And now we bring you our Moment of Anne.
ANNE: In the wraparound recording, Ely said that I would talk about transcripts this episode, and I wasn’t going to, but now that you mention it? Um. Y’all should have transcripts for your podcasts. If you’ve got a script for a fiction podcast it’s really not that hard to even just post that.. For free! Don’t charge money for it. You can do it. Just post it. Just post it on your website. Link to it in your show notes. Share it on your social media. Do your transcripts.
ELY: That means it’s time for the credits.
ELY: This episode was recorded in the unceded territory of the Kalapuya people, the Clatskanie Indian Tribe, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, and the Atfalati tribe. Colonizers named this place Beaverton, Oregon.
ELY: If you are looking for ways to support or donate to Native communities, the Quileute are fundraising to move their at-risk community to higher ground, and out of the tsunami zone, so that their culture and heritage can thrive for generations to come. Their first objective is to move the Quileute Tribal School, which is currently located right next to the beach, endangering the lives of children and the future of the Quileute tribe. You can learn more and donate at https://mthg.org/; the link is in the episode description.
ELY: Our theme music is Reunion of the Spaceducks by the band KieLoKaz. You can find their music on Free Music Archive.
ELY: Our audio producer is Wil Williams.
ELY: Our marketing manager and line producer is Anne Baird.
ELY: Our researcher is Heather Cohen.
ELY: Our submissions editor is Rashika Rao.
ELY: Our associate marketing manager is Jillian Schraeger.
ELY: Our transcriptionist is Katie Youmans.
ELY: Our audio consultant is Eli Hamada McIlveen
ELY: Our associate producer is Sean Howard.
ELY: Our executive producers are Fred Greenhalgh and David Rheinstrom.
ELY: Our mascot is Tickertape, the goat.
ELY: I’m your host, Elena Fernandez Collins. This has been Radio Drama Revival: all storytellers welcome.