Breakwall - 7.5 - A Strange New World
The price of fate
Breakwall - Minisode 7.5 - We return to Oliva's story that was first touched upon back in Episode 1.5 - Olivia and a young Jonny (Heather) have arrived at Neo-Atlantis in 2099 where desperate Scottish refugees were confronted with waves of automatic fire as they attempted to scale Arcadia's Breakwall. Follow us on Twitter for news and updates. Join us on discord to hang out with cast and crew! Want to support the show? Please check out our Patreon as Cybernautica is 100% Fan Supported!
Cybernautica is intended for mature audiences on account of mature language, theme and violence. Please be advised.
CREDITS:
Mak Shepard as Announcer
Abigail Turner as Heather/Jonny
Amy Newark as Olivia
Alexander Doddy as Crewman
Damian Szydlo as Revik
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Written, Designed and Edited by Damian Szydlo
Script Editing by Jupiter Sanders
Show theme by Doug Maxwell
Music and Sound Effects from Syrinscape & Audioblocks
Transcript
FADE IN
[The sounds of the sea, pouring rain, ship creaking - Olivia and Heather are on the deck of their ship, surrounded by a crowd.]
ANNOUNCEMENT
“Attention all passengers. In a moment we will be deploying grapples. Each passenger has been provided ONE utility exit package. Simply attach the rail hook to the grapple cable then press down on the grip to engage the device and begin your ascent to a new life. Good luck, and Godspeed you to Neo-Atlantis.”
[message repeats in the background]
HEATHER
“Mom!? Where are we going!?”
OLIVIA
“Don’t worry, Heather. Your father will… we’ll see him again. It’s only a matter of catching up to him. Now, come along.”
HEATHER
“I don’t… I don’t [can’t find her words]. Mom! What about Jonny? We can’t leave!”
OLIVIA
“Shush it. Jonny’s with his own family. We’ll be seeing him on the other side of that wall with the others. Now come on, I need you to climb onto my back and buckle into this harness. [momentary pause and buckle sound] Alright, there you go. Good girl.”
HEATHER
“But… I’m afraid! I don’t… I don’t want to go!”
OLIVIA
“There’s no help for it. Sure of foot and sure of mind, we’ll get through this. Until then, why don’t you hold onto my recorder? It’s always been there for me when I feel afraid or anxious. Now hold on fast, it’s almost our turn.”
CREW MEMBER
“Alright, next up. Let’s go.”
[let the ambience fill time as Olivia and Heather make it to a grapple. The sound of gunshots begin in the distance. Heather panics a bit.]
OLIVIA
[to the crew member]“Just give us a moment.
[to Heather] I’m so fuckin’ proud of you, Heather. Always know that. My brave girl. You just hang on now, close your eyes if you must. It’ll be over soon enough.”
[Sounds of the line engaging, gunshots get louder. Screams and shouting, people falling.]
[sound of the recorder beep, the ambience fading away - this bit was recorded earlier in the day and is Olivia’s last entry.]
OLIVIA
“It’s June 24th, 2099 from as far as I can tell. Things couldn’t get much worse but yet… I shouldn’t be saying this. You’re going to think me right mad. But I’ve somehow found hope again, in the face of the worst of it. I think it happened when I came to you… when I held your hand. Saw you off to the great above. The pain was gone and a part of me went along with you. I think somehow your warmth, it stayed with me? Unbelievable as that is, I know it. I mean shouldn’t I be beside myself? What sort of a woman am I that I’m not? That I’ve no more anger or sorrow in me after all of this? Only… relief? Would you think less of me to see me now, my dear husband?
I’ll… I want you to know that I’ll get her there, Aiden. To the City on the Sea. Up and over that god damned wall we’ll go, even if it kills me to do so. I’ll move heaven and earth for it. I won’t… I’m not going to cry over this. For us… hell I don’t think I’ll ever cry again, to be quite honest. Those tears were long ago spent.
What keeps me going now is knowing that there’s an end to it. That no matter what we’ve had to sacrifice to get here… what’s important is that our daughter see’s a better day; just as long as I can see my part through. I wonder what she’ll make of this chance, you know? How a new life, in this strange place as it is… how it’ll shape the woman she’ll become. Will times be hard for us? Will she be hardened in turn by those times? Will she be gentle and caring like her father, or stubborn and hot-headed like her mum? If I don’t make it, will she even remember us?
I suppose in the event that the last part becomes a reality I should… say something. To my daughter, and know that your father gets the credit for this bit of wisdom as I’ve precious little talent for this part. Amazing that I could always say the right things to a nation full of people but never to those I love most dearly.
Look to the Sea, my Heather. If you take nothing else with you, keep that. Hold on to it. The horizon holds endless opportunities if you can remember to keep your eyes on it. To make sure destiny doesn’t give you the slip like two ships passing in the night. Your father and I love you very much.
[click, slowly a street ambience seeps in, Heather is in the streets. Time has passed and Heather has been alone for possibly days. The sound of heavy footsteps enter the scene - trash bags moving as she hides deeper, afraid of the approaching android]
REVIK
“Wait. Child. I mean you no harm. Are you lost? Where are your parents? Your family?”
HEATHER
[trying now to be tough, but failing - she hates lying and is searching for a half truth] “I don’t have a family… Or they’re not here right now I mean. I’ve… I think I lost them? My mum said she’d be right along. Don’t worry, I’m okay…”
REVIK
“I see. You cannot stay here. It is dangerous for a youngling. My directives require me to return you to safety. If you have no refuge, I can offer shelter for a limited time. Until a proper caretaker can be established. Do you understand?”
HEATHER
[panics a bit, realizing if she leaves she might not see her mother again.]
“No… no I can’t go… I need to wait here. My mother, she’s up there… at the top. Please, I can’t leave yet. Are… you the police? You talk like the police do. All very official. We don’t have androids anymore, in Scotland. Father said it was a ‘bloody shame’.”
REVIK
“A rare consideration beyond the walls of Neo-Atlantis. That is where you came from then? The old world. I understand now. Security measures increased recently on the wall. A grim new contract with the Authority. The probability that your mother… [grumbles] You have my word. I will return here each day. To look for her. In the meanwhile, you must comply and return to safety. What are you called, young one?”
HEATHER
“Hea… I’m Jonny. I won it… my name. Fair and square, I did. From my friend. Mother made me promise to give it back but I didn’t.”