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*We open on Donald, sweeping dust back and forth on the floors of the theater while wearing a ruddy-gold-gemmed nametag.*
Donald: *moves to get the latest pile into the dustpan, noticing that a stranger's hand is holding it down for him* ...You must be new.
Yvonne: *looks up and nods as the camera shows her curled on the floor* Yvonne Dubois, you?
Donald: Donald Carmichael. Well and weirdly met, kid. *sweeps the pile in* And thank ya.
Yvonne: *bright smile* I guess you are the janitor. *stands to her feet and looks around* At least you get some work despite the lack of guests here. On account of being an escort, I will simply have to wait until opening day. *sits down on a nearby chaise (a plume of dust comes up from it and falls to the floor)* ...Apologies.
Donald: *shrugs* Cleaning's what I do. Always has been, and alllllways will be. *moseys to the next bit of sweepage*
CM #1: You could go map out the hallway, Yvonne. Get a feel for it.
CM #2: Donald's probably good to help you.
Donald: *squints*
*A first for the series: a direct cut to a different room (we'll now dub it the Comment Spot) where Donald looks straight into the fourth wall to address the CMs.*
Donald: Just because I helped you two set up that newfangled tripod don't mean I got the time to be schooling the kids!
*Cut back to the main scene.*
Donald: You go on yourself. Shouldn't have much longer 'fore our shifts are both done...
Yvonne: *checks that her ponytail is tight and her glasses are on properly* It is a bit strange to think of it as a shift when I have yet to receive a real assignment...but, you are correct all the same! *skips down the hall and leaves the shot*
Donald: *sighs and mumbles some "kids these days" phrasing, then scoops up the dustpan whilst complaining about his back* Sure wish I could tell what all was happening under this gunk.
*The PA system activates, and the camera swivels up to it.*
Mystichite's voice: Attention. Would all present employees please meet me on stage? We have an important matter to discuss...VERY important.
*The camera now cuts to Tyler, who is floundering like a fish out of water to make it down the other hallway on his own.*
Tyler: *groans, apparently dazed from the swirling polka dots on the walls* Who in hell painted these...
Kristan: *pops her head around a bend (she's further along than Tyler)* Me! But, Misty was the one who came up with the designs.
Tyler: Very on brand, there...*closes his eyes*
Kristan: *quietly, as she comes closer to him* Do you want me to help you?
Tyler: *reluctantly, and with a bit of a blush on his cheeks* Yes.
Kristan: *walks up, grabs Tyler’s hand and tries to guide him, but his feet stay firmly planted* …Are you trying to test me?
Tyler: *grins, eyes remain closed* Little bit.
Kristan: *rolls her eyes and pulls Tyler along behind her* I have a strategy. *puts her free hand directly on the wall (the paint’s all dried) to map out the twists as if she were hugging the side of a hedge maze*
*The camera zooms in on Kristan’s hand before cutting to the wide and wonderful stage area, where Malachi sits in the aisles without much of a rush in his demeanor.*
Malachi: *looks up from his phone as Yvonne enters, an exhausted Donald behind her* Punctual, are we?
Yvonne: I guided him well! *smiles and pats Donald’s shoulder*
Donald: *shakes it off instinctively, though his eyes uncross now that he’s out of the hall* Was doin’ pretty well until the stripes started getting wiggly.
Malachi: You’re here, and that’s what matters. Once Topaz and Sapphire arrive—
*Tyler enters, trips over the step leading into the room, and lands face-first in the still-slightly-moldy carpet.*
Malachi: Speak of the crystals! *steps forward, then right back with a concerned look* …You are alright?
Tyler: *affirmative mumble*
Kristan: *voice sounding far off from down the hall* He just started running ahead of me and forgot there was a step there!
Malachi: Sounds about right. *walks over to the other side of the stage area and pulls his cashier up with a heft* There we go. Now, come up with me, you four. Beyond the curtains…
*The shot cuts, and the 5 are now sitting at the table where Malachi and Tyler previously conversed in Episode 3.*
Malachi: *steeples his fingers together, looking surprisingly like a villain for a split second* It’s come to my attention over the past couple of weeks that…*lazily gestures around the room* …none of you know exactly what it is that Trancehall is being opened for.
*//////////\\\\\\\\\\*
Donald nodded, the most serene of the employees at the moment. He saw no reason to be concerned, given that he’d been privy to several business meetings in his lifetime…though, always in the background.
A twinge rose from Yvonne’s throat, however, as she realized the shift in the air. “That may be true, but…do you all feel that?”
“Feel…?” Malachi’s voice drifted off, silently willing the young woman to elaborate.
“My thoughts. They feel…much more similar to prose now. Less scripted? It is very strange.” She murmured.
Kristan let out a small, yet amazed laugh. “I feel the same way! Like, if our lives were a story, the format just changed…”
*//////////\\\\\\\\\\*
Tyler: *raises an eyebrow* What are you two talking about? I don’t feel any different…
Kristan: *blinks* Huh. Back to normal, I guess.
Malachi: *shrugs it off* Strange things of that sort are bound to happen here…which is why I think that moment we just had is an excellent segue.
Tyler: *groans to himself and leans back in his chair, evidently about to tune out any and all bits of business jargon*
Malachi: *snaps his fingers in front of Tyler’s face, the sound ringing through the air for a second* FOCUS.
Tyler: *sits up, looking a little wary now*
Malachi: *pinches the bridge of his nose and turns to Kristan* Topaz. You know the truth about me.
Kristan…well, Topaz: *blushes and stammers* U-um, I mean…*eyes flick around to the others, then to the floor* Yeah, I’d say I know a few things, but it really isn’t that much…
Malachi: *gently, but firmly* What have you TOLD to the others?
Tyler: That you eat brains.
Topaz: *buries her face in her hands* I didn’t SAY THAT!
Tyler: No, but you said you thought he was picking us for a personality-sort-of-reason. *shrugs, leans back again* And then I extrapolated.
Malachi: *gaze sharpens, but he doesn’t give Tyler direct eye contact yet* Sapphire. I do not EAT brains. If anything, I TRAIN them.
Donald: Hang on, now…train? Anything like…
Malachi: *very quickly, as if it’s the first wrong idea he wants to shoot down* No. Whatever it was that occurred…when we met…was nothing like how my capabilities are. I swear it.
Yvonne: *tilts her head* Capabil—*sudden gasp that sucks a good bit of oxygen from the room* I KNEW there was a reason you named this place the way you did!
Tyler...well, Sapphire: *facepalms, sits up again like he’s a human yo-yo with all this back-and-forth* Is there something no one’s told me about this freak? *gestures to Malachi*
Topaz: I didn't...I...*squeaks in fear and goes momentarily mute*
Malachi: *rises to his feet and walks off for a second*
Sapphire: ...Something I said? *leans back one more time, though tentatively like he's expecting to sit up again at this rate*
Yvonne: *furrows her brows, the twinkle in her eye vaguely dissipating* Is...
Donald, ever patient: *holds up a hand* Wait.
Mystichite: *returns, now sporting his cape and full stage attire* Let me address you in turn. Topaz. Tell them. I will correct you, if need be.
Topaz: *apparently feels free to now open the floodgates, gestures to her boss* I'm pretty sure he can hypnotize people. It's not like a therapist or anything, really more like a stage show, but...it feels like magic, REAL magic. He's probably done it to me and all you guys more than once, you just don't remember.
Mystichite: I am not MAKING you forget. The memory is simply a naturally unreliable servant.
Sapphire: *sure enough, leans forward again* I...sort of recall that. *points to his boss and mouths "The pictures.", to which he receives a nod*
Mystichite: There is one among you whose mind I've yet to witness first-hand. *eyes flick pointedly to Yvonne*
Yvonne: *smile that seems a little apologetic* I am afraid that hypnosis...though I DID expect it to reside here...does not work on me.
Mystichite: *softly* That pairs with what I've seen so far, Amethyst. And it doesn't bother me at all.
Yvonne...well, Amethyst: It does? But, this place is clearly…
Donald: *claps his hands in glee* Made to hypnotize all its guests f’r entertainment! I KNEW there was some reason I’d been sleepin’ so well the past couple weeks.
Mystichite: *winks* Glad to see you liked it. And you’re dead right, Pyrite.
Sapphire: *stares off into the distance with this knowledge, followed by another cut to the Comment Spot*
Sapphire: This is either the best or the worst job I’ve ever had. Definitely the weirdest, though…
*cut back to the main scene*
CM #1: Congrats, everyone figured out the obvious. Hurry up and get in the hivemind already.
The other four gems: *look to Mystichite with varying degrees of “they’d better be kidding” on their faces*
Mystichite: Now, now, there won’t be any linking consciousnesses, per se…*eyes dart back and forth, then glow a little brighter* Are you all ready for something…grand? Big? Stupendous, even?
Topaz: I don’t think I have any plans.
Amethyst: *pushes her glasses up a bit* My parents will surely allow me to stick around!
Pyrite: I’ve had all my Wednesdays free since 2005.
Sapphire: *thinks it over, then sighs* What’s up?
Mystichite: *smiles as brightly as ever* All of you, head back to your homes and gather the things you’ll need to stay a night here.
Amethyst: *pats her bag* All right here!
Mystichite: Splendid. I will be taking you on hypnotic journeys the likes of which you’ve never seen!…With consent and in a controlled environment.
Topaz: I knew me and hypnosis got along great! *stands with Pyrite and goes to head back down the hallway (fortunately, the walk back is not nearly as dizzying as the walk there)*
Pyrite: *briefly wary, whispers to Mystichite as he passes the younger man* Promise it ain’t gonna be like that tabloid?
Mystichite: *puts a hand to my heart* You have my word. *watches his janitor go*
Amethyst: May I go ahead and set up my comfort zone?
Mystichite: Of course, go on.
Amethyst: *nods and takes her leave as well*
Sapphire: *now the only one left, staring up at Mystichite* …You’ll have your way with us. All night.
Mystichite: Please, don’t think of it that way. This is going to be a night you won’t forget…for good reasons.
Sapphire: *bites his tongue, then asks a question that’s been bugging him* Is that floaty dress part of this whole show?
Mystichite: *shakes his head* Theater’s haunted.
Sapphire: Oh, that makes…wait, WHAT? *turns around in his chair; Mystichite has vanished without a trace* How the…*groans*
*A cut to the next scene indicates that some time has passed: the sun has now set outside the windows and the cast are off the clock, fluffing out sleeping bags. Yvonne’s trying to turn on a small gas lamp she brought with some extra grip from her baggy shirt, and Donald is reading from a worn Bible while tucked in his nightwear.*
Kristan: *comes in with a tank top and baggy pajama pants on, giving a wink to the camera (it’s been set up to keep the night airing, but the shot won’t shift unless the author deems so, because the CMs have already gone home)* Hey, Pyrite…whatcha reading?
Donald: *looks up with already-tired eyes* Just a few psalms…y’know, my wife must’ve taught me to sing 50 of these. Tried to, at least. *laughs* I’ve never been too good at carryin’ a tune.
Kristan: *sits down on the mattress she brought from home* How did she know the melodies?
Donald: *shrugs with a grin* Made ‘em up.
Kristan: *chuckles* That sounds lovely. Did your wife ever garden?
Donald: *closes his Bible and gives his all to the mention of the woman he loved* Y'see, I was always the one who cooked, but if there was one thing I couldn't do, it was seasonin'. Ironic, I know...
Kristan: *puts her chin in her hands* So, did she grow herbs to help you?
Donald: *nods excitedly* Oregano, thyme, basil...even cilantro, 'n she was one of them with the soap gene. *sticks his tongue out and points to it*
Kristan: *groans playfully* Oh, I could never live like that. I COVER my pasta in cilantro.
Yvonne: *gets the light to work and twirls down onto her pillow-covered sleeping spot* Cilantro on pasta. I had something similar to that, when my family went on vacation to Italie. (It's not spelled wrong, it's French!)
Kristan: Like pesto without the nuts?
Yvonne: *claps* Exactly!
Donald: Ahhh, pesto, Amy could blow you outta the waves with hers.
Yvonne: Amy?
Donald: Amara. Always called her Amy.
*A sudden chill breezes through the room, causing the gas lamp to flicker. There's a rumble that sounds a bit like, "Another one, gone..." before things return to normal. Everyone notices this, but declines to comment.*
Tyler: *suddenly enters with a wide-eyed look* I just had the WORST idea, and if any of you blokes tell it to Misty, I'll...I'll...duh. *moves over to a lump of deflated plastic on the floor* Electricity better work... *straightens his shorts and sighs*
Yvonne: I have a spare sleeping bag if you will need it.
Tyler: I oughta be just dandy. *grumbles to himself and flips the cord around, then plugs it in...nothing happens* Bloody...ughhhh. *turns his face to the ceiling in exasperation*
Yvonne: *wordlessly digs the spare from her backpack, along with even more pillows than before*
Tyler: *huffs a thanks and takes the items* Speaking of Misty...*shoves aside the failed air mattress* Where's 'e run off to?
Malachi: *appears from the darkness around the others with polka-dot pajamas and the most manic grin possible* Kristan! Want to tell me a bit more about that Bible conversation you were having?
Kristan: *confused as to how he overheard that, but she decides to agree* Well, I was pretty religious, too, when I was younger...now, I'm much more into the archaeology of it all. Not really the sort to put too much faith into...anything specific, really. I take life as it comes, but...*smiles* I'll still keep up with the calendar. Today's a special one.
Tyler: *settling onto his sleeping bag (and looking a little enviously at Kristan's mattress)* What for?
Kristan: *gets into her explanation with a bright chuckle* Oh, it's Silent Wednesday. The only day between Palm Sunday and Good Friday where historians don't know what Christ was doing. I took a LITERAL vow of silence for that at 13.
Donald: *whistles* You ARE a determined one. I forget about that bit, myself.
Kristan: Most people do. It's sort of apocryphal trivia, like a—
Malachi: *now standing right next to Kristan, one hand floating over her shoulder like he's asking permission to touch her* A hidden gem.
Kristan: *chill runs up her spine, looks up* Misty. *silence for a moment*
Yvonne: *holds her stuffed chicken closer to her (where does she keep getting all this stuff; you guessed it, the backpack)* Watch this, Wally. You are about to see something incredible...
Tyler: *rubs one eye* Ya named the thing Wally...
Yvonne: Shhhh!
Donald: *holds his Bible to his chest, and his pillow over the Bible, watching with an otherwise neutral expression*
Kristan: *looks to see that everyone else is comfortable, then takes a deep breath and lets it out* You're good, Misty.
Malachi: *sits slowly down behind Kristan and lays his hands on her shoulders* Let me know if I push a little hard.
Kristan: *doesn't say anything, though she appears to mouth to herself, "I hope you don't."*
Malachi: Focus on that word you were mentioning for me...Silent. How does it feel for you when everything is silent?
Kristan: *ponders the concept* ...Like a red flag. (She only whispers this to Malachi, so none of the others hear.)
Malachi: Mm. *whispers right back* And what if you could be assured that the silence wasn't one of shock...but one of peace?
Kristan: Then...then it would be really nice...*closes her eyes, still whispering (though a little louder)* Like in my garden.
Malachi: *nods, massages Kristan’s shoulders a bit* Far be it from me to assume, but that garden seems to be one of your favorite things.
Kristan: *smiles, opens her eyes (they’re a bit glassier now)* It is. That, Wheel of Fortune, and watching spiders build their webs…*chuckles* Sorry I’m just infodumping so much…
Yvonne: Oh, no, no! I listen and I do not judge.
Donald: Just pretend like we ain’t here.
Tyler: *doesn’t speak, though he seems to agree with the others*
Malachi: *looks back to Kristan* Please, look into my eyes…and listen to my voice…*clears his throat softly, then sings in a clear baritone to the tune of Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary* 🎶Kristan, Kristan…clouded, misted…how does your garden grow? With lily’s bells…and tulip’s shells…and daisy seeds all in a row…🎶
Kristan: *turns to make eye contact and finally lets the foggy feeling take her* Heh…
Malachi: Hold that. *not even bothering to conceal his excitement* Now, as I count from 10 to 1…you’re going to slip further into the meadow of your mind…and feel the flora envelop you like you envelop the hearts of so many around you…
Tyler: *noticeably looks away and moves to hide himself in his pillows*
Malachi: *too focused on Kristan to notice* 10…feeling the grass start to tickle your skin…9…8…7…the springy vibrance of each leaf…*eyes spin in a glistening, oxidated-copper-green spiral*
Kristan: *coos as the numbers sink lower and lower, the green pinprick showing itself more and more in her pupils*
Malachi: 3…down to the roots…2…deep into the soil…1……*snap*
Kristan: *instantly falls backwards onto her mattress, chuckling about the warmth of the sun* …P-perfect…it’s so…ahhh.
Tyler: *underneath a pile of pillows and trying to look inconspicuous (which he is failing at)* …Krissy?
Malachi: *leans in again, whispers something to Kristan and snaps*
Tyler: *heads over to his friend, knowing that the other two are watching but also not really caring* Krissy. *grabs her hand* Are you…did he…I mean…*runs his other hand through his hair, his eyebags more intense with worry*
Kristan: *looks up, smiles, and lets out a soft buzzing sound*
Tyler: *blinks* …What…
Malachi: *sits back and allows the interaction to unfold*
Kristan: *still strangely mute, though she murmurs disapprovingly when Tyler lets go of her hand*
Tyler: *takes her hand back, then looks to the others for help* Does…she think she’s a bee?
Donald: *taps his chin* Naw. She’s thinkin’ YOU’RE the bee.
Yvonne: And she must be the flower.
Tyler: *face goes red* So…so then this is…*looks at their hands together, then breaks away and bolts off down the hallway*
Donald: Wha…*more shocked than anyone else* Morris! Get that boy!
Malachi: *now holding Kristan and comforting her flower brain* That will have to be YOUR job.
Donald: *sighs* Gettin’ too old for this…
Yvonne: Not to fear! I shall handle it! *bounds up, heads off*
*With the camera shot staying where it is, we don’t get to see what might’ve happened between Tyler and Yvonne. However, only the latter returns.*
Yvonne: *sighs* He is in the halls’ darkness. I cannot find him.
Malachi: *tuts* Kristan. *direct eye contact* Find me the microphone for the PA.
Kristan: *nods, coming out of the buttercup mindset and going to perform the task (she returns a moment or two later having completed it)*
Malachi: *takes the microphone, motions for the others to be quiet, and speaks* Tyler.
*//////////\\\\\\\\\\*
It was then that Tyler felt the difference that Kristan had mentioned earlier...the so-called "format change". It was weird, and didn't seem to fit anything about the current moment. But, it was present nonetheless.
He pretended not to hear Malachi's smooth voice for a minute. Even as calls for the Brit echoed, he stayed huddled against the wall.
"I wanna go home." Tyler whispered to where even he could barely hear it. The last thing he'd wanted was to have his feelings so poked at, when he wasn't even the hypnotized one.
Malachi must have been evil. That was the only explanation. Tormenting him like this? Making him watch his buttercup think she was a REAL buttercup? What kind of monster...
"Tyler." Came one last call, from a different voice.
"I'm awake now. Misty says he's sorry."
Tyler faltered. Was that really true...? There was, of course, only one way to find out.
*//////////\\\\\\\\\\*
*Tyler returns into the shot, saying nothing and flopping into his pillow fort once more. Everyone else watches with strange expressions, not sure how to proceed.*
Kristan: You thought he was going to keep me like that, didn’t you?
Tyler: *stammers* Uh…um…maybe…a little, yeah.
Malachi: *shakes his head* I would never do anything like that. Didn’t I tell you already, Tyler? This would be a night you’d never forget?
Tyler: Well, I didn’t think I was gonna have to pollinate my neighbor!
Kristan: *laughs* You make it sound like we were having sex!
Donald: *holds his Bible up with a simple word:* No.
Tyler: W…wait…it wasn’t supposed to be…like that…?
Yvonne: *takes advantage of the stunned silence to ask what no one else was going to* …Did you want it to be?
Tyler: N-no! Um…
Kristan: *starting to see what this might be about* If I say that I’ll reserve us a meal…as friends…at Olive Garden on Tuesday, can we get back to the mind-tripping adventures?
Tyler: Yes. *like he’s never been more sure of anything*
Malachi: Splendid! *moves swiftly off of Kristan’s bed and over to Tyler* Shall we go for a quick one? *whispers right in his ear*
Tyler: *eyes briefly cross from the sudden feeling before he nods* Knock the anxious bugger right outta me, boss. Do whatever…
Malachi: *nods and starts to slowly tap his fingers on Tyler’s temples* Focus on the rhythm I set. And-one, and-two, and-one, and-two, and-three, and-two, and-sleep now. *gives one temple a bit of a harder tap, causing the younger man to fall backwards just like Kristan did*
Tyler: *lets himself fall into Malachi’s power with an amazed look* Oh, wow…*smiles*
Malachi: Yes, there you go, just like that…*gets a great, yet terrible idea* Tyler? Will you please go and sit next to Donald?
Donald: What now. *sets his Bible down once again with a breezy sigh like he was sort of expecting this*
Tyler: *crawls over onto Donald’s space like a sleepy puppy* Uh…huh…*looks like he might already be about to fall asleep*
Malachi: *puts a finger to his lips and adjusts his gaze to look both men in the eye at once* How long are you thinking this’ll last?
*No longer with the full brunt of the copper-green spell on him, Tyler shakes himself to full awareness and grumbles. Malachi doesn’t seem concerned.*
Donald: *throws his arms up in confusion at this whole back and forth* What’re…how’d you wake up that fast?
Tyler: I’ve ran offa nappin’ in front o’ the telly and a buttload o’ coffee my whole college career. Not hopping off that horse.
Malachi: *shrugs* Resist a little this time. You might have more fun that way.
Donald: *makes eye contact and crosses his arms* I may be a tired old man…*smiles* But I ain’t THAT tired.
Malachi: *teasing* Oh, you think that.
Tyler: *brashly* Don’t worry. I’ll keep ‘im back, sir.
Kristan: *sitting in the corner with Yvonne* Are you sure? Cause the you from 2 minutes ago might say otherwise.
Tyler: *points to Kristan* I wanted it that time! And I can see you snickering! *points to Yvonne*
Yvonne: That is not me, that is Wally. *holds up her stuffed chicken again*
Tyler: *rolls his eyes, then realizes that Donald’s are already rolling BACK* Gah, old man! Get with the program!
Donald: *shakes his head* If this skinny’un’d back off, I might be able to!
Malachi: Where’s the fun, then? Couldn’t you simply sink into this bright green glimmer…this ever-shifting spiral…?
Donald: *forces his eyes open and gives a stubborn chuckle* You’ll have to do more than just mentionin’ some—
Malachi: Mental kaleidoscope, the likes of which you’ve surely never seen?
Donald: *losing a little bit of traction, but still refusing to give in* I’ve seen plenty of colors in my day, you ain’t…
Yvonne: Colors? *stands from her bag*
Donald: What? *looks away, the pressure loosening on his mind*
Yvonne: Colors…where? *comes closer to Malachi*
Malachi: *tilts his head and turns around* You mean…here…? *makes the spirals in his eyes spin a little faster, focusing hard enough to cause them to turn a seafoam blue that sticks out nicely*
Yvonne: *eyes dilate, pinprick flares to life* Yes! *smiling like a fool* Colors…just like those…
Tyler: …We off the hook now? Cause if we are, I’m using the loo.
Donald: Shh. ‘Member how Morris said Dubois was the only one he hadn’t…
Kristan: *gasps, then whispers from across the room* That’s right, he DID! I guess it really does work on everyone, huh…
Tyler: Don’t care. Need to pee. *gets up and starts walking away*
Malachi: Ah, ah, ah! *snaps and points to Tyler* Two fish, one net. Come closer.
Tyler: *twitches* …What…
Malachi: Closer. *emphasizes the word with more bravado*
Yvonne, entirely lost: Closer…
Tyler: No…hang on…bloody…*feels his feet moving despite the little thoughts in the back of his head* Guh. Fine.
Malachi: Yesssss…
Kristan: *covers her hand with her mouth so her laughter will at least be muffled*
Malachi: *boldly, as his subjects go quiet* Give me an idea!
Donald: Charleston.
Malachi: An oldie, but a goodie! *to Kristan* Can he dance?
Kristan: *looks to Tyler and nearly busts a blood vessel* No!
Malachi: Even better! *most commanding tone possible* You are the talk of the town, center of the ballroom, and the music piping through your minds bids you do the Charleston…NOW. *claps his hands*
Yvonne: *instantly launches into a performance of quick feet and giddy amounts of rhythm, clearly knowing just how to do this*
Tyler: *clearly knowing NOTHING about how to do this*
Kristan: *grabs one of Yvonne’s pillows and scream-laughs into it*
Donald: *wipes a couple tears from his eyes and silently hopes that Tyler falls over at least once*
Malachi: *steps back, proud of his handiwork, only to see a pair of empty heels moving next to his subjects’ feet* …Spirit? *whispered, since he doesn’t know the ghost’s name and would prefer not to alarm the others*
The heels: *vanish from view, seconds before a voice echoes in Malachi’s ear* Call me Tuscany…and, please, keep these lights on. *whisks away into the darkness once again*
Malachi: *grins* Tuscany. *nods, then walks around behind Yvonne and Tyler* That’s it, dancers. Relax, hold tight, and just sleep. *watches the both of them sink back into their stupors* …Kristan. Care to go once more?
Kristan: *nods* Make me…make me play tag with Yvonne. I think she’ll need to get some energy out before we can all sleep this off.
Malachi: *chuckles* I hear you loud and clear, my friend. Head to the hallway, and when you hear my voice, your mind will see my eyes.
Kristan: Oh, I got that. *stands and moves out of the camera shot*
Malachi: *picks up the microphone again, and lays a finger on Yvonne’s shoulder* Only to the person I am touching, and the person at the end of the hall. Only to those two.
*Malachi clears his throat, before slipping back into that commanding tone.*
Malachi: You’re it.
Yvonne: *sprints down to the hallway and frantically laughs as she works to find Kristan…and Kristan works to do the same*
Malachi: Beautiful.
Tyler: *groans mildly as he comes back out of his trance* Tsk…I am resistant, aren’t I…*looks to Malachi with half-fogged eyes* This is better than coffee. Sorry I doubted ya.
Malachi: *shrugs* It’s only natural to doubt…and besides, your tenacity might do you good later on. *phone rings* Hm. Keep an eye on the girls for me.
Donald: Can I check out, yet?
Malachi: In time. I’d like to…well…we’ll see. *walks off to the corner*
Donald: That don’t mean nothing…*huffs to himself*
Tyler: *sits next to Donald* Staring contest?
Donald: *blinks, then shrugs* Why not?
*The shot swivels a little closer to Malachi, and we get half of a conversation that the hypnotist seems VERY bothered by.*
Malachi: You. I wondered when we would speak…no. Don’t you dare try to apologize. I want answers…what do you mean? You set—your BUSINESS, your TABLOID set a hypnotic trap at its doors! And that trap hurt my friend!…Yes. My FRIEND…Your voice. I recognize that type of voice, and if you think it’s going to get me, I can assure you that you have another thing coming…*blinks, eyes go a little fuzzy* …Agh! NO! Listen, I figured I’d meet someone like…like…SHUT UP! You are a liar, and a cheat, and I hope I never learn your name…
*dead silence*
Malachi: *swallows* Archer Price. *whispers coldly* Good to hear, you fucking cunt. *hangs up and turns on his heel back to the others* Sapphire, Pyrite. Never touch an issue of that tabloid again.
Tyler: *clicks his tongue* That anything to do with the pictures…?
Malachi: Worse. I have a feeling the owner’s intentions are malign.
Donald: *nods* Guess I’ll move to all those fancy websites instead.
Malachi: *surprised for a split second that someone listened to his opinion without any hypnosis* …Thank you. Where are Amethyst and Topaz?
Tyler: *points a few feet away, where the two are now wrestling near the door*
Yvonne: Tag!
Kristan: No, tag YOU!
Yvonne: No, YOU!
Malachi: *snaps his fingers to break their focus on the game* Shhh. Both of you. Here, please. *voice soft and vaguely fatherly*
Yvonne: *gets up like a zombie and heads over, with Kristan in short pursuit*
Malachi: *waits until everyone is within a foot of him and raises a hand* Focus on my fingers, and imagine that the way they move is gently rocking your mind back and forth…
Tyler: *crosses his arms*
Donald: *tilts his head*
Kristan and Yvonne: *sort of huddle up next to each other*
Malachi: *smiles* Imagine that everything you love, all the people you care for and who care for you, all of it is washing over your mind with the movement of my fingers…(the way he’s wiggling them looks really stupid, but it’s definitely working)
Kristan and Yvonne: *slump a little, instinctively moving to their respective beds*
Tyler: *feels a grin creeping over his lips*
Donald: *sniffs faintly* Mm-hmm…
Malachi: *raises his other hand and does the same* The feelings double, growing stronger…even stronger…so awash in bliss and contentment…
Yvonne: *squeezes Wally close to her chest (probably going to be the first to pass out)*
Kristan: *lays back on her pillows*
Tyler: *sighs in a defeated happiness*
Donald: *just nods*
Malachi: And if everyone’s comfortable…*claps his hands together, then turns perfectly in a circle to blast each of the other four with eye contact* Sleep.
Yvonne: *slumps forward with her face on Wally*
Kristan: *rolls over on her side*
Donald: *falls flat on his back*
Tyler, who did not move back to his sleeping bag: *ends up hanging halfway off of Donald’s bed with his knees at the old man’s toupee*
Malachi: *pumps his fists* Ohhhh, I am awesome. *moves to the camera to turn it off, then looks briefly to the wall* Ms. Tuscany…I promise you. These lights will burn as brightly as I can get them. *winks*
*On the side of the shot, just before the episode ends, we can see Tyler’s unconscious form being lifted into the air by an invisible visage, who places him sideways on his sleeping bag. Evidently, Malachi’s message was received.*
*Once the shot DOES go black, there’s a final string of green text over the darkness, reading, “Don’t trust the paper.”
The shade of green changes to look less like a malachite and more like an emerald. The text, too, changes to read, “Come to the paper.”
Then, it all finishes off.*