An avatar ("Av")
touches a statue of a hospital bed. A
message asks permission to animate the avatar.
She/He clicks on OK . . .
Av is transported high in the
air. A hospital bed rezzes (appears) and
Av is laid on it, covered by a thin blanket.
His/her hands are at his/her sides, resting on top of the blanket. Next to the bed appears a table with flowers
and a heart monitor. There's a regular
beep sound effect. A young woman in a
suit with her hair up appears on a chair.
She reaches out and takes Av's hand.
She speaks to Av and you hear her words (instead of seeing text appear
on the screen). They are touched with
sadness, which she bravely tries to conceal.
YOUNG WOMAN
Hi Dad. It's me, Elizabeth. I hope you can hear me. The doctors told me that even though you're not responding, there's a chance that you can still hear. Mom has been beside you every day since the stroke. I got here as quickly as I could.
Dad, please don't go. Fight this thing. You're the life and soul of this family. When you're not there, Mom goes to pieces. All she'll eat is a boiled egg and a cup of tea. And Jester just sits in his spot by the front window, waiting for you to come home. If you can hear me, please try. Open your eyes or move your fingers. We love you. We want you back.
Do you remember how we used to play Peter Pan whenever I was home sick? I was always Wendy and you played all the other parts. You would make me laugh so much that I forgot I was sick. Remember what you told me? The key to getting better is the same as what makes you fly. You have to have a happy thought. Remember how you used to pester me about what my happy thought was and I would never tell you? I want to tell you now. Maybe it will help you get better too.
When I was little I remember you and Mom coming home late from a party. You were singing and carrying on so much that I woke up and tiptoed over to the top of the stairs. Mom and the babysitter were trying to hush you, but Mom kept getting the giggles.
The woman stands and changes to
a little girl with straight, shoulder length hair parted in the middle. She is bare foot and dressed in a plain white
nightie. Her voice remains the same.
YOUNG WOMAN
You saw me on the stairs and boomed, 'See Jenn, Lizzie's not asleep. She wants to join the party!' You held out your arms and I ran down the stairs and jumped into them.
Av is raised out of the
bed. The hospital equipment disappears
and the little girl jumps into his/her arms.
Av holds her in the traditional dance position. The little girl's feet hang in the air. As the woman talks, the two start dancing a
tipsy waltz.
YOUNG WOMAN
The alcohol on your breath was enough to make me giddy, but there was a wild happiness about you that was much more intoxicating. As you spun me around we bounced off the walls and furniture, laughing and laughing."
The two spin faster.
YOUNG WOMAN
Finally, you collapsed on the floor with me on top of you, still laughing.
The little girl
disappears. Av is returned to his/her original
position standing next to the statue.
Before releasing the avatar, the voice finishes with: "That's my happy thought. Daddy, please don't go."