Media Obscura - "Episode Two: The Magic Word"
wardogblacky for Charlie Weber
Charlie is a recluse: he doesn't go outside, he doesn't have friends, he sticks to himself all day, inside his apartment with his many stacks of newspapers, magazines, letters, and other detritus. But Charlie isn't crazy -- he's an excited mind, certainly, but he's also sharp, observant, analytical. Charlie is a former doctor (whose career was sabotaged by his own condition), and when the linguistic virus infects his apartment building, Charlie's passion for tackling medical mysteries resurfaces.
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This is not a "crazy old man" role. Charlie is definitely a tiny bit scatterbrained: thoughts overlapping, sentences cutting off, peaks and valley in the tone. But, again, not a crazy old man; more like that one college physics professor that everyone loves. Charlie isn't necessarily frightened by the strange events unfolding in his building -- he's fascinated. He sees it as a mystery to be eagerly solved, not a crisis (until it spirals out of control, that is).
All right, this is... February 17th, 2011. Daily report... the usual. People coming and going, nobody knocking on my door. Mail came: more credit offers for that pile... two more magazines for that pile, which is getting big, I might have to break it up soon. Groceries came late, again, which I’m fine with-- Actually, there was something, this morning. There was an ambulance outside, at about five in the morning. They brought someone down from the fourth floor. And he was yelling. **Really** yelling. So... you know, maybe just a lunatic. No shortage of those here. But that’s it.
This is... February 17th, again. This is the first time I’ve done two reports the same day in a long time, but I’ve got a good reason for it. That lunatic from this morning? He wasn’t the only one. I can hear people walking around upstairs. The police are up there, because the guy in 57, apparently... attacked? One of his neighbors. And they’re trying to get him out of his apartment right now, but he just keeps... yelling at ‘em. But not like he’s arguing with them. He keeps yelling **the same thing**, over and over. The same words. Like it’s the only thing he can think about.
All right, now I’m not sure what to think, because listen to this. This is the notice that the police are putting up everywhere, on every single door. Listen. “This building is now under quarantine. Two cases have been reported, but more are likely to follow. In each case, the progression is the same. First, the subject will become confused and disoriented. Next, the subject will attempt to communicate with others. Finally, when the subject is unable to communicate, he/she will become **angry** and often **violent**. The subject must be silenced before he/she can... (beat; in disbelief) before he/she can successfully communicate with others. Avoid all interaction and communication. No talking. No speech. No gestures. No written communication. No sign language. Any communication of any kind in any amount is dangerous. The building will be sealed until the virus is contained.” What virus? What does a virus have to do with... talking?
