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Mind Games - part 2: Lucky be a lady
(The Royale Riverboat Casino, 1:06am)
Emma and Troy are in the middle of another game of poker. They are trying to earn enough cash to prevent Troy from being seriously messed up by Lucien’s goons, Milo and Stu. Troy’s been at it for hours but, so far, he’s lost more money than he’s won. Three other players are seated around the table, all with a lot more chips than Troy. Emma thinks that, although Troy claimed to be an amazing poker player, he’s actually an amazing bluffer. She knows exactly what’s on his mind, but she’s not sure that she knows what he’s doing. More importantly, she’s not sure if he knows what he’s doing.
Another set of cards is dealt. Troy takes a sly glance and, as he does, Emma concentrates on what he sees in his hands. He holds three sevens, a two and a five. One player drops out immediately, but the snappily dressed Mr. Jung meets the other’s twenty and raises him forty. The dealer asks Troy what he wants to do. Troy goes all in. Emma knows that Troy’s been dealt a pretty good hand, but she isn’t sure she’d have done that. The first player takes two more cards and Jung takes three. Troy also takes a couple, but only receives a queen and a two, improving his hand none. The first guy calls a pair of threes. Troy lays out his three sevens, but Mr. Jung spreads a straight flush of clubs down before him. Mr. Jung wins again.
Emma and Troy leave the table with Troy now having less cash than he started with. They lean over the side of the boat, looking a little dejected. He knows that if he doesn’t come up with Lucien’s ten grand; he’s in deep trouble.
(Troy’s apartment, Boston, the next day)
Troy sits on his bed, feeling anxious. Emma asks why not give her a shot? They can head back to the casino once he gets off work. She knows she can roll those guys. “Roll them?” inquires Troy. “Emma, you ever play poker before?” he asks. She shrugs her shoulders, but replies that she picked up a bit just from watching the table last night. Troy flops back on the bed and says that poker’s a very complex game. It takes years to get good at it, and he’s near broke as it is. He apologizes, but he can’t take the risk. Emma casts her eyes on a three of spades on the table and an idea springs to mind.
She takes the deck and hands them to Troy. He asks if this is some sort of challenge, but Emma says it’s proof that she’s as good as she says. She asks him to pull any card from the deck at random, without letting her see it, and she’ll tell him which he pulled. Troy’s game for this and shuffles the deck. He pulls out a series of cards and Emma nonchalantly guesses each one correctly. Troy’s amazed and tests her on a couple more before sitting back down on the bed. He rubs the back of his head, and says this is crazy. “How’d you say you did that again?” he asks. Before she can reply, Emma picks up voices outside the apartment using her telepathy, without even trying. She recognizes the voices as belonging to Milo and Stu, the goons Lucien sent over last time. She clutches her forehead and groans. Troy asks if she’s okay, but she tells him they must leave the apartment, now!
She makes for the window, which leads to his fire escape, and Troy follows. He has a funny feeling he should listen to her. They descend quickly, as Stu kicks open his door. They are surprised to find the place empty, having heard voices, but Stu pops his head out the window and sees them making a dash for it. Troy asks Emma how she knew but she replies that there’s no time to explain. They run straight towards the train station, where Troy leaps over the barrier. Emma stops, but Troy asks what she’s waiting for; there’s a train pulling into the station. She tells him he can’t honestly expect her to go through without paying the fare. Having little time for her moral dilemma, he urges her to jump. “Maybe we should pay off the dude who wants our legs broken before settling up with the MBTA, huh?” He helps her over the barrier. “Our legs?” asks Emma. Troy says that Milo and Stu don’t discriminate against women but, luckily, they’ve lost them for now.
(Twenty minutes later)
The young couple stand outside Manok’s restaurant. Troy says he has to work the dinner shift but, if she’s still up for going to the casino once he’s done, she can definitely take his place at the table. Sure, she replies. He heads inside and reminds her not to return to the apartment. Emma thinks that she’s got some free time on her hands, but she turns and notices a black car with Stu in the passenger seat. They followed them! She has to warn Troy, so she dashes inside, straight past Vincent, the maitre’d, who caught her con trick the last time she was in there. She rushes past the diners, followed by Milo and Stu, who have no reservations about pushing Vincent out of their way.
Emma flings open the kitchen door. Troy turns and sees her, asking what’s wrong. “All kinds of stuff Troy,” says Milo, as the two goons confront him. Emma realizes it’s up to her. If she doesn’t act, Troy’s in big trouble. She takes a deep breath and tells herself to remain calm. She then uses her mental power to freeze the two men in their tracks. They struggle to move, but find their mobility has been taken away from them. Troy doesn’t understand what’s happening and he turns to see Emma’s nose bleeding. She manages to tell him to run, but Troy has other ideas. He grabs a frying pan from the washing-up pile and smacks Milo across the forehead with it, swinging it back to knock Stu unconscious. Leaving the two guys down for the count, Troy grabs Emma’s wrist and they head for the door. “There, now we run.”
(The South Boston Piers, 11:59pm)
Emma is once again dressed in her long white dress, with Troy sporting the suit he wore the previous night. As they approach the gaming tables, he quizzes her on why her nose was bleeding. She tells him it was already bleeding when she came into the kitchen, but he asks why. She’s obviously reluctant to answer him, but he perseveres. He says it’s kinda weird how Milo and Stu froze like that, as if something was holding them back. “And you think it was me?” asks Emma. “And how did I manage that?” That’s what Troy can’t figure out. He’s also not sure how she managed to read the deck of cards at his apartment. She is a woman of mystery to him. He asks if she’s ready to kick some serious boo-tay and Emma seats herself, thankful that he’s now changed the subject.
Now, it’s time to get dirty. As the cards are dealt, with Mr. Jung once again seated at the table, Emma knows that what she lacks in experience, she’ll definitely make up for with ability. Her telepathy makes it simple for her to read her opponent’s hands and play accordingly. The appreciative crowd applauds her as she rakes in the cash. “That’s my girl,” says Troy, as he takes a glass of champagne from the waitresses’ tray. Soon, Emma has a royal flush and amounts a serious pile of chips. The other players know they’ve been outplayed. Before the night is over, Emma takes a tray full of chips to the cashier, who hands over stacks of cash. “We did it Emma! We hit the jackpot,” cries Troy. Well, Emma thinks, that wasn’t so hard…


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Mind Games - part 3: Outrageous Fortune
(Boston, Massachusetts)
Buoyant over their good fortune, Emma and Troy grab a taxi. The driver asks where they want to go. Troy hands over a $100 bill and says, “First star on the left and straight on till morning; keep the change.” Piles of cash lay all around them and, for the first time in a while, Emma is truly enjoying herself.
As they drive away, the driver says they must have had a lucky night at the Royale. Troy leans forward and says that luck had absolutely nothing to do with it. The pretty young thing next to him is possibly the world’s first, what he calls, psychic poker expert. Alarms flash in Emma’s mind and, as the driver gives an inquisitive glance, Troy continues. He tells the man that she won nineteen consecutive rounds of poker. She knew the exact cards the other players were holding.
Emma interjects, explaining that he should pay no attention to her overly-talkative boyfriend. He’s way past his banana daiquiri limit. Troy wonders what she’s talking about, but Emma gives him a healthy nudge in the ribs with her elbow, which shuts him up. Moments pass as the cab heads past Boston’s neon skyline. “Did you just say I was your boyfriend,” Troy asks.
(later)
The couple exit the cab, with Troy wondering why Emma got so cheesed off. He asks if it’s really that big a deal. Emma replies that it is. She won’t make a very good psychic gambler if everyone on the planet knows she’s a psychic. Troy says he only told the cab driver. He’d be majorly psyched if he could do the things she can and sure wouldn’t keep it a secret. Maybe he’s right, Emma thinks, as they head towards a brightly lit doorway in a quiet area of town. Secrets were a way of life back home and maybe it’s time to play things differently.
Troy presses an intercom button as a CCTV camera watches them both. Inside, Stu and Milo are surprised to see who’s calling and their boss, Lucien, tells them to buzz them in. Troy gingerly opens the door and finds Troy, shirtless, laying into a punch bag. His hair is long and unkempt and he sports a goatee. He also has a vertical scar over his left eye, which appears to have been blinded. After a couple more shots, he turns to Troy and tells him that he shocks and amazes him. Milo and Stu flank him, both bandaged as an after-effect of Troy’s frying pan attack. “I so wasn’t expecting you today,” Lucien adds.
Troy nervously explains that he has some really good news for him. Lucien eyes up Emma and asks who she is. She introduces herself, though Lucien appears nonchalant at her presence. He tells Troy he is owed ten gees and, every time he sends poor Milo and Stu to collect, he’s always there to give them grief. Tell me about this good news, he asks.
Troy produces wads of cash from his pockets and asks Emma to show him the rest. “Ten thousand dollars, count it,” he says. Lucien takes the cash and replies that this isn’t good news; this is very good news. Troy says that he told him he was good for it. The two men break out in momentary laughter before Lucien stops and looks a little more serious. Troy asks what the matter is. Lucien says that there’s the matter of accrued interest on his debt, amounting to five thousand dollars. Troy doesn’t have that kind of money, but Lucien takes the ten gees and says they’ll collect the balance tomorrow. Milo and Stu step in to prevent Troy from approaching their boss, as he asks how he is expected to come up with five grand by tomorrow. The same way he came up with ten, Lucien replies. He turns and continues his exercise as Stu tells them to get moving.
(Troy’s apartment, later)
Emma and Troy return to their pad, only to find the place trashed. The bed is ripped to pieces, every drawer has been rifled through and all Troy’s belongings are strewn across the floor. They blame Milo and Stu. A woman named Miss Wexler appears at the door and tells Troy he must move out. He can’t stay there any longer, as he’s a danger to the other tenants. She adds that he shouldn’t even bother asking for his deposit back.
Troy tosses things into a blue holdall and Emma asks him what he’s doing. He replies that he’s getting out of Dodge, fast. Emma is surprised and asks where they’ll go. Troy says anywhere that isn’t here. “Troy, you can’t be serious,” says Emma, upset that her life is taking another turn for the worse. He tells her he’s dead serious. It’s not like he wants to leave, but he has no choice. He’s been evicted from his apartment, he can’t go back to work for the restaurant and Lucien wants another five grand.
He stops talking as he sees a strange expression on Emma’s face. Without a word, she holds him by the shoulders and gives him a long, lingering kiss on the lips. Troy is a little dumbstruck. Emma finally tells him that they’ll head back to the casino and she’ll do the whole psychic thing. They’ll win big and Lucien will be off their backs. Troy barely seems to comprehend a word she says. “Check,” he replies, “Can we do that again?” Emma smiles. ‘Men!’
(The Royale Riverboat Casino, Boston Harbor, 12.06a.m.)
It’s the early hours of the morning. Emma and Troy find themselves back onboard the floating casino but, unfortunately, they’re hosting a poker tournament. It doesn’t matter to Emma, though; there are other ways of making money. She is seated at a one-armed bandit and concentrating on the spinning reels. Troy stands behind her, arms folded, and says, “Should I even bother asking?” Emma is just testing the water to see if her so-called ‘abilities’ can affect machines. She asks Troy to zip it while she concentrates.
The first pull shows two bells and the number seven; not exactly a promising opening. Troy wants to leave but Emma isn’t finished yet. She places another quarter in the slot and pulls. The reels spin once again and she focuses on hitting three of a kind. Cherries, cherries, cherries, she thinks. The reels come to a halt and Troy’s face lights up. “Emma! It worked, we won!” he cries. Emma winces. She points to the reels to reveal a plum, an orange and a bar. “I think someone needs contacts,” she says. Troy could have sworn they were cherries and Emma recalls her previous use of this ability. She had intentionally caused a newsvendor and a waitress to see what she wanted. Now, she’s gone and done the same to Troy, completely by accident.
This gives Emma an idea and she grabs him by the hand and leads him to a craps table. 007 always made the game look so easy, so she tells Troy that she’s betting on the number eight. As she slides a pile of chips onto the passline, she thinks that she could try and trick the dealer into thinking that she’s rolling the number eight, but there’s no guarantee that she can trick everyone watching. So, she thinks, she’ll fool the dealer into thinking she’s placing a bet for five hundred dollars instead of just five. It leaves a fair amount of chance but, if she wins, the payoff will be worth the risk.
The dealer does indeed see five hundred dollars and Emma rolls the die. The crowd look on as she rolls a nine. Two more rolls only bring up a five and a seven. Troy grabs his forehead as they realize they’ve crapped out. They leave the table and Emma asks how much money they have left. Only the bus fare to New York, Troy replies. Emma then has another idea and asks Troy to hand her the casino chip holder.
She leads him by the arm to the cashier, but Troy asks why they’re going to cash in their chips when they don’t have any. Emma asks him to trust her. She pushes the chip holder to the cashier and tells her she figured they’d quit while they were ahead. The cashier takes the empty holder and begins to hand over stacks of bills, adding up to five thousand dollars. The look on Troy’s face is one of astonishment. Emma thanks the cashier but turns to see two suited security men standing ominously behind them.
(soon)
Emma and Troy are seated in the owner’s office, alongside the hapless cashier. Behind the owner, Mrs. Faulkner, is a bank of screens showing the casino to be heavily monitored. She says that she runs a tight ship, but she can’t be everywhere at once. That’s why she pays to have spotters positioned throughout the casino to detect illegal activity such as theirs. Despite such precautions, she has found the human eye can be unreliable. It can be tricked. But the camera; the camera sees all.
She shows a playback of the cashier, Sylvie, handing over piles of cash for an empty holder. “Sylvie, you’re fired,” she says. Sylvie protests her innocence, explaining that she’s never seen her fellow detainees before tonight. She swears on the lives of her kids. Mrs. Faulkner points to the door and says her heart goes out to the brats. However, it appears she was a willing accomplice to a feeble attempt at robbery.
Emma stands up and tells Mrs. Faulkner that she’s telling the truth. Desperation sets in and Emma explains that they’re magicians and conned her using sleight of hand. Mrs. Faulkner has no time for this and orders them off her boat or she’ll show them some sleight of foot.
(The South Boston Piers - 3:10 a.m.)
Troy and Emma leave the confines of the casino and head outside into the night air. Emma apologizes for blowing it and suggests trying another casino. Troy says it’s too late. The rest will be closed at this hour. He says he wasn’t kidding about New York earlier and asks if she’s up for a road trip. Emma doesn’t quite know how to respond and finds the decision must wait. Milo and Stu appear from nowhere and open their jackets a little to reveal that they are both carrying pistols. They point to the open trunk of their car and tell Troy and Emma that their luck just ran out.


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Mind Games - part 4: A Simple Plan
“Want to know the best thing about a box of Cracker Jacks? The secret surprise inside.” Lucien is rather pleased, as he looks into the trunk of the car, which Milo and Stu have returned to his garage. Lying uncomfortably, side by side, are Emma Frost and Troy Killkelly. Now it’s official, thinks Emma; she’s met someone more evil than her father. They are removed from the confines of the vehicle at gunpoint. Lucien, the crime boss, asks them to call it a trust issue, but he suspected Troy and his girlfriend might try to skip town. He put a tail on them to prevent them from scampering away, like cockroaches. He wants to know where his five thousand dollars is.
After a failed evening at the casino, Troy doesn’t have the money. He needs more time but Lucien is unwilling to provide him with any. He tells Milo to fetch the sheet and Troy’s predicament has him quaking with fear. Thinking quickly and in desperation, he tells Lucien that he can get the money; more money than he ever imagined. Lucien asks Stu to hold on and asks how exactly. Emma looks straight at Troy and says, “Troy - don’t!” Her quiet plea has no effect and Troy turns to Lucien and informs him that Emma’s dad is a guy named Winston Frost. He’s loaded.
Lucien strokes his goatee and tells Emma to stand up, though he calls her ‘gams,’ after her shapely legs. He holds her by the shoulder and runs a finger through her hair, and asks her if this is true. Emma is creeped out by him but reluctantly replies that it is. Lucien smiles and asks why, if she’s so rich, she’s hanging out with a loser like Troy. More importantly, why didn’t she just get the money he owed from her old man? Emma replies that she and her father aren’t exactly on speaking terms. Lucien loses patience quickly and asks why then are they having this conversation, and calls for Stu to continue.
Troy once again steps in and tries a different tact. He asks Lucien, if Emma and her dad were on good terms; say, she just asked him for the cash up front. How much does he think he’d give her? Lucien asks what Troy thinks he is; an accountant? Troy explains that he figures it’d be a couple of thousand dollars, right? Beans! Hardly worth asking for. Emma is unsure where all this is leading. Troy continues to explain that if they pretend to hold Emma hostage, just pretend, then they could send Winston a ransom note and get hundreds of thousands of dollars for her ‘safe’ return. They could split that amongst themselves. Lucien would get more money than he dreamed of, he would be square with him and Emma gets back at her dad. Everybody wins!
Lucien doesn’t take long to persuade himself that this idea has legs. He replies that they could use a video instead of a note. Troy puts his thumb up, his other hand being on Lucien’s shoulder and says he’s in charge. Emma says they should hang on a second and Stu appears to be in agreement. This plan is pretty sketchy. Milo agrees with his friend. Stu continues to point out that they’re in the loan shark business. Now they’re supposed to be blackmailers and kidnappers all of a sudden? Lucien turns on them angrily. He reminds them that they’re whatever he tells them to be. If they got paid to think, they wouldn’t get five cents between them.
While they argue, Emma has a quiet word with Troy. She asks him if he’s lost his mind. He says that, right now, this plan is the only thing keeping them alive. If it works, she could use her portion of the money to get her brother out of that mental institution her father put him in. This surprises Emma but she thinks that he may be right.
(later)
Lucien has brought in another colleague to assist in this new development. Petal, a woman with short, pink hair taps away at her laptop, as Milo and Stu sit nearby, superfluous at this point. She tells Lucien that she’s run ‘Daddy Warbucks’ name through every search engine on the web and it seems like ‘Little awestruck Annie’ there is telling the truth. Her pops is as rich as they come. He’s worth close to seventy-five million dollars, and that’s strictly in assets. Lucien runs his finger down her hairline and says that he’s not interested in his assets; only hers, looking over at Emma. Emma replies, “How crude.”
Lucien tries to make light of the whole situation. He wants to apologize for the way he had Milo and Stu behave earlier. Now that they’re all partners, he wants to kiss and make up. Emma thinks that she’d prefer to bury the hatchet - in his back. Troy appears ready to dissuade him from getting physically close to Emma before Stu mentions that Bazz has arrived. The CCTV shows Bazz has, indeed, arrived.
(thirty minutes later)
Bazz, it turns out, is a cameraman. He has his camera set up on a tripod facing a small metal cage. Bazz isn’t impressed with the scene and says that, with those bars and that background, they’re simply gonna scream ‘plaid.’ Emma asks Troy what the cage is for and he swears it wasn’t his idea. “A cage, Troy,” she queries. Troy tells her that Lucien says it’s the surest way to prove to her dad that she is really in danger. Bazz, meanwhile, comes across the sheet that Stu had earlier. It’s perfect; just what he was looking for, and he asks Lucien’s goons to help him with creating a backdrop.
Emma continues to verbalize her uncertainty at the whole scenario. She already is in danger and doesn’t need a cage to prove it. Troy knows but, if they play their cards right, they can get through this alive, together. Lucien and Petal return having popped out for pizza and Lucien asks Bazz if they’re ready. He says they can start taping any time. Just say the word. Lucien asks Troy if their ‘star’ is ready to get in the cage. Reluctantly, Emma says yes.
Lucien is eager to begin and asks Milo to stop stuffing his face and grab the handcuffs. He assures Emma that they’re just for effect and she shouldn’t get any ideas. Troy says he’ll put them on himself and again tells Emma that they’re gonna get through this.
(Frost Technologies, Boston)
Winston Frost is at his desk, with Adrienne sat on the edge of it, checking her nails. Looking at his laptop, he reminds Adrienne that, no matter what she does, he will find out if she’s been embezzling company funds…again. Adrienne smiles and asks how many times she has to tell him that she’s changed? At that moment, one of Frost’s employees appears with a package. Adrienne takes it and asks her father what it is. Winston doesn’t know and doesn’t really care either. She opens it, remarking on the creative packaging and discovers a videocassette inside. It is labelled ‘Dil-Emma.’ This piques Winston’s interest.
Before long, they are watching the tape. The camera pans out from the pair of handcuffs locking Emma’s wrists together and shows her sitting in the cage, looking as miserable as sin. “Our hos-tage has a first name. It’s E-M-M-and-A. Our hos-tage has a se-cond name. Well, you get the message, right, Winston. Cool.” The voice continues to say that, as he can see, they have his daughter, Emma, here. In a Hollywood nutshell, it’s going to cost a quarter mil for her safe return. It calls for him to leave a written response in the P.O. Box marked on the envelope. This way, they’ll know that he’s willing to play long. He has two hours. If they don’t hear from him, they’ll take that as a cue to execute her. Call the police and she gets hung.
Winston is stone-faced, as he turns off the television. Adrienne glances over at him and he asks if this is her doing. The question surprises her and she vehemently denies it. He says that, if she isn’t involved in it, then he has to move immediately. Adrienne can’t believe he’s taking this seriously. She points out that it could be a stunt, staged by Emma and her friends. How do they know it’s for real? He asks how they could know that it’s not. “Call it a hunch,” she replies. Winston says that these people have given him two hours to respond to a very serious threat; he doesn’t have time for a hunch. Adrienne clearly knows more than she is able to let on.
(three hours later)
Milo and Stu deliver Winston’s response, contained in an envelope. It’s kinda heavy and they think that he sent back the tape. Lucien takes it out but notices it’s a different tape, labelled ‘Just for you.’ He inserts it into the video player and turns on the television. Winston’s face appears on screen. He greets whomever he is speaking to. They have his attention and he applauds them. To have managed a minor miracle where so many others have failed, well, bully for them. He followed their instructions and responded within the time allotted. He also refrained from contacting the police, as per their order. But really, he continues, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars? Do they really think his daughter is worth that much?
He says that it is the same daughter who turned her back on him and told him his money wasn’t good enough. Well, they want to know how much he thinks she is worth. The camera focuses on his lips. “Nothing!” Everyone, especially Troy, appears shocked at Winston’s response. Winston adds that, as for hanging her, he hopes they brought a long enough noose, because she’s already dead to him. Listening to this is particularly painful for Emma.
(WBOX News Broadcast Studio, Boston)
Producer Samuel J. Sampat is on the phone, relaxing behind his desk when Adrienne opens his door and enters. He is speaking with his mother and cuts the call short, as Adrienne tells him that she’s the best friend he has in the world right now. He asks what now. Why now? Not another publicity stunt? She leans over his desk and holds up the original tape produced by Bazz. With a glint in her eye, she says “No Sammy, jucier.”


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[Assistant]
Mind Games - part 5: Dirty Laundry
WBOX News Broadcast Studio - Boston 4:07 AM:
Adrienne Frost tells Sammy that Emma really looks great on camera as the video segment is previewed. Sammy states to himself that this is definitely a death sentence. Adrienne asks him what he is babbling about now. Sammy reminds her that the girl in the videotape is her sister and her kidnappers have promised to hang her should this video end up in the hands of the police. Adrienne tells him that she did not take the video to the police. Instead, she brought the video here to the news station. Sammy points out that the kidnappers will definitely notice where she took the tape after it airs on the morning broadcast. Her actions have killed her sister and she knows it. Adrienne reminds him that his station has already purchased the video, instead of asking her to leave the premises. She tells Sam that it is strange what ratings will make TV stations do. She puts her arm around his shoulder and asks him just how long it is going to take accounts payable to cut her a check.
South Boston - 4:29 AM:
Lucian is seated by himself at a table drinking coffee and going over business matters as Petal looks on. The rest of the gang, including Toy and Emma, are on the other side of the room conversing with each other about their plans for their share of the money. After hearing the news that Winston Frost will not pay, Lucian shoves everything from the table and turns it over as he stands up. He exclaims that no one with money is going to ignore him or not take his threats seriously.
Petal tries to comfort him as he leads her and the rest of the gang towards the car in the garage. Emma realizes that her plan has now gone from bad to worse. She also realizes that as of now there is no reason for Lucian to leave either her or Troy alive. She can hear Troy’s thoughts. She knows he believes that they are in real trouble. He plans to distract the gang so she can escape but does not plan on escaping himself. Before she can stop him, Troy tells Lucian he has another idea. Lucian sarcastically tells Troy that he is interested because the last idea was such a winner.
Emma sees that the gang are now concentrated as a whole on this exchange between Troy and their boss. Emma gathers up her dress and runs for the way out. Lucian yells for her to stop but she continues in her flight. He gives chase and catches up to her. He makes the fatal mistake of attempting to grab her by the arm. Unconsciously, she lashes out with her power and is immediately flooded with the totality of Lucian’s memories. His entire sordid past, both intimate and business, become a part of her memories whether she wants them to or not.
Troy sees the look on Lucian’s face and tells him that he will repay all he owes of Emma will be allowed to leave. Lucian throws Emma to the ground and tells Troy to shut his mouth before someone else does it for him. Then he turns his back on Troy to give Emma his full attention. Troy eyes the gun tucked in Lucian’s belt at the small of his back. Petal confronts Lucian and states that he never plays with her like that. Lucian turns to Stu and orders him “to put the cuffs on for real this time”. Suddenly, Lucian feels for his gun and realizes it is missing. Troy takes advantage and levels the gun at Lucian’s head. Troy tells Lucian that he can’t let him do this. Lucian retorts he is really dumb and they struggle for the firearm. Each tells the other to let go, but neither do. The struggle is fierce and primal as both men fight desperately for their own reasons. Suddenly, they both fall to the floor and a blast is heard from the center of the struggle. Lucian stands and calmly orders a clean up in isle 10 as a sarcastic remark. Emma has a clear view of the scene of what has happened to her boyfriend. All she can yell is “Troy!! No!!! Nooooooo!!” with all of the emotion she possesses.
Frost House Boston - 7:15 AM:
The sunrises on the expensive two-story as horses graze placidly in the field out front. Adrienne uses her key and opens the front door only to be greeted by her younger sister Cordelia, who is on her way downstairs for her breakfast. Cordelia accuses her older sister of being out all night. Adrienne replies that Cordelia should know how club hopping goes, “or maybe not because of that underage thing.” Cordelia replies by calling her sister “Skank” and goes on her way to the kitchen. Adrienne tells her to go have coffee as she will be nowhere Cordelia can find her anyway. The staff greets Cordelia as she joins her mom at the breakfast table. Mrs. Frost is watching the morning news.
The female news reporter is talking about breaking news in the Frost Heiress case. The news states that the kidnappers are demanding a quarter of a million dollars and a short film of Emma behind bars with a frightened look on her face is shown. The news also states that Winston Frost’s response to this demand is unknown. Cordelia, seeing the pathetic state her sister is in, says “Poor Emma”. Mrs. Frost states that she hopes the girls’ family can afford to pay such a large portion of cash for her return. Cordelia screams for her father. Winston enters the dining room and asks his daughter if she can find another way to attract his attention. Then he asks her what she wants to show him. She replies, “See for yourself” and points at the TV. The news explains how the family was asked not to contact police or Emma would be executed.
Adrienne picks this particular moment to enter the dining room. Winston turns on her and states, “You gave the tape to the media?” Adrienne replies with a one-word answer: “Sold”. Cordelia voices her disbelief that they would know all about this and yet not attempt to save Emma. Winston is furious with his oldest daughter. He slaps her on the cheek with such force that it knocks her to the floor. As Adrienne looks at her father while rubbing her cheek, Winston tells her that now he will be forced to pay for her worthless sibling or face a public relations nightmare he is unprepared to deal with.
South Boston - Immediately after Troy’s Death:
Lucian makes it a point to tell Emma, who is still sitting dazed on the floor of the garage, that she is completely alone with the gang. That her chance of being rescued just died in the supply room. She tells her kidnapper that nothing matters because she has looked inside his mind. Lucian asks her if she is on drugs or what? Emma tells him that she really does know everything. She starts talking about his fathers’ gun, the Pastors office, Tito and the bullies and as final proof; she mentions Gina and the straight razor. Petal looks concerned and asks Lucian who exactly was Gina? Lucian does his best to convince Petal that Emma is delirious, on drugs, or has lost her mind. Lucain turns to Bazz and asks him to tape Emma’s mouth shut so they don’t have to listen to the girls crazy talk anymore. Bazz tells Lucian that he did not sign up for this kind of stuff and starts to walk out of the garage. Lucian grabs Bazz’ shirt and forces him up against the wall and tells him he did agree to do this when he could not pay back the money he owed Lucian for his film school education. Especially since Lucian was the one who paid for the schooling and then allowed Bazz to live and work for him. Suddenly, Lucian gets a hold of his temper and apologizes to Bazz for getting physical. Lucan blames his actions on stress and sets Bazz down easy. Bazz agrees with him while rubbing his neck. Stu pokes his head around the corner and informs Lucien that he has just received bad news. Lucien tells Stu he is the only bad news around and when he is told he will feel like Stu is talking about him, personally.  Lucian follows Stu into the warehouse and out of the garage.
With Lucian gone, Petal approaches Emma and asks her who Gina is. Emma is about to tell her when Bazz places duck tape over her mouth and shuts her up. Petal gives Bazz a look that states she is severely annoyed with this action. Bazz points to the vacant door way and says, “He told me too” as a way of explaining his action to Petal.
Lucian storms back into this tense scene ranting that the tape has been released to the media. He tells the gang that Frost is either nuts or calling his bluff. Lucian states that he, however, is not kidding. Lucian turns to Stu and asks for a switchblade. Stu hands him one. Lucian approaches a clearly wide-eyed, terrified Emma and tells her he thinks its time they sent another message.
Frost House Boston - Noon:
A helicopter circles overhead as policemen and mobile news crews mill around in the driveway. Two people approach the front door of the mansion. One is a well-dressed black man in a gray business suit and the other is a white women dressed in a maroon pants suite. They ring the doorbell. The door is opened slowly by a women dressed in a maids uniform. The twosome introduces themselves to the maid as Lieutenant Church and Lieutenant Pascal of the Boston emergency response unit. The female Lieutenant tells the maid that they are expected.
Minutes Later - Frost House Living Room:
The female Lieutenant is asking the family for any information that may help them locate Emma. Particularly the last time they remember seeing Emma. The Grandmother makes an honest attempt to remember the last time she saw Emma. Winston interrupts her and tells the Officers it has been at least four or five months. He tells them he is not one for keeping track of her. The male Lieutenant is clearly shocked by this response from the girl’s father. The female Lieutenant asks Winston if he has made any attempts to locate his daughter since the incident occurred. Winston tells the police that he runs a Fortune 500 company and is so busy he has no time to spare for this pursuit. The female Lieutenant asks Winston if he contacted the kidnappers. Winston replies with a shocked “Of course not”.  The female Lieutenant then asks Winston why he did not call the police for help. Winston reminds the officers of the threats made against his daughter should he call the police for help. He claims he did not contact the police only because he cared so much for his daughter’s safety. Winston tells the police that he literally felt his blood run cold when he discovered the tape had been stolen. The male Lieutenant changes the line of questioning by asking Adrienne how she injured her eye. Adrienne tells them she had an accident playing badminton.
The Frost household Butler, Niles, interrupts the discussion by telling Winston he has a package marked perishable that has just arrived for him. The male Lieutenant politely asks Mr. Frost if he can have a look at the package. Winston replies with a sarcastic “knock yourself out” statement. Both of the officers open the package are surprised to discover a lock of brown hair accompanied by an ear. The entire Frost family looks on in shock as the lock of hair is retrieved from the box. Adrienne identifies it as the same color as Emma’s hair. The male Lieutenant asks the family if they can positively identify the rest of the contents of the box.
South Boston - 2:02 PM:
As Petal removes the portable TV and cart from the garage, Lucian asks Milo why they haven’t dumped the body yet. After all, it is starting to smell. Milo explains that he and Stu got caught up watching the news about them. Lucian sarcastically refers to them as real celebrities. Lucian goes to Emma and picks her up from the floor. As he removes the tape from her mouth he asks her if her sad face is because he cut some of her hair? He tells her she should at least be grateful to him for cutting Troy’s ear instead of hers. This way her father will know he is serious and she remains unharmed for the moment. As Lucian pulls a switchblade out to scare her she fiercely tells him that he doesn’t stand a chance. Lucian asks her against whom, Daddy? Before she can reply Petal tells Lucian to come and listen to the news.  Bazz replaces the tape over Emma’s mouth, forcing her into silence once again. As Lucian gets within view of the TV he hears Winston Frost tell the camera that he is willing to give the kidnappers whatever they want in exchange for his daughter’s safe return.
Lucian gives Emma a sarcastic grin and tells her that her Daddy knows when he has been beaten. Emma silently informs him that she was not talking about her father; she was making the statement about herself.


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[Assistant]
Mind Games - part 6: Going Mental
South Boston:
Emma (hands handcuffed to a nearby post, mouth taped over with duck tape) sits quietly in her rumpled evening dress and listens to the broadcast from the TV on the news. She is faced away from the TV.
Her kidnappers watch the TV intently.
Frost House - Boston, Massachusetts:
Winston Frost promises his daughter that she will be fine despite her present circumstances. He tells the kidnappers he is not responsible for the tape being given to the media. He also states that he accepts full responsibility for this and has forbidden police involvement. He assures the kidnappers he will cooperate and is now ready to pay them in full.
He asks his daughter to tell the kidnappers how to contact him, so he can get her home safe and close this deal as quickly as possible. He tells her to be strong and repeatedly calls her as ‘sweetheart.’ He tells her that the entire family loves her very deeply. The reporters attempt to question him further but he will only state “no comment”.
South Boston:
Lucian tells Emma that it appears that her father has had a change of heart, after all. He states that he must have sent them Troy’s good ear in order to get this kind of attention. Emma mentally tells herself that Lucian is flattering himself. She knows her father never responds to threats, so she wonders what his true motive is. Lucian reminds her that her job is to tell him how to contact her father when he removes the tape or he will get creative to get the information he needs. Lucian roughly removes the duck tape from her face. She utters three words “winwinwin…”. He is about to inquire further when she says it's her fathers email address. Winwinwin@frost.net. Winston snaps his fingers to get Petals attention and tells her to get the lap top as she knows what to do. Lucian also reminds Bazz that he knows what to do.
Petal immediately grabs the portable computer and starts to write an email. Bazz grabs the duck tape, cuts another piece, and approaches Emma while telling her he is sorry he has to do this. Emma’s reply is “sure you are”. However, she is loud enough that Bazz hears her in his head and looks around startled.
Frost House - Boston, Massachusetts:
Winston checks his email and sees that the kidnappers have already sent him a message. He tells the detectives that the only way they could have gotten his private email is if Emma was still alive and able to tell them the address. Cordelia gets up from the TV and goes to the window. She asks her father why there are so many people in the front yard? He chooses to ignore his daughter’s question and tells the detectives that the kidnappers want him to bring the money to a locker in Boston’s South Station. He says they claim they will release Emma twelve hours after the drop. Detective Church tells Mr. Frost of his idea and Winston composes a reply.
South Boston:
Petal tells Lucian that Winston Frost has just replied to the email. The offer is for half now and the other half when Emma is released, alive and unharmed. Lucian tells her to tell Mr. Frost that if he drops two thirds now, they will wait for the final third till after Emma is released.
Frost House - Boston, Massachusetts:
Mr. Frost informs the Detective Church that the kidnappers have agreed to his plan. Church states that they will be able to follow the kidnappers after they have made the pick up. Pascal picks up the phone and states that she will arrange for a stakeout of the location.
South Boston:
Emma is in shock that Bazz heard her thoughts and even reacted to them. She knows that even though she can’t talk, she can still communicate with him. She begins to convince Bazz that Lucian’s plan is insane and makes him doubt his fellow gang members.
 Lucian notices he is acting strangely and asks him what is wrong. He tells Lucian to “Shut up”. Lucian becomes aggravated and asks him to repeat himself. Bazz takes the easy way out by telling his boss he is going outside to get some fresh air. Lucian asks him what’s wrong with the air he is currently breathing. Bazz replies “nothing” in a shaky voice as he heads outside.
Milo and Stu return from their errand as Bazz is on his way out. They notice his change of mood. Lucian asks them if they got rid of Troy’s body. They tell him that they bought him a pair of cement sneakers and tried to see if he could walk on water. Lucian asks them if they are serious about the sneakers. They tell him they just wanted to see what he would say. He smiles and says “funny”.
Emma, however, is further traumatized by seeing into their minds. She sees them dump her boyfriend’s body off a pier. She does not find it funny at all. Emma swears they will pay for this.
Lucian informs them of the agreement they have made to settle for a little over $160,000. Milo and Stu wonder why their boss took the lesser amount. He tells them that he believes Mr. Frost is waiting for the gang to get greedy. Why else would he offer more money after his daughter is released? Lucian senses a trap. He tells them they will take the lesser amount and cut her.
Emma realizes they are not planning on letting her go. Lucian is intent on killing her once they have been paid the lesser amount. He has no intention of setting her free and returning for the rest of the cash. She vows she will not go anywhere without a fight.
 She reaches out mentally to Milo and Stu. She plants the suggestion that when the $160,000 is divided five ways, that the amount is not worth the risk. She makes the suggestion that Lucian is planning on keeping all the money for himself. Her telepathic suggestion is more than enough to plant doubt in their minds.
Milo and Stu ask Lucian point blank how the money is going to be split. Lucian tells them that they have asked a stupid question. Lucian looks then straight in the eye and swears they will split the money equally.
Desperate, Emma plants a telepathic suggestion in Bazz’s mind that he will not believe a word Lucian says. She reminds him of the money he still owes Lucian and tells him that is where his part will go. She tells Bazz that anything left over will be claimed as interest by Lucian so Bazz will never be free of him. She plants the suggestion that Bazz should call the police. Bazz makes a motion to pick up the phone with his hand. Lucian sees him and asks him what he is doing. He tells Lucian he is just checking the time.
Emma plants a doubt in Lucian’s mind using her telepathy. She tells Lucian that they do not have the right to question him on how the money should be split. She suggests that Lucian should get it all for just masterminding this scheme. After all an heiress does equal easy money.
Emma then moves on to Petal. She plants doubts in her mind also. She has Petal question why Lucian stares at the rich girl. After all, he did make a comment about kissing and making up to her. She is beginning to think that Lucian is attracted to Emma. She tells Lucian that she needs a word in private with him.
While Petal and Lucian are talking outside of Milo and Stu’s hearing range, Emma decides to have more fun. She suggests to Milo and Stu that they are formulating a plan to keep the money for themselves.
Then she returns to Lucian and plants the thought that he cannot trust Milo and Stu to make the pickup. They might run and take the money. Out of exasperation, Petal finally yells at him “Are you paying attention to me?”. Lucian sarcastically replies “How many things AM I suppose to focus on?”
Emma congratulates herself on sowing seeds of mistrust among her kidnappers. She realizes that she must get truly desperate for her plan to work.
 As Lucian moves away from the group and takes off his coat in an attempt to relax he hears Troy’s voice tell him that he will never work off his debt if he keeps breaking dishes like this…. Lucian looks to where the voice came from and sees Troy. He shakes his head and closes his eyes, reminds himself Troy is dead, and opens them again, to discover Troy is gone. He convinces himself his mind is playing tricks on him since none of the others saw a thing. Lucian realizes that is possible because he has not slept in twenty-four hours. Silently, he wonders if Emma had something to do with the hallucinations and paranoia that is suddenly going on. He realizes that he has just committed the crime of his life and that no-one is acknowledging that. Instead, the members of the group question his authority and show their lack of faith in him, their leader. He feels that he has gotten way in over his head, its not a wonder he is breaking under the pressure.
In his fog, Lucian has drifted over to stand behind Petal. She snaps her fingers in his face and tells him to think only of greenbacks. She says she just received an email that Daddy made the drop and the money is at the station. Milo and Stu make ready to leave to pick up the cash. Lucian suddenly tells them no as he realizes they cannot be trusted with the cash. Instead of explaining to them why, he pulls his gun and points it in their direction. Petal is shocked and asks him what he is doing? Milo and Stu pull their guns as well and aim them at Lucian. Petal places herself in between the guns pointed in opposite directions. She tells them to chill before this situation gets out of hand.
 Both parties order her out of their respective ways. However, Stu has a bright idea and grabs Petal, then points the gun directly at her head. Stu tells Lucian to put his gun down or he will do something he might regret later. Petal encourages Lucian to blow Stu away. Lucian looks serious, states that Petal is baggage and opens fire.
 When the shooting is done, Petal lies dead on the floor. Lucian is shocked that Stu actually tried to shoot him. Stu is upset that Lucian has killed Petal. Lucian opens fire on Stu and drops him to the ground. Petal grabs the nearest gun and tells Lucian bye as she pulls the trigger. Then, Petal collapses back to the floor.
 Bazz finally comes out of hiding after all the noise settles. He is shocked to find everyone shot, with the exception of Emma. Bazz crawls over to her to see if she is ok and shows her that he has the key. Bazz tells her is one of the good guys and is shocked to find Emma free and himself handcuffed to the pole. Emma tells him that she will place a call to the police so they will find him as she walks away. He pleads with Emma not to leave because this whole situation wasn’t his fault.
South Boston
A head on shot of the train station and people walking by it on the sidewalk. Emma reviews what she has done. She made them think they were killing each other. She knows they are all in custody now. Emma, for the first time, realizes that the world is not black and white.
That is why she has gone to the south Boston Station. She is utilizing her abilities to mask herself from the police her father has staked out everywhere. She does not want them to see her approach the locker or empty it. She learned the combination when she experienced Lucien’s memories. Emma boards a bus. She knows that $160,000 is not a lot of money compared to her Daddy’s millions. However, it is enough for her to start a new life somewhere else. She says goodbye to Beantown and hello to the Big Apple.


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[Assistant]
Bloom - part 1: Hard Knocks
Empire State University, Dean Irvin’s Office:
The Dean tells Emma that her high school transcripts are an incredible sight. He claims that he is very glad that she has decided to further her education at Empire State University. Emma thanks the Dean for his compliments. The Dean tells her that he can’t help but notice that she is from one of Boston’s wealthiest families.  Emma assures him that her father will pay for her stay at this University with no problem at all. Then he asks the obvious question: since Emma’s transcripts show her to be a straight A student (which gives her many choices when shopping for an institution of higher learning) why did she choose to attend Empire State University? Emma looks seriously at the Dean from across his wide desk of polished wood. She tilts her glasses giving him a look into her sultry blue eyes and simply states that she needs a change.
Campus at Empire State University:
Outside the Administration building, Emma looks around at her new home for the next several years. She takes in the large two-story classroom buildings on the campus. She glances nervously at the other students moving around her in a hurry. Some are talking in groups; others are on their way to class, while still others appear to be on their way to the dorms from class.
Emma takes a minute to mentally remind herself that this is the first day of the rest of her new life. After all, even if someone did recognize her, they would not suspect that she possesses the ability to eavesdrop on their most intimate moments or their most private conversations.
A small sampling of the thoughts emanating from the minds around her reveals a normal first day at college. Some students are worried that they forgot deodorant or smell bad. Others are deciding what classes to add or drop. There are even a few students still trying to find the building that houses their next class.
Emma finds herself so immersed in the thoughts around her that she fails to notice the handsome man she is currently on a collision course with. The actual collision causes both of them to lose control of their books, which land heavily on the red brick walkway.
Emma is very annoyed with this handsome stranger. The young man helps her gather her displaced belongings and calls the accident a “cliché for an academic setting.” Emma icily informs him that accidentally bumping into someone is no way to get a date with them. She informs him that the accident is both rude and cliché. She turns her back on him and strides off without a second glance backwards. He stands and watches her go with a sly, admiring smile on his face.
Later on that day on Campus:
Emma has located the elevator which will take her to the floor where she has been assigned a dorm room and a roommate. Emma catches the elevator and rides up to her chosen floor. Upon departing the elevator, she notices a student pushing her parents out of her dorm room. The girl’s mom tells her that she thinks her room should be checked for asbestos. The mother also refers to her daughter as “chipmunk”. The daughter frantically asks her parents to just go to the airport. The exasperated father interrupts his daughter by pointing to Emma and asking “Who is this?” The girl tells him she doesn’t know as she just got here and once more presses her parents to leave.
 Emma introduces herself to the girl’s concerned parents and then turns to the girl and tells she thinks they are roommates. The father introduces himself as Jack Mc Dermott and his wife as Jill just like in the nursery rhyme. Before Emma can reply, he asks her if she will be sharing living quarters with their little “chipmunk”? Emma starts to repeat the nickname but the exasperated girl says “enough,” grabs Emma by the arm and ushers her into the dorm room while waving good-by to her smiling parents as they board the elevator and take one last look at their beloved daughter.
Once inside the dorm room, the girl slams the door shut, barricades it with her body, and introduces herself to Emma as Christine Mc Dermott. Emma introduces herself using her full name and the girls shake hands.
Emma turns to survey the room. She is shocked to see how small and plain looking it is. She also sees one bed piled high with Christie’s things while the other is empty. Christy only say “so, we are roomies then,” and follows up by asking if Emma likes scented candles.
The Next Day, Accounting Class:
Emma is seated in the front row of a large hall capable of holding two hundred or more students. The Professor asks if anyone can tell him what a balance sheet is. Emma raises her hand and gives a perfect textbook definition when she is called upon. The Professor compliments her on a definition that gets right to the point. Then he asks for a definition of accounts payable. Once again, Emma raises her hand. The Professor asks for another volunteer besides Emma but none of the other students raise their hands. Emma is then allowed to deliver another perfect textbook definition and even contrasts it with the definition of accounts payable. The Professor says “right” and looks extremely unnerved. He casually assigns four chapters from the text book and dismisses the class.
After class Emma is holding her books and walking back to the dorm when a familiar looking young man calls her name as he races after her. She doesn’t slow her pace or even turn to let him know that she heard him. She is annoyed that he even knows her name. He tells her he has a question for her. She turns and icily replies “I know”. He is clearly taken aback and she has to goad him into speaking with a “well…”? Shakily, he tells her he knows how not to ask her for a date, but she never told him how to ask for one. Emma starts her next sentence with “Look Max,”. The young man excitedly interrupts her and asks if she knows his name because he is well-known on the basketball team. He considers himself to be a celebrity on campus.
She tells him “no” and sarcastically mentions that she was paying attention during roll call in class. As she walks off, she admits the truth to herself, she is psychic. As she walks away, he calls after her to invite her to the game to witness him make a fool out of himself. Emma silently calls him a half-wit.
Same day, University cafeteria:
Christy comments negatively on the appearance of the cafeteria food to Emma. After they fill their trays and find a table, Christy asks Emma how many credits she is taking. She looks shocked to learn that Emma is taking 24 credits hours. Christy already knew Emma was majoring in education with a minor in business.
Emma asks Christy about her life in the Fine Arts Department. Christy tells her that she is amazed her parents were so supportive when she told them she wanted to be a sculptor. When Christy mentions her mentor, Emma reads her mind and tells Christy she has got the hots for him. Christy denies it but Emma calls her a liar. Christy replies that she thinks her mentor is” brilliant and sensitive and ….” The girls are suddenly distracted by a group of loudly cheering students at the other end of the cafeteria. A young man is balancing five lunch trays in various positions on his body and the crowd is loudly cheering him on.
Emma identifies him as Max and Christy informs her that he is one of the big men on campus. Emma asks Christy if she should be glad he invited her to the game? Christy says wow to this piece of news and asks Emma if she said yes to him? Christy and Emma rise from the table to deposit their trays in the proper place. Emma tells Christy to ignore him and walk away from where he is. Emma tells Christie that he is checking her out as they walked away from him. Emma telepathically picks up on Christy’s thoughts and lets her surprise show aloud when she asks Christy “You think I am cold?” Christy explains to Emma that she does not understand why Emma would ignore the most handsome jock on campus when she doesn’t even have a boyfriend to get in her way.
A crash is heard from behind them. The girls turn to see Max covered with cafeteria food and trays scattered across the floor. Emma states coldly; “Why indeed?”
Later that Night
Christy and Emma are sitting in the bleachers at the basketball game. Christy is clearly enjoying herself and Emma appears bored. Max is doing a fantastic job of stealing the ball from the opposing team and making a basket. He brings the home team score to 91 but the visiting team is still winning with a 93. Max runs in front of the bleachers and waves. Christy is sure he was waving specifically at Emma. Emma tries to tell Christy that he was just waving to the stands in general. As the crowd is cheering, Max steals the ball. Suddenly, Emma feels her power reaching out to help Max make the next basket which changes the score to: home 94, visiting 93.
The situation frightens Emma and she runs from the game followed closely by a concerned Christy.
Outside Christy asks Emma what happened. Emma is crying, clearly upset, but she has no idea what has just occurred to her.
Later that week in accounting class:
Emma does not answer the roll call so the professor asks if any of the other students have seen her. He also takes the opportunity to remind the class that three or more unexcused absences will reflect negatively on their grade at the end of the semester.
Later that week in the dorm:
Emma tries her best to figure out what is happening to her. She does not know why her powers went haywire at the game. She only knows that she hasn’t felt pain that severe since her powers first manifested. She doesn’t even know how she got her powers to begin with. She does know that she wants to keep her situation a secret. She realizes that if she cannot control her powers than her only alternative is to get as far as possible from people. Her mental anguish is interrupted by Christie’s cheerful arrival and the room's lights being turned on.
Christy gives Emma her dinner featuring fruit loops for desert. Christy reassures Emma that she does not mind bringing her food, but she is concerned because Emma has not left the dorm since the incident and it's been at least a week.
Emma gets up from the bed, opens a window, wraps her arms protectively around herself and sticks her head out the window into the daylight. Christy reminds Emma that she will be in danger of flunking school if she does not get to class soon. Again, Christy asks Emma for an explanation.
Emma only answers her with silence. Christy starts to tell Emma that Max is asking where she is, but a knock at the door interrupts her. Christy tells Emma that they will talk later, right now she is going someplace with her mentor. Emma agrees starts to close the window.
Christy opens the door and is greeted by a male voice very familiar to Emma. Christy invites Ian in as Emma turns from closing the window to meet him. She is shocked to discover that Christy’s mentor is in fact Emma’s old teacher.


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[Assistant]
Bloom Part 2, “Mutie”
Empire State University, Emma`s dorm room:
Ian and Emma are very surprised to see each other. He asks about her hair and she says her hair is now bleached blond. She asks why he looks different and he says contacts.
 Christie is shocked at this turn of events. She asks them if they really do know each other. Emma explains it’s a long story. Ian tells Christie that he was Emma’s highschool art teacher. Christie thinks that their meeting now is definitely kismet. Emma thinks “Shoot me now” to herself. Ian tells her it’s really good to see her. Mentally she thinks “really?” and voices her agreement for her friends to hear. Emma tells them she was about to do laundry so he and Christie can do whatever they had planned after she leaves. Christie, however, grabs the laundry and volunteers to get it started so Emma and Ian can catch up. She is out of the room before either can object.
After Christie leaves, all Emma can do is stare at the door. Ian asks if she is ok. She replies she has never been better. Ian tells her that she and Christie have a nice dorm room. He says back in college he never had such style but then he was a boy and a slob. Emma suddenly tells him that she had no right to kiss him. He looks shocked so she says it again to convince both of them of that she has finally said it. Ian responds by telling her that every schoolgirl has the right to at least one crush.
Emma asks Ian if he blames her. He reminds her that it did cost him his job at Snow Valley but he also reminds her that her Dad misinterpreted the facts. Emma thinks to herself “on purpose”.
Ian tells her that he feels that the kiss set him free and that he is much happier being an academic advisor and mentor at Empire State University.
Christie bursts back in the dorm room and tells Emma that she and Ian are going to a gallery opening in Soho. She even invites Emma to join them. Emma tells Christie that she will pass but Christie insists that Emma is a recluse who won’t even go to class and then covers her mouth in a pretend oops. Ian is shocked and asks Emma if this is true and if her father is responsible. Emma does her best to convince Ian its nothing but he insists it doesn’t sound like nothing to him. He reminds her that this doesn’t sound like her at all, especially since she used to be his star pupil in high school. He invites her to his office early next week to discuss the situation and makes her promise to go to class in the meantime. Emma reluctantly agrees, and gives him her promise to attend class.
The next day, on the way to class Emma happens to walk upon the first anti-mutant demonstration she has ever seen. People are carrying signs stating that athletes should be tested for mutation. Some signs claim that mutants are a hazard, while other signs call mutants “cheaters” and tell them to “play by the rules”.
 Emma thinks to herself that the signs she sees make absolutely no sense whatsoever. A familiar voice calls to her to ignore the protestors as they have been making noise all morning. Emma greets Max and tells him that she does not understand what they are protesting. He tells her that a star athlete in California was revealed to be a mutant. She replies “mutant?” Max asks Emma if she has been reading the papers or watching the news. She tells him no. Max tells her that mutants have been popping up all over for the last year or so. Even scientists think they are the next rung on the evolutionary ladder.
 She asks Max what makes the mutants different from everyone else? Max tells her that they are born with “super powers” which enable them to fly, walk through walls, or read other peoples minds. Emma is so shocked by his last comment that she stops dead still and drops her books. Max asks her if she is okay as he moves to help her retrieve what she has dropped. She tells him that everything he has said just sounds very scary to her. He tells her that she can’t blame him for dropping her books this time. Emma replies “I guess not”.
 She turns and does a quick scan of the protesters. What she finds scares her even more. She feels their hate and abhorrence of others just because they are different. There is nothing in Emma’s life that has prepared her to deal with this overwhelming hatred. Secretly, Emma wonders if she is a mutant? Emma starts to wander off and Max asks her where she is going. She tells him she has to run or she will be late for class. As she makes a hasty retreat, Max yells that he wanted to ask her something.
Later that day in class Emma is sitting in the lecture hall doing her best to listen to her instructor. She can’t get over the feeling though that she is shaking like a leaf. She is now extremely worried that she, herself is a mutant. She is frightened that others might find out and then realize that she uses her powers to pass her exams.
 Her private thoughts are interrupted by the professors’ question on a home schooling pioneer directed at her. She stumbles for the answer and utilizes her powers to pick up the name John Holt out of the air. Emma uses that name as her answer. The Professor praises her and says that for a minute she thought Emma wasn’t paying attention.
 Then the Professor asks if any other student has a question. Kai asks if mutants should be allowed to go school with normal kids. Emma answers Kai by saying that just because mutants are different doesn’t mean they should be denied basic rights such as the right to an education. Shannon, another classmate, says she has heard on TV that mutants are dangerous. Another classmate says they shouldn’t believe everything the TV says. Still another student voices concern that mutants might bully normal children for their lunch money. Emma says that would be because the bully is a sociopath and not because the bully is a mutant. Emma, out of desperation, redirects the question to Professor Mason. The Professor replies that she refuses to have this discussion in her class.
Immediately after class on Campus grounds Christie chases Emma down to let her know that she has spoken with Max in Spanish class. Emma offers her condolences. Christie asks Emma what he has ever done to her. Emma tells her that he only annoys her. Christie asks Emma if she is the kind of weirdo that hates someone because they might like her. Emma denies this. Christie tells her that Max has invited both of them to the party that he and his team are throwing this evening. Christie and Emma shake hands and Emma tells her that she is “on”.
Later that night in the dorm room Christie and Emma are getting dressed to go out. Emma admires herself in the mirror as Christie assures her she looks fabulous. Christie shows her 2 blouses (1 red, 1 white) and Emma tells her to go with the white. Of course, Christie immediately decides to wear the red one. Emma notices that Christie is in a very good mood.
Emma believes that Christie does have a crush on Ian and they did go to a gallery opening together. Emma really wants to ask Christie and then uses her powers to get at the truth. In one way she feels she has no business prying into another’s affairs. However, she does consider the possibility that she may in fact be a mutant. Emma uses this to justify this action to herself by convincing herself she would just be using the innate abilities she was born with.
Emma asks Christie and while her roommate says “it was cool’ she is really thinking “He is amazing”. Emma wonders what amazing means and asks “just cool?” Christie thinks “I had the best time of my life” even though she tells Emma that Soho is very stuffy. Emma says she is from Boston so she can understand stuffy. Emma wonders to herself why Christie is trying to pretend she does not have a crush on Ian.
Later that night at the party Max answers the knock on the door and is amazed to see both Emma and Christie standing before him. Max offers to take the girls’ jackets before he dies from shock. Emma tells herself that she thought she would hate the party, but since her powers are under control, this is a nice experience. Christie points out that it did not hurt Emma to go to the party at all. Emma has to agree with Christy on that point.
 However, as Max approaches her she realizes that she can read his thoughts. He is agonizing inside over whether to ask Emma to dance with him or not. Emma decides to make it easy for him and asks him to dance with her instead. As they are going to the dance floor, Christie tells them waves bye to them. Once among the dancers, Emma starts to dance and notices that Max is just standing there.
She asks him why he is just standing there, but before he finishes his next sentence she reads his mind and asks him why asked her when he doesn’t even know how to dance. Max reminds her that she asked him and she sighs audibly.
Suddenly, a young man approaches them by bullying his way through the crowd. The music falls silent. Emma realizes these guys are the basketball team that lost to Empire State University. Max steps away from the crowd and asks of they have come to see how winners party?
The leader of the opposing team tells Max that they saw the news report about the mutie who used his powers to help him win at sports. “So, me and the guys got to thinking……”
Max asks them sarcastically just what they are getting at. The leader of the opposing team tells him that it doesn’t make sense for them to go through an entire season without losing a game; only to lose against Empire State University. Max accuses the leader of the opposing team of being a mutant with the power to ignore reality.
The leader gets angry and approaches Max to ask him to repeat what he said. Max tells him to get a breath mint and shoves him away.
This last comment causes the entire room to break into a fight with the opposing team. Emma thinks to herself that she knew she should have stayed home tonight. Emma turns to Christy to tell her that they have to get help. Christie points out to her that the door is blocked Emma looks at all the fighting boys that stand between her and the door and realizes that Christie is right. Emma knows that she has barely learned how to use her powers to control one person so there is no way she can control all of them so “crowd control” is definitely out. She decides to reach out to any other minds in the immediate vicinity and broadcasts a short range telepathic call for help.
Outside the on campus apartments two students are driving by the on the road outside the building. The boy picks up the telepathic signal and says the word “help” aloud while he is driving. The girl with him calls him Frank and asks him what he has just said. So he repeats himself and states that they must get help to the on-campus apartments right away.
Meanwhile, back at the party Emma sees a vase hurling through the air in the direction of herself and Christie. She has just enough time to tell Christie to “look out” and then duck herself as it crashes into the wall beside her.
Suddenly the door to the party swings open and standing in the entry way are the campus police. The policeman sternly tells the fighters to break it up while the policewoman stands behind him acting as back up.
Minutes later outside the campus apartments Emma and Christie stand and watch the fighters, including Max, be loaded into transport vehicles to take them to the local jail for processing. Christie remarks to Emma how weird it was for the police to just appear and take control of the situation. Emma convinces Christie that the police must have received an anonymous tip that the fight was in progress.
Christie tells Emma that she thinks the opposing basketball team was insane to crash the party just to accuse Empire State University’s team of being mutants. Christie tells Emma that everyone knows “mutants are disgusting freaks of nature” and Max is way too cute to be one of them. Emma completely agrees with her roommate.
The next day Emma walks to class hugging her books tightly against her. She can’t understand how even nice regular people, like Christie, could hate mutants so much. Emma is disturbed because she is not sure if she is a mutant or not but she does know she possess some kind of extra mental power that others do not. She wishes she had a close friend she could confide in. Someone she could talk her troubles over with.
Someone who would help her figure out this crazy mess. Most importantly, someone who would not be judgmental of her one way or the other. Suddenly, Ian’s name springs to mind and she rushes off towards the visual arts building.
Emma arrives at the building and hurries in. She spots Ian but he is talking to Christie. She realizes she should have known that as the two are becoming close friends.
“Men, they’re not worth it”, suddenly pops into her mind from no where.
It takes Emma a few seconds to recognize this thought is not her own. She sees a girl walking toward her in the hall. The girl is looking her directly in the eye and in her mind she hears “Bloom, darling, Astrid Bloom”.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Bloom Part 3, “Mutie”
Empire State University: Visual Arts Building:
Again, Emma hears a thought in her head that is not her own asking if she is going to at least say something. Emma stands dumbfounded before this girl in the hallway. Shakily she tells the girls she can hear her in her head and asks how. The girl again replies telepathically that she can project her thoughts without feeling the need to move her lips. Emma stands there and stutters “then you are a ….” Astrid finishes the thought for her by placing the word mutant in her head. She also telepathically asks Emma if she is one too. Emma verbally denies this fact about herself.
Telepathically, Astrid repeats to Emma why she came to see Ian. She tells Emma that she already knows the anti-mutant hysteria on campus has her scared. She also informs Emma that she knows Ian is a former high school teacher that Emma had a crush on. There is no use lying to someone who can read your thoughts. Emma switches to telepathy herself and asks Astrid exactly what she wants. Astrid tells her she simply wants to be friends. Astrid also tells Emma that she thought she was the only one with this type of power. Then she heard another mind and tracked the cries down to Emma.
Astrid and Emma converse telepathically as they walk out of the building and onto the main campus. The talk about many things including the reason there are mutants. Neither has heard a good explanation for the phenomenon except evolution. Astrid tells Emma that she believes there is a lot more to mind-reading than just telepathy as she has read a few texts on the subject in Scientific American. The writer is known as Charles Xavier. Astrid asks Emma how she could not take advantage of the library in her parents’ mansion. Emma asks her if her thoughts are on display like cue cards, or what? Emma then tries to read Astrid’s mind and finds that Astrid is a closed book to her.
As they are walking their silent communication is rudely interrupted by someone yelling loudly “Muties leave”.
 Both girls quickly notice that they have walked right into the anti-mutant demonstration. Astrid jokingly (telepathically) asks Emma if the demonstrators want them to leave for the Netherlands. Emma simply asks why they are hated so much by the normal humans. Astrid vocally asks Emma why people envy birds? Vocally, Emma informs Astrid that her speaking voice does not sound anything like her inner voice. Telepathically Astrid asks Emma how her inner voice sounds and Emma tells her she sounds like a Bach concerto. Astrid agrees to use her inner voice (her real voice) whenever she talks to Emma. Telepathically, the two mutants agree to get dinner together.
Later at the restaurant Emma is shocked to discover that Astrid has invited her off campus to a real restaurant instead of the campus fare she has been living off. This is a pleasant surprise for Emma. The girls communicate telepathically and never utter a vocal work to each other the whole time they are eating.
 After dinner, Astrid takes Emma out into the street world of New York City. Silently she tells Emma all about the citizens she has met. She points out Bill, a third generation New York City police officer who has aspirations of climbing Mount Everest.
Further along the street, Astrid points at a woman pushing a shopping cart. Astrid introduces Emma to Janice, who is a widow and became homeless after her husband passed away. She still grieves for her lost love and does not speak any English. Then, Astrid directs Emma’s attention directly in front of them to the man who is scratching his head as he ambles along the street in their direction. Astrid tells Emma he is called Larry and he is a paranoid schizophrenic. He believes his bird has been cheating on him with his best friend. He also believe the world will end next week and wants to confront the cheaters before this occurs.
Emma lets Astrid know that she is amazed Astrid can tell so much about them from just a glance. Emma tells Astrid that she has to make physical contact to achieve the same results. Astrid is shocked that Emma has such a limited use of her mutant abilities yet she has possessed them since high school. Astrid believes Emma should be able to do more than read surface thoughts and cast simple illusions. Astrid claims that she has never used her powers to get answers to test questions. Emma tells Astrid that she believes it is unethical to casually get a person’s life history in such a fashion. Astrid reminds her that she thinks nothing of using her powers to cheat on exams. Emma tells Astrid these two things are completely different. Skimming minds for test answers to test questions isn’t technically cheating because she never actually sees anyone else’s tests. However, going through a person’s most intimate memories is an invasion of their privacy. Astrid accuses Emma of trying to use rationalization to justify her actions. Astrid claims she is using her abilities to experience the human condition. She claims it will help her be a better psychologist once she gets her master’s degree. She asks Emma what she would gain from her powers besides good test grades.
Emma tells Astrid that she is being judged unfairly. After all, Emma knows practically nothing about Astrid. Then she tells Astrid that she can’t read her mind no matter how hard she tries. Astrid tells Emma that she has learned to shield her thoughts from others who possess the ability to read minds. Emma Asks Astrid how she became so skilled at using her powers? Astrid tells Emma that she will just have to show her.
(Astrid’s memories)
Emma finds her mind being flooded with images of Astrid at seven years old. Astrid stands behind her mother and they are at her father’s funeral service. Astrid’s mother promises she will always love the scared girl no matter what happens in the future. However, eleven months later Astrid’s mother marries a man named Aubrey Chilton. Despite her unresolved grief, Astrid tried very hard to be happy for her mother and tried to like her stepfather. Things were going as well as could be, until her parents brought home Yvonne, her new baby sister.
Astrid found that her room was converted into a nursery and she was left to sleep on the living room couch. Astrid felt displaced, but she still believed her mother loved her. The final blow was when she overheard her mother talking to baby Yvonne and telling her she was loved best. Astrid felt tossed out of her mother’s heart. This was a crushing blow to her emotionally.
 At age thirteen, Astrid suddenly developed telepathic abilities and had to flee high school because of all the voices she heard. Astrid made a mistake by confiding the truth in her family. Instead of being understanding, they rejected her so she ran away from home.
(the present)
In the real world, Emma nearly falls to her knees and Astrid grabs her to steady her. The images and emotions have come very fast and very loud and Emma is not used to receiving information at this speed. Emma asks Astrid if she will teach her to use her powers this way as well. Astrid agrees to do so.
Emma returns her dorm room late at night with feelings of elation and disbelief. She can’t believe she has finally found someone who has the same type of abilities she has. Someone she can learn from. Someone she can finally have a “true” sense of family with. Emma looks at Christie’s bed and finds it empty. As she lies down, she wonders where her roommate can be as she is usually home by now.
 In the morning, Emma awakens to discover that she is still the only person in resident in the dorm room. Christie has never returned home. Emma gets dressed for the day and goes out the door to get breakfast and find her lost roommate.
 However, Astrid is there and the two greet each other telepathically. Astrid tells Emma that she hopes she got enough sleep for the regime Astrid has planned for them for today. A familiar voice behind Emma greets her by name. She turns and says “Hi” to Max. She introduces Max and Astrid. Max swears he has met Astrid before but when she asks if he has ever been to London he says no.
Emma takes the opportunity to ask Max what has occurred since the campus police came and broke up the fight between the two opposing teams. Max tells her that the Captain of the opposing team convinced the authorities he started the fight since her pushed him. Max says he tried to point out that the opposing team had no right to be on campus but he was sent to the Dean of Admissions anyway. The dean told him she would revoke his scholarship and be expelled from E.S.U. if a situation like this ever happened again.
Astrid telepathically asks Emma if she was aware Max started the fight to impress her? She also tells Emma she regards Max as gallant and advises Emma to give him a second chance. Emma silently asks Astrid to quit reading their minds.
When Emma does notice what Max is saying she finds she has lost tracked of the verbal conversation and she apologizes to Max for “zoning out”. She tells Max she has a lot on her mind right now and Max excuses her behavior. Max tells her to remember that he is there if she ever needs anyone to talk to. Before the friends part, Max draws Emma aside and asks her if the other girls is the shy type since she doesn’t seem to do much talking. Emma tells him he is close in his assessment of her friend. Max tells Emma he will catch up later and runs off calling to the girls that it was nice to meet Astrid.
 When he is safely out of sight, Emma turns to Astrid and asks her verbally to quit reading her mind. Telepathically, Astrid agrees to do this favor for her.
11 A.M.: on top of a building at Empire State University.
Emma telepathically asks Astrid why they have climbed up here. Astrid tells her because of the vantage point. Emma is really caught up by the view of the campus from this building. Astrid points to all the other students going about their daily lives below them. She tells Emma that in order to get to her just one psyche over all the others, she must first tune out all the others but the one she is interested in hearing. Astrid tells Emma that this is difficult but not entirely impossible. Emma points out Dean Irving, her academic advisor and tells Astrid that she wants to try him first. Astrid agrees and tells Emma to concentrate.
 Emma concentrates and finds her mind full of various thoughts. Some about boyfriends, others about girlfriends, one about needing a vacation and another about being sick of grading papers. Emma sifts through the others to concentrate on the one about grading papers. She discovers that the person who had this thought has been working at this school for seven years. This person feels they are accomplishing nothing because the kids aren’t even interested in applying themselves. This person has the mortgage paid off, and the kids are grown and out of the house. Emma discovers that Dean Irving is thinking or retiring and moving to a warmer climate. Emma quickly relates this information to Astrid. Astrid tells Emma to forget about Irvine’s drama and explain how this felt.
Emma tells Astrid that this felt a lot like tuning a radio to the right station. Emma says she now knows more about him than she wanted to but it was a lot easier than she thought it would be. Astrid tells not to give herself a gold star just yet. Astrid reminds Emma that she must learn to tap into someone else’s memories without getting over emotional.
Empire State University, the Dorm Room, 7 P.M.
Emma slides her card into the electronic door lock and goes into the room. She feels like she is taking double the amount of credit hours from her regular classes. She is also thankful that Astrid can give her the extra education that she so desperately needs. Christie is straightening out an outfit on her bed. Christie looks up and casually asks Emma where she has been all day. Emma asks her where she has been and tells her she has been worried sick about her since she did not come home last night. Christie turns to Emma and dreamily replies nowhere. However, Emma telepathically receives images of Christie in Ian’s arms and she knows exactly where her roommate has been.


[User]
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Provide a full summary of the comic book.

[Assistant]
Bloom Part 4
Empire State University, the Dorm Room:
Emma reaches for her head, turns her back on Christie and strides across the room. In her mind Emma sees images of Ian and Christie laughing, hugging, kissing, and having a wonderful time.
 Emma stops halfway across the room, gives Christie a cold look and assures her roommate she has never felt better. Emma informs Christie that she feels she is hiding something from her. Christie questions Emma about this. Emma tells Christie that since she did not come home last night and when she did return refuses to tell Emma where she has been; these actions make Emma suspicious that Christie has found a little romance in her life. Christie apologizes to Emma for having it all wrong. She tells Emma that her parents popped in from Wisconsin for a surprise visit and treated her to a night out. Since she was too tired to return to school, she crashed in their hotel room. Then Christie apologizes again for not calling Emma and letting her know she was ok. Emma tells Christie that she is glad her roommate is ok. Inside her mind, Emma calls her a liar and knows that if her parents did show up, Christie would be in a hurry to get them back on the plane.
 Christie interrupts Emma’s thoughts by saying she has a library book to return and invites Emma to go along. Emma tells her she will pass. Christie tells Emma she will see her later as she heads out the door. As the door slams shut, the only work on Emma’s mind is traitor.
Empire State University: Somewhere outside on Campus:
Emma meets with Astrid for a lesson and shows her telepathically what has been going on with her and Christie. Astrid sees no relevance in this to either of them. Emma tells Astrid it is relevant since Christie has become such a traitor to Emma’s friendship. Astrid tells Emma that Christie is only human. Astrid draws Emma’s attention back to her lesson on the rudiments of mind control.
Astrid points our Professor Pinter and his dog Elvis. She tells Emma they come here the same time everyday for a walk and the walk always ends in Elvis getting loose and chasing the birds. Astrid informs Emma that today things will be different and the two will not leave without a fight. Emma watches and laughs gloriously as the birds chase the professor and his k-9 companion back the way they originally came from. Emma tells Astrid she hopes she can learn to do that so she can introduce Christie to some heavy traffic. Astrid’s inner voice sounds shocked as she tells Emma it would be unethical to take control of another human being. To Astrid, animals and people are in two very different categories when it comes to mind control. Emma tells Astrid to relax, it was only meant as a joke. Astrid tells her it is not funny.
 Emma apologizes sarcastically for not being happy for Christie when it comes to Ian. After all, Ian was her first big crush. On top of that, Christie couldn’t even tell her the truth about the situation. Astrid informs Emma that the situation between Christie and Ian is really none of her business. She reminds Emma that she needs to focus more on her schoolwork and less on someone else’s love life. She also suggests that Emma start by concentrating on how to pass tests on her own rather than rummaging through the minds of her classmates for the answers. Emma sarcastically asks Astrid how to do this. Astrid replies just as sarcastically “I don’t know”.
Empire State University Library:
As Emma and Astrid enter the library Astrid reminds Emma that she can study to pass the tests. As Emma and Astrid stroll toward the book shelves Emma is assaulted by various thoughts of the students at the library doing work. Emma grabs her head and moans out loud. A Librarian at her desk reminds the girls to be quiet. Astrid tells Emma to visualize the strongest thing she can think of to keep the other students’ thoughts out of her mind.
Emma visualizes a diamond: pure, flawless, sparkling, and very strong. The librarian approaches them and informs them that if they can’t control themselves she has to ask them to leave. Emma recovers herself, looks at the librarian, and assures her everything is under control. The two girls walk to another section of the vast library past more studying students.
Telepathically, Emma asks Astrid what she just went through. Astrid tells her that when humans study their thoughts are very organized and susceptible to telepathic reception. Astrid also tells Emma that’s how she received her secondary education. She went to seminars and piggybacked onto others’ thoughts. That way, she acquired her own knowledge and everyone else’s as well. Emma tells Astrid that she is really impressed. Astrid informs her that’s it’s beyond impressive. Then she takes Emma away from the library as she still has tons to learn.
Two Days later: Education Class:
As Emma is about to leave her class she stops by the Doctor Genn’s desk and impresses her teacher with her knowledge of the subject she is studying. Doctor Genn tells Emma that she is impressed with her student’s knowledge of the early pioneers of education. Telepathically, Emma hears a familiar voice inside her head tell her to quit showing off.
 She turns and sees Astrid waiting for her in the doorway of the classroom. Emma says her goodbye to the Doctor and hurries into the hallway to meet with her friend. The two friends stand on opposite sides of the hall and communicate telepathically through the crowd moving in front of them. Astrid accuses Emma of being a show off. Emma tells her to “shut-up”. Astrid directs Emma’s attention to Max, who is coming down the hall and thinking of asking Emma out.
Emma tells Astrid she feels bad about saying no to him. Astrid tells her that she doesn’t have to say no and reminds her that life is about moving forward. Collage is not a rerun of high school, its more about the changing of the guard and reminds Emma she has nothing to be afraid of: except she might stop liking Ian and start liking Max. Astrid tells Emma she is going to give them some privacy and vanishes down the hallway into the rest of the crowd.
Max approaches by saying a simple “hi”. Emma turns and tells him she would love to go the movies with him tomorrow night. Max, confused, agrees to the date.
Later that Evening:
Emma is getting ready for her date with Max and Christie is sitting on the bed reading a magazine. Christie tells Emma she is glad that she is finally giving Max a chance. Mentally, Emma thinks she is only glad because it will distract her from Christie and Ian. Verbally, she tells Christie she does not knowwhere her head has been and casually asks Christie what she has been doing these past few days. Christie replies “work and more work”. The images Emma receives are Christie and Ian going to dinner, a canoe ride, and then sightseeing. As Emma leaves she tells Christie not to “kill herself”.
Outside in the hallway Emma leans against the wall and adds mentally “unless its excruciatingly painful”. Emma knows her worst fear has been realized: Ian and Christie and getting along just fine.
Later that Night:
Emma and Max are walking away from a theater whose marquee reads “Heavenly Creatures”. Emma asks him what’s wrong? Max tells her he did not expect the movie to be so twisted or mind blowing and tells her it wasn’t exactly a good date movie. Emma tells him that she thinks everyone needs his or her mind blown now and again. Max tells her the movie is going to give him nightmares. Emma replies that she did not think he was the type to have nightmares. He tells to change the subject and then asks if she likes pizza.
Over pizza, Emma asks Max if he is or isn’t a mutant? Max tells her that with scouts from the NBA lining up to sign him on after graduation, he doesn’t think blue fur would be a plus. He also tells her that if he were a mutant he would not pass himself off as a normal human because there would be no challenge in it.
Later as the Pair Approach Emma’s dorm:
Max asks her if the date was half as bad as she thought it would be. Emma tells him that she really had a good time. Mentally, she knows he wants to give her a goodnight kiss. However, Emma is just not sure she is ready for that at this point in her life. Emma decides it’s best if she tells him to take it slow. She states: “Max, I am not sure where we are going, but I would like to take it slow”.
 Max, however, responds quite differently by interrupting her. He angrily explodes. He tells Emma that he has been waiting for this speech all night. He tells her that he knows she thinks he is a “brainless, stupid jock”. Emma starts to deny it. Max grabs her by the shoulders and tells her to “admit it”, he tells her he knew this because she has acted superior to him since day one. Max shakes her violently and tosses her away from him. Emma tells him that this did not exactly tickle. Max just copies what she says, making fun of her tone of voice as he approaches her. Emma warns him not to come any closer. Max gets closer and takes a swing at her face, Emma ducks and remembers from freshman orientation that she is supposed to yell: “FIRE”.
 Emma yells and then runs as fast as she can away from Max. Two other students open their dorm window because of her yell, and see her being chased directly below them. Suddenly, Emma finds herself in a blind alley with Max closing in on her. She apologizes to Astrid as she realizes that mind control is her only option now. However, her powers fail her and Max grabs her by the neck and begins choking her.
Two students, who observed her earlier, have made it to the scene. One boy calls Max a jerk and the other drags him off Emma. Emma grabs for the building as she sinks to her knees. Max pleads with the two boys to let him go but they only say “yeah, right. Especially after you busted that chick’s nose!” and yell for someone to call campus security.
Fifteen Minutes later inside a nearby dorm Emma is being questioned by campus security while another officer holds the curious students in check. However, Astrid recognizes Emma and manages to get through to her. Emma verbally tells her it was nothing but a really bad date. Astrid hugs her and telepathically asks her if Max knows she is a mutant or something. Emma picks the something. Astrid asks Emma where Max is so she can end his child producing capabilities. Emma tells Astrid that they have already taken him away. Telepathically Astrid hugs her again and say she is beginning to realize that the humans are way more barbaric than their kind. Emma reassures her that she is not hurt. Astrid tells her that she is not ready to lose Emma after being alone for so long.
The Next Day at the Dorm Emma is asleep in bed when she is awakened by a knock on her door. Emma has slept in her clothes and gets up to answer the door only to find Ian in front of her. He asks if he can come in. Emma tells him to do what he wants and lets him know that Christie is not in residence.
Ian asks her again if it’s ok as she does not sound like it is. Emma turns and asks him point blank if there is something going on between him and Christie.