They want you to look away.
They shouldn’t know about this place.
They want to be able to talk alone.
They should’ve known better.
Find codes. Find what they said.
There’s nothing right here.
{The audience’s gaze has been shifted to the green room— though it may not last long.}[It seems like we can talk alone.]TENNA:
Oh thank Toby, they’re looking away from us. I didn’t know if that’d work—JEVIL:
Thank Toby
Jevil is still nervous. The audience isn't there anymoreTENNA:
It’s a relief to be sure—
So.
What do we talk about now? What do we do now that there aren’t eyes staring?JEVIL:
I… I don't know… I just didn't want to be watched.
I just want to be alone with youTENNA:
It is nice, to finally just be able to be alone.
Well.
Not alone.
I don’t like being alone. But it’s nice to be here with you— unjudged.JEVIL:
I don't like being watched. I don't like having every part of my being analyzed.
I like being with you.
I just wish I was not being watched all the time…ANT:
I wish I could control when I’m watched. What’s off air and what’s broadcasted for the world to see—
I’ll be seen regardless of whether the show is running or not.
…
We can’t stop it.
All we can do is try to ignore it.
I wish I could do more for you.
I’d do anything.JEVIL:
I try my best to ignore them. I am not good at it.
I do things so they will stop watching. I don't do things for them.
I don't get why they keep coming back.
I don't get why they like our tragedy so much.TENNA:
We’re just entertainment to them— from what I know.JEVIL:
I am not good entertainment.
How far can you see? How many people do you see when they are there?TENNA:
It’s— difficult.
I could always see to some extent. I think everyone being watched can sort of see.
I was more closely involved with the family I was a part of in the light world, so I saw a bit more.
An incident happened in the studio.
I went to someone’s apartment— room? I don’t know the correct term.
I found a weird piece of glass.
I only looked into it for a few moments—JEVIL:
Only a few? Please tell me you didn't look into it for too long.TENNA:
I didn’t.
Kind of.
I saw the light world I’d seen before. It wasn’t new, but now I noticed it more.
I started to see something else beyond the light world.
Numbers.
And then I saw something else. A light world beyond the light world— maybe? I don’t know.
I threw the piece of glass away.JEVIL:
... That's good… it never showed me the outside. That's where the audience is. I can't affect that. The outside. I know that there are people that think they can, but they can't.
That glass holds lies. It tries to lie to you. Give you what you want.
It hurts.
It was something I was given a long time ago. I gave it to the heros when they beat me.
I don't regret giving it away.
But can you hear them?
The audience outside?ANT:
I could always hear them somewhat.
When you’re made to be watched and nothing else, you can’t help but watch back sometimes.
It made me notice them more.
I wish I didn’t notice them.JEVIL:
They like to talk. They don't always talk about us. Sometimes I hear names and see things I am not supposed to know. The man gave me knowledge, but the crystal let me see it. And then it told me how to be free.
And it lied.
I heard Jasper’s name some time ago… and I knew I wasn't supposed to use it. I don't know why I did.
…
…
… do you hear what they say about us? I listen in sometimes. I can't help it… bad for each other. We make them feel bad. They can't stop watching.ANT:
Well they can fucking deal with it.
…
HAHA! Oh golly, it’s nice to be able to swear away from where you’ll be judged.
Fuckfuckfuckfuck— okay I’m getting off topic.
Well uhm—
If they want to watch, they can deal with that cognitohazard consequence.
They can only watch.
..
Do you think they’d help us out if they could?JEVIL:
... I hear that they want to… some of them at least.
They aren't allowed to help… someone is stopping them.
Our puppeteers.
They aren't allowed to help, but they are allowed to watch. And so they watch…
…
And it feels good to be alone. With you that is…
I forgot that I enjoyed being alone. I got used to being watched constantly.
I don't like being watched.ANT:
I like being watched. I always have.
But for some reason, I feel alone when I know it’s them who watch me.
I don’t like feeling alone.
Being with you helps.
I’m sorry I wasn’t good enough to keep distracting us from the watchers.JEVIL:
It’s fine…I don't really know how to distract myself for them. They just chatter. I think it's the chattering that is the worst.
I don't hear them right now.
Thank you for that. You are already doing so much for me.
I don't know how else to say that.
I'm sorry that I can't be what you need.ANT:
I’m sorry I can’t be what you need either.
I’m sick and I don’t know how to get better.
I can replace every part and rewire every circuit in my head and I’m still an incorrect me.
I want to fix it. I can’t.
I’m sorry that I hurt you.
I’m sorry I couldn’t keep myself in check.
I’m sorry that I let this all get to me.
I did my best
I’m still doing my best
I
…don’t know.JEVIL:
Ant… . I was mad wrong. I have been wrong. I cannot fix anything inside me. I cannot take a hammer and knock everything back into place.
I was made wrong and broken and I have been wrong and broken for a long, long time, Ant.
I'm sorry that we can't be broken together.
I'm sorry we can't fix each other.
I'm sorry that I can't be right.
I'm sorry that I struggle to talk to you about things that affect me… .ANT:
Is there a particular way you like comfort?JEVIL:
... I don't know… I was never comforted… I didn't deserve it.ANT:
BULLSHIT!
…’scuse me—
You deserve comfort now and you did before too.
I know you’re not the best person. Or the most successful.
You still deserve comfort.
You still deserve peace of mind.
You still deserve love— not just mine, but in all forms from all sorts of people.JEVIL:
… if you say so…
I don't know… when I am comforted, I feel awful.
I don't think I deserve it. Other people need it more than me. I am just a jester. A jester that cannot do his job.
I am used to being alone and not needing it…
I do not get it.
I do not get being comforted.
I just don't understand it…ANT:
Well I think you deserve that, so it’s gonna be your problem now, pal!
Now, how to comfort—
Hm—
Oh! I can give options!
Do you want to talk about issues more? If so, do you want advice or just support? Or would you rather a distraction— we could talk about whatever! Or physical comfort like hugs and— uhm— actually maybe not the best idea because of the uhm—
The—
…
That— incident.
…
…
…
…SO! What would you like?JEVIL:
he is quiet for a moment
… I don't know… I just want to be near you… I don't want to tell you everything. I do not wish to bore you with a sob story…
I already did that once before with someone else and I still feel bad about it…
…
i… if you say no… hugs… that is fine… but I like being close to you, Ant…ANT:
I’ll—
…
I can do that, if you’re actually comfortable being close to me like that after—
…
I’ll do what you need.JEVIL:
.... You mean want… I don't need it ant…
… but I wouldn't be near you if I didn't love you.
I wouldn't have let you sit next to me while I slept if I wasn't comfortable with you.
Ant, I know you didn't mean it. And it scared me. And I’m not going to lie and say I wasn't scared I was going to die…
But I'm fine now… you didn't mean it. If you did I wouldn't be here.
I've had people treat me worse than you, Ant.
I'm not throwing this relationship away because you made a mistakeANT:
Well it was a pretty fucking enormous mistake, so I wouldn’t blame you if you did—
I hope you eventually get away from me. I don’t want to hurt you but I can’t say it won’t happen again.
…
For now let’s just—
Let’s try to have a nice time.
We can save the suffering for the audience, and make them suffer with us for being nosy.
Let’s try to—
I want to have a nice moment with you.
I wish nice moments were more common.JEVIL:
Then hug me… and kiss me.. I love you, Tenna. I want more nice moments together..
And we both know what I've done terrible things. I think what I have done outweighs what you have done… the only difference is that I didn't do… anything like… what I did to that dice or spider to you…
But please. At least hold me.[Tenna sits down in the snow beside where Jevil stands.][He waits to be told what to do before moving any more.]Jevil hops into his lap and pulls him into a hug.JEVIL:
Please just hold me, Ant…just one more nice moment… we will have more later… I just want one now…[Ant carefully holds Jevil in a hug. He’s hesitant and scared. But goddamnit, he needed this too.]Jevil holds him tighter. He needed this… he needed this so much…JEVIL:
I love you, Ant… I love you so much… please don't leaveANT:
I love you too. And I’ll be here until I’m thrown away.
…
How does it feel uhm— being held? I’m curious.JEVIL:
... It feels nice… you're very big, so it's like I'm being swallowed whole… it's nice… I like it…
… and I'm not throwing you away. I need you. And you're not getting rid of me…ANT:
I’ll do the best I can.
…
I wish I could be held, sometimes. A lot, actually! It seems pretty groovy but— it’s not exactly an easy feat to hold me, I know.
It’d sure be nice if I could actually shrink on command instead of having to be depressed for it.JEVIL:
I'm sure we could figure out some way for me to hold you… other than making you depressed…
…
Can I kiss you?ANT:
…gee whizz! Go ahead!Jevil pulls away from the hug, and presses a kiss onto tenna's lips[Ant laughs like an idiot, all giggly and flustered. Despite everything, his reaction is still the same as the very first time.]Jevil can't help but laugh too. It always feels great. Sometimes electrifying. Something pure… it makes it better that they aren't on stage. He knows it's real. He knows Tenna means the silly little smile on his faceJevil kisses him again and again and againANT:
ehehehe— gee whizz— you’re really trying to get a rise out of me, arentcha?[Tenna returns a few more kisses, still giggling after each one]JEVIL:
If getting a rise out if you means I get to kiss you more, then I am, am!Jevil giggles at Tenna's reactions. He loves him. He loves him so much. He keeps kissing him lovinglyANT:
Gee whizz, I’ve missed this a lot-![Tenna kisses Jevil again, and nuzzles him a bit. He’s shrunken somewhat.]JEVIL:
I have too, too… I forget how much I love being right next to you until I'm there again..
… if we could stay like this forever I would always be happy..
I'm happy that we met antANT:
I don’t know how much longer this will last—
But I’m happy we can be alone for at least a little bit.
I’m happy that we met too. I just wish that things didn’t get so bad there.
Maybe in another world there are no observers, or at least less.
Wouldn’t that be great? If only—
…
I love you, Jevil.JEVIL:
I love you too, Ant… and maybe in another universe we would be happy and have a house and not have to deal with observers…
… we should probably be getting back now… shouldn't we..?
Maybe we can be happy… maybe our ending will be happyANT:
I hope so.
Let’s try to make the most of whatever time we have left.[he kisses Jevil again. There is a flower at the end of Tenna’s nose.]ANT:
Anything else we can talk about before we’re observed by hundreds again?Jevil melts into Tenna's arms. He sighsJEVIL:
I don't think so… I just wished we wouldn't be observed at all…
And so it goes…{REDACTED.}{REDACTED.}{REDACTED.}{REDACTED.}{REDACTED.}JEVIL:
Thank you Tenna… we should probably go back inside now… shouldn't we?TENNA:
…We should.[Tenna moves Jevil off of him and stands up. He’s shrunken down a lot.]Jevil dusts off his clothes and lets Tenna guide him back insideJEVIL:
Do we say we made up? That we aren't interesting right now? I think that's the best course of actionTENNA:
Well— we don’t want to potentially alert them to the plan.
I say we don’t acknowledge the audience directly, and pretend to still be a bit on edge— not too much though, don’t want to oversell it. That’ll look suspicious.JEVIL:
... Ok… I can do that. I can act, Ant.
We, we didn't talk about a thing, thing. We're still stressed. The walk didn't help at all.TENNA:
That’s the plan!JEVIL:
Ok… let's go then…{The focus breaks and the camera shifts. the audience will see the two in the snow.}
I’m still there where you found me.I’ve put on a show.I’m still putting on a show.I’ll keep putting on a show.You know I love to be seen.But you gluttonous watchers still hunger for more than I can give.Haven’t you had your fun already?Will nothing be enough?Will it be a satisfying conclusion when he’s sitting at the bottom of a lake, and I’m reduced to unidentifiable scrap?I don’t know what you want from me.I’ve done my best for you before.I’m doing my best for him now.I want to have an actual life.You’re insatiable.You’re in the way.Stop. Snooping.
JEVIL:
I don't think so… I just wished we wouldn't be observed at all…
And so it goes…ANT:
…I have an idea. But I don’t think there’s much time left, so we need to discuss, quick.JEVIL:
What are you thinking of?ANT:
Your “death predicted by the stars” or whatever you were calling it— the audience knows about it.
So what if we played along?
We find a way to make it seem like— it was right, and I get you out of there last minute.
Then we wait a bit and— boom! Everyone thinks you’re dead, and you lose those eyes on you!
And after enough time has passed— we can meet more often?
I can’t get eyes off me. That’s the nature of what I am, something to be watched. But maybe we can get them to stop looking at you for the most part.JEVIL:
That… that sounds like a plan… but we will have to wait a bit… but when my “death” happens, I'll happily wait for you on the sidelines
… I love you…ANT:
I love you too.
We’ll get those watchers away from you, I guarantee it!JEVIL:
Thank you Tenna… we should probably go back inside now… shouldn't we?