Episode 52: Eight Eleven Five Four Nine One Seven Six Ten Three Twelve Two

[Static.]

 

Interview 1

I love to dance. I’m not a very good dancer, let’s be very clear. I’m not a great dancer by any stretch of the imagination, but I love to dance. It feels good. 

 

[“Charlie on the MBTA” starts playing.]

 

Sometimes, my best friend, when we go to a club or something, she’ll be like, I’ll start dancing and I’ll just dance however I want to, and she’ll just walk away from me. 

 

[Interviewer laughs.]

 

She’ll be like, “nope.” And that’s, like, I’m too embarrassing dancing, I’m like, the, what is it, mom dancing or dad dancing, that’s probably me. 

 

Interviewer–Jeff van Dreason

That’s the only kind I know. 

 

Interview 1

Again! It’s just fun, right? 

 

Previously in Greater Boston

[Static, robotic noises. Overlapping sounds from various audio channels, indistinct.]

 

LUCIA ON LEON

 

Lucia—Sophie Bjorn

I pick them up on the side of the road, all. They look awful, covered in dirt and white ash. I’m barely on the shoulder before I bounce out of the car and press Ernesto into me. I squeeze him so tight I lift him into the air. He laughs as if he didn’t just bust out of jail. I look them over again. They’ll never fit in our tiny car, and I can’t risk—I can’t risk calling attention. 

 

The short girl says she’ll take a cab and meet the rest of them back at Wonderland. She says, “Ty Guy, you’re with me,” and then she’s gone. A few profanities thrown in too. Before she walks away, she points to three of the others and asks them to spend some quality time. They get in the back. The girl in the middle is squeezed tightly in the back and she’s… she’s holding a crystal ball. She looks sad. They all do. 

 

Ernesto does too. And I realize I still have to tell him. We have to move in with my aunt out in Springfield. I couldn’t handle it on my own after quitting my job. And—it’s too much. I’m so glad he’s back. I reach over and squeeze his hand. I’m losing my home, but he’s my home. I try to remember that and try not to be sad. He’s back. He’s out. And he’s my home. He’s my home forever. 

 

BARTENDER ON LEON

 

[Electronic chimes.]

 

Bartender—Graham Rowat [pausing from wiping down the bar, rag in hand] Hey buddy, can’t you read the sign? We’re closed.

 

Man in Bar—Eli McIlvaine

I know. I—I just—would it be okay, if I just sat here a moment?

 

Bartender [considering, then tender] What can I get you?

 

Man

Scotch, on the rocks, if you don’t mind.

 

Bartender

Coming right up. 

 

[Sounds of ice clinking in a glass, scotch being poured.]

 

Man

Thank you. 

 

[Man takes a sip.] 

 

That’s good. Been a strange day.

 

Bartender

Very strange. [Pause.] I’ve run this place for twenty-two years. I’ve seen my share of drunks and hysterics in that time. But… never had a day like today. Three different people came in, weren’t even sauced, not really, and just burst into tears. That’s not normal. Not even for a bar. 

 

Man

No, not normal at all.

 

Bartender Strange day. [Beat.] You take as long as you like. I’ll just be cleaning up.

 

Man

Thanks.

 

[Footsteps. A sip of a drink, the clink of an ice cube. The sound of a cold glass on the bar.]

 

YARD GOATS ON LEON

 

Fat Stanley—Vinay Narani [banging on the bars]

Let us out of here! You can’t hold us here! We know our rights!

 

Stinky Pete—Adam Raymonda

Fat Stanley—you ain’t know shit. Sit down.

 

Weasel—Neil Johnson

You tell ‘em, Stinky Pete.

 

Stinky Pete

Shut up, Weasel.

 

[In the cell across the way:]

 

Bruce Bosley—Kenny Garcia

Val, you okay?

 

Valiance Johnson—Jordan Cobb

Yeah I, I’m… No. No, I’m not okay. I don’t know why, but I’m not okay. 

 

Bruce

Don’t worry. We’ll get outta here. [Reassuring, like a father] We did the right thing.

 

Valiance

I know—I just can’t help but feel like we still lost. And I don’t like losing. 

 

Bruce

Val, that wasn’t the game. This was just an inning. And we may be on the bench. But the team is still out there, still playing, still swinging. And you know what I always say—you don’t have to leave every inning up. 

 

Valiance

It’s the score in the last inning that counts.

 

Bruce

So keep your chin up. We’ve got lots more game to play before the ninth.

 

Valiance

Thanks, coach.

 

[Beat.]

 

You ever think we talk in baseball metaphors too much?

 

Bruce

Okay, so the situation we’re in is like a pizza. And sometimes it feels like a slice has anchovies. But really it was artichokes. And then you realize your whole life that you didn’t know the difference between…

 

Valiance 

Okay, yeah. Point taken. Stick to baseball.

 

ROAD TO WONDERLAND

 

[Sound of jumbled Leon from episode 51 continuing here, under the narration.]

 

Gemma Linzer-Coolidge—Lydia Anderson

I ride in between them, the two siblings, in the backseat of Lucia’s car. The ball is in my lap, cradled between my knees, my hand pressing down to keep it steady. I can hear him, but he’s lost. Scrambled. Spent. But he knows they’re here. 

 

He knows.

 

Nica Stamatis—Kelly McCabe

Knows what?

 

Gemma

You’re both here. He knows you’re all together.

 

Leon Stamatis—Braden Lamb

I… do… it’s… on pressing matters, but in the meantime we should confront the proverbial elephant in the room… I… think… I … Dimitri… Nica…

 

Dimitri Stamatis—James Johnston

Is he in pain?

 

Gemma

It’s not pain. It’s something else. Like he’s lost. But both of you being here helps. 

 

Dimitri

I’m tempted to reach out. To put my hand on the ball. To try and connect with him. I’ve been warned that’s not a good idea, but it’s been so long since… since I…

 

[Pause.]

 

I know what needs to happen. But how can we do it? How can I say goodbye again when I—when we—finally have him back? 

 

Nica

My hand shoots out to grab the ball. Hold it. Say I’m sorry. Tell Leon that I wish I tried harder and did better at all sorts of things, but especially in finding him. In bringing him home. But Dimitri reaches his hand out at the same time and he… he grabs mine. We look at each other. We both laugh at the awkwardness of it. And then I grip his hand tight. And he grips mine back. Right over Gemma’s lap. Right over Leon.

 

Gemma

He loves you guys. So, so much. 

 

Nica

Did he say that?

 

Gemma

Always. Actions more than words. 

 

[Narrating] That was how he did it. It was just a part of who he was. He saw us at our best even when we weren’t delivering.

 

Leon

…weather today is humid and the temperature will creep up to high eighties…

 

Gemma [narrating]

It won’t be long now. We’re almost home. 

 

MONTY’S DREAM

 

Monty Linzer-Coolidge—Nora van Dreason

I woke up, and the weird guy was making me pancakes but made out of bananas. They don’t taste bad. I like bananas. But the weird guy smells like spinach. I tell him I had a dream last night. I ask him if he wants to hear about it. He says that dreams are very powerful so I tell him. 

 

In my dream, I try to eat. Anything I want! Except it’s not banana pancakes, it’s real pancakes. And a giant bottle of syrup, and bacon, and sausage. 

 

At this point the weird guy cringes. [Chuckles.] His face turns purple. I keep going though. 

 

Anyway, there’s all this great food, but I can’t eat it! Whenever I try my mouth disappears. And I’m getting very hungry. 

 

So then this guy with a fuzzy face shows up. He’s always moving. He hands me a sword and tells me if I take it and agree to fight, I can eat! But he’s always moving and I—and… I just don’t know. I don’t like the sword. There’s red on it. 

 

Isn’t there any other choice, I ask?

 

No, the fuzzy faced guy says.

 

But then a ball rolls up. A ball! And the ball talks like a man. And the ball says—don’t listen to him. There’s always another choice! 

 

And then the ball is gone. It disappears. And I woke up!

 

And then I asked the weird guy where my moms were. He says they were at a meeting, and we’re going too. 

 

FREED FRIEND ON LEON

 

[Freed washes the dishes absentmindedly as Monty watches cartoons in the background.]

 

Freed Friend Poletti—James Capobianco

My connection to Mary Wollstonecraft is no more. I imagined this day would come eventually, but that doesn’t change the hollow pit I felt in my stomach when I awoke this morning. As if my guiding light had finally been extinguished, despite my best efforts to hang on. But maybe that’s for the best. 

 

I’ve spent so much time trying to follow her advice, chasing her every whim without question, rarely taking so much as a moment to consider how that feverish pursuit might impact those around me. And gosh, there are so many people around me—between my myriad partners in The Family, that ragtag troupe of revolutionary journalists that make up The Underground, or everyone else here, seeking out refuge in Wonderland, I am responsible toward, or at the very least indebted to, so many living and breathing spirits. Heck, I even find myself, at this very moment in time, cleaning up after making breakfast for the son of Gemma Linzer-Coolidge. A task I never would’ve previously imagined undertaking, let alone voluntarily.

 

Maybe it’s okay to finally stop letting Mary Wollstonecraft take the wheel. Maybe, just maybe, I don’t need her anymore. And with this newfound freedom from my spiritual guide’s influence, it feels like time for one last name change. A name that didn’t come from her messages to me, or a ballot box stuffed by my former co-workers, but from my mother herself. Gerald Polletti. Because, for as long as I’ve spent trying to seek out who I should be separate from the identity I was born into this world with. To forge my own path forward, through Earth Man and Panda Bear and Extinction Event and Freed Friend and, yes, even Dipshit. Maybe who I was looking for this whole time was Gerald all along. 

 

SEAN FROM BROCKTON ON LEON

[Birds chirp. Bees buzz.]

Sean from Brockton—Cornelius Mohr

You know, I was sittin’ on my porch this morning, havin’ some grapefruit juice and a couple of eggs, and I was just watching this bee. And I couldn’t help but wonder, wouldn’t it just be nice to be a bee? You’ve got some cool as shit wings, you spend all your time munchin’ up on some pretty flowers, and at the end of it all, you get to help make honey. I mean, what could be cooler than that? Certainly not havin’ to take part in some kind of fuckin’ kangaroo court, help put a woman away that you know isn’t the one that’s fully responsible for the Lottery’s crimes. God… the way she reacted when the verdict was read. Or, well, didn’t react… with this blank look on her face and laughed, like this was exactly what she expected. No, deserved. Even if she really didn’t. It was frankly unsettling, and I can’t really explain why, but I woke up feeling exactly like that this morning. Like, something was worse about the world today than it was yesterday, and I’m partially responsible for that… and like, I deserve whatever comes next because of it? So, yeah, I just really wish I could be a fuckin’ bee right now. Or at least go back in time and stick to my guns rather than listening to fuckin’ Mark Wahlberg.

 

THE SADASS BADASS

 

Brian Brown—Ian DePriest

I had a snake. I didn’t love it. I didn’t even like it, really. But I had to have it. Because snakes are cool, right? Only a badass keeps a snake for a pet. And I wanted everyone to know I was a badass. So they got me a snake, and a live mouse, because that’s what snakes eat. That’s what makes it badass, right? It doesn’t even bother to kill its food first. Just swallows it whole and still kicking.

 

So I have this mouse that I’m supposed to feed to the snake. But I just… didn’t want to. The mouse was tiny and cute and warm, and it would curl up in my hand like….

 

Still, I bragged about Beef Log to the guys at school. That was his name. What I named the snake. I told everyone how cool Beef Log was, and how mean, and how awesome it was to watch him hunt. How funny the way the mouse’s tail twitched as it went down was. I was lying, one hundred percent. I still had the mouse in a shoebox under my bed. But I invite them over to see Beef Log after school anyway.

 

So they all crowd around the tank, looking at Beef Log. They love him! They’re so impressed! I’m the man! Then one of them says, “Brian, you gotta show us how he eats!” I start to say that I can’t, that I haven’t got anything… but that stupid mouse picks that moment to start running around in his shoebox, and of course they hear it. So now I’ve got no choice. I have to feed Beef Log, or they’ll think I’m just some chickenshit, they’ll think I’m a… well, you know the kinds of things kids like us called each other in eighth grade. Some words I try not to use anymore.

 

So I take out my mouse. The mouse that I still pretend I never gave a name. Don’t ask. I’ve never said it out loud, and I never will. But I… do what you’re supposed to do when you’ve got a live mouse and a hungry snake. And the snake did what a hungry snake does with a live mouse. And it wasn’t funny at all. But I laughed, because everyone else was laughing, so I had to laugh too. We had our inside jokes about that for years, with hand gestures, wiggling our fingers like how his little legs were going.

 

The next time my parents bought a mouse for Beef Log, I dropped it out the window into the grass. That’s what I kept doing. Every week, a new mouse right out the window until Beef Log finally died.

 

And that was my fault too.

 

TINKER ON LEON

 

[Voicemail.]

 

Tinker in Taunton—Richard Penner

Hey, I… just… I know you’re busy. But… I wondered if… I just… call me when you can? I miss you. I think I need a hug. 

 

[Click.]

 

INTERVIEW

Interviewer–Jeff van Dreason

Have you had to say goodbye to someone these past few years and, if you’re comfortable talking about it, what was that like?

 

Interview 2

Yes. My uncle, who recently passed. Um, that one was tough. I mean, there’s other loved ones that I lost too, that was tough, but in the past two years, definitely my uncle. That one took me, um, that and my aunt. Both of them, actually. 

 

Interviewer

Were they married? 

 

Interview 2

No. 

 

Interviewer

Oh, different–

 

Interview 2

Yeah, different. Those two deaths really took me because I never thought the last time I spoke to them was the last time I spoke to them. Never thought they were sick like that. 

FLORENCE ON LEON

 

Florence—Tal Minear

It feels like it should be raining. It’s not. It’s been dry as a thorny desert lizard all dang day, but that rain feeling is still there. That staticky air pressure sensation, you know? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked up at the sky expecting dark clouds, but it’s nothing but blue all the way to the horizon. It feels wrong, the sky being so blue and bright while feeling so much like rain. It makes me want to cry. 

 

MOVING ON LEON

[Cars passing. A crosswalk button beeps. The speaker moves with the crowd.]

 

Moving Person—Austin Allen There’s some kid who lives down the street. I only know this since I see their sidewalk chalk when I’m walking to the train sometimes. I always thought it was really cute. Felt like I actually knew my neighbors, like I was a part of the community. But now that I’m moving I’m starting to realize that it doesn’t matter. I don’t think anybody will miss us when we leave.

 

JIMMY ON LEON

 

[Voices, dogs.]

 

Jimmy—Cass McPhee

God, I’m so glad that you’re alright, Shimmers. There was a real hot minute there where I wasn’t sure if that was gonna be the case, but that Mallory kid really helped out. Got you exactly what you needed. I really don’t think that I could handle losing you so soon after we first came into each other’s lives. Or maybe I could, actually? I don’t know, something’s off this morning. And, while I’m so so glad that it isn’t your little precious baby tummy like it was the other day, I can’t do anything to shake the feeling that we’re all a little bit worse off because of it. [Sighs.] I guess all we can do right now is be there for each other, huh? My beautiful little manzerelli frangipelli? I just love you so goddamned much. 

 

WANDA ON LEON

 

[Telephone ringing.]

 

Wanda McIntosh—Tanja Milojevic

Hello? Hello?! 

 

Legion Assistant—Tyrell Worrel Jr. 

Hello [vocal change to a robotic voice] WANDA. We are calling about a missing payment for your vehicle…

 

Wanda

You mother fucking asshats. For the umpteenth time, STOP CALLING ME!!!

 

[Angry click.]

 

For fuck’s sake! That’s the third god damned robofucker calling me today. Like I have time for this! Christ. I don’t even HAVE a car. Delilah, can you believe this shit? You think they’d have the decency to do some basic goddamn research before running a scam on a person. Fucking amateurs. God, the bullshit I have to put up with every damn day. It’s unbelievable. What is wrong with people? Today especially. Fuck! It’s like they put crazy juice in the water. Wouldn’t put it past ‘em. God damn. Every fucking day. [Beat.] What was I doing? I was looking for something… what was it? Agh, fuck if I know. [Beat.] Hmm, haven’t seen Bernie in a few days. Where the hell is that fucker?

 

THE RED LINE BRIDE DRINKS ALONE

 

[Glasses clink. Intercom buzzer.]

 

Kavlyn—Daisy Guevara

Hey miss thang! Another call from that Mayor guy! Let it go to VM if you’re busy!

 

[Voicemail picks up.]

 

Mayor—Rick Zieff

Mayor Bespin. This is… Mayor. Due to recent events, particularly the destruction of Braintree Station, Legion is concerned about the optics regarding your decision to lock the Yard Goats up after their protest on game night. We understand your reasoning, but if the team were really at the stadium at the time of the crash, well, they may have perished, which would have been a considerable loss of revenue all around.

 

Emily Bespin—Sam Musher [drunk, quietly, sad]

…perfect schedule… well-executed…

 

[She sips her glass.]

 

Mayor

Further, holding a political rival in jail for protesting may not be the best choice at a time when the city is under serious infrastructural scrutiny. Legion hopes to have a conference call shortly to discuss… uhh… softening your image somewhat. We need to rebrand. I’m sure you understand. Reach out when you can. 

 

Emily [huffs laughter]

…boarded-up birdhouse…

 

[She cries suddenly, lowering her glass.]

 

TICKING

 

[Outside a Red Line station, on a bench.]

 

Jackie—Bonnie Calderwood Aspinwall 

I’m waiting for… something. And it, [uncomfortable laugh] it’s stupid. I have work today, but I’m sitting on this stupid bench because I woke up this morning and something was… is… I don’t want to say it’s wrong, but it’s… it’s different? Different. It’s different. Like, for the last few years there was this driving force, this, this damn ticking that was forcing the city to move. Forward, forward, forward, tick, tick, tick. 

 

[Flippantly] I don’t know where it was trying to lead us or anything but it was always I don’t know… there? Just out of hearing range? At least, I thought it was ticking, until it got faster. Clocks don’t do that. 

 

[Thoughtfully] …I guess that would make it closer to a pulse… ah, [as if finding the right word] a heartbeat! The city had this weird little beating heart that was trying to do something. And this morning I woke up and it was just so… quiet. I don’t know, it made me sad and I sat down to take a break and I just… haven’t gotten back up. Maybe I’m just waiting to see what feels the void?

 

DINA ON LEON

 

[Someone tears the tape off a cardboard box, rustles around with opening it, hefting out a crystal ball, and sighs.]

 

Dina—Lark Rodenbush

You know, they just don’t make these things like they used to. I’ve been working at this Magic Staples location for going on ten years now, and the bigger our corporate office gets, the more corners they cut. For instance, a few years back? When we needed a new shipment of crystal balls, we had this incredible Tibetan Dugpa vendor that hand-blew them all, imbuing them with some pretty gnarly magics in the process. Now they just outsource surplus lucite from a keepsake ornament manufacturer in Worcester so they can slap a Made in the USA sticker on them and call it a day, supernatural authenticity be damned. 

 

[Pauses for a moment, frustrated.] I wonder if any of those old balls are still out there… I really wish I’d gotten my hands on one before we discontinued the line. Gosh, what was the name of that company that cleared out our last shipment? Sixth Sense or something like that? I’ll have to look them up. I want to say they were buying employee gifts for promotions or something like that? Maybe if I could track them down I could see if anybody would be willing to part with one for the right price…

 

FUNERAL DIRECTOR ON LEON

 

Funeral Director—Mike Linden

I like being a funeral director. You get to know some really interesting people. They’re already dead before I get to know them, but that’s the beautiful thing, right? I only ever see our honored guests through the eyes of the people who loved them. No matter how complicated they were in life, to me, they’ll only ever be their best selves. By the time their funeral is complete, I always find I miss them. There are exceptions. The funerals of the most odious people offer a very different sort of catharsis to their, uh…”loved ones,” though that’s not always the right phrase. But that’s rare. Most people are loved.

 

One of my honored guests wanted his funeral at a watch factory. That was hardly the most unusual. It didn’t hold a candle to the funeral at Chuck E. Cheese. Or the sex museum funeral. That was… awkward. But… something about that watch factory stuck with me. All those ticking clocks. And… it’s a cliche, ticking clocks as metaphor for mortality. Once you’re up there surrounded by them, though, it’s hard not to feel affected by it.

 

But then his people started talking about how he used clocks, and calendars, and time itself. He cared about order, but he also cared about anticipation. About looking ahead to see what the people around him would need at any given moment. And I realized, he didn’t hear each tick as another lost moment of his life, the way most of us would. He heard each tick as a new opportunity to make the people around him happier.

 

I never had the opportunity to meet him until after he died. But I met him all the same. And I miss him.

 

And if you decide to hold your grandmother’s funeral here at Gladstone & Sons Final Rest, I will look forward to meeting her—and learning to miss her—as I do all my honored guests.

 

INTERVIEW

 

Interview 3

A few years ago, my dad took his own life. And it was right after I’d moved across the country. I didn’t have anybody, and my–my family life was, y’know, in a struggling place. But my dad did drive me out, and it was the last time I saw him in person. I had to say goodbye a couple times for that, the first time, I think, was when my dad had gone on a bender of pills and booze, and had run off, and was driving into the night, and I’d called him and I was just trying to keep him on the phone, and, uh, because he was fucked up, he, like, skidded into a mailbox. And he crashed into that mailbox and he just sort of–and, I mean, I was only taking this from being what I could get out of this man who was–his mind was eating itself. Even then, was heavily intoxicated, and I had to just sort of listen as the rain fell, and I could hear his windshield wipers, and I’m just trying to keep him on the line, keep him awake. I didn’t know whether he was, once he’d fallen silent, I didn’t know whether he was alive or not, and so I had to make my peace there with that not being the case. And then, y’know, a month later, he drove me out to live in California, and that was very kind, but it was the last time I got to see him. 

 

And, again, y’know, occasionally, it’s always the little things that get me sad. When it comes to the big stuff, if I’m being totally honest, because of the things that happened in the months and, let’s say year or two running up to him passing away, that part of me is honestly glad because I know this was a man who was in an insane amount of pain. His whole life had been falling apart, and, like, on a certain level, like, I can be glad for that, and then, but it’s for the little things. It’s like, oh, I know my dad would’ve loved this new kind of Oreo they have. I can’t text him, “you would love this new kind of Oreo.” 

 

And uh, I think it may have been a mint one or a birthday-cake one and, I don’t know, my dad loved Oreos of all kinds. 

 

AUTUMN AND ADA ON LEON

 

[Slowly, Autumn climbs a creaky stairwell. But just as she gets to the top, she hesitates.]

 

Autumn West—Beth Eyre

I can’t quite explain the cognitive dissonance one must go through to officially, legally mourn a person’s absence when they’ve already been gone from your life for such a long time. There is a sort of death in divorce, anyway, but to have that contractually manufactured distance codified into something so much more permanent in the blink of an eye is… jarring, to say the least. Like, I feel like this part should have been over by now, even if the finality of the situation hadn’t quite sunk in until that train crashed.

 

Still, I’m entirely unprepared for the conversation ahead of me, Oliver. Even after all of the difficult talks we’ve had since you left us, we were both always tethered to the possibility that you might have it in you to change someday. Not for me—no, it was too late for that to mean anything. But for him. Because even though we’ve gotten through the impossible heartbreak of you choosing ThirdSight Media over us, there was always the chance that maybe, you’d come back. But that isn’t a possibility anymore, and now, like so many of his other benchmarks, we have to go through this alone. 

 

[Bitter, sad, laugh.] What’s even worse is that before, when I was arguably already doing this by myself, I didn’t feel like it, you know? I always imagined somebody standing just behind us, with an invisible hand on each of our shoulders, guiding us through the pain, heartbreak, and absolute, soul-crushing mundanity of everyday life. And now that it’s really over, and that you really aren’t coming back, we’re finally, truly by ourselves for the first time in our lives. As much as we should be used to it by now, we aren’t. And I don’t quite think we ever will be.

 

[Random video game sounds play as we hear Ada’s inner monologue.]

 

Ada West—Julian Danner

Last night I dreamed that I was riding on the back of this really big triceratops. He had these shiny, dopey eyes and this totally smooth blue skin, like a cartoon. Not all rough and scaly like my friend Rupert’s pet bearded dragon is—like I would’ve expected him to be. He didn’t talk, but I could tell he was happy that we were together. Like he had so much in this dream world he wanted to share with me, and there wasn’t enough time to do it. But, rather than waste our time thinking about where to go next, we followed this floating glass ball with a very kind voice that appeared before us. 

 

After adventuring for a while, we both got a little sleepy, and a lot hungry, so the ball led us to this break in the trees. And the three of us found this huge orange watering hole where I could see all these other kids with their own dinosaurs resting and having snacks. He let me down off his back and led me to the stream and they told me, with his eyes and the ball’s words, that it was okay for me to do the same. 

 

The wildest part was that when I reached into what I thought was water and went to take a sip? It was actually my favorite mac and cheese. But right when I was about to take my second bite, I woke up. And for some reason, I felt pretty bummed? Like, I mean, I know they weren’t real and all, but there was something super sad about not being together anymore. And as much as I wish I could go back to sleep tonight and see them all over again, Mom says that’s not how dreams work.

 

[There’s a knock at the door.]

 

Autumn [clearing her throat]

Ada?

 

Ada

Yeah, Mom?

 

Autumn

Could I come in and talk to you for a second?

 

Ada

Can it wait? I’m almost at the end of this level…

 

Autumn [voice cracking]

Go ahead and have a few more minutes, honey, but after that, it really can’t wait…

 

THE ROUND TABLE

 

Gemma Linzer-Coolidge—Lydia Anderson

People file in, one by one. They all look exhausted. Everyone but Freed. He looks all high and mighty because he managed to get my kid to bed on time. Pardon me if I don’t add him to the sitter rotation right away. It’s me, Freed and the rest of the jailbirds. Monty is sleeping upstairs. The rest of us sit around the round table the council uses, the ball placed at the center. It’s like you can see the silence in the air. When people talk, they sound muffled, like I’m wearing earbuds. 

 

One time I spent a whole weekend with my aunt at a theme park in Nebraska, a real one. Its claim to fame was the Great Plains, a roller coaster that was flat and strapped you in standing up and then slid you around vertically so that it felt like you were going to slide away. She laughed like hell the whole time. I nearly threw up, and the whole weekend left me feeling like I feel now—worn down, so exhausted it doesn’t feel like I can stand upright, running on adrenaline, wearing it like a second skin. The last night of the weekend, my aunt told me she was dying of bone cancer. She didn’t have long. There was no hope. The way she brought it up, the way the whole weekend was set up. It was like. Like she was asking me for something. Asking for my help in a way I couldn’t… I couldn’t…

 

[Pause.]

 

The door opens and—Louisa walks in… followed by her singing BF.

 

Louisa Alvarez—Julia Propp [narrating]

Everyone asks if I’m okay. A little bruised from my rough landing. I can’t believe I jumped from a crashing train to one my singing boyfriend commandeered to my rescue. I feel like a silent movie character. 

 

[Pause.]

 

The ball is sitting in the center of the table. How can a person, a spirit, a… soul be inside that dumb, round thing? Is that where we all go after? Is it balls for all of us? I glance nervously at Wendell before I tell everyone what I learned from Oliver. Halfway expecting he’ll leave during my explanation because all of it sounds outlandish, but—but I was there. I heard the robots. I know what Oliver did. And Gemma confirms it. She said Leon told her. Warned her about the robots and all. Leon was blocked from knowing, but Oliver learned and now—now we all know. 

 

What happened today? It’s only a matter of time before every train in Red Line shuts down, nopes out, before the robots give up like Leon did and the trains… the passengers… the red-sidents—all of it. Gone. 

 

[Pause.]

 

When I’m done, Wendell hugs me. He looks me dead in the eyes and he says—that is absolutely insane. I knew it. But then—then he hugs me again and he whispers, “but I believe you. And I’m so glad you’re okay.”

 

I keep hearing the sound of the train crash in my head. And I can’t help but imagine the… physics of it. The twisting metal and breaking concrete extending outward, inward, recklessly crashing against whatever is in its path, whatever stands against the multitude of chaos and the force of its collapse. 

 

A sound distracts me. It’s Nica. She’s laughing. She looks shaken up and she’s covered with construction dust. All of them do, as if they escaped from the crash I heard. But she’s smiling and shaking her head.

 

Louisa [dialogue]

Nica, what?

 

Nica Stamatis—Kelly McCabe [chuckling]

I’m sorry. It is kinda funny. It’s very Leon. Not only does he, like, will himself out of existence, he’s going to take a whole city with him too?

 

Dimitri Stamatis—James Johnston

She’s right. As horrible as it all is, it hits me in that moment—the pure absurdity combined with the absolute correctness of it all. We all chuckle. And then we all laugh. 

 

Gemma

It’s true. But there’s another part of him that seems so perfect for this moment. And I almost say it out loud. But as I’m thinking it, Charlotte and Isaiah rush into the room. I rush over to hug them both in an awkward lump of bodies.

 

Charlotte Linzer-Coolidge—Summer Unsinn

I squeeze her so hard, glancing at Isaiah to make sure he’s not uncomfortable. He actually squeezes harder than I do. I know he’s worried about Isabelle. She stayed with the Yard Goat players, distracted the robots with Omi so that Isaiah and I could get away.

 

Isaiah Powell—Mario da Rosa Jr. 

Someone always has to be in jail around here, swear to God. Oh, well. We got through one breakout. Might be time to plan another. 

 

Gemma [dialogue]

I was going to say—the whole thing with Leon dying, with Leon potentially taking down Red Line—it is very much like him. But so is this. This room. All the people he’s brought together. That’s who he is to me. That’s his legacy. It’s not giving up. It’s not a “nope” so powerful it kills cities. It’s us. 

 

[Pause.]

 

Isaiah

Not sure why everyone looks so sad. I mean I’ve heard a bit of this Leon guy, but I figure it might make sense to ask.

 

[Dialogue] Not to stick out, but—what’s going on?

 

Gemma

As if on cue, the ball rolls over to me from its spot in the table. I pick it up. 

 

[Sound of scrambled Leon—occasionally a clear word cut through and Gemma repeats it.]

 

Leon Stamatis—Braden Lamb

I… tried… to… help… with… the… breakout…

 

Gemma

I tried to help with the breakout. With the protest.

 

Leon

With… all… of… it…

 

Gemma

With all of it.

 

Leon

But… it’s… too… much…

 

Gemma

But it’s too much.

 

Leon

And… now… I… must… rest…

 

Gemma

And now… I must… rest. 

 

Dimitri

At Gemma’s words, even the people who didn’t know him, who don’t know what’s coming next seem to understand. Several bow their heads, people I don’t even know. 

 

Nica

Dimitri and I should do it. He asked us to. 

 

Dimitri

Nica, I don’t know—I don’t know if I can— 

 

Nica

Hey. It’s okay. I can do it. I’m not— 

 

[Pause.]

 

I’m not afraid anymore. 

 

Freed Friend Poletti—James Capobianco

The ball belongs to Gemma. Only she can use it. Only she can break it.

 

Gemma

Pfft. Is that what the instructions say from Magic Staples?

 

Freed Friend

Surely you must know by now it’s not the ball that’s special here. It’s you. You’re the reason this spirit transferred. You summoned it with the power of an experienced mage. Extremely impressive, given your condescending dismissal of all things arcane at the time. But you possess this object in more ways than one. And so its fate—and the fate of Mr. Stamatis—is quite literally in your hands. 

 

Gemma [quietly, scared]

I don’t want to. I don’t want it to be me. 

 

Dimitri

Gemma. Please?

 

Nica

Please. For him?

 

[Pause.]

 

Gemma

I hurt a lot of you in this room. I’ve lied to you. I’ve kept things from you. I’ve pushed you into doing bad things for me. I’ve ridiculed you. I’ve underestimated you. I’ve literally arrested you. And in the case of Leon? I… I used you. Like you weren’t even a person. And maybe it’s because I couldn’t see him. That made it so much easier. I promised you I’d make that right. And I will. But you all need to know. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever been asked to do. Because…

 

[Pause.]

 

Because… he’s so good! He deserved better. He deserves so much better now!

 

Nica

You said it yourself. He helps people. And now he’s brought us together, like a family. What’s better than that?

 

[Pause.]

 

Louisa

Oh my God. Michael! I need to call Michael! 

 

[Takes out the phone.]

 

Michael. You—you need to come here. 

 

[Pause.]

 

You need to come to Wonderland right away. 

 

37 CHANGING TO 13

 

[Sound of a busy office—lots of furious typing. Michael is sitting at his desk, odd man out. He plucks at a couple keys but isn’t in the same rhythm as anyone else.]

 

Michael Tate—James Oliva

Gonna… take five before I continue.

 

Chuck Octagon—Jeff van Dreason

[As if he’s saying “sure” or “okay”] News.

 

Michael

Yeah.

 

[Michael shuts an office door and picks up the phone.]

 

Autumn West—Beth Eyre [over the phone]

Hey.

 

Michael

Hey. Just checking in again. How are you holding up?

 

Autumn

Uh. Better today. It’s still a bit strange to take in. What on earth was he doing on that train? With—with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, AND Mark Wahlberg? 

 

Michael

It sounds like he was trying to stop whatever happened from happening. And he saved a lot of people in the process. Nearly everyone. Most of that will be overshadowed by the celebrity death, but—[Pause.] You there?

 

Autumn

Yes. That’s—that’s good to know. That’s very good to know. [Pause.] You’re not just telling me that, right?

 

Michael

Absolutely not. It’s part of the—the article I’m writing on what happened. On Oliver. 

 

Autumn

That will help, then. I can tell Ada his father was a bit of a hero in the end. 

 

Michael

You can. You should. 

 

Autumn

How can you say that? After everything Oliver did to you?

 

Michael

Because he was. He can be a villain to me and a hero to others. It doesn’t change who he ultimately was. But he still chose to change. And I like to think people are capable of the best in themselves right up to the end.

 

Autumn

That’s so quintessential Michael Tate.

 

Michael

Glad I have an identifiable brand. I wish I felt it at the moment. I’m struggling writing this one. 

 

Autumn

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be. But you’ll find your way through. You always seem to. 

 

Michael

Careful. You’re starting to sound like my biggest fan. 

 

Autumn

I’m your hype gal. Always in your corner. On that note, though. This isn’t easy, but… I think… I think it may be a bit before I can see you again. 

 

Michael

Oh. Okay, sure. 

 

Autumn

Trust me, I’m dying to tell you to drive down here right this instant, but — 

 

Michael

Ada. 

 

Autumn

Yeah. He—I—I’m not sure that would be good for him right now. 

 

Michael

Of course. I understand. Just… let him know I’m thinking of him. And I’m here for both of you whenever you’re ready. Whenever that may be. Hopefully—hopefully sooner. Rather than later. But no pressure!

 

Autumn

How are you so cute?

 

Michael

Oh, I work out. At the cute gym. I deadlift kittens and bunnies and—leg days are ferrets–

 

Autumn

You need to get new jokes.

 

Michael

These are the good ones!

 

Autumn

I’ll speak to you soon. 

 

[Michael hangs up and leaves the private office, rejoining the office. He sets down at his desk. He types two words.]

 

Michael

Oliver…West…

 

[He stops typing. Slumps. Sighs.]

 

Oliver West… Oliver West… Oliver West…

 

Autumn [in memory]

You’ll find your way through. You always seem to. 

 

Michael [digging into his pockets for his I-Ching coins]

Oliver West, Oliver West, Oliver West…

 

[Michael drops the I-Ching coins… and a small marble-sized object that rolls over his desk.]

 

Michael [quietly murmuring]

Oliver, Oliver, Oliver West… let’s see. 

 

37 changing to 13. 

 

[Flips through I-Ching.] 37. Family members. Enriching the family. Much good fortune. Providing support to each other. Things go very well.

 

[Phone rings. Michael picks it up.]

 

Michael

Hey, LA, how’s it hanging in Hollywood?

 

Louisa

Michael. You—you need to come here. 

 

Michael

Where’s here—where are you?

 

Louisa

You need to come to Wonderland right away. 

 

THAT IS THE QUESTION

 

Frankie—Sawyer Greene

I don’t know… something about today feels… off. It’s like, well, it’s a little like, [getting a little defensive] don’t laugh—everyone laughs when I tell this story, but when I was younger I had a hamster, okay?And I read a book about wild hamsters, you know, the ones that live in fucking fields and take naps in flowers? I thought why shouldn’t Hamlet, yes, his name was Hamlet, we’re not… [quickly] it’s because his mother slept with his father’s brother after… his name was Hamlet, okay? So I took him outside to parks and, like, you know those little overgrown patches that used to happen between buildings before the gentrifiers came around? Yeah. But it didn’t work. I’d come over, set his maze of plastic tubes in the grass, and he just wouldn’t leave. I think he found the maze comforting. Like, no matter what was outside, if he took a left turn at the blue tube he’d be in his nice little nest, y’know? But I kept trying, and one day I piled just enough food for him to convince his tiny little hamster ass out of the plastic and into the grass. And it was like… can a hamster look shocked? I swear he looked shocked. And you know what happened next? 

 

[annoyed/disbelief] …a fucking crow. It swooped out of nowhere, and his little hamster scream was the last thing I ever heard from him. Today feels a little like that really quiet moment when the crow was  flying away and his scream was too far to hear. I don’t know… today has me thinking about him. 

 

Rest in peace, Hamlet.

 

INTERVIEW

 

Interview 4

In a non-traditional way, my dad died. Not of COVID, uh, and we were not–we didn’t have a relationship, so the way I found out is I got his death certificate in the mail. Three months after his funeral.

 

And then I called up my sister, and that was the first time we had ever talked, uh, and we met up and we went out to dinner and we just kind of talked about our dad. And that was the most I ever learned about that man in my entire life. 

 

And then the rest of that summer–this was 2019 going into 2020–uh, was kind of just spent grieving in a really strange way. Because it’s hard to grieve someone you never really knew. But it–it was what I was doing, and, I mean, that’ll still come back to this day because the grief process is fucking weird. [Laughs.] But, yeah, no, that was–it was just one random day, I get a letter from a Florida medical examiner, and it’s like, surprise! Your dad’s dead! And I’m like, woah! And then I started crying. I didn’t go “woah” because this isn’t a roller coaster, I went “holy shit, what the fuck? Mom?” and then that was, like, the next several months of my life.

 

BAM

 

Vincenzo Wellington—Ester Ellis

I had a friend once who was, like… my best bud. We did everything together. School projects. Concerts. Learning to skateboard. We were tight. And he was super cool… I don’t mean like “popular” kind of cool, I mean, like… he was generous, and always helped me with stuff, and just real nice.

 

And then we got older and started, like, dating girls. But with girls, he’d say things and sound the same as ever, like, he was being friendly and helpful, but what he’d be saying was like… secretly mean. Kind of telling her all the ways he wished she were different. He’d act like he was giving her helpful advice when he was actually trying to make her do what he wanted. He was just, like… totally shitty. And I’m sorry for swearing, but, like… that’s just the right word for it, y’know?

 

And I told him, “dude, don’t be like that,” and he was all, “dude, I gotta,” so then I was like, “no dude, you don’t gotta, nobody’s gotta,” and finally he’s just like “my dude, you just don’t understand girls.” And I realized, yeah, he’s always been nice to me, but that doesn’t mean he’s nice. Sometimes people aren’t who you think they are. Sometimes you have to look at who they are with other people. So I couldn’t… I just couldn’t.

 

I cut ties. All at once. Bam—total unfriending.

 

I really, really miss the person I thought he was. But that person wasn’t real. It was like I’d had an imaginary friend disguised as a real person. The real person was still there.

 

But my friend was gone.

 

THE ONE WHO STAYED

 

[On a train.]

 

Paul Montgomery Chelmsworth—James Capobianco

Wonderland seems so empty today. It isn’t… there are people there. But no one I know. No familiar faces. Not that anyone really talks to me. The people I know certainly don’t. And the people I don’t know still know me. I’m allowed to stay out of mercy. But I’m not welcome. Like an old-fashioned puritan shunning. I can’t resent it. I understand. But still… it’s difficult to have no one to talk to.

 

Today, there was no one even around to ignore me. All the people I recognize, gone at once. It was obvious something significant was happening. I found out from the news. The protest. The jail break. A noble stand. A new turning point in the history of Red Line.

 

It’s only right that I wasn’t invited. I know that.

 

I don’t even have a work assignment at Wonderland. That’s the appropriate arrangement for everyone else—everyone is welcome, but everyone contributes. Except me. I filled out all the forms. Listed my skills, abstract though they admittedly are. No call came. Nobody wants my help. Why would they? They’ve seen how I leave work unfinished. How my attempts to help only ever make things worse. They don’t want my contribution. They just want me to leave.

 

My mother left. I’ve never felt angry toward her. It was necessary. I’ve always understood that. My father wasn’t any kinder to her than he was to me. If anything, he was harder on her. I was a child, but he treated her like a child too. His lectures… his judgements… he was always the one who knew what was Right. She wasn’t allowed to have her own values or moral sensibilities any more than I was. So I could never be angry at her for leaving.

 

No… what made me angry was that my father stayed. He knew their marriage was loveless and miserable. He wasn’t happy either. She told him to go. Begged him to. If only he’d left, she wouldn’t have, and everything would have been better. But he refused. He would not abide the disgrace of divorce. That’s what he said. What was joined in the eyes of God cannot be unjoined. Better to suffer than to separate.

 

He’s no quitter, my father. He’s proud of that.

 

So he stayed. And I stayed. And she left. And one of us got to be happy. I hope. I tell myself so, at least. If she got to be happy, then at least it was all worth something.

 

I loved Claudia. I really did. I wanted nothing more than to spend my life with her. And so I left, before any of that could change. I didn’t know that I was to be a father. If I’d known, would I have stayed? I hope so. But I’ll never know.

 

I left my son before I knew I had a son.

 

I remain in Wonderland because that’s where my son is now.

 

Except he isn’t.

 

When I woke this morning, he wasn’t there. His possessions weren’t there. His clothes… his locks… his duffel bag… his comb and his toothpaste… all were gone. I tried to call him, but it didn’t even go through to voicemail. I tried to email him, but my messages returned to me, undeliverable.

 

And then I saw… the pizza. There in the kitchen, on one of his tray tables. I didn’t want to open it, but I opened it anyway. I thought there would be a message… but there was nothing… no anchovies, no fennel… just an uninterrupted expanse of oily and congealed mozzarella.

 

But I understood the message anyway. I know what sort of being leaves pizzas in a kitchen. It’s right there in the logo of the corporate franchise. I know the verb that such beings have become.

 

The circle sublimely comes full ‘round.

 

Croatoan.

 

I am abandoned.

 

This is just.

 

Marlo Beuchene—Mike Linden

Just what?

 

Chelmsworth

Hm? No, just…”just.” Like “justice?” But the adjective.

 

Marlo

Huh. You sure got a lot to say, don’tcha?

 

Chelmsworth

I apologize. There was no one for me to talk to at Wonderland. So I came… here. I didn’t mean to impose.

 

Marlo

Nah, buddy, it’s alright with me. Not really in much of a talkin’ mood today. My Bertha’s in the shop, so… ya know. Just ridin’ the rails while I wait. Still nice to hear a voice though. And I don’t mind listinin’. If there’s one thing people say about me, it’s “that Marlo sure is a good listener.” Always listenin’, that’s me. So I don’t mind listinin’ if you’d like to keep talkin’.

 

Chelmsworth

Thank you. Yes, I think I would.

 

PAULINE ON LEON

 

[Pauline walks over to the sink, fills up the kettle, sets it on the stove, and turns the gas burner on.]

 

[She opens a cabinet, surveying tea options.]

 

Pauline—Clare Lopex

Something to steady the nerves, I think. My goodness, what has gotten into me today? Chamomile. Hibiscus. Lemon Ginger? Mmm, chamomile, I think.

 

[Soft padding of kitty-cat feets.]

 

Oh, look at that. Look at that handsome, distinguished gentleman. Who is my sweet boy? Who is the sweetest kitty boy in the world? Yes, yes you are. Yes, you are perfect.

 

[Pauline kisses Whiskers on his little kitty head. Cat purring.]

 

[Kettle starts to whistle.]

 

[Pauline hums to herself.]

 

[Cat purring continues.]

 

[Cabinet opening. Pauline reaches up into the cabinet for a mug. The cat cries.]

 

Whiskers?

 

[The cat yowls fiercely and loudly as if afraid. Startled, Pauline drops the mug and it shatters. The cat hisses and runs off.]

 

Oh, Whiskers! Whiskers! I’m sorry! Baby. Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. Come here, my love. Hey, it’s all right! Hey, it’s okay! My boy. My sweet little kitty boy. It’s okay. I know, I know. Come here. Come here. Here, have a treat. Yes, that’s a good boy. Sweet boy. Darling boy. It’s okay. Shhhh, it’s okay, my love. It’s okay. 

 

GUY ON LEON

 

[A car driving down the road.]

 

Guy—Mike Linden [narrating]

Something is wrong. The truck is running idle for a moment. He stops short. The truck breaks, pulls over to the side of the road. Something is wrong. The truck is running idle for a moment.

 

[Door opens.]

 

The driver grips the keys. Turns the truck off.

 

 [Passing traffic.]

 

 Opens the cab and steps outside. 

 

[Car door opens.]

 

He pops the hood, walks in the gravel to hoist it up and inspects the engine. He closes the hood firmly [hood closes] and gets back inside the truck. He slides the keys into the ignition but doesn’t turn it yet. [Keys turn.] He speaks, but when he does, it’s with a sense of loss. Something is gone. Something like his truck—but maybe even more important. Something that helped him in ways he can’t understand. 

Something—someone—has moved on. And there’s only one thing that can be said.

 

[Wistful and sad]

 

Truck. 

 

DANNY ON LEON

 

DANNY CAMPANELLI—PAT KING

Hey, it’s me. Guess what? It’s done! Final draft submitted moments ago. All that’s left for me to do now is wait. But it’s really happening–after all this time, I’m really about to publish my first novel!… Yup.… I know!… Hey, you know who I was thinking about today? Leon Stamatis. Yeah, from middle school. I know I’ve told you, back then, I… yeah. I was a real shit to him.… I don’t know. I guess—he was really nice? Like, genuinely nice, not like those kids that are… yeah, like that. And he was nice to me. I didn’t have a lot of people in my life who were nice to me. I mean, what with… ach, yeah, I don’t want to get into all that.

 

The point is, this one kid… he was nice to me. And I just… I don’t know. I just couldn’t take it. I kept waiting for the punchline. Like, where’s the moment where he finally drops the act? And then I just got tired of waiting, I guess. I just felt like, let’s do this already, y’know? Get it over with. But the thing was, it was never an act. He never stopped being nice. No, nice isn’t the right word. He was kind. Even to me. Even when… well, even when I didn’t deserve it. And after a certain point, I just started to feel like maybe… well, if this guy, who I had been so horrible to—if this guy could be nice to me. Well, maybe other people could be nice to me, too? And… maybe I should even let them. A lot changed for me because of him. Not around me… it was still a few years before anything around me really started to change. But somehow, things were still different for me. I saw it all differently.

 

So, anyway, the point is… I figured out the dedication for the book.

 

Send… oh, god, I wish. I wish I could! I don’t know if he was ever really a sci-fi fan, but I’m sure he’d have read it either way. Just so his congratulations could be genuine, you know? He was like that. But he, uh—he died a few years ago. So.

 

Um. Anyway, sorry to bother you at work, but I thought you’d want the good news! Maybe we can get dinner out tonight? You know, to celebrate.… Oh, that sounds perfect! Okay, I’ll see you tonight. Love you too.

 

THIRDSIGHT ON LEON

 

[It is happy hour at Thirsty Scholar. A beer pitcher is passed around as glasses are poured.]

 

Roger—TH Ponders

It was crazy. I almost died! Like, I almost wasn’t here! I had to leap ten feet from one moving train to another! And my baby! We had to throw my baby first! It was like an action film!

 

[Beat. No one acknowledges Roger. This is all he has talked about.]

 

Jonas Wright—Jim Johanson

Did you all see that Tate’s got his own publication now? The Underground?

 

Allison—Jordan Stillman

Yeah, you think he’d have reached out when they were looking for writers. It’s not like he didn’t work with a shitload of us or anything.

 

Tom—Bob Raymunda

You’d really want to work for Tate?

 

Roger

Not a chance!

 

Natalie—Eli Baraza

Their coverage has been pretty good lately, though. I mean, between the opening of St. Ethan’s, the Yard Goat Protests, and the train derailment, their team’s been pretty on point.

 

Jonas

I don’t know… they didn’t seem to care too much about the death of Matt fucking Damon, though. Spent a little bit too much time eulogizing that Carrington Vandermont character, if you ask me. It was like Boston’s Golden Boy was little more than a footnote to some no-name asshole!

 

Allison

Eugh, seriously! What an absolute shitbird.

 

Tom [sad]

Damn, I seriously can’t believe we’re never gonna get to watch 2 Good 2 Hunting…

 

Roger

The behind-the-scenes production shots on that movie looked insane.

 

Natalie

…I mean, I know it’s a tragedy that we’ve lost one of our nation’s greatest actors, and lord knows who Carrington Vandermort is, but if it weren’t for him, a lot more people would have died. That’s gotta count for something, doesn’t it?

 

Allison

From what I heard, that was all Matt.

 

Jonas

Thank god Mark Wahlberg’s okay, though.

 

Tom

I know! We really dodged a bullet with that one. Imagine if we lived in a world where Ted 3 wasn’t still coming out next summer.

 

Natalie [quiet]

I mean, would that really be that bad?

 

Roger [offended]

What’s up your ass? 

 

Natalie

I’m not sure. I woke up this morning and I just felt like… something was missing, you know?

 

Jonas

Well, yes, Matt Damon. 

 

Allison

We’ve established this.

 

Natalie

That’s not it…

 

Allison Maybe they’ll pull a Fast & The Furious and finish 2 Good 2 Hunting with Mark Wahlberg in Damon’s unfinished scenes.

 

Roger

[raising a glass] To Mark Wahlberg!

 

[The group cheers and shouts “to Mark Wahlberg”, collectively, minus Natalie, who sits this one out.]

 

UNSATISFIED

[Synth music.]

Mark Wahlberg—Felix Trench

My blood oath has been fulfilled—Matt Damon is dead. He is gone from this world. Except he isn’t. Not really. I see him everywhere—in the news, his name on grateful banners hung from turnpike overpasses, his movies played on loops on every channel. They’ve torn down the CITGO sign and replaced it with a tremendous illuminated recreation of Matt Damon’s face, looming over the city like a protective giant. The end of his life has made him a legend, and my own fame feels diminished. He is dead, but still, I am in his shadow.

 

THE UNDERGROUND ON LEON

 

[Typing —three keyboards and an old fashioned typewriter. That’s Chuck’s, of course. The sound of four hands furiously working on several stories, all involving the recent disaster in Red Line, without a doubt. The typewriter dings, and someone resets the ribbon and types some more. Then someone stops typing on the keyboard. Then another person. Then another. Finally, the typewriter stops. And there’s silence for a moment. Nothing but room tone.]

 

Chuck Octagon—Jeff van Dreason

Tate? Where’s Tate?

 

Nichole Fonzarelli—Kristen DiMercurio

I’m—I’m not sure. 

 

[Silence again.]

 

Chuck

Did anyone see him leave?

 

Penny—Gabby Hall

I think I did. He left pretty quickly. 

 

Jamie—Rocky Goldman

Yeah. I think—I think he’s gone. 

 

[Brief pause.]

 

Chuck [recognizing something]

Yeah. Yeah. He is gone. 

 

Nichole

Michael will be back. 

 

Penny

He will.

 

Jamie

And Freed. He’s babysitting. 

 

Chuck

I know. They both will. 

 

[Coughs.] Well. Back to work. These stories aren’t going to write themselves. 

 

[Chuck begins furiously typing on his typewriter again. As he does, the other keyboards join in again, and as the keyboards join in, additional narration joins in until they blur together.]

 

Chuck [narrating]

This ragtag little outfit. It’s far from perfect, but it sure does feel like home, just like I’ve always felt at home doing this, pounding the keys and framing the story. And this time it really feels like I’m making a difference. This time feels different, and I couldn’t be happier. 

 

Penny [narrating]

Can’t explain it, but I have this weird, bittersweet feeling, like something is ending soon. Maybe it’s just the internship? I used to hate coming here but then I actually ended up loving it. Isn’t that weird? But it’s not just that; it’s something else, something I can’t explain, something that—oh, is that a typo? Fuck me, do you spell Ocdebacle again? 

 

Nichole [narrating]

Jeez, man, this is why I signed up to be in-person talent. I know they need all the writers they can get to cover this story, but I’m not really a journalist. I mean, I am, but I’m not, you know? I want pizza. Maybe I’ll ride out to Pinochio’s later. Thick sicilian slice of tomato basil. Did Pinochio ever just keep lying to see how long he could make his nose? Just, like, have, like, an epic lie-off? Could he lie that fucker into space? Like, what kinda limits does that bad boy have? FUCK I’m SO HUNGRY. I also think I’m kinda sad too, and I don’t know why, so PIZZA time after I write this fucker. I know they say not to reward yourself with food, but fuck that, a girl’s gotta eat. 

 

Jamie [singing flat narration]

My money don’t jiggle, jiggle, it folds

I like to see you wiggle, wiggle, for sure

It makes me want to dribble, dribble, you know

Riding in my Fiat, you really have to see it

Six feet two in a compact, no slack

 

[Speaking narration] I wonder if I should introduce Chuck to Slack. Maybe he’d let us do some remote work if he had a way to contact us all the time. Last time I mentioned remote work he thought I meant, like… remote-control cars. 

 

[Pause.]

 

Everyone looks kinda sad. And I kinda feel it too. And I don’t know why, and that makes me sadder. But—I’m glad I’m here. I’m glad I’m with these weirdos. 

 

[The sound of the typing fades out.]

 

LOTSUCG ON LEON

 

Lily of the Small Urban Community Garden—Ishanti Kanetkar [hurredly] Fox, I need a pen, pencil, crayon, anything. Please, quickly.

 

Fox Fossil Jenkins—Caleb del Rio 

Lily, are you… are you okay? What’s…

 

Lily 

Pencil! Do you have a pencil?

 

Fox 

Yeah, I got one right…

 

Lily 

Thank you.

 

[Lily slams the door on her way out. Fox gets up and opens the door. The scratches of Lily’s writing are like hurried stabs, like a chef’s knife deftly cutting an onion.]

 

Fox 

Lily, what’s going on?

 

Lily [frantic, upset] 

Too… much… it’s all… aghhhh… too much.

 

Fox 

What’s… what’s all too much?

 

Lily 

My brain feels like it’s clogged. Like it’s overflowing. With the protest. And the stadium. And my doctor’s appointment. And the Family. And… there’s too much to do. Too much to think about. I gotta… I gotta write it all down.

 

[Fox comes up and hugs Lily from behind.]

 

Fox 

Hey… I’ve got you.

 

[Lily breaks down.]

 

Lily 

I… I never feel like this. I don’t… I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m just…

 

Fox 

It’s okay. I get it. I’ve got you.

 

EDGAR ON LEON

 

[Rollercoaster screeches to a halt.]

 

Joey—Sarah Sachat 

What the fuck was that? Why did you stop the coasters? What the fuck is going on?

 

Edgar—Gabriel Urbina 

I don’t… I just… I had this… fuck. You’re gonna think I’m crazy. 

 

Joey 

Too late for that, bud.

 

Edgar 

I just… you remember I told you about that old park I worked at? And how that guy died there?

 

Joey

Yeah, Wonderworld?

 

Edgar 

Wonderland. I just… I don’t know. For a minute I wasn’t here. I was… I was there. On the Whirlodon. I was sitting right next to him. I was looking right at him. I wasn’t even there that day. I took the day off. Joey, I just… I saw him die. He just said “nope”. And the light went out from behind his eyes. And then… I was back here and… and then all I could think was, “Stop the coasters.” I just… I just had to yell it. I just needed it to stop. I needed them to stop. 

 

Joey 

You wanna… you wanna take the day off? Or maybe a few days? You’re scaring me, man. 

 

Edgar 

Yeah. I’m okay. I’m just… yeah, I’m gonna go home.

 

ABDUL ON LEON

 

Abdul—Tau Zaman

Fuck…. FUCK! … [sighs] Fuck…

INTERVIEW 

 

Interview 5

I have learned, over the course of my adult life, to redefine what “family” means. Family is not about genetics to me. Family is about people who care about you and who aren’t dicks. Like, don’t be a dick. So I’ve definitely walked away from some people that are, for one reason or another, toxic. They don’t have to agree with me, that’s cool. Like, I understand I’m high-maintenance as well, so I don’t have a problem when people disagree with me. I have a problem when people are deliberately harmful or upsetting. 

 

And so, some of that was either extended family or, y’know, just, politically or as a fundamental mindset, we can’t–there’s no mutual respect there. And so better to walk away than to be upset about it. 

 

Then in 2019 my father died. He–I knew that he was struggling, we were doing all that we could for him, but there’s limits to what you can do. You can’t fix another person. And so he lived with us in Salem but he died in Las Vegas. And I’ll never know why. I’ll never know what happened. Because he had round-trip tickets. He’d just–he’d gone through a bad divorce and had sold the house, and had just gotten his portion of the proceeds from selling the house. And so he was traveling, and he had round-trip tickets for that, he’d already done two prior trips, and he had three other trips planned later that year. So I–I’m never gonna know why. Why Las Vegas? What happened? What didn’t happen? Could we have helped? Could we not have helped? 

 

And so there’s a goodbye that has to happen after the fact, and we have developed a tradition in our family of, we have a little fire ball in the backyard, it’s not a built-in fire pit but a little guy you can get in Home Depot, and we’ll build a fire and we bring out stationary and we write notes to the people that we need to say something to that aren’t in front of us, and we burn that. Because that’s sort of the most effective means of delivery because I don’t need them to read or hear it, I need to say it. 

 

ALEWIFE

 

[Wind. Spring peepers. Distant cars passing. They’re sitting on top of Alewife station.]

 

Oswald—Jay Townsend

Where I grew up, you could see the Milky Way. I miss it sometimes, y’know? Like, I look out the window at night and the sky isn’t really dark and it’s like fuck, man, there’s a whole universe out there and I’m in fucking Boston, what am I even doing?

 

BERNIE ON LEON

 

Bernie—Josh Rubino

Hey, Mom, I know it’s kind of last-minute but, is there any chance we could do tuna mac for dinner?

 

Candice—Mama Bang Bang 

Of course, sweetie. Easy enough. We’ll save the salmon for tomorrow night.

 

[Candice starts to pull out a pot and fill it with water.]

 

Does Ernie like tuna mac too?

 

Bernie 

Yeah, I introduced him to it. He was suspicious at first, but he came around.

 

Candice 

They always do. It was the same thing with your mother.

 

Bernie 

It’s just perfect comfort food. And I could use some comfort food right now.

 

Candice 

Everything alright? You know your mother, and I think you might be working a little too hard at the post office. You should come up and see us more often.

 

Bernie 

No, I… I mean, you’re probably right. I should take it easier. I just have this uneasy feeling. Couldn’t pin it down to save my life. But please don’t worry. I’m sure it’ll pass.

 

Candice 

Oh, I’m not worried about our little mailman. Nothing you can’t handle. And nothing a little tuna mac can’t cure!

 

Bernie [smiling] 

Thanks, Mom. I love you.

 

Candice 

I love you too, sweetie.

 

ISABELLE ON LEON

 

Isabelle Powell—Jessica Washington

There’s a feeling Isaiah has told me about before. FOMO? Fear of missing out, that’s it. Strange thing to feel when you’re locked up. Of course I’m missing out. But there’s something specific I’m missing and—and I wish I was there for it. I’m proud of standing up to Red Line again. I hope the plan worked out. Wish it woulda worked without more people in jail. Those robots move faster than I’d expect, being powered by cheese. Are they powered by cheese, or do they just look somewhat cheese-y? I swear to god, the more I know, the less I understand. 

 

Omi went to go represent me, her, and the whole Yard Goats team in a meeting with the city’s attorney. So it’s just me by my lonesome. I could use a hug right about now. Hope Isaiah doesn’t do anything foolish like trying to let me out..

 

Omi comes back smiling. I hug her harder than I probably should and she says we’re getting out. All of us.

 

I’m stunned. Emily… is releasing us? 

 

She shrugs. Says we’ll be out by morning. 

 

For some reason this feels strange too. Like what we accomplished wasn’t even real. Wasn’t even a sacrifice. That’s not true. But the FOMO won’t FOGO. 

 

[Chuckles]

 

Good thing I kept that one to myself. 

 

PETAL AND SINGER ON LEON

 

[Singer practices the song we heard him sing in Episode 44. The phone rings. He puts down his guitar, walks to the phone—reaches to pick it up, but stops short. The voice message kicks on.]

 

Singer—Oliver Morris

Hey, leave a quick one. Peace. 

 

Petal—Jenny Pan [sounding more desperate than last time]

Don’t pick up. I can’t talk. I can’t talk long.

 

[Pause.]

 

I couldn’t do it! I just needed you to know I couldn’t do it. I tried. I really tried, but I just can’t. I fucked it up just like I fucked up everything else. 

 

[Pause, sniffle.]

 

I hate that I miss you so much. I hate that you were right. There’s some kind of terrible weakness in that. Knowing that—I could be water and you could be a jar, or a beautiful pitcher. And I could pour myself into you but there still wouldn’t be—we’d still be—just—contracts. Liquid and solid, bumping up against each other. I could take your shape but never be like you, never—never— 

 

[Pause, sniff, crying.]

 

This was a mistake. What else is new? There’s something else. Something is changing. Someone is leaving. I feel it. I’m connected with it since I got so close. But it’s not me, okay? Despite what you thought, it’s not me, and for some reason I needed you to know that. 

 

[Pause.]

 

I won’t call again. Or maybe I will. I can’t get anything right. Don’t look for me. I’m still gone, I’m just not that gone. 

 

[The phone hangs up abruptly. Voice message beep.]

 

[Singer slowly walks back over to his guitar and picks it up. He plays through some finger-picked chords.]

 

Singer

Cold trails, we see our breath

Streaming through the air like dying ghosts

Strange to think, on the brink

Hiking through the past of what’s left

 

Pictures of rivers

I remember when water

Flowed free before

Now it’s still

And there’s a chill

Freezing what soared

 

Hold onto memories that once moved

Stare long enough they’re bound to

Flow again like before

Shouldn’t water run free?

 

Camp sight, watch the fire,

Embers through the air like shooting stars

Sip my drink, stop to think

If memories ever get tired

 

Pictures of rivers

I still remember when the water

Rushed down the line

Now it’s gone

And there’s a song

To sting with old rhymes

 

[Pause. Singer puts down the guitar.]

 

Eh. It’s something. 

 

[Pause. Wistful. Knowing something is moving on. Absentmindedly he strums the guitar. The note reverberates—the sound of action—of a note—reverberating until fading as a ghost. Singer sighs.]

 

INTERVIEW

 

Interview 6

In the past couple years–in the past few years, I’ve actually lost my father and my uncle. I was incredibly close with my uncle, and it was really hard. It was incredibly hard, but I think that we have wonderful support in our family, and so we really look to lean on each other. And so I’m really grateful for that. But it was very sudden. Yeah. 

 

Interviewer–Jeff van Dreason 

I’m glad you had support, and I’m sure everybody–

 

Interview 6

Exactly. Exactly! And it’s also hard for my grandmother, losing their child, y’know–you always think it’s going to go, like, that your children are going to go after you, so you don’t have to see their pain and their misery. But as long as they’re there for my grandmother and my family and I think we move forward together. But I just–it’s the memories that really hurt, right? 

 

Interviewer 

Yeah. 

 

Interview 6

And you just think about it, and you just–like, we used to go skiing as a family, my uncle would take us skiing every Martin Luther King weekend, and we’d go up to Vermont, and it was the first time I ever skied before, in my life, right? And he just kept yelling, “pizza, pizza, pizza!” And so every time I, like, think about skiing or even having a slice of pizza I think of my uncle just yelling, “PIZZA!” and he would yell hard. Because he’s yelling, chasing us down the mountain, “PIZZA! PIZZA! PIZZA!” And you’re trying to get your feet right and you’re like, but you’re turning!

 

[Interviewer laughs.] 

 

And so, first teachers. He also taught me how to drive, so whenever I’m also in the car, and I hear him yelling, “You’re leaning! You’re leaning!” and I’m like, I’m not that close to the line! But my mom definitely tells me that I’m leaning. So. It’s definitely been an experience, but, again, we share these memories together. 

 

THE RIDE

 

Michael Tate—James Oliva [narrating]

I arrive at the Wonderland gates and nod at the guy inside the food truck. He even seems to understand. I wonder if he remembers my embarrassing order. Probably not. But he looks stricken. Like someone asked for cheese one too many times.

 

There’s music. Something jazzy and upbeat. Laughter. A bunch of them all together. I find Louisa and hug her hard, so happy she’s okay. I give Wendell a hug too. And Rusty. He’s there too, awkwardly shrugging it off as if it’s nothing.

 

Louisa Alvarez—Julia Propp [narrating]

Michael looks good. I wonder if he’s going to be able to handle this. He’s already said goodbye twice, and the first was hard enough to knock him off the wagon. I tell him about our plan to say goodbye. Freed went to get garden gloves for everyone. We’re going to pass Leon around from hand to hand. And we’re going to dance. 

 

Michael [dialogue]

Dance?

 

Louisa [dialogue]

His request.

 

Michael

Huh.

 

Leon Stamatis—Braden Lamb 

[undercurrent of jumbled Leon, but quieter] It’s true. I used to despise dancing. Mostly what I despised was the urge some people had to move their body at the spur of the moment. They would hear certain rhythms and it would control their body as if they did not have a choice. That thought used to horrify me. But now I understand bodies—people—work like music itself. Music is controlled chaos, the right notes on the right instruments played in the right order. But often people make mistakes among their perfectly-played chords. Bum notes, they call them. And that is what life is. And I want to feel these people one last time. Their bum notes and all. As many of them as I can. And I want to do something I was good at with them. Embrace the rhythm, the chaos, the uneasy order of life and my small place within it. 

 

Dimitri Stamatis—James Johnston [narrating]

We take turns, spinning around the Wonderland grounds, cradling him in our gloved hands. When it comes to my turn, I—I hesitate. I’m not sure I’m ready. But then—but then Nica helps me. She picks him up carefully and places him in my palm. And we dance together. All of us take a spin.

 

Isaiah Powell—Mario Da Rosa Jr. [narrating]

I barely know what’s going on, but sure, I’ll cut a rug with the ball. I take an extra song for Aunt Izzy and Omi. They’re here in spirit just as much as this Leon guy. 

 

Freed Friend Poletti—James Capobianco [narrating]

I swing the spirit of Mr. Stamatis around to the sound of the log jam whooping dance to appease the ascended eye! May he soon be embraced by her glory and light. My own personal Mary Wollstonecraft. I used to think it was her advising me. But no. It was just a colleague. Someone who I technically would have supervised at ThirdSight. 

 

Wendell Jorgenson—Mike Linden [narrating/singing]

Ahhhh—AHHHHHHHHHH! It’s nice to dance with you, Mr. Stamatis! I know you were a quirky ex, but you’re clearly important to everyone here, especially Louisa. 

 

Tyrell Fredericks—Arun Sannuti [narrating]

I’m a clumsy dancer, but it doesn’t matter. Leon feels warm in my hand. A human kind of warmth. Like Nica felt when I took her hand and pulled her from that cell. 

 

Mallory—Johanna Bodnyk [narrating]

The rest of these fools have got nothing on my boy Leon and me. I can tell just from the sick fucking vibes radiating off him that this round mound of DDR fucking fury has sick moves, and so I break it down accordingly and show these fools what the fuck is up. And I can tell that he’s happy with me for being who I fucking am. And homeboy was always in my fucking corner. Never once has he blamed me for operating the ride he died on. Nor should he! It wasn’t my fucking fault. Even if I do still feel guilty about it. But it’s all good! Because this round little king fucking gets it. Gets me. And I can tell that, even through these sweaty, slick-as-shit garden gloves that weird guy who smells like rutabagas passed out. So that’s gotta count for something, right?

 

Rusty—James Johanson [narrating]

Ain’t one much for dancin.’ But I don’t want to break up the party. So we do a little dosey-do and I pass him along. Just glad everyone’s alright. 

 

Charlotte Linzer-Coolidge—Summer Unsinn [narrating]

Dancing like this obscures the tragedy of this whole thing. But maybe this isn’t a tragedy. Maybe this is how it should be. For everyone. All the time. We lose people everyday, and we have no concept of how important they were to us. I never even met this man. But I met his spirit. Damn. I need to paint this. I need to draw this. I need to remake this or something like this. A canvas. A mural. A book. I want to—I need to make art again. I look at Gemma and smile so wide I cry. We’re losing someone and gaining so much at the same time. All of us. 

 

Gemma Linzer-Coolidge—Lydia Anderson [narrating]

I don’t really dance at first, but everyone cheers in such a way that I—I just let go. And it feels like I’m moving in slow motion. There’s no judgment. Not anymore. Dimitri? Louisa? All their anger has just evaporated. All their anger I deserved. I look at Nica and nod. She nods back. And I cry. But they’re happy tears. Because I got to be a part of something really special. And I’m still a part of it. I’m still here. And just for the moment, cutting the imaginary ties of a restrained life. For the first time ever, I feel free. Wild. Like I’m supposed to be. It’s not all because of him. And at the same time, it is.

 

Michael [narrating]

The music cuts off as Gemma hands me the ball. Everyone stops and looks at me. I feel like… like… the tension has just—just made it awkward. 

[Dialogue] I don’t—I don’t know if I can.

 

Gemma

It’s okay. 

 

Michael

I’d like to maybe… maybe say something instead? I’m too afraid. Too afraid that—that if I dance with him, I’ll—I’ll try to— 

 

Nica

We understand, Michael.

 

Dimitri

Do what you need to do.

 

Michael

[Laughs.] I used to think Leon was my lighthouse. Guiding me to shore. Then I learned lighthouses actually were warnings to ships in the oceans at night. Watch out for that rocky coast! Don’t dock near this uncertain land. Neither of those really work. Because… because I’ve learned so much about myself with Leon. And without him. I couldn’t be the person I am without him. I couldn’t be the person I am… if he hadn’t… left. All this is to say? All this to say: life does not have one single, easily-digestible meaning. It just doesn’t. Right now, while we are here dancing and merry, there are people out there suffering, enduring immense tragedy. War, disease, cruelty, chaos. And within all of that, outside of it too? There are… people trying. To make sense of it all. To contain it. Squeeze it down as best we can into a tiny ball. And barely—hardly—succeeding. But not giving up. Choosing to not give up. Choosing instead, in the face of all of that, to continue to try. We’re all part of it. We all decide. I decide you. You decide me. Choice. And I’m choosing not to say goodbye to him tonight because—because I already did. And I never will. I never could if I tried. Eight. 

 

Louisa

Eleven.

 

Wendell

Five.

 

Dimitri

Four.

 

Isaiah

Nine.

 

Charlotte

One. 

 

Tyrell

Seven?

 

Mallory

Six.

 

Rusty

Ten.

 

Gemma

Three.

 

Dimitri

Twelve.

 

Nica

Two. 

 

[Silence.]

 

Louisa

Umm. I spoke at Leon’s… first service. It was a bit awkward because… I felt like I only knew him… somewhat? I talked about how he was so good at dancing, but hated to go. And I think it’s a testament to Leon’s spirit… his literal spirit—that he’s so goddamn stubborn that he not only refused to die, but that he’s grown in death. And here we are. Boogieing down with the best damn dead man I’ve ever had the honor to know and love. I just…

 

[Pause.]

 

Wanted to say thank you…

 

[Beat.]

 

Thank you, Leon.

 

[Pause.]

 

Nica. You spoke at his service. Do you want to—?

 

Nica

No. I was able to then. I just want to say…

 

[Pause.]

 

It broke me up a bit. And I focused on that and didn’t allow myself to remember the good times. But I’d like to give Dimitri a chance to say goodbye. He didn’t get to last time. 

 

Dimitri

Oh, Nica. 

 

[They hug.]

 

Leon

You did it. You both did it. I’m so proud of you.

 

Dimitri

Tonight I learned that… that there’s a risk we could be losing a whole city. When I left home last time, it was to explore the unknown, find all sorts of hidden treasures, solve mysteries. And some of you may think I’m speaking in metaphor, given how outlandish this is going to sound. Keep in mind, we’re at the wake for my dead brother trapped in a magical ball. I found the lost city of Atlantis, or something like it. Buried at the bottom of the ocean. Magnificent and dead. 

 

[Pause.]

 

I don’t know what happened exactly, but I can’t let anything like it happen here, not even in whatever Red Line has become. Not for all my brother fought for. I’m not speaking for all of you. But I wanted to let you all know. After tonight? I’m continuing to fight for Red Line. Not the one that is. The one that can be. 

 

[Nica and Dimitri hug again.]

 

Nica

I’ll fight with you. Even if it’s just the two of us. However I can.

 

Gemma [narrating]

We all form a circle around them as they hug, And then the vet girl, Mallory, she heads to the controls for the Ferris wheel. It lights up, bright, round, and loud. And we all load up into the swinging buckets. One by one.

 

Isaiah [narrating]

We save one for Aunt Izzy and Omi. I wish they were here. I know they feel it, though. We all do. 

 

Dimitri [narrating]

The last car arrives. There’s room for me and Nica. Gemma is in between us. Gemma and Leon.

 

Mallory [narrating.]

I cut the music. It doesn’t feel right. And I lift them into the sky.

 

[Sound of the Ferris wheel rotating.]

 

Gemma

When we get to the top, Mallory turns it off. And we hang there. Touching shoulders. 

 

[Dialogue] Are you ready?

 

Dimitri

Goodbye, brother. 

 

Nica

Goodbye, Leon.

 

[Pause.]

 

What’s he saying?

 

Gemma

He’s… he’s giving the weather report?

 

Dimitri

What? Is he… is he having one of those episodes?

 

Leon

No.

 

Gemma

No. He’s with it. Having so many of us around him helps. 

 

Leon

Warm and humid tonight. Thirty-three percent chance of rain later. Now here’s Dimitri with the traffic report.

 

Gemma

Here’s Dimitri with the traffic report. 

 

Dimitri

[Gasps with a slight chuckle.] All clear on Storrow for once. Slight backup on 95. Here’s our girl on the street, Nica.

 

Nica

There’s nothing. There’s nothing new under the sun for once. There’s just peace. This is Nica Stamatis for the Stamatis Family News hour. Signing off. 

 

Gemma

I squeeze the ball. And I tell him how I feel with my touch. Because it’s too much to think it. To say it.

 

Leon

Thank you, Gemma. 

 

Gemma

Too much.

 

[Distant echo of Leon saying “too much”.]

 

Leon

Thank you.

 

Gemma [narrating]

I lean my body out of the metal basket, which sways around me. And I think about a list I made once.

 

[Gemma, from Episode 3]

Lob. 

 

And I shut my eyes. 

 

Leon

Goodbye, friend.

 

Gemma

And I throw. As hard as I can.

 

[Sound of the wind rustling through the air. Scrambled Leon returns. It gets louder. And then?

 

The sound of an object hitting the ground. Crystal shattering. And an ethereal, ghostly Leon sighs in relief as his spirit moves on from this world. At last, and for good.]

 

WILL & DETERMINATION TOO

 

Uriah Connoly—Ben Flaumenhaft

This message is for Nica Stamatis. My name is Uriah Connoly, and as you may or may not know, I was the owner of the apartment occupied by your brother, Leon Stamatis, at the time of his unfortunate passing. I am sorry to call you out of the blue like this, so many years beyond the point when I should still be contacting the relatives of a deceased former tenant. But an issue has arisen that requires the attention of Mr. Stamatis’s next of kin. Although I have communicated previously with your living brother, Dimitri Stamatis, the number by which I contacted him is no longer in service. That is why I am now calling you.

 

I was cleaning the rental property after the departure of my most recent tenants. While doing so, I discovered an envelope that had fallen behind one of the standing radiators. I had not discovered the document in question until now because it was caught in an elevated position between the wall and the radiator itself, well-hidden from view. I noticed it by chance on this occasion, when I happened to glance directly downward while washing the window above it. I could not reach to retrieve it by hand, but with the use of a yardstick I was able to dislodge it so that it fell to the floor beneath the radiator.

 

It was significantly older than I expected, belonging not to the most recent tenants, but to your brother, Leon Stamatis. I am hopeful that it is not yet too late for this document to be of use to you or Mr. Stamatis’s other loved ones. I cannot explain my instinct in this regard, but I somehow feel that it has turned up at precisely the correct moment for its execution. What I have found is Leon Stamatis’s last will and testament. I look forward to your return call, so that we can make arrangements for delivery to you at your earliest convenience.

 

Thank you and God bless.