Fallout

"Fallout" is the fifth episode of the first season of *Morning Show,* a segment of *It's All Been Done Radio Hour*. It was first performed on August 10, 2019 as the third segment in Show L. It was released as podcast episode 249.

Written by Jerome Wetzel

Directed by Dallas Ray

Previous episode: "Emergency Powers"

Next episode: "Halloween"

## **The Story**

A month after the zombie apocalypse, *Morning Show* goes on-air for the first time in weeks. Pat Shock begins the broadcast with a somber tone, saying that they mourn the more than 25 million Americans who died, and that their lives will never be the same.

Pat then asks Shelly Meyers, who is in-studio with them, to say a few words. Shelly apologizes for the way in which she said the government should nuke millions of people. She says she was thinking with her brain, not her heart. And while new president Patricia Anderson used nuclear weapons and did stop the immediate crisis, that's no excuse for the manner in which Shelly pitched the idea.

Gus Goodall then speaks up and confirms he is not dead, nor was his illness a month ago related to the outbreak. It was just the flu and he never left the state. He asks everyone to stop picketing outside his house, which Shelly and Pat did not know about. Shelly launches into a rant about how dumb people are, and why can't they say President Anderson has things under control now? Gus says he's heard rumors that the nukes didn't wipe it all out, and there are still zombies out there. Pat says he's heard the same, though Shelly says until there is proof, they should not overreact.

Pat steps in on the side of the people, asserting it's against human nature to wait around without speculation, and you can't ask folks to logic away fear. This turns Gus against Pat, as those emotions have led to more than 600 calls asking for Gus to be fired just for getting sick. Shelly blames Trump for stoking fear and bigotry, while Pat says the trends were there before, you can't pin this on one man. Pat also says we're all nonsensical, and you can't just write people off. Pat then reminds them that they're on the air, and people are tuning in for comfort, not bickering.

So they take their first call, which is Pete from Grove City. Pete asks if Gus has seen a doctor, and isn't satisfied with Gus' explanation that grocery store medicine cured him. Shelly hangs up the line and lets on Lauren from Upper Arlington. Lauren asks about Mayor Hayes' scandals, and if this will distract. Shelly says they can't let it and should be doing activism to keep up the pressure. Lauren was just looking for a social media hashtag. Shelly is enraged, and Pat ends the call. Dan from Grandview gets on the line and asks how Shelly sleeps at night, being a liberal socialist who hates conservatives. Pat cuts that off and takes them to break.

Off-air, Shelly offers to go back to the booth, but Pat says no. They spent weeks making a game plan of letting people vent and being reassuring and they need to stick to it. Especially Shelly, who alienated many listeners with her comments early in the crisis. Gus speaks up and says the first segment was too dramatic. They need to be funny to lighten people's moods. Pat is reluctant, worrying it will backfire, but Shelly tells Gus to run with it.

Back on-air, Gus goes over the top with his ribbing. The next caller is Roger from Lewis Center, who asks about Mayor Hayes' plan to declare martial law. Gus turns it into a joke about her climate change efforts, and then tells a story of breaking curfew as a teen. Roger is delighted. The fifth caller, Chelsea from Downtown, is less amused when Gus makes fun of her for not knowing Petula Clark (famous singer of "Downtown"). But Stan from Worthington loves Petula Clark, and gives back to Gus as good as he gets. Shelly is able to jump in and talk about separating movie zombies from real life, while Pat expresses his confidence they'll make it through. The show fades out on a high note.

## **Guest Starring**

* Joe Morales as Pete from Grove City
* Katie Boissoneault as Lauren from Upper Arlington
* Shane Stefanchik as Dan from Grandview
* Dallas Ray as Roger from Lewis Center
* Jessica Gibson as Chelsea from Downtown
* Seamus Talty as Stan from Worthington

## **Trivia**

* This episode starts with "previously on *Packer & Ratcliff..."* as the episode of that segment featuring *Morning Show* characters was instrumental in changing the direction of the story going forward.
* Pat once again says the station call letters as 'WBD,' leaving out the U. This will be acknowledged in the next episode, "Halloween."