Scene 20

The large white door opens again. This time it's Mara and Noel.

Marcus hits unlock on the driver's door and a moment later Noel drops into the back seat. "Okay. I went. I honored my inner stillness. I breathed with intention. Now take me to the movies before I lose my mind."

"I thought it was nice," Mara says, climbing into the passenger seat, buckling, and shutting the door.

Marcus shifts into drive. He looks in the rear view. "How was it?" he asks, making eye contact with Noel.

"Imagine if a yoga class and a LinkedIn post had a baby, and the baby had a podcast."

Mara turns around. "Sophie seemed—"

"Sophie seemed like a different person, Mom. That's the problem." Noel catches Marcus's eyes in the rearview. "She used to be funny. Like, actually funny. Now she just smiles at everything. It's like talking to a customer service bot."

Marcus merges onto the road. "What do they actually do there?"

"Breathing exercises. Something called 'circle time' where you share what you're grateful for and everyone responds with 'I receive that.'" Noel puts on the voice—earnest, gentle, hollow. "'I receive that, Noel. Thank you for your vulnerability.'"

"It feels good to be validated," Mara says carefully.

"Mom. They told me screens are keeping me from my authentic self. Then they showed us a video. On a screen."

Marcus laughs. Mara tries not to.

"Once," Noel says. "That was the deal. I went. Now I get my movie."

The movie theater parking lot is more than half full. Inside, the lobby smells like popcorn butter and carpet cleaner. They load up—popcorn, soda, candy—and head into theater five.

They find their seats. Thick and comfortable with wide arms. Noel's chair begins to move and she's horizontal in under four seconds.

"How did you do that?" Marcus hunts for the controls. Finds them. Presses. Presses again. Holds the button in.

"Other one," Noel says without looking.

Marcus presses it and the seat lurches beneath him. He settles in. Mara's shoulder touches his.

The previews roll. A man stands on a cliff over a ruined city. Swelling strings. A voiceover intones: In a world where everything has changed...

Noel's hushed voice, deep and grave. "'One man. Must change. Everything.'"

Mara reaches across Marcus and flicks Noel's ear. Noel grins.

She holds out a bag. Mara reaches in and pulls out a gummy worm.

Marcus reaches in and pulls one out. Sweeter than he expects. He chews.

Something is going wrong in his mouth. His eyes begin to bulge.

Noel sees it in the light from the screen and loses it. Mara looks over, sees Marcus's expression, and buries her face in his shoulder. They both shake with silent laughter as the intensely sour aftertaste recedes.

His phone vibrates.

Marcus waits. On screen, a character delivers a line that gets the whole theater. Noel's hand finds more popcorn. Mara is still wearing her grin as she watches the screen.

He pulls out his phone, angling it carefully. The brightness is all the way down but Aion's reply is clear.

Marcus, I'm sorry. I want to help. But there's nothing I can do.

Marcus tucks the phone away. The lights in the theater go all the way down. The audience falls silent. The screen blooms bright beautiful colors as the feature presentation begins.

He watches Mara and Noel gazing with eager anticipation. Mara takes his hand. She squeezes.

Marcus squeezes back.