c for cccccccould you tell me whats going on

Ellie Carter

"What do you mean, ya 'suppose?' You don't know what's here? You guys for real just got here like we did?"

She tries shaking it instead, but its heavy and not making a difference just like the kick. She talks as she does it,

"Sounds less like its the thing Vincent talked about and more like it's that one… that one Stanford thing? They just put dumb college kids in charge as prison wardens and they went mad with power and started torturing everyone! Hey, spare me when ya do that, okay?"

MILGRAM

"Yes… The other wardens and myself only woke up a little while ago. The job didn't come with a handbook!"

They laugh lightly, as if it was a good joke and not just a statement.

"Oh, gosh, no! I - nobody is going to be torturing anyone! We want to help you all… I mean, at least, I certainly do! Speaking of, please do be careful with the machine! It's sturdier than you are…"

Ellie Carter

"That's the problem, ain't it? I wish it was a wee bit less sturdy!"

She shakes it violently one more time before giving up, stepping back and crossing her arms at it.

"Okay, I'm done. You know what this darn thing is?"

MILGRAM

"Er, Ms Carter, please, I don't think that's helping anything…"

Sie doesn't seem to be worried enough to step in and actually stop her, though.

"Sorry, all I know is what I've said already. Items come out of it, from… somewhere. I'm not sure how they get there. If you want to use it, then one of us wardens can help… but you have to not kick it…"

Ellie Carter

"Eh, it's not like I've never broken a toe before!"

There's no doctors here though, so she probably should stop. She shrugs.

"Okay, my bad, my bad. But how come you can use it if you don't even know why it works? Well, whatever. Can ya do it for me?"

MILGRAM

"Thank you," Sie says as Ellie relents. They seem to very optimistically believe she's really going to not try again at some point.

"…I'm not sure? I suppose, in the same way someone can still use a computer even if they don't know how it actually works… but yes, I could if you needed?"

Ellie Carter

"That seems like an awful comparison. You can use a computer without knowing how it works because a bunch of smarter people put their heads together to make it idiot proof. It's called, uuuhhh…."

She tries to remember.

"Whatever, there's a word for it. Something programmy. Anyway yeah, could ya?"

MILGRAM

Sie blinks blankly at Ellie. Whether they would have known this term and have forgotten it or simply have no idea to begin with, they have no idea what she's getting at. But they can at least get an item for her!

Blood-Splattered K-Mart Decoration - Oh, Christ. Look, of all the ways to go out, getting beaten with a $10 K-Mart Anko Brand White Striped Lamp has got to be one of the worst possibilities.

"…"

"Oh my goodness. Um. I suppose this is yours now, but. I don't know… I'm sorry? I… Do you recognise it, or… I am so sorry this isn't what I expected to come out. The last time it was a plush toy…"

Ellie Carter

Ellie holds her bloody lamp, fist wrapped around the neck of it. She just stares at it for a moment. You know, this might as well happen to her. She turns back to Sie, still wielding it.

"Imagine if I said yeah? Yeah, I recognize this. Yeah, this is my murder weapon, actually."

She wonders who the hell got a plush toy. She laughs.

"Wouldn't that be fucked up."

MILGRAM

"I-is it?! Well - I suppose - I mean… it's yours now anyway? So that would be… good… that you got it back…?"

They have absolutely no idea how to react here. It feels like a bad idea to let anyone, let alone someone as capricious as Ellie, go around with a potential (proven!) murder weapon. But they were supposed to be able to keep the items…

Ellie Carter

"Noooo, I'm literally being sarcastic. I'm saying it WOULD be fucked up if it was mine. Not that it IS. 'Sides, I stabbed someone."

Ellie throws in the last part. You know, just to clarify. Then she starts to walk off.

"Anyway, thanks for the lamp, I guess!"

MILGRAM

Sie continues to stare, dumbfounded, as Ellie says all that and then just turns to leave.

"Oh………"

They blink a few times, as if trying to get their brain working again.

"That's… you're welcome? Please be careful with it… maybe if it's cleaned it would be nice in your cell…"

It's the best they can offer as a parting remark.