《Wonderland: Origin Arc [Script]》4.1 - An Old Friend
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[The train station, at this moment, is empty. There are no people or trains in sight on the platform. The station itself is very cold, coloured with the faintest blues and greys across the brick walls along with a single sign reading “Chesterfield”. The tracks look an unhealthy brown, covered completely in rust. The platform is covered in litter and the two vending machines are almost empty. Rather suddenly, a white train with yellow stripes on it starts to pull into the station. The train seems incredibly underpopulated with only a handful of people visible from the windows. The doors to the train slowly slide open, a man stepping out. Looking 35 years old, bald. His whole outfit is a black buttonless blazer over a striped sweater, mixing with dark and light blue, with a white button shirt poking out of the bottom. His trousers are neat, looking newly ironed, and his slip-on shoes look newly bought. The man carries a briefcase in his left hand. He steps out of the train and moves over to a metal bench, flaking with blue paint. He sighs as he takes a seat and, a few moments later, the train closes it doors before rushing off again. He looks around the area for a moment, seeing it empty. He chuckles.]
Humphrey: I know you’re here somewhere. That trick is hardly going to work on me again.
[To Humphrey’s side, a shimmer of light grows as glass begins to fix into place in the shape of a person. The glass effect slowly fades away into a person, Marshall appearing in its place. He’s wearing a red shirt and jeans, with scruffy beige work boots.]
Marshall: [chuckling] Okay, can you blame me for trying?
Humphrey: No, I suppose not.
[Humphrey turns to Marshall with a smile, quickly turning into a guffaw.]
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Humphrey: [stuttering] S-sorry. Sorry.
Marshall: What? What is it?
Humphrey: Well, I just… didn’t expect to be invited here on casual Friday!
Marshall: Well I can hardly keep wearing my Sunday best like someone I know!
[He playfully punches Humphrey in the arm. Humphrey groans in pain, grabbing his arm.]
Marshall: Sorry… forgot.
Humphrey: It’s fine, really. Hardly an issue, you know that.
Marshall: Yeah, I suppose.
[Marshall gets up from the chair and starts walking in from the platform.]
Marshall: Coming then?
[Humphrey gets up, following Marshall. They enter the actual station and find it to be just as deserted, the shops completely empty and the ticket booths containing a single passed out worker. They head immediately for the way out.]
Marshall: So then! Duncan-
Humphrey: Marshall, please. We hardly need the formalities.
Marshall: Coming from the guy in the suit.
Humphrey: Oh ha ha. Really, call me Humphrey. Or Humph. I don’t mind.
[The two exit the train station and reach the car park, finding a white van parked directly outside.]
Marshall: Okay then, “Humph”, get in the van.
Humphrey: As bossy as ever I see.
[The two share a chuckle as they get in the van. Marshall is quick to start it, beginning the drive away from the station. Humphrey keeps the briefcase down by his feet.]
Humphrey: So then, why did you really call me out here? I know you well enough to know that I’m hardly here to meet the wife and kids.
[Marshall gives a side glance to Humphrey, sighing.]
Marshall: It really is nice to see you, y’know?
Humphrey: I know. You’re like a brother to me. Now tell me what the job is.
[Marshall nods.]
Marshall: Open the glove box, take out the envelope.
[Humphrey opens the glove box and pulls out a brown envelope. He opens it to find pictures inside.]
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Marshall: I need some people being taken care off.
Humphrey: [relieved] Okay then… mind if I ask why?
[He takes all the pictures out, having a total of five. One image is taken from a distance of Leigh and Chelsea having a drink outside a coffee shop. Another shows Liv walking somewhere. The next two are school photos of Sissel and Vince, only taken a year ago. After that is a picture of Gary that appears to have been taken from a security video in a shop.]
Marshall: The Storm. It hit again and they pose a threat to me. To us!
Humphrey: [surprised] Right… I see… do they have powers?
Marshall: All of them were in the Storm, so I would think yes. Although he…
[Marshall leans over and points to the image of Gary.]
Marshall: He doesn’t seem to know his yet.
Humphrey: Perfect for me then.
[Marshall nods.]
Marshall: One last thing, these two.
[He points to the pictures of Sissel and Vincent.]
Marshall: I want you to make sure they don’t get hurt.
Humphrey: [chuckling] Oh really? Since when did you go soft?
Marshall: Look, I made promises to people that they’d stay safe! I’m not breaking them!
Humphrey: Fine, fine… the long haired one, that’s Velma’s boy isn’t it?
Marshall: Yes, actually.
Humphrey: Huh… looks like his father, wouldn’t you think?
[Marshall doesn’t answer, the car stopping at a red light. Humphrey quickly puts the photos back in the envelope and pockets it into the inside of his blazer.]
Humphrey: Okay then, I’ll do it. Anything for an old friend. And your little exceptions will be fine, I promise.
Marshall: Thank you.
[The lights change as Humphrey gets a smile on his face.]
Humphrey: Do you still have it?
[Marshall gets a smug smile on his face.]
Marshall: I couldn’t resist, I bring it everywhere. Check the glove box again.
[Humphrey gets clearly excited, opening the box up again. He gives a happy laugh as he pulls out a mask. It’s smooth, rounded and skin coloured. There are no human features on it, it is completely blank. He is very quick to put the mask on, a perfect fit for his face. He turns to Marshall who looks to him and gives a smile.]
Humphrey: Fits like a glove!
Marshall: Yeah, I know… welcome back “Dumpty”.
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