Episode 2.07: Mob Mentality
Written and Produced by Tyler Anderson
Content Warnings (Click to expand)
Mobs, shouting
NICHOLAS: (as the intro plays) At the edge of Gilt City, what once whispered now screams, and all await the arrival of the Night Post. [SOUNDS OF CARS PASSING AND FOOTSTEPS.] MILO: I cannot believe they’re making us come back for this ribbon cutting after our shifts, and they’re making us park nearly ten blocks from the damn station. VAL: Can’t believe it, huh? Not even a little bit? MILO: (sighs) It’s still ludicrous, though. And what’s the point of us even being there? The whole thing feels like a freakshow exhibit. And guess what--we’re the freaks! VAL: Speak for yourself; I was a model in another life. MILO: A radio model, maybe. VAL: You do remember that I’m a sharp object enthusiast, right? MILO: I’ll call that bluff. You’d only be doing me a favor, anyway. VAL: And favors don’t come for free, remember that. (brief pause) Hm? What’s with the crowd? [MINGLING VOICES OF AN ANGRY CROWD FADE IN.] CLEMENTINE: I’ve been looking absolutely everywhere for you two! Are you just now getting here? MILO: Wait, you’re telling me you actually beat us here? How? CLEMENTINE: Oh, Will heard about the ribbon cutting and she insisted I stay at her place for some rest. VAL: Rest, sure. CLEMENTINE: Val! MILO: So why are there so many people here? It can’t be for this. CLEMENTINE: Unfortunately, it is. We’ll have to go in the back entrance--the front is blocked. Oh, and here’s this flyer. It should help explain things. VAL: (rustling of paper) “The Night Post is a silent threat that has festered too long... Help us protect Gilt City by protesting the installation of new stations… Modernization will ensure our prosperity!” Prosperity? For who? I don’t know a single person who doesn’t live paycheck to paycheck. MILO: And how are we the enemy, exactly? I guess they’ve forgotten that we’re conscripted workers, not volunteers. I know the Post has a shitty reputation, but do people really believe all this? CLEMENTINE: Well, from what I’ve seen and heard today… yeah. VAL: The busses for the welcome party and the clown college must’ve gotten mixed up. Losers. CLEMENTINE: It’s not been exactly peaceful so far. Nick and the city administrators had to lock up inside. They were all in his office last I checked, arguing over whether or not to get the police involved. MILO: Well, sounds like a great reason to head back to bed and pretend I slept through the whole thing. VAL: Normally I’d agree with you, but we should probably do the decent thing for once and check on Nick. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a few days off to recover from the emotional damage this mob has inflicted on our psyches. MILO: I doubt it. VAL: (slight laugh) Yeah, me too. [SOUNDS OF ANGRY CROWD BECOME MUFFLED. A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.] NICK: (muffled) Come in. (door swings open) Oh, it’s you three. I’ll be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t follow the others right back home. VAL: Where are the suits? NICK: Like I said, they left. As soon as the crowd started gathering, they all excused themselves, and, well, now it’s just me. I’ll be sending a strongly worded letter to the City Council about this. CLEMENTINE: Weren’t two of them part of the City Council? NICK: (exaggerated sigh) Yes, yes they were. MILO: So... this means we get to go home, right? Because I really hope we’re not still expected to go out there and face those assholes. NICK: No, no, of course not. I just wasn’t given much guidance before they fled the scene. CLEMENTINE: This flyer is awfully vague about what they’re even protesting, exactly. NICK: Well, we were able to speak to a few individuals before their group became worryingly large. In the eye of the public, our institution and the, uh--less natural phenomena that occur in Gilt City go hand in hand. VAL: Well, duh. They’ll never have a restful night’s sleep with us hooligans running around in the dark. NICK: I believe that the resurgence in manifestations of the--for lack of a better word--supernatural has put the Post at the forefront of the modernization conversation. Apparently electronic mail will make everything that goes bump in the night disappear! CLEMENTINE: It’ll be okay, Nick. MILO: Yeah, they’ll tire themselves out eventually. Then we can leave… just in time to be back for our routes. (groans) NICK: Yes, they might very well turn around and go home. However, I don’t foresee the public’s attitude changing anytime soon. Talk of the Other and the Post’s connection to it have been ramping up in recent months. At least, that’s according to the few reports the city actually sends me. Rumors that our station’s couriers are at the epicenter of several incidents has not eased tensions. VAL: Unnamed couriers, I hope. Nick: Yes. So far. CLEMENTINE: Nick, please be honest with us. Why is this happening now? NICK: Unfortunate circumstances do seem to follow the three of you around. VAL: You know that’s not what she meant. Why are these “incidents” happening more and more? It’s not like we’re sitting around trying to summon demons, or cast spells, or whatever. We’re just scapegoats for whatever nasty little game the higher-ups are playing. MILO: It’s kind of the opposite, really. We’re usually the ones running from specters and apparitions. NICK: If I had any answers for anyone, I would happily provide them. Unfortunately, I don’t. And those with any administrative influence seem to be more than happy to just let us bear the burden of public distrust. I cannot believe the position I--well, we--have been put in. VAL: Again, am I the only one not surprised by the bullshit we have to put up with? MILO: Val makes a good point. Not about the being surprised bit--I mean, that too, I guess--but about any sense of normalcy just up and vanishing. Obviously we’re not the only ones that have noticed Gilt City is going to shit. You have to have heard something, or at least know where we can get some answers. [VOICES BECOME LOUDER.] NICK: I-I… I’m trying to be as honest with the three of you as I possibly can. Sure, as someone with a modicum of authority at the Post, I’m treated to some information but… MILO: Oh, what is it now? Are they getting ready to storm the place? CLEMENTINE: I sure hope not. But I volunteer Val to investigate! VAL: Me? MILO: Seconded. NICK: We’ll all go. And if need be, I’ll contact the authorities. CLEMENTINE: I’ll bet twenty bucks they wouldn’t answer a hundred calls from a Station. MILO: I want in on that bet! [THE NOISE OF THE ANGRY CROWD GETS LOUDER AS THEY RETURN OUTSIDE.] VAL: What’s with the goth guild? NICK: A few are carrying signs that say “Protect the Post,” if I’m not mistaken. The getups I’m not so sure about... sir! Do not climb on that! (running footsteps fade out) CLEMENTINE: Should we go help him? MILO: Let’s get our bearings first. He can handle himself...probably. (pause) Oh, boy. CLEMENTINE: What’s wrong? MILO: There’s a very large and aggressive man pushing his way over here. Hey, can we help you? GRUFF MAN: Yeah, y’all can pack your shit up and not come back! VAL: And where do you propose we go exactly? We live here, asshole! GRUFF MAN: Listen, we don’t care where y’all go, but all you pigeons need to get off our streets. All us law-abiding citizens want to be able to go out at night in peace. Y’all don’t do nothin’ but bring shit from out there to here. CLEMENTINE: And by “out there” you mean the Skelter, right? GRUFF MAN: Where the hell else? MILO: You do realize that we’re the ones in actual danger, right? We’re either traipsing across the city or out in the middle of who-knows-where to take people their mail. Mail! Why would we put ourselves through all that if we had the choice, huh? GRUFF MAN: It don’t matter anyway. Everybody up at City Hall knows we aren’t happy, and we’re gonna make them do something about it! GIRL IN BLACK: (light footsteps fade in) Hey, didn’t we run you off earlier? GRUFF MAN: Oh, not her again. (heavy footsteps fade out) GIRL IN BLACK: You three okay? CLEMENTINE: Yes, we are. And who are you? What group are you with? GIRL IN BLACK: Just your friendly neighborhood counter protestors. Someone has to stick up for the weirdos, am I right? MILO: Did she just call us weirdos? VAL: Yep, she sure did. CLEMENTINE: You wouldn’t happen to know someone named Serene, would you? GIRL IN BLACK: Oh yeah, love her! She gets it, you know? Hey, stop shoving! (voice fades out) We have every right to be here too! VAL: Let’s back out of here, you two. I don’t like where this is headed. CLEMENTINE: Seems like not everyone thinks we’re the bad guys, though. MILO: Maybe, but what reason do we have to trust the one group of people that don’t? Seems like they’re all in league with Serene... SERENE: Hello, friends! MILO: Fucking hell! SERENE: Whoops, sorry I spooked ya! MILO: Val, Clementine, get behind me. What do you want? [EERIE PIANO MUSIC FADES IN, MIXING WITH THE SHOUTS OF THE CROWD.] SERENE: Woah, woah, woah! Chill out, Milo. No need for the acts of chivalry. I’m on y’all’s side. CLEMENTINE: Excuse me if I don’t believe that. There was a gun involved last time, remember? VAL: And arson! MILO: Look. We all know there aren’t just two sides to anything. What are you and your flunkies doing here? VAL: Ooh, aggressive. I like it! SERENE: Straight to the point, I see! We just heard that the ceremony for 103 was going to draw an unpleasant crowd. So, I convinced some higher-ups to let us give you a hand. They weren’t too happy with the idea of going public, but it would have to happen sooner or later. VAL: You haven’t given us a single straight answer, and now feels like a damn good time to do it. SERENE: Okay, okay. Look, names aren’t that important. MILO: Well, they are to us. Spit it out! SERENE: We’re the Cult of the Birdwatchers. Sounds super lame, right? So, the Birdwatchers for short. MILO: And what are you all playing at? You keep saying you’re helping us, but it definitely isn’t coming across that way. SERENE: Just know that we have a very keen interest in the goings on of the Night Post. CLEMENTINE: We heard that last time. You really mean what the Post is involved with, right? Or what gravitates to it… and to us. SERENE: Intuitive as always! Yes, the Night Post seems to attract a lot of attention from a lot of entities. Some good, some bad, and plenty in between. I like to think we operate somewhere in the middle. VAL: Still not clear enough. Why come out here and make a big show of standing up for us? You’re not doing anyone any favors. SERENE: It’s about time that the city knows what they’re doing won’t happen without a lot of pushback. Forcing modernity on the world didn’t magically solve all our problems the last several times. Why do they think it’ll happen now? They’re working against the natural order here! MILO: What do you mean? This has happened before? SERENE: Maybe, maybe not. I’m not really here to divulge industry secrets. You understand, right? A “cult” is only as good as its unexplained motives, after all. But it does make you wonder, doesn’t it? (wistful sigh) What do those old gargoyles in the city center know that we don’t? MILO: Great, more riddles and half-answers. Are you gonna reprimand us for starting shifts late, too? SERENE: I’m not exactly employee of the month, either. I’ll catch a lot of flack for letting this get out of hand. To be honest, I kind of underestimated just how much people hate you guys. CLEMENTINE: And anyone involved with us. It’s going to be pretty difficult to stay off the council’s radar if you keep making big displays like this. SERENE: You’re not totally wrong… Shove me with that one more time, and I will put that sign of yours right down your throat! Sheesh. People are so rude. Anyways, I don’t think it’ll matter much, to be honest. There have been a lot of little cogs turning for quite a while. You three just haven’t been paying attention, is all. VAL: Oh, we know plenty. For starters: I’m tired of this conversation, and I can one hundred percent kick your ass. SERENE: Maybe, but I’m not here to test that theory. If you’re done being antagonistic, I have some counter-protesting to do. MILO: No, we’re not done! What is the Other? Why does everything and everyone want us out of the way? SERENE: Who says it’s always about you three, huh? What you call “the Other” was here way before we were, ya know. Oh, and thanks for the books, by the way. Yours was particularly interesting, Milo, even if it was missing some pages. VAL: You mean you could read them? SERENE: Not me personally, but we have a few members that can…wait, so you do have the rest! Any chance I can swing by and borrow them? Pretty please? MILO: I’d rather use them as TP than give them to you. SERENE: Ew. Just keep them, then. It won’t make much of a difference. Just know that I’m confident you and Ashley will have a lovely reunion one day. MILO: Don’t you dare talk about him! CLEMENTINE: Don’t let her get to you, Milo. Look, things are getting out of hand here. Let’s find Nick and regroup. Maybe he was able to get some answers. VAL: That’s highly doubtful, but I’m done listening to her bullshit. Oh, and tell Fred I said-- (signs something obscene) SERENE: Oh, well, that’s rude. He’s around here somewhere, though, so you can tell him yourself. [A POLICE SIREN WAILS, AND SERENE LETS OUT A SOFT GASP.] SERENE: Well, that’s our cue. See y’all around! (voice fades out) All right, let’s move out! [EERIE PIANO MUSIC FADES OUT.] MILO: What do we do now? VAL: I vote we ship out for the day--let Nick deal with the reports. [A CAR PULLS UP BESIDE THEM.] WILL: Hey, Clementine, need a ride? CLEMENTINE: Will! You are such a life saver! Hey, would you care to let Milo and Val ride with us? (car doors open) WILL: No problem at all. And I apologize for the mess in the backseat. It’s been ages since I’ve cleaned this old thing. (car doors close) VAL: (to herself) There’s a single sheet of paper back here. If she thinks this is dirty... WILL: I’m sorry? MILO: She said thank you! WILL: Oh, alright. So, where to? CLEMENTINE: Let’s just put some distance between us and this mess, please. WILL: Sounds perfect to me. [THE VOICES OF THE CROWD ARE REPLACED BY THE HUM OF THE ENGINE.] WILL: What exactly happened back there? VAL: A bunch of concerned citizens voicing their opinions on the Post. As soon as the mob showed up, the troglodytes from downtown took off. WILL: I’m so sorry you had to go through that, Clementine. Surely Nicholas attempted to diffuse the situation? MILO: He probably could have, until the counter-protesters showed up. WILL: The cult, right? MILO: Yeah, have you heard of ‘em? WILL: Um, just from Clementine. VAL: I find that hard to believe. You work in Gilt Tower. It’s practically the headquarters of insider knowledge. CLEMENTINE: Val! Don’t be hateful. [THE CAR’S TURN SIGNAL CLICKS.] VAL: I’m not! The three of us aren’t on a first name basis with anyone else from downtown, right? We need someone who can tell us what we’re getting ourselves into. WILL: What exactly are you three planning on doing? (pause) Clementine? CLEMENTINE: Well, um… MILO: We don’t know, that’s the problem. WILL: Is there anything I could do to help? VAL: Doesn’t sound like it. CLEMENTINE: Is there anywhere in the city where we could find information on potentially lost languages? WILL: That is… oddly specific. MILO: We found a book during our first run-in with the fan club. I managed to save a few pages, despite being held at gunpoint for it. We couldn’t read a word-- WILL: (overlapping) Wait, wait, wait--gunpoint? Weren’t you with them, Clementine? CLEMENTINE: (hesitant) Yes? WILL: And you didn’t tell me? CLEMENTINE: I didn’t want you to worry. WILL: Well, I’m certainly worried now! VAL: Sorry to interrupt, but do you know where we can get some answers or not? WILL: (huffs) Actually, I might. I’m not much of an expert myself, but the records annex downtown might be helpful. It’s technically open to the public, but I’m not sure how many people even know it exists. It’s very much the final resting place for old documents and such. MILO: Well, it’s a better lead than we’ve had in a while. VAL: (reluctant) True. (pause) Thanks, I guess. WILL: No problem at all. We all have questions that need answering, and knowing where to look can make all the difference. MILO: Oh, take a left here. (turn signal activates) Val and I parked in the second lot. WILL: (car comes to a stop and idles) Hey, you two are both welcome to follow me to my apartment. I could make dinner for the four of us. VAL: (quickly) I have plans. MILO: I don’t, but I’ve had enough fun for one day. WILL: Some other time, then. VAL: (door opens) Uh, thanks for the ride. (door slams shut) WILL: (uncertain) You’re… welcome. MILO: Yeah, I appreciate it. Should we meet up tomorrow, Clementine? CLEMENTINE: We, um, actually have plans. WILL: Oh, I don’t mind, Clementine. This does sound pretty important to the three of you. CLEMENTINE: If you really don’t mind... WILL: No, no, not at all. I’ll find the address tonight, and have my little sunshine here forward it on. [MILO SNICKERS AS HE OPENS THE CAR DOOR.] MILO: Sounds good. Thanks again, Will. And we’ll see you tomorrow, little sunshine. CLEMENTINE: Will! You don’t know what you’ve done. WILL: (laughs) Oh, I have a pretty good idea. NICHOLAS: (as the outro plays) Thank you for joining us on tonight’s route. You can find the couriers of Station 103 at nightpostpod.com or on Twitter @nightpostpod. If you’re satisfied with your postal service, please rate and review us. Send a letter to the friendliest ghost you know, and tell them about The Night Post.