AD-4 An Absurd Morning

Mr. Dalton! You really got that extra scene for me! And it's a wire stunt to boot?

How did you get Director Quay to agree so easily, when he wouldn't budge when I asked him?

Greta personally recruited me as lead actor. Steven wouldn't dare turn down my requests.

This is my first time in a wire rig... I'll never forget this opportunity you gave me! Okay, I have to go prepare now!

Sure, go on.

Now you're acting all humble? Might've even fooled me, if I didn't already know you were trying to get Steven to mess with my role behind my back.

First time in a wire rig, huh... Good to hear.

Rookies should know their places. Now you'll be a good sport and take it, right? Even if you're left hanging for hours?

Shelly! I just got another scene and I need the wire rig. Can you prepare it for me?

...No.

I know you're passionate about acting. But how many extra scenes is this now? Do you even realize how much you've screwed with the schedule I made for the entire crew?

Do you feel even an ounce of guilt, Princess? I'm not changing the entire schedule again because of you. This crew doesn't revolve around you.

I'm sorry, Shelly. I'm not trying to increase your workload, honest. But Mr. Dalton said the director signed off on it...

Dalton did?

......

Alright then.

Thanks, Shelly!

(He was just telling me how you have no respect for your seniors in the field. No way did he do this out of pure kindness.)

(The wire rig, huh?)

Hello, Laura! You look wonderful today! Not many actors would be so happy to do an aerial stunt!

Well, I've never been so excited! This scene will be the only one in the movie that belongs entirely to me. I want to knock it out of the ballpark!

Well, aren't you just adorable?

Try not to get hurt though. And if you're tired, you can always come find me in my room. I'll be there all night...

Oh, Marion! Have you come to touch up Michael's makeup?

......

I have to go prepare. See you later!

Yeah, see you in hell, bitch!

D-Don't be angry with me, Mari.

I look away for one moment and you're flirting with another woman! Are you tired of me already?

You've been making eyes at her on the set too... If you like younger women that much, how about you let her do your makeup from now on?

Please, babe, I'm serious about you.

I won't talk to her from now on, I swear!

...You swear?

I swear!

......

I'm familiar with your vices by now, but this is an important time for your career. Don't screw it up, and don't let me down.

That Laura girl is a loud-mouthed show-off. I'm sure she's up to something. You can do better.

Keep your distance from her.

No talking to her, and no physical contact. Even if she's dying right in front of you, that's none of your business... got it?

Babe?

Alright, I promise.

It's still not my turn? What's going on?

There's something on Mr. Dalton's end, and everyone on the set's gone over. No one's giving orders now... Look, we've even got that rookie still hanging up there.

Oh, poor thing.

You never struck me as the compassionate type. Trying to get her in bed?

Hey, you know me.

Let me go check on our poor little beauty...

I promised Mari this morning that I wouldn't approach her, but...

We never said anything about her coming to me, right?

All the better for me, yeah?

She'll call for help once she realizes something's not right.

I'll be her hero and have the perfect excuse for a little tête-à-tête, all without breaking my promise to Mari.

I'll let her hang a little longer.

Why aren't you calling for help, Laura? I'm right here, you know!

It's been hours, and the rope's sounding increasingly off... Where did this equipment even come from? How could it be so ancient?

Is that a crack around the belt? She has to have noticed that!

No, I have to tell her, I have to...

Ahem.

...Well, it really is none of my business if she chooses to suffer.

That's your first lesson, Laura.

Never be too serious. Always put yourself first, even if you have to hurt others. That's the most important thing—

You're still not going to call for help?

Aaaahhhhhh—!!

Michael?

What's going on? What were you thinking about?

I came with you to the makeup room for an explanation, not to watch you melt down.

What did Moira mean when she said you wanted to leave the plate?

We have to get out of here, babe!

It's the first time you've left the castle and traveled so far with the troupe, isn't it?

Mhm.

Are you nervous?

...I'm fine, Master.

The others are playing the leads. I'm just a very minor role, watching from the side in most of my scenes...

When the true performance unfolds before your eyes, it is not easy to resist the urge to run.

You've learned another lesson today, child.

(Claps)

A splendid performance.

......

You've finally made a breakthrough after your first performance as the lead.

The tiny black crystal on your neck is almost perfectly hidden. The audience sees only the glamorous star, not the Infected approaching death one step at a time.

Your performance is increasingly mature, and your songs move the passions. There is virtually no stiffness, no pretentiousness.

Are you complimenting me?

Of course.

Are you not going? Or do you want to stay, and take in the aftertaste of the stage?

Aftertaste?

You mean the taste of blood?

Excuse me, Mister, please let me through.

I want to go home.

......

I think the Crimson Troupe can take her in.

Take her in?

She doesn't know that her home is gone. She doesn't know that some of the people before her still have her family's blood on them...

That is what we'd call a fateful encounter, is it not?

As it was with you and the Troupe.

Perhaps you should teach her yourself. Teach her how to blend in, how to embrace a new life... how to walk the path that you have.

The show goes on, even once we've left the stage?

Ah, you remember what I said.

Yes, there is no drama like life. The aesthetics of destiny are never bound by any medium.

...Mister?

......

What do you think, Lucian?

Have you decided? You're in a position to make a choice now, aren't you?

Are you awake?

......

(Lazy yawn)

What's the matter?

The bitterness of obsession... your emotions.

A challenge to the palate?

I wouldn't say that.

But your flashbacks have become increasingly frequent since we came to this plate.

That means we're getting closer to him.

You noticed the strangeness of that coordinator.

As did you.

Unfortunately, she was visited by tragedy before I could extract any more clues.

You used that camera assistant to break the news of the Catastrophe?

It was too much a coincidence for that document to show up when it did, the way it did.

When one's been in enough plays, it's not hard to realize that such an obvious clue is bound to be a trigger.

Dalton's death was only the beginning.

The plot devices have been set, and their developments foreshadowed. The curtain has been raised, and it cannot be lowered again.

And the author will not appear until the story reaches the climax.

...Only then can I kill him.

(Yawn)

Be careful, Lucian.

I know.

What I mean is, be careful of yourself.

As I said, your emotions are filled with the bitterness of obsession... It's a dangerous thing.

......

I apologize, Miss.Christine.

You will not have to endure it for long.

Last night wasn't the first time Michael's come looking for you, was it?

You haven't been in Wrankwood for long, and you're certainly not the type who would have meddled with something so far outside the scope your duties, if he hadn't been pestering you.

......

He came to me the day after Dalton died and I took over the prop team.

He wanted to leave without going through the normal process, and without anyone noticing.

Without, like, telling Miss Stone or going through the contract cancellation and exit procedures?

But he's the lead actor. Someone was bound to find out, and he'd have to pay the contract penalty anyway.

Unless... something here scared him more than paying the penalty.

He said since the prop team had access to all the tools and was familiar with the structure of the plate, he wondered if I could...

If you could think of a way.

Yeah.

I mean, I'm sure you could, but Michael's not done with his scenes yet. If he really got away and Miss Stone found out you helped him... she wouldn't let you off the hook easy.

She could even end your career in Wrankwood!

What would your sister think?

My sister...

Didn't you say the rest of your family was against you coming to Wrankwood, and she's the only one who cheered you on?

You have to make it, and not just to prove your family wrong.

I just don't want to disappoint my sister. I want her to be happy for me.

S-So don't be mad, Tippi...

Please?

I'm just mad that you were hiding stuff from me.

I know you'd never agree to Michael's demands. You just didn't know how to refuse him... I can help with that.

Alright, Tippi. I've never seen you so angry...

......

Sh-Should we watch a movie together?

*Sigh*...

Sure.

...You want to sneak off the plate with me?

Yeah, babe. After we spend some quality time here, we can go and pack up right away.

Even if that prop girl really does find a way for you to circumvent the exit procedures... how do you expect to avoid the penalty for breaching your contract?

Shooting isn't over yet, and you know Greta. She'll make you pay an arm and a leg!

Who cares about some stupid contract when there's a killer on the loose?!

Dalton's dead, Shelly's dead... how long do you think it'll be before you and I are next?

We both watched and did nothing when Laura died five years ago.

Whether the killer is her lover, her dad, or some self-righteous vigilante, he's clearly after everyone who was involved!

He wants us to repent and pay for what we did!

I can take you away from this awful place, babe. We have our whole future ahead of us.

Ha, how romantic of you.

But since when has your love been so deep?

What?

So even when you were winking at Melanie, and flirting with Anna from stage design and Mila from logistics...

You're telling me you were seriously thinking about spending the rest of your life with me?

D-Does that matter right now?

Of course it does—I'm not going, Michael.

And neither are you.

......

You know how hard it was to get you a lead role in one of Greta's films? And not just one, but three at once!

Play this right, and you'll be a bona fide Wrankwood movie star!

There'll be another chance...

Look at me, Michael.

Your costume in The Death of Lady Dupont is even more exquisite and eye-catching than Melanie's, the title character.

Your perfume, what you wore to fashion week—I bought all of that with my own money. Even those fake ears and tail that let you pass as a Vulpo came from me...

Without me, the public will find out that this 'Michael' product suddenly doesn't seem so shiny anymore.

We've been together for five years. I gave up everything for you. I've spent so much of my savings, and I'm not getting any younger... I can't afford to wait for 'another chance'.

I love you, Michael. So don't let me down.

You... love me?

You were glad when Melanie publicly revealed our relationship the day Dalton died, weren't you?

To everyone else, I'm the troublemaking playboy, while you're the poor, suffering girlfriend who gave everything only to get nothing in return but mockery.

How very sympathetic, huh?

And what part of that is a lie?

You said it yourself: you're just investing in a product. Investment costs money.

You'd have invested in Dalton instead, wouldn't you, if he hadn't become a hopeless drunk?

You're just a parasite looking for a host, Marion.

This is stupid... And I'm stupid too.

......

Well, I guess that's it for us. You can stay if you want—I'm outta here.

Oh, and here's a tip: if you're looking for your next investment, try that pretty boy Lucian. He caught the entire crew's attention his first time in front of a camera. He's the real deal.

The moment you walk out of here, I'm reporting you to Greta.

You cold-hearted lunatic. Are you not afraid of the killer?

And why should I be?

Five years ago, I didn't even know why Laura fell to her death until later.

You're the one who watched and did nothing, not me.

You...

—

What are you looking at, Michael?

Ah—

Why would they go down into the power deck?! Sure, there were mannequins all over the surface, but there had to have been a better plan, right Molly?

I agree.

There's nowhere to run from the Wraith in the tight spaces of a nomadic city's underground structure.

In the end, it found them one by one and hung them from the ducts to await a slow death in the endless darkness...

I went to one of the cast's interviews, and they said it was inspired by the rituals of certain Columbian wasteland tribes. Something about atonement and judgment...

Well, how they got there was kinda dumb, but I did like the segment in the power deck.

Why?

Because it was all shot on location!

Rumor has it that they ran out of cash, so they snuck into another film's studio plate and finished the shooting there... Exciting, right?

Wait... but I've seen this movie in theaters. Why don't I remember any of these scenes?

Because we're watching a copy of the original reel that was sent to the ratings agencies!

How did you even get your hands on something like that?

I...

It's, like, a basic skill for a true horror fan!

You're hiding something, Tippi...

You know so much about the industry and all the ins-and-outs of Wrankwood. How does a background painter get so much insider knowledge?

How can you do this to me, Molly?!

I share my super-secret treasure with you, hoping to make you happy, and all I get is an interrogation? *Sob*...

Aw, don't cry, I won't ask anymore, alright?

Let's just focus on the movie... so stop looking away from the screen!

Heh, you noticed.

Sorry, there's just been so much going on with the film crew lately, I'm... I'm a little nervous...

Don't worry, I'm here for you, girl!

You sure are!

Feeling better now?

Yeah!

Okay, listen up, Molly.

No matter who I am, one thing's for sure: I'm your best friend on this crew.

So if there's a killer on the loose, I'll protect you!

And if work's not going well, we can do it together. We'll make our names as Wrankwood's golden horror duo, Tippi the spray-painter and Moira the prop-maker!

And when we're really close, I'll take you to meet my family... Although I don't know if you'll be scared or surprised!

Well...

Then I'll introduce you to my sister too!

We'll share stories of Wrankwood while she peels us apples. She can peel one without breaking the skin in under half a minute! I know you'll love her!

Now there's an offer I can't refuse!

Why is the set so dark?

*Sigh* I should've asked Moira. She's always here early, and she knows where all the switches are.

The prop room isn't that far, is it? Have I been going around in circles? ...Something doesn't seem right.

Huh? Am I hearing things?

Wh-Who's there?!

Is this another one of those stupid pranks you'll laugh at me over drinks after work for?

C-Come out now and I won't hold it against you! Or don't tell me Moira's in on it too? She's just a kid, how could you make her—

Ouch—

H-Help! Somebody! Anybody!