Part 97: Blackwell Epiphany - Update 20

Update 20



Yesterday, we finished with Rosa sitting next to Lauren in the void, them both silently contemplating the Universe, and enjoying each other's company for the first time in decades.

Rosa won't move, and there's nothing left to talk about with Lauren. So what now?

Blackwell Lament



Now, we click back over to Joey, who is in a very different place.

It's like they are reading from a playbook.



The scene fades in, and we see that Joey is hovering over Rosa - the Rosa back in reality - who is now confined to a straitjacket in a padded cell We're in Bellevue Hospital.

In a week they'll move you to another ward.
Then they'll poke you full of needles, and nod thoughtfully while taking notes. Then they'll move you to a long-term care floor, keep you drugged and fed and washed.

Joey sounds heartbroken here.

... And then...
I'll watch you turn grey. I'll watch your skin weather and dry. And then...



I'm so, so sorry. It's all my fault. I can't blame the universe. Or death. Or even you.
This one's on me.
Maybe I deserve it, but you certainly don't.

After all this time, to end up like this. Rotting away in an asylum, just like our aunt and grandmother before us. It's a tragedy.



Steeling himself, Joey refuses to let it end this way.

There HAS to be.

He considers his options. He can't interact with anything in this room but Rosa.

She's still there. Physically, at least. I don't know what else to do. Or say. Or anything.

He looks around at the padded walls that surround him.

The padded room might be overkill, but if the drugs ever wear off... Better safe than sorry, I guess.

He even considers using his magic tie, but that's no use either.

She can only touch it with her hands. And those are... unavailable.

With nothing here to help him, Joey phases through the door to see what he can find.

Asylum



Home sweet home.

The music here is really well done, I think - it's haunting, melancholy, but not hopeless. Bellevue is looking as vibrant and colourful as ever, I see. A light flickers erratically as Joey floats across the corridor to the adjacent cell.



Empty. For now, anyway.

Nothing here. Joey turns to leave...



...when suddenly, a spirit comes into focus. There is someone here after all - and judging by the way he's holding his arms, I'm guessing he was a long-term patient here.

Middle-aged guy. Maybe early 50s? He must've died in that straitjacket.



Perhaps out of habit more than anything else, Joey floats over to see if he can figure out why the ghost is sticking around.

Yes?
Hey. Are you okay, pal?
I... should be okay.
You should be okay... but you're not?

As usual, the ghost is pretty confused.

I'm not like them! It should have worked...
What, exactly, should have worked?
Everything! Nothing! Maybe. Regret. Maybe.
You regret something?
You know nothing of regret!
... I might know a thing or two.

Yeah Looks like this ghost has retained in death whatever mental issues he had in life.



Joey keeps asking him questions. I guess there isn't much else for him to do.

Everyone. No one. So many thoughts... so many!
Huh. I can see why you ended up here. Look. We're gonna be neighbors for a while, so maybe you can tone down the crazy?

He shakes his head, however.

No! I'm not that. Just the opposite.
The folks who run this place might disagree.
It's... so hard to think.

At this point, Joey just gives up. It's not like we can help him to move on anymore, anyway.

Look. Forget it. I got my own problems to deal with.

The ghost turns away and Joey leaves, floating up one of the other corridors.



Looks like a duty roster for the orderlies. No point in reading it. I'll become very familiar with the staff here after a few years.

It's horrible to think that Joey has already had to do this two times before. Rosa is in her early 30s - she could easily stick around for decades. Joey heads through the open door.



Well, would you look who it is.

Oh. This guy. Dr. Donald Quentin. Or as I like to call him, Dr. Quack. That guy was Lauren Blackwell's doctor when she was here. Did nothing but plug her full of drugs.
I guess it's Red's turn now.

If we wait around and listen, Quentin is actually describing Rosa's case in detail, presumably recording himself talking for future reference.

Age: 34. Height: 5 feet, four inches. Weight: 118 lbs. Subject assaulted a police officer, then herself. When restrained by a team of officers, she reacted so violently that two of them were hospitalized. Deemed a danger to herself and others, she was sedated and brought to this facility. Subject exhibits the same symptoms as other members of her family. Violent behavior. Incognizant of surroundings. Unresponsive to stimuli. Four years ago, I advised the subject to submit herself to testing and regular visits. The subject declined. *sigh* X-rays of the skull show no abnormalities. Scans of the brain show increased activity in the parietal and occipital lobes. They are exhibiting short, but regular, bursts of intense energy. These findings remain consistent with what we know of her family history. It is as if she is receiving sensory input from elsewhere, and it became too much for her brain to handle. ... There is so much we do not know. I will continue to observe, and report any findings.

Sounds like he doesn't really have any idea what is causing her problems. How could he? Also, damn - Rosa took out three cops before going down, apparently Joey briefly considers yelling at Quentin.

Oh I wish. I've been wanting to give that guy a piece of my mind for years.

In a fit of anger, he uses his magic breath instead.

No reaction. No surprise there. Nothing could get through that fat head of his.

He then looks around the room for anything that might help him.

That thing needs a date with a needle and thread. Or a fireplace.
Some kind of abstract thing. No idea what that could be.
Another computer. Doing something incomprehensible. Can't use it. Wouldn't know how.
It's a tray of medical stuff. Bandages. Scalpels. Forceps. I don't want to think about what they do with them here.
It's an x-ray of Red's noggin.

None of that is any use. Joey leaves the room and heads into another one.



Looks like it's a storage room.

Just a file cabinet. Probably been here for years.
They brought Red in on this thing.
Just an old closet. Full of junk and old clothes.
Looks like an old ventilation system.

On the wall there, to the right of the closet, is a piece of paper.



Huh. This letter is dated several years ago.

Benjiro, hey? I guess that's who the ghost is. Maybe we'll finally be able to get some answers about the Grace Group and what he did to the members, even if it is too late to do anything about it with all the spirits devoured and Rosa incapacitated

Joey tries phasing through the ventilation system...



...and finds himself back in Rosa's cell. That gives him the idea to try phasing through wall on the left, but he doesn't find anything interesting in that direction.

Just old piping on the other side.

There's only one corridor he hasn't gone down yet. The one that leads out of here.



He goes out to the front desk. This place has changed since Rosa broke in back in Legacy.

...Wait a second. Is that some kind of... energy vortex in the night sky out there?

Jesus. What the hell is going on out there? I don't know what that is, but it can't be good.

That's... not good, I assume. I'm guessing normal people can't see it, since the guy there at the front desk doesn't even seem to care.

Guy manning the front desk. He wasn't around the last time I was stuck in this place. One of the few things that's changed around here.

Asylum



Let's get some answers here.

You're Benjiro, aren't you?
Ben...jiro?
Yeah. Benjiro Hatori? You were the last guy to occupy this room. So I'm guessing you're him.
... What do you know of me?

Aha. He remembers. Joey can respond in multiple ways. He can mention the Grace Group:

You ran those Grace Group meetings.

He can accuse Benjiro of causing all his problems:

You started this whole damn mess.
Mess?
Yeah. With those Grace Group meetings!

Or he can start getting threatening

You're owed a punch in the face, is what I know.
I... what? What for?
For starting up the Grace Group. For causing this whole mess.

Either way, Benjiro seems to remember the Grace Group.

I... yes. That was... so long ago. How long has it been?
Twenty-five years.



Benjiro is also voiced by Gilbert, and he does a pretty good job of it. Benjiro sounds shocked here.

Have I really spent two decades of my life in this place?

Again, Joey can respond in multiple ways, none of them very polite. He can say it's been longer than that:

More than that, Benjiro.
More than that?

He can hint that Benjiro is dead:

The last two decades, I'm not sorry to say.
The last...?

Or he can simply say that Benjiro deserves it:

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy.
What do you mean?

You died here. You're haunting the padded room where they locked you up.
...



Huh. So he kind of knew he was dead, but wasn't sure?

You thought as much? You're saying you know you're dead?
I suspected. But I couldn't be sure.

Joey can respond in three ways again. He can ask how Benjiro could have not known:

How could you not know for sure?!
Well, I never died before, did I?
...

He can give Benjiro some sass:

You suspected?
What gave you your first clue? Folks stopped returning your calls?
No need to be flippant.

Or, he can simply state the obvious:

Well you're dead. Welcome to the club.
I suppose it was bound to happen eventually.
It happens to us ALL eventually.
No. You don't understand.

Benjiro continues.

My people spend so much time avoiding death that we refuse to believe it when it happens.
Your... people?

Here we go. I saw this coming.

Yes. I am part of... society. Some would call us vampires, but not the kind from stories. We extend our own lives by consuming the positive energy out of willing subjects. They die, but we live.

So Benjiro is (or was) part of Gavin's cult. This time, Joey has only two options. He can tell Benjiro to get on with it:

Get to the point, Benji.
Very well.

Or, much more satisfyingly, he can brag about having killed Gavin

We ran into one of your people last year. Guy by the name of Gavin. He killed a bunch of people. He tried to kill us.
He's dead now.
I... see.

I love Joey's evil grin In the portrait files Gilbert sent me before I started this LP, it has the name "joey_hapgry", hahaha.

You must understand. I am not like my... colleagues. I never liked hurting people, but I didn't want to die either.

Now where is this going?



The Epiphany Experiment?
I wanted to... improve the lives of those I fed upon. Not destroy them. Instead of removing positive energy from a subject, I increased it. I enabled them to achieve their heart's hidden desire. To create a SURPLUS of positive energy. And I... skimmed off the top.

Huh. That's a different take on the whole spiritual vampire thing. It's actually kind of a clever idea. Joey, of course, is not impressed, and can respond in three ways. He can ask whether it worked:

And this worked?
Yes... and no.

He can simply state that it didn't work:

Let me guess. It failed.
Yes... and no.

Or, he can bitch out Benjiro:

You have no idea what you started.
I wish I never DID start it.

Benjiro continues.

It worked too well. My mind... couldn't take the energy. I went... a bit mad. Ended up committed here. And here I am.

So I guess it wasn't that clever after all. Still a nice twist on the spiritual vampire thing though. A little less "hand-wringing evil" than Gavin was.



Having heard the whole story, Joey is still unimpressed.

Your "experiment" ended up killing your subjects. Even worse. Their souls.
Their... souls?
You made 'em weak. Weak enough that they got... well, soul-napped. By this spook named Madeline.
I see. I did not consider that eventuality, but... it does explain much.

"Explain much?" What does it explain?

Eh?
Come with me. I must show you something.

Benjiro floats out of the cell, with Joey in pursuit.



Benjiro takes Joey to look at the vortex we saw earlier.

Why? What is it?
Energy is siphoning through the void at an alarming rate. Something is calling it. Drawing it like a beacon. Something with enormous power.
Something, huh? And what is this something?
I cannot say. But don't you recognize the location? That vortex is over Grace Church.

Ah. I see.



What is she up to now?

Yes. If she has harnessed as much energy as you say, that is the only answer. But why would she do such a thing? What she is doing will destroy her soul. Rip it into shreds.
She said she wanted to stop existing. I guess this was her backup plan.
Good riddance.

That woman is just full of surprises. I guess Joey figures she'll be out of our hair if she goes through with this plan, so he's not too bothered by it. However, Benjiro isn't done.

You don't understand. This energy. It won't stop at just her. It will expand until it dissipates. It could destroy every soul - living or dead - within a ten mile radius.
...

Wait, what? Oh, seriously? Fucking hell, Madeline.

Of course it will. Damn it. This is my fault. Again. I set her loose. It's not enough, is it? It's not enough to destroy three generations of women. It's not enough to destroy half-a-dozen spooks.



As if things weren't bad enough already. Joey turns to Benjiro.

*sigh* So what do we do?



Benjiro, however, just phases out of the window.

I am leaving. I must get myself out of range.
What are you gonna do, haunt Jersey?
If I must.

Oh geez. He's taking the coward's way out. I guess I shouldn't have expected any different from a guy who was willing to delve into spiritual magic because he was scared of dying.

What about the rest of us?
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry? That's it?
That is all I can offer. I fear that everything I've done only makes matters worse.



With that, Benjiro turns his tail and flees. Joey, tied to Rosa, has no such capability. For better or worse, he's stuck here. He stares at the vortex in awe.

Jesus. If that Benjiro guy is right...
We gotta find a way to stop that thing. That vortex is gonna fry every soul in the city if we don't get out of here.
Benjiro might have turned tail and run away, but I don't have that option.

With nothing left to do, Joey returns to Rosa.

A Rose Falls



With nothing left in his arsenal except for his voice, Joey talks gently to the comatose Rosa.

Are you even in there? Are you somewhere else? You're still breathing. You're still alive. I figure... somehow, maybe, you can hear me? Maybe I'm wrong, but talking is all I'm good for these days. So what else can I do?

He's pouring his heart out here.

You gotta wake up. Things are bad out there. Really... really bad. So bad that I'm not sure we can stop it. But we gotta try. We're the only ones who can. You understand? WE. It's gotta be the both of us. Because...



I don't know what to do.
Just... get up. Get up and we'll fix this. Somehow. I promise. ... Please?

Joey implores Rosa to move, hoping against hope that his words can somehow reach her.

The Void (Alternative)



Somehow, deep in the void, Rosa hears the echo of Joey's voice. She looks around, while Lauren seems unmoved.

Did you hear that?
Hm? No.
I...



There it is again! Looks like Joey talking to Rosa is actually helping.

Are you hearing that?
Get up and we'll fix this.
I don't hear anything.
I think...



Suddenly it dawns on Rosa that she doesn't just want to sit here for eternity. She's got unfinished business back in reality.

I REALLY think...
Please?

The screen starts to slowly shift away from the amazing view back to the dark blue void.



I'm fine. I'm going to look around.
Sure, kiddo. I'm not going anywhere.

Rosa looks down at Lauren. Suddenly it dawns on her - Lauren has been sitting here for thirty years. That's not natural. Something is keeping her here.

Auntie? Could you get up?
Why?
I thought we could maybe take a walk around this place? Maybe find a way out?
I'm fine right here.

Rosa tries pushing a bit harder.

Please Auntie? I think you really need to get away from there.
I told you. I'm fine right here.

She doesn't want to budge. Lauren was always pretty hard-headed in that way. Rosa gives up and heads around the corner.



Looks like there's another path up there.

What's up there?



Rosa tries to pull herself up, but it's no use.

It's too slick to climb.

Obviously we'll need Lauren to help us out here.



Hopefully this will be enough to convince Lauren to walk away.

What's the point?
There might be a way out? Something to get us out of here?
Why would I want to do that?

Rosa struggles to think of a reason.

I think... Joey needs our help.
Hmph. He doesn't deserve it.
Auntie. Please.
Don't Auntie me. Let me smoke in peace.

Lauren's kind of cold here. I'd say that is is being influenced by whatever power is keeping her here, but to be honest, she was kind of like this about smoking her cigarettes when she was alive too



Rosa, however, has developed a fairly tenacious attitude over the last four years. She keeps pushing.

Only after putting us in danger in the first place.
You can't blame him for that.
Just watch me.

She tries another angle.

This isn't right. This place. We shouldn't be here.
I've never wanted to be anywhere else.
Fight this, Auntie. Please.
I'm done fighting.

Finally, she goes with a guilt trip.

I'm dying out there. If I stay here too long, I'll die.
Is that all? Life and death are just the opposite sides of the same door. Doesn't matter which side you're on. It's all the same.

Geez. Looks like nothing will get through to Lauren.



Rosa finds herself bitterly disappointed with her aunt.

What do you mean?
He doesn't say much about his past, but get him talking about you and he won't shut up.
"You should be more like Lauren, Red." "Your aunt wouldn't take that from nobody."
He didn't mean to, but for years he made me feel like I couldn't measure up. That I was nothing. Insignificant, when compared to you.



You don't actually care. About anything.

Rosa is not being nasty here - if anything, it sounds like this revelation is devastating to her. However, it does succeed in getting Lauren a bit fired up.

How could I? Joey's voice in my ear. Always pushing me. Following me around like a lost puppy. And all those ghosts. Night after night after night. I just got... numb.

It doesn't seem like Lauren handled the whole ghostsaving thing anywhere near as well as Joey made out



That something was raising you. So don't you dare throw that in my face.

Rosa isn't done, however.

I'm sorry, Auntie, but I can't believe that. If you really cared, you'd fight. You'd help me.
*sigh*

Finally, Rosa's words get through to her. As much as Lauren is numb, her love for her niece does still manage to win through in the end.



You never were this stubborn as a five year old.
... I grew up.

You know what? Lauren slouches. She's completely numb to the world and it sounds like she'd be perfectly happy to just shut herself in a box and smoke forever. It's only speculation on my behalf, but it kind of seems like Unbound is an "as told by" story in which Joey related the case to Rosa. I can't help but think that the "real" Lauren Blackwell wasn't anything like the forthright, aggressive, overconfident woman that we saw in Unbound. That was just Joey's impression of her. The real Lauren Blackwell was emotionally stunted, selfish, chemically dependent, and incapable of dealing with reality in any kind of adult way. In the end, it seems Madeline was right - Rosa, despite all her flaws, is a much stronger person than Lauren ever was.


Tomorrow, we'll see if Rosa and Lauren can escape from... wherever the hell they are. Can Joey and Rosa stop Madeline from destroying Manhattan? We're very quickly spiralling towards the end of Epiphany. Join me tomorrow for another dramatic update!






So is Lauren's attitude tarnished by whatever force is keeping her staring at the universe? Or was she really so numb even back when she was alive?

We saw at stages throughout Unbound that Lauren claimed she felt numb, but then just as often she was prone to emotional outbursts or spur-of-the-moment decision. Gilbert gives his opinion.

Lauren was always numb - and Joey didn't recognise it because he was infatuated with her

Lauren always had issues - probably from before Joey even came into her life. She struggled to get interested in anything she did, and her mum going insane only made things worse.

Funnily enough, Joey coming into her life actually helped matters. She didn't get so emotionally involved in the cases like Rosa does. She just did her duty with a minimum of fuss and got it out of the way so she could have another cigarette. Having the obligation to save ghosts, at the expense of whatever else she might have been doing, gave her an excuse to avoid the real world. She never had to deal with maintaining relationships, or holding a job, or anything else. She could just focus on individual ghosts and live in her own little world.

If anything, as I discussed yesterday, it was actually learning to care about something that was Lauren's undoing in the end. Her love for Rosa, and her familial instincts to protect her, brought Lauren out of her numbness and gave her a purpose in life - one that meant more to her than any number of saved ghosts. It was in this state that she became vulnerable to Madeline's possession, and ultimately ended up dead.

From Joey's perspective, Lauren was the first person to willingly speak to him in years - decades, even, if we think back to 1931. Again, her numbness probably helped that; rather than throw a fit like Patricia when Joey appeared, she just kind of accepted it and moved on. Joey immediately became attached to her, seeing only the good and none of the bad. That attachment in turn led to him wanting to be near Lauren day and night, which didn't help her issues at all. With Joey's voice filling her every waking moment, she embraced the numbness and allowed herself to just smoke her life away, emerging only as often as it took to save some ghosts and placate Joey.

It's quite a complex and sad backstory, all told, and really interesting to delve into here. I just wish we'd had more scenes with Lauren over the course of the series to really flesh out her character.