Table Read - Gateway - Act 2

Episode Date: July 11, 2023

ACT 2: McDonnell tries some unorthodox means to more fully access The Gateway. Is there really magic in mushrooms? Meanwhile, Nurse Field’s visit to the Institute basement reveals the sad reality of previous failures. Broken eggs from the past, squirreled away from prying eyes in forgotten rooms. We meet the mysterious Dr. Alexander, a man of little charm but many secrets. Nurse Fields spends a little off-the-clock time with McDonnell, giving advice. This right before he goes to visit his mother in an elder care facility. Mom thanks him for his visit the previous week, but it’s been months since he made the trip. And yet somehow, she knows things she couldn’t possibly know. Back at the Institute the following week, Monroe offers McDonnell extra help searching for the truth about his father. But Monroe needs something in return. Extra risks for extra rewards? McDonnell finally gets info on that Russian base, but at great cost. And he meets some friends, new and old. One named Bentov, carefully smuggled there. Everything builds to a crescendo and McDonnell ends up dodging a German MG-42 machine gun on a beach. Not just watching, but actually there. All this and more in Episode 2, be sure to be there with us. ____ GATEWAY: Buckle up for an exhilarating journey that blurs the lines between science fiction and jaw-dropping reality. "Gateway" unveils a covert operation so mind-boggling, it's backed by declassified CIA documents. Step into the shoes of Lieutenant Colonel Wayne McDonnell as he uncovers the astounding truth behind the "Gateway" project. Prepare to be astounded as real science merges with otherworldly possibilities, propelling humanity into uncharted realms of consciousness. From classified experiments at the Monroe Institute to mind-expanding quantum theories, this gripping podcast shatters the boundaries of what you thought was possible. Brace yourself for an extraordinary adventure where secrets of time travel, interdimensional exploration, and the untapped power of the human mind are laid bare. Strap in, because this isn't just science fiction—it's science fact. The veil is about to be lifted, revealing a hidden reality that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew. Don't miss your chance to experience the astonishing truths that lie beyond the gateway. ____ Follow Table Read (@TableReadPodcastLA) on Instagram for more info! Visit: https://www.tablereadpodcast.com/ Contact: [e-mail]   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first step along your path to a gateway. A gateway beyond which is discovery. Your own discovery of reality, of truth, of who and what you are. Now a simple preparation. Because of the special audio techniques used, it's important that certain sounds reach your right ear and others your left ear. To be sure of this, you should be hearing my voice in your right ear at this moment. If you are not hearing my voice in your right ear, turn your headphones around now so that you are hearing my voice in your right ear. Hello, listener. Lieutenant Colonel Wayne M. McDonald here.

Last time, you found out why I issued a report to the CIA about Gateway and its ability to let you traverse time and space via your mind. This time, we delve deeper into the mystery. Buckle up. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald, good to see you back with us. Youle up. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald, good to see you back with us. You're looking well. Thank you, nurse.

That mini-submarine was quite an experience. Mr. Monroe says you're making great progress. Today we're moving into hypnotism. Should help you concentrate. If it'll help me get closer to finding what happened to my father, I'll try it. Once I achieved Focus 12, I wanted to know what else I could do. Naturally, I wanted to use it to find unobtainable answers.

Answers to the questions that hang on through the years. To the mystery of St. Mary Glees on June 7th, 1944. My dad made it ashore at Normandy. It was even a photo. But he vanished a day later in St. Mary Glees and was declared MIA. I spent my life wanting to know what happened. At school, a boy had started a rumor that my dad was a coward, a drunken deserter who ran off with a French whore. I still remember how it felt when I heard that. And how it felt breaking that kid's nose.

How is everyone today? Is our star subject prepared? He's wired up. Chamber's ready too. I want you to prep me for a trip to 1944 in France. I know it's important to you, but that's way off our program. Let's revisit this after you've progressed further, okay? We need to prove that we can get past the information distortion issue and provide actionable intelligence. And we need to figure out those entities you've talked about.

I don't think you understand. When I'm moving into those other areas, I hear voices, people talking. Sometimes I know them. Conversations from the past. I'm pretty sure I hear him. My dad. Stay inside your energy resonance balloon and ignore those voices. Continue on into that missile site. We need details. If you want me to report that your method works, you need to prove it to me first. Then it goes in my report. Let's agree on a deal. You get me the location of the missile base. I'll facilitate you visiting D-Day. Roger that. And finding my father. I can help you. Hold on. Have you heard of psilocybin?

Excuse me? Known as magic mushrooms. Yes, I've heard of those. How do you feel about them? They're illegal. And I put my assistant on report for using them in Laos. They may help you get further into Gateway. Wait, you're suggesting illicit narcotics?

Psychedelics, actually. If you want progress, we've got to understand where this is going. I'm not prepared to plunge into illegality. I'm glad you have plenty of time to invest and can forgo their assistance. My mother's in a home in failing. I need to tell her the truth before she's gone. This could help you get her the answers in time. Perhaps I could make a single exception. Is there any danger I'll experience? Unpleasantness? Take these, then lay back. In 45 minutes or so, we'll run the audio. Enjoy your journey. Then have another look

for that missile base. Yes? It went against everything I stood for. At least then. Vietnam was a war against bra-burning hippies. At least to some of my colleagues. But I tried it. I was going to eventually find my father, the truth about my father. But I needed to find that missile base first. Waves of color and light washed over me. I imagined a field of grain waving in the wind, waving at me. I found myself giggling at ridiculous thoughts. And I found it worked. Does that make me a hypocrite? Life eventually

does this to a lot of us. Yes? I'll be right down. I need to see another patient for a moment. I'll be back. To make an omelet, you've got to break some eggs. Nurse Fields went to visit them while I entered the world of altered states. I didn't know yet, but there were secret rooms in the basement at the facility where they kept the broken eggs. She was visiting them. Yes, Dr. Alexander? Are you running more tests upstairs? How is that your concern?

Because my comatose patient just sat up and moved his eyes. That's not funny. You turned him into a zombie. You fix him. I'm not joking. For just a few seconds, he sat up. I don't know what to tell you. If only Itzhak was here, he could figure this out.

They've hidden him away where no one will find him. Hidden away so well, they effectively halted his work. The bad guys won. Maybe you know where they hid him? In any case, Itzhak isn't here. And Captain DeMarc here has gone off on a mental walkabout. Forever, apparently. He'll find his way back.

Eight months is a long time to be clicked out. I really believe your tests upstairs are having an effect. If we could coordinate, get in touch with Bentov. Random neurons firing. He's mentally gone, just like the poor saps in the next two rooms. We're taking a big risk putting McDonald through it. We've improved the process, refined it. If I could just see McDonald's charts. Not going to happen. So long, Doctor. Yes, I'll see you at your performance review next week. Good luck, by the way. I sometimes leave things on my desk at night.

Uh-huh. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald. Come in. Nurse Fields. This is unexpected. What can I do for you? I hope you're enjoying your free time. I wanted to check on you and bring you this. My pager. I didn't realize I'd left it in the lab. Mr. Monroe had me remove it so you wouldn't be distracted. Wait, don't you have weekends off? Not usually. I have tomorrow off to go to church.

Very good. I'll be traveling to Staten Island to visit my mother. She's in an elder care facility there, correct? Yes. She has good days and bad days. I'm hoping to get some answers about my dad for her before she's completely gone. Best wishes on your visit. Have you noticed anything odd during the tests here? she's completely gone. Best wishes on your visit.

Have you noticed anything odd during the tests here? Well, odd has new meanings now. What do you mean exactly? I don't know. Do you ever get lost out there? No. I can always just transition back to

focus 10, then focus 3, and then poof, I'm right back here. Sorry I bothered you. Oh, if something comes up, just call my contact number from the base. Captain Parsons can reach me. Yes, have a nice visit with your mother. I'll ask the facilities people to drop some flowers off before you go. Her visit didn't make me feel at ease. In fact, quite the opposite. When the flowers showed up an hour later, I was still thinking about her worried look. Her visit didn't make me feel at ease. In fact, quite the opposite. When the flowers showed up an hour later, I was still thinking about her worried look.

What did she know? What wasn't she telling me? She's been fairly good this week. Had a couple better days. Even did a painting. Been asking about you a lot. Yeah, well, I've been out of town on a mission. When I finish, I'll be able to visit more.

I hope so. She's always talking about you. Gets her days and visits confused sometimes. Be adaptable, keep smiling, even if she doesn't make perfect sense. Mrs. McDonald, your son Wayne is here to see you. Well, what are you waiting for? Send him in. See what I mean? Still got that spark. Go on in.

Wayne, have you been eating properly? You look thin. Yes, Mother. I had roast beef last night, and I brought you something. Oh, they're lovely. There's a vase in the bathroom. Where would you like them? There, by the window. The red ones glow in the sunlight. How have you been, Mom?

You look really good. I should. Eva did my hair yesterday. She really knows her way around the curlers. Yeah, she does good work. Did you get a haircut, too? You look different from last week. Um, Mom, my current mission has me posted in Virginia.

It's been two months since I visited. Nonsense. You were sitting in that very chair, telling me you were going to visit your father in France. He's not there, you know. Been dead a long time. But he did love you. Sent letters every day. They're here somewhere, I think. Mom, the work I'm doing is experimental. It's got me thinking about Dad. Do you ever wonder... Where's that friend of yours?

That one from high school? Robbie Allen, wasn't it? He was with you last time, but never said a word. A chill blew through me. Robbie had been dead for 20-plus years at that point. Gassed himself with a pickup truck while we were in high school.

Birthday gone horribly off the rails. But I hadn't spoken of him in decades, though he was often on my mind. Okay, Mom, I, uh... Hey, are those chocolate chip cookies I see over there? I sure could use one. Yes, you could. Too thin. Please help yourself.

Mildred Barris baked them. Mildred Barris? Uh, okay. Thanks, Mom. Maybe the kitchen here made them. I get confused now. It's all right, Mom. Maybe the kitchen here made them. I get confused now. It's all right, Mom. Don't get upset. They're delicious.

I think my watch stopped. I keep forgetting to wind it. No, no. It's the right time. 2 p.m. It runs on batteries, so you don't have to wind this one, Mom. You got it for Christmas. Batteries? Why do I wind it every day, then? I found the visit somewhat disquieting. But it was her insistence that I'd recently been there that really got to me. I'd certainly been thinking about her quite a lot.

I returned to the Institute. Mr. Monroe, a rare pleasure. Come in, please. What brings you to crew quarters? I could hear you typing from down the hall. Yeah. The brass requested an interim report. And?

I've summed up the training as... relatively successful. You've taken the process to heart. But... But we don't have proof of effectiveness yet. I'm aware. I wish I could report something, anything that demonstrated positive results. If you don't, they might pull my funding. Then you'll never get your answers. Your dad. I can't help that. I can only report the truth. Can you give us another

few days? I've got a surprise coming that I think can better prep you for your next journey. Okay, I'm willing to try. Although I'm not convinced that the mushrooms are the best path. I think I have something better. Good. Look, I can hold the report off for a few more days. Thank you. I'll see you in the lab after lunch. I already ate. Okay, let's go get those answers. Roger that. We were both motivated, but for different reasons. If I could pinpoint where that base was or gain some operational intelligence about it, we could both move forward. Continued failure wasn't an option. Niels Bohr, the renowned physicist, once responded to his son's complaints about the obtuse

nature of certain concepts in physics by saying, you are not thinking, you are merely being logical. The physics of altered human consciousness deals with some conceptualizations that are not thinking. You are merely being logical. The physics of altered human consciousness deals with some conceptualizations that are not easily grasped or visualized exclusively in the context of ordinary left-brain linear thinking. So, to borrow Dr. Bohr's mode of expression, parts of this paper will require not only logic, but a touch of right-brain intuitive insight to achieve a complete comfortable grasp of the concepts involved. Nevertheless, once that is done, I am confident that their construction and application will stand up to the test of rational critique. How's he doing? He's getting close to the REM state.

Switch to Focus 15 content. I think we can get him there this time. Perhaps Dr. Alexander should be here? That quack? He's turned three soldiers into potted plants. He's not screwing this one up. As you say, switching to Focus 15 content now. Let's get the location of that base. You can understand why he wants to find out about his father, can't you? We've offered him an opportunity he can't pass up. I'm not convinced he's going to like what he finds.

Knowing is better than not knowing. I hope you're right. I think he's moving into REM state. Watch him. I found myself at the missile base again, wandering the halls in a bleached-out reality. I serenely moved into their space with no time passing. I tried to read the signs on the base. I know the Cyrillic alphabet and speak some Russian, but still couldn't make sense of anything. Some Russian, but still couldn't make sense of anything.

He's in deep REM. Hopefully he's found the base and avoids that presence that always upsets him. Don't encourage him with that entity talk. I wish he would just avoid it until we get the funding secured. Really? Things don't work that way. Lab. The landing's secured. Really? Things don't work that way. Lab? Nurse Fields?

It's Dr. Alexander for you. Tell him I'm busy with an experiment. He says it's important. Let me have the phone. Dr. Alexander, I'm busy. Ma'am? And if he calls back, I'm even busier. Yes, ma'am.

I missed all of the drama in the lab. I was far, far away. I'd found the Russian base. I finally knew where it was and couldn't wait to get back and tell my superiors. But there was a problem. A glowing one staring at me from across the missile silo. And it didn't look happy. Hey, who are you? Why are you following me?

Please answer me. I need to know. I want to know. You're not ready. Robbie, but you're gone. You can't... Maybe I'm someone else. Don't go to France. My shock at this point was extreme. I thought I'd started to recognize the entity, but its shape and voice shifted again. Was it my friend who killed himself in high school? Now I wasn't sure.

Why not explain things to me? At this point, the entity grew massively into a glowing ball of light, I wasn't sure. Why not explain things to me? At this point, the entity grew massively into a glowing ball of light, racing toward me at impossible speed. I'm bringing him out. His heart is racing. You're thwarting our progress. I'm saving our test subject. She leaned down and spoke in my ear.

Wayne, it's time to come back now. It's not good to talk to him while he's coming back. Not now. He's with us again. Robbie, hold on, wait. Where did he go? Who? My friend, Robbie. Where does he live?

Never mind. If you're looking for an address for that base, start in Yakutsk. Send your Blackbirds there. You're sure? Roger that. And let me know when you've located it. I'll inform the brass. I had their answer. But nobody knew the cost yet.

Calm yourself, Lieutenant Colonel. Your heart rate's still elevated. You can relax now. You've proven the program works. I'm gonna finally meet my father. It's kind of hard to relax knowing that. Let's get you settled back in your quarters. You need to rest. Okay, fair enough. But you tell Monroe I expect him to start the training for my D-Day mission tomorrow. Yes, Lieutenant Colonel. Was I right? Yes, indeed you were.

Hidden underground in a forest, as you described. But I still advise that you hold off on this D-Day thing. Give me one valid reason. You... you aren't prepared to go... I said a valid reason. My family has waited 40 years for this answer. Then what's a few more months?

The answer might not make you happy. But I need to know what happened to my father. There's someone here to see you. To offer special help. Special help? I'd like to introduce you to the man behind the science.

It's Ogbentov. Wait, what? No one can know where you are. What are you doing here? That is why I'm dressed as a janitor. And just spent a half hour mopping the hallway. I want to see you achieve your goals. Monroe tells me you are close. I have some ideas.

I'll give it a try, but you really shouldn't be seen by anyone. Concerned that I wasn't making enough progress, Monroe had gotten Itzhak bent off himself to come push me over the top. Monroe wanted a favorable report and the funding it would bring. This effort is worth my reappearance. I can't hide forever. Let's get to work. So I got my wish. Itzhak broke protocol and provided special training in hypnosis. Monroe kept his end of the bargain. And I got more. Much more than I bargained for. I'm here. I can't believe it. I'm here. I can't believe it. I expected to be an observer, as before. Turns out I was a participant.

Halt, Schweinhund! No! Wait! Wait, you can see me? And there you have it. I progressed through the ascending consciousness phases and got my wish. But it wasn't what I expected. Funny how life frequently works out that way. In any case, if you want to know more about that journey and how the rest of my report came out, come back for our next episode.

You won't be bored. Nice. Nice. Nice. I don't want to get too more read. I love doing this fine hood. Yeah. Yes.

Can you- I have one question that is nurse fields, random neurons firing. Maybe my ears are failing, but I can hear neurons. Good. So find that line. In the meanwhile, Nick, let's get two more from your halt. What? How were you saying?

One with both of them more intense. One more fear, one more anger. Okay, sounds good. Yeah. By all means. I'm going to stand up. Yeah, please, do stand. We'll pick it up right there.

Okay. Yeah, just yell at me. Nick, can we go back and forth? Your line, my line, your line, my line? Okay. So I can match your energy. Halt, Schweinehund! No!

Wait, you can see me? Halt, Schweinehund! No! Wait, you can see me? Halt, Schweinehund! No! Wait, wait, you can see me? Halt, Schweinehund! No! Wait, wait, you can see me? Like a bulldog. Page six. You found it? Yeah. Okay. What page is it?

Page six. Random neurons firing. He's mentally gone, just like the poor saps in the next two rooms. We're taking a big risk putting McDonald through it.