[INTRO MUSIC PLAYING]

It’s time to put your headphones on, sit back and enjoy the divine drama of season 2 episode 1, Olympian Blackout. Welcome to Echobox.

[ECHO’S THEME PLAYING TO END]

SCENE 1 – INT. ZEUS OFFICE

[OFFICE AMBIENCE]

[RECORDING BEEP]

ALEX (bored, narrating as if she is a reporter): Day twenty of the Olympian blackout. This is Alex reporting to Achilles. I am still in the office surrounded by idiots. I mean, mere mortals like me. It’s a no man’s land. The goth kids used up all of the coffee capsules and they also refuse to use the company’s card to stock up the kitchen. I am, officially, going insane. I can’t believe I will say this but: I actually miss Zeus. At least there was some, you know, worthy drama around and—

[DOOR OPENING]

[CHAIR RATTLING]

[RECORDING SENT BEEP]

ALEX: God, Hermes. You scared the shit out of me. I didn’t even know you were back in the office! 

HERMES: Literally just landed with everyone but dad. He’s still——uh… He calls it enjoying the “single man’s life”/ 

ALEX: Gross.

HERMES: Ugh, but-

[FOOTSTEPS, HERMES COMING CLOSER TO ALEX]

I’m already here because there is already too much stuff going on, and that’s coming from me of all people. I took an Uber straight from the airpo- (He stops. Looks at Alex’s screen) Are you on Twitter? 

ALEX: No. 

HERMES: Is that my Dad? 

ALEX: No… 

HERMES (a little bit hurt): Alex, you’re listening to Echobox! 

ALEX: I’m not! I’m just so booored with everyone on vacation. The only thing entertaining these days are these Echobox theories. Who is she? Where did she come from? Is she a scorned lover of Zeus? Is she still alive or did Zeus put a hit on her? 

HERMES: We have very different definitions of entertaining. You know Echo is my arch-nemesis! 

ALEX: People don’t have arch-nemeses 

HERMES: I do!

ALEX: Whatever. So how was your brief vacation? 

HERMES: Pretty good, all things considered. You know how the Caribbean is.

ALEX: Yeah, totally. My Olympus Records salary always covers every summer vacay.

 HERMES: Lovely place. Crystal clear water. And you know how the twins are with their islands—they just love it. 

ALEX: Wait, Artemis on a beach? Artemis in a BIKINI? Umm… What happened this time? Spill. 

HERMES: It’s my family on a vacation. Everything happened. 

HECATE (from far away): Hermes! 

HERMES: Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. 

ALEX: What? What? 

HERMES: That’s the other reason I came straight to the office.

[FOOTSTEPS, HECATE COMING CLOSER]

HECATE: Hermes! Just the guy I wanted to see. 

HERMES: Hecate! How nice to see you. How are you doing? Your skin looks great. Is it the new Aphrodite cream?

HECATE (unimpressed): Hm, I don’t have your updated contract with the new NDA on my desk.

HERMES: That’s because- I gave it to Thanatos. 

HECATE: And why would you do that? 

HERMES (confused): Because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do… 

HECATE: Was that what I asked?

HERMES: I wrote down that —

HECATE: That they should be on my desk. Thanatos is on delivery duty.

HERMES: Delivering other contracts. So I gave him my contract. To give to you.

HECATE: Which will take all day. I’ll have Hypnos print out another. Meet me in my office in five. We can sign it together. 

HERMES (sarcastic): Can’t wait! I love having to sign NDAs about my own family! Feels… great! 

HECATE: Hmm… Alex.

ALEX (chipper, but strained): Hecate! I didn’t know you got an office. 

HERMES (off the side): They didn’t. 

HECATE: I’m taking over for Mr. Olympus. Hades Olympus, that is. Also… have you signed the new NDA? 

ALEX: Haven’t gotten it yet. Was I supposed to?

HECATE: Well, stop by if you get the chance. I’d love the chat. 

[FOOTSTEPS, HECATE WALKING OFF] 

HERMES: I swear the room drops three degrees when they show up. 

ALEX: Oh shut up. She’s not that intimidating. You work under Zeus. 

HECATE (from far away): NOT A SHE! 

HERMES: See? They hear everything. Just because they aren’t Zeus level scary, doesn’t mean they aren’t flat-out scary. I’m very frail, Alex! 

ALEX: I Can’t believe they took Hades’ office. That’s like- huge. 

HERMES: Well, you sort of took Zeus’ office.

ALEX: Do I look like I’m sitting on Zeus’ throne and calling shots left and right? I bet it’s full of dust right now. 

HERMES: So you haven’t gone in? Not even once?

ALEX (not at all believable): I’ve just been at my little desk, minding my business. Like I always do.

HERMES: Hey, I mind my own business. 

ALEX: Like when you tried to read what was on my Twitter feed? 

HERMES: So you admit it. You were on Twitter! 

ALEX: That’s not minding your business, Hermes. 

HERMES: Erm, touché. I wanted to talk to you about something, but—

[TIMER BEEPING]

HERMES: —Dammit. Are my five minutes up yet? 

ALEX: Go get ‘em, big boy. 

[FOOTSTEPS, HERMES WALKING OFF]

[DOOR CLOSES]

ALEX: Hecate, hm? Let’s see what we can find out. 

[DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING]

SCENE 2 – INT. BREAK ROOM

[FOOTSTEPS, ALEX WALKING TO THE BREAK ROOM]

V1: Hey! Alex! 

V2: Alex! What are you doing here? 

ALEX: I was just wondering… Hecate seems to be quite… well, present, these days. 

V1: Ugh, tell me about it. 

V2 (scared): You shouldn’t complain about them, they’ll hear you! 

ALEX: Well, I just wanted to know what you guys know about them. 

V2: They’re well. Hecate. No one else quite like ‘em. 

V1: Except Gomez Adams. 

V2: No, early Billie Eilish. 

V3: I heard they got kicked out of Columbia and then blackmailed the dean—

[MICROWAVE OVEN BEEPING]

V3:—to be re-enrolled. 

[MICROWAVE DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING]

V3: That’s why Hades hired them.

V4: No, I heard they blackmailed Hades himself with his father’s will. Like Echo said! And all they wanted to keep quiet was a job. 

V1: No, I heard it was Hades nudes from back when he was an Olympian and Hecate hacked into his account to leak them! 

V2: They look Zeus straight in the eyes. WITHOUT FLINCHING. 

V3: They once spilled hot coffee all over me. That felt like the closest thing I’ll ever get to a promotion. It was epic. 

V2: Or getting laid. 

V3: Hey! 

ALEX (innocent): Thanks, guys. You know me. Always stuck in Zeus’ office all day. I never get to know any of the hot gos. 

HECATE: Hot gos? Now I’d love to hear who about. 

V1: Shit. 

V2: Oh, you know… 

ALEX (quick on her feet): We’re just talking about how the Olympian kids are back in town. Making bets on who will be the first to cause a scandal or become a meme.

HECATE: Dionysus, of course. Was that even a question? Alex, can I actually pull you aside really quick? 

ALEX: ‘Course. 

[BOTH WALKING AWAY]

V1 (off to the side): It was nice knowing her. 

HECATE: Are you coming to the party tonight? 

ALEX: Party? 

HECATE: Hermes didn’t tell you? I thought he would invite you. You’re in his little circle, right? Anyway, the party-

ALEX: Right. 

HECATE: Usual time. You can ride with us. Be ready. 

ALEX (strained): Cool. Cool. 

[FOOTSTEPS, HECATE WALKING OFF]

ALEX (whisper): What fucking party is she talking about? 

[PHONE BUZZING]

[PHONE ANSWERING BEEP]

[GYM MUSIC AND AMBIENCE]

ALEX: You know, if I was actually in need, I would be dead by now. 

ACHILLES: Hello, sunshine. Good morning. It’s always a pleasure talking to you.

ALEX: What’s up, goldie locks? 

ACHILLES: Well, I just listened to your voice note with Pat. He’s worried. (deep laughter) I personally thought it was hilarious.

PAT (muffled, far from the phone): Achilles! 

ACHILLES: Are you thinking of doing Alex-box? 

ALEX (gritted teeth): Talking helps me think. 

ACHILLES: (chuckle) And must I bear the curse of listening to it? 

ALEX (dry): Ha ha. Okay, listen, you won’t believe what just happened. 

ACHILLES: Enlighten me. I’m terribly bored of these dumbbells. 

ALEX: Hecate just invited me to a party.

ACHILLES: Are you…going?

ALEX: I don’t know what party it is.

ACHILLES: Oh, that’s precious. (chuckle) I expected more from the mighty Echo.

ALEX: Can you be helpful? Like, for once?

ACHILLES: The Olympus kids just flew back into town, didn’t they? You know what they do once the dust has settled… 

ALEX (thinking): They… stir it up again.

ACHILLES: Precisely.

ALEX: Shit. It’s probably at Dionysus’. Are you coming with me?

ACHILLES: Pfff, I love you, Alex, but I would never step foot in an Olympus party. (in a chipper tone) Have fun with the snakes, though.

ALEX: Ugh, worth a shot. I’ll try to survive it without you.

ACHILLES: Ah, at least you can’t say you’re bored anymore. Oh, and avoid the wine.

[PHONE BEEPING]

[SCENE TRANSITION MUSIC PLAYING]

[CAR INTERIOR AMBIENCE]

SCENE 3 – INT. CHARON’S CAR

ALEX: So… we’re going to Dionysus’s place? 

HECATE: If by place you mean the little penthouse he holds court at in Beverly Hills… Then yes. We are.

ALEX (hesitant): Are you sure we’re invited?

HECATE: The Olympian kids love to touch base with the real world through us. It will be fine. 

ALEX: I suppose you’re right. Sooo… Hades team, right?

HECATE: Yep. 

[CAR STOPING]

HECATE: Me, Thanatos, who is a boring soul and avoids parties –

[HANDBRAKE PULLING]

[PARTY MUSIC FROM AFAR]

HECATE: and Charon. Charon here is not much of a talker…

[CAR KEYS JINGLING]

HECATE: —but he’s the best designated driver there is. 

ALEX: Responsible.

[CAR DOORS OPENING]

HECATE (teasing): We wouldn’t want to get in trouble with the law. 

[CAR DOOR CLOSING]

[CAR DOORS OPENING AND CLOSING]

[FOOTSTEPS]

[PARTY MUSIC GETTING LOUDER]

HECATE: Circe is looking for me… I’ll go say hi. You’ll be fine without me, I gather? 

ALEX: I can handle myself around the Olympians.

HECATE: Good. I’ll see you later.

[FOOTSTEPS, HECATE WALKING OFF]

ALEX: Are you always the designated driver?

[NO ANSWER FROM CHARON]

ALEX (slightly annoyed): Do you like, not drink or something?

[NO ANSWER FROM CHARON]

[BOTTLE OPENING, CAP FALLING ON TABLE]

ALEX (more annoyed): Nothing non-alcoholic for you? Soda? Water?

[NO ANSWER FROM CHARON]

ALEX: Pff, I hope this party—

[GLASS BREAKING]

ALEX:—is worth… 

[PARTY MUSIC GETTING EVEN LOUDER]

[PARTY MUSIC FADING OUT]

[OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING]

This episode stars, in order of appearance, Isabella Sales as Alex/Echo, Ron Guan as Hermes and V3, Lauren Tucker as Hecate and V4, Emma Blaskelee as V2 and Achilles and Theo Wampuszyc as V2 and Patroclus. It was written by Isabella Sales and Corienne Swanson and produced by Corienne Swanson. The Echobox theme song was made by Meg McKellar. Dialogue cut by Marianna Marcon and audio and sound design by Meg Mckellar. Logo design by Lucas Eduardo Bueno and Andy Cerdan.

You can find the episode transcript at our website at www.echoboxpod.com

Echobox is created out of love for storytelling and provided at no profit to us but we deeply appreciate the hard work our cast and crew put into the show.  If you want to help us pay them for their work, support us on our patreon at patreon.com/echoboxpod

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Thank you for listening. See you next time we open the Echobox!

[OUTRO MUSIC FADING OUT]