The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
The Long Way Around
The Long Way Around: Futuro Media’s first fiction podcast series tells the story of a Black American father and his Black Vietnamese American daughter who set out across the United States in hope of rebuilding their lives. From the impact of incarceration on parents and children to issues of immigration, environmental racism, and the fight for fair wages, this audio drama written by Emmy winning screenwriter Trey Ellis offers a moving and clear-eyed look at our contemporary struggles and how, through solidarity, we can make a change. With a focus on representation and centering voices of color, this series presents an expansive multicultural cast and creative team, including Emmy Award-winner Karrueche Tran.
The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
Episode 1: The Journey Begins
After serving three years for a white-collar crime, Albert “Bumpy” Watkins is released into a post-Covid America, where he must navigate his new status as a formerly incarcerated person and his new role as a single parent to teenager Mercy Watkins.
The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
Episode 2: Re-Acquaintance
Feeling that Galveston, Texas is the wrong place for a Black man and his biracial daughter, Bumpy and Mercy begin their journey north to Minnesota via a long-haul train ride. However, navigating their new relationship is proving almost as difficult as traveling.
The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
Episode 3: Rewind-Tension
Tensions are high as Bumpy and Mercy realize that their three-years apart while Bumpy was in prison pose a bigger obstacle than either anticipated. Their father-daughter bond is further tested when a passenger questions their relationship to each other.
The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
Episode 4: Rebound/Re-bond
With the altercation with the cops binding them to each other in a whole new way, Mercy and Bumpy explore New Orleans and Memphis while trying to decide where to settle in Minnesota. They’ve almost reached a decision when an accident derails their plans.
The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
Episode 5: Repair
Stranded in Illinois, Bumpy and Mercy’s situation begins to unravel. As the father and daughter debate their next steps —as well as speak with other passengers about the future— a road forward seems even more uncertain than ever.
The Long Way Around, We Imagine US
Episode 6: Renew
Bumpy and Mercy finally make up their minds about where they want to settle in Minnesota and rebuild their lives. However, a late-night party, Bumpy’s lingering health issues, a well-meaning neighbor and overzealous cops all combine to challenge the fragile future they have built.
Credits
Executive Producer
Lead Writer
Director & Casting Director
Composer
Podcast Producer
Senior Project Editor & Researcher
Sound Designer
Recording Engineer
Senior Video Producer
Senior Digital Producer
Senior Supervising Producer
Production Manager
Producer-Editor
Post Production Supervising Producer
Fact-Checker
