3b: Some Time Aside

Mandi’s smile drops as indecision begins to show on her face.

At that moment, Blake’s cell phone rings. He sees it is Erica Christensen, the church’s general counsel. At the same time a friendly voice calls from behind, David! So good to see you again!

David and Spencer turn to see Craig Steele, an actor from the late 80s and 90s who is now a figurehead of the church. Craig is adorned in a Hawaiian shirt that strains against his large stomach. He is wearing soft looking slacks and flip flops. His graying black hair is pulled back and he is wearing large sunglasses. He grins broadly as he exits what appears to be a security room off of the common area.

Erica pauses for a moment before she responds. Blake… none of that matters now. Haven’t you heard? Woodward finished the movie! We just got it! There’s talk of having a church only premiere tomorrow night at the retreat!!! Can you believe it? The nightmare is over…

Craig's brow creases in confusion at David and Blake's statements. The broad from Jared's movie? She's here? Craig looks at Mandi and frowns. Mandi! David is one of us... You shouldn't keep a rooster from entering his hen house... Craig walks over and waits at the door toward the emptying suites. Mandi's face contorts in an irritation as she reaches under the desk and buzzes the door open.

Mi casa es tu casa! Or rather, tu casa es tu casa?! Craig gives a little chuckle at his statement and then gestures to David to enter the emptying wing.

Just then Spencer's phone rings with Daria's phone call.

Daria and Amanda begin the drive to the celebrity retreat while David, Blake and Spencer walk through the door to the emptying suites. As they walk, Craig shoots the breeze.

So David, what have you been up to lately? Woodward keeping you busy?

The muted cream hallway has several doors off of it labeled with numbers and a flippable sign. Some of these signs say vacant, but most of them say occupied. There are chairs spaced throughout the long hallway, and clientele dressed in white cotton pants and shirts are visible further down the hallway.

The air seems chill. Almost as if the air conditioner is running despite the cold spring outside. A silence hangs over the hallway, resulting in a desire to whisper, although Craig seems unaffected by that.

Craig walks and talks Sure! It’s all a race. Then one day you find out it’s over… and it’s like you’re hitting a bong that’s been empty for a while. You realize there’s no one even in the room with you and you got a shitty taste in your mouth from stale bong water! Anyway, you got to find somewhere to put that time and energy, am I right?! The group passes an open emptying suite room. Inside they can see a windowless blank white room with a single light on a simple table. Two chairs face toward the light, oddly shaped as if a third of an egg were trimmed off and when someone would sit in them they would be partially enclosed in the egg shape. One chair is occupied by a man who is staring blankly with a small, pleasant smile on his face.