Caroline
Are you ok?
That's a lot of blood!
What happened!?
James
I'm not sure, I guess I got a splinter or something…
Caroline
Are you crazy?
No splinter would cause that much blood!
James
I'll be fine…can I have some bandages for my hand?
Caroline
Here, let me fix it for you.
Lyra appears and sticks its finger into James' hand
James watches in amazement as his skin repairs itself
James
Woah, that was your Manifesto–!
James claps his hand over his mouth
Caroline
…?
Mani…festo?
Like, the kind of thing the Russians are getting all excited over?
James
Huh? Oh, no, it was a slip of the tongue.
Forget I said anything.
Thanks for fixing my hand
Caroline
Don't mention it.
Mind if I ask you a question before you go?
James
Sure…
Caroline
Who hired you?
James
…
What do you mean?
Caroline
You mentioned needing to return to your "client," so I'm asking who that client is.
James
I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say…
I should really be going now…
Caroline
It's Dr. Sunshine, isn't it?
James freezes
Caroline
I knew it.
He called you into his office, and then you came here.
He's using your friend as leverage against you, right?
James
…
My physician has nothing to do with this.
This is a job for an interested client.
Caroline
I can heal him.
Your friend.
If you just bring him here, I can heal him.
James
Why would you offer to do that?
Caroline
Cause…
Caroline sniffles, and starts tearing up
Caroline
Cause, if you tell Dr. Sunshine about me, then I'm gonna disappear…
James
?
What do you mean by "disappear"?
Caroline
You surely noticed all those statues in his office…
James
What about them?
Caroline
Those are other people who've crossed him or other people who've piqued his interest.
James
Are you saying, that all those statues in his office, are peo–
Before James can finish, he screams out in pain
James
AUGH!!!
Caroline
What happened?!
Are you–
AGH!!!
Caroline attempts to help James up, but slips and gets tied up in a snare made of rope
Caroline
W-what's with this rope?!
James
Fuck!
What happened to my foot?!
A book?
I guess it must've fallen on me…
(...but if it fell on me, where did it fall from?)
(I'm standing in the middle of an entryway, there's no bookshelf or cupboard in sight!)
(And what's going on? How is my foot IN the book?)
(That shouldn't be possible!)
James attempts to take the book off his foot before he sees something…
James
(TEETH?!)
(WHAT?!)
(This book…it has teeth like a bear-trap!)
(Actually, this book might as well BE a bear-trap!)
(I've heard of paper cuts, but paper being sharp enough to pierce flesh, how could that happen!?)
Dr. Sweet, are you ok?
Caroline
I'm a little upside down, but fine…
What's going on?
You cried out in pain before, are you ok?
James
I'll be fine, just, close your eyes please
Caroline
If it's about blood, I'm a doctor, I'm used to it
James
That's not it.
I couldn't care less about you seeing blood, its just…
James sighs
James
I guess I have to tell you…
I have a Manifesto too, that is to say, a power like you!
Caroline
Is that why you could see Lyra?
James
Yes, only people with a Manifesto can see other Manifestos.
Now, I'm gonna use my Manifesto to free myself, so close your eyes cause i don't want you to see.
I don't trust you.
Caroline
Why don't you trust me?
We're both in traps, aren't we?
James
We are, but this all started when you told me to not report back to my client, how do I know you aren't my enemy as well.
Caroline
How self-centred are you?
You think this is about you?
What's your proof?
James
People with Manifestos seem to attract misfortune.
It's part of the curse.
Caroline
What if we do?
I have a Manifesto, this doesn't mean it's about you!
James
Fine!
Lacerta!
James uses Lacerta's arms to pry the book off of his foot
James
!
Caroline
You know, if you've been stabbed, you need to put pressure on the wound. Removing the blade is just gonna make the bleeding worse.
James
Ugh! Little late for that information!
Couldn't you have told me sooner?
Caroline
So you're believing me?
I thought you didn't trust me.
James
Ugh, do you want help getting down from there?
Caroline
No, I'm fine
Lyra, mind helping me?
Lyra emerges and cuts the rope
Caroline
Oof!
Caroline gets up
Caroline
See?
I'm perfectly fine without your help
James
Wow, really graceful.
Very impressive.
Caroline
Look, we're both being attacked here!
We need to work together!
James
Sorry, I don't work with partners…not anymore…
Caroline
Anymore?
So you had a partner…is your partner the one being looked at by Dr. Sunshine?
James
…
Yes, he got hurt because of me.
It's my responsibility that he's ok.
Caroline
That's all the more reason to let me examine him!
Dr. Sunshine can't be trusted!
He hired someone to come out and attack us!
How can you sit by and say it's for the best that your helpless friend is stuck in a hospital with him!
Your friend is not safe as long as the doctor is the one looking after him!
James
Shut up!
Caroline stands, shocked
James
What do you know!
What evidence do you have, huh?!
How do you know Dr. Sunshine can't be trusted?!
How do you know all of those statues in his office were once people!?
How can you make claims about the safety of my friend?!
Caroline
I-I'm sorry, I didn't–
James
Didn't? Didn't what?
You didn't mean it like that?
Or, are you apologizing because you think it's what I want to hear?!
You don't mean your apology.
If you're going to apologize without actually feeling bad about what you said, then just keep quiet.
I'd rather you just be honest with both us over you faking an apology you don't actually mean.
Caroline
FINE!
You want a true apology?!
I'm sorry an idiot was tricked into being friends with you and got dragged into some stupid fight!
I'm sorry that I let you stay here and didn't send you away the moment I met you!
But I'll fix that mistake right now.
Lyra emerges
James stands shocked with tears swelling in his eyes, before he starts scowling and Lacerta emerges
James
You want to end things?
Fine by me.
Lacerta…
…Let's teach her some manners.