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Welcome to the Horizon
Part 4: Recluse
We begin at Trinkett’s shop. WInd blows through windchimes as Trinkett’s bare feet walk into the middle of the room. She lights incense and sits on the floor. She breathes in and out for a moment and then speaks.
Trinkett:
As the Earth holds me. As the Sky sees me. As the Sun rises within me. I step out to greet the Day.
She continues to breathe until there is a timid knock on her door. She takes one more breath and answers.
Trinkett:
Come in.
The door opens and doug walks in.
Flat Doug:
Hello?
Trinkett:
Hello Doug, come in.
Flat Doug:
Sorry, am I disturbing you?
Trinkett:
Not at all, Doug, come in.
Doug shuts the door behind him.
Trinkett:
How are you?
Flat Doug:
I’m okay.
Trinkett:
Just okay?
Flat Doug:
I’m good... I’m sorry, that’s a lie, I’m just okay.
Trinkett:
Do you remember the emotional intelligence wheel I gave you?
Flat Doug:
Yes. Right. I’m uh... fragile. I’m feeling fragile.
Trinkett:
And because you used the word fragile, you feel less fragile, right?
Flat Doug:
Yes. Yes, a little.
Trinkett:
Good. Sit down.
Flat Doug:
Okay.
Doug sits on the floor. Trinkett breathes.
Trinkett:
I’m sorry I’ve been away for so long. Have you been able to drink the skullcap tea in the morning?
Flat Doug:
Yes. Yes, I have, it helps a lot. I gave up coffee.
Trinkett:
That’s great. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with coffee, it’s just very powerful and you need to pace yourself.
Flat Doug:
I’ve had a little coffee.
Trinkett:
That’s okay.
Flat Doug:
... Things have been very strange in town.
Trinkett:
Yes, Doug, they really have, I’m glad you came to see me.
Flat Doug:
I’m not really sure what to do with it all.
Trinkett:
Well, the first thing to do is, what you’re doing right now, reach out to other people. Try and stay connected.
Flat Doug:
Right.
Trinkett:
And what do you say to yourself?
Flat Doug:
“I’m not sick.”
Trinkett:
You’re not. That’s right. The stars have made you sensitive to things that others aren’t. Things affect you differently than other people. That doesn’t mean you’re wrong, that doesn’t mean you’re broken, it just means you’re different. Different is good. Different is important.
Flat Doug:
Right... It would help if things weren’t getting so strange. I mean, it’s nuts out there, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
I know it is, Doug. It’s not just you, it’s hard for me too. It’s been very hard to stay centered and connected for me, too. It’s not just you.
Flat Doug:
Okay.
Trinkett:
How are things with your Dad?
Flat Doug:
Well, he’s still an asshole.
Trinkett:
Okay.
Flat Doug:
But he also can’t take care of himself, so I’m over there a lot.
Trinkett:
Right. Well, we’ve talked about this before, your father spent most of his life working for timber companies. Bringing down old growth like that releases a huge amount of energy that was being contained in the trees. He spent far too many years being exposed to that, he’s carrying a lot.
Flat Doug:
He tends to make that my fault, though.
Trinkett:
I know, Doug. That’s not an excuse, that’s an explanation. He really is an asshole.
Flat Doug:
Thank you.
Trinkett:
Don’t spend more time over there than you have to.
Flat Doug:
I won’t.
Trinkett:
So... what do you need today? Is the tea enough do you think? I’ve got some linden oil that might help.
Flat Doug:
Uh... actually something’s going on, it could be nothing, but I thought, y’know, considering everything that’s happening...
Trinkett:
What is it?
Flat Doug:
It’s about Cameron.
Trinkett:
Cameron, what about Cameron?
Flat Doug:
He... you know how he has his Wall Street Journal delivered to my store?
Trinkett:
Yes. Thank you for doing that, by the way.
Flat Doug:
It’s no problem. It’s easy. The paper gets delivered to the shop and I drop it off at his front gate every day. He pays me way too much money to do it.
Trinkett:
So, what is the problem, then?
Flat Doug:
The papers have been piling up a little. He hasn’t been picking them up. I dropped one off this morning and there’s five newspapers at his gate now.
Trinkett:
I see.
Flat Doug:
I’m sure it’s nothing. Considering what’s going on lately, though, I thought I should say something and I know you go up to see him sometimes so I thought... Maybe I should come see you.
Trinkett:
Okay... thank you for doing that. I’m glad you told me.
Flat Doug:
I’m sure it’s nothing.
Trinkett:
I’m sure. But I’m glad you told me.
Flat Doug:
Should I tell Frank?
Trinkett:
No, don’t worry about it. I’ll check on him, you don’t have to worry about it.
Flat Doug:
Okay.
Trinkett:
In fact I’ll do that right now.
Flat Doug:
Great.
They both get up. Trinkett opens a box on the counter.
Trinkett:
Before you go, I want you to take this. Keep this with you. It’s sodalite, it’ll help you stay cool out there, okay? Just keep it in your pocket, don’t leave home without it.
Flat Doug:
Okay great. I’m so glad you’re back.
Trinkett:
Me too, Doug. I’ll let you know when more skullcap comes in, okay.
Flat Doug:
Great.
Doug exits.
Trinkett:
... What’s going on, Cameron?
We move to the horizon motel. June is outside drinking coffee. A chicken approaches.
June:
Ah... You again...
Frank walks out of the office.
Frank:
What is that sound?
June:
Estelle’s back.
Frank:
You named Clementine’s chicken Estelle?
June:
I did. Good morning, Estelle.
Frank:
Why did you name it Estelle?
June:
Look at her. It works right?
Frank:
... It does.
June:
Estelle.
Frank:
How has one lone chicken been surviving in a forest full of chicken-eating things?
June:
Ooooh, I do not want to know the answer to that question.
Frank:
Nor do I.
June:
Maybe Estelle’s a survivor. When Trinkett’s comet swings by and obliterates the Earth, Estelle’s still going to be here. Just Estelle and cockroaches and Nick Nolte.
Frank:
I see we’ve added “getting obliterated by a comet” to our daily parlance.
June:
I see we’ve added “daily parlance” to our daily parlance. Are you a Dickensian banker?
Frank:
We’re not going to be obliterated by a comet.
June:
Trinkett says there’s a comet heading for Earth and it’s going to obliterate us.
Frank:
That’s not what she said, she did not say obliterate.
June:
It’s just like you to quibble over terminology when the world is on the brink of destruction. Can you believe this, Estelle?
Frank:
Don’t drag Estelle into this.
Verge emerges from their room lighting a cigarette.
June:
Morning, Verge.
Verge:
Morning.
June:
What’s up this morning?
Verge:
Oh you know, just taking it all in before we’re obliterated.
June:
See?
Frank:
I thought it was my job to be the pessimistic one. I don’t like you two moving in on my territory.
June:
Nobody elected you the President of Pessimism, it was a volunteer position that you always took on pro-bono.
Frank:
Well, I’ve resigned my position and now I’m switching sides since you two seem to have it covered.
June:
Well look at you. Look at the growth.
Frank:
I’m just saying, just because there’s a lot of weird shit going on doesn’t mean that every hair-brained theory is correct.
June:
It’s like I don’t even know you.
Verge:
That’s a chicken, right?
June:
Verge, this is Estelle. Say hello, Estelle.
Verge:
You eat these, right?
Frank:
We’re not eating that one.
June:
Oh no, we are not. Stay away from this chicken, Verge. It’s cursed. Bad Juju.
Verge:
Juju?
We hear Trinkett’s bicycle coming up the driveway.
June:
Hey, speaking of witches and curses.
Verge:
Who’s this?
June:
It’s Trinkett, the local mystic, Verge. Do you need your chackras hoovered?
Verge:
My what what-ed?
Frank:
Trinkett, what’s up?
Trinkett:
I need your help. Hi, June.
June:
What’s going on?
Trinkett:
It’s Cameron.
Frank:
Cameron?
Trinkett:
I talked to Doug, Cameron hasn’t been picking up his newspapers.
Frank:
Well, maybe he just realized he was the last person in America to get the newspaper delivered.
Trinkett:
I think he may have regressed while I was gone. We need to check on him.
June:
What do you need us for?
Trinkett:
I tried ringing his intercom several times, he’s not answering.
Frank:
What can we do about it?
Trinkett:
We’re breaking in.
Frank:
... Oh, we are, are we?
Trinkett:
Yes.
Frank:
Trinkett.
Trinkett:
What?
Frank:
I’m not going to break in to Cameron’s high-tech compound, I wouldn’t even know how to do that.
Trinkett:
Would you just get your tools and come with me?
June:
Maybe he’s just out of town, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
He’s an agoraphobe.
June:
Oh shit. Really?
Trinkett:
I was working with him before I left... I shouldn’t have left... He didn’t trust doctors so he would call me once a week. We set up a plan where he would, once a day, leave his house to go pick up the paper at his front gate. It wasn’t a lot but it was working for him. Now there’s a pile of Wall Street Journals at his front gate.
Frank:
Trinkett, Cameron’s gate is solid steel, the locks are all computerized, he’s got security cameras, he could have machine gun turrets for all I know. My bolt cutters aren’t going to do the trick.
Trinkett:
We’ve got to do something.
June:
(Talking only to Verge.) Hey, space friend.
Verge:
Who are they talking about?
June:
Cameron Winterborne-Welsh. Local reclusive billionaire. Do the rich people get really weird and eccentric where you come from?
Verge:
Totally.
June:
This guy’s like that. He invented a couple of things and made a bunch of money and then one day he buys a big plot of land up here, builds a high tech compound and then we never see him.
Verge:
And you’re going to break into his house?
June:
Well, I was wondering-
Verge:
Oh boy.
June:
I was wondering if your magic pocket pal had the ability to hack into a high tech computer lock situation.
Verge:
I’m assuming, yes.
Eldin:
Please don’t talk about me like I’m not here.
June:
Hey Eldin. Do you have some sort of Asimov’s law that prevents you from doing crimes?
Eldin:
June, look who my owner is. This is the longest Verge has gone without committing a crime.
June:
That’s cool. You guys are so cool.
Eldin:
I’d recommend against this but what a waste of processing power that would be.
June:
(To Frank and Trinkett.) Guys, I have an idea!
We move to the front gate of cameron’s compound. Verge approaches the intercom panel.
Intercom:
Good morning. Please enter code or scan your passkey.
Eldin:
I hate it when they talk to me.
Verge:
This is it. Do your thing.
Eldin:
One moment...
Trinkett:
(To Frank and June.) Who is this person?
Frank:
This is Verge.
Trinkett:
Okay.
June:
Verge is staying with us at the Horizon.
Frank:
Verge is a... skilled person.
Trinkett:
They’re a criminal.
June:
No.
Frank:
They-
June:
Not in the classic way-
Frank:
We don’t like to ask a lot of questions.
June:
Privacy is important, Trinkett.
Frank:
We recognize the irony of saying that while we’re breaking into someone’s home, but still...
Eldin:
Hmm.
Verge:
What?
Intercom:
Good passkey. Please morning your enter or code your scan.
Eldin:
Interesting.
Verge:
What’s happening?
Eldin:
The estate has its own operating system. Not bad for Earth, actually, but something’s corrupting the system. Connections are being made where there shouldn’t be.
Verge:
Is there a workaround?
Eldin:
Yes. Hang on.
We hear a beep and the huge gate begins to slowly open.
Verge:
There we go.
Eldin:
I’d watch yourself in there.
Verge:
Why?
Eldin:
The system appears to have been hacked but not in any useful way. There’s been a randomization of the code that I can’t seem to put my finger on.
Verge:
I’ll keep my eyes open.
Eldin:
As will I.
June:
I can just imagine Cameron talking to his architect. “Yes, that gate is nice, but does it open ominously?”
Trinkett:
Thank you. I can take it from here.
Frank:
Are you sure?
Trinkett:
... No. No, I’m not, would you come with me?
Frank:
Sure.
June:
I was going in anyway, I have to see this place. C’mon, Verge. Crime!
Verge:
Lead the way.
They make their way on foot up to the estate.
Frank:
... So he’s an agoraphobe, huh?
Trinkett:
It’s not about open spaces for him, it’s about purity. Feeling clean. The house is completely sealed off from the outside world and he’s got a complicated filtration system that everything runs through. He said he began to feel like every time he was outside, something was trying to infest his body. He didn’t want to feel that way, it was just an inescapable feeling for him.
Frank:
Jesus.
Trinkett:
Apparently when you work with microchips you have to do it in a clean room without any dust particles. You have to wear this head-to-toe suit that keeps you from corrupting things. He said the first time he ever stepped into one of those clean rooms was the most calm he’d ever felt in his life. He got obsessed with the feeling. It took over everything.
Frank:
And he turned to you for this? I didn’t think there was a magic spell for Agoraphobia.
Trinkett:
Very funny.
Frank:
Is there a magical spell for Agoraphobia?
Trinkett:
Frank, are you honestly asking me about my work or are you just looking for an opportunity to make fun of me?
Frank:
Can’t it be both?
Trinkett:
You’re such an asshole... I’d start with passion flower tea. Then if that didn’t work, Black Tourmaline.
Frank:
A rock?
Trinkett:
Wear it as a necklace near your sternum.
Frank:
Did any of that work?
Trinkett:
He never tried it. He was just as skeptical of me as he was a conventional doctor. He just felt like he could talk to me. I accepted him for who he was, without any judgement. That can be very powerful for someone.
June:
There it is.
Verge:
Fuck, it’s huge.
June:
Yeah, not exactly a cozy, blanket-on-the-legs cabin in the woods is it? I guess if I lived there I’d get a little agoraphobia too.
Verge:
Eldin, define Agoraphobia.
June:
I got this one, Eldin. It’s a fear of going outside.
Eldin:
It’s not.
June:
It’s not?
Eldin:
No. Agoraphobia is a rare human condition wherein a person develops an irrational fear of locations that appear to have no easy escape. Because of this fear they may have the tendency to avoid leaving their homes. Based on what we’ve heard, a more accurate assessment of this man may be mysophobia, an irrational fear of germs and contamination.
June:
But Trinkett said he was an agoraphobe.
Eldin:
There are no experts on this subject in our immediate vicinity.
Verge:
Sounds like airlock shock.
Eldin:
There are some similarities between mysophobia and airlock shock.
Verge:
Sometimes if you’re on a long haul, you spend a lot of time with recycled air and sealed airlocks. If you spend enough time in the black you can get attached to the idea that you’re in control of your entire environment. Then, the next time you need to dock somewhere, you hesitate. You don’t want to leave the safety of your perfectly manicured air supply. You begin to fear what’s out there.
June:
Wow. Did that ever happen to you?
Verge:
Once. I was in some pretty deep trouble so I had to make my way into some uncharted territory. I was in a sealed environment for how long?
Eldin:
Approximately two Earth years.
June:
It took you two years to get where you were going?
Verge:
Two years. No stops along the way.
June:
Jesus. How big was the ship?
Verge:
It was very, very small... I remember reaching out to depressurize the docking port for the first time. My hand shook. It took me a while to get up the courage to leave. I’m sure space travel seems pretty romantic to you, June, but it’s definitely not a place to make your home.
June:
How long have you made it your home?
Verge:
... My whole life.
Trinkett:
Fucking hell, Cameron.
Frank:
Has he blacked out the windows?
Trinkett:
He’s blacked out the windows.
Frank:
Well, what do we do? Should we just knock?
Trinkett:
What else can we do?
Trinkett steps up to the front door and begins knocking.
Trinkett:
Cameron?... Cameron, it’s Trinkett... Cameron are you there?
Eldin:
Something’s not right.
Frank:
Trinkett, stop knocking.
Verge:
What’s wrong?
Trinkett:
Cameron, I had to break through your gate I’m pretty upset right now.
Frank:
Stop knocking.
Trinkett:
What?
Eldin:
There’s a high particulate count in the air. Organic. It looks like... spores.
Frank:
The windows aren’t blacked out.
Trinkett:
What do you mean?
Frank:
Look...
Trinkett:
... What is that?
Frank:
It looks like fungus, Trinkett. It’s completely covering all the windows.
Trinkett:
How do you know?
Frank:
Look at the door jamb.
June:
...Are those mushrooms?
Eldin:
I highly suggest your friends step back from the windows and doors.
Verge:
Let’s move back, people.
Trinkett:
What?
Verge:
Ever had a lung full of spores? Move back.
June:
Spores?
The mushrooms around the door begin to hiss as they emit a cloud of spores.
June:
Oh shit!
Frank:
Back back back back back!
They all step away from the house.
June:
Did cameron’s house just try to kill us?
Frank:
Every single window is black and there’s a lot of them.
June:
The entire house is full of mushrooms?
Trinkett:
What happened?
Frank:
I thought his house was hermetically sealed from the outside world?
Trinkett:
It is.
June:
Well he should fire his contractor.
Trinkett:
If he’s still in there he’s...
Frank:
Trinkett.
Verge:
If he’s still in there he’s been dead for a while... sorry. If this place is really full of that much active fungal spores... no way he lives.
Frank:
...
Trinkett:
...
Verge:
Sorry, I thought I should cut to the chase.
Trinkett:
I need to get in there.
Frank:
Absolutely not.
Trinkett:
I’m going in there.
Frank:
Trinkett, listen to what Verge just said. There’s a very high chance of there being a dead body in there.
Trinkett:
I’m not afraid of that. I’ll put a mask on.
Frank:
That’s not enough.
Trinkett:
It has to be.
Frank:
No, Trinkett, I’ve been through this when I used to work demolition, okay? It’s not just a mask you need. For mold spores it needs to be a full-face gas mask AND with something called a P100 filter. Nobody in town has those.
Trinkett:
Why not?
Frank:
Because it’s a town of 600 people, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
He could be alive in there, too, Frank. We’re forgetting that part, he could be alive in there and he needs help. We need to get in there right now.
Frank:
Even if it kills us?
June:
(To Verge.) Excuse me, Spaceperson?
Verge:
Yes.
June:
I think we need you to go put your spacesuit on.
Verge:
My spacesuit?
June:
I’m assuming your spacesuit would protect you from mold so, yeah. It’s an emergency. Spacesuit on. Let’s go.
Verge:
I don’t have a spacesuit.
June:
What are you talking about, you have a spaceship but no spacesuit?
Verge:
It’s not that kind of spaceship.
June:
What the hell kind of spaceship doesn’t require a spacesuit?
Eldin:
Verge’s ship is a converted racing sloop. It has no airlock therefore no spacesuit is required.
June:
Well... I’m very disappointed in your spaceship.
Eldin:
We do have a set of two hazard masks.
June:
What are those?
Eldin:
Masks that are meant to adapt to hostile environs should you touch down on a planet with a less than favorable atmosphere.
June:
That works, right? Are they anti-mushroom?
Eldin:
Most definitely.
June:
Now we’re cooking. Nice work, Eldin.
Eldin:
I live for your approval.
June:
Guys, I’m crushing it today. I’ve got good idea number two. Frank, take us back to The Horizon.
Later. We hear a case pop open and decompress.
Verge:
Okay, here they are.
Trinkett:
This looks really complicated, you just travel around with these?
Verge:
Lot of hostile environments out there.
Frank:
Are you sure you want to do this, Tinkett?
Trinkett:
I’m sure. How do you put it on?
Verge:
I’ll show you, are you ready?
Trinkett:
Yes.
Verge:
You don’t look like you’re ready.
Trinkett:
I am. I’m... it’s going to cover my whole face and I’m a little claustrophobic.
Verge:
Doesn’t sound like there’s any time for that now.
Trinkett:
You’re right. Go ahead.
Verge:
Okay, I’m going to put this over your head like so...
Verge puts the mask on Trinkett.
Verge:
This part goes in your ear so I can talk to you. Since I know how these work I’ll wear the other one and go in with you.
June:
You don’t have to do that Verge.
Verge:
We might need to make adjustments while we’re in there, also, I’m a little curious what the hell’s going on past that door.
Verge puts their mask on.
Verge:
Can you hear me?
Trinkett:
I can hear you. This is very disorienting.
Verge:
You’ll get use to it.
Trinkett:
Just give me a moment, okay?
Verge:
Sure. Focus on breathing... Eldin, are you connected to my camera?
Eldin:
I am.
Verge:
You two take Eldin. His screen will show you everything I’m seeing, okay?
June:
Okay, Eldin, I promise not to drop you. Also, do you break if a drop you?
Eldin:
Please give me to Frank.
June:
Good call.
Trinkett:
Okay, I think I’m going to be alright. Let’s go.
Verge:
Alright. I’ll go through first. Stay close.
Trinkett:
Okay.
Verge:
Knock knock.
Verge kicks the door open. They slowly walk inside. The entire house seems to react to their ENTRANCE. It makes sounds like an oozing and teeming environment.
Verge:
Well, this is something.
Frank:
(In earpiece.) Jesus Christ, the whole place is covered in mushrooms.
June:
(In earpiece.) That is so fucking creepy. Trinkett, how’re you doing, it looks pretty weird in there?
Trinkett:
(To herself.) Goddess my shield, my encircler, each day, each night, each dark, each light. Goddess my shield, my encircler, each day, each night, each dark, each light.
Verge:
What’s that?
Trinkett:
Just asking for some protection.
Verge:
Not a bad idea.
Intercom:
Good beautiful, Cameron. Morning The today be a day. air quality clear is mostly should.
Verge:
Any hope for this operating system, Eldin?
Eldin:
No. It’s completely scrambled.
Verge:
It’s like a farm in here. How many different kinds of mushrooms am I looking at?
Eldin:
I’ve counted sixty-seven varieties at this point. Some of them...
Verge:
What?
Eldin:
Some of them not native to this planet.
Verge:
What?
Eldin:
In this main room alone are clusters of Aboobalooth, Jambles, and the very rare Green Mountain Hermit with Asure Blue Eggs. These are all fungal strains from planets in Triangulum.
Verge:
The plot thickens.
Eldin:
Indeed.
Frank:
(In earpiece.) This doesn’t make any sense. Fungus needs decay to live. There’s nothing in his house that decays, what is the fungus feeding on?
Eldin:
The Cro-Magnon is right. None of this makes sense biologically.
Trinkett:
I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Verge:
Neither can I.
Trinkett:
I don’t... I know mushrooms. When it’s the season I’m harvesting at least once a week... I’ve never seen half of these. I don’t understand... Cameron?... Cameron, can you hear me?...
Verge:
Look, if he’s somehow alive he definitely can’t call out for help.
June:
(In earpiece.) Hey Trinkett, do you know if he had one of those... shit, what do you call them? When rich people are scared of poor people?
Frank:
(In earpiece.) A safe room?
June:
A safe room. Trinkett, did he have a safe room? Maybe he’s hiding in there?
Trinkett:
No, he didn’t... I need to check the bedroom.
Verge:
Ok.
Trinkett:
I can’t.
Verge:
Why?
Trinkett:
... The bedroom is this way... it’s completely blocked.
Verge:
You’re telling me this wall is a hallway?
Trinkett:
Yes.
Verge:
It’s a wall of mushrooms now.
Trinkett:
I need to get through there.
June:
Wait, what’s happening?
Verge:
The hallway is completely blocked by a fungus wall.
June:
Gross.
Frank:
That’s a bad idea, Trinkett.
Verge:
Stand back, okay?
Trinkett:
What are you going to do?
Verge:
Eldin, what’s a good setting?
Eldin:
.06 power on a scatter setting.
Verge:
Okay.
Verge takes out their plasma gun and makes adjustments.
Trinkett:
What is that?
Verge:
Do you want to go through that hallway?
Trinkett:
Yes.
Verge:
Then don’t worry about it.
June:
Are you going to laser beam the mushrooms?
Verge:
Plasma.
June:
Are you going to plasma beam the mushrooms?
Verge:
I’m just going to give them a little shove. Here we go.
Verge fires the plasma gun at the wall of mushrooms. It’s a low cascade rather than a violent blast. We hear the mushrooms begin to recoil.
June:
It looks like it’s working.
Verge discontinues the beam.
Verge:
Okay, looks like you’re good to go.
Trinkett:
Thank you.
Verge:
At the end of the hall?
Trinkett:
Yes...
Verge:
... Do you want me to come with you?
Trinkett:
No... No I should go alone.
Verge:
Okay. Shout if you need me.
Trinkett takes a long walk down the hallway.
Trinkett:
Goddess my shield, my encircler, each day, each night, each dark, each light. Goddess my shield, my encircler, each day, each night, each dark, each light...
Frank:
... Trinkett?
Trinkett:
... I found him... He’s gone... It’s like... It’s like the infestation started with him and then moved out to the rest of the house... He’s completely covered by them.
Frank:
... Shit... Okay... I’m very sorry Trinkett.
June:
I am too, but Trinkett, you really need to get out of there now okay? This doesn’t feel right.
Trinkett:
... There’s something I need to do.
Frank:
Okay... okay make it fast, Trinkett...
Trinkett:
... I’m so sorry, Cameron... I shouldn’t have left... I abandoned you... I hope you can forgive me...
She takes a deep breath.
Trinkett:
Goddess of death, I stand here as your priestess knowing that life must be winnowedto thrive. This is a holy act I perform...
We move back to Verge.
Verge:
Eldin... am I seeing what I think I’m seeing?
Eldin:
You are... That is the Space Foot.
June:
What is that?
Verge:
How is this here?
Eldin:
I have no idea how any of this is here, but this little bit of fungus especially. Scientists have been trying to cultivate Space Foot for a generation.
Verge:
And here it sits.
Eldin:
What the fuck is going on in this town?
Verge:
I’m supposed to ask you questions, remember?
Eldin:
Damn... Verge one of the seals in your mask is losing integrity. I can’t guarantee a seal anymore, you’d better head back outside.
Verge:
Shit. Okay.
Verge heads back outside.
Verge:
Trinkett, I’ve got a bad seal I have have to head back out, are you okay?
Verge emerges from the house and strips off their mask.
Frank:
Are you alright?
Verge:
DAMN that was creepy. Everything squished.
Frank:
Where’s Trinkett?
June:
Trinkett? You need to come out now, Trinkett. No spelunking in the fungus cave without a buddy.
Frank:
... Trinkett?
June:
... Trinkett?...
Frank:
Oh God.
June:
Damn it, I knew we should’ve tied a rope to her.
Frank:
Trinkett? Trinkett, Verge’s mask isn’t working anymore, we can’t come and get you, you’ve got to get out of there...
June:
Oh shit... oh shit... C’mon, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
... I can’t find the door...
June:
Shit.
Trinkett:
I don’t know where I am.
Frank:
Fuck. We’ve got to get her out of there.
Verge:
My mask’s no good anymore, she needs to figure it out for herself.
Trinkett:
I think... I think the walls keep changing...
Frank:
Trinkett, just keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other.
Trinkett:
I can’t see the door.
Eldin:
She’s becoming hypoxic. She’s having a panic attack, she needs to leave right now.
June:
Try to breathe, Trinkett. You’re having a panic attack.
Trinkett:
I can’t... I can’t breathe...
Frank:
Oh, fuck this-
June:
Frank! Whoa!
Frank opens the front door and walks inside. We move to Trinkett. She tries to catch her breath.
Trinkett:
... Cameron, I’m so sorry...
We hear footsteps approach. Frank hauls Trinkett to her feet.
Frank:
Hey there, Trinkett. Can I get you some Black Tourmaline.
Trinkett:
Frank...
Frank:
Let’s go.
They make their way to the front door.
Trinkett:
You can’t be here-
Frank:
I know, which means if you don’t move it, it’s going to be all your fault when I die, c’mon, keep moving.
They burst out the front door.
June:
Frank, what the fuck!
Frank:
Get the mask off her.
Verge:
Hold still.
Verge gets the mask off of Trinkett. Trinkett drops to the ground and tries to catch her breath. June starts repeatedly hitting Frank.
June:
You... stupid...
Frank:
Ow!
June:
Fucking... asshole!
Frank:
Stop hitting me!
June:
You just sucked in more mold than a truffle pig, you dick!
Verge:
Eldin can you give Frank the once over?
Eldin:
Hold still, Captain America, I need to sonogram your lungs.
June:
You’re a fucking asshole and I hate you.
Frank:
What was I supposed to do, sit here while she turned into a toadstool?
Eldin:
I think... I think you’re going to be fine, Frank.
Frank:
Okay. See? Everything’s fine.
June:
Everything’s not fine, you yutz!
Frank:
Trinkett, are you okay?
Trinkett:
... Thank you, Frank...
Frank:
No problem.
Verge:
Well... I don’t know about you three but Auntie Verge needs a little drink. How about we pack up here and go raise a glass to the mushroom guy?
Later. We can hear the sounds of drinking and laughing inside the Sheep’s Eye. The door opens.
Verge:
Hey.
Trinkett:
Hey.
Verge:
... That was a very nice service you performed in there.
Trinkett:
Thanks... I wish I could’ve done more...
Verge:
I’m sure we all do...
Trinkett:
... I was in the high desert with five other practitioners once... One of us was going through a very scary time and we decided we would try and invoke a spirit for courage... The Great Horned God is what we call him... Not that horned god, a different one, okay?
Verge:
Okay.
Trinkett:
We sat around a fire as the sun set. After an hour... I swear to you we saw him... He was standing in the fire. I could see the flames curling around his legs... it was transformative... We were all really deeply changed by that moment... And I remember thinking to myself that that would be it for me. That will be the strangest thing I ever experience. Some curved flames in a campfire... After today... After today I... I think today broke me. I don’t know how to bring meaning to what I do anymore, I can’t explain what just happened... It broke me.
Verge:
... There’s a saying where I come from... “May you be blessed by the world breaking you. May you survive the blessing and break the world.”
Trinkett:
... I get a very strange energy off of you.
Verge:
Thank you... Here.
Trinkett:
What is... You took one of the mushrooms?
Verge:
I did.
Trinkett:
...I don’t know what this is.
Verge:
It’s got a stupid name. It’s called the Space Foot.
Trinkett:
Why?
Verge:
Because it looks like a little foot and because it can survive in the void of space... Space Foot.
Trinkett:
Why did you take this?
Verge:
Because it’s important. If you can figure out how to process it, that little fungus can obliterate any disease it comes into contact with. It’s one of the rarest things in existence.
Trinkett:
How do you know that?
Verge:
Because I used to smuggle them... I thought it might help you to know that your friends body isn’t lying in a tomb right now... It’s laying in a fucking pharmacy.
Trinkett:
... Who are you?
Verge:
You realize you’re not ready to ask me that question yet, right?
Trinkett:
... Yes... Yes I do... It’s a beautiful little thing, isn’t it?
Verge:
Yes.
Trinkett:
... Tell everyone I said thank you.
Verge:
I will.
Trinkett:
... It’s nice to meet you, Verge.
Verge:
You too, Witchy-poo.
Trinkett:
Goodnight.
A few days later. The day begins again, Trinkett walks to the middle of the room, lights incense and sits.
Trinkett:
As the Earth holds me. As the Sky sees me. As the Sun rises within me. I step out to greet the Day.
There is a knock on her door again.
Trinkett:
Come in.
Flat Doug:
Hey there.
Trinkett:
Hey Doug. Come in... How are you doing?
Flat Doug:
Uh... I actually came in to see how you were doing.
Trinkett:
Oh... That’s kind of you.
Flat Doug:
I’m so sorry about Cameron.
Trinkett:
Thank you.
Flat Doug:
I didn’t really know him.
Trinkett:
... I guess I didn’t either.
Flat Doug:
...
Trinkett:
...
Flat Doug:
Did he have any family?
Trinkett:
No, it was just him.
Flat Doug:
... The whole place had really been taken over by mushrooms?
Trinkett:
... Yes... How have you been feeling about that? I imagine it’s a little worrying for you.
Flat Doug:
It’s funny I...
Trinkett:
What?
Flat Doug:
It effected you.
Trinkett:
It really did, yes.
Flat Doug:
... Is it weird that that helped me?
Trinkett:
How do you mean?
Flat Doug:
... I’ve been hit by two snow plows, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
Yes, I know, Doug.
Flat Doug:
I live in a small town at the top of a very big mountain to avoid things like that happening and it happened to me twice.
Trinkett:
It did.
Flat Doug:
So there’s no getting away from it. That’s what I said to myself. It’s all inescapable so I better just worry about everything all the time.
Trinkett:
And you did.
Flat Doug:
And I did. All the time. So there I would sit, either worrying about the things I did or worrying about the things that could happen, never on the present moment, like you always tell me to do, and it sucks real bad, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
I know.
Flat Doug:
And I watch people walk around all day and they’re fine. They don’t think about everything all the time like I do, their minds are free and clear and... it’s just today for them... I really hate them for that sometimes... Why can’t I be like that? Why can’t it just be today for me... And then I saw you at Cameron’s wake and I saw you were upset and... I don’t know... you helped me by being upset... just by being human... And I just thought that maybe, with you being here and us always coming to you with problems, maybe you feel like you always have to be... better. Above it all... and maybe that’s a little exhausting.
Trinkett:
... It really is sometimes.
Flat Doug:
There’s a lot going on right now, Trinkett. It’s okay to be freaked out like the rest of us... in fact maybe we’d appreciate it. Maybe it would help us.
Trinkett:
Thank you do saying that.
Flat Doug:
I need to open the store. You should come by the Sheep’s Eye sometime. We’d all love to see you. Even Frank.
Trinkett:
Ok... I’ll think about it.
Flat Doug:
Alright. Have good day, Trinkett.
Trinkett:
You too, Doug.
The door closes. Trinkett takes a deep breath.
The end.