DERELICT Presents: The Amelia Project

"Imagut, Imagünstich, imma vielfältig, kurz gesagt, frische für alle, zum Aldipreis."

“This week, Tafeltrauben, 650 grams, für nur 2,99, oder Kulturheidelbeeren.”

125 grams, für nur 1,39, in deiner Aldi-Nordvieliale. And weiter gehts, einfach lauschen und genießen. Aldi. "Goodest for all." "I'm Charisa and my experiences with all entrepreneurs

start with a choppy fry at full-crystall."

"I wonder if the choppy fry is the first day."

"And the plate will make me no problem." "I have a lot of problems, but the plate is not one of them." "I have the feeling that choppy fry is a platform that can only be obtained." "All is super, just integrate and balance." "And the time and the money that I can't afford to invest in others."

"For all in vaccination." "Yet's the cost of those tests, I'll shop if I point to the A." "Hi, guys. JBM here with yet another edition of Darylick Presents." "Today we're featuring the Amelia project."

"Sounds like a romantic comedy I know, but it actually focuses on a secret agency that fakes its clients' deaths." "Then it helps them reappear with the brand new identity." "The progression of it is really cool, as a series, I think." "It starts as a succession of interviews with clients who want to fake their deaths."

"Then slowly, a larger gripping narrative begins to emerge." "The issues that bring each client to the death-faking agency are in turn funny, thought-provoking, and just downright surreal." "It's a unique premise in the show, tries to tackle philosophical questions and impossible dilemmas with a lightness of touch, and somehow manages to thread that needle."

"It also does it all with some really immersive sound design, so check it out." And lastly, as a reminder, if you haven't yet, sign up for the Darylick newsletter by clicking the link in the episode notes below, or you can go to www.darylickpodcast.com/join. There's a lot of really cool things developing behind the scenes, so signing up for the

“newsletter is going to be the best way to stay on top of all the announcements coming soon.”

Again, you can sign up by going to Darylickpodcast.com/join or just clicking the link in the episode notes below.

Thanks for listening, as always, and hope you enjoy the first episode of the Amelia Project.

Congratulations! You've reached the Amelia Project. This phone call isn't happening. If you're not serious about this, hang up. And now, if you continue, there's no way back.

Good choice. And your life awaits. You'll hear back from us within the hour. If you don't hear back, please consider the whole thing a hoax. Leave your message after the beep.

"How quickly can this be done? I don't have much time. I leave planet Earth tonight. I'm being launched at the end of on, in 10 hours. I can't get out of it.

My followers won't let me.

I need help. I need you the intervene. My name is sail integral Ravenhart.

“Founder and archpriests of the Apostles of Antifon.”

Get back to me. Please. Like. Help. .

The Amelia Project by Philip Thorne and I Sten Brager with music and sound design by Frederick Barron. Episode one, "Zale Indigo Ravenhart." Interesting. Hello, come in.

Could you draw the curtains? It's just... Suddenly? Fff. Nobody.

Nobody is allowed to know I'm here. Those two Italian guys in the lobby. Are they trustworthy? Joian Salvadori. They don't look trustworthy.

Those boys are hard as biscotti, but don't worry, they're working for you. We're all working for you. Amelia is at your service. What I want is probably impossible. Without faith, nothing is possible.

With it, nothing is impossible. Faith? Relax. Make yourself comfortable. Grab a chair.

What? Relax. Grab a chair.

Of course there is. No, there isn't. Uh-huh. You have no faith.

Now, faith's got nothing to do with it.

I'm telling you there is a chair, you're choosing not to believe me.

“Look, this has nothing to do with what I believe in or not, okay?”

I can see with my own eyes, or rather I can't. I can't see. You see? That's the point. I can't see the chair because it's not there, the chair.

It doesn't exist. FACT. Okay. It's a very comfy chair. Prove it to me.

What? Prove there's a chair. Gone. Gone. Sit down in it.

You can't. You have no evidence. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. You're really strange. You know that.

What was your name again? Zale Indigo Ravenhardt. Call it even. I looked you up on the Google before you came in. They'll Indigo Ravenhardt.

This was the first hit. What am I looking at? It's the countdown. Days, hours, minutes, seconds. A countdown to your death.

To my departure. From Earth. Eight hours, twenty minutes, thirty-five seconds. Yeah. Does that give us some of time?

Well, that rather depends on the complexity of the task and the funds you have at your disposal. How do you intend to leave planet Earth? In a canon. You're kidding.

I wish I was laughing. And this was your idea. It's the only way to get to Atathon. Antiphon? It's a long story.

And we don't have time.

There's always time for a story.

But Amelia, we connect stories. Ah, if these walls could talk. But they can't, can they? I'm sorry. Did you just ask me if our walls can talk?

“I mean, this isn't being recorded or anything, is it?”

No. I'm interested in how someone decides he wants to be fired into space from a canon. Goes out of his way to publicize the exact time and date. Attracts huge attention. Then realizes eight hours, twenty minutes, and thirty-five seconds beforehand.

That may be it's not such a bright idea after all. Can I guess? You've lost your faith. Whatever this antiphon is, you no longer believe in it. Yeah, it's not that simple.

Okay, what is antiphon? You may find it hard to believe. I expect nothing less. It requires a leap of imagination. You're sure you won't take a seat.

There is no. Now, what is that? I believe that is a chance. Where did it come from? Do you believe this is a chance?

I believe Sissina Pazun, be it doesn't sit down and tell me about antiphon. Would you mind turning that down, it's stressing me? Sit down. Tell me about antiphon.

“But every aspect of life, there's an opposite, right?”

Fire in water, light and dark, life and death. A thing can only exist by having an opposite, you know, something to compare to. I mean, how would we know it? It is. It was no evil.

I agree with that. Everything exists in pairs. Earth is no exception. Earth has an opposite. And that's antiphon.

Yes. Earth and antiphon are on opposite sides of the Sun. They circle the Sun at 180 degrees from one another. Like twins. That's right.

That's right. Their identical distance from the Sun means Earth and antiphon have the same exact conditions, same atmospheric pressure, temperature, gravity. That's presumably life. Precisely.

Wow. I think this calls for a cup of cocoa. Salvatore. Two cocoa's please. Each one of us has a counterpart on antiphon.

What proof do you have for the existence of antiphon? Everything has an opposite. The universe needs balance. Antiphon revealed itself to me in a vision. Ah, so you haven't actually seen it.

What? How could I? The Sun blocks it from you.

It's perfectly hidden, even from the most powerful telescopes.

So, it's a matter of faith. Ah, Salvatore, glad to see me. Oh, my, good, isn't it? I have a special ship from Liduma Go. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that antiphon exists.

Let's say it really is a second earth. Why are you and your followers so hell bent on getting there? Why? Yes? Haven't we established it would be exactly like earth?

It would just be more of the same. But, antiphon is our counter planet, not just geographically. Everything there is inverse. Every decision you make on earth is played out twice. On earth, and on antiphon, your counterpart always does the exact opposite.

So going to antiphon means you can turn your life around. Go down the road, you chose to ignore it. Well, wouldn't you like to know what would have happened if you made different choices? If you'd studied art instead of physics, go on to Africa instead of America.

“If you'd taken up that job offer in Paris, if you'd just kissed that girl, that's what”

tonight is all about. When I founded the apostles of antiphon two years ago, I started the online time

here to give myself a deadline. It was always my intention to be the first person to

get to antiphon. To meet your counterpart, to switch places with him. Or her? What? Look, it's a nice story, and you tell it passionately.

I can see how you've attracted such a following. But tell me, did you actually ever believe this stuff yourself or was it just a way to get famous and make money? I still believe in it. I know you don't.

I do. I don't believe you. That's your choice. You're messing with me. The reason you're here is you don't want to get into that canon, right?

You want us to fake your death. Can I be done? Do we have enough time?

“Well, frankly, you've put yourself in a very difficult position.”

You have eight hours, 14 minutes, and six seconds left.

Shit. Shit. We might be able to help. There's nothing we like more at a mealier than a challenge. But given how little time you've got, and the danger you've put yourself into, haven't

you considered, you know. Just lagging it. Where would I go? They'd find me. Your followers?

My apostles. They've poured their heart and soul into this. And their money. Yeah, that too. What do you think they do?

Well, I'm supposed to lead the way. If we can be done, if I chicken out, they'll think it was a scam that they'll feel betrayed. They'll want revenge. I have no choice.

I have to get in that canon, but I don't want to be shot to Anthethon. Because it doesn't exist. Because my life would be a nightmare there. When I founded the apostles of Anthethon, my life was a mess. Two divorces.

On a strange son, trying to win myself off a cocaine addiction, I did rock bottom. That's when Anthethon revealed itself to me. All those things I could have done differently. I envyed my counterpart, Anthethon so much it drove me crazy. Then I realized, I was the chosen one.

Anthethon had chosen to reveal itself to me. My destiny was to be the pioneer who leads the way there. So you founded Apostles of Anthethon and set the timer. Yes. And it was a hit?

I mean, I couldn't keep up with all the emails. Had to hire a secretary. Who wrote to you?

Well, at first it was, you know, people like me.

Victims of bad decisions that had led to dead ends. Then the media got interested. It thought I was patched, crazy, but I was good for ratings. My name started trending on Twitter. Courtney Love won Anthethon T-shirt to the Emmys.

Lady Gaga mentioned me in a song, Marilyn Manson became a follower. They wanted to do a documentary on me, but production could have only started next month after I'd already been launched to Anthethon. Well, that's a bummer. I did a lot of interviews though.

How did it feel to get so much attention? Oh, like I was living someone else's life. Taxis, talk shows, restaurants, hotels, gym membership, a new flat. You've been living the highlight. Which is the problem.

Life in the first lane, not all it's cracked up to be, huh? Oh, no, no, it's fantastic. My life is wonderful. Which means I don't longer want to switch with my counterpart. His life must be hell.

Please help me. I can't go to Anthethon. Hmm. Time to port metaphysics behind us, I think.

“The only thing that will get you out of that canon alive is physics.”

Whatever it takes. Have you brought the text specs for the canon? Excellent. What length is the battery? Um, 24 feet.

Hmm. Your weight?

Hmm. height? 5 feet, 8.11 inches. Location for the launch? Edward Comin.

I'll have to check that on a map. Oh, shit. Hmm. Everything all right?

“Computers, pesky things, still getting used to, got it.”

Edward Comin. Blackball, pub, cricket, ground, whale reservoir, backbone, woods. Hmm.

Eight hours, 10 minutes and one second.

That means the launch takes place at 11.30 pm. We're going to have to control your flight and limit the distance you'll be launched. We'll use gunpowder to make a flash and a bang, but only a small amount and not in the chamber. In place of gunpowder we'll use a tank of compressed air.

Once it's burst, it'll provide the propulsion. I suggest we let Silver Torrey operate the cannon. He's experienced with firearms and nobody will dare get near him. Uh-huh. 126 pounds, 5 foot, 8.11 inches, that means the square of your velocity exiting the

barrels equal to the square of your velocity at the base of the barrel plus twice the distance you'll travel along the barrel multiplied by your acceleration. With a final estimated velocity of 66 miles per hour and an initial velocity of 0 meters per second and taking into account the length of the barrel which is 7.32 meters, your acceleration comes to 59.6 meters per second squared.

If we raise the barrel 39 degrees, you'll reach an altitude of 23 meters and cover a distance of 59.05 meters. That will get you safely over black bone woods and allow you to land and weigh a reservoir. You're a good swimmer?

You could be stretching it.

Okay, but you can swim. Joey will be out there in a dinghy, but it might take a while to find you. We can't pinpoint your landing to the spot. We'll provide you with a whistle. That should make it easier.

And my followers will believe I'm gone? By the time they rise have adjusted from the flash, you'll be far from sight. It's the middle of the night, remember? It'll be pitch black. Oh, that reminds me, with better give Joey a good search light.

“Now, have you given some thoughts to your reincarnation?”

What? Your new life? How and where would you like to come back? Oh, hey, don't know. Once our surgeons are done with you, you'll barely be recognizable.

Even so, you don't want to risk being found out. So I suggest you go somewhere far away. That sounds good. Do you want to go somewhere you can continue living it up? Otherwise, what's the point, right?

Right. Macedonia. Macedonia? Very cheap. Your savings would take you a long way there.

You'll be able to live comfortably for a few months until you've found your feet and can set up something new. Where is Macedonia? There's just one problem. What's that?

Amelia is not a charity. Our services come at a cost. Amelia is expensive. We're the best in the business. Okay.

So after you've paid us, you'll be too broke even for Macedonia. That would mean starting from scratch, a life of poverty and that's exactly what you want to escape from. So that would be kind of ironic, wouldn't it? Yeah, yeah.

So you're in a bit of a buying. Yes. Luckily, I have a solution. Yes.

“Has it struck you that there's a certain overlap between Amelia and Antithom?”

People are attracted to Antithom because of the idea of starting a fresh. At Amelia, that's what we offer. We help people who've reached a dead end to transition from this life to another. I suppose you said you have some high profile followers, musicians and celebrities. That's true.

You'd be surprised. I want the names of everyone who's contacted you. I want access to their emails. I want all the information you've got on your fans and followers.

At Amelia, we are always looking to get our number into the hands of interesting and influential

people. Give me your network. And your disappearance is on the house. I guess I hang on a minute. What?

How do I know you'll do what you say? If you might just blow me to pieces, I wouldn't know. Hmm. I could prove that you won't do that. I can't.

So how can I be sure? You can't. You need faith. Faith. Eight hours, five minutes and eight seconds.

You know, you can torture yourself without, or you can start looking forward. To your new life in Macedonia. Do you like champagne? Sorry. I hear the champagne in the Balkans is intolerable.

Better have a glass now before you leave. What do you say? I could do with the drink. Excellent. Salvatore.

Bring us a bottle of our finest move, Kiko, please. You're making the right choice. Trust me. Oh, lovely, Salvatore, would you mind opening it? You know what happened last time.

Sail, Indigo, Ravenhought, Kiko, graduations, and you'll life awaits. The Amelia Project is produced by imploding fictions.

It's fair that you can't grab any of it and go in.

Faith must be prepared for that. Welcome. Could you draw the curtains? It's just... Certainly.

Nobody's allowed to know I'm here. I don't have much time.

What I want is probably impossible.

Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. Faith? Relax. Make yourself comfortable.

Grab a chair.

“The Amelia Project was produced neither by imploding fictions, nor open house theatre Vienna.”

It didn't feature Alan Bergen as the interviewer, nor did it feature Dave Moskin as

sail. You didn't hear Julia Morrizawa on the answer phone. It was neither written nor edited by Philipp Thorne and wasn't directed by Philipp Thorne or Einstein Brager. Music and sound design, not by Frederick Barden, no graphic design by Anders Petersen and

Julia Sithorn did not help with production coordination. This episode wasn't recorded at Torngiver Studios and Gabriel Giver had nothing to do with it.

“The favourite and following network, where fiction produces flourish.”

Mama, how do you feel the great love of it? Hmm... See? It's so creamy. Huh?

How can a dad scream me? Nutella. Or from Mama's and dad's. Nutella. It's Nutella.

“You're the best player in this school, you're just a bit of a joke and then you're often a joke.”

No, not like that. Like a story, so my own space. Hmm, do you think all of that is right? Yeah, exactly. Like a story, like a story, like a story that is just a story.

Like a story, like a job or a dream. A story? Really, not like a story. A story is just a story. Save?

With this story.