Starship Iris 3.00.5 Juniper Liu's Reporter Notebook

JUNIPER

MADGE

DR. ROBINSON

GLIM

VIOLET

ELLA

KREJJH

MYRNA

FX: A RECORDING BEGINS.

JUNIPER

Okay. Let’s begin with a sunrise. It’s dawn in San Ramos. I know you can’t see it, but: hang on.

FX: A WIDE, WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BIRDSONGS START TO FILTER IN.

JUNIPER

Two years ago, when the Regime bombed the shit out of this city for the first time, a lot of people left in a hurry. The ones who couldn’t make arrangements for their pets sometimes set them loose. What you’re hearing now are the birds in Isler Park. The ones who made it. Parrots, cockatiels…there’s a family of peacocks in here somewhere. I’ve heard people talk about trying to catch them and place them back in houses, but it’s too late. They’ve found a niche, reproduced, and anyway, they wouldn’t be safer on private property. This is their normal. This is what normal sounds like now, some of the time.

Here, I’ll give you some clean audio.

FX: A FEW SECONDS OF LOTS OF DIFFERENT BIRDS.

JUNIPER

Piper, Kestrel, you wanted a face on daily life in San Ramos? I’ll do what I can. I’ve got my brand-new, shoulder-mounted, voice-activated mic—thanks again. So. Let’s go do some journalism.

FX: A BIKE BLOWS BY

JUNIPER

Even when roads are passable, conserving fuel is the name of the game, for essential vehicles only—road maintenance, emergency transport to one of the many temporary hospitals now dotting the city, or people who for several reasons, aren't currently up to the task of walking, biking, or wheelchair-ing to their destination.

Wheelchair-ing can’t possibly be a word. Riding? Riding sounds passive. Wheeling. Wheeling?

I’m on my way to meet with Madge, who has been organizing some of the newest wave of donations we’ve received in the wake of the latest campaign. We haven’t been hit with anything for about three days, but as I travel, I’m carefully moving along my mental map of the closest bomb shelter, or the closest subway station, which amounts to the same thing.

Nothing here is centralized anymore, everything—shelters, hospitals, homes, relief stations, courier stands—are spread out across the formerly thriving city. It’s a little more practical for the many residents who couldn’t evacuate due to mobility issues. It also gives the Regime less of a target. This can make logistics a nightmare, before even getting into the fact that we are still often without power. 

RECORDING STOPS.

RECORDING STARTS. THEIR VOICES ECHO A LITTLE.

JUNIPER

So, where are we?

MADGE

This used to be the warehouse for a Best Bargain, but people have kindly cleared the groceries out and now it’s one of our receiving sites. (A BEAT) Maybe don’t mention that on air. Regime doesn’t need to know.

JUNIPER 

We are standing in a room that will remain unidentified, piled with items from all over the human-settled universe, and a staggering number of boxes.

MADGE

Boxes that all needed to be unpacked and resorted into packages for relief stations, care packages for people who can’t leave their homes, and of course the various shelters. 

JUNIPER

How long have you been at it today?

MADGE

Oh, uh, this would be hour seven.

JUNIPER

Seven, wow. Uh, would you mind using complete sentences? It’ll make this a lot easier to put together later.

MADGE

Yeah, so I’ve been assembling relief packages for seven hours today. I mean, I take regular breaks ‘cause I had fatigue issues before the night-time bombings started. But yeah, honestly, it helps my mind, doing this.

JUNIPER

Sure. So what do you have to say to the people at home who have been sending us donations?

MADGE

To everyone who’s been sending us supplies, I’d say please keep ‘em coming. I know it’s getting riskier and riskier to help, with all the Regime drones out there shooting ships out of the sky every day, but groups like Fly With Soul are literally how we’re able to be here talking right now. I’ve heard some rumblings they’re facing heavy losses, maybe even to the point of pulling out of the San Ramos operation, and that’d be a huge mistake. There are lives in the balance here. More lives than you can even comprehend.

Oh, also, people—please keep sending us crap you stole from the Regime, it’s hilarious.

JUNIPER

That’s, uh.

MADGE

I mean, send us anything you can that’s still good. We need blankets, hygiene supplies, socks, mobility devices of all kinds, medicine, clothes, food. But on a personal level, when it’s stuff you took from the assholes who are attacking us, that warms the cockles of my petty little heart.

We’ve got government-issued prescription drugs, we’ve got lifesaving medical tools, still in their vaccuum-sealed government branding, we got one shipment of nothing but genuine Regime-issued uniform jackets—

JUNIPER

What do you even do with those?

MADGE

We’ve been slicing ‘em up, using them as rags. So absorbent, you know? Straight from the offices of General J. Golding Frederick, so you know they’re meant to be full of shit. We’ve even got some old rations from the last war.

JUNIPER

Are those still edible?

MADGE

I mean it’s only been, what, three years? The packaging says it’s good for ten, but who knows, that could be another goddamn Regime lie. 

God, those poor kids. You join the military because you wanna see the universe—or you flat-out get drafted, these days. I got a niece on New Jupiter who wound up on the force. Used to get a message from her now and then, but lately you can tell she knows there’s something breathing over her shoulder. And I know, the Regime surveils everyone they can—we used to laugh about it, I mean, we all did. But I swear, it’s getting worse. They’re watching their own people like hawks, y’know? Claws out. Claws ready. It’s the only reason nobody’s slit their CO’s throat and gone rogue.

Sorry, I’m just testy ‘cause I was supposed to be working with my sister Midge today and I haven’t heard anything from her all morning.

JUNIPER

Her radio could be out. Mine’s out.

MADGE

Could be. But I don’t think we’ve talked since Saturday. She could be anywhere.

JUNIPER

I’m going to a hospital after this. I can have them radio around, see if Midge is recovering someplace.

MADGE

Thanks.

JUNIPER

D’you have anything else you feel like saying before I head out? I’ve still got plenty of battery on the mic.

MADGE

But no radio. Your priorities are just— Here, let me—(DEEP BREATH IN, OUT)

JUNIPER

Sorry, before you do, I’ve gotta ask.

MADGE

Yeah?

JUNIPER

Madge and Midge? Really?

MADGE

Sure, Juniper, sister to Violet.

JUNIPER

Yeah. Okay, let’s go.

RECORDING IS TURNED OFF.

RECORDING IS TURNED BACK ON.

DR. ROBINSON

Are you recording?

JUNIPER

I can switch it back off if—

DR. ROBINSON

No, it’s fine. (A BEAT) God. An 18 hour shift trying to piece people back together and now this. Shit.

JUNIPER

In the wake of heavy losses from drone attacks, Fly With Soul is, uh. Dr. Robinson, what are we gonna do without them?

DR. ROBINSON

Have you talked to Campbell yet?

JUNIPER

He’s out by Dockside.

DR. ROBINSON

Doing what? Dockside’s been leveled for weeks.

JUNIPER

Surveying the damage, talking to survivors, helping people salvage what they can. Mayor stuff. (A BEAT) How long can we go on doing this without their help?

DR. ROBINSON

Well, for now, there’s all the community gardens we’ve been working on, the underground greenhouses, the hydroponics. With heavy rationing, we could last a few months.

JUNIPER

And then?

DR. ROBINSON

That’s a question for Campbell. And any deity that feels like stepping in here.

JUNIPER

Hey, uh. Any word from Sana?

DR. ROBINSON

If he’d heard from her, he wouldn’t be grinding himself into the ground like this.

JUNIPER

Right. It’s been what, three and a half days?

DR. ROBINSON

Something like that. But she always checks in by the 48 hour mark. Always.

JUNIPER

I know. 

DR. ROBINSON

Even if she’s busy, even if she’s barely got comms, even if she’s getting shot at—

JUNIPER

Let me know if you hear something.

DR. ROBINSON

Right. You’ve got that documentary to finish.

JUNIPER

And she’s my friend.

DR. ROBINSON

Yeah.

JUNIPER

If you get the chance—and I don’t know how you would—could you talk to Campbell? He’s not taking it well.

DR. ROBINSON

There’s no good way to take it when your girlfriend vanishes into a war zone.

JUNIPER

Yeah, but I think. Because he did her ID—

DR. ROBINSON

Oh.

JUNIPER

If she did get caught—

DR. ROBINSON 

Yeah. Hey, how are you holding up?

JUNIPER

I’m fine. Kinda stretching that word close to the breaking point, but you know what I mean.

DR. ROBINSON

(REALIZING) You don’t know.

FX: JUNIPER STANDS. 

JUNIPER

Don’t know what?

DR. ROBINSON

Maybe you should hear this from Violet.

JUNIPER

Maybe I should hear it right goddamn now.

DR. ROBINSON

The reason it’s been quiet here for the past few days is because the Regime’s been focusing somewhere else. Lovelace has been under attack since early this morning. Violet’s been on comms all day—

JUNIPER

(A SMALL VOICE) My radio is out.

DR. ROBINSON

Last we heard, there’s been no word from your parents.

FX: RECORDING IS TURNED OFF

FX: RECORDING IS TURNED ON.

FX: A BIKE IS BEING RIDDEN VERY FAST ON UNEVEN TERRAIN

JUNIPER

(OUT OF BREATH) What are the chances Mom and Dad were on Lovelace at the time of impact? Impacts. 

Mom travels for work, she might—

God, I shouldn’t be doing this. They haven’t cleared the shortcut to the hospital yet, this is such a bad idea, I shouldn’t—

Why did I let my radio die?

FX: THE BIKE CRASHES

JUNIPER

Augh!

GLIM

You okay?

JUNIPER

I—uh. Yeah.

FX: JUNIPER STANDS, AND WALKS HER BIKE BACK DOWN TO MORE EVEN GROUND.

GLIM

Good, ‘cause even if I wasn’t in the chair, there’s no way in Hell I’d scale that to pick you up. Do I seriously need to explain to you that you go around the rubble?

JUNIPER

I was trying for the shortest path.

GLIM

Where’re you headed?

JUNIPER

Connors Memorial Hospital.

GLIM

Me too! 

JUNIPER

Small world.

GLIM

Yeah, that or our lives revolve around finding doctors ‘cause everyone we know is constantly getting pelted with high powered explosives.

JUNIPER

Also that. If you don’t mind, I need to—

GLIM

Race on ahead?

JUNIPER

Uh. Yes.

GLIM

Yeah, I take it you don’t know the new route. A big chunk of Darber Street is gone. 

JUNIPER

Look, I’m sorry but I’m in a hurry, can you tell me how to…?

GLIM

I know the way, but only by sight. (SIGH) Come on.

FX: JUNIPER GETS BACK ON HER BIKE. GLIM WHEELS AT A FAST-FOR-A-WHEELCHAIR SPEED, WITH JUNIPER FOLLOWING.

RECORDER IS TURNED OFF.

RECORDER IS TURNED ON. WE’RE IN A MAKESHIFT HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM.

GLIM

What’re you doing, with the mic?

JUNIPER

I’m recording the background sounds, getting an...audio picture of the waiting room.

GLIM

Why?

JUNIPER

Because my sister is assisting in a surgery and I have no idea what else to do.

GLIM

Hear that. I’m waiting on Dr. Sanchez. Same surgery, probably. Same problem.

JUNIPER

So, what brings you to Connors?

GLIM

I’m a courier.

FX: FUMBLING WITH THE MIC

JUNIPER

Mind if I interview you? I’m a reporter for RiFT, uh Radio Free Telemachus, and we’re doing an on-the-ground piece about people’s experiences here. I can identify you as much or as little as you want, and use either your voice or the gist of what you said if you have reason to fear any reprisal from the Regime.

GLIM

How often d’you say that?

JUNIPER

It comes up.

GLIM

And uh, sure, knock yourself out. We’re gonna be on the radio?

JUNIPER

You might. I won’t.

GLIM

No?

JUNIPER

Uh, my parents are unaccounted for, so the Regime could retaliate if they ID’d my voice—it’s, it’s a whole thing.

GLIM

Gotcha. Sounds like that’d make your job pretty damn tricky.

JUNIPER

I’ve been working on this documentary but someone else will have to dub me over in post. A friend volunteered to help, on the parts where she’s not the one being interviewed, but we haven’t heard from her for a few days.

GLIM

I’m sorry. That blows.

JUNIPER

Thanks, but it’s early still, she could be fine. Oh, and if you could speak in complete sentences, it makes the job way easier for Reina, our editor.

GLIM

In that case, hi, my name’s Glim, G-L-I-M, and I’m gonna go ahead and tell the radio-listening public that my biceps are jacked. Not because of the chair, this thing’s got a power assist. I work out.

JUNIPER

So what does a courier do?

GLIM

We…coury. 

JUNIPER

Do you feel like expanding on that?

GLIM

In my case, once there’s cleared areas, I tool around in my chair and pass along messages, supplies, whatever’s needed. A radio request comes in, and I go out.

JUNIPER

I hear it’s a dangerous job.

GLIM

Can be dangerous, sure. But when your city’s under attack… even an accountant here is making a gamble. Might as well do something badass with your time, get a story out of it.

JUNIPER

What keeps you going?

GLIM

What keeps me going? It’s gotta be done? Beats sitting at home all day. I mean, I’m still sitting, but. It’s action sitting. 

JUNIPER

Weirdest thing you’ve ever moved?

GLIM

There’s some messages I can’t really talk about. Confidential and all that bullshit, you understand.

JUNIPER

Weirdest item, then?

GLIM

Weirdest goddamn thing I ever couried…You know how rats can sniff out people trapped in rubble?

JUNIPER

Yeah?

GLIM

Fifteen rats. They weren’t—I’m not talking a bunch of loose rodents scampering all over me, they were in a carrier. But my chair, it’s a hybrid, right, so when the terrain’s tough sometimes you still gotta pop a wheelie and switch to pushing for a bit. You need your hands free, is what I’m saying. So this carrier, I had to bungie cord it to my chest like a baby sling. Me and the rats, scrabbling around in there. 

And, y’know. They’re clean, they’re trained, they’re—whatever. But before the war, I had some bad rat experiences around here. And I mean around, like a few blocks away. You know Cress and Jackson, there’s a big overpass out there?

JUNIPER

Yeah. You lived in Central Middle?

GLIM

No, I lived under the overpass. That was my spot, when I could get it. And when the cops weren’t forcing us out. 

JUNIPER

Not a lot of cops in San Ramos anymore.

GLIM

No. Somehow they all found a way offplanet. Go figure.

JUNIPER

If you don’t mind me asking, where do you stay now?

GLIM

Oh, uh. There’s a lot of free real estate these days. Like, almost everyone with means and ability left, so a lot of high-end shit. I’ve got a friend who’s crashing in the garden level of a luxury apartment complex. I can’t risk it, ‘cause when the elevators go out—yeah. But it’s funny, right? Two years ago, he was camped out in Kennet Park when he could and now there’s a fountain in his bathroom. I’m not giving the listening public an address, for me or for him, but damn. I’d kinda forgotten what it’s like to just sleep. Like, lay down and be pretty sure nobody’s gonna screw with you for the next eight hours, nine hours. 

JUNIPER

Except for the bombings.

GLIM

Yeah, but there’s always something. And even when shelters do have all the ramps and the special doors they’re supposed to, it’s a pain in the ass to get to a shelter in a chair. It’s not fun. But, I don’t know.

JUNIPER

Interesting. It kind of sounds like. Sorry if this is overstepping…

GLIM

It sounds like my life’s taken a real upswing since we started getting pounded by the Regime?

You’re not wrong. I’ve got a job and a place to stay, and I don’t have to scrap for every mouthful. That’s not nothing.

JUNIPER

Yeah. (A BEAT) What happens when the war is over and people come back?

GLIM

We’re not fighting this war, the Great Fracture, whatever-the-Hell you wanna call it, for things to wind up the way they were. When this all ends, we need to have moved ahead. 

JUNIPER

What does that look like to you?

GLIM

People talk about the homeless problem like it’s an infestation, but you give us somewhere to live, we stop being homeless. It’s not hard. And newsflash, way easier to keep steady work if half your brain’s not constantly wondering where you’re gonna sleep.

JUNIPER

Yeah, absolutely. Hey. Can I ask you something?

GLIM

It’s what you’ve been doing.

JUNIPER

What’s the right verb for traveling in a wheelchair? Wheeling, riding, something else?

GLIM

The age-old debate, yeah. We’ve had about a thousand years to land on something, but so far, no dice. I’d say for most of us, depends on what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. Also, y’know. “We’re not a monolith.”

JUNIPER

Right, yeah. Definitely hear that.

FX: A DOOR OPENS

VIOLET

Junie?

JUNIPER

Violet!

GLIM

Well, be seeing ya.

VIOLET

Hey, hey, I’ve been trying to get through to you all day, why wouldn’t you keep your radio juiced, this is so stupid—

JUNIPER

Violet. Any news?

VIOLET

They’re bombing Lovelace.

JUNIPER

I know. Dr. Robinson told me. Any word from Sana, or—

VIOLET

No. No.

JUNIPER

Oh. Okay.

VIOLET

Wanna step outside for a sec, get some air?

JUNIPER

I was just—yeah, we can do that.

FX: DOUBLE DOORS OPEN AND CLOSE. JUNIPER AND VIOLET ARE OUTSIDE AGAIN. JUNIPER SITS ON THE GROUND.

VIOLET

You alright?

JUNIPER

I really thought I’d come over here and you’d know. You’d know, and we’d cry or we’d celebrate, or—something. There would be something. How’s work?

VIOLET

You don’t want to talk about my work. Too much guts stuff. 

JUNIPER

Is the guts stuff going well?

VIOLET

It’s going okay. It’s good to have something else to focus on. I guess you know about that, too. 

JUNIPER

Yeah.

VIOLET

I’m sorry, I have to go back in a few minutes. Thanks for coming.

JUNIPER

Yeah. How’s Arkady?

VIOLET

You saw her yourself two weeks ago.

JUNIPER

Are you trying to make me believe that she got back from leave and you haven’t called since then?

VIOLET

I called.

JUNIPER

And?

VIOLET

She said ‘I love you.’

JUNIPER

And?

VIOLET

I said it, too.

JUNIPER

You didn’t overthink it?

VIOLET

Not much.

JUNIPER

Does she know about Lovelace yet?

VIOLET

No. Or if she does, not from me. Jesus, I know this is stupid but I hadn’t totally— it’s been so long since a relationship went this well, and part of me, I guess, despite everything—and God, there’s a whole lot of everything, that word couldn’t cover much more ground— but sometimes when I let my mind wander, I kind of.

JUNIPER

You wanted her to meet our parents.

VIOLET

Yeah. And I know that’s absurd for so many different reasons, but—

JUNIPER

You’re allowed to want things, you hypocrite.

VIOLET

It’s just such a great way to get your hopes dashed.

JUNIPER

Who are we if we don’t dream?

VIOLET

There’s a number of sleep disorders out there that neatly answer that question.

JUNIPER

Shut up.

VIOLET

Jerk.

JUNIPER

Nerd.

VIOLET

I should go back in.

FX: VIOLET STARTS TO WALK AWAY

JUNIPER

(RAISING HER VOICE TO BE HEARD) Hey. When this is over, do you think life will go back to normal?

FX: VIOLET STOPS

VIOLET

I hope not. Normal’s how we got in this mess to begin with. There were decades—God, maybe centuries—where everyone just kept walking their dogs and shopping for groceries and yeah, introducing their partners to their parents, as every condition that created the Regime inched into place.

JUNIPER

To be fair, we couldn’t have predicted the thing with the space aliens.

VIOLET

Maybe, but like. Literally every other piece of it…

JUNIPER

Yeah.

VIOLET

Hey, I think your mic—

ELLA

Incoming call from — Krejjh.

JUNIPER

You gonna answer that?

ELLA

Incoming call from — Krejjh.

VIOLET

I don’t know. I love them, but I don’t know if I can match their energy right now.

ELLA

Incoming call from — Krejjh.

JUNIPER

Might cheer you up.

VIOLET

Might. They’re into horoscopes right now, they probably just wanna tell me what’s going on with Pisces this week.

ELLA

Incoming call from — Krejjh.

JUNIPER

They might be worried, too.

VIOLET

ELLA, accept call.

FX: IN THE BACKGROUND OF THE CALL, SPACESHIP-FLYING SOUNDS.

KREJJH

Doctor Liu!

VIOLET

Hey. And Junie’s here with me.

KREJJH

Listen, so I’ve been flying—

VIOLET

Krejjh, I’m sorry, but I need to go soon, can you please be brief?

KREJJH

Hold every single one of your horses. I’ve been flying refugees all morning from Lovelace, and we got a-chatting, uh—yeah, step up to the microphone, not that, this, right here—

MYRNA

Hello? Uh, girls? Is that you?

VIOLET 

Mom?

JUNIPER

(LAUGHS) Oh my god, my mic’s still on—

KREJJH

Uh. Okay. Hold on. There’s uh, there’s another thing you need to hear. I was chatting with Thasia on the ride out and uh.

VIOLET

(LIGHTLY) Krejjh, oh my god, we’re kind of in the middle of a moment, can you—

KREJJH

Two days ago, Commander Violet and Thasia lost all contact with Captain Tripathi. Today, our side found her ship and it’s empty. Been empty a while. No sign of her.

She’s not late, she’s not stuck, she wasn’t shot down. She’s just—missing. 

(DEEP BREATH) Captain Tripathi is missing.

CREDITS MUSIC: ROCKET SCIENCE

JESS

This episode features—

RAE

Rae Tay as Juniper Liu

LW

LW Salinas as Madge

ANGELIQUE

Angelique Lazarus as Dr. Robinson

MAIA

Maia Harlap as Glim

CINDY

Cindy Chu as Violet Liu

BRI

Bri LeFever as Krejjh

LAUREN

Lauren Kong as Myrna Liu

ELLA

Ella Whomersley as ELLA

JESS

Written by Jessica Best

ISIDRO

I’m Isidro Carvalho, and I was the wheelchair sensitivity reader for this episode

ELEANOR

Production coordinator Eleanor Hyde

JEFFREY

Sound design by Jeffrey Nils Gardner

NEWT

Directed by Newton Schottelkotte

AMBER

The closing credits music is “Rocket Science” by Amber Devereux of Tin Can Audio