As usual, my commentary is in italics, except for dialogue.
Last time, Rosalene teleported back to the cliff overlooking the lighthouse. Neil was waiting for her, and now greets her.
Dr. Watts: Finally
The doctors move on, and come across the scaffolding of Johnny's future house.
- Watts turns around to look, and we see more of the scaffolding.
Dr. Watts: I bet they saw this cliff, and thought it was not dangerous enough without people living on it.
Moving even further, they notice a dejected Johnny leaning near the entrance to the scaffolding. They stop to look, and a woman walks towards him.
Isabelle: Nick called and said I should come.
- Isabelle walks even further and stops right next to Johnny.
Isabelle: I brought you pickled olives. They're your favourite, right?
- Isabelle places the jar of pickled olives down, then talks some more.
Isabelle: ...I heard about River.
Isabelle: Will she be okay?
John: (putting down his arm) Her illness was just diagnosed in its late stage. Fortunately, it's treatable.
John: But the medical bills...
- A few moments of silence pass. Johnny turns his head to face Isabelle.
John: We can't afford to finish building this house, Isabelle.
John: (turning his head back) We can barely afford to pay for her treatment.
John: (picking up his arm again) I'm just relieved that she'll be okay, but...
John: You don't know how much this place means to her.
John: (solemnly closing his eyes) She's going to be heartbroken.
Isabelle: ...I'd help, but Ted and I have been barely getting by since the market crashed.
Isabelle: *turning to Johnny and back* What are you going to do now?
- Johnny puts down his arm.
John: I'm... I'm going to tell her that we can make it.
John: I'm going to tell her that we can afford everything.
John: (closing his eyes solemnly) ...I don't want her to do anything crazy.
Isabelle: (turning towards Johnny) You shouldn't lie to her.
John: (turning to face Isabelle) You don't understand, Isabelle.
John: If she found out, I'm not sure which she'd choose.
Isabelle: So what?
Isabelle: If she chooses not to save herself for the sake of this place, then so be it.
Isabelle: It's what she really wants.
Isabelle: (turning back her face) I really dislike when you neurotypicals think you know what's best for others.
John: (turning back his face) ...I hate when you call me that, Izzy.
John: (turning to face Isabelle again) Do you think this is all about her?
- Isabelle turns towards Johnny. He turns back his face and solemnly closes his eyes.
John: What about me, Isabelle?
John: After all these years, am I not allowed to be selfish even once?
John: (solemnly closing his eyes) ...I don't want to be alone, Isabelle.
- Johnny suddenly gets up.
John: I'm not going to let her die.
Isabelle: That's arrogant.
John: I don't care.
- Johnny proceeds to angrily walk away, and is interrupted by Isabelle calling out to him.
Isabelle: Where are you going?
John: (solemnly closing his eyes) I'm going to pick something from this cliff to bring back to her.
John: It'll at least give her some comfort.
Isabelle: ...That doesn't make what you're doing any less wrong.
- Johnny closes his eyes solemnly. A few moments pass silently, then Isabelle places a music box on the ground.
Isabelle: Nick wanted me to give you this.
- Isabelle winds up the music box. Johnny listens to its tune and turns around.
Isabelle: He said it's called "Everything's Alright".
- Johnny turns back and solemnly closes his eyes.
John: ...It isn't.
- Johnny walks away to the left path. Neil looks at him for a while.
A rather big block of dialogue, even by this story's standards. Most of it feels like squeezing water out of a rock - again the author tries to make a sentimental scene for characters we don't know much about. It did have some important details, like introducing Isabelle, hinting at River having a mental condition, and giving some insight into how and why Johnny decided to lie to River. However, his reasoning is rather unconvincing and unsympathetic, which makes me wonder if we're supposed to sympathize with him. Given that we've seen atleast two scenes attempting to stir pity for him so far, this is not a good sign.
The doctors look around for memory links. Following the left path back leads them back to Johnny plucking the flowers in the previous memory, granting them two memory links. The music box is another, and so is entering the scaffolding. The pickup truck has the very last memory link. They then prepare the next memento, a jar of olives, and proceed to leave. The olives give a note about themselves.
The next memory is in a small bar. We see Johnny and River with Isabelle and Nicolas on one table, having a meeting. They begin to talk when the doctors warp in.
Nicolas: So you guys are really going for it, huh?
John: (excitedly) Yep! The construction's starting in just a few months.
John: It's a bit of a squeeze; we had to split the payment.
John: But with financing, we'll make do.
Isabelle: How wonderful, having your dream house built at such a beautful site.
Nicolas: You had your wedding at that lighthouse near there all those years ago, didn't you?
John: (grinning) That's not all that's special about it.
John: (facing River) We have a long history with that place.
- Johnny turns back again.
Nicolas: (exclaiming) Well, it's good to have some good news at a get-together for once!
Nicolas: Cheers and congratulations, ya two!
John: Hey, cheers.
- Isabelle gets up.
Isabelle: Be right back, I'm gonna get some fresh air.
- Isabelle walks out of the bar. River responds.
River: Me too.
- Both women exit. Nicolas speaks up.
Nicolas: Well buddy, it's sure been a while.
John: (grinning) Hasn't it? Who knew how hard it is to get across a few cities nowadays.
Nicolas: That River, still so quiet, huh?
John: Eh, she's actually been talkative at home, and with Isabelle.
John: I guess she's just not used to you.
Nicolas: Hahah, so I'm the bad guy here, huh?
- A moment later.
Nicolas: Oh hey, so did you tell River that thing from back then?
John: I did.
Nicolas: So how did she take it?
John: For the most part, she took it well...
John: ...But something bugs me,
- A moment later.
John: Ever since the incident, she's been making these strange rabbits out of paper.
Nicolas: Origami rabbits?
John: Yes. Lots of them.
Nicolas: (exclaiming) Hah, I used to fold origami animals for my daughter all the time.
Nicolas: What's wrong with that?
John: I don't think it's the same thing.
John: She's been doing nothing but making the same rabbits, day in and day out.
John: ...Our house is literally filled with them now.
Nicolas: Didn't Isabelle say that something like that is a common trait with River's condition?
John: (solemnly closes his eyes) Yes, but something doesn't feel right this time.
John: When I ask her about it, she never answers.
John: Instead, she gets this distant look in her eyes... It's almost like as if she wants something from me.
John: (with a mildly concerned expression) And the strange thing is... I feel like there's something I owe her, too.
Nicolas: Have you asked Isabelle?
John: Yes. She said she talked to her about it, but got nothing.
Nicolas: Well, I'm certainly not one to inquire, but I'll tell you this:
Nicolas: I've known you since middle school, and you're notorious for overthinking.
Nicolas: You're probably just imagining things. There's no need to get too worked up.
- Johnny ponders for a moment.
John: Usually when someone says that, something's always wrong.
John: But I'll give you the benefit of doubt... You're probably right.
Nicolas: (excitedly) Probably? I'm always right, John.
- Nicolas adjusts himself in his seat. Watts begins to talk.
Dr. Watts: Wait, so even he himself never knew what was up with those rabbits?
Dr. Rosalene: Forget about the stupid rabbits, we've got bigger problems.
Dr. Rosalene: It's a confined memory, and there's no mementos anywhere.
Dr. Watts: Don't worry, we can probably draw one out from him.
Dr. Rosalene: How?
Dr. Watts: Leave it to me. I just gotta give the bartender a quick visit first.
Another long scene, this one attempts to foreshadow something about River's relationship with Johnny, but is too clumsy about it. At least it does give us some more background over the house, as well as slightly explain the rabbits. Cut out the part about Johnny owing River something, and his rebuttal to Nicolas, and it would work better. Those parts are too direct to work naturally as foreshadowing.
Rosalene claims that there's no memento and that this is an enclosed memory. Can the machine not generate a memento out of something in Johnny's personal possessions? I mean damn, there's his jar of pickled olives right there! And surely he would've remembered something about the exterior of this bar? How hard is it to explore the outside for clues?
Watts looks around the bar, and finds that only Johnny and the bartender can be interacted with. He gets an idea, and proceeds to talk with the bartender.
Bartender: Hey there! Could I get you anything?
Dr. Watts: Heyo! Could I get a bottle of pickled olives, please?
Bartender: Sure. Cash or credit?
Dr. Watts: Cheque.
Bartender: Er... I'm sorry, we don't take cheques.
Dr. Watts: Oh... Just put it on my tab then.
Bartender: Wait, does that mean you don't have any money?
- Watts is speechless.
Dr. Watts: You're so getting resetted.
- Watts pushes a button, resetting the entire conversation.
Bartender: Hey there! Could I get you anything?
Dr. Watts: Hillo! Could I get a bottle of pickled olives, please?
Bartender: Sure. Cash or credit?
Dr. Watts: Just put it on my tab. I feel like spending BIG today.
Bartender: Oh, thank you, sir!
Bartender: Here's your pickled olives.
- The bartender puts a jar of pickled olives on the counter, Watts picks it up.
Dr. Watts: Thanks, bro! You'll be getting an enormous amount of tips today!
Bartender: Thank you, sir!
Rosalene: (whispering) You're such an ass, Neil.
Dr. Watts: (whispering) Oh loosen up.
This conversation drops a memory link.
Besides the usual comments about slapstick humor getting in the way of the main story, note that Watts extracted the olive jar from a vague bartender within the memory rather than conjure up one. A rather odd decision which will bite him back soon. And why the memory link? Why does a made up conversation generate one? Perhaps it comes from the olive jar.
Watts visits Johnny next.
Dr. Watts: Why, is that a bottle of pickled olives you're sporting?
John: (turning to face Neil) Yeah. Are you a fellow olive lover?
Dr. Watts: (excitedly) Indeed I am! Just got a fresh bottle of them myself, in fact!
The above exchange generates a memory link. I fail to understand this.
Dr. Watts: Mind if I join you?
John: Sure, why don't you grab a seat? We'll down a bottle together.
Dr. Watts: Oh... Yeah, that's sounds just swell.
Dr. Watts: (screaming while whispering) Eva, disable taste simulation, NOW!!
Dr. Rosalene: (whispering) Oh Neil, I don't think I feel like it.
- Watts is stunned by this answer.
Dr. Watts: ...I'm so gonna get you back for this.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later in Johnny's conversation.
John: (grinning) So that's how we got our first toaster, ohohoho!
Dr. Watts: (choking) Ah-... ack... ahh...
John: (curiously) You okay there?
Dr. Watts: (embarrassingly) Yes... I'm just... savoring the amazingness of pickled olives.
John: (grinning) They're wonderful, aren't they?
Dr. Watts: Yeah, I just can't understand how anyone could... ugh... find such things to be disgusting.
John: Take your time. We've got two bottles left!
This generates another memory link. Is it because Johnny is recalling some memories during this conversation? Remember that this is a made up conversation by Watts, NOT something from Johnny's real life.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later.
John: (grinning) So I said, "Hey, that's not right!"
John: (grinning loudly) And they totally agreed!!
Yet another memory link for this. My hypothesis for them being granted due to Johnny's recollecting of memories grows more plausible.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later.
John: ...And you know what else is wrong with society today?
Yet another memory link.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later.
John: Yeah, I actually have it right here. Why?
Dr. Watts: May I see it?
John: ... Eh, okay.
- John moves aside the jar of pickled olives and places a note on the table.
John: Here it is.
Dr. Watts: Annnnd... freeze!
- He pushes a button and everyone in the memory freezes.
Dr. Watts: (exclaiming) Finally! Dear lord!
Dr. Rosalene: How were the olives, Neil?
Dr. Watts: (exclaiming angrily) Oh shut your mouth.
Remember my complaint about the slapstick humor ruining the pace of the main story? This scene is basically that, taken up to 11. It's effectively an issue of the author not applying restraint while writing in their humorous piece. Combined with the issue that they relied on fairly weak excuses to have this happen, as well as brought their established system of gaining memory links and mementos into question, it really makes it feel rather sour, if not in conception then definitely in execution.
Both doctors proceed to prepare the memento to the next memory, the paper on Johnny's table. While doing so, they get into a minor spat.
Dr. Rosalene: Wait, don't you dare--
Dr. Watts: Don't worry, sheesh.
- He launches the orb into the glass orb around the paper.
Dr. Watts: See? I'm doing it by the books.
- Upon launching the last orb:
Nicolas: Well, I'm certainly not one to inquire, but I'll tell you this:
Nicolas: I've known you since middle school, and you're notorious for overthinking.
Nicolas: You're probably just imagining things. There's no need to get too worked up.
- Johnny ponders for a moment.
John: Usually when someone says that, something's always wrong.
John: But I'll give you the benefit of doubt... You're probably right.
Nicolas: (excitedly) Probably? I'm always right, John.
- Nicolas adjusts himself in his seat. Watts begins to talk.
Dr. Watts: Wait, so even he himself never knew what was up with those rabbits?
Dr. Rosalene: Forget about the stupid rabbits, we've got bigger problems.
Dr. Rosalene: It's a confined memory, and there's no mementos anywhere.
Dr. Watts: Don't worry, we can probably draw one out from him.
Dr. Rosalene: How?
Dr. Watts: Leave it to me. I just gotta give the bartender a quick visit first.
Another long scene, this one attempts to foreshadow something about River's relationship with Johnny, but is too clumsy about it. At least it does give us some more background over the house, as well as slightly explain the rabbits. Cut out the part about Johnny owing River something, and his rebuttal to Nicolas, and it would work better. Those parts are too direct to work naturally as foreshadowing.
Rosalene claims that there's no memento and that this is an enclosed memory. Can the machine not generate a memento out of something in Johnny's personal possessions? I mean damn, there's his jar of pickled olives right there! And surely he would've remembered something about the exterior of this bar? How hard is it to explore the outside for clues?
Watts looks around the bar, and finds that only Johnny and the bartender can be interacted with. He gets an idea, and proceeds to talk with the bartender.
Bartender: Hey there! Could I get you anything?
Dr. Watts: Heyo! Could I get a bottle of pickled olives, please?
Bartender: Sure. Cash or credit?
Dr. Watts: Cheque.
Bartender: Er... I'm sorry, we don't take cheques.
Dr. Watts: Oh... Just put it on my tab then.
Bartender: Wait, does that mean you don't have any money?
- Watts is speechless.
Dr. Watts: You're so getting resetted.
- Watts pushes a button, resetting the entire conversation.
Bartender: Hey there! Could I get you anything?
Dr. Watts: Hillo! Could I get a bottle of pickled olives, please?
Bartender: Sure. Cash or credit?
Dr. Watts: Just put it on my tab. I feel like spending BIG today.
Bartender: Oh, thank you, sir!
Bartender: Here's your pickled olives.
- The bartender puts a jar of pickled olives on the counter, Watts picks it up.
Dr. Watts: Thanks, bro! You'll be getting an enormous amount of tips today!
Bartender: Thank you, sir!
Rosalene: (whispering) You're such an ass, Neil.
Dr. Watts: (whispering) Oh loosen up.
This conversation drops a memory link.
Besides the usual comments about slapstick humor getting in the way of the main story, note that Watts extracted the olive jar from a vague bartender within the memory rather than conjure up one. A rather odd decision which will bite him back soon. And why the memory link? Why does a made up conversation generate one? Perhaps it comes from the olive jar.
Watts visits Johnny next.
Dr. Watts: Why, is that a bottle of pickled olives you're sporting?
John: (turning to face Neil) Yeah. Are you a fellow olive lover?
Dr. Watts: (excitedly) Indeed I am! Just got a fresh bottle of them myself, in fact!
The above exchange generates a memory link. I fail to understand this.
Dr. Watts: Mind if I join you?
John: Sure, why don't you grab a seat? We'll down a bottle together.
Dr. Watts: Oh... Yeah, that's sounds just swell.
Dr. Watts: (screaming while whispering) Eva, disable taste simulation, NOW!!
Dr. Rosalene: (whispering) Oh Neil, I don't think I feel like it.
- Watts is stunned by this answer.
Dr. Watts: ...I'm so gonna get you back for this.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later in Johnny's conversation.
John: (grinning) So that's how we got our first toaster, ohohoho!
Dr. Watts: (choking) Ah-... ack... ahh...
John: (curiously) You okay there?
Dr. Watts: (embarrassingly) Yes... I'm just... savoring the amazingness of pickled olives.
John: (grinning) They're wonderful, aren't they?
Dr. Watts: Yeah, I just can't understand how anyone could... ugh... find such things to be disgusting.
John: Take your time. We've got two bottles left!
This generates another memory link. Is it because Johnny is recalling some memories during this conversation? Remember that this is a made up conversation by Watts, NOT something from Johnny's real life.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later.
John: (grinning) So I said, "Hey, that's not right!"
John: (grinning loudly) And they totally agreed!!
Yet another memory link for this. My hypothesis for them being granted due to Johnny's recollecting of memories grows more plausible.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later.
John: ...And you know what else is wrong with society today?
Yet another memory link.
- The scene cuts clockwise to sometime later.
John: Yeah, I actually have it right here. Why?
Dr. Watts: May I see it?
John: ... Eh, okay.
- John moves aside the jar of pickled olives and places a note on the table.
John: Here it is.
Dr. Watts: Annnnd... freeze!
- He pushes a button and everyone in the memory freezes.
Dr. Watts: (exclaiming) Finally! Dear lord!
Dr. Rosalene: How were the olives, Neil?
Dr. Watts: (exclaiming angrily) Oh shut your mouth.
Remember my complaint about the slapstick humor ruining the pace of the main story? This scene is basically that, taken up to 11. It's effectively an issue of the author not applying restraint while writing in their humorous piece. Combined with the issue that they relied on fairly weak excuses to have this happen, as well as brought their established system of gaining memory links and mementos into question, it really makes it feel rather sour, if not in conception then definitely in execution.
Both doctors proceed to prepare the memento to the next memory, the paper on Johnny's table. While doing so, they get into a minor spat.
Dr. Rosalene: Wait, don't you dare--
Dr. Watts: Don't worry, sheesh.
- He launches the orb into the glass orb around the paper.
Dr. Watts: See? I'm doing it by the books.
- Upon launching the last orb:
Dr. Watts: HULK SMAAASH!
- Rosalene is speechless at Watts' cry.
Dr. Rosalene: Neil, seriously...
Dr. Rosalene: I'm trying to get into this and you're ruining the mood.
Dr. Watts: (turning away from her) ...Totally worth it.
Basically it's an attempt to build off a small gag Watts made while leaving Johnny's second latest memory, back in the fourth entry of this series. It wasn't particularly funny back then and it isn't any funnier now. More to the point, it exhibits the whole issue of slapstick humor for the sake of itself ruining the pace of the story, in a memory which already had it displayed quite prominently.
They then follow the memento to...
- Rosalene is speechless at Watts' cry.
Dr. Rosalene: Neil, seriously...
Dr. Rosalene: I'm trying to get into this and you're ruining the mood.
Dr. Watts: (turning away from her) ...Totally worth it.
Basically it's an attempt to build off a small gag Watts made while leaving Johnny's second latest memory, back in the fourth entry of this series. It wasn't particularly funny back then and it isn't any funnier now. More to the point, it exhibits the whole issue of slapstick humor for the sake of itself ruining the pace of the story, in a memory which already had it displayed quite prominently.
They then follow the memento to...
The lighthouse, at evening. They notice a note attached to its door, as well as middle aged Johnny and River travelling to its base. But we'll cover that next time.
Next: In Which Some Rabbits are Folded.
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