Speaker 1: Welcome to Excuse Us. The podcast appeals back the layers
of a small town life, uncovering the hidden horrors lurking
just beneath the surface of Joyspell, North Carolina, from the
tale of a quaint little diner to the chilling corporate
secrets of Blind Corp. This is in your ordinary postpacolleptive
survival story. No, this is something much darker, much weirder,
much funnier, perhaps th all from the perspective of the
only survivor. You'll dive into a quirky, fragmented recollection of
chaos and growing dread that led to joy Spell's downfall.
Oh and a little bit of warning before we get started.
Excuse Us contains mature content intended for a mature audience,
a strong language, and, lets you say, a rather twisted
sense of humor is intended. Little indiscretion is definitely advised.
Speaker 2: There's whole things are damn puzzle Doris miss d spin stories,
but half of it doesn't add up. It feels every
time we ask for the truth, she hands us another
Saracanic style serial episode with just more riddles and bullshit.
Speaker 3: It's like she wants to tell us everything that she's
holding back just enough to keep us on a leash.
The way she talks about the diner staff is almost
too perfect to a picturesque, like she's building characters for
some twisted play or drama. The waitress, the cook, the busboy.
I don't know, Thomas something.
Speaker 2: Let's start with Jimmy sizzling. Jim Cook's the guy's a
legend right fard of zombies with a cast iron skelet
in the Marines, survived chemical warfare, and out's flipping burgers
and making omelets at a small town diner that does
not scream red flag to you.
Speaker 3: Doris, Oh, absolutely. She talks about him like you some
war hero, and sure, maybe he is, But how does
a guy with his history end up in a place
like the super awesome diner? They'd fall off that far?
Or is there something deeper that she's not telling us
about his connection to Blind Court exactly?
Speaker 2: And Dan Sanby Thompson waitress number one she's farely mentioned,
talks about some flipping boyfriend, and when Dee does talk
about her, she makes sound Samby like with this quiet,
diligent style worker that was just too focused on that breakup.
But something doesn't sit right Samby's records are squeaky clean,
almost too clean. She just fades into obscurity, just another
background character and there it's got to be more to her.
Everyone else in the diner has this quirk, but Samby,
it's all about the breakup. Doesn't quite add up, Dora
see Thomas.
Speaker 3: That's what bothers me the most. Miss d makes everyone
sound larger than life, except for Sanby. Maybe because she
knew too much. Maybe she was keeping her head down
for a reason, and now she's convenient Lee Dad along
with the rest of them. And what about Luna mcflutternutter,
the cat laid cap doog lady turned the investigator. She
was always a little eccentric and kookie doe from what
Miss these told us, But suddenly becomes this kind of
amateur sleuth or detective. And she found her neighbor dead,
connected to blink or bought a coincidence, and now she's
wrapped up in this hallmess. Why would a diner waitress
get involved in something like that out of the kindness
of her own heart? It makes no sense.
Speaker 2: Not just that, but Miss D makes Luna sound like
a savant, someone who could put together pieces like Sherlock Holmes,
no one else could. Here's what's strange, Luna's death. D
hasn't said a word about it. It's like she's tiptoeing
around Luna's death, even though she's made it clear the
whole staff is dead.
Speaker 3: We don't even know how she died. She's just gone.
Every time we asked it dodges a question.
Speaker 1: Eh.
Speaker 3: Either Missy too traumatized to face it, or she's covering
something up. We still have no fucking clue why someone
like Luna, a woman with a knack solving apostles, was
working out a diner of all places.
Speaker 2: That's the thing, Taurus.
Speaker 3: And that brings us to the nephew Dylan, the bus
boy girl, barely all enough to drink. And what if
we gather so far they as a quiet one, the
kid who kept to their cells. But miss d she
talks about them like they were the heart of the place,
endearing everyone, always cleaning up, keeping up, having this trouble
some past at home.
Speaker 2: Sister.
Speaker 3: Yeah, there's there's almost no mention of her sister. We
got to dig into that also, the patrons that were there,
and we got to look at those blind corp records.
I want to know everything regarding to Dylan, they are
a ghost.
Speaker 2: Every single one of them is either larger than life
or a shadow. Cistling, Jim the war hero, chef, Luna
the detective with a nose for conspiracies, samb the invisible
waitress with a broken heart, and Dylan the ghost kit
and none of them fit in a normal story. None
of them seem like they end up at a greasy
diner off the side of the road sliding hash Browns,
unless unless something bigger was pulling the strings blind Corp.
Speaker 3: We know the gather hands and all over joyce, but
that's that's clear to me and you, Thomas. We are
very well aware of the dossier, but they weren't just
experimenting on the town. What if the diner staff mss
D included was part of it, whether they knew it
or not. What if they are all ponds and some
larger out of sight experiment the h SHOC initiative, whatever
that is. We need to figure out what that.
Speaker 2: Is, right, and that could explain why Miss d is
so dimn evasive. She's covering something bigger, something tied to
Blind Corp, for sure. But what here's the question, is
she protecting herself or is she just scared? And why
would she still be alive if everyone else is dead? Doris,
I think we're missing a piece. There's a connection between
these people we haven't found yet, in the staff, Blind
Corp and this h Och initiative. It's all tied together.
Until we know what the connection isn't trust a word
of what Nu Steve might say.
Speaker 3: So what do we do? We keep pressing her. She's slippery,
but we've got to her. We've got to get her
to slip up. We've gotta get enough pieces to rattle
her to get a full story. We're close, Thomas, We're
so goddamn fucking clothes. But something tells me when we
finally get the truth, he's not gonna be pretty.
Speaker 2: No, it's gonna be ugly as hell. But we'll get there.
And when we do, Miss Steve won't be able to
hide behind her stories anymore. She's gonna be able to
tell us exactly how she disabled this thermonuclear weapon established
by his former staff of the Elite Forces drawn exclusively
for this task from Blind Core. We know there were
officers there. We know there was a whole squad which
we haven't even touched yet, and she is clearly omitting
to focus on her taid life with her.
Speaker 4: Staff, introducing Dylan a remarkable and resilient individual in their
formative years, standing at the intersection of self discovery, family turmoil,
and personal passions. At the age of seventeen, Dylan's journey
has been a whirlwind of emotions, shaped by their struggle
with gender dysphoria and the tumultuous divorce of their parents.
Amidst these challenges, Dylan finds solace and a sense of
purpose as a busboy at the Super Awesome Diner, a
place where their aunt, Miss d warmly well comes them
per her request. Dylan's story is one of inner strength
and a quest for identity. Gender dysphoria has played a
significant role in their life as they navigate the complexities
of understanding and accepting their true self. It is a
journey marked by self reflection, personal growth, and a tenacious
spirit that refuses to be confined by societal norms. Dylan
finds solace in the acceptance and support they receive from
their aunt and the diverse community that surrounds the Super
Awesome Diner. Working at the Diner not only provides Dylan
with a sense of stability and financial independence, but it
also allows them to be a part of a community
that embraces individuality and celebrates diversity. As a busboy, they
diligently carry out their responsibilities, ensuring the tables are clean,
the glasses are sparkling, and the ambiance is inviting. Through
their work, they contribute to the vibrant atmosphere that welcomes
patrons and makes them feel at home. Today, we're diving
into a different kind of story, one that's been simmering
beneath the surface for a while, one that speaks to identity, rebellion,
and what it means to find a place for yourself
in a world that keeps trying to put you into
neat little boxes. Dylan's always been different. Not in a
bad way, no, but just their person. You know, even
when they were little, they didn't take to labels, never
liked being called one thing or another. I remember Dylan
coming up to me once. They must have been I
don't know, I don't know eight. Maybe they looked me
dead in the eye and said, I'm not like the others,
Aunt Dee, and I don't want to be. I didn't
know what that meant back then, but now it makes sense.
Dylan's journey is a complicated one. They're seventeen, right on
the edge of adulthood, but already their path has been
a rocky one. It's a story marked by family turmoil,
with the added weight of gender dysphoria, the feeling that
the body they were born into just doesn't fit. And
if that wasn't enough, their parents divorce. Well, it wasn't
just a clean break. It was ugly, messy, the kind
of split that leaves scars, emotional wounds that fester. I
took a deep breath, my tone thick with the weight
of it all. It was hard on Dylan, real hard.
Their mom and dad. They were always yelling, always fighting,
and it wasn't about Dylan. But it's never really not
about the kids, is it. Kids take that stuff in.
Dylan did for sure. That's when I saw it, the change.
They stopped talking as much, started spending more time in
their room watching that what's it called that anime stuff?
At first I didn't get it, all the bright colors,
the big eyes, but for Dylan, it was like a lifeline.
Dylan found comfort in worlds that weren't this one. Anime
became their escape. The colorful, complex characters offered a solace
they couldn't find in real life, where things were too gray,
too messy. In the animated world, things made sense.
Speaker 5: When you're watching Neon Genesis Evangelian for the fifth time,
it's like you're not here, all the stuff in your head,
all the noise, It just goes quiet. The world's falling
apart in the show, but you're in control just by
getting it.
Speaker 4: But it wasn't just anime. Dylan had other escapes, too,
old records. There was something about the crackle of a
vinyl spinning under the needle, something comforting in its imperfection.
It was like listening to the past, like there were
people out there long before them who understood what it
felt like to just exist and try to get through
the day. Dylan's voice, usually calm, cracks a little on
that last part, like the weight of just making it
through is heavier than they let on.
Speaker 5: You understand something, and that means something. It's not even
about the lyrics. Sometimes it's the crackle. You know that
sound before the music even starts. It's like being in
a different time with people who who know what it's
like to just keep going, just making it through. That's
that's what I need.
Speaker 4: Dylan's voice usually calm, cracks a little on that last part,
like the weight of just making it through is heavier
than they let on. But even with these outlets, these
ways to escape, there was a fire inside Dylan, a
restless energy that wouldn't settle no matter how many anime
episodes or Vinyl records they consumed. That energy needed to
go somewhere, and it did. I found out later, But Dylan,
they started acting out. You wouldn't know it to look
at them, But Dylan had this be this streak, a
wild side, if you will. They called it civil vandalism,
not like regular tagging. You know, Dylan had a purpose,
said it was a way to speak to the world,
to make them listen. Dylan's acts weren't random. Every spray
of paint had a message, a meaning. Their targets were specific.
An old crumbling factory covered in corporate slogans became a canvas.
Their art wasn't about destruction, it was rebellion. It was
a statement.
Speaker 5: It's not just about breaking, it's about making people look.
They don't want to see what's wrong with the world.
But when you tag something, they can't ignore it. They
have to face it.
Speaker 4: But behind the rebellion, behind the bold defiance, there was
something more. Dylan was still figuring themselves out, still navigating
their gender identity in a world that seemed to have
a label for everything. But Dylan didn't want to be labeled.
They didn't fit into those boxes.
Speaker 5: People want to put you in these categories, boy, girl, normal,
not normal, But I don't fit in any of them?
Why should I? Why should any of us?
Speaker 4: And then there was the divorce. Watching their parents, two
people who were supposed to love each other, tear themselves apart,
left a mark on Dylan. It made them question everything.
Speaker 5: If they couldn't make it work, why should anyone? Why
should I even try? I chium.
Speaker 4: But even as the world around them fell apart, Dylan
wasn't about to break. They were too stubborn, too alive
for that. Their acts of defiance, their art, their existence
was all part of a larger story, one of survival,
of creating a place for themselves in a world that
didn't always seem to have room for people like Dylan.
Dylan's not done yet, I know that much. They're going
to make sure people remember them one way or another,
and maybe, just maybe they will create that world, a
world where others don't have to fight so hard just
to be seen, because that's Dylan's story. It's about survival, yes,
but more than that, it's about being visible. This episode
is made possible by listeners like you. Visit our website
at lifedesign dot net. Forward slash is ques us.
Speaker 6: For support or additional information, please visit our website or
Patreon page at Patreon dot com. Forward Slash rod pull.
Speaker 4: Art Tonight's production of Excuse Us, a mystery drama with
delightful undertones of humor and Eldridge horror.
Speaker 6: What's produced by Rebecca Lakepool and Rodrigo Pool, Written and
directed and performed by Rodrigo Pool in association with R
and R Side Audio Theater.
Speaker 4: Music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound. Some other sound
effects who are recorded live on set.
Speaker 6: Voice modulation by eleven Maps.
Speaker 4: If you're enjoying this production, please make sure to review
or subscribe to our show. Wherever you listen to your podcast.
Speaker 6: Check out our Patreon page for bonus content.
Speaker 4: Until next time, this is.
Speaker 6: Rodrigo Pool saying thank you very much for listening.
Speaker 3: Well that concludes another exhauserating fucking afternoon of Jewish rambling.
Just curious, mister, Do you know what the HAWK initiative
was about? How the fucking blue?
Speaker 4: Of course I do. HAWK stands for Human augmentation and
orgonization kinetics. It is a secret project under blind core
focus and experimenting human genetics, enhancing them to create the
ultimate soldier. The initiative aims to push the boundaries of
human capabilities, strength, speed, intelligence, manipulating their DMA that when
a ponization kinetics portion involves turning these augmented individuals into
living weapons, capables of inhumane feats. However, the side effects
were really fucking awful. These experiments were dangerous, uncontrollable mutations,
leading to the ultimate death and disappearance of several test subjects,
including scientists like Adal Front Russets who try to expose
the truth behind initiative. I fucking know all about HAWK Jews?
Speaker 3: Are you blind?
Speaker 4: Jesus Christ?
Speaker 3: Are you fucking kidding me? Are you did you? Are
you looking hitting me to.
Speaker 2: Get any of that? Holy fuck? How the fuck do
you know all this?
Speaker 6: What the fuck?
Speaker 2: What the fuck is happening? What the fuck is happening.
Speaker 4: How do I fucking know this? How do you think
I fucking know this? You got you have the fucking
right questions, you dumb fucking shit. My sister, she has
the exact same name, so sometimes Shed would get forward
to me and I would fucking read it, and she
also discussed all the inner workings of it. I fucking
knew about the operators coming in. I knew what was
in Hawk Jews. I fucking you everything, you dumb piece
of fucking shit. Now can I get a proper hopped shower?
Have you figured that shit out yet, you dumb thought
of a fucking bitch.