How i Died S2 E09: Blurring The Lines

Transcript: How i Died S2 E09: Blurring The Lines

This transcript is adapted from the episode’s original script, so the final audio may differ slightly.

News Anchor: (background) And in some more tragic news from last night: 22 year old Felix Matthews was killed during a camping trip gone wrong. Saturday evening, a group of Matthews’ friends headed out to the Springfield county line, north of town – the woods with the old corporation facility. After some partying, Matthews and two friends broke into the facility. One friend says that Matthews tried to climb onto some old equipment, when part of the wall collapsed. Matthews was killed immediately according to local orthopedic surgeon Nathan Klark, filling in at Springfield General’s pathology lab.

Jon: Fucking hack…

News Anchor: (background) Greg Picker, one of Matthews’ friends who was with him on the night of the accident, spoke out earlier today.

Greg: It was terrible… I watched Felix fall and the wall just crumbled. I heard a sound and then the next thing I know… I see Flex standing next to me. Or like… Floating, I guess. He looked just like normal. He wasn’t see through or ethereal. Just… There. I thought it was him at first. But them he looked back at me and I blinked. He was gone. We went toward the wall and found his body under some of the rocks. He’d hit his head… It was… No one should ever have to see those things.

News Anchor: A ceremony for Matthews will be held tomorrow. The family has asked that all donations be sent to a local charity, instead. And in lighter news, Show-show the monkey has learned to say "storm shock" in sign language…

[Jon turns off the tv.]

Jon: (sighing) God… Damnit.

[Intro]

Jon: I think I’m slowly losing my mind. I’m sitting in my fucking car. Talking to a tape recorder, for… What’s it been? Three hours now. Which is fine. I’ve got no job to do right now, but instead, I’m sitting outside the apartment of some kid whose friend just died, so that I can talk to him about it. Yeah, Crowley might be right about me overstepping. I’m… Gonna delete this right now.

[Buttons and rewinding.]

Jon: Hello this is doctor Jon Spacer, just talking to himself and thinking aloud. Doing nothing conspicuous, and definitely not crossing any lines. I think this is who I am now. I have no purpose, so I’ll just ramble to myself and waste time until I die. And – Oh fuck, is that Greg? He’s already in his car. Damnit… Ummm… Do I… Follow him? Crap. Crap crap crap. Am I really about to do this? Ugh…

[Car starts driving]

Jon: Please just stop at the grocery store and I can bump into you. Please… Nope… Right by Sherman’s. Okay… We’ve reached the traffic circle on the left, and he’s taking the second exit and turning left… I’ll circle around so he doesn’t see me, but it looks like he’s… Keeping right at the fork. Where is he going? This is toward the edge of town… Okay, I see him in the distance. He’s passing by the second exit on the right and keeping left… Actually… He’s turning right onto Pennsylvania road… He’s going exactly where I thought he would: Toward the Springfield facility. There’s nothing else out this way… And it makes sense, right? Not just because his friend died, but because he thinks he saw a ghost or something… I mean, I’d go back to the source too if it were the first time I saw one… If this kid actually did see a ghost, I need to figure out what happened and why. He’s pulling down the side road that leads to the facility. I’m going to wait and then park off to the side so he doesn’t see me. I don’t want it to LOOK like I’m following him…

[Car turns off.]

Jon: Heh… This is familiar. Sitting in front of the rickety gate that leads to the old Springfield Corp. Facility. Only this time, there’s more police tape. And I’m even still talking to myself out loud like an idiot. Alright. He’s gone up the road. I should be good…

[Jon gets out and goes around back.]

Jon: The gate actually opens this time. Look at that…

Jon: And I know an easier way in now… I wonder if…

Mike: (in distance) Felix? Felix! Where did you go today?

Jon: Mike?

Mike: Who are you? You’re not Felix.

Jon: Mike, do you remember me? We met before. I’m Jon-

Mike: I don’t know you.

Jon: I figured as much.

Mike: Why are you in my lab? And how did you get here without a badge?

Jon: I’m just passing through.

Mike: That doesn’t answer my question.

Jon: How have you been feeling, Mike?

Mike: Tip top top tip tip top. Why?

Jon: Just checking. You’ve been here a long time. How many days has it been?

Mike: It’s been 11,162 days since the storm and two days since the last accident; not a great record.

Jon: Your memory is interesting to me. You seem to completely understand the passage of time…

Mike: Why wouldn’t I? Time isn’t relative. Einstein was an idiot.

Jon: I bet… But you don’t seem to be degrading at all… And you’ve been here for so long.

Mike: My mental faculties are as good as ever.

Jon: Heh. I couldn’t have said it better myself. You’re sure you don’t remember me?

Mike: Should I?

Jon: Probably not. I gave you some bad news last time.

Mike: Is it about Ray?

Jon: It was… Sort of.

Mike: Tell him he’s fired.

Jon: I will definitely do that…

Mike: Good. Now this is a sterile environment. I assume you got permissions to be here?

Jon: Of course. Say, Mike, you mentioned something I was hoping you could answer for me.

Mike: Shoot.

Jon: You said a name and mentioned an accident two days ago. Was someone named Felix killed here?

Greg: H-hello?

Jon: Oh. Hi.

Mike: Who are you? I don’t know you either.

Greg: Did you just say Felix?

Jon: I did. I’m sorry. Hey… You’re Greg Picker, right? From the news.

Greg: Yeah… Who are you?

Jon: My name is Jack. I’m-

Mike: I thought your name was Jon.

Greg: Are you with the police? Look. I’m sorry if this is trespassing, I just-

Jon: I’m not with the police. I’m a… A journalist. Got the recorder and everything.

Greg: Is that why you were talking?

Mike: Can both of you please get out of my lab? You’re disrupting my work with this ridiculousness.

Jon: Just… Taking notes. I’m following up on the story.

Greg: About the accident?

Jon: No, actually… About you.

Greg: Umm… Maybe I should go.

Jon: Sorry. I didn’t mean you specifically. I heard your report on the news and decided to come see this place for myself. I’m not a typical journalist. I’m investigating some paranormal activity.

Mike: That would be a great name for a movie.

Greg: Like… Hauntings?

Jon: Sort of, yeah. I was –

Mike: There’s no such thing as ghosts. Science has proven otherwise.

Greg: You heard the clip of me saying I saw Felix, right?

Jon: Yeah… I did.

Greg: It was stupid. I didn’t mean anything by it.

Jon: Sure you did. You’re here right now.

Greg: I could just be here to grieve.

Jon: But you’re not.

Greg: What channel did you say you’re with again?

Jon: Look, Greg, I’ll be honest with you. This is off the books. I came here to check into a ghost sighting. You think any local channel is going to run that?

Greg: I guess not.

Jon: I didn’t expect to run into you here. I’m perfectly happy pretending we never saw each other. So I’m going to go check out the death site, if you don’t mind. I’m hoping to get some readings on Philip’s ghost.

Mike: Thank goodness. Bye!

Greg: Uhh, I-

Jon: ’Scuse me.

[Jon walks across some debris to the site.]

Jon: Come on… Take the bait. Come on…

Greg: His name was Felix?

Jon: Hmmm?

Greg: You said Philip. My friend’s name was Felix.

Jon: Oh. Sorry about that.

Greg: What are you doing anyway?

Jon: Just… Seeing if I can get a reading.

Greg: With a recorder?

Jon: What happened here anyway?

Greg: I thought you listened to the story already.

Jon: In my experience, the paranormal tend to react to people talking about them. Especially loved ones… I figure maybe remembering him will help.

Greg: Probably only if you get his name right.

Jon: Hmph. Felix? Felix, are you here?

Greg: Anything?

Jon: Not yet. Do you mind?

Greg: (sighing) It was his birthday today. We were celebrating when it happened.

Jon: I’m sorry to hear that.

Greg: It’s fine.

Jon: Why here? If you don’t mind me asking.

Greg: I dunno. He was drunk. He liked these woods. We were supposed to be camping and it just seemed like a cool place to check out.

Jon: That was a lot of reasons. Are you trying to explain it away?

Greg: I’m trying to make sense of it. It all just happened so fast. One minute he’s there, and the next…

Jon: And the next he’s there again.

Greg: I was just tried and panicked.

Jon: Do you really think you saw him?

Greg: Maybe. Have you ever seen a ghost?

Jon: No.

Greg: But You believe in them?

Jon: I think a lot of people do.

Greg: Yeah, well a lot of people don’t go on the news and say they saw one.

Jon: I’m surprised there isn’t a seance here, honestly. People in Springfield love this stuff.

Greg: I’m sure this place will be a mob scene by tomorrow. It’s why I’m here tonight.

Jon: Were you hoping you’d see him again?

Greg: Heh. That’s a loaded question.

Jon: Why’s that?

Greg: Of course I wanna see him again, but at the same time, do I really want to be that guy who swears he saw a ghost?

Jon: You’re here because you’re already that guy.

Greg: Great… Thanks.

Jon: Heh. Any time.

Greg: I feel weird saying this, because I barely know you, but, uh… Thanks for talking to me. I think I needed it.

Jon: What did Felix look like?

Greg: I don’t really want to think about his body…

Jon: No, I mean the thing you saw standing next to you. If it was a ghost, what did it look like?

Greg: Hmmm. It looked just like Felix. Which was why I was so freaked out.

Jon: Was he translucent?

Greg: No. He looked completely normal. No cuts, no blood. No crazy black eyes or monster teeth or whatever people claim they see when they see ghosts.

Jon: Yeah… What stood out to you, then?

Greg: He was standing right next to me. When it happened, I mean. I like… Felt him next to me for a second, and turned and he was looking right toward this spot, just like we are now. Honestly, I’m getting a chill just thinking about it.

Jon: So you think he was looking at the accident with you?

Greg: That’s what it seemed like.

Jon: Do you think he didn’t know it was his body? Like he thought he was alive still?

Greg: Maybe? I have no idea. It was only for a second. I looked at him, and he looked right at me. He like… Winced and then looked down, anf disappeared.

Jon: Winced how?

Greg: I don’t know… Like he touched his neck.

Jon: By the C6?

Greg: The what?

Jon: Uhh. According to the report, he was impaled by a pipe right in between two spinal column vertebra.

Greg: That’s… Disgusting. How do you know that?

Jon: Journalistic privileges.

Greg: Uh-huh.

Jon: You said he looked down. Looked at what?

Greg: He was floating… Like an inch off the ground. And that was it. He was gone.

Jon: What did it look like when he disappeared?

Greg: Is that recorder on? I didn’t agree to being an interview, and that’s… That’s what this turned into, didn’t it?

Jon: No, it’s off.

Greg: I’m such an idiot. You’re just looking for a story.

Jon: It’s not like that, I-

Greg: I’m leaving. You’re an ass for trying to exploit someone while they’re grieving.

Jon: Greg… God damnit. Felix? Felix Matthews, are you here? My name is Jon Spacer, and I came to talk to you.

Mike: Jon Spacer? I thought your name was Jack. Jack Spacer? No. Jon sounds right. Forensic Pathologist.

Jon: I didn’t say that earlier. You DO remember me.

Mike: Of course, Jon. Jon Spacer. You talk to dead people.

Jon: That’s right… Do you remember what happened last time?

Mike: Last time?

Jon: Nevermind. It’s not important, I guess. We were interrupted earlier.

Mike: By Greg.

Jon: That’s right.

Mike: From the television.

Jon: Right, Greg from TV. Listen. Earlier you asked where Felix went. Was he here?

Mike: Not today. Yesterday. He wasn’t much help.

Jon: Much help with your project.

Mike: Yes! He gave me bad news like you did.

Jon: So he told you he was dead? And so were you?

Mike: I don’t remember. There were police officers here. They had badges but not the right kind to enter the office. I asked them to leave.

Jon: Did they? Haha.

Mike: Eventually. Eveyone dies eventually.

Jon: That they do. Do you remember Felix saying anything else? Maybe about a pain in his neck?

Mike: Yes! A pain. He kept holding his neck.

Jon: Strange… Greg must have been right then… He really did see Felix’s ghost.

Mike: Felix was a ghost?

Jon: He was. And Greg saw him. Like actually saw him…

Mike: I saw him too. I can see ghosts.

Jon: Me too, buddy. Me too…

Mike: It must be residual.

Jon: What do you mean?

Mike: The residual energy.

Jon: From the storm? The blast in 1989? You’ve got to be kidding me.

Mike: My neck hurts, too.

Jon: Mike, I need you lucid right now. Please.

Mike: I’m very lucid thank you very much. Very much.

Jon: The stuttering… Wait. You didn’t stutter last time. And it seems pretty mild right now. It only took Curtis about six months to fully degrade… And my mom pushed through for over a year… I’ve never seen the onset be so slow. It’s been decades. How is that possible?

Mike: The residual. The residual. The Bubble works.

Jon: The Bubble. You said last time it was meant to trap and slowly dissipate the energy from the geomagnetic storms. If that’s true, then it would explain why it’s taking you so long to degrade. And possibly why you keep reverting to thinking you’re alive.

Mike: I am alive.

Jon: And the pain… Felix’s neck pain could have been tied to how he died initially. Could Greg’s ability to see Felix for a minute be an effect of the energy here? Hmm… Bianca’s body wasn’t found too far from here. Route 83 up the street… And she was trapped inside her body AND blind.

Mike: Are you talking to me?

Jon: Come to think of it… Will from all those months ago, the guy who got his head cut off, he was unable to appear until I put his head back on his body.

Mike: That is a vital part of being alive.

Jon: This all makes sense. The energy from the blast is still centered around here. It explains why some of the rules of being a ghost are broken around here. It explains a lot, actually. Mike, I need you to come with me.

Mike: I can’t leave in the middle of the work day!

Jon: It’s almost midnight…

Mike: And think of the things I can get done.

Jon: There’s nothing TO get done. There’s a bigger problem with the town than just this broken invention.

Mike: The broken invention IS the big problem with the town.

Jon: Yeah… You might be right. But-

Mike: I’m always right.

Jon: But I still need you to come with me. I have so many more questions, and I think being away from here will help you be more aware. Come on.

Mike: Don’t you touch me!

Jon: Mike, I can’t anway. Just follow me.

Mike: Your arm went through me.

Jon: Come this way and I’ll explain everything.

Mike: Ummm… I don’t know how I feel about this.

Jon: Just come through the debris, and we’ll walk down the path here.

Mike: Is that your car?

Jon: Yeah, why?

Mike: It looks so… Advanced. What model is it?

Jon: 2012 Prius.

Mike: 2012…

Jon: I thought you were aware of the passage of time.

Mike: Jon.

Jon: What? Did it work?

Mike: Jon, what’s that?

Jon: It’s my car. You just said that. Now you can’t sit in it, but I can walk with you back to the hospital.

Mike: It hurts!

Jon: What? What hurts?

Mike: Aaaahhh! My head! Get it out! Get it out!

Jon: Mike?! What are you doing?

Mike: There’s glass in my eyes! Ahhhh! It fucking hurts. Get out! Get outttt!

[Mike disappears]

Jon: Mike! Come back! What’s going on?! Damnit. Mike!

[Jon runs back to the lab]

Jon: Mike? Mike! There you are. What happened?

Mike: Hello? Who are you?

Jon: Mike… It’s me, Jon. We just spoke.

Mike: Do you have a badge?

Jon: I don’t… I was hoping to get you out of here.

Mike: You’ll need a badge. This is a restricted area.

Jon: You really don’t remember me?

Mike: Do you work here? If so, you should go see the doctor. You sound a little stressed out.

Jon: The doctor?

Mike: Oyy. Very stressed out. Yes. The doctor. Doctor Kim.

Jon: Doctor… Kim?

Mike: Yeah. In employee health? You should set up a visit.

Jon: I think… I think I’ll do that.

Mike: Good. Now without a badge, you’ll really need to leave…

Jon: Yeah… Yeah. Thanks, Mike. I hope I get to see you again soon…

Mike: Bring a badge next time. Bye Jon!