Punch

"Punch" is the seventh episode of *Daniel Kravitz, Chosen One (Volume 3)*, and the thirty-third installment of the series overall. It was performed on November 9, 2019 at MadLab theatre in Columbus, OH as the second segment of Show LIII. It was released as podcast episode #264.

Written by Nick Arganbright

Directed by Nick Arganbright

Previous episode: "Cult of B.O.B."

Next episode: "Witch Hunt"

## **The Story**

For the second installment in a row, this episode begins before the intro. It's twilight in a large building normally only used during the day. Two figures, Stacey Andrews and Ned Finnegan, enter and put up decorations including a sign that says "Welcome Back Brightside High School Class of 2004." It's a high school gymnasium. A hooded figure watches them through the window.

After the theme song and intro, in which Josh Wallace insists he's not Bertram Oswalt Babbit, four figures teleport under the bleachers at the school in Brightside, Ohio. They are Daniel Kravitz, Abby Reynolds, Alexis Augustus Armentrout, and Stephanie Garcia. They are all dressed up, and Stephanie doesn't know why they came. It turns out, this is Daniel and Abby's high school reunion. Alexis and Stephanie will serve as Daniel and Abby's dates, rather than the actual couple going together, in case there's trouble. Daniel protests that the real trouble is in Idaho, where a cross-species creature is running amuck. But Abby dismisses his protest, saying Rufus Reginald Rochester, Grezit the Green, Kai Akane, and Novir will take care of that. As Daniel and Stephanie head into the reunion first, Alexis asks Abby why she didn't tell Daniel the real reason they came. Abby replies Daniel would be made at her for taking risks.

Ned is working the registration table, and immediately hits on Stephanie. Ned calls Daniel 'Danny Crevice,' his old nickname, and wonders that Daniel didn't end up with Abby. Daniel admits when pressed that he knew Abby was in love with him, but offers no explanation beyond that. Stephanie feigns jealousy over this other woman and gets protective of Daniel. Daniel gratefully offers her punch as they move past Ned, but downs it himself when they're approached by Stacey, who is equally unpleasant and somewhat racist, telling Stephanie that her last name isn't French. Stacey is excited to tell them about her children, then rushes away when she sees an old friend, Tiffany.

Daniel admits to Stephanie that he's not a fan of any of the others. The popular kids were real bullies, and Abby was his only friend. He also reveals the origin of the nickname. Stephanie says she can see why Daniel didn't want to come back.

Down the street at Kravitz Antiques, Alexis mistakenly thinks the building has been rebuilt, although it remains empty. Abby reveals that's only magic as they enter the ruined shop. A ridiculously high price keeps anyone from renting it, and memories were wiped when they left to protect their secrets. As they comb through the rubble for a particular artifact, Abby says she didn't realize how many magical items came to them, and Alexis theories that it was Chosen One magnetism, even before Daniel was activated. The item they're looking for will help Alfredo fix the portals they now own. Abby wants to have such power because Daniel's use of his powers is now obviously wearing him down. Alexis is excited to take the fight to Kali, if they can find it.

Despite Abby feeling close to Alexis, Alexis worries about her lying to Daniel. Revealing he's married to his daughter's mother, and honesty is key, and Abby has been lying to Daniel a lot. Abby said it's better to keep Daniel distracted. She finds the object and says they'd better go to the reunion before Daniel misses them, even though she will hate answering to her former classmates. She reveals she doesn't want kids, which Alexis thinks is not what Daniel wants.

Back at the school, by the punch bowl, Stephanie is exhausted dealing with the attendees and doesn't plan to go to her own reunion. Regarding being questioned about children, Stephanie says she does want them someday, but hard to be a parent while they're fighting monsters. Daniel hopes he and Abby can settle down and retire away from this, and then have a family. Stephanie points out that Chosen Ones don't retire, and Daniel is already the longest surviving One that she knows of. Daniel replies back that the team is there to keep him alive, and still hopes that a happy future is possible, after they dispatch the Ultimate Evil.

Stephanie presses Daniel on his belief about a happily ever after, and he says he didn't have anything but antiques, which he hates, after his parents died, but Abby kept him from feeling like the forgotten junk collecting dust he sold. Stephanie says in French "Je crois que je t'aime bien." and Daniel makes fun of her before asking what she has been saying. She says she's been swearing, but really, she likes him and has only expressed it in a language he can't understand.

Then, the two spot a hooded figure at the gymnasium window. They head for the hallway, and Stephanie pulls a large knife from under her dress, impressing Daniel. The robed figure sees them following and uses a spell to rip a classroom door off its hinges and pin Daniel to the floor with it. Stephanie attempts to fight hand-to-hand, but soon finds herself atop the door. As the figure flees, the spells dissipate, freeing them.

Splitting up, Stephanie goes for the exit, while Daniel cuts through a classroom and out a window. However, it's Abby and Alexis, arriving through the parking lot, that cut off the figure. Daniel then teleports to him and knocks him down. But not before the figure takes a cyanide pill. Stephanie calls Khoo for a cleanup crew. The robe the figure is wearing is similar to the Cult of B.O.B., but not definitively so.

Daniel is mad that Abby ditched the party. Abby dismisses him and says it's time to go home so they can try to identify the figure. Before they can, Stephanie tells Alexis that Khoo says there's a voicemail for him on the U.L.P. source line from an Amara. Alexis is shocked, and Abby is mad, as she doesn't know who Amara is, and that line is only for their most trusted contacts. Alexis agrees she's not supposed to use that channel unless there's no other way. Finding four missed calls from her on his phone, he says he needs to get home now. Abby, seeing how upset he is, agrees not to press yet.

In a post-credits scene, back at the U.L.P. ranch, Alexis listens to the voicemail. Amara reports that an army is amassing in The Subworlds and pleas for help. Their daughter, Sophie, can be heard crying in the background. Amara is cut off suddenly, mid-message. Alexis tries to call her back, but her phone only rings without answer. He cries.

## **Guest Starring**

* Katie Boissoneault as Stephanie Garcia
* Keith Jackson as Ned Finnegan
* Samantha Stark as Stacey Andrews
* Helen Casebolt as Amara Armentrout
* Ryan Yohe as the Narrator

## **Trivia**

* Grezit the Green was originally in this episode just a little bit. He was removed because Ryan Yohe guest narrated the show that month.
* Grezit, Josh, and Rufus appear only in the intro.
* Nick arranged additional cast members to assist the supporting characters with the theme song beginning this month, making for the fuller sound.
* Some of the French spoken by Stephanie Garcia in this episode are profanity or moments like when Stephanie says "Je crois que je t'aime bien." which translates to "I think I like you".  Stephanie Garcia's actor, Katie Boissoneault, actually is proficient in French, and was consulted by Nick to make sure what Stephanie was saying in her native tongue was as accurate as possible.
* The script originally called this Daniel's ten-year reunion and stated Class of 2009. It was performed with these errors. For the podcast, this was corrected to Class of 2004 to match Daniel's already-established age.