2.6 – Revelation

EPISODE 2.6 – REVELATION

SETTING – Outdoors, birds.

Footsteps.

DOMINIC

Rox! You’re out!

ROXANNE

(stoked)

Yep!

DOMINIC

DId you get it!

ROXANNE

I did, miraculously. Did you ever doubt me?

DOMINIC

Always.

ROXANNE

C’mere.

They kiss.

ROXANNE

*takes a deep cleansing breath*

If I ever talk about doing something like that again, tell me not to.

DOMINIC

I told you not to do it this time.

ROXANNE
Yeah, well, do a better job next time. That was nuts. So many things that could go wrong. I might not even be here now but I had Carrie Kray on my side.

DOMINIC

How so?

ROXANNE

She was there, when everyone else was out, because she’s not really one of them. But then she ran to the bathroom, because she cares what they think and didn’t want to be having a scene in front of them. But, of course, they wouldn’t have cared. Or would they? We’ve got to learn more about what they do and don’t care about.

DOMINIC

You’re rambling.

ROXANNE

*laughs*

Sorry, I’m still coming down. Whew!

DOMINIC

What’s the plan now? We didn’t set up an “everything went perfectly” contingency.

ROXANNE

We split up. You give Nick her thingy back, then take this USB stick to Thee, and tell her it’s a copy of data I stole from Kray. Whatever else you tell her is up to you. I’m going home.

DOMINIC

You know, sending this through me isn’t going to protect you. Thee’s going to find you sooner or later.

ROXANNE
I know. I’ll sneak out later like usual, and I can face the music then. I just want to see the folks one more time, in case Thee decides to lock me up or smuggle me out of here for my own safety or something.

DOMINIC

Right. But before you go: What was it like? Actually doing it.

ROXANNE

It was amazing. Like I was really alive for the first time. But I’m completely okay with never living like that again. I don’t know what to do with all the energy.

Beat.

DOMINIC

I know what you could do with it.

ROXANNE

Yeah, I bet…Huh. You know what Evans, just in case Thee DOES send me off somewhere, help me work off some tension before I see the fams.

DOMINIC

Glad to oblige.

ROXANNE
*pleased noise*

SETTING – SCHOLL HOUSE.

Quiet for a moment, then the door opens, letting in cricket sounds, and closes again, shutting them out.

SHELLY

*anger seething below Looker exterior*

You are late for dinner.

ROXANNE

*jolly*

Shel, I specifically asked you not to call me that. Call me anything else you like, but don’t call me that.

SHELLY

*sighs*

As always, a joke.

ROXANNE
It’s how I cope with life’s trials and tumults.

SHELLY

Well then, you should probably get another joke ready.

ROXANNE
*catching her changed mood for the first time*

Wait, what’s wrong? Why is the light in the kitchen out? Where’s Mom?

SHELLY

Our mother’s body is in the morgue.

ROXANNE

WHAT?!?

SHELLY

The rest of her lives on in us.

ROXANNE
You- She can’t- How could this happen?

SHELLY

I see that your jokes have failed you.

ROXANNE

Okay, shut up. Tell me what happened.

SHELLY

Please explain how I can both shut up and tell-

Roxanne slaps Shelly hard across the face.

SHELLY

Roxanne, I understand that you have flimsy control over your emotions. But if you raise your hand to me again, I will put you in the hospital.

ROXANNE

*losing her composure, breathing heavily*

I’m sorry.

SHELLY

And only the self-control that the Unity gives me will stop me from laying you out permanently next to our mother.

ROXANNE

*still losing it*

Please, just tell me what happened.

SHELLY

That is still under investigation.

ROXANNE

But do you know?

SHELLY
I know certain facts. But I am not authorized to share them with you.

ROXANNE

Can’t you tell me anything? Was she sick? Was she murdered?

SHELLY

I will tell you one thing, if you will do me…a favor.

ROXANNE
What?

SHELLY

Do you agree?

Beat.

ROXANNE

Yes.

SHELLY

She fell from the roof of the Liaison building. Fell or was pushed.

ROXANNE
Oh God. Who would do that?

SHELLY

That is the subject of the investigation. Now to my request.

ROXANNE
What is it?

SHELLY

Start your nocturnal adventure early tonight. Do not wait for dinner. Take something to eat from the refrigerator, and go. Do not come back until after midnight.

ROXANNE

*surprised at how deeply this hits her*
Why?

SHELLY

When Father comes home from the morgue, I would like to share my thoughts…and feelings…about this…with him, alone.

ROXANNE
I should be here with you guys. She was my mother too.

.

SHELLY

You have the entire rest of your life to be here. For tonight, be elsewhere. You…promised.

ROXANNE
*deep breath*

Okay.

Roxanne goes to the kitchen, opens the fridge, takes out some fruit and a roll, closes it, starts to walk out, opens the door. Cricket sounds resume.

SHELLY

And Roxanne…

ROXANNE

Yes?

SHELLY

She really did love you, after the Look. It was not an act.

ROXANNE

I know that, dummy.

Door closes, silence returns,

SETTING – LIAISON OFFICE

CARRIE

I still find it difficult to believe that something like this could happen. I’ve never heard of anything like it happening before. I have to wonder if it’s the Unaltered at work. I know that some of them didn’t like her, even with everything she did for them.

BRENDA

Carrie…our footage of the roof entrance shows that she entered it alone. And no one else went through the door before those investigating her death.

CARRIE

There are other ways on and off a roof.

BRENDA
That’s true but…Carrie, you were working with Sylvia closely. Did you find her to be…having any difficulty keeping her emotions contained?

CARRIE

Well…yes, I did. She was pursuing the Evans boy in a very emotional manner. Like it was personal between them. And there were other signs.

BRENDA

But you did not report this?

CARRIE

I…didn’t feel it was my place. I spoke to her about it, and hoped it would get better. I suppose I should have done more.

BRENDA

You lapse does not merit punishment, Carrie, so do not punish yourself. Many of us were aware that Sylvia was undergoing some measure of turmoil, but we all had our reasons for leaving it be. Perhaps we should be careful about our feeling of superiority to the Unaltered, the assumption that we take care of each other while they each live for themselves. We may have let our biological connection make us complacent about actively reaching out.

CARRIE

But…I’ve never heard about anything like this happening before.

BRENDA
We do not normally speak of such things outside the Unity, but they do happen. The Look is not always perfectly transmitted, and not all brains are perfectly suited for it. Most cases of self-harm happened soon after receiving the Look, and following more visible trauma, but the circumstances here would not be unprecedented.

CARRIE

So you’re not investigating the possibility of Resistance activity?

BRENDA

We are investigating all available evidence. All Unaltereds who entered the building today were accounted for at that moment. We have video of Sylvia’s Unaltered daughter leaving through the main lobby minutes before her death. Perhaps the two of them had words which aggravated Sylvia’s problems.

CARRIE

Does the daughter know?

BRENDA
She has been notified.

CARRIE

Hm. I would have liked to have been there when she found out.

BRENDA
The Altered sister shared that complete experience with me. Roxanne showed every sign of extreme shock and surprise.

CARRIE

Where is she now?

BRENDA
She is at large. I would speculate that she will be seeking out her own kind to mourn with. You can certainly interview her if you wish. But I would not want this matter to distract you from your primary mission.

CARRIE

Well, that mission is a waiting game for now. I’ve set something in motion that should either pay off shortly or show that we have a long way yet to go. Until that happens, I would welcome a distraction.

BRENDA
Well, in that case I will have the family wait up for her, and notify us when she returns, although my understanding is that that will not do so until quite late. Would you want to interview her then?

CARRIE

Mmmmm…I want to, but I’d better not. It would be great to get her when she’s tired and unprepared, but given that she’s probably innocent, and in the midst of grieving, it would be bad for community relations. I’ll have some of the people you assigned me watch the house and make sure she doesn’t leave again, and then I’ll visit her in the morning.

BRENDA

That seems very sensible. Well in that case, good luck in all of your investigations. I must say, your application to this sort of work have more than justified our confidence in you.

CARRIE

Thank you very much. It may be difficult to go back to reading news now. It seems like there’s so much to be done.

BRENDA

That is certainly something we can discuss, when the time comes. For now, good hunting.

SETTING – CHARLES’S APARTMENT

Soft classical music is playing. Roxanne knocks on the door. After a few moments, it is opened by Jeremy. He is an extremely correct Looker.

JEREMY

Yes?

ROXANNE

Hello, you must be Jeremy. I’m Roxanne Scholl. I visit here sometimes, for the Liaison Office.

JEREMY

My father and I have already had our dinner.

ROXANNE

Oh, it’s not about that. I was just wondering if I could speak with him for a little bit.

CHARLES (next room over)

Who’s at the door? Is that Roxanne?

JEREMY

*To Roxanne*

Hm.

*To Charles*

Yes it is, Father.

CHARLES (next room over)

Well bring her in. Unless she’s here to ask you out.

JEREMY

Are you here to ask me out?

ROXANNE

Um…no.

JEREMY

Then please follow me.

Roxanne closes the door behind her, and they step into the next room. The classical music gets slightly louder.

CHARLES

Roxanne! How nice to hear your voice. Welcome to my inner sanctum.

ROXANNE

Nice to…see you, Mr. Timmons. I’m here…I wanted to talk with you for a few minutes, if that’s okay. It’s nothing work-related.

CHARLES

Wonderful! Jeremy, that’s your cue to exit. Close the door behind you, and no listening.

JEREMY

*slightly offended*

Of course.

Jeremy closes the door.

CHARLES

Have a seat, Roxanne. What’s on your mind?

ROXANNE

There’s a lot…I don’t know how much of it I can talk about. It’s just…I can’t talk to the people who’d understand right now. My boyfriend and the closest thing I have to a girl friend are off with…with someone who’s probably really mad at me. And I can’t deal with facing her or the Lookers right now. But I have to talk to someone because my brain feels like it’s on fire…

CHARLES
Slow down, girl. Just tell me one thing, and we’ll work on that.

ROXANNE

My Mom died today. I can’t believe I’m saying that.

CHARLES

That’s a big blow.

ROXANNE
That isn’t everything.

CHARLES
But it’s enough for now. Your mother is…was…a Looker, as I recall.

ROXANNE

That’s right.

CHARLES
So you lost some of her months ago.

ROXANNE

Yeah. You’d think that would mean this was no big deal. But there were bits of her left, even without…well even just talking to her. She was still…she was one of them, but she was still Mom. And I guess she was something else too, something new, but I was learning to love that a little.

CHARLES

And that’s why you came to me. Because I live with Jeremy. You and I are both Stayers.

ROXANNE
I…didn’t think it through that far.

CHARLES

You’re groping in the dark…blind, you might say. But your instincts are taking you to the right places. They’ll do that, if you’ve got good ones and develop them well. Do you have more Looker family, here?

ROXANNE

My sister and my Dad. But…she and I had a fight, and she kicked me out of the house.

CHARLES
For good?

ROXANNE

Just for tonight.

CHARLES

So it’s still your home.

ROXANNE

Yeah, it is. And I love them too. Shelly…I’m sure if this had happened before the Look we’d have fought anyway, and she’d have wanted to do the same thing.

CHARLES

So it sounds like you have love and friendship around you, you just have a tendency to piss people off a little.

ROXANNE

Accurate.

CHARLES
So you’ve angered the people who love you before?

ROXANNE

Yeah.

CHARLES

And did they stop loving you?

ROXANNE

No. I’m hard to shake off.

CHARLES
Then this will probably pass, too. You just need to give it some time.

ROXANNE

I will. And maybe in even a few hours I can be strong and hear them all out. But- but right now. I…I really need my mommy.

*breathes*

CHARLES
That’s understandable. But be careful of that word. Need. You want your Mom. You would benefit from her presence. But we as beings are designed to continue without our parents. Nature has cried it, from the first corpse, to she that has died today: “This must be so.”

ROXANNE

But…there’s something else. Something I…want…her to forgive me for.

CHARLES
There always is.

ROXANNE

Not like this.

CHARLES

If it’s like that…then I’m afraid you can’t tell it to me. Jeremy’s a good boy, but he’s also a good Looker. And who knows who else might be listening? But I’m sorry about your mother, and I’m sorry I never got to meet her. It sounds like she was quite a woman.

ROXANNE

She was…a lot to live with. I just feel like I should have appreciated her more.

CHARLES

Well, you appreciate her now. And we parents don’t sign up to this job for the applause. Well, maybe some of us do, but we learn better. And I’m sure she had some inkling about how you felt.

ROXANNE

Yeah, I think she did.

CHARLES

Well then, you don’t have to be sad for her, just for yourself. And I have a feeling you’re someone who won’t let self-pity grip you for long. Feel it, let it wash over you, and then move on, perhaps to addressing the other thing.

ROXANNE

I will, but…is it okay if I stay here for a while? Just hanging out? I’ve…got a book.

CHARLES

That’s good. Jeremy doesn’t read, and I don’t think my books would do you much good. What have you got?

ROXANNE

It’s called Hellborn. It’s…a pretty trashy horror thing I picked up. Make that…really trashy. There’s this demon, and he gets spread from person to person, like a venereal disease.

CHARLES

Hm. I don’t think I’ll be asking you to read it to me.

ROXANNE

What are YOU reading?

CHARLES

Hamlet. I’ve got the Complete Works here. I don’t just read classics, I wish I had more modern stuff. But it came in handy tonight; I don’t always have a relevant quotation lined up.

ROXANNE

Mom and Dad didn’t read much. He had some World War Two stuff, and she had some celebrity books, but they mostly watched TV. Sometimes…after the Look, it was nice how quiet the house was. I know that’s terrible. And now it’ll be even quieter.

CHARLES

No one’s asking you to hate everything about the world, Roxanne. We’re just expecting you to improve it.

ROXANNE

It’s not easy.

CHARLES

I know. Every generation discovers that, so they have another one that they hope will do better.

ROXANNE

And maybe give you some applause.

CHARLES
Heh. Not in this lifetime.

SETTING: Outdoors. Crickets.

Roxanne walks along, stops when she hears running feet.

DOMINIC

*whisper shouting*

Rox!

ROXANNE

*weary but composed*

Heya.

DOMINIC

I was expecting you to be coming from your house.

ROXANNE

Shelly threw me out.

DOMINIC

Oh wow.

ROXANNE

It’s no big. I think things are okay.

DOMINIC

Good to know.

ROXANNE

Did Thee send you to take me in?

DOMINIC

She sent me, but just with some info. The stuff you brought in is big. Scientific stuff that Thee wouldn’t talk about, but also a bunch of our own Intelligence stuff the mole sent to the Lookers. They’ve already decrypted some of it, and we’ve got runners going all over the place to warn the people who are in danger. And Nicole’s already on the road taking the original stick to the Intelligence office.

ROXANNE

Huh. Poor Jim is going to have to do without a love letter from Shelly this time. What about me?

DOMINIC

Thee really wanted to lock you in a basement somewhere, but she says that, with all they’re doing, they don’t have the personnel to keep you hidden, or to get you out safely. So you’re supposed to pretend that everything’s normal for a while. Well…not normal I guess. I heard about your Mom.

ROXANNE
Ugh.

DOMINIC

I’m sorry. I…have to admit, she wasn’t my favorite person, but I’m sorry.

ROXANNE
If there wasn’t a Look, I think you would have gotten along eventually.

DOMINIC

If there wasn’t a Look, you’d still be dating bikers.

ROXANNE

Heh. Maybe. Could use one now, to burn rubber and get me out of here.

DOMINIC

Hopefully one with a lot of gas rations.

ROXANNE

Ass, grass, or rations, no one rides for free.

DOMINIC

Do you want to hang for a bit?

ROXANNE

No…I may be funny about that for a while. I found out about her right after you and me fooled around; I still had a goofy grin on my face when I walked through that door, and there was Shelly with the news. Screwed me up a little. Might take some time to forget.

DOMINIC

Sure.

ROXANNE

Anyway, if Thee’s not ready to guilt trip me yet, I might as well get Dad and Shelly out of the way.

DOMINIC

Okay. Thee wants you to leave home an hour early tomorrow, so there’ll be time to talk before you’re due at work. But if you hear pebbles against your window tonight, that’ll be me to get you out of here.

ROXANNE

I’ll try to be ready. Okay, wish me luck.

DOMINIC

Good luck.

ROXANNE

So that stuff was really important?

DOMINIC

Seems like it.

ROXANNE

Then I say we part with a high-five.

Slap.

SETTING – SCHOLL HOUSE

Door opens, crickets, door closes.

ROXANNE

Is someone there?

RONALD

It’s me, Roxanne.

Light switch.

ROXANNE

Dad!

She walks up to him, hesitates.

ROXANNE
Can I…would it be okay if I hugged you?

RONALD

Of course. Please do.

Roxanne hugs Ronald.

ROXANNE

I’m so sorry about Mom.

RONALD

I know. Shelly shared the experience of telling you.

Roxanne drops the hug.

ROXANNE

Oh.

RONALD

I am sorry that your sister was so harsh with you. You should understand, she is in a great deal of distress, and some of it may cause her to place blame on inappropriate targets.

ROXANNE
That happens to all of us. Were you waiting up for me?

RONALD

I was.

ROXANNE

Oh, Dad, I might have been out all night.

RONALD

I…hypothesized, that since your sister barred you from the house until midnight, you would be back around then, if not before.

ROXANNE
I guess you know us pretty well.

RONALD

I have tried to.

ROXANNE
I’m surprised you waited in here, rather than being outside where you could look up at the sky.

RONALD

I…there were reasons for me to wait here.

ROXANNE

Ooookay. Do you want to talk about them?

RONALD

I do not.

ROXANNE

I see. Is there anything you do want to talk about?

RONALD

I…wanted to assure you that I am here for you.

ROXANNE

Thanks, Daddy. But how are you? You said that Shelly was hurt, but what about you?

RONALD

I am…adjusting. Losing your mother is a significant diminishment in my life, but there is a great deal left to live for.

ROXANNE

Well, keep in mind that I’m here for you, too.

RONALD

Thank you, but I have the Unity to comfort me. I…think I will go outside and communicate with them now.

ROXANNE

Oh. Okay. Guess I’ll go up to bed, then.

Roxanne starts up the stairs.

RONALD

Oh, Roxanne?

ROXANNE

Yes, Daddy?

RONALD

Did you speak with your mother at work today?

*awkward pause*

It just occurred to me that you might have…while you were both there.

ROXANNE
No. I didn’t see her.

RONALD

Oh, well that is unfortunate. You might have had some insight into…her situation…that others would miss. Good night, Roxanne.

ROXANNE

Good night.

Roxanne goes up the stairs, slowly.

SETTING – LIAISON OFFICE

CARRIE

Good morning, Janice.

JANICE

Good morning, Carrie. I was not expecting you so early.

CARRIE

Couldn’t sleep, too much tension. Can’t tell you why. Any word about Roxanne Scholl?

JANICE

We checked in with the watchers twelve minutes ago, and they said she had not left the house. Should I check again?

CARRIE

No need. I’ll be heading over there once I check in.

JANICE

Very good. You will probably want to know that I received a message just before you arrived, advising you to go to the basement.

CARRIE

Oh my. This could be it.

JANICE
Could be what?

Carrie starts to exit.

CARRIE

Can’t say, Janice. I’ll be back soon!

Elevator noise.

SETTING – Justin’s Room

Usual entering sounds.

JUSTIN

Mrs. Kray.

CARRIE

Justin! Do you have a reply?

JUSTIN

I do.

CARRIE

What is it?

JUSTIN

I…will read it to you: “Thank you for information. Your progress is promising, but not as advanced as I require. Given that, cannot reciprocate at this time. Hope earlier Resistance data was useful. Cannot give more. Will not use this channel of communication again. Apologies, and good wishes. Let Unity Prevail.”

CARRIE

That’s it?

JUSTIN

That is it.

CARRIE

So it was all for nothing.

JUSTIN

Valuable intelligence was gained. And also insights that might be of use at a later time.

CARRIE

But we don’t have the AlphaBeta. We don’t even know if there really was one. Or even if the contact was really an Alpha on our side.

JUSTIN

I am…sorry…that you feel frustrated, Carrie. I can only say, from my prior experience, that this is sometimes the way these things go.

CARRIE

I don’t belong here.

JUSTIN

Carrie?

CARRIE

I’m sorry. I’m not right for this. I’m going back to my husband, and my old job. I’m sorry that you have to stay here alone, but there must be someone better for this than me. Do you have a phone I can use?

JUSTIN

*shocked, on auto-pilot*

Right here.

Carrie dials a short number.

CARRIE

Thank you. Janice?

JANICE (on phone)

Yes, Carrie?

CARRIE

Please have the car fueled up. I’m going home. Get your things, too. I’ll be making a report to the Governor, but I should be ready to leave within two hours. I’ll see you then.

JANICE
But, Carrie…

CARRIE

Yes, what?

JANICE

You were going to interview Roxanne Scholl.

CARRIE

*frustrated breath*

That’s not even my case. I was just butting-in. Take off the surveillance, let the investigators know I’m withdrawing. If they want to talk to her, they’re welcome to. She doesn’t like me, anyway.

JANICE

Yes, Carrie.

SETTING – RESISTANCE HEADQUARTERS. Sounds of computers and light.

Brewster typing.

DOMINIC

Um…Thee? Roxanne is outside.

BREWSTER

*heavy breath*

Send her in.

Roxanne enters.

BREWSTER

I see you look a little the worse for wear this morning. Does the early hour not agree with you?

ROXANNE

A little of that. But I had a really long session with Shelly while I was sleeping, and it has me kind of messed up.

BREWSTER

You’ve told her about your mother, then.

ROXANNE

She already knew. She’d been screaming from behind her eyes for hours. She took a lot of calming down.

BREWSTER

Well I am sorry for your loss. But time is short, so I will be brief. Your venture was successful beyond any reasonable expectation, both bringing in valuable scientific data and detailing our own compromised intelligence.

ROXANNE

Dom told me about that. Does that tell you who the mole is?

BREWSTER

Not specifically, but it narrowed our list. We are making changes now in order to remove all remaining suspects from positions of responsibility.

ROXANNE

Can I know what the scientific stuff was about?

BREWSTER

Only because you will be guiding your sister to find more. Briefly: The Lookers are not close to breaking immunity, despite a great deal of effort, unrestricted by what we would call medical ethics. They have had some success in creating a synthetic version of The Look that has a limited effect on Immunes, but nothing like a full infection. And their attempts to directly introduce the Look into subject brains, bypassing the eyes, which would be necessary in order to infect the blind, have been completely unsuccessful. This is encouraging, and their research will also be a valuable addition to our own in terms of finding vulnerabilities in the infection, but it does not point to any immediate breakthrough for either side.

ROXANNE

If none of it is conclusive, why are you firing everybody? I mean, the Mole hasn’t turned me in, right?

BREWSTER

Even if we chose to rely on the Mole keeping your secret, he has shown a willingness to turn over other information, and we cannot allow your trove to be revealed. Its sudden appearance in our hands can only point to Carrie Kray, and from there, to you.

ROXANNE

Does that mean I’m staying here?

BREWSTER

*another weary breath*

There are a lot of factors which must be weighed in order to decide whether it is more dangerous to keep you here or to send you away. You will be discussing this with your case officer.

ROXANNE

Case officer?

BREWSTER

I have too much on my plate to continue babysitting you. And it seems that you do not fully respect me as a figure of authority.

ROXANNE

I have tremendous respect for you.

BREWSTER

My thanks, but the decision is made. Ah, here he is.

Craig enters.

CRAIG

Hello, Miss Scholl.

ROXANNE

*gasps slightly*

BREWSTER

Major, debrief our young secret agent here. You have less than an hour to assess whether she has a decent chance of making it through the day without being arrested. If you decide she is staying in the area, you will oversee her training from now on. Do you agree to this, Miss Scholl?

ROXANNE

Y-yes?

BREWSTER

Good. I have a great deal to do, so you two can please carry out your business somewhere else. Perhaps Room D. Dismissed.

CRAIG

I believe you know the way, Ms. Scholl?

ROXANNE

I do.

Roxanne and Craig exit, we follow them. He starts undoing the locks on Room D.

ROXANNE

This brings back some memories.

CRAIG

Interesting times.

ROXANNE

How’s your arm?

CRAIG

I can always tell when it’s going to rain.

ROXANNE

And is it?

Craig swings open the Room D door.

CRAIG

Let’s stick to the subject, Ms. Scholl. There’s not a lot of time.

Roxanne walks in. The door slams shut.

SETTING – INTELLIGENCE OFFICE

JIM

Hey!

MARTHA

*muted*

Hey.

JIM

You almost boxed up?

MARTHA

The stuff down here, yeah. I need to start on my office upstairs, and then of course have it all vetted for secret messages to our Looker masters.

JIM

Y’know, talking like that doesn’t make people any less suspicious of us.

MARTHA

Don’t care.

JIM

Do you know if we got today’s delivery? It would be good to know Rox and Shelly are okay before we have to leave.

MARTHA

Nikki’s overdue.

JIM

Ah. Heh. Don’t let her hear you call her that.

MARTHA

Whatever. Going upstairs.

Martha leaves. Jim throws some things into a moving box.

NICOLE

Knock, knock.

JIM

Nicole! We were just talking about you.

NICOLE

Nothing good, I hope.

JIM

Martha doesn’t have much good to say about anybody. You hear?

NICOLE

Yeah, it sucks that you guys got caught in this. But I have to admit, I feel a little safer knowing that they’re doing something. Felt like the Lookers were getting closer to me every day, and that’s not even counting Roxanne.

JIM

That’s the first time I’ve heard you call her by name. Y’know, since I’m leaving anyway, tell me: What have you got against her?

NICOLE

Who says I have something against her?

JIM

Shelly, in the reports. She says Roxanne thinks you don’t like her.

NICOLE

Ha. That’s what I get for not disobeying orders and reading the things I carry. No, I met Roxanne early on, and crushed on her in a big way. But she was a Stayer, which meant getting with her might be bad for my job prospects, so I let it slide for a while. And then one day I come back from a run and she’s with Dominic. And I don’t cut in on family.

JIM

Huh, do you know if she’d’ve been interested?

NICOLE

Don’t know, probably never will. The coward tastes death a thousand times. So yeah, I guess I made it strictly business with her, and she read it as dislike. I’m self-protective like that. I’ve spent enough of my life gaga over people who aren’t into me.

JIM

Heh. Like Martha?

NICOLE

Martha and me just like to play pretend. Much like you.

JIM

Me?

NICOLE

Since we’re laying it all out, I’m guessing you’re not into girls. Ones on this plane of existence, anyway.

JIM
You think you’ve got some pretty advanced gaydar, huh?

NICOLE

For women it’s been shit, but for guys I’ve got a good track record.

JIM

*long breath*

Well your record is still good. But keep it to yourself, please. People here act nice, but it feels like it’s only for other people like themselves. And if things turned sour…it’s not like I can go away to college or the big city.

NICOLE

So were you really into Shelly, or was she just the ultimate Canadian Girlfriend?

JIM

I really feel for her, but I guess it could be two things.

NICOLE

So what do you do now?

JIM

I find something else to do, and make some kind of peace with rural life.

NICOLE

Here, or are you transferring out?

JIM

They offered to smuggle us out if we wanted. I have a feeling they’d really like us far away from this office. But of course there’s all kinds of danger involved, so they’re not forcing it. And I don’t see much point in one Overlook over another.

NICOLE

Transfer to number Nine.

JIM

Number Nine?

Martha walks back in.

MARTHA

Arrrgh.

NICOLE

There are sympathetic people there.

MARTHA

Sympathetic to what?

NICOLE

None of your business, MILF.

JIM

What’s wrong, Martha?

MARTHA
They’re in my office. Can’t get anything done there. Listen, I’m taking a piss, then I’m going to need the room for a minute.

JIM

No problem.

Martha leaves.

JIM

Number Nine, huh?

NICOLE

No guarantees, but I’ve had the luxury of looking around, and that one’s the most open-minded.

JIM

Thanks. So you caught onto me right away?

NICOLE

Suspicious right away, wasn’t sure until that whole thing with Martha, about you and Ray watching us get down.

JIM

Oh yeah. And did you catch on about Ray?

Beat.

NICOLE

What about him?

JIM

Ha. Martha was snowing you. Ray wouldn’t watch.

NICOLE

Why not? He got something against girls having fun?

JIM

He’s blind.

NICOLE

*impressed*

No shit! And Martha just stood there and let me be wrong.

JIM

She’s a pretty cool customer, when she isn’t pretending to be a bully.

Martha comes back.

NICOLE

I’m not sure that’s pretend.

MARTHA

What are we talking about now?

NICOLE

Your bitchiness.

MARTHA

100% genuine. Jim, sorry to be pulling rank on you one last time…

JIM

No, that’s fine, I can leave for a bit.

NICOLE

Come on Jim, take me somewhere where a girl fresh from a dusty road can wet her whistle and have a last toast with a comrade.

JIM

Absolutely.

MARTHA

Where are you thinking?

NICOLE

Don’t tell her, Jim. She’s a spy, let her figure it out.

MARTHA

Ex-spy.

NICOLE

Then I think you’d like having one last mission.

JIM

Bye Martha, see you soon.

They leave. Martha dials the phone.

MARTHA

Hey Ray. Pretty sucky day, as expected. No, they’re absolutely firm that I can’t work here anymore, or do intel anywhere in this Overlook. No, I don’t think transferring would make much difference. Besides, am I going to leave you behind for who-knows-how-long? Yeah, maybe you could deal with it, but I couldn’t. I need you. No, coming with wouldn’t work either. I’m not going to take the house and friends you’re used to away from you. I wouldn’t change everything unless I knew the new way was better for you; and there’s no assurance of that. So I’m packing up, coming home, getting whatever job I can find, and we’ll sit back and let the war take care of itself. I’ve made my last Earth-shaking decision. No, can’t tell you what it was. Probably never. I’m going to try to just forget the whole thing. Love you. Kisses when I get home.

Martha hangs up.

MARTHA

*softly*

Let Unity Prevail. But not yet. Not until it can really be everyone.

SILENCE

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