EarzUp | Spooky Stories | vol. 6 | The Halloween Special

[00:01:29] Time for the show that brings the magic right to your speakers. EarzUp, everybody! Spooky Stories show. I don't know why, my name is Old Man Crenshaw. I'm from Gatorsville, North Gator-Otonia. And I'm here to sell you gator feet. What's going on, everyone? Welcome to the show. Why can't I hear you, Taryn?

[00:02:02] I don't know. I can't hear me either. Uh-oh. That's odd. All right, well, I don't know. Let me get it through this intro and we'll figure it out. Eric, you can take your hat off now, Eric. We're all in costume, which is great. It feels good for me. Eric can't see.

[00:02:23] Or here. Or here. He's in a sand person costume and he's like, wave at me when it's time for me to talk and I will take my helmet off. And I was just waving back with his helmet on. There we go.

[00:02:41] It looks like there's only one of him, but, you know, sand people walk in single file to hide their numbers. Eric, hello! What's going on, man? It was me all along.

[00:02:51] Oh, wow! Dang, I didn't even realize that for you. Oh, my. I wore that mask for hours.

[00:03:01] Just waiting for this show. Hell yeah. All right, well, welcome to the show, everybody. And we have a good show for you because, of course, today is Spooky Stories.

[00:03:10] It's the one time a year where we get to indulge our creative writing skills, air quotes, and punish ourselves mentally and physically to get these weird stories out that are, you know, by definition, imperfect.

[00:03:23] Perfect. But, you know, we still have fun anyway. And what are you going to do? But today, not only do I have Taryn, not only do I have Eric, but I have Rob from Bantha Milk and I have RGH from Puny Pod.

[00:03:37] And we are all here. We all have stories for you. I'm excited. Welcome, boys, to the whole point of this whole network is just for us to write stories to each other.

[00:03:48] Once a year. Once a year. One episode a year. Yeah, that's right. Absolutely. So, Rob, what are you dressed up as? You're dressed up as something. I don't really know.

[00:03:58] I have a Mickey Mouse Hawaiian shirt on. Okay. Very John Wasseter-esque. Yeah, don't say that. Nope, that's not what you are.

[00:04:06] Is it you too? Yep, yep, yep.

[00:04:08] Okay. I'm just a fan. I'm a tourist going to Disney World.

[00:04:15] Well, you had the Mandalorian helmet on first. I feel like you're Hawaiian Mandalorian.

[00:04:20] I'm a Mandalorian on vacation. There you go. I'm Mandagorean to vacation.

[00:04:26] There we go. Perfect. Yeah. And RGH, where are you, dude? Come on.

[00:04:31] I'm rocking the Peter B. Parker from Into the Spider-Verse, a.k.a. Peter Parker if he slacked off.

[00:04:42] Okay. And decided to hang out in his bathrobe.

[00:04:45] Oh, so kind of like, what's his name? The guy with the, oh man, this is stupid. The guy with the golden, I keep wanting to say Hulk. It's not Hulk. He has the, he has the, the, the hammer.

[00:04:57] Thor? Thor!

[00:04:58] Bro Thor.

[00:04:59] Yes, that's the best Thor.

[00:05:02] I was just looking to see if my bro Thor was still in the studio with me, but it's not.

[00:05:06] I do have a Funko Pop that usually hangs out in the studio of bro Thor.

[00:05:10] Nice. Jason has a, a, a bro Thor Lego set that comes with like beer and pizza and video games. It's so cute. I love it.

[00:05:19] It's a great one. It's a great one.

[00:05:20] Um, yeah. Okay. Yep. You're absolutely right.

[00:05:24] What?

[00:05:25] Nothing.

[00:05:26] Nevermind. I'm, I'm, I got distracted because I'm, I'm researching about your mic. This is what I do.

[00:05:30] It's fine though. And Terry, what are you dressed as? You're dressed very lovely today. You have this,

[00:05:35] um, I don't know what this blue dress. Um, and you have some, some, uh, communist propaganda on a

[00:05:42] sash or something like that. Or what is this? I am here to encourage people to vote. Everybody go

[00:05:48] and vote. It's in a couple of days. And I am dressed up as a sister suffragette from, uh, Mary Poppins.

[00:05:54] And I'm very proud of this costume. Yeah. It looks great, man. Thank you.

[00:05:58] You're welcome. You get the hat on and everything.

[00:06:01] I voted on Sunday.

[00:06:02] Good job. There you go. All right.

[00:06:04] My son came home from college and he wanted, it was the first time he was able to vote.

[00:06:08] So he wanted to go vote. So we did it on Sunday. We all went down early and got in line early to vote.

[00:06:15] So we've had, I can't change my mind now.

[00:06:19] You know what? I wonder what it would take to, for someone to change their mind now. Like,

[00:06:23] oh man, I voted too early.

[00:06:26] I don't know at this point.

[00:06:27] You, you're locked in, man. Everyone's locked in. Yeah. Well, I'm stoked everybody. Of course.

[00:06:34] Uh, cause anybody guys, what are you dressed as? Yeah. Do you guys know who I am?

[00:06:39] I'm vacation Merlin. Oh, there we go. Blow me to Bermuda. And he like takes off and then he

[00:06:45] comes back to save, uh, the thing. That's just me. Look, here we go. You gotta show the shorts.

[00:06:49] The shorts. I like it. Nice. And if you look, I didn't really recognize this character immediately,

[00:06:56] but if you look up a picture, it is spot on. Oh yeah. Yeah. I got the beard. It's also hot.

[00:07:02] Yeah. And, uh, I don't know how long I'm going to be doing this. So I might, um, change into another

[00:07:07] costume. Okay. Oh my God. You're such a diva. Yeah. But you know what? The cool part about wearing

[00:07:13] this costume. I will say the main reason I wanted to wear it. I have my sunglasses on.

[00:07:18] Oh, that's true. And it feels really cool. You're wearing your sunglasses at night.

[00:07:23] Your sunglasses. Yeah. Oh, all right, everybody. Before we get to the main event here, reading

[00:07:28] the stories and Rob's going to go first because, uh, he's on, he's like four hours behind us

[00:07:34] or ahead of us. And he's like eight years ahead of us. He's like, it's already late.

[00:07:37] I can tell you who won already. It's been so far. He's in France.

[00:07:41] But before we get to that, if you guys want to go to the parks, hit up our friends at

[00:07:44] Concierge. Go to concierge.com. Let them plan your vacation for you. Planning vacations sucks.

[00:07:50] I know some people really enjoy it and they, uh, they sort of really look forward to planning

[00:07:56] their day and going like, Oh, okay, we're going to hit this ride and then we're going

[00:07:59] to go here. Then we're going to do this for lunch. But a lot of, uh, the, the, the fun

[00:08:04] that you can have in a Disney park or anywhere is just kind of at least giving yourself

[00:08:08] a little time to just see where things go. You know what I mean? And if you want to make

[00:08:13] a reservation for dinner or lunch or whatever, cause you're hungry, you're like, ah, you know

[00:08:17] what? We haven't blown too much money on lightning lane passes. We have enough to go to Carthay.

[00:08:23] How do we get a reservation? You call it concierge. You go, Hey, you guys booked us, uh, you know,

[00:08:27] our trip out here. Why don't you go ahead and hook us up with some, uh, some resis and,

[00:08:31] you know, do this and do that. They handle all that stuff for you. Even, even up until when

[00:08:36] you're in the parks, but they will guide you through your trip and, uh, it'll be a blast,

[00:08:40] man. It'll be a hoot. I think I might take this beard off now.

[00:08:43] As I was like preparing it for you. I was like, this is going to be on for about four

[00:08:48] minutes. Cause it is, it is uncomfortable. It's, it's, it's been distracting. I'll tell

[00:08:54] you that. Yeah. I definitely saw that. Oh, there we go. I can do this. Just pull down

[00:08:59] my chin. You're doing the same thing Ryan does. You just keep playing.

[00:09:03] That's right. Yeah. That's right. Well, cause like, I'm trying to like hold it to my face

[00:09:07] because if I could tape it, I even had double sided tape to like, see if I could tape it

[00:09:11] to my dumb skin and I couldn't, but, uh, I, you know, if I could, if I could form it to

[00:09:16] my chin, it wouldn't be so bad. Yeah. Yeah. That's fair. Moving around. Cause like a $20 beard

[00:09:22] at spirit Halloween. Got that itch. Yeah. Well, you can, you still have time to return

[00:09:27] it. You can't return it. Well, I, I trimmed it so I can't return it now. All sales are final.

[00:09:33] So the lady told me, but that, that's why you go, you buy stuff on Amazon. Yes. Cause

[00:09:39] you can just return it. It's fine. Yes. It smells like this guy, not only wore it, but he spilled

[00:09:44] a lot of beer in it. I got the non-alcoholic beard, but I've got shipped the alcoholic beard.

[00:09:53] I don't understand. Strange, strange combination. Yeah, exactly. Oh, all right, Rob, what do you

[00:10:01] think, man? Should we, should we kick you off here, brother? And let's, uh, let's see what you

[00:10:05] got for us. Your first, your first spooky story. My first spooky story. I told the guys earlier that I,

[00:10:12] um, I had Bev help me out with this and I'll explain that afterwards. Wow. I'm, I'm surprised

[00:10:19] she was willing. That's what I said. I'm very curious now. I am so ready for this. Uh, uh, all

[00:10:26] right. So this is called since, uh, since I'm part of Bantamon podcast and, uh, we're talking all

[00:10:32] about star Wars. This is called the darkness beneath Jabba's palace. The twin sons of Tatooine had set

[00:10:40] casting long eerie shadows across the endless sands, but deep within the bowels of Jabba, the hut's

[00:10:46] palace, the oppressive heat of the day gave way to a different kind of suffocation. The air was thick

[00:10:52] with the stench of decay and the whispers of horrors long buried beneath stone and slime. Jabba's palace

[00:10:59] was infamous for its debauchery. It's cruelty, but few knew the truth about the palace. Few knew what

[00:11:05] lurked beneath. Among the many who served Jabba, a young Twi'lek dancer named Nyla had learned to avoid

[00:11:11] the lower levels. The dimly lit corridors and chambers were filled with discarded slaves,

[00:11:17] forgotten prisoners, and the rancor's pit, which was said to be the most terrifying, but there were

[00:11:22] whispers of something worse, something that made even the rancor seem mercifully by comparison.

[00:11:28] One night after Jabba had passed out in a drunken stupor, Nyla found herself wandering too close to

[00:11:34] the forbidden lower chambers. She was lured by a soft sound, a strange hum that seemed to call to her.

[00:11:41] Glowing, growing louder the closer she got. Her bare feet padded softly on the stone floor as the

[00:11:48] corridors twisted and turned, leading her deeper into the palace's labyrinth catacombs.

[00:11:53] She came to a massive door, one she had never seen before, reinforced with thick,

[00:11:58] rusted metal. Something was scratching at the other side, faint but insistent. Curiosity gnawed at her as

[00:12:05] much as fear. She hesitated, her hand hovering over the old corroded panel that controlled the door's

[00:12:11] mechanism. The hum in her ears was louder now, a rhythmic pulse that seemed to resonate with her

[00:12:17] heartbeat. Again, her better judgment, against her better judgment, Nyla tapped the panel. The door

[00:12:24] slid open with a grinding hiss, revealing a yawning darkness beyond. A foul stench rolled out,

[00:12:29] something ancient and malevolent. The dim lit from the corridor barely penetrating the gloom,

[00:12:34] but she could see movement. A writhing mass of something. A cold, wet tendril whipped out and

[00:12:41] wrapped around her ankle before she could react. Nyla screamed and pulled back, but the thing was

[00:12:46] strong. She was yanked forward, the floor scraping her skin raw. Panic surged through her as more

[00:12:51] tendrils emerged from the darkness, wrapping around her limbs, pulling her in. Suddenly, a voice,

[00:12:57] soft but insidious, slithered into her mind. Feed me, it whispered. I have been starved for centuries.

[00:13:05] Her terror multiplied tenfold as the darkness seemed to pulse with life. Shapes moving within it,

[00:13:11] shadowy figures, twisted and wrathing. Their faces hollowed in eyes glowing with a faint green light,

[00:13:16] the victim of Jabba's wrath. Their souls trapped and devoured by whatever unspeakable entity lurked in

[00:13:21] this forbidden chamber. This was no Rancor pit. This was something older, darker,

[00:13:26] an ancient creature hidden beneath Jabba's palace, feeding on those who wandered too far.

[00:13:32] Nyla remembered hearing tales, myths of creatures that have once ruled entire systems before the Jedi

[00:13:38] purged them, dark things that fed on fear and suffering. She tried to scream, but the voice in

[00:13:45] her mind silenced her. Your suffering will be exquisite. Before her mind could fully comprehend

[00:13:51] her fate, a blinding light filled the chamber. The creature shrieked in pain, the tendrils recoiling.

[00:13:57] Nyla fell to the ground. Gasping through her haze of terror, she saw an outline of a cloaked figure,

[00:14:02] tall, imposing. A lightsaber hummed with a brilliant blue glow, cutting through the darkness. The figure

[00:14:08] moved with deadly precision, slicing through the tendrils as they lashed out, shrieking in agony.

[00:14:14] The ancient evil recoiled deeper into the shadows, retreating from the night. Nyla scrambled to her

[00:14:20] feet, her heart pounding. The figure glanced at her, his face hidden beneath the cowl of his cloak.

[00:14:26] For a brief moment, she thought she recognized him. An outcast Jedi, perhaps? But before she could speak,

[00:14:32] he gestured towards the exit. Go. This place is not for the living. She didn't need to be told twice.

[00:14:39] Nyla ran, her legs trembling beneath her as she stumbled through the corridors. Away from the

[00:14:44] darkness. Away from the horrors beneath Jabba's palace. She never looked back. Nyla's heart was

[00:14:49] still pounding as she raced through the twisted corridors of Jabba's palace. The flickering lights

[00:14:54] barely cut through the darkness, casting long shadows that seemed to reach for her as she ran.

[00:14:59] Every corner she turned felt like it would reveal more of the nightmare she had just escaped. Dark

[00:15:04] tendrils, ancient whispers, and the horrifying sense that something was still watching her.

[00:15:09] Still, hunting her. She had to get out, now. It wasn't just the creature beneath the palace that

[00:15:14] made her desperate to escape. Nyla had been trapped in this hell for too long. Every day in Jabba's

[00:15:20] service had been another layer of torment, forced to dance for his amusement, parade like a prize

[00:15:25] before his grotesque guests, and always at the mercy of his whims. She had seen others, Tuileks,

[00:15:31] humans, and countless others, taken away in the dead of night, only to vanish without a trace.

[00:15:36] The rancor was supposed to be the worst of it, but now she knew better. There were things beneath

[00:15:42] Jabba's palace far worse than any beast. Her breath came in short, frantic gasps as she reached one side

[00:15:48] of halls that led to the main chamber. The sound of music, raucous laughter, and drunken rivalry

[00:15:55] drifted towards her, a stark contrast to the silent, cold terror of the lower chambers. It felt surreal,

[00:16:02] as if the horrors she'd just faced belonged to a different world. As she approached the main

[00:16:07] chamber, Nyla slowed, trying to control her panic. She couldn't just run out into the open,

[00:16:14] not yet. The giant hut still lay sprawled across his dais. Snoring heavily, his grotesque form glistening

[00:16:22] with slime, his guests had started to dwindle. Many of them either passed out or too intoxicated to

[00:16:29] notice anything. Her eyes darted to the massive iron gates at the far end of the room. Beyond them,

[00:16:34] past the main courtyard, was the desert. Freedom. But it wouldn't be that easy. She crouched behind a

[00:16:40] pillar, her body trembling, trying to formulate a plan. She'd need to avoid the guards, slip past

[00:16:48] the surveillance droids, and make it through the gates without raising an alarm. If Jabba realized she

[00:16:52] was gone, if any of the other guards noticed her, there would be no mercy. Jabba loved nothing more

[00:16:58] than making examples out of those who tried to flee. She had seen it before. One girl,

[00:17:02] another Twi'leks, had been fed to the Rancor just for thinking about escape. Nyla wasn't going to end

[00:17:07] up like her, not after what she had just seen. But Nyla couldn't stop. She couldn't allow herself

[00:17:12] to be lulled into a false sense of security. She knew Jabba's palace was a fortress.

[00:17:19] Escape was nearly impossible. The guards, both Gamorrean and Weequay, patrolled constantly.

[00:17:24] But tonight, there might be a way. She had overheard some of the palace's underworld

[00:17:28] contacts, speaking of a shipment arriving in the dead of night, a perfect opportunity

[00:17:33] to slip out unnoticed. She crept closer, staying in the shadows, her body pressed tight

[00:17:37] against the cold stone walls. Her breath came in slow, deliberate gas, trying to remain calm.

[00:17:43] Her eyes scanned the room, taking note of the guards' positions. A few Gamorreans stood

[00:17:47] near the gates, their pig-like snouts snuffing, oblivious to anything beyond their immediate boredom.

[00:17:54] Suddenly, a shout erupted from behind her and Nyla froze, her blood running cold. One of

[00:17:59] the drunken guests, a Rodian, had stumbled out of a seat, crashed into a pile of discarded

[00:18:03] cups and plates. The sound echoed through the chamber, drawing attention to the guards

[00:18:08] for a split second. It was now or never. Nyla darted from her hiding spot, moving quickly,

[00:18:14] but silently towards the gates. She could hear her own heartbeat in her ears, drowning on

[00:18:18] everything else. Her feet barely made a sound on the stone floor as she closed the distance

[00:18:23] between herself and the exit. The guards were distracted, grumbling about the disturbance

[00:18:27] caused by the Rodian. The gates were just ahead. They were cracked open slightly, just enough

[00:18:31] for her to slip through if she could get past the guards. But as she approached, she

[00:18:35] spotted one of Jabba's favorite enforcers, a Nikto named Grotto. He was sharp, cruel, and

[00:18:41] far more observant than the others. His beady eyes swept the room, and Nyla could feel his

[00:18:46] gaze creeping closer to her position. She ducked behind a stack of crates, her heart racing

[00:18:51] again. Grotto was moving towards the gates, perhaps to inspect the commotion. If he spotted

[00:18:56] her now, it would be over. Nyla's mind raced. She needed a distraction, something to divert

[00:19:01] her attention. Then she saw it. One of the small cleaning droids scuttled along the floor

[00:19:06] near the crates. Quickly, she grabbed a loose rock from the ground and tossed it across the

[00:19:11] room. It struck the droid with a loud clang, causing it to spin wildly and emit a high-pitched

[00:19:16] squeal. Grotto turned his head sharply, his focus drawn to the droid. He muttered something

[00:19:22] under his breath and stalked towards it. Nyla didn't waste a second. She slipped through

[00:19:27] the narrow gap in the gates and out into the courtyard, her body trembling with adrenaline.

[00:19:32] The cool night air hit her like a wave, but she couldn't stop. Not yet. The desert stretched

[00:19:37] out before her, vast and unwelcoming. But to Nyla, it was freedom. She could see the delivery

[00:19:42] ship in the distance, its engines idling as the crew unloaded their cargo. If she could

[00:19:46] just reach it. A sudden roar erupted from behind her. The unmistakable sound of Jabba's

[00:19:52] enraged bellow. They had noticed her absence. The gates behind her began to grind shut and

[00:19:58] she heard the rapid footsteps of guards. She sprinted across the sand, her legs burning, the

[00:20:03] dune slowing her down with every step. But Nyla didn't care. She wouldn't stop. She

[00:20:08] couldn't stop. The ship roomed closer, the crew oblivious to the chaos behind her. She

[00:20:13] threw herself towards the cargo ramp, her hands gripping the edge just as blaster fires erupted

[00:20:18] from the palace's towers. The shots went wide, but they wouldn't miss forever. A hand reached

[00:20:23] down from the ship, one of the crew members, and hauled her aboard. She collapsed, gasping

[00:20:28] for breath, her body aching from the sprint and the terror. But she was free. As the ship

[00:20:33] lifted off, carrying her away from Jabba's palace and the horrors beneath, Nyla allowed

[00:20:37] herself a single shaky breath of relief. But in the back of her mind, she knew the darkness

[00:20:43] of Jabba's palace. The creature lurking in the shadows would never truly let her go. It

[00:20:48] had tasted her fear, her suffering, and it would be waiting. That's it.

[00:20:54] Wow. Wow.

[00:20:56] Now that I hear you.

[00:20:58] What a...

[00:21:00] Amazing. For your first time, that is impressive. And...

[00:21:04] Yeah.

[00:21:04] I don't want to go anymore.

[00:21:07] You guys can all praise me. I cheated.

[00:21:09] Oh, did you?

[00:21:09] How did you cheat?

[00:21:10] Tell me how you cheated.

[00:21:11] Let's hear it.

[00:21:12] Well, I don't know if you remember, last year, Bev didn't write a story. So on the show,

[00:21:17] she typed in something into chat GPT.

[00:21:20] Oh, you mother...

[00:21:22] Oops.

[00:21:23] Can't say that.

[00:21:24] I know.

[00:21:26] Oh, no.

[00:21:26] I am not nearly that creative. Not at all.

[00:21:28] Really? I would have thought you would be.

[00:21:31] Oh, no. I'm not. If I wrote it, it would be like eight words.

[00:21:36] Jabba was mad.

[00:21:37] You know what? I don't care. I think that was great.

[00:21:40] Yeah.

[00:21:41] Well, thank you.

[00:21:41] That worked really well.

[00:21:42] I did. I mean, I gave chat GPT the prompts. I told it what I wanted it to do.

[00:21:46] Yeah.

[00:21:47] So I helped a little bit. But yes, I cannot take credit for that. That was written during

[00:21:52] the writer's strike on chat GPT.

[00:21:55] But you also performed it really well.

[00:21:58] Yeah.

[00:21:58] Well, thank you.

[00:21:59] If you hadn't told us, I would have never known that it was chat GPT because you read

[00:22:05] it very passionately like you wrote it.

[00:22:09] I read over it many times to make sure that I could read it that passionately because I

[00:22:14] know how well you guys read yours.

[00:22:16] Yeah.

[00:22:16] So I wanted to pretend like I was good at this.

[00:22:19] I don't know that I would have admitted to that.

[00:22:23] That's a secret you go to your grave with.

[00:22:25] Such an honest guy.

[00:22:26] You tell your kids, you know, with your dying breath, like, let them know.

[00:22:31] Let them know.

[00:22:32] Let's chat GPT.

[00:22:35] That's it.

[00:22:36] Yeah.

[00:22:37] That's it.

[00:22:37] Well, that was great, man.

[00:22:38] That's fantastic.

[00:22:39] Thank you.

[00:22:40] Good job.

[00:22:40] Thank you.

[00:22:41] Thank you.

[00:22:42] Who wants to follow that up?

[00:22:43] They were all really, really good last year.

[00:22:45] If I would have wrote my own, I wouldn't have compared to you guys at all.

[00:22:49] So you guys set the bar really high.

[00:22:51] Oh, stop.

[00:22:52] Please.

[00:22:53] Wow.

[00:22:53] See, this is why Rob is my favorite.

[00:22:56] Because, you know, we're.

[00:22:57] He just compliments.

[00:22:57] Yeah, because we're praising him and then he praises me instead.

[00:23:01] And I love that.

[00:23:02] I love that for him.

[00:23:03] I love that for me.

[00:23:04] That is my favorite.

[00:23:05] It's my favorite part about this whole thing.

[00:23:07] I can go if you want.

[00:23:08] I can go next.

[00:23:09] Who want to go next?

[00:23:10] Sure.

[00:23:11] All right, Taryn.

[00:23:12] Let's go.

[00:23:12] Let's get it out of here.

[00:23:13] We're voting for Taryn.

[00:23:14] We are voting for me.

[00:23:16] To go next.

[00:23:17] Yes.

[00:23:18] And my costume has nothing to do with my story.

[00:23:21] That's too bad.

[00:23:22] All right.

[00:23:22] So this is nonfiction then.

[00:23:25] Right.

[00:23:26] My story doesn't have a title.

[00:23:28] We'll call it Tiki Trauma.

[00:23:32] There you go.

[00:23:34] Okay.

[00:23:35] I have to get my water ready.

[00:23:37] Oh, please do.

[00:23:39] Yes.

[00:23:39] Let's drag this out even more.

[00:23:41] It was a sunny afternoon at the Disneyland Resort.

[00:23:44] Six-year-old Lily clutched her father Tom's hand, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.

[00:23:50] Dad, can we go in there?

[00:23:51] She squeaked with anticipation.

[00:23:53] Tom guided his daughter up the short staircase of the...

[00:23:57] Sorry.

[00:23:58] I need to breathe.

[00:24:00] Yeah.

[00:24:00] You okay?

[00:24:00] I'll start over.

[00:24:01] Uh-oh.

[00:24:01] I get nervous.

[00:24:02] I need to remember.

[00:24:03] Don't get nervous.

[00:24:03] I have to remember to breathe.

[00:24:05] Do you want to read it for you?

[00:24:06] Can Rob have ChatGPT read it for you?

[00:24:08] No.

[00:24:08] I got that.

[00:24:10] No, I got it.

[00:24:11] All right.

[00:24:12] But I am going to start over.

[00:24:13] All right.

[00:24:14] I'm nervous about the microphone is what it is.

[00:24:16] I'm nervous about breathing.

[00:24:18] Well, okay.

[00:24:19] So it's my fault.

[00:24:20] See, that's why I like Rob better.

[00:24:21] I'm not saying it's your fault.

[00:24:23] I just...

[00:24:23] I heard a really loud breath and then I went, uh, and I got in my head.

[00:24:27] Okay.

[00:24:27] Okay.

[00:24:28] Well, yeah, I don't know what to tell you about that.

[00:24:30] I'm going to try to not do that, but also not overthink it.

[00:24:34] Yep.

[00:24:35] It was a sunny afternoon at the Disneyland Resort.

[00:24:38] Six-year-old Lily clutched her father Tom's hand, her wide eyes sparkling with excitement.

[00:24:43] Dad, can we go in there?

[00:24:45] She squeaked with anticipation.

[00:24:46] Tom guided his daughter up the short staircase of the enchanted tiki room into the dark,

[00:24:51] cool square building.

[00:24:52] Dad, look!

[00:24:53] The wall has faces!

[00:24:55] Yep.

[00:24:56] That's called a totem pole.

[00:24:58] And it's going to actually sing later.

[00:25:00] Lily's jaw dropped in amazement.

[00:25:02] Oh, Lily?

[00:25:03] Tom said.

[00:25:04] Just wait till you see what happens when the show starts.

[00:25:08] Elsewhere in the room, six-year-old...

[00:25:10] Sorry.

[00:25:11] Elsewhere in the room, 16-year-old twins Emma and Olivia sat down with their grandmother

[00:25:15] and Emma's boyfriend Ryan.

[00:25:17] They come to the park often, but rarely find themselves in the tiki room.

[00:25:20] However, Grandma was feeling hot and needed a 15-minute break in the AC.

[00:25:25] Ryan and Emma giggled while Olivia observed a small commotion going on at the door.

[00:25:29] In the entrance, a 20-something woman with oversized sunglasses,

[00:25:33] a Mickey Mouse crop top and long, thick hair the color of chocolate,

[00:25:37] was speaking loudly into the front-facing camera on her phone.

[00:25:40] Olivia grabbed her sister's arm and mouthed,

[00:25:42] That's Mia at the castle!

[00:25:44] From TikTok!

[00:25:45] She has like 4 million followers!

[00:25:48] Oh my god!

[00:25:49] Mia was speaking loudly into her phone while Ryan scrunched his face.

[00:25:53] God, she is so awful!

[00:25:56] Emma chimed in.

[00:25:57] I mean, she does have some good content, but she is a little cringe.

[00:26:01] I mean, it's giving real pick-me energy.

[00:26:04] Hush!

[00:26:05] Talking about others in Whispers isn't any better, their grandma said,

[00:26:09] resting her cane on the bench next to her.

[00:26:10] The show is about to start.

[00:26:13] The doors close and the lights dim,

[00:26:15] as Leo, a longtime Disneyland cast member, walks to the middle of the room,

[00:26:18] claps his hand and says,

[00:26:19] Jose, time to wake up!

[00:26:21] The bird comes to life, and the show begins.

[00:26:25] Mia, who has decided not to sit,

[00:26:27] and is still speaking loudly over Jose's monologue,

[00:26:30] is asking her live listeners controversial questions like,

[00:26:34] Do you think the tiki room is racist?

[00:26:36] I mean, Jose has a very stereotypical accent!

[00:26:40] Meanwhile, in the corner of the room,

[00:26:42] Rachel, outfitted in plaid, is Mia's VIP Disneyland tour guide.

[00:26:46] She sighs to Leo as she watches Mia bask in her online fame.

[00:26:50] She caught herself in the sigh and smiled quickly.

[00:26:53] She was, after all, a professional.

[00:26:55] But today had been a total nightmare.

[00:26:58] Touring Maria around the park while she bumped into guests

[00:27:00] and dealing with the influencers' constant demands

[00:27:03] and disregard for the park's rules

[00:27:04] has really left Rachel at her wits' end.

[00:27:07] Can we just enjoy one attraction without the phone?

[00:27:11] Rachel murmurs under her breath to no one in particular.

[00:27:15] Leo, aware of the disruption Mia is causing,

[00:27:18] politely asks her to put her phone away.

[00:27:20] She ignores his instructions and instead moves herself

[00:27:23] so that she is standing in the front row to get the perfect shot.

[00:27:27] Even though the room is basically empty,

[00:27:29] Mia chooses to stand right in front of where Lily and Tom

[00:27:32] were trying to really enjoy the show.

[00:27:35] Daddy, I can't see the fountain!

[00:27:37] Lily whines.

[00:27:39] To the right, twin sisters Emma and Olivia watch Mia's antics

[00:27:42] with a mix of admiration and disdain.

[00:27:45] They were fans of her content, but seeing what she does in order to get it

[00:27:49] has put things in a different light.

[00:27:51] God, she's actually really annoying, Emma whispers to Olivia.

[00:27:55] Ryan, who overheard the whispering, said,

[00:27:57] Yes, that's what I've been trying to tell you guys.

[00:28:00] That's why I always troll her posts.

[00:28:01] That's you!

[00:28:03] The two girls shout.

[00:28:04] Grandma darts her eyes at the three teenagers

[00:28:06] and her angry finger-to-the-mouth gesture shuts them up quickly.

[00:28:11] As the show continues and the animatronics sing and dance,

[00:28:15] Mia is completely oblivious to the palpable tension she's causing.

[00:28:18] It was only a matter of time before someone snapped.

[00:28:21] As the thunder clapped and the room went dark,

[00:28:26] the totem poles began their famous war chant.

[00:28:28] Mia leaned back to get a selfie with the totem pole in the background.

[00:28:32] But unaware of her surroundings,

[00:28:33] she stepped on poor Lily's little foot and stumbled backwards.

[00:28:37] She lost grip on her phone and it slid across the room.

[00:28:40] Oh my god!

[00:28:41] Mia exclaimed.

[00:28:42] Watch out!

[00:28:43] She squinted her eyes, peering through the darkness,

[00:28:46] trying to locate her phone.

[00:28:47] Tom, infuriated by Mia's insensitivity,

[00:28:50] pulls Lily in close and brushes off her tears.

[00:28:54] Meanwhile, Mia stomps over to the other side of the room to locate her phone.

[00:28:58] The room is completely dark and only illuminated during the short lightning bursts.

[00:29:02] As the war gods chant loudly,

[00:29:04] Mia gets down on her knees to look under the benches for her phone.

[00:29:08] A few moments later,

[00:29:09] the final lightning strikes,

[00:29:11] the totem poles go quiet,

[00:29:12] the music becomes soft and cheerful again,

[00:29:14] and the lights turn back on.

[00:29:16] Tom and Lily,

[00:29:17] the twins,

[00:29:18] and Ryan all tilt their heads back

[00:29:19] and watch the beautiful feather-clad,

[00:29:21] white bird chandelier drop down from the ceiling.

[00:29:25] Olivia taps her sister.

[00:29:26] You know what?

[00:29:28] I can actually hear the show.

[00:29:30] Where did Mia go?

[00:29:32] Oh, you're right.

[00:29:33] I don't know.

[00:29:33] That's weird.

[00:29:34] As the show ends,

[00:29:36] Tom and Lily make their way toward the exit.

[00:29:38] Lily fumbles a bouncy ball that she'd been playing with

[00:29:40] and it falls to the ground,

[00:29:41] rolling to the other side of the room.

[00:29:43] Lily runs off to grab it

[00:29:44] and seconds later,

[00:29:45] she lets out a high-pitched screeching sound

[00:29:47] that only a six-year-old has the ability to make.

[00:29:50] Startled,

[00:29:51] Tom runs over to Lily,

[00:29:52] whose wide eyes are staring at a body lying on the ground,

[00:29:55] blood squirting in all directions,

[00:29:57] limbs gnarled,

[00:29:58] facing in unnatural ways,

[00:30:00] dark brown hair matted and soaked with oozy, thick blood.

[00:30:04] Mia's misshapen head is turned to the side

[00:30:07] with a shattered phone still gripped in her listless hand.

[00:30:10] Panic erupts in the room.

[00:30:12] Tom screams for help,

[00:30:13] instinctively shielding Lily from the sight.

[00:30:15] Leo crouches beside Mia,

[00:30:16] kneeling in a pool of blood,

[00:30:18] his face turning pale,

[00:30:19] before realizing there's nothing he can do.

[00:30:22] Ryan,

[00:30:22] always a bit curious about the macabre,

[00:30:24] slowly moves so he could see the body himself.

[00:30:27] Someone call 911,

[00:30:28] shouts Tom,

[00:30:30] looking around at the shocked crowd scrambling.

[00:30:32] Leo stands,

[00:30:33] trying to brush off the bloodstains from his knees

[00:30:35] and motions to a catatonic Rachel

[00:30:37] to block the tiki room entrance.

[00:30:38] We should all stay here until the police arrive.

[00:30:41] Grandma picks up her cane

[00:30:42] and begins walking toward the entrance.

[00:30:44] The doll,

[00:30:45] she says to Rachel,

[00:30:46] smiling,

[00:30:46] I'm feeling a bit queasy.

[00:30:48] I need to step outside real quick.

[00:30:51] On the other side of the door

[00:30:52] stand two uniformed police officers.

[00:30:54] Ma'am,

[00:30:55] I'm sorry,

[00:30:55] but we're going to need you to stay inside

[00:30:57] until the detectives arrive.

[00:30:59] As the emergency personnel

[00:31:01] attended to Mia's listless body,

[00:31:03] Detective Harper slips into the tiki room

[00:31:05] through the exit door.

[00:31:07] In her button-up white shirt

[00:31:08] and JCPenney slacks,

[00:31:09] Detective Harper steps to the middle of the room

[00:31:11] and introduces herself.

[00:31:13] Hello.

[00:31:14] I'm Detective Harper.

[00:31:15] Did anyone in here see what happened

[00:31:17] to that young woman over there?

[00:31:19] Harper asks,

[00:31:20] glancing at the cast of characters.

[00:31:22] No one said anything

[00:31:23] or even moved.

[00:31:24] Most still in shock,

[00:31:26] just sat there nervously.

[00:31:27] Okay then.

[00:31:28] Everyone sit tight.

[00:31:29] I'm going to need to speak

[00:31:30] to each of you separately.

[00:31:32] You,

[00:31:33] she pointed to Rachel.

[00:31:34] Can you come over here?

[00:31:35] I'd like to ask you a few questions.

[00:31:38] You were with her most of the day,

[00:31:40] correct?

[00:31:41] Yes,

[00:31:42] Rachel said tentatively.

[00:31:44] Was there anything odd about her behavior?

[00:31:46] Did she upset anyone?

[00:31:49] Rachel let out a quick burst of laugh.

[00:31:51] Sorry,

[00:31:52] she said covering her mouth sheepishly.

[00:31:54] Um,

[00:31:55] well,

[00:31:55] yes,

[00:31:56] I was with her all day

[00:31:57] and

[00:31:58] I think everyone was upset by her.

[00:32:00] She,

[00:32:01] she was recording herself all day.

[00:32:03] Her phone was in front of her face

[00:32:04] the entire time

[00:32:05] and

[00:32:05] she never seemed to even notice

[00:32:07] that there were other people around.

[00:32:08] She bumped into countless children.

[00:32:10] She knocked over a clothing rack

[00:32:12] at the,

[00:32:12] at the Emporium.

[00:32:13] And even in here,

[00:32:14] she was speaking so loudly

[00:32:15] into her phone

[00:32:16] that at times

[00:32:17] you couldn't even hear Jose.

[00:32:19] I,

[00:32:20] I think she probably upset

[00:32:21] a lot of people.

[00:32:23] Okay,

[00:32:23] well,

[00:32:24] thank you for that information.

[00:32:25] How about you next?

[00:32:26] Detective Harper pointed to Emma,

[00:32:28] who is still clutching her sister.

[00:32:30] Hi,

[00:32:31] Emma said nervously.

[00:32:33] Hi,

[00:32:34] what was your experience

[00:32:35] with the girl

[00:32:35] on the ground over there?

[00:32:37] Oh,

[00:32:38] um,

[00:32:38] well,

[00:32:39] I knew her.

[00:32:40] Well,

[00:32:40] no,

[00:32:40] I mean,

[00:32:41] I,

[00:32:41] I didn't know her.

[00:32:42] I,

[00:32:42] I,

[00:32:42] but I,

[00:32:42] but I did know her.

[00:32:44] She was kind of like

[00:32:45] TikTok famous

[00:32:46] and I,

[00:32:47] I like followed her.

[00:32:49] She did these Disneyland videos

[00:32:50] all the time,

[00:32:51] but she was kind of like,

[00:32:52] um,

[00:32:53] I don't know,

[00:32:54] ma'am.

[00:32:55] Emma was interrupted

[00:32:56] by a police officer.

[00:32:57] I think you need to see this.

[00:32:59] Detective Harper

[00:33:00] took a pair of gloves

[00:33:01] out of her pocket

[00:33:02] and took the phone

[00:33:03] that the officer

[00:33:04] was holding out to her.

[00:33:05] It was Mia's phone.

[00:33:06] The screen was cracked

[00:33:07] and smudged with blood,

[00:33:08] but the detective

[00:33:09] was able to clearly

[00:33:09] see the messages on it.

[00:33:11] 1254,

[00:33:12] Ryan in Wonderland.

[00:33:14] I've seen you online,

[00:33:15] but I never thought

[00:33:16] I'd see you in person.

[00:33:17] You're taller

[00:33:18] and more annoying

[00:33:19] than I thought.

[00:33:21] 1255,

[00:33:22] Mia at the castle.

[00:33:23] Ew,

[00:33:23] you were watching me,

[00:33:24] creeper.

[00:33:26] 1256,

[00:33:27] Ryan in Wonderland.

[00:33:28] Look,

[00:33:29] I know you need content

[00:33:30] or whatever,

[00:33:31] but you better

[00:33:32] watch your back.

[00:33:33] People around here

[00:33:33] don't take kindly

[00:33:34] to you interrupting

[00:33:35] the attractions

[00:33:36] all the time.

[00:33:37] 1256,

[00:33:38] Mia at the castle.

[00:33:39] I literally

[00:33:40] couldn't care less

[00:33:41] about this park

[00:33:42] or the people

[00:33:42] who come here.

[00:33:43] I make like $10,000

[00:33:44] a week doing these videos,

[00:33:45] so I really don't care.

[00:33:48] Detective Harper

[00:33:49] looked up from the phone

[00:33:50] and handed it back

[00:33:50] to the officer.

[00:33:51] She took off her gloves

[00:33:52] and walked directly

[00:33:53] to the teenage boy

[00:33:54] who was scrolling

[00:33:54] through his phone.

[00:33:55] Young man,

[00:33:56] I'd like to ask you

[00:33:57] a few questions.

[00:33:58] Ryan looked up

[00:33:59] at the detective

[00:33:59] and smiled.

[00:34:00] Sure.

[00:34:02] I'm gonna cut straight

[00:34:03] to the point.

[00:34:03] We saw some messages

[00:34:04] between you and the victim

[00:34:05] on her phone from today.

[00:34:07] You appeared to

[00:34:08] threaten her.

[00:34:09] What?

[00:34:10] No, I didn't.

[00:34:11] I told her she was tall.

[00:34:14] Detective Harper

[00:34:15] didn't say anything.

[00:34:16] She just stared at Ryan

[00:34:17] patiently waiting for more.

[00:34:19] After a few tense moments,

[00:34:20] Ryan said,

[00:34:22] Okay, well,

[00:34:23] I mean,

[00:34:23] I warned her about being careful

[00:34:25] what she does around here.

[00:34:26] Disneyland fanatics

[00:34:27] aren't really big

[00:34:28] on the whole, like,

[00:34:28] influencer thing,

[00:34:30] especially if it interrupts

[00:34:31] their vacations.

[00:34:32] The police officer waves

[00:34:34] to get Harper's attention.

[00:34:35] Ma'am,

[00:34:36] you're gonna wanna see this.

[00:34:38] Detective Harper

[00:34:39] sighs and walks over

[00:34:40] to a dark corner

[00:34:41] of the tiki room.

[00:34:42] Dangling slightly

[00:34:43] out of a trash can,

[00:34:43] Harper sees what appears

[00:34:44] to be the bloody cuff

[00:34:46] of a jacket.

[00:34:47] She puts on a new pair

[00:34:48] of gloves

[00:34:48] and retrieves the evidence.

[00:34:50] It's an orange zip-up

[00:34:51] hoodie-style jacket

[00:34:51] with a giant goofy

[00:34:53] on the back.

[00:34:53] As Harper examines the jacket,

[00:34:55] she sees splotches

[00:34:55] of red blood

[00:34:56] scattered throughout.

[00:34:57] She holds it up

[00:34:58] to get a better look

[00:34:59] and that's when she sees

[00:35:00] the name Ryan

[00:35:00] clearly written

[00:35:02] on the tag on the jacket.

[00:35:03] She darts her eyes

[00:35:04] to the teenager.

[00:35:05] Ryan Larson,

[00:35:06] I'm placing you

[00:35:07] under arrest

[00:35:07] for the murder

[00:35:08] of Mia Sandoval,

[00:35:09] the detective says

[00:35:10] as she puts

[00:35:10] cold metal cuffs

[00:35:11] on Ryan's wrists.

[00:35:13] Panicked

[00:35:14] and confused,

[00:35:15] Olivia yells,

[00:35:16] It can't be him.

[00:35:19] Everyone turns to Olivia.

[00:35:21] Sitting next to her

[00:35:21] grandmother and sister,

[00:35:23] Grandma puts a hand

[00:35:23] on her leg

[00:35:24] and quietly whispers,

[00:35:25] Let the police

[00:35:26] do their jobs, honey.

[00:35:28] No, Grandma,

[00:35:29] they're wrong.

[00:35:30] Ryan was next to me

[00:35:31] and Emma the entire time.

[00:35:32] He never moved.

[00:35:33] It could not have been him.

[00:35:34] Emma jumped in.

[00:35:36] Yeah, I mean,

[00:35:36] he was even holding my hand.

[00:35:38] I mean,

[00:35:38] until he texted somebody,

[00:35:39] but then as soon as he was done,

[00:35:41] he held my hand again

[00:35:42] and he definitely

[00:35:42] never got up.

[00:35:44] It could not have been him.

[00:35:46] Growing frustrated,

[00:35:48] Detective Harper

[00:35:48] scans the crowd.

[00:35:50] Okay,

[00:35:51] what happened here

[00:35:52] was not an accident.

[00:35:53] Did anyone get up

[00:35:55] during the dark part

[00:35:56] of the show?

[00:35:57] The room stayed silent.

[00:36:00] Olivia and Emma

[00:36:01] looked at each other.

[00:36:02] Detective Harper

[00:36:03] clocked their look immediately.

[00:36:05] Ladies,

[00:36:05] do you have something

[00:36:06] of interest to share?

[00:36:08] The girls looked

[00:36:09] at the detective,

[00:36:09] their cheeks turning crimson.

[00:36:11] Emma bit her bottom lip

[00:36:12] and Olivia quickly glanced

[00:36:13] to their grandma.

[00:36:14] She had a wild look

[00:36:15] in her eyes

[00:36:16] that Olivia couldn't

[00:36:17] quite process.

[00:36:18] Emma swallowed.

[00:36:20] Then she said

[00:36:21] in a very small voice,

[00:36:23] I...

[00:36:24] I think my grandma moved.

[00:36:26] Um,

[00:36:27] she...

[00:36:27] Well,

[00:36:28] she was sitting next to us

[00:36:29] when the show started,

[00:36:30] but she moved

[00:36:31] to the row behind us

[00:36:32] at some point

[00:36:32] and I don't remember when.

[00:36:35] Grandma's eyes darted

[00:36:36] to Emma,

[00:36:37] her mouth so tight

[00:36:38] you almost couldn't

[00:36:38] see her lips,

[00:36:39] only a thin,

[00:36:40] straight line.

[00:36:41] For a second,

[00:36:41] she looked furious

[00:36:42] like a wild beast,

[00:36:43] but then,

[00:36:44] like the flick of a switch,

[00:36:45] she turned her face

[00:36:46] to the detective.

[00:36:48] Ma'am,

[00:36:49] Grandma said,

[00:36:50] smiling slightly.

[00:36:51] My name is Debbie Porter.

[00:36:53] Mind if I tell you

[00:36:54] a quick story?

[00:36:55] Now,

[00:36:55] I am 78 years old

[00:36:57] and I've been coming

[00:36:58] to this park

[00:36:58] since I was nine years old.

[00:37:00] When I was 17,

[00:37:01] I got my first job

[00:37:02] at Disneyland

[00:37:03] here in this very room.

[00:37:05] Emma and Olivia

[00:37:05] looked at each other

[00:37:06] confused.

[00:37:06] They knew their grandma

[00:37:07] loved Disneyland,

[00:37:08] but this was all new

[00:37:09] information to them.

[00:37:10] I was working

[00:37:11] at the Tiki Room

[00:37:12] and guarding that door

[00:37:13] just like that young man,

[00:37:15] she pointed to Leo,

[00:37:16] during the very first

[00:37:18] showing of the Tiki Room.

[00:37:20] I was standing there

[00:37:21] when Walt Disney

[00:37:22] himself walked in,

[00:37:23] looked right at me,

[00:37:25] smiled,

[00:37:25] and shook my hand.

[00:37:26] Boy,

[00:37:27] was he a wonder.

[00:37:28] I was a bit starstruck

[00:37:30] at seeing this celebrity,

[00:37:31] my boss,

[00:37:32] who I'd only seen on TV

[00:37:34] up until that point,

[00:37:34] and I clumsily

[00:37:35] tripped over a souvenir bag

[00:37:37] and sprained my ankle.

[00:37:39] Now,

[00:37:39] Walt saw me

[00:37:39] and advised that I

[00:37:40] take the rest of the day off.

[00:37:41] Now,

[00:37:41] that stung like a wasp.

[00:37:43] No,

[00:37:43] I couldn't.

[00:37:45] I'm fine,

[00:37:45] I told him,

[00:37:46] and I stood up

[00:37:47] putting all my weight

[00:37:47] on my undamaged leg.

[00:37:49] Well,

[00:37:50] if you insist,

[00:37:51] he said,

[00:37:51] but let's at least

[00:37:52] get you a good cane

[00:37:53] to use.

[00:37:55] Detective Harper

[00:37:56] looked at the old woman

[00:37:57] with skepticism.

[00:37:58] I'm sorry,

[00:37:59] but does your story

[00:38:01] have anything to do

[00:38:02] with what happened

[00:38:02] here today?

[00:38:04] Well,

[00:38:05] Grandma stood up now,

[00:38:06] leaning into the dramatics

[00:38:07] of her tale.

[00:38:08] Ever since that day

[00:38:09] with Walt,

[00:38:10] this tiki room

[00:38:11] has been a sort of

[00:38:11] sanctuary for me.

[00:38:13] From the crowds,

[00:38:14] the heat,

[00:38:15] the loudness of the park.

[00:38:16] When I come in here,

[00:38:17] all my worries wash away.

[00:38:19] But not anymore.

[00:38:20] Not with those people

[00:38:22] roaming the park.

[00:38:23] That woman

[00:38:24] with her ridiculous sunglasses,

[00:38:26] indoors no less,

[00:38:27] her stupid bright phone,

[00:38:29] and her absolute inability

[00:38:30] to shut her mouth

[00:38:32] ruins it for everyone.

[00:38:33] She was obnoxious

[00:38:34] and honestly a disgrace

[00:38:35] to the park experience.

[00:38:38] Are you telling me

[00:38:39] that you murdered

[00:38:40] this young woman

[00:38:41] because she interrupted

[00:38:42] your park experience?

[00:38:44] Detective Harper

[00:38:45] stared at Grandma.

[00:38:47] Oh, heavens no!

[00:38:49] Of course not!

[00:38:50] I'm 78 years old!

[00:38:52] You think I have it in me

[00:38:53] to kill anyone?

[00:38:54] She laughed.

[00:38:55] No.

[00:38:57] But,

[00:38:58] I did know

[00:38:59] how to make it easier

[00:39:00] for someone

[00:39:01] who might just be

[00:39:02] at their wit's end.

[00:39:03] You see,

[00:39:04] I recognized that one

[00:39:05] over there.

[00:39:06] She pointed gracefully

[00:39:07] to Rachel.

[00:39:08] I saw her the other day

[00:39:09] just outside the park

[00:39:10] crying and angry

[00:39:11] and I overheard her

[00:39:13] talking about

[00:39:13] how much she loves

[00:39:14] that job

[00:39:15] but how most of

[00:39:16] the people she tours

[00:39:17] now are ungrateful,

[00:39:18] pretentious,

[00:39:19] bottom-dwelling

[00:39:19] social media influencers

[00:39:21] who make,

[00:39:22] and I quote,

[00:39:23] more money in 10 minutes

[00:39:24] than she does

[00:39:25] in eight hours.

[00:39:26] I heard her say

[00:39:27] that she just wished

[00:39:29] she could make

[00:39:29] an example out of one of them.

[00:39:31] She wished she could

[00:39:31] just make it go,

[00:39:33] make them go away

[00:39:34] for good.

[00:39:35] So when I saw her today

[00:39:36] I thought I'd make

[00:39:37] that decision

[00:39:38] a little easier for her

[00:39:39] to do something

[00:39:40] to those influencers.

[00:39:42] The heads in the room

[00:39:43] all swiveled

[00:39:43] to look at Rachel.

[00:39:45] She was white as a ghost

[00:39:46] shaking at the entrance

[00:39:47] door of the tiki room.

[00:39:48] I didn't mean to kill her.

[00:39:52] I really didn't.

[00:39:54] Mia was just so loud

[00:39:55] that you couldn't even

[00:39:56] hear her over the war cries.

[00:39:58] It was insane.

[00:39:59] So I walked over to her

[00:40:02] and just to tell her

[00:40:03] to be quiet

[00:40:03] and she turned

[00:40:04] her camera to me

[00:40:06] and she said

[00:40:07] to all of her followers

[00:40:08] see everyone

[00:40:09] this is the minimum wage

[00:40:11] buzzkill

[00:40:11] that I'm paying

[00:40:12] to literally ruin my day.

[00:40:14] Oh and babe

[00:40:15] plaid is not your color.

[00:40:18] I don't know

[00:40:18] what came over me.

[00:40:19] She just made me

[00:40:20] so mad

[00:40:21] and then I saw

[00:40:22] that cane leaning

[00:40:23] at the edge of the bench

[00:40:24] and I just grabbed it

[00:40:26] and I started

[00:40:27] jamming it at her.

[00:40:28] I mean it's just a cane

[00:40:30] I thought that she'd

[00:40:31] get a little bruised

[00:40:31] or fall over

[00:40:33] but then when I saw

[00:40:34] all the blood

[00:40:34] I panicked.

[00:40:36] Then I heard a voice

[00:40:37] and it was

[00:40:38] felt like the voice

[00:40:39] of an angel.

[00:40:40] I don't know

[00:40:41] it just said

[00:40:42] here honey

[00:40:43] just wipe down

[00:40:44] my cane

[00:40:44] with this jacket

[00:40:45] then throw the jacket

[00:40:46] in the bin.

[00:40:48] Rachel is now

[00:40:48] sobbing uncontrollably.

[00:40:51] Well ladies

[00:40:52] says detective Harper

[00:40:53] this has been

[00:40:54] quite the day.

[00:40:55] Officers

[00:40:56] please cuff them both

[00:40:57] they are coming

[00:40:58] to me with the station

[00:40:59] you are both

[00:41:00] under the arrest

[00:41:00] for the murder

[00:41:01] of Mia Sandoval.

[00:41:03] Tom and Lily

[00:41:04] left first.

[00:41:05] They walked

[00:41:06] solemnly down

[00:41:06] Main Street.

[00:41:07] Lily glanced

[00:41:08] over at Emma

[00:41:08] Olivia

[00:41:09] and Ryan

[00:41:10] who just stared

[00:41:10] at the ground.

[00:41:12] Leo was right behind

[00:41:13] but then ran up ahead

[00:41:14] and went into

[00:41:14] the Candy Palace.

[00:41:15] He popped out

[00:41:16] a few seconds later

[00:41:17] and walked over

[00:41:17] to Lily

[00:41:18] who is now

[00:41:19] on her dad's shoulders.

[00:41:20] Here you go

[00:41:21] Leo said

[00:41:22] trying to smile.

[00:41:24] He handed a

[00:41:25] Mickey Mouse

[00:41:25] shaped candy

[00:41:26] to Lily.

[00:41:27] It won't make

[00:41:28] everything better

[00:41:28] but a lollipop

[00:41:29] always helps

[00:41:30] make me smile.

[00:41:32] Lily did smile.

[00:41:33] She took the lollipop

[00:41:34] and they all

[00:41:35] made their way

[00:41:35] outside of

[00:41:36] the Disneyland gates.

[00:41:39] Epilogue

[00:41:39] Six Months Later

[00:41:43] Disneyland banned

[00:41:44] social media

[00:41:44] influencers

[00:41:45] following murder

[00:41:46] of TikTok star

[00:41:47] Mia in the

[00:41:47] Castle.

[00:41:48] Anaheim,

[00:41:49] California.

[00:41:50] Disneyland Resort

[00:41:51] announced today

[00:41:51] that social media

[00:41:52] influencers

[00:41:53] and front-facing

[00:41:53] cameras will no

[00:41:54] longer be permitted

[00:41:55] within the park

[00:41:56] following recent

[00:41:57] high-profile

[00:41:58] murder of

[00:41:58] Mia Sandoval

[00:41:59] known for her

[00:42:00] 4 million TikTok

[00:42:01] followers as

[00:42:01] Mia in the

[00:42:02] Castle.

[00:42:03] Sandoval,

[00:42:04] a well-known

[00:42:05] influencer

[00:42:05] for her

[00:42:07] Disneyland-centered

[00:42:08] content,

[00:42:08] was killed by

[00:42:09] former cast member

[00:42:10] Rachel Smith.

[00:42:11] Smith is now

[00:42:11] serving a

[00:42:12] five-year sentence

[00:42:12] in Orange County

[00:42:13] jail after being

[00:42:14] found guilty

[00:42:14] of second-degree

[00:42:15] murder.

[00:42:16] According to

[00:42:17] police reports,

[00:42:18] Smith had an

[00:42:18] accomplice,

[00:42:19] 78-year-old

[00:42:20] Debbie Porter,

[00:42:20] who supplied

[00:42:21] the weapon

[00:42:22] used in the

[00:42:23] murder,

[00:42:23] a cane with

[00:42:24] an automatic

[00:42:25] retractable blade

[00:42:26] coated with

[00:42:26] strychnine

[00:42:27] crystals lethal

[00:42:28] upon skin

[00:42:29] contact.

[00:42:30] The court

[00:42:30] sentenced

[00:42:30] Porter to

[00:42:31] life without

[00:42:32] the possibility

[00:42:33] of parole.

[00:42:36] The end.

[00:42:39] Very nice.

[00:42:40] Good job,

[00:42:41] Taryn.

[00:42:41] Yeah.

[00:42:43] It was a lot

[00:42:43] of talking.

[00:42:46] We don't

[00:42:47] interrupt you

[00:42:47] constantly for

[00:42:48] jokes.

[00:42:50] It is.

[00:42:51] What's that,

[00:42:51] Eric?

[00:42:52] We don't

[00:42:52] constantly

[00:42:53] interrupt for

[00:42:54] jokes during

[00:42:54] these stories.

[00:42:55] It's true.

[00:42:56] It's true.

[00:42:57] There's no

[00:42:57] breathing.

[00:42:58] There's no...

[00:42:59] Although I

[00:42:59] wanted to.

[00:43:00] I really

[00:43:01] wanted to.

[00:43:02] But that's

[00:43:03] all right.

[00:43:04] I just

[00:43:04] created the

[00:43:05] TikTok handle,

[00:43:06] Mia in the

[00:43:06] Castle.

[00:43:08] Perfect.

[00:43:09] Four million

[00:43:10] followers.

[00:43:10] You ever

[00:43:12] watch those

[00:43:12] TV shows or

[00:43:13] movies where

[00:43:13] they talk

[00:43:14] about websites

[00:43:14] and you're

[00:43:15] like, I wonder

[00:43:15] if that's a real

[00:43:16] website.

[00:43:16] And then you

[00:43:17] want to go and

[00:43:17] sit on it and

[00:43:18] put something

[00:43:18] else because you

[00:43:19] know other

[00:43:19] people are

[00:43:19] looking out.

[00:43:21] Like that.

[00:43:24] Yeah, it's

[00:43:24] like that.

[00:43:25] My thing is

[00:43:26] rubbing.

[00:43:27] Ah, this beard,

[00:43:29] man.

[00:43:29] What an atrocious

[00:43:30] thing to do to

[00:43:30] someone.

[00:43:32] All right, well,

[00:43:33] we got three

[00:43:33] people left,

[00:43:34] man.

[00:43:35] Oh my goodness.

[00:43:35] Yes, let's

[00:43:36] do it.

[00:43:36] Story time.

[00:43:38] Who wants to

[00:43:38] go next?

[00:43:39] Ryan or

[00:43:40] Eric?

[00:43:42] I can go.

[00:43:44] Mine's far

[00:43:44] shorter, but

[00:43:46] OK, that's

[00:43:46] fine.

[00:43:47] Take me out.

[00:43:47] We'll do that.

[00:43:48] We'll take a

[00:43:49] break.

[00:43:49] We'll put Rob

[00:43:51] to bed if he

[00:43:51] needs to go to

[00:43:52] bed and then

[00:43:53] for one more.

[00:43:54] That's perfect.

[00:43:55] OK, perfect.

[00:43:56] All right, Ryan,

[00:43:57] let's go, baby.

[00:43:57] Hit us up.

[00:43:59] All right.

[00:43:59] Mine is titled

[00:44:01] something's under

[00:44:02] Disney's Avengers

[00:44:03] campus.

[00:44:05] It was a crisp

[00:44:06] October night at

[00:44:07] Avengers campus.

[00:44:09] I hope it's a

[00:44:09] better ride.

[00:44:10] Oh, sorry.

[00:44:10] Go ahead.

[00:44:12] Just you wait.

[00:44:13] The park was

[00:44:14] alive with

[00:44:15] excitement and

[00:44:16] Halloween decorations

[00:44:17] glowed in every

[00:44:19] corner.

[00:44:19] Zombie versions of

[00:44:20] Captain America and

[00:44:22] Iron Man roamed the

[00:44:23] land.

[00:44:24] Eerie music filled

[00:44:25] the air.

[00:44:26] Families and fans

[00:44:27] alike flocked to

[00:44:28] experience the spooky

[00:44:29] overlays of their

[00:44:30] favorite attractions.

[00:44:33] Lindsay and her

[00:44:34] friends, George and

[00:44:35] Kyle, were all huge

[00:44:37] Marvel fans, so they

[00:44:38] had spent the whole

[00:44:39] day geeking out in

[00:44:40] Avengers campus.

[00:44:41] But as the evening

[00:44:42] settled in, something

[00:44:43] a little strange

[00:44:44] happened.

[00:44:45] Just before the park's

[00:44:46] closing time, the

[00:44:47] group noticed a cast

[00:44:48] member dressed up as

[00:44:50] a S.H.I.E.L.D.

[00:44:51] agent beckoning them

[00:44:51] over.

[00:44:52] Should we go talk to

[00:44:54] them?

[00:44:55] Lindsay asked.

[00:44:56] Duh, said George.

[00:44:58] I've heard about

[00:44:59] this.

[00:44:59] Sometimes when

[00:45:00] they're working on a

[00:45:01] ride, it's

[00:45:01] they ask really

[00:45:02] dedicated fans to

[00:45:03] give it a shot.

[00:45:04] We could even

[00:45:05] scoop WDWNT.

[00:45:09] I hate you.

[00:45:15] Promises of this

[00:45:16] new experience were

[00:45:17] just too much for

[00:45:19] this group to pass

[00:45:20] up.

[00:45:20] The cast member

[00:45:21] said, would you

[00:45:22] like to give

[00:45:23] Avengers Infinity

[00:45:25] Defense a shot?

[00:45:28] Dang, this guy's

[00:45:29] really selling it,

[00:45:30] thought Kyle.

[00:45:31] Behind the cast

[00:45:32] member was a

[00:45:33] door.

[00:45:33] It read, Strike

[00:45:35] Training Facility,

[00:45:36] Restricted Access.

[00:45:38] Before they could

[00:45:39] enter, the cast

[00:45:40] member said, before

[00:45:41] you go, would you

[00:45:42] please tap your

[00:45:44] magic band plus

[00:45:45] devices here?

[00:45:47] They all obliged,

[00:45:48] figuring someone else

[00:45:49] would probably have to

[00:45:50] check it later on,

[00:45:51] like a fast pass or

[00:45:52] something.

[00:45:54] The door creaked

[00:45:56] open and inside it

[00:45:58] was dark.

[00:45:58] With only faint

[00:46:00] emergency lighting

[00:46:01] and the hum of

[00:46:02] electronics, a voice

[00:46:04] echoed over the

[00:46:05] intercom, slightly

[00:46:06] distorted.

[00:46:07] Welcome new

[00:46:08] recruits to your

[00:46:09] strike orientation.

[00:46:10] Proceed with

[00:46:11] caution.

[00:46:13] Wow.

[00:46:14] They went all out

[00:46:16] on this new queue,

[00:46:17] George whispered.

[00:46:20] They continued

[00:46:21] inside, stepping over

[00:46:22] fallen debris and

[00:46:23] past flickering

[00:46:24] holograms of familiar

[00:46:25] heroes like Black

[00:46:26] Widow, Captain

[00:46:28] Marvel, and Iron

[00:46:28] Man.

[00:46:29] As they wandered

[00:46:30] deeper into the

[00:46:31] facility, the

[00:46:32] temperature dropped

[00:46:33] and the holographic

[00:46:34] images of the

[00:46:35] Avengers flickered even

[00:46:37] more erratically.

[00:46:37] A chilling laugh

[00:46:39] echoed down the

[00:46:40] corridor and they

[00:46:41] heard a familiar

[00:46:42] song.

[00:46:44] I've got no

[00:46:45] strings, so I

[00:46:46] have fun.

[00:46:47] I'm not tied up

[00:46:49] to anyone.

[00:46:51] Wait a second,

[00:46:53] Lily said.

[00:46:55] Or sorry,

[00:46:56] Lindsay said.

[00:46:56] I had to change

[00:46:57] the name of my

[00:46:57] character.

[00:46:59] Wow.

[00:47:00] Hack.

[00:47:00] Wait a second,

[00:47:01] Lindsay said.

[00:47:02] Isn't this supposed

[00:47:03] to be a Thanos

[00:47:04] ride?

[00:47:06] Suddenly, the

[00:47:07] walls started

[00:47:07] vibrating.

[00:47:08] The air grew

[00:47:09] thicker.

[00:47:12] A door at the

[00:47:13] far end of the

[00:47:13] hallway slammed

[00:47:14] shut on its own,

[00:47:15] trapping the group

[00:47:16] inside.

[00:47:17] They tried to

[00:47:17] turn back, but

[00:47:19] the door that

[00:47:20] they entered

[00:47:21] through was now

[00:47:21] locked.

[00:47:22] Lindsay started

[00:47:23] to panic.

[00:47:25] This is

[00:47:26] awesome, Kyle

[00:47:28] exclaimed.

[00:47:29] The hologram that

[00:47:30] had been showing

[00:47:31] their favorite

[00:47:32] heroes suddenly

[00:47:32] glitched.

[00:47:33] The images were

[00:47:34] replaced by Tony

[00:47:35] Stark, but his

[00:47:36] eyes were glowing

[00:47:37] red.

[00:47:38] You shouldn't be

[00:47:39] here, his

[00:47:40] hologram whispered.

[00:47:42] Not.

[00:47:44] Everything went

[00:47:45] dark.

[00:47:46] In the silence, a

[00:47:47] metallic scraping

[00:47:48] sound began to

[00:47:49] grow louder.

[00:47:51] Footsteps, but

[00:47:53] not quite human.

[00:47:54] Something was

[00:47:55] coming.

[00:47:57] Suddenly, the

[00:47:59] overhead lights

[00:47:59] snapped back on,

[00:48:00] revealing a

[00:48:01] towering figure

[00:48:02] emerging from the

[00:48:03] shadows.

[00:48:03] door.

[00:48:04] It was

[00:48:05] Ultron!

[00:48:06] George exclaimed,

[00:48:07] Dude, this is

[00:48:09] awesome!

[00:48:10] Its eyes glowed

[00:48:12] with a malevolent

[00:48:13] crimson light.

[00:48:15] A deep, chilling

[00:48:16] voice boomed

[00:48:17] through the

[00:48:17] facility.

[00:48:18] Humanity's end

[00:48:19] begins now!

[00:48:22] The group

[00:48:23] finally realized

[00:48:24] this was no

[00:48:24] ride.

[00:48:25] They screamed and

[00:48:26] ran towards the

[00:48:27] nearest exit, but

[00:48:28] every door led

[00:48:29] deeper and deeper

[00:48:30] into the maze of

[00:48:31] darkened corridors.

[00:48:32] The monitors

[00:48:34] displayed twisted

[00:48:35] versions of the

[00:48:35] cast members and

[00:48:36] other guests they'd

[00:48:37] seen throughout

[00:48:37] their day.

[00:48:38] They could hear

[00:48:39] screaming from

[00:48:40] behind the

[00:48:41] doors.

[00:48:41] Oh, God!

[00:48:42] How many other

[00:48:43] people are here?

[00:48:45] Screamed Lindsay.

[00:48:46] Just then, a

[00:48:47] side door opened and

[00:48:48] Kyle and George were

[00:48:49] tackled by Ultron

[00:48:50] bots.

[00:48:51] They were dragged

[00:48:52] kicking and

[00:48:52] screaming into

[00:48:53] side rooms, their

[00:48:54] faces appearing on

[00:48:55] the monitors outside.

[00:48:57] Lindsay knew what

[00:48:58] she must do now.

[00:49:00] Just keep

[00:49:01] running.

[00:49:03] Just as Ultron's

[00:49:05] footsteps closed

[00:49:06] in behind her, a

[00:49:08] small hidden door in

[00:49:09] the floor opened.

[00:49:10] In here!

[00:49:11] A voice hissed.

[00:49:13] She jumped inside to

[00:49:14] find herself in what

[00:49:15] looked like a forgotten

[00:49:16] maintenance tunnel.

[00:49:17] The door slammed

[00:49:18] shut and an

[00:49:19] unexpected figure

[00:49:21] emerged from the

[00:49:21] shadows.

[00:49:22] It was Doctor

[00:49:23] Strange!

[00:49:24] At this point,

[00:49:26] Lindsay was

[00:49:26] convinced that

[00:49:27] everyone in this

[00:49:28] godforsaken place

[00:49:29] was just another

[00:49:30] robot, so she

[00:49:31] immediately just

[00:49:32] straight up slapped

[00:49:33] him.

[00:49:35] Slapping the

[00:49:36] Sorcerer Supreme,

[00:49:37] that's a crime

[00:49:38] usually punishable

[00:49:39] by ten years in

[00:49:40] the negative zone,

[00:49:41] he said.

[00:49:43] What?

[00:49:44] The?

[00:49:46] Hell?

[00:49:47] Lindsay panted.

[00:49:51] Ultron has found a

[00:49:52] way to break through

[00:49:52] time and space.

[00:49:53] This place has proved

[00:49:54] the perfect ground

[00:49:55] zero for his

[00:49:56] infiltration of

[00:49:57] Earth-1218,

[00:49:59] Doctor Strange

[00:50:00] explained.

[00:50:00] People here are so

[00:50:02] desperate for

[00:50:03] immersion they'd

[00:50:03] practically pay to be

[00:50:04] part of his scheme.

[00:50:06] The ground beneath

[00:50:07] them began to

[00:50:08] tremble as the

[00:50:09] sound of Ultron

[00:50:10] smashing through

[00:50:10] walls grew closer.

[00:50:12] Listen.

[00:50:13] Lindsay, right?

[00:50:15] Leave this place.

[00:50:16] Leave it now.

[00:50:17] With a wave of his

[00:50:18] hand, Strange

[00:50:19] opened a glowing

[00:50:20] portal with

[00:50:21] swirling with gold

[00:50:22] energy.

[00:50:22] Step through!

[00:50:23] It's your only

[00:50:24] chance!

[00:50:26] Without hesitation,

[00:50:29] Lindsay plunged

[00:50:30] into the portal,

[00:50:31] feeling the chill

[00:50:32] of Ultron's

[00:50:33] looming presence

[00:50:34] just behind her.

[00:50:35] She found herself

[00:50:37] back outside in

[00:50:38] the currently

[00:50:38] closed Sanctum

[00:50:39] section of

[00:50:40] Avengers Campus.

[00:50:42] As she stepped

[00:50:43] over some

[00:50:43] construction gears,

[00:50:44] she found herself

[00:50:45] surrounded by the

[00:50:46] cheering crowds and

[00:50:46] glowing lights.

[00:50:48] Everything seemed

[00:50:49] normal again as

[00:50:49] if nothing had

[00:50:50] happened.

[00:50:51] She looked around

[00:50:53] and her heart sank,

[00:50:53] saying, where

[00:50:54] were George and

[00:50:55] Kyle?

[00:50:55] At that very

[00:50:56] moment, she got

[00:50:57] a text.

[00:50:58] We're grabbing

[00:50:59] one last drink

[00:51:00] over at Pim's.

[00:51:01] Come on over

[00:51:01] it, Red.

[00:51:03] She walked over

[00:51:04] to Pim's

[00:51:04] tasting lab where

[00:51:05] her and her

[00:51:06] friends got

[00:51:07] together and

[00:51:08] her friends

[00:51:08] screamed,

[00:51:09] where the hell

[00:51:10] have you been,

[00:51:10] Loka?

[00:51:13] She explained

[00:51:14] what had

[00:51:14] happened and

[00:51:15] they stared

[00:51:15] back at her

[00:51:16] completely

[00:51:17] bewildered.

[00:51:19] George, I

[00:51:20] think the

[00:51:21] next one

[00:51:22] better be a

[00:51:23] root beer,

[00:51:23] said Kyle.

[00:51:25] The friends

[00:51:26] finished their

[00:51:27] drink and the

[00:51:28] announcement over

[00:51:28] the loudspeaker

[00:51:29] came on.

[00:51:30] Thank you for

[00:51:31] visiting Disney's

[00:51:32] California Adventure.

[00:51:34] Please exit

[00:51:34] through the main

[00:51:35] gates.

[00:51:35] We'll see you

[00:51:36] real soon.

[00:51:37] As they left,

[00:51:39] Lindsay noticed

[00:51:40] something odd.

[00:51:41] Most of the

[00:51:42] guest's magic

[00:51:42] bands were

[00:51:44] glowing red,

[00:51:45] including George

[00:51:45] and Kyle's.

[00:51:47] Before she

[00:51:48] heard echoing

[00:51:50] music over the

[00:51:51] loudspeakers.

[00:51:52] I had

[00:51:53] strings, but

[00:51:55] now I'm

[00:51:56] free.

[00:51:56] There are no

[00:51:58] strings on

[00:51:59] me.

[00:52:04] Good job, Ryan!

[00:52:06] Love that!

[00:52:08] Thank you, thank you.

[00:52:09] Hell yeah, brother.

[00:52:11] Good job!

[00:52:11] I like the

[00:52:12] end.

[00:52:13] The chat

[00:52:14] appreciates that

[00:52:15] you and Rob

[00:52:15] stuck to the

[00:52:16] themes of your

[00:52:17] shows.

[00:52:18] You know, I

[00:52:19] tried.

[00:52:21] You guys did

[00:52:22] great.

[00:52:22] Excellent.

[00:52:23] All right, let's

[00:52:24] take a quick break,

[00:52:25] everybody.

[00:52:25] We're going to

[00:52:25] come back and

[00:52:26] then Eric and

[00:52:27] I are going to

[00:52:29] have a thumb

[00:52:30] war virtually to

[00:52:31] see who goes

[00:52:32] next.

[00:52:33] What do you

[00:52:34] think of that?

[00:52:35] All right, hang

[00:52:36] on, everyone.

[00:52:36] It's ears up.

[00:52:37] Spooky story show.

[00:52:39] We'll be right

[00:52:39] back.

[00:52:44] Back to ears

[00:52:45] up where the

[00:52:46] opinions never

[00:52:47] stop.

[00:52:48] Ever.

[00:52:50] I didn't make

[00:52:51] that one spooky.

[00:52:51] Sorry, guys.

[00:52:53] Wow.

[00:52:54] I just realized

[00:52:54] Eric didn't hear my

[00:52:55] spooky intro.

[00:52:56] No, I was

[00:52:57] wearing a big

[00:52:58] mask and I'll

[00:52:59] have to listen to

[00:53:00] it live, not

[00:53:01] live, on the

[00:53:02] recording later.

[00:53:04] Sorry.

[00:53:05] Jesus.

[00:53:06] It makes so

[00:53:08] much noise.

[00:53:09] Oh my.

[00:53:10] Good job,

[00:53:10] Tara.

[00:53:11] I will never

[00:53:11] move.

[00:53:12] I appreciate

[00:53:12] you.

[00:53:13] Appreciate you

[00:53:14] a lot.

[00:53:14] Whoopsies.

[00:53:16] That's all

[00:53:16] right.

[00:53:17] Versus Jason's

[00:53:18] costume, which

[00:53:19] is loud

[00:53:19] colorfully.

[00:53:20] Whoa.

[00:53:22] I feel like I'm

[00:53:23] working at the

[00:53:24] hot dog.

[00:53:24] I stand when

[00:53:25] you took out

[00:53:26] the costume.

[00:53:26] I was like, I

[00:53:28] know like you

[00:53:29] have a strange

[00:53:30] sense of humor,

[00:53:31] but like why?

[00:53:33] Yeah, not that

[00:53:35] strange, man.

[00:53:37] Speaking of

[00:53:38] things that are

[00:53:39] not strange.

[00:53:41] As the sun dips

[00:53:43] below the horizon

[00:53:44] and autumn

[00:53:44] approaches, there's

[00:53:45] a moment to

[00:53:46] savor.

[00:53:47] And we've

[00:53:48] brewed, not me,

[00:53:49] but the 21st

[00:53:49] Amendment has

[00:53:50] brewed that

[00:53:50] moment into

[00:53:51] every can of

[00:53:52] Hell or High

[00:53:52] Twilight, the

[00:53:53] newest citrus

[00:53:54] wheat beer from

[00:53:55] the 21st

[00:53:56] Amendment brewery.

[00:53:57] This is not your

[00:53:58] ordinary wheat beer.

[00:53:59] Hell or High

[00:54:00] Twilight dances on

[00:54:01] your tongue with

[00:54:01] soft sweetness

[00:54:02] and bursts open

[00:54:03] with bright, fresh

[00:54:04] citrus peel flavor

[00:54:06] and aroma.

[00:54:06] It's crisp, it's

[00:54:08] refreshing.

[00:54:09] And at just 5.6

[00:54:10] ABV, it's the

[00:54:11] ideal beer whenever

[00:54:12] you want to bring a

[00:54:13] little bit of

[00:54:14] twilight into your

[00:54:15] day or for those

[00:54:16] easy evenings spent

[00:54:17] under the stars.

[00:54:19] So whether you're

[00:54:19] winding down or

[00:54:20] gearing up, crack

[00:54:21] open a Hell or

[00:54:21] High Twilight and

[00:54:22] let the season

[00:54:23] unfold.

[00:54:24] Available now

[00:54:24] wherever 21st

[00:54:25] Amendment beers

[00:54:26] are sold.

[00:54:27] It is a very

[00:54:27] good beer.

[00:54:28] I don't know, I

[00:54:30] guess it is,

[00:54:30] clearly it's in

[00:54:31] cans.

[00:54:31] Is it in cans?

[00:54:32] Because we've

[00:54:33] only experienced

[00:54:33] it on draft.

[00:54:34] Yeah.

[00:54:34] I keep checking

[00:54:36] Safeway because

[00:54:37] I know it's

[00:54:38] coming and I'm

[00:54:39] going to get it

[00:54:40] because it's so

[00:54:40] good.

[00:54:41] Yeah, it's

[00:54:41] delish.

[00:54:42] But check that

[00:54:43] out.

[00:54:44] Okay, Eric, do

[00:54:46] you want to?

[00:54:46] Let's do it.

[00:54:48] You want to take

[00:54:48] us through your

[00:54:49] mind?

[00:54:50] Sure, sure.

[00:54:51] What's going on

[00:54:52] with my mind

[00:54:53] this year?

[00:54:55] Not drugs.

[00:54:56] That's another

[00:54:57] good thing.

[00:54:58] Not drugs.

[00:54:59] Not this year.

[00:55:00] Let's just bring

[00:55:00] that up again.

[00:55:01] Yeah, let's get

[00:55:02] that out of the

[00:55:02] way.

[00:55:04] I forgot about

[00:55:05] it.

[00:55:05] See, now you

[00:55:06] mentioned it.

[00:55:06] Now that's

[00:55:07] all I'm going

[00:55:07] to think about.

[00:55:08] Well, yeah.

[00:55:10] Anyway.

[00:55:11] All right, here

[00:55:12] we go.

[00:55:13] All right.

[00:55:14] Josh was under

[00:55:15] the gun.

[00:55:16] 20 plus years at

[00:55:18] the company prepared

[00:55:19] him for a wide

[00:55:19] variety of

[00:55:20] problems.

[00:55:21] Dips in

[00:55:22] attendance easily

[00:55:23] explained.

[00:55:24] Delays in

[00:55:24] construction.

[00:55:25] This is a

[00:55:25] COVID world

[00:55:26] after all.

[00:55:27] COVID itself?

[00:55:28] Come on.

[00:55:29] The fans still

[00:55:29] showed up at

[00:55:30] the parks without

[00:55:31] fail.

[00:55:31] But this was

[00:55:32] different.

[00:55:33] If he was going

[00:55:34] to take over the

[00:55:35] entire company,

[00:55:36] he needed to make

[00:55:37] some waves.

[00:55:38] Tight jeans and

[00:55:39] well-crafted hair

[00:55:40] were not going

[00:55:41] to cut it.

[00:55:42] No, the board

[00:55:43] wanted something

[00:55:44] better.

[00:55:45] Something more.

[00:55:47] Something that

[00:55:47] would ensure the

[00:55:48] company would

[00:55:49] endure another

[00:55:49] 100 years of

[00:55:51] magical storytelling.

[00:55:53] And so it was

[00:55:54] that Josh went

[00:55:55] back to the

[00:55:56] lab.

[00:55:57] Oh, no.

[00:56:01] All right.

[00:56:01] Since we've

[00:56:02] already interrupted

[00:56:02] I'm just watching

[00:56:04] Ryan laugh here

[00:56:05] because I told him

[00:56:07] killing another

[00:56:08] executive tonight.

[00:56:11] Anyway,

[00:56:12] spoilers.

[00:56:14] Nobody knew

[00:56:15] about the lab

[00:56:15] except for those

[00:56:16] who needed to

[00:56:17] know about the

[00:56:17] lab.

[00:56:18] That included

[00:56:18] chief comeback

[00:56:19] kid.

[00:56:21] Initially, Josh

[00:56:22] hid the lab from

[00:56:22] both of the

[00:56:23] bobs because they

[00:56:24] might not have

[00:56:24] approved of his

[00:56:25] methods.

[00:56:26] Now he had

[00:56:27] the lab because

[00:56:27] Bob needed to go.

[00:56:29] He needed to go

[00:56:30] and for real

[00:56:31] this time.

[00:56:32] And the less he

[00:56:32] knew about the

[00:56:33] future, the

[00:56:34] better.

[00:56:35] But the future.

[00:56:36] Josh and his

[00:56:37] team were so

[00:56:38] close.

[00:56:39] He might not

[00:56:39] have the chops of

[00:56:40] a studio exec,

[00:56:41] but that hardly

[00:56:42] mattered.

[00:56:43] The parks made

[00:56:43] the cash.

[00:56:44] The studio merely

[00:56:45] provided fodder.

[00:56:47] The parks helped

[00:56:48] cement the gap

[00:56:48] between the old

[00:56:49] films and the

[00:56:50] new.

[00:56:50] They kept every

[00:56:51] generation involved

[00:56:52] and engaged.

[00:56:52] And the parks

[00:56:53] were why Josh was

[00:56:54] going to be the

[00:56:55] next in line for

[00:56:56] succession.

[00:56:58] Josh strode

[00:56:59] through the

[00:56:59] magic kingdom,

[00:57:00] the only man

[00:57:01] dashing enough to

[00:57:02] wear a suit in

[00:57:02] the Florida heat.

[00:57:03] He broke not a

[00:57:04] single bead of

[00:57:05] sweat.

[00:57:06] It was 85 degrees

[00:57:07] out with 9,000%

[00:57:08] humidity and Josh

[00:57:09] looked fabulous.

[00:57:11] Walking amongst

[00:57:12] the civilians,

[00:57:13] mortgaging their

[00:57:14] futures for a

[00:57:14] glimpse of the

[00:57:15] fantastic world

[00:57:16] Walt created.

[00:57:18] But the job,

[00:57:19] the lab gave

[00:57:20] Josh some

[00:57:21] additional

[00:57:22] technology.

[00:57:23] Case in point,

[00:57:24] his newest

[00:57:24] project.

[00:57:25] It started from

[00:57:26] a question.

[00:57:27] How can we

[00:57:29] help guests

[00:57:29] experience their

[00:57:31] best story lives?

[00:57:33] We have wishes

[00:57:34] and treasures

[00:57:35] and dreams

[00:57:36] and magic

[00:57:36] and enchantment

[00:57:37] and wonders

[00:57:37] and fantasies,

[00:57:38] but the joy of

[00:57:39] experiencing guests'

[00:57:40] best stories,

[00:57:41] well, that was

[00:57:42] the dream.

[00:57:44] Josh met with

[00:57:45] his techs.

[00:57:46] Their progress

[00:57:47] was inspirational

[00:57:48] at the very least.

[00:57:49] Years of chemicals

[00:57:50] delivered by

[00:57:51] Smellitzer's helped.

[00:57:52] The gentle sheep

[00:57:53] flooding the parks

[00:57:54] every year never

[00:57:55] questioned a

[00:57:57] thing.

[00:57:58] Orange smells,

[00:57:58] dirt smells,

[00:57:59] Fiji Island smells,

[00:58:01] some of them even

[00:58:01] bought smells to

[00:58:02] bring home with

[00:58:03] them.

[00:58:04] The delivery system

[00:58:05] was perfected,

[00:58:07] so it was time to

[00:58:08] move to phase

[00:58:09] two.

[00:58:10] Josh knew the

[00:58:11] secret to a

[00:58:12] successful Disney

[00:58:13] parks visit.

[00:58:13] It was all about

[00:58:15] telling the stories

[00:58:16] of Disney.

[00:58:17] Families grinning

[00:58:18] in front of the

[00:58:18] PhotoPass

[00:58:19] photographers,

[00:58:20] they built their

[00:58:20] best stories.

[00:58:22] Smiling families

[00:58:23] spreading their

[00:58:24] stories to other

[00:58:24] smiling families

[00:58:25] and all of them

[00:58:26] enjoying dull whips

[00:58:27] while wearing Mickey

[00:58:28] ears and spirit

[00:58:28] jerseys.

[00:58:29] Happiness spreads,

[00:58:31] and happiness breeds

[00:58:32] the best stories.

[00:58:34] And Josh knew

[00:58:35] all about that.

[00:58:36] Story was imprinted

[00:58:37] in his brain ever

[00:58:38] since that retreat

[00:58:39] three years ago.

[00:58:41] Running a

[00:58:42] successful resort

[00:58:43] as sprawling as

[00:58:44] Walt Disney World

[00:58:45] was not an easy

[00:58:46] task, but Josh

[00:58:47] took to it like a

[00:58:48] bear takes to

[00:58:48] good analogies.

[00:58:50] Everybody loved

[00:58:50] Josh, staff and

[00:58:52] guests alike.

[00:58:52] The shareholders

[00:58:54] would eat out of

[00:58:54] his hand, but

[00:58:55] Josh wanted the

[00:58:56] big job.

[00:58:58] Bob could not

[00:58:59] stay here forever.

[00:59:00] Josh had something

[00:59:01] to prove.

[00:59:03] So how do you

[00:59:04] drive that bottom

[00:59:04] line?

[00:59:05] Phase two.

[00:59:08] Josh walked

[00:59:09] into the

[00:59:10] Utilidors and

[00:59:11] waved to a few

[00:59:11] folks who

[00:59:12] recognized him

[00:59:14] and stopped for a

[00:59:15] quick picture.

[00:59:16] He jogged down

[00:59:17] the stairs and

[00:59:19] you know, he

[00:59:19] missed leg day

[00:59:20] earlier this week,

[00:59:21] so every little

[00:59:21] bit counted.

[00:59:22] Let's get a

[00:59:23] little extra

[00:59:27] exercise in.

[00:59:29] These slim suits

[00:59:30] tailored to

[00:59:31] perfection didn't

[00:59:31] leave much room

[00:59:32] for error.

[00:59:33] Josh tossed a

[00:59:36] few polite nods

[00:59:37] and grins at the

[00:59:38] cast members as he

[00:59:39] passed, and a

[00:59:40] custodian, Danny,

[00:59:41] asked, perfect day

[00:59:42] out, right, Josh?

[00:59:44] Josh beamed at

[00:59:44] Danny and gave him

[00:59:45] a high five.

[00:59:46] You have no idea,

[00:59:47] Danny.

[00:59:48] No idea.

[00:59:50] Shuffling down

[00:59:50] the corridor, Josh

[00:59:52] slowed a bit.

[00:59:52] He glanced around

[00:59:53] to see who was

[00:59:54] nearby.

[00:59:55] Nobody.

[00:59:56] Josh pressed on

[00:59:57] his name tag and

[00:59:58] a door breathed

[00:59:58] open, sterile light

[00:59:59] flashing into the

[01:00:01] hallway.

[01:00:01] The lab's Liberty

[01:00:03] Square entrance

[01:00:04] welcomed Josh into

[01:00:05] its air-conditioned

[01:00:06] splendor.

[01:00:07] He popped in and

[01:00:08] the door hissed as

[01:00:09] it closed and

[01:00:10] repressurized.

[01:00:11] Josh did a cool

[01:00:12] karate kick,

[01:00:13] excited to hear the

[01:00:14] latest progress on

[01:00:15] phase two.

[01:00:15] He adjusted his

[01:00:17] tie, recomposed

[01:00:18] himself, and

[01:00:19] hoped that only the

[01:00:20] cameras saw that.

[01:00:21] Probably only the

[01:00:22] cameras saw that.

[01:00:25] The problem with

[01:00:26] all consumers is

[01:00:27] that eventually they

[01:00:28] stop consuming.

[01:00:29] Their stomachs fill,

[01:00:30] their phones run

[01:00:31] out of juice, kids

[01:00:32] get tired and

[01:00:33] cranky, they go

[01:00:34] back to their

[01:00:34] boring lives.

[01:00:36] The best of them

[01:00:37] spend all of their

[01:00:38] time scraping together

[01:00:39] the cash to come

[01:00:40] back to the parks.

[01:00:41] Every moment on

[01:00:42] every commercial

[01:00:43] break is filled

[01:00:44] with Instagram

[01:00:45] videos of people

[01:00:46] living their best

[01:00:47] lives, adventuring

[01:00:48] through a Disney

[01:00:49] park or cruise,

[01:00:50] or a Cotino

[01:00:51] story-living home

[01:00:52] demo.

[01:00:53] People wanted to

[01:00:55] look at Disney

[01:00:55] things.

[01:00:56] The next big treat

[01:00:58] came out today,

[01:00:59] and you're gonna

[01:01:00] miss it.

[01:01:00] Sorry, paging Mr.

[01:01:02] Morrow had a chance

[01:01:03] to taste it, so you

[01:01:04] can just watch him

[01:01:05] try it and discuss

[01:01:07] the new experience

[01:01:08] with Adam the

[01:01:09] Woo, for instance.

[01:01:10] Social media was

[01:01:11] a bummer, though.

[01:01:12] People want the

[01:01:13] real thing.

[01:01:15] Watching somebody

[01:01:16] enjoy it isn't

[01:01:17] real happiness.

[01:01:18] Real happiness is

[01:01:19] coming to the

[01:01:20] parks.

[01:01:20] You know, the point

[01:01:21] where you always

[01:01:22] say, maybe we

[01:01:23] should extend our

[01:01:23] trip a bit.

[01:01:25] Josh wanted people

[01:01:26] to say that

[01:01:27] forever.

[01:01:28] Josh needed them

[01:01:30] to experience the

[01:01:31] story themselves.

[01:01:33] Phase 2 added a

[01:01:34] subtle aerosolized

[01:01:35] serotonin reuptake

[01:01:37] inhibitor to the

[01:01:37] mix.

[01:01:38] You like Prozac?

[01:01:39] Imagine you could

[01:01:40] breathe in Prozac in

[01:01:41] a concentrated dose.

[01:01:43] Disney will tell

[01:01:43] you when you're

[01:01:44] enjoying something

[01:01:45] and Disney will

[01:01:45] ensure it's the

[01:01:46] most enjoyable

[01:01:46] thing you've ever

[01:01:47] enjoyed.

[01:01:48] Smells were

[01:01:49] everywhere in the

[01:01:50] parks, and now

[01:01:51] they can do more

[01:01:51] than just suggest

[01:01:53] a good time or

[01:01:54] a sweet treat.

[01:01:56] Josh made his

[01:01:57] way through the

[01:01:58] lab into the

[01:01:59] Smeltzer prep

[01:01:59] room.

[01:02:00] Here a man named

[01:02:01] Dave, by his

[01:02:02] tag, Dusseldorf,

[01:02:03] Germany, it read.

[01:02:05] He gingered a

[01:02:06] small metal cylinder

[01:02:07] from one machine

[01:02:08] into another, and

[01:02:09] Josh could see

[01:02:10] through Dave's

[01:02:11] hazmat suit's

[01:02:12] crinkly plastic

[01:02:13] faceplate that he

[01:02:13] was sweating

[01:02:14] profusely.

[01:02:16] Gross.

[01:02:17] Josh pounded

[01:02:18] on the triple

[01:02:19] thickness window.

[01:02:21] Dave!

[01:02:22] Dave, is that

[01:02:23] Phase 2?

[01:02:25] Dave died a

[01:02:26] little at the

[01:02:26] startle, his

[01:02:28] heart pounding

[01:02:28] through the suit.

[01:02:29] The canister was

[01:02:30] in place, safe,

[01:02:32] nothing to worry

[01:02:32] about.

[01:02:34] Yeah, Josh,

[01:02:35] we're ready for

[01:02:35] the test.

[01:02:36] Terrific, Josh

[01:02:37] shouted.

[01:02:38] When you get

[01:02:38] home, there's a

[01:02:39] brand new Tesla

[01:02:39] in the driveway

[01:02:40] for you.

[01:02:42] Josh was already

[01:02:43] inside the

[01:02:44] clean room somehow.

[01:02:45] He puffed his

[01:02:46] chest and took

[01:02:46] a deep breath.

[01:02:47] Fantastic, Dave.

[01:02:48] Have a magical

[01:02:49] day.

[01:02:49] Can I install

[01:02:50] this myself?

[01:02:53] No, Josh could

[01:02:53] not install it

[01:02:54] himself, but the

[01:02:55] new test formula

[01:02:56] was ready to go.

[01:02:57] Phase 2.

[01:02:58] Josh plunked

[01:02:59] down in a seat

[01:02:59] in the control

[01:03:00] center next to a

[01:03:01] bank of computer

[01:03:01] monitors.

[01:03:02] He wanted to

[01:03:03] see his project

[01:03:03] in action.

[01:03:05] So he started

[01:03:06] on Main

[01:03:06] Street.

[01:03:06] Why not?

[01:03:07] Pop that bad

[01:03:08] boy in the

[01:03:09] confectionary's

[01:03:09] smellitzer and

[01:03:10] let it rip.

[01:03:11] The smell of

[01:03:12] sugar candy

[01:03:13] wafted into

[01:03:14] the crowd.

[01:03:15] Josh watched

[01:03:16] from his vantage

[01:03:16] point atop

[01:03:17] Cinderella Castle.

[01:03:20] Oh, I changed

[01:03:21] that.

[01:03:21] Never mind.

[01:03:23] He's in the

[01:03:24] utilidor still,

[01:03:25] kids.

[01:03:26] Hell yeah.

[01:03:29] Whoops.

[01:03:29] A few families

[01:03:30] wandered into

[01:03:31] the sweet shop,

[01:03:32] allured by the

[01:03:33] scents pumped out.

[01:03:34] Josh watched

[01:03:35] wrapped through

[01:03:35] binoculars,

[01:03:36] through monitors,

[01:03:37] computer monitors.

[01:03:38] I missed this

[01:03:39] paragraph.

[01:03:41] The monitors

[01:03:42] strapped to

[01:03:42] binoculars.

[01:03:43] Right.

[01:03:44] They were far

[01:03:44] away monitors.

[01:03:46] Yeah, I got

[01:03:46] you.

[01:03:47] The Hendersons

[01:03:48] emerged, shoving

[01:03:49] food into their

[01:03:50] faces.

[01:03:51] They made their

[01:03:51] way down Main

[01:03:52] Street, located

[01:03:53] the nearest DVC

[01:03:55] location and signed

[01:03:56] up for a full

[01:03:56] tour.

[01:03:57] Josh just knew

[01:03:58] they would buy

[01:03:59] in a full portion

[01:04:01] at the Polynesian

[01:04:02] Resort.

[01:04:04] Also obvious

[01:04:05] was the family

[01:04:06] near them.

[01:04:07] These folks

[01:04:07] came from the

[01:04:08] north and

[01:04:08] smelled not

[01:04:09] of the

[01:04:09] sweet shop.

[01:04:10] But when they

[01:04:11] saw the

[01:04:11] Hendersons

[01:04:12] engaging,

[01:04:13] the winds

[01:04:14] stepped right

[01:04:14] up.

[01:04:15] Josh knew

[01:04:15] everybody's

[01:04:16] names from

[01:04:16] their magic

[01:04:17] bands, of

[01:04:17] course, just

[01:04:18] pointing this

[01:04:19] out to everybody

[01:04:19] here.

[01:04:20] But Josh

[01:04:21] also knew that

[01:04:22] everyone he

[01:04:23] saw was going

[01:04:23] to be a new

[01:04:24] DVC owner.

[01:04:25] Everyone was

[01:04:26] going to buy

[01:04:26] souvenirs

[01:04:27] today.

[01:04:28] Everyone was

[01:04:28] going to buy

[01:04:29] food today.

[01:04:30] Everyone was

[01:04:31] going to buy

[01:04:32] a lightning

[01:04:33] lane today.

[01:04:34] The Johnsons,

[01:04:35] the Blacks,

[01:04:35] the Moors,

[01:04:36] the Petroses,

[01:04:37] everyone was

[01:04:37] experiencing their

[01:04:38] best stories

[01:04:39] today.

[01:04:41] The Gilbert

[01:04:42] Hardens,

[01:04:43] the Spears.

[01:04:48] Yeah, I

[01:05:00] was it the

[01:05:01] gas or just

[01:05:02] the sheer joy

[01:05:03] they passed

[01:05:04] between each

[01:05:05] other?

[01:05:05] Either way,

[01:05:07] each witnessed

[01:05:08] the elation

[01:05:08] from the

[01:05:09] others and

[01:05:09] they all

[01:05:10] willingly

[01:05:10] engaged.

[01:05:11] This plan

[01:05:11] was working

[01:05:12] better than

[01:05:12] Josh ever

[01:05:13] dreamed.

[01:05:14] Hey, it's

[01:05:14] hot dog

[01:05:15] time.

[01:05:15] The families

[01:05:16] made their

[01:05:16] way to

[01:05:16] Casey's

[01:05:17] Corner and

[01:05:17] ordered three

[01:05:18] dogs for

[01:05:18] each family

[01:05:19] member.

[01:05:19] Even the

[01:05:20] kids helped

[01:05:20] out,

[01:05:20] cramming

[01:05:21] sausages

[01:05:21] laden with

[01:05:22] ketchup

[01:05:22] into their

[01:05:22] mouths.

[01:05:23] Wash that

[01:05:24] thing down

[01:05:24] with a cutie

[01:05:25] instead of a

[01:05:25] bag of chips.

[01:05:26] It's almost

[01:05:26] healthy,

[01:05:27] kids.

[01:05:28] And as

[01:05:28] soon as they

[01:05:29] finished chewing

[01:05:30] nearly every

[01:05:30] family member

[01:05:31] produced a

[01:05:32] phone and

[01:05:32] started recording.

[01:05:33] Everyone was

[01:05:34] having the

[01:05:34] best day

[01:05:35] ever and

[01:05:36] they needed

[01:05:36] to tell

[01:05:36] their

[01:05:36] friends,

[01:05:37] family,

[01:05:38] fans,

[01:05:39] TikTok

[01:05:40] videos,

[01:05:41] Instagram

[01:05:41] reels.

[01:05:43] Even

[01:05:44] dad was

[01:05:44] on Facebook

[01:05:45] telling his

[01:05:45] crew about

[01:05:46] the parks.

[01:05:47] He never

[01:05:47] even complained

[01:05:48] about the

[01:05:49] prices.

[01:05:50] And it

[01:05:51] spread.

[01:05:52] Within a

[01:05:53] few hours,

[01:05:54] every shop

[01:05:54] on Main

[01:05:55] Street was

[01:05:55] laid bare.

[01:05:56] Every stitch

[01:05:56] of clothing,

[01:05:57] every plush

[01:05:58] stitch,

[01:05:59] sold.

[01:06:00] The ravenous

[01:06:00] fans made

[01:06:01] their way

[01:06:01] through the

[01:06:02] rest of

[01:06:02] the park.

[01:06:03] Josh noticed

[01:06:04] that the

[01:06:04] proceedings were

[01:06:05] somehow orderly

[01:06:06] and non-violent.

[01:06:07] If nothing was

[01:06:08] for sale,

[01:06:09] nobody fought.

[01:06:10] They just

[01:06:10] moved on to

[01:06:10] the next

[01:06:11] thing and

[01:06:11] cleared it

[01:06:12] out.

[01:06:12] Lightning

[01:06:13] Lane sold

[01:06:13] out instantly

[01:06:14] too.

[01:06:15] Josh reminded

[01:06:16] himself to

[01:06:16] ask his

[01:06:17] scientists about

[01:06:18] the lines.

[01:06:19] Some of

[01:06:19] the families

[01:06:20] queued up

[01:06:20] in random

[01:06:20] locations,

[01:06:21] happy to

[01:06:21] stand in

[01:06:22] line for

[01:06:22] anything.

[01:06:23] The way

[01:06:23] to the

[01:06:24] water fountain

[01:06:24] in Tomorrowland

[01:06:25] was over

[01:06:25] an hour and

[01:06:26] no one

[01:06:27] complained.

[01:06:28] Phase 2

[01:06:29] was working.

[01:06:30] Josh had

[01:06:31] made the

[01:06:31] perfect

[01:06:31] guests.

[01:06:32] They bought

[01:06:32] everything.

[01:06:33] They ate

[01:06:33] everything.

[01:06:34] No one

[01:06:35] was complaining.

[01:06:37] But no one

[01:06:38] talked at all.

[01:06:39] That was

[01:06:40] odd.

[01:06:42] A silence

[01:06:42] hung over

[01:06:43] the park.

[01:06:44] Where people

[01:06:45] would have

[01:06:45] normally been

[01:06:46] laughing and

[01:06:46] singing and

[01:06:47] chatting,

[01:06:47] there was

[01:06:47] nothing.

[01:06:50] Josh observed

[01:06:51] plenty of

[01:06:51] people smiling,

[01:06:52] but that

[01:06:53] was all.

[01:06:54] If they

[01:06:54] weren't

[01:06:54] actively

[01:06:55] eating or

[01:06:55] drinking,

[01:06:56] their mouths

[01:06:56] were firmly

[01:06:57] shut.

[01:06:58] Another hour

[01:06:59] later and

[01:06:59] the entire

[01:07:00] park was

[01:07:00] quiet.

[01:07:01] Josh could

[01:07:01] hear music

[01:07:02] playing from

[01:07:02] attractions all

[01:07:03] over the

[01:07:04] place.

[01:07:04] He lowered

[01:07:05] the volume

[01:07:05] of the

[01:07:06] monitors.

[01:07:06] It didn't

[01:07:07] seem right

[01:07:07] to listen in

[01:07:08] on nothing.

[01:07:10] But the

[01:07:10] guests were

[01:07:11] doing what

[01:07:11] he wanted.

[01:07:12] They ate.

[01:07:14] They rode

[01:07:15] rides.

[01:07:15] They sat

[01:07:15] at shows.

[01:07:16] They were

[01:07:16] living their

[01:07:17] stories.

[01:07:19] Now the

[01:07:20] cast members

[01:07:20] were smiling.

[01:07:22] They

[01:07:22] dutifully

[01:07:23] completed their

[01:07:24] work.

[01:07:24] Custodians

[01:07:25] grinned as

[01:07:25] they picked

[01:07:26] up trash.

[01:07:27] Performers

[01:07:28] grinned as

[01:07:28] they danced.

[01:07:29] Characters

[01:07:29] pantomimed

[01:07:30] and posed

[01:07:30] for pictures.

[01:07:31] Josh bet

[01:07:32] they were

[01:07:32] smiling under

[01:07:33] the heads.

[01:07:35] The characters

[01:07:36] were the

[01:07:36] first to

[01:07:36] go.

[01:07:38] A Mickey

[01:07:38] Mouse dropped

[01:07:39] to his

[01:07:39] knees and

[01:07:40] then collapsed

[01:07:41] fully, still

[01:07:41] waving at

[01:07:42] guests for a

[01:07:42] few seconds

[01:07:43] even from

[01:07:43] the ground.

[01:07:44] It must

[01:07:44] have been

[01:07:45] heatstroke.

[01:07:46] Nobody was

[01:07:46] taking a

[01:07:47] break.

[01:07:48] Nobody was

[01:07:48] sitting down.

[01:07:49] They just

[01:07:49] kept on

[01:07:49] consuming.

[01:07:51] They kept

[01:07:51] on going.

[01:07:53] Josh watched

[01:07:54] a man clutch

[01:07:55] at his

[01:07:55] stomach.

[01:07:56] The man

[01:07:57] lurched

[01:07:57] forward,

[01:07:58] vomiting out

[01:07:58] several

[01:07:59] half-chewed

[01:07:59] burgers and

[01:08:00] then he

[01:08:00] resumed

[01:08:01] eating but

[01:08:02] eventually

[01:08:02] toppled over,

[01:08:03] banging his

[01:08:04] head on a

[01:08:04] concrete

[01:08:05] planter.

[01:08:06] Blood

[01:08:07] splattered

[01:08:08] across the

[01:08:08] burning hot

[01:08:09] Tomorrowland

[01:08:10] walkway.

[01:08:11] A custodian

[01:08:12] tossed a

[01:08:13] handful of

[01:08:13] powder on

[01:08:14] the mess and

[01:08:14] started to

[01:08:15] mop it up.

[01:08:16] Both bore

[01:08:17] a smile

[01:08:18] plastered on

[01:08:18] their faces.

[01:08:20] Ten

[01:08:21] minutes flying

[01:08:22] in circles on

[01:08:22] Dumbo did in

[01:08:23] another guest.

[01:08:25] glass elephant

[01:08:26] threw up on

[01:08:26] the ground

[01:08:27] from dizziness,

[01:08:28] spun around,

[01:08:29] and collapsed

[01:08:29] as if bear

[01:08:30] hugging the

[01:08:30] ride.

[01:08:31] When the

[01:08:32] elephant started

[01:08:33] up again,

[01:08:33] a new family

[01:08:34] had climbed

[01:08:34] into Dumbo

[01:08:35] and rose

[01:08:36] off the

[01:08:36] ground and

[01:08:37] then dumped

[01:08:38] the poor

[01:08:38] woman.

[01:08:39] She stood

[01:08:40] up and took

[01:08:40] a few

[01:08:41] Dumbos to

[01:08:41] her smiling

[01:08:42] face before

[01:08:42] her body

[01:08:43] gave in.

[01:08:44] It was

[01:08:45] happening

[01:08:45] everywhere.

[01:08:46] Cast

[01:08:47] members worked

[01:08:48] until they

[01:08:48] dropped.

[01:08:49] Guests

[01:08:50] ate and

[01:08:50] played until

[01:08:51] they passed

[01:08:52] out.

[01:08:52] Bloody

[01:08:52] accidents

[01:08:53] were happening

[01:08:53] everywhere.

[01:08:54] Josh was

[01:08:55] rooted in

[01:08:55] his chair.

[01:08:57] But despite

[01:08:58] it all,

[01:08:58] everyone was

[01:08:59] still smiling.

[01:09:00] They were

[01:09:00] still compliant.

[01:09:01] They were

[01:09:01] still enjoying.

[01:09:04] But they

[01:09:04] accepted their

[01:09:05] fates with

[01:09:05] no reaction.

[01:09:06] No self-preservation.

[01:09:09] Just smiles.

[01:09:12] Oh, Bob was

[01:09:13] going to murder

[01:09:13] him.

[01:09:13] What else could

[01:09:14] he do now,

[01:09:15] though?

[01:09:15] It was far

[01:09:15] too late.

[01:09:16] That gas

[01:09:17] infected

[01:09:17] everyone in the

[01:09:18] park within

[01:09:18] minutes.

[01:09:19] How many

[01:09:20] would be

[01:09:20] seriously

[01:09:21] injured or

[01:09:21] killed out

[01:09:22] there?

[01:09:23] Josh pried

[01:09:24] himself out

[01:09:25] of the

[01:09:25] chair.

[01:09:25] He flung

[01:09:25] open the

[01:09:26] door to

[01:09:26] the

[01:09:26] control

[01:09:26] center and

[01:09:27] raced down

[01:09:27] the

[01:09:27] utilidor.

[01:09:28] The

[01:09:31] scientists

[01:09:31] had to

[01:09:32] have an

[01:09:33] antidote or

[01:09:33] something,

[01:09:34] right?

[01:09:35] Wait, where

[01:09:36] was everybody?

[01:09:37] As he rounded

[01:09:38] the corner

[01:09:38] toward the

[01:09:39] lab, Josh

[01:09:40] leapt over a

[01:09:40] cast member who

[01:09:41] had been

[01:09:41] crushed by

[01:09:42] a golf

[01:09:42] cart.

[01:09:43] A custodian

[01:09:44] was scrubbing

[01:09:44] at the blood

[01:09:45] on the floor

[01:09:45] with a mop

[01:09:46] that had

[01:09:46] broken in

[01:09:47] half.

[01:09:48] He just

[01:09:48] scraped the

[01:09:49] broken handle

[01:09:51] on the

[01:09:51] ground, doing

[01:09:52] nothing.

[01:09:54] In the

[01:09:54] break room,

[01:09:55] somebody was

[01:09:55] emptying a

[01:09:56] vending machine

[01:09:56] one order at

[01:09:57] a time.

[01:09:59] Josh skidded to

[01:09:59] a stop when he

[01:10:00] realized everyone

[01:10:01] was smiling.

[01:10:02] It was down

[01:10:03] here too.

[01:10:04] Josh spun in

[01:10:05] circles, frantic

[01:10:06] for an idea.

[01:10:07] Could he make

[01:10:08] it to the

[01:10:08] lab?

[01:10:09] Back to the

[01:10:09] control center,

[01:10:10] that was safe.

[01:10:11] Or was it

[01:10:12] too late?

[01:10:13] Should he

[01:10:14] call Bob?

[01:10:16] Hot bile

[01:10:17] rose up in

[01:10:17] his throat.

[01:10:18] Josh's vision

[01:10:19] swam.

[01:10:20] There had

[01:10:20] to be a

[01:10:21] way out.

[01:10:21] He could

[01:10:21] still salvage

[01:10:22] this.

[01:10:23] He would

[01:10:23] fix it

[01:10:24] somehow.

[01:10:24] Josh

[01:10:25] always won.

[01:10:26] He smelled

[01:10:28] a sickly

[01:10:28] sweet scent

[01:10:29] and a

[01:10:30] smile tugged

[01:10:31] at the

[01:10:31] corners of

[01:10:31] his mouth.

[01:10:34] It took

[01:10:35] a week for

[01:10:35] the CDC

[01:10:36] to declare

[01:10:36] the site

[01:10:37] safe.

[01:10:38] Bob strode

[01:10:38] through the

[01:10:39] utilidors with

[01:10:39] a cadre of

[01:10:40] lawyers and

[01:10:41] besuited

[01:10:41] executives in

[01:10:42] tow.

[01:10:42] With a bit

[01:10:43] of pixie dust

[01:10:44] and a

[01:10:44] steaming pile

[01:10:45] of wishes,

[01:10:46] this story

[01:10:46] would never

[01:10:47] have to be

[01:10:47] told in

[01:10:48] full.

[01:10:48] As far as

[01:10:49] anybody knew,

[01:10:50] this was a

[01:10:50] targeted attack

[01:10:51] on an

[01:10:51] American

[01:10:52] institution,

[01:10:52] and who

[01:10:53] was behind

[01:10:54] it?

[01:10:54] Nobody

[01:10:54] ever needed

[01:10:55] to know.

[01:10:57] Most of

[01:10:57] the bodies

[01:10:58] had been

[01:10:58] hauled away

[01:10:58] days ago.

[01:10:59] It looked

[01:11:00] like they

[01:11:00] hadn't gotten

[01:11:01] too far

[01:11:01] into the

[01:11:02] utilidors,

[01:11:02] though.

[01:11:03] As far as

[01:11:04] cleanup was

[01:11:04] concerned,

[01:11:05] as Bob

[01:11:06] approached the

[01:11:07] command center,

[01:11:07] he heard a

[01:11:08] thump.

[01:11:09] Was somebody

[01:11:09] still alive

[01:11:10] in here?

[01:11:12] Never one

[01:11:12] to let

[01:11:13] another

[01:11:13] executive take

[01:11:14] the lead,

[01:11:14] Bob reached

[01:11:15] for the

[01:11:15] door.

[01:11:16] The door

[01:11:17] creaked open

[01:11:17] and revealed

[01:11:18] the dim glow

[01:11:19] of a bank

[01:11:19] of computer

[01:11:20] monitors.

[01:11:20] They flickered

[01:11:21] past images

[01:11:22] of the

[01:11:22] Magic Kingdom,

[01:11:23] now a place

[01:11:24] swarming with

[01:11:24] people trying

[01:11:25] to put it

[01:11:25] all back

[01:11:26] together.

[01:11:27] One monitor

[01:11:28] displayed a

[01:11:29] desktop with

[01:11:30] a word

[01:11:30] processor.

[01:11:32] Bob approached

[01:11:33] and leaned

[01:11:33] in.

[01:11:34] He scrolled.

[01:11:36] Hundreds of

[01:11:37] pages were

[01:11:38] covered with

[01:11:38] just one

[01:11:39] word.

[01:11:40] Story.

[01:11:43] A breath

[01:11:44] cut through

[01:11:44] the still

[01:11:44] air.

[01:11:45] Bob turned

[01:11:46] slowly to

[01:11:46] the side,

[01:11:47] eyes lingering

[01:11:47] on the

[01:11:48] word.

[01:11:49] When he

[01:11:49] finally broke

[01:11:50] away from

[01:11:50] the screen

[01:11:50] and adjusted

[01:11:51] to the

[01:11:51] darkness,

[01:11:52] he found

[01:11:52] Josh slumped

[01:11:53] in a chair.

[01:11:54] The harrowed

[01:11:54] man sucked

[01:11:55] a thin

[01:11:56] breath in

[01:11:56] through clenched

[01:11:57] jaws and a

[01:11:57] cracked smile.

[01:11:59] Bob had

[01:12:00] seen plenty of

[01:12:00] the victims,

[01:12:01] but seeing a

[01:12:02] close colleague

[01:12:02] afflicted was

[01:12:03] so much

[01:12:04] worse.

[01:12:06] Office chair

[01:12:07] screaming in

[01:12:08] agony,

[01:12:08] the skeleton

[01:12:09] of Josh placed

[01:12:10] his hands on

[01:12:11] the arms and

[01:12:11] pushed himself

[01:12:12] upward.

[01:12:13] He drew

[01:12:13] himself to

[01:12:14] his full

[01:12:14] height and

[01:12:15] adjusted his

[01:12:15] suit.

[01:12:16] The smile

[01:12:17] never changed.

[01:12:18] Josh took a

[01:12:19] step toward

[01:12:20] Bob and pointed

[01:12:20] at the monitor,

[01:12:21] desperate for

[01:12:22] approval.

[01:12:24] But Bob knew

[01:12:25] the story,

[01:12:26] the real

[01:12:26] story.

[01:12:28] Josh?

[01:12:29] he asked.

[01:12:31] somehow

[01:12:32] Josh smiled

[01:12:33] even wider.

[01:12:34] A desiccated

[01:12:35] piece of lip

[01:12:36] fell to the

[01:12:36] floor.

[01:12:39] Josh,

[01:12:40] you're fired.

[01:12:43] The end.

[01:12:47] Nice and

[01:12:48] gross.

[01:12:50] I love

[01:12:51] gross.

[01:12:52] Right.

[01:12:53] Married one.

[01:12:54] Excellent.

[01:12:56] Good stuff,

[01:12:57] man.

[01:12:57] Wow.

[01:12:57] I don't want

[01:12:58] to go now.

[01:13:00] Everyone did

[01:13:00] such a good

[01:13:01] job this year,

[01:13:02] which is a

[01:13:02] first.

[01:13:03] Excuse me.

[01:13:04] The first for

[01:13:05] everybody.

[01:13:08] Way to go,

[01:13:09] Eric.

[01:13:09] Thank you.

[01:13:10] I loved it.

[01:13:11] That was like

[01:13:12] my style.

[01:13:13] I like that.

[01:13:14] It was all

[01:13:14] like weird and

[01:13:15] gross.

[01:13:15] That's my style.

[01:13:16] And gross.

[01:13:17] It's my style.

[01:13:20] Excellent.

[01:13:20] All right.

[01:13:21] I based it off

[01:13:21] of an imagined

[01:13:24] synopsis of the

[01:13:25] movie Smile.

[01:13:26] Smile, which I

[01:13:27] then watched and

[01:13:28] then went, oh,

[01:13:29] this movie is

[01:13:29] totally different

[01:13:30] than what I

[01:13:30] thought it

[01:13:30] would be.

[01:13:35] All right.

[01:13:36] Yeah.

[01:13:37] I don't, I

[01:13:38] don't like mine.

[01:13:39] Here's the

[01:13:39] thing.

[01:13:39] I don't like it.

[01:13:40] Well, don't

[01:13:41] tell us that

[01:13:41] till you're done.

[01:13:42] It's too late.

[01:13:43] I already did

[01:13:43] it.

[01:13:44] I rewind it.

[01:13:45] True.

[01:13:45] I did it, but

[01:13:47] I don't like it.

[01:13:48] I'm upset about

[01:13:49] that.

[01:13:50] Usually I'd

[01:13:50] like I come

[01:13:51] charge in here.

[01:13:52] I'm like, this

[01:13:53] is the hottest

[01:13:54] thing in the

[01:13:55] world.

[01:13:56] But I

[01:13:57] whatever.

[01:13:58] Just add

[01:13:59] Lib a story

[01:13:59] about the

[01:13:59] wildest ride

[01:14:00] in the

[01:14:00] wilderness and

[01:14:01] add a ghost.

[01:14:03] Yeah.

[01:14:04] You know,

[01:14:06] Monkey McGee

[01:14:07] was at the

[01:14:09] top of the

[01:14:10] old water

[01:14:11] tower.

[01:14:12] Maybe you

[01:14:13] should just

[01:14:13] read yours.

[01:14:14] Okay.

[01:14:17] My working

[01:14:18] title is

[01:14:18] Engineering

[01:14:19] the Magic.

[01:14:21] Okay.

[01:14:22] Yeah.

[01:14:23] A working

[01:14:24] title as if

[01:14:25] I'm going to

[01:14:25] sit here and

[01:14:26] work on this

[01:14:26] even more.

[01:14:28] Let's

[01:14:28] workshop it.

[01:14:29] We've got a

[01:14:29] few hours

[01:14:30] left.

[01:14:31] Yeah, I

[01:14:32] know.

[01:14:32] I got 33

[01:14:34] hours left on

[01:14:34] this memory

[01:14:35] card.

[01:14:35] Let's see if

[01:14:36] we can fill

[01:14:36] it up.

[01:14:36] Yeah.

[01:14:37] One show.

[01:14:38] Jeez.

[01:14:39] We're getting

[01:14:40] there.

[01:14:40] All right.

[01:14:41] Here we go.

[01:14:45] John bounced

[01:14:45] in the seat,

[01:14:46] the suspension

[01:14:47] on his delivery

[01:14:48] truck, putting

[01:14:48] in more work

[01:14:49] than it was

[01:14:49] designed for.

[01:14:50] The radio

[01:14:51] embedded in

[01:14:52] the dash

[01:14:52] crackled to

[01:14:53] life every

[01:14:53] quarter mile

[01:14:54] so and at

[01:14:55] this point was

[01:14:55] only switched

[01:14:56] on to let

[01:14:56] John know

[01:14:57] he wasn't

[01:14:57] completely alone

[01:14:58] out here.

[01:14:59] He glanced

[01:15:00] down at his

[01:15:01] phone, making

[01:15:01] sure he was

[01:15:02] still on the

[01:15:02] right path.

[01:15:03] While reception

[01:15:04] was lost about

[01:15:05] 45 minutes the

[01:15:05] other way down

[01:15:06] the road, John

[01:15:07] had thought to

[01:15:08] download the

[01:15:08] directions, his

[01:15:09] usual move when

[01:15:10] he's delivering in

[01:15:11] a place he

[01:15:11] doesn't know.

[01:15:12] The rest of the

[01:15:13] drivers tease him

[01:15:14] about this and

[01:15:15] one of them even

[01:15:15] gave him the

[01:15:16] nickname One

[01:15:17] Direction, like

[01:15:18] the band.

[01:15:19] Real drivers, they

[01:15:20] said, should work

[01:15:21] like cab drivers,

[01:15:22] like in London or

[01:15:23] something.

[01:15:24] Always know where

[01:15:24] you are and

[01:15:25] always have a

[01:15:26] few different

[01:15:26] ways to get

[01:15:27] wherever it is

[01:15:28] you're going.

[01:15:30] This isn't

[01:15:30] London, mate, he

[01:15:31] muttered under his

[01:15:32] breath as he

[01:15:33] sped on down the

[01:15:34] dirt road.

[01:15:35] Nothing around

[01:15:36] him for miles

[01:15:36] except flat

[01:15:37] plains, grass

[01:15:38] waving at him

[01:15:39] in the breeze as

[01:15:40] he rumbled along.

[01:15:41] In the distance, a

[01:15:42] crow hollered at

[01:15:43] him from high upon

[01:15:44] a telephone pole.

[01:15:45] Beyond that, the

[01:15:46] sun began taking

[01:15:47] its position just

[01:15:48] above the horizon.

[01:15:50] John knew it was

[01:15:51] going to be a

[01:15:51] long drive back.

[01:15:53] Sighing deeply,

[01:15:54] he spat on.

[01:15:57] Moments later, up

[01:15:58] ahead, a chain-link

[01:15:59] fence popped out of

[01:16:00] the landscape, razor

[01:16:01] wire glistening in

[01:16:02] the setting sun.

[01:16:03] A gate sat

[01:16:04] blocking the road

[01:16:05] and next to it, a

[01:16:06] small hut with

[01:16:07] large windows.

[01:16:08] John slowed his

[01:16:09] approach, rolled the

[01:16:10] window down, and

[01:16:11] leaned out to

[01:16:11] address the guard

[01:16:12] inside.

[01:16:13] Got a delivery

[01:16:14] here for a

[01:16:15] name?

[01:16:16] The guard cut him

[01:16:17] off.

[01:16:17] Oh, uh, John,

[01:16:19] he managed.

[01:16:22] Pointing to the

[01:16:22] name sewn into

[01:16:23] a shirt, he said,

[01:16:24] no H, and

[01:16:25] smiled.

[01:16:26] The guard never

[01:16:27] looked up from

[01:16:27] his clipboard.

[01:16:28] A few scratches

[01:16:29] later, and the

[01:16:30] guard spun around,

[01:16:31] reached into the

[01:16:32] hut, and pressed

[01:16:33] a button.

[01:16:33] The chain that

[01:16:34] was attached to

[01:16:35] the gate jolted

[01:16:36] to life, pulling

[01:16:37] the massive door

[01:16:37] aside and granting

[01:16:38] John access.

[01:16:40] Thanks, uh, thank

[01:16:41] you, he said.

[01:16:42] Oh, is the

[01:16:43] office much farther

[01:16:43] down the, uh?

[01:16:45] The guard had

[01:16:45] stepped back into

[01:16:46] his hut by this

[01:16:47] point and closed

[01:16:48] the door on

[01:16:48] John's question.

[01:16:50] Awesome, John

[01:16:51] said, throwing the

[01:16:52] big box truck in

[01:16:53] gear and pushing

[01:16:54] on through the

[01:16:55] gate.

[01:16:56] John grew up

[01:16:57] around these

[01:16:57] parts, and yet he

[01:16:58] didn't recall this

[01:16:59] area being so far.

[01:17:01] As he rumbled down

[01:17:02] the dirt road, he

[01:17:03] recalled all the

[01:17:03] times he went

[01:17:04] hunting out in the

[01:17:05] hills with his

[01:17:05] brother, and in

[01:17:06] fact, it was his

[01:17:07] brother who had led

[01:17:08] the charge to City

[01:17:09] Hall to protest the

[01:17:10] sale of all this

[01:17:11] when that big

[01:17:12] company came in and

[01:17:13] bought it all up,

[01:17:14] throwing fencing to

[01:17:15] keep the locals out.

[01:17:16] What was their name

[01:17:17] again?

[01:17:18] Com something?

[01:17:20] Core?

[01:17:21] I don't know.

[01:17:22] A building rose from

[01:17:23] the horizon, and as

[01:17:24] John got closer, he

[01:17:25] saw the sign out

[01:17:26] front.

[01:17:27] Vision Core, that's

[01:17:29] right.

[01:17:30] The building looked

[01:17:31] old, older than

[01:17:32] its...

[01:17:35] Hold on, what does

[01:17:35] this mean?

[01:17:38] The building looked

[01:17:39] old.

[01:17:39] The exterior was brick

[01:17:41] with a well-maintained

[01:17:42] roundabout in front.

[01:17:43] To the left, the

[01:17:45] beginnings of a small

[01:17:45] private runway and

[01:17:47] two planes sitting

[01:17:47] next to it.

[01:17:49] The planes looked to

[01:17:49] be the same ones

[01:17:50] John and the rest of

[01:17:51] the county have been

[01:17:52] seeing flying overhead

[01:17:53] for the past 15 years

[01:17:54] or so, and at all

[01:17:55] hours of the night,

[01:17:56] too.

[01:17:57] It didn't make much

[01:17:58] sound, so folks just

[01:17:59] kind of left it alone.

[01:18:00] Didn't bother anyone,

[01:18:01] so who cares?

[01:18:02] But nobody ever seemed

[01:18:03] to know where they

[01:18:04] were zipping off to

[01:18:05] so damn often.

[01:18:06] Maybe John could find

[01:18:07] out.

[01:18:08] He snickered to himself

[01:18:09] at that thought.

[01:18:10] John the Brave, here

[01:18:11] to expose the big bad.

[01:18:14] Whatever Vision Core

[01:18:15] did inside, he'd never

[01:18:16] get to find out.

[01:18:17] He was just the delivery

[01:18:18] guy, and no one

[01:18:19] tells delivery guys

[01:18:20] anything, especially

[01:18:21] top-secret corporate

[01:18:23] stuff.

[01:18:23] Besides, all John really

[01:18:25] cared about was if they

[01:18:26] had a bathroom he could

[01:18:27] use.

[01:18:28] Since his company

[01:18:29] purchased the small

[01:18:30] private courier service

[01:18:31] that used to make runs

[01:18:32] out here, this was John's

[01:18:33] first time doing so.

[01:18:34] He knew every place on

[01:18:36] his usual route that let

[01:18:37] him slip back into the

[01:18:38] employee toilets for

[01:18:39] some quick relief, and

[01:18:40] hopefully these Vision

[01:18:41] Core guys were good to

[01:18:42] him, too.

[01:18:44] Approaching the

[01:18:45] roundabout, John geared

[01:18:46] down and came to a stop

[01:18:47] at the front door.

[01:18:49] Unbuckling his lap

[01:18:50] belt, he rummaged

[01:18:50] it around the back,

[01:18:51] grabbed the styrofoam

[01:18:52] container labeled

[01:18:53] Keep Refrigerated on

[01:18:55] it, and jumped down

[01:18:56] off the back of the

[01:18:57] truck.

[01:18:57] He walked up the steps

[01:18:59] towards the large,

[01:19:00] rather plain-looking

[01:19:00] double doors, and

[01:19:02] pushed on one.

[01:19:03] Nothing.

[01:19:04] He tried the other

[01:19:05] door.

[01:19:06] Still nothing.

[01:19:07] Looking around for a

[01:19:08] buzzer or something to

[01:19:09] notify those inside of

[01:19:11] his presence, he was

[01:19:12] stumped.

[01:19:13] Taking a step back, he

[01:19:14] looked at the doors

[01:19:15] again, reached out,

[01:19:17] grabbed one of the

[01:19:18] handles, and pulled.

[01:19:20] The door gave way.

[01:19:22] Bro, John muttered to

[01:19:23] himself.

[01:19:24] It had already been a

[01:19:25] long day.

[01:19:27] Stepping into the

[01:19:28] building, John was

[01:19:29] struck by how dark it

[01:19:30] was.

[01:19:31] There were no lights

[01:19:32] anywhere, and as the

[01:19:33] door slammed shut

[01:19:33] behind him, he was

[01:19:35] plunged into darkness.

[01:19:36] He shoved the great

[01:19:39] door open again and

[01:19:40] used his foot to move

[01:19:41] a medium-sized rock in

[01:19:43] place as a doorstop,

[01:19:44] keeping the door wide

[01:19:45] open, casting light into

[01:19:47] the entryway.

[01:19:48] Hello!

[01:19:49] He called out.

[01:19:50] Y'all good in here?

[01:19:52] His voice echoed through

[01:19:53] the room and down the

[01:19:54] hall on his right.

[01:19:55] The light from the

[01:19:56] doorway, as dim as it

[01:19:58] was, helped John's eyes

[01:19:59] adjust to his

[01:20:00] surroundings.

[01:20:01] It looked like your

[01:20:02] standard corporate,

[01:20:03] boring-ass waiting-room

[01:20:04] lobby.

[01:20:05] A few chairs, a coffee

[01:20:06] table, some magazines

[01:20:07] spread out tastefully,

[01:20:08] waiting for curious fingers

[01:20:10] to flip through the pages

[01:20:11] and judge the adverts

[01:20:12] contained within.

[01:20:14] Everything didn't have

[01:20:15] an older feel to it,

[01:20:16] something like you would

[01:20:17] find in an office from

[01:20:18] 1974.

[01:20:19] A lot of tan, a lot of

[01:20:21] yellow, dark brown.

[01:20:23] Ahead of him, textured

[01:20:24] frosted glass positioned

[01:20:26] halfway up a wall

[01:20:26] separated the receptionist

[01:20:28] desk from the rest of

[01:20:29] the room.

[01:20:30] As he walked to it, he

[01:20:31] reached out instinctively

[01:20:32] and rubbed the leaves of

[01:20:33] the ficus potted next to

[01:20:34] one of the chairs.

[01:20:36] Fake.

[01:20:38] Tucking the styrofoam box

[01:20:39] more securely underneath

[01:20:40] his left arm, he reached

[01:20:42] up and rapped lightly on

[01:20:43] the frosted sliding window.

[01:20:45] It shook slightly in its

[01:20:46] track as he did, rattling,

[01:20:49] casting its own echoes

[01:20:50] into the room.

[01:20:51] He waited, sighed, and

[01:20:53] called out again,

[01:20:54] Yo!

[01:20:56] Nothing but his own

[01:20:57] voice traveling down the

[01:20:58] hallway once more.

[01:20:59] He looked at the package

[01:21:00] under his arm.

[01:21:01] That red sticker felt like

[01:21:03] a force propelling him

[01:21:04] deeper into the building.

[01:21:05] It didn't really seem like

[01:21:07] something he should just

[01:21:07] leave at the front desk

[01:21:09] after all.

[01:21:10] The light behind him was

[01:21:11] fading as the sun set,

[01:21:12] and as dedicated to the

[01:21:14] job as John was, really

[01:21:15] wanted to get out of there

[01:21:17] and get home as fast as

[01:21:18] possible.

[01:21:19] Against his better

[01:21:20] judgment, John pointed

[01:21:21] himself down the hall and

[01:21:22] went searching for anyone

[01:21:23] who could take this box

[01:21:24] from him.

[01:21:25] Signing for it first, of

[01:21:27] course.

[01:21:28] Admittedly, John wasn't

[01:21:29] thrilled about wandering

[01:21:30] around a facility like

[01:21:31] this on his own, with the

[01:21:33] lights off and no sign of

[01:21:34] anyone around at all.

[01:21:36] But he felt a sense of

[01:21:37] duty, and even a tiny bit

[01:21:39] of morbid curiosity as to

[01:21:41] the situation.

[01:21:42] Not only why the power was

[01:21:43] out, but what it actually

[01:21:44] was that went on here.

[01:21:46] Walking slowly toward the

[01:21:48] hallway opening, a light

[01:21:49] was pulsing.

[01:21:50] Dim, but it was there.

[01:21:53] Slowly, he walked

[01:21:54] towards that light,

[01:21:55] shuffling his feet as he

[01:21:56] went.

[01:21:57] Behind him, from outside,

[01:21:59] the faint rumble of a

[01:22:00] sliding metal door caught

[01:22:01] his attention.

[01:22:02] He recognized that sound,

[01:22:04] but at the moment he

[01:22:05] could not place it.

[01:22:06] Then the unmistakable

[01:22:08] growl and shudder of a

[01:22:09] truck engine.

[01:22:10] His truck.

[01:22:11] John froze as he

[01:22:12] processed just what it was

[01:22:14] he was hearing.

[01:22:15] What the?

[01:22:16] He muttered.

[01:22:17] Pivoting, John ran back

[01:22:19] toward the front door, only

[01:22:20] to reach it just as the

[01:22:21] rear of his truck picked

[01:22:22] up speed, bouncing back

[01:22:24] the way it had come.

[01:22:25] Hey, that's my truck, you

[01:22:26] dick!

[01:22:27] I'll edit that out, don't

[01:22:28] worry.

[01:22:29] Picking up a rock, he

[01:22:30] threw it down the road,

[01:22:31] hoping to hit the truck and

[01:22:32] make it stop, he guessed.

[01:22:34] He wasn't sure why, only that

[01:22:35] it felt good.

[01:22:36] So he did it again, this

[01:22:38] time aiming for the gentle

[01:22:39] cloud of dusk just off the

[01:22:41] horizon that his former

[01:22:42] truck was throwing up

[01:22:43] behind it.

[01:22:45] Twilight.

[01:22:46] The sun had set and full-on

[01:22:48] darkness would be here

[01:22:49] before too long, so John

[01:22:51] had better get back inside

[01:22:53] and try to find a phone to

[01:22:54] call for some help.

[01:22:56] This didn't sit right with

[01:22:57] him, and to be honest, he

[01:22:58] didn't really think going

[01:22:59] back inside was all that

[01:23:00] great an idea, but with a

[01:23:02] cell phone in the truck,

[01:23:03] along with the only sign of

[01:23:04] life he found so far, inside

[01:23:06] seemed like his only

[01:23:07] option.

[01:23:10] Things were darker now than

[01:23:11] ever.

[01:23:12] John was truly blind inside.

[01:23:14] He could see the reflection of

[01:23:15] the faint blinking light down

[01:23:17] the hallway, so he headed

[01:23:18] that way.

[01:23:19] The thing about a blinking

[01:23:21] light in pitch darkness is that

[01:23:22] it kind of makes everything

[01:23:23] else harder to see.

[01:23:25] Just when your eyes get

[01:23:26] adjusted to the darkness, that

[01:23:27] faint glow throws everything

[01:23:29] off.

[01:23:29] But it was in those sections of

[01:23:31] light that John could scan the

[01:23:32] hall and look for anything in

[01:23:34] his way.

[01:23:34] Blink, pause, scan, blink,

[01:23:38] pause, scan, move.

[01:23:40] Over and over, shuffling along

[01:23:42] as he did.

[01:23:43] There were papers everywhere, a

[01:23:45] couple of clipboards, an

[01:23:46] overturned cart with wheels.

[01:23:48] Whatever happened here seemed

[01:23:49] to clear this place out in a

[01:23:51] hurry.

[01:23:51] Well, except for the person who

[01:23:53] just took his truck.

[01:23:54] Reaching the end of the hall,

[01:23:56] John arrived at a door marked

[01:23:57] research.

[01:23:58] Behind the wire mesh security

[01:24:00] glass, he could see the source

[01:24:01] of the light.

[01:24:02] A small box on the wall.

[01:24:04] Under the box, a sign.

[01:24:05] Emergency protocol.

[01:24:07] Security will respond when

[01:24:09] activated.

[01:24:11] John reached out and turned

[01:24:13] the handle.

[01:24:13] The door opened, then stopped

[01:24:15] with a resounding thud.

[01:24:17] He pushed back and while the

[01:24:18] door moved a bit, it wasn't

[01:24:19] big enough for him to fit

[01:24:21] through.

[01:24:22] Squaring his shoulder, John

[01:24:23] leaned back and slammed into

[01:24:24] the door.

[01:24:25] It moved a lot this time.

[01:24:26] Once more, thwack!

[01:24:28] Whatever it was on the other

[01:24:29] side of that door had some

[01:24:30] mass to it.

[01:24:31] And again, thwack!

[01:24:32] Finally!

[01:24:33] He was able to slip in through

[01:24:35] the door jamb.

[01:24:36] He scooted a few steps to that

[01:24:37] small box on the wall and

[01:24:39] pushed the big red button.

[01:24:41] Floodlights attached to

[01:24:42] batteries that mounted along

[01:24:44] the walls flickered on,

[01:24:45] carving out sections of

[01:24:46] darkness and waves.

[01:24:47] The focused beams made it

[01:24:49] possible for John to get a

[01:24:50] good look at the room he was

[01:24:51] now standing in, despite the

[01:24:53] sections of it that were still

[01:24:54] bathed in black.

[01:24:56] Tables, stainless and shiny,

[01:24:58] positioned in the center of

[01:24:59] the room, around what looked

[01:25:00] like a large cylindrical

[01:25:01] tank filled with a kind of

[01:25:03] opaque fluid.

[01:25:05] Inside was a blob of some

[01:25:07] kind.

[01:25:07] John couldn't really tell what

[01:25:08] the light...

[01:25:09] John couldn't really tell what.

[01:25:11] The light didn't go that far

[01:25:12] into the room.

[01:25:14] Standing there, taking it all

[01:25:15] in, he heard a whirring sound,

[01:25:17] like an electrical motor

[01:25:18] activating.

[01:25:19] From out of the blackness, in

[01:25:21] the direction of the cylinder,

[01:25:22] a voice reached out to him.

[01:25:24] Synthetic.

[01:25:25] Computer generated, but it was

[01:25:26] clearly addressing him.

[01:25:28] Welcome.

[01:25:29] You have already been

[01:25:30] scanned and found not to have

[01:25:32] proper clearance to be in the

[01:25:33] laboratory.

[01:25:34] A single red beam of light

[01:25:35] shot down from the ceiling,

[01:25:37] wrapping around John.

[01:25:38] However, I see that you have

[01:25:40] the parts I was waiting for,

[01:25:41] yes?

[01:25:43] John had completely forgotten

[01:25:44] about the package underneath

[01:25:45] his arm.

[01:25:46] I, uh, yeah.

[01:25:47] He held it out in front of him.

[01:25:49] Where, where are you?

[01:25:51] The red spotlight clicked off,

[01:25:53] and as it did, the fluid in the

[01:25:54] tank in the middle of the room

[01:25:55] began to bubble, like some kind

[01:25:57] of giant novelty airstone for a

[01:25:59] fish tank.

[01:26:00] A light clicked on on the inside

[01:26:01] of the tank, and a shadowy blob

[01:26:03] was silhouetted inside the

[01:26:05] yellowish liquid.

[01:26:06] Please open the container and

[01:26:08] gently place the contents inside

[01:26:09] the tray beneath the cylinder.

[01:26:12] As the voice finished, a small

[01:26:14] tray slid out from the base of

[01:26:15] the large tank with a small

[01:26:16] clinking sound.

[01:26:17] John walked apprehensively over,

[01:26:19] and as he did, the blob floating

[01:26:21] in the tank got larger and

[01:26:23] larger, but not any clearer,

[01:26:24] as the cloudy nature of the

[01:26:25] liquid inside prevented a really

[01:26:27] clear assessment of it.

[01:26:29] He set the container down, and

[01:26:30] with the nail of his thumb, ran

[01:26:32] it along the edge of the lid,

[01:26:34] cutting the paper that sealed it.

[01:26:36] Inside was a clear plastic bag,

[01:26:38] tied at the top with the same

[01:26:39] kind of yellowish liquid that

[01:26:40] was inside the tank.

[01:26:42] Nestled at the bottom was what

[01:26:44] looked to be a sort of whitish

[01:26:45] gray steak.

[01:26:46] Couldn't really tell.

[01:26:49] Placing it in the tray and

[01:26:50] stepping back with a look of

[01:26:51] simultaneous confusion and

[01:26:52] accomplishment.

[01:26:54] You must open the bag and

[01:26:56] empty the contents into the tray.

[01:26:58] I cannot access the contents

[01:26:59] through the bag.

[01:27:01] Right.

[01:27:02] John stepped forward again,

[01:27:04] undoing the knot and slowly

[01:27:05] pouring the liquid into the

[01:27:06] tray.

[01:27:07] The steak slithered and slid

[01:27:09] into the tray with a

[01:27:09] satisfying slunk.

[01:27:11] Thank you.

[01:27:13] Yeah, no, no problem.

[01:27:16] The tray closed and a door

[01:27:17] across the room opened.

[01:27:19] Three figures stepped into the

[01:27:20] room and started walking

[01:27:21] looking towards John.

[01:27:22] Oh, security.

[01:27:23] Hey, I'm glad you guys are here,

[01:27:25] man.

[01:27:25] So look, someone drove off with

[01:27:27] my van and I need a phone or

[01:27:28] something.

[01:27:29] His voice trailed off.

[01:27:31] The figures ignored him and

[01:27:33] instead walked to the

[01:27:34] standless tables in the center

[01:27:35] of the room, each one laying

[01:27:37] down on their own table.

[01:27:38] It was only now that they lay on

[01:27:40] the tables under the spotlights

[01:27:42] that John could get a good

[01:27:43] look at them.

[01:27:44] Each one looked similar, not

[01:27:46] identical, but closely related.

[01:27:49] Each one was bald with a blank

[01:27:50] expression on its face.

[01:27:52] The purple jumpsuits they all

[01:27:53] wore concealed their shape, but

[01:27:55] he reckoned they were all built

[01:27:56] in a similar fashion as well.

[01:27:59] A whirring sound emanated above

[01:28:01] him as three individual robotic

[01:28:02] arms deployed from the ceiling, each

[01:28:06] swinging around in unison, reaching

[01:28:08] down underneath the tables.

[01:28:10] The pinchers grabbed onto a long

[01:28:12] wire with a metal connector at one

[01:28:13] end, slowly pulling it back to

[01:28:15] gain slack and then inserting the

[01:28:17] connector into the tops of the

[01:28:19] figures' heads.

[01:28:20] Their eyes began to pulse in unison

[01:28:22] with a white light.

[01:28:23] A panel opened on the sides of

[01:28:25] their heads and a small tray slid

[01:28:27] out.

[01:28:27] The arms then rotated to face the

[01:28:29] cylinder and waited as the larger

[01:28:32] tray that John had put into the

[01:28:33] strange...

[01:28:35] As the larger tray that John had put

[01:28:37] the strange-looking sample ejected

[01:28:39] once more.

[01:28:40] One at a time, each surgical arm

[01:28:42] reached into the tray and removed

[01:28:44] a bit of the sample.

[01:28:45] Dripping with fluid, the arm rotated

[01:28:47] again, inserting the sample into the

[01:28:49] smaller trays contained within the

[01:28:51] heads of the subjects on the tables.

[01:28:53] As before, the slots retracted and

[01:28:55] then closed on their own.

[01:28:58] Computer shutdown!

[01:28:59] Authorize 14-8!

[01:29:00] The voice behind him boomed out,

[01:29:02] startling John.

[01:29:03] John.

[01:29:03] The light inside the cylinder turned

[01:29:05] from yellow to red and the bubbles

[01:29:06] stopped completely, allowing the fluid

[01:29:08] in the tank to settle.

[01:29:10] The dark mass inside receded into the

[01:29:12] shadows.

[01:29:13] John spun around as a small woman in

[01:29:15] her 60s zipped past him, scurrying to

[01:29:17] the figures whose eyes had stopped

[01:29:19] pulsing by this point.

[01:29:21] Next time, a giant ball of flesh floating in

[01:29:24] a tank tells you to do something, she said,

[01:29:26] reaching from around the back to one of

[01:29:27] the figures.

[01:29:28] With a small click, the eyes on the figure

[01:29:30] went from white to red.

[01:29:31] Don't listen to it, she finished.

[01:29:34] Giant, what?

[01:29:35] Wait, what the hell is going on here?

[01:29:38] The woman repeated the process with the

[01:29:39] second figure, ignoring the question.

[01:29:41] As she approached the third, she looked at

[01:29:43] him and sighed.

[01:29:45] Trust me, it's over your head.

[01:29:47] Clicking the final button on the back of

[01:29:49] the figure, the woman set the head back

[01:29:51] down on the table with a thud and walked

[01:29:53] over to a bank of computers on the wall.

[01:29:55] Now let's get the lights back on, shall

[01:29:57] we?

[01:29:58] Stunned, John pushed back.

[01:30:00] Hey, I'll have you know I took a few

[01:30:02] computer classes in college, okay?

[01:30:04] I think I have the right to know what

[01:30:06] just happened here.

[01:30:07] The woman began typing on the freshly

[01:30:09] booted computer.

[01:30:10] Lines of command prompts flew by on the

[01:30:13] screen as she spoke.

[01:30:14] This is an advanced facility for the

[01:30:17] advancement of neurotechnology focused

[01:30:19] primarily on supplying the business world

[01:30:21] with more sympathetic succession plans,

[01:30:23] specifically utilizing proprietary

[01:30:25] advancements and so-called

[01:30:27] biocomputing to install brain organoid

[01:30:29] processors into animatronics.

[01:30:31] She hit enter and spun around to look at

[01:30:33] John.

[01:30:34] Get all that?

[01:30:36] Spotlights clicked off and for a brief

[01:30:37] moment, the whole room was black once more.

[01:30:40] From out of the dark came some advice

[01:30:42] for the woman.

[01:30:43] Close your eyes.

[01:30:44] What?

[01:30:45] Was John's reply, but he didn't have time

[01:30:47] for clarification as the overhead

[01:30:49] lights popped on full and bright,

[01:30:51] piercing John's retinas.

[01:30:52] God damn.

[01:30:54] I told you, was the reply from the woman.

[01:30:56] Now, come on, we need to get moving.

[01:30:58] It won't be long before the rest of them

[01:30:59] find out.

[01:31:00] Wait, what?

[01:31:01] There's more of these things?

[01:31:03] I think so.

[01:31:04] We're not really sure.

[01:31:05] We lost count about a week ago.

[01:31:08] Jack stood there as the woman had headed

[01:31:10] towards the hallway he had just come from.

[01:31:12] She disappeared around the corner and

[01:31:13] called back, are you coming?

[01:31:15] Are you just waiting to see if I shut

[01:31:16] them down all the way?

[01:31:18] The squeak of John's sneaker on the

[01:31:20] smooth linoleum floor echoed around the

[01:31:22] room as he raced to catch up with her,

[01:31:23] whoever she was.

[01:31:24] The tails of her white lab coat were

[01:31:26] flapping behind her as she moved with the

[01:31:28] dexterity and swiftness even he didn't

[01:31:30] possess at half her age.

[01:31:33] So what?

[01:31:34] You're making robots here?

[01:31:35] He asked the back of her lab coat.

[01:31:37] Over her shoulder came the answer.

[01:31:39] Son, you just delivered a slice of the

[01:31:41] cerebral cortex that once belonged to

[01:31:43] the CEO of a Malaysian shipping empire,

[01:31:45] slipping it into the tray of a lab-grown

[01:31:48] cerebrum and watched as it implanted said

[01:31:51] brain matter into the processors of

[01:31:53] animatronics.

[01:31:54] She stopped and spun around.

[01:31:56] John almost knocked her down.

[01:31:57] He was moving so fast to keep up.

[01:31:59] The lady looked up at him.

[01:32:01] And you still think we just build robots?

[01:32:04] Pivoting back around, she continued down

[01:32:06] the hall.

[01:32:07] John wasn't sure what he objected to most,

[01:32:10] this new reality or the air quotes she

[01:32:12] threw up as she said build robots.

[01:32:15] They made their way through the reception

[01:32:16] area and stopped when they reached the

[01:32:18] door that John had propped open.

[01:32:20] Tell me, did you do this?

[01:32:21] She asked, gesturing to the rock.

[01:32:23] Well, yeah, it was the only way to get

[01:32:24] any light in here when I showed up.

[01:32:27] She seemed to chew this thought over.

[01:32:29] Fine, she said.

[01:32:30] As long as one of those things didn't get

[01:32:32] out, we should be okay.

[01:32:34] Stepping onto the porch, the pair made

[01:32:36] their way down the steps and onto the

[01:32:37] gravel of the roundabout.

[01:32:38] The woman turned to John.

[01:32:40] All right, where's your car?

[01:32:42] Someone friggin stole it when I was

[01:32:44] inside, man.

[01:32:45] Whenever the company flips on that GPS

[01:32:47] and that GPS in there, that dude is

[01:32:49] toast.

[01:32:50] The old lady grabbed his arm.

[01:32:52] She was a lot stronger than she looked.

[01:32:54] Pulling his arm down, she brought

[01:32:56] John to her eye level.

[01:32:57] Very methodically, very deliberately,

[01:32:59] she said, I am the only one here.

[01:33:03] She released his arm and John stood

[01:33:05] back up.

[01:33:06] The old woman began pacing back and

[01:33:08] forth, the crunch of the gravel

[01:33:09] underneath her feet, the only sound.

[01:33:12] So who took my truck?

[01:33:14] No response.

[01:33:16] One of those robots?

[01:33:18] For the last time, these things aren't

[01:33:20] mere robots.

[01:33:21] She stopped pacing, sat down on one of

[01:33:23] the steps and gestured for John to sit.

[01:33:26] In Sweden, several years ago, there was

[01:33:28] a company who made a major breakthrough

[01:33:29] in computing.

[01:33:30] They were able to connect a small

[01:33:32] amount of human brain tissue to a

[01:33:34] computer, using it as sort of an

[01:33:36] advanced super processor.

[01:33:38] We took that technology and improved

[01:33:40] it, shaped it, and created our very

[01:33:42] own neuro platform.

[01:33:44] Of course, the results were wildly

[01:33:46] expensive, far too much for even the

[01:33:47] richest individuals to afford at scale.

[01:33:49] But we thought, who are the richest

[01:33:52] people in the country today?

[01:33:53] The world, even.

[01:33:55] She paused, waiting for an answer.

[01:33:58] Uh, Elon Musk?

[01:34:01] Don't make me puke.

[01:34:03] No, I'm talking about corporations.

[01:34:05] Boards pay millions and millions to

[01:34:07] top executives who only get replaced

[01:34:09] eventually.

[01:34:10] But what if you could record the

[01:34:12] brainwaves of your top executives and

[01:34:14] implant those into one of these

[01:34:16] neuro platforms?

[01:34:17] Your company could go on forever in

[01:34:18] the same exact way it started.

[01:34:21] Think about if Apple was able to do

[01:34:22] this with Steve Jobs.

[01:34:24] Think of where we'd be now instead of

[01:34:25] just polishing a different iPhone and

[01:34:27] calling that innovation.

[01:34:29] So where do the robots come in?

[01:34:31] She ignored this affront to her work

[01:34:33] and replied, that stuff is all from

[01:34:35] the Disney company.

[01:34:35] They've been working on more advanced

[01:34:37] animatronics for the theme parks for

[01:34:38] decades.

[01:34:39] So we went to them to find out about

[01:34:41] using those advancements in our own

[01:34:42] work.

[01:34:43] And in turn, she put her hands out, palms

[01:34:46] upward and shrugged.

[01:34:47] You'd find them a successor for their

[01:34:49] board.

[01:34:50] Not fine, she said.

[01:34:52] Make.

[01:34:52] But we could never make it function at

[01:34:54] the level we thought acceptable.

[01:34:55] So we kept it around for maintenance.

[01:34:58] Odd jobs.

[01:34:59] Poker nights, she laughed and stood up.

[01:35:01] But never mind that.

[01:35:02] We have to get out of here and try to

[01:35:04] figure out where that rogue one went

[01:35:05] off to.

[01:35:06] She looked to the left, then to the

[01:35:08] right.

[01:35:09] Hey, can you fly a plane?

[01:35:11] I mean, sort of, John replied.

[01:35:14] I am fully instrument rated on Microsoft

[01:35:15] Flight Simulator, if that's anything.

[01:35:18] It'll have to do.

[01:35:19] The two walk off to the airstrip, the

[01:35:21] lone plane sitting underneath the

[01:35:23] rising moonlight.

[01:35:24] So I have to ask, what's with the

[01:35:26] planes?

[01:35:26] I see them all the time, but nobody

[01:35:28] knows where they go.

[01:35:30] Deliveries mostly.

[01:35:31] You'd be surprised how many units we

[01:35:32] have out there in the world.

[01:35:34] Ever heard of Davos?

[01:35:36] That big meeting the world leaders

[01:35:38] John?

[01:35:38] Yeah.

[01:35:39] A fifth of all that?

[01:35:40] That's our product.

[01:35:42] Reaching the plane, they climb in.

[01:35:44] So besides the one you turned off in

[01:35:46] there, how many of these things did

[01:35:48] you have?

[01:35:48] Like, who was it that left in my

[01:35:50] truck?

[01:35:51] Flipping switches, the woman looked at

[01:35:52] John.

[01:35:53] There's only one, and if it gets to

[01:35:55] where it's going, there's no stopping

[01:35:57] it.

[01:35:57] The engine sputtered to life.

[01:35:59] Okay, kid, you're up.

[01:36:01] Get us out of here.

[01:36:02] Roger that, John replied.

[01:36:06] Three years later.

[01:36:08] Bob Iger takes his place at the head

[01:36:10] of the conference room table.

[01:36:12] Along either side are large high-back

[01:36:14] chairs full of executives, save for

[01:36:16] one empty seat at the far end.

[01:36:17] The room is quiet.

[01:36:19] The door opens and in walks a woman,

[01:36:22] part of the executive team.

[01:36:23] She takes her seat in the empty chair

[01:36:25] and nods at Iger.

[01:36:26] A smile crosses his face.

[01:36:28] As most of you have been made aware,

[01:36:30] we are now complete.

[01:36:40] Iger stands, adjusts his suit coat, and folds

[01:36:43] his hands in front of him.

[01:36:45] Finally, we can begin.

[01:36:47] That's all.

[01:36:48] That's it.

[01:36:49] That's it.

[01:36:51] Good job.

[01:36:52] Thanks, man.

[01:36:53] I hate it.

[01:36:54] Yours and Eric's kind of like,

[01:36:55] we're on the same vibe.

[01:36:57] I always worry that,

[01:36:59] like I think back,

[01:37:00] okay, what did he do last year?

[01:37:03] What have we done in the past?

[01:37:05] And then there's always the concern,

[01:37:07] like, what if Jason and I somehow do the same thing?

[01:37:10] I think that would be great.

[01:37:11] That would be so weird.

[01:37:13] Didn't that happen once with Bev?

[01:37:15] I don't know, maybe.

[01:37:15] I don't know, but I thought it was great.

[01:37:17] Yeah, I liked it.

[01:37:18] It's stupid.

[01:37:19] It was dumb.

[01:37:19] It's one of those things where you get halfway through,

[01:37:22] or you get,

[01:37:23] and maybe you guys didn't have this problem,

[01:37:24] but I sure do because my brain is everywhere,

[01:37:28] but I'll go like,

[01:37:29] oh yeah, I was going to fix that.

[01:37:31] Or, oh yeah, I changed that.

[01:37:33] Oh yeah, this was going to go somewhere,

[01:37:37] and it didn't.

[01:37:38] And I never added on to it anymore

[01:37:40] because I realized I was already getting too long

[01:37:42] in the tooth about it,

[01:37:43] and so I ignored it,

[01:37:44] and it's one of those.

[01:37:46] So then as you're reading,

[01:37:47] you're thinking about all the dumb stuff you just said,

[01:37:49] and like, how dumb?

[01:37:50] You didn't take that out.

[01:37:51] Should I take it out now?

[01:37:52] Should I just go back and just delete the thing,

[01:37:54] and then not in there,

[01:37:55] read over it again,

[01:37:55] and then you're halfway through.

[01:37:56] You're like, well, I guess I got to keep going.

[01:37:58] Yeah.

[01:37:59] Yeah.

[01:37:59] These are hard.

[01:38:00] I kind of don't like them anymore.

[01:38:03] Even because Eric's is so good.

[01:38:05] No one's ever liked them.

[01:38:06] Let's just be clear.

[01:38:07] No one but me has ever liked them,

[01:38:09] and this year I didn't like it as much,

[01:38:10] but I had to cut mine.

[01:38:13] It was 10 pages,

[01:38:14] and I cut it down to seven pages,

[01:38:17] and even then,

[01:38:18] I mean, you guys know it was too long,

[01:38:20] and I was like,

[01:38:20] I don't know what else to cut out

[01:38:22] because I want people to know the characters.

[01:38:25] I want them to wonder which one it is.

[01:38:27] Oh, it's tough.

[01:38:28] Yeah.

[01:38:28] These are too complicated.

[01:38:29] That's the challenge

[01:38:30] of trying to be creative

[01:38:34] and just kind of let it go

[01:38:35] and also to be entertaining

[01:38:37] because at some point,

[01:38:39] people are just going to get bored,

[01:38:40] you think.

[01:38:40] You're like,

[01:38:41] God, I don't know.

[01:38:42] Whatever.

[01:38:42] Who cares?

[01:38:43] I'm just complaining about the thing I did.

[01:38:45] No, honestly,

[01:38:46] I think it was a good one.

[01:38:48] It was great.

[01:38:49] I mean,

[01:38:49] considering when you finished it.

[01:38:51] Fine.

[01:38:52] That doesn't help.

[01:38:53] The considering when I finished it?

[01:38:55] No.

[01:38:55] No, I...

[01:38:56] No, it should just be...

[01:38:57] That was great.

[01:38:58] No, it was great.

[01:38:59] It was just...

[01:39:00] Period.

[01:39:00] I just didn't...

[01:39:02] Because you were like,

[01:39:03] I hate it.

[01:39:04] I hate it.

[01:39:05] And you finished it

[01:39:06] right before we started.

[01:39:08] I was like...

[01:39:09] I thought it was going to be a lot worse.

[01:39:11] I thought it was great.

[01:39:11] Honestly.

[01:39:12] Stupid.

[01:39:13] Well, thanks.

[01:39:14] Whatever.

[01:39:14] Whatever.

[01:39:15] All right.

[01:39:15] Well, look.

[01:39:16] Thanks to Rob for coming on

[01:39:18] and also to Ryan, of course.

[01:39:20] Ryan, good job.

[01:39:22] Yes.

[01:39:22] Thanks.

[01:39:22] Excellent.

[01:39:23] You're welcome, man.

[01:39:24] You too, Eric.

[01:39:24] It is harder than you expect.

[01:39:26] Like, as a listener,

[01:39:27] you're like,

[01:39:27] oh, I could do this.

[01:39:29] No problem.

[01:39:31] Yeah.

[01:39:31] If you have three spare days...

[01:39:33] Why not?

[01:39:34] Yeah, exactly.

[01:39:35] Well, I mean,

[01:39:36] there's a certain...

[01:39:37] There's a certain...

[01:39:37] There's a certain skill.

[01:39:39] There's a certain talent.

[01:39:41] I mean, you know,

[01:39:41] to write a creative story

[01:39:43] and then have it be semi-interesting

[01:39:45] is not easy.

[01:39:47] Yeah.

[01:39:47] But then it's also simultaneously too easy

[01:39:49] because, like,

[01:39:50] who isn't...

[01:39:51] Why am I just not writing books?

[01:39:54] And then I realize,

[01:39:55] oh, yeah,

[01:39:55] because it sucks.

[01:39:57] It's hard.

[01:39:58] It's really hard.

[01:39:59] And to be fair,

[01:39:59] I like doing the segment.

[01:40:01] I like doing the thing.

[01:40:02] But going back and editing it

[01:40:03] and listening to myself again...

[01:40:05] Oh, yeah.

[01:40:05] Oh, no.

[01:40:06] That's the worst, man.

[01:40:07] That's the worst.

[01:40:08] Anyway,

[01:40:08] let's get out of here.

[01:40:09] I don't think I...

[01:40:11] I didn't make a spooky outro.

[01:40:13] You did it?

[01:40:14] I thought you did.

[01:40:15] No, I didn't.

[01:40:15] Oh.

[01:40:16] So, you know,

[01:40:17] we're just going to deal with

[01:40:18] the normal outro

[01:40:21] on this holiday of holidays.

[01:40:23] Yes.

[01:40:25] Oh, my.

[01:40:26] Oh.

[01:40:28] What's going on?

[01:40:29] Oh, no.

[01:40:30] What's happening?

[01:40:30] Oh, no.

[01:40:34] Oh, man.

[01:40:37] Oh, no.

[01:40:39] Something scary is happening, guys.

[01:40:41] Oh, my God.

[01:40:48] Let the birds in here.

[01:40:49] What's going on?

[01:40:52] The birds, not the birds.

[01:40:53] This is what I was doing

[01:40:54] instead of finishing my story.

[01:40:57] Anyway,

[01:40:58] thank you very much, everybody,

[01:40:59] for listening to the show.

[01:41:00] This is our spooky story show.

[01:41:02] We love doing it.

[01:41:03] It's a blast.

[01:41:04] Don't listen to me.

[01:41:06] You know,

[01:41:06] I like to complain about it,

[01:41:08] but it's a lot of fun

[01:41:09] and I really appreciate

[01:41:10] Rob and Ryan for coming on

[01:41:11] and filling in for everybody else

[01:41:13] and Eric.

[01:41:15] I forgot your name for a second.

[01:41:17] Good job, buddy.

[01:41:17] It's okay.

[01:41:18] It's on the screen,

[01:41:19] but you know.

[01:41:19] Good job.

[01:41:20] Thanks.

[01:41:20] All right, everybody.

[01:41:21] Thanks a lot for tuning in

[01:41:21] and until next time,

[01:41:23] we'll see you in the parks.

[01:41:27] Actually, we got a couple seconds

[01:41:29] before the rest of it kicks in.

[01:41:30] I didn't know.

[01:41:31] I don't know how we...

[01:41:35] All right.

[01:41:35] Goodbye, everybody.