TADC Episode 9 Alternate Ending: BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN

This is the first quarter of a fan-written Episode 9. I'm only releasing this first half just to test the waters.

If TLDR, At the end of the script, marked by a bolded END OF PART 1, there's a synopsis for the episode.

Themes (As established by the series thus far): Human Imperfection, Friendship, Mental Illness, Support.

These themes will be observed in this fan-written episode.

!TADC Episode 9 Alternate Ending: BREAKDOWN BREAKDOWN!<
!By anonymous!<

!INTRO (SAME AS IN ORIGINAL SCRIPT).!<
!CIRCUS TENT - CONTINUOUS WITH EPISODE 8!<

!Picking up where Episode 8 left off, characters are still processing the day’s events. !<
!Slow zoom-in from afar; High angle, establishing shot. Cut to Pomni.!<
!POMNI!<
! Uh- Are you sure? How did that… even happen?? There’s no undo or anything?!<
!KINGER!<
!(Grasping for an answer) I… n-no… there’s no undo. There was a window to revert the deletion, but before I could, the floor opened up and…!<
!JAX!<
!(Muttered) That’s convenient…!<
!POMNI!<
!Jax… !<
!JAX!<
!(Annoyed) What?! Are we all just going to forgive this?! This guy messed up in the worst way possible! Yeah, we had a big problem to deal with before. But now? Now, we have NOTHING!!!!<
!ZOOBLE!<
!Witchhunting isn’t going to solve this, Jax.!<
!JAX!<
!Oh-hooooo, PLEASE! YOU of all people should be BEGGING for forgiveness right now!!! (Mocking)‘Ooh, don’t get on his bad side, Jax, he only puts up with us because he likes us, Jax!’ Yeah, good wisdom, o’ great, walking Shish-Kebab; You just COULDN’T help poking the fire, could you?-!<
!GANGLE!<
!-It’s not their fault!!<
!Jax shoots Gangle a look of malice, causing her to sputter and go silent.!<
!Ragatha!<
!(Interjecting) Jax: You also had something to say, remember? About the ‘lying’?!<
!Pomni!<
!Maybe we could have chosen our words better. But the fact is, we didn’t. If you put this on Zooble, you put this on all of us; That includes you, Jax.!<
!Jax stares with dotted pupils, but doesn’t say anything. He turns away, staring up at the desolated tent ceiling.!<
!Pomni, concentrating, suddenly recalls something.!<
!POMNI!<
!My… My name! I still can't remember my name… Oh, God, who knows how much Caine erased from our heads?!<
!KINGER!<
! -Erasure… Is… not exactly the term I’d use; Matter of fact, it was quite the opposite. No minute details could be recorded, so… Caine had to work with what he was given, and-!<
!Kinger realizes everyone is looking at him, some apprehensively, some confused.!<
!KINGER!<
! (Reluctantly) I suppose… You all deserve to know. !<
!When I was scouring the computer for Caine’s sourcecode, I found a file. And suddenly, I- I remembered! Scratch’s primary work- his magnum opus, as he would refer to it- was in building both the hardware and software for a brainscanner. A revolutionary technology in theory! Sadly, he, uh, never made it past rudimentary neuron-mapping before the, uh, cancer took his life.!<
!GANGLE!<
!Took his life? But then… He’d be dead. Like, in-the-real-world-dead, right? But you said he was the first to-!<
!Zooble!<
! Gangle…!<
!KINGER!<
! Yes, Gangle… I know what I said…!<
!Gumigoo’s musical motif is reiterated to fill the void and convey the sentiment.!<
!A grim understanding shows on the characters’ faces.!<
!RAGATHA!<
! (Head bowed) Oh… Oh my God… But that means… we’re all… We’re just…!<
!Cut to extreme closeup of Jax’s mouth.!<
!JAX!<
! (Still turned away, grimly) I know what it means.!<
!KINGER!<
! (Slowly) I understand how you all feel… I still remember when I first realized… The truth. Years ago. I wish I hadn’t put it all together myself… So suddenly- I… Well, I’ve wished for a lot of things, but-!<
!Kinger is cut off by Jax laughing, softly at first, but then hysterically. He only just stops short of a wheeze, shoulders tensed.!<
!JAX!<
! (Breathy) You. You fucking… ASShole.!<
!Shot of Kinger taken aback.!<
!JAX!<
! Why? WHY would you put this on us NOW?! WHY? After the hell we just went through?! Now not only do we have nothing, we literally ARE-!<
!RAGATHA!<
! N-NO! Jax, we’re still-!<
!JAX!<
! Tch- Oh yeah! We’re STILL KICKING around alright!(Sighs. Turns to Zooble.) Congratulations, ZOOBLE, cuz you still get to leave your mark in the world! (Mocking) Aw, isn’t that fun.!<
!RAGATHA!<
! Jax…!<
!JAX!<
! A-ha-annnd I guess you still get to hang out with mommy after all! Right, RAGS?!<
!RAGATHA!<
! Just- SHUT UP, Jax!!!!<
!JAX!<
! Guess I’m… (Faltering) Still…!<
!RAGATHA!<
! …I know… I think… I’ve ALWAYS known… And yet, for some reason (weak chuckle, tearing up, clutching herself.)I never really believed it. Despite every instinct… But now all I feel is that… is that-!<
!Shot of Pomni, looking off to the side, brows knotted.!<
!RAGATHA!<
! (Choked up, continuing.) Our lives and memories; It’s all fake! (Sniffs) We’re- We really ARE nothing…!<
!Pomni looks up, taken aback by Ragatha’s contradiction of character.!<
!POMNI!<
! Ragatha that- that’s not TRUE. (Cut to a high angle, medium close up of Jax, wide eyed and staring at the ceiling, walking away. Cut back to Pomni, who gets down to put a hand on Ragatha’s shoulder.) We still have… each other. We can still BE someone, even if it isn’t- out there… W- we just have to…!<
!Pomni trails off as she sees what she’s saying isn’t working. Instead, she lets the latter sob as tears well in her own eyes.!<
!Gangle starts walking away, taking Zooble´s hand. Zooble doesn’t budge, staring at the ground in disbelief and despair. Seeing this, Gangle becomes distraught and leaves them.!<
!Cut to a long shot encompassing all characters. Kinger can be seen attempting to conjure new flooring.!<

!INT. JAX’S ROOM - Dark!<
!Establishing shot of Jax curled up on bed.!<
!Cut to extreme close up of Jax’s closed eyes. They scrunch up in discomfort.!<
!Cut to black. A muffled, angry and berating woman’s voice can be heard. !<
!Back to Jax, even more uncomfortable.!<
!Back to black, the single voice is then accompanied by many voices and laughter. Some words like ‘weak’, ‘idiot’, ‘loser’, and ‘gay’ can be heard. Music rises in volume along with the voices, until both are cut off with a woosh of air.!<
!Jax’s eyes, as scrunched up as they can be, fly open.!<
!Cut to a full shot of Jax floating nude through the colorful ether for a few seconds as cheery music plays.!<
!Everything but Jax fades to black. Music slows down to a halt as if played from a gramophone.!<
!Cut to a shot of black ether.!<
!UNKNOWN VOICE!<
! (Softly, low and androgynous) Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself?!<
!Low note plays on cut to close up of Jax’s face, filled with trepidation.!<
!Cut back to ether.!<
!UNKNOWN VOICE!<
! Have you ever wanted to be perfect in the eyes of your family and friends?!<
!Close up of the ether wrapping itself around Jax’s hands and feet as voice continues.!<
!UNKNOWN VOICE!<
! Have you ever felt like leaving all your problems behind?!<
!Shot of murky hands forming from the ether, reaching out to Jax’s face.!<
!Shot of jagged teeth forming in the void, curling up into a grin. White rings for eyes form above them.!<
!The mouth speaks.!<
!UNKNOWN VOICE!<
! Oh, Jaxy-boy… You know better than anyone: You can’t escape from yourself.!<
!Music enters subito crescendo.!<
!The void swirls around Jax and enters his mouth and eyes as he twitches and silently screams.!<
!Cut to black and silence.!<

!Ext. Circus Tent - Weak Light (Scene mostly unchanged)!<
!Pomni approaches Kinger as he’s busy fixing the tent.!<
!POMNI!<
! Need any help?!<
!KINGER!<
! Sure- If you wanna give it a try.!<
!Pomni raises her arm, eyes closed, attempting to conjure.!<
!KINGER!<
! Relax your body and mind. Deep breaths! And try not to think too hard about it.!<
!Pomni succeeds at making a triangle, but it is unstable. Seeing it as failure, she breaks into tears.!<
!POMNI!<
! I really wanted to help.!<
!KINGER!<
! You had a good start!!<
!POMNI!<
! I thought I could uplift everyone, but… everything’s gotten so bad… Am I stupid for even trying?!<
!KINGER!<
! No! None of this is your fault. I don’t think anyone could have predicted things to play out the way they did (scriptwriter’s note, except for us lol).!<
!POMNI!<
! (Sniffles) I’m scared. I don’t know what’s gonna happen.!<
!KINGER!<
! You know… Out of all the people I’ve seen enter this place? I don’t think any one of them adjusted as quickly as you did.!<
!POMNI!<
! I was a nervous wreck.!<
!KINGER!<
! So was I! It’s a lot for anybody to go through. But, while the others took weeks- hell, even months to get used to everything- myself included- You found your footing in a matter of days! And, not just that, you’ve also become someone they can trust! Even if they don’t seem receptive. It’s times like these they’re gonna need someone like that the most.!<
! You’re very strong, Pomni. And I know you’ll be able to get through this.!<
!POMNI!<
! (Wiping tear, weakly chuckling) We’ve been here before.!<
!KINGER!<
! Have we???!<
!POMNI!<
! Yeah! Back in the Mildenhall Manor… I doubt you remember.!<
!KINGER!<
! Well! In any case… It’s still true!!<
! (Reassuringly) It may take time… But they’ll come around.!<
! We can’t fix every problem… Not with ourselves. Certainly not with the world around us… But we can still do what we can.!<
!POMNI!<
! It’s gonna be a lot of work…!<
!KINGER!<
! But! It won’t be a lot of work… Alone.!<
!Kinger offers his hand to Pomni, who takes it with a smile.!<
!KINGER!<
! Now! Whaddya say we get this place patched up? !<
!Pomni opens her mouth to respond. An earsplitting earthquake trembles through the tent. !<
!Pomni and Kinger put their hands to their (supposed) ears, bend their knees, and grimace, looking around.!<
!Cut to a knee-level long shot of Ragatha and Zooble in a similar position.!<
!The earthquake subsides slightly.!<
!Cut back to Pomni and Kinger.!<
!POMNI!<
! What WAS that?!<
!KINGER!<
! I- I don’t know.!<
!POMNI!<
! Oh, God, what if it’s Caine!?! Did he survive? What is he gonna do if he finds us?!?!<
!KINGER!<
! I doubt it’s him. And even if he survived, I think he’d be far too weak to do… that…!<
!Kinger is distracted by something offscreen.!<
!Cut to a long, over the shoulder shot with the back of Jax’s head in the foreground, centered on Pomni and Kinger. !<
!Uneasy music plays.!<
!As Ragatha and Zooble enter the frame, Pomni notices Jax and jumps a little. She stands up.!<
!Three seconds pass.!<
!POMNI!<
!Jax…? Everything… alright?!<
!Full body shot of Jax. He’s standing across the sinkhole from Pomni and Kinger. His arms are stiff by his side and his eyes are charcoal black. He’s smiling.!<
!Jax tilts his head impossibly far to one side.!<
!JAX!<
! (Slowly, vaguest hint of an intoxicated slur) Oh, never better, Pom Pom. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever BEEN this happy before!!<
!Back to the others.!<
!ZOOBLE!<
! …Okay- What is this? I don’t like this… !<
!The circus shakes again, causing the cast to throw their arms out for balance. The environmental lighting flickers, as though from a lightbulb.!<
!When the disturbance subsides, Pomni, Kinger, Ragatha, and Zooble gain their bearings.!<
!POMNI!<
! Jax??? (New camera angle, Pomni searches the perimeter) Where’d he go???!<
!ZOOBLE!<
! Who cares? He’s probably just taking the opportunity to freak us out or something.!<
!Pomni considers this.!<
!RAGATHA!<
!(Clutching hair) Gah- My ears are still RINGING from that sound!!<
!KINGER!<
! Mine too. Any idea what it was?!<
!ZOOBLE!<
! Well, we were kind of hoping YOU’D know… you know, seeing as you’re mr. expert-of-the-digital-realm and all.!<
!KINGER!<
! Oh! Uh… well, I’m flattered- But my expertise in computer science only goes so far; (Looks to the side in reminiscence) There are things in this world not even I can explain.!<
!Pomni thinks.!<
!POMNI!<
! Maybe… These are aftershocks from Caine’s dea- deletion… Like- if this is Caine’s world, like you said, couldn’t its existence be tied to his?!<
!Kinger considers.!<
!KINGER!<
! That was my suspicion too. But if it were true, you’d expect the entire circus to collapse in a matter of moments… Hmm… Perhaps he built a separate program to help with maintenance… Protect against bugs, viruses, and such. (Stands with a grunt) In any case, we should start fixing this place as soon as possible-!<
!RAGATHA!<
! What if there’s no time?!<
!KINGER!<
! That’s exactly why we’ll need every hand we have.!<
!ZOOBLE!<
! (Sigh) No use trying to ask Jax. I’ll go get Gangle.!<
!KINGER!<
! Good- but be quick!!<
!Zooble nods and sprints off screen.!<
!Kinger motions for Ragatha to join him and Pomni!<
!RAGATHA!<
! Heh- I- I still can’t believe how… lucid you are… I’m sorry I never considered-!<
!Kinger holds up his hand.!<
!KINGER!<
! You did nothing wrong. My… ‘condition’ didn’t exactly do me any favors. I should be the one who’s sorry… Sometimes I even allowed myself to forget it all… to just slip away. (Sighs) But-!<
!POMNI!<
! -But you’re here with us now. And that’s all that matters, right?!<
!KINGER!<
! (Smiles) Yeah… I guess you’re right. (The three stand in silence for a second or two) Now: How’s about we show Ragatha our new tricks?!<
!POMNI!<
! Uh- Okay!!<
!Long, kneelevel shot of the three kneeling down to the hole. Pomni conjures a new triangle, this time more stable. Ragatha gasps in amazement, clapping her hands in encouragement. Kinger nods.!<
!Shot slowly dollies down to bring a small mess of bluish-purple bubbles into view where Jax was standing before. Ominous music plays.!<
!Switch to brief overhead shot, revealing that the mess depicts the C&A logo, with the ‘C’ removed.!<

END OF PART 1

!Synopsis: With Caine deleted, the circus members discover a terrible truth. Jax, now mentally vulnerable, is approached by an unseen entity.!<