THIRST S1E1: Icebreaker

Harley Takagi Kaner (0:01)

Hello. This is Harley Takagi Kaner, one of the creators of The Penumbra Podcast. If you're just checking out the feed for the first time, welcome. If you've been a listener of the Juno Steel or Second Citadel series, welcome back. We are so excited to share our new story, Thirst, with all of you. If you are familiar with our previous work, I do want to let you know that Thirst is much more explicit and a lot darker than our other series. So, I would not recommend it for children. If you have concerns about potential triggers, those will always be listed at the end of the transcript and in the show notes. And here in the series premiere, we have also included a more comprehensive list so that you can decide whether or not the show as a whole is right for you. I do hope you decide to stick around though. And now, Thirst.

Can't tear my eyes from you, Chapter 1, Icebreaker.

Marc Pierre (1:19)

Claudia, Marcus, it's been a long road to get here. You've both made great sacrifices, personally and professionally. But if you want a shot at our $10,000 prize, plus that half acre of landlocked property, well, I hope you've both got something big up your sleeves. You know the game by now. Your loved ones are in the audience, your family, best friends. Hell, Marcus, even your boss at the cannery took the day off to come and hear what you've been hiding from him. Hi, Dave.

Quinn McKenzie (1:57)

This better be good, Williams.

Marc Pierre (2:03)

Our producers scoured America and interviewed thousands of applicants to find the deepest, darkest secrets we could. Our private team of investigators is on standby to confirm anything our contestants claim. So, Claudia, Marcus, if you want that $10,000, you're going to have to...

SPEAKER_6 (2:23)

Confess Your Crimes.

Marc Pierre (2:26)

That's right. And we've learned a lot, haven't we? Marcus, we learned you've been jealous of your little brother ever since he went missing 20 years ago. So jealous, you faked your report cards and diploma, and, hell, even your job just to get Mommy proud of you again. And Claudia, hoo-wee! Where do we even start? Cheated your way through high school, plagiarized your valedictorian speech, beat a girl in your sorority within an inch of her life, and blamed it on her boyfriend. I just hope you haven't let your best secrets lose too early.

Marge Dunn (3:01)

Me too, Alex. Me too.

Marc Pierre (3:04)

But now, it's our final round, so each of you gets to pull just one last skeleton out of your closet. Most terrible secret verified by our investigators wins. Audience decides who tells first. So, audience, are we ready? Then get voting.

Melody Perera (3:30)

Wow, that's really extreme, isn't it?

Joshua Ilon (3:34)

Is this too much? They're not all like this, I promise. I just picked this one because it's the last thing our producers worked on, so I thought we could, you know, study the lay of the land a little.

Melody Perera (3:43)

Our producers, huh. I'm not sure it quite hit me until you said that.

Joshua Ilon (3:49)

If this is too much, we can stop watching. I promised you and-

Melody Perera (3:52)

I know, I know. Okay, okay, I'm ready.

Joshua Ilon (3:58)

You're sure?

SPEAKER_9 (4:00)

You're right. We should study if we're going to.

Melody Perera (4:04)

That's my fault for not watching your kind of show earlier. You can start it up again.

Marc Pierre (4:10)

Okay.

Joshua Ilon (4:11)

Let's try to enjoy it, huh? These secrets are going to be juicy.

SPEAKER_9 (4:16)

Juicy? That's good.

Marc Pierre (4:19)

The votes are in and Claudia looks like you're up first. So, ready to confess your crimes?

SPEAKER_9 (4:27)

Uh, okay. Bill, I...

SPEAKER_6 (4:31)

Bill?

Marc Pierre (4:32)

As in your supportive husband, Bill? He's in the crowd today. Why don't you stand up, Bill? Let everybody get a good look at you.

SPEAKER_6 (4:41)

Yeah?

Marc Pierre (4:41)

Claudia?

SPEAKER_6 (4:43)

Bill, I...

Marge Dunn (4:45)

You know I love you. More than anything, I love you and I regret it so much, but...

Alexander Stravinski (4:51)

Just say it, please.

Marge Dunn (4:55)

When you were in the hospital, when you had that heart attack and the doctor said they didn't think you were going to make it, I... I told you I had no reception and I missed your mother's calls. That traffic was so bad, I couldn't make it there.

Stefano Perti (5:08)

Claudia, no.

SPEAKER_9 (5:11)

It's not true.

SPEAKER_11 (5:13)

I was with Chris.

Marc Pierre (5:16)

For those playing at home, that's Chris Lyman, Claudia's ex.