Omen 100: Prologue

Transcript & Credits

[[SFX: market ambience, door opening/closing, bell tinkling]]

Roland: [[clears sinuses rudely]] [[bored, not looking up]] Welcome to Rusty Roland's Pawn Emporium and Stipend Day Loans. How can I--

Quent: [[clears throat]]

Roland: [[nervous]] Oh! Afternoon, officer. Something I can do for you and your… friends here?

Quent: Just need a few questions answered, Roland.

Toby: And you can drop the act. It'll make things easier for you.

Roland: [[nervous]] Act? What? I'm afraid I don't follow--

[[SFX: fist slamming on counter]]

Gwen: [[theatrically aggressive]] Where's the pulley, you crumbum?

Roland: [[nervous]] I… I beg your pardon, miss?

Quent: [[embarrassed]] Come on, you guys--we talked about this.

Toby: Hey--you deputized us, Quent. That means we're above the law.

Quent: [[sigh]] Toby--you know that's not how it works. And can we please stop with the violent outbursts?

Gwen: [[sheepish]] Sorry. You did tell us to watch ourselves in this neighborhood. I thought it best to show we meant business. [[polite]] Hello! I'm Gwen, by the way. How was that? Not too over the top, I hope?

Roland: [[thoughtful]] Hmm… Well, if I'm being honest--and you really have to be in this business--the insult was a tad... uncalled for.

Gwen: [[taken aback]] Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me--this is my first interrogation.

Roland: [[amicable]] Quite alright, miss. We've all got to start somewhere, don't we? Why, just the other day my best friend Jeffrey was telling me--

Quent: [[interrupting, annoyed]] The dwarf that was just in here, Roland. What was he hawking?

Roland: [[nervous, playing dumb]] Dwarf? What's a dwarf?

Toby: [[impatient]] Gods. Look--I already know you're stupid. Don't insult my intelligence. We know all about the block and tackle pulley.

Roland: The block and what now? All this science mumbo jumbo is making my head spin!

Quent: [[warning]] You're trying my patience, Roland.

Toby: [[impatient]] A bellows pulley. Three foot by eight and a quarter inches. About twenty-five pounds. Originally commissioned by local blacksmith Tom Nesmith from Mainsail Market on Wharfside Plaza.

Gwen: And--more importantly--the pulley was picked up by his daughter, Hannah. Eight years old, blonde hair with a gray ribbon. I don't suppose you've seen her, have you?

Roland: [[nervous]] N-no, no! No kids 'round here! I don't see what all this has to do with me.

Quent: Several witnesses have gone on record saying Hannah Nesmith was last seen in the company of a suspicious-looking dwarf. A dwarf who was later seen entering this establishment with the aforementioned pulley… [[warning]] alone.

Roland: Here, now--I don't know what you're going on about! And even if I did, telling you would be a breach of customer confidentiality!

Gwen: But Hannah's been kidnapped! Please--you must help us!

Roland: I'm not… that is, I don't… my, it's hot in here!

Toby: You feeling alright, Roland? [[ominous]] You're sweating.

Quent: [[authoritative]] You've got until the count of three to show us where the pulley is, Roland.

Roland: I don't know anything, alright? I'm innocent!

Quent: [[warning]] One…

Roland: Th-this is private property! I know my rights!

Gwen: [[reassuring]] It's alright, you can trust us!

Quent: [[irritated]] Two…

Toby: [[taunting]] Uh oh! I wouldn't make him mad if I were you!

Roland: [[frantic]] I've done nothing wrong! This is harassment!

Quent: [[annoyed]] Two and a half…

Roland: I-I'm warning you now! You lot had better clear out!

Quent: [[intimidating]] Three!

[[SFX: crossbow shoots, thunk in wood]]

Gwen: [[gasp]] [[taken aback]] I beg your pardon! Did you just try to shoot me!?

Roland: [[sheepish]] Uhh…

Quent: [[angry]] Big mistake, creep! [[grunts]]

[[SFX: cloth rustling, body hitting the floor]]

Roland: [[terrified]] Ahh! [[grunts in pain]] Oof! Alright, alright! It's behind the counter! I didn't know it was stolen--honest! I'm just trying to make ends meet, is all!

Quent: [[grunts with exertion]] Grab that for me, won't you Toby?

Toby: [[calling]] Already found it! [[scoffs]] Really? It was just hidden under a blanket? Not exactly a criminal mastermind, huh?

Quent: [[grunts]] Where's the dwarf, Roland?

Roland: [[strained]] He's staying at the Dented Helm! Please! I've got very brittle bones!

[[SFX: purposeful footsteps, hard kick, Roland gets the wind knocked out of him]]

Quent: [[taken aback]] Gwen!

Gwen: [[defensive]] What? He tried to shoot me!

Toby: [[wary]] You didn't mention the possibility of attempts on our lives when we signed up for this job, Quent. Is this going to be a normal thing?

Quent: [[intimidating]] Naw--you didn't mean to attack an officer of the law with lethal force, now did you Roland?

Roland: [[strained, wheezing]] Sensitive trigger. Honest mistake.

Gwen: [[threatening]] And that's why you'd tell me if you knew anything about Hannah Nesmith… right, Roland?

Roland: [[strained, wheezing]] I swear. On my mother's grave.

Quent: [[flatly]] Please. I saw Clara yesterday.

Roland: [[strained, wheezing]] It's an expression, isn't it?

Gwen: [[excited]] Come on! We might still be able to catch that dwarf!

Toby: [[wary]] Just make sure you can see both his hands this time.

Quent: Alright, let's go. [[stern]] I'd better not hear any more troubling rumors about you today, Roland.

Roland: [[coughing, sardonic]] Yes, yes. Don't mind poor old me. If I knew I'd be getting hassled by guards and threatened by random thugs over that little bastard, I'dve taken the bloody day off!

Gwen: [[miffed]] Here now! Who are you calling a thug?

Roland: Eh? Oh, I weren't talking about you, miss. [[bitter]] Though the hooligan what came in before was polite enough not to kick me in my guts.

Toby: [[dismissive]] Yeah, yeah. Tell it to a judge, you whiny… [[realization]] Wait, someone else was in here looking for the dwarf?

Quent: [[hurried]] How long ago was this, Roland?

Gwen: [[excited]] And did you get a good look at them?

Roland: [[to self]] Aw bugger, Roland. There you go, spouting off again.

Quent: [[stern]] Start talking. Now.

Roland: [[hurried]] T-tall pale fellow! Baby-faced! Just came in before you! Didn't get a proper look at him on account of his hood, yeah? Sent him off to the Dented Helm, same as you lot. If you hurry and never come back, you might still be able to catch him!

Quent: Oh we'll be back, Roland. Especially if we find out you've been lying.

Toby: [[excited]] Come on! I know a shortcut!

[[SFX: rushed footsteps]]

Gwen: [[calling, cheerful]] Thank you for your help! Have a nice day!

[[door opening/closing, bell tinkling]]

Roland: Sarenrae's tits! This town's getting too rough for me!

[[SFX: OMEN THEME MUSIC]]

Narrator: Can three unlikely heroes keep from arguing long enough to thwart a diabolical conspiracy? From the producers of Girl in Space comes Omen, a fantasy audio drama that explores ancient ruins, sails the high seas, and questions whether friendship truly is magic--all while cracking pirate skulls and dabbling in high explosives! Season one begins June 6th with new episodes every two weeks. Subscribe to Omen wherever you listen so you don't miss the season one premiere! And until then, fair winds and following seas!

Credits: Sam Eisele as Roland, C.W. Brown as Quentin, A.J. Beckles as Tobias, Mamito Kukwikila as Gwen, and Méabh de Brún as the narrator. Original music by Matt Lee. Visit our Cast & Crew Page for more information!