| “ | My name's Juno Steel. I'm thirty-nine years old. And I don't know how the hell that happened, because I still feel like a scared little kid who needs his heroes to keep sane in a galaxy that doesn't give a damn. | ” |
—Juno Steel
Juno Steel and the Man of the Future (Part 1) is the thirtieth episode of the second season of The Penumbra Podcast. It was released October 23th, 2018.
Overview[]
Ramses O'Flaherty has been a busy man in recent days. A brand new way of life doesn't build itself, after all — and before you can ever build it, you'll have to tear down the old life getting in everyone's way.
As Juno and Rita come up from the sewers, they can see, immediately, that Ramses has succeeded in the latter goal. Oldtown is gone. It's never coming back. And in its place stands Newtown, a shining city on a hill, a paradise of Ramses's own design. The only questions, then, are these: what is paradise? And what must one do before they allow one through its gates?
Trigger Warnings[]
- Sudden loud noises
- Claustrophobia
- Violence and threats of violence
- Manipulation and mind control
- Death and fatal injury
- Implied killing of people and animals
- Deception and gaslighting
Episode Summary[]
Juno meets and argues with Ramses about his excessive actions and condescending attitude regarding Oldtown. In the process, he admits he has realized Ramses O'Flaherty was once Jack Takano. O'Flaherty insists Benzaiten and Sarah Steel would be alive and healthy if Sarah had accepted money he offered her, claiming he had only stolen her work on Andromeda to leverage Northstar to a salvageable financial state. He accuses Juno of similar stubbornness, which Juno rejects: he is his own person and makes his own mistakes. Ramses refuses to tell Juno what Newtown is, only claiming it is "a place can be a solution to all our problems." Juno maintains it's wrong to put residents in lockdown, even temporarily, and tells Ramses to step down as mayor. Rita interrupts the meeting, and she and Juno seek out Mick Mercury for more information.
Mick greets them with his typical boisterousness, making Juno tea and delighting in nice features of his new apartment and neighborhood events. Juno picks through his words, looking for signs of a catch. Rita gently chastises him for mocking Mick's gullibility. Juno agrees he has behaved unkindly and follows Mick to the kitchen to apologize. Mick responds by attacking Juno and Rita with a blaster, his voice containing an underlayer of the THEIA. Juno fights back, shooting Mick reflexively with stun bolts. He fears he has killed Mick, unable to find his pulse. As Rita prepares to perform CPR, they discover Mick has cybernetic parts controlled by the THEIA Soul.
Mick|THEIA repeatedly urge Juno and Rita to "give up control to the THEIA Soul" as they barricade themselves in another room. Juno realizes Ramses is controlling Mick and other residents of the district in the same way the THEIA Spectrum controlled Juno at times.
Cast and Crew[]
Cast[]
- Joshua Ilon as Juno Steel
- Matthew Zahnzinger as Ramses O’Flaherty
- Kate Jones as Rita
- Stefano Perti as Mick Mercury
- Harley Takagi Kaner as the THEIA Operating System
Crew[]
- Kevin Vibert, Co-creator, Head of Operations, Lead writer
- Harley Takagi Kaner, Co-creator, Head of Episode Development, Director, Sound designer
- Kat Buckingham, Head of Merchandise and Outreach
- Alice Chuang, Head of Design
- Noah Simes, Production manager
- Ryan Vibert, Composer and performer of original music
Quotes[]
THEIA: Mayor O'Flaherty. You have an appointment. With the citizen known as: JUNO (recording): Hey, get your metal-claw-gun-things off her, you lousy—! RITA (recording): Mista Steeeeeeeeeeel! THEIA: Would you like me to send them in? RAMSES: Just Juno. Thank you, THEIA.
RAMSES: Because there's... something I have to tell you... about our, well... our acquaintance. How I found you…Well, ehem, although it is a fact that— JUNO: I can count on Jack. RAMSES: What? JUNO: I know, Ramses. I know a lot of things now, and I suspect even more. For example: I know who you really are, and I suspect that's why you hired me in the first place. Must have been spooky, setting up a big real estate con like that and then finding out the thorn in your side is the kid you screwed over thirty years ago. Must have been real spooky. RAMSES: You...know.
(PAUSE)
Of course. You figured it out... nobody else has, but if it was going to be anyone, it would be you, wouldn't it?JUNO: Don't think that's why I came here to talk to you.
RITA: HA! Mista Steel, I saved you! Rita's here, and she ain't leavin' until we get what we— JUNO: I'm done. Come on, Rita. Let's get the hell out of here. RITA: ...Oh.
(PAUSE)
And you! Don't you ever bother Mista Steel ever again, you...! you...!
(BLOWS RASPBERRY)RAMSES: Try not to break my town, will you?
JUNO: Listen… we don’t know what kind of trouble Mick’s in, alright? Even if he’s acting weird, we can’t ask why — we don’t know who might be listening and it could just put him in more danger. Alright? RITA: Yeah, yeah, I know, Boss, I been with you on a few cases by now, I get it, I get the pictcha, the pictcha is mine, I own it the pictcha now, so give it a rest already, willya? JUNO: ...Okay. MICK: Sorry, sorry! I was just uh doing some uh "jazz redecorating" and I...JAYJAY! JUNO: Mercury. MICK: Oh man, it's you, I can't believe it’s really—! RITA: So what kinda trouble are you in, Mista Mercury? Are you bein' watched? Listened to? Smelled at?? MICK: Whuh? JUNO: Rita... RITA: How many bad guys you got hidden in there, huh? How many? Four or five in the closet, sixteen all balled up under the sink? Spill, Mercury! JUNO: Or don't. Please.
MICK: And I’m gettin’ cultured, Jay. I’ve got culture like they write about. I’m so full’a culture that if you squeezed my stomach fine wine would spray— JUNO: Y’know, maybe don’t finish that thought? Cuz I feel like it’s just gonna hurt your point, actually. MICK: Then here, look, I’ll prove it to ya.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Would either of you ladies like…some tea?RITA: Not really— JUNO: Yes. Yes, we both want tea. Just… so bad. RITA: But Boss, you don’t even like— JUNO: Maybe not, but I have to see him try to make some. I just… it’s been a rough couple days. I need this. RITA: That's kinda mean, Mista— MICK: Alright! That’s two teas for Club Whispers over here. Now why don’t you two come inside and have a seat…on my furniture. Ha!
MICK: Here he comes, with some tea for his houseguests. And he only burned himself twice. RITA: Uhh... maybe, Mista Mercury, but that burn on your neck looks pretty bad... JUNO: Burned his neck.
(SNICKER)MICK: Hey, I'm still getting used to this place, alright? Never had a toaster oven before.