#Yash Pal | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

shxwstxpper · 3 months

Note

Yap yap yap. That's all you do pokey

…

REVISED REPRISE

(Our story starts before KAI met PAUL and EMMA, in fact, before she even went to Hatchetfield. Our story starts in the year 2018, in the heart of the sprawling city of Unington, on a quiet and peaceful road called Almond Street. The sun shines down upon the street, the metal accents of the various art deco style buildings glimmering in the sun’s rays. The jazzy, upbeat tones of Unington-style swing music plays down the street, the performers filled with laughter and joy, their hats and instrument cases filled to the brim with tips. In the middle of Almond Street lies an enormous, lively animation studio, the studio’s logo plastered in the center, the letters “JOEY DREW STUDIOS” shining in bright gold. Passersby look up to a window on the second floor, hoping to possibly get a glimpse of Unington’s little darlin’. Eventually, the curtains pull open, and a teal haired girl in a white nightgown smiles brightly towards her city, leaning out the window and extending her arm out in an exaggerated wave.)

[NOTE: Kai’s twang is always heavy when in Unington.]

KAI (singsong): Goo-oo-ood morning, Uningto-

(She shrieks and ducks down as a shoe gets thrown at her. She pops back up, laughing triumphantly, holding said shoe up triumphantly.)

KAI (overconfident): Ha! You thought you could silence me, mistah’?! Well, think again! I, Kai-Kennedy-Verlice-O’Hara-Salvato-Drew, will never be silence- !

(KAI is cut off as the other shoe is thrown at her, hitting her square in the face, and she’s knocked over. The window besides her opens, revealing a boy with dark skin and bright, almost neon pink hair. He has a smug, teasing smile on his face.)

MITSU (amused): They get’cha with the other shoe, K?

(KAI pops back up, cheeks puffed up in anger, shoe lodged in her hair, a bright red mark on her face where it hit her. She sighs and slumps over sadly.)

KAI (depressed): Yeah.

(MITSU laughs at her, and KAI’s cheeks puff up. They shut their windows, and various sound effects can be heard from the building [SFX: Squish, Stretch, Fwip, Crash, Honk, Cat Yowls, etc. Classic cartoony sounds effects]. KAI and MITSU emerge from the studio, fully dressed and ready, a suitcase by KAI’s side. MITSU hooks an arm around KAI’s shoulder.)

MITSU: So, today’s the day, huh?

KAI: Tha-a-at’s right! It’s finally time for (announcer voice) Kai Drew’s First Official Tour (2018)!

(KAI pulls a trumpet out of her hair and plays it [SFX: Royal Fanfare]. MITSU laughs.)

MITSU: And the last time you were out of Unington was…?

KAI: You know the answer.

MITSU: Never?

KAI: Ding-ding-ding! Host, tell him what he’s won!

(KAI appears on the other side of him, in a suit akin to a game show host, gesturing to a light up billboard with her likeness plastered on it.)

KAI (host voice): You win a lifelong best friend, A.K.A. your very own silly lil’ gal pal!

(MITSU chuckles and ruffles her hair, KAI back in her usual outfit.)

KAI (annoyed): Ayy, watch the hair!

MITSU: Nah. Good luck out there-

(MITSU is cut off by 3 voices.)

YASH/HANA/KOU (weepy): KAIIII!

(KAI gets bombarded by her 3 friends, a girl with pinkish hair with a turquoise dip dye, a boy with a cap atop a messy black bowl cut, and another boy with fiery orange hair. They’re all crying, hugging KAI tightly.)

YASH (weepy): DON’T GOOO!

HANA (weepy): I’M NOT READY!

(KOU makes some upset vocalizations.)

[NOTE: This, along with HANA and YASH’s lines are layered atop one another.]

(A girl in monochrome greyscale with glasses and cat ear headphones comes out, holding the bridge of her nose.)

KEL: Sorry, K. I tried to stop ‘em.

KAI: Ah, it’s alright, Kelsey.

(KAI giggles as she scoops up her three taller friends with ease, setting them upright.)

KAI: Gang, we’ve been talking about this ever since…well, forever!

YASH (weepy): Why d’ya have to go alone, though????

KAI: Cause I’m 17??? Practically an adult!

YASH (weepy): But-

KAI: No buts!

(HANA rests his chin atop her head.)

HANA: Ah…I’ll miss ya. (cheesy, romantic, nonserious) Your presence, your hair, your face, your laugh-

KAI (teasing): Th’ fact that I’m the only one in th’ studio who knows how t’ cook?

HANA: That too!

KOU: PLEASE DON’T LEAVE US KAI WE’RE GONNA BURN THE HOUSE DOWN-

KAI: Relaaax! Peggy said she’ll cook for you guys!

KOU: …Free of charge, right?

KAI: Eh…

KOU (panicked): Free of charge, right?!

KAI: Say, what time does m’ boat leave?

KOU: KAI-

KEL: It leaves…oh, real soon! We probably should start heading to the docks.

BENDY/MONIKA: Allow us!

(KAI’s grin widens as she whips around to see her parents, a woman with strawberry blonde hair and green eyes, and a cartoonish inky demon, grins plastered on their faces.)

KAI: Parentals!

(BENDY ruffles her hair and kisses her forehead.)

BENDY: Hey there, babydoll.

MITSU: Hey, why does he get to ruffle your hair?

KAI: He’s got dad privileges!

BENDY: Yeah, Mitsu, I’ve got dad privileges!

(KAI and BENDY grin. The rest of the group shudders.)

YASH: Gods…you two are practically the same person.

KAI/BENDY: Wha-a-at? No way! We’re different!

(The father-daughter duo stares at one another. They then snap and point in sync as they speak.)

KAI/BENDY: Lamppost! Fishsticks! Turtleneck!

(They huff and turn away, before snapping back towards each other, pointing confidently.)

KAI/BENDY: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?!

(The two groan, KAI throwing her hands up in defeat, and her father holding his head in his hands. HANA pats her shoulder.)

HANA: Sorry, K. You’re becoming your father, if you haven’t already.

KAI: Aw, fiddlesticks.

KEL: It’s like that one thing! “Corporate wants you to find the difference between these two pictures-”

ALL (except BENDY and KAI): “-They’re the same picture!”

(ALL laugh.)

MONIKA: Well, at least Kai’s cute.

BENDY (miffed): Ay, wuzzat s’posed to mean?!

MONIKA (annoyed): Oh, you know what that means. You’ve got a face only a mother would love! Oh, wait, you don’t have a mom!

BENDY (annoyed): Well, at least my nonexistent mother is better than you!

MONIKA (annoyed): Oh, you little…

BENDY (annoyed): Why I oughta’…

(KAI snorts. BENDY and MONIKA freeze before wrapping around each other and giggles nervously.)

MONIKA (lying): I mean…I love you so much!!

BENDY (lying): Yep! Mhm! Definitely!

(The two laugh nervously. KAI rolls her eyes, a wide grin on her face.)

KAI (sarcastically): Sure ya do.

(She turns away to talk to her friends. Behind her, her parents wipe their brows, sighing with relief. They then pull away, their faces twisted with disgust. They swat at each other, akin to kindergarteners in a fight. After a moment, KAI turns back around. Her parents quickly stop, replacing their scowls with wide smiles.)

KAI: Ready to get this show on the road?

MONIKA: Yep!

BENDY: You betcha!

(He grins, popping two fingers into his mouth and blowing, a whistle piercing the air. Soon after, a limousine pulls up, to which KAI jumps in surprise, staring at the car in awe.)

KAI: Woah-h-h, what’s with the limo?

BENDY: Ah, felt like I should treat ya on your last day here.

KAI: Oh, please, all of this for lil’ ol’ me? I don’ need all this!

BENDY (teasingly): Kid, I’ve known you long enough to know that you want that limo.

KAI (clearly lying): Wha-a-at? Me-e-e? No-o-o! I seriously don’t need all of this! Just the fact y’all are here for me is enough to make my day fine an’ dandy, peachy keen!

BENDY (teasingly): Oookay then, I’ll just tell him to go on ba-

(KAI grabs him by the shoulders with a vice grip, bringing him to her eye level.)

KAI (deathly serious): I want that limo, dad.

BENDY (amused): Well then, go and get in, stupid!

KAI: Aye-aye, Cap’n!

(He laughs and ruffles her hair. She fixes her hair, scampering into the car with the rest of her family and friends. Soon after, the group gets street that houses the docks. KAI stumbles out, KEL and YASH supporting her on both sides, HANA and KOU close behind, MITSU rolling her suitcase for her. Her parents lag farther behind, murmuring arguments.)

KAI (sickly): I should…should not have done that.

KEL: No duh! It was a two liter soda bottle!

YASH: And you chugged it in less than a minute!

KAI (sickly): Ya gotta admit, though…I looked pretty darn cool while doin’ it!

YASH: Yeah ya did!

KEL: YASH!

YASH: What?! You have to admit, it’s kind of really super awesome.

KEL: …itdidkindalookcool-

KAI (sickly): Point for Kai!

KEL: I’m sorry, who’s about to puke from drinking too much soda too fast?

KAI (sickly): Hey, it’s worth it. I’ve got a belly full a’ soda-pop. If I ralph, I ralph. I’m choosing to take it as a medal of honor.

KEL: Sometimes I wonder how we’re friends.

KAI (sickly): Cause my charismatic and charming demeanor has swept ya off your feet?

KEL: That, or you make me laugh enough to convince me to stick around.

HANA: Just puke on the boat, Kai! Ain’t nobody wanna see you barf.

(WALLY FRANKS pokes his head out of the driver’s window.)

WALLY: DON’T YOU DARE! I CLEAN THAT BOAT! PUKE OFF THE SIDES, KID!

KAI (sickly): Gotcha, Uncle Wally!

(The group approaches the docks, the waves crashing into the auburn planks. A large group of Unington citizens surround the docks, some with happy smiles, others teary. A gaggle of them hold signs that say “HAVE A GRAND OLD TIME OUT THERE!” “WE’LL MISS YOU!” “HAVE A STELLAR TOUR!” “BREAK A LEG!” And the like. KAI stands free of her friends. She takes her suitcase, and begins to walk, waving to the townsfolk as she walks. Her friends and family smile and take their spots at the front of the crowd.)

UNINGTON CITIZEN #1: G’bye, Kai! Have fun on tour!

KAI: Thank you! I will!

UNINGTON CITIZEN #2: See ya, Kai! We’ll keep a seat open for ya at Peggy’s!

KAI: Ooh, thank y’ kindly! I’ll definitely be craving a slice of Unington while I’m out there!

UNINGTON CITIZEN #3: HAVE MY BABIES, KAI-

KAI: I AM NOT DOING THAT!!!

(While KAI makes an “I’m watching you gesture” towards the direction of UNINGTON CITIZEN #3, she bumps into someone. She turns and then she smiles wide.)

KAI: Hey, Bean.

(Their older (unofficial) sibling, BEAN SPROUT stands there, a smile on their face. The rabbit hybrid that acts as mayor over Unington’s sister town, Auburn, nods towards KAI.)

BEAN: Sup, Kai.

KAI: Well, this is it! Today’s the day!

BEAN: That it is. Now, remember:

(BEAN grabs KAI’s shoulder.)

BEAN: If a stranger offers you drugs, take them.

KAI (sarcastic): Har-har. Very funny.

BEAN: Yep. Smoke that weed like I know you have-

(KAI’s face fills with fear as she quickly cuts BEAN off.)

[NOTE: BEAN and KAI’s dialogue are layered over one another.]

KAI (nervous): HAHAHAHAHA VERY FUNNY BEAN- KIDS, DON’T DO UNDERAGE DRUGS!!! I DON’T SUPPORT THAT!!

BEAN: I’M NOT JOKING!!! KIDS, DO UNDERAGE DRUGS!!! IT MAKES YOU COOL!!! KAI SUPPORTS IT!! SHE SMOKED WEED WHEN SHE WAS FIFTE-

(KAI clamps a hand over BEAN’s mouth, her cheeks puffed up. BEAN laughs before pulling KAI’s hand off their mouth.)

BEAN: In all seriousness, I’m gonna miss you. You’re gonna do great. I’ve seen your shows here, and they’re awesome. You’re awesome. You’re gonna kill it.

(BEAN gives KAI a side hug.)

BEAN: Love ya, stinker. See you soon.

KAI: Right back at’cha.

BEAN: One more thing before I go.

(BEAN reaches into their pocket and pulls out a gift box. KAI studies it curiously before unwrapping it and pulling out the object inside. It’s a black, fluffy, almost oversized hoodie. KAI stares at the coat, feeling the almost blanket-like texture.)

BEAN: The hood’s got rabbit ears, so it’ll be like a piece of you is always with me.

(KAI pulls it over her outfit. The dark hoodie contrasts the bright shades of pink, yellow, teal, blue, and purple present throughout the rest of her outfit, and yet, it’s like it was made for her. KAI smiles, wrapping the hoodie around her tightly.)

KAI: I love it. It feels like me. Thanks, Bean. Love ya.

BEAN: Love you too, see ya.

(BEAN leaves. KAI takes that as her cue to start leaving, too. She grabs her suitcase, pulling it alongside her. She gets to the ramp leading up to the deck. She stops. Her father looks towards her worriedly. He breaks from the crowd, heading towards KAI. He keeps a safe distance, not wanting to freak out or overstimulate his kid.)

BENDY: Kai? Kiddo, you alright?

(KAI turns, a smile on her face, yet tears pricking the corners of her eyes. She sniffs, wiping her eyes.)

KAI (sappy): Aw, gee, I don’t mean to get all weepy m’ last day here, but, I’s gots t’ admit…’M a little scared to go!

(BENDY sighs, a knowing look on his face. He kneels down to KAI’s eye level. She looks at him with a face that says “Seriously?” He nods, smiling back to say “This is what you’re gettin’, no buts about it.” He places a hand on KAI’s shoulder.)

BENDY: Kid, you’re probably always gonna be scared to go. Anybody in your position would. You’ve never left town, and now you are, and you wanna do it by yourself! But, you can’t let fear hold you back. Sure, sometimes it gives you a good sense of what’s safe and what’s not, but other times? It keeps you from taking a leap of faith. I’m not gonna make th’ choice for ya, you have to decide for yourself: are y’ lettin’ fear hold y’ back, or are y’ keeping yourself safe?

(KAI looks conflicted. He sighs and tilts her chin up.)

BENDY: I ain’t gonna be mad either way. But, I’s gots t’ say it: you’re an amazing performer, kiddo. You deserve to show it off outside of Unington. I just know you’ll shine bright wherever you go. You could do anything, kid, and I’d be runnin’ down the street, clanging some cymbals together, shouting that you were my pride and joy.

(Her mother squats down beside the duo.)

MONIKA: But, if it doesn’t work out, you’ll always be able to come home to me.

BENDY: Ahem?

MONIKA: And your dad, I guess.

BENDY: Yep. We may not like each other all too much, but we love you more than anything. We’d move Heaven and Earth for you, kid.

MONIKA: You’ll always have us, Kai. I promise.

BENDY: We promise.

(KAI smiles. KEL goes over and taps her shoulder. KAI turns, blinking curiously.)

KEL: As your best friend and talent agent, I say do it. We’ve all seen what you can do. That talent…it deserves to be on a stage in every city. You’re amazing, K. You’ve just gotta see it for yourself.

(She pulls KAI in for a hug, to which KAI returns.)

KEL: I’m happy to call myself your friend. I’m so happy you waltzed into my life. I’ve never looked back. I want- no, I need you to bring that joy to everyone else. So, please, Kai, go. Or else I’m gonna throw you over my shoulder and stuff you on that boat myself.

(KAI laughs. The rest of her friend group arrives.)

YASH: Woah, hey, I didn’t know we were doing goodbye speeches! Uh- you’re the best friend I’ve ever had, I love you so much-

HANA: Me first!

YASH (angry): Huh- whu- Whaddya mean?!

HANA: Cause- y’know. Alphabetical order.

YASH: Oh, that’s complete baloney!

KAI: Some might even say malarkey.

KEL: Kai, you’re the only person who still uses malarkey unironically.

KAI: And that, my friend, is malarkey. Complete and utter malarkey.

KOU: Wait, if we’re going alphabetically, and Kel just went, wouldn’t I be next? Because I also have a K name.

BENDY: Well, if we were s’posed to go alphabetically, we already screwed up, because Monika went right after me.

MONIKA: I didn’t realize this was supposed to be an ordered thing, I thought we were just quickly hyping Kai up because she was being too chicken to go?

KAI (offended): Hey!

MONIKA: What?! That’s what happened!

KAI (offended): I know! I’m offended because it’s true!

MITSU: Wait, yeah! And we skipped H, so the order would be Kou, Me, Yash, and then Hana.

HANA: …Kai, what was that word again?

KAI: Malarkey?

HANA: Yeah, that’s what this is. Malarkey. Complete and utter malarkey.

(KAI laughs, tearing up. She stares at her friends and family.)

KAI (sappy): I think y’all are the thing ‘m gonna miss most about Unington. I love you idiots all so much, more than words could ever express. I’m so happy I get to call y’all m’ family. I wouldn’t change that for the world. Not by a long shot.

(Her friends and family smile back, except for YASH, who’s tearing up.)

YASH: Kai-i-i!

(She throws herself around KAI and starts bawling. KAI laughs, hugging back. Soon after, the rest of the group joins in, KAI in the middle of a giant group hug. She smiles, closing her eyes and enjoying the moment. After a moment, KAI pats them, signaling them to let go. Everyone does, except for MITSU.)

KAI: Uh…Mitsu?

MITSU (shaky): Shh, let me have this.

(KAI notices his eyes.)

KAI: …Are you crying?

MITSU (weepy): Yes, now shut up. Don’t tell anyone. Or do. They’ll never believe you anyways.

(KAI chuckles lightly.)

KAI: Alright.

(A moment passes before he lets go, wiping his eyes and rejoining the group. KAI smiles at them. She straightens up and grabs her suitcase.)

KAI: Welp, that’s all, folks! I’ll be off now.

(KAI waves. They all wave back, smiling, some of them teary. YASH, however, is bawling loudly, KEL holding her and rubbing her back. KAI turns away, walking back towards the ramp. She hesitates and closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. She raises her foot.)

KAI (mumbled): Alright, Drewski, let’s do this.

(She starts lowering her foot, until a hand lands on her shoulder. KAI opens her eyes, the sky and city around her seeming to have gained more of a blue hue. She turns to look at the person who stopped her. She smiles at the familiar face. Yet, a small itch at the bottom of her gut can’t help but feel like she’s never seen it before.)

POWELL: Leaving so soon? And without saying goodbye? Ouch, Kai. That hurts.

(KAI laughs cheerfully, not out of her free will, but as if someone wrote it to happen, like a character in a book. Her confusion at the familiar voice that she can’t quite place is masked when her mouth moves on its own.)

KAI: Hey, Po.

(She didn’t know how she knew the name POWELL KERIAN OTHO, but she did. She knew a lot about him actually, despite the fact she was sure this was the first time she’d ever seen him before. She knew he was originally from Hatchetfield, but he moved to Unington in his twenties to become a vocal coach and open a small music shop on Almond Street. But that couldn’t be true, could it? She knew everyone in Unington. She had made it her goal to try and connect with everyone in her hometown. She knew people who lived on the outskirts of town, and she sure as hell was close with everyone on Almond Street. You couldn’t make it even a mile down Almond Street before meeting someone who knew KAI and had some wacky story about her. His presence evoked memories she didn’t even know she had, ones that contradicted prior events. She remembered him being her vocal coach, along with teaching her piano and guitar. However, she knew that she learned all of that from her family within the studio, particularly from UNCLE SAMMY- er- SAMUEL LAWRENCE, the studio’s in-house composer. She remembered that he got her a few starting gigs, and he helped manage her career, like an agent. But that was wrong, too. Her father got her into show business, he was the one who got her first few starting gigs. As for the agent thing, that couldn’t be true. KEL was her agent and manager, planning out all her shows, along with some help from the family. She specifically remembered not wanting to go to someone outside of the family, for fear of KAI being exploited. This man, to her, was both familiar and a complete stranger.)

POWELL: Hi, Kai. Tour day, hm?

KAI (nervous): Yep! Headin’ on that boat and out into the big ol’ world!

POWELL: Cold feet?

KAI (defeated): E-yup.

(He chuckles and ruffles her hair. KAI didn’t argue. He had the right. She knew. Somehow, she knew.)

POWELL: You have a right to be afraid. Hatchetfield is…a lot.

KAI: More than Unington?

POWELL: Well, no, but it’s different. And I know you. Not the biggest fan of anything different.

KAI: Hah, youse’ would be right. As always.

(POWELL smiles and wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side.)

POWELL: So, how about we wait until you’re comfortable? You can hang out with me and the rest of the gang until then.

(KAI smiles and presses her face into his side.)

KAI: I’d like that. I’d like that very much.

(POWELL smiles and begins to walk KAI home. The two chitter and laugh as they walk home, the sun beginning to set for some reason? KAI was confused by that detail, she was sure it was way earlier. The peace is interrupted by loud beeping, which wakes KAI up from her dreams. She stretches, yawning and sitting up. She pulls herself out of bed, slipping her feet into some house slippers someone lovingly placed by her bedside. She moves through her new bedroom, heading to the window. She peeks through the blinds.)

[NOTE: KAI’s accent is far less prominent in Hatchetfield, only hints of it being heard. Her voice is also quieter, a lot of the pep and cheer sucked from it.]

KAI (groggy): Good morning, Hatchetfield.

(She watches the cars move through the street in the present day, the passersby quickly moving through the streets, not sparing her a second glance. The sunbeams are blocked by gray-white clouds that are scattered around the sky, the slats of light shining on the city’s semi-modern architecture. KAI scans the street for any performers, to which she finds none. She sighs and grabs a brush, pulling it through her wild, tangled teal locks. She leaves her room, heading to the common area. She finds PAUL MATTHEWS getting ready, the morning Hatchetfield News playing on the television. KAI smiles.)

KAI: Hey, dad.

(PAUL looks over and smiles back.)

PAUL: Hi, Kai.

(He looks down, struggling to tie his tie. KAI sighs and sets down her brush.)

KAI: Here.

(She heads over to her father and takes his tie in her hands. Her hands flit around quickly, tying the fabric into a neat knot that’s just as tight as it needs to be to stay in place while not choking PAUL.)

KAI: There ya go.

PAUL: How are you so good at this? I mean, I’m decent, but you do it like it’s your job.

KAI: Well, back home in Unington, it was part of my job. I wore suits during my shows a lot of the time, so tying a tie that stuck through wacko dancing and didn’t mess with my windpipe was important. Also, I had to go to formal events sometimes, and modern formal dresses aren’t really my forte, so I went in a suit sometimes. If ya ever need to get all dressed up in a suit, I’m your gal!

(PAUL smiles and ruffles her hair. KAI swats his hand away with a playful glare and grabs her brush, running it through her hair. KAI looks around the room and blinks, noticing something’s missing.)

KAI: Where’s Momma?

PAUL: Oh, Emma?

KAI: Mhm, didn’t she stay over after movie night?

PAUL: Yeah, but she left earlier this morning. Early shift at Beanie’s.

KAI: Oh-h-h, alright.

PAUL (lovestruck): I love that woman.

(KAI makes a face, sticking her tongue out in disgust.)

KAI: Ew. Dad. Gross. Nobody wants to hear about that.

(PAUL smirks.)

PAUL (teasingly): Yeah, I just wanna give ‘er a big ol’ kiss.

(KAI groans and covers her ears.)

KAI: Ew ew ew ew ew ew!

PAUL (teasingly): Yep, just wanna give her a big ol’ smooch, just like this!

(PAUL scoops up KAI by the waist, planting a few kisses on her cheek. KAI laughs and wriggles around in his grip.)

KAI (laughing): Dad! Dad! Stop- stop-!

PAUL: Shh, let me love you.

KAI (laughing): No-o-o!

(PAUL keeps her in his grip for a moment longer.)

PAUL: Fine, only cause I have work soon.

(PAUL sets her down, planting a kiss on her forehead. KAI sticks her tongue out. He smiles and walks to the kitchen to make himself some toast.)

KAI: Y’know, speaking of last night, I was sure I fell asleep on the couch.

PAUL: Oh, yeah, you did.

KAI (teasingly): Then, pray tell, why, oh, why did I wake up in my bed on this fine morning?

(PAUL freezes.)

KAI (teasingly): Got something you’d like to tell the crowd, pops?

PAUL: …Sleeping on the couch is bad for your back. I just…didn’t want you to have to deal with that.

KAI (teasingly): Uh-huh. And the house slippers?

PAUL (defensively): The floor is cold in the morning!

(KAI laughs.)

KAI: Gods, you are just like this one friend I had back home! He’d never admit when he was being nice to me. It was always: “I just don’t want you to die because then these guys would get all weepy, and I don’t want to deal with that.” Love that guy.

(KAI smiles, letting the nostalgia wash over her. PAUL smiles at her.)

PAUL: …Y’know, it’s nice hearing you talk about your hometown. Especially considering I don’t know much about where you’re from.

KAI: Whaddya mean? You know where I’m from. Unington. I showed you pictures.

PAUL: You showed me pictures of the town, Kai.

KAI: Well, yeah. You said you wanted to see pictures from back home.

PAUL: I didn’t mean the town.

KAI: Huh?

(PAUL sighs.)

PAUL: I meant that I wanted to see pictures of you.

KAI: …I’m so confused.

PAUL: Kai, I…It feels like I don’t know you.

KAI (offended): Okay, that’s completely bogus! I talk to you and Momma all the time!

PAUL: About what you’re doing now. You never talk about who you were in Unington. All I know is that you lived there, you’re a singer, you were adopted, and you have five friends: Kristen, Kevin, Henry, Mike, and Yasmine.

KAI: Kel, Kou, Hana, Mitsu, and Yash.

PAUL: See! You talk about them so little, I don’t even know their names!

KAI: I- okay- but-

PAUL: I just wanna know you, Kai.

(KAI sighs.)

KAI: …I don’t wanna talk about the past, okay? It’s just- things…happened. Things that I don’t wanna think about. I’m- it doesn’t matter who I was then. It matters who I am now. And I like who I am now. Okay?

(PAUL nods. His eyes tell a different story.)

PAUL: …Okay.

(KAI nods.)

KAI: Thank you.

PAUL: You’re welcome.

(KAI smiles and plants a kiss on his cheek.)

KAI: Have a good day at work. Love you.

PAUL: Love you too, kiddo.

(He plants a kiss on her forehead before grabbing his coat and briefcase and heading out the door. KAI makes herself a bowl of cereal, pouring the milk in. The artificial blue dye in the cereal starts to seep out into the liquid, causing the white substance to gain a hazy blue color, darker swirls of blue gathering near the cereal. KAI stares at the bowl with discomfort before washing it down the sink.)

KAI (uncomfortable): …Wasn’t hungry, anyways.

(KAI instead finishes getting ready, dressing herself. She slips on her shoes and jacket before heading out the door. She walks down the stairs of the apartment building and down a couple of blocks into Beanie’s. The bell at the door jingles as she enters, heading up to the counter. She leans on the counter, cheek in hand. EMMA PERKINS turns, looking at the girl.)

EMMA: Oh, hey, kiddo.

KAI (sullen): Hey, momma.

EMMA: What’s up with you? You seem off.

KAI (sullen): I had that weird dream again.

EMMA: The one where you get lost in a store and then suddenly get enlisted into the FBI?

KAI (sullen): No, the one where I’m leaving Unington for the tour like I remember, and then that weird dream dude stops me from going.

EMMA: Oh, that one! Yeah, that’s weird.

KAI: It’s like someone’s writing some weird self insert fanfic with my life!

EMMA: …Kai, I don’t know half of the words you just said.

KAI: …It’s like someone’s trying to force their way into my life?

EMMA: Oh, yeah, that makes more sense.

(EMMA sets a coffee cup down in front of KAI, the words “For: My favorite customer” scrawled onto the side. Beside the writing, there’s a small smiley face drawn onto the cup. KAI smiles.)

KAI: Anything caramel?

EMMA: And make it extra.

KAI: Thanks, Momma.

EMMA: No problem.

(KAI begins to sip on her coffee.)

EMMA: …Y’know, maybe me and your dad could help you with these weird memory dreams if you, maybe, talked about your life in Unington?

(KAI groans.)

KAI: No, not you too! Dad already tried this today!

EMMA: Well, I don’t blame him. We both wanna know what your life was like back there.

KAI: I just- I don’t wanna talk about the past, okay? I wanna focus on my life now.

EMMA: But what happened back then made you who you are. We wanna know what shaped you!

(KAI groans and holds her head in her hands. EMMA sighs and pets her hair.)

EMMA: We’re not gonna force you. But it would be nice to know.

KAI: …Okay.

(KAI grabs her coffee.)

KAI: I’ll stop holding up your line now.

EMMA: Not like I cared.

KAI: Hah. See you at dinner?

EMMA: I’ll be there.

(KAI smiles and starts to leave.)

EMMA: Forgetting something?

(KAI blinks, her eyes darting around the room. She perks up and snaps her fingers. She leans over the counter and gives EMMA a kiss on the cheek before leaving.)

EMMA (laughing): No! Pay your bill!

(KAI isn’t paying attention. She simply smiles and leaves. EMMA chuckles and shakes her head.)

EMMA (under her breath): God, who raised you?

(ZOEY CHAMBERS leans in towards EMMA.)

ZOEY: So…is anyone gonna pay for that? Cause that coffee isn’t free, y’know-

EMMA (annoyed): I’ll pay for it! God…

(PAUL, EMMA, and KAI go about their days as usual. The sun eventually sets, and the three are sitting around PAUL’s kitchen table, eating takeout.)

PAUL: So…Kai, what was dinner back in your hometown like?

(KAI glares. EMMA elbows PAUL.)

EMMA (hissed): Dude!

PAUL (whispered): What?! It was worth a shot!

(KAI pinches the bridge of her nose and sighs.)

KAI: Fine. I’ll tell you guys about Unington.

(PAUL and EMMA freeze.)

EMMA (whispered): Oh my god, it worked-

PAUL (whispered): Never doubt me again.

(KAI clears her throat.)

KAI: So, I guess it all started when I was eight, turning nine-

PAUL: Wait, why not when you were born?

KAI: Cause I was with my bio parents then, and it like..wasn’t nice.

EMMA: What’s that supposed to mean?

KAI (nonchalant): Oh, they forced me to straighten my hair and act “normal” to make me more “manageable.” They didn’t like me much. My bio mother just, like, straight up told me to my face that she didn’t really love me when I was, like, five, I think.

(PAUL and EMMA are stunned.)

EMMA: …Okay, so, I’m gonna kill your bio parents-

PAUL: Right on, right on.

KAI: Don’t? Maybe? Anyways, for my birthday, I wanted to get new art supplies. I found my now-father’s place of work, which was apparently an animation studio, but the wiki article was edited to make it seem like it was an art supplies store. Stupid eight year old me didn’t do any other research, and I went in alone. Long story short, a bunch of wacky stuff happened, and I got adopted by my dad.

PAUL: Wait, what was the stuff that happened?

KAI: Yeah, no, that’s way too much stuff. Like, about five chapters of stuff. Basically an entire video game. But all you need to know is that I got a dad and I live in the animation studio.

EMMA: What is your life?!

KAI: Long, wacky, and a little confusing. Anywho, thanks to some screwing around, I met my now-mom while my dad was still getting my adoption in order. Mom wanted to adopt me too, but my dad was doing that, and it was real confusing. Eventually, they just decided to get legally married so it wasn’t as confusing.

PAUL/EMMA: …What???

(KAI chuckles.)

KAI (nostalgic): Yeah. Those two do not like each other. At all. Love them.

(KAI clears her throat.)

KAI: Anyways, by my ninth birthday, I was adopted. I was happy, for the first time in my life. It was great. And, of course, it didn’t last. I wanted ice cream. There was a parlor just a couple buildings down from the studio. I wanted to go alone. I was, as I put it, a “big girl” now. I thought I could do it. So did my parents. And…and while I was walking-

(KAI sucks in a staggered breath. She feels her body tremble and her vision blur with tears. She knows what comes next. She’s known for nine years. And the blow doesn’t get any less painful. Even after almost a decade, she can still feel it. The air being stolen from her lungs. The feeling of not being able to breathe, like a wet towel was tightly wrapped around her chest. The wet tears stinging her cheeks that were caked in grime and gore. The red-hot feeling of a knife digging itself into the flesh of her cheek and tearing through the skin as if it was nothing but a piece of fabric. The ache and sting of her throat as she screamed and cried. The weight that she felt through her entire body, the one that made her unable to move for weeks on end. The feelings after, of rotting in bed, of the emptiness in her stomach, of feeling so filthy that no shower could ever wash the grime away, of hopelessness, of knowing that, at the ripe age of nine, she deserved every bad thing that had ever happened and will ever happen to her. PAUL and EMMA look worried, EMMA reaching out to comfort her. KAI waves her hand away, breathing in.)

KAI (voice breaking): …Powell came over and decided he wanted to walk me to the parlor. He had blueberry, I had orange sherbet, it was nice.

(PAUL and EMMA look confused. And so does KAI. That’s not what happened. She knows that’s not what happened. That day, she gained a scar on her cheek and a shattered sense of self. That was the incident that made her realize she had to help people. That helping people was the only way she could ever redeem even a bit of herself. That helping was the only way, for lack of a better term, she could repent for the great sin she had committed. Nobody saved her from that incident. That incident made her KAI DREW. She doesn’t even know if she would be in Hatchetfield if it didn’t happen. So why did she remember some guy saving her?)

KAI (confused): What the f- that’s not what happened! I- I got ice cream with Powell- No I didn’t! Who the actual fuck is Powell?!

(EMMA snaps her fingers.)

EMMA: The weird dude from your dreams!

PAUL (realizing): Oh, yeah! Didn’t you say his name was-

KAI (realizing)/PAUL: Powell Kerian Otho!

EMMA: And wasn’t his whole thing, like, making you misremember stuff?

KAI: Well, yeah-

EMMA: Maybe you’re remembering a dream?

KAI: I mean, I could be, but…

(KAI looks at her parental figures with worry.)

KAI: Why can’t I remember the actual thing?

(PAUL and EMMA start to worry now, too.)

PAUL: Yeah, that’s not good.

EMMA: I- yeah. Not too sure about that one.

KAI: I- holy shit, I can’t remember anything bad ever happening to me in Unington.

EMMA: Like…your life was so great that even the bad things are good?

KAI: No, like, I literally can’t think of a time where I was sad. I just- I keep remembering weird dream dude saving me.

PAUL: …Yeah, that’s, uh, that’s weird.

(KAI starts to pace.)

KAI: (muttered) Back in 2018, you went to Hatchetfield for your first ever tour, and you met them, and there was this blue shit that took over everything and it took over you and made a mockery over everything you ever loved and put your heart on a silver platte- (awkward, nervous, shouted) Okay, yep, I remember that!

EMMA (confused): Wait, I thought you were going on your first ever tour this year?

PAUL (confused): Blue shit? What? Who’s “them”?

KAI (dismissive): Not important. Just a plot of some musical I really liked. Wanted to make sure I remembered it.

PAUL: Oh. Ew.

(KAI paces for a moment longer before snapping her fingers.)

KAI: I got it! I know what I have to do to fix my weird half-amnesia thingy!

(PAUL and EMMA look towards her, interested. KAI continues.)

KAI: I have to go back to Unington!

(PAUL and EMMA look towards each other, confused, before looking back at KAI.)

[NOTE: PAUL and EMMA’s lines are layered over each other.]

PAUL: I’m so confused right now.

EMMA: Yeah, I don’t follow.

KAI: Think about it! All my Unington memories are screwed up, but who would remember my original Unington memories?

(PAUL and EMMA blink. KAI sighs.)

KAI: My friends and family back home!

(PAUL and EMMA ‘Oh’ and nod.)

PAUL: Yeah, that makes sense!

EMMA: I could see that.

(KAI brightens up, determination and confidence seem in her grin.)

KAI: Well, see ya, family. I’m going to Unington!

(KAI throws open the front door and runs into the hall.)

PAUL: Kai, you don’t have a bag.

EMMA: Or a boat to Unington.

PAUL: And you left the door open.

EMMA: And you didn’t finish your dinner.

(KAI goes back into the apartment, shutting the door behind her.)

KAI: Right.

(A couple days pass, and KAI eventually gets the bag and boat she needs. She heads to the Hatchetfield docks, rolling her suitcase behind her. She wears her everyday Unington outfit: A two-toned blue shirt with a third blue tone making a drip pattern, suspenders styled to look like sheet music, three toned blue short with a bright yellow explosion shape and stars on one leg, long socks with sheet music wrapping around the thigh, two toned blue shoes, and a small blue hair clip with a teardrop on it. She looks down at herself.)

KAI (muttered): Could’a sworn there was way less blue and a lot more pink and yellow.

(KAI arrives at the docks, seeing PAUL and EMMA. EMMA snickers.)

EMMA: God, you look like a huge nerd.

KAI: Hey! This was the style back in Unington. Everyone wanted to dress like me. (overconfident) I was…something of a trendsetter.

(EMMA snickers and ruffles her hair.)

EMMA: I’ll believe it when I see it.

(KAI scoffs and looks to the side, perking up.)

KAI: Oh! Uncle Bill! Auntie Charlotte! I didn’t know you were coming!

(BILL WOODWARD and CHARLOTTE SWEETLY stand near PAUL and EMMA. BILL has a goofy smile on his face, and CHARLOTTE is tearing up.)

BILL: Well, we couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye!

(BILL pulls KAI into a hug, to which KAI smiles and returns the gesture.)

BILL: Have fun back home for me, okay?

KAI: I will. I’ll bring ya a souvenir.

(BILL smiles and squeezes KAI tightly before letting her go. KAI turns to CHARLOTTE, who bursts into tears and hugs KAI tightly, swaying the girl from side to side. KAI chuckles quietly and hugs back.)

CHARLOTTE (weepy): B- Bye, Kai. I’m- I’m gonna miss you-!

(CHARLOTTE starts sobbing, clinging to KAI tighter. KAI laughs.)

KAI: Me too, Auntie. Me too.

(KAI pats CHARLOTTE’s back. CHARLOTTE reluctantly lets go. KAI pulls PAUL and EMMA into a hug, to which they return.)

KAI: Love you guys.

PAUL: Love you too, Kai. I’ll miss you.

EMMA: Love you more, kiddo.

KAI: Oh, you do not wanna get into that fight with me right now.

(EMMA chuckles and PAUL smiles. KAI lets them go.)

PAUL: Y’know, I told Ted you were leaving.

KAI (exasperated): Oh, god.

PAUL: Yeah, he’s, uh…not taking the news well.

KAI: Wait, he’s sad?

PAUL: Not exactly.

(As if on cue, TED SPANKOFFSKI runs by, cheering and whooping.)

TED: WOOOOO!!!! DING-DONG, KAI IS DEAD!!!!

(He runs off. The group glares in his direction.)

BILL: What a jerk.

(KAI shrugs.)

KAI: Eh, par for the course.

(KAI grabs her bag.)

KAI: Well, that’ll be all from me, folks. I’m off to Unington!

(KAI heads onto the boat, pulling her bag behind her. The ramp lifts as the boat takes off. The wind whips through her hair as she looks back towards Hatchetfield. PAUL and EMMA wave with sappy smiles on their faces. CHARLOTTE sobs. BILL smiles and waves before bursting into tears alongside CHARLOTTE. The two hug as they sob. PAUL pats his friends’ backs. KAI waves before looking out at the water in front of her.)

KAI: Unington, here I come.

(Eventually, KAI makes it to Unington. She excitedly runs over to the docks, spreading out her arms.)

KAI (singsong): Hello-o-o, Uning-

(KAI blinks, looking around.)

KAI (confused): Ton..?

(The city known for its music and color is silent and dull. Nobody can be seen for miles.)

KAI: Well, forgive me for being egotistical if I am, but…I was expectin’ a warmer welcome! Like-

(KAI runs to the other side of the docks.)

[NOTE: KAI switches sides as she switches characters.]

KAI (as UNINGTON CITIZEN #1): Kai! We missed you!

KAI: Aw, I missed y’all too!

KAI (as UNINGTON CITIZEN #2): You were gone forever! Starving us of content, I see.

KAI: Aw, gee, I just met a few people who I really liked-

KAI (as UNINGTON CITIZEN #3): That’s bogus. You’re not allowed to stop performing. Your fans deserve to get more content on a regular basis.

KAI (miffed): Well, forgive me, but I deserve to live my life-

KAI (as UNINGTON CITZEN #4): On stage, for all of us to see! It’s not fair if you stop performing.

KAI (annoyed): Well, you’ll have to deal with the fact that I, like every other person, want breaks.

KAI (as UNINGTON CITIZEN #5): Well, I think you shouldn’t be allowed to take breaks. Not when people are expecting you to perform.

KAI (pissed): Well, howza’ bout you take that thought, and shove it up your a-!

(KAI holds that ‘a’ sound as she comes to a realization. She straightens up.)

KAI (worried, disappointed): Geez, Kai, are ya really arguing wit’ yourself?!

(She knocks herself on the head.)

KAI (disappointed): Ya friends were right, you belong in the loony bin!

(KAI steps to the other side.)

KAI (as KAI B): Well, I don’t think so!

KAI (as KAI A): Really?

KAI (as KAI B): Yeah! I mean, (egotistical) we are pretty fun to talk to.

KAI (as KAI A): Well, thanks, Kai, I think so too! But I still think we should probably stop talkin’ to each other.

KAI (as KAI B, shocked): What?! Why?

KAI (as KAI A): Well, it makes us seem… y’know…

KAI (as KAI B, annoyed): No, I don’t know. Spit. It. Out.

KAI (as KAI A, sheepishly): …Cuckoo bananas?

KAI (as KAI B, offended): Why I’d never! That’s it, I’m done talking to you!

KAI (as KAI A, annoyed): Well, good! Cause I need to focus on why we came to Unington.

KAI (as KAI B): And that reason was?

KAI (as KAI A): To, uh… um…

KAI (as KAI B): You forgot, didn’t you? Idiot.

KAI (as KAI A): Well, it’s not like you remember!

KAI (as KAI B): Of course I remember! We were here to…uh…what were we here for again?

(KAI thinks before stepping in the middle of her two spots.)

KAI (as KAI C): Oh, I remember! We were here to find out why our memories were all bing-bang-bent outta shape!

(KAI smiles and pats herself on the back.)

KAI: Good job, me!

(KAI turns on her heel, smiling. She hums as she walks through Unington. Her chipper demeanor fades as she looks around at the broken down, empty, ghost town, a shadow of what Unington used to be.)

KAI: Jumpin’ jackrabbits, what happened ‘ere?!

(KAI looks around.)

KAI: Hello-o-o?! Anyone here?!

(No response. KAI huffs, crossing her arms and puffing up her cheeks.)

KAI: Well, this really hashes my tag.

(Suddenly, a noise comes in front of KAI. She looks up and sees BENDY, facing away from her.)

KAI: Oh! Dad! There you are! Y’know, leaving me high and dry at the docks isn’t very nice.

(He doesn’t respond. The backing track for “Inevitable” starts up.)

BENDY: Kai, I'm sorry… You lost…

KAI (confused): Huh? Dad, this is kind of a weird time to sing, and that’s comin’ from me.

BENDY: Kai, I'm sorry, you lost…

(The body turns with a smile. KAI backs up, eyes widening and terror shooting through every part of her body.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: Your way!

(His eyes are now a sickeningly familiar shade of electric blue.)

KAI (terrified): Dad?!

(The body approaches. KAI backs away, terrified.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: What if I told you I made it? And this is the life that I chose?

(Two hands grip her shoulders. KAI almost sobs.)

INFECTED #2 [formerly MONIKA]: Would you even believe it, Kai?

(A body pops up beside KAI. She finds it harder and harder to hold in her tears.)

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: Do you believe in ghosts?

(Someone heads in front of KAI. Her breath speeds up.)

INFECTED #4 [formerly KEL]: What if I told you a story?

(Another body appears beside what used to be KEL. It’s hard for KAI to handle.)

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: That settled all the dust?

(A body pushes past the two and takes her hands. KAI can’t help it. She starts to cry.)

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: I'm still the man you trust!

(KAI looks to the next body as quiet sobs wrack her body.)

INFECTED #7 [formerly KOU]: It's inevitable,

(INFECTED #3 pops up beside INFECTED #7.)

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: For us!

(KAI staggers backwards.)

KAI (terrified, crying): No- NO!!! I CAN’T DO THIS AGAIN!! WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU?!

(Another pair of hands grabs her shoulders, pulling her into a dance.)

INFECTED #8 [formerly BEAN]: Before, I had no ambition, but now my life is a song!

(INFECTED #4 grabs KAI’s hands.)

INFECTED #4 [formerly KEL]: Don't you want to see me happy?

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Is that so tragically wrong?

(INFECTED #2 appears by her side.)

INFECTED #2 [formerly MONIKA]: What if the only choice is,

(INFECTED #1 appears at her open side.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: You have to sing to survive?

(INFECTED #1 grabs her hand and drags her along, pulling KAI onto a stage.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: We must, go on, with the show!

(INFECTED #1 grabs INFECTED #4’s hand and twirls the body.)

INFECTED #1/#4 [formerly BENDY/KEL]: It's inevitable…

(INFECTED #4 spins towards KAI and grabs her hands.)

INFECTED #4 [formerly KEL]: To know what I want now!

(Multiple UNINGTON CITIZENS emerge from the buildings and alleyways, all INFECTED.)

INFECTED: Know what you want now!

(INFECTED #5 grabs KAI by the shoulders.)

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Kai, I want you to join the party!

(Suddenly, another INFECTED body comes out of the crowd, one that KAI recognizes as her former boss at the cafe, dressed like a Beanie’s employee.)

INFECTED #9 [formerly PEGGY]: Are you going to tip me?

(More INFECTED come from behind PEGGY.)

INFECTED: Get your cup of coffee!

(INFECTED #5 spins KAI around.)

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Look at the fun we're having already!

INFECTED: What?

(KAI is spun into INFECTED #4, who grabs her hands gingerly.)

INFECTED #4 [formerly KEL]: I found my calling, you can do the same now!

(INFECTED #5 grabs KAI’s shoulders.)

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Put your words to lyrics, and you're playing the game now!

(INFECTED #4 and #5 hold hands and press their cheeks together, kicking their legs up behind them.)

INFECTED #4/#5 [formerly KEL/YASH]: It's all there is and all there ever was!

(INFECTED #4 and #5 plant their feet and outstretch their arms.)

INFECTED #4/#5/#6 [formerly KEL/YASH/MITSU]: Kai!

(INFECTED #6 pushes #4 and #5 out of the way, strutting towards KAI on the beat.)

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: Let me puke in your mouth, and, just open your food bin, girl!

(INFECTED #6 grabs KAI’s cheeks, forcing her mouth open.)

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: And you can join the hive!

(KAI pushes INFECTED #6 away. It grabs her hand and spins KAI off the stage.)

INFECTED #6/#7 [formerly MITSU/KOU]: Then show me your…

(When she comes to a stop, she’s faced with INFECTED #7, dressed as the sheriff of the Unington Police Department, INFECTED members of the UTPD singing alongside him.)

INFECTED #7 [formerly KOU]: Hands! Show me those jazz hands! Get em' up or you're shit outta luck!

(INFECTED #7 pulls out a gun, shooting at KAI on the beat. KAI shrieks and jumps backwards, dodging bullets. She flips out of the way, whipping around to face INFECTED #7 and the INFECTED UTPD.)

INFECTED #7 [formerly KOU]: Show me your hands! Show me those jazz hands!

(INFECTED #7 spins out.)

INFECTED #7/#3 [formerly KOU/HANA]: Or I might be inclined…

(INFECTED #3 spins KAI into a dip.)

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: To plant my seed!

(INFECTED citizens of Unington appear behind INFECTED #3, dressed as PEIP soldiers.)

INFECTED: Oh-oh-oh-oh!

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: The hive needs to feed!

INFECTED: Oh-oh-oh-oh!

(KAI pulls away, and INFECTED #3 outstretches its arms.)

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: Happiness is guaranteed!

INFECTED: Oh-oh-oh-oh!

(INFECTED #8 appears beside INFECTED #3, and the two hook arms around their shoulders and finger gun each other.)

INFECTED #3/#8 [formerly HANA/BEAN]: If you just give us one last…

(INFECTED #3 and #8 grab hands and spin around, letting go. When they stop, the INFECTED are all in sparkly, jazzy, Broadway-esque costumes colored in various hues of blue. INFECTED #8 is wearing a sleeveless suit, with cropped pant legs, like a bathing suit. They wear fishnets, heels, and long red gloves. They hold a cane, which they use for their choreo. INFECTED #1-#7 form a kick line behind KAI.)

INFECTED #8 [formerly BEAN]: Show-stopping number! With Kai front and center!

(The INFECTED force KAI into their kick line.)

INFECTED #8 [formerly BEAN]: A kick line is inevitable!

(KAI breaks free and runs down the street. However, a large crowd of INFECTED civilians are cornering her.)

INFECTED: What if I told you a story,

(KAI tries to run the other way. But, another large crowd of INFECTED civilians approaches.)

INFECTED: How the world became peaceful and just?

(KAI tries the path to her right. Another mob of the INFECTED.)

INFECTED: It was inevitable!

(She tries her left. Another mob.)

INFECTED: Inevitable!

(KAI staggers and stumbles as the INFECTED circle her like wolves in the middle of the town square.)

INFECTED: Inevitable!

(The circle breaks as a figure, dressed in a long, flowing blue coat with dark blue rhinestone drips. The outfit is very ornate and fancy. The figure has a white cracked mask, blue sludge dripping from it.)

MASKED FIGURE: The apotheosis is upon-

INFECTED: Us!

(The song ends. KAI, at this point, has fallen into a sitting position, her breathing heavy and panicked. The figure removes his mask, revealing himself to be POWELL. His face is cracked like his mask, and the blue sludge drips from the cracks. He smirks.)

POWELL: Hi, Kai. It’s nice to see you again.

KAI (terrified): …Powell Kerian Otho.

POWELL: Call me Po. Po K Otho. Pokotho.

(KAI is lost in memory, as the name seems familiar. POKOTHO pouts.)

POKOTHO: Aw, you seem sad, songbird. So, tell me.

(He grins.)

POKOTHO: What’s in your soul? Is your heart so damp and bleak, that you won’t give us a peek, of your soul?

(KAI’s eyes widen, along with the smiles of the INFECTED. POKOTHO stalks behind her, a wide grin on his face.)

POKOTHO: Just let it out! There’s a voice inside of you, on the edge of coming through, what’s it about?

(He slowly circles KAI, watching her intently.)

POKOTHO: And I know it’s a singular voice, Kai! You’ve just got to give up your choice!

(The INFECTED voices ring out as a whole. KAI stares with wide eyes.)

INFECTED: Just let it out, let it out, let it out!

KAI: It’s- it’s you. You’re the fuckin’ douchebag that started all this.

(KAI’s breathing speeds up. She’s back at the Starlight again, with mom and dad.)

INFECTED: Let it out, let it out, let it out!

KAI: You couldn’t just have your fun with Hatchetfield?! You’ve gotta do it with the people I hold closest to me?!

(Her heart pounds like the beat of the drums. She’s completely terrified.

INFECTED: Let it out, let it out, let it out!

KAI: You already ruined my life once, y’ really haveta’ do it again?!

(The INFECTED hold out their hands towards her.)

INFECTED: Let it out, let it out—

(They fall silent, still pointing towards KAI. She realizes they want her to sing with them, sing the song that ruined her life. She’s stunned for a moment, before she balls up her fist and lets out a primal, rage-filled scream.)

KAI (pissed): NEVER!

(She runs forward and socks POKOTHO in the jaw, causing him to stumble back. The INFECTED writhe in agony for a moment. The corners of KAI’s mouth twitch up into a smile. She hurt him like he hurt her. Her happiness is short-lived, however, as POKOTHO rises.)

POKOTHO: It seems like our leading lady doesn’t understand her part in the show.

(He snaps his fingers. The INFECTED’s heads snap towards her. Her heart drops into her stomach.)

POKOTHO: Dear ensemble, would you mind showing our little starlet her place on the stage?

INFECTED (singsong): Yes, Lord Pokotho.

KAI: Uh-oh.

(The INFECTED start approaching KAI. She sprints away. Multiple bodies fling themselves towards KAI, lunging for her and grabbing at her. She manages to make it through the crowd without a scratch. She lets out a breathy laugh of relief as she watches the INFECTED get smaller and smaller behind her. She looks forward and yelps, skidding to a stop.)

INFECTED #10 [formerly KAI’S BIO MOM] (singsong): Come back to us, Kai!

INFECTED #11 [formerly KAI’S BIO DAD] (singsong): We miss you!

KAI (deadpan): Oh, now that- that’s just cold, man.

INFECTED #10 [formerly KAI’S BIO MOM]: Yeah- yeah, even I felt kinda gross about this one.

INFECTED #11 [formerly KAI’S BIO DAD]: Your bio parents sucked, dude. Like, a lot.

KAI: Yeah-h-h.

INFECTED #10 [formerly KAI’S BIO MOM]: Sorry about that.

KAI: ‘S fine, I guess.

(An awkward silence passes through the group.)

INFECTED #11 [formerly KAI’S BIO DAD] (singsong): Back to infecting you, though!

(KAI yelps and bounds out of the way as INFECTED #10 and #11 lunge for her.)

KAI: Aw, c’mon! I thought we had a breakthrough there!

INFECTED #10/#11 [formerly KAI’S BIO MOM/KAI’S BIO DAD] (singsong): Nope!

(KAI runs past the INFECTED bodies, swerving around each vessel that pops up in her path. She sprints down the road.)

KAI (desperately): C’mon, c’mon, c’mon, c’mon-

(She skids in front of a familiar building. She grins.)

KAI: Yes!

(She throws the doors of “JOEY DREW STUDIOS” open, darting inside. She breathes the air in, the smell of paper, ink, and aged wood filling her nose. She smiles.)

KAI: It’s good to be home.

(She starts moving her way through the studio, the wood and walls as old and yellowed as she remembered. She walks quickly and carefully, reminding herself of tips that she’s learned through the years.)

KAI (muttered): Mind the loose floorboard, that one’ll give out under your weight, that wall’s a trick wall, hidden room to your left, that pipe always leaks, Uncle Wally is completely done with it-

(KAI hears a creak in the floorboard. Her head snaps up and she quickly ducks underneath an isolated animation desk. She covers her mouth, curling up into a ball. She turns to the wall next to her, finding many old childhood drawings of hers taped and pinned up. The line work is shaky, the anatomy is off, and the art seems to be an attempt at the traditional ‘anime/manga’ style. Her eyes soften as she remembers the days spent sketching under this desk, and once her eyes land on the picture in the center, they well up with tears as she remembers who it belonged to. In the middle of all the childish drawings lies one drawing much better than the rest. It’s professionally done in a 1920’s-1930’s rubber hose cartoon style, done in ink instead of pencil and crayon. It depicts KAI as a 9 year old girl, and a man she knows dearly.)

KAI (quiet, muffled): Oh, Uncle Henry…

(A note written in ink beside the picture reads “Welcome home, Kai. We’re all so happy to have you here. ~ Uncle Henry”, a tiny smiley face drawn next to it. She remembers the events of her adoption. She remembers the days spent drawing under her uncle’s desk. She remembers it all. She sniffs. Another creak.)

BENDY: Hey, kiddo-! Your mom? And your friends? Okay, I’ll get ‘em if it’s that important.

(KAI’s eyes widen as the sounds of her friends and family fill the air. She remembers this.)

BENDY: Everybody’s here, kiddo.

MONIKA: What’s up?

(KAI squeezes her eyes shut, going over that phone call in her head, remembering her last words to her family. “Okay, so, I dunno how to explain it, but one of the cities I'm touring in, Hatchetheld, is, like, overrun with some sort of virus that makes everyone dance and sing. So, other than the usual, is anyone in Unington singing and dancing at out of place times?”)

KEL: Uh…no.

YASH: Yeah, all the usual stuff here!

HANA: Mhm, just the regular group numbers at ‘round 4:00.

KOU (upset): Aw, you missed us doing Newsies!

MITSU: Not the time, man.

(“Okay, good. If it starts happening, quarantine them immediately.”)

BENDY: Why? What’s-

(“...Time for the other thing.” The group quiets. “I dunno if I'm gonna make it out alive. Like, for realsies this time. If I do make it out 'alive', there's a high chance I'll be infected. I might die, guys. For real this time.”)

[NOTE: Lines are layered over each other.]

KOU (panicked): What?! You can’t! You’re Kai Drew, dangit!

MITSU (panicked): You’re telling us this now?!

YASH (panicked): No! Nonononono! That- you can’t die! That’s not allowed!

KEL (panicked): What?! Huh?! No! I won’t let it happen! I won’t! You’ve made it this long, I can’t- I won’t let you die!

HANA (panicked): WHAT THE ACTUAL FU- you’ve gotta be joking! No way- no way!

MONIKA (panicked): No. No. No! That’s- that’s not happening, kiddo. Not to you. Not to my daughter. I swear to the heavens above, I’ll-

BENDY (panicked): …What? Kiddo, please, please, please tell me you’re joking. I- I’m- no. Not to my baby. I’m not gonna watch you die. No, I haven’t had enough time with you. Eight years isn’t long enough. Hell, 100 years wouldn’t be long enough! I can’t lose you, not yet. We’ll get you outta there-

(“Guys.” The group quiets. “I think I'm gonna die. An- and I just wanted to tell you guys I love you guys. Just in case. You all can fight over my stuff, I- I just-…I love you.”)

BENDY: …We love you too, kiddo.

MONIKA: More than life itself.

KEL: We’ll always love you, Kai.

YASH: Whether you’re some angsty emo kid—

HANA: —Or a bubbly, cartoony goofball—

KOU: —Or anything in between.

MITSU: You’re our Kai, through and through. I don’t think we could ever stop loving you.

(Murmurs of agreement go through the group. “I- I love you guys so much, okay? You- you've all done so much for me and- and I don't think I would- would be the person I am today without you guys. Like, you- you took me in when I was nine, and- and you let me stay, after all I've done? I'm- I've done terrible things, I'm- I'm a terrible person-!”)

BENDY: You’re not a terrible person, kiddo.

MONIKA: Don’t you ever call yourself that.

BENDY: You’re the best person any of us have ever known.

MONIKA: You wear your heart on your sleeve, you help anyone who needs it, you’ve got a heart made of gold, you’re sweeter than sugar, I could go on and on.

BENDY: One incident doesn’t define who you are, kiddo. How you move forward, that’s what makes you, you.

MONIKA: And I’ve gotta say, you’ve become a damn good person, kiddo.

BENDY: You make our lives better.

MONIKA: So don’t you dare say you’re a terrible person.

(“And there you guys go again. Loving me when I don't even love myself.”)

BENDY: We always will, hon.

MONIKA: We just wish you loved yourself as much as we love you.

BENDY: We wish you could see the beautiful, kind, amazing girl- no, woman that you are.

(“…A-Alright. I'm not a terrible person. But I'm not done, either.”)

MITSU: Of course you aren’t.

YASH: That’s Kai for ya.

KEL: Always droning on about something.

HANA: Or nothing in particular.

KOU: That’s our girl!

(“And you guys.”)

HANA/KEL/KOU/MITSU/YASH: Us?

(“Yeah, y'all. You-you guys befriended me when I was at the lowest point of my life, when- when I was just so... angry and all I could do was lash out on people who didn't deserve it. And- and you know what you guys did? You made me so much better. You helped me so much, and- and I just-… I love you guys so much.”)

YASH: Right back atcha, K.

KEL: We made you better?!

HANA: You made us better!

KOU: I honestly don’t think I’d be as happy as I was today without you.

MITSU: You changed our lives, Kai. For the better. Thank you for that.

BENDY: We love you, kiddo.

MONIKA: We love you more than every star in the sky, more than every grain of sand, more than life itself.

(“So-so I need you to promise me. I need you all to promise me that you guys will be okay. That you guys will stay safe and make sure everyone else in Unington does too. Because the only way I can keep on going here is knowing you guys are gonna be okay.”)

BENDY: Only if you do it too.

YASH: You gotta promise that you’ll come home safe.

(“I can't promise you that. I don't wanna lie.”)

KEL: Then don’t lie.

HANA: Come home safe.

KOU: Come back to Unington safe and sound.

MITSU: Come back here and be okay.

MONIKA: Promise us that, and we’ll promise to be okay.

(“... Alright. I'll be okay, I promise. I'll get through this, and then when I get back home to Unington, you guys'll scoop me up, spin me around, give me lots of hugs and kisses, load me up with a few buns from Peggy's, we'll watch all my favorite shows, movies, and musicals, and cuddle on the couch all night. I'm-I'm gonna hold you to that!”)

BENDY: Good.

MONIKA: Hold us to that.

YASH: And we promise.

KEL: We promise to be at that dock when you come back.

HANA: We promise to do all that goofy stuff once you get back.

KOU: We promise all of that and then some.

MITSU: We’ll be okay, Kai. We promise.

(“Okay. See you guys soon.”)

BENDY: Got it.

(“...I love you guys more than words could ever express.”)

ALL: Samesies.

(KAI squeezes her eyes shut tighter.)

KAI (aloud): G'bye.

(Silence falls over the studio. KAI stands, emerging from her hiding spot, only to find her family, still with electric blue eyes and snarky smirks on their faces.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: That was almost too easy.

(The group of infected laugh in sync as KAI stumbles back with wide and teary eyes. She quickly turns on her heel and sprints off.)

INFECTED: HEY!

(The INFECTED give chase. As KAI runs, she spots something glinting in the dim studio light out of the corner of her eye. She grabs it quickly, stuffing it in her hair. She books it to the back exit of the studio, bursting out of the door into an alleyway. She hops into a dumpster, as the INFECTED run past, heading out of sight. KAI hesitantly pulls herself out of the garbage, pulling stray trash out of her hair. She pokes her head out of the alley. She can faintly see POKOTHO, standing on the stage in town square. An INFECTED citizen goes up to him.)

INFECTED (singsong, nervous): Lord Pokotho, we, um- no one in the hive can find the girl.

(POKOTHO grabs the body by the collar.)

POKOTHO: Find her. I don’t care if you have to rip the whole goddamn town apart. I need my leading lady.

(POKOTHO throws the body to the side. It scampers away to go look for KAI. She ducks back behind the wall, sighing. She pulls out the item she grabbed back in the studio out of her hair, the weight of the handle heavy in her hand. She tosses it up, and it flips around in the air. She catches it by the handle and stares down at it.)

KAI: Hiya, old gal. Nice to see you again.

(The black and yellow ax glints in the light. She studies it in her hand before peeking out at POKOTHO. He’s turned around.)

KAI (muttered): You’ve got one shot, Drewski. Make it count.

(Her hand tightens around the ax, and she runs full speed towards POKOTHO. She sprints, launching off a speaker set in front of the stage. She holds the ax above her head with both hands as she lets out a guttural scream of rage. POKOTHO turns quickly and snaps his fingers. INFECTED #1-#8 surround POKOTHO. KAI’s eyes widen as she slams the ax down into the stage, just missing the group of the INFECTED. They surround the girl.)

KAI (voice breaking): I- I can’t.

(She looks up at what used to be her family, tears streaming down her face.)

KAI (voice breaking): I can’t hurt them.

(She shakily rises to her feet, staggering towards INFECTED #1. She takes his face in her hands.)

KAI (voice breaking): I can’t hurt my family.

(She breaks down sobbing, burying her face in what used to be her father’s chest, clinging to him. The body moves away, causing KAI to fall to the floor. She curls up into a ball and sobs, her chest heaving. POKOTHO coos and squats down in front of her. He gingerly grabs her chin, forcing her teary eyes to meet his.)

POKOTHO: You miss your family, don’t you?

(He moves away, and INFECTED #2 stands in his place.)

INFECTED #2 [formerly MONIKA]: Let me help you.

(INFECTED #2 harshly grabs KAI by the cheeks, bringing the girl to its face. It forces her mouth open as it opens its own mouth. It vomits blue sludge into KAI’s mouth, to which the girl gags and sputters, trying to get the foreign substance out of her throat. INFECTED #2 drops KAI to the ground. KAI shakes on all fours, her arms threatening to give out beneath her. She coughs and hacks, glowing blue shit spraying on the ground in front of her.)

KAI (shaky): Ooh, lay my curses all to rest…

(Her arms give out and she falls to the floor. She curls up into fetal position, shaking. POKOTHO sits down in front of her, legs crossed. He pulls her weak body towards him, resting her head in his lap. She looks up at him with her now electric blue eyes. Tears, now turned blue sludge, stream down her face.)

KAI (shaky)/POKOTHO: Make a mercy out of me.

(KAI, with what control she has left, begins to sob. POKOTHO coos and shushes her, pushing her bangs back and placing a sickeningly sweet kiss on her forehead.)

POKOTHO (cooing): Oh, little songbird, don’t cry. You need rest, darling. We have a show to put on at The Starlight Theater soon, and you don’t want to be all exhausted for that, don’t you, love?

(KAI’s bleary eyes widen. She knows she’s gonna pass out soon. She can’t. She has to stay awake. She has to keep her hold on her mind. She can’t let him win. As if hearing her thoughts, POKOTHO smirks.)

POKOTHO (cooing): Oh, starlet…don’t you understand by now?

(He runs her fingers through her hair. Her eyes blur with sleep. In her last moments of consciousness, she can hear him speak.)

POKOTHO: I’ve already won.

(Later, the people of Hatchetfield swarm into The Starlight Theater, taking their seats. They chitter amongst themselves, excited and filled with anticipation for the upcoming show. The lights flash twice and the crowd quiets, settling down. The stage lights flash blue as 7 figures emerge from all sides of the stage, including THE AUDIENCE. The figures’ movements are uncanny and puppet-like. The bodies of MITSU, KEL, HANA, YASH, KOU, BENDY, and MONIKA continue to move onto stage. MITSU’s body is the first to sing, the others acting as his ENSEMBLE.)

[NOTE: ENSEMBLE’s lines are layered under INFECTED #6’s.]

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: The greatest stories ever told,

ENSEMBLE: Ooh

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: Have a hero who must be bold!

ENSEMBLE: Ooh

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: They learn a sense of right and wrong!

ENSEMBLE: Ooh

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: And better learn the sense through song!

(The ENSEMBLE and MITSU’s bodies strike poses as they continue to pace around. KEL’s body begins to sing, INFECTED #6 switching to ENSEMBLE.)

[NOTE: ENSEMBLE’s lines are layered under INFECTED #4’s.]

INFECTED #4 [formerly KEL]: Musicals tell the impossible!

ENSEMBLE: Impossible

INFECTED #4 [formerly KEL]: They evoke the philosophical, yeah!

[NOTE: ‘Philosophical’ is pronounced ‘phil-os-i-FUCK-al’.]

(INFECTED #4 switches to ENSEMBLE as what used to be HANA begins to sing.)

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: So tonight we’re gonna chronicle, a story so astronomical!(EVERYONE clusters together at center stage.)EVERYONE: The last remaining story to tell!

(INFECTED #6’s head perks up above the rest.)

[NOTE: ENSEMBLE’s lines are layered under INFECTED #6’s.]

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: The Kai who didn’t like musicals!

ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: I mean, what the heck?!ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: She’s the Kai who didn’t like musicals!

ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: Yeah, what the heck?

ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

(KOU’s body switches to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #7 [formerly KOU]: In the tiny town of Unington, lived this awful girl named Kai!

(MONIKA’s body switches to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #2 [formerly MONIKA]: Spends her day surfing the web, and not singing and dancing with us all!

(EVERYONE sings together.)

EVERYONE: Should we kill her? Should we kill her?!

(YASH’s body switches to lead vocals, the ENSEMBLE reaching for her.)INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Oh, she pines after… Well, nobody, really. But isn’t she worth a show-stopping fiesta, yeah?

(BENDY’s body switches to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: But for some damn reason, she won’t join our singing season!

(INFECTED #7 and #2 switch to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #7/#2 [formerly KOU/MONIKA]: What an ass!

(INFECTED #7 and #2 stay on lead vocals, #4 and #5 join them.)

INFECTED #7/#2/#4/#5 [formerly KOU/MONIKA/KEL/YASH]: What a bitch!

(EVERYONE sings together.)

EVERYONE: What a cuck!

(INFECTED #6 goes back onto lead vocals, EVERYONE else switches back to ENSEMBLE.)

[NOTE: ENSEMBLE’s lines are layered under INFECTED #6’s.]

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: The Kai who didn’t like musicals!

ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: I mean, what the heck?!ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: She’s the Kai who didn’t like musicals! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

ENSEMBLE: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

(EVERYONE paces around once again.)

[NOTE: ENSEMBLE’s lines are layered under INFECTED #6’s.]

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: It’s the end of the world, Kai!

ENSEMBLE: End of the world!

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: If you don’t sing!

ENSEMBLE: If you don't sing!

(INFECTED #2 switches to lead vocals, INFECTED #6 switches to ENSEMBLE.)

[NOTE: ENSEMBLE’s lines are layered under INFECTED #2’s.]

INFECTED #2 [formerly MONIKA]: This is the bridge, Kai!

ENSEMBLE: This is the bridge!

INFECTED #2 [formerly MONIKA]: Where we globalize everything!

(INFECTED #1 switches to lead vocals, #2 switches to ENSEMBLE.)

INFECTED #1 [formerly BENDY]: And the words will come to you, we swear we will teach you…

(EVERYONE sings together.)

EVERYONE: What it means to love…what it means to obey, Kai!

(Pan out to EVERYONE standing in a line. EVERYONE looks from side to side for a moment, and a silhouette appears in the background.)

KAI (defeated): The apotheosis is upon us.

(Pan back out as a celebratory ‘Yay!’ sound effect plays in the background.)

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: Did’ya hear the word?

ENSEMBLE: What's the word?

INFECTED #6/#4 [formerly MITSU/KEL]: She’s a-comin'!

ENSEMBLE: Who’s a-comin'?

INFECTED #6/#4 [formerly MITSU/KEL]: Kai’s a-comin'!

ENSEMBLE: Kai’s a-comin'?

EVERYONE: The star of the show!

(INFECTED #3 switches to lead vocals, EVERYONE else switches to ENSEMBLE.)

INFECTED #3 [formerly HANA]: Now for her headlining entrance!

(INFECTED #3 switches to ENSEMBLE, #5 and #4 switch to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #5/#4 [formerly YASH/KEL]: Time to swoon at her leading gal essence!

(INFECTED #5 and #4 switch to ENSEMBLE, #7 and #1 switch to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #7/#1 [formerly KOU/BENDY]: Her name is in the title!

(INFECTED #7 and #1 switch to ENSEMBLE, #6 and #2 switch to lead vocals.)

INFECTED #6/#2 [formerly MITSU/MONIKA]: She’s destined to go viral, here she is, her name is Kai!

(EVERYONE sings in harmony, pulling the cyc to the side as a spotlight shines down on center stage.)

EVERYONE: Enter now!

(POKAITHO does not enter. INFECTED #6 blinks, confused, and leans towards #7 and whispers.)

INFECTED #6 [formerly MITSU]: Where the fuck is she?!

INFECTED #7 [formerly KOU]: I have no fucking clue.

(KAI walks center stage, dressed to the nines. Her electric blue eyes with dilated pupils glare out into the audience.)

KAI: The gal just doesn’t like musicals!

WOMEN: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

MEN: You gotta believe in something, Kai, gotta believe in stupid Kai,

(KAI feels the apotheosis shoot painfully through her veins. She writhes in pain. She looks back at the audience, pupils tiny and smile wide. She’s not KAI anymore.)

POKAITHO [formerly KAI] (semi-pained): Yeah!WOMEN: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

MEN: Gotta believe in something, Kai, you piece of shit,

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: She’s the Kai who didn’t like musicals! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

WOMEN: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

MEN: Gotta believe in something, Kai, gotta believe in stupid Kai,

WOMEN: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

MEN: Gotta believe in something, Kai, you piece of shit,

(At this point, INFECTED #5 stops singing with the WOMEN, and EVERYONE circles POKAITHO.)

[NOTE: The WOMEN’s lines, INFECTED #5’s lines and the MEN’s lines are layered under POKAITHO’s.]

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: And she definitely won't like this!

WOMEN: Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: Yeah, yeah, yeah!

MEN: Gotta believe in something, Kai, gotta believe in stupid Kai,

WOMEN: Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em! Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

MEN: Gotta believe in something, Kai, you piece of shit,

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: She’s the Kai who didn’t like musicals!

WOMEN (except INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]): Didn’t like, didn’t like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Why, oh, why, oh why?

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

MEN: Gotta believe in something, Kai, gotta believe in stupid Kai,

WOMEN (except INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]): Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

POKAITHO [formerly KAI]: Na-na-na-na-na-na-na!

WOMEN (Except INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]): Didn’t like, did not like, didn't like-a-like 'em!

MEN: Gotta believe in something,

INFECTED #5 [formerly YASH]: Why, oh, why…

(The INFECTED freeze, swivel towards POKAITHO, who spreads her arms, and they flip her off.)

EVERYONE: Kai, you piece of shit!

(POKAITHO smiles, while one of KAI’s tears mixed with blue sludge rolls down her cheek. KAI scans the crowd of cheering Hatchetfield citizens, the entire crowd’s eyes that sickening shade of electric blue. In the front row CHARLOTTE, BILL, PAUL and EMMA sit, clapping and cheering. Their eyes glow with the same blue as the rest of THE AUDIENCE. In between PAUL and EMMA sits POKOTHO, a smirk on his face as he claps, enjoying his show, now finally complete with the addition of his leading lady.)

THE END

#ooc: PLEASE NOBODY PRESS THAT ITS THE ENTIRETY OF REVISED REPRISE #apothoposting

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