While ace reporter Nan Kanally and the rest of the world struggle through post-war poverty, Metropolis has assembled a neon utopia on an icy, distant island. It’s an electronic heaven made possible by a fleet of astonishing autonomous robots.
But Metropolis holds its secrets tightly. The only word that gets out is from the few reporters they invite. One of them is Nan’s best friend, the sportswriter Stanley Bronfels. But when Stanley disappears, it falls to Nan to discover the secrets of Metropolis... or find oblivion herself.
Transcripts
Speaker B:
City Services. Welcome to Metropolis.
Speaker B:
My God. How can this all be? Is that Stanley? He wrote, guy gets the dream invitation, and I still told him not to go. Nan, look at me.
The whole world works just the way they want it to, however they want it. That's Metropolis. Which is why you need to get out here. I'm telling you now, they'd never let anyone like me on that island. Stanley. Where is he?
What do you know?
I don't know.
Speaker B:
He's just vanished.
Speaker B:
What do you think happened to your friend? Who do you think made that happen? You have taken an incredible risk coming here. It's a cage. It can't be, can it?
There is something very dark happening. I can't explain the dread, but it is here. We have a moment right now. This narrow window where we are the only ones who know the secret.
I cannot believe they built this place. If we can use it the right way, we can make a world that actually works. Why did they make it like this?
But if we bungle it, if we let this opportunity slip away, then the world is lost. It's hell. The mouth of hell. You know what we have to do.
Speaker B:
g platform near you September:
Follow along@luxradium.org or on Instagram metropolispodcast. Spend a minute here.
Speaker B:
See if we're not wrong.
Mason:
So you said we have an interview with someone soon.
Hen:
Oh, yes. It's a woman from Colony 6-14, where the previous round of evacuations went to. In fact, she should be calling us right about now.
Hello, Wimofrey Wilder.
Mrs. Wilder:
Hello!
Mason:
Mrs. Wilder! Hey.
Will:
How's Naomi?
Mrs. Wilder:
Oh, she's great. It's so nice to hear you two. We were so worried.
Hen:
You know each other?
Mason:
Yeah, I've known her for years. She was part of our survivor group, too.
Mrs. Wilder:
Mason was there for the birth of my child, and I can't thank them enough.
Mason:
Will was there, too. In spirit, I suppose.
Mrs. Wilder:
He was a big thanks to you both then, huh?
Hen:
Cool. Well, now that we have you, what's it like in 6-14?
Mrs. Wilder:
It's good. I spend a lot of time in my room or in the lounge with Naomi, and the people assigned to healthcare have been very attentive.
Oh, you'll be happy to hear that Aaron and Elris have made a full recovery.
Mason:
That's awesome.
Mrs. Wilder:
It is. And we're making plenty of friends here. It's really nice. There's a strong sense of community, of ordinary people coming together during a crisis.
It's really lovely.
Hen:
Oh, that's how it is here too. I'm glad we were able to be evacuated here.
Will:
I'll admit it seems pretty good here.
Mason:
For those who aren't bitten, at least.
Mrs. Wilder:
Bitten? Did someone get a bite?
Mason:
Will did. So he's quarantining again. He's already had the vaccine though, so we're crossing our fingers.
Mrs. Wilder:
Oh dear. You'll be in my thoughts.
Will:
Thanks, Mrs. Wilder.
Hen:
Why don't you tell us a little more about your colony? Has anyone you know been elected to your colony's council?
Mrs. Wilder:
Elris wanted to run once he recovered. One of the people from Blackpool got elected though. He's a nice enough man. I think he'll do a good job.
Hen:
We're having an election here soon. Do you think either of you will run?
Mason:
Oh, no. I'm not the leader type.
Will:
Me neither. Maybe Tairam, though.
Mason:
Oh, yeah, he'd be great for that. I mean, he led us well enough and he always puts his people first. Even if he is a bit prickly about it.
Hen:
Who's Tairam?
Will:
He led our little group of survivors back on Earth.
Hen:
I'd love to meet him sometimes.
Mason:
I'm sure you will. If he comes to visit us.
Will:
When he finds out I've been bitten, I don't think he'll be able to stay away.
Mrs. Wilder:
Oh, he'll be worrying worse than me. He can be quite the mother hen.
Mason:
You know, in a sweet, pissed off kind of way.
Hen:
He sounds great.
Mrs. Wilder:
Oh, he is. He insisted I go at the soonest evacuation, which is why I'm at this colony instead of yours.
And although it's sad I don't get to see you guys, I'm happy where I am. It's a nice place. Even if. Well.
Mason:
What? What's wrong?
Mrs. Wilder:
Things aren't perfect. Which, of course they aren't. It's. It's the apocalypse and we're on the moon and we're lucky to even be here.
But I thought they would have things figured out a little more. Things seem to go wrong so often. Like. Oh, like they just weren't prepared to host this many people so soon.
Will:
They probably weren't. I mean, did anyone hear anything about the moon colonies before the virus started getting big? And the local news told us we'd be evacuated?
Mason:
Not a word. But it was an emergency. They had to put these colonies to use. Even though they probably wanted to use them for something else.
Will:
I guess. Hey, in the end we got here. All is well, for us at least.
Mason:
Besides you getting bitten within 10 minutes of being let in.
Will:
Actually, I feel good. I haven't turned yet, have I? God, I must be lucky as hell to avoid turning twice.
Hen:
Twice?
Mason:
Uh, yeah. What does that mean?
Will:
Uh. Shit.
Mrs. Wilder:
Maybe I should go.
Mason:
Shit. Yeah. Sorry, Mrs. Wilder. It was nice talking to you.
Mrs. Wilder:
It was nice talking to you, too, dear. Have a good night.
Mason:
You too... Will. Have you been bitten before?
Will:
Not for sure. It's complicated. I couldn't tell whether it was a scratch or a bite.
Mason:
When was this?
Will:
It was while we were talking over the radio. I kept it a secret because I. I just didn't want to worry you even more. Especially if nothing came of it, and nothing did!
Mason:
Yeah, but I. I still would have liked to know. Will, you can't just keep secrets like that. We're. Oh, we're...
Dr. Elora:
Knock, knock. If you'll excuse me, I need to check in on Will and give him his dinner.
Will:
Hey, it's the third day, doc. Does that mean I can roam free tomorrow?
Dr. Elora:
Oh, well, we're actually thinking we'll keep you here for one more day, just to be sure. You can never be too careful, you know. There's no sense in starting a second apocalypse here on the moon.
Will:
I guess that makes sense.
Mason:
No, it doesn't. People turn within 72 hours after being bitten. So if Will hasn't turned by lunchtime tomorrow...
Dr. Elora:
It's just a precaution. Mason, was it?
Mason:
Yeah.
Dr. Elora:
One more day won't hurt, will it? It's for his own good.
Mason:
Ugh. Fine. But I'm not happy about it.
Hen:
Oh, don't worry, Mason. He'll be out before you know it.
Will:
And then we can properly explore this place, get you situated in the actual radio station. I guess you should go eat dinner, Mason. I'll be fine when you get here tomorrow morning, and I'll be fine when I'm released the day after that.
You don't have anything to worry about. I. I...
Mason:
What?
Will:
Nothing. Just. Thank you for staying with me.
Mason:
Of course, Will.
Hen:
Come on, Mason. We can walk to the mess hall together. See you tomorrow, Will. And to all our loyal listeners, enjoy the night show.
Mason:
After we lug all this equipment back to the station, that is.
