Episode 32 - Automobiles

## Automobiles

A white drawing of a car on a black background, there is a red outline silhouette of the driver that seems to be fading away. The outline is a dashed line. Underneath the image is '32. Automobile'.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Hector follows a trail, Riot plots next steps with Walt, and Ray picks up a passenger. The theme of tonight’s episode is Automobiles.

***Content Warnings:** Abuse, Animal death, Violence, Kidnapping and abduction, Death + Injury, Blood, Static (including sfx), Emotional Manipulation, Drowning, Body horror*

## Intro - Getaway

Nikignik tells of a driver who is being chased by hitmen, who's car has the circle of Syrensyr carved into it. An unmarked black van stops the car, causing the driver to jerk the wheel and drive over the edge of the road and into a river.

Nikignik is sitting in a restored campervan owned by Winona Carline.

## Story One - The Roof

Winonna explains to Hector who The Instrumentalist is as they are stood outside Mend Manor, the former home of Irene Mend and current home of Solomon Reed. Hector notices the tracks left by Jonah's van, and they begin to follow the tracks to the Scoutpost but stop to take a break overnight.

### Interlude One - Premiums

Nikignik explains the costs of purchasing and maintaining a running automobile, as well as the benefits of having one.

## Story Two - Never Gonna Be Okay

Walter 'Walt' Pensive, Diggory Graves and Riot Maidstone are taking stock after the events previously. Diggory suggests one way to beat Solomon is by going into his home when he's missing because the ghosts do not seem to be fond of him. Riot thanks Walt for getting her bat back, and Walt warns her that she could have been killed. Riot explains that she's upset about being treated like a kid, and Walt explains that he is not treating her like a kid but he is cautious of putting her in danger. Violet Keene interrupts them, explaining that Mr Friendly has taken a child.

### Marketing - Running On Empty

Lady Ethel Mallory advertises the Dreaming Boxes as an alternative to the difficult lifestyle outside of them.

### Story Two, Continued - Never Gonna Be Okay

Nikignik expresses a distaste for Lady Ethel Mallory and diverts the story back to Riot Maidstone.

The trio follow Violet to Bern Keene who points them in the direction that Mr Friendly took the child. Diggory says they know Russell, the child, and Riot assumes it is because they spent some time together when Diggory was at the Scoutpost previously.

Walt takes his silver sword, Riot takes her bat, and the trio chase after Mr Friendly. Once they arrive at the clearing, Walt throws a jar of peanut butter at Mr Friendly and instructs Diggory to climb the tree that Mr Friendly has put the boy inside of and get him back. Mr Friendly attacks Walt, and Riot attacks Mr Friendly - hitting him with her bat, and then kicking him in the face. Mr Friendly catches her bat between his teeth and snaps it, leaving her without a weapon. Walt then uses himself as a distraction, and Riot uses the silver sword to cut Mr Friendly's tail off. Walt is injured by Mr Friendly, but Diggory has the boy and is already attempting to leave the clearing with him.

Riot asks Walt if they can leave Mr Friendly defeated, rather than killing him, but Walt says that he had left too much business unfinished before and kills Mr Friendly himself. Riot then asks if he's okay, Walt explains that he left Solomon alone for too long and he had the chance to end it much earlier, Riot uses his own words and explains that he shouldn't blame himself.

### Interlude Two - Horizons At Peace

Nikignik discusses the freedom of owning an automobile in North America, and encourages the listener to travel if they're unhappy in their location.

## Story Three - Strange Passengers

Ray, an animate car, is avoiding the BotCo drones. He spots someone in need of a ride and signals to them to get in. The passenger is Moth, who panics when moth realises that Ray is not someone driving the car, but is the car. Ray asks Moth how he should refer to moth, and Moth answers with moth/mothself. Moth asks how Ray is doing this, and Ray responds with the mechanics of how to drive a car. Moth explains that moth is happy to get out of Ray locally, but Ray asks if there's anyone else that Moth could go to. Moth explains there's an uncle in Chicago that Ray could take moth to, and Ray agrees.

## Outro - Automobiles

Nikignik ends on a monologue about how they haven't spent much time in automobiles but it was inventions like automobiles that made them curious about the future of humanity, but now the roads are being grown over and the automobiles are rusting.