Free Crampton by Thomas Ligotti, Brandon Trenz Page A

changes slightly--still a near-perfect imitation of Helen's, but muffled, as though spoken through clenched teeth.
    STATICKY VOICE (ON PHONE)
    Three o'clock. Showtime.
    Brady and Helen look at the motel clock: Its green luminescent hands point to three o'clock ... a.m.
    STATICKY VOICE (ON PHONE)
    You don't want to miss it.
    The voice is lost in HISSES and POPS.
    CUT TO:
    INT. HELEN'S MOTEL ROOM - A FEW MINUTES LATER
    Helen comes out of the bathroom after hastily throwing some clothes on. Brady, already dressed, is dialing Helen's cell phone.
    HELEN
    Any luck with Ricky?
    BRADY
    I'm trying right now.
    We hear a number of RINGS ON THE PHONE, then a CLICK as the line is PICKED UP.
    BRADY
    Ricky?
    No--the unmistakable HISS of an answering machine tape. The voice that speaks is not Ricky Smith's.
    ANSWERING MACHINE (ON THE PHONE)
    Hi, kids! We've all gone to the magic show! See you there!
    CLICK--the machine hangs up.
    BRADY
    (a bit dazed)
    I got his machine.
    HELEN
    His machine? Brady, you dialed your own cell phone--how could you get a machine?
    BRADY
    I don't know.
    HELEN
    Are you sure you dialed the right number?
    BRADY
    Yes ... I mean, I think so.
    HELEN
    You think so ?
    BRADY
    Would you just lay off? I don't have the number memorized, all right? I don't usually have to call myself!
    Brady starts dialing again. Helen throws her head back in frustration ... then notices something near the door.
    HELEN
    What is that?
    BRADY
    (not paying attention)
    What is what?
    HELEN
    (pointing)
    That .
    Brady looks. On the floor, Just inside the door, is a large manila envelope.
    Helen steps cautiously toward the door. She picks up the envelope gingerly. It is labeled "FOR THE NEWLYWEDS." We can hear FAINT RINGING over the cell phone.
    Helen unfastens the envelope and lets the contents slide into her hand. It's a black-and-white--
    PHOTOGRAPH
    --of Brady and Helen together in the Oasis Motel lobby. They look awkward, caught off-guard. It is identical to their positions in the elevator dream.
    BRADY
    Helen, I had this dream--
    HELEN
    --about an elevator.
    Brady is speechless. From the cell phone in his hand we hear the CLICK of the line picking up.
    ANSWERING MACHINE (ON PHONE)
    Hi, kids! We've all gone to the magic show! See you there!
    EXT. OASIS MOTEL - NIGHT
    Brady and Helen come out of the room and look down Main Street.
    Crampton is dead but for one building--the Masonic Hall. Though still every inch a ruin from the outside, the hall is brightly lit within. We can hear strains of CALLIOPE MUSIC--that same elusively familiar tune from the elevator dream.
    INT. MASONIC HALL
    Brady and Helen burst through the door and stop in their tracks, stunned. The Spectacular Display of Illusion and Ventriloquism has begun.
    The inside of the hall is completely restored ... no, not restored-- new , as it must have looked sixty years ago. Intricate ceiling work, warm gas-fed lamps, tapestries depicting ancient figures--perhaps the original Freemasons.
    It is a full house, standing room only. The audience is a collection of ultra-glamorous and artificial-looking men and women--a grotesque version of an Academy Awards or Broadway opening night crowd. Grinning clowns work the crowd, juggling and performing petty sleight-of-hand tricks. The CALLIOPE MUSIC is playing that same tune, over and over and just a little too loud.
    BRADY
    What the fuck?
    ON STAGE - a VENTRILOQUIST is performing. On his knee is the dummy from Illusions of Empire--Laffo.
    VENTRILOQUIST
    So, Laffo, why do they call you Laffo, anyway?
    LAFFO
    (in a hillbilly dialect)
    A-cuz I'm so funny, I'll make ya Laff yer head off! A-HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW!
    Laffo's head starts to SPIN AROUND as he LAUGHS. The LAUGHING becomes an INSANE CACKLING. Suddenly the dummy's head POPS OFF and lands on the floor ... but KEEPS LAUGHING, the mouth still moving in time.
    BRADY
    What is this?
    HELEN
    The center ring of the circus.
    BRADY
    So none of this is real?
    HELEN
    I don't think that matters anymore.
    For a