"Magpie" is the fourth mission of The Home Front.
Shut away with no Rofflenet connection, it's lucky that Sam has Janine's notes for company!
Exercises[]
Cast[]
Scenes[]
Not Approved for Garden Use
Here we are again. Sam is starting to see shapes in the wallpaper after being cooped up inside for so long. He thinks that the stain in the corner looks like Vasco De Gama, but he can't check that because Janine is using the Rofflenet connection for something important. She's probably using it for planning crop rotations, but she may also be creating a list of her top five military leaders. The only thing making Sam feel better is broadcasting so he's taking over exercise duty again, and maybe if he does well, Janine will let him help out in the vegetable garden. Sam's going to play a song, so warm up with dancing, star jumps, skipping or running on the spot - anything to get you moving!
Whatever Feels Good
Today Sam has a set of exercises that Janine has marked up as 'useful training for working on Abel's farmland'. He isn't sure where she got the post-it notes. Maybe she's been hoarding them? The first exercise is Forward Lunges, perfect for picking fruit and berries. Stand up straight with your feet hip-width apart and take a big step forward with your right foot. Lower your hips towards the ground, bending both knees, and keeping your right shin vertical, and taking your left heel off the ground. Then go back to the starting position, and do it again. Make sure that you don't hurt yourself! 30 seconds for each leg. Good job. Now keep moving while Sam plays some music!
Air Drum
That song always puts a smile on Sam's face. He keeps finding himself looking for things that make him smile, and is grateful to be able to see outside at the moment. Unfortunately, Runner 18 is stuck in a crypt! He's going to play some music. Why not try air-drumming along to it!
Strawberries
Here's an exercise that should get you ready to help set the strawberry nets to keep the birds out. To do Inchworms, stand straight up, feet hip-width apart and knees slightly bent. Then bend over to put your hands on the floor in front of you, as close to your feet as you can. Walk your hands forward until you're in a Plank position, and then walk them back until you can stand up. One minute of these! Then you can do gentle movement, or rest, while Sam plays more music.
Something to Notice
That last verse reminds Sam of Runner 24 and her funny stories. Sam thinks about the last time he did things like ride a bus or go to a restaurant before the apocalypse. He hadn't noticed how nice it was to do things like that until they were gone. Why not have a dance and think about how you'll dance together again soon.
Hoisting Logs
Time for the final 'big exercise' of the day, with some Backward Lunges! Sam tells you that apparently they mimic moving logs into place to construct an animal pen. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, then take a big step backwards with your right leg. Bend your knees, lowering your hips towards the floor and keeping your left shin vertical. 30 seconds with each leg. And just think about those tiny baby goats enjoying the animal pen! Good job. Try stretching out or doing some gentle dancing or more lunges if you feel up to them.
Two for Joy
Sam mentions that there is a magpie outside the comms shack. He remembers Runner 30 feeding it. He reminisces about his runners when the magpie flies away. Sam misses all the runners, but even the biggest horde can't last forever, and you'll see each other again. When you get together, this will be the first song you play.
Stay Safe
Just thinking about next time you get to dance together makes Sam feel so much better. It feels like forever right now, but there will be a next time. One day there will be buses again too, and restaurants. And the situation shows how much people still need each other. Maybe when this is over, people won't forget so easily. Look after yourself, and stay safe out there!
Transcript[]
SAM YAO: Okay, okay. Here we are again, stuck indoors, staring at the same walls. Have any of you started to notice, like, shapes in the wallpaper? I’ve been sitting looking at the ceiling so much that I’m pretty sure the stain in the corner looks just like Vasco da Gama...or at least what I think the cartoon of Vasco da Gama in a history comic I had when I was eight looked like. I can’t even get onto Rofflenet right now to find out who Vasco da Gama was because Janine’s using the connection for some kind of important work connected to the future of Abel Township. Hmm. She-she’s probably using it to make a top five list of her favorite military commanders, isn’t she? I mean, I know she’s not. It’s something about crop rotation.
Hey, I could make a list of the top five things I miss about you runners! Um, I miss Runner Nine’s cooking. The stews with the dumplings, oh my God. You know, things are not the same around here now you’re stuck in that abandoned community center, Nine. Although I’m happy to hear from Rofflenet that you’ve invented a new… cauliflower and sausage stew. Now it doesn’t sound promising, but I’m pretty sure you’ll make it delicious.
Anyway, look, basically the only thing that made me feel better last week was to do that exercise broadcast, so I thought we could do another one! Janine says if I keep this up, she might let me help out with some of the simpler tasks in the vegetable garden here, which at least would be something to do. So okay, I’m gonna play a song, and you just warm up to it however you like. Dancing around, doing star jumps, skipping, marching on the spot, whatever you like, okay? Now this is a song I don’t think Janine would like me playing in the vegetable garden.
SAM YAO: All right! Yeah! I feel kind of better already. And I’ve got the Ministry guidelines in front of me for exercise to stop you going stir-crazy. No, that’s not actually what it’s called. So shall we do something? [paper rustles] Oh. Oh, Janine’s marked these up with “useful training for working on Abel’s farmland” Post-its. Where does she even get Post-its in an apocalypse? Has she been like, making Post-its? Did she stockpile Post-its before all this? That-that does sound like the kind of thing she’d do, to be honest.
Anyway, [laughs] here we’ve got forward lunges. Janine says, “These will be good training for picking inaccessible fruit and berries.” Okay, right. Here are the instructions. Stand up straight with your feet hip-width apart. Take a big step forward with your right foot, then lower your hips towards the ground, bending both knees, keeping your right shin vertical and let your left heel come off the floor. Make sure your right knee doesn’t go over your right toes. Uh-huh. Says here that if you can, you could let your left knee touch the floor gently, but if you can’t do that, don’t worry. Just do what you can and make sure it doesn’t hurt. Then push down into your right heel to go back to the starting position, then do it again.
Okay, right. Now I’m gonna time it. It’s 30 seconds. Uh, right leg forward, and go! And 10 seconds done. [laughs] Man, I bet that’s burning your thighs right now. Look, I’d join in, but-but people said it sounded weird last time when I did it. That’s it. Okay, now change legs. Left leg forward for 30 seconds. There’s no need to go quickly, just go at your own pace. And...go! [laughs] Man, I’m imagining you all doing that right now. [laughs] It sort of does look like you’re reaching for a juicy apple just out of reach, actually. Okay, that’s 15 seconds, and I’ll give you a little countdown when we get to five. Keep going. And that’s five, four, three, two, one, and that’s 30 seconds! Good work, everyone!
Now it says here that lunges are a very versatile exercise, and there are also backward lunges! Exciting stuff! Anyway, I’ll play some music now. Either dance around to it or do marching or carry on with the forward lunges, whatever feels good to you.
SAM YAO: Aw yeah, that song. That song just always puts a smile on my face, you know what I mean? Do you find right now that you’re looking out for stuff that makes you smile? Like there’s a new pair of blackbirds that are coming to feed at the bird table outside the comms shack and I just keep feeling so grateful I can even see the outside world right now.
Ah, sorry, Runner Eighteen. I-I know you’re in a crypt right now. Well, at least it’s not raining in there. And Runner Eighteen, I miss your virtuoso drumming performances on talent night. Yeah, can’t wait to hear you on the tin cans and packing boxes again. I’m going to put on some music now that reminds me of Runner Eighteen. Runners, if you want to, you can air drum along to this, you crazy diamonds. Or, but you know, whatever movement feels good to you.
SAM YAO: Oh yes, yes! I drummed it out all over the shop round here. Oh. Oh. Uh, might have put a bit of a dent in the tin Janine keeps her special pens in. I expect it’ll knock out okay. Anyway, here’s a little exercise Janine says will help train for setting the Abel strawberry nets. Oh yeah, I might like those blackbirds, but they do get at the strawberries. This exercise is called inchworm, and it’s pretty simple.
You stand straight up, feet hip-width apart as usual. As far as I can tell, your feet should only ever be hip-width apart. And your knees should always be gently bent. Right, so now you slowly bend forwards and put your hands on the floor in front of your feet as near as you can get to your toes. Right, done that? Now walk your hands forwards, keeping your abs engaged until your back is straight. You should be in a plank position now, and then walk your arms back to your feet and stand up. Oh yeah, [laughs] I get it. It’s like reaching down to spread out the strawberry nets, getting them in place, and then standing up to check them.
So okay, let’s do one minute of this. I’ll time it. Remember, start by standing straight, then bend over, walk your hands forward until your back is straight, then walk back and stand up, then do it again. Okay, and three, two, one, go. It says here that this exercise should strengthen your arms, your bum, and your core, and if you can’t get your back completely straight, don’t worry. Just do what you’re able and focus on going at a pace that works for you. Keep going! Oh, imagine how many strawberry nets we’re going to be able to spread when we’ve got good at this! And yeah, you’re halfway there. Make sure you’re not scrunching your shoulders, and if you need a few seconds break, take it. Okay, and that’s just 15 seconds to go. You’re almost there. Keep going. That’s five, four, three, two, one, and that’s it. One minute of inchworms.
Time for some music. As usual, use it to carry on with this exercise, or dance, or any other movement you like, or just have a rest. Ah yes, here’s a song that makes me think of the amazing taste of strawberries. Mm-mm-mm.
SAM YAO: Ah man, do you know what that last verse reminded me of? Runner Twenty-Four’s stories. [laughs] I don’t know what it is with her. Those same things happen to me, but she can just make any little thing so funny. [laughs] Did you hear her story about that dentist who couldn’t pronounce her surname? Oh, or the one about the bus driver? Oh my God, I couldn’t stop laughing. It was like medical. Runner Twenty-Four, your stories are definitely on my top five list.
Huh. Do you ever think about when you’ll ever get on a bus again? Or like, when was the last time you were on a bus? Can you even remember? I’m pretty sure it was about a week before Z-Day for me. Bus from college to my house. I can’t… I can’t remember anything about it. I’ve tried. I think the last time I was in a restaurant was, oh, maybe a Millie Burger. You know that chain, posh burgers with salsa and stuff? I didn’t even notice how nice it was to be able to do all those things, sit at a table someone else had cleaned, order from a menu. When we get the world back, I’ll notice.
Okay, time for a song. Have a little dance and think about how one day, we’ll all be able to dance together again.
SAM YAO: All right, final big exercise of the day. We are going to do [makes trumpet fanfare noise with mouth] backward lunges! I just wanted to see how it works. Also, together with forward lunges, they’re a good leg workout. But also Janine says they mimic the movement of moving logs into place to construct an animal pen. For animals. Like little goats to give us milk! Oh, little tiny goat kids with their little ears! Yeah, I might have been in here by myself for a bit too long.
Anyway, the backward goat pen-constructing lunge is just like the forward lunge, except you start by putting your right leg back and not forward! Genius! So stand with your knees locked, and… [laughs] Just kidding! Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your knees not locked. Not locked, like always. Take a big step backward with your right foot, then bend your knees, lowering your hips toward the floor and keeping your left shin vertical. Let your right heel come off the floor and make sure your left knee doesn’t go over your left toes, then rise back to the starting position. Take it slowly. You get no extra benefit from rushing it, and you could hurt yourself.
Okay. Ready? Now I’ll time you. 30 seconds using the right foot to lunge backward, and then we’ll change legs. Stand tall, knees gently bent, and go. Yeah, I’m picturing it now, a backward lunge. Okay, halfway there. You should be feeling it in your thighs. Keep going. Keep going. Three, two, one, and that’s it! 30 seconds on that side. Give your legs a bit of a shake out and get ready to start doing backward lunges by putting the left foot backwards.
And if your legs are burning, just think of those teeny little jumping goats that are going to be so safe in the pen we’ll build. Ah man, I think I need to add the way Runner Thirty is always bringing home all those stray animals to my list. I didn’t know how much I missed that. Okay, left leg. Ready? Go! Lunging, lunging, and halfway done. Remember, take your time. Slow body weight exercises build more muscle. Five, four, three, two, one. There we go! Backward lunges done, increasing your leg strength to hoist logs and planks and hold them in position. Brilliant.
Okay, I’m gonna play a song. You can use it to carry on with the lunges or just to dance around, run on the spot, or stretch out. Uh, yeah, this song reminds me of all your smiling faces.
SAM YAO: [whispers] There’s a magpie outside the comms shack window right now. Turned up when I was dancing. I think I remember Runner Thirty feeding it when he was here. The magpies still miss you, Runner Thirty. Oh no, he’s flown off. I expect he’ll be back. I miss all you runners so much. Runner Thirty would know what to feed that magpie. Runner Twenty-Four would turn it into a silly story. Runner Nine would cook us something tasty to eat while we listened, and then Runner Eighteen’d drum on the empty cans after dinner.
No no, I can’t make a top five list. I miss you all. But I’ll see you again, and it won’t be so long. Even the biggest horde doesn’t last forever. Look, when we get together for a rave, this is the first song we’ll play.
SAM YAO: Ah man, I feel better for all that dancing, I tell you. I’m just thinking about… that there will be a next time we all have a dance together. That makes me feel so much better. And there will be a next time. It feels like forever right now, but it won’t be forever. There’ll even be buses and restaurants and other people to sit too close to and hug. And until then, well hey, we-we’re getting ready to work on the Abel farm together and that’s not nothing!
You know, the nice thing with all of this is we can all see how much we need each other, how things don’t feel the same without a friendly face and a smile or a nod from a stranger. When things are good, it’s easy to forget how much we all really do need each other. Maybe when this is over, we won’t forget so easily. I don’t think I will, anyway. You all mean too much to me. Look after yourselves. We’ll do this again soon, and until then, stay safe. Really.
Codex[]
Letter[]
Hi Five,
Thanks for tuning in again today! I can feel a little ridiculous sometimes when it's just me and my microphone in an empty room, but it was nice having a bit of a boogie and getting to share some of those songs with you. I know things feel pretty grim right now, and I really hope you're doing okay and are finding ways to keep yourself entertained during this lockdown.
I can find myself going a bit stir-crazy too, so I've started trying to draw some of the things that I can see out of my window during our downtime. I haven't really done any art since high school, and I'm certainly not as good at drawing as Runner 17, but... here's the magpie from earlier!
I know it's not very good, but I think I did an okay job on his cute little face. What do you think?
Oh! Speaking of magpies, did you know that magpies in Australia are totally different to the ones we have here in the UK? Runner 24 could probably tell this story better, but apparently when they were backpacking in Bondi a few years ago, they made the mistake of walking under a tree with a magpie nest. Next thing you know, they're getting COMPLETELY hammered by magpies swooping and dive-bombing them- they ended up chasing Runner 24 for three blocks! Doesn't that sound like something straight out of The Birds? It makes me incredibly glad zoms don't have the capacity for flight- can you imagine just walking along minding your own business when suddenly, a zombie leaps at you from a tree like a sugarglider? GREY DEATH FROM ABOVE!
… hah, okay, I think this might be a sign that I need to get some fresh air. Hang in there, Five- I know it's tough right now, but I'm just a ROFFLENET message away if you need me!
Love, Sam
Supplies[]
The following supplies can be found in this mission.
(List may be incomplete.)
Board game
First Aid Kit
Football
Laptop
Mobile Phone
Pain Meds
Shirt
Shorts
Trainers
Underwear
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