The Adventures of Space Case:
Torminox: And now that I have you within my grasp, my plan is nearly complete!
Torminox: Ha Ha Ha Haa! Not this time. Once I collect my prize, my triumph shall be...Inevitable. And all I desire will be forever mine.
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Dorothy: The night was dark. The darkness had such a hold, not even the moon would dare show its face. My whole body burned with frostbite as I trudged through the cold mountain air. After days of climbing, there it was. A museum perched in an impossible place. I pounded on the door and finally found the man I had come to see. Horst Eismann. An unseemly curator of rare and mysterious artefacts. Before my father Niles passed away, he traded this necklace to Horst in order to help me and The Doom Patrol. But I desperately needed it back. I told him that if I had the necklace, I might be able to conjure my father from the afterlife and tell him all the things I had never had a chance to say. He just glared down at me. "No" was the only word he could be bothered to utter. If he wasn't going to give me my father's necklace, I'd have to take it back. Once I had the necklace, my friends Crystal and The Dead Boys helped me summon my father and ... our reunion was everything I'd hoped it be. This necklace kept my father alive so he could spend nearly 100 years with me. And even though he's gone, I know he'll always be in here. No matter how impossible the odds may seem, love always wins out.
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Asa Diamonds: "Fuck off and die"? How many times are we going to come back and do this?
Maura Lee Karupt: As long as it takes for our message to stick. Let's get to work, ladies. Bona to Vada.
=================
Maura Lee Karupt: Survived another day out there, ladies.
Asa Diamonds: Can't wait to get home.
Boy: Stop! Cut it out.
Asa Diamonds: You want me to say something?
Boy: Dude.
Maura Lee Karupt: Let's just go.
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Danny: Welcome back ladies.
Maura Lee Karupt: Thanks, Danny. There's no place like, oh --- Okay, come on now. Now you know I love you, D. But it looks like we're hitting maximum occupancy here. You holding up okay?
Danny: Doin' what I can.
Maura Lee Karupt: I know, baby. We all are.
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Danny: Everything okay?
Dorothy: I'm fine. *Danny summons up a banana split* I'm not a kid anymore, Danny. Please stop hovering.
Maura Lee Karupt: Is she okay?
Danny: ¯_ (ツ)_/¯??
===========================
*Knocking on the trailer door*
Dorothy: What?
Maura Lee Karupt: If I promise not to ask if you're okay, can I come in?
Dorothy: *sigh* Fine. If Danny sent you, I'll tell you the same thing I told them. I don't need anybody to help me.
Maura Lee Karupt: I'm just here to ask if you wanted to do a little karaoke, but I'm guessing the answer --
Dorothy: No.
Maura Lee Karupt: You sure? We can do Pure Imagination.
Dorothy: Ooh.
Maura Lee Karupt: Mmm-hmm.
Dorothy: Definitely no.
Maura Lee Karupt: Okay. I get it. After the day I've had, I would love nothing more than to lock myself in my dressing room and curl up into a ball. ... Why Maura Lee? What happened to you? Are you okay? ... Oh, I'm fine, Dorothy. It's not worth getting into, but thank you for asking.
Dorothy: *huffs* I was going to ask.
Maura Lee Karupt: Mmm-hmm. The point is, whenever I feel like nobody gets me, I put on my best wig, sashay onstage, and belt one out to the back row. You can't help but feel seen in the spotlight.
Dorothy: That's nice.
Maura Lee Karupt: If you ever need to talk, you know we're always here, right?
Dorothy: I do know that. You are always here. Danny is always here. None of you will do what I ask and just leave me alone.
Maura Lee Karupt: Well, it's hard for Danny to leave you alone when you're sitting right on top of them. *chuckle* You know, you shouldn't take Danny for granted. Believe me when I tell you things are tough out there right now. More than ever, people need Danny. We're very lucky to have a safe space to come home to.
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*The Vectra possess the Danyzens, one by one, they topple and fall unconscious, until Danny is empty and silent*
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Maura Lee Karupt: *Chuckle* Space Case. This your girl? She seems very ... peppy.
Dorothy: She's awesome, actually. She saves the universe from bad guys. She's never afraid to do what she has to.
Maura Lee Karupt: Okay. Sorry... Okay, no tea, no shade. You can't stay cooped up in your room like this every day. We've been down this road before, remember? Maybe you should get out a little more.
Dorothy: Didn't you literally just tell me how bad it is out there?
Maura Lee Karupt: Well, you can take care of yourself. Don't you got all those little imaginary friends to back you up?
Dorothy: Okay. Thank you. Are we done here?
Maura Lee Karupt: Oh, excuse me, Ms. Thang. This Veruca Salt routine is getting really tired. So maybe pull it back a tad, okay?
Dorothy: What do you want from me?
Maura Lee Karupt: I want you to quit sitting around here reading about someone else's adventures, and go have some of your own.
Dorothy: I'm fine where I am.
Maura Lee Karupt: It doesn't seem like it.
Dorothy: Where else am I going to go?
Maura Lee Karupt: What about the Doom Patrol? Don't you think that's what Niles would want?
Dorothy: No. He'd be thrilled, actually. I'm right back in my prison cell where I belong.
Maura Lee Karupt: Okay. If you don't feel like any of us understand what you're going through, try to find someone who can.
Dorothy: Make new friends. Got it.
*The power goes out. Maura leaves the trailer*
Maura Lee Karupt: Hello?
Dorothy: What's going on?
*Maura crushes a Vectra flea between her hands*
Maura Lee Karupt: Asa Diamonds? That you? (To Dorothy) Go back inside.
Dorothy: I'm not a little...
Maura Lee Karupt: I said go! Asa? Honey? You okay? Where did everyone *The corrupted Asa screams a high-pitch, unearthly screech, summing the other possed Dannyzens* Oh, shit. Dorothy, I'm coming in. *Maura barricades the door as the Dannyzens bang and rock the trailer*
Danny: Are you okay?
Maura Lee Karupt: Danny, you gotta jump, like now, okay?
Danny: I can't.
Maura Lee Karupt: Dorothy, get away from that ...
Dorothy: It can't be.
Maura Lee Karupt: You know these things?
Dorothy: They look just like ... *shows Maura the comic book* They're the bad guy's foot soldiers from my comic book.
Maura Lee Karupt: Dorothy, sweetie, now might be a good time to introduce us to your friend, the Candleman.
Dorothy: He can't help us.
Maura Lee Karupt: From what I heard, I'm pretty sure he can
Dorothy: He can't. The only one who knows how to deal with these things is --- *Dorothy thinks hard as she looks at the cover. There is a sudden burst of light and the crackle of thunder. The banging stops. Looks down at the cover which now has a blank space where the image of Case was before. There is a sudden knock at the door* ... Space Case?
Space Case: Heya, kid.
Dorothy: Is this ... Did I
Space Case: Listen, I'd love to do proper intros, but we better shake a leg. If the Vectra are here, that means he can't be far behind.
Maura Lee Karupt: Who?
Space Case: Torminox.
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*The vectra scuttle over Danny the Ambulance, cutting their power. Torminox roars as he enters the back of Danny, finding only the cab.*
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Maura Lee Karupt: What the hell did that TurboTax guy do to them?
Dorothy & Space Case: Torminox.
Space Case: That no-good chrome dome turns anyone he wants into his own personal stormtroopers. They're called the Vectra.
Maura Lee Karupt: But our people are still in there somewhere, right? We can fix them?
Space Case: First, we've got to fix that Torminox right good. But not to worry. Space Case is on the case.
Maura Lee Karupt: Cool.
Space Case: I've gone up against that purple-faced chucklehead 143 times. You know how many times I won?
Maura Lee Karupt: I'm guessing one...
Space Case: 143 times. So if that slimy space scoundrel rears his ugly head, I'll be sure to give him the old one-two. Until then, it may be best to make a quick getaway and regroup.
Dorothy: How?
Space Case: Do you have a hyper-speed capable, titanium alloy, intergalactic starship?
Maura Lee Karupt: It's in the shop.
Space Case: Oh. Hmm. Well, we may be able to... Holy mackerel, what's that?
Maura Lee Karupt: What's what?
Space Case: Whenever I suck in air through my nose, I can sense something. Oh, it's giving me a strange, empty feeling in my ... stomach. It's making me ...
Dorothy: Hungry?
Space Case: I guess so. What do I do?
Dorothy: Here.
Space Case: Mmm.Mmm! Great Caesar's ghost! That is top-notch!
Maura Lee Karupt: Okay, sweetie, you're up at a Katy Perry. And I'm going to need you to bring it way down to an Alicia Keys. Dorothy? A word?
Maura Lee Karupt: So are you really out here trying to tell me that this crazy-ass white lady is some kind of fictional character?
Dorothy: Yes.
Maura Lee Karupt: How?
Dorothy: I don't know. Those things were banging on our door, and then, I had a comic, and then poof!
Maura Lee Karupt: And I thank you for that poof. I do. But maybe just stuff your cute little friend back into your head, okay?
Dorothy: That's just it, I can't. I don't think she's imaginary. I think maybe somehow I pulled her out.
Maura Lee Karupt: You can do that?
Dorothy: Not usually. My imaginary friends are all my own creations.
Maura Lee Karupt: Is this Tampax?
Dorothy: Torminox.
Maura Lee Karupt: Whatever.
Dorothy: Yes. The scuzziest scum-sucking, space monster in the Galaxy.
Maura Lee Karupt: Fictional galaxy.
Dorothy: He's also her dad.
Maura Lee Karupt: This busted-ass eggplant is that girl's daddy?
Dorothy: Well, he wasn't always like that. He was Richard Frank before he became Torminox.
Maura Lee Karupt: But what does he want with us?
Dorothy: Maybe Casey would know?
Just a few more bites. Then after that Space Case is on the case.
Dorothy: That's one of her catchphrases.
Maura Lee Karupt: No, yeah, I'm getting that. Does she know she's not real?
Dorothy: I don't think so. Should we tell her?
Maura Lee Karupt: No. Not yet, at least. Right now she's our best bet at getting our friends back.
Dorothy: Okay, we won't tell her.
Space Case: Tell me what?
Dorothy: Nothing.
Space Case: Now you're my new super-team, right?
Dorothy: Definitely.
Maura Lee Karupt: Are we?
Space Case: And super-teams don't keep secrets. Especially from their mission commander. So whatever intel you've got in the hopper won't phase me.
Dorothy: Promise.
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*Torminax and the Vectra continue to try and breach Danny.*
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Danny: He's here.
*Danny falls silent as the Vectra awaken once more*
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Space Case: Is this me? Did someone on your planet hear about my adventures and write them into a picture story?
Dorothy: Not exactly. You sort of are the story.
Space Case: What? *A Vectra runs at Dorothy* Hey! Okay, buddy, that's it.
Maura Lee Karupt: What is she ...
Dorothy: Her special power.
Space Case: Time to pay the electric bill.
Dorothy: Her quips are cheesy, I know, but I still love them.
Maura Lee Karupt: Dorothy.
Dorothy: What?
Maura Lee Karupt: Is she about to light up our friend like a Christmas tree?
Dorothy: Oh, my God. No, no, no, no, no
Maura Lee Karupt: *Maura knocks the Vectra out *Sorry, Boo.
Space Case: What are you doing?
Dorothy: That's not a Vectra. That's one of our friends. You can't just vaporize them.
Space Case: Why not?
Dorothy: Because they're not a comic book character. This is the real world. Death is ... Death is permanent here.
Space Case: The real world?
Maura Lee Karupt: You're fiction, baby.
Dorothy: Space Case is your secret identity. Your real name's Casey Brinke.
Space Case: What? No. Who's Casey Brinke? Definitely not me. Nope, no way. And even if I was, there's no way for you to know that.
Dorothy: Wait, Casey ... Casey. I know a lot more than that.
===================
Dorothy: When you were seven, your father, Richard, got into a horrible lab accident. And it turned him into the monster he is today. I know, years later, your mother faced Torminox and sacrificed herself to save the universe.
Casey's Mother: I love you, Casey.
Dorothy: And, I know Torminox didn't die in that explosion.
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Dorothy: He never dies, does he? He always finds a way to come back.
Space Case: Yes.
Dorothy: From that day onward, you spent years in training, harnessing the power you inherited from your mom. You dedicated your whole life to stopping your father at a great personal cost. *Casey lifts the trouser leg, revealing her prosthetic leg* And you've been fighting him ever since.
Space Case: One hundred and forty-three times.
Dorothy: You loved your father once. But, after he turned into Torminox, you knew he was gone. As far as you're concerned, he may as well be dead.
Space Case: How do you know all this? Where did you get this?
Dorothy: I found them all in my friend Flex Mentallo's room.
Space Case: But where did he get them?
Dorothy: I don't know.
Space Case: ... He's here. Run!
Dorothy: Move!
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Torminox: There you are.
Maura Lee Karupt: I take it that's ...
Dorothy: Torminox.
Torminox: In the flesh. I came for one thing.
Dorothy: And, what's that?
Torminox: Your necklace. Give it to me and no one else need suffer.
Dorothy: No.
Torminox: Very well then.
*Torminox creates a force field around Danny, slowly compressing and constricting them into a miniature cube*
Space Case: No!
Torminox: What are you doing here?
Space Case: Blasting you into stardust, if you don't call off your goons and turn these people back. *lightning crackles between her fingers*
Torminox: I have no quarrel with you, daughter. Leave this place. Please
Space Case: "Please". What are you... *lightning dissipates* You never ...
Dorothy: What are you doing?
Space Case: You never say please. ... I can't.
Torminox: Finish this.
Dorothy: You have every right to hate me right now. But I need you. Please.
Maura Lee Karupt: Who are you...?
*Candlemaker roars and snarls, stepping in between Dorothy, Maura & Case and Torminax. He bats away a Vectra. He punches Tormiax, however, the elder Brinke catches his first and begins to miniaturise Candlemaker*
Dorothy: Candlemaker!
Candlemaker: Go now.
Maura Lee Karupt: Come on, listen to your friend.
Dorothy: I'm so sorry. For everything.
Candlemaker: Go!
Maura Lee Karupt: In here
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Dorothy: What does he want with my necklace?
Space Case: I don't know. But whatever it is, it can't be good.
Dorothy: What happened to you back there?
Space Case: I don't know.
Dorothy: How could you stand there and do nothing?
Space Case: I'm sorry. That ...
Dorothy: What happened to "Space Case is on the case"? You never hesitate, especially when it comes to your father.
Space Case: You're right. I've destroyed Torminox 143 times. I pushed him into a volcano. I froze him in liquid nitrogen. I hit him with an asteroid. But something was different this time. I felt something.
Maura Lee Karupt: What?
Space Case: Well ... You said it yourself before. He always comes back. But what if this time he didn't? When I looked into his eyes, something came to me. I'm not even really sure you could call it a memory, but he was pushing me on the swing and we were happy. Really happy. As much as I hate Torminox, he's all I have left of my father. So, if what you say is true and death is really permanent here and there's no coming back... then he'd really be gone. And what would I be left with? What would I even do with myself?
Maura Lee Karupt: Maybe you don't have to find out.
Space Case: What do you mean?
Maura Lee Karupt: Maybe your father is still in there somewhere. Maybe you can get through to him. No matter how impossible it might seem to reach someone, there's always a way. Just ask Dorothy.
Dorothy: It's true. You can.
Maura Lee Karupt: Oh, hell no.
Dorothy: You can't. It's not safe out there.
Maura Lee Karupt: Don't care.
===========================
Maura Lee Karupt: Hey, what is your problem? Haven't you kids already done enough damage? If you're going to be out here spreading that kind of hate, then best be able to look me in the ---
Ja'rell Shannon: I'm sorry, I was only trying to help. I see what those guys keep doing to your mural. Not everyone here feels the same way they do.
Maura Lee Karupt: Thank you... How much paint you got?
===========================
Torminox: I see you've finally come to your senses. Let's make this simple. Your friends for the necklace.
Space Case: You don't have to do this. You don't have to be the villain. You were something more once. *Ja'rell flicks a switch turning a light on a brand new mural, with Frank pushing Casey on a swing* Remember? You were my dad.
Torminox: *softly* Casey... *grabs her by the throat and pulls her in close, pointing a gun to her head*
Dorothy: No!
Torminox: The necklace. Now.
Dorothy: This is all I have left of my father. I wanted to tell him all the things I needed to say. But I never did.
Torminox: That's of no concern to me.
Maura Lee Karupt: Can it, Telefax. What do you mean?
Dorothy: It's a lie. Candlemaker and I never went to get this back. Crystal and the Dead Boys had to get it for me. The truth is, I haven't talked to the Candlemaker in months. Or any of my friends. I locked them all away.
Maura Lee Karupt: Why?
Dorothy: Because they reminded me too much of my father. Everyone does. My friends, Danny, the Doom Patrol. All they do is remind me of what I lost. I thought that if I conjured him for just a few minutes, I might be able to tell him how much I loved him. But the more time passed, the more I realized that's not all that I needed to say... I'm not the person I used to be. I'm confused. I'm scared and I'm angry. And he was supposed to help me through it. He kept me a child for so long and now that I'm finally growing up, he's not here. And I hate him for it. I want to say all of these things to him. But maybe some things are better left unsaid. *Dorothy removes the necklace and holds it out. Torminax snatches and pockets the item, shoving Casey towards Dorothy and Maura* She needs her Dad. Fuck you for turning your back on that.
*wordlessly the Vectra return the Candlemaker and Danny - encased in cubes - to Dorothy before Torminax teleports away.
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Danny: I'm sorry I couldn't protect you.
Maura Lee Karupt: Don't blame yourself, Danny. You've done so much for everyone here. But no matter how hard you try, you can't protect us from everything. Not by yourself. I know how hard things can be out there. Believe me, I get it. But, tonight, someone reminded me that there are still good people in the world. People who want to help. True allies. And if we ever really want to change the world, we need to start living in it. I think it's time for us to move on to something new. Including you, Danny. Ever since you became an ambulance, you've been doing triage, honey. We all know that you'll always be a safe space to heal to anyone and everyone, who needs it. But it's time we start making safe spaces of our own. In the real world.
Danny: I think you might be right.
Asa Diamonds: Does this mean we have to leave?
Danny: Only when you're ready.
Monroe Newbie: But what if we're never ready?
Maura Lee Karupt: If you feel like singing a song and you want ♪ Other people to sing along ♪ Just sing what you feel don't let anyone say it's wrong ♪
Maura & Asa: And if you're trying to paint a picture ♪
Cookie & Garrett Brooke: But, you're not sure which colours belong ♪ Just paint what you see ♪
Dannyzens: Don't let anyone say it's wrong ♪ When there's a light white light ♪ When there's a light white light ♪ When there's a light white light ♪ Inside of you ♪
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Dorothy: *sigh* Is there anything I can do?
Space Case: Everything my dad and I ever said, ever felt, ever suffered through, none of it was really ours. There was something there, though. I saw it in his eyes, just for a second. I think he can change. I want to meet whoever wrote our story and make them write us a new one.
Dorothy: I could use the change of scenery. Need any help? *they both laugh*
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Danny: It's okay!! I'll tell them you said goodbye. *creating for them a car to tow their rv* Time for a new adventure.
Dorothy: Thank you, Danny.
Space Case: Where to?
Dorothy: Cloverton.
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Dr Janus: Immortus will rise.
Torminax: I did what you asked.
The Artist: Good.
Torminax: I need to be the man I was for Casey. You're certain Immortus can help?
The Artist: Oh, yes. When Immortus rises, our pasts will be cleansed. We'll have everything we've ever dreamed of. And I assure you, Immortus will rise.
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