The Vail (Episode Six: The Dead Scientist)

Hello, all. I realize this probably isn't a blog that gets regular readers too often but for anyone who has come here every week looking for a story, I apologize for the past two week hiatus. But I graduated and had a busy ass Christmas. But I'm doing my best to make up for it by giving you guys twice as much Vail glory this week. I only ask that anyone visiting this site try their best to post what they thnk and anything they might like to see. Also, look for things to change a bit in "The Vail", hopefully for the better. Now for those of you checking us out for the first time...
THE JOURNEY SO FAR: Andy Vail recently learned of his brother Mike's murder and the arrest of hsi siter-in-law, Nancy. In an attempt to clear Nancy's name, Andy visited the crime scene and bumped into an odd character named Henry. Believing with all his heart that Henry is the true murderer, Andy took Henry to the local police station to clear Nancy's name. But Andy only became further perplexed by Henry and his strange powers as Henry somehow conviced the police to let Nancy go and drop the investigation entirely. Finally, after questioning Nancy, Henry learned that Mike was a scientist working diligently on a mysterious project. He also learned that Mike had a partner on this project, Dr. Mynot. Henry decided to pay Dr. Mynot a visit but not before Andy, for reasons still unknown, deicded he would tag along with him. We now join Andy and the mysterious Henry as they enter the lab of the poor Dr. Mynot.

The Vail

by Joey Pettine

Episode Six: The Dead Scientist

(A small laboratory, personal but well suited. At center stage sits a counter top covered in vials and beakers, Bunsen burners and microscopes, as well as a sink. Off to the left, sits a small centrifuge and back in the left corner is a tiny fridge with a lock on it. At stage right, sits a desk with a sole computer and scattered papers, behind the desk is a large white board with chemical compositions and fun doodles scribbled upon it. The walls of the lab are covered with book shelves stuffed with large volumes and locked cabinets. Everywhere there are odd stools scattered for sitting and behind the desk is one large swivel chair. Finally, center stage, at the foot of the counter, lies a charred body, black and twisted, still smoking. From offstage we suddenly hear a strange number of electronic beepings and then an audible click. HENRY and ANDY VAIL enter.

ANDY

How did you do that? Hey, do you smell bacon?

HENRY

Not bacon and I am quite adept at manipulating technology.

ANDY

But you didn't even touch the thing.

HENRY

Of course I did. I simply entered a series of numbers into the correct logarithm until I found the password that would open the door.

ANDY

No you didn't. You just waved your hand in front of the keys like you had an EZ Pass.

HENRY

I have no such device. Let us investigate the laboratory now.

ANDY

I hate when you do that.

HENRY

Do what?

ANDY

Blow me off and change the subject. I've known you less than twenty four hours and I've seen you do it like twelve times. Actually, now that I think about it, it's as if you don't understand how people, like, actually talk. Right in the middle of a conversation you'll go from one topic to the next with, like, no transition whatsoever.

HENRY

Am I conversing incorrectly?

ANDY

Well, most people will give a clue to what topic they're going to talk about next. They'll say something like, “How about those footballs?” Or, like, “Speaking of murderers.” But you just shoot from topic to topic like we're all on the same page.

HENRY

I do not remember us reading any literature.

(He stands up all too straight and does cliché robotic movements while imitating Henry.)

ANDY

“I like pie. How about that murder of your loved one. I know who killed him. Did I mention I always go out of my way to use the longest words and create sentences that sound offensive to the auditory, like, functions.”

HENRY

I do not believe I move my limbs in that capacity and feel this conversation has become more of an opportunity to mock me in a humorous fashion. Time is of the essence and we should continue investigating.

ANDY

See that was so much better. Like with the transitions.

HENRY

I am noticing a recent inclination of yours to the word “like”. As well as an exaggeration of your facial features and an escalation in the volume of your voice.

ANDY

Yeah, well, I'm tired.

HENRY

There is more to it than that. Your heart rate has increased resulting in elevated blood pressure, all of which stems from heightened levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. You are angry.

ANDY

You think.

HENRY

Yes.

ANDY

My brother gets murdered, Nancy says she did it, I get thrown in jail for two days of really bad sleep, then I run into you. Do you even want me to start with you?

HENRY

You already have.

ANDY

You make my head hurt, Henry. If that is your real name.

HENRY

Of course it is. Now we have work to do. Something happened here recently.

(As if he knew exactly where to go, Henry walks straight to the charred corpse. Andy follows and when he spots the body there is a moment where he puts it all together. Then he breathes in deep and exhales vomit into the sink.)

HENRY

I may have found Dr. Mynot.

ANDY

What the hell happened? His body's burned all...

(It hits him again and he vomits once more.)

ANDY

How can you even tell it's him?

HENRY

I cannot. That is why I said I may have found him. Also, there was no fire here, the doctor died from an extremely high voltage electric shock. I believe we may have just missed our killer. The body is still warm.

ANDY

Oh.

HENRY

And I can sense the residual electrical energy.

ANDY

What the fuck, man.

HENRY

You are angry again.

ANDY

What the fuck are you? You talk like you're a robot, you can “sense” electricity, whatever the fuck that means, and you seem to hypnotize everyone you talk to.

HENRY

Except you.

ANDY

Yeah, that's right, I ain't buying your Jedi bullshit and I think that pisses you off.

HENRY

It intrigues me as well as this Jedi you keep referencing.

ANDY

The Jedi mind trick. It's from a movie.

HENRY

A film?

ANDY

Yeah, it's when people believe you no matter what. When they do whatever you say.

HENRY

That is a simple matter of gaining complete trust.

ANDY

It's more than that. It's something you do. I can feel it sometimes. Like, it's like your hand at the back of my skull, pushing inside me. Is that what it feels like for everyone else?

HENRY

Possibly. I would not know.

ANDY

How come it doesn't work on me?

HENRY

Because something happened to you.

ANDY

What?

HENRY

I do not know exactly but you've seen something and it changed you enough.

ANDY

Enough? What does that mean?

HENRY

Andrew, I understand that you are tired, confused, and angry, that your life has been altered in an irreparable manner, but the longer I entertain your questions and doubts, the less chance we have of ascertaining the whereabouts of Dr. Mynot's killer. We must continue our investigation with haste.

ANDY

You think he's still here?

HENRY

Perhaps.

ANDY

Hey... a door.

HENRY

Yes.

ANDY

Well let's investigate, Sherlock.

HENRY

That is not my name.

(Andy and Henry cross the room and exit. After a moment, a man in nice clothing, holding a bouquet of flowers, BARRY FESH, enters.)

BARRY

Christopher, are you in here?

(The man looks around and finds the dead body. He almost loses his balance, covers his mouth with his hand, and takes a seat on a stool. The flowers drop from his hand. Then there is a crash from offstage and Barry is alerted. He quickly looks around and grabs a large syringe off of the counter which he then hides behind the counter. Andy and Henry reenter.)

ANDY

Well that was a dead end.

HENRY

That was a closet.

ANDY

Just a turn of phrase. You've really never seen Star Wars?

HENRY

I've never seen any films.

ANDY

Wow. You must be from another planet.

HENRY

That is absurd.

(That is when Barry springs from behind the counter and plunges the syringe into the base of Andy's neck. His eyes go wide with the purest, simplest fear and his scream is a shrill cacophony of surprise and pain. Then anger takes over. Andy turns and hits Barry with his forearm, lifting him off his feet and sending him sprawling across and over the counter top. Henry's face, for the first time ever, is one of ultimate surprise. Andy pulls the syringe from his neck.)

ANDY

YOU FART FUCKING FAGGOT FUCKER! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT!?

(Andy, with unbelievable speed, dashes over to Barry and lifts him by his neck.)

ANDY

YOU COCKSUCKER! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU STICK IN ME?!

(Like shrugging off a fly, Andy flings Barry across the small lab. Barry hits atop the desk, knocking the computer to the ground. Andy dashes for him again but Henry steps in front of him.)

HENRY

Andrew, control yourself.

(Henry reaches out to touch Andy but Andy grabs the arm and twists, flipping Henry over his shoulder.)

ANDY

FUCKIN' PUSSY! FUCKING MURDERING PUSSY! I'M GETTING ANSWERS!

(Andy finishes crossing to Barry and, with one hand, lifts him into the air.)

ANDY

YOU CUNNING LITTLE CUNT LICKER! YOU FUCKING POISONED ME!

BARRY

I--

ANDY

I'M GONNA POUR ACID INTO YOUR EYE SOCKETS AND DRINK THE TEARS AS THEY RUN DOWN YOUR CHEEKS, YOU FUCKING FAIRY!

HENRY

Release him, Andrew.

(Henry hurries over to save Barry and Andy, using his other hand, lifts him off his feet as well.)

ANDY

SAVE THAT MINDFUCK BULLSHIT FOR THE RETARDED DETECTIVES AND WHINING PRISON SLUTS! I SEE WHAT YOU REALLY ARE YOU--

(Henry places his hands on Andy's temples, something pops and there is a bright flash like from an old camera. Andy loses consciousness instantly, collapsing to the floor and dropping Henry and Barry. Barry hugs his knees, shaking with shock.)

HENRY

Are you alright?

BARRY

I-I-I-I-I-

HENRY

My companion has had a trying number of days, he is in a delicate frame of being, I believe when you attacked him with the syringe you may have pushed his adrenaline levels to a breaking point and forced him physically into a state of fight or flight. He chose to fight.

BARRY

I-I-I-

HENRY

You also seem to be in a delicate frame of being. You need to calm down.

BARRY

I-I-

HENRY

I can help you but you need to calm down. Do you understand?

(Barry stops shaking for a bit and nods, his eyes are still wide. Then Henry holds his chin and stares deeply into his eyes.)

HENRY

Share my calm.

(Barry starts to breathe better.)

HENRY

Who are you?

BARRY

Barry Fesh, Chris's boyfriend.

HENRY

Chris?

BARRY

Dr. Mynot.

HENRY

I am sorry for your loss. Why did you attack my companion?

BARRY

Chris and I had a date tonight. When I saw he was dead and you guys were going through his stuff I got angry.

HENRY

You deduced that we must be the murderers, a reasonable albeit an incorrect assumption. If you did think us the killers, though, how come you didn't go for the police?

BARRY

I love Chris.

HENRY

When did you last see Dr. Mynot alive?

BARRY

I was on the phone with Chris only ten minutes ago.

HENRY

Which means he was murdered moments before we arrived. Do you know anything about a Dr. Michael Vail?

BARRY

I met him a couple times. He was Chris's partner.

HENRY

In an occupational capacity or were they also in a homosexual relationship?

BARRY

They just worked together.

HENRY

We believe the doctors were killed for their research. What were they working on?

BARRY

Chris never told me exactly but he said it was going to change the world.

HENRY

Those are grand aspirations. Who would know what this project was?

BARRY

One of the others.

HENRY

Who are these others?

BARRY

Four other scientists working with Chris and Michael.

HENRY

Names?

BARRY

I only ever met the other one. Dr. Tim Waitts, he lives with his granddaughter Alina. We went out to dinner a couple times.

HENRY

Thank you. Now return home and forget me in your grief.

(Andy groans on the floor. Barry closes his eyes, breaking their stare, and stands up with Henry's help. Then he sees the body on the floor and begins to cry. As he exits he picks up the dropped flowers and places them on the body. Then he leaves. Andy groans again.)

HENRY

Sleep, Andrew, you need your rest.

(Black out.)