invisibilitea | IC CONTACT

Yes.

[Oh thank god]

This horrible priest exorcised me.

But you're not a...demon. That's what's done for demons, isn't it? Can't say I know much about the whole thing, religiously, but I did see The Exorcist -

[Orrr not the time.]

But - I mean - Are you all right?

[Quiet]

It was horrible, George.

It was really bad.

Oh.

[His face falls, and he reaches out and wraps his arm around her shoulders.]

I'm...I'm here. If you want to talk about it. If you can.

[She leans against him, quiet]

Mitchell came and got me.

Yeah. He - he said.

[And then George winces - ]

Sorry, I actually did know a...a bit about it already. He told me a little bit.

What did he tell you?

Only that much. That you were in...purgatory, and that he helped get you out. Didn't say anything about the kissing, though. Just like him, holding back the nicer parts, isn't it.

[But he says it gently, and gives Annie a little squeeze on the shoulder, and rocks her very slightly - a comforting gesture.]

And he said you were back, out of there. So that's what matters.

Yes, except we're in space, and I bet you haven't even said hello to anyone, and you probably hate it here already.

[She's just pointing out facts.]

Well, that's not true. I've said hullo to you, and I've said hullo to Mitchell, and I absolutely hate it here but I've got the two of you and no Herrick and all I need is Nina showing up and I'll be absolutely set. Give me a bit of vomit to mop up and it'll be just like back in Bristol. Just we'll be seeing the sun a bit more often.

[Another little squeeze, though also - ]

Right, and also there's a paralyzing infinity of nothingness ready to crush us, right outside this metal tube. But aside from that.

Have you met Am-er, I mean, have you met Josh?

[American George indeed.]

[A look of annoyance crosses his face. Muttered:]

Unfortunately, yes.

He says his friend Sally is like an American version of me.

[There's a slight sullen jealousy]

Only she turns into a zombie.

What - lurching about? Moaning for brains?

[He lifts up his free arm and sort of twitches from side to side in an imitation of a proper Dawn of the Dead sort of zombie.]

Well, let's thank our lucky stars that's not about to happen to you.

Her hair probably isn't as good as mine, either.

[JUST A SUPPOSITION.]

And you're loads better than Josh.

[And that's a statement that doesn't matter to him -

No, right, no, that's exactly what he wants to hear. He drops his arm and gives her a big smile.]

Also with better hair, I think.

[Goofily, he smooths it back.]

And Mitchell's better than his vampire friend, too, no doubt about that. Besides which, they're all Americans, so they're all automatically ruder and louder and more prone to starting wars in third-world countries.

Oh! Yes. Yes, you're right.

It's all rather eerie, though, isn't it?

[PAUSE]

No. No, we're not going there.

[He looks over - ]

What, to how it's bloody eerie that there are American stealing our lives? As if our lives are ones someone would want to steal.

[Stern Annie!]

Yes we're not talking about that.

Well, why not? Because it is bloody eerie.

That's why!

Something being eerie doesn't mean we can't talk about it! [Half to himself:] And good thing, too, otherwise we'd have nothing to say at all.

Plenty of things happen to you that aren't eerie!

[She is quiet because she is thinking....thinking....thinking....]

Oh! Like when the patients throw up on you!

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