What scares you, podcast listeners? Maybe you're afraid of heights, or clowns, or maybe you're afraid of the dark. After all, you never know what might be lurking in the dark. Quiet! I'm recording the opening! That's better. Mars Patel and his friends have again found themselves in the pitch-black forest of my island. But what they didn't find is my school, Pruitt Prep. Where is it, you might ask? It must exist.
It has a website. Enough said about that. Time to drop you back on Gale Island as Mars, Caddy, JP and Toothpick make their way to the beach. Back. through the dark woods. Schools don't just disappear. I used to think people didn't just disappear either, JP. Maybe we're on the wrong part of the island. I followed the school maps.
ProPrep is just through the Meridani Forest in the middle of the Amazonas Planacia field. Or it's supposed to be. Except all that's in the middle of the Amazonas Plutonia whatever is a big empty nothing. There's gotta be an explanation. Yeah, like what if the school was never there in the first place? You mean it's a fake location? Or a fake school. I agree with you, Mars. I didn't say anything. You didn't? Oh, sorry.
Of course there's a school. We've seen all the YouTube videos. Videos can be faked. Just look at the moon landing. What about the picture of the president coming out of the helicopter to greet Oliver Pruitt? Yeah, politicians never lie. Pruitt Prep exists. Okay, so maybe the school just flew away. Well, no one is saying that, JP.
But Oliver Pruitt is one of the richest people on Earth. Why would he invent a fake school? Why would he take our friends? We don't know that he took Aurora and Jonas. The more we know, the less we know. Come on. The beach is through this clearing. Um, Mars? Where did you park the boat? On the beach, right over...
Am I missing it somehow? The boat is gone. I can confirm that. Helpful as always, toothpick. We're not Mars. We're not what? You were wondering how we're getting off the island without a boat? We're not. I don't know what to say. We're here and you're not. Nothing is here. And now we're stuck. Mars out? Are we sure this is the spot?
I constructed a marker where we entered the jungle. First rule of orienteering. Whenever navigating unfamiliar territory... Maybe the tide came up and washed the boat away. Uh, toothpick! What size boots do you wear? I wear crocs so my feet can breathe. You know that. Yeah, well, someone left a big scary boot print next to your fancy stone marker right before you stole our boat. But there's no one else on the island, as far as we know.
We all heard that, right? What was that thing? Come on, come on. JP, don't bother with the phone. There's no signal here. I'd give anything for one little bar. The fairy comes in the morning, right? How do we know that's not a fake, too? We saw it on the docks. So let's get through the night and we'll figure it out in the morning. I can go with you, Mars. What? You said you wanted to get wood to build a fire. I didn't say that.
But it's a solid idea. Pic, can you work on a shelter? I can construct a Native American gawa if someone helps me lift the big branches. How do you know how to do that? I just do. It pops into my brain. I'll help you with... Whatever you just said. Okay, we'll be back here by the marker.
I think over there will be better. Better than what? Than on the beach where you were going to look for firewood. How did you know it was going to look over there? Is it me or is it getting colder? Like you said. We just have to make it through the night. We'll find the fairy, take our gift tests, serve our detentions, everything will be back to normal. Except Aurora and Jonas will still be missing. What's going on, Caddy? I don't know.
Since we've been on the island, I've started to... hear things. What kind of things? Like, from inside your head. JP and toothpicks, too. You always know what I'm feeling. Not like this. It's so... Clear, like your thoughts are in my head. If you can read my mind, what am I thinking right now? You're thinking this is all your fault, but it's not. We all agreed to come here together. How did you do that?
Do it again. Wait, no, don't. It's too freaky. Believe me, it's freakier for me. I'm hearing everything, and I can't shut it off. Everything? Mars. What? If you wanted to ask me to the dance, you should have just done it. I don't know why that crossed my mind just now. Sorry. Forget it. What you think is your business I'll try not to listen Would you want to go to the dance with me I mean if we ever get off this island Are you only asking me because I read your thoughts
I'm not really sure how to answer that. Yes. Okay, yes. I would love to go to the dance with you. And yes, of course I'm thinking it too. Thinking what? that we could be the next ones to disappear. One more loop and then I can tie it off. You've been working on that knot for ten minutes, toothpick. Hurry or I'm going to drop this tree trunk on your head. My fingers are freezing. Okay, let it go. It's actually pretty good.
This structure is sufficient to insulate us against the cold for at least one night. If I could just stop shivering. Here, take my sweatshirt. I run hot anyway. Okay. Take my scarf. That's all right. I'm good. I insist. Since when do you know so much about camping? It's hard to explain, but being here on this island makes my head clearer. The island is making you smarter?
I'd have to take an acute test to confirm it. Maybe I should walk into the woods and see if- No! You're not walking away again. You don't know how much you scared us when you went missing in the woods before. You were worried you'd get lost without my map. No, Pic. We were worried about you. Oh. You worry about me a lot. That's why you start fights whenever anyone says something mean to me.
I just don't like it. I can handle myself, you know. I know you can. Especially now that you're a super genius. Thank you. For worrying. Anytime. Hey guys, we found some wood. I hope someone knows how to make a fire before we turn into Slurpees. Brainiac created that fire starter to fit over there. It's just a tinder nest and a simple handbow. We can use the wood Caddy is carrying as kindling once someone burns a hole in the fireboard. JP? Easy peasy.
I stuffed a piece of my pajama sleeve into the borehole as an accelerator. Be careful. It's highly flamful. You're smoking. Keep going. Is this supposed to be that much smoke? Smells like gas. Fire! JP! Your scarf is on fire! Hey, are you okay? Hold still. It's okay, Caddy. Your neck! Relax, guys. Fire's out. That's impossible. There's no mark on your neck. Not even a scratch. The fire didn't burn you at all.
You know, some of us go through life without discovering what makes ourselves special. But in fact, all of us are special somehow. Maybe you're an excellent chess player. Or maybe you know how to extract water from ancient underground icebergs. Point is, it's up to you to discover exactly what your talent is. Because who knows? I might very well put it to use at Pruitt Prep one day.
That doesn't mean you can simply show up in the middle of the night and expect to be admitted as Mars and his friends did. After all, Puit Prep itself is a very special place. And teachers and students don't find me. You can let go, Mars. I'm fine. Stop looking at my neck. You're on fire. We all fought. Told you, I run hot. That flame was over 1100 degrees Fahrenheit.
That's 585 degrees Celsius. You can't be fine. But she is. Right? Did you feel it burn? For a second. But then it stopped and kind of tickled. You got set on fire and it... Hey, Gold. I'm going to hit you with a stick, JP. Sure. I'm testing her, Mars. Did that hurt? Nah. I could feel it, fine. But, like, a tap.
You're immune to moderate force. Maybe it's the island. Like, how it grew toothpick's brain. Toothpick? I'm super smart now. Something's going on with Caddy, too. She can eat her thoughts. Like, for real. It's... It's changing all of us. It's taking the things we're good at and supersizing them. What about you, Mars? Do you fly or shoot lasers from your eyeballs or something? No, I'm just me. Except cold.
I thought you didn't have any bars. I do now. What's the text say? You're not alone. From somebody named L.I.L. What's that sound? It's a boat. It's coming toward us. Hand me a stick. Stay inside the shelter, guys. There's one person. Can you hear what he's thinking? No, it's too... JP! It's Mr. Q. Mr. Q! I'm glad I found you. Hop in. Let's get you out of here before you freeze. Excellent timing. You're a lifesaver.
Just doing my thing. Caddy, give me your hand. Thank you. Okay, are we ready? Something wrong, Mars? After I ran into you in the hall, I had a feeling you were up to something. You trust me, don't you? Don't you? Mr. Q showed up when he did. Now Mars and his friends will be back at school to take their gift tests. Do you like tests? If you'd like to take mine, visit PruittPrep.com.
I guarantee it won't be like any test you've taken before. Signing off, this is Oliver Pruitt. Oh, and don't forget to review me on iTunes. Find your next adventure at gzmshows.com. Shh, it's starting. I'm Debra Goldstein, host of the game show The Big Fib. And I'm the sound effects robot, Lisa. Each week we bring you a hilarious podcast where human child contestants have to figure out who's an actual expert. And who's a liar, liar, pants on fire.
Just listen to these great reviews on Apple Podcasts. User Addie Kitty says... I love this podcast. Lisa is my favorite. User Ichabog says, Lisa is so funny. Oh my God, they're right. And user Ice Wolf says, more Lisa. More, more, more, more. Interesting selection. Who picked these reviews? Not me.
Okay, I guess I am the liar. It was me. And oh, look at that! My pants are on fire! Deborah, my pants are on fire! For more fun facts and a few fibs, follow The Big Fib on Apple Podcasts or on gzmshows.com. Oh, my poor pants!