DAY ONE: Field Mice & Jumping Spiders

Shoestring TV presents MAGNETAR – Day One: "Field Mice & Jumping Spiders"

High above the clouds, where sunlight dares not reach, two men are stationed at isolated observation posts—tasked with a mission they don’t understand, for a duration no one will define. Their only directive: observe and report on a seemingly abandoned cabin perched atop a remote mountain peak.

As the days blur into weeks, paranoia sets in, and the question grows louder: Why are they watching... and who is watching them?

A suspenseful blend of psychological mystery, atmospheric sci-fi, and slow-burn tension, this episode dives into the eerie unknown, where the line between duty and delusion begins to crack.

Keywords: sci-fi podcast, mystery thriller, psychological suspense, isolated surveillance, abandoned cabin, mountain observation, secret mission, high-altitude mystery

The Mission is the Mystery.

CAST:

Eric Carlino as Agent Pot Roast

Michael Cunningham as Agent Beef Stew

Brian Dahms as Tobey

Leslie Grant as Clementine

Original score:

Composed and performed by Logan Beard.

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Transcript

UNKNOWN 0:01

Huh! Huh!

SPEAKER_03 0:32

Who?

SPEAKER_02 0:33

Who are you? Where am I? I can't breathe. I

SPEAKER_03 0:44

can't breathe. I

SPEAKER_02 0:54

said... Altitudes? What are you talking about? Where's Debra?

SPEAKER_03 1:04

Okay, let's put him back under for the turn. Relax, Agent. You'll be in a more comfy setting soon.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

Soon? How soon?

SPEAKER_03 1:13

Before you can say Jack Robinson.

SPEAKER_02 1:17

Jack Robinson.

SPEAKER_03 1:20

Nicely done, Agent. Sweet dreams. Wow.

SPEAKER_02 2:10

Hello? Where am I? Is anyone here? Press the blinking red button. Press the blinking red button. Hello? Press the blinking red button. Blinking red button? Press the blinking red button. Okay. Press the blink. Uhh... Okay? Pressing the male preview. Hey, buddy. I, too, am a big fan of Parcheesi. Could I offer you fresh toast? Parcheesi and... toast? Okay, let's hear from you, m'lady.

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Those stocks and bonds yesterday were really something. Would you care for some mayonnaise?

SPEAKER_02 3:35

What? Mayonnaise? Who programmed this stuff? Sorry, madam, I think I'll go with the... toast? Awesome, my guy. My name is Toby, Broheim. Based on your personality type statistics, I've defaulted to Turbular Surfer, number two. But this can be changed by pressing... Sorry, Broheim. You've selected the default setting of Toby. Press next to continue. Great job! Welcome to the Owl Station. This observation post currently rests at an altitude of 17,225 feet. The highest permanent known settlement is in La Rinconada, Peru, which is at an altitude of 16,700 feet, or 5,100 millibars. Field mice and jumping spiders can live at altitudes of about 6,700 millibars, by comparison. The Owl Station is a state-of-the-art observed observation post which has been constructed to sustain survivability at an altitude of 20,000 feet for up to two years. Nonetheless, in whatever way, should you experience any discomfort or experience high-altitude cerebral edema, also known as hypoxia, which can cause swelling of the brain and even death. In the event of sudden brain swelling or death, please refer to your manual and log the concern. Tardigrades also known as water bears or moss piglets, a primitive invertebrate, can survive in extreme hypoxia by comparison. Press next to continue. Log the concern? Before or after my death? You are referred to as asset number 10987465. Codename, Pot Roast. Pot Roast? Pot Roast. Please familiarize yourself with the industrial-grade cabin. How do I pause? It is 700 square feet, including sleeping quarters, a bathroom and shower combination, a kitchenette, and full-size refrigerator. The kitchenette is supplied with rations and ingredients to last up to three years. Due to the nature of your assignment, there is no external communication provided My... mirror? What is that? Your mirror is your counterpart on this assignment. A mirror is often chosen due to their success on a previous assignment. In other words, you can rely on them for their mentorship and treat them as a confidant for the many months you'll be here. Many months? I don't remember that. Did I agree to that? Please note, temporary memory loss is expected. You should regain full memory access and recall within a few hours. Oh, okay. I guess I did agree to that. Thanks, Toby. The sound you just heard is your personal locker unlocking. There, you will find the uniform you'll wear for the remainder of your stay. It has reinforced seams, double stitching, and sturdy zippers. The durability is only matched by its comfortability, allowing for breathing and freedom of movement. Please retrieve your uniform, get dressed, and then press next to continue. Please note that the internal cameras will temporarily disable to allow for maximum privacy. This is a one-time courtesy. Thanks, I think? No judgment, Toby. It's a little cold in here. Don't you look handsome. Your style is on point. Press next to continue. Thanks, Toby. I appreciate the boost of confidence. Now, let's put you in touch with your mirror. They are located in the Mantis Station. The Mantis is approximately 500 feet west-northwest from your observation post location. It is roughly situated at the same altitude as the Owl Station. The Mantis is moderately larger than the Owl Station, a sprawling 1,100 square feet, a benefit afforded to a more seasoned and experienced agent, an incentive to be sure. At the moment you make contact with your mirror, this presentation will conclude. Any information you require forthward can either be provided by your mirror or your manual. I don't think forthward is a real word. In the event you have an urgent need, you can gain my attention by verbal command. Say, Toby, where art thou? A fan of Shakespeare, I guess. Toby, where art thou? I am here, Pot Roast. How may I help you? Well done, Pot Roast. Voice activation has been enabled. Would you like to connect with your mirror now? If so, use the voice activated command, Mirror Mirror on the Wall, and the captive network will connect you. Shall we proceed? Yes, let's proceed. Mirror Mirror on the Wall. Please stand by. Okay, Toby. Standing by. Connected. Uh, hello? Hey, Toby? I'm not seeing or hearing anything. Oh, uh, wait. Now I can see something. Uh, hey there. Hello?

SPEAKER_01 9:44

Hey, so, uh, you're the new guy. Welcome. So, first things first. Did you choose the male or female Toby?

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Oh, I went with the male.

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Not the surfer dude.

SPEAKER_02 10:03

No, no. Just the standard Toby. You chose a female version of Toby, I take it?

SPEAKER_01 10:12

Yeah, uh... Elated travel agent number two.

SPEAKER_02 10:18

Oh, why that one?

SPEAKER_01 10:20

I don't know. She's, uh... Peppy? Positive? Besides, I knew I was going to be here a long time, so I wanted a woman's attention.

SPEAKER_02 10:31

Hmm. That's a good point. I just wasn't in the mood for mayonnaise, so I chose toast. What? Never mind. Never mind. So, how long have you been on assignment?

SPEAKER_01 10:50

Nuh-uh. We're not supposed to talk specific durations. Did you forget?

SPEAKER_02 10:54

I actually didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 10:56

all in the manual you haven't read the manual

SPEAKER_02 11:00

if i did i don't remember toby said after regaining consciousness temporary memory loss is expected

SPEAKER_01 11:08

oh right memory loss i forgot about that look i was just pulling your leg about not sharing the time we've been on assignment the manual does stay Don't share personal information, but you'll come to find I don't mind bending the rules a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 11:27

Ah, okay. Good to know. So, how long?

SPEAKER_01 11:33

Thirteen months, give or take.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

Over a year? Holy shit! Please, attempt to refrain from profanity. This is a professional environment. This is just a warning. Any repeated attempts at obscenity will result in a registered infraction. This is a one-time courtesy. Uh, did that really just happen?

SPEAKER_01 11:57

It did. Toby's mostly harmless when he's not acting like the company's own version of the vulgarity police.

SPEAKER_02 12:07

Big Brother is listening, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 12:10

And watching. There are cameras all over the cabin. Except for the shitter.

SPEAKER_02 12:19

Oh yes, Toby mentioned a one-time disabling of cameras out of privacy.

SPEAKER_01 12:25

Right, so you'll be giving them a nice peep show for the rest of your stay. So we're not supposed to share our actual names. So when do you impress me with the wonderful code name you were given?

SPEAKER_02 12:43

I'm ready, but you should be sitting down.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

Okay. Sitting. Far away.

SPEAKER_02 12:52

Drumroll, please. I am codename Pot Roast.

SPEAKER_01 13:03

Oh, no. They did not. Well, at least they're staying consistent.

SPEAKER_02 13:10

And what is yours? Please don't tell me it's codename Night Snake or something.

SPEAKER_01 13:19

Far more badass. Codename, Beef Stew.

SPEAKER_02 13:25

Why? That's all I can say, why? The

SPEAKER_01 13:32

company must really like rustic comfort food. Speaking of, have you checked out your new digs? It can seem a little cramped, but it's fully stocked. That is, if you don't mind cooking. A few meals are microwavable, but they taste awful. Unfortunately, there is no delivery service here.

SPEAKER_02 13:53

Wherever here is.

SPEAKER_01 13:55

They do occasionally make special food drops, if we've reached a milestone in your assignment.

SPEAKER_02 14:02

Food drop? How does that work exactly?

SPEAKER_01 14:05

Next to your locker. See that tube there? Sort of like a tube you'd see at a bank drive-thru.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

The pneumatic tube transport, or PTT, is designed to allow for the easy sending and receiving of specific requests, which can include food, items, including non-telecommunication personal effects, or knickknacks. Thank you, Toby.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Toby does that from time to time. He interjects without a verbal command.

SPEAKER_02 14:34

Have you received anything through the tube?

SPEAKER_01 14:37

Oh, sure. 600-count silk sheets has been the biggest perk.

SPEAKER_02 14:42

I think I'd ask for an iron. There's a crease in my sleeve here that is driving me bonkers.

SPEAKER_01 14:49

Wow. Dreaming big, I see.

SPEAKER_02 14:54

I have a little OCD.

SPEAKER_01 14:59

I don't think we were hired because of our charming personalities. Hey, can I ask you a question?

SPEAKER_02 15:06

Sure, go for it.

SPEAKER_01 15:08

Who's Debra? Sorry, you just shouted her name when you woke up.

SPEAKER_02 15:19

Oh, I did? I'm not offended or anything that you asked. I just wasn't sure how you... I wasn't expecting to hear her name. She... Debra is my wife. Ex-wife. Wife, actually.

SPEAKER_01 15:39

Oh, okay. That explains it. They almost never hire family men.

SPEAKER_02 15:47

Nope, not a family man. My ex and I tried, but it didn't take. I wanted to be a dad, but I always felt like I was trying to convince her. Then the doctors settled the score, and we found out we couldn't.

SPEAKER_01 16:07

Is that why you divorced?

SPEAKER_02 16:10

No, no. There were other reasons.

SPEAKER_01 16:16

You made it further than I did. There's only one thing I've been committed to more than this job, and that is being entirely uncommitted in personal relationships. A shrink once told me I have ASPD, but I think I just don't do well with people. In life, that is. Guess that is why I... seem to excel at these assignments. I'm very personable and relatable from high altitudes and at great distances.

SPEAKER_02 16:48

Well, for the record, whoever is watching and listening, Agent Beef Stew has been extremely helpful and made me feel welcome.

SPEAKER_01 16:59

What is it? You began to cringe.

SPEAKER_02 17:02

It was more of a grimace than a cringe. It's just hard to take our codenames seriously. Just saying them out loud, maybe we could shorten them? I'm PR and you are... DS?

SPEAKER_01 17:17

Yeah, that's not going to fly. I

SPEAKER_02 17:22

see your point. I'll just have to get over it.

SPEAKER_01 17:26

Trust me, compared to your predecessor, your codename might as well be Maverick or Snake Eyes.

SPEAKER_02 17:33

Predecessor?

SPEAKER_01 17:34

The agent before you. Oh, right. You won't remember that, but it was explained in your manual. You're replacing them.

SPEAKER_02 17:43

Okay, what was their code name?

SPEAKER_01 17:48

Welsh

SPEAKER_02 17:48

Rabbit. Is that a type of animal or more food-themed code names? Welsh Rabbit is a baked dish containing cheese sauce on toasted bread. It would be classified as Irish pub food. The name of the dish was eventually altered to Welsh rarebit since the delicacy does not, in fact, contain rabbit, and it confused the populace. Hasenpfeffer, a traditional German stew, is made with rabbit by comparison. Yeah, I'm not feeling as bad about pot roast anymore.

SPEAKER_01 18:28

Welsh rabbit was a good agent. Very detail-oriented. Didn't have a sense of humor, really, but he could tolerate me, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 18:37

Did you both start this assignment at the same time?

SPEAKER_01 18:41

Yep. Just like you, it was his first one. My third.

SPEAKER_02 18:44

I guess I should ask, why did he need to be replaced?

SPEAKER_01 18:50

You really need to find your manual. Uh, but... I can only tell you what happened from my perspective. I think he got bored, maybe even cabin fever. He just couldn't hack it. You need endurance on these assignments to withstand the monotony.

SPEAKER_02 19:08

So he requested off the assignment?

SPEAKER_01 19:12

The company doesn't allow you to just quit. My understanding is that he requested transfer to something a little more fast-paced with a shorter time span.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

Hmm. i hope he found what he was looking for i

SPEAKER_01 19:29

can't believe we've gone this long without you actually asking about the assignment

SPEAKER_02 19:34

i figured you'd fill me in

SPEAKER_01 19:36

okay walk to the touch screen all right see the button that says open sesame

SPEAKER_02 19:46

uh yep

SPEAKER_01 19:48

okay then open sesame

SPEAKER_02 20:01

Uh-oh. It's on your permanent record now. It was worth it. I bet you get killer sunrises from here.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

I don't doubt it, if we ever saw the sun. I realize our location is top secret, kept even from us, but if this isn't a polar night, then I don't know what it is.

SPEAKER_02 20:44

How long did you say you've been here?

SPEAKER_01 20:46

13 months or so.

SPEAKER_02 20:50

And you've never seen the sun? Not once? Not a single ray. Toby, where art thou? I'm here, Podros. How may I help you? Toby, what is the longest amount of time a polar night can last? Your inquiry is germane. However, a response would violate security clearance protocols.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

It was worth a shot. I've tried asking my version of Toby the same thing. She gave me the same canned response. I'm taking things at face value. The assignment calls for me to live in a place with no sunlight, so be it.

SPEAKER_02 21:30

I guess you're right. Nothing I can do about it now.

SPEAKER_01 21:35

So, back to the mission at hand. Take a look through the telescope. Let me know what you see.

SPEAKER_02 21:41

Which one is the telescope?

SPEAKER_01 21:43

You'll have three primary tools for our mission of observation. The telescope is in the center. The two devices on either side of the telescope are long-range cameras, still and video. The telescope you'll notice has been wiped of any branding or model number, so I couldn't tell you what brand it is, but it's very high-tech. If you zoom in close enough, you can watch a fly take a bath.

SPEAKER_02 22:18

It looks like a cozy log cabin at the peak of a mountain.

SPEAKER_01 22:23

Congratulations. Mission spot roast. Enter it in your field log. You just completed the assignment for the day.

SPEAKER_02 22:30

Wait. That's it?

SPEAKER_01 22:33

Yup. Spy on this cabin.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

You're telling me you've been observing this cabin for over a year and that's the assignment? You

SPEAKER_01 22:44

got it.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

Any developments in 13 months?

SPEAKER_01 22:49

Nada. Nada. Not a sound, not a strange disturbance or unusual shadow. The cabin seems to be completely abandoned, if it was ever occupied at all. The mission, the minimum is observation every two hours and add an entry to the field log. Now that you're here, we'll alternate. I did the last one, so you have around two hours before a new observation will need to be logged. As if on cue, it's nap time. This is going to be the biggest challenge you'll find. It's night 24-7, so it gets a little foggy, figuratively speaking, when to sleep, when to be awake, when to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. So... Coming up with a schedule that works for you is absolutely critical to the success of the assignment. It sounds easy, but having a sound sleep interrupted every two hours is no bueno. My advice, let's crash now and in two hours wake up, snap a few shots of the cabin, and then back to dreamland you go.

SPEAKER_02 23:53

Actually, a couple hours of shut-eye sound perfect. Thanks for giving me the state of play. For those listening... Beef stew has significantly prepared me for success.

SPEAKER_01 24:07

Don't let the

SPEAKER_02 24:28

jumping spiders bite. Hello? Hmm. Nothing. What time is it? Almost time for my first shift. Might as well get it over with.

SPEAKER_03 26:49

Since

SPEAKER_02 26:49

I'm up. Okay. Cabin is still. No movement. Nothing's changed. Just a quaint lifeless log cabin. Entered it in the log and done. Time for more shut-eye. Ah! Damn it! Toby, where art thou? Hello? Shit! Fuck! Asshole! Nothing? Is the power out? What is that? Something wedged under the floor. It's my manual? Well, that explains why I couldn't find it. Memory loss or not, I know I didn't shove it under the floor. Wait, what is that? Blacklight? For what? Warning! Proximity breach! Warning! Proximity brea- Agent Potrost, you've successfully logged your first observation entry. Congratulations! Toby, you warned of a proximity breach. Is there something out there? Scanning. Please stand by. Negative. I do not detect any objects or life, foreign or otherwise, in a 60-mile radius. Clear skies. Thanks for checking, Toby. Um, goodnight? What is that? Toby, where art thou? Hello, Pot Roast. How can I help you? Were there any scheduled PTT deliveries for today? Negative. Nothing scheduled. Do you have a request? Um, no, nothing. Thanks, Toby. Sorry to disturb you. Good night. Good night, Pot Roast. What is this? A key? A key and a note. Agent Welsh Rabbit. The key as you requested. For your eyes only. Do not share with your mirror. Oh shit. Please attempt to refrain from profanity. This is a professional environment. You have received two registered infractions. An appropriate alternative could have been... Darn. Fudge. or the British English synonym, Buncombe.

UNKNOWN 31:06

Produced by Jason Beard.

SPEAKER_03 31:09

Magnetar stars Eric Carlino as Pat Roast, Mike Cunningham as Beef Stew, Ryan Doms as Toby, and Leslie Grant as Clementine. Yeah.