Unwell Season 5/Episode 4 - The Creeping Water

by Jessica Wright Buha

Nothing works.
Why are you pretending this is normal?
Learning about hard conversations.

Listen to the episode here.


Content Advisories for this episode can be found here.

Support Unwell and HartLife NFP on Patreon at www.patreon.com/hartlifenfp

This episode features: Clarisa Cherie Rios as Lily, Amelia Bethel as Marisol, Pat King as Chester, Krista D'Agostino as Hazel, Kim Fukawa as Joanne, Jeffrey Nils Gardner as Handy Stanley

Written by Jessica Wright Buha, sound design by Eli Hamada McIlveen, directed by Jeffrey Nils Gardner, theme music composed by Stephen Poon, assistant director Lauren Grace Thompson, recording engineer Mel Ruder, associate producer Ani Enghdahl, Theme performed by Stephen Poon, Lauren Kelly, Gunnar Jebsen, Travis Elfers, Mel Ruder, and Betsey Palmer, produced by haydée r. souffrant, Unwell lead sound designer Eli Hamada McIlveen, Executive Producers Eleanor Hyde and Jeffrey Nils Gardner, by HartLife NFP.

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INT. BASEMENT OF THE GOLDEN GROOVE - DAY

SFX: WATER DRIPS.

LILY

Okay, I'm plugging it in.

MARISOL

Lily! Make sure that outlet's dry!

LILY

It's super-dry.

SFX: PLUGS IT IN. THE PUMP ENGINE WHIRRS.

LILY (cont'd)

It is working?

SFX: THE PUMP ENGINE WHIRRS.

LILY (cont'd)

Mari!

MARISOL

What's it supposed to be doing?

LILY

Sucking up all the water! Lemme see.

SFX: THREE DRY FOOTSTEPS, THEN ONE WET ONE.

LILY (cont'd)

Dammit. Yeah, it's getting deeper.

MARISOL

Shit shit shit.

LILY

Everything's cool. This is normal.

MARISOL

Um, no.

LILY

Basements leak.

MARISOL

This basement has never leaked.

LILY

Classic basement move.

MARISOL

Why would I store all this

stuff here if it leaked?

We gotta get all these boxes upstairs. Can you

help me take them up to the apartment?

LILY

All of them?

MARISOL

Or we need to get the pump working!

LILY

I think we just have to--

SFX: LILY'S FOOTSTEPS SPLASH THROUGH THE WATER (ABOUT THREE

INCHES)

LILY (cont'd)

I mean, it's running.

MARISOL

But look how weak it is.

SFX: LILY'S FOOTSTEPS STOP AS SHE REACHES MARI. WATER PUMPS

OUT/MAKES A PITIFUL SLURPING SOUND.

LILY

Yeah. Maybe it's just on "low." Lemme play the

thing again...

SFX: TAP AS LILY PLAYS A VIDEO ON HER PHONE.

HANDY STANLEY

Hey guys, it's Handy Stanley, and I've got the

Vitawork one-sixth horsepower submersible utility

pump here--

--and it is a game-changer.

Let's dive in.

LILY

I think it was at a minute

forty.

SFX: PERHAPS SOME SORT OF FAST-FORWARDING SOUND AS LILY FAST-

FORWARDS THE YOUTUBE VIDEO???

HANDY STANLEY

And if you're in the need for speed,

LILY

Oh great--

HANDY STANLEY

take that left tab, click it up and flip it over,

and that'll kick in the reserve power to--

SFX: TAP AS LILY PAUSES IT.

LILY

Click it up and flip it over?

MARISOL

Which tab is it?

LILY

Lemme double-check.

HANDY STANLEY

--need for speed, take that left tab,

LILY

Okay, it's that one.

HANDY STANLEY

Click it up and flip it over.

LILY

Okay, click it up.

SFX: TAB CLICKS UP.

LILY (cont'd)

Good. Now... flip it over? I gotta see it again.

HANDY STANLEY

--left tab, click it up and flip it over.

MARISOL

How's he doing that?

LILY

I don't know! it's like it's on a hinge.

MARISOL

I think you gotta twist it.

LILY

Okay...

SFX: SOUND OF A PIECE OF PLASTIC BEING STRAINED TO THE POINT

OF ALMOST BREAKING.

LILY (cont'd)

I feel like I'm gonna break it.

MARISOL

Okay, stop, stop. This is like the last utility

pump in a hundred mile radius.

SFX: WATER IS PUMPED PITIFULLY OUT THE HOSE.

LILY

Well, shoot.

MARISOL

There's no way that's gonna get the water out.

LILY

Yeah.

MARISOL

I mean, it's gotta pump it up

to the basement window, then

out to the alley, then to the

storm drain.

LILY

(increasingly irritated)

Right. Right, Yeah. Okay.

LILY (cont'd)

So what's the plan?

MARISOL

We move the boxes.

LILY

There's like fifty of them.

MARISOL

And?

LILY

Where're you putting them? In the back room?

LILY

I don't think there's space.

MARI

No, no, no. There's no space.

I know. We gotta put em up in my apartment.

LILY

All fifty boxes?

MARISOL

Yeah.

LILY

That's so many stairs.

MARISOL

What else are we going to do?

LILY

These can't be that important if you're storing

them in the basement, and--

SFX: LILY WALKS THROUGH THE WATER TOWARDS THE BOXES.

LILY (cont'd)

--risking water damage.

SFX: LILY'S WET FOOTSTEPS TURN TO DRY AS SHE GOES TO A BOX.

MARI

The basement's been literally, like, bone-dry

since I moved in.

LILY

Like what's even in here.

SFX: CARDBOARD SCRAPES AS THE BOX OPENS.

MARISOL

It's my overstock.

SFX: SOFT FLIP OF RECORDS.

LILY

This box is just copies of the Jesus Christ

Superstar soundtrack.

MARISOL

(correcting her)

Concept album. But, yeah, that's the JCSS box.

LILY

This whole box.

MARISOL

Any collection you get from the early seventies

is gonna have a copy, so--

LILY

How many of these do you sell in a year?

MARISOL

I don't know, a couple.

LILY

Well, you're good for thirty years.

SFX: MARI'S QUICK FOOTSTEPS TO THE BOX.

MARISOL

I'm gonna get these upstairs.

LILY

Mari, just keep five, and toss the rest.

SFX: MARI PICKS UP THE VERY VERY HEAVY BOX.

MARISOL

These were all---oooof! Someone's.

LILY

Okay.

MARISOL

All these records belonged to different people.

They played them when they were sad, or when they

needed a friend.

LILY

And now they're yours. I mean, right? Didn't they

sell them to you?

SFX: DISTANT BELL RINGS FROM UPSTAIRS AS SOMEONE ENTERS THE

SHOP.

MARI

You don't have to help me move them.

CHESTER (O.S.)

Marisol?

MARISOL

(shouting up to Chester)

Yeah!

LILY

I'll help you take them upstairs, I just think

it's bonkers.

MARISOL

I don't care what you think is bonkers!

CHESTER (O.S.)

Is anyone here?

MARI

(yelling up to Chester)

One second!

LILY

Mari, I didn't--

MARISOL

(to Lily, acidly)

One second.

Look. This basement has never flooded, and now

it's flooding and I feel everyone's pretending

this is normal and no one's trying stop it.

LILY

Stop what. The rain?

MARISOL

Don't tell me you think this is normal rain.

LILY

Normal-ish.

Okay, let's say Blooms is behind it. Why would he

want to flood us out?

MARISOL

He did it to Rudy.

LILY

I know.

MARISOL

Lily, I need to keep myself safe, and my

livelihood safe,

LILY

I get that--

MARISOL

--and I don't know why you think that's a waste

of time.

LILY

I don't. I just think sixty copies of Jesus

Christ Superstar is not what we should be worried

about right now.

SFX: THE WATER PUMP WHEEZES AS IT FEEBLY PUMPS WATER.

MARISOL

What should we be worried about?

LILY

I don't--[know.]

MARISOL

You think Blooms is gonna flood the town--

LILY

Look, the rain is crazy, BUT--[it's fine!]

MARISOL

And then we're all gonna die.

SFX: LILY THINKS ABOUT THIS A MILLISECOND TOO LONG.

LILY

No.

MARISOL

Oh my God.

LILY

(with conviction)

No! No. No one's going to die.

MARISOL

No one else is going to die.

LILY

(correcting herself)

No one else is going to die.

CHESTER (O.S.)

Marisol, it's rather urgent!

MARISOL

(shouting up to Chester)

Coming up now!

(to Lily)

Let's get upstairs.

SFX: MARI AND LILY'S FOOTSTEPS GO UP THE BASEMENT STAIRS.

MARISOL (cont'd)

You're not exactly being convincing.

INT. GOLDEN GROOVE RECORD STORE - DAY

SFX: A SONG PLAYS.

LILY (O.S)

I'm not saying no one's ever going to die.

SFX: DOOR CREAKS OPENS.

MARISOL

Hey Chester.

CHESTER

At last. Marisol--

LILY

I mean, don't, you know--

SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS CHESTER MOVES TOWARDS MARISOL. THE SPIRIT

ORGAN JANGLES SOFTLY IN ITS CASE.

CHESTER

May we speak somewhere in private.

MARISOL

Yeah sure--

LILY

--don't say like, "oh Lily, someone died in a car

accident,"

LILY

"you said no one was ever

going to die."

CHESTER

Perhaps a back room, or

something.

MARISOL

But people didn't used to die in accidents.

Right, Chester?

CHESTER

If you're speaking of Rudy, his death was no

accident. Marisol, please, I--

LILY

What's with the suitcase.

CHESTER

I cannot have this in the open.

MARISOL

Cool. Let's go in the back.

CHESTER

Thank you.

INT. BACK ROOM - DAY

SFX: MUSIC FROM THE RECORD SHOP PROPER IS SLIGHTLY MUFFLED

BEHIND THE WALL (BUT FLOWS THROUGH THE OPEN DOOR)

MARISOL

Do you need some table space?

CHESTER

Yes, that would be helpful.

SFX: SHUFFLE AS MARI CLEARS STUFF OFF THE TABLE.

CHESTER (cont'd)

And a flame, if possible.

MARISOL

Got it.

LILY

What, are we having a seance?

CHESTER

No, no.

LILY

Gonna say, Chester, I know a few ghosts you can

talk to.

MARISOL

Is that enough space?

CHESTER

Yes, thank you. So--

SFX: HEAVY THUD OF THE SPIRIT ORGAN BOX ON THE TABLE.

LILY

Sorry, what's with the suitcase again?

CHESTER

I'm here because--

LILY

--you're moving in?

SFX: CHESTER SMILES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A WHILE.

CHESTER

No, no--this is... this is

merely...

LILY

I know we're getting to be

friends but take me to dinner

first.

CHESTER

Merely something I need assistance with.

LILY

This the part where you open the box?

CHESTER

Before we continue, may I quickly initiate you

both into the Order?

LILY

Chester.

MARISOL

What?

CHESTER

It will take two minutes.

MARISOL

The Delphic order?

LILY

I don't think so.

CHESTER

I'll use the abridged text.

MARISOL

Nope.

LILY

It's not gonna happen.

CHESTER

You can recant the moment we're through.

MARISOL

Yeah, hard pass.

LILY

Chester, sorry, but no.

CHESTER

A long shot, I'll admit.

LILY

You don't have to worry--we're not gonna tell

anyone whatever... the thing is.

CHESTER

Thank you.

So. What we have here is...

CHESTER (cont'd)

SFX: HINGES CREAK. THE SPARKLING SPIRIT ORGAN IS REVEALED.

LILY

Oh wow.

CHESTER

...a steam organ, in miniature. Through this, ah,

"spirit organ," communication is possible with

the ones who came before.

MARISOL

The "ghosts."

CHESTER

Yes.

I hoping to get some answers.

LILY

So it is a seance.

CHESTER

Not strictly speaking.

LILY

Just talk to Wes, or Norah, or--

CHESTER

I need to speak to someone I trust.

LILY

Got it.

CHESTER

The way it works is this:

MARISOL

We play a song?

CHESTER

No, we ask a question. Just with words, with our

voice.

MARISOL

And then it responds in song.

CHESTER

Yes. In a way--the notes correspond to specific

words or concepts. This is all detailed in the

guidebook, which is... here.

MARISOL

Let's see.

SFX: RUSTLE AS THE GUIDEBOOK IS HANDED OVER.

CHESTER

The guidebook is truly indispensable.

SFX: MARISOL FLIPS THROUGH THE BOOK.

MARISOL

Okay, so high C means "the insect,"

"industrious," oh, also "misunderstood," "small,"

"near," "immediate." Or the word "yes."

CHESTER

But difficult to parse without a working

knowledge of music theory.

I'm hopeless with all this, Lulu is the one

who...

SFX: CHESTER CANNOT CONTINUE.

MARISOL

(to herself)

High C sharp. Wilting, sunset, fading, cold,

death.

LILY

You okay, Chester?

CHESTER

No.

SFX: PAGES TURN AS MARI READS THE GUIDEBOOK.

MARISOL

(to herself)

Low C. The stone, rock, dirt, earth, sturdy,

strong.

LILY

I'm sorry Lulu had to skip town with Jamie for a

bit.

CHESTER

Yes, the situation is sub-optimal.

How does one explain this to a child? "Your home

is not safe anymore--your home is not a home."

How can that be?

LILY

What'd you end up telling him?

CHESTER

The truth, as simply as I could. But I emphasized

that we are all working as hard as we can to make

it safe again.

LILY

What'd he say?

CHESTER

He had an age-appropriate reaction.

LILY

I'm so sorry.

MARISOL

(to herself)

Low D. The house, home, structure. Hearth. Safety

LILY

Things seem really hard right now.

CHESTER

Cracks are forming. Many many cracks.

The town cannot fall.

LILY

Yeah.

SFX: THE TINY FIRE CRACKLES IN THE CALLIOPE.

LILY (cont'd)

Lemme open a window before the fire alarm goes

off.

CHESTER

Yes, sorry--the smoke.

SFX: THE RAIN FALLS.

LILY

It's gotta stop tomorrow.

CHESTER

There are stories of it raining for a month.

Flooding the cemetery, the bodies disinterred,

floating, weightless. Hair tangled in tree

branches.

LILY

When was this?

CHESTER

1924.

LILY

Think that's going to happen again?

CHESTER

I will ask.

(to himself)

Nearly ready.

(to Marisol)

Oh, Marisol, there is an app, I believe, that can

assist you with identifying the notes.

MARISOL

Nah, I got it.

LILY

You have perfect pitch?

MARISOL

No, I can just tell the notes apart.

LILY

(impressed)

Huh.

CHESTER

Quiet, please.

SFX: CHESTER CLEARS HIS THROAT. THE WATER IN THE SPIRIT ORGAN

HUMS AS IT BOILS. SQUEAK OF A VALVE TURNING, THEN SOME SORT OF

NEUTRAL STEAM HISS/WHISTLE IS HEARD (AKA THE DEFAULT SOUND OF

THE CALLIOPE).

CHESTER (cont'd)

Greetings, I wish to speak to those who have gone

before.

SFX: STEAM SHRIEKS SOFTLY THROUGH THE D NOTE.

CHESTER (cont'd)

The request is granted. I summon the spirit of

Arthur Warren.

SFX: THE CALLIOPE GIVES OUT A FEW NOTES OF GREETING.

CHESTER (cont'd)

Grandpa, why did Rudy die?

SFX: THE CALLIOPE PLAYS [A, E FLAT, C SHARP, A FLAT]

MARISOL

Wind, trees, sky--

CHESTER

"The wind turns the leaves." The traditional

answer to that question. I've asked some

variation of that often.

MARISOL

Yeah? I was gonna say "everything falls."

CHESTER

That's certainly not the traditional reading--

MARISOL

Dust in the wind.

SFX: THE CALLIOPE PLAYS MORE NOTES. THE

NOTES SOUND STRANGE AND VERY UNRESOLVED.

LILY

What's that mean?

MARISOL

"You" and...

SFX: MARI FLIPS THROUGH THE BOOK.

MARISOL (cont'd)

"Safe." You're safe?

CHESTER

I've never heard the notes played that way.

CHESTER

It sounds wrong.

MARISOL

It's unresolved.

MARISOL

I think it's a question.

CHESTER

You think he's asking us a question?

MARISOL

Oh yeah. It's unresolved--like, musically.

Definitely a question.

CHESTER

Oh.

LILY

Oh dang.

MARISOL

Do you feel safe?

CHESTER

Do I feel safe? Personally? Me?

MARISOL

Sure.

MARISOL

Do you feel safe?

CHESTER

Oh.

SFX: CHESTER CANNOT SPEAK.

CHESTER

Lily?

MARISOL

Do you feel safe?

LILY

Yeah, hi. So I have felt safe in the past. I will

feel safe in the future. But I don't feel safe

now.

SFX: THE SPIRIT ORGAN IS UPSET. IT PLAYS SEVERAL SOUR NOTES AT

ONCE.

LILY (cont'd)

We don't want to upset you. We're just telling

you the truth. You want us to be truthful with

you, right?

SFX: THE CALLIOPE SPITS, HISSES. IT PLAYS ALL THE NOTES AT

ONCE.

MARISOL

That's not good.

LILY

Do you want us to lie to you?

SFX: SHARP SOUND AS A PIPE CRACKS.

CHESTER

Grandpa--

SFX: THE BRASS PIPES ALL POP, BUCKLE, AND SHATTER. THE PIECES

FLY ACROSS THE ROOM, HITTING THE WALLS, WOOD FLOOR, AND

WINDOW. CHESTER GASPS.

LILY

Careful!

MARISOL

Shit!

SFX: THE LAST OF THE STEAM EXITS WITH A SIGH.

MARISOL (cont'd)

What the fuck.

LILY

Everyone okay?

MARISOL

If you stole this from Hazel, I hope you asked

first. Cause she is definitely going to notice

it's, ah, different.

LILY

Let's get this picked up.

SFX: CLINK AS BRASS PIECES ARE THROWN INTO THE WOODEN BOX.

MARISOL

I'm getting the broom.

SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS MARI WALKS OVER TO WHERE THE BROOM IS

LEANING AGAINST THE WALL.

LILY

Chester, should we--?

SFX: CHESTER IS STARING, SILENT, AT THE DESTROYED SPIRIT

ORGAN. BRUSHING/CLINKING SOUND AS MARI SWEEPS THE METAL SHARDS

OFF THE WOOD FLOOR.

LILY (cont'd)

Hey! Chester!

CHESTER

Yes?

LILY

You want us to put all the pieces back in the

box, or you want to just call it?

CHESTER

I don't understand.

LILY

We can put the pieces back in the box, or we can

just trash it. Either way.

CHESTER

Oh, Lily.

SFX: CHESTER STARTS TO CRY. MARI STOPS SWEEPING.

LILY

Oh, hey, hey.

SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS LILY GOES TO CHESTER.

LILY (cont'd)

It's okay. Chester.

SFX: SOFT RUSTLE AS THEY HUG.

LILY (cont'd)

Hey.

SFX: CHESTER TRIES TO CATCH HIS BREATH THROUGH HIS SOBS.

LILY (cont'd)

We're gonna figure this out.

CHESTER

It's not steadying itself. I cannot.

LILY

It's okay.

SFX: BRUSHING/CLINKING SOUND AS MARI CONTINUES TO SWEEP THE

METAL SHARDS OFF THE WOOD FLOOR.

LILY (cont'd)

We're gonna figure this out together.

MARISOL

(chanting in a punk song-

style)

Fight doesn't end til we're dead in the ground

So we'll keep breathing,

Keep em screaming.

LILY

Exactly.

SFX: MARI HUMS THE REST OF THE SONG TO HERSELF AS SHE SWEEPS.

CHESTER STEADIES HIMSELF.

CHESTER

Thy...

Thy shalt rejoice in tribulations, for the

suffering makes thee strong.

LILY

Mmmm. That sounds like a Silas-ism.

CHESTER

It is.

LILY

Got anything from the good guys?

CHESTER

Ah...

MARISOL

Maybe from your grandpa?

CHESTER

I remember one day, I was playing outside--I was

a child.

LILY

Sure.

MARISOL

You can play outside as an adult. No judging.

CHESTER

And I started to rain, so I ran inside but

Grandpa was mending a fence and he yelled after

me, "What's a few raindrops? Think you're a sugar

cube and gonna melt?

LILY

What's a few raindrops?

MARISOL

What's a few raindrops!

LILY

We're not gonna melt? Right?

CHESTER

Right.

SFX: MARISOL DUMPS A DUSTPAN FULL OF METAL SHARDS INTO THE

WOODEN BOX.

MARISOL

Okay, that's most of it.

CHESTER

Thank you.

I have to show this to Hazel.

LILY

Sorry--she's probably going to be pissed.

CHESTER

She'll--eh.

SFX: CLANGING AS CHESTER PICKS UP THE BOX.

CHESTER (cont'd)

She'll want to know the Signs.

MARISOL

I'll grab the door.

SFX: MARI'S QUICK FOOTSTEPS TO THE DOOR.

CHESTER

Thank you.

SFX: DOOR CREAKS OPEN, AND THE MUSIC FROM THE GOLDEN GROOVE

PROPER FLOODS IN. FOOTSTEPS (AND A VERY CLANGY BOX OF BRASS

SHARDS) ARE HEARD AS EVERYONE EXITS THE BACK ROOM.

INT. GOLDEN GROOVE - DAY

SFX: DOOR CLOSES BEHIND THEM. FOOTSTEPS AS THEY WALK THROUGH

THE STORE. THE PIECES OF THE CALLIOPE JANGLES QUIETLY IN ITS

WOODEN BOX.

CHESTER

Marisol, I'm so grateful for your assistance in

deciphering the message.

MARISOL

No prob. Lemme get that for you.

SFX: THE FRONT DOOR CREAKS OPEN WITH A BELL TINKLE.

CHESTER

Thank you. Lily, let's talk soon.

LILY

Sure.

CHESTER

Afternoon, all.

LILY

See you.

MARISOL

Hang in there, Chester!

SFX: CHESTER'S FOOTSTEPS WALK OUT OF THE SHOP. THE BELL

TINKLES AGAIN AS THE DOOR CLOSES BEHIND HIM.

MARISOL (cont'd)

So? You gonna help me?

LILY

What, hunt for more metal shards in the back

room?

MARISOL

The boxes.

LILY

Mari, it's not just the boxes. The electrical box

is down there, if that floods, then you risk an

electrical fire...

MARISOL

So we'll get a better pump.

LILY

Where?

MARISOL

We'll borrow one.

LILY

From who?

MARISOL

Or we'll give up!

SFX: THE MUSIC PLAYS SOFTLY. RAIN POUNDS OUTSIDE.

MARISOL (cont'd)

Why are you being so shitty about this?

LILY

I'm just being realistic that this place is

unsustainable for now, and I think you should--

You know.

MARISOL

What?

LILY

Leave.

MARISOL

Leave... my store?

LILY

Leave Mount Absalom. Go to Indianapolis, stay

with your sister for a little bit.

MARISOL

Um. No.

LILY

Things aren't safe right now. Chester's little

steam machine exploding, the rooms in Fenwood are

still all mixed up--

MARISOL

You told Chester we were going to figure this out

together. So, what, am I not a part of that.

LILY

I'm just trying to keep you safe.

MARISOL

You're just being really patronizing, and I don't

super-appreciate it.

LILY

Fine! Stay here and die. I'm done

SFX: LILY'S FOOTSTEPS WALK QUICKLY TOWARDS THE DOOR. A SONG

COMES ON.

MARISOL

Why are you acting this way?

THE MUSIC

(singing)

Every heart breaks in the end.

It's what they're made to do.

LILY

What's record is this?

MARISOL

I don't know, it's just the radio--

THE MUSIC

(singing)

You can waste away a lifetime

Just a-waiting for a bloom.

MARISOL

We're not breaking up, Random Song That Just

Happened to Come on the Radio. We're having a

conversation.

SFX: THE SONG GOES INTO AN INSTRUMENTAL BREAK.

LILY

Yeah, these sorts of conversations usually end

badly.

MARISOL

What? Why?

LILY

I just have bad luck with--

MARISOL

With discussing hard topics.

LILY

Yeah.

MARISOL

What do you normally do? Oh, what you were going

to do--leave.

LILY

I was just going to give you some space.

MARISOL

That is so obviously the opposite of what I want.

LILY

Is it.

MARISOL

We can have hard conversations without one of us

leaving. You gotta trust that fact.

LILY

That's hard for me.

MARISOL

Okay, so you have to find the courage to trust.

LILY

I've been--[hurt a lot]

MARISOL

Which is really hard for everyone.

LILY

I've been hurt a lot.

RUSTY

(singing)

Every heart breaks in the end.

SFX: THE SONG ENDS. RINGING SILENCE.

LILY

Every heart breaks in the end.

MARISOL

Yeah, well, "every...

(making it up on the spot)

heart will bloom again."

So there.

LILY

You just make that up?

MARISOL

You don't wanna go toe-to-toe in an emo poetry

slam with Mari Cabrera, okay?

LILY

I do not.

Hey. I'm sorry.

MARISOL

It's okay.

You gotta trust that we can hash this out without

breaking up.

LILY

How?

MARISOL

Cause you know I love you.

LILY

Love you, too.

You want to move some boxes.

MARISOL

I would love to move some boxes.

LILY

Let's go.

INT. AUGUST LODGE - DAY

SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS CHESTER WALKS DOWN AN ECHOING HALLWAY OF THE

AUGUST HALL.

HAZEL (D)

Where is Marcus?

JOANNE (D)

Reinforcing sublevel A.

HAZEL (D)

Yes, how are the sanctums?

CHESTER

Hazel?

JOANNE (D)

Daniel thought he heard dripping in Mahogany.

HAZEL (D)

Facts, not thoughts, Joanne.

JOANNE (D)

It's hard to tell with the carpet.

HAZEL (D)

Damned carpet. It's just a dust trap.

CHESTER

Hazel!

HAZEL (D)

Is it cruel I almost hope it sustains water

damage? Chester!

SFX: CHESTER'S FOOTSTEPS HAVE REACHED HAZEL AND JOANNE.

CHESTER

Hazel--

HAZEL

Glad you're here, we need--

SFX: HAZEL SHRIEKS IN HORROR AS SHE SEES THE SPIRIT ORGAN CASE

IN CHESTER'S HAND.

HAZEL (cont'd)

What is that—

CHESTER

I need to speak with you

HAZEL

Why is that--

JOANNE

Hazel?

HAZEL

Everything's fine, Joanne. I'm just surprised to

see Chester with my suitcase! Why don't you set

that down in my office.

CHESTER

We need to talk.

HAZEL

Oh yes, Chester, we most certainly do. Joanne,

could you please move the sandbags from Mahogany

to Marble and Onyx?

JOANNE

But the dripping...?

HAZEL

Sacrifices must be made. Thank you.

SFX: FOOTSTEPS AS HAZEL SHUFFLES CHESTER INTO HER OFFICE.

HAZEL (cont'd)

Now, Chester, let's just head into my office...

SFX: DOOR CLOSES.

HAZEL (cont'd)

Where did you take the organ.

CHESTER

Hazel.

HAZEL

You didn't ignite it?

CHESTER

I needed answers.

HAZEL

Chester!

CHESTER

And I cannot--[reconcile past

events with the truth.]

SFX: CHESTER SETS THE ORGAN ON HAZEL'S DESK. THE BRASS SHARDS

CLATTER WITH A DULL, SICKENING SOUND

HAZEL

What is that sound?

CHESTER

It sustained damage.

HAZEL

Why did you do this? If you needed answers, you

should have come to me. Were there any witnesses?

Tell me they were ordained.

CHESTER

Hazel. Hazel.

HAZEL

Why didn't you ask me?

CHESTER

I cannot reconcile the events that happened with

what I know to be true. I know that we are safe

if we follow the signs. That we are taken care

of. But an innocent man was murdered.

HAZEL

Yes, but Dr. Peltham didn't follow the signs,

obviously, so the Revelator struck him down.

CHESTER

It was not the Revelator. It was the town.

HAZEL

Yes, your Man Who Blooms

CHESTER

One who Blooms.

HAZEL

He doesn't exist! It's only the land, thy green

and growing arms, and the specter at the border.

CHESTER

It's more than just the land.

HAZEL

We are safe as long as the Revelator is at bay,

and it's true that he is very much among us at

the moment, and certainly the destruction he sows

is devastating, but. By the grace of the land, we

are provided for. In thy hale and verdant arms we

have everything we need.

CHESTER

The town has lost its way.

HAZEL

Shut up.

SFX: HAZEL'S FOOTSTEPS TO THE RECORD PLAYER.

HAZEL (cont'd)

(loudly, to any

eavesdroppers)

Chester, have you heard this recording?

SFX: CLICK AS HAZEL TURNS ON THE RECORD PLAYER.

HAZEL (cont'd)

Phillip found this in the archives.

SFX: NEEDLE DROPS DOWN ONTO A RECORD. FUZZ BEFORE THE SONG

BEGINS.

CHESTER

Hazel.

HAZEL

You won't believe your ears!

SFX: THE RECORD STARTS TO PLAY--PERHAPS THE TOWN ANTHEM DONE

IN A JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA-STYLE?

CHESTER

Hazel, I--

HAZEL

The town has not "lost its way."

CHESTER

I am asking for your help in making sense of all

this--

HAZEL

Never say that.

CHESTER

--because, Hazel--

CHESTER (cont'd)

Rudy's death was--wrong.

HAZEL

It wasn't wrong, you're just not thinking. You're

not trusting, Chester.

CHESTER

I do trust.

HAZEEL

Just like Peltham didn't trust. And those that do

not trust and do not believe should have no

expectation of a harvest. That's not cruel,

that's just.

CHESTER

Rudy's lack of belief had nothing to do with what

happened.

HAZEL

It has everything to do with it. We trust that we

are provided for, that it is all going to plan.

Of course, we assist when necessary, but always

trusting in the truth of the safety of thy hale

and verdant arms.

CHESTER

But the mere presence of the

Revelator shows that we are

not being provided for.

HAZEL

No, no, Chester, you're

misreading the texts.

Chester. Listen to me!

HAZEL (cont'd)

The Revelator's power, properly harnessed, will

pull us out of these turbulent waters. You have

to understand that, while we did fail in

protecting this blessed place from the Revelator,

CHESTER

He failed us.

HAZEL

Despite our failure, the grace of this land

continues to provide. The Revelator's presence is

a gift, and once I successfully reintegrate him

into the town on our terms, stability will ensue.

But you are not trusting that we are provided

for.

CHESTER

I trust that acts of kindness and bravery will be

rewarded, but Rudy did just that, and he was cut

down.

HAZEL

We trust--

SFX: HAZEL BANGS HER FIST ON HER DESK TO EMPHASIZE THE NEXT

FEW WORDS. HER BANGS CAUSE THE RECORD PLAYER TO SCRATCH THE

RECORD AND THE NEEDLE TO COME UP.

HAZEL (cont'd)

--in the oath, Chester! The oath that binds us

not only to protect, but also to be protected.

CHESTER

It is not protecting us.

HAZEL

TRUST THE OATH.

CHESTER

I RECANT MY OATH.

SFX: THE RECORD PLAYER GENTLY TAPS AS IT GOES AROUND IN A

SILENT CIRCLE.

HAZEL

Strange time for dramatics.

SFX: HAZEL SHUFFLES A FEW PAPERS ON HER DESK.

HAZEL (cont'd)

Joanne said Sublevel "A" is at risk, so what do

you think about shifting the sand bags to--

CHESTER

I renounce the way of the light.

HAZEL

We shift the sandbags and

forget about Mahogany to

protect Marble and Onyx, and

I'd love your opinion on

this, of course I'm happy to

just forge ahead like I've

had to do so often of late

because your mind is occupied

elsewhere.

CHESTER

I renounce clarity.

I renounce knowledge.

I renounce my mantle of

knighthood.

I renounce it all.

I know my path now leads into

the Barren Places--

CHESTER (cont'd)

--but it is what I desire.

HAZEL

Chester.

CHESTER

I recant my oath.

CHESTER (cont'd)

I recant my oath.

I--

HAZEL

Stop.

SFX: SOMETHING IN HER VOICE MAKES HIM STOP.

HAZEL (cont'd)

Chester. I understand that you're upset, but

don't recant thrice. Don't turn your back on your

home.

Think of Jamie. What message is that giving him?

To give up on the ones who need you most?

You were so happy to take the oath. I remember I

called you when I got my invitation and I kept

saying over and over "I'm invited to be in the

Order, I'm invited to be in the Order" and you

were just laughing and laughing, finally, I said

"why are you laughing" and you said--do you

remember?

CHESTER

"I'm invited, too."

HAZEL

And I was so happy. We were going to be in the

order together, doing great things--together. I

was giddy for weeks--we both were.

CHESTER

We were children.

HAZEL

Nonsense, it was the week after high school

graduation.

SFX: HAZEL TURNS THE TICKING RECORD PLAYER OFF.

HAZEL (cont'd)

But yes, we did still had a childlike hope in our

ability to do good, and to change the world

through hard work and a focused spirit. And thank

goodness we did. We've done such wonderful things

with that hope, that cheerfulness.

You should be part of the rebuilding, Chester.

You worked so hard to protect the town, and your

father, and grandfather and great-grandmother.

This is our time of triumph. We're so close to

stability, and so close to destruction. Please.

Help.

CHESTER

Hazel.

HAZEL

Please don't recant thrice.

SFX: CHESTER IS SILENT FOR A LONG TIME.

CHESTER

I won't.

HAZEL

Good! We've much work to do. As I said, sublevel

A is in need of reinforcement. Obviously sandbags

is a viable option, but should we consider--[a

pump]

CHESTER

The Spirit Organ is shattered.

HAZEL

Naturally. Thy Hale and Verdant Arms is in

distress. But not for long.

END.