Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

[We stay in the breakroom as Gwen continues making coffee.] 

[A crash of porcelain.]

[Gwen gasps.]

[It feels like she is about to explode. Instead she cries, small and quiet.]

[Footsteps approach:]

ALICE 

So I hear you’re back to your normal, pleasant — 

(noticing) Oh. …Ah. 

[Gwen tries to stop crying.]

GWEN

(hoarse) I’m fine. I dropped my mug. 

ALICE

I can see that. 

[Pause.]

[Alice takes over preparing coffee while Gwen inhales and exhales, shaky.] 

ALICE 

I had a favorite mug. It said “love you, bitch” and had a picture of a drunk dog on it. 

[Gwen sniffles]

ALICE

Luke got it to me with the cash from his first gig. Sam broke it by accident last month. I nearly fed him the pieces. 

[Porcelain noises as Alice helps pick up the broken mug]

ALICE

Is it really that bad, being back in the muck with the rest of us?

GWEN 

It’s not that. 

ALICE

(softer) Oh yeah?

GWEN 

(dark) You wouldn’t understand.

ALICE 

(snorts; lightly:) Probably not, but I’m as good as you’re going to get here! Especially when you keep biting everyone’s heads off. 

GWEN 

(hotly) I have not—

[She pauses, as if coming to a bit of a realization] 

GWEN 

(hesitantly) I’m not… I’m not trying to be like that. 

ALICE 

(dubious) Oh yeah? 

GWEN 

No. Or at least, not anymore.

[A beat.] 

ALICE 

(suspicious, but curious) Why? 

[Gwen opens her mouth as if she’s about to open up, but thinks better of it.]

GWEN

(coldly) Like I said, you wouldn’t get it. 

[Alice huffs, irritated.]

ALICE

I could try. 

GWEN

It’s not— it’s not something that you need to know about. (trailing off) It’s better if… if it stays with me. 

ALICE

Look, I—

(sighs) You can’t expect to carry everything by yourself. 

GWEN

It’s better than putting it on you! You’re innocent! 

[Alice snorts.]

GWEN 

You don’t— you don’t have to know this. It’s not something I want to burden you with. 

ALICE

Why are you so concerned with “burdening” me? 

GWEN 

Because—! Because there’s too much bad in the world already and I don’t— I don’t— 

[She breaks off, sobbing] 

[Alice hisses through her teeth, concerned] 

[Gwen slumps to the floor. Fabric rustles as she buries her arms in her sweater sleeves.] 

[Alice hurries over to settle next to her. Porcelain scrapes across the floor as she sweeps it away.] 

ALICE

(gentle) Hey— hey… 

[Alice hesitates before carefully resting a hand on Gwen’s upper back.] 

[Gwen inhales sharply, freezing] 

ALICE 

(awkwardly) It’s… It’s going to be alright, yeah? 

[Gwen emerges from her arms and sniffles.] 

[Alice’s breath catches.] 

GWEN 

(quietly) Yeah. 

ALICE 

You know… you can tell me things. If— if you want to, that is. We’ve both worked here for a long time, and I— I get it. (She chuckles weakly) It’s a lot, isn’t it. 

[Gwen nods quietly] 

[Gwen looks up at her. Tense breathing from both parties. They make eye contact for far too long.] 

[Alice clears her throat and retracts her hand.] 

ALICE 

(as if suddenly coming to her senses) Right then! Well, I should probably— 

[Gwen kisses her.] 

ALICE 

Mmph! 

[Brief fabric rustling as Alice recoils. After a moment, she leans into it.] 

[Gwen gasps and breaks away. She stands up quickly.] 

GWEN 

Oh God, Alice, I’m so— I’m so sorry I— 

ALICE 

(simultaneously) Gwen I— 

[Gwen lets out a choked sob before turning and dashing out of the breakroom.] 

ALICE 

Gwen! Wait—! 

[The door slams.] 

[A beat. Alice wonderingly brings her hand up to her lips.] 

ALICE 

… Shit. 

Chapter Text

[Beeping and whirring as the O.I.A.R. starts up.] 

[Footsteps enter. Alice hums tunelessly to herself and plops down in her seat.]

[A beat as she looks around.]

ALICE 

(suspicious) Where’s Gwen? 

SAM 

(dryly) Good morning to you, too. 

ALICE 

Right, right, how was the drive, how’s your coffee, how do you deal with the nightmares, et cetera. Where’s Gwen? 

[Celia enters from the breakroom with a mug of coffee that she sets down at her desk.] 

CELIA

I haven’t seen her yet today. 

[Lena approaches, unnoticed.] 

LENA

Gwen called in sick today. 

ALICE 

(startling) Christ—! 

[Lena ignores her.]

LENA 

I’ve distributed her caseload among the three of you. Please be sure to work… diligently in order to keep up.

ALICE

(aggressively chipper) Aye, aye, captain! 

LENA 

(faintly annoyed) Don’t call me that. 

[Her heels clack away, shutting the door behind her.]

[A beat. Alice drops the act and drums her fingers anxiously on her desk.] 

CELIA 

(gently) Alice? 

ALICE

(snapping out of it) Hm— ah, yeah? 

CELIA

(concerned) What’s wrong? It’s not like you to be so distracted. 

[Alice sighs.] 

ALICE 

It’s just… me and Gwen had a weird interaction yesterday. 

CELIA

(immediately on edge) Weird how? 

ALICE 

She was just… overwhelmed, I think. 

SAM 

What happened? 

ALICE

(awkward) Ehh— same old, same old. 

[She seems too embarrassed to reveal any more.] 

CELIA

(suspicious) …Right. 

[A beat.]

ALICE

(almost to herself) I’m just… I guess I’m worried, you know? With everything that’s been going on. She’s never missed work. 

[Sam and Celia exchange a glance.] 

[A beat. No one speaks.] 

[Alice picks up her phone and stands up.] 

ALICE

Hey, look, Sam, can you cover for me? I… need to do something. 

CELIA

(coy) Going to see Gwen? 

ALICE

(too quickly) No!

[She drops her coat in surprise and scoops it up, scrambling for an excuse.] 

ALICE

(finally) I’ve got— ah, a family emergency. 

SAM 

(concerned) Something with Luke? Do you want me to come? 

ALICE

Uh— no, no, some… great-uncle kicked the bucket a week back. There’s a… complication with the will. Yeah. 

[She starts shrugging on her coat and fumbling for her car keys.] 

CELIA 

(dubious, but playing along) No problem. We’ll cover for you. 

ALICE 

Great, cheers! 

[She is halfway out the door, her keys jingling in her hand.]

ALICE 

See ya later! 

[The door slams behind her.] 

[A beat.] 

CELIA 

(conspiratorially) … She’s totally going to see Gwen, huh? 

SAM 

Yeah… She doesn’t even have any great-uncles. 

[The obnoxious sound of a doorbell plays through a phone screen. It’s a grainy recording from Gwen’s video recording doorbell.] 

ALICE

Gwen? Gwendolynnn! 

[There is no response. Alice sighs.]

ALICE 

Are the lights—ah. Blackout curtains. (oddly pleased) At least someone takes my advice around here. 

[She finally notices the camera. The audio gets clearer as she approaches.] 

ALICE 

Ah, one of these. 

[Fabric rustles as she puts her hands on her knees and crouches with her face close to the camera.] 

ALICE 

(pointing at the camera) Look, Gwen, I know you’re in there. And I know you’re not sick, either. 

[A beat. Alice sighs.] 

(hesitantly) Look, seriously, Gwen, we need to talk. I know you’re going through a lot, but bottling it up doesn’t help. Believe me, I know. 

[Alice straightens up] 

So, talk to me when you can. Preferably right now, since I drove all the way down here. (lightening up) Plus, you know I’m allergic to the daytime. 

[The house remains stubbornly nonresponsive. Alice claps her hands against each other as if clearing off dust.] 

ALICE

Fine, then. I don’t want to pretend like nothing ever happened, because that never works. So just… find me on your own time. 

[A beat. She seems to be searching for something witty to end on.] 

ALICE

And don’t miss any more work. I don’t want to keep taking over your caseloads. 

[Alice hesitates briefly before turning, pulling her coat tighter around her. We hear footsteps as she walks away.] 

[The video ends.] 

GWEN 

(uncharacteristically sullen) She’s missing work, too. 

[A beat.] 

[Gwen sighs guiltily, and restarts the video.] 

ALICE (recording) 

Gwen? Gwendolynnn! 

Chapter Text

[Beeping and whirring as the O.I.A.R. starts up.] 

[Alice walks in, humming a cheery tune.] 

ALICE 

Evening, Celia! Evening, Sam—oh! Ah. 

[She sees Gwen. Her good mood fades as an awkward silence fills the room.]

GWEN 

… Good evening, Alice. 

ALICE 

… 

Evening. 

[The awkward silence continues.] 

CELIA 

Sam! Come join me in the break room? 

SAM 

(not reading the room) Oh, I’m alright, thanks. I’ve already got my coffee. 

CELIA 

(through gritted teeth) Sam. I think you should join me. In the break room. 

[Celia stands up.] 

SAM 

(finally understanding) Hm? Oh-oh! Okay. 

[They leave. Gwen and Alice sit in tense silence.] 

[A beat.] 

ALICE 

So—

GWEN 

(simultaneously) Alice— 

ALICE 

(awkwardly) Ah—sorry. You go first. 

[Gwen clears her throat uncomfortably.] 

GWEN 

I wanted to… apologize. For what happened the other day. It was… unprofessional. 

ALICE 

Ah… right. 

[A beat.] 

GWEN 

(firmly) It won’t happen again. If you were concerned about that. 

ALICE 

(coldly) Of course. 

[Alice turns away, trying to end the conversation.] 

GWEN 

Um… what were—what were you going to say? 

ALICE 

(deadpan) The same. 

GWEN 

… Right. 

[Gwen clicks open her next case and groans when Norris begins to speak.] 

NORRIS 

To: [email protected] 

From: [email protected]

Date: September 3, 2022 

Subject: Pills 

Hey Kev, 

I’ve been trying to get in touch with you since last week. Not sure why you would have me blocked on your phone, but I really need to talk to you about the pills you gave me last week. The ones you said were acid? Because I had them at a party the other day, and something seriously weird happened. I’m sure it’s bad etiquette to email your dealer, but— 

[Alice walks past. Gwen doesn’t notice.] 

ALICE

Tea for the talker? 

[Gwen startles. Norris fades into the background as they talk.] 

GWEN 

Ah—no. (a pause) Thank you. 

ALICE 

(lightly) Probably for the best. I poisoned all the tea bags yesterday in a brutal fit of rage. 

[A beat.] 

ALICE 

(trying to bridge a gap) Coffee, then? 

GWEN 

(harsher than intended) I’m fine, Alice. 

ALICE 

(incredulous) You’re not fine, Gwen. You haven’t gotten up for a break in… what, four hours? 

GWEN 

In case you haven’t noticed, this is our job. 

ALICE 

Really? You’re getting paid? I thought this was just a late-night hobby! 

[Gwen scoffs.] 

ALICE 

(sarcastic) Well, I’m going to get a coffee. Don’t let me disturb your date with Norris. 

[She walks away. We can hear the coffee machine starting up. Norris fades back in.] 

NORRIS 

… So anyways, we go back to my place, and it’s going pretty well, all things considered. She seems pretty into me, anyways. As soon as we step in the doorway, she turns to me and holds both of my hands. Kinda old-fashioned, but she was hot, so, whatever, and she leans in for a kiss with her lips puckered like in a Disney movie or something. And I’m just thinking, is this girl a virgin or something?

But I was high, and once she kissed me, I could tell she was not a virgin, y’know? Cause she immediately started with the tongue. And her tongue—well, at first it was fine. Great, even. But then I started noticing something was… wrong with the whole thing. Her tongue was… long, and thick, and textured in all the wrong ways.

And I was high, but I wasn’t that high, so I tried to pull away, but it was so weird, dude, it felt like I was suctioned to her. I tried to close my mouth, but her tongue pressed my jaw open, thick and slimy and winding around my gums, and then my teeth clacked against hers, and they were… sharp. Sharper than anything I’d ever seen. And I’m not sure exactly how many teeth a normal person has, but I knew for sure that she had too many.

Her nails were digging into my skin at the soft spot on my palms. I still have little crescent moons there. And I could see her mouth… God, how do I even describe it? It was… bulging, and distending, like there was something trying to push its way out. Her eyes were closed, but I just knew if she opened them, I would see something entirely inhuman. 

ALICE 

Huh. 

[Gwen gasps. Norris fades out.] 

GWEN 

Don’t sneak up on me like that! 

ALICE 

Weird case, huh? Can’t imagine a worse kiss than that. 

[Alice turns pointedly on her heel and walks back to her desk. Norris fades back in.]

NORRIS: 

… So what do you think? I could probably go to the doctor to check out my tongue, but if it’s a side effect of the drugs, I don’t want to get into any trouble, y’know?

You obviously know the stuff better than I do, so do you think it was real, or just a bad trip? I guess I should just be glad things didn’t go any further. If I hadn’t pushed her off, God knows what would have happened. 

Get back to me when you can. 

Paul R. 

[Beep.] 

[Gwen stands up abruptly. Her chair spins around and hits the edge of the desk with a bang.] 

GWEN 

(by way of explanation) Coffee. 

[Gwen storms out of the room.] 

[A beat.] 

CELIA 

So… Alice. 

ALICE 

(wary) Yeah? 

CELIA 

You and Gwen kissed, huh? 

ALICE 

(spluttering) Wh—what?? 

Th—that’s ridiculous! Me and—and— 

CELIA 

(amused) Oh, wow. You totally did. 

ALICE 

I never— 

SAM 

(walking over) What happened? 

ALICE 

(desperate) Nothing—! 

CELIA 

(grinning) Alice and Gwen kissed. 

ALICE 

(urgent) Look, keep it down, will you? She’ll hear you! 

SAM 

Really! Wow! 

[Alice groans, giving up.] 

ALICE 

(defensive) Look, it wasn’t anything! She was just… overwhelmed, and I… got in the way. 

CELIA 

Okay… but do you like her? Like… “like-like” her? 

ALICE 

(scoffs) What is this, secondary school? 

SAM 

C’mon, Alice. 

ALICE 

Well, it doesn’t matter if I “like-like” her, because she certainly does not “like-like” me. Or even “like” me, for that matter. 

CELIA 

Aw, well, I don’t know about— 

[Gwen walks back in. They fall silent.] 

[A beat.] 

GWEN 

(coldly) We’re already behind on our caseload tonight. If you don’t have anything better to do than gossiping— 

ALICE 

(interrupting) Right! Right. We’ll get back onto that, won’t we, guys? 

[Sam and Celia make noises of agreement.] 

GWEN 

Be sure that you do. 

[She returns to her desk. Alice clicks away at her computer.] 

ALICE 

(muttering under her breath) “Like-like” indeed. 

Chapter Text

[Beeping from Lena’s landline. Lena is typing.] 

[The door opens, and the typing ceases.] 

LENA 

Hello, Gwen. 

[Gwen, standing in the doorway, remains silent. She closes the door behind her.] 

LENA 

In the future, I do ask that you knock before entering the room. 

GWEN 

(sighs) What do you want, Lena? 

[Paper noises as Lena retrieves something from her desk drawer.] 

LENA 

Due to some… unforeseen circumstances, I need you to complete one last task for me. 

GWEN 

(dryly) Really. Are you sure I can handle… what was it… (dripping sarcasm) “real responsibility?” 

LENA 

Yes, well, you’re the only option right now. There’s simply no one else with the amount of expertise necessary to complete this task. 

[Gwen seems to be restraining herself from asking any clarifying questions. She fails.] 

GWEN 

And what exactly is this task? 

LENA 

(paper rustles as she holds out an envelope to Gwen) You will take this information to where you last encountered the unclassified external. 

GWEN 

(lost) The… 

LENA 

The so-called “watching figure” you described on your earlier expedition. 

GWEN 

(incredulous) The— the eyeball thing? You want me to… to deliver a fucking package to it? (growing louder) You can’t be serious! That thing almost killed me! Hell, it could’ve killed the tattooist, and they’re a damn external! 

[Lena exhales through her nose, annoyed.] 

LENA 

I understand. However, I think that you misunderstand how crucial your decision is here. If you ever want a chance at advancing in this position, you will do as I— 

GWEN 

(shouting) There’s not a chance in hell that I would go out of my way to deliver your goddamn love note to that—that monster! 

[Lena falls into a frustrated silence. Gwen fumes.]

[Lena drums her fingers on the desk.] 

LENA 

Fine, then. I’ll get someone else to do it. 

GWEN 

See that you do. I’m done. 

[Gwen opens the door.] 

LENA 

(calling after her) Would you be so kind as to send in Alice? 

GWEN 

(turning around, quietly:) What for? 

LENA 

(almost casually) Just a simple… externals task. 

[Gwen SLAMS both hands down on the desk.] 

LENA 

(slightly taken aback) I rather thought you’d be relieved. I know you and Alice have never been on the best terms— 

[Gwen snatches the envelope out of Lena’s hand, tearing it up violently. We hear small pieces of paper hit the desk and floor.] 

GWEN 

(furious) You stay the hell away from Alice. 

[Gwen slams the door shut behind her.] 

[Lena sighs. Typing resumes.] 

[Later. We hear knocking.] 

LENA 

Come in, Alice. 

[The door creaks open. Alice stands in the doorway, wary.] 

ALICE 

You wanted to see me? 

LENA 

Yes. Come in. 

[Alice closes the door behind her.] 

LENA 

As you may know, our externals liaison has dealt with some… unfortunate circumstances and could no longer perform the required duties. 

ALICE 

Ah, right. Some rich old fart didn’t immediately drop to kiss Gwen’s feet and she threw a tantrum? She seemed pretty peeved this evening when she came out of your office. (lightly) I figure you didn’t double-demote her? 

[Lena continues, ignoring her.] 

LENA 

These assignments have been delegated to me, and I’ve elected to pass one down to you. 

ALICE 

(suspicious) Why couldn’t Gwen do it?  

LENA 

Gwen isn’t an available option right now. 

ALICE 

(dubious) … Right. 

What kind of assignment is this? Should I dress for the occasion? I’m thinking lime green corduroy overalls and thigh-high boots? 

LENA 

All you need to do is deliver this (paper noises as she holds out a new envelope) to an external. The instructions are located on the envelope. 

[Alice takes the envelope.] 

ALICE 

(turning it over slowly in her hands) Hm. Seems easy enough. 

LENA 

(pleased) It is. 

ALICE 

Yeah… almost too easy. (playfully suspicious) What’s the catch? 

LENA 

Excuse me? 

ALICE 

There’s no way this is the only thing you need me to do. There’s got to be some spooky bullshit going on, right? 

LENA 

(stiffly) I don’t know why you would presume th— 

ALICE 

Because I spend all day classifying horrors beyond our mortal comprehension, and if it was “just an envelope” you could send it through the mail. Who— no, what am I delivering this to? (wry) Is this “external” some kind of creepy entity I need to be all cautious about? 

LENA

I can assure you that there’s no— 

ALICE

Come on, you expect me to believe there’s nothing sinister going on? Ooh, or maybe it’s something else—something secretive. A raunchy love letter to an ex-lover? A forged last will and testament for a deceased enemy? 

[Alice clearly isn’t taking this seriously. Lena sighs and opens a desk drawer.] 

LENA 

You will be compensated well for your cooperation. 

[Lena hands Alice a check. Alice takes it, knocked off-guard.] 

ALICE 

(awestruck) Jesus Christ. 

LENA 

All you need to do is deliver an envelope. 

ALICE 

(almost to herself) This is enough for… God, it’s enough for everything. 

This isn’t… like, some secret government organization, right? You’re not going to make me a pawn in some elaborate chess game with corporate superpowers, are you? 

LENA 

(probing) I expect that this is substantial enough for your participation? 

[A beat. Alice contemplates.] 

ALICE 

… 

Where exactly is this external? 

Chapter Text

[Beep. We’re in Alice’s phone. It’s a windy night, and we hear crickets in the distance. Leaves crunch underfoot at Alice trudges along the side of a road.] 

[Alice kicks a rock further down the road to emphasize each word.] 

ALICE 

(grouchily) Hate this damn… spooky… job… and my damn… creepy… responsibilities. 

[Alice comes to a stop. With one last vehement kick, she sends the rock flying. Paper rustles as she digs the envelope out of her jacket pocket.] 

ALICE 

(reading aloud, muttering to herself) Go to the intersection of… alright, yeah, that’s right… and wait for a maximum of one hour for the external to arrive. Deliver this envelope.

(sighs) And, of course… (with deeply sarcastic air quotes) “Return to work when completed.” 

[Alice groans heavily. The wind howls. She cups her hands over her mouth to call out.] 

ALICE 

Helloooo! Anyone the—ere? 

[Her voice echoes, but there’s no response. She sighs dramatically and pulls her phone out. We hear tapping as she pulls up an app.] 

ALICE 

All righty then! Hour starts now. 

[A beep. The wind grows a tiny bit louder.] 

ALICE 

…Huh? (muttering) Why is my phone recordi—

[Beep as the recording ends.] 

[Beeping and whirring as the O.I.A.R. starts up. Footsteps clack as Gwen enters the room.] 

[Gwen stands by Sam’s desk, hesitating. She seems to be working up the courage to speak.] 

GWEN 

(stilted) Good—ah, good morning, Sam. 

SAM 

(surprised) Oh! Uh—yeah! Good—good morning to you too! 

[An awkward silence follows.] 

GWEN 

Um… have you seen Alice this morning? 

SAM 

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention. Lena sent her out on some… assignment? 

[Gwen grows very still.] 

GWEN 

(dangerously) She what?

[Celia walks in.] 

CELIA 

What’s going on? 

GWEN 

I— I need to go. Cover for me, will you? 

[Fabric rustles as she hurriedly puts on her coat.]

SAM 

But you just got he—

[Gwen’s heels click as she hurries away.] 

CELIA 

(moving after her) Gwen, wait— 

[The door slams shut.] 

CELIA 

(taken aback) Damn. 

SAM 

(almost amused) What are they up to? 

[Click.] 

[Alice’s phone begins recording again.] 

ALICE 

(trying to motivate herself) Twenty minutes left. Just twenty more minutes and then I can drop this letter on the ground and go back to dealing with horrors behind a screen. 

[The wind howls eerily. Alice shifts uncomfortably. Is it really just the wind?] 

ALICE 

(trying to hide her nerves, singsongy:) Come out, come out, wherever you are! 

[The wind swirls. The air shimmers.] 

[The Archivist emerges from behind. Alice doesn’t notice.] 

GWEN 

(faraway) Alice! Alice!

ALICE 

…Gwen? Is that… 

[We hear Gwen’s footsteps as she runs towards Alice. Her breathing is ragged.] 

ARCHIVIST 

(almost hidden under the wind) COME. 

GWEN 

(desperate, out of breath:) Alice! Behind you! 

[Alice whips around.] 

ALICE 

Holy mother of fu— 

[The wind grows louder, drowning her out. The Archivist grows louder.] 

ARCHIVIST 

GIVE IT TO ME. 

GWEN 

(shouting over the noise) Give it the envelope! 

ALICE 

Wh—what?? You mean to tell me that’s the external?? 

GWEN 

(shrill) Just hand over the envelope! 

[Alice throws the envelope with a grunt. It gets caught in the wind and carries over to the Archivist.] 

GWEN 

Now let’s go! 

[The wind grows louder. Alice fights through the wind towards Gwen.] 

ARCHIVIST 

STAY. 

ALICE 

(desperate) Gwen—! 

[The wind adjusts as the Archivist reaches out to Alice. She shouts.] 

GWEN 

(shrieking) ALICE! 

[The wind crescendoes. We—in Alice’s phone—fly out of her hand and hit the concrete.] 

[A loud crack. The phone stops recording.] 

[A tape recorder clicks on.] 

[The wind is roaring. We hear shoes scraping on the concrete as Alice is dragged closer to the Archivist.] 

ARCHIVIST 

GIVE ME MORE. 

ALICE 

(almost indiscernible under the wind, grunting in between words) Let me go you great… freaky… brute! 

[Gwen looks around frantically to find something to help Alice. She gasps as she catches sight of the tape recorder.] 

[We hear footsteps as she hurries over and picks it up off the ground.]

ALICE 

(shouting angrily) What are you doing— come and help me— you pompous— 

[With a shriek, Gwen throws the tape recorder at the Archivist. There is a meaty thwack as it makes contact.] 

[The Archivist lets out a hiss. It sounds like wind whipping through a forest.] 

ARCHIVIST 

NO. 

[The wind slows down. Alice gasps, but doesn’t move, frozen in place.] 

[Gwen grabs Alice’s hand and starts running in the opposite direction.] 

ALICE 

Whoa—! 

[We hear footsteps receding into the distance, leaves crunching underfoot.]

[The air shimmers with energy. The wind slows to a standstill. All we hear is the multi-layered breathing of the Archivist and the rattling of the tape recorder.] 

[Click.] 

[A beep. Gwen’s phone starts recording.] 

[We hear rapid footsteps as the two run, Gwen’s heels and Alice’s boots clomping over the concrete.] 

ALICE 

(out of breath) Gwen. 

…Gwen! 

[The footsteps slow, then stop. Gwen turns to face her.] 

ALICE 

(heaving) I think… we lost it. Damn you’re fast. And in heels… (sighs, more out of exhaustion than envy) Good God I haven’t run in ages. 

[Gwen is breathing heavily, just staring at Alice.] 

[A beat. We hear regular nighttime sounds—crickets chirping, a light breeze.] 

ALICE 

(awkward) Er… Gwen? 

GWEN 

(snapping out of it) Hm? 

ALICE 

… You can let go of my hand now. 

GWEN 

Oh! 

[She quickly lets go, embarrassed.] 

[Another, much more awkward, beat.] 

ALICE 

So… what now? 

GWEN 

(with finality) Well, I am not going back to work. 

[Alice lets out a small, incredulous laugh.] 

ALICE 

Yeah… me neither. 

[It feels like both are searching for something to say and coming up short.] 

GWEN 

Well… I suppose that I’ll head home. 

[She slowly begins to walk away. Alice makes a small, uncomfortable noise.] 

ALICE 

(to herself) Ah… ugh. (regular volume) Gwen! 

[Gwen stops.] 

ALICE 

(already regretting her decision) Did you want to… go… grab a drink? (rustling as she pulls out a wad of cash) I just came into a substantial amount of money. 

(with a forced, awkward laugh) … I, uh, cashed in Lena’s check right before this. You never know, right? 

GWEN 

What check? 

ALICE 

Did Lena not pay you for your externals work? 

GWEN 

I mean… she did, but not any extra cash like that. 

ALICE 

(a little guiltily) I guess it did seem more like a bribe than anything. 

So. What do you think? About a drink? 

GWEN 

(shifting on her feet) I don’t… know if that’s a good idea. 

ALICE 

Alright then. (trying not to sound hurt, lightly:) Well, I’ll go drown the trauma of whatever the hell tonight was with the most expensive beer I can find. Hopefully some bars are still open at… at… hold on. 

[She pats herself down with increasing urgency. Her phone is gone.] 

ALICE 

Shit! My phone— it must’ve flown out— (with vehemence) shit! 

GWEN 

Alice, listen— 

ALICE 

(frustrated) I know. I’m not going to go back there. 

[She slumps down onto her heels.] 

[Hesitantly, Gwen goes to stand next to her. Alice doesn’t respond.] 

GWEN 

(suddenly) I can get you a new phone. 

ALICE 

Huh? 

GWEN 

I can get you a new phone. 

ALICE 

Yeah, I heard you, I’m just— (baffled) Why? 

GWEN 

(shrugs uncomfortably) It’s the least I could do. 

ALICE 

(scoffs) The least you could do is… 

[She seems to have been building up to a snarky comeback, but bites it down.] 

ALICE 

I mean, it wasn’t your fault about the external. (laughs breathlessly) I mean, really, you saved my ass back there. 

GWEN 

(looking away) Listen. I… I don’t do this job for the money. I have plenty of that. My family… well, you know what they’re like. 

ALICE 

I really don’t. 

GWEN 

Ah… right. 

[A beat.] 

[Gwen takes a deep, shaky breath.] 

GWEN 

I think I will take you up on that drink, actually. 

(quieter) I… um. Don’t want to be alone. 

[Alice laughs quietly.] 

[Gwen stands up and offers a hand to help her up. Alice doesn’t take it and stands up herself.] 

ALICE 

Let’s go, then. 

[Beep.] 

Chapter Text

[A beep as Gwen’s phone begins recording.] 

[We’re in a noisy bar. Music plays in the background, and people chatter nearby.] 

[Gwen shifts uncomfortably, alone in her seat. Footsteps as Alice approaches.] 

ALICE 

IPA for me… (glass clinking as she sets the drinks down) and a sherry for the lady. 

GWEN 

(quietly) Thanks. 

[Alice sits down and drinks. Gwen hesitates, then drinks.] 

ALICE 

(setting down her glass) Colin hates this stuff. “IPA piss” he calls it.  

GWEN 

What happened to the “most expensive beer you could find”? 

ALICE 

(chuckles) Yeah, yeah. What can I say? I’m a dirty cheapskate at heart. 

[They both drink.] 

ALICE 

Speaking of money… 

[Gwen groans, almost imperceptibly] 

ALICE 

(setting her glass down) You said you weren’t in it for the money. So what are you in it for, then? 

Why do you want Lena’s job so bad? From how she acts, it doesn’t really seem much better than your average wage-slave.

GWEN 

(dryly) Getting vulnerable tonight, huh? Expect me to spill my hidden motives once alcohol has loosened my tongue? 

ALICE 

(exasperated) Fine! Keep your secrets. Sue me for asking. 

GWEN

No… no, I’ll answer. 

[She swirls her drink around in her glass.] 

[A beat.] 

ALICE 

(curious) So—

GWEN 

(cutting her off) So, my family—the Bouchards—and the Lukases have always been kind of connected to…paranormal occurrences. 

ALICE 

(playfully) Things that go bump in the night?

GWEN

(serious) Things that we hear about in the cases. 

ALICE 

Ah. 

GWEN 

So, of course, I was expected to be a part of that as well. But when I was younger, maybe thirteen, fourteen, the whole Bouchard family… (delicately) separated from the Lukas family. 

ALICE

(leaning in) What happened? 

GWEN 

(losing her composure) My damn stoner cousin Elias. (she slams her drink down) He fucked over a Lukas, and we’ve all been rivals since. 

[She drinks.] 

ALICE

Like the Capulets and the… ah, shit, who were the other ones? 

GWEN 

(snorts) The Montagues. Something like that. 

The Lukases have always been more influential, so they ended up controlling many of the more powerful organizations. Ones that paid better, too. The OIAR was the best thing I could get with my family name attached. 

ALICE

Huh. So that’s why you want the promotion so bad. You want in. 

GWEN

You could say that. 

ALICE

Well, your parents must be proud, right? I mean, you sort of hacked the system. 

GWEN 

(bitterly) You’d think so. 

[Alice drinks awkwardly.] 

[Gwen gets quiet, but gathers the courage to continue.] 

GWEN 

I don’t… I don’t think my family is… I don’t think they’re good people. 

And I… 

[Gwen sighs. Alice drinks tensely.] 

GWEN 

(growing quieter) I don’t think I’m a good person. 

ALICE 

(into her glass) Oh. 

[Alice sets her glass down. A beat.] 

ALICE 

(awkwardly) Look, Gwen, you’re… well, you’re… 

GWEN 

Yeah? 

ALICE 

(finally) You’re not as bad as you make yourself out to be. 

[A beat. Gwen takes this in.] 

GWEN 

(lightly) And you’re not half as irritating as you try to be. 

ALICE 

(with mock outrage) How dare you! 

[They both chuckle and drink. There is an undeniable warmth between them, now that Gwen’s spilled some of her secrets.] 

GWEN 

So why do you want this job? What’s in it for you? 

ALICE

Ah, well… 

[Alice leans in closer to speak quietly. A pause—she seems to be debating what to say.] 

ALICE 

(conspiratorially) I’m actually a vampire. Don’t tell. And this job lets me A: feed off the souls of the terrified and damned and B: avoid sunlight. Win-win, amirite? 

[Gwen sighs.] 

GWEN

(tired) Right. 

[Alice falls into a guilty silence.] 

[Gwen drains the rest of her glass and sets it down.] 

GWEN 

(flatly) I’m going to go home now. 

ALICE 

Yeah, uh, see you… in the office tomorrow, I guess. 

GWEN 

(standing up) Most likely. 

[We hear footsteps as she walks away.]

ALICE 

(muttering) Did she really expect— 

[Alice notices Gwen’s phone lying on the bar.] 

ALICE 

Wait! Gwen! Your ph— 

[She picks up the phone.] 

ALICE 

Wait a damn minute. 

[A pause as she stares at the phone.] 

ALICE

That bitch! She was recording our conversation? The whole damn time?? 

(furiously) She can get this back tomorrow. Now, how do I turn this o—

[A beep as Gwen’s phone stops recording.]