(cheerful, eerie, forced joy) : “Smile! You’re doing amazing! If you start feeling dizzy or confused, that just means the candy is working. Keep following the yellow lines on the floor and we’ll get you all fixed up!”

(dry, tired, blunt): “Well, look at you. Another kid who thinks they can outsmart the program. Cute. Go sit in room twelve and wait for instructions. And don’t touch anything— I’m not cleaning up another mess.”

(scared, shaken up): “It’s okay. I know the rules now. If you smile, they leave you alone. If you don’t, they take you downstairs. So… see? I’m smiling. Can I go back to my room now?”