Lab Journal Entry #43

[matril]

"Handiwork"

Int., same motel room. TORI in bed, WALTON standing uncomfortably nearby.

TORI
Tell me.

WALTON
It’s nothing.

TORI
No it’s not! You said you’d ‘tell me later.’ In my last video. (Coughs violently) What did you mean?

WALTON
My shift is starting soon.

TORI
Not for another half hour, right?

WALTON
I – I don’t want to distress you.

TORI
Don’t you dare try to protect me from this. I’ve brought it on myself. Tell me.

WALTON
(Sighs, braces self) I saw the creature.

TORI
(Clutches blankets) What? Where? Are you sure?

WALTON
Very sure. I was just leaving the pharmacy when I saw something moving, like in the corner of my eye. I looked around and saw a figure crouching in a dark alley.

TORI shudders

WALTON
(Glances at her nervously before continuing) I didn’t want to get too close, but I saw enough. It’s – it’s somehow even bigger in person. Terrifying. It straightened up and looked right at me. Recognized me. I’m sure of it.

TORI
(Not surprised) It’s still watching my videos.

WALTON
So it knows exactly where you are. Then – why hasn’t it come after you?

TORI
That’s not what it wants. Not a quick ending. That would put an end to my suffering. And we can’t have that, can we?

WALTON
Tori...

TORI
Don’t worry. I’m not about to resort to suicide. I promise. (WALTON is unconvinced, but TORI continues) So what did it do after that?

WALTON
(Swallows) Climbed the back wall. I’ve never seen anything move so fast. It was actually – graceful, in a weird sort of way.

TORI (Mouth twisting) Admiring my handiwork, are you?

WALTON
Well – I know it was a mistake – but it’s still an extraordinary accomplishment. (Pause) What sort of mechanism did you –

TORI
No! (Struggles to sit up) After everything you’ve seen, everything I’ve told you, how could you possibly expect me to tell you the "mechanism" that destroyed so many of my loved ones and continues to plague what remains of my life? (Violent cough)

WALTON
(Moving hastily to give her water) I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I won’t ask again.

TORI
(Gradually composing herself) Good. Thank you.

WALTON
So...now what?

TORI
I don’t know. (Pause) I try to get better. And then the chase will begin again.