Six months into the Second Galactic War, and this is still more often than not the nightly sounds of San Ramos. This time, our attackers are not a Dwarnian invasion, but our fellow humans, the Regime that took power in the military coup of 2180. Their forces, who once swore to protect us, now target bridges, schools, water treatment plants, and hospitals, but no corner of the city is safe, regardless of whether or not you identify with the pro-revolutionary forces that have been dubbed The Rooks. On the ground here, we ’re finding—

RADIO DIAL ADJUSTED

VOICE

—names of the dead. Maria Garcia, David Smith, Tony Wang, Susan Wang, Zhang Wei, Ramesh Kumar—

RADIO DIAL ADJUSTED

FX: A FEW SECONDS OF “LANDERS NEVER STAND DOWN”

RADIO DIAL ADJUSTED

CHUCK WEATHERS

Tonight on FREE PRESS with Chuck Weathers. A special report. (SPOOKY MUSIC) Just who are the anti-state perpetrators of the Iris Casefiles propaganda? An inside look on what makes these deviants tick, and just what new evil might be lurking around the corner.

FX: A BABY GOAT BLEATS, LOUD. WE’RE ON MIRZAKHANI.

ARKADY

Alright, calm your udders, Mimi, you’re obviously next.

CHUCK WEATHERS

The power-hungry mastermind Sana Tripathi. The ruthless manipulator Arkady Patel and her brainwashed dupe, Violet Liu.

ARKADY

Here you go, girl, bottle time.

FX: MIMI THE GOAT BEGINS TO DRINK FROM THE BOTTLE. THE OTHER GOATS BLEAT AND PACE THE ENCLOSURE.

ARKADY

No, Gilda, Katya, get outta here, c’mon, babies only. That’s right, Mimi, that’s a good girl.

CHUCK WEATHERS

The actual literal Dwarnian Krejjh. The bloodthirsty murderer Brian Jeeter.

FX: A GOAT BAAAS

ARKADY

“Bah” is right.

FX: A GOAT BLEATS.

ARKADY

It’s a trainwreck. It’s a trainwreck hitting a bus crash.

CHUCK WEATHERS

All that and more, tonight on FREE PRESS, with me, Chuck Weathers--

FX: THE SOUND OF A RADIO SIGNAL INTRUSION

PIPER

And we’re back!

ARKADY

(TO HERSELF) Okay, you can do this.

PIPER

For those of you just joining us, I’m Piper Tanaka, not my real name,

KESTREL

I’m the mysterious woman known as Kestrel Colvin. Reina Sakamachi is in the booth--

PIPER

--and we’ve been taking a mini hiatus, you know, to keep things fresh and fun.

KESTREL

And undetectable by the feds.

PIPER

And undetectable by the feds. But here we are, signal intruding on your evening Regime propaganda. And here you are, rock’n’roll fans, hopefully along for the ride. To those of you being surveiled, please feel free to pretend the dial broke.

KESTREL

Without further ado, we present the third installment from Juniper Liu’s new documentary, “San Ramos: Rising to the Moment”

3.01.02 RADIO INTERVIEW. SAN RAMOS.

(AS THE INTERVIEW PLAYS, THE “THIS IS A BROADCAST” FILTER AND THE GOAT SOUNDS FADE AWAY)

JUNIPER

I’m sitting here with Sana Tripathi, formerly the captain of the Rumor and the Iris, now an organizer in the Central Middle neighborhood of San Ramos, and sometimes known as Saint Sana.

SANA

What?

JUNIPER

Arkady told me about it. She said there’s shirts.

SANA

You know as well as I do that nobody on San Ramos has new clothes. We’ve been relying on donations since the start of the Regime’s bombing campaign. Speaking of which, I need to take a moment and thank all the brave pilots at Fly With Soul for their incredible work getting us supplies even in the face of the worsening drone attacks. It really means the world to us.

JUNIPER

Absolutely. So about these shirts—

SANA

Oh god.

JUNIPER

People are looking at your success back when you blew up the lab on New Jupiter, when you orchestrated the evacuation on San Ramos, and then decided to stay, and something about that seems to really resonate with them. Why do you think that is?

SANA

If I’m being totally honest…

I get that people want someone to look up to; I know when I was younger, I certainly had my heroes, but to raise me up above everybody ignores all the other people I had at my back, this remarkable team who in so many ways made it all possible. I want them to get credit, because every one of them absolutely deserves it.

But even more than that, I worry putting me on a pedestal lets the person doing the, the veneration off the hook, if that makes sense. To sigh and say, “I could never do what she did.” Because you can’t know that, y’know? Unless you find yourself in that exact situation, you’ll never know what you would’ve done.

That’s not false modesty, by the way: I think we’ve done good things. I just also think, especially now—any train of thought that leaves you helpless isn’t worth boarding in the first place. Maybe you couldn’t do what we did. But you can do something else. You should do something else. To act like I—or even the rest of the team, much as I love them, and amazing as they all are—to act like we’re so different from you doesn’t help anything. You just need to find what it is that you can do, and then you need to do that thing, with every fiber of your being.

And not just because it’s the right thing to do. To take some tiny corner of the problem and get your hands dirty, see the on-the-ground ways you’re helping…it’s good for the soul. We need food, water, shelter to survive. But we need a purpose, a cause, to really live.

If you don’t know where to start, donate to someplace being hit hard right now. If you’re already donating, volunteer. And if you’re under the thumb of the Regime, maybe get a little forgetful about turning in that neighbor, that co-worker.

3.01.03 GOAT PADDOCK, MIRZAKHANI

ELLA

(OVERLAPPING WITH RADIO)Incoming call from—

ARKADY

(OVERLAPPING WITH RADIO)Computer, accept call.

SANA

Maybe do your government job a little worse. Maybe do what you can to stay informed without informing them.

THASIA

Hello? (A BEAT, THEN VERY SURPRISED) Is that her? Did you find her?

ARKADY

Computer, pause radio.

(FX: TRANSMISSION STOPS)

THASIA

Ah.

ARKADY

I just—I wanted to hear her voice again.

THASIA

I understand. It must be difficult.

ARKADY

Yeah. Thasia, what’s going on?

THASIA

Anyone else on the line?

FX: A GOAT BAAS

THASIA

Where are you?

ARKADY

The one spot in Mirzakhani with decent signal. Line is secure. Enough small talk, did Other Violet get my proposal, about completing Tripathi’s mission?

THASIA

A plan which, given the intense secrecy of Captain Tripathi’s work, would conveniently hinge on first recovering your missing captain?

ARKADY

Am I wrong? If the assignment was so classified that even you and Other Violet don’t have the details, I’m guessing it was something important. My team knew her the best, and that puts us in the best position to—

THASIA

Your team. And not a squad of trained operatives?

ARKADY

Look, San Ramos is getting slammed, supply lines are collapsing, the fact that we have more people barely matters when we’ve got worse weapons and less money than the Regime, and oh yeah, their drones are knocking our ships out of the sky every day. I get that you don’t wanna leave it up to us, but I don’t think you guys really have a choice.

THASIA

Yes, well. Consider this your briefing.

ARKADY

Thank you. Thasia, thank you.

THASIA

On February 17th, we mount an assault on the Regime’s three largests weapons manufacturing facilities, on Rosado. We already have a ship prepared to head that way, with orders to strike. But the factories are surrounded by a wall of well-armed drones. Captain Tripathi had a credible contact who promised us a window, a way to temporarily slip past them. Unfortunately, this contact would speak to nobody but Captain Tripathi. We do not even know this human’s name. You need to find the individual, likely first by recovering your captain, and open that window.

ARKADY

You’re saying…we have two weeks.

THASIA

Slightly less, because our forces are arriving within drone hitting distance at noon on the 17th. I can approve for you a budget of ten thousand, and a ship. A Chiroptera 7. It’s en route to Krejjh right now. Be careful.

ARKADY

A Chiro—you’re sending us into a battle zone with a Fruitbat? Those things don’t even have a peashooter. If a drone pings us—

THASIA

If a drone pings you, you’d be dead no matter your weapons. (A BEAT) I did say “be careful.”

ARKADY

What if we need to break her out of some high security complex?

THASIA

Then I would suggest you use your creativity.

ARKADY

Yeah thanks Thasia, we’ll get the macaroni art going. (A BEAT) That was shitty. You can’t exactly lend us a battleship right now. We’ll figure something out.

THASIA

Do you wish to fight me on anything else?

ARKADY

No. (A BEAT, THEN, SINCERE) Thank you.

THASIA

Fourteen days. If you fail, it is vital you tell us so we can call our people off. But also: we cannot fail.

ARKADY

Right. Arkady Patel out. Computer, Arkady Patel to Violet Liu.

ELLA

Attempting connect—

VIOLET

Hello?

ARKADY

Hey.

VIOLET

Hey.

ARKADY

Have you heard the piece? Juniper’s documentary?

VIOLET

I have heard every iteration of every piece, more times than—

JUNIPER

Okay, nobody locked you in a room and forced you to listen to my—

ARKADY

Listen.

VIOLET

Yeah?

ARKADY

Thasia said yes. We’ve got two weeks, moderate funds, and a ship with zero weaponry.

VIOLET

Wow. That’s—zero weapons?

ARKADY

Yeah. (A BEAT) Campbell can’t be away that long. He’s gonna hate that.

VIOLET

Think he’ll understand, though. He really is holding this city together by his fingernails. Especially since—yeah.

JUNIPER

We can tell him, if you want. I’m interviewing him for a followup piece tonight, I’ll break it to him in person.

And in case you’re feeling weird about this, I’m gonna go ahead and be the one to say I shouldn’t be going. I’m the only reporter left here who knows how to work the comms equipment.

ARKADY

Yeah, that tracks. Uh, thanks. Hey Violet?

VIOLET

Mm-hmm?

JUNIPER

Is this my cue to clear out?

ARKADY

You don’t have to.

VIOLET

Yes, you do, Junie, please go away now.

JUNIPER

Happily.

ARKADY

Violet, I get that you’ve got family there, and I get you’re doing good work with Dr. Robinson, and I get that the work is still desperately needed—Christ, I’m not trying to take away from that—but, uh, by any chance—two weeks is a long time, but—

VIOLET

Is this an invitation?

ARKADY

It’s not a–costume party, Liu.

VIOLET

Hey, we don’t know what we’re getting into. The odds we’ll need disguises at some point—

ARKADY—fair. (A BEAT) You said “we.”

VIOLET

Arkady, you know my answer is yes, right?

ARKADY

I mean, I didn’t—”know” is a strong— it’s good to hear.

VIOLET

I have really missed being in the same galaxy.

ARKADY

Me too. So, uh, what’s new with you?

VIOLET

Uh, you know. Things have been tight since we stopped getting relief drops, but we’re holding up. The last package the hospital got had some hemodynamic implant monitors, so I can at least test a theory.

ARKADY

That’s great. Sorry, they are—?

VIOLET

They run on the warmth of your blood, and they report a burst of health data every five hours, including a person’s exact location. They were developed for dementia patients but I was thinking: it could save us time sifting through rubble when someone goes missing after an attack. (A BEAT) (KIND OF LAUGHS) Our lives are so depressing.

ARKADY

I hear that. I, uh, finally got in touch with Julio’s nurse friend, they put me on some hopefully better meds, for as long as the stockpile lasts.

VIOLET

That’s great!

ARKADY

Turns out the shit the Regime had me on during the war can give you “vivid and alarming hallucinations”, so there’s some personal puzzle pieces sliding into goddamn place.

VIOLET

Jesus, that’s horrible. Didn’t they test it?

ARKADY

Yeah. On us.

VIOLET

The number of medical regulations that breaks...I could, I could punch someone.

ARKADY

Remember—

VIOLET

Pinky tucked, thumb out and under, lead with the middle and index knuckles.

ARKADY

Full marks.

VIOLET

Okay, I need to start packing, and you need to let the others know. I’ve got a mint plant on the windowsill I’ve been—well, growing is a strong word; it’s mint, it does what it wants, but I can bring that along. Y’know, for good luck.

ARKADY

Hey. Love you.

VIOLET

I love you too. Talk to you soon. Violet Liu out.

FX: CALL ENDS.

ARKADY

Okay. Okay. Step two.

3.01.04 INT. MIRZAKHANI

TRANSITION

FX: A LOOM CLANGING. MCCABE IS WEAVING.

ARKADY

McCabe. Where’s Brian?

FX: LOOM SOUNDS STOP.

MCCABE

If you were able to look me up on the scheduling chart, you could’ve used the exact same tool to find him.

ARKADY

Oh, no, I just followed the sound of your loom making an incredible goddamn racket.

MCCABE

I’m weaving scarves. We’re getting another shipment of refugees from Elion and I don’t want them to be chilly.

ARKADY

Judging by the heap of winterwear to your left--

MCCABE

(A LITTLE DEFENSIVE) I got into a rhythm.

ARKADY

You can’t even clap on the beat.

MCCABE

It’s a nice feeling, every now and then, to step away from work and just—create.

ARKADY

Hey, you create all the time. Mostly goddamn Byzantine spreadsheets, but y’know. We’re getting off-topic.

MCCABE

“Where’s Brian?”

ARKADY

Yes.

MCCABE

On the scheduling chart.

ARKADY

McCabe—believe me when I say this right now is not a teaching moment. Just tell me where he is.

MCCABE

What makes you think I know? That chart tracks more than a hundred staff, over both their tasks and their free periods as they tend to what’s become basically an entire city of refugees, so why would you waste time on a face-to-face conversation when one look at the handy resource I made specifically for this purpose would—

ARKADY

Please. Like Brian has his shit together enough to keep it current? Like you wouldn’t instinctively cover for your buddy?

MCCABE

He’s teaching an adult Intro to Dwarnian class in auxiliary building C. Why do you need him?

ARKADY

It’s a long story.

MCCABE

For the record, in case you think acting cryptic makes you look “cool”, it mostly makes you very annoying.

ARKADY

Yeah, well, I need to do something to keep the mystery alive, given—

MCCABE

(“THIS AGAIN.”) How long we secretly monitored all your conversations?

ARKADY

Got it in one.

FX: LOOM SOUNDS START BACK UP.

MCCABE

Remind him this is board games night.

3.01.05 INT. CLASSROOM, MIRZAKHANI

FX: TRANSITION

FX: A CLASSROOM. BRIAN’S OXGYEN MACHINE.

BRIAN

So, about emreh. It sometimes gets equated to family or household. And that’s not wrong, it’s just not complete. So imagine, say, three to ten adults, and they can be in any combination of romantic relationships with each other—or not—and they decide to form a unit. They live together, they pool their finances and raise children together. It’s sort of a very small commune, minus the hippie flavor. It’s so common that the default word for home as in a dwelling—

FX: DOOR OPENS

ARKADY

Brian.

FX: A LIGHT SCUFFLING AS STUDENTS TURN IN THEIR SEATS TO LOOK AT ARKADY.

BRIAN

Kinda in the middle of something, dude.

ARKADY

I talked to Thasia.

BRIAN

Okay, everyone, uh, look over your readers for a few. I know we don’t have enough anymore, so if you could pair up? Uh, triple up? Make some buddies, we’re all gonna be here a while.

FX: RUSTLING NOISES AS A BUNCH OF READERS ARE DUG UP AND DESKS ARE SCOOCHED CLOSER

FX: FOOTSTEPS OUT OF THE ROOM, DOOR CLOSES.

ARKADY

Modest budget, two weeks, absolutely pathetic ship on its way to Krejjh right now. You in?

BRIAN

You’re asking me? Like, in case there’s a medieval Dwarnian-themed scavenger hunt?

ARKADY

It’s no fun when you say it.

BRIAN

Are you sure that I’m...y’know…

ARKADY

I don’t know, actually, so if you could do your thing and use some words...

BRIAN

When the stakes are this high, should I really be on your crew?

ARKADY

One, you saved all our butts on New Jupiter. Two, this is a war and you’re literally an award-winning codebreaker—

BRIAN

It was summer camp and I was eleven and I only got second place.

ARKADY

Wasn’t that just because Susie Strathers was the counselor’s niece?

BRIAN

Arkady…

ARKADY

The fix is in. (A BEAT) Your students are grown-ups, they can do without baby Dwarnian vocab for two weeks.

BRIAN

Dude, demystifying the language, and with it, the art and literature, is the first step towards forging a lasting cross-cultural bond—

ARKADY

I know, Brian. I’ve seen you drunk before. Do I need to remind you why we’re doing this?

BRIAN

No.

ARKADY

Also, we need Krejjh’s best flying, especially now. And that means Krejjh needs their husband.

BRIAN

Kinda manipulative, to play that card.

ARKADY

Am I wrong?

BRIAN

...no.

ARKADY

Are you in?

BRIAN

Does Krejjh know we’re going yet?

ARKADY

I thought you might wanna be there when I tell them.

BRIAN

In that case, c’mon. They’re in a three-way call with Max and Swarnsh.

ARKADY

Swarnsh?

BRIAN

Dwarnian diplomat. Max is in Auxiliary Building E; if we hurry, we can probably catch Krejjh after.

ARKADY

How do you know all that?

BRIAN

It’s on the scheduling chart.

ARKADY

Right.

FX: FOOTSTEPS

BRIAN

So, out of nowhere, another mission with Violet. How are you feeling?

ARKADY

How is that a question? Obviously I hate that we have to do this, but I’m, y’know, glad she’ll be there.

BRIAN

That’s great.

ARKADY

Good. Good. It’s gonna be two weeks of quality time, sharing a room, close quarters, intense pressure, nowhere to go, and I’m in love with someone who is awfully goddamn settled on a planet so goddamn full of my own personal bullshit that I could never live there longterm?

BRIAN

It’s okay to be nervous. I mean, depending on where Krejjh is, we could all be reunited today. That’s great, but it’s a lot.

ARKADY

I may be a little—but. It’s good. It’s fine. (A BEAT) Does my hair look—?

BRIAN

What?

ARKADY

Nothing. Let’s go find Max.

3.01.06 INT. RADIO. MIRZAKHANI

TRANSITION

MAX

Hang on, Swarnsh—

KREJJH

Yeah, back it up buttercup. Listen to us, Swarnsh.

SWARNSH

Krejjh, with all due respect, the Dwarnian Federation--

KREJJH

--has made it 100% crystal they don’t wish to be involved in any intra-human skirmishes, we know, but you’re not listening. Commander Gavins, can you--

MAX

Do you think the IGR forgot they want a war with you? The second they crush the Rooks, that’s priority one.

SWARNSH

Even if the human governments won’t admit it, the Dwarnian Federation has no doubt the attempted attacks on Heemdalla were a conspiracy between Vashren, Reshthreb, and the IGR. We remain committed to peace.

MAX

Hope that commitment’s a comfort when the Regime attacks.

SWARNSH

If they try, the Dwarnian Federation will swat them like a fly.

KREJJH

See, but that’s the whole thing about flies—it doesn’t matter how many you swat, there’s always more. Buzzing. Isn’t even one Dwarnian life too many to lose over this? Look at Commander Gavins. He lost his partner and his purpose and now he’s got nothing left to live for but the roar of the laser canon. Do you want that for any of your people?

SWARNSH

Of course I don’t, but that’s not…

KREJJH

Also, just wanna remind you that the reason the Regime was able to grab up power in the first place, and squash everybody down ‘til now was because your government attacked the humans way back when.

MAX

You’re already involved, like it or not.

SWARNSH

My government? Do you think the Dwarnian Federation listened to the Neevath? Breesht, do you think they listen to us now? I took this meeting because I care, but if you’re asking me to get the Federation on the side of the Rooks, I’m telling you, I cannot make that happen. (SIGH) It’s an honor to talk to my favorite stunt pilot, and to a decorated war hero. I’ll pass your message along.

KREJJH

Thanks.

SWARNSH

Swarnsh out.

MAX

(SIGHS)

KREJJH

So, how are the kids? How’s Crewman Jeeter and First Mate Patel?

MAX

Why’d you imply Julio’s dead?

KREJJH

Because it helps sell the whole story. Hardened warrior, shell of former self, out where the action is, one lone tear slides down the grizzled cheek—

MAX

The next time you need someone to impersonate a commander and lie to royalty--

KREJJH

I mean, royalty I guess, but to the Neevath, Swarnsh is more of a religious leader--

MAX

The next time you need someone to lie to the...space alien pope!—

KREJJH

Yeah? Would you rather we pull an actual factual military person out of the fray just to talk to whatever politician I can get on the horn? I’m telling you, your average Dwarnian knows nothing about human culture but the great big honking movies. We gotta lean into that.

MAX

You said the Neevath were different—

KREJJH

They settled in high altitudes, they eat roots, and the rest of Dwarnians look down on ‘em. They still get the same downloads. They live in the mountains, not the past.

The more we tell ‘em a tale, the more they’ll believe us. Ooh, can you get a stooge? A stoogey?

MAX

What? Krejjh, just call Brian.

KREJJH

I can do this. A stodgy? It’s a--thing that kills you kinda slowly?

MAX

A stogie? A cigar?

KREJJH

Yeah!

MAX

Not where the kids could find it.

KREJJH

Goats or humans? (A BEAT) Barnyard humor!

MAX

The number of times--

FX: KNOCKING

MAX

Come in!

FX: DOOR OPENS

BRIAN

Hey, Max.

ARKADY

Any luck?

KREJJH

Are those Crewman Jeeter’s melifluous tones I hear over the transom? Hiiiii!

BRIAN

Hey, Krejjh.

MAX

Swarnsh is a dead end.

KREJJH

I do think they care.

ARKADY

Caring hearts without acting hands gets us jack shit.

BRIAN

Okay, like. Things I need embroidered on a pillow, stat.

KREJJH

What brings you this way, Crewman Jeeter and First Mate Patel?

ARKADY

Thasia approved the mission. Our temporary ship’s headed your way as we speak. A Fruitbat.

KREJJH

Oof. How soon do we start?

ARKADY

How soon can you stop by San Ramos and then scoop us up?

KREJJH

I’d say, a day? I’m not that far out.

BRIAN

Seriously? That’s awesome, bud!

MAX

Does that include time to sleep?

KREJJH

Chill, daddy-o. Don’t be such a square.

ARKADY

We have two weeks. We need every hour we can get.

BRIAN

Okay, but how sleep-deprived do we want our one pilot to be?

KREJJH

Crewman Jeeter, my beloved and very handsome unlawfully married husband, this smacks of hippo-Chrissy.

MAX

Flight conditions’ve gotten rough with the drones out there. It’d be easier with a backup pilot.

ARKADY

That reminds me; I’ve gotta make one more call.

3.01.07 INT. INT. RADIO. MIRZAKHANI

FX: TRANSITION

ELLA

Attempting connection. Attempting connection.

ARKADY

Park.

PARK

Thasia approved the mission.

ARKADY

How’d you--

PARK

Why else would you be calling?

ARKADY

Fair. Are you--

PARK

I’m in.

ARKADY

Really. I thought I was gonna have to—do a whole thing.

PARK

Look. (IN PAIN) You should probably know.

ARKADY

You’re dating Sana. I do know, she said.

PARK

She told me she was going to tell you. Didn’t realize she’d gotten the chance, before…

ARKADY

Yeah. Look, I have to ask, and for the record I hate asking just as much as you’ll hate answering—

PARK

I find that hard to believe.

ARKADY

Are things gonna be weird between you and Campbell?

PARK

No.

(A BEAT)

ARKADY

Are you sure.

PARK

Yes.

(A BEAT)

ARKADY

Park, for the love of God, don’t make me ask follow-up questions.

PARK

(IN PAIN AGAIN) He’ll be glad at least one of the people she’s with will be there. We’ve...talked about it.

ARKADY

Shit. How the Hell could that go well?

PARK

That sounds like a follow-up question.

ARKADY

Yeah, retracted. I’ll send you the details?

PARK

Right. Jin Seon Park out.

3.01.08 INT. MIRZAKHANI

FX: DOOR OPENS WITH SOME VIOLENCE

MCCABE

Just what the Hell is going on?

ARKADY

Hey McCabe. Shouldn’t you be weaving for another ten minutes?

MCCABE

You—

ARKADY

That’s right. I read the scheduling chart.

MCCABE

Did you honestly think I’d never find out about your mission? Recovering Captain Tripathi? Or did you just think you’d be able to get away before I put the, in retrospect, obvious pieces together?

ARKADY

Look, I was gonna tell you.

MCCABE

When. Once you were lifting off without me? Hang on, was that Park on the line? Is Park going? Park, who barely spoke to Captain Tripathi the entire time we lived on the Iris 2?

ARKADY

Park, who can actually drive a spaceship?

MCCABE

There are other pilots. Why him?

ARKADY

That’s not for me to say.

MCCABE

Seriously, even now, you’re going for cryptic?

You know, if neither of us were included, you could say you still don’t trust us on some level and I’d understand it. I wouldn’t be thrilled, but I would understand. But this—

Is it because I pulled a gun on you?

ARKADY

You know that’s water under the bridge. We’ve talked about this. I wasn’t in my right mind.

MCCABE

Then why? Do you think I don’t care about Captain Tripathi? I caught the tail end of Juniper’s piece, do you think I don’t care about the war effort?

Do you just not want me around?

ARKADY

Because—you’re thriving, okay?

MCCABE

What?

ARKADY

Because here, you’ve got all your systems and your charts and your color-coding and your loom, and out there—on Martineau, you had to shoot and kill—

MCCABE

That won’t happen again. I only had one best friend.

ARKADYDon’t be flippant—

MCCABE

Why, are you protecting your copyright?

ARKADY

I’ve had some time to think about the difference between doing well and barely scraping by. The world we live in, it’s so hard to function in anything other than survival mode, when someone actually manages it, disrupting that is like shooting a stained glass window.

MCCABE

I’m not made of glass—

ARKADY

Like shooting an endangered rhino, is that better? What did you do to the door?

MCCABE

Weightlifting is good for long-term emotional health. Do you think maybe you just don’t want to admit that wherever you’re going, you will definitely need a sniper?

ARKADY

Park’s got years of field training—

MCCABE

—yes, and also zero depth perception, did you forget how many eyes he has?

ARKADY

If we really need it, I can—

MCCABE

Did your therapist sign off on that?

ARKADY

Julio knows it’s complicated. McCabe, I’m sorry, but it’s done. You’ve got work, it’s hard to do remotely—

MCCABE

About that. I added up all the offtime I’ve accrued since we moved here, and Max said that if I don’t take at least a short leave of absence, he’ll have me locked out of my software.

ARKADY

You’re okay here. You might not be okay out there.MCCABEI don’t think that’s a guarantee for any of us.

ARKADY

…yeah.

MCCABE

You can’t disqualify me for something that’s true of literally everyone you know. Well, you can, but it wouldn’t be fair.

ARKADY

…Welcome aboard.

MCCABE

(A BEAT) We’re going to find her, right?

ARKADY

We’ve done impossible shit before.

MCCABE

Not without her.

ARKADY

(HEAVY) I know. (PAUSE) Hey, wanna help me bug Krejjh about trip logistics?

MCCABE

(TOUCHED) I’ll start a spreadsheet.

3.01.09 EXT. GOAT PADDOCK, MIRZAKHANI

FX: TRANSITION

FX: GOATS BLEATING

FX: FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING

JULIO

Your ship’s supposed to touch down any minute. Thought I might find you out here.

ARKADY

What, saying goodbye to the goats like some kind of sappy shithead?

JULIO

I mean. You are here.

ARKADY

Professional opinion, Julio, do you think I’m well enough to do this? And none of that Socrates, “the answer is in another question” bullshit. Give me it straight for once, yes or no.

JULIO

In that case, you’re completely cured. No more mental health problems, ever again, just the free and clear from now on. I’m expecting my trophy any day.

ARKADY

(NOT HURT BY THIS) Such an asshole.

JULIO

I find it’s important, when I’m working with someone, to meet them where they are.

ARKADY

(SNORTS)

JULIO

It’s a process, you know. All of us out here, we have to work on doing better every day. I can hear you sometimes let down the armor, share a little more of yourself.

ARKADY

Yeah. It blows.

JULIO

It feels more vulnerable, sure. But it’s a huge first step. You can’t live your life in battle forever. It’s not fair to you or the people around you. But you know that already.

What do you think?

ARKADY

I think at this point, the longer I sit around, the harder it’s gonna be to be okay. She’s out there. She’s out there, somewhere.

JULIO

I would caution you to try to stay realistic. The odds of finding her, or even reaching any kind of external closure—

ARKADY

“It may have to come from within.”

JULIO

That’s the hell of it.

ARKADY

Do you hear something?

FX: A SHIP APPROACHES

JULIO

You better go.

ARKADY

Hey, Julio?

JULIO

Yeah?

ARKADY

...don’t let Gilda nose in on Mimi’s bottle time. She’s a goddamn menace.

JULIO

Call me if you need to. I’m serious. If we’re doing this on Other Violet’s dime, my billing rates are off the charts.

ARKADY

(SINCERE) Thank you.

JULIO

Bye, Arkady.

3.01.09 EXT. SPACESHIP LANDING

TRANSITION

FX: A SPACESHIP FINISHES LANDING. A SPACESHIP DOOR OPENS.

KREJJH

Greetings, humans: we come in peace! Now clear the way so I may embrace my HUSBAND!

FX: KREJJH’S RUNNING FOOTSTEPS. KREJJH LEAPS INTO BRIAN’S ARMS.

KREJJH

Husband husband husband!

BRIAN

Oof! (AMUSED) Spouse spouse spouse!

PARK

Brian, Arkady, McCabe.

BRIAN

(OUT OF BREATH) Park, Violet hey.

MCCABE

Hi, sir. Park.

VIOLET

Hey Arkady.

ARKADY

Hey. Missed you.

VIOLET

C’mere. I—you can put down all your bags first, if—

ARKADY

Don’t worry about it.

FX: THEY HUG. I KNOW A GENTLE HUG DOESN’T MAKE MUCH OF A SOUND. I’M SORRY.

VIOLET

I missed your hugs.

ARKADY

Might as well stock up while we can. It’s gonna be a fast two weeks.

VIOLET

(BITTERSWEET) Yeah.

KREJJH

Sharpshooter McCabe, I wanna hear about everything!

MCCABE

Where do I—

KREJJH

Later, we are lifting off as soon as we’ve got all your stuff. Let me climb off of Crewman Jeeter and I’ll—just kidding, you’re on your own, I’m never coming down!

MCCABE

Can someone grab the other side of my loom?

PARK

Got it.

FX: HEAVY FOOTSTEPS THROUGH THE SPACESHIP DOORS.

BRIAN

Krejjh, you’re—not light—

KREJJH

Yeah okay, let’s switch.

FX: KREJJH HOPS DOWN AND LIFTS BRIAN.

BRIAN

(LAUGHS) Woo! Arkady, VIolet, can you grab my stuff? The two striped bags and the extra oxygen?

FX: ARKADY AND VIOLET’S FOOTSTEPS.

ARKADY

Yep. Do we have everything?

MCCABE

Checklist says yes.

FX: FOOTSTEPS BACK INTO THE SHIP.

FX: SHIP DOOR CLOSES.

KREJJH

Let’s get cracking!

BRIAN

(AWED) Krejjh...buddy…

ARKADY

What did you do to the inside of the ship?

KREJJH

Oh yeah. I had some downtime and some paint and I thought, we’re gonna be up against some grim stuff, might as well do it in style. This is the plaid room.

MCCABE

Are you...familiar with plaid, Krejjh?

KREJJH

Nope! I worked without a reference and turns out I got it super wrong!

FX: EVERYONE’S FOOTSTEPS CROSS THE ROOM.

VIOLET

For the record, I like it.

BRIAN

Very lively.

ARKADY

Krejjh…

KREJJH

Yeah? I can do it back if you hate it, I’ve got more paint...somewhere.

ARKADY

...I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re all here.

KREJJH

We’re glad you’re here, too, First Mate Patel. Huh.

BRIAN

What, dude?

KREJJH

Captain Patel.

VIOLET

(TRYING IT OUT) Captain Patel.

ARKADY

Yeah, well, let’s not get used to it.

KREJJH

Okay dokes, blokes, tether your things to the floor ‘cause we are going airborne yesterday!

FX: VELCRO TETHERS ON THE LOOM

KREJJH

And wait til you see what I did to the cockpit! It’s a tribute to our majestic namesake! Now, if you’ll—

ELLA

Incoming call to Arkady Patel from—unknown number. Incoming—

ARKADY

Computer, accept call.

ELLA

(SLIGHTLY FUZZY RECORDING) 5, 5, 4, 2.5, 4, 2.5, 1, 5, 5, 5, 6.5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 2.5, 4, 2.5, 1, 5, 5, 4, 5

(THE OTHERS START TALKING ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE SEQUENCE)

MCCABE

What—

BRIAN

Shh!

(SEQUENCE ENDS)

VIOLET

Can you trace where it’s coming from?

ARKADY

I can try—

FX: QUICK TYPING

ARKADY

No luck.

MCCABE

Do we think—code?

PARK

Definitely.

KREJJH

Well, it wouldn’t be a mission if we didn’t have some string of sounds for Crewman Jeeter to play and play and play til it burrows in the brainstem like a—

BRIAN

Hang on. You guys hear it too, right?

VIOLET

What?

BRIAN

That’s a pretty long sequence to never go higher than seven. Code’s don’t generally…work like that. A lot of repetition, too.

PARK

Brian?

BRIAN

Krejjh, by any chance did you bring that little toy piano I kept asking you to throw out?

KREJJH

What do you think I am? Panel at your elbow, bud.

FX: PANEL OPENS.

BRIAN

Computer, replay message.

ELLA

5, 5, 4, 2.5, 4, 2.5, 1…

BRIAN

Computer, pause. Okay, assume middle C is one, and each point five is a half step. So we’ve got 5, 5, 4, 2.5, 4, 2.5, 1…

FX: BRIAN PLAYS THE FIRST SEVEN NOTES OF “LANDERS NEVER STAND DOWN” ON A TOY PIANO

BRIAN

Computer, continue message.

ELLA

5, 5, 5, 6.5, 5…

BRIAN

Computer, pause.

FX: BRIAN PLAYS THE NEXT FIVE NOTES OF “LANDERS NEVER STAND DOWN” ON A TOY PIANO.

ARKADY

Oh my god…

VIOLET

What?

MCCABE

That’s “Landers Never Stand Down.” The protest anthem, from Cresswin Landing?

ARKADY

It’s her favorite song.

VIOLET

That’s…what does that mean?

PARK

For one, that’s compelling evidence she’s still alive.

ARKADY

It also means we know where to start looking. Computer: set target coordinates to Cresswin Landing. (DEEP BREATH) Let’s go rescue Sana Tripathi.

CREDITS MUSIC: ROCKET SCIENCE

JESSThis episode features—

RAE

Rae Tay as Juniper Liu

SHARAFINASharafina Teh as Voice

WILLIAM

William Mericle as Chuck Weathers

JULIA

Julia Morizawa as Piper Tanaka

LUCILLE

Lucille Valentine as Kestrel Colvin

RUKHMANI

Rukhmani K. Desai as Sana Tripathi

ISHANI

Ishani Kanetkar as Arkady Patel

ELLA

Ella Whomersley as ELLA

VRAI

Vrai Kaiser as Thasia

CINDY

Cindy Chu as Violet Liu

JACKIE

Jackie Andrews as RJ McCabe

JAMIE

Jamie Price as Brian Jeeter

BRI

Bri LeFever as Krejjh

NATE

Nate Dufort as Max Gavins

RAIN

Rain Corbyn as Swarnsh

CHRIS

Chris Choi as Jin Seon Park

AARON

Aaron Catano-Saez as Julio

JESS

Written by Jessica Best

LAUREN

Directed by Lauren Grace Thompson

ELEANOR

Production Coordinator Eleanor Hyde

JEFFREY

Sound design by Jeffrey Nils Gardner

JESS

Opening credits music is “Fear for the Storm,” written by Jessica Best and S.E. Winters and performed by Chiron Star, with Erin Bauman on vocals and harmonies arranged by Jamie Price

AMBER

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

Procyon Podcast Network

Starship Iris 3.01 Reunion

3.01.01 EXT. GOAT PADDOCK, MIRZAKHANI

3.01.02 RADIO INTERVIEW. SAN RAMOS.

3.01.03 GOAT PADDOCK, MIRZAKHANI

3.01.04 INT. MIRZAKHANI

3.01.05 INT. CLASSROOM, MIRZAKHANI

3.01.06 INT. RADIO. MIRZAKHANI

3.01.07 INT. INT. RADIO. MIRZAKHANI

3.01.08 INT. MIRZAKHANI

3.01.09 EXT. GOAT PADDOCK, MIRZAKHANI

3.01.09 EXT. SPACESHIP LANDING

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