Aqua Marianas Episode 1: Petulant Middle Schoolers

Aqua​ ​Marianas​ ​Episode​ ​1:​ ​Petulant​ ​Middle​ ​Schoolers BEGIN​ ​EPISODE​ ​1: FADE​ ​IN: JOANNA (softly,​ ​almost​ ​reverently) The​ ​depths​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ocean​ ​have​ ​never​ ​been explored​ ​fully​ ​by​ ​humans.​ ​We​ ​see​ ​the​ ​dark​ ​water and​ ​swim​ ​quickly​ ​away​ ​from​ ​what​ ​we​ ​don’t understand,​ ​getting​ ​out​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​possible. (pause) Sometimes​ ​I​ ​think​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​reason​ ​for​ ​that. (continues,​ ​still​ ​quiet,​ ​but​ ​now​ ​loving) But​ ​now​ ​we​ ​can​ ​finally​ ​light​ ​that​ ​darkness​ ​and discover​ ​its​ ​secrets.​ ​And​ ​that’s​ ​where​ ​we​ ​come in.​ ​That’s​ ​where​ ​I​ ​come​ ​in.​ ​To​ ​look​ ​into​ ​the deep​ ​and​ ​see​ ​what​ ​lives​ ​here,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​ask, ​ ​“Can​ ​we​ ​live​ ​here​ ​with​ ​them?”

[THEME​ ​SONG​ ​FADES​ ​IN] JOANNA (just​ ​before​ ​theme​ ​song​ ​starts) Aqua​ ​Marianas,​ ​Episode​ ​1.

[THEME​ ​SONG​ ​ENDS,​ I ​ S​ ​REPLACED​ ​BY​ ​A​ ​STRANGE CRACKLING/GURGLING​ ​NOISE​ ​THAT​ ​QUICKLY​ ​FADES.] JOANNA (into​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​silence​ ​in​ ​a​ ​brisk,​ ​businesslike voice) Experimental​ ​log​ ​of​ ​Joanna​ ​Fenistil,​ ​day​ ​one​ ​of the​ ​Benthos​ ​Outpost​ ​mission.​ ​I​ ​and​ ​the​ ​others reached​ ​our​ ​new​ ​home​ ​on​ ​the​ ​abyssal​ ​plain​ ​at 1100​ ​hours,​ ​and​ ​after​ ​some​ ​time​ ​getting situated​ ​I​ ​have​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​start​ ​testing​ ​and gathering​ ​data​ ​on​ ​various​ ​interesting​ ​things the​ ​remote​ ​operators​ ​picked​ ​up​ ​before​ ​we​ ​got here.​ ​First​ ​test​ ​will​ ​be​ ​temperature​ ​tolerance, starting​ ​now​ ​at​ ​1345​ ​hours,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​will​ ​be-

[They​ ​are​ ​interrupted​ ​by​ ​the​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​a​ ​door opening.]

LILLIAN (as​ ​if​ ​standing​ ​in​ ​the​ d ​ oorway) Joanna?

JOANNA (under​ ​their​ ​breath) Well,​ ​shit.

(They​ ​turn​ ​around,​ ​suddenly​ ​all​ ​(slightly strained)​ ​cheer) Lillian,​ ​hello.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​just​ ​about​ ​to​ ​start​ ​my first​ ​experiment.​ ​Was​ ​there​ ​something​ ​you needed​ ​me​ ​for?

[BEAT.] LILLIAN (sounding​ ​slightly​ ​unnerved​ ​by​ ​this​ ​welcome) Uh…​ ​You​ ​know​ ​the​ ​captain​ ​called​ ​a​ ​meeting, right?​ ​Meet​ ​in​ ​the​ ​main​ ​room?

[JOANNA​ f ​ urrows​ t ​ heir​ b ​ row.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first time​ t ​ hey’ve​ h ​ eard​ a ​ nything​ ​about​ ​it.]

LILLIAN (inhales​ ​through​ ​her​ ​teeth) Riiiight.​ ​I’ll​ ​take​ ​that​ ​confused​ ​look​ ​as​ ​a​ ​no, then.​ ​Well[BEAT,​ ​as​ ​LILLIAN​ ​hates​ ​being​ ​the​ ​bearer​ ​of​ ​bad news.​ ​Then​ ​she​ ​sucks​ ​it​ ​up​ ​and​ ​tells​ ​her.]

It​ ​was​ ​supposed​ t ​ o​ s ​ tart​ ​five​ ​minutes​ ​ago.​ ​She sent​ ​me​ ​to​ ​come​ ​find​ ​you.

JOANNA (surprised​ ​and​ ​stressed,​ ​as​ ​if​ ​someone’s​ ​told them​ ​they​ ​had​ ​an​ ​essay​ ​due​ ​five​ ​minutes​ ​ago​ ​and they​ ​never​ ​even​ ​knew​ ​about​ ​it) What?!

LILLIAN (holds​ ​hands​ ​up​ ​in​ ​air​ ​as​ ​if​ ​in​ s ​ urrender) Sorry!​ ​I’m​ ​really​ ​sorry,​ ​I​ ​just[JOANNA​ ​waves​ ​a​ ​hand​ ​and​ ​cuts​ ​her​ ​off​ ​with​ ​a sigh.]

JOANNA It​ ​doesn’t​ m ​ atter.​ ​Let’s​ j ​ ust​ ​get​ ​going.

[BEAT​ ​as​ ​they​ ​pause​ ​to​ ​actually​ ​look​ ​at​ ​LILLIAN and​ ​smile​ ​at​ ​her.]

And​ ​thanks​ ​for​ ​coming​ ​to​ ​get​ ​me.

LILLIAN (oh​ ​god,​ ​oh​ ​god) Uhh…​ ​yeah,​ ​that’s,​ ​uh.​ ​No​ ​problem!​ ​Haha,​ ​oh​ ​my god,​ ​we​ ​need​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​now​ ​or​ ​Captain​ ​Kumar’s really​ ​going​ ​to​ ​eviscerate​ ​us​ ​both.

JOANNA (businesslike​ ​again) Right.

[They​ ​stand​ ​up​ ​and​ ​brushes​ ​off​ ​their​ ​coat.]

Let’s​ ​go.

LILLIAN (relieved) Yeah,​ ​okay.

[She​ ​holds​ ​open​ ​the​ ​door​ ​for​ ​JOANNA.] You​ ​first.

JOANNA (raising​ ​an​ ​eyebrow) I​ ​appreciate​ ​it.

[They​ ​exit.​ ​LILLIAN​ ​follows.​ ​We​ ​hear​ ​the​ ​door slam​ ​behind​ ​them.]

OPEN​ ​NEW​ ​SCENE:​ ​THE​ ​MAIN​ ​ROOM [The​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​a​ ​door​ ​opening.​ ​Then​ ​we​ ​hear​ ​LILLIAN.] LILLIAN (calling​ ​into​ ​a​ ​room) We’re​ ​baaaa-aaaack!

ANDREW (Annoyed) About​ ​time.

MAHIMA​ ​(CAPT.​ ​KUMAR) (Mom​ ​Voice) What​ ​the​ ​hell​​ ​took​ ​you​ ​both​ ​so​ ​long?​ ​The​ ​meeting​ w ​ as supposed​ ​to​ ​start​ ​ten​ ​minutes​ ​ago!

JOANNA IMAHIMA (cutting​ ​them​ ​off.​ ​She’s​ ​pretty​ ​pissed.)

No​ ​excuses!​ ​I​ ​announced​ ​the​ ​meeting​ ​over​ ​the​ ​intercom, didn’t​ ​I,​ ​Dr.​ ​Vega?​ ​Dr.​ ​Newman?​ ​Mr.​ ​Federman?

[Chorus​ ​of​ “ ​ Yeah,​ ​I​ ​guess”​ ​(Alex),​ ​“I​ ​mean,​ ​yeaaaah” (Lillian),​ ​and​ ​“Sure”​ ​(Andrew)] [MAHIMA​ ​makes​ ​an​ ​annoyed​ ​noise.​ ​God,​ ​they’ve​ ​already proved​ ​to​ ​be​ ​inefficient.]

MAHIMA Today,​ ​crew,​ ​is​ ​the​ ​very​ ​first​ ​day​ ​of​ ​our​ ​mission​ ​on​ ​the deepest​ ​outpost​ ​ever​ ​placed.​ ​We​ ​have​ ​gone​ ​further​ ​into​ ​the ocean​ ​than​ ​any​ ​of​ ​our​ ​predecessors.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​pioneering​ ​new technology,​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​Dr.​ ​Vega,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​are​ ​the​ ​guinea​ ​pigs for​ ​all​ ​of​ ​this.​ ​We​ ​are​ ​in​ ​a​ ​place​ ​that​ ​could​ ​kill​ ​us immediately​ ​with​ ​even​ ​the​ ​slightest​ ​mistake.​ ​Which​ ​is​ ​why we​ ​need​ ​to​ ​work​ ​as​ ​hard​ ​as​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​that doesn’t​ ​happen.​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​understand?

[BEAT.​ ​Everyone’s​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​freaked​ ​out​ ​by​ ​this.]

Good.​ ​Now-​ ​Dr.​ ​Fenistil?​ ​Haven’t​ ​you​ ​already​ ​delayed​ ​this meeting​ ​enough?

JOANNA (more​ ​confused​ ​than​ ​annoyed) I​ ​was​ ​just​ ​going​ ​to​ ​say,​ ​Captain,​ ​that​ ​I​ ​never​ ​heard​ ​any announcements​ ​on​ ​the​ ​intercom,​ ​much​ ​less​ ​one​ ​detailing meetings.

MAHIMA (exhales​ ​through​ ​her​ ​nose) Fine.​ ​Dr.​ ​Vega,​ ​you​ ​fix​ ​the​ ​intercom​ ​system​ ​later,​ ​make sure​ ​everything’s​ ​working​ ​well.​ ​And​ ​now,​ ​if​ ​there​ ​are​ ​no other​ ​interruptions​?

[Silence​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment.]

Alright​ ​then.​ ​So,​ ​we’re​ ​going​ ​over​ ​the​ ​chores​ ​roster.

[Everyone​ ​groans.​ ​MAHIMA​ ​claps​ ​her​ ​hands​ ​together​ ​for silence.]

MAHIMA All​ ​of​ ​you,​ ​shut​ ​up!​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​stress​ ​this​ ​enough,​ ​can​ ​I? Things​ ​need​ ​to​ ​move​ ​like​ ​clockwork​ ​around​ ​here.​ ​Clockwork.

And,​ ​like​ ​it​ ​or​ ​not,​ ​you​ ​all​ ​need​ ​to​ ​pitch​ ​in​ ​for​ ​that​ ​to happen.​ ​Understood?

[Chorus​ ​of​ ​grumbling​ ​“okay”s​ ​from​ ​everyone.]

MAHIMA Good.​ ​Now,​ ​Dr.​ ​NewmanALEX (interrupts) Call​ ​me​ ​Alex.

MAHIMA (after​ ​a​ ​long​ ​pause) ...Alex.​ ​Alright.​ ​You’re​ ​the-​ ​[we​ ​hear​ ​pages​ ​flipping.

When​ ​she​ ​speaks,​ ​she​ ​sounds​ ​slightly​ ​skeptical]​ ​therapist?

[ANDREW​ ​coughs​ ​to​ ​conceal​ ​his​ ​words.]

ANDREW Useless.

ALEX (Slightly​ ​strained) I’m​ ​technically​ ​a​ ​psychologist,​ ​but​ ​sort​ ​of.​ ​I’m​ ​here​ ​to… well,​ ​to​ ​assess​ ​how​ ​all​ ​your​ ​mental​ ​states​ ​are​ ​doing​ ​while we’re​ ​down​ ​here.​ ​Make​ ​sure​ ​nobody​ ​goes​ ​screwy​ ​in​ ​the​ ​head.

Or,​ ​at​ ​least,​ ​screwier​ ​than​ ​we​ ​already​ ​had​ ​to​ ​be​ ​to​ ​come down​ ​here.​ ​[He​ ​chuckles​ ​a​ ​little​ ​at​ ​his​ ​joke.]

MAHIMA (welp,​ ​he’s​ ​weird) ...Okaaaay.​ ​Well,​ ​you’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​have​ ​to​ ​put​ ​that​ ​on​ ​hold for​ ​a​ ​while,​ ​because​ ​tonight​ ​you’re​ ​on​ ​dinner​ ​duty.

Prepare​ ​our​ ​rations​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​you​ ​can.

ALEX (protesting) But​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​cook!

MAHIMA (unrelenting) You’re​ ​a​ ​quick​ l ​ earner.​ ​Figure​ s ​ omething​ o ​ ut.

ALEX ButMAHIMA (louder,​ ​cutting​ ​off​ ​Alex’s​ ​protest) Dr.​ ​Fenistil,​ ​due​ ​to​ ​your​ ​lateness,​ ​I​ ​have​ ​assigned​ ​you dish​ ​duty,​ ​so​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​everything​ ​is​ ​stacked​ ​and​ ​dried nicely.​ ​And,​ ​since​ ​the​ ​dishwasher​ ​hasn’t​ ​yet​ ​been installedLILLIAN (interjecting) Still​ w ​ orking​ ​on​ ​that,​ ​CaptainMAHIMA

-you’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​have​ ​to​ ​get​ ​all​ ​the​ ​stains​ ​off​ ​by​ ​hand.

Make​ ​sure​ ​every​ ​dish​ ​is​ ​spick​ ​and​ ​span,​ ​or​ ​we’re​ ​going​ ​to have​ ​problems.​ ​Nobody​ ​wants​ ​crusty​ ​dishes.

JOANNA (after​ a ​ ​ ​pause,​ ​sounding​ ​resigned​ ​yet​ ​resentful) Yes,​ ​Captain. (remembering) But,​ ​what​ ​about​ ​the​ ​experiment​ ​I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to​ ​run?

MAHIMA Do​ ​it​ ​tomorrow.​ ​Dr.​ ​VegaLILLIAN Lillian.

MAHIMA (sounding​ ​exasperated) Lillian​,​ ​you’re​ ​on​ ​installing​ ​amenities​ ​duty.​ ​In​ ​addition to​ ​the​ ​dishwasher,​ ​the​ ​showerheads​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​assembled and​ ​put​ ​together,​ ​the​ ​automated​ ​systems​ ​that​ ​aren’t already​ ​running​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​modified​ ​and​ ​calibrated,​ ​and the-​ ​[more​ ​flipping​ ​paper]​ ​the​ ​soda​ ​fountain​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​be installed?​ ​Why​ ​do​ ​we​ ​need​ ​a​ ​soda​ ​fountain?

[ANDREW​ ​snickers​ ​in​ ​the​ ​background.]

LILLIAN (very​ ​seriously) I​ ​don’t​ ​question​ ​HQ,​ ​Captain. (now​ ​sarcastically) And​ w ​ here​ ​would​ ​we​ ​be​ ​without​ ​our​ ​fizzy,​ ​caffeinated, sugary​ ​nightmare​ ​drinks?

MAHIMA (progressively​ ​more​ ​exasperated.​ ​Think​ ​substitute​ ​teacher with​ ​a​ ​difficult​ ​class.)

Fine.​ ​Whatever.​ ​That​ ​leaves​ ​you,​ ​Mr.​ ​Federman.​ ​As​ ​our journalist,​ ​I​ ​assume​ ​you​ ​know​ ​that​ ​it's​ ​your​ ​job​ ​to​ ​write reports​ ​up​ ​to​ ​out​ ​surface​ ​counterparts.

ANDREW (sounding​ ​like​ ​a​ ​sleazy​ ​jerk)

Please,​ ​miss,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​call​ m ​ e​ ​Andrew.​ ​And​ ​I​ ​prefer​ ​to​ ​call myself​ ​a​ ​documentarian.

MAHIMA (yeah​ ​she’s​ ​actually​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​pissed​ ​off​ ​now,​ s ​ ounds​ ​super stiff) And​ ​I,​ ​Andrew​​ ​[she​ ​says​ ​his​ ​name​ ​like​ ​it’s​ ​a​ d ​ irty​ ​word], would​ ​prefer​ ​to​ ​be​ ​called​ ​Captain​ ​Kumar.​​ ​Is​ ​that​ ​clear?

ANDREW (the​ ​tone​ ​of​ ​someone​ ​who​ ​has​ ​been​ ​rejected​ ​but​ ​is​ ​planning on​ ​trying​ ​again) Whatever​ ​you​ ​say,​ ​Cap’n.

[MAHIMA​ ​audibly​ ​inhales​ ​through​ ​her​ ​nose,​ ​then​ ​exhales slowly.​ ​When​ ​she​ ​speaks,​ ​it’s​ ​through​ ​gritted​ ​teeth.]

MAHIMA Great.​ ​Just.​ ​Great.​ ​[Another​ ​deep​ ​breath.]​ ​And​ ​I​ ​will​ ​be running​ ​system​ ​checks​ ​and​ ​doing​ ​inventory​ ​until​ ​dinner.

But​ ​first,​ ​apparently,​ ​we​ ​have…​ ​[she​ ​sighs.​ ​One​ ​day​ ​in​ ​and she’s​ ​already​ ​so​ ​tired.]​ ​A​ ​bonding​ ​activity.​ ​For team-building,​ ​and​ ​so​ ​we​ ​can​ ​know​ ​one​ ​another​ ​better.

[BEAT.​ ​JOANNA​ ​breaks​ ​the​ ​silence.]

JOANNA Captain,​ ​um,​ ​no​ ​offense,​ ​but​ ​could​ ​we​ ​possibly​ ​be​ ​doing better​ ​things​ ​with​ ​our​ ​time?​ ​I​ ​have​ ​some​ ​organic​ ​matter​ ​we gathered​ ​beforehand​ ​to​ ​take​ ​a​ ​look​ ​at,​ ​and​ ​I’m​ ​sure​ ​the rest​ ​of​ ​us​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​do​ ​our​ ​jobs​ ​as​ ​wellANDREW (under​ ​his​ ​breath) Speak​ ​for​ ​yourself.

JOANNA (not​ ​stopping) -and​ ​this​ ​just​ ​seems…​ ​well,​ ​frankly,​ ​it​ ​seems​ ​somewhat useless.​ ​We’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​down​ ​here​ ​for​ ​eight​ ​months, aren’t​ ​we?​ ​That’s​ ​plenty​ ​of​ ​time​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​know​ ​each​ ​other better.​ ​Um.​ ​Right?

LILLIAN

(interjecting​ ​before​ ​MAHIMA​ ​can​ ​speak) See,​ ​normally​ ​I’d​ ​agree​ ​with​ ​Joanna,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it​ ​might actually​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​idea.​ ​Everything​ ​does​ ​need​ ​to​ ​run​ ​like clockwork.​ ​Everyone​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​what​ ​everyone​ ​else does​ ​so​ ​we​ ​don’t​ ​get​ ​under​ ​each​ ​others’​ ​feet​ ​while​ ​we’re doing​ ​our​ ​own​ ​jobs.​ ​And​ ​besides…

[BEAT​ ​while​ ​she​ ​looks​ ​around,​ ​smiling​ ​a​ ​little.]

If​ ​I’m​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​staying​ w ​ ith​ ​you​ ​people​ ​for​ ​a​ w ​ hile,​ ​I need​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​weirdos​ ​you​ ​really​ ​are.

[Now​ ​sarcastic.]

So​ ​I​ c ​ an​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​who​ ​to​ a ​ void.

JOANNA (puzzling​ ​it​ ​over,​ ​then​ ​giving​ i ​ n.)

The​ l ​ ogic​ ​is​ ​sound.​ ​Let’s​ ​get​ ​it​ ​over​ w ​ ith,​ ​then.

MAHIMA (finally,​ ​something​ ​is​ ​going​ ​right) Thank​ ​you,​ ​Lillian.​ ​OK,​ ​everybody.​ ​I’m​ ​not​ ​going​ ​to pretend​ ​I​ ​enjoy​ ​this​ ​any​ ​more​ ​than​ ​you​ ​people​ ​do.​ ​But​ ​I’ll start​ ​reading​ ​off​ ​the​ ​questions,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​can​ ​answer​ ​them in…​ ​Last​ ​name​ ​alphabetical​ ​order.​ ​This​ ​means,​ ​Mr.​ ​Feder...Andrew,​ ​that​ ​you​ ​will​ ​go​ ​first.​ ​Followed​ ​by​ ​Dr. Fenistil,​ ​me,​ ​Alex,​ ​and​ ​Lillian.​ ​Understood?

[Chorus​ ​of​ ​“Yes,​ ​Captain​ ​Kumar”] MAHIMA Alright​ ​then.​ ​First​ ​question:​ ​what​ ​is​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​color?

[BEAT.​ ​Then​ ​Andrew​ ​answers.]

ANDREW (condescending) The​ c ​ olor​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ocean.​ ​I​ ​just​ ​think​ ​it’s​ ​so​ b ​ eautiful​ ​and conveys​ ​so​ ​many​ ​emotions​ ​at​ ​once.​ ​It’s​ ​amazing.

[Long​ ​pause​ ​while​ ​everyone​ ​takes​ ​this​ ​in.​ ​Then​ ​JOANNA speaks​ ​up.]

JOANNA (“thoughtfully”) You​ ​know,​ ​I​ ​always​ ​thought​ ​“pitch​ ​black​ a ​ nd​ l ​ ightless”​ ​was a​ ​color​ ​that​ ​deserved​ ​more​ ​recognition​ ​for​ ​its​ ​emotional depths.

LILLIAN [She​ ​snickers.]

God,​ ​that​ ​sounds​ ​emo.

ANDREW No,​ ​I​ ​meantALEX (joining​ ​in​ ​the​ ​teasing) Do​ ​you​ ​feel​ l ​ ike​ ​no​ ​one​ ​understands​ ​you,​ A ​ ndrew?​ I ​ s​ ​it “not​ ​just​ ​a​ ​phase”?

ANDREW (annoyed,​ ​his​ v ​ oice​ ​getting​ ​louder) Blue.​ ​I​ ​meant​ ​blue.

EVERYONE​ ​EXCEPT​ ​MAHIMA (over-exaggerated​ ​“realization”​ ​voice) Ohhhhhhhh.

ANDREW God,​ ​you’re​ ​all​ ​so​ ​juvenile.​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​even​ ​know​ ​how​ ​stupid you​ ​sound?​ ​Imbeciles.

LILLIAN (she’s​ ​not​ ​messing​ ​around​ ​anymore) I​ ​mean,​ ​you​ ​shouldn’t​ ​be​ ​talking.​ ​You​ ​sound​ ​like​ a ​ faux-poetic,​ ​pretentious​ ​jerk.​ ​Have​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​thought​ a ​ bout that?

ANDREW Better​ ​to​ ​sound​ ​pretentious​ ​than​ t ​ o​ h ​ ave​ ​no​ ​refinement​ ​at allMAHIMA (finally​ ​had​ ​enough)

Andrew,​ ​does​ ​this​ ​have​ ​anything​ ​to​ ​with​ ​your​ ​favorite color?

ANDREW It​ h ​ as​ t ​ o​ ​do​ ​with​ ​their​ ​petty​ i ​ nsults,​ y ​ esMAHIMA Shut​ ​up.

[She​ ​scrubs​ ​a​ ​hand​ ​across​ ​her​ ​face​ ​and​ ​turns​ ​to​ ​Joanna.]

Dr.​ ​Fenistil?

JOANNA (actually​ ​thinking​ ​long​ ​and​ ​hard​ ​about​ ​it) Um…​ ​hm.​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​very​ ​hard​ ​choice​ ​to​ ​make,​ ​considering​ ​the full​ ​range​ ​of​ ​the​ ​color​ ​spectrum.​ ​I…​ ​[They​ ​cast​ ​their​ ​mind out.]​ ​I​ ​think​ ​green​ ​is​ ​nice?​ ​I​ ​mean,​ ​what​ ​with​ ​its connections​ ​to​ ​photosynthesis​ ​and​ ​all.​ ​And​ ​also,​ ​it’s​ ​just kind​ ​of​ ​pretty​ ​to​ ​look​ ​at.​ ​Anyways,​ ​uh.​ ​Yes!​ ​[They​ ​cough to​ ​fill​ ​the​ ​silence.]

ANDREW So​ ​lemme​ ​get​ ​this​ ​straight.​ ​You​ ​all​ ​make​ ​fun​ ​of​ ​me​ ​for liking​ ​the​ ​color​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ocean,​ ​then​ ​let​ ​them​ ​get​ ​away​ ​with green​ ​and​ ​photosynthesis?​ ​That’s​ ​a​ ​weird​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​double standard,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​just​ ​goes​ ​to​ ​show​ ​that​ ​I’m​ ​already​ ​not properly​ ​appreciated​ ​around​ ​here.

LILLIAN Andrew,​ ​shut​ ​up.

MAHIMA It’s​ ​my​ ​turn​ ​now​ ​anyways,​ ​and​ ​the​ a ​ nswer​ i ​ s​ e ​ asy.​ ​I​ ​like purple.

[BEAT.] ALEX (breaking​ ​the​ ​silence) Why? MAHIMA

There​ ​doesn’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​why.​ ​And​ ​it’s​ ​your​ ​turn,​ ​Dr. Newm-​ ​Alex.​ ​It’s​ ​your​ ​turn,​ ​Alex.

ALEX Uh.​ ​Well,​ ​I​ ​like​ ​blue​ ​too,​ ​mostly​ ​because​ ​it’s​ ​a​ ​very calming​ ​color.​ ​But​ ​I​ ​think,​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​energetic optimism,​ ​nothing​ ​really​ ​beats​ ​yellow,​ ​even​ ​though​ ​it​ ​can be​ ​overwhelming​ ​sometimes.​ ​A​ ​light​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​lemon​ ​yellow​ ​is my​ ​favorite.

JOANNA Huh,​ ​that’s​ ​interesting.​ ​I​ ​always​ ​found​ ​yellow​ ​to​ ​be somewhat​ ​obnoxious​ ​on​ ​its​ ​own.

ALEX Well,​ ​yeah,​ ​I​ ​mean,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be,​ ​butLILLIAN (talking​ ​over​ ​them) It’s​ ​my​ ​turn.

[Everyone​ ​shuts​ ​up.​ ​She​ ​continues​ ​speaking.]

My​ ​favorite​ ​is​ ​pink.

[BEAT.​ ​She’s​ ​getting​ ​embarrassed.​ ​Everyone​ ​is​ ​looking​ ​at her.]

What?​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​nice,​ ​cute​ ​color!

JOANNA (breaking​ ​the​ ​silence) I​ ​agree.

ANDREW I​ ​mean,​ ​I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​have​ ​expected​ ​someone​ ​like​ ​you​​ ​to​ ​like pink,​ ​but​ ​okay,​ ​that’s​ ​fine.​ ​You​ ​do​ ​you.​ ​[His​ ​tone​ ​makes it​ ​clear​ ​that​ ​her​ ​doing​ ​her​ ​is​ ​infinitely​ ​inferior​ ​to​ ​him doing​ ​him.]

[LILLIAN​ ​rolls​ ​her​ ​eyes.]

LILLIAN

Keep​ t ​ alking,​ ​condescending​ ​emo​ ​boy.​ ​Let’s​ ​see​ ​just​ h ​ ow far​ ​you​ ​can​ ​stick​ ​your​ ​foot​ ​into​ ​your​ ​mouth​ ​before​ ​it comes​ ​out​ ​your​ ​ass.

ANDREW (outraged) What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​just​ ​say​ t ​ o​ ​me?!

MAHIMA (to​ ​herself) I’m​ ​the​ ​captain​ ​of​ ​a​ ​bunch​ ​of​ ​petulant​ ​middle​ ​schoolers. (louder) Both​ ​of​ ​you,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​last​ ​time​ ​I​ ​say​ ​it.​ ​Shut​ ​up,​ ​or​ ​I will​ ​take​ ​Dr.​ ​Fenistil​ ​off​ ​the​ ​dishwashing​ ​roster​ ​and​ ​put you​ ​both​ ​on​ ​it​ ​instead​ ​for​ ​weeks!​ ​And​ ​Lillian,​ ​I​ ​will​ ​ban you​ ​from​ ​putting​ ​in​ ​a​ ​dishwasher.​ ​So​ ​don’t​ ​test​ ​my patience​ ​again,​ ​especially​ ​not​ ​by​ ​arguing​ ​over​ ​these idiotic​ ​bonding​ ​questions.​ ​I​ ​won’t​ ​ask​ ​if​ ​I​ ​made​ ​myself clear​ ​because​ ​I​ ​know​ ​I​ ​did,​ ​and​ ​we’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​move​ ​on now.​ ​Next​ ​question​ ​is…

[She​ r ​ eads​ i ​ t,​ t ​ hen​ ​reads​ ​it​ ​again.​ ​When​ ​she​ ​says​ ​it​ ​out loud,​ ​she​ ​sounds​ ​confused​ ​and​ ​rather​ ​put-off.]

What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​greatest​ ​fear?

[Silence​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment.​ ​Then​ ​ANDREW​ ​speaks​ ​up.]

ANDREW Dying.

[A​ ​whisper,​ ​from​ ​no​ ​particular​ ​person,​ ​no​ ​particular direction.​ ​It​ ​hisses​ ​like​ ​the​ ​wind.]

WHISPER Liar.

ANDREW Who​ ​said​ ​that?

[BEAT.] JOANNA

Said​ ​what?

ANDREW ...Never​ ​mind.

JOANNA ...Okay​ ​then.​ ​My​ ​turn.​ ​My​ ​greatest​ ​fear​ ​is​ ​losing​ ​the people​ ​most​ ​important​ ​to​ ​me.

WHISPER (more​ ​insistent​ ​and​ ​louder) Liar.

[JOANNA’s​ s ​ peech​ ​falters,​ ​but​ ​they​ ​quickly​ ​recover.]

It-​ ​It’s​ ​just​ ​something​ ​that​ ​has​ ​scared​ ​me​ ​for​ ​a​ ​long time.​ ​Captain​ ​Kumar?

[BEAT​ ​as​ ​MAHIMA​ ​thinks​ ​about​ ​it.]

MAHIMA Burning​ ​alive.

[Dead​ ​silence​ ​for​ ​[time]​ s ​ econds.​ ​Then​ ​the​ ​whisper,​ ​again, louder.]

WHISPER Liar.

[MAHIMA​ ​turns​ ​and​ ​points​ ​at​ ​Andrew.]

MAHIMA Federman.​ ​Stay​ ​after​ t ​ he​ ​meeting​ ​and​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me.

ANDREW What?​ ​But​ ​IMAHIMA No​ ​buts.​ ​Stay.

ANDREW ...fine.

MAHIMA

Next.​ ​Alex?

ALEX (very​ ​quietly) The​ ​dark.

[The​ ​whisper​ ​answers​ ​almost​ ​immediately,​ ​louder​ ​than​ ​any other​ ​time.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one​ ​voice​ ​and​ ​they​ ​sound wrong,​ ​like​ ​a​ ​distorted​ ​voice,​ ​with​ ​some​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​gurgling hissing​ ​noise​ ​under​ ​the​ ​surface.]

WHISPERS LIAR. [ALEX​ ​flinches.​ ​MAHIMA​ ​takes​ ​notice.]

MAHIMA You​ ​look​ ​upset.

ALEX (awkward​ ​laughter​ ​undercutting​ ​his​ ​voice) Ha,​ ​yeah,​ ​uh.​ ​I​ ​hate​ ​admitting​ ​that​ ​to​ ​people.

MAHIMA (she​ ​pauses​ ​for​ ​a​ ​minute,​ ​then​ s ​ hrugs​ a ​ nd​ m ​ oves​ ​on) Lillian?

[Before​ ​LILLIAN​ ​can​ ​say​ ​anything,​ ​the​ ​whispers​ ​start again.]

WHISPERS They​ ​are​ ​all​ l ​ iars.​ ​Tell​ ​the​ ​truth.​ Y ​ ou​ ​are​ ​better​ ​than​ ​all of​ ​them.​ ​Tell​ ​them​ ​all​ ​your​ ​truth.

[LILLIAN​ ​swallows​ ​audibly.​ ​When​ ​she​ ​speaks,​ ​her​ ​voice​ ​is slightly​ ​strained.]

LILLIAN I’ll​ ​pass​ o ​ n​ ​answering,​ t ​ hanks.

WHISPERS (fading​ ​away) Coward.

[BEAT​ ​as​ ​everyone​ ​looks​ ​around,​ ​taking​ ​in​ ​upset​ ​faces.

Then​ ​Mahima​ ​starts​ ​flipping​ ​pages​ ​on​ ​her​ ​clipboard, looking​ ​at​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​questions.​ ​She​ ​reads​ ​snippets of​ ​them​ ​out​ ​loud.]

MAHIMA (muttering,​ ​getting​ ​increasingly​ ​more​ ​disturbed) What​ ​would​ ​you​ ​want​ ​on​ ​your​ ​tombstone…​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​feel like​ ​you’re​ ​the​ ​only​ ​real​ ​person​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world…​ ​Who​ ​do​ ​you trust​ ​the​ ​least…​ ​Jesus,​ ​what​ ​the​ ​hell?​ ​[She​ ​starts flipping​ ​faster,​ ​then​ ​stops,​ ​finally.]

Crew,​ ​we’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​this​ ​short​ ​on​ ​one​ ​last​ ​question, then​ ​get​ ​to​ ​work.​ ​What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​dream​ ​about​ ​last​ ​night?​ ​As always,​ ​Andrew,​ ​you​ ​start​ ​first. [everyone​ ​is​ ​too​ ​freaked​ ​out​ ​to​ ​lie] ANDREW I…​ ​my​ ​dream​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​those​ ​where​ ​your​ ​real-life​ ​worries sneak​ ​into​ ​your​ ​sleep​ ​and​ ​get​ ​jumbled​ ​up​ ​with​ ​other​ ​stuff.

Dreamed​ ​about​ ​coming​ ​down​ ​here,​ ​except,​ ​y’know,​ ​it​ ​didn’t look​ ​like​ ​this,​ ​and​ ​breaking​ ​something​ ​essential,​ ​then about​ ​having​ ​to​ ​try​ ​and​ ​fix​ ​it​ ​without​ ​experience​ ​or​ ​tools and​ ​with​ ​dream​ ​logic.​ ​And​ ​then​ ​someone​ ​was​ ​chasing​ ​me?​ ​And I​ ​turned​ ​around​ ​to​ ​fight​ ​them​ ​off​ ​but​ ​it​ ​was​ ​a​ ​dog,​ ​and suddenly​ ​I​ ​was​ ​on​ ​a​ ​mountaintop​ ​zoo,​ ​looking​ ​around​ ​at animals​ ​in​ ​cages.​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​a​ ​penguin​ ​waddle​ ​across​ ​my​ ​feet, and​ ​then​ ​I​ ​woke​ ​up.

[BEAT​ ​as​ ​he​ ​waits​ ​for​ ​the​ ​whispers​ ​to​ ​say​ ​something.​ ​They don’t.]

MAHIMA ...Not​ ​the​ w ​ eirdest​ ​thing​ I ​ ’ve​ ​ever​ ​heard.

JOANNA For​ ​me,​ ​either.

[They​ ​take​ ​a​ ​deep​ ​breath​ ​and​ ​starts​ ​speaking,​ ​and​ ​while their​ ​voice​ ​is​ ​hesitant​ ​at​ ​first,​ ​it​ ​very​ ​quickly​ ​slips into​ ​a​ ​monotone.]

I​ ​dreamed​ ​about​ ​going​ ​down​ ​here,​ ​too,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​was​ ​very different.​ ​I​ ​dreamed​ ​that​ ​I​ ​was​ ​alone​ ​on​ ​a​ ​submarine​ ​as​ ​it

went​ ​into​ ​the​ ​depths​ ​and​ ​I​ s ​ aw​ ​the​ ​water​ ​getting​ ​darker​ ​as I​ ​went​ ​down.​ ​Then[MAHIMA​ b ​ egins​ ​to​ ​talk,​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same tone.​ ​They​ ​build​ ​a​ ​rhythm​ ​that​ ​starts​ ​to​ ​sound​ ​like​ ​a prophecy.]

MAHIMA​ ​AND​ ​JOANNA -I​ ​saw​ ​the​ ​base.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​covered​ ​in​ ​mud,​ ​like​ ​the​ ​silt​ ​of centuries​ ​had​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​cover​ ​it.​ ​It​ ​looked​ ​like​ ​the crushed​ ​ruins​ ​of​ ​an​ ​ancient​ ​city​ ​that​ ​was​ ​once​ ​powerful and​ ​is​ ​now​ ​dust.​ ​As​ ​the​ ​sub​ ​glided​ ​closer,​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​five skeletons,​ ​tagged​ ​with​ ​titles​ ​in​ ​bioluminescence​ ​that break​ ​my​ ​mind​ ​to​ ​remember.​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​them​ ​enveloped​ ​by​ ​mud, swallowed​ ​into​ ​rock​ ​and​ ​earth.​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​the​ ​base​ ​sink,​ ​and​ ​as it​ ​did,​ ​my​ ​vessel​ ​stopped​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment,​ ​floating,​ ​and disappeared.​ ​I​ ​swam​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dark,​ ​knowing​ ​the​ ​impossibility but​ ​not​ ​feeling​ ​it.​ ​Not​ ​until​ ​a​ ​voice​ ​I​ ​had​ ​never​ ​heard spoke​ ​in​ ​a​ ​language​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​and​ ​encouraged​ ​the​ ​water to​ ​crush​ ​my​ ​bones​ ​to​ ​pulp.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​last​ ​moment​ ​before​ ​my death,​ ​I​ ​saw.​ ​I.​ ​Saw.​ ​And​ ​then​ ​I​ ​woke.​ ​Did​ ​you?

[Louder,​ ​much​ ​louder,​ ​more​ ​insistent.]

DID​ ​YOU? [And​ ​we​ ​hear​ ​a​ ​powering​ o ​ ff​ ​sound,​ ​then​ ​yelling​ ​all​ ​at​ ​the same​ ​time.]

ANDREW What​ ​the​ ​everloving​ ​hell​ ​was​ ​that?!​ T ​ urn​ t ​ he​ l ​ ights​ ​back on!

JOANNA Oh​ ​my​ ​god,​ ​oh​ ​my​ g ​ od,​ ​what​ t ​ he​ h ​ ell,​ o ​ h​ m ​ y​ ​godALEX Ohhhhh​ ​yeah​ ​nope,​ ​nope,​ ​sorry​ ​to​ ​whoever​ ​this​ ​is​ ​I’m grabbing​ ​but​ ​you’re​ ​my​ ​human​ ​shield​ ​nowANDREW Let​ ​go​ ​of​ ​me!

MAHIMA All​ ​of​ ​you​ ​just​ ​cLILLIAN CALM​ ​DOWN! [Everyone​ ​shuts​ ​up.​ ​She​ ​continues.]

I​ ​built​ ​this​ ​station.​ ​It’s​ ​programmed​ ​to​ ​do​ ​a​ ​check randomly​ ​every​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​weeks​ ​to​ ​see​ ​if​ ​emergency​ ​lights work.​ ​Similar​ ​things​ ​for​ ​similar​ ​systems.​ ​The​ ​emergency lights​ ​should​ ​come​ ​on​ ​in​ ​three,​ ​two,​ ​one[sound​ ​of​ ​light​ ​powering​ ​back​ ​on] There.

[EVERYONE​ ​sighs​ ​in​ ​relief.​ ​BEAT.] MAHIMA I​ ​think​ ​we’re​ ​done​ ​here.​ ​Now,​ ​crew,​ ​get​ ​out​ t ​ here​ ​and start​ ​doing​ ​your​ ​goddamn​ ​jobs.​ ​Except​ ​you,​ A ​ ndrew.

[Collected​ ​grumbling​ ​fades​ ​out,​ w ​ ith​ ​footsteps.​ ​Silence.

Then​ ​ANDREW’s​ ​voice.]

ANDREW Is​ ​this​ ​really​ ​necessary?

MAHIMA That​ d ​ epends.​ ​Is​ ​it​ ​really​ ​necessary​ t ​ o​ ​cause​ ​trouble?​ ​To call​ ​your​ ​chief​ ​officer​ ​a​ ​liar?

ANDREW Wait,​ ​I​ ​didn’tMAHIMA You’re​ ​lucky​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​make​ ​you​ ​an​ ​example​ ​for severe​ ​punishment​ ​on​ ​this​ ​outpost​ ​right​ ​there​ ​and​ ​then.​ ​I am​ ​your​ ​captain.​ ​Your​ ​commanding​ ​officer.​ ​When​ ​you undermine​ ​my​ ​authority​ ​and​ ​call​ ​me​ ​a​ ​liar,​ ​youANDREW

I​ ​DIDN’T​ ​CALL​ ​YOU​ ​A​ ​LIAR! [Silence,​ ​save​ ​for​ ​the​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​him​ ​breathing​ ​deeply​ ​a​ ​few times.​ ​When​ ​he​ ​speaks,​ ​his​ ​voice​ ​is​ ​calmer,​ ​more modulated.]

I​ ​swear,​ ​I​ ​didn’t.​ ​Someone​ ​called​ ​me​​ ​a​ ​liar,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​wasn’t any​ ​of​ ​you.​ ​And​ ​I​ ​have​ ​no​ ​reason​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​you’re​ ​lying.

None.​ ​Believe​ ​it​ ​or​ ​not,​ ​I​ ​think​ ​you’re​ ​doing​ ​okay​ ​as​ ​a voice​ ​of​ ​reason,​ ​considering-​ ​[He​ ​cuts​ ​himself​ ​off​.​] MAHIMA (her​ ​voice​ ​is​ ​steely) Considering​ ​what,​ ​exactly?​ ​Tell​ ​me,​ ​Mr.​ ​Federmann.

ANDREW (quietly​ ​and​ ​pissed​ ​off) Considering​ ​you​ ​have​ ​it​ ​out​ ​for​ ​me​ ​already.

[MAHIMA​ i ​ s​ ​silent​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment.​ ​Then​ ​she​ ​snorts.​ ​When​ ​she speaks,​ i ​ t’s​ ​bitter.]

MAHIMA You’re​ ​delusional,​ ​Mr.​ ​Federman.​ ​I​ ​don’t,​ ​in​ ​your​ ​words, “have​ ​it​ ​out​ ​for​ ​you”.​ ​I​ ​just​ ​want​ ​things​ ​to​ ​run​ ​smoothly around​ ​here,​ ​and​ ​crew​ ​members​ ​fighting​ ​each​ ​other​ ​and bullshitting​ ​me​ ​aren’t​ ​helpful.​ ​You’ll​ ​help​ ​Lillian assemble​ ​the​ ​last​ ​few​ ​toilets.​ ​And​ ​by​ ​help,​ ​I​ ​mean​ ​she will​ ​instruct​ ​you​ ​and​ ​you​ ​will​ ​do​ ​the​ ​grunt​ ​work.

ANDREW ButMAHIMA This​ ​is​ a ​ n​ ​order.​ N ​ ow​ ​go.

[Andrew’s​ ​footsteps​ l ​ eave,​ a ​ long​ ​with​ ​his​ ​grumbling,​ ​and Mahima​ ​follows.]

OPEN​ ​NEW​ ​SCENE:​ ​Joanna’s​ ​lab.

[Silence​ ​for​ a ​ ​ ​minute.​ ​Then​ ​a​ ​door​ s ​ lams​ ​and​ ​JOANNA’s voice​ ​starts​ f ​ ading​ ​back​ ​in,​ ​along​ w ​ ith​ ​footsteps.]

JOANNA (back​ ​in​ ​their​ ​lab,​ ​walking​ ​towards​ ​their​ ​bench) ...can’t​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​weird​ ​shit​ ​and-​ ​oh,​ ​hell.​ ​Did​ ​I leave​ ​my​ ​recorder​ ​on?​ ​I​ ​did.​ ​Yikes,​ ​probably​ ​got​ ​a​ ​really nice​ ​recording​ ​of​ ​silence​ ​and​ ​not​ ​much​ ​else.​ ​Especially since​ ​I​ ​never[They​ ​turn​ ​to​ ​their​ ​worktable.​ ​Something​ ​is​ ​wrong.

Something​ ​is​ ​very​ ​wrong.]

Where’d​ ​the​ ​specimens​ ​go?!

[We​ ​hear​ ​JOANNA​ ​fumbling​ ​with​ ​the​ ​tape​ ​recorder,​ ​trying​ ​to rewind​ ​and​ ​play.]

C’mon,​ ​c’mon,​ ​you​ ​stupid[It​ ​starts​ ​playing,​ ​from​ ​the​ ​beginning.​ ​JOANNA’s​ ​log.​ ​But when​ ​the​ ​door​ ​opens,​ ​the​ ​tape​ ​breaks​ ​up​ ​into​ ​static​ ​and garbled​ ​noises​ ​that​ ​don’t​ ​sound​ ​human.]

What​ ​the​ ​hell?

[In​ ​the​ ​tape,​ ​a​ ​door​ ​shuts,​ ​and​ ​all​ ​the​ ​static​ ​is​ ​gone.​ ​So are​ ​the​ ​voices.​ ​It’s​ ​totally​ ​quiet.]

[Then​ ​the​ ​door​ ​opens​ ​again.]

[JOANNA​ ​shrieks,​ ​startled,​ ​and​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​thunk​ ​as​ ​they drop​ ​their​ ​recorder​ ​onto​ ​their​ ​workbench.​ ​The​ ​intruder yelps​ ​and​ ​instinctively​ ​takes​ ​a​ ​step​ ​backwards.​ ​It’s LILLIAN.] LILLIAN Oh,​ ​jesus.​ ​Sorry​ i ​ f​ ​I​ ​scared​ y ​ ou,​ I ​ ​ ​was​ ​justJOANNA (suspicious​ ​and​ ​venomous) Just​ ​coming​ ​to​ ​do​ ​what,​ ​exactly?

LILLIAN Well,​ ​uh.​ ​I​ ​came​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​that​ I ​ ​ ​put​ ​your​ ​specimens away​ ​before​ ​we​ ​left.​ ​They​ ​seemed​ ​like​ ​they​ ​would​ ​have dried​ ​up​ ​otherwise.​ ​So,​ ​check​ ​the​ ​cooler​ ​on​ ​the​ ​side​ ​of the​ ​bench.

[BEAT,​ a ​ nd​ w ​ e​ ​hear​ ​the​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​a​ ​cooler​ ​lid​ ​opening,​ ​then water​ ​(or​ ​another​ ​liquid?)​ ​slopping​ ​inside​ ​of​ ​it.​ ​JOANNA gives​ ​a​ ​sigh​ ​of​ ​relief.]

JOANNA Oh,​ ​thank​ ​god.​ ​You​ ​were​ ​right,​ ​they​ ​would​ ​have,​ ​and​ I ​ totally​ ​forgot.​ ​Thank​ ​you.​ ​Thank​ ​you​ ​so​ ​much.​ ​...But​ a ​ t the​ ​same​ ​time,​ ​don’t​ ​touch​ ​my​ ​experiments​ ​without permission​ ​again,​ ​please.

LILLIAN Understood,​ ​chief.​ S ​ orry​ ​about​ ​the​ ​confusion.

JOANNA (sounding​ t ​ ired​ ​and​ s ​ haky​ ​with​ ​recently-dispelled​ a ​ nxiety) It’s​ ​okay.

LILLIAN ...You​ ​sure?

JOANNA (pause) No. LILLIAN (longer​ ​pause) ...Do​ ​you​ ​want​ ​a​ ​hug?

JOANNA ...that​ ​would​ ​be​ ​nice.

[We​ ​hear​ ​the​ ​sounds​ ​of​ L ​ ILLIAN​ ​giving​ ​JOANNA​ ​a​ ​hug.​ ​Then some​ ​shaky​ ​laughter.]

LILLIAN God,​ ​those​ ​questions​ ​were​ ​weird.

JOANNA Tell​​ ​me​ ​about​ ​it.​ L ​ ike,​ ​god,​ w ​ hat​ w ​ as​ H ​ Q​ t ​ hinking?

LILLIAN You​ ​already​ ​know​ t ​ he​ ​answer:​ t ​ hey​ d ​ on’t​ ​think.

JOANNA ...This​ ​is​ ​true. [long​ ​exhale] I​ n ​ eed​ ​to​ ​prepare​ ​for​ ​dish​ ​duty​ t ​ onight.

LILLIAN Hey,​ ​I’m​ a ​ ssembling​ ​the​ ​dishwasher.​ ​You​ ​could​ w ​ atch​ ​and help?​ ​That’d​ ​be​ ​preparation.

JOANNA ...Sure,​ ​why​ ​not?

LILLIAN (giddy,​ ​because​ ​ohhh​ ​my​ ​god​ ​person​ m ​ ight​ a ​ ctually​ ​be interested) Awesome.

OPEN​ ​NEW​ ​SCENE:​ ​Alex’s​ ​room.

[We​ ​hear​ ​a​ ​pen​ ​scribbling​ ​on​ ​paper,​ ​then​ ​Alex’s​ ​voice​ ​over it.]

ALEX What​ ​am​ ​I​ ​lying​ ​about?​ ​What​ ​did​ ​I​ ​say​ ​that​ ​wasn’t​ ​true?​ ​I am​​ ​afraid​ ​of​ ​the​ ​dark.​ ​I​ ​always​ ​have​ ​been,​ ​I​ ​always​ ​will be.​ ​I​ ​keep​ ​a​ ​nightlight​ ​even​ ​now.​ ​It’s​ ​my​ ​greatest​ ​fear, and​ ​I​ ​know​ ​why-​ ​because​ ​humans​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what’s​ ​in​ ​the darkness,​ ​hiding,​ ​so​ ​we​ ​fear​ ​it.​ ​It’s​ ​not​ ​irrational.​ ​But we​ ​can’t​ ​avoid​ ​venturing​ ​into​ ​it.​ ​Either​ ​we​ ​ignore​ ​it​ ​as best​ ​we​ ​can,​ ​or​ ​we​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​nightlight.​ ​That​ ​applies​ ​to everything​ ​else,​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​So​ ​what​ ​was​ ​I​ ​lying​ ​about?​ ​What am​ ​I​ ​really​ ​afraid​ ​of?​ ​I’m​ ​still​ ​not​ ​sure.

I’m​ ​still​ ​not​ ​sure​ ​the​ ​voice​ ​I​ ​heard​ ​was​ ​there,​ ​either.

But​ ​I​ ​guess…​ ​it​ ​exists​ ​until​ ​we​ ​prove​ ​it​ ​doesn’t.​ ​We’re scientists-​ ​well,​ ​mostly​ ​scientists-​ ​after​ ​all.​ ​So​ ​I’ll make​ ​a​ ​test​ ​for​ ​it,​ ​to​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​what​ ​the​ ​lie​ ​was.​ ​Yeah.

I’ll​ ​make​ ​a​ ​test.​ ​And​ ​we’ll​ ​know​ ​what​ ​happened​ ​there.

END. CREDITS.