THE HARBINGERS
EPISODE 16: Wrapped Around Your Finger
Transcript
TEASER
(The sound of a TV program - a cable news broadcast.)
JEANINE ALFARO: - cedented loss of life. WNS is still trying to verify the affected area, but early reports are indicating that - (A pause.) ... that everything within the red circle shown on this map was displaced, transported via magic -
(Click! The channel changes. We now hear a snippet of a different news broadcast.)
NEWS ANCHOR: - bright flash in the sky, visible throughout most of the Western Hemisphere. In a statement released minutes ago, the International Atomic Commission attributed the violent reaction to the combination of nuclear technology with Dr. Blackwell’s magic. The agency had issued warnings against this hybrid approach, emphasizing that magic remains poorly understood and could cause dangerous irregularities in the otherwise safe -
(Click! The channel changes. Another news broadcast.)
CHRIS WATTS: A representative for Athena Energy today put out a forceful statement, insisting that - despite undergoing damage - the reactor’s containment system was working as intended, and would have shut down the reaction if it had not -
(Click! The channel changes.)
SPANISH NEWSCASTER: La destrucción de la ciudad de Boston ha causado caos en el mundo financiero. Se calcula una perdida de trillones de dólares, y los economistas aseguran que esa cifra es -
(Click! The channel changes.)
JEANINE ALFARO: President Andrea Shepherd underwent emergency surgery at the Sapporo Medical University Hospital in Japan. News of the her survival has shocked the world, with her doctors calling her sudden -
(Click! The channel changes.)
FINANCIAL NEWSCASTER: With the sudden death of Jerome Eckerberg, his industrial empire is in a state of upheaval. Athena Energy’s stock price is in free fall, and we are already seeing what might be the beginning of a hostile takeover by French industrialist and -
(Click! The channel changes.)
NEWSCASTER: - the Christian fundamentalist group the Agnus Dei, as well as its controversial leader, Lawrence Donahue. The group released a pre-recorded video message Donahue made before his death, in which he takes credit for an attack on the facility. We warn you, the contents of this message are disturbing, and viewer discretion is -
(Click! The channel changes.)
KOREAN NEWSCASTER: 오늘 최수진 대위는 보스턴 비극에 대한 공식 입장을 표명했습니다. 최 대위는 이번 참사로 희생된 이들에게 깊은 애도를 표하는 한편, 철저한 책임 규명을 강조하며 “그 누구도 법 위에 군림할 수 없다” 라고 밝혔습니다.
(Click! The channel changes.)
CHRIS WATTS: The explosion lifted an enormous cloud of debris from the surface of the moon, much of which rushed towards the Earth. While most of these meteorites burnt up on contact with our atmosphere, many of them collided with the international space station, causing extensive damage and injuring six of the -
(Click! The channel changes.)
JEANINE ALFARO: President Shepherd returned to the United States today, amidst calls for action from the -
(Click! The channel changes.)
NEWSCASTER: Republican Congressman Hunter Kane today called for a hearing on the destruction of Boston, even going so far as to call it an attack -
(Click! The channel changes.)
JEANINE ALFARO: - scientific experts assure us that we are well protected from the deadly radiation released by the explosion. NASA officials, however, have expressed fear that travel to the moon may not be feasible for several decades due to -
(Click! The channel changes to a press conference.)
ANDREW WALKER: This is a tragedy unlike any that our country has ever experienced. An incalculable loss not only of life, but also of our culture and our history. A loss of great institutions, including Harvard and MIT, as well as thousands of America’s brightest young minds. We must make sure nothing like this happens ever again, and that begins by examining who has the power to -
(Click! The channel changes, now to a panel discussion..)
PANELIST 1: You - you understand that he did it to protect people, right? That if the explosion had happened on the ground it would have -
PANELIST 2: Well, who was he to make that decision? Huh?! He’s not a government official, he wasn’t an expert in this new reactor, why does he get to decide what’s best?
PANELIST 1: That’s not -
(There’s applause from the in-studio audience, which drowns him out.)
(Click! The channel changes, back to a news broadcast.)
FRENCH NEWSCASTER: - publié aujourd'hui une dénonciation publique contre le docteur Adam Blackwell dans notre -
(Click! The channel changes.)
NEWSCASTER: - amidst growing calls from the public for government action, the question on everyone’s mind is... what comes next?
(Click! The channel changes.)
FINANCIAL NEWSCASTER: What comes next?
(Click! The channel changes.)
JEANINE ALFARO: What comes next?
(Click! The channel changes.)
CHRIS WATTS: What comes next? Stay tuned and find out.
(The montage changes, leaving us in silence.)
ANNOUNCER: Audacious Machine Creative Presents: The Harbingers. Created by Gabriel Urbina. Episode 16: "Wrapped Around Your Finger.”
ACT ONE
(We return once again to the familiar sounds of Skinner’s office.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: So... what happened then? Afterwards?
AMY STIRLING: Does it matter?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Miss Stirling...
AMY STIRLING: These hearings are about how Boston ended up on the moon. Now you know.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Do I? Can you... explain it in, say, a hundred words or less?
AMY STIRLING: It... it happened because a billionaire wanted to become a trillionaire. Because he used magic to invent something new. Because a terrorist decided to kill me after I didn’t shut up, because we elected a young woman with scary ideas president, because I took a ring and Adam found a ring and... (A pause.) Because we said the wrong word. And we killed a city.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: He. He said the wrong word.
AMY STIRLING: Which I put in his mouth.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: You’re sure about that?
(A pause.)
AMY STIRLING: No, I’m not... (A pause.) We... we tried to figure out what had happened. We didn’t have cell service. Of course not, the infrastructure was gone. So we... started walking. After about an hour, emergency services found us. A bit after that, secret service. We spent the next while trying to put together what had happened.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: And after that?
AMY STIRLING: Then... I spent two months watching the rest of world try to put together what had happened.
(The scene fades to an apartment.)
NARRATOR: Manhattan. August, 2030.
(A TV is one. From it we hear.)
CHRIS WATTS: I think as Americans we’ve gotten very used to those with power getting away without facing consequences. There’ll be a big burst of attention, everyone will wring their hands, and then... nothing will come of it. That’s part of why we’re so grateful for what you’re doing, congressman.
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER KANE: Absolutely, Chris. This man, who no one elected, took public safety into his own hands, took American lives into his own hands. That’s not the way we roll in this country.
CHRIS WATTS: What about the people that say he had to do it? To protect people from this reactor?
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER KANE: This reactor, and I want to be extremely clear on this, that Dr. Blackwell helped to put together? This thing that he helped to build? That’s what he was protecting us from?
CHRIS WATTS: I mean, what can you say?
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER KANE: We need answers. Plain and simple, we need answers. Look, I’m not saying stick Blackwell in a cell and throw away the key. He has a right to his day in court, and he’ll get it. But I think we need his day in court too.
CHRIS WATTS: We do.
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER KANE: We need to know why this happened, we need to know who’s responsible, we need to know why the Shepherd Administration has been letting someone who had that kind of power just wander around without any kind of overs-
(The TV is shut off.)
AMY STIRLING: Hey, I was watching that.
KRIS MIDDENDORF: I know.
(Kris lets out a breath. The couch creaks a bit as he sits down.)
KRIS MIDDENDORF: You’ve been doing a lot of that, lately. Just... watching them picking it all apart. Are you... looking for something in particular?
AMY STIRLING: I don’t know. (A pause.) They’re... they’re only talking about him, Kris. They’re acting like he’s the only one at fault.
KRIS MIDDENDORF: You know that’s not true. It was Donahue’s fault, and - and Eckerberg’s, and -
AMY STIRLING: It’s my fault. There was an error in the spell. And I didn’t catch it. And I helped Eckerberg. And I pissed off Donahue and - God, you said it, you said it! If I’d just canceled that show instead of playing chicken with a terrorist then I - fuck, what was I thinking?!
KRIS MIDDENDORF: You were thinking that he had no right to stop you. And you were right.
AMY STIRLING: And how many people are dead because of how right I was?! (A pause.) Sorry. You’re the last person that deserves to get any flack for this. Not after - not after all I’ve put you through.
KRIS MIDDENDORF: I love you.
AMY STIRLING: I love you too. (A pause.) I need to help him, Kris. I need to find some way to make this... not his fault. Or his life is going to be over.
KRIS MIDDENDORF: Well, what can you - ?
(Amy’s phone starts to ring.)
AMY STIRLING: Sorry, one second. (She picks up the phone.) Hey, what’d they say?
(From the other end of the line, we hear:)
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: Hi, Ms. Stirling, how are you holding up?
AMY STIRLING: So not in the mood for small talk, McCandless, what’d they say?
(A slight, uncomfortable pause.)
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: ... it wasn’t... what we were hoping for.
AMY STIRLING: Fuck. So... what, they’re going to suspend him?
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: You can understand, given the news, the attention - Sinclair wouldn’t be able to -
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, yeah, whatever. How long?
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: It’s a bit more complicated than that.
AMY STIRLING: How long did they put him on leave for? (A pause.) They didn’t suspend him, did they?
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: No, Ms. Stirling, I’m sorry. They put it to a vote and... it’s been decided that Adam is going to leave Sinclair. Permanently.
AMY STIRLING: And his tenure is what, some nice window dressing? They have a contract with him to -
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: They do, but given the extraordinary circumstances of Boston -
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, whatever, I don’t want to hear about that, I want to hear what you’re going to say to change their mind. (A pause.) Well?!
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: ... this is... this is a complicated issue. I can’t just force the university to do something against their wishes.
AMY STIRLING: Of course you can, your voice carries more weight in... in that... oh. (A pause.) You voted against him, didn’t you?
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: Amy, you know that Adam is a friend, but there are bigger things at play. I need to think about the future of the department, about our legacy, about how we all look next to a criminal.
AMY STIRLING: Oh, fuck you, Julian. You know, in the six years I’ve known you, you have done very little other than disappoint me. I guess at a certain point it’s on me for being stupid enough to think the next time’s gonna be any different, isn’t it?
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: That’s not fair -
(Amy hangs up and throws the phone away, making it clatter as it hits the ground.)
AMY STIRLING: Fucker.
(A moment of silence, then an angry, distraught sob comes from Amy. As she starts to cry:)
KRIS MIDDENDORF: Shh, shh, shh, shh. I’m - I’m sorry. (He kisses her softly.) It’s... it’s gonna be okay. One way or another.
(The scene fades back to the lawyer’s office.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Did you find some way to help Dr. Blackwell?
AMY STIRLING: I mean... I tried. I did everything I could. I did interviews, told my side of it. I tried to explain how fucked up it had been if you were there. How Adam had saved more lives than would have been lost if he’d done nothing, how he’d been working quickly, under a ton of pressure, how he was hurt, how he did the best - I did everything I could to make people see it the right way. And then... the hearings were announced.
(The scene fades to the White House.)
NARRATOR: Oval Office, the White House. September 2030.
AMY STIRLING: Tell me how we’re going to stop this.
ANDREA SHEPHERD: Amy...
AMY STIRLING: A congressional fucking hearing?
ANDREA SHEPHERD: They - they want a way to investigate what happened on -
AMY STIRLING: Bullshit. They want to nail someone to a cross and this is the fastest way to get there. It’s not going to stop at a hearing, you know it and I know it, so we need to stop it right now.
ANDREA SHEPHERD: It’s the United States congress, Amy, I can’t just send them to bed without supper. And with the amount of people who are dead, we -
AMY STIRLING: Okay, I’m sorry. Out there? It’s complicated and nuanced and there’s a lot of shit to figure out. In here? He saved our lives. He saved your life!
(Andrea Shepherd gets to her feet.)
ANDREA SHEPHERD: ... yeah. You think I’ve forgotten?
AMY STIRLING: No, I’m - I’m sorry. How’s the leg?
ANDREA SHEPHERD: Better. Getting there. Bit by bit.
AMY STIRLING: Good. Good. Okay... fine. If you can’t stop the hearing then... what about a presidential pardon? In light of the extraordinary circumstances, of how many lives he saved by making sure the explosion didn’t - you’re still the only person in charge of who gets those, right?
ANDREA SHEPHERD: I am, but -
AMY STIRLING: No, don’t say “but.”
ANDREA SHEPHERD: It wouldn’t be enough.
AMY STIRLING: What do you - it’s a full pardon from sea to shining sea, how is it not enough?
(A pack of papers lands on the desk.)
AMY STIRLING: What... what is this?
ANDREA SHEPHERD: First page is every UK national that was in Boston on June third. Second page is all the French citizens, then China, South Korea, Canada, India, Germany...
(She flips through the pages as they say this.)
ANDREA SHEPHERD: They’ve all made it clear, they expect... well, accountability. They want someone to answer for the lives of their citizens. They’re letting us handle it - for now - but... if I gave Adam a pardon, we’d probably all spend a lot of time at the Hague next year. (A pause.) They’re letting me get the house in order, Amy. But if I don’t, they’ll do it for me.
AMY STIRLING: ... and what does that look like?(A pause.) You’re throwing him to the wolves.
ANDREA SHEPHERD: I’m too involved. I was in too deep with Eckerberg, with Athena, if I’m seen as trying to influence this -
AMY STIRLING: These international leaders. Let me talk to them.
ANDREA SHEPHERD: Why?
AMY STIRLING: So I can - so I can change their minds! With enough time, I can -
ANDREA SHEPHERD: We don’t have a lot of -
AMY STIRLING: (brimming with magical power) THEN I’LL CHANGE THEIR MINDS QUICKLY.
(She stops. Holds herself back. Turns the magic off.)
AMY STIRLING: No, I’m - I’m sorry, that got away from me, I didn’t mean - I would not -
ANDREA SHEPHERD: Amy, be quiet. (A pause.) Because I’m your friend, and because I know how hard this has all been, and because I know you’re upset... I’m going to pretend that a lot of this conversation never happened. But I need you to get out of here and calm down. (A pause.) I’m sorry, and I love you, but... it’s not your friend handling this, it’s your president. And this is out of your hands now.
(The scene fades to a bar.)
NARRATOR: The Crooked Flag. Six blocks from the White House. Twenty-eight minutes later.
(Amy walks in, takes a seat at the bar.)
AMY STIRLING: Whiskey, rocks. Jameson, please.
BARTENDER: Coming right up. Hey... aren’t you - ?
AMY STIRLING: No, I’m not, just give me the booze and leave me alone.
BARTENDER: My mistake, ma’am, you’re clearly not who I was thinking of.
(A drink arrives in front of Amy.)
BARTENDER: Here you are, now let me leave you alone.
AMY STIRLING: Good, thank you.
(Amy starts drinking. After a moment…)
AMY STIRLING: Jesus Fucking... what am I... ?
(Some footsteps as a man approaches her.)
MAN: Any chance you and your whiskey might like a bit of company?
AMY STIRLING: Oh my god - what part of - I said LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, PRETEND I’M NOT HERE.
(A pause, then…)
MAN: Sorry, Amy, but... I’m afraid that does not work on me.
(A small pause.)
AMY STIRLING: Oh my god... Damián.
(Damián takes a seat next to Amy.)
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Hello, Amy. It’s been a while.
AMY STIRLING: What are you doing here? What are you doing in the States? Oh god, don’t tell me you’re getting dragged into this mess.
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Of course I’m getting dragged into this mess. Two brilliant people - people who I greatly respect and admire - are going through -
AMY STIRLING: No. Please. Stop. I’m sorry, Damián, but I cannot take you being kind and thoughtful and considerate right now. I can deal with a lot, but I am not dealing with that, all right?
(Footsteps as the bartender approaches again.)
BARTENDER: What can I get you, father?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: How about... one of the Athletic?
BARTENDER: That’s NA, that okay? All right, coming right up.
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Uh, thank you.
AMY STIRLING: Is the not drinking because of the priest thing?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: The... priest thing is because of the not drinking, actually. It’s...
AMY STIRLING: A long, sad story, I’m guessing?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Long, sad, and very stupid, yes.
(The bartender pops open a can of non-alcoholic beer and puts it in front of Damián.)
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Thank you. Okay... no kindness, no thoughtful, no considerate. What can I do to help? Huh?
AMY STIRLING: You wanna yell at me? Honestly, that’d be great. You want to... to tell me that I fucked up, and got people killed and - do you want to tell me it’s my fault? Because honestly, someone yelling at me would be pretty fucking great right now!
(A pause.)
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Okay. You’re an idiot.
AMY STIRLING: Excuse me?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: You heard me. You are a rash, irresponsible, selfish idiot. You were given something amazing, something miraculous. And in a stunning lack of humility, you decided to just use it. To do whatever you wanted with it. Because you knew best. And because you wanted to prove you were special. You wanted to prove that you could change the world. Congratulations, the world is different now. (A pause.) Somewhere along the way? You could have admitted that there’s things you don’t know. That there are bigger things in the world that Amy Fucking Stirling. You can and you do make mistakes.
AMY STIRLING: I know I make mistakes. We got a word wrong and people died, Damián.
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: See? Confession is good for the soul. Incidentally, I’d recommend maybe not using words anymore until you’re sure they’re the right ones.
AMY STIRLING: You’re being funny? Right now?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: No. No, I’m not, Amy. You are going to carry what happened with you for the rest of your life. There is nothing that will let you forgive yourself for it, no good deed that will balance that out. But you’re still going to try, because of course you are. That’s not the problem. The real problem, the question that’s really eating you up inside is...
AMY STIRLING: Why is no one blaming me? Why aren’t I being punished?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Yeah, that’s the one. Adam says he’s been trying to reach you. You are not returning his phone calls.
AMY STIRLING: W-what can I even say to him right now? He’s about to get killed in the public square for something we both did. He’s heartbroken, he lost his job, his friend died because of me, how - how do I talk to him right now?
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: I’d start by hearing what he has to say. Look, Amy, I can’t say why people aren’t blaming you the way they’re blaming Adam. Maybe it’s because his brand was always “I might get something wrong.” Maybe not being punished is your punishment. Never let it be said the universe isn’t without a sense of humor. All that I can tell you is that -
AMY STIRLING: If you say “God moves in mysterious ways,” I am going to scream like you have no idea.
(Damián laughs a bit at that.)
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: You know, before I went into the miracle business, I spent a lot of time reading the great Western philosophers. St. Augustine and Aquinas and Martin Luther and Spinoza and a hundred others. And when you put all together, and take out all the stuff that’s forcing an agenda or contradicting something else, all you’re left with is... (A pause.) We’re here and then we’re not. And whatever comes after, the fact that we’re here together means something. And no matter how bad things have gotten or how little time we have left, if we can do something to help the person next to us? It’s always worth doing. (A pause.) People talk about all these big plans to change the world and save the planet. I think before you can do that, you need to save the person next to you. Maybe I’m wrong about that. But... I’ve got four thousand years of philosophy in my head, telling me that even then? It’s still worth doing. (A pause.) So in summary: pick up the fucking phone.
(Amy laughs at that.)
AMY STIRLING: You know, Damián? You’re a pretty fucking good priest, man.
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Yeah, I know. There’s a reason the Vatican gave me this ring. You want another?
AMY STIRLING: Yeah. Please.
(The scene fades away.)
ANNOUNCER: The Harbingers will be back after these messages.
(We fade back in; we are back in the lawyer’s office.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Why didn’t you want to talk to Adam?
AMY STIRLING: Oh, come on. Do I need to spell it out to - ?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: You’re going to have to spell it out at the hearing, you might as well get the practice with -
AMY STIRLING: I was afraid, all right? (A pause.) What if he was angry? Justifiably angry? Unspeakably angry? Because of what I’d done, and hadn’t done, and how they’d blame him and not me, and - (A pause.) I was afraid. Afraid of what would happen when I saw him.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: You really thought he’d blame you?
AMY STIRLING: Well... I was worried it was my fault.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: But you did go talk to him? Just to be clear.
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, yeah, I did. Damián gave me the kick I needed to stop being an asshole. I called him that night after I sobered up. Got on a plane two days later. Met up with him on a Thursday night.
(The scene fades to a bar, though noticeably a different one than the one we were just in.)
AMY STIRLING: Beer for you, and beer for me.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Thanks, Amy.
AMY STIRLING: Where’s your, uh, security detail?
ADAM BLACKWELL: You mean the secret service agents that are... not so subtly making sure I don’t get on a plane and disappear before the government figures out what they want to do with me? They’re around somewhere.
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, mine are too. I can’t believe you wanted to come back here.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Oh, it felt... appropriate enough.
NARRATOR: The Broken Quarter, Chicago. Five years, four months, two weeks, and four days later.
ADAM BLACKWELL: I think we were sitting over... there last time?
AMY STIRLING: No, it was right... at that table.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Oh yeah... you’re right.
(A pause.)
AMY STIRLING: So... you wanted to meet up just to reminisce about how I fucked up our date?
ADAM BLACKWELL: How you fucked - what are you talking about?
AMY STIRLING: I’m just - oh whatever, it so doesn’t matter. Are we just here to go over ancient history? Adam... are you holding up okay? I... I heard about Sinclair.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yeah... that was not awesome. That was a... pretty fucking bad kick in the teeth when I was down.
AMY STIRLING: I can’t believe McCandless fucked you over like that, after everything you -
ADAM BLACKWELL: Amy, it’s okay.
AMY STIRLING: It’s okay?! What are you - it’s not okay, he stabbed you in the back. He should have been there for you and he -
ADAM BLACKWELL: Amy. He just did what he had to.
AMY STIRLING: Adam? Are you okay in there? Are you all right?
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yeah, I’m all right. My mother had this saying about how... when things might go wrong, you feel afraid. But when you know you’re about to get hit with a disaster, it’s kind of easy to just... do what you have to do.
AMY STIRLING: Okay, hold on.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Amy, look -
AMY STIRLING: No, no, no, let me finish. Because you’re looking at me with these sad “my life is over” puppy dog eyes and talking all this “suddenly it’s easy to do the stuff that ya gotta do” talk and it’s starting to freak me out. You don’t know what’s gonna happen, Adam. It’s not over ‘til it’s over, and this... this hearing thing hasn’t even started yet, okay? So I want you stop this right now, before you start talking about doing something -
(There’s a metallic clink sound.)
AMY STIRLING: ... stupid. Adam, what is this?
ADAM BLACKWELL: It’s my ring.
AMY STIRLING: Why is it not on your finger?
ADAM BLACKWELL: Because...
(He slides the ring across the table towards her.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: ... I’m giving it you.
AMY STIRLING: N-no, what are - what are you playing at, that would hurt me -
ADAM BLACKWELL: No.
AMY STIRLING: - or kill me, it would -
ADAM BLACKWELL: You’re not taking it from me, I’m giving it to you. There’s a difference. And it knows the difference.
AMY STIRLING: What the shit is happening right now?
ADAM BLACKWELL: I... I just used this ring to cause a lot of damage. I don’t think I should have it anymore. And so... I want the only person in the world who I can trust with this kind of power to have it. And that’s you. So... take it.
(A pause. Then…)
AMY STIRLING: Oh my god... You’re as big an idiot as I am.
ADAM BLACKWELL: What? What are - ?
AMY STIRLING: Maybe an even bigger idiot!
(Amy smacks him.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: Ow, what the - !
(Amy punctuates each clause of the following with a smack.)
AMY STIRLING: You moron! Numbskull! You stupid - fucking - shortsighted little -
ADAM BLACKWELL: Okay, ow, enough! What is your -
AMY STIRLING: You made a mistake! That’s all it was! (A pause.) You made a mistake! Or I made a mistake. Or both of us did, which honestly, given your two cracked ribs and my concussion at the time, it’s a miracle we didn’t make more mistakes!
ADAM BLACKWELL: That’s not how -
AMY STIRLING: But it doesn’t mean - ! It doesn’t mean you’re not the right person to have this. You, who spent a year not doing magic just to figure out what you’re supposed to do with this thing! Who went so fucking slow to make sure he wouldn’t hurt anyone! (A pause.) You did the best you could, Adam. I don’t think you should stop doing that.
(A pause. Adam chuckles a bit.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: You know there’s a good chance that I’m about to spend the rest of my life in Leavenworth right? And that if you don’t take it, this thing’s gonna fall into the hands of the US Government?
AMY STIRLING: They can’t take it if you don’t give it to them. And Adam? Personally? I don’t trust anyone in the world more than you with that ring.
(A pause._
ADAM BLACKWELL: God... what happened? How did everything get so screwed up?
AMY STIRLING: Well, I think it started right here. Five years ago. When you won.
(Adam lets out a bark of mirthless laughter.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yeah, when I “won.” You know I’ve been hearing that for years and I frankly have no idea what I’m supposed to have won. Because... (He laughs a bit.) I lost my job. I lost my career. I lost years of my life doing nothing because I was scared to do anything, I lost friends and colleagues, everyone who... (A pause.) I lost you. (A pause.) All those years ago. I didn’t win. I just lost you.
(A pause.)
AMY STIRLING: You know... you can’t lose something you never had.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yeah, all right. Thank you, Amy, just what I needed: a reminder that I never -
AMY STIRLING: That’s not what I said. (A pause.) If you lost me... that means you had me, doesn’t it?
ADAM BLACKWELL: ... did I?
AMY STIRLING: ... yeah. (A pause.) You did.
(A pause.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: So... what now?
AMY STIRLING: I don’t know. I guess... you should probably talk to a lawyer?
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yeah... I guess I should.
(The scene fades back to the lawyer’s office.)
AMY STIRLING: And that’s... pretty much it. That brings us to... right here and right now.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Yes, I believe it does.
AMY STIRLING: Anything else you want to ask about?
(A pause.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: No, I think that covers it. I think... I think that about does it. (She stretches a bit.) Which means we get to wrap up before two in the morning. That’s a nice change, isn’t it?
AMY STIRLING: Yeah. So?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: ... so?
AMY STIRLING: So... what do you think? Is Adam going to beat this?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Miss Stirling, that is... these are complicated proceedings, there’s a lot that goes into -
AMY STIRLING: Bullshit. You’re too smart, and too good at what you do, and too expensive for that “Gee shucks, there’s no such thing as a sure bet” Huckleberry crap. Is Adam going to win?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: … it depends.
AMY STIRLING: On what?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: On your definition of “win.”
(Skinner gets to her feet.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Adam Blackwell sent the city of Boston to the moon. He doesn’t dispute that. He doesn’t contest that he is solely responsible for that. He is, in fact, the only person in the world capable of effecting that outcome. (A pause.) The fact that there were a myriad of other people involved is not going to count for much, given that almost all of those people are now dead. The government, the country... the world really... needs a head to roll. (A pause.) The hearings will be... extensive. And painful. And embarrassing. At the end, congress will recommend some form of censure, and they will find some way to refer Adam to the DOJ. And after that... there will be an indictment and a trial, almost certainly a very brief trial. And he will almost certainly be sentence to life in prison.
AMY STIRLING: ... okay. What the... what the hell does “winning” look like in that scenario?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Winning... looks like only Adam being sentenced to life in prison. Because the world doesn’t stop when the gavel falls, Miss Stirling. Opinions change. Laws change. The world changes. Bit by bit. And if this really was a good man doing his best to save as many people as he could... there’s gonna need to be someone to make the world see that.
AMY STIRLING: And how the fuck am I supposed to do that?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: By doing what you say you are so good at: changing hearts and minds. Really changing some hearts and minds. The long... slow... difficult way. That... is how you save him.
(A pause.)
AMY STIRLING: Oh god, fuck... This isn’t about protecting Adam, is it?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: No. Never was. Even if it took the two of us a good, long while to figure it out.
AMY STIRLING: Fuck.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: I’m sorry. (A pause.) It’s late, Miss Stirling. We should get home. Erica will be in touch about next steps, okay? We’ll get you ready for the eleventh.
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, all right.
(Amy gets up. Starts to leave.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Actually, Miss Stirling. One more thing.
(Skinner produces an envelope, hands it over to Amy.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Would you be so kind as to make sure your husband gets that?
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, sure thing.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: And thank him for me, please. He’s been very prompt in paying the invoices so far.
AMY STIRLING: Yeah, he’s the best.
(The scene fades to the White House.)
NARRATOR: The White House. December eleventh, 2030.
(An intercom goes off.)
AIDE: President Shepherd? It’s starting.
ANDREA SHEPHERD: Thank you, Jackie.
(President Shepherd turns on a TV. From it, we hear:)
JEANINE ALFARO: We are outside the capitol building, where any minute now Adam Blackwell is expected to arrive for the start of the congressional hearings regarding the destruction of the city of Boston.
(A song starts playing, “I Knew It Was the End” by Evangeline Young. It will continue playing throughout the following:)
ANDREA SHEPHERD: Here we go...
(The scene fades to a car.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Remember, keep your answers short and to the point. Simply “yes” and “no” whenever you can manage it, understood?
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yes.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Good man.
AMY STIRLING: Don’t worry, they’re gonna start off easy. It’ll take a few days to get to the bad stuff.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Thanks, Amy. I’m all right. I’m all right.
(The scene fades to an academic office.)
NARRATOR: Sinclair University.
JEANINE ALFARO: This is the first day of the hearings, which are expected to last at least through the holidays. Their aim...
JULIAN MCCANDLESS: May you live in interesting times...
(Back to the car.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: If things get loud, if people yell, if they get rowdy, it’s not your job to get it under control, okay? That’s their problem, not yours.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Understood.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: And try to take a breath every ten or eleven minutes, okay?
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yeah. Sure.
(We fade to an apartment in Manhattan.)
JEANINE ALFARO: Whether these hearings could lead to criminal charges remains to be seen, but with members of both parties calling for...
KRIS MIDDENDORF: You’re gonna show them all... show them what you’re made of...
(Back to the car.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: If they give you an easy opening, take it. But don’t overdo it. Don’t try to be too cute, okay?
ADAM BLACKWELL: I’ll see what I can do.
AMY STIRLING: I think I see the Capitol...
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Yeah, we’re almost there.
(An non-descript space.)
NARRATOR: Buenos Aires, Argentina.
JEANINE ALFARO: While certain groups have come out in support of Dr. Blackwell, they are far outnumbered for the voices calling for some form of consequence for...
DAMIÁN ZANETTI: Diós, keep an eye on them today, okay? Give them a hand if you can. And... I think you can.
(Back to the car as it comes to a stop.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: All right... here comes the hard part. You ready? (A small pause.) Okay, here we go.
(Skinner opens the door. They exit and start walking towards the building’s entrance, thronged by reporters.)
REPORTERS: Adam! / Adam, wait! / Dr. Blackwell, a question! / Adam, over here! / Etc.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: No comment! We’re not making a comment right now, you’ll have his statement later today! Come on!
JEANINE ALFARO: Miss Stirling!
(Amy hesitates…)
JEANINE ALFARO: Miss Stirling, you’re not testifying until later in the week. Should we take you being here as a sign of support for Dr. Blackwell?
AMY STIRLING: I, uh -
JEANINE ALFARO: Miss Stirling, why are you here today?
(A small pause.)
AMY STIRLING: I’m here... I’m here because I believe Adam Blackwell is going to save the world one day. And I’m gonna be there to see him do it, mark my words.
(Questions start flying again, but Skinner gets them moving once more.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: No, no, that’s it! We’ll see you all in a couple of hours!
(We fade into the Capitol Building itself. There’s the squeal of a microphone.)
CONGRESSMAN HUNTER KANE: Good morning, everyone. My name is Hunter Kane, and it is my honor to be your chairman for these hearings today... which we are about to call to order. Dr. Blackwell... are you ready to begin?
(Adam leans forward, speaks into a microphone.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: Yes, sir, I am. Let’s get started.
(The scene fades away. The last few beats of the song play out, then fade away into silence.)
ANNOUNCER: The Harbingers will return… fall of 2026.
(The episode’s closing theme begins playing.)
ANNOUNCER: This has been The Harbingers. Created by Gabriel Urbina. Come back in the fall for Episode 17, "Perfect Opening Line." Today's episode was written by Gabriel Urbina. It was directed and sound designed by Jeffrey Nils Gardner. It featured the voices of Andrés Enriquez as Adam Blackwell, Lauren Grace Thompson as Amy Stirling, Emmy Bean as Claudia Skinner, Joshua K. Harris as Julian McCandless, Sabrina Odigie as Andrea Shepherd, Ian Geers as Kris Middendorf, Emmanuel Ramirez as Damián Zanetti, Zach Valenti as Hunter Kane, Mark Soloff as Andrew Walker, Rachel Music as Jeanine Alfaro, and Pat King as Chris Watts. It also featured the voices of Jill Oliver, Peter Coleman, Olivia Love, Wesley Scott, Josh Zambrano, Mark Park, Casey Callaghan, and Jeffrey Nils Gardner. Our original music was composed by Nicholas Podany. Today’s episode also featured “I Knew It Was the End” by Evangeline Young. Our original show art was created by Cassie J. Allen. The executive producer for the series is Eleanor Hyde. You can learn more about the show, see a timeline of the events of our story, and become a supporting member at AudaciousMachineCreative.com. This is an Audacious Machine Creative production. Thank you for listening.
(The episode’s closing theme concludes and fades away.)
AMY STIRLING: Today’s history tidbit…
(A scene fades in. Somewhere stark and cold. There’s a heavy klaxon, then a barred door slides to the side.)
(Footsteps… then the barred door slides shut again. A metal chair is pulled back as someone takes a seat.)
(There’s a bit of clatter as they pick up a phone. Hold it up to their head.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: So... how have you been?
(And then, heard as though it was coming from the other end of phone line:)
ADAM BLACKWELL: Oh, you know. Can’t complain. Food could be better.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Have you decided if you’re going to join a gang yet?
ADAM BLACKWELL: I was actually thinking of starting one.
(They both laugh a bit.)
ADAM BLACKWELL: It’s been a while. I wasn’t expecting a visit from my lawyer.
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Well, technically speaking I’m not here as your lawyer.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Oh, this is a social call?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: No. I’m actually here on behalf of my new client.
ADAM BLACKWELL: ... who’s your new client?
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Let’s just say they’re someone who can afford my new rate. And who can arrange matters so that I could come in and talk to you today.
ADAM BLACKWELL: Okay... so what does a government lawyer need with someone in federal prison? What can I do you for, Miss Skinner?
(A small pause.)
CLAUDIA SKINNER: Tell me, Dr. Blackwell... how much do you know about Atlantis?
(The scene fades away to silence.)
NARRATOR: June eighteenth... 2032.
(There is one final, echoing boom as the season comes to its end.)