Mind If I Smoke?

"Mind If I Smoke?" is the second episode of *Daniel Kravitz, Chosen One (Volume 3)*, and the twenty-eighth installment of the series overall. It was performed on March 9, 2019 at MadLab theatre in Columbus, OH as the second segment of Show XLV. It was released as podcast 222.

Written by Nick Arganbright

Directed by Nick Arganbright

Previous episode: "The New Class"

Next episode: "Recall Me, Maybe"

## **The Story**

It's 7:30AM in Daniel Kravitz's classroom. The trainees wait impatiently, as class was scheduled to begin at 7:20. Corey Addison is the main complainer, with some of the others wishing she would be less abrasive.

Daniel enters in a flourish with the rest of the Ruling Council (minus Alfredo) with him. Kai Akane is impressed and quickly sucks up. He introduces his cohorts and they sing the opening song. Corey is shocked to see Grezit the Green is alive and well, but Stephanie Garcia and others are merely curious. Daniel says Corey is so scared a bit of pee must have squeezed out and nicknames her Squeezy. At the conclusion of the song, the other Council members leave and Daniel gives the students a pop quiz, having them repeat the lyrics. It doesn't go well.

A short time later, Daniel takes them on a tour of the ranch. He tells them they will be helping Voldare run the place once they get settled in. At the stables, they see a single, malnourished horse. This turns out to be the shapeshifter Voldare.

Friday afternoon, classes are over for the week, and the trainees return to their rooms, tired and sore. Corey, Stephanie, and Kai live in a dorm called The Woodchipper because it looks pretty run down, and Humphrey Jacobs joins them. There, Corey rants about not getting to face any monsters or demons in their first week, and hates how boring and remote the ranch is. She even calls into question Daniel's authenticity. Corey has a plan to test their skills more practically, and the other three more or less reluctantly agree to help her.

Alfredo leaves his office at 6:14 exactly every day, and this time, the four students are waiting. While the others keep watch, Corey sneaks into Alfredo's office to retrieve a magic book. Those keeping watch are startled when Daniel Kravitz walks by, but they quickly realize it is actually Voldare, making his rounds guarding the grounds disguised as Daniel. Corey emerges and makes excuses for her presence, despite the fact that magic class doesn't start for another week or two. After proclaiming Corey smells different when she's awake, Voldare leaves them alone.

Outside, they make a small bon fire. Corey begins reading a spell that Kai identifies as Japanese. An ashen shape appears above the fire and asks who woke it. The being is an enenra, and it examines each of the students in turn, looking for an answer to its question. Kai runs away in terror. Humphrey quickly discovers that Corey didn't read the whole entry, and while some enenra (or yōkai ) will do menial tasks when commanded, some judge people as to whether they are pure of heart or not - and you can't choose which one you summon.

The enenra looks at Corey and begins showing various faces as it passes judgement. It finds her guilty and enters her lungs to suck the life out of her. As Stephanie and Humphrey frantically look for a counterspell to stop it, Voldare arrives with a fire extinguisher, which does nothing. Then Abby Reynolds brings a bucket of water, which weakens the enenra. It declares it will not rest until its punishment is carried out before dissolving.

The next morning, the four are called to Abby's office, with Daniel and Rufus Reginald Rochester backing Abby up. Abby and Rufus chew them out, though go easier on Kai for running to get help. Daniel praises Corey for her bravery in a mocking way. Rufus warns them the enenra is still out there, and Corey will always have to watch her back. Abby asks Corey why she shouldn't just be kicked out of the program. Corey has no defense. Before Abby can expel her, though, Daniel steps in and takes responsibility for Corey. Abby dismisses the students.

Rufus privately tells the other two that no one at the ranch but Abby would pass the enenra's judgment, and they must work to stop it. He isn't sure if anyone else is in danger.

In a post-credits scene, a monster named Monbo asks her followers if they've found the Chosen One. Deli says they've looked everywhere, but there's no sign of Daniel. E'Kjo vows revenge against Daniel for slaying his brother. As E'Kjo and Deli argue, Monbo says that monsters can no longer fight among themselves. They've all lost someone to Daniel, and he must be stopped. There is no more truce with the U.L.P., and their survival depends on taking down Daniel.

Deli asks if Kali would allow them to act. Monbo says she didn't take revenge for the death of her children because of Kali's rules, but having seen no definitive sign of the Ultimate Evil in generations, Monbo is done waiting and will kill Daniel. E'Kjo asks how she'll find Daniel, and Monbo says she'll have to do it herself.

## **Guest Starring**

* Colleen Underwood as Corey Addison, a.k.a. Squeezy
* Katie Boissoneault as Stephanie Garcia
* Sam Clements as Kai Akane
* Dan Condo as Humphrey Jacobs
* Aaron Crane as Voldare
* Karen Perta as the enenra
* Keith Jackson as Alfredo
* Kristin Green as Monbo
* Dallas Ray as Deli
* Nick Arganbright as E'Kjo

## **Trivia**

* Wendy Parks was ill the day of the show, so Samantha Stark filled in as Abby last-minute. Samantha's performance was originally released on the podcast, but the episode was re-edited in February 2021 with Wendy playing the role. Sam can still be heard signing in the theme song.
* Casey May was originally cast as Kai, but had an emergency the day of the show that prevented him fro playing the role. His voice can be heard in the outtakes at the end of the podcast.
* Nick Arganbright worked with Nathan Haley to re-arrange the theme song for Volume 3 so that the other lead characters could participate along with Daniel. The new version made its debut in this episode. Interestingly, the intros and theme song are *in-story* this time, which almost never happens.
* This episode features very little of the main cast, with several appearing only in the intro.
* In the opening song, Daniel calls Kali a 'she.' He does this again the following episode and is quickly corrected by Rufus and Alfredo.
* Jerome added the post-credits scene.