Day Four: Part I
Warning: Swearing, mentions of suicide and attempted suicide, self harm, murder, character death
Erika: With the lights out, it's less dangerous! Here we are now, entertain us!
Talkroom
Erika: When I was standing on that stage, I remember thinking "why am I doing this?" And then I remembered what I thought about this morning... About how I'm not good at anything. That's when it struck me...
Jonas: I feel stupid and contagious!
Erika: Here we are now, entertain us.
Talkroom
Erika: My strength is my strong will to protect my friends and others around me. I don't want anyone to be bullied or emotionally or physically abused, because I know exactly how all these things feel. And I would never wish that upon anyone... Not Aileen, not Jonas, not anyone.
Justin: A mulatto...
Erika: An albino!
Jonas: A mosquito...
Erika: My libido! Hey!
Erika: Everyone started cheering and I felt my blood rush through my veins... It was incredible. Scary, but still incredible. I'm not used to singing in public, but I was willing to do it in order to defend someone against bullying. And... I actually feel proud of myself.
Jonas: Thank you! *hugs* I owe you one, Melanie.
Erika: Um... Just stay away from alcohol and call me Erika. *laughs nervously*
Audience: Kiss her! Kiss her! Kiss her!
Jonas: *grabs microphone* How about... No!
Audience: *sigh*
...
...
Boss: Any thoughts yet on who might want to kill our contestants?
Lily: I have a few, actually...
Lily: Have you noticed how we are never able to catch the "killer" on camera?
Boss: Yes.
Lily: Therefore, by logic, it must be one of our guys. Who else would be able to turn off all the cameras who would reveal their identity? So we should definitely have a talk with the cameramen...
Boss: Or it might be one of the contestants themselves, bribing them.
Lily: I looked into that and I'm willing to bet on Jonas. It makes sense - he tried to kill himself in order to gain publicity and then to avoid anyone getting suspicious of him, he hit Aileen in the head with a shovel. Not hard enough to do that much damage though, which also makes sense since he likes her. Also, he has enough money to bribe the entire team.
Boss: Didn't you mention something about Jack's criminal history?
Lily: Yeah, but we can probably scratch that. The court decided that he was not guilty and when I looked at the case myself he really seemed innocent.
Boss: Just figure it out, so Aileen doesn't get hurt again... Or any of the others, for that matter.
Lily: "Any of the others", huh? Did you even bother to learn their names?
Boss: Freckles, Goldilocks, Jack, and... Something.
Lily: Now you are just messing with me. I know your memory is flawless!
Boss: It hasn't been lately, since I met Aileen... And the others of course.
Lily: You have a crush on her, don't you?
Boss: I have no idea what you are talking about.
Lily: Sure... Just try to get to know the others too, okay?
Steven: Britta, my love!
Britta: Hi, Steven. Was it fun to kiss other girls on the dance floor?
Steven: I don't know. Was it fun when you did it?
Britta: *twitch* I have no idea what you are talking about.
Talkroom
Erika: Watching them made me so angry that I could barely control myself. When that happened to Jonas, I could save him just by stepping in... And in this case I knew that even if I wanted to, nothing I ever did would make a difference. I could see myself, standing there, just nodding and agreeing to everything out of fear...
Steven: You are the most beautiful girl in the world, do you know that?
Britta: Thank you, Steven.
Talkroom
Erika: Looking back now, I wish I would have hit him in the face... Maybe it would have helped anyway, somehow.
Savannah: Are you checking him out?
Erika: What are you doing here, Savannah? And no, I'm not.
Savannah: I wouldn't try to get into his pants if I were you, it looks like he has got a girlfriend...
Erika: Yes, unfortunately.
Savannah: So you were checking him out?
Erika: No, Savannah. I'm not checking anyone out, I don't want to get into anyone's pants or whatever - especially not his!
Savannah: No one here is good enough for you?
Erika: No... I just don't want to have sex. Not until I'm in a serious relationship, or married.
Savannah: Oh, I didn't think you were religious.
Erika: I'm not religious! Why does everyone keep assuming that?
Savannah: Why else would anyone avoid sex?
Erika: Because I want to experience it with someone who won't ditch me the next day! I don't want to do it while feeling insecure or awkward like others do, I want it to be with someone I feel safe with.
Savannah: That is a good reason actually... So you are like that popular teen-popstar guy? Romeo-something?
Erika: If you mean Diego Romeo, then yes. And I happen to be a big fan.
Savannah: Why?
Erika: He makes good music, he fights for equality between the sexes and he is a big supporter of the LBTQ community. Also, he donates money to cancer research. What's not to like?
Savannah: So that's the secret to impress girls? I always thought it was playing sports, getting muscles, being a cool heartbreaker...
Erika: Hah. Yes, we were taught to like those kind of boys. I did once, too, in ninth grade. I'm so embarrased by it now.
Savannah: When I was in ninth grade I was teased for playing computer games and playing chess... And now that I think about it, I still am.
Erika: I was far from that.
Erika: My best friend was a seventh grader called Tiffany. She was young, but she was still the most feared girl in school. A big bully. Most of the time I stayed out of it, but it was not always possible...
Savannah: The typical queen bee? Like in an American high school movie?
Erika: Yes, she was exactly like that. She refused to tell anyone her secrets and used all the information she could get against people. Towards the end, it got a little bit too scary...
Savannah: The end?
Erika: I don't know what happened to her. She just left one day.
Erika: Savannah... Do you sometimes do things that you are embarrased by?
Savannah: All the time! My most recent one was when I had a presentation in class and I followed that advice I read on the internet... You know, "imagine that the audience is naked and everything will work fine?" Well, the issue was that everyone saw that I imagined them naked, if you know what I mean...
Erika: That was not what I meant... But thank you for sharing. It was a fun story.
Savannah: Not fun for me. Everyone laughed and started talking about Little Savannah... As if the gay-jokes regarding my feminine name was not enough.
Erika: But seriously. Nothing happened to you in ninth grade apart from all the computer gaming and chess-playing?
Savannah: No, nothing important at all.
Erika: Lucky you. I got into a lot of trouble in ninth grade. I don't want to go back to that, ever.
Savannah: Neither do I. But at least you were cute!
Erika: You don't know that.
Savannah: Well, anything at all would be better than what I looked like in ninth grade...
Erika: Really? Why?
Savannah: Sometimes... I thought I was James Bond.
Erika: What?
Savannah: Uh, I mean, I acted like James Bond. I walked around in formal wear with a fake gun and introduced myself as "Lichtenstein. Savannah Lichtenstein". And I went to bars to order martinis shaken instead of stirred... Sometimes they would check my ID and I would get in trouble.
Erika: Savannah.... That's...
Erika: *sigh* I act on impulses. A lot.
Savannah: Yeah, I do too. In fact, once I-...
Erika: *kisses Savannah*
...
...
Erika: You are adorable.
Savannah: T-thank you...
Erika: Was that all right for you?
Savannah: More than all right!
Erika: Good... Is it okay if I might not want to go further than that?
Savannah: Y-yes! Of course!
...
...
Anna: Am I really in the right house?
...
Jack: Hey, Erika... What you did on the stage was really brave. It was a great thing to do!
Erika: Thank you, Jack. I'm sure you would do the same.
Jack: I was thinking about doing it actually...
Jonas: ... But Erika did it first.
Kim: We know that Jonas, we all saw it on stage, remember?
Erika: Uh, yeah. Thank you all for the good comments, guys.
Jack: How are you feeling?
Kim. A little bit tired... Are you sure this is alcohol-free?
Jack: Ask Jonas about that, he's the expert.
Jonas: Oh shit...
Rudhira: I thought the red drinks were alcohol-free.
Jonas: So did I. And I drank these, fuck... Let's just hope nobody else did...
Savannah: Do you remember when we met for the first time?
Erika: Of course I remember, Savannah. When I woke up the next morning I thought I had been dreaming...
Erika: And I remember thinking "what a cute dork he is".
Savannah: Dork? I was in my Evil Savannah form! That should be far from dorky.
Erika: Savannah, your Evil Savannah form is the epitome of dorkiness.
*phone vibrates*
Savannah: *picks it up* Oh no!
Erika: What's wrong?
Savannah: It's Denmark! They... They won the Eurovision Song Contest!
Erika: I knew it since the first time I heard it.
Jonas: DENMARK?! How the hell did they win? It was such a Loreen-copy!
Rudhira: I liked Denmark's song. Definitely worthy of winning Eurovision.
Jack: Um, what's Eurovision?
Jonas: He... He doesn't know?
Savannah: How... How can you NOT know?
Rudhira: Americans...
Jack: Um... So it's something Europeans do?
Rudhira: It's a song contest between a lot of countries, mostly European ones.
Kim: Including Sweden, my country. It's all because of youuuu...
Erika: No way! I'm also Swedish!
Jonas: Jag och Aileen är också svenskar...
Savannah: I'm from Switzerland, but my grandmother was Swedish so my family taught me it. Kul att träffa andra som kan svenska!
Erika: Utmärkt.
Rudhira: I'm from Israel, so I can't speak Swedish unfortunately. Although I can speak Hebrew and Hindi!
Savannah: Oh, Israel had that beautiful Eurovision song... What was it called again:
Jonas: Rak bishvilo, I believe.
Jonas: How did Greece do?
Savannah: Sixth place. Azerbaijan ended up in second place.
Jonas: Hold me, just unfold me...
Erika: Azerbaijan had that guy in the glass box, right?
Savannah: Yes, and also the woman with the long red dress.
Rudhira: They ended up in second place? I didn't expect that...
...
Jack: *dials a number on his phone*
Jack: Hi Carol, did I wake you up? ... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just really missed you...
Jack: And I want you to know that- ... Oh my God. Carol, I think I just found a gun...
...
Boss: Do you like this suit then?
Lily: It looks perfect, darling. But before you go, we have to discuss something else about the contestants...
Boss: What about them?
Lily: Aileen and Erika are in deep trouble right now. You have to punish them for fighting. Maybe have a small competition between them where the loser leaves forever?
Boss: First of all, Erika hit Aileen first. And secondly, while I do agree they need punishment, I think that's a little bit too extreme.
Lily: Why? The less, the merrier.
Boss: ... It's the more, the merrier.
Lily: Whatever, just make sure it's exciting for the viewers. And point out to Jonas that it's illegal to show yourself naked to others here in Appleway Annex without permission from everyone in the room.
Boss: What do you mean?
Lily: Kim never agreed to him taking off his clothes. She can call the cops and send him to prison for three years if she wants.
Boss: The laws in this place are-
Lily: Beautiful, aren't they?
Boss: What should we do? Should we try to convince Kim to avoid calling the cops?
Lily: Are you kidding me? We can't do that, that would be to excuse a crime. Jonas needs to be punished too. If anything, Kim should see this as an opportunity.
Boss: Opportunity?
Lily: Or rather, an advantage. Now she can blackmail him!
Boss: Why does that make you so happy?
Lily: Isn't it obvious, Boss? If reality show and drama have sex, viewers are born.
Boss: That's an odd way to put it.
Lily: *ignores* Did Aileen tell the police about the person who hit her in the head?
Boss: Yes, they are still investigating it, but no traces of DNA have been found yet.
Lily: No matter what happens, the show must continue as usual. Try to make them cooperate and get to know each other. It will make things a lot more interesting when we find out who is trying to kill them.
Boss: I don't know. Is it really okay to use their feelings like that?
Lily: It's their own fault for signing up.
Boss: Humans are gullible, that's why you have to help them make their decisions. And I don't really think we should punish them either... We should try to understand them and teach them.
Lily: They are not babies, they are grown ups. When Erika hit Aileen in the face, she knew exactly what she was doing - and so did Aileen when she hit her back. And Jonas didn't just take his clothes off accidentally. They will be punished for bad behavior, but we can't bother with babysitting them and teach them how to behave.
Boss: Yeah, I guess you are right. But what kind of punishment? I don't want it to end with someone getting kicked out just quite yet, the viewers are still getting to know them. And Aileen is still in the hospital so it can't happen anytime soon.
Lily: We will see about that. Go see Dr Zimmer meanwhile and ask about your appointment. You can't miss it twice.
...
...
Jack: Savannah, I need your help.
Savannah: My help? *turns around*
Savannah: Can't you ask Jonas or any of the girls? Wouldn't it be weird if I helped you?
Jack: I think it would be easier to speak to you... And why would it be weird?
Savannah: Never mind. Show me what you need help with.
Erika: I'm exhausted guys. I think I will go shower and then sleep.
Kim: I'll go with you.
Rudhira: Great, just you and me left then. Do you want an espresso?
Jonas: Sure.
Jonas: Uh... Thank you, for the espresso... Can I get you anything, Rebecka?
Rudhira: Two things actually. You can start calling me by my real name, Rudhira. *smile*
...
Savannah: I can't find anything here, Jack. Just the gun... And a lot of books about physics, chemistry, biology, math...
Jack: Strange, Aileen doesn't seem like someone who would enjoy reading. Especially not about Science. And carrying a gun...
Savannah: If you suspect her of somehow being involved in that murder attempt you told me about, it's possible. The chemistry books probably mention a lot of dangerous fluids that can be used for poisoning. And... Did she mention why she joined the competition?
Jack: She said something about getting rich.
Savannah: Perhaps she was actually interested in the university here in Appleway Annex. Apparently it is very secret and since no one comes here except for the invited... It would be a great way to get an invite.
Jack: So you think Aileen might be trying to kill us in order to get into an university?
Savannah: Oh, Jack. It's not just an university. This town is full of scientists, doctors, philosophers and supernatural creatures. It's almost like what everyone thinks Area 51 or Division 47 might be. This university is only for the best and the perfect. And once you get into it - you never leave Appleway Annex.
Jack: How do you know all this?
Savannah: Have you ever tried actually reading the books in the bookshelf? It is almost as if they WANT us to find out.
Jack: All right... Thank you, Savannah. I think I have to sleep on this.
Savannah: Me too. Good night, Jack.
Jonas: Okay Rudhira, what do you want me to get?
Rudhira: Nothing, I lied so these two could walk away. The only thing I want is a few answers, if you don't mind?
Jonas: ...
Rudhira: Who died?
Jonas: *flinch* How did you know?
Rudhira: You barely even speak to the others. Unless it's about Eurovision.
Jonas: Oh, you meant that... Yeah, one of them tried to kill me.
Rudhira: Explain.
Jonas: I was drinking alcohol like usually, then I started to feel dizzy and passed out. When I woke up, the doctors told me that someone put poison in my bottle. They had to replace some of my organs and whatever with robot parts, that's why I look like this now.
Rudhira: Great. And this is the competition which promised to have the best security a reality show has ever had.
Jonas: Someone tried to kill Aileen too. She is in the hospital now, resting...
Rudhira: Do you get along with her then?
Jonas: Yes... Until I ruined everything yesterday.
Rudhira: Ruined everything? It can't really get worse than attempted murder, can it?
Jonas: Maybe not, but enough to make me look like a liar. Which I am, I can't deny that.
Jonas: I told you...
Aileen: Yeah. It looks totally weird. However, I'm willing to look past it...
Jonas: Are you sure?
Aileen: I would never stop being your friend even if you are a creepy cyborg. In fact...
Jonas: *listens*
Aileen: Despite this weird thing... I still think we both can benefit from each other...
*kiss*
...
Jonas: You make me feel much better than my girlfriend does...
Aileen: Wait... What did you just say?!
Jonas: Oh...
Aileen: You have a GIRLFRIEND?!
Jonas: Yeah. I do. I'm the one they meant when they said two participants had a partner...
Aileen: And you didn't think this was a big deal? What the fuck?
Jonas: I'm sorry, Aileen.
Aileen: Is this how you view women...? You know what, I don't want to know. I'm not going to be your dirty little secret. Get out of here.
Jonas: *silently nods*
Rudhira: Why didn't you tell her?
Jonas: Everything is different... I'm used to just running away... Travel to the next country... I can't do that here.
Rudhira: Did you run away from your girlfriend?
Jonas: No, but the environment here... It's so different. I feel like my life outside was just a dream...
Jonas: If we weren't here, I never would have told you - or anyone - about this. And why did you ask about me...?
Rudhira: I paint portraits of people, so I tend to think about faces and facial expressions a lot... You always look sad.
Jonas: You don't need to be an artist to tell that.
Rudhira: Alas, that is not the only thing you can tell from your face.
Jonas: Oh really? Can you see my financial status too? *laughs*
Rudhira: No. But I can see guilt. I don't know what you feel guilty about, but as soon as Boss sees it, she will think you tried to kill yourself.
Jonas: Oh, I've already tried that, so she wouldn't be that wrong.
Rudhira: She will also think that you tried to kill Aileen.
Jonas: Whatever, psychic girl. Thank you for the espresso.
Rudhira: I may be young, but I'm very perceptive. Believe me, you already look guilty.
Jonas: Seventeen is not young.
Rudhira: I'm thirteen.
Jonas: They are right though. I am guilty. I should have known.
Rudhira: What are you saying?
Jonas: If I wasn't such a coward, I might have saved a life.
Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend...
Somewhere along in the bitterness...
And I would have stayed up with you all night...
Had I known how to save a life.
...
Boss: Lily, do you know how late it is? And they go to bed late at night. Can't you wait until tomorrow?
Lily: Justine Simons is dead. They found a piece of hair where Aileen was hit in the head, it's being analyzed as we speak. And I think LittleSister stole our files...
Boss: Wait, what?
Lily: Erika is in danger.
Boss: Can you please just explain the first thing you said? Why is Justine dead?
Lily: They found her today. Hit in the head with a sharp object, probably a shovel, then electrocuted to death. The cops think it's someone who hated her very much - but we know better than that, don't we?
Boss: It's a warning. And the hair?
Lily: They found a strand of hair at the spot where Aileen was hit in the head. It's being examined right now.
Boss: Great. And what is this about stolen files?
Lily: Rose is obviously behind it. You know our files with very personal information about each participant, criminal records, grades, everything? Thankfully I copied the files a couple of months ago, but it appears that one of the copies was stolen in the beginning of the year. And what a coincidence that the man who abused Erika for over a year happens to be one of the LittleSister contestants!
Boss: Lily, do you realise what this means? They know all their secrets and will probably use them against us.
Lily: Which is great, since we made sure that every single contestant has somehow fucked up really badly, or just are fucked up in general.
Boss: Yes and that might damage our reputation, but don't you see what they might do to the contestants? They have already started with Erika. Can you imagine what they will do to more... fragile, contestants? Like Jonas, Jack and Savannah?
Lily: I wouldn't say anyone is more fragile than the other...
Boss: We are doomed.
Lily: Shut up! I will get us out of this mess... Somehow.
Boss: Somehow.
...
Everyone: *dreams*
...
...