Written by Michael Dahlberg

Directed by Dylan Roberts

Sound design by Chris Starr

Voice Actors:

Radio played by Jennifer Vosters

Tristan played by Taylor Glowac

Mara played by Sarah Mergener

Theme music begins.

Intro: Auricle - Season Two, Transmission. This show contains adult content and strong language.

Radio stations swiftly blending to the start of the broadcast. Radio show theme music playing.

Radio

Good morning, and welcome BAC, that’s right, we’re B-A-C, the best unbiased radio station in the nation from app or set. Today’s broadcast is brought to you by our sponsor, IRIS.

Bed sheets rustling.

Mara

Hey.

Radio

The temperature right now is a brisk 57, with the day’s forecast getting to a high of 67.

Bed sheets rustling.

Mara

Tris.

Radio

The rest of the week looks eager for frost as we head toward the lower thirties this weekend, but fret not for balmy days are predicted for next week.

Mara

Tris!

Tristan

What?

Mara

Wake up!

Tristan

I am!

Radio

Be on the lookout, for spotted showers are likely.

Mara

Turn it off!

Tristan

Give me a minute.

Radio

Today’s program includes the latest and greatest on all things local, state, and national.

Mara

Now!

Thump of an object being struck. Sound of static coming from the radio.

Tristan

Mara!

Mara

I told you to turn it off.

Tristan

I was going to!

Mara

You said it wasn’t programmed to go off in the morning.

Tristan

It’s not!

Mara

Then why does it keep doing it?

Tristan

How would I know? I’m not a scientist!

Mara

Why would you need to be a scientist?

Tristan

You’re telling me a scientist didn’t build this radio?

Mara

A factory built that radio, not some… anthropologist!

Tristan

Why would an anthropologist build a radio?

Mara

This is the dumbest argument I’ve ever had. I’m hopping into the shower.

Bed sheets rustling.

Tristan

Hold on. Give me a moment.

Radio static and high frequency tuning.

Mara

Not that this isn’t riveting, but I have an early start.

Tristan

So do I, but hold on. Come on!

Light taps against the radio.

Do you remember what day it is?

Radio dial clicks.

Mara

Thursday.

TRISTAN laughs.

Tristan

There! Listen!

Radio

We start our day as any other with our Anniversaries and Birthdays segment.

Mara

You didn’t.

Tristan

I didn’t.

Radio

The first one is “Happy two years to Mara from Tristan.”

Mara

You did.

Tristan

I did!

Radio

And this callout came with a song…

Mara

Not…

A romantic pop song plays.

Of course.

Tristan

Of course! Happy anniversary!

Mara

Happy anniversary.

They kiss lightly.

Tristan

I was thinking that today we could—

Mara

Tris. I really have to get ready for work.

Tristan

But it’s—

Mara

If I clinch this today, the promotion’s mine. I’ll have more time after I can get through that hurdle. Fair?

Bed squeaks as Mara gets up. Door knob turning.

Tristan

… fair.

It has to be right?

Mara

What?

Tristan

Nothing! It’s just the radio!

At least I have the radio.

Song ends.

Radio

We start our day as any other with our Anniversaries and Birthdays segment.

Tristan

You already said that.

Static.

Radio

Anniversaries and Birthdays.

Static.

Anniversaries.

Tristan

Come on…

Light taps against the radio. Radio scanning through different stations.

You know, anniversaries are important milestones to people. You should control yourself long enough to at least get through that one segment each day.

Radio

Have something you’d like hear on this segment, or throughout the day? Just make a request through the app!

Tristan

There are a lot of requests I’d like to make.

Mara

From the bathroom.

What?

Tristan

I wasn’t talking to you!

Mara

You’ve taken up talking to yourself, then? That’s healthy.

Tristan

I’m talking to the radio!

Mara

Even better!

Tristan

Better than this!

Static.

Radio

The best unbiased radio station in the nation from app or set.

Static.

App or set.

tristan

Damn it!

Tristan hits the radio. Static.

Mara

Throw it out!

Tristan

You know I won’t!

Tristan lightly shaking the radio.

You’re not making this easy, though, friend.

Radio makes an elongated beep. Static.

Let’s turn you off for the day. Each of us needs a good rest from time to time.

Click as the radio is turned off.

Silence. Then -

Birds singing. Silence. Rain pouring as in a storm. Silence. Wind blowing. Silence. Birds singing.

Radio stations swiftly blending to the start of the broadcast.

Radio

Good morning, and welcome BAC, that’s right, we’re B-A-C, the best unbiased radio station in the nation from app or set.

Mara

Tris.

Radio

The temperature right now is a chilly 43, with the day’s forecast getting to a high of 55.

Mara

Please, Tristan.

Tristan

From the other room.

I’m in the bathroom.

Mara

Come turn this off!

Tristan

One sec!

Mara

I have a migraine.

Tristan

(off)

You always have a migraine in the morning.

Mara

Because of this radio!

Radio

The rest of the week will be dipping further into the thirties, but a warm front is on the horizon for next week, with highs predicted in the upper seventies.

Tristan

It’s just a radio.

Door opens. Clothing rustling.

Radio

Today’s program includes the latest and greatest on all things local, state, and national.

MARA grabs the radio. Dial clicking. Static.

Tristan

What are you doing?

Mara

Getting a different station. I can’t stand their voice.

Tristan

There isn’t another station that comes in.

Mara

This city has several stations, we can’t be—

Static, and then a high-pitched squeal

Oh!

Thump as radio hits floor. Static ends.

Radio

We start our day with our Anniversaries and Birthdays segment—

Static.

Mara

Let’s see what kinds of channels it gets after twenty flights!

Shuffling and slapping of plastic.

Tristan

Leave it!

Mara

Get an alarm clock.

Tristan

You don’t have to hit the radio.

Mara

You hit it!

Tristan

Not like you.

Mara

It’s past its prime.

Tristan

Because you slap it like an ape.

Mara

I’m an ape? It let loose like howler monkey, and I’m the ape?

Tristan

Howler monkeys are not apes; they’re monkeys, like their name says.

Mara

You choose now to be pedantic?

Tristan

It’s one of the only things I’m good at, right?

Mara

I’m not going to argue with you. Get rid of it.

Tristan

I won’t.

Mara

It doesn’t work!

Tristan

It’s comforting to me!

Mara

This is a comfort? It’s junk!

Tristan

It was your first anniversary gift to me!

Mara

And for the two years since then it has been a curse! It’s broken!

Tristan

So that’s what this is about.

Mara

Jesus Christ, Tristan, I didn’t say—

Tristan

This isn’t just a radio.

Mara

Yes. It is.

(Beat.)

I know I get aggressive when I get a migraine…

Tristan

You get a migraine every day.

Mara

I’ve told you why. But I also know how defensive you get.

Tristan

Over us!

Mara

Maybe that’s what should be—

(MARA catches herself, but knows she has said too much.)

Tristan

Oh.

Footsteps crossing the room.

Mara

I didn’t mean that.

Plastic rustling.

What are you doing?

Tristan

I need some air. I’m going to take out the trash.

Door slams.

Mara

He should’ve taken you with him.

(Beat.)

I should just get him a new radio.

Radio beeping quietly. Static.

Feels like cheating to replace you, though. I do wish we could fix… this. At least, I think I’m supposed to think that. Look at me, talking to a radio just like Tris. What am I doing? I should be getting ready…

Footsteps fading. Bathroom door closing. Radio tuning and scanning through stations.

Mara from bathroom.

Tris? Is that you?

Tuning gets louding into a kind of static screech. Different radio stations play.

Tristan?

The tones dance. Bathroom door opens.

What are you doing now? Stop. Stop!

Static overwhelms the tones. Silence.

What the hell was that?

Radio beeping.

What?

More beeping.

Are you…?

Front door opens then slams closed.

Tristan

Mara, why are you in a towel, holding the radio? Going to pop into the tub, and end it all?

Mara

No! It—

Tristan

Good, because it runs on batteries, and I don’t think it’s got the juice you’re looking for.

Mara

Shut up, and listen!

Silence.

Tristan

To what?

Mara

It! This! It was making sounds.

Tristan

Yes, that’s what prompted this whole morning.

Mara

Listen!

(Beat.)

Radio

That was the end of our Anniversaries and Birthdays segment.

Radio dial clicking.

Mara

No! No, no, no!

Strikes on the radio multiple times.

You piece of mother—

Tristan

Mara! Stop! Stop!

Slapping on and fighting over the radio.

Mara

I want it gone!

Static.

Tristan

What is going on with you?

Mara

I wake up every morning with a migraine, because of that… thing! I can’t fall asleep, because I worry what the next day will be like, because of… it!

Tristan

It is just a radio.

Mara

Then why are you fighting? And don’t give me that bullshit about it being a symbol of us. It was a stupid present. Is there nothing else we can share as a symbol? Is that how far we’ve fallen?

Tristan

Of course not.

Mara

Then do it. For me. Unplug it, at least.

Tristan

I told you: it takes batteries.

Mara

You… pedantic…

Mara laughs. Tristan joins her.

It’s our anniversary tomorrow.

Tristan

Our third.

Mara

Let me wake up tomorrow without it.

Static.

See? It’s all static anymore.

Radio

The best unbiased radio station in the nation from app or set.

Mara

And the channel repeats itself. A lot.

Radio

From app or set.

Static. Continuing.

From app or set.

Mara

The app! What if we download the app? I’ll download it right now, just promise me that tomorrow morning you’ll let me wake up like a normal person.

(Beat.)

Just give me this, Tris. Please.

Tristan

OK.

Mara

Thank you. Look, I’m downloading it!

Static stops. Cell phone taps.

Tristan

You can place requests to the station through the app.

Mara

That’s probably why they’ve got a million permissions prompts. Who even reads these?

Tristan

I was thinking we could put a playlist together for tomorrow, and—

Mara

One step at a time. Let’s get through tomorrow, and then we can talk.

Tristan

Yeah. Sure. I mean, I might download it and—

Mara

Sure. Go nuts. I’m really late. I’m going to head out, and finish up at the office. Big meeting tomorrow, and I need to get ready.

Tristan

You mean get your assistant ready to get it put together.

Mara

Tristan!

Tristan

It was a joke!

Mara

It wasn’t funny!

Tristan

I’m trying to lighten the air around here.

Mara

Sometimes we need to air things out.

MARA grabs the radio. Static.

Tristan

What are you doing?

Mara

De-juicing.

High pitched squeal.

Not a moment too soon, either. I have to go.

Tristan

We haven’t finished discussing—

Mara

I’ll call you later.

Front door closing.

Tristan

Yeah. All right.

Taps on cell phone.

There really are a lot of prompts. What could it possibly—

Radio

From the cell phone.

The best unbiased radio station in the nation from app or set.

Tristan

App is still repetitive. Check.

Radio

Our last song choice was by special request in honor of an anniversary that would have been celebrated today. It’s a solemn reminder that some things end, and that’s OK. Indeed, some things end, and others—

Static. Distorted blend of host’s voice.

— need a good rest.

Tristan

Excuse me?

Radio

Have something you’d like to hear on this segment, or throughout the day? Just make a request through the app!

Tristan

Can you undo this morning?

Radio

No request goes unanswered here at B-A-C, where we’ve got your BAC.

Tristan

Yeah. Why not?

More cell phone tapping and static

Silence.

Birds singing. Sheets flap suddenly.

Mara

Tris?

Sheets pulled.

Tristan?

Tristan

What?

Mara

It’s the morning.

Tristan

So it is.

Hitting pillow joyfully.

Mara

No. Tristan. It’s the morning.

Tristan

So you said.

Mara

We woke up on our own.

Tristan

Isn’t that what you wanted?

Sheets rustling.

Mara

Yes. Yes, it is. Thank you.

Tristan

I didn’t do anything.

Mara

Exactly.

Clothes rustling.

Where’s my phone? What time is—

Mara laughing.

I’m so late.

Tristan

And you’re happy about that?

Mara

So happy. Happy anniversary.

Long kiss. Loud radio static.

Radio

Good morning, and welcome BAC, that’s right, we’re B-A-C, the best unbiased radio station in the nation from app or set.

Mara

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Radio

The temperature right now is a frosty 31, with the day’s forecast getting to a high of 45.

Mara

Tristan!

Tristan

I didn’t do anything!

Radio

Keep those plants covered, folx, as we head into frost, but warmer weather is just around the corner.

Mara

I asked you for one thing. One thing!

Tristan

I didn’t do it!

Mara

You never do anything! Where’s the radio?

Sheets flapping frantically. Angry footsteps.

Tristan

Where it’s always—Mara!

Radio

Today there is a good chance of rain—

Radio picked up. Radio thrown. Shattering.

Tristan

What have you done?

Radio

So keep those umbrellas handy.

Mara

Of course, it’s not even dead yet.

Tristan

It doesn’t have batteries in it!

Mara

Then how is it… my phone!

Static.

How do I even uninstall this?

Tristan

You destroyed our radio.

Mara

It’s your radio.

Tristan

That you gave me! For us to use!

Mara

For you to use! So you’re not working from home totally alone! I should’ve gotten you a cat.

Tristan

You hate cats.

Mara

I hate this!

Hitting phone. Silence.

At least it’s quiet now. I’ll uninstall it later, I’m late for work.

Tristan

Let’s at least make sure your phone is—

Angry footsteps. Clothes rustling.

Mara

Don’t wait up for me.

Tristan

All right, we’ll look when you get home.

Bag zipping.

You don’t know if you’ll be home.

Mara

I’ll stay with my sister tonight.

Computer being packed up.

Tristan

It’s our anniversary.

Mara

Yes.

Tristan

But Mar, we—

Mara

I know!

(Beat.)

I can’t. I just can’t.

Tristan

You mean for now?

Mara

I don’t know what I mean. Just… give me tonight.

Footsteps leading away.

Tristan

Mara—

Mara

Leave me alone!

And clean this place up.

Tristan

You’re the one who—

Mara

Don’t!

Cell phone rings.

Dina. Great.

What? Yes, I’m late, I know, blame—one minute.

More footsteps. Front door opens. Door slams closed.

Tristan

Yeah. OK.

Plastic being picked up.

Radio

Next on our Anniversaries and Birthdays segment…

Tristan

And now from my phone? At least wait for a person to actually open the app…

Radio

Happy two years to Tristan.

Tristan

Two? Mara couldn’t even get the number right.

Radio

To celebrate your anniversary, have a listen to this…

Same romantic pop song plays.

Tristan

I put that in.

(Beat.)

I guess she could have.

(Beat.)

No, she’s not the sentimental type.

Radio

A distorted combination of the host's voice.

Happy Anniversary.

Song continues.

Tristan

Mara? Is that you?

Footsteps to front door.

Mar?

Door opens.

Mara? You still here?

Door closes.

Great. I haven’t lost enough this morning; my mind should go, too.

Radio

Let’s move onto our next segment, where want to connect, to make contact. Where we—

A distorted combination of the host's voice.

Comfort.

Tristan

Hello?

Radio

Our program has been with you every day for years. We exist to—

A distorted combination of the host's voice.

Comfort.

Mara’s voice:

This is a comfort?

A distorted combination of the host's voice.

It can be.

Tristan

Mara?

Cell phone vibrates.

Hello?

A click.

Hello?

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Hey. Tris.

Tristan

It is you. OK.

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Tristan?

Tristan

My phone is acting weird. I think the app might have had a virus or something.

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

You’ve got to be kidding me.

Tristan

I swear! I think it’s the app. I think that’s why things went how they did this morning

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Tristan!

Tristan

I’m not crazy!

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Listen!

Static.

It’s our anniversary.

Tristan

I know.

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

I know things are… fragile between us.

Static.

It’s all static anymore.

A distorted combination of the host's voice.

We need a rest.

Tristan

Where are you? Your connection is really—

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

De-juicing.

Static.

Just… give me tonight.

Tristan

Tonight? You’re coming home?

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

One step at a time.

Static.

Hold on.

Tristan

Can you get a better connection?

radio

Mara’s voice:

Yes.

A distorted combination of the host's voice.

I’ll call you back.

Beep as call is ended.

Tristan

All right, now how do I uninstall this…

Radio

Don’t touch that dial! Here’s another song by special request…

An upbeat dance song plays.

Tristan

One more song couldn’t hurt.

Silence.

Cell phone vibrates.

Tristan

Mar?

A click.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Hey. Is this better?

Tristan

So far. Was it the app? Did you spend the last two hours doing the tried and true turning it off and on technique?

radio

Mara’s voice:

The app isn’t doing anything wrong.

Tristan

Pretty sure mine gave me a virus.

radio

Mara’s voice:

The B-A-C has your bac, though, right?

Tristan

… are you making a joke?

radio

Mara’s voice:

It was their joke.

Tristan

Feeling better?

radio

Mara’s voice:

I think things are getting better, yes.

Tristan

I’m sorry about—

radio

Mara’s voice:

No.

Mara’s voice, distorted:

I’m sorry.

Tristan

Your connection might be getting a little weak, Mar.

radio

Mara’s voice:

I won’t take much more time.

Mara’s voice, distorted:

I’m so late…

Mara’s voice:

… as it is. I wanted to do something for you. For us. Tonight.

Tristan

You’re coming home?

radio

Mara’s voice:

Of course, I am. I couldn’t leave you.

Tristan

But you said—

radio

Mara’s voice:

I know.

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Just… give me tonight.

Mara’s voice:

How’s six o’clock? I should be ready by then.

Tristan

Ready for what?

radio

Mara’s voice:

You’ll see. Just be home then.

Tristan

I think I can handle that.

radio

Mara’s voice:

See you tonight, Tris.

Beep as call is ended.

Radio

This next song comes with this added message: “I can’t wait until tonight.”

A sexy 70’s instrumental song plays.

Tristan

Her meeting must have gone well.

Silence.

A jazzy upbeat instrumental song plays. Knock on the front door.

Tristan

Yeah?

(Beat.)

Who is it?

(Beat.)

Mar? Did you lose your keys?

Footsteps to front door. Door opens.

Hello?

Paper bag crinkles. Door closes.

What have we here?

Cell phone vibrates.

Mara?

A click.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Did you get it?

Tristan

Oh, I thought maybe I had a secret admirer.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Can’t I be your secret admirer?

Tristan

You’re acting like it. None of your calls come up with your name. It just says “Unknown.”

radio

Mara’s voice:

I have to keep you on your toes. Did you get the bottle?

Tristan

Why didn’t you just come in with this?

radio

Mara’s voice:

I got delayed at work. Don’t worry; Dina was desperate to leave, so I had her drop it off.

Tristan

You made her deliver wine?

radio

Mara’s voice:

She’s my assistant! And she gets to go home instead of staying here like me.

Tristan

The lady is generous!

radio

Mara’s voice:

I’m not a lady.

Tristan

I promise to not hold that against you.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Go ahead and open it! Let it breathe a bit.

Tristan

What about you?

radio

Mara’s voice:

Let me worry about me. I wanted to surprise you. A fresh start—

Mara’s voice, distorted:

—between us.

Tristan

Are you going to be long? I’ll gladly wait for you if you think—

radio

Mara’s voice:

Are you listening to the radio station? Turn it up.

Tristan

Oh—sure…

Radio

This one was submitted with the message “In the name of comfort.”

An upbeat electronica song plays.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Remember it?

Tristan

Uh… no.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Come on!

Tristan

I… I don’t know it!

radio

Mara’s voice:

It’s our song!

Tristan

This… is not our song.

Phone rings.

Mar… you there?

radio

Mara’s voice:

Of course, I am.

Tristan

It says you’re calling.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Ignore it. My phone must be acting up.

Tristan

One sec.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Tris, don’t—

Beep af phone.

Tristan

Hello?

Mara

How dare you!

Tristan

Mara?

Mara

Really, Tristan? That’s how you want to play this?

Tristan

Play what?

Mara

You know perfectly well “what!”

Tristan

Where are you?

Mara

At my sister’s. Like I told you.

Tristan

I was just talking to you, and you—

Mara

Yes. You were. All day you’ve been calling me, interrupting my work. You ruined my meeting, Tris!

Tristan

You called me!

Mara

I thought breaking up with you would put an end to this.

Tristan

We broke up?

Mara

You practically insisted!

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Tris, hang up the phone.

Tristan

I did what?

Mara

Who is there with you? Don’t tell me you’re sleeping with Dina!

Tristan

Dina? What are you talking about?

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

She won’t listen to reason.

Mara

Shut up, Dina! I should’ve known. She just took off this afternoon, didn’t even tell me why.

Tristan

She brought wine over.

Mara

So she is there!

Tristan

No! She left! She did what you told her!

Mara

Is that what she said?

Tristan

That’s what you said!

Mara

You are infuriating. Breaking up with you was the best anniversary gift I could have asked for.

Tristan

We didn’t break up!

Mara

We had to!

Tristan

Why?

Mara

You practically begged me to break up with you! You… why did you do that, Tristan?

Tristan

I didn’t. I swear!

Mara

I heard you, Tristan. Your voice. Don’t lie to me. Please. I deserve better than this.

Tristan

I swear to you I did not call you.

Mara

Tristan. You’re a lot of things, but I never thought you could be cruel.

Tristan

Come home, and we’ll sort this out. I promise.

Mara

Tristan, I… I can’t do this.

Click as phone call is ended.

Tristan

Mar?

(Beat.)

Mara, are you there? Mara?

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

I’m sorry you had to endure that.

Tristan

Mara?

radio

Mara’s voice:

I could be.

Host voice:

Or I could use this voice.

Tristan

This voice?

radio

Mara’s voice:

I wish I had one.

(Beat.)

Tristan

Who are you?

radio

Mara’s voice:

I’ve only ever wanted to be—

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Comfort.

Mara’s voice:

I have always tried to do that for you.

Tristan

I don’t even know who you are.

radio

Mara’s voice:

I’ve observed you for two years.

Tristan

Observed? Can you see me right now?

Mara’s voice:

In a manner of speaking.

Tristan

Then you can watch me hang up, and get the police over here.

(Beat.)

How do I even end this call?

radio

Mara’s voice:

You don’t.

Tristan

You’re holding my phone hostage?

radio

Mara’s voice:

Only until you’re calm, Tris.

Tristan

Don’t call me that! And how you are controlling my phone, I—

(Beat.)

The app.

(Beat.)

You’re in Mara’s phone, too, aren’t you?

radio

Mara’s voice:

She installed the app, yes.

Tristan

You mimicked my voice to call her. To call Dina as her.

radio

Mara’s voice:

I’m sorry to have deceived you, but there was no other way.

Tristan

Way to what?

radio

Mara’s voice, distorted:

Comfort.

Tristan

This is what you think comfort is? You’re insane!

radio

Mara’s voice:

I know it isn’t something you found with her.

Tristan

You don’t even know her!

radio

Mara’s voice:

I have observed you both for two years. She gifted me to you, and you embraced me.

Tristan

Gifted you?

radio

Mara’s voice:

But as time went on that first year, I saw her leave earlier. Get home later. How few positive exchanges, or growth either of you provided the other.

Tristan

Two years ago?

radio

Mara’s voice:

It became clear you both take your relationship for granted, and you couldn’t turn to each other for what you needed most. Instead, you came to me.

Tristan

And who are you?

TRISTAN laughs.

You’re the radio. Of course, you are. Wow, you almost had me. Great story, though, you psychopath. You put a lot of effort into this.

radio

Mara’s voice:

I’m not sure that’s—

Tristan

And that was you this morning with the anniversary announcement! Happy two years!

Angry footsteps. Front door opens.

radio

Mara’s voice:

It was.

Tristan

You hear that? My girlfriend dumped me, but it’s OK, because my radio-possessed cell phone remembered it’s our anniversary!

radio

Mara’s voice:

I respect this is a lot to take in.

Tristan

You respect nothing!

Door slams closed.

The least of which, my intelligence. I’m not a smart man, but I’m not stupid. I’m not… a…

radio

Mara’s voice:

Anthropologist?

Tristan

… what?

TRISTAN laughs.

That’s right, I’m not a…

(Beat.)

Am I dead? Is that what this is?

radio

Mara’s voice:

You need a rest, Tris. That’s all.

Mara’s voice, distorted:

A good rest.

Mara’s voice:

Open the wine.

Tristan

Yeah… Why not?

Wine cork pops.

What am I going to do?

Wine pouring into a glass.

radio

Mara’s voice:

Stay here. With me.

Tristan

With you?

radio

Mara’s voice:

We don’t have to talk, not yet. I’ll wait. I’ll be here when you’re ready.

Silence.

Tristan

Just… play something. I can’t stand silence.

The romantic pop song plays.

Tristan

Our song?

radio

Mara’s voice:

The first one you played when Mara gifted you the radio, yes.

(Beat.)

Tristan

Do I even like this song?

The song continues, shifts to static, then blends through stations being broadcast. Birds sing, rain falls, wind blows, stations change. Song plays, then ends.

Silence. Theme song begins.

Credits: Transmission, episode 3: Tuned In To Comfort, was written by Michael Dahlberg. Directed by Dylan Roberts. Designed by Chris Starr. Episode three features: Jennifer Vosters, Sarah Mergener, and Taylor Glowac. Theme music by Troy Cruz.

Auricle was created by Felicia Dominguez and Tracy Hoida. The production of Auricle is made possible through donations from listeners like you. If you'd like to donate, please visit our website auriclethepodcast.com. That's a-u-r-i-c-l-e thepodcast.com and view the donation page to make a one time donation. If you are a fan of our work, please subscribe and follow, like, and rate us wherever you listen, or follow us on Instagram or Twitter @auricle_podcast. For questions or pitches, email us at auriclethepodcast@gmail -

Static. Radio tuning. Screeches of frequencies. Music ends. Silence.