TRANSCRIPT 🔗
WEBVTT
00:04.722 --> 00:13.539
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to Crooked Stories Theatre, where each week we bring you strange and quirky tales, stories with a small twist and odd setting, a unique character.
00:14.320 --> 00:21.634
[SPEAKER_00]: It could be a drama, a light horror, a sitcom, really any kind of story, as long as it's just a bit crooked.
00:25.242 --> 00:28.065
[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, I'm Paul Canower with Crooked Stories Theatre.
00:28.145 --> 00:35.312
[SPEAKER_00]: Today, we bring you a standalone project, quiet, narrated short story, but of a mystery, just a touch of sci-fi.
00:36.013 --> 00:47.465
[SPEAKER_00]: Narration by Matt Candelario, starring Ralph Duke as Edward, Jared Griffiths as Amis, Phoebe Ryvaker as the security bot, and Larry Womack as Canadian security bot.
00:48.225 --> 00:50.828
[SPEAKER_00]: Introducing our newest Crooked Story.
00:50.808 --> 00:51.329
[SPEAKER_00]: papers.
00:51.969 --> 00:55.234
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward stared at the paperclip, proud of his choice.
00:55.955 --> 01:00.040
[SPEAKER_02]: Disappointed only that nobody else would understand its significance.
01:01.121 --> 01:02.883
[SPEAKER_02]: It was a necessary, of course.
01:03.444 --> 01:04.686
[SPEAKER_02]: It all was, really.
01:05.407 --> 01:06.828
[SPEAKER_02]: But Edward liked the symbolism.
01:07.730 --> 01:09.051
[SPEAKER_02]: The paperclip was a workhorse.
01:09.732 --> 01:10.493
[SPEAKER_02]: Not flashing.
01:10.934 --> 01:12.356
[SPEAKER_02]: It always got the job done.
01:13.177 --> 01:14.098
[SPEAKER_02]: What he liked most.
01:14.819 --> 01:19.785
[SPEAKER_02]: A paperclip turned chaos into tidy, contained packages.
01:20.153 --> 01:24.139
[SPEAKER_02]: It created order, where there was none, and it kept it there.
01:24.981 --> 01:26.803
[SPEAKER_02]: Only a staple would have been better.
01:27.324 --> 01:28.646
[SPEAKER_02]: Were it right for this job?
01:29.267 --> 01:35.117
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward leaned back in his chair, he wanted to soak in his surroundings, his beloved den.
01:35.157 --> 01:38.402
[SPEAKER_02]: There was no chance anything could go wrong.
01:38.842 --> 01:39.283
[SPEAKER_02]: How could it?
01:39.984 --> 01:45.553
[SPEAKER_02]: Still, if somehow this was the last time he would be here, he wanted to remember.
01:47.052 --> 01:49.436
[SPEAKER_02]: The den was, as warm as he was, cold.
01:49.916 --> 01:56.186
[SPEAKER_02]: Wood accents mixed with fabrics and browns and reds, all for the same purpose.
01:56.887 --> 02:01.234
[SPEAKER_02]: Humanize him, build trust, help him close the deal.
02:02.095 --> 02:03.958
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward was all about the deal.
02:04.579 --> 02:07.583
[SPEAKER_02]: He was good at it, and he had the photos to prove it.
02:08.224 --> 02:10.107
[SPEAKER_02]: Walls were lined with them.
02:10.424 --> 02:12.830
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward with one dignitary or another.
02:12.850 --> 02:20.428
[SPEAKER_02]: The king of this, the president of that, amirs, prime ministers, leaders supreme, and otherwise.
02:21.109 --> 02:24.798
[SPEAKER_02]: Representing 40 years of handshakes and fake smiles.
02:25.700 --> 02:28.467
[SPEAKER_02]: Today though wasn't about deal making for Edward.
02:28.717 --> 02:32.685
[SPEAKER_02]: At least not the sword he was trained to make, today was personal.
02:33.627 --> 02:36.413
[SPEAKER_02]: Things would be set right, made orderly.
02:36.894 --> 02:39.479
[SPEAKER_02]: He wasn't nervous, he was never nervous.
02:40.241 --> 02:41.924
[SPEAKER_02]: He did feel different though.
02:42.606 --> 02:47.215
[SPEAKER_02]: Of all the deals he had closed, he had never closed one in this manner.
02:47.920 --> 02:50.162
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward rubbed his hands on the arm of the chair.
02:50.883 --> 02:53.345
[SPEAKER_02]: He liked to feel the Italian leather.
02:54.125 --> 02:56.327
[SPEAKER_02]: Somehow it gave him comfort and strength.
02:56.948 --> 02:57.889
[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't care how.
02:58.389 --> 03:04.395
[SPEAKER_02]: He just knew that the closer he got to retirement, the more he needed the boost.
03:04.415 --> 03:05.195
[SPEAKER_02]: Hmm, enough of that.
03:05.776 --> 03:09.319
[SPEAKER_02]: With a quick glance at the clock, Edward slipped on a pair of glasses.
03:09.980 --> 03:12.422
[SPEAKER_02]: Show traffic between here and Anthony landing.
03:12.722 --> 03:17.286
[SPEAKER_02]: The glasses flickered with the information.
03:18.532 --> 03:22.496
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward gathered the papers in front of him, pushing them into a neat pile.
03:23.096 --> 03:25.658
[SPEAKER_02]: Piper wasn't his idea, but he respected it.
03:26.419 --> 03:28.921
[SPEAKER_02]: The rarity of it, the luxury of it.
03:29.522 --> 03:32.885
[SPEAKER_02]: The official nature of the moment, Piper was the right choice.
03:33.685 --> 03:37.909
[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't have to like what the word said to appreciate the method of delivery.
03:38.770 --> 03:46.817
[SPEAKER_02]: With a deep breath he reached into the top desk drawer, retrieved a pair of leather gloves,
03:47.489 --> 03:57.825
[SPEAKER_02]: He gave the stack of papers one last tap on the desk, check their alignment, secured them with his trusty paperclip, and slid them into a thick black pouch.
03:58.687 --> 04:01.892
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward slipped off the gloves and stuffed them into his coat pocket.
04:02.613 --> 04:15.133
[SPEAKER_02]: It was time.
04:15.282 --> 04:17.605
[SPEAKER_02]: He both loved and hated this part.
04:18.266 --> 04:26.598
[SPEAKER_02]: It was usually a matter of seconds, and today was no different, as the security bot quickly turned onto his block and raced to a stop in front of him.
04:27.439 --> 04:34.029
[SPEAKER_02]: He calmly held his arms out, pouchin' hand as the bot scanned his body, starting at his head, sweeping to his toes.
04:35.170 --> 04:36.352
[SPEAKER_03]: TEMP, normal.
04:37.253 --> 04:38.455
[SPEAKER_03]: Weapons, non.
04:39.376 --> 04:40.638
[SPEAKER_03]: Status, clear.
04:41.700 --> 04:43.382
[SPEAKER_03]: Travel, allowed.
04:43.463 --> 04:46.811
Load full transcript
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward pulled the pouch back as the bot moved to Scanan.
04:47.372 --> 04:52.685
[SPEAKER_02]: He quickly retrieved his ID with a brief scan and a loud beep, Edward was...
04:52.725 --> 04:54.790
[SPEAKER_02]: Authorized.
04:55.377 --> 04:56.138
[SPEAKER_02]: He walked on.
04:57.040 --> 05:01.328
[SPEAKER_02]: It was his political party that wanted the bots, law and order, they argued.
05:01.949 --> 05:05.575
[SPEAKER_02]: But it was the opposition party that used them to scan for guns.
05:06.417 --> 05:12.868
[SPEAKER_02]: Now there was definitively more law, arguably more order, and decidedly fewer guns.
05:13.669 --> 05:15.593
[SPEAKER_02]: Still, no one was satisfied.
05:16.394 --> 05:19.680
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward had long ago decided it was a fair outcome.
05:20.470 --> 05:25.579
[SPEAKER_02]: There was much to admire about the bots, as there was with any well-run system.
05:26.200 --> 05:28.945
[SPEAKER_02]: Still, he couldn't bring himself to trust them fully.
05:29.566 --> 05:30.948
[SPEAKER_02]: Humans, he knew.
05:30.988 --> 05:33.172
[SPEAKER_02]: Humans he could read.
05:34.174 --> 05:34.494
[SPEAKER_02]: Bots?
05:35.256 --> 05:36.979
[SPEAKER_02]: One wrong word in a line of code?
05:38.020 --> 05:41.787
[SPEAKER_02]: Anyway, sometimes you just had to have faith in the system.
05:47.453 --> 05:50.476
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward thought a lot about what the city used to be as he walked.
05:50.976 --> 05:53.879
[SPEAKER_02]: They was going to be a day of memories, he knew that.
05:54.539 --> 05:57.662
[SPEAKER_02]: But he didn't expect the reminiscing to start so early.
05:58.382 --> 06:00.905
[SPEAKER_02]: He had moved to Rochester 20 years ago.
06:01.505 --> 06:04.688
[SPEAKER_02]: Just after all the chaos had splintered New York City.
06:05.388 --> 06:11.714
[SPEAKER_02]: The sudden influx of population had been hard on the city, especially in the southern and western sections.
06:12.374 --> 06:16.498
[SPEAKER_02]: But this particular part of Rochester had managed to thrive.
06:17.474 --> 06:27.126
[SPEAKER_02]: Though the United Nations headquarters had technically moved to London, many had resisted the move, with Rochester now serving as a sort of shadow service.
06:27.746 --> 06:35.616
[SPEAKER_02]: To Edward's view, that had been a positive development, with many issues being decided here before being presented to the larger group.
06:36.317 --> 06:46.789
[SPEAKER_02]: There was a certain chaos to it, yes, but beneath the chaos was order, an Edward was a central
06:47.967 --> 06:51.291
[SPEAKER_02]: He walked past a coffee shop, home to many bits of business.
06:52.032 --> 06:56.979
[SPEAKER_02]: When his den failed him, it was often a cup of coffee or hot tea that lubricated the deal.
06:57.960 --> 07:04.228
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward had even brought a date here once, though no amount of beverage would have helped that particular attempt at connecting.
07:04.249 --> 07:06.451
[SPEAKER_02]: It was no surprise to Edward.
07:06.491 --> 07:09.816
[SPEAKER_02]: The surprise had been that he'd even tried in the first place.
07:10.557 --> 07:12.319
[SPEAKER_02]: He was good at many things.
07:13.040 --> 07:15.223
[SPEAKER_02]: Love was not one of them.
07:15.507 --> 07:19.152
[SPEAKER_02]: More memories flooded Edwards' mind as he continued his trek.
07:19.853 --> 07:21.615
[SPEAKER_02]: It was an irritating development.
07:22.336 --> 07:25.600
[SPEAKER_02]: All of these thoughts were irrelevant to the task of the day.
07:26.402 --> 07:29.526
[SPEAKER_02]: What was the point of ruminating on anything Rochester?
07:29.586 --> 07:33.471
[SPEAKER_02]: He would allow himself only certain thoughts he decided.
07:34.032 --> 07:37.056
[SPEAKER_02]: Youth, family, his brother.
07:37.096 --> 07:40.300
[SPEAKER_02]: Anything else was noise?
07:45.764 --> 07:49.351
[SPEAKER_02]: An old school android stiffen movements stood at the end of the dock.
07:49.772 --> 07:51.676
[SPEAKER_02]: The gatekeeper for the nearby ferry.
07:52.297 --> 07:53.058
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward approached.
07:53.559 --> 07:54.481
[SPEAKER_02]: Glad he had walked.
07:55.022 --> 07:57.026
[SPEAKER_02]: Was feeling closer to himself now.
07:57.707 --> 07:59.230
[SPEAKER_02]: He was focused.
07:59.250 --> 07:59.872
[SPEAKER_02]: Determined.
08:00.613 --> 08:01.094
[SPEAKER_02]: Prepared.
08:01.114 --> 08:02.577
[SPEAKER_01]: 37 credits, please.
08:03.278 --> 08:04.441
[SPEAKER_01]: Edward tapped his glasses.
08:05.062 --> 08:07.106
[SPEAKER_01]: Transfer 37 credits.
08:07.767 --> 08:08.228
[SPEAKER_01]: Execute.
08:08.883 --> 08:11.306
[SPEAKER_02]: The glasses flickered in the Android step to side.
08:11.887 --> 08:14.951
[SPEAKER_02]: Two steps further, Edward paused again for a scan.
08:15.612 --> 08:20.118
[SPEAKER_02]: The security bot then hovered before him was even more dated than the Android.
08:20.539 --> 08:23.643
[SPEAKER_02]: The paint on its metal skin cracked and fading.
08:23.943 --> 08:25.025
[SPEAKER_03]: Temp, normal.
08:26.006 --> 08:27.047
[SPEAKER_03]: Weapons, non.
08:27.928 --> 08:28.930
[SPEAKER_03]: Status, clear.
08:29.731 --> 08:31.213
[SPEAKER_03]: Travel, allowed.
08:31.834 --> 08:34.317
[SPEAKER_02]: This time, Edward was ready with his ID.
08:34.297 --> 08:35.740
[SPEAKER_03]: Passport active.
08:36.081 --> 08:41.353
[SPEAKER_02]: The bot moved to scan his carrying pouch and would again pull it back, irritated.
08:41.674 --> 08:43.197
[SPEAKER_01]: You just scanned my ID.
08:43.257 --> 08:45.202
[SPEAKER_01]: You know who I am.
08:45.222 --> 08:47.547
[SPEAKER_01]: I am authorized.
08:48.067 --> 08:50.130
[SPEAKER_03]: All packages must be scanned.
08:50.651 --> 08:52.273
[SPEAKER_02]: Thrustrated Edward looked around.
08:52.834 --> 08:57.059
[SPEAKER_02]: It was always the old bots, seeing another security bot he waved it over.
08:57.500 --> 08:58.802
[SPEAKER_03]: How may I assist you?
08:59.262 --> 09:00.745
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward pointed to the envelope.
09:01.205 --> 09:02.747
[SPEAKER_01]: This is a diplomatic pouch.
09:03.248 --> 09:05.030
[SPEAKER_01]: Subject to no scanner search.
09:05.711 --> 09:08.555
[SPEAKER_01]: You will authorize me for travel on this ferry.
09:08.595 --> 09:10.158
[SPEAKER_01]: He thrust his ID forward.
09:10.418 --> 09:11.920
[SPEAKER_01]: His irritation growing.
09:12.000 --> 09:12.981
[SPEAKER_01]: Scan please.
09:13.722 --> 09:14.043
[SPEAKER_01]: Now.
09:14.764 --> 09:16.146
[SPEAKER_01]: The bot scanned his ID.
09:16.626 --> 09:17.027
[SPEAKER_01]: Beeped.
09:17.750 --> 09:18.751
[SPEAKER_03]: authorized.
09:19.532 --> 09:23.657
[SPEAKER_01]: I suggest you get this bought updated, we're pull it from duty.
09:24.318 --> 09:26.741
[SPEAKER_03]: Yes sir, have a nice trip.
09:28.223 --> 09:32.929
[SPEAKER_02]: Systems, even the best ones work, until they don't.
09:34.170 --> 09:39.437
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward didn't like the thought, but what else can you do except reboot and move on?
09:47.163 --> 09:55.737
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward leaned against a rail, gazed out at the water, a steady stream of air taxis buzzed overhead as the very slowly churned along.
09:56.919 --> 10:07.796
[SPEAKER_02]: Unlike the bots, Edward was consistently impressed by the air taxis, always on time and air of luxury, with just a slight tinge of adventure.
10:08.577 --> 10:11.061
[SPEAKER_02]: They were his preferred method of travel.
10:11.429 --> 10:13.632
[SPEAKER_02]: That had been the fairy when he was a child.
10:14.233 --> 10:17.837
[SPEAKER_02]: Not this fairy, of course, but the one outside of Paduka.
10:17.857 --> 10:26.288
[SPEAKER_02]: No adult would call that fairy luxurious, but to a child from Kentucky, it was the Queen Mary.
10:27.349 --> 10:31.094
[SPEAKER_02]: He rarely thought about his childhood, but today was a good day for that.
10:31.915 --> 10:34.699
[SPEAKER_02]: And they were among the thoughts he had allowed for this journey.
10:35.620 --> 10:41.267
[SPEAKER_02]: If he were going to indulge, those trips on the fairy
10:42.023 --> 10:46.492
[SPEAKER_02]: Unfortunately, thoughts about the fairy weren't the dominant memories of the moment.
10:47.213 --> 10:49.518
[SPEAKER_02]: His mind raced with questions.
10:50.139 --> 10:52.023
[SPEAKER_02]: What if he had been more like his brother?
10:52.905 --> 10:55.550
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos had inherited his father's kinder side.
10:56.191 --> 10:59.879
[SPEAKER_02]: He was gentler softer, more at ease than Edward.
11:00.640 --> 11:03.947
[SPEAKER_02]: He had all the traits their father put forward publicly.
11:04.653 --> 11:09.619
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward had inherited the calculating side, all the traits from which his father hid.
11:10.180 --> 11:11.902
[SPEAKER_02]: Perhaps he was too much a mirror.
11:12.683 --> 11:18.931
[SPEAKER_02]: What if he would have worked to hide those traits himself, would his father have admired his effort?
11:18.951 --> 11:23.937
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward laughed to himself, louder not, it was folly to ponder though what ifs.
11:24.598 --> 11:28.703
[SPEAKER_02]: There was yesterday, there might be tomorrow, there is, today.
11:29.138 --> 11:32.353
[SPEAKER_02]: He looked back, mentally measuring the distance behind them.
11:33.096 --> 11:33.920
[SPEAKER_02]: Activate maps.
11:34.784 --> 11:35.608
[SPEAKER_01]: Show location.
11:36.351 --> 11:38.220
[SPEAKER_01]: A light blinked on his glasses.
11:38.993 --> 11:40.155
[SPEAKER_01]: Don't know where you are.
11:40.195 --> 11:42.037
[SPEAKER_02]: The gentleman approached.
11:42.658 --> 11:44.461
[SPEAKER_02]: The world changes quickly.
11:45.002 --> 11:48.787
[SPEAKER_02]: The man took his place on the rail next to Edward.
11:48.827 --> 11:53.274
[SPEAKER_02]: He was plainly dressed, simple by Edward standards.
11:53.835 --> 11:58.742
[SPEAKER_02]: The two men stared at the water in an awkward silence as strangers do.
11:58.762 --> 12:00.885
[SPEAKER_01]: It's like on this area.
12:01.566 --> 12:03.128
[SPEAKER_01]: Just in case you want to know.
12:03.108 --> 12:04.750
[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, I know.
12:05.551 --> 12:10.297
[SPEAKER_02]: The silence grew between the men screaming and growing intensity.
12:11.979 --> 12:13.722
[SPEAKER_02]: Finally, the man turned to Edward.
12:13.742 --> 12:15.324
[SPEAKER_02]: Thirty years.
12:16.385 --> 12:18.027
[SPEAKER_01]: Not even a hug?
12:18.047 --> 12:20.230
[SPEAKER_01]: Unmoved, Edward stared at the water.
12:20.650 --> 12:22.753
[SPEAKER_01]: What did you expect, Amos?
12:23.763 --> 12:26.866
[SPEAKER_01]: You always were one cold son of a bitch.
12:27.427 --> 12:29.829
[SPEAKER_02]: A security bought a approach to scan to the men.
12:29.889 --> 12:33.353
[SPEAKER_02]: Amas shifted uneasy with the intrusion.
12:33.393 --> 12:35.975
[SPEAKER_01]: We're fine, relaxes, we're good.
12:36.816 --> 12:38.158
[SPEAKER_01]: The bot quickly moved on.
12:38.418 --> 12:40.180
[SPEAKER_01]: When is this they're scanning for the language now?
12:40.760 --> 12:41.321
[SPEAKER_01]: Aggression.
12:42.702 --> 12:44.704
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't feel aggression towards you Edward.
12:45.125 --> 12:45.365
[SPEAKER_01]: No.
12:46.226 --> 12:47.427
[SPEAKER_01]: What do you feel then?
12:47.447 --> 12:49.769
[SPEAKER_01]: I don't end violence mostly.
12:50.290 --> 12:51.231
[SPEAKER_01]: Some sadness, maybe.
12:52.092 --> 12:53.533
[SPEAKER_01]: Miss chances.
12:53.513 --> 12:54.274
[SPEAKER_01]: That's sort of thing.
12:55.115 --> 12:59.180
[SPEAKER_02]: Amis paused, pondered, his thoughts coalesced.
13:00.842 --> 13:01.963
[SPEAKER_02]: I could have used a big brother.
13:02.864 --> 13:04.266
[SPEAKER_01]: Edward bristled at the thought.
13:05.007 --> 13:06.889
[SPEAKER_01]: That's just it, isn't it?
13:07.690 --> 13:09.972
[SPEAKER_01]: Amis' face wrinkled with confusion.
13:10.012 --> 13:12.475
[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, forget it.
13:13.857 --> 13:16.160
[SPEAKER_01]: For the record, I never blamed you.
13:17.221 --> 13:20.685
[SPEAKER_01]: Children or children, parents or parents.
13:21.458 --> 13:25.062
[SPEAKER_01]: It wouldn't be right to hold one accountable for the actions of the other.
13:25.082 --> 13:29.466
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward adjusted his glasses looking past the bow of the boat.
13:29.987 --> 13:34.331
[SPEAKER_02]: He could see what he was waiting for, the virtual marker, his signal.
13:35.112 --> 13:40.678
[SPEAKER_02]: Behind him, multiple security bots gathered along the wall of the fairies navigational island.
13:41.719 --> 13:49.407
[SPEAKER_02]: One by one the bots plugged themselves in and powered down.
13:49.690 --> 13:55.167
[SPEAKER_02]: A different make in model, they were newer, shinier, more robust in every way.
13:55.909 --> 14:01.506
[SPEAKER_02]: Each was marked with a symbol on its metallic right shoulder, a red maple leaf.
14:01.739 --> 14:06.106
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward watched as a virtual line drawn across the water drifted past.
14:06.527 --> 14:08.630
[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to Canada, first time.
14:08.670 --> 14:10.373
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos nodded.
14:10.393 --> 14:14.640
[SPEAKER_02]: Truth be told this was the first time he'd ever been outside of Kentucky.
14:15.341 --> 14:19.247
[SPEAKER_02]: Save for the quick jaunts to St. Louis for business, though.
14:19.728 --> 14:23.634
[SPEAKER_02]: He wasn't about to let Edward have that particular piece of satisfaction.
14:24.836 --> 14:27.240
[SPEAKER_01]: Toronto's a wonderful city.
14:27.743 --> 14:30.286
[SPEAKER_01]: There's this little bakery on Trados Street.
14:31.207 --> 14:32.408
[SPEAKER_01]: Great croissant.
14:34.410 --> 14:37.293
[SPEAKER_01]: That's why we're meeting you, so you can get a croissant.
14:37.834 --> 14:40.537
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos was here to get the unpleasantries over with.
14:41.158 --> 14:44.261
[SPEAKER_02]: His brother, he knew he wasn't here for baked goods.
14:45.062 --> 14:47.825
[SPEAKER_02]: Beyond that, whoever knew what Edward was thinking.
14:48.886 --> 14:54.392
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward looked around, he didn't care to make a scene, but he wanted to be respectful.
14:54.507 --> 14:56.017
[SPEAKER_02]: It wasn't his brother's fault.
14:56.600 --> 15:00.163
[SPEAKER_02]: He too was caught in the chaos even if he couldn't see it.
15:01.223 --> 15:07.052
[SPEAKER_02]: But they were relatively alone, so Edward slipped on his gloves, opened the pouch and pulled out the papers.
15:07.773 --> 15:08.254
[SPEAKER_02]: Paper.
15:09.256 --> 15:10.878
[SPEAKER_02]: God.
15:10.898 --> 15:12.160
[SPEAKER_02]: God was stuck in the past.
15:12.961 --> 15:15.145
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward silently chafed at the comment.
15:16.066 --> 15:20.313
[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, Amis didn't understand, couldn't see the message.
15:20.854 --> 15:25.922
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward was a master at sending and receiving specific messages in unique ways.
15:26.743 --> 15:28.125
[SPEAKER_02]: It was his job.
15:28.342 --> 15:32.807
[SPEAKER_02]: For the first time Edward thought, maybe he learned the skill from his father.
15:33.548 --> 15:37.472
[SPEAKER_02]: For Edward knew, the paper was meant as a thumb in Edward's eye.
15:38.072 --> 15:42.217
[SPEAKER_02]: His father was saying loud and clear, I understand the formalities.
15:42.557 --> 15:44.179
[SPEAKER_02]: I know how things should be done.
15:44.980 --> 15:48.003
[SPEAKER_02]: For you, I simply chose not to care.
15:49.825 --> 15:52.448
[SPEAKER_01]: You sure got there quick, to his lawyer.
15:54.269 --> 15:56.712
[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't have to go anywhere.
15:56.995 --> 15:58.819
[SPEAKER_01]: The will was on my doorstep.
15:59.842 --> 16:00.484
[SPEAKER_01]: Next day.
16:00.524 --> 16:11.451
[SPEAKER_02]: Another thumb in the eye, Edward thought, his father knew exactly where he lived, Edward slipped off the paperclip and handed the papers to Amos.
16:12.714 --> 16:14.498
[SPEAKER_02]: He left you everything.
16:15.338 --> 16:17.261
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos locked eyes with Edward.
16:17.741 --> 16:19.884
[SPEAKER_02]: He wanted his brother to get this message.
16:20.525 --> 16:23.709
[SPEAKER_01]: It was all he really wanted out of this day.
16:23.729 --> 16:23.809
[SPEAKER_01]: Wow.
16:23.829 --> 16:28.635
[SPEAKER_01]: Turns out being an unrepentant asshole actually has consequences.
16:30.838 --> 16:33.382
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he suffered a lot at the end.
16:34.423 --> 16:38.148
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, okay, okay, that's all you got to say is okay.
16:38.208 --> 16:42.173
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm saying you weren't there, I know.
16:42.271 --> 16:45.557
[SPEAKER_02]: frustrated, Amos flipped to the last page and continued reading.
16:46.098 --> 16:49.505
[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't notice as Edward fumbled with the paperclip.
16:49.525 --> 16:50.427
[SPEAKER_02]: I didn't ask for this.
16:51.709 --> 16:54.234
[SPEAKER_02]: It was true, but he did deserve it.
16:54.875 --> 16:55.436
[SPEAKER_02]: He knew that.
16:56.418 --> 17:00.887
[SPEAKER_02]: Even if the family business was worth just a few hundred thousand credits.
17:02.437 --> 17:04.159
[SPEAKER_01]: Edward pushed away from the rail.
17:04.640 --> 17:06.983
[SPEAKER_01]: Guess that finishes things between us.
17:08.425 --> 17:12.430
[SPEAKER_01]: Just like that, you'd... Hello, goodbye and... What?
17:13.131 --> 17:13.531
[SPEAKER_02]: You're done?
17:13.992 --> 17:15.894
[SPEAKER_02]: Amas hadn't expected anything more.
17:16.876 --> 17:21.041
[SPEAKER_02]: Still, he was realizing There was a part of him that had hoped.
17:22.202 --> 17:23.484
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward extended his arms.
17:24.345 --> 17:24.766
[SPEAKER_02]: Fine.
17:25.587 --> 17:26.588
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll hug.
17:26.922 --> 17:28.724
[SPEAKER_02]: He wrapped Amos in an embrace.
17:29.646 --> 17:37.436
[SPEAKER_02]: Behind Amos' back Edward raised his hand and with the paper clip end in just such a way, picked his brother's neck.
17:37.456 --> 17:39.499
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos pushed away, felt his neck.
17:40.320 --> 17:40.981
[SPEAKER_02]: What was that?
17:41.381 --> 17:43.084
[SPEAKER_02]: A bee sting, a finger nail?
17:43.764 --> 17:47.269
[SPEAKER_02]:
No, it was more like a jab, a needle maybe.
17:48.150 --> 17:51.715
[SPEAKER_02]: He staggered, but he never done to him.
17:51.695 --> 17:58.086
[SPEAKER_02]: Amis' world began to swirl, and were reached for him, steadied him, helped him to his knees.
17:58.847 --> 18:02.253
[SPEAKER_02]: It was loving, gentle, confusing.
18:04.157 --> 18:07.122
[SPEAKER_02]: Amis' vision blurred, his heart pounded.
18:07.382 --> 18:10.588
[SPEAKER_02]: Ha ha ha, fought to get the words out.
18:10.608 --> 18:11.830
[SPEAKER_01]: You said you didn't blind me.
18:13.818 --> 18:18.049
[SPEAKER_01]: Ah, you, you, you, you didn't lay me.
18:18.711 --> 18:20.415
[SPEAKER_01]: This isn't playing me, Miss.
18:21.799 --> 18:24.626
[SPEAKER_01]: It's putting things to their rightful speed.
18:25.468 --> 18:26.430
[SPEAKER_01]: You don't even want it.
18:26.912 --> 18:30.561
[SPEAKER_02]: With that, Amos dropped to the deck, dead.
18:30.710 --> 18:35.818
[SPEAKER_02]: The paper is scattered in the wind as a swarm of security bots race to scan amisses body.
18:36.439 --> 18:36.860
[SPEAKER_02]: Start!
18:37.320 --> 18:37.721
[SPEAKER_02]: To see!
18:37.901 --> 18:47.757
[SPEAKER_02]: Several bots surrounded the scene, they furiously scanned, Edward, the body, the immediate surroundings, a beehive of detective work in an instant.
18:47.973 --> 18:51.497
[SPEAKER_02]: One of the bots beeped as it scanned the paperclip in Edward's hand.
18:51.797 --> 18:57.384
[SPEAKER_02]: Weapon, found, substance, poison, processing, rising.
18:57.444 --> 18:59.166
[SPEAKER_02]: Another bot quickly cuffed Edward.
18:59.706 --> 19:01.048
[SPEAKER_02]: Transmitting edits.
19:01.508 --> 19:02.810
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward waited calmly.
19:03.210 --> 19:04.572
[SPEAKER_02]: He thought about the croissant.
19:04.932 --> 19:05.793
[SPEAKER_02]: Edent examined.
19:06.474 --> 19:07.515
[SPEAKER_02]: Verlick incoming.
19:07.755 --> 19:09.437
[SPEAKER_02]: So flaky, buttery.
19:09.858 --> 19:10.839
[SPEAKER_02]: He looked forward to it.
19:10.919 --> 19:11.319
[SPEAKER_04]: guilty.
19:12.000 --> 19:12.661
[SPEAKER_02]: I did not find.
19:12.841 --> 19:14.503
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward nodded to his pocket.
19:15.192 --> 19:26.611
[SPEAKER_02]: a bot retrieved the ID, and would go, diplomat, united states, stand by for processing, immunity confirmed.
19:27.192 --> 19:29.597
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward smiled as the bots removed the cuffs.
19:30.458 --> 19:33.904
[SPEAKER_02]: He could always count on the Canadians for their polite efficiency.
19:34.826 --> 19:37.470
[SPEAKER_02]: Here was a country that knew how to run a system.
19:38.058 --> 19:42.122
[SPEAKER_02]: He glanced at the gathered crowd as the bots dispersed, returning to their duties.
19:43.303 --> 19:46.265
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, a beautiful day for a croissant, yes.
19:47.126 --> 19:53.932
[SPEAKER_02]: He turned, tossed the gloves into the water, and leaned against the rail, emotionless, watching the shore approach.
19:55.353 --> 19:58.496
[SPEAKER_02]: With things set right, he had decisions to make.
19:59.537 --> 20:06.343
[SPEAKER_02]: A shame, Edward thought, he would have liked, handing the family business down to his younger brother.
20:07.893 --> 20:10.900
[SPEAKER_00]: papers from Crooked Stories Theater.