001 ♦ Jesse Finch ♦ Audio

[rigging]

So I've got three guesses as to what this is right now. [ The voice that comes through the communicator is quiet and calm. The undertone to this voice, however, is not at all -- there's a hint of panic and a whole lot of anger underneath. ] One, I traveled back in time to land in some Twilight Zone-Silent Hill bullshit. Two, I've finally cracked and I've gone insane, which, y'know, could be worse, my brain coulda put me in somewhere much more terrifying than a room with a camera -- or three, I'm dreaming. [ Which is what he's afraid of. There's a beat, and then the sound of a lighter being flicked on, a cigarette being lit. ]

Watch, m'just talking to myself. I don't even know if anybody's out there. [ It's been an hour and he hasn't seen anybody yet, after all, though to be fair he hasn't gone very far. He's waiting. Come get him, nightmare. He's not scared of you. ]

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[ audio ]

[rigging]

[ Now that gets a response.

There's silence, no reply, and then, grimly: ] So I was right. [ A beat. ] You gonna let me outta here, or do I gotta come beat your ass a second time?

[gleans]

I -- what? Jess, no, it's me. Where are you?

[rigging]

I know it's you, wh -- [ O... kay, something's wrong about this. ] What? M'not telling you, come find me yourself.

[gleans]

[ Pause. His voice is a little shaky. Don't be another clone. ] Galen. It's Galen.

[rigging]

I know, lemme out of -- [ Pause. Jesse has no idea what the fuck is going on. ] Are... are we awake?

[gleans]

[ He sounds confused and a little nervous as he starts quickly putting on his boots. ] Of course we are, babe, just -- tell me where you are, okay, I'll explain everything. Are you alright?

[rigging]

[ nO he doesn't want Galen to come find him. He sounds confused and a little scared and something in Jesse twists, but he doesn't trust this. He couldn't possibly. Not when it could be a trick. ]

... M'fine. I don't... know where I am. I think m'in a park? Looks like a park. [ He'll just. Defend himself, if he has to. ]

[gleans]

Fuck, that's across town -- okay, just gimme a few minutes. Don't move. And -- stay on the line, okay?

[rigging]

Okay, okay, Galen, where the fuck are we, whose dream is this? What -- did it trap you too? Is that what this is?

[gleans]

[ Okay, he can forgive the initial confusion, but this is just weird. And upsetting. It almost makes him stop as he heads out the door, but he has to get to Jesse. ]

Jesse, baby, I -- fuck. I don't understand what you're talking about. We're not dreaming -- what do you mean, it?

[rigging]

[ ... Did Galen forget? ] What d'you think I mean -- did you hit your head or somethin'? Or are y'just fucking with me, cause lemme tell you, I ain't real happy t'hear it, if it actually is...

[ He trails off, and curls up on a park bench, frowning. ]

[gleans]

[ He sounds incredulous, not to mention a little hurt! ] Why the hell would I ever fuck with you, Jesse? What are you talking about?

[rigging]

I don't -- I don't fucking know! [ Jesse doesn't even know where to go with this, and everything is weird and there's some girl pretending to be his conscience and -- it's a lot, okay. ]

Just -- come find me.

[gleans]

I'm on my way. I'm gonna cut through the cemetery, if you want to head towards the church. [ He'll just -- speed up a little. Jesse's here. Jesse's actually, finally here. ] Fuck.

[rigging]

[ The church. Okay, he can do that. Jesse heads off towards what he thinks is the church, pulling his jacket more tightly around him, hood up. He hasn't seen Galen since the nightmare. How is he supposed to handle this? ]

[gleans]

[ Once he sees the church, Galen breaks out into a run, even though it's difficult with the snow underfoot. He doesn't stop until he sees Jesse, and then he slows, turning the communicator off and taking steps towards Jesse. Something's wrong, he can tell that much. But Jesse should be able to tell that even though he's a little bit out of breath, Galen looks better than he has in... well, months. ]

Jess?

[rigging]

[ And Galen should be able to tell that Jesse looks considerably less better than he was when Galen left him. The dark circles under his eyes suggest he hasn't slept well for a couple of days at the least, and he's a bit skinnier than normal. The way Galen looks, though -- a look of almost relief, and confusion, settles on Jesse's face. ]

Galen. [ He looks so much healthier... ]

[gleans]

Fuck. [ It's relieved, but concerned. He doesn't look good. What the hell happened, for him to be looking like this and going on about dreams? Galen closes the distance between them and wraps his arms around Jesse, holding tight and close. ] Fuck, Finch, what happened to you?

[rigging]

[ Oh god, what. Jesse tenses up when Galen pulls him into a hug -- but not for long. It's familiar and safe and Jesse fucking missed Galen while he was psychopathic, and here he is, like nothing ever happened. Jesse presses his face against Galen's neck and holds tightly in response. ]

I dunno, nightingale, I -- I dunno, where are we? What's going on?

[gleans]

[ Galen doesn't let go just yet. He's missed Jesse so much, especially after this bullshit with Ghoul, and even though he's acting weird, he just -- wants him close. Just for a few more seconds. ]

It's called Cape Kore, it's like -- it's a scientific research facility, and time's all fucked up and we have fucking clones, and -- [ Fuck. Galen pulls away so he can just look at Jesse, like he needs to see his face to get Ghoul's out of his head. ] And I don't know how we're gonna get out.

[rigging]

Times all -- clones? [ UhhhhHHH. Jesse frowns deeply, totally confused. He reaches, holds the front of Galen's jacket uncertainly. ] I -- okay, back the fuck up here, explain this t'me like m'five. Slowly.

[gleans]

[ Galen sighs, trying to iron out his nerves, and nudges his glasses up. ] I'm trying to think of like -- a movie, or something, to get this across easier, but -- fuck. Okay. I don't know where we are. There are like thirty of us in this tiny cape town, and nobody's found a way out. There are cameras fucking everywhere, and there are these scientists, and there are two guys here who look exactly like us. [ Following? Sorta? ]

[rigging]

[ ... Sorta. ] And I'm assuming we gotta worry 'bout the guys who look just like us more than the scientists? Judging by what I heard already.

[gleans]

[ Galen's just gonna lean his forehead against Jesse's, here. ] No, I'm pretty sure the scientists are the bigger problem. The guy who looks like you -- I mean, the lookalikes, they're just douchebags. But the scientists are the ones keeping us here.

[rigging]

[ Jesse takes Galen's hands and links their fingers together quietly. It's okay for now, he thinks -- as much as he doesn't think he can trust Galen's word on this, he still wants and needs the touch Galen is giving him. It's reassuring. ]

... Right. So do we see the scientists runnin' round?