I’m not talking to you, you’re a horrible person!
I’m not talking to you, you’re a horrible person!
Who are you?
Responses
Get acquainted
Hello! My name is Evan. It seems we’re on the same team.
Hello, dear! I’m Gloria. My word, you look so much like my son Malcolm! I even mistook you for him at a distance, can you imagine?! Ha ha.
Yes? What?
Responses
Find out why her son wasn’t at the quiz
Ask about her son
Pretend to be Gloria’s son
Say that her son is dead
Ask about Hank Wright’s brother
General chat
End conversation
Responses
Ask about the Supergame
What’s the departmental competition all about? Why is everyone so anxious?
It’s called “nurturing team spirit in a competitive environment.” Departments compete against each other, and those who get the best results and show the most effective teamwork win!
And if a department loses? Does everyone in it get fined?
My son was just as inquisitive when he was little. I used to tell him, “You’ll find everything out in good time!” The final is tomorrow. Just wait a little and you’ll get answers to all your questions!
Ask about the losers of the Supergame
Gloria, did they just go and shove all the losers into the Shredder?! How can they do that? It was... just a game, wasn’t it?
Well, they did lose! And the winners received honorary certificates. It’s not just a game, it’s the Supergame!
But…
I already have two certificates, by the way! And my son has a whole wall plastered with them. I’ve been collecting them since he was at kindergarten! Do your parents keep all your awards?
...
Talk about the Supergame
Gloria, have you heard the news? Our department has to play this stupid Supergame! What do we have to do? I’d prefer not to be turned into mincemeat!
Well nobody else does either, but what can you do? The clock’s ticking! You don’t get awards for doing nothing!
Aren’t you scared they’ll stick you in the Shredder?
Me? What on earth for?!
Ask about the Shredder
Gloria, what is that scary thing in the middle of the room? Those blades give me the creeps! I never thought I’d see something like that in the Ministry!
Have you gone weak in the knees, too?
A little.
Well, that’s no good! My son usually drinks motherwort extract - you should try it!
Why?
Calms the nerves! The Shredder never stops, and if you trip on the bridge and fall in, there’ll be nothing left of you to save!
Has something like that already happened?
More than once! So be careful when you’re taking paper carts to the Shredder!
Ask about work
What do you do here, Gloria?
Like everyone else in our sector, I process the forms for visitor applications. Those scoundrels at reception hardly ever fill them in right!
I do love when everything is done properly! I enjoy every time I get to use the approval stamp... It means that someone before me has done a good job!
Although... who am I kidding? Rejecting them feels even better! That’ll teach them!
Ask about family
Gloria, do you have any family?
I only have my son - he’s my world! He’s such a good boy! I’m so proud of him!
By the way, have I told you that you’re both quite alike? Both so smart!
What does he do?
He's a famous scientist! The Leader himself praised my boy for his discoveries and shook his hand!
Gloria, do you have any family?
My son is the only family I have! My only pride and joy!
What does he do?
He’s a famous pianist! The Leader himself applauded him at the Labor Day concert. He is constantly on tour around the country; I worry about him.
Why do you worry?
Why indeed! Famous artists attract all kinds of groupies. I’m afraid that some fangirl will get her claws into him!
Gloria, do you have any family?
Yes. I have a son, he’s a good boy. I’m so proud of him!
What does he do?
He’s a firefighter; he saves people every day! True, he’s completely devoted to his work, so I hardly ever see him. I feel so sad sitting up at night, waiting for him.
And I’m constantly worried that something might happen to him. It’s a noble, but dangerous calling.
I’ve already told you everything, Evan.
Ask about colleagues
Responses
Ask about John Smith
Tell me about Smith.
John is an excellent worker, but he seems a little out of place. Sometimes he just sits there and stares into the void. He promised to take my son hunting someday, but I wouldn’t allow it.
A mother’s heart can sense trouble.
Ask about Rose Everdeen
Tell me about Rose.
Beware of her, she’s a fanatic. She’s a passionate believer in the game and our fear of the Shredder.
Ask about Albert DeSalvo
Tell me about the boss.
I’ve never seen him, and I don’t even want to.
Why?
They say those who meet him often go missing.
Ask about Hank Wright
Gloria, why is Hank so angry?
Don’t mind him, he’s not always like that.
Does he have these mood swings often?
He’s barely spoken to anyone in a month now.
Back
Back
Gloria, did you sign your son up for the patriotic quiz? Rose said he didn’t come to the practice run.
My son is a famous cellist, so, as the leading breeder of new varieties of potato, he had to attend a meeting of the City Zoo Ethics Committee. So naturally, he couldn’t make it!
Why sign him up then?
Oh, don’t ask me! This day has been so hectic, my head is spinning!
Gloria, hi! You mention your son quite a lot... Could you tell me more about him? I'm very interested.
Of course! I could talk about him for hours! What would you like to know?
Responses
Ask about school
What school is he at?
My boy is so smart that he skipped every grade and went straight to college! He graduated high school with honors, only I can’t put my finger on which school it was now. It was either Military No. 8948 or Astronomy No. 22033. It made me so happy!
Thank you.
Ask about favorite book
Does he like reading? What’s his favorite book?
Not sure what it is now, some reference book or other. But as a kid he loved a graphic novel about the adventures of someone called “Cast-Iron Man”.
Graphic novel? You mean like a comic book?
Graphic! Novel! My son doesn’t read those silly comic books!
Ask about favorite sport
Is he into sports?
Of course - he cares about his health. Now it’s all rowing and competitive checkers with him. He even has official rankings in tactical chess and open field hide-and-seek! I'm so proud of him!
Ask about free time
What does he do for fun? He probably doesn’t even have the time to take a stroll.
Why do you say that? He’s very fond of walking! He can stroll up and down the embankment for hours. He says that it’s the best place for mulling over new ideas! You know, my boy is a brilliant physicist; he likes to look at the water, it soothes him!
Back
Hello, Gloria. Can we talk?
Yes, of course. What happened?
Well, the thing is... I wanted to meet your son, so I made some inquiries...
What for?! I would have introduced you myself! I mean, he’s very busy, so I’m not sure he would have found time, but there was no need to go asking anyone...
Gloria, I know your son died 5 years ago.
What? Don’t be silly... My son is alive!
No, Gloria. Dr. Binet told me everything... About Malcolm and your illness... You should start taking your medication again.
...
Gloria?
Malcolm is... dead?.. But... what about me?
I’m so sorry...
What am I going to do, Evan?.. I... I can’t live without him...
You should get back into treatment, Gloria!
Why? Why should I get treatment if Malcolm is gone? Tell me, Evan, why do I need all this?
Gloria, I...
WHY? I... I don’t want it!
Listen!
I! Don’t! Want it!
Gloria, wait! Where are you going...
That was a very, very, very bad joke, Evan! I didn’t think you were capable of something like this. Never do such a thing to me or anyone else again!
Hi, mom! How are you?
Malcolm, is that you? What a surprise! What are you doing here? How did you get in?
I asked a policeman where I could find you and told him who I was, and he let me through. Great, isn’t it? Now I can finally see what you do here!
Malcolm, I’m so happy! Come on, I’ll show you everything!
Look what a beautiful Shredder we have here, Malcolm! It works around the clock, disposing of the spoiled and processed applications.
Wow! I’ve never seen anything like it!
Didn’t they teach you about it in Bureaucracy class?
They did, but it’s much more interesting to see it in person!
But they collected money for a tour around the Ministry, they were supposed to show you everything!
Well, mom, you know how it works... They took the tour money and sent us on a field trip to dig turnips.
What?! I had no idea! I will file a complaint! Remind me, what was the number of your school?
Responses
School No. 6056
How could you forget? Remember how we laughed when we noticed that it’s made up of grandpa’s age and your year of birth?
That can’t be right... Your grandfather died at 25, and I'm not that old!
School No. 2562
2562. You used to know those numbers by heart! You said that was exactly how much you had to pay the principal to get me a place.
Do you have a fever, darling? What are you talking about? I never bribed anyone!
School No. 0261
0261, I think. What do you mean, you had no idea? Don’t you remember how those turnips saved us from starving?
Sorry, son... Of course I remember! It’s just my memory isn’t as good as it used to be.
It’s alright, mom. I’m just glad everything is okay now.
You know what, let’s go to the movies after work, like we used to!
They’re all about war now, and I don’t like those...
We can try and find a civilian show! Do you remember what your favorite movie was as a kid? We must have watched it a hundred times, at least!
Responses
Attack of the Killer Turnips
Turnips? You couldn’t even look at them after that winter when we had nothing else to eat! Do you need to go get some fresh air?
The Human Caterpillar
Malcolm, I'm talking about when you were a child! The Human Caterpillar is a film for adults... You couldn’t have seen it back then! Maybe you really should go get some air.
Pride and Prejudice and the Leader
Right! You were in love with the main character! You used to hide a picture of her under your pillow and stare at it at night.
Mom, don’t...
It’s alright, Malcolm, all boys are the same at that age. You’ll see when you have kids of your own. I hope I’ll still be around to tell them funny stories about their dad!
The Sneaky Snitch
That’s strange...
What’s strange, mom?
It’s strange that you forgot what your own favorite movie is, and now you're lying to my face about it.
I’m not lying! It was definitely “Snitch”!
The Sneaky Snitch came out three years ago. How could you have watched it as a child? I think we need to have a serious talk about your behavior!
Speaking of movies... Remember when you left your favorite book in the movie theater? We spent such a long time searching for it that we were arrested for violating the curfew! I can’t remember the title...
Responses
Advice for a Young Partisan
Malcolm, are you feeling alright?
Yes, why?
I think you’re delusional! We’ve never had books like that at home! It’s against the law!
The Extraordinary Adventures of Cast-Iron Man
Yes, that’s it! Remember his catchphrase? “Cast iron is heavy... but brittle!”
Why did you bring it up?
I don’t know, I just remembered it...
The Great Quotes of the Wise Leader
Malcolm, your mother is not old enough just yet to forget the title of your favorite book... And that one has never been your favorite, because it doesn’t have any pictures.
The Farm and Things That Grow There
What farm? You hate digging around in the dirt! You’ve changed a lot over the years, Malcolm - you never lied to me before!
Actually, it’s a pity we see each other so rarely these days. When you were little, we used to take the longest walks and you told me about all kinds of things...
That was so long ago!
One time you caught a glimpse of the sunset through the smog, and said that now it would be your favorite place to go walking! Do you remember where it was?
Responses
On the embankment
Right! Even though we later found out that the sunset was actually the reflection of a warehouse fire, it was beautiful. I remember every moment!
At the railway station
Are you talking nonsense on purpose? So that I don’t burst into tears at the memory of it? Don’t, Malcolm, I can control myself! You underestimate me!
At Pesticide subway station
Honey, you’re head is a mess just like it was before! How could you have seen the sunset underground?
At the Young Patriot Amusement Park
Malcolm, there is no such park in our city, you’re making things up again.
Gloria, I think we should stop this!
Malcolm, why are you calling me by my name? I’m your mother!
Gloria! Look at me! I’m not Malcolm, I’m Evan! I'm sorry I had to lie, but I was worried about your health!
Evan? But... Wait a minute! You really are Evan! But where is Malcolm? He was right here!
Gloria! Malcolm wasn’t here...
What do you mean? He was here, he was here! He was... my son...
Come on, try to remember!
A car crash... I remember a car crash... Oh no! I remember now... Malcolm died in the crash, and I survived...
I’m so sorry, Gloria.
It’s all so fuzzy... I felt so much pain... I... Was I in hospital? I remember doctors!
Yes, Gloria, you were in hospital. You were treated by the best doctors. You saw things that weren’t there, like you’re seeing now, but you were cured and even came back to work!
But I saw Malcolm as clear as I see you now! Oh my God... Has it started again?
Gloria, you need to start with your treatment again!
So that’s why everyone was looking at me like I was crazy! That’s why I couldn’t contact my son... It feels like I can see things clearly again! Evan, I need to be readmitted into hospital...
You’ve made the right decision, Gloria! I’m happy for you.
There’s nothing to be happy about, Evan. I’m so confused...
You helped me and I want to thank you. I have some money that I was saving as a gift for my son. I want you to take it.
Responses
Agree
Thank you, Gloria! You shouldn’t have...
Oh, I should! Thanks again. I’ll go call Dr. Binet, maybe he has a place for me on his ward...
Good luck, Gloria. Get well!
Refuse
I’m sorry Gloria, but I can’t accept it. Don’t make me.
You have a big heart, Evan Redgrave! It’s a pity there aren’t more people like you out there! I’ll go call Dr. Binet, maybe he has a place for me on his ward...
Good luck to you, Gloria. Get well!
Wait... You’re not my son! You’re not Malcolm! Who are you?
Finally, you’ve come to your senses! I’m your colleague Evan!
But why did you pretend to be my son?
Responses
Justify yourself
I had to! You were having hallucinations!
What are you talking about, what hallucinations? Do you think I’m crazy?
Well... sort of, yes!
WHAT?! I’ve never been so insulted! I’m going to tell Malcolm - he’s the middleweight boxing world champion, I’ll have you know! He’ll beat you to a pulp, you scoundrel! Do not come near me any more!
Young man, there is no excuse for this kind of childish talk! You should learn to take responsibility for your actions!
Be rude
Because I’m fed up with your “my son this, my son that”!
What?!
You heard me! I’ve had it up to here with you and your damn Malcolm! I can’t take one step without you yapping on about him!
“Damn Malcolm”? Mock me all you want, but I will not let anyone insult my son!
What are you going to do? Ground me?
You’ll see!
Gloria, do you remember Rabindranath Wright? He worked here before I came.
Of course, he's Hank's brother. But I haven't seen him in a long time.
Tell me about him.
Well, he was pretty ordinary... Didn't stand out. He was always joking with his brother. Worked fine. Then he stopped coming to work. I assumed he got sick or got transferred.
Hank mentioned something about that, but I had my own problems at the time. And then he started drinking and getting rude.
Is that all?
Hmm. A little while before he disappeared, Rabindranath got an award for exceeding the appeals recycling quota. He was summoned to the boss’s office.
Thanks, Gloria.
How are you, Gloria?
Better already, Evan! Thank you. I can imagine how unpleasant it was for you to talk to a crazy woman...
No, not at all! You're not...
Crazy, Evan, crazy... A crazy old woman with dreams of a non-existent son... But that's all in the past!
Are you sure?
Yes, of course. They’re already waiting for me at the hospital. I’ll get some rest, undergo treatment then come back to work.
I'm sure everything will be alright.
I hope so! After everything that happened, I’m not sure anymore. I just hope this doesn’t happen again... Anyway, thank you.
You're welcome, Gloria. Get well soon!
Thanks for helping, Evan!
We’ll talk later.
Get back to work!
I don't have time to talk about this.
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Connections
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A Dose Of Reality