Timestorm Episode 16 Transcript

NARRATION
Previously, on Timestorm:

BENI
It's an honor to be in your class, Maestro Cordero.

RAFAEL
Bueno, Benito. Join any art group you'd like. Try painting with Little Francisco.

ATABEY
Accept the beat of three motherlands. Quest begins now.

ALEXA
That’s the other drumstick you found today.

IDRISSA
I do hope you’ll both accept it as a gift.

BENI
Oh, we accept it.

ATABEY
Quest incomplete.

ALEXA
Incomplete?

HORACIO
It’s a multi-stage quest.

ATABEY
Carve the beat of three motherlands in Guaynia in fourteen eighty-eight.

AGUEY
Here’s Atabey, Yucahu, Guabancex, and Juracán.

BENI
You don’t know how much this carving means to us.

ATABEY
Quest: incomplete.

ALEXA
I had a feeling.

BENI
One more motherland to go.

MUSIC: THEME SONG - "IN THE TIMESTORM"

Witness. Find. Remember.
The hidden past seeks its dawn,
showing us that we all belong.
Horacio, Alexa, and Beni take back time,
find history in the timestorm. Witness. Find. Remember.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

The twins laugh as they land in the timestorm.

ALEXA
Hi, Horacio.

BENI
Hey. Where's Atabey?

HORACIO
On standby, apparently. Comes and goes como quiere.

SFX: ZAP.

ATABEY
Ya.

HORACIO
See?

ATABEY
I said: enough.

BENI
Okay.

ALEXA
Things sure are tense inside this helicopter floating in a timestorm.

HORACIO
At least you two get to leave.

ATABEY
Lieutenant.

HORACIO
Atabey.

ATABEY
Let's get your cousins ready for part three of the quest.

HORACIO
Pues, ándale.

ATABEY
Artifact cloud, emerge.

SFX: ARTIFACT CLOUD RHYTHM.

ATABEY
Artifact, advance.

SFX: ARTIFACT (DRUMSTICK) MATERIALIZES.

ATABEY
Artifact cloud, retreat.

SFX: ARTIFACT CLOUD RETREATS.

HORACIO
Clothing!

SFX: WHIR OF CLOTHING CHANGE.

BENI
Ugh, these pants are uncomfortable.

ALEXA
At least you don't have to walk around with a skirt on top of a petticoat on top of pants. I'm so gonna trip.

BENI
Ooh! You get a pouch.

ALEXA
Should keep the barometer safe.

ALEXA drops the barometer into the bag.

BENI
Nice! A pocket on the inside of my jacket. Perfect for the drumstick.

BENI slides drumstick into a pocket.

HORACIO
Looks like you're ready to go.

SFX: ZAP INTO BAROMETER BUZZ.

ATABEY
Mil ochocientos cincuenta y dos / eighteen fifty-two / Madrid, Spain / Madrid, España / Academy of San Fernando / Academia de San Fernando / Francisco Oller / Federico de Madrazo / first impression / primera impresión / paint / pinta. Your quest: Paint the beat of three motherlands in Madrid in eighteen fifty-two. Quest begins now.

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP INTO PORTAL FX.

ALEXA and BENI yell as they travel through the portal.

1852. ACADEMY OF SAN FERNANDO. MADRID, SPAIN.

ALEXA and BENI laugh as they land in the entrance hall of the academy. DIEGO smacks his cane on the ground.

DIEGO
Silencio!

ALEXA | BENI
Shh. | Sorry!

DIEGO
I let my attention wane for a moment and nearly let common children into the academy.

ALEXA
Common?

BENI
I'm here to study painting.

DIEGO
You're a bit young, no?

BENI
I, uh, got special permission.

DIEGO
Who granted this permission?

BENI
Federico Madrazo.

DIEGO
I see. I’ll check the roster.

DIEGO walks to a podium.

ALEXA
(Whispers) That was impressive.

BENI
(Whispers) His portrait's on the wall.

DIEGO
Your name?

BENI
Benito Ventura.

ALEXA
Aleksandra.

DIEGO
I wasn’t asking for your name.

ALEXA
I'm also a painting student.

DIEGO
We have very few female students. None as young as you. Let me show you the door.

DIEGO walks to the door and opens it.

ALEXA
(Whispers) It’s not worth convincing him to let me stay. I'll distract him. Add your name to the roster, and then I’ll sneak back in.

BENI
(Whispers) Got it.

ALEXA walks to the door.

ALEXA
I'm a better painter than Benito.

DIEGO
If his name is on the roster, he's earned the spot.

ALEXA
You sure about that?

BENI
(Whispering as he writes) Ven-tu-ra.

DIEGO
Buenas.

DIEGO closes the door. He walks to the podium and checks the roster.

DIEGO
Here’s your name. Benito Ventura. You may proceed.

BENI
Do you mind showing me the way?

DIEGO
I can't just leave my post. Unless...

DIEGO walks to the front door and locks it.

BENI
Why do you have to lock the door?

DIEGO
I won't be here to guard it. I'll open it when I return. Ahora, follow me.

1852. OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY ENTRANCE. MADRID, SPAIN.

MUSIC: GUITAR TRANSITION.

ALEXA is outside of the entrance of the academy underneath an awning. It's raining. She tries to re-enter the door.

ALEXA
Locked? Oh no! This is not part of the plan.

SEÑORA
¿Que pasa, niña? ¿Necesitas ayuda?

ALEXA
(to SEÑORA) No, gracias. (To herself) At least not help that you could give me.

ALEXA tries to the door again.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

HORACIO watches DIEGO, BENI, and ALEXA in the windshield.

HORACIO
Que revolú! Atabey, let me contact her using the barometer.

ATABEY
Lieutenant—

HORACIO
My cousin's been kicked out onto the streets of Madrid in eighteen fifty-two.

ATABEY
The feature is for emergencies only.

HORACIO
It is an emergency.

ATABEY
Fine, Lieutenant. Patch into barometer.

SFX: BAROMETER VIBRATION.

1852. OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY ENTRANCE. MADRID, SPAIN.

SFX: BAROMETER VIBRATES.

HORACIO
(Through the barometer) Alexa! Alexa! Hey! Alexa!

ALEXA
(Whispering) Horacio? Are you here in Madrid?

HORACIO
(Through the barometer) I’m contacting you through the barometer.

ALEXA rummages through her bag and finds the barometer.

ALEXA
But how!? Since when? And...never mind.

Footsteps pass ALEXA.

ALEXA
(To a passerby) Hola, señora! (To HORACIO) How am I supposed to get back inside?

HORACIO
Look for another entrance.

ALEXA
Uh oh. There’s a woman talking to an officer and looking over here. And now they're coming this way.

HORACIO
Walk down the street.

ALEXA steps onto the street.

OFFICER
¡Deténgase!

ALEXA
Should I stop?

OFFICER
¡Es una orden!

HORACIO
I've got another idea.

SFX: BAROMETER BUZZ.

ALEXA
Why's the barometer purple? Beni's not here—

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP INTO PORTAL FX.

ALEXA yells as she travels through the portal.

1852. MADRID. ACADEMY OF SAN FERNANDO. MADRID, SPAIN.

MUSIC: GUITAR TRANSITION.

BENI
I need to tell my sister something.

BENI returns to the front door and unlocks the door.

BENI
Aleksandra! Aleksandra!

DIEGO
Se fue.

BENI
Why couldn't you just let her stay inside? She's out there, alone.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

ALEXA laughs as she lands in the timestorm.

ALEXA
Beni's not with me! I have to go back!

HORACIO
It's okay, Alexa. You’re going back.

ALEXA
But why'd I travel without him?

ATABEY
He was too far from the barometer.

ALEXA
So you just left him in Madrid in eighteen fifty-two…alone?!

HORACIO
We're sending you back to the same moment. Add if the timestorm gets it right, you'll land inside the building.

ATABEY
Find your brother. Then find Francisco Oller.

ALEXA
Francisco Oller?

HORACIO
In eighteen fifty-two, he’s a student in the academy. But eventually, he’ll be a famous Boricua painter.

ATABEY
Oller can help you with the quest—

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP INTO PORTAL FX.

ALEXA yells as she travels through the portal.

1852. ENTRANCE & ATRIUM OF THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

MUSIC: GUITAR TRANSITION.

ALEXA's laughter echoes in an atrium of the academy.

ALEXA
I'm back inside the academy. Different room though. Wow.

ALEXA takes a couple of echoing steps. She opens a door to a hallway and spots BENI and DIEGO.

ALEXA | BENI
Benito! | (distant) Alexa!

DIEGO
Ladrona!

ALEXA
(Whispers) Oh. Diego's not happy.

DIEGO
A common burglar.

BENI
Maybe she entered through another door?

DIEGO
¡Imposible! They were all locked. I'll have her arrested!

BENI
Arrested!

POV: ALEXA
SFX: CONNECTIVITY FX.

HORACIO
(Via the barometer) Close the door now! I'm bringing you back.

ALEXA
But I’m not with Beni!

POV: DIEGO
SFX: BAROMETER BUZZ.

DIEGO
¡Qué ruido!

BENI
The barometer!

HORACIO
(Via the barometer) Close the door! Ahora!

ALEXA
I'll be back, Beni!

ALEXA slams the door shut. DIEGO throws the door open.

DIEGO
How dare you slam a door in my—

DIEGO and rushes into the room.

DIEGO
What game are you two playing?

DIEGO looks around, taking several echoing steps.

DIEGO
Benito?

DIEGO turns back to the door, but BENI's gone.

DIEGO
Two children loose in the academy on my watch. This does not please me.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

ALEXA laughs as she lands in the timestorm.

ALEXA
Ugh! Beni was so close.

HORACIO
Not close enough. Diego would have reached you first.

ALEXA
Yeah, well, Diego’s with Beni right now.

ATABEY
Actually, he managed to escape while Diego was in a rage. Take a look...

SFX: CHANNEL CHANGE.

BENI
(Via the windshield) I heard the barometer. She must have gone back to timestorm.

ALEXA
I'm coming back!

BENI
(Via the windshield) Oh no. I'm alone.

ALEXA
Please, send me back to that stairwell.

ATABEY
No guarantees on a precise location. Back you go—

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP.

1852. A CLASSROOM IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

MUSIC: GUITAR TRANSITION.

FRANCISCO OLLER is in a classroom with FEDERICO MADRAZO. OLLER paces.

MADRAZO
¿Y qué? Are you saying you want to forget about your portraiture lessons?

OLLER
Claro que no. Pero, lately, I want to paint life on the island. Mi gente. Mi cultura. Mi patria.

MADRAZO
Ah, sí. To be homesick while abroad. Every canvas seems to beg you to paint your motherland.

OLLER
There's so much I want to capture on the canvas, Profesor Madrazo.

MADRAZO
Just as I wanted to when I was your age.

OLLER
Really?

MADRAZO
It wasn't so long ago that I've forgotten.

OLLER
Oh, I didn't mean—

MADRAZO
I'll tell you what my father told me: You have talent, you have time, you are committed. But it is discipline that will make the difference. Discipline.

OLLER
As in discipline to paint your portrait?

MADRAZO
Sí, Francisco.

SFX: THUNDERCLAP INTO ALEXA’S LAUGHTER FILLING THE ROOM.

OLLER
Laughter?

SFX: THUNDERCLAP.

1852. A HALLWAY IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

SFX: SWOOSH.

BENI
Where are you, Alexa?

SFX: THUNDERCLAP INTO ALEXA’S LAUGHTER IN THE DISTANCE.

BENI
Alexa!

BENI starts to run up the stairs.

SFX: THUNDERCLAP.

BENI
No, no, no, no! Why'd you stop laughing!

DIEGO reaches the landing at the bottom of the steps.

DIEGO
Aha! There you are, Benito!

BENI runs down the hallway. DIEGO chases him.

BENI
Oh, man. So many doors. Uh, um. How about this one?

BENI rushes inside one of the other classrooms. DIEGO runs past the door.

1852. A CLASSROOM IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

SFX: TRANSITION FX INDICATING A SHIFT TO ANOTHER ROOM.

OLLER
It was laughter, wasn't it?

MADRAZO
A girl.

OLLER
Gone as quickly as she came.

MADRAZO
A little haunting never hurt anyone.

OLLER
Perhaps it's a sign from beyond that I should painting a scene with children—

MADRAZO
Another time, Francisco. Today you will—

SFX: A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

MADRAZO sighs. He walks over to the door and opens it.

MADRAZO
Diego.

DIEGO
Is he in here?

OLLER
Are you looking for me?

DIEGO
I’m looking for the young boy you granted permission to study, Profesor Madrazo.

MADRAZO
I've done no such thing.

DIEGO
I should have known. Mentiroso.

OLLER
Are you sure it wasn't a girl?

DIEGO
You saw the girl?

MADRAZO
The girl?

OLLER
We heard one. Delightful laughter.

DIEGO
That laugh.

OLLER
I think it was a sign.

DIEGO
How did she get up here? Esa niña.

MADRAZO
Are you talking about a real girl, Diego?

DIEGO
¡Claro! What are you talking about?

1852. ANOTHER CLASSROOM IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAI.

SFX: TRANSITION FX INDICATING A SHIFT TO ANOTHER ROOM.

BENI’s in the next room; he can hear them speaking.

BENI
(Whispering) Wow. This Diego dude has no clue.

MADRAZO
(Through the wall) What I'd like to talk about is my portrait, which Francisco is about to paint.

SFX: SWOOSH.

DIEGO
Si, bueno...if you see the children, any children, please let me know. Sorry for the disruption.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

ALEXA
Okay. I asked to go where Beni is and the timestorm drops me into some room with a couple of random artist dudes?

HORACIO
The younger one was Francisco Oller.

ALEXA
Oh. The famous Puerto Rican painter we’re supposed to find.

ATABEY
The other was his teacher Federico Madrazo.

HORACIO
The renowned Spanish portraitist.

ALEXA
You think the famous painter guys saw me?

ATABEY
They only heard you.

HORACIO
Let's send you back.

ALEXA
How about to Beni this time—

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP INTO PORTAL FX.

1852. ANOTHER CLASSROOM IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

MUSIC: GUITAR TRANSITION.

BENI hears ALEXA laugh in the classroom on the opposite side.

BENI
(Whispers, excited) Alexa?

BENI knocks the rhythm from the baby-naming ceremony on the wall.

ALEXA
(Through the wall) I know that rhythm! Beni! Thank goodness!

BENI
Be right there.

BENI opens the door.

DIEGO
¿Qué es eso?

BENI
(Gasps, whispers) Oh no.

BENI closes the door and rushes to hide underneath a desk as the classroom door opens.

DIEGO
Ha! I know you’re in one of these rooms.

ALEXA
(Whispers) Diego’s in there with Beni!

SFX: BAROMETER VIBRATION.

HORACIO
(Through the barometer) Leave your brother this message: Find Oller. He paints.

DIEGO
¿Qué cosa?

DIEGO walks out of the room. ALEXA rummages though items on a shelf.

ALEXA
Quick. Something to write with...uh... Charcoal! That'll work!

ALEXA writes on the door with charcoal.

ALEXA
Find...Oller...he...paints...

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP.

DIEGO throws open the door to the room ALEXA has just left.

DIEGO
Aha! ¡Nadie! Another empty room!

The DIEGO slams the door.

SFX: SWOOSH.

BENI quietly enters the room and closes the door behind him.

BENI
(Whispers) Okay. Diego went into another classroom and...you’re not here anymore. Ugh.

BENI turns and sees the charcoal message on the door.

BENI
(Gasps) But that's your handwriting. Oh, man. I smudged some of the letters. Um. Find...Ol... Oliver? He paints.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

ALEXA
(To BENI in the windshield) Oller, Beni! Oller! (To HORACIO) Your great secret-message-on-the-back-of-the-door idea didn’t work, Horacio.

HORACIO
Don’t give up on Beni yet.

1852. CLASSROOM IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

BENI knocks on the door. MADRAZO opens it.

MADRAZO
Diego, we have not seen—

BENI
¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?

MADRAZO
Hola.

BENI
Sorry to interrupt, but are either of you Oliver?

MADRAZO
You're the boy.

BENI
I don't know about the boy. But I'm a boy.

MADRAZO
You're the boy who told Diego that I gave you permission to enter.

BENI
Oh. Then you're...Federico Madrazo. I'll show myself out— Ooh!. Who painted that over in the corner?

OLLER
It’s for my course with Profesor Villaamil. A street scene.

BENI
That building looks familiar.

OLLER
It’s my childhood school in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

BENI
On Luna Street.

OLLER
(Pleasantly surprised) Have you studied with maestro Cordero?

BENI
Yes. Very briefly.

OLLER
Ah—puertorriqueño. ¿Y tu nombre?

BENI
Benito.

OLLER
Francisco.

BENI
Do you have any other paintings of Rafael Cordero’s school?

OLLER
Not yet. But maybe someday I’ll paint el maestro surrounded by his students.

MADRAZO
Francisco.

OLLER
Someday. When I don’t have a full course load between my studies with Madrazo and Villaamil.

MADRAZO
What brings you to Madrid, Benito?

BENI
A cousin recommended the trip.

MADRAZO
And did your cousin tell you to come to the academy and say you are my student?

BENI
Uh...

OLLER
Diego probably misunderstood. You said you were looking for...Oliver?

MADRAZO
Oller?

OLLER
Sí, Señor Madrazo?

BENI
Wait a minute. Your last name is Oller? And you're from Puerto Rico?

OLLER
It is. And I am.

BENI
It’s Oller, not Oliver!

BENI grabs the drumstick from his coat.

BENI
I have this drumstick.

OLLER
Un palillo bellísimo. These carvings, they're Taíno?

BENI
Uh-huh.

OLLER
Who carved them?

BENI
Aguey— A friend. The drumstick belongs to my cousin. He’d love it if you signed it.

OLLER
I'd love to! Let’s see. I'll put my first initial here next to Atabey and—

MADRAZO
(Clears his throat) Francisco.

OLLER
Con permiso, Señor. And with all due respect—

MADRAZO
I only want to say that...I recommend you use red paint. It will look nice on that wood.

OLLER
Gracias, Señor.

OLLER
Let's see. This small brush here will do.

OLLER paints his signature on the drumstick. ALEXA's laughter echoes in the hallway.

MADRAZO
There's the laughter again!

BENI
Thank goodness!

OLLER
A real girl?

MADRAZO
You know her?

BENI
(Relieved, proud) That's my sister, Aleksandra.

ALEXA
Beni!

ALEXA rushes into the room.

BENI
This is Señor Federico Madrazo.

ALEXA
Mucho gusto.

MADRAZO
Mucho gusto.

BENI
And this is Francisco Oller.

ALEXA
Francisco Oller? Wow! ¡Hola!

OLLER
Un placer, Aleksandra. Do you wish to be an artist like your brother?

ALEXA
Does knitting count?

OLLER
Girls can do more than knit.

ALEXA
Oh, yeah. I know. But I like knitting.

BENI
Francisco just signed the drumstick.

SFX: BAROMETER BUZZ.

BENI
Permiso. We gotta go!

ALEXA/BENI
¡Gracias!

OLLER
De nada.

ALEXA and BENI run into the hallway.

SFX: DRAMATIC THUNDERCLAP INTO PORTAL FX.

1852. A CLASSROOM IN THE ACADEMY. MADRID, SPAIN.

DIEGO runs through the hallway.

DIEGO
(Approaching) I hear you! I hear you!

DIEGO’s footsteps approach. He enters the room abruptly.

DIEGO
Aha!

MADRAZO
Hola, Diego.

DIEGO
(Catching his breath) Los...niños. ¿Adónde...fueron?

OLLER
Such nice children.

MADRAZO
You must have just missed them. Maybe you can still catch them.

DIEGO rushes down the hall. OLLER and MADRAZO laugh.

DIEGO
(Off-mic) I swear by the stars...

OLLER
I doubt he’ll catch up to them.

MADRAZO
Did you hear a noise when they rushed out?

OLLER
Like a strange animal?

MADRAZO
Exacto.

OLLER
Perhaps it is a sign to paint—

MADRAZO
Francisco.

OLLER
Your portrait, of course.

MADRAZO
Discipline, focus, technique. These I can teach you. But your skill and passion are what you'll be remembered for, Francisco.

OLLER
You really think I'll be remembered, Profesor?

MADRAZO
You make quite an impression.

THE TIMESTORM. ANOTHER DIMENSION.

MUSIC: "TIMESTORM" TRANSITION.

The twins laugh as they land in the timestorm.

HORACIO
You're back! Both of you!

BENI
Why’d you leave me there alone?

HORACIO
We had no choice. Alexa was being chased.

BENI
So was I.

ALEXA
Yeah, but I had the barometer. Oh, tell him about how it’s a walkie talkie.

BENI
Huh?

HORACIO
When you’re in the past, I can use the barometer to communicate.

BENI
And we're just finding out about it now?

ATABEY
It’s only for emergencies. Artifact cloud, emerge.

BENI
I thought this multi-stage quest would never end.

SFX: ARTIFACT CLOUD RHYTHM.

ATABEY
Artifact attained.

SFX: ARTIFACT FLOATS INTO CLOUD.

ALEXA
Yeah, I thought we'd be carrying that drumstick around forever.

HORACIO
Here's the thing—

ATABEY
Quest: incomplete.

ALEXA / BENI
What?!

CREDITS

MUSIC: "IN THE TIMESTORM" (INSTRUMENTAL).

NARRATION
This episode of Timestorm was written by Dania Ramos with audio engineering, sound design, and music by Michael Aquino. 

The role of Alexa Ventura was played by Leilany Figueroa. Beni Ventura was played by Claudio Venancio. Horacio Méndez was played by Orlando Segarra. Atabey was played by Alicia Rivas. Diego was played by Louis J. Vetter. Francisco Oller was played by Andrew Siañez-De La O. Federico Madrazo was played by Mark Pagán. Additional roles were played by Deivis Garcia and Brissae Valdes. The guest musician was Deivis Garcia. 

Special thanks to history and language consultant Elsaris Nuñez Méndez.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media and is a proud member of TRAX from PRX. If you enjoy the show, ask your parents to subscribe to Timestorm on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or the Kids Listen App. 

Timestorm is produced in Essex County, New Jersey, which is situated on the traditional territory of the Leni Lenape people.

As always, thanks for listening.

ATABEY
Witness. Find. Remember.

END OF TIMESTORM - EPISODE 16: FIRST IMPRESSION