>Ask Willis Questions.
The little creature's casual remarks about "drinking" people snaps you back to reality. He may technically be a child, but he is not a human, and you may very well be in far more danger than you could ever pose to him.
This is also a rare opportunity to question someone directly connected to the doctors.
This is also a rare opportunity to question someone directly connected to the doctors.
FERN:
So, uh, Willis...what's behind those doors over there, anyway?
So, uh, Willis...what's behind those doors over there, anyway?
WILLIS:
Oh, the big one is mom's center. You'd probably get in a lot of trouble going in there.
Her art room is next to it. I used to be allowed in there, but now there's a lock on it...I dunno why. All she does is go in there and paint herself when she's not working.
Oh, the big one is mom's center. You'd probably get in a lot of trouble going in there.
Her art room is next to it. I used to be allowed in there, but now there's a lock on it...I dunno why. All she does is go in there and paint herself when she's not working.
FERN:
I see...what else can you tell me about your mom, or the other doctors?
I see...what else can you tell me about your mom, or the other doctors?
WILLIS:
They're always busy, and they're always worried, but right now they're a lot more busy and a lot more worried. Mom's just been in her "high priority" surgical floor for layers and layers, Phage keeps locking hisself in his office and talking different, Mizer too, they're all just acting all wrong.
They're always busy, and they're always worried, but right now they're a lot more busy and a lot more worried. Mom's just been in her "high priority" surgical floor for layers and layers, Phage keeps locking hisself in his office and talking different, Mizer too, they're all just acting all wrong.
FERN:
So they're not usually so.......um......."weird?"
So they're not usually so.......um......."weird?"
WILLIS:
Huh? No, they're supposed to be lots weirder. They've never just done the same things for so long. It's like they're stuck.
Huh? No, they're supposed to be lots weirder. They've never just done the same things for so long. It's like they're stuck.
FERN:
Stuck, huh?
Willis, can you tell me more about how "messed up" the Hospital is?
Stuck, huh?
Willis, can you tell me more about how "messed up" the Hospital is?
WILLIS:
Okay...but can we make a deal?
Okay...but can we make a deal?
FERN:
...Er, that depends. I do need all of my blood, Willis.
...Er, that depends. I do need all of my blood, Willis.
WILLIS:
Not thaaaat! I just ate!!
You gotta PROMISE you'll listen, and you won't make fun of me, and you won't say anything like "Uh-huh, that's nice dear, mommy's busy right now" or like "Ahhh! What an exuberant imagination! I'm reminded of my period as but a wee phagelet!" or "}}};;{@}--_#__#" or "Hm. Well. That's...quite a pickle. Not any pickle of your concern, lad."
Not thaaaat! I just ate!!
You gotta PROMISE you'll listen, and you won't make fun of me, and you won't say anything like "Uh-huh, that's nice dear, mommy's busy right now" or like "Ahhh! What an exuberant imagination! I'm reminded of my period as but a wee phagelet!" or "}}};;{@}--_#__#" or "Hm. Well. That's...quite a pickle. Not any pickle of your concern, lad."
You make a note of the fact that Willis can apparently recreate almost any voice to perfection.
FERN:
Willis, I think you and I are in a very similar predicament. Not all that many...uh...people?...I talk to around here make sense, or really seem to grasp what I'm trying to say.
Willis, I think you and I are in a very similar predicament. Not all that many...uh...people?...I talk to around here make sense, or really seem to grasp what I'm trying to say.
WILLIS:
Oh. Well, that was always a little bit like that. I mean, except in that "gray zone," nobody's ever perfectly on all the same layers as everybody else.
That's what the grownups say anyway.
But the Hospital's not being shaped the way it's 'sposda, not on any layer, and nobody who works here can tell how it's different, or that everything is getting worse, or that they're repeating themselves or treating the patients all wrong. It happens more and more, and there's things around that aren't supposed to be here.
Everything is...
Shrinking...
Oh. Well, that was always a little bit like that. I mean, except in that "gray zone," nobody's ever perfectly on all the same layers as everybody else.
That's what the grownups say anyway.
But the Hospital's not being shaped the way it's 'sposda, not on any layer, and nobody who works here can tell how it's different, or that everything is getting worse, or that they're repeating themselves or treating the patients all wrong. It happens more and more, and there's things around that aren't supposed to be here.
Everything is...
Shrinking...
FERN:
"Shrinking?"
"Shrinking?"
WILLIS:
I found a door to the Tongue Casino and a door to the Mildew Masquerades.
Those aren't ad...adj...adjacent zones to the Hospital, Fern. There should be more zones in between. Everybody knows that. Babies know that.
But...even though I know that...
...I don't know what zones. They're gone from everywhere. I forgot them.
What if I don't know what else is gone?? Can that happen to mom? Can that happen to me?
I don't want to get forgot, Fern.
I found a door to the Tongue Casino and a door to the Mildew Masquerades.
Those aren't ad...adj...adjacent zones to the Hospital, Fern. There should be more zones in between. Everybody knows that. Babies know that.
But...even though I know that...
...I don't know what zones. They're gone from everywhere. I forgot them.
What if I don't know what else is gone?? Can that happen to mom? Can that happen to me?
I don't want to get forgot, Fern.
FERN:
I'm sorry, Willis. I come from such a different world, and I can't understand any of these things...but I know you're right. I've seen and heard enough to know things really are that broken, and if only a couple of us can see it, we might be the only ones who can fix it.
I'm sorry, Willis. I come from such a different world, and I can't understand any of these things...but I know you're right. I've seen and heard enough to know things really are that broken, and if only a couple of us can see it, we might be the only ones who can fix it.
WILLIS:
Fern, you said you were a mom. Do you have a Willis??
Fern, you said you were a mom. Do you have a Willis??
FERN:
Oh, uh...not exactly.
I have a baby, like me, but little. The doctors took him away somewhere, and I don't know what they're doing to him, or why.
Oh, uh...not exactly.
I have a baby, like me, but little. The doctors took him away somewhere, and I don't know what they're doing to him, or why.
WILLIS:
Oh. That thingy. Yeah, he's sick.
Oh. That thingy. Yeah, he's sick.
FERN:
You've seen him!?!
You've seen him!?!
WILLIS:
Like you, but all...nubby? Yeah. He's super duper sick. They're trying to fix him, but I don't know if they know how. They keep doing the same things for him, and saying the same things, like they don't even remember what they already did so they don't even know they're supposed to do the next part, right???
They aren't letting me near there anymore, though. They say it's too dangerous. That's new at least. Not everything is loop-de-loops.
Like you, but all...nubby? Yeah. He's super duper sick. They're trying to fix him, but I don't know if they know how. They keep doing the same things for him, and saying the same things, like they don't even remember what they already did so they don't even know they're supposed to do the next part, right???
They aren't letting me near there anymore, though. They say it's too dangerous. That's new at least. Not everything is loop-de-loops.
FERN:
Willis...what are these things they keep doing??...Please...I need you to tell me everything you know about him.
Willis...what are these things they keep doing??...Please...I need you to tell me everything you know about him.
WILLIS:
I...I don't know exactly...medicines and machines and tests. I'm bad at knowing doctor stuff. I think that's why mom doesn't talk to me a lot no more.
I'm sorry!!! Are you mad I don't understand??
I...I don't know exactly...medicines and machines and tests. I'm bad at knowing doctor stuff. I think that's why mom doesn't talk to me a lot no more.
I'm sorry!!! Are you mad I don't understand??
FERN:
No, Willis. It is never your fault if you can't understand something. Nobody can understand everything. Some people can't understand anything, and I think I might be one of them.
No, Willis. It is never your fault if you can't understand something. Nobody can understand everything. Some people can't understand anything, and I think I might be one of them.
WILLIS:
Oh!! Okay well I understand SOME stuff!! Sometimes!! I can help you!!!!
Oh!! Okay well I understand SOME stuff!! Sometimes!! I can help you!!!!
